Metropolitan Council Meeting - June 18, 2024

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County met on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Metropolitan Courthouse. All 41 council members were present. The meeting included elections to commissions, confirmations of appointments, public comments, and action on a wide range of resolutions and ordinances, most notably the approval of the FY2025 operating budget with a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for Metro employees, new pay plans for police, fire, and health department personnel, and the adoption of a contract compliance board for construction projects. Several items were deferred or withdrawn.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved a large slate of items including: RS2024-524 through RS2024-535 (various grants and contracts), RS2024-537 and RS2024-538 (Friends of Warner Parks grants), RS2024-540 through RS2024-545 (multiple agreements and grants), RS2024-547 through RS2024-552 (water/sewer easement and abandonment resolutions), RS2024-553 (honoring former Council Member Donald Majors), RS2024-555 (anniversary of Bostock v. Clayton County), BL2024-392 (MDHA payment-in-lieu-of-taxes revision), BL2024-395 through BL2024-399 (abandonment and easement ordinances), BL2024-377 (lease agreement), BL2024-378 (fire EMS billing contract extension), BL2024-379 (Bethel University tuition agreement), and BL2024-381 (East Bank Stormwater District).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mara Lee Albert (speaking in support of substitute budget) thanked the council for centering Nashville residents and employees, and highlighted the equity focus.
• Deluvio Palazzuolo (speaking in opposition to RS2024-556) argued the resolution was biased and inaccurate, calling for amendments acknowledging decades of Israeli atrocities.
• Silva Brooks (MNPS employee, supporting budget) thanked council for prioritizing Metro workers and urged passage of the substitute for a 4% COLA.
• Mead Forsyth (public library worker, supporting budget) thanked council for the 4% COLA and the $1 million for the varsity spending plan.
• McKinsey Beauchamp (MNPS teacher, supporting budget) emphasized the need for living wages, noting the median home price in Nashville is $478,000.
• Courtney Bell (911 dispatcher, supporting budget) urged council to approve 4% raises and step increases for dispatchers.
• Emani Minad (speaking in opposition to RS2024-556) requested edits to the resolution, including acknowledgment of U.S. complicity in Gaza genocide.
• Charlie Rodriguez (supporting BL2024-375) spoke about unsafe working conditions for construction workers and urged passage of the Build It Right bill.
• Jane Schnell (supporting BL2024-390) described litter and needle problems in Hermitage related to homelessness, calling for Metro oversight.
• Isaiah Kallman (supporting budget) highlighted the need for transit and housing solutions that include community input.

Discussion Items

• FY2025 Operating Budget (BL2024-373): Chair Porterfield presented a substitute budget that increased the cost-of-living adjustment from 3.5% to 4% for all Metro employees (including MNPS), raising the lowest MNPS pay to $19.47 per hour. It also included $300,000 for worker safety compliance (Build It Right), $1 million for the varsity spending plan (parks programming and an Office of Youth Safety), additional funding for the fire department's REACH program, crisis counselors, indigent defense, arts equity study, housing navigators, and other community investments. The substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the final bill passed with all 40 present voting yes.
• Pay Plans for General Employees, Police/Fire, and Health (RS2024-482, 483, 484): Each resolution was amended to provide a 4% COLA (Amendment 1) and then passed. The general employees plan passed 36-0-0; police/fire passed 36-0-0; health passed 34-0-0.
• Axon Enterprise Contract Amendment (RS2024-543): Chair Porterfield moved to defer the resolution, then indefinitely defer, but both motions failed. The resolution was then approved 29-9-1, allowing Metro Police to purchase upgraded Taser 10 models with existing department funds.
• Short-Term Rental Exemption (RS2024-523): Council Member Toombs explained the exemption for six units at 488-496 W. Trinity Lane, stating the development is on a major corridor and the units are far from the adjacent school. The resolution passed 33-0-2.
• Contract Compliance Board (BL2024-375): Council Member Sepulveda introduced a substitute that added a contractor to the board, refined scope, and required annual reporting. After extensive discussion about worker safety and the death of Dennis G. Bache, the substitute was adopted and the bill passed on second reading by voice vote.
• Homeless Service Provider Inventory (BL2024-390): Sponsor Huffman moved to defer one meeting to allow more dialogue, which was approved.
• Food Truck Vending Permitting (BL2024-391): Deferred two meetings for additional community outreach.
• Rutledge Hill Redevelopment Plan Amendment (BL2024-348): Substitute passed to correct amendment numbers; bill passed on third reading.
• Nashville PAL Agreement (BL2024-380): Approved on third reading with one abstention.
• Resolutions on Israel-Palestine (RS2024-556) and No Confidence in Directors (RS2024-554): RS2024-556 was withdrawn by the sponsor; RS2024-554 was indefinitely deferred by rule following a committee recommendation.

Key Outcomes

• FY2025 Budget Approved: BL2024-373 passed with 40 yes votes, including a 4% COLA for all Metro employees and over $4 million in targeted community investments. No tax increase, no layoffs, no service reductions.
• Pay Plans for All Metro Employees: Three resolutions (RS2024-482, 483, 484) passed with the 4% COLA amendment.
• Axon Contract Approved: RS2024-543 passed 29-9-1, funding the upgrade to Taser 10 devices.
• Short-Term Rental Exemption: RS2024-523 passed 33-0-2.
• Contract Compliance Board: BL2024-375 passed on second reading, establishing a board and safety specialist positions.
• Deferrals: BL2024-390 deferred one meeting; BL2024-391 deferred two meetings; four zoning bills (BL2024-271, 272, 317, 318) deferred one meeting.
• Appointments Confirmed: Glenn Farner (Airport Authority), Alvin Haney (Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission), Janet Miller (Metropolitan Transit Authority), Matthew Taylor (Sustainability Advisory Committee), and Q-Juan Taylor (Tourism & Convention Commission) all confirmed unanimously.
• Elections: Darryl Wilson elected to CATV Special Committee; Erica Penley and Annie Klaver elected to Transportation Licensing Commission.
• Resolutions Adopted: RS2024-474 (support for new fire station at 201-205 Broadway), RS2024-498 ($140,000 for Group Violence Intervention), RS2024-536 ($464,000 for Salvation Army homeless services, vote 33-1-2), RS2024-539 (land purchase for new fire station), RS2024-546 (water service improvements for Airport Authority), RS2024-557 (Black Music Month), and a late resolution (RS2024-558) for a Recovery Court Program grant.