The Metropolitan Council met on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, for its 20th regular meeting. The meeting included a mayor's message on $149 million in tax anticipation notes, confirmations of board appointments, public comment, numerous zoning public hearings, debate on proposed charter amendments, and passage of several resolutions condemning hate and honoring community members. The meeting adjourned around 10:30 PM local time.
Will the meeting please come to order? Today is Tuesday, August 6th, 2024. This is the 20th regular meeting of the current term of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville in Davidson County. Will all members of the council, as well as the public, please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation is being offered this evening by the Reverend Jonathan Trees. He is the pastor of Grace Church of the Nazarene and the guest of District 15 Council member Jeff Gregg. Uh your recognized Pastor Trees. Let us pray together. Almighty God, we thank you for creating each of us in this room. Each of us are precious to you and have been created to fulfill your purpose through your calling. And I thank you tonight for these your servants, our mayor, Vice Mayor Henderson, our civil leaders, as well as our city council members. We thank you for the calling that you have given every one of them to be good stewards of creation, to assist and love the neighbor as ourselves and to govern others towards that end. Thank you for the gift of city. Thank you for this city of Nashville, whose rich history of river, rail, and interstate, interstate trade, education, revivalism, musical expression has made her successful for generations. Thank you for the pioneers that she has fostered with freedom to dream, like the medical vision of Dr. Keith Johnson, founder of DCI, or like those who here humbly assist the dreams of others through their council's directives. Like King David prayed, may they defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the needy. May you offer these leaders through their portion of power, the gifts to bless the city. And like the prophet Jeremiah, that your blessing accompany kings who defend the rights of the poor and the needy. Like your servant Joseph, ruler of Egypt, grant to them the leadership towards prosperity and wisdom pertaining to resources. And like the Amaya, allow the deeds to construct a functional structure of safety and provision. Like the Apostle Paul, may we realize that we are to cherish government and respect its leadership. Like the ruler Esther, may your leadership notice the gaps and surrender to sacrifices that accompany such a standard of leadership. And like Ruth, may their motives derive from love and loyalty to blending community. Like Solomon, may wisdom be their strength today that builds a city for future generations to enjoy. We pray that we would have eyes to see how our lives reflect you when we are all working for common good to respond to those who are vulnerable among us, allowing your kingdom come in Nashville as it is in heaven. And like Barnabas, son of encouragement, may we spur one another forward to unity through the sharing of our resources. May Nashville be a place where the weak and the strong find the renewal of spirit. And finally, I ask that you would protect these leaders and this city from the brokenness of classism, racism, and violence, that she may reflect the God of image, the God of love, the God of grace, the God of unity, and as we pursue peace with all, and as far as it depends on us, may we live at peace with everyone in Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The last day to register to vote in the November 5th election is October the 7th, and early voting will begin October 16th. At our last meeting, this council voted unanimously to put the Choose How You Move Transportation Improvement Program on Nashville's November 5th ballot, and the election commission also affirmed that ballot language this week. Tonight, this body will decide if that same ballot will also include charter amendments. Today was the first day back to school for Metro Nashville schools. So a special thank you to Nashville's teachers at all of our schools across the city and best wishes to those uh children and families. It's an exciting and sometimes bittersweet and stressful time of year. Uh back to school time is also road safety reminder time. When we ask all Nashvilleans to renew their focus on safe driving. If you're a driving parent late to school uh for drop-off or pickup, please don't speed through the neighborhood. If traffic is backed up near your local school in the next few weeks, please do not honk and swerve and turn around in frustration. Vehicles are increasingly bigger, taller, heavier, often purchased with the intent of protecting the young people inside them. This has the very negative side effect of making the young people and all people outside of vehicles walking and biking, even more vulnerable and less safe. We have school zones for a reason. Slow down in them. Observe crossings, stop for people in or at the edge of a crosswalk. Whether you are on a two-lane or a four-lane road, never pass a car stopped at a crosswalk or a school bus along the road with its stop sign out. We are all a part of a slowly improving transportation system. Nashvilleans will have an opportunity in November to vote for dedicated funding to deliver the increased safety we all need, hopefully more quickly, consistently, and broadly. People speeding and people driving distractedly kill people too often.