House Conference on Citizen Diplomacy seeks to foster friendship and understanding between the United States and other nations through person to person diplomacy and the celebration of cultural diversity and whereas in alignment with this vision, the citizens of Nashville, Tennessee, and Kamakura, Japan, have committed to working together to cultivate mutual understanding and ensuring the future peace and freedom through the creation of global friendships, and whereas in recognition of Nashville's growing importance to the presence of Japanese businesses in our region, the Japanese government relocated the consulate from New Orleans to Nashville in 2008.

And whereas one of the primary goals of the first Consul General of Japan in Nashville, the Honorable Hiroshi Sato, was to establish a sister city relationship between Japan and Nashville to foster cultural exchanges.

And whereas between 2008 and 2014, several cultural and business leadership exchanges took place between Nashville and Kamakura, the hometown of Consul General Sato, and whereas Kamakura became Nashville's eighth sister city in September of 2014 at a signing ceremony in Komakura between Carl Dean, mayor of Nashville, and Takashi Matsuo, mayor of Kamakura, attended by Nashville and Kamakura leaders, and whereas since Nashville and Kamakura city partnership was formulated.

Thereby enhancing mutual respect and understanding between the two cities.

And whereas the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County through the Metropolitan Council officially recognizes and supports this ongoing partnership with the aspiration that it will continue to strengthen and foster lasting friendships between the citizens of Nashville and Kamakuta while encouraging cooperative across various sectors, including music, culture, the arts, education, and governance.

Now, therefore, may it be resolved by the council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Yay.

And I'd love to bring up Mina Johnson, who is the current uh board president of Sister Cities of Nashville to say a few words.

Thank you, Councilman Babo, and thank you, uh Suara, and thank you, Council Lady Awena.

And I am so excited to take uh this council member with me to Kamakura this Saturday.

And Councilmember and Madame Pro Tem, thank you very much for the recognition and continuous support.

And many council members I know are interested to joining uh Kamakura.

So I'm sorry you cannot come this time, but please join next time.

I'm looking forward to showing around.

Thank you again.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

All right.

All right.

Um, if there are any council members who have any announcements, please start getting in the queue.

Are you able to get in the queue?

No.

All right.

So we're raising hands.

First one up is Councilmember Preptee.

Uh Councilmember Prepti, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Um for uh District 25 residents this Saturday.

I will be holding office hours at the well from 8:30 until noon.

So please feel free to come out, ask me questions and get some more information.

Also, I would like to share for Nashville Davidson County residents uh uh uh at the end of the day.

As a whole, um, this Wednesday, tomorrow is the start of early voting.

Um, and one of the things that we are aware of, and and in my role as the rules confirmation and public elections committee chair um is we are actively monitoring any possible acts of violence or uh intimidation around voting or at the polling sites.

So if at any moment you feel as if you um are seeing, witnessing or experiencing any acts of violence or intimidation at the polling places, please reach out to your council member who will then correspond directly with MNPD, who's doing the work to make sure that they have continuing situational awareness of everything going on around our elections.

So rest assured that your institutions have your best interest at heart and want to make sure that you have every opportunity to participate in our democracy.

So thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Thank you, Councilmember Preptee.

Councilmember Toombs, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Um next Tuesday, October 22nd at 6 p.m.

is the monthly District 2 community meeting.

Uh it is in the William D.

Boldenhamer building, which is where the North Precinct is, 2231, 26th Avenue North.

There's also a Zoom option, Tiny URL.com, backslash Capital D, the number two, Capital O, Capital C, Capital T, 22, Capital N, Capital D.

D2, October 22nd.

And there will also be a separate rezoning community meeting on Tuesday, October 29th at 6 p.m.

at Casa de Dios on Dickerson Pike to discuss the rezoning project at 520 Ewing Drive.

Thank you, Councilmember Toomes.

Councilmember Kuppen, you are recognized.

Thank you so much, uh Pro Tem.

A couple things.

Um, a little bit of sad news.

We did have a uh a house fire in Salem Town um Thursday evening.

Uh many thanks to the mayor who stopped by um to to make sure everything was okay.

Um, but the uh the family did have the family of three did have their house destroyed and are left with nothing but the clothing that they were wearing when they left the house.

Um they're longtime residents of Salem Town and native Nashvilleans.

Um they're staying with near nearby with extended family.

Um, but you can uh Venmo at Salemtown underscore neighbors or go to the Salemtown Neighbors.org uh website to consider donating um to support them.

They need uh they need a lot of assistance at this time, so everything helps.

Um, as Chair Prep T shared, early voting is tomorrow.