Metropolitan Council Meeting - December 3, 2024
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Metropolitan Council Meeting - December 3, 2024
The Metropolitan Council met on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Historic Metro Courthouse. The meeting included elections, appointments, public comment, public hearings on zoning ordinances, a consent agenda, and several individual resolutions. A central focus was the debate and vote on a contract amendment with Fusus (RS2024-792), which ultimately failed. Key outcomes included the election of two board members, confirmation of multiple appointments, approval of grants and settlements, and deferral of several items.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda included numerous resolutions and ordinances that had received unanimous committee approval. Items covered acceptance of grants, contracts, infrastructure donations, honorary resolutions, and routine ordinances on second and third reading. All items on the consent agenda were approved by a vote of 37 in favor, 0 against.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public comment focused primarily on resolution RS2024-792 (Fusus contract amendment). Eleven speakers registered, with six speaking in support and five in opposition.
- Supporters: Danny Ayala (general manager of Hampton Inn, Dickerson Pike), Jeanette Barker (Nashville Downtown Partnership), David Steed (private citizen), Verna Wyatt (co-founder, Tennessee Voices for Victims), Stephen Hirsch (District 25 resident), and an additional speaker. They argued that Fusus provides critical tools for rapid crime response, victim support, and law enforcement efficiency, and that safeguards in the substitute address misuse concerns.
- Opponents: Craig Bardo (Veterans for Peace), Bobby Watts (CEO, National Health Care for the Homeless Council), Stephen Watts (District 10 resident), Ezra Howard (researcher), and Judith Clairjoan (advocacy director, TIRRC Votes). They raised concerns about surveillance overreach, lack of proven effectiveness, potential for abuse against immigrant and marginalized communities, and the need for community-based safety solutions.
Discussion Items
- Elections and Appointments: Council elected Kenya Payne (33 votes) and Becky Sharpe (31 votes) to the Health and Educational Facilities Board. Multiple appointments to boards and commissions were confirmed unanimously after committee review.
- RS2024-792 (Fusus Contract Amendment): The resolution to extend and expand the Fusus surveillance technology contract sparked extensive debate. A substitute was offered by Councilmember Evans, including provisions for immediate termination if misuse arises, prohibition of facial recognition and AI, and requiring council oversight of terms. An amendment by Councilmember Styles further defined misuse. After multiple failed attempts to call the previous question, the vote on the final substituted and amended resolution failed (20 yes, 18 no).
- RS2024-879 (Environmental Justice Grant): Councilmember Kimbrough explained her no vote, stating that only $500,000 of the $20 million grant would go to a feasibility study for a closed landfill in her district, insufficient for the environmental needs.
- RS2024-905 (Traffic Enforcement Resolution): Deferred to January 21, 2025, to allow community conversations on equitable enforcement.
- Honorary Resolutions: Resolutions honoring the lives of Alyssa Lokits and Bill Freeman were adopted with all members voting in the affirmative added as co-sponsors.
Key Outcomes
- Elected: Kenya Payne and Becky Sharpe to the Health and Educational Facilities Board (33 and 31 votes, respectively).
- Confirmed: Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar (Metropolitan Action Commission), Sam Petschulat (Property Standards and Appeals Board), Freddie Carr (Transportation and Licensing Commission), Patrick McNally (Transportation and Licensing Commission), Jennifer Dodd, Katy Duryea, Jay Tant, and Robert Wingfield (Wastewater Hearing Authority) – all unanimously.
- RS2024-792 (Fusus) – Failed (20 yes, 18 no).
- RS2024-879 (Environmental Grant) – Passed (30 yes, 1 no).
- RS2024-890 (Settlement – Sara Davis) – Passed (30 yes, 0 no).
- RS2024-904 (Settlement – Paula Lewis) – Passed (31 yes, 1 no).
- RS2024-906 (Honoring Bill Freeman) – Passed unanimously.
- BL2024-628 (Pedestrian signaling agreement) – Passed on second reading as substituted.
- Deferrals: BL2024-594 (bar/nightclub definition) deferred to January 21, 2025; BL2024-623 (rezoning at Old Hickory Blvd) deferred to February 4, 2025; RS2024-905 (traffic enforcement) deferred to January 21, 2025.
- All other public hearing ordinances on second reading (BL2024-595, 598, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612 as substituted, 616, 617, 618, 620, 621 as substituted, 622) passed.
Meeting Transcript
All right. It is 6 04. It is December 3rd, and we are going to start announcement period. We do have two presentations. The first one is by Councilmember Stiles. It is to honor uh Dr. Glenda Glover. Oh, uh, I'm sorry. Uh Councilmember Wiener will be going first. Um Councilmember Wiener, are you ready? Yes. Okay. Great. Thank you, Chair. I appreciate it. Um, this is resolution number RS 2024, 874. And it is a resolution honoring the life of Alice Zimmerman. Whereas longtime Nashvillean Alice Zimmerman passed away on August 8th, 2024. Alice was a leader in the Nashville community with a deep love for the arts. And whereas Alice served as the executive director of the Metro Arts Commission, where she helped with the creation of the annual Summer Lights Music and Arts Festival, which ran from 1981 until 1980, 1997. And whereas Alice also co-founded Artrageous, the annual Art Crawl event and benefit for Nashville CARES, which raised thousands of dollars each year to provide comprehensive and compassionate support for people with HIV and AIDS. And whereas with Nancy Saturn, Alice co-owned the Zimmerman Saturn Gallery on 2nd Avenue, one of the fire first art galleries in downtown Nashville. And whereas her dedication to the community did not stop at the arts, her service continued as a board member of Maharry Medical College and co-founder and first board chair of the Mary Parish Center, as well as her as work with many other organizations. She also established the Special Advocate of Victims of Violence program at the Nashville Knight Court. And whereas in 2003, Alice was awarded the Academy for Women of Achievement Award from the YWCA. And whereas she was an involved member of her faith, serving as a board member of the Jewish Family Service, and served as president of the National Council of Jewish Women. She was also an integral part of the Temple Arts Festival. And whereas the family was the utmost importance to her. Thank you so much. Like I said, I've got other sports. There you go. You can yep, you can hold it that way or show the seal either way. All right, while they take the pictures, uh, council members, are you able to get in the queue for announcements? No. All right. Oh, it does work. Uh Councilmember Huffman was lying for the record. Okay. Uh we do have one more presentation, but if you all could start getting in the queue for afterwards, that would be great. All right. Up next is Council Member Styles for her presentation. I'm just heard part of it here just today. Literally, I'll take it. Thank you. Really a huge difference making lucky to have shared her with you. Thank you so much. Okay. Councilmember Styles, are you ready? I'm almost there, Pro Tem. Thank you so much.
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