Nashville Metro Council Meeting - December 17, 2024
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Nashville Metro Council Meeting - December 17, 2024
The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County held its regular meeting on December 17, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Historic Metro Courthouse. The meeting included public hearings, approval of a consent agenda, and separate votes on several resolutions and ordinances. Key actions included adoption of a $527.17 million capital spending plan, confirmation of board appointments, and approval of multiple grants and contracts. The meeting also featured public comment on a proposed greenway connector and discussion of a controversial resolution regarding personnel policies on hate groups.
Consent Calendar
- All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (35-0). This included numerous resolutions and ordinances on second and third reading, such as:
- RS2024-917 to RS2024-954 (except items removed): approved agreements, grants, contracts, and proclamations.
- BL2024-595 to BL2024-637 (bills on second and third reading): approved zoning changes, easements, and infrastructure projects.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Stephanie Johnson (Madison resident) and Tyler Blankenship (Madison resident) spoke in support of an amendment to the capital spending plan (RS2024-882) to fund a feasibility study for a pedestrian path connecting Peeler Park to the Stones River Greenway. They emphasized equity, connectivity, and recreation.
- Chris Ashton (Germantown resident) also supported the pedestrian path, citing health, transportation savings, and the need for safer bike/ped infrastructure in Madison.
- Adam Holstead (North Nashville resident) raised concerns about noise from a nightclub near his home, requesting help from the city to address it.
Discussion Items
- Capital Spending Plan (RS2024-882): Councilmember Porterfield moved to adopt the $527.17 million general obligation bond resolution. Councilmember Hancock noted disappointment that her amendment for a Pedestrian Connector feasibility study was voted down in committee (3-4). Councilmember Styles declined to move her amendment for a multilingual welcome sign, citing positive committee discussions. Councilmembers asked about East Bank infrastructure costs (estimated as ongoing), convenience center funding, and NDOT project breakdowns. The resolution passed 35-0 with two abstentions (Kimbrough and Bradford).
- Lease Amendment for Liberty Collegiate Academy (RS2024-919): Councilmember Benedict explained the amendment reduces square footage at same rates. Passed 28-5.
- Grant from University of Nebraska (RS2024-931): Council suspended Rule 17 to allow the contract to be signed by Metro first due to the university’s similar rule. Adopted unanimously.
- Fire Inspection Contract Amendment (RS2024-939): Approved as amended (amendment added by Councilmember Porterfield). Passed unanimously.
- School Resource Officer Grant (RS2024-940): Accepted $ grant for SROs in MNPS and charter schools. Passed 30-4-2 (Porterfield, Welsch, Vo, Gadd voted no; Kimbrough and Lee abstained).
- Aerial Encroachment (RS2024-948): Authorized encroachment at 107 4th Ave N. Passed 30-1-6 (Porterfield no; six abstained).
- Resolution on Hate Groups and Water Cannons (RS2024-950): Councilmember Preptit introduced an amendment to narrow focus on Civil Service Commission policies. After debate (concerns about accusatory language vs. proactive measure), the amended resolution passed 31-5 (Webb, Eslick, Nash, Benton, Rutherford no). The resolution requests review of MNPD, DCSO, NFD, and Civil Service policies on hate groups, paramilitary gangs, and misuse of water cannons/fire hoses.
- Honoring Hwarang Joo (RS2024-951): Adopted unanimously.
- Congratulating WTVF NewsChannel 5 (RS2024-953): Adopted with all affirmative voters listed as cosponsors per Rule 12.3.
- Bills on Third Reading:
- BL2024-610 (mixed-use zoning at 12th Ave S & Beechwood) passed as amended (parking concerns addressed).
- BL2024-621 (zoning change at 4212 Ashland City Hwy) deferred to January 21, 2025.
- BL2024-628 (pedestrian signaling agreement) deferred to January 21, 2025.
- Rules of Procedure Amendments (H1, H2): Deferred to February 18, 2025, with a specially called committee meeting on January 28, 2025.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted Resolutions: RS2024-911 to RS2024-916 (beer permit exemptions except RS2024-915 deferred), RS2024-882 (capital spending plan), RS2024-919, RS2024-931, RS2024-939 (as amended), RS2024-940, RS2024-948, RS2024-950 (as amended), RS2024-951, RS2024-953.
- Confirmed Appointments: Anthony Pezzi, Brian Yunker (Mechanical/Plumbing/Electrical Board); Topania Byars, Shilan Haji (Metro Action Commission); Ericka Dixie (Solid Waste Region Board); Carol Westlake (Transportation/Licensing Commission); Jianwei Li (Wastewater Hearing Authority). All unanimous.
- Deferred Items: RS2024-915 (beer permit for Sauced) to Jan 21, 2025 with additional public hearing; BL2024-621 and BL2024-628 to Jan 21, 2025; Rules of Procedure amendments to Feb 18, 2025.
- Final Meeting of 2024: The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
All right, it is six o'clock. It is December seventeen, and we are going to go ahead and start announcements. Colleagues, we are starting announcements. We do not have a presentation today. Um, so if you would like to go ahead and start getting in the queue, um, please go ahead and do that. I do want to say happy holidays. I do see that the sweater competition this year is mid. Um, I hope you do better next year. First one up is Council Member Styles. Councilmember Styles, you are recognized. Councilmember Styles. Okay. Thank you, Pro Tem. Uh, the District Thirty Two December community meeting will be tomorrow night at six PM at the Southeast Community Center. We will be discussing uh community safety. We'll have Lieutenant Blair from MNPD. We will have a representative from Flock, and we will also have updates on Century Farms. So I hope to see you all there. Thank you so much. Thank you, Councilmember Styles. Um your non-sweater is a one out of ten. Councilmember Evans, you are recognized. The visitation is from eleven to twelve, and then his home going service is at noon. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Evans. Are there any other announcements? Council member though. I am pulling up my information really quick. Give me one second. Okay, I just want to remind everyone that we've got one more um holiday. Uh, kind of toy drive going on with Love Thy Neighbor. Uh, you can drop off uh unwrapped and new toys at four various locations. Uh, you can find that on at Love Thy Neighbor. You can go to uh my Instagram as well, um, to help uh families in our community. Um, and those will be distributed at the Easley Community Center later this month. So we have until Thursday, December nineteenth, um, to get that going on, and want to thank everyone who has been participating in the street sweeping program. Uh, and to remember that we are still doing that the first and second Thursdays of the month. And to um message me if they need to know which side of the road, uh, their street is being cleared on. Thank you so much. Thank you, Councilmember Vo. That's a great sweater. Are there any other members with announcements? Council Member Harrell, you are recognized. Thank you, Proto. District A will be having a virtual community meeting on Thursday, December nineteenth at six PM via WebEx. Uh, we will be discussing a potential zoning change at two, three, three, four hobson Pike. And we will have members of their team um to discuss of this potential development. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember. Are there any other council members with announcements?
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