The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County held its regular meeting on February 4, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Historic Metro Courthouse. The meeting covered a wide range of appointments, public comments, hearings on resolutions and ordinances, and final votes on third-reading bills. Key outcomes included confirmation of several board appointments, passage of beer permit exemptions, approval of a consent agenda with numerous items, and a contentious debate leading to the passage of a nighttime code enforcement memorandum of understanding.
I believe Councilmember Stiles has a presentation. Councilmember Styles, are you ready? The first presentation is for the Ford Ice Center. Give me one second, Councilmember Styles. Sandy. Sandy. We're up there. It's hard today. Am I on? Okay. Excellent. Thank you very much, Pro Tem. I appreciate it. We do have two presentations. This evening I am taking over one and the other one is mine. So we're going to get started. Uh council members, if you are we'll get somebody to take a picture. You can come and be over here. Um the first that we're going to do is a resolution recognizing January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Nashville and Davidson County. Whereas human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, manipulation, purchasing, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of commercial sex acts or forced labor for the use of force, fraud, deception, or coercion. And whereas human trafficking victims can be of any age, sex, race, or background, with particularly vulnerable populations, including children, survivors of child abuse, runaway and homeless youth, victims of interpersonal and intimate partner violence, those struggling with substance abuse disorders, and those impacted by conflict, poverty or the failure of systems meant to support community members in their time of need. And whereas human trafficking encompasses prostitution, escorting online advertisements, digital platforms, and all forms of commercial sexual exploitation and whereas the existence of human trafficking in today's society recognizes that for many the perceived choice to sell one's body arises from a lack of safer, more accessible, and dignified options and resources, and whereas human trafficking robs victims of their safety, freedom, and dignity, tears apart families and communities, fuels interpersonal violence, and undermines the security of society at large. And whereas Davidson County is home to several organizations providing direct services, support, and advocacy to and on of behalf of survivors of human trafficking, prostitution, and commercials, sexual exploitation, including but not limited to the Metropolitan Nashville Office of Family Safety, Thessal Farms, ACOA, Tennessee, and the Nashville Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition Coalition, and whereas the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Court Systems, and the Davidson County District Attorney's Office have committed to combat human trafficking through legislative efforts, robust policy implementation, and collaborative partnerships aimed at eradicating this immoral enterprise. And whereas dedicating a month to promote education, awareness, resources, and community efforts will equip Nashville residents with the tools to identify and address human trafficking, support survivors, prevent exploitation, and ow perpetrators accountable. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the council of the Metropolitan Government of Davidson County, the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as recognizing January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Nashville and Davidson County, encouraging all residents to join in efforts to raise awareness, support survivors, and end human trafficking. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption. The welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it. Okay, well, we we do have a Amanda McClellan here, but she has decided that she wants to be shy. So we want to thank you for the work that you're doing. Thank you very much for allowing us to honor the work that you are doing. And I think we want to take photos now, if you don't mind. Okay. Okay. Come in, come in, come in. If you'll hold this, and we can all squeeze. Some people are gonna have to come on this side. We balance we need one more. Yeah, yeah. Okay, good. Okay. There you go. Say something. Did you get all of us? Yeah. Okay, awesome thoughts. Okay, fantastic. Thank you, Councilmember Allen. Um, I wanted to briefly before we roll into our next presentation. I just wanted to let the public know that tonight we're standing here in support. You see so many of us in blue, we're wearing blue ribbons or blue clothing or Antioch blue t-shirts supporting Antioch High School in Antioch.