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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Nashville Metro Council Meeting - September 2, 2025

Metropolitan Council — Tuesday, September 2, 2025

BodyNashville, Tennessee

SessionMetropolitan Council

DateTuesday, September 2, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:37:47

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:20

Period.

1:21

I'm also back.

1:24

You guys thought that last meeting was my last one, but no, it's this one.

1:28

This is my last one.

1:29

No, you can't boo.

1:31

You elected me.

1:32

Now I'm here.

1:34

So this is my last one.

1:36

So yay.

1:38

That means we will be practicing our Duolingua one more time.

1:43

But first we have one presentation by Councilmember Toombs.

1:50

Councilmember Toombs, are you ready?

1:52

Five minutes.

1:52

All right.

1:54

In the meantime, if you all have announcements, go ahead, get in the queue.

2:04

We are sitting on Cherokee, Shawnee, and Yuchi People Land.

2:10

Uh, which is a reminder that no one is illegal on stolen land.

2:17

All right.

2:18

So if you all could go ahead and get in the queue.

2:23

Um, we will um just go ahead and get started with council member announcements.

2:30

Um, I'll go first.

2:32

Uh, you all will be receiving an email from me later today.

2:36

Um, probably coming from Rosie.

2:39

Uh, the vice mayor has asked me to uh help coordinate council members for uh the Labor Day parade again this year, which will be on Saturday.

2:52

So look out for that.

2:53

If you all would like to march and then at the picnic, uh those details will be sent to you all later today.

3:03

So come join in the festivities as we uh recognize the people who helped make this city run.

3:11

Um, again, that will be this Saturday, the Labor Day Parade.

3:17

All right.

3:18

Uh, first in the queue.

3:25

Golden Alban on the fly line.

3:29

The reminder for residents in District 13 that this month I have moved up our office hours to next Saturday, the 13th, same time, 9 to 11, at the Duncan on Bradley Parkway.

3:40

Duncan.

3:47

Shalom, everyone.

3:49

Um appreciate chair you uh for ProTem elevating the Labor Day parade on Saturday, September 6th at 9 a.m.

3:59

Um, additionally, I wanted to share that the 20th 25 Labor Day week of action is coming up.

4:05

Um, and so on September the second at seven, which is today in an hour.

4:12

So if you would like to not be here, we should be here.

4:14

But if you didn't want to, it's the SAG After Ray Charles celebration, 813 Third Avenue South.

4:19

Um, September 4th at 630 p.m.

4:22

is the Wilson County NAACP Labor Day panel at 408 South Maple Street.

4:27

September 4th at 630 p.m.

4:29

is also the Harlan County USA screening at the Bell Court Theater.

4:33

And finally, September 6th, 9 30 a.m.

4:36

is Labor Day Parade and celebration at 801 Broadway.

4:39

So thanks for uh thanks for recognizing Labor Day week with all of us, and we hope to see you out there.

4:53

Thank you, Madam Proxum.

4:55

We'll miss you.

4:56

Thank you for your service.

5:00

I just wanted to announce that we are having the Ethiopian Day celebration in Nashville.

5:04

It's an annual community event hosted by the Ethiopian Community Association in Nashville to commensurate the Ethiopian New Year.

5:12

So it is a cultural festival and civic gathering bringing together Ethiopian Ethiopian Americans, their friends, neighbors, and local officials to honor the contributions of the Ethiopian community and to celebrate Nashville's diversity.

5:25

And that will be this Sunday, September the 7th from 1 to 8 p.m.

5:28

is 7 Oaks Park, located at 3474 McGavic Pike.

5:33

Gracias, Concejal Porterfield, Concejal Vocida.

5:38

Thank you so much, Pro Tem.

5:40

We've got lots going on in District 17 for September.

5:45

Just want to invite everyone to the Nashville Fair.

5:48

That will be coming to the National Fairgrounds from September 5th through the 14th.

5:53

And you know, the national fair was founded in 2022, but honors the rich history of the Tennessee State Fair, which was at the fairgrounds until 2019.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural██████████████████████████████30%

Zoning and Land Use█████████████████████21%

Youth Programs█████████████13%

Governance Structure███████7%

Public Transportation█████5%

Affordable Housing████4%

Public Safety████4%

Audit Committee███3%

Community Engagement██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Nashville Metropolitan Council Regular Meeting - September 2, 2025

The Metropolitan Council convened on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Metropolitan Courthouse. The meeting featured elections for leadership positions, multiple public hearings on zoning ordinances, and the adoption of resolutions and consent agenda items. Mayor O'Connell also issued a proclamation honoring the Parkwood 8-and-under All-Stars for their third-place finish in the Diamond Youth Baseball World Series.

Consent Calendar

Approved the minutes of the August 19, 2025 meeting.
Adopted 15 resolutions and numerous ordinances on second and third reading, including:
- Resolutions accepting grants, settling claims (total $595,434.50), and authorizing infrastructure agreements.
- Ordinances authorizing water/sewer easements and encroachments.
All consent items were approved unanimously by a vote of 32-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Steve Ryder opposed BL2025-1011 (lease agreement for Commerce Center Park), arguing it would constitute a "net loss of park space" and that the proposed lease gave the applicant too much control over park operations.
Gil Schwett opposed BL2025-954 (sightseeing vehicle regulations), stating that the Nashville Department of Transportation director testified the bill was unnecessary and that a supporting traffic study was not credible.
Chris Mataram (representing Old Town Trolley) supported BL2025-954, arguing that seated sightseeing vehicles should be regulated separately from party buses to provide clarity.
Austin Williams spoke in support of affordable housing policies, sharing his personal experience of homelessness and criticizing government spending priorities.

Discussion Items

Elections

President Pro Tempore: Council Member Delishia Porterfield defeated Council Member Russ Bradford after a tie-breaking vote by the Vice Mayor (19-18-1).
Planning and Zoning Committee Chair / Planning Commission Rep: Council Member Rollin Horton defeated Council Member John Rutherford (20-19).
Traffic and Parking Commission Rep: Council Member Sean Parker defeated Council Member Jeff Eslick (25-14).
Metro Audit Committee: Council Member Jason Spain was elected on the first ballot (20 votes). After three rounds, Council Member Delishia Porterfield was elected on the fourth round (20-19).
Short Term Rental Appeals Board: Council Member Tom Cash was elected by acclamation.

Confirmations

Confirmed reappointments of Ramon (Andy) Berry, Devinder Sandhu, and C. William (Bill) McKee, and the appointment of Matthew C. Smith to various boards (all votes unanimous).

Public Hearings on Zoning Bills

BL2025-796 (107 East Campbell Road, rezone from RS20 to CS-A-NS): Passed second reading.
BL2025-862/863 (W. Trinity Lane, 17 multi-family units, SP with material restrictions): Passed second reading.
BL2025-908 (Beer and cigarette market regulations): Passed second reading; a substitute is expected on third reading after discussion with planning.
BL2025-946 (41 Rachel Drive, rezone to IWD): Passed second reading.
BL2025-949 (Notices of violation for subsequent offenses): A motion to defer failed 17-19; the bill passed second reading.
BL2025-976/977/978/979/980/981/982/983/984/985/986/987/988/989/990/991/992/993/994: All passed second reading, with BL2025-987/988 (Nolensville Pike, 273 multi-family units) drawing public comments both for and against.
BL2025-727 (800 Gwynn Drive) deferred to October 9 due to notice issues.
BL2025-909 (Commercial Compatibility Overlay) deferred to October 9.
BL2025-958 (Electric Vehicle Charging Facility) deferred to October 9.

Resolutions

RS2025-1100 (Youth Policy Working Group): Adopted after substitution (33-0).
RS2025-1433 (Air Pollution Grant): Adopted after substitution (33-0).
RS2025-1463 (University of Nebraska Grant): Adopted after suspension of Rule 17 (32-0).

Bills on Second Reading

BL2025-948 (Property standards code violations): Passed with substitute; requires weekly reports to council.
BL2025-954 (Sightseeing vehicles): Deferred one meeting with re-referral to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
BL2025-955 (Motor vehicle noise): Withdrawn by sponsor.
BL2025-956 (Abandoned vehicles): Passed substitute, then deferred to October 21 with referral to Traffic and Parking Commission and re-referral to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
BL2025-995 (Vegetative growth): Deferred one meeting by rule.

Bills on Third Reading

BL2025-837 (Eliminate parking minimum for bars): Deferred one meeting.
BL2025-874/875 (Kings Lane, 48 multi-family units): Deferred one meeting.

Key Outcomes

Council Member Delishia Porterfield elected President Pro Tempore.
Council Member Rollin Horton elected Planning and Zoning Committee Chair.
Council Member Sean Parker elected Traffic and Parking Commission Representative.
Council Members Jason Spain and Delishia Porterfield elected to Metro Audit Committee.
Council Member Tom Cash elected to Short Term Rental Appeals Board.
Four board appointments confirmed.
Over 20 zoning ordinances passed on second reading; several deferred.
Resolutions on youth policy, air quality, and grant funding adopted.
Multiple bills deferred for further committee review.

Meeting Transcript

Period. I'm also back. You guys thought that last meeting was my last one, but no, it's this one. This is my last one. No, you can't boo. You elected me. Now I'm here. So this is my last one. So yay. That means we will be practicing our Duolingua one more time. But first we have one presentation by Councilmember Toombs. Councilmember Toombs, are you ready? Five minutes. All right. In the meantime, if you all have announcements, go ahead, get in the queue. We are sitting on Cherokee, Shawnee, and Yuchi People Land. Uh, which is a reminder that no one is illegal on stolen land. All right. So if you all could go ahead and get in the queue. Um, we will um just go ahead and get started with council member announcements. Um, I'll go first. Uh, you all will be receiving an email from me later today. Um, probably coming from Rosie. Uh, the vice mayor has asked me to uh help coordinate council members for uh the Labor Day parade again this year, which will be on Saturday. So look out for that. If you all would like to march and then at the picnic, uh those details will be sent to you all later today. So come join in the festivities as we uh recognize the people who helped make this city run. Um, again, that will be this Saturday, the Labor Day Parade. All right. Uh, first in the queue. Golden Alban on the fly line. The reminder for residents in District 13 that this month I have moved up our office hours to next Saturday, the 13th, same time, 9 to 11, at the Duncan on Bradley Parkway. Duncan. Shalom, everyone. Um appreciate chair you uh for ProTem elevating the Labor Day parade on Saturday, September 6th at 9 a.m. Um, additionally, I wanted to share that the 20th 25 Labor Day week of action is coming up. Um, and so on September the second at seven, which is today in an hour. So if you would like to not be here, we should be here. But if you didn't want to, it's the SAG After Ray Charles celebration, 813 Third Avenue South. Um, September 4th at 630 p.m. is the Wilson County NAACP Labor Day panel at 408 South Maple Street. September 4th at 630 p.m. is also the Harlan County USA screening at the Bell Court Theater. And finally, September 6th, 9 30 a.m. is Labor Day Parade and celebration at 801 Broadway. So thanks for uh thanks for recognizing Labor Day week with all of us, and we hope to see you out there. Thank you, Madam Proxum. We'll miss you. Thank you for your service. I just wanted to announce that we are having the Ethiopian Day celebration in Nashville.

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