The Metropolitan Council convened on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Historic Metro Courthouse for its first regular meeting of the year. The meeting included approval of appointments, public comment, a rules change, public hearings on numerous zoning and land-use items, and divisive debate over several resolutions accepting state grant funds from the Nashville Downtown Partnership for police equipment. Key outcomes included the passage of a voluntary attainable housing incentive program, the adoption of a fence permit ordinance, and the final approval of the TPAC development agreement on the east bank.
And I would like to welcome everyone to the Metropolitan Council. Happy New Year to you all, and I want to open this meeting by acknowledging that this meeting is being held on the unceded stolen land of the Cherokee Shiny and Yuchi people, and remind you that no one is illegal on stolen land that was built by stolen labor. Before we start our announcement period presentations for today, uh, I do want to acknowledge that we do have the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta with us today for their third Delta Day at the Metropolitan City Council. These are the members of the Nashville Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sority Incorporated and its Social Action Committee. Thank you all for joining us today, and thank you all for your service. Thank you so very much. And our first uh resolution we have today is a resolution recognizing human trafficking awareness month by Council Member Gadd. This is a rec resolution recognized in January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Nashville and Davidson County. Councilmember Gay, you are recognized. Whereas human trafficking is a high heinous act that involves the exploitation of adults and children for sex or labor and harms public safety and health. And whereas the treatment court was formed in January 2016 as cherished hearts at the suggestion of assistant district attorneys Tammy Meade and Deb Smith, who returned to Nashville after a conference with the idea of starting a treatment court for justice involved survivors of human trafficking and whereas the program's strategic approach allows victims of sexual trauma to reduce the psychological harm of traditional court processes, connects participants with services and provides an opportunity for victims of sexual trauma to leave their exploiter and whereas Athena's Court, now presided over by Judge Anna L. Escobar will celebrate his 10th anniversary on February 2026. And it's fitting and proper for the Metropolitan Council to recognize the treatment court for its decade of conscientious service to Nashville and David County. And oh well that much happened. Thank you. Whereas Human Trafficking Awareness Month provides an opportunity to recognize the critical partnership, state and local governments, victim service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations, along with the role of all Nashville and Davison County residents to prevent and respond to these crimes and to serve victims and survivors. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record. It's recognizing January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Nashville and Davidson County and recognizing the 10th anniversary of Athena's Court and the Davidson Davidson County General Sessions Court. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption. The welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it. Well done, welcome. Speaker Pro Tem, I would like to invite uh just for a moment, uh Judge Escobar and Amala Amanda Clellan from Thistle Farms to share just a brief word and then we'll gather for a photo and we'll appreciate our colleague for taking that photo. So thank you so much to the Metro Council and especially for uh council lady uh Brenda Gadd and all of you for supporting us. Um we are deeply grateful for your continued support of our treatment court and for taking the issue of human trafficking seriously. Your commitment sends a powerful message that survivors matter and they deserve a real pathway to safety and independence. I also want to thank my incredible staff and team that are all here. Um they work around the clock 24-7 to ensure our participants feel supported, seen, and never alone. Their dedication is the heart of Athena's court. I especially want to thank Grace Gera, who applied for our current grant. Because of her work, we've been able to hire this outstanding staff and team and provide our participants with the critical benefits that helps them take their first step forward into independent living. And finally, I want to thank all our community partners for the last 10 years. Your daily collaboration helps us maintain safety and support for our participants as they work towards stability and independence. We could not do this work without you. So thank you again for believing in this mission and the people we serve. On behalf of Thistle Farms, we are grateful to the Metro Council for once again recognizing human trafficking awareness month. It is an issue that is so often misunderstood, dramatized, and stigmatized, and can be perceived as a moral failing or a choice. But as Thistle Farms founder Becca Stevens puts it, if you think prostitution was a choice, what do you think were the options? That's because people are often trafficked by intimate partners and by their own family members. They can be exploited by a trafficker taking advantage of someone who is vulnerable after experiencing a trauma. And people can be trafficked as a result of food and housing insecurity and by the failure of the very systems that were meant to provide support and options in the first place. Human trafficking is a community issue that demands a community response. The Nashville I know and love is known for coming together during moments of crisis and disaster, so I know we can rise to the occasion and look out for one another in this too. Thank you again. Again, thank you so much. And um, for anyone like to take a photo, we'll take a photo now, and I will also grab your proclamation copies. Thank you so much, Councilmember Gayett. We'll do a real quick photo. We do have another resolution um uh immediately after do it like this, and then if you guys so much. Thank you so much. And next we have a resolution honoring the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center.