The Metropolitan Council met on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Historic Metro Courthouse. The meeting focused on the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, which left over 216,000 customers without power and caused five confirmed deaths. Council members expressed gratitude to city workers, and several resolutions addressed recovery. A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments on budget priorities, particularly affordable housing and eviction protections. Multiple zoning and land-use ordinances were passed or deferred.
Good evening, everyone. Today is February the 3rd, and I am calling this announcement period to order. I want to open by acknowledging that this meeting is being held on the unceded stolen land of the Cherokee, Shiny, and Yuchi people, and to remind you all that no one is illegal on stolen land built by stolen labor. I want to thank all of the line workers who have been working around the clock to restore power for the many residents of Nashville who lost power after an unprecedented storm. Thank you to everyone, all of our city employees and all of our workers that have been working to try to get people restored as quickly as possible. Also, want to make sure that our residents know that there are services and resources available to them on Nashville.gov, as well as many council members have been sharing out those resources. So please make sure if you are in need of uh support, please make sure uh to reach out. Um, you can reach out to your council members, you could go to Nashville.gov to get that information. Also, the mayor has announced a commission that will have nine members to which will serve of community leaders, experts in utility infrastructure, emergency response, and crisis communication. Uh, this commission will investigate um if there was anything that uh NES or the city could have been done for to be better prepared uh to address this storm. Uh, the commission's initial report is due no later than six months after the first meeting. Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and myself have been named as two individuals on that nine member uh commission, and again, it is empowered to review and investigate NES's preparation and response to the storm, as well as the response from Metro and other agencies, as well as make recommendations on policy changes to improve response times and reduce significant delays and power restoration. Lastly, before we uh open up the rest of the announcements, I would like to wish everyone a happy Black History Month. Black History Month, which started off as Negro History Week by Carter G. Woodson is now something that has been celebrated uh time and time again, and I would like to wish everyone a happy Black History Month. I see some of my colleagues in the minority caucus hanging around the podium. So I am going to uh kick it over to you all, Council Member Sorry, you're recognized. Thank you, bro. Um, it's my honor this evening to present a resolution honoring uh one of the individuals in the community that I've done a little walk. And so this is resolution number highest 2025, 1657. A resolution honoring Clemen Greenley for a service and dedication, the less privileged in Nashville and Davidson County. Whereas Miss Clement Greenley and native of Nashville has transformed on Imagineable Losion to ill communities and power mothers and guide youth away from violence through a leadership as founder and CEO of Nashville Peacemakers and whereas Green Lee was raised in an environment where poverty and violence were commonplace, resultingly, she fell victim to sex trafficking, leading to years of drug addiction, homelessness, prostitution, and incarceration. And whereas after the murder of her son related to gang violence, Miss Greenley was inspired to begin Nashville Peacemakers in 2003. Nashville Peacemakers is a nonprofit that focuses on stopping violence in the community. And whereas Nashville Peacemakers promote nonviolence through three pillars that seek to teach both basic life skills and self-worth during their most vulnerable years. Another program provides peer support, advocacy, and healing spaces for grieving mothers recovering from the murder of their children. And whereas through the Nashville Peacemaker Straight Talk program, Clemmy Greenley has prevented more than a dozen retaliatory gang shootings and received a CD to deter youth from becoming involved with gangs. Straight Talk has expanded its work to go into prisons in Davidson County and across the nation to lower recidivism and help ease the transition from incarceration from incarcerated life and whereas her work has reached beyond city limits to influence state policy, serving as a community partner in the development and advocacy of House Bill 1021, landmark legislation expanding access to Tennessee's victims compensation funds unanimously through both chambers in 2024. Whereas Miss Greenley is a valued partner of the Healed People, Heal People Campaign, a statewide initiative educating victims of violence about available resources and fostering community-based healing and violence prevention efforts. She has served as a lead organizer for the Homeless Power Project and volunteers with the Center for Community Change, Nashville's NAACP, Jobs with Justice, and the Urban Epicenter. And whereas every year she hosts Clemmy G's Community Community Day Festival, a Nashville tradition, bringing together youth, survivors, local artists, small businesses, and returning citizens to celebrate unity, redemption, and the power of community healing. And whereas Miss Green Miss Greenlee's continues her devotion to community even through continued trials and tribulations. In 2017, Miss Greenlee noticed a problem with her heart during a straight talk speech at San Quentin Prison in California. She was diagnosed with broken heart syndrome requiring a heart transplant. Since then, Miss Greenlee has made a full recovery and continues her outreach. Praise God. And whereas Miss Greenlee's extra extraordinary contributions have been recognized both in Nashville and across the nation through honors and awards, including the 2025 MBK Outreach Impact Award, the 2018 Nashville Legend Award, the 2007 Nashville of the Year Award from the Nashville scene, a Soros Justice Fellowship, and many others. And whereas in 2024, the School of the Great Commission Bible College and Seminary saw it fit to honor her dedication to her faith and her community by awarding Miss Clemmy Greenlee an honorary doctorate in Christian humanities. And whereas her story of transformation and resilience is featured in the 2025 document documentary, Clemmy G unfiltered. Which chronicles her journey from survivor to national advocate, inspiring generations to believe that healing and justice coexist. The film was honored as the best short story documentary and 2025 International Black Film Festival. And whereas throughout her life's walk, Miss Greenley has embodied the spirit of radical love and fearless compassion, standing as living proved that one person's courage can ignited movement of peace, restoration, and hope. Nashville and Davidson County have been better true of tireless work and endless compassion. Now, therefore, beat resolved by the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. The Metropolitan County Council goes on record as recognizing Miss Clemen Greenley for a dedication to the people of Nashville and Davidson County. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the wealth of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Greenley. First of all, I want to take a bow to my God. Second, I want to take a bow to the people in back of me.