For continuing to have that history live out in real life.

We truly appreciate it.

So at this moment, we're gonna read the resolution and then we'll have uh Chair Montree uh Jones Holmes to come and say a homes Jones, I'm sorry, uh to come and say a few things for us.

Resolution number RS 2025 1622, a resolution recognizing the Jefferson Street Historical Side for its work towards the economic and cultural revitalization of historic Jefferson Street in North Nashville.

And whereas the Jefferson Street Historical Society was established to amplify preserve and protect the rich cultural, educational, and musical heritage of historic Jefferson Street and its 90 black-owned businesses and whereas Jefferson Street is longs to does a beacon of black excellence and entrepreneurship, home to triving businesses, churches, universities, and music venues that define generations of Nashville's cultural identity and whereas the Deferson the Jefferson Street Historical Society as a group of merchants, residents, and advocates work together to preserve the shared history of the community and create a sustainable future for it by promoting cooperative economic efforts and whereas the society has worked to evoke preservation guidelines to provide an improved presentation of historic Jefferson Street and aims to preserve and protect the street's culture and commerce and community and whereas the society's effort not only honor the past but also inform the present, inspiring ongoing revitalization throughout North Nashville and whereas it is fitting and proper for the Metropolitan Council to recognize the commitment of the Jefferson Street Historical Society, which exemplifies community-driven leadership, civic engagement, and its dedication to preserving Nashville shared heritage and now therefore be it resolved by the council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Section One, the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing the Jefferson Street Historical Society for its commitment to revitalization of Jefferson Street in North Nashville.

This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much, everyone.

We appreciate it on this day, Mardi Gras Day and other places.

Perfect day to celebrate, but we appreciate the validation.

Validation is very important because we like you are doing the community work right on the street uh for our people, with our people every day, and so it's important to uh get this support.

Um validation that Jefferson Street's legacy and culture and its contributions are vital to Nashville.

Uh it's not just a history moment, it's a moment that happens and it's making new history every day.

We're proud of our 128 parcels, our 90 black owned businesses, uh three HBCUs, our two historic banks, our two uh uh Matthew Walker, we gotta count that, uh two union uh uh hospitals.

So we're we're appreciative of this moment.

We thank Councilman uh Brandon Taylor, and we also thank Councilman Cooper and the Black Caucus and the Minority Caucus and the Women Caucus and anybody who said everybody there by caucus who said that they would put their name on this thing, and we appreciate it because we are working hard and we love to continue to work alongside you all to transform and amplify historic Jefferson Street.

Thank you so much.

We're coming here.

We're gonna come to L Danielle first, please.

Yes, we appreciate you.

We appreciate you.

Thank you.

Thank you all so very much.

And now that we've had that presentation, I'm gonna go ahead and open up the announcement period.

I want to open up by acknowledging that this meeting is being held on the unseated stolen land of the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Yuchi people, and to remind you all that no one is illegal on stolen land built by stolen labor.

With that, do we have any council members that would like to be recognized for the announcement period?

Uh first in the queue.

I see council member uh Sorora, followed by Councilmember Toombs.

Councilmember Sorora, you're recognized.

Can I raise my hand?

All right, we're gonna go to Councilmember Toombs first, and then we'll go to Councilmember Sora.

Councilmember Toombs, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Uh, just a reminder on Monday, February the 23rd at 6 30 p.m.

is the monthly district two community meeting in the William D.

Boldenhamer building, which is one moment, Councilmember Toombs.

We are in our announcement period, everyone.

We cannot hear the announcements, so appreciate if y'all go in the hallway.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate y'all being here.

Councilmember Toombs, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Uh, a reminder again for the monthly district two community meeting will be next Monday, February the 23rd at 6 30 p.m.

in the William D.

Bodenhamer building.

That's the building that houses the North Precinct.

We will be meeting in the community room.

There's also a Zoom link uh that you can reach out to me and get that link or look on my Facebook page or my newsletter for that link, as well as the meetings are always um live streamed on Facebook.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Is there a uh reception that you wanted to announce?

Oh Lord, thank you.

There, the minority caucus is also hosting this annual uh reception on Tuesday, February the 24th, starting at 5 30 p.m.

at the Cal Turner Center on Mahary's campus.

Thank you so very much.

Thank you so much, madam chair.

Uh next we have Councilmember Bradford, followed by Councilmember Gamble.

Then we'll go to Councilmember Sora.

I'm so sorry, I forgot Councilmember Sora has somewhere to go.

Council may I get Councilmember Sora because she has to step out.

Council Member Sora, you're recognized.

Thank you, and I apologize.

Uh apologies, guy.

Um, I wanted to say that uh the beginning of the lunar month this time is the beginning of Ramadan.

Uh the Muslim only month of fasting, and fasting starts tomorrow for the next uh 29 or 30 days.

Uh this is an opportunity for those of you that don't know where Ramadan is to step into a mosque uh uh to get to know your Muslim neighbors.

Uh uh, and so I wanted to uh announce that there's a couple of events happening uh in Nashville around the so many mosques.

So this time around the mosque actually coming together and do the joint events so that way you're not put into where do I go?

And so the first one will be on this Sunday, February 22nd, will be at the Islamic Center of Nashville on 12th South, and then on February 26th, it will be at Al Farook Islamic Center, which is at uh 67 Thompson Lane on February um February Saturday, February 28th, it will be in Antioch with the Islamic Center of Tennessee.

On March 4th, we'll be at Saladin, which is the Kodish Mosque, uh on uh Elisiming Elysian Fields, and then you have one on March 8th, uh that will be at the Bellevue Mosque.

So this is happening everywhere around the city, and so there's a place to go to.

Uh uh people can find more information at the Islamic Center of National website and the social media, and they can find the dates uh that works for them 22nd, 26th, 28th, 4th, and 8th.

So this will be mostly Saturdays and Sundays uh for the next uh month.

And so with that, I invite everyone, but I also want to say uh I put Amadan to all the people that are fasting, and I pray I wish for blessings, uh, whether you're fasting or not during during this early month and always.

Thank you, Pro Tim.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Um if we could get a little bit of respect for the council members when they are given these announcements.

It is hard to hear over so many side conversations.

So we appreciate that people need to have conversations, but if you could please step out of the chambers to have those conversations, we can't hear the council members that are making announcements.

In the queue, we have council members Bradford, Gamber, Gamble, Taylor, and then vote.

Councilmember Bradford, thank you so much for your patience.

I appreciate it.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh, just reminder for residents district 13.

The Saturday is our monthly office hours at the Doncan on Brady Parkway.

I will be there from 9 to 11.

Um, for anyone who was wishes, come and chat.

And just remind everyone that today is Mardi Ross or Les La Bon Pom Roulet.

I don't know what you just said, but I'm gonna say thank you.

All right, Councilmember Gamble, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro TM.

I would like to announce that the District 3 January quarterly meeting that had to be postponed due to the ice storm has been rescheduled for February 26th at 6 p.m.

at Parkwood Community Center.

We'll be discussing a public safety update, talking about a couple of proposed uh projects.

So I invite everyone to come out.

February 26th, 6 p.m.

Parkwood Community Center.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Gamble.

Councilmember Taylor, you're recognized.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you for allowing me to be a Chatty Kathy to the side.

That was me.

My apologies.

All good, Councilmember.

It wasn't just you.

It's about a hundred people.

Well, I wanted you, I wanted to take ownership.

So there will be a community meeting at the North Nashville Police Precinct in the community room as well on Saturday.

This Saturday, February 21st, from 9 to 1030 a.m.

in regards to the Canon Street overlay.

Thank you so very much.

Councilmember Vaugh, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Pro Tem.

Chick Mungnamai, happy lunar new year to everyone.

We have so much going on in District 17.

Um everyone is invited this Thursday at 11 a.m.

Fort Nagley will be having their park renewal groundbreaking.

Um this has been many years of work, and I hope that you all will join us.

We are thrilled to groundbreak on phase one.

Um and then uh Saturday, um, February 21st, I'll be having my quarterly town hall at Adventure Science Center, and we will be focusing on families and youth.

And uh, we're gonna have a really great panel uh with NASA, National Soccer Club, the public library, and Greenways for Nashville.

Please bring out your families.

Um kids are welcome, and everyone who registers after um the town hall come is finished will get compliment complimentary um access and visit to the adventure science center.

Um and then from uh after that, from 11 to 3, the Chinese New Year celebration will be happening um at the fairgrounds.

Um and then later that evening is a uh Chinese New Year um Gala um from 4 to 8 30 at Father Ryan.

Um and then I want to make sure that everyone in District 17 knows about uh next Tuesday, February 24th at 4 p.m.

We'll be having a community meeting regarding Third Avenue South and also um a BZA exception request.

So for everyone in District 17, please come out to that.

Um and last but not least, uh to wrap up um Black History Month on um Saturday uh February 28th, um, Nashville Black Market will be at the National Fairgrounds.

Um, and uh hope to see y'all there.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councilmember Vogue.

Councilmember Styles, you're recognized.

Yes, the District 32 uh February community meeting will be next Thursday, February 26th at 6 p.m.

at Pop Stroke.

We will have uh representatives from NES to talk about the storm and the impact in our area as well uh as a rezone on Old Hickory Boulevard, and we will be discussing the I-24 uh potential choice lane placement.

Councilmember Quinn of Siegel, you're recognized.

I think um I wanted to bring to everybody's attention that Izzy Witt of Walkbike Nashville um should have emailed everybody late last week about the annual pedestrian memorial.

Um they will have uh the memorial on the 21st, but then in addition to that, they are looking for folks who are willing to put up memorials in places where people have passed um in the past year, and they are still waiting on three of them are on interstate, so I'm not gonna read those because they think for safety reasons people will not want to pick those.

But uh District 2, pedestrian Robert Jones, um, District 7, uh pedestrian resident needler, district eight, Corriona Harding, um, District 16, Lorenzo, Mendoza, and District 33, an unnamed pedestrian.

Um they're looking for folks who are willing to come pick up materials at the end of this week from their office and put up a memorial where those um people passed during the past year to honor their lives and their loss.

Um so if you are able to do that, please reach out to Walkbike Nashville so that Izzy can help with that.

Thank you, Councilmember Quinn of Siegel, and thank you for also um speaking their name into the room.

And with that, we are going to adjourn our announcement period.

This has been a service of the Metro Nashville Network.

If you would like to see this presentation again, or for more information on this and other programs, visit Nashville.gov.

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026.

This is the fifty-fifth regular meeting of the current term of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, and the third regular meeting of twenty twenty-six.

Will all members of the council as well as the public please rise for the invitation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The invocation is being offered this evening by Dr.

Juan Huh.

Dr.

Ha is an assistant professor of English at Vanderbilt University and is the guest of District 17 Councilmember Terry Vogue by arrangement with Council Member Webb.

Uh, go ahead.

Uh, sir, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Henderson and the Metro Council, and a special thank you to Councilmember Vaux for the invitation.

Happy New Year, everyone.

I'm honored to be offering the invocation on this very special day.

For many of us in the Asian American community or in the Asian diaspora, Lunar New Year is a time for celebrating community and renewing our commitments.

This year we enter the year of the fire horse, the first time since the monumental year of nineteen sixty-six.

The fire horse symbolizes vitality, boldness, decisiveness, and regeneration.

As the aftermath of fire is growth.

The fire horse inspires strength of the unrelenting kind, fueled by compassion rather than impulse.

When I think of strength, especially when I look to my community, I do not think of strength derived from ego, but strength derived from humility and resilience.

A quiet strength that can be cultivated if we open ourselves up to others and listen.

When I was thinking of a poem to offer the council tonight, I was drawn to a poem I wrote years ago inspired by the year 1942, which also happens to be another year of the horse.

1942 saw the horrific relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans, an act fueled by fear and division.

It is a history that echoes today as immigrants and citizens alike face similar atrocities.

But when one pays close attention to Asian American history and the history of internment, one also sees a quiet strength that can never be extinguished, steadily burning in the night.

This poem is called lullaby for the interned.

Grown up the sky, take steady aim of the clouds with pellet holes.

Japanese maple holds firm onto its root, erect and fed by sheer will, in an exchange of oxygen for dignity, for photosynthesis speaks only in laws of this desert.

Smiling towers smile with their eyes, bow down to soil, nutrients starved in all but its beauty.

The man in uniform asks if this land is beautiful, deaf to a crowd of farm sprites who see only the rouge makeup hidden in the burial ceremony.

Opusan offers body to the Navajo in slow increments of tea ceremony.

What more can a body give?

In sand whirls raised by a scuffle, feet chafe the earth, irrigation pipes rattle to mark a life.

There is life.

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice.

Thank you, Dr.

Huh.

Welcome, Council members, and welcome members of the community.

I will keep my remarks brief as we have a special guest joining us this evening to provide a message.

But I do want to be sure to wish the Nashville community a happy lunar new year.

Acknowledge that Black History Month continues, and that the month-long observance of Ramadan also begins later this evening and tomorrow.

Councilmember Bradford mentioned it, but I had forgotten it is also Mardi Gras.

And so tomorrow is Ashwin's Day.

Diversity remains a strength for Nashville, our state, and our nation.

And it has always been a pleasure to learn more about Nashville's multifaceted history and be in community with our neighbors all across the city.

Civic education has been a hallmark of this council term with new resources for council members to share about the work of local government and the council.

And it has been my pleasure on several occasions to present our Metro Council 101 slides at the invitation of the Honorable Bill Purcell, uh former mayor of Nashville, uh, who is here tonight with his Vanderbilt Public Advocacy class.

So uh welcome to them.

And we have two mayors in the House this evening.

And so we welcome uh them both to the council chamber.

Uh, first, just a few uh business uh orders of business uh without objection.

We will suspend the calling of the role and ask the clerk to please record the names of the members of our 40 member body present throughout the meeting.

All right, approval of the minutes.

Is there a motion for approval of the minutes of the meeting of February 3rd, 2026?

All right.

Uh, there's a motion is properly seconded and without objection, and seeing no one seeking to be recognized for a change to the minutes.

All right, the minutes of the meeting of February 3rd are approved.

Mr.

Clerk, are there any messages from the mayor?

There is a message from the mayor.

All right.

Uh, thank you, Mr.

Clerk, and uh welcome again uh to the mayor of Nashville, uh former council member and uh colleague, uh Freddie O'Connell.

You are recognized, sir.

Welcome.

Well, thank you, Vice Mayor Henderson.

Uh, thank you, council members, and uh, thank you to the clerk's office and everybody for the opportunity to be with you.

Uh and thank you for stepping up as leaders to support your own communities throughout the term, but especially these past three weeks.

I'd like to take this moment to recognize what we just went through.

Our city endured the worst winter storm we've faced in the modern era and the worst power outage in NES history.

And it was deadly.

So this is a time of mourning, even as it's one of compassion and reflection.

In the face of extreme weather, we saw many heroes during the storm and its aftermath.

They're in each of your districts, in every neighborhood and in this room right now.

As public servants, we're called to serve and to lead, especially in moments of crisis.

And so as the ice fell on our city on January 25th, I declared a state of emergency and worked to mobilize a whole of government response to focus on two things enabling NES to restore power as quickly as possible, and protecting lives where power was out, roads were dangerous, or temperatures were perilously low.

I think it's worth recounting what was included in that response from Metro.

We activated our emergency operations center.

We immediately stood up more than 50 warming locations and started a transportation hotline so people could reach them safely.

We expanded our overflow shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness.

We hardened pump stations so we never lost critical capacity for either water or wastewater.

We expanded Endot's capacity to handle the massive amounts of tree and debris removal, first from roadways and then eventually from curbs with contractors, TDOT, and Tennessee National Guard support.

We stayed in constant touch with local satellite cities, regional, state, and federal partners.

We began coordinating relief through our voluntary organizations active in disaster.

We launched a winter storm recovery fund that raised one million dollars in its first five days and is now well over $2 million.

We directed $750,000 in available American Rescue Plan Act money to an emergency winter housing assistance program at the Metro Action Commission that was joined by 250,000 from the Titans.

Metro mobilized incredible teams of people, including many partners, working 24-7 to take care of our city and its people, local heroes.

Metro schools launched food and clothing distribution pop-ups, and the community response was incredible.

The Preds and Nashville SC used their facilities to offer not just warmth, but ways for families to have fun together.

And our local food trucks and World Central Kitchen and Mercy Chefs all collaborated to serve hot meals to people in need.

United Way of Greater Nashville has been working hand in hand with us by standing up their 211 line for extended hours, and Nashville Responds.com is single points of entry for Nashville's impacted by the storm.

They're distributing funding to local nonprofits to support those impacted by the storm, and they're organizing volunteers through hands-on to help people recover.

We're going to continue our work to restore people, not just power, through the Restore Nashville campaign.

Metro is leading the charge with relief, with credits on water bills from Metro water services, with permit fees waived for repairs through codes, with rent relief for vendors at the Nashville Farmers Market, with property tax relief for severely damaged or destroyed properties in partnership with the Assessor.

Most of these items are before you tonight.

But there is and will be more.

We opened local disaster assistance centers at Hadley Regional Center and Smith Springs Community Center through the end of the week.

They've opened last week and they've served hundreds of Nashvilleans, working to connect them not just to storm-related resources, but other key assistance from Metro and partners.

Restoring the bottom line of Nashville's is a key pillar of our Restore Nashville campaign.

We're in the process of helping as many people as we can right now, and also working to deliver the confidence that we can do better the next time we confront an historic challenge.

It's an extraordinary event that has hundreds of thousands of us all at once having to consider whether we can safely stay at home.

That's unbelievably hard.

It's disruptive.

It ranged from uncomfortable and unpleasant to unsafe at times.

And yet, even those who had no power for days showed kindness and generosity to their neighbors, hosting, helping, and volunteering, doing what they could through it all, with shovels, chainsaws, gloves, again, countless heroes.

That level of community leadership should be what informs and inspires our own.

We prepare for crisis before it happens, respond to it as it happens, and reflect on the challenges to learn and improve.

I spent some time frustrated during key moments of the response, and I know you probably did too.

We're gonna take a closer look at the entirety of the past month through the 2026 Winter Storm Response Commission.

I'm grateful to Vice Mayor Henderson and Pro Tem Porterfield for joining that commission.

I'm confident in its expertise and the comprehensive assessment that's coming.

As we look forward to findings and recommendations from the commission, I'm asking you to join me in leaning in to the Restore Nashville effort and helping us serve the neighbors who need us now.

Our goal is to keep people in their homes, keep people on track financially, and keep our local business community thriving.

Let's do that work together.

Thank you all for your dedicated service.

Thank you, Mayor.

We appreciate you joining us.

All right.

Uh we will head right now into our regular agenda.

First, on the agenda, Section E, appointees and nominees.

This portion of the agenda shares all persons who are scheduled to appear before the rules, confirmations, and public elections committee for an interview this evening.

Referrals back to the committee will be by rule as part of the council's two meeting uh process for elections and confirmations.

Um typically no votes will be taken by the body in this section of the agenda unless there are some extraordinary uh matters.

Uh Chair Cash, your brief report, please.

Um for that first portion, no vote totals necessary, simply the name of those interviewed and for which seats, and then um after that we can uh take up uh potentially some additional items.

Go ahead, sir.

You're recognized, Chair.

Thank you.

I'll try to be brief, but we had a lot of interviews tonight.

Uh for the action commission, Shalan Haji, for the employee benefits study and formulating committee.

We had, I believe, five.

Um Margaret Darby, Leslie Farmer, uh Glenn Farner, Gary Moore, John, and John Tischler.

Then for the Fire and Building Ode Appeals Board, uh Anthony Locke.

For the Sports Authority, we had um John Glassmire, Anna Page, Kendall Poole, uh, Adam Sentaveri, Victor Wynne, and those were the ones that we voted on, but there were a couple, and then and I'm sorry, up for the Transportation Licensing Commission, um uh Manon Hall.

All right.

Now is if there is an app a person that is in the typical, or not necessarily typical, but the appointment and confirmation process that was unable to attend your committee um this evening.

Um, at what meeting will they appear?

So as I understand it, that would be Mr.

Pulley.

Um, that was a three-meeting deferral.

Okay.

For the sports authority, and then we had two for the uh council nominees for the Transportation Licensing Commission.

Um, and so uh for Michael Hayes and Jarrett Webb, we suspended the rules and deferred one meeting for those interviews.

Okay.

Um, all right.

So uh what I'm going to ask um for that, um, Mr.

Cash, is um are you seeking to uh suspend the rules um here?

So we do Mr.

Pole the deferral for Mr.

Pulley.

We we don't actually on those appointment confirmation at this juncture, we don't need to uh vote on that.

Um but we will need to vote on um the one meeting uh deferral.

Yep.

So for uh Michael Hayes and Jarrett Webb, we suspended the rules and deferred one meeting.

Uh I guess I need to ask for a suspension of the rules.

All right.

Um, there is a point of order.

Um, so hang on, uh Chair.

Um Ms.

Porterfield, go ahead.

Uh thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh, for what reason was there a suspension of the rules for those two nominees?

Um, Mr.

Cash, do you want to address that?

I will try.

So um normal, these are council appointees.

So, and there's a set election date for this um position on the transportation licensing commission.

Um, and normally when it's a mayoral appointee, we can defer because there's not a set election date, but for this, there's a set election date.

Um, and so we suspended the rules and deferred to be able to hear the not hear the interviews next meeting and still have the council vote on on those nom on for one of those three nominees.

Yes.

Um uh special counsel, I mean, I I guess it that sufficiently clarifies.

Council will have received um a memo um uh dated uh I believe January 20th um regarding uh the nominations for this process and the election.

Um so we have um, as members may know, but just to share with the community, um, we have members of the community traveling um through this process by two separate means.

Some are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, some are nominated by the council um and uh we uh um uh confirm them by election.

Um the memo, the process, the rules says that if those persons do not uh uh present themselves um at that interview um uh by rule, uh their nomination is withdrawn.

And so Chair Cash has shared with you that there was a motion to suspend the rules in rules committee, such that um uh they could take a vote in committee, and so rather than defaulting to the regular rule of withdrawal, they voted um to defer one meeting such that those persons could be interviewed on the same night is the election.

Does that uh clarify and and convey accurately, Chair Cash?

Yes.

Okay.

Um additional point of order.

Okay.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

One more one more point of order.

Will we have the ability to speak in favor or against, or will we just have to um be okay with the suspension of the rules or object to the suspension of the rules?

Is there any discussion?

Is my question, is my point of order?

Um uh Chair Cash, as I understand it, will move to suspend the rules.

Um, and then we will be in our normal um uh order at that time, and so uh two persons, two persons um may object to that if the body uh sees fit.

Um, but the committee saw fit um uh uh to uh defer.

Um and so uh chair cash um at this time is gonna make his motion, and I think that's sufficient, hopefully, clarification for what's transpiring.

My my clarifying question is is there going to be discuss like are we if we object to the suspension of the rules, are we able to say why we're objecting?

No.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yeah, point of order, Mr.

Spain.

Thank you, Madam President.

If if the rule suspension passes, am I correct that Chair Cash will then have to move for the deferral and we can speak on the correct at that point about why or maybe may or may not be appropriate?

Yeah, but that that's a fair point, Mr.

Spain.

Thank you.

Is that sufficient, Ms.

Porterfield?

All right.

Um uh Mr.

Cash, uh, you again are recognized and have the floor.

I renew my uh motion to suspend the rules.

Can I do it for both at the same time, or do I need to do it one at a time?

Um I suspend the rules for the nomination of Michael Hayes.

I asked for a suspension of the rules to consider a deferral of the nomination of Michael Hayes.

Mr.

Harell, do you have a point of order, sir?

Okay, a point of inquiry.

Go ahead, sir.

If you would please stand.

Thank you.

Um is it proper to ask what was a reason for the the appointing not uh attending?

I think it it would be proper.

We can um by way of his report, um, but uh we have to suspend the rules to even take up this matter at which juncture um whether in the context of a deferral motion or in an extension of uh Mr.

Cash's report, he can explain um the extenuating circumstances that led the committee to support the deferral.

Okay, so basically we are suspending the we are asking the body if they're willing to suspend the rules um at this time, then there can be subsequent discussion by rule by non-appearance, they are withdrawn, but the committee saw fit to suspend the rules and change that, and now the committee and the chair are asking your consideration for for the same here on the floor.

All right.

Um Chair Cash, um I request to suspend the rules.

Is there any objection to suspension of the rules?

All right.

Um okay.

Um so it just takes two.

Um I've seen three, four, five.

Um, so with that, um the nominations of Michael Hayes.

Oh, I apologize.

Um, so uh that was uh a motion to suspend the rules um for uh the uh consideration of a deferral for Mr.

Hayes.

Um and that um suspension of the rules has failed.

Mr.

Cash, Chair, do you want to make a subsequent request?

Move to suspend the rules for Jarrett Webb to consider a deferral.

Okay, is there any objection to the suspension of the rules for Mr.

Webb?

Okay, all right.

Um so uh with multiple um objections to the suspension of the rules, it only takes two.

Uh Mr.

Hayes and uh Mr.

Webb are uh withdrawn, and so um at our next meeting uh we will have an election um but with only one uh nominee, it is likely that that will be by acclamation.

So um uh chair cash, um, I think even though that took a really long time for that section that we normally roll right on through given the extenuating circumstances, um we are now then at uh section F for uh confirmations, and you are recognized for your committee report on the appointees in the second step of your committee's two meeting process with the vote totals and a consolidated motion for confirmation of those persons.

Yep, this is a shorter contract and compliance board appointment of Marcus Booth for a term expiring September 3rd, 2026.

We approved seven in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Excuse me, for the historical commission, the reappointment of Don Cusick for term expiring February 3rd, 2030.

We approved seven in favor, zero against zero not voting for the historical commission.

The reappointment of Laura Roast for a term expiring January 29th, 2030.

We approved seven in favor, zero against zero not voting, and I move approval of those three nominees.

All right, there's a motion to confirm these three um appointees.

It's properly seconded.

Does anyone wish to remove an item from this consolidated motion for purposes of an individual uh abstention or uh uh no vote?

Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

All right.

Um, well, council um has uh confirmed um uh our appointees if you chose to return to the council chamber this evening for the second step of this process, which is not required at DC2 at least uh among you if you would please stand as I call your names.

Um council has confirmed uh the reappointments of um uh Mr.

Uh Don Cusick to the Historic Commission.

Uh Council has confirmed the reappointment of Ms.

Laura Roast also to the historical commission, and council has confirmed the appointment of Marcus Booth to the contract and compliance board.

Uh congratulations to everyone, whether here in person or watching from home, we appreciate your willingness to serve our city.

Congratulations to you.

All right, um, we are on uh to section uh G of our agenda.

This is uh nominations to fill uh G1 nominations uh to fill one vacancy on the Greenways and Open Space Commission with a term expiring on August 31st of 2027, and with an election to be conducted at the March 3rd council meeting.

Uh with this vacancy, the council is responsible for electing persons from its own membership to serve on the commission.

Um this was a change subsequent to uh legislation.

Uh colleagues will have received a uh memo from me on February 3rd.

Um that was a call for nominations um to the Greenway and Open Space Commission, indicating that those nominations will be taken at the February 17th meeting, and that is happening now.

So if you would please get in the queue if you have a nomination of a colleague to make uh council member tombs, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam vice mayor.

I nominate council member Parker.

Okay.

Um council member tombs has nominated council member Parker.

Councilmember Webb, you are recognized.

Okay, um, Councilmember Vogue do you seek to be recognized?

Yes, um uh Parks uh committee chair, you're recognized.

Yes, thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um I would like to nominate Tanya Hancock.

Okay.

Um council member Vowe has nominated council member Hancock.

All right, are any other uh council members seeking to be recognized for purposes of a nomination to the Greenways and Open Space Commission?

All right, seeing none, uh the nominations are closed.

Um there will be an election at the meeting of March 3rd.

All right.

Next, we're moving into section H of our agenda.

Uh this is our public comment period.

Members of the public who are Tennessee residents wishing to speak during the public comment period may sign up outside the council chamber from 5 to 6 p.m.

on the day of the regular council meeting.

Public comment is limited to 20 minutes total at council meetings, and each speaker is allowed up to two minutes to speak.

Uh persons speaking on agenda items must be prioritized to comply with state law.

All right.

Um I will uh call uh the names of those folks um who have signed up for public comment.

Um, and if you would uh go ahead and uh stand.

I'll call a few extras um subsequent to the first person that I am recognizing, and that is Don Connard um speaking on uh new Senate bill SB2506 uh in support.

Uh Don will be followed by Betsy Phillips and then Paul Phillips speaking on the same topic.

Uh John, go ahead, come forward.

Um hang on just a second.

I'm seeing a little something unusual on my main screen, and I want to make sure that your uh mic is uh recognized.

But if ITS, if somebody could come help me, because my screen has gone dark.

Thank you for your patience, Ms.

Cannard.

All right.

Thank y'all very much.

Thank you.

All right, go ahead, you're recognized.

Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for letting me speak.

Uh, my name is Dawn Connard, and I own Fine and Pico, a salon with an approved accessory food and wine establishment.

I'm here because I honestly don't know how a small business owner is supposed to navigate what just happened.

This was a brand new state senate bill.

It created a restricted retail business license, so salons like mine could offer an accessory wine service.

I followed that new law exactly as I was told.

Over the course of a year-long approval process, I worked with zoning, the health department, the beer board, my councilman, and the state.

After I received zoning approval, my realtor continued working directly with zoning staff for several months about the layout plans.

We were transparent the entire time.

I obtained my restricted retail business license and operated for months with a valid beer permit and no violations.

The layout people see when they drive by the service area seating was reviewed and approved.

Those hours are limited and early evening only.

The salon has always been the primary business.

After I opened, I received a violation and was told the law not now meant something different.

That wine could only be served to someone actively getting a haircut.

That was never how it was explained during the approval process or after when I confirmed with multiple agencies in the senator's office that authored the bill.

On December 4th, a stop work order was put on my door despite prior approval.

Since then, my accessory business has lost about 50% of its revenue.

And though I still have my T back license zoning was revoked on my beer permit.

The only thing that changed during that time was a name update that I was transparent about during the licensing process.

Nothing about how we operated change.

So my question is simple.

If a small business follows every rule under a new law, relies on approval, opens in good faith.

And then interpretation changes.

What are we supposed to do?

Your time is concluded.

Thank you.

Um next are uh Betsy Phillips and Paul Phillips speaking on the same uh topic.

Go ahead.

You're recognized.

Thank you.

Hi everyone, thank you for being here and letting me be here.

I'm Betsy Phillips, one of the managers of Fine and Pico, and I was brought in for the interior design as well as the branding and marketing.

Um the building housing finds lawn and PICO is a historic building with two front doors, and the historic exterior naturally lends itself to delineation, but the fine sign remains centered on the building.

The restricted retail license and the law itself defined PICO as an accessory use to the salon.

That definition is based on the license structure and the legal relationship between the two, not on paint color branding or interior design.

That said, in designing the interior to best accommodate the accessory use, we had to design with consideration toward an interior wall that bisects the space by a third.

Because the wall is load-bearing, we couldn't remove it, but in accordance with the health department, an interior door is added to conjoin the spaces.

The layout that people see, the service counter, the seating, the limited um early evening hours was reviewed and approved during a year-long process.

The whole building is shared space, despite the original interior wall and the two doors.

Gas share the patio, restroom, there's wine storage in the shared kitchen and gas contriverse between the spaces.

From a branding perspective, there are no provisions in the statute and zoning code or in the approval process that dictate what colors a business may use, how a space must be designed, or how it must be branded.

Design and branding do not determine whether something is an accessory use, the law, and the license due.

Further, Google Maps does not list PICO as a separate business entity.

There is no website for PICO.

There is a public Instagram account for Pine Fine and Pico, and there is a private one only for PICO.

Interior design and marketing aside, creating the space was born out of a desire to have a space where our community could come together and connect with each other.

Our neighborhood, 12th South, has undergone so much change in recent years, and as local residents, we continue to feel like there wasn't a place for us.

Our neighbors and friends feel it too.

We love building something our neighbors love and something that harkens back to the neighborhood that 12 South was just 15 years ago, and are grateful that the Senate bill allowed us to do so.

Our kids, one of what who is here tonight, have watched us do this, and we are extremely proud.

Thank you for your guidance.

Um Mr.

Phillips, do you seek to be recognized on this same topic?

Go ahead, sir.

Good evening.

My name is Paul Phillips, and I serve as a manager of the accessory wine portion operating under fines, restricted retail business license.

Uh I want to clarify how this business is structured and operated.

Pico is not a separate business.

It does not have its own license and cannot operate independently.

It exists solely under fines, restricted retail business license, exactly as the statute allows.

All alcohol sell sales, compliance, and reporting have been conducted under that single license structure.

Financials reflect one business.

Licensing reflects one business.

Inspections were conducted as one business.

We followed the approvals we were given, including requirements related to space configuration, how it was separated, and operational structure.

We operated with a valid permit, no violations.

There have been no citations from the beer board, Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission, and no safety issues.

The only issues arose uh around what the bar looks like, which Betsy clarified.

There's no provisions on how we can aesthetically set up the space, and we designed it as we were told.

Also, uh there came a reinterpretation from zoning on the term patron after opening.

Not a change in our operations.

The term patron that we opened under, according to the Senator office that wrote the bill, claims any adult who lawfully purchases alcoholic beverages on the premises becomes a patron of the business, regardless of whether that individual is receiving hair or cosmetology services at that moment.

I hope that clarifies the patron part.

We did not expand, we didn't not change the approved layout.

Uh we did not change how we are served.

We relied on the approvals that we were granted and respectfully ask that the business be evaluated based on its licensed and operated use as the lawful accessory use under Senate Bill 2506.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh next is Stephen Ryder.

Um, a speaking on agenda item 15.

This is RS 2026-1800 regarding public housing.

Speaking in support after Mr.

Ryder will be Michelle Flynn.

Go ahead, Mr.

Ryder, you recognize.

Thank you very much.

Good evening.

Um I'm pleased to support this resolution.

Um because we excuse me.

Desperately uh need or subsidized housing opportunities in this town.

In the 1990s, uh Congress passed the Faircloth Amendment, which basically capped the number of public housing units across the nation.

But Nashville's entitled to hundreds of these Faircloth Amendment uh housing opportunities because we never exercised our allocation.

And when we did the John Henry Hale Homes, the Hope Six project over there.

We didn't do a one-for-one replacement.

So I give credit to MDHA.

They are using some of the Faircloth Amendment uh housing opportunities now.

Uh I've been pushing them for years to do so.

But I'm glad to see that some council members here are pushing MDHA and the planning commission to move forward on this.

Because it's long overdue.

Um I could comment a lot more on this on the capital requirements and everything else, but I'm really limited on time, so I just want to compliment the lead sponsors.

Druffle, Johnston, Nash, Gamble, Bradford, and Alan.

I really appreciate you putting that forward.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Ryder.

Uh, next is Michelle Flynn, um, speaking on education funding.

Go ahead, Miss Flynn.

Um, yes, I had the pleasure of interviewing um Gloria Johnson, representative State Representative Glory Johnson recently for a new podcast that we're putting out.

And um which he brought to my attention, which I was not aware, is that while and I sat in on a hearing uh for the state education folks, and while the average voucher that's being put out for folks going to private schools, is the average about 7500 um per student.

What is happening in Nashville is that um $4,400 is what public school students are getting.

Voucher students are getting $7,300.

This is information that is available to the public, but it's not something that I look up, and I'm not sure you know that.

I'm not sure the public knows that that is the limited amount of money that we're getting per student for our public students.

Um and Gloria mentioned that we know that the county puts extra money toward education of children here, but there should not be this gap.

You should be adding money that's up and above the $7300, not trying to make up the difference between 4400 and what the voucher students are are getting.

I don't know what particularly you can do, but I really wish that folks would raise their voices really loud about it because it's really wrong.

The second thing I want to comment about is this morning.

There is a silent attack going on right now against uh people who are Latino and um Hispanic background.

Three individuals were kidnapped this morning.

One of their windows was broken in the effect of them doing this kidnapping, and the one whose windows were broken had a baby recently 10 days ago with their wife.

One of them was stopped.

One of the kidnappings, the fourth one was stopped because there were verifiers there.

This just needs to stop.

The last thing is um there's a bill that would require Nashville to become a 287 city.

It's a bill by the legislature.

They're wanting to push this city and override what we want, which is not to be a 287 G city.

Please folks contact your legislative.

Thank you.

All right, uh that uh concludes our public comment sign-up.

Um there being no uh additional uh folks having signed up.

Next on our agenda, uh section I um is a rule of procedure.

Um this is on your agenda um uh for your awareness and analysis, I believe was also placed on uh council desks for your reference.

Um uh but uh rules of procedure um are by rule um deferred.

Uh one meeting, um, but I will read it into the record.

Um this is a proposed amendment to rules of procedure, rule 13.4 regarding the filing deadlines during a state of emergency, emergency items.

Um this has been filed by council member um Evans, and it has been referred uh to the rules, confirmations, and public elections committee.

And so again, uh by rule, um this is deferred uh to the next council meeting.

All right.

Next, uh, we're moving into our uh consolidated consent agenda.

All resolutions in second and third reading ordinances on this agenda are included on the consent agenda if recommended for approval unanimously by all committees to which the item was referred.

Items on the consent agenda will be voted on at a single time.

The item number along with the resolution and ordinance number of the items on the consent agenda will be read by me and will be visible on the screens uh in the chamber, as well as those uh two folks uh watching at home.

Um the consent agenda by request before the consent agenda vote is taken.

All right.

Um the first item proposed uh for the consolidated consent agenda is agenda item two resolution 2026-1787.

Agenda item three, resolution 2026-1788.

The next is agenda item four, uh, resolution 2026-1789.

Agenda item five, resolution 2026-1790.

Agenda item six, resolution 2026-1791.

Agenda item seven, bless you.

Uh bless you again.

Uh resolution 2026-1792.

Agenda item eight, resolution 2026-1793.

Agenda item nine, resolution 2026-1794.

Agenda item 10, resolution 2026-1795.

Agenda item 11, resolution 2026-1796.

Agenda item 12, resolution 2026-1797.

Agenda item 13, resolution 2026-1798.

Agenda item 17, resolution 2026-1802.

Agenda item 18, resolution 2026-1803.

Okay.

Okay.

Is 26?

Okay, 26 is off consent.

Now, colleagues, the next um uh kind of tranche of items um are uh some 30 uh resolutions, agenda item 27 through 56.

They have been read into the record, they have been taken up in committee.

That said in committee, um there was passage, so unanimous passage in all committees, but with a re-referral to committee on third.

All right.

Technically, what that would mean is that all of those um items would be pulled from consent.

Um, and for efficiency's sake, um, I am asking if there is any objection in the body for me to just go ahead and um share that for items 27 through 56 um that those will uh be um by unanimous vote in all three committees to which it was referred, passed on second um and re-referred to all three committees on third.

Um is there any objection to leaving these items um consent?

So I will read them like regular consent.

I'm gonna read those bill numbers and read them on through.

Um, but if I were to pull them off, then I would have to separately read the captions and we would have to vote on all of them separately.

Um and they were taken in the aggregate and committee, and so I would suggest that we just run through them as if they are on consent.

Is there any objection?

Um special counsel.

Okay, go ahead, special counsel.

You're recognized.

The committees that made the motion to approve and re-refer were uh transportation and infrastructure and budget and finance.

That motion uh the motion from uh planning and zoning from uh two weeks ago was a simple motion to approve.

Okay, um, so I appreciate the clarification.

Um even so um is there any objection to leaving uh these items on uh the consolidated consent agenda.

Seeing none, um we will proceed in that fashion.

Okay.

Um so next um proposed uh for the consolidated consent agenda under bills on second reading is agenda item 27, ordinance BL 2026-1206.

Agenda item 28, ordinance BL 2026-1207, agenda item 29, uh Ordinance BL 2026-1208, agenda item 30, ordinance BL 2026-1209.

Agenda item 31, ordinance BL 2026-1210, agenda item 32, ordinance BL 2026-1211, agenda item 33, ordinance BL 2026-1212, agenda item 34, ordinance BL 2026-1213, agenda item 35, ordinance BL 2026-1214, agenda item 36, ordinance BL 2026-1215, agenda item 37, ordinance BL 2026-1216, agenda item 38, ordinance BL 2026-1217, agenda item 39, ordinance BL 2026-1218.

Agenda item 40, ordinance BL 2026-1219.

Agenda item 41, Ordinance BL 2026-1220.

Agenda item 42, ordinance BL 2026-1221.

Agenda item 43, ordinance BL 2026-1222.

Agenda item 44, ordinance BL 2026-1223.

Agenda item 45, ordinance BL 2026-1224.

Agenda item 46, Ordinance BL 2026-1225.

Agenda item 49, ordinance BL 2026-1228.

Agenda item 51, ordinance BL 2026-1230.

Agenda item 52, Ordinance BL 2026-1231.

Agenda item 54, ordinance BL 2026-123.

Agenda item 55, ordinance BL 2026-1234.

All right, um, that concludes that particular tranche there.

Just make a note of that.

27 through 56.

All right.

And next, uh proposed uh for consent on second reading.

Uh agenda item 61, ordinance BL 2026-1258.

Agenda item 62, ordinance BL 2026-1259.

Agenda item 63, ordinance BL 2026-1260.

And then lastly, um on second reading, agenda item 64, ordinance BL 2026-1261.

Uh next uh for agenda items on uh third reading proposed for the consolidated consent agenda.

First among those is agenda item 66, ordinance BL 2025-118.

Agenda item 67, ordinance BL uh 2025-1192.

Agenda item 68, ordinance BL 2026-1196.

Agenda item 69, ordinance BL 2026-117.

Agenda item 70, Ordinance BL 2026-1198.

Agenda item 71, Ordinance BL 2026-120.

Agenda item 72, ordinance BL 2026-1201.

Agenda item 80, ordinance BL 2026-1239.

Agenda item 81, ordinance BL 2026-1240.

Agenda item 83, ordinance BL 2026-1242.

Agenda item 84, ordinance BL 2026-1243.

Agenda item 85, ordinance BL 2026-1244.

If so, if members would please join the queue to request that.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Could we please remove item number 13, RS 2026 1798?

Okay.

Um council member PEP T is requesting removal of agenda item uh 13.

That's resolution 2026-1798, of which he is the sponsor.

That will be removed uh from consent.

Uh council member Vowe, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Can we remove agenda item 18, RS 2026-1803?

All right, council member Vowe has requested agenda item 18, RS 2026-1803 be removed from consent.

Um it has been removed.

Councilmember Gamble, you are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to remove a number 17, RS 2026, 1802 from consent.

Okay, council member gamble has requested the removal of agenda item 17, uh, resolution 2026-1802.

Um, she is the sponsor.

It will be removed from consent.

Is anyone else seeking to remove items from consent?

All right.

Uh seeing none, um, Mr.

Clerk, are all committee reports in for items remaining on the consent agenda?

Yes, all committee reports are in.

I appreciate that, Mr.

Clerk.

Um, members will have also heard um special counsel um regarding uh agenda items 27 through 56 um that we are passing those on consent, though they will have a re-referral uh on third in transportation and budget and finance.

Okay.

Um all right.

Um is there a motion for approval of the consent agenda?

All right, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right, council has passed all items on the consent agenda.

All right, um now we'll go back in agenda order uh to uh first resolutions that were not on consent.

First among those uh is agenda item one resolution 2026-1783 sponsor styles.

This is a resolution requesting the Metropolitan Civil Service Commission to update rules about the filing and resolution of employee grievances.

Councilmember Styles, sponsor, you're recognized.

Thank you very much.

Uh committee reports, please.

Yeah.

Oh, um, I think special counsel is telling me we already have the committee report in.

No, he was gonna tell me something else.

All right, I'm gonna first go uh to Chair Cash.

Thanks.

Uh uh on 1783, we approve the substitute 5 to 0 to 0, and then we approve the resolution 5 to 0 to 0.

Okay.

Um, all right.

Uh so uh we've got the report of chair cash, and so it is back uh to you, Ms.

Stiles, first for a motion uh to get the resolution before us.

Uh yes.

I I'd like to move for approval of the substitute if I may move to the memory.

First, let's move approval of the resolution.

Is there a second?

All right.

Um now a uh substituting uh motion is proper.

Okie doke.

I'd like to move the substitute, please.

Is there a second for that?

All right, go ahead, ma'am.

So this just updated the language.

So asking for uh a button that you could file a grievance, an electronic grievance, or an electronic complaint and updating the civil service commission rules that we have a similar process for complaints and grievances because over the last year we've heard from employees that timely responses to complaints were unable to really be tracked because people were just sending an email or making a phone call.

So this would just make things cleaner.

You would be able to submit a complaint, get a read receipt and a timestamp, and then it would go to HR so that they could acknowledge they've received it, and then you would have a definitive time frame to have someone respond to you.

All right.

Um you've heard an explanation of the substitute.

Uh there is a motion to substitute, and it's properly seconded.

Is there any discussion on the motion to substitute?

Right.

Uh Ms.

Wiener, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I just have a quick question.

Do we have the authority to do this?

Um special counsel uh Wilson, you're recognized.

Uh Councilmember, uh, this is a non-binding resolution requesting the Civil Service Commission to act.

Uh it is the Civil Service Commission's authority to make these rule changes, but um the the council can act by requesting the the the civil service commission uh make these changes.

Thank you.

All right.

Um is there any further discussion uh first on the motion to substitute?

Seeing none.

Uh all in favor of the substitute, please say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Um and uh if you would please renew uh your motion to approve a substituted, Ms.

Stiles.

Thank you.

I'd like to move the bill substitute, please.

Okay.

Is there a second?

Okay, is it there any discussion on the resolution as substituted?

There's a motion to approve.

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um that you have adopted this resolution as substituted.

Next is agenda item 13.

Uh this is resolution 2026-1798, sponsors Prep T and Ewing.

This is a resolution urging the president of the United States to approve federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for individuals affected by winter storm fern.

Councilmember Prep T, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

I do believe that committee reports are already in.

Okay.

Um committee reports.

Okay.

Chair Cash, um, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you.

Uh 1798.

Yep.

Uh we approve five in favor, zero against zero, not voting.

All right, back to you, Mr.

Prep T.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Move approval with a comment.

All right.

There's a motion to approve.

Is there a second?

All right.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Colleagues, it's been 23 days since Storm Fern has uh hit and devastated Davison County.

Um, as we're all acutely aware, over 200,000 people were without power here in the county.

Um a number of individuals sustained a drastic uh amounts of of damage to their property.

Um, and the unfortunate reality is that we also um had loss of life here here in Nashville.

Um and so I invite every single one of you all to join me in my call in urging um the president to approve the the vitally needed individual assistance through FEMA.

Um, as we know, there there have been uh a number of metro resources that have been mobilized in the aftermath of the storm.

As the mayor just told us, they are we are continuing to mobilize these resources.

Simply what we're asking is for the federal government to meet us where we are, meet this moment, and meet this need as we continue to try and care for our community.

Um there's been a a lot of things discussed online about how to respond to this storm.

Um, and to the folks who who have been tweeting online, um uh uh dictating to Nashville how we are to respond to this storm.

I say that here in Nashville in this chamber um and and in this metropolitan government, we actually put our words into action um and actually make sure that we're mobilizing those resources for our community.

Um so I call on our senior senator, our uh uh congressional representatives to do the right thing, join us in calling for the federal government to approve the vitally needed assistance for these individuals so that we can ensure that those who are uninsured and underinsured get the resources that they need.

And with that, Madam Vice Mayor, um, I renew my motion.

All right, uh, thank you, Sponsor Prep T.

Um, we are on a motion to approve.

It has been properly seconded, and we continue with discussion.

Councilmember Johnston, you're recognized.

Thank you.

Uh, and I appreciate the spirit in which this resolution is um being brought, and I I intend to vote for it.

I do think it's important for people to understand that there's a process um that we're actually in the pro we are in process of reaching damage thresholds for individual assistance.

So they like to have anywhere from 30 million to 50 million dollars um in personal property damage for that uh for those thresholds to be met so that individual assistance is granted.

And so it's that's what makes it so important for people to self-report their damage.

So um I've been pushing it out on social media.

Tima has been sending things out.

You can do it through Nashville Response.com.

There's several ways to go about reporting that damage, but that helps us.

We also have some some assessment folks from Metro, Tima, and FEMA out there doing the exact same thing, but it certainly helps to do that.

And so it's not just a matter of we need it, and so they should do it.

There is a process.

Um, the good news is that we are getting really close.

I've been keeping tabs on it.

Um, we are getting really close to that threshold, and so the chances are good, certainly not a um uh a definite, but it's good that we will get the individual assistance.

But I just want everyone to know that there is a process to it and that the damage assessments are incredibly important, not only for Metro to facilitate facilitate those things, and again, there's multiple departments that do that, but also for the public to help us with those um damage assessments and to self-report those things with pictures.

Thank you.

All right, uh, thank you.

Uh Ms.

Johnston.

Uh, is there any further discussion um on this resolution sponsored uh by Councilmember Prep T and Councilmember Ewing?

All right, uh seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting, no or abstaining.

All right, you have adopted this resolution.

Um next is agenda item uh 14.

Um this is resolution 2026-1799.

Uh sponsors Swara, Parker, Porterfield, Bradford, Spain, Gad, Huffman, Evans, Welsh, Benedict, Nash, UN Cap, Tombs, Gamble, Ellison Allen.

This is a resolution urging the Davidson County General Sessions Court to pause or limit eviction proceedings to the broadest extent possible for 60 days.

Uh Councilmember Swara, you are recognized.

Oh, pardon me.

Okay.

Um, Miss Porterfield, you are also uh Mr.

Parker.

Okay.

Um, you are the second co-sponsor, so I will acknowledge you, Mr.

Parker.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Committee Reports, please.

Um, for the report of the public health and safety committee, Chair Huffman, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Public Health and Safety voted approval as substituted seven in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay, thank you much.

Um let's see, and that is our only uh committee report.

So it's back to you, uh, Mr.

Parker for a motion to get the resolution before us.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to move for approval.

Right.

Is there a second?

Okay, and now is there a motion to substitute?

Yes.

Um, I was not able to be at the committee, but um I trust in Councilmember Solfat Suarez's um good judgment that the substitute is a positive one and it received a positive recommendation from the committee, so I would like to move the substitute.

Right.

Is there a second?

Okay, so we're on to discussion on the motion to substitute, and I see Ms.

Porterfield seeking to be recognized to provide some clarification regarding uh the intention or the content of the substitute.

Uh go ahead, pro Tim.

Thank you so very much, Vice Mayor.

Um basically the uh the the context of the conversation was the community was calling out to the council to do an eviction moratorium.

This is outside of the scope and the power of the Metro Council.

Um our judges worked together to come up with a uh special docket to provide supports and wraparound services for individuals that may be um facing eviction due to uh hardship from the storm.

We had uh judge uh Robin Hayes Kimbrough to speak on that, and the substitute is in essence going from asking the judges to doing something to saying we are supporting what the judges are doing.

All right.

Um so that is the explanation of the intention of the substitute, the general sessions court having um established this uh special docket subsequent to the initial filing of this uh resolution.

Um all right, we are on um a motion to substitute that was properly seconded.

Is there any discussion um on the motion to substitute?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right, and if you could renew your motion is substituted, please.

Um move to approve is substituted.

Is there second?

All right, is there any additional discussion?

Any discussion?

All right, um, there is a motion to approve as substituted, properly seconded.

Seeing no further discussion, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um uh this uh has been adopted as substituted.

All right.

Um next uh is agenda item 15, resolution 2026-180, sponsors Druffle, Johnston, Nash, Gamble, Bradford, and Allen.

This is a resolution requesting the Metropolitan Planning Department and the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, MDHA, to study and implement emerging and innovative public housing solutions to effectuate more permanently attainable and affordable housing options within Nashville and Davidson County.

Councilmember Druffle, you're recognized, sir.

Uh thanks, Chair.

Uh committee report.

All right.

Uh for the report of the planning and zoning committee.

Uh Chair Horton, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Planning and zoning uh voted for a one meeting deferral.

Nine in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay, and so uh with that, Mr.

Druffle, that is a mandatory deferral by rule, um, rule 8.1.

Um, and so that will be uh that resolution will be taken up again at the meeting of March 3rd.

All right.

Uh next is agenda item 16, RS 2026-1801, sponsors uh Benedict and Johnston.

This is a resolution urging the electric power board of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County to terminate the employment of Teresa Broyles Applen as Chief Executive Officer of uh Nashville Electric Service.

Um Ms.

Benedict, you are recognized.

Oh, Ms.

Benedict is not present.

Um Ms.

Johnston, um, co-sponsor, you're recognized.

Go ahead.

I believe this was um moved.

Uh it was a one one meeting deferral, so it's a deferral by rule.

Okay, understood.

We still have to recommend the report.

No worries.

Um report of Chair Cash, please.

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

Go ahead.

We voted defer one meeting, five in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay, and for the report of the transportation infrastructure committee, Chair Evans Siegel.

Uh the Transportation Infrastructure Committee voted to defer one meeting, eight in favor, zero against zero not voting.

All right, and with that, and the committee reports in uh by rule eight point one.

This is a mandatory uh deferral by rule.

Um, and this uh will then be taken up again on uh uh March 3rd.

Okay.

Um next is agenda item 17, resolution 2026-1802.

Sponsors Gamble, Styles, Porterfield, Evans, Benedict, Vaux, Druffle, Nash, Gad, Wiener, Huffman, Ellis, Rutherford, Tombs, Lee, Taylor, Cap, Ewing, Coopin, Suarez, Spain, and Allen.

This is a resolution honoring the life and legacy of former member of council Walter Hunt Sr.

Um Sponsor Gamble.

Ms.

Gamble, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Committee reports.

For the report of the rules, confirmations and public elections committee, Chair Cash, um, regarding the resolution honoring uh the life and legacy of councilmember Hunt.

He voted five in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay.

Um uh it's back to you for a motion, Ms.

Gamble.

Thank you.

I move for approval with a brief comment.

Okay.

Um uh there's a second.

Go ahead, ma'am.

Yes, uh I just want to say Walter Hunt, public service was his life.

He loved serving on the Metro Council, serving the public, helping people, uh, which was really reflective at his funeral service um last week or maybe two weeks ago now.

Time is away from me.

Uh from the attendance of people who were there, including former mayor and uh U.S.

Congressman Bill Boner.

Um in fact, his wife Kathy, because counsel meant so much to Walter, made sure that she had many pictures of council members current and present in the funeral program booklet um that if anybody would like to see, I would be happy to share with you.

I would also like to ask that we apply Rule 12.3 to this resolution so that everyone can be represented as we hand this over to his wife, Kathy.

Is there any objection to uh the revision of the primary motion?

So this is a motion to uh approve with rule 12.3 applied, such that everyone voting in the affirmative will be listed as a co-sponsor.

Um right, uh heard a second for that.

Um, and that is the the motion at this juncture.

Um thank you, uh Ms.

Gamble for bringing this.

Um is there any uh discussion um regarding this resolution?

All right.

Um seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

All right, any voting, no or abstaining.

All right.

Um thank you, Ms.

Gamble.

And again, we um uh we appreciate uh Mr.

Hunt's service uh to this body and to the city.

All right, um next is agenda item 18, um RS 2026-1803.

Sponsors Vo, Porterfield, Gad, Huffman, Evans, Benedict Ewing, Alan Wiener, Tombs, Lee, Swara Webb, and Coopin.

This is a resolution recognizing lunar new year 2026.

Ms.

Vaux, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, committee reports, please.

Um, for the report of rules confirmations in public elections, Chair Cash.

We voted to approve five in favor, zero against zero not voting.

All righty, back to you, Ms.

Vaux.

Thank you.

Move to approve with a brief comment.

Is there a second?

Okay, go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you so much.

Today we recognize Lunar New Year 2026 and the beginning of the year of the fire horse, a celebration that is not only ancient in tradition, but incredibly beautiful in meaning.

Lunar New Year is a time where families clean their homes, not today, before, to sweep away the old year, um, gather across generations, prepare traditional foods, and welcome renewal with hope and intention.

It's filled with vibrant colors, music, and the joyful sounds of the community coming together, like at the Wufe concert at the Blair School of Music, um, just uh a few days ago to the special lion dance right outside our chambers by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville tonight.

In Vietnamese culture, one of the most cherished traditions is Buntak.

I brought some for y'all to see.

It's a carefully wrapped sticky rice cake filled with mung bean and pork steamed for numerous hours and shared at the family table.

It represents gratitude, unity, and the deep connection between generations.

Preparing it is not just cooking, it's storytelling, memory, and love passed down.

Another integral tradition, which Councilmember Styles passed around, uh, is the Lee C.

Um, you'll hear it as Hong Bao, red envelopes.

Um, and these are filled with lucky money.

Councilmember Styles did not put money in these just for clarification.

Um they're given to children and elders, and it's more than a gift.

Um the leasey symbolizes blessings for prosperity, health, and good fortune in the year ahead.

Um it's a beautiful expression of care, hope, and continuity.

And as we enter the year of the whore, the fire horse, symbolizing strength, energy, and bold spirit.

We are reminded of the resilience and the vibrancy of the communities we celebrate this new year here in Nashville.

Recognizing Lunar New Year honors not only a calendar change, but a living cultural heritage that enriches our city.

It is a celebration of renewal, family generosity, and hope.

And I want everyone in our community who celebrates this holiday to know that you are honored and seen and respected in our chambers and in our city.

Uh, and I'm proud to uh support this resolution, and I ask um for my colleagues to support it as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Vaux.

Uh, is there any additional uh discussion on this resolution?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting, no or abstaining.

All right.

Uh, you have adopted this resolution.

All right, um, next um is agenda section L.

Um, we have a late resolution.

Um, RS 2026 um does not have a number aside from being L1 on our agenda.

Sponsors uh tombs, Wiener, Huffman, Coopin, and Allen.

This is a resolution authorizing the waiver of certain permit fees for the repair of a rebuilding of property damaged as a result of the January 2026 winter storm.

Um, Ms.

Tombs, you are recognized.

The rule suspension are the committee report first.

Um uh this does require suspension of the rules, um, but go to committee report.

Okay.

Is there any objection uh to the suspension of the rules uh to take up this item?

Seeing none, now um the rules are suspended and we'll go to committee reports.

Committee report.

Thank you.

Uh Chair Cash, you're recognized.

Thanks.

We approve the late file nature.

Five in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay.

Um with that committee report in, it's back.

Oh, I'm sorry, got to turn the page.

I made a note and then I didn't follow it.

Um for the budget and finance committee.

Um, Ms.

Tombs.

Go ahead, ma'am.

Seven in favor, zero against zero not voting.

All right.

And for the report of the government operations and regulations committee, Chair Hill, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, maybe we recommended approval.

Five in favor, zero against zero not voting.

All right.

Um, okay, with all three of those committee reports in, Ms.

Tombs, it's back to you uh for a motion to get this resolution before us.

Move for approval.

All right, it's properly moved and seconded.

Is there any discussion on this resolution?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting, no or abstaining.

All right, you have adopted this resolution.

All right.

Um now we're moving to section M of our agenda.

Bills on introduction and first reading.

By rule, all items on first reading shall be voted on at the same time unless requested otherwise by a primary sponsor or by two other members.

Do any items need to be removed uh from first consideration in the collective vote?

Okay, um, seeing none, um, is there a motion for approval of all items on first consideration?

Okay, properly seconded without objection.

You have approved all items on first reading.

Okay.

Next is agenda section N.

This is a late bill, a late ordinance.

Um, it is agenda item in one sponsors tombs and gad um ordinance.

It does not have a number given its late filed nature.

This is an ordinance authorizing a one-time bill credit to water and sewer users as result of the January 2026 winter storm.

Um, Ms.

Tombs, you're recognized.

Same order as the last one.

Move to suspend the rules.

Is there any objection to the suspension of the rules um for purposes to get this bill before us?

Seeing none, all right.

Now we can move the rules are suspended.

Move for approval.

Okay, um, and so I guess it was not seen in committee.

Um so it has not gone to committee chair cash because it is a first reading ordinance.

Okay.

Um right.

It was late, so it couldn't be with the other first readings.

Um the rules are suspended so that we can take it up.

Um there is no committee report.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Um any voting, no or abstaining.

All right.

Um, this bill has passed its first of three readings.

Now we're on to section O of our agenda.

Bills on second reading that uh we're not on our consent agenda.

Um first among those is agenda item 26.

Um it is ordinance BL 2025-1114, sponsors Styles, Evans, Ellis, and Webb.

Um, this is one one one four as amended.

This is an ordinance amending title three of the Metro Code of Laws to require departments, boards, and commissions of the Metropolitan Government to conduct annual employee surveys.

Um Council Member Stiles, you are recognized.

Thank you very much.

Committee reports, please.

All right.

Um, for the report of the government operations and regulations committee.

Ums Hill.

Ms.

Hill.

Um this is Ms.

Styles uh ordinance one one four um as amended uh regarding uh uh employee surveys.

Uh in government operations, we recommended a one meeting deferral, five in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay.

Um and with that, um Ms.

Styles, that is a mandatory deferral by Rule 8.1, um, such that uh this will be back on second reading at the meeting of March 3rd.

Okay.

All right.

Skipping on ahead to agenda item 57, ordinance BL 2026-1253, sponsors tombs, vo, hill, Welsh, Ewing, Sware, Gamble, and GAD.

This is an ordinance amending certain sections and subsections of chapter 6.08 of the Metro Code of Laws to allow the Nashville Public Library to assume operations of and responsibility for the Nashville Education Community and Arts Television Corporation, otherwise known as NECAT.

Uh sponsor Tombs, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor Committee Report.

But budget and finance voted to recommend approval.

Eight in favor, zero against zero not voting.

All right.

And for the report of the Arts Parks Libraries and Entertainment Committee, Chair Vowe.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

The Apple Committee voted five in favors, the zero against zero not voting.

All right.

And for the report of the government operations and regulations committee, Chair Hill.

Sorry, ma'am.

If I've been looking five pages ahead, I would have told you to sit tight.

Um this is uh uh agenda item 57.

Um Ms.

Toombs is 1253 regarding NECAT and the library.

Uh we recommend approval.

Three in favor, one against, one not voting.

Three in favor, one against, and one not voting.

Okay.

All right.

Um it's back to you, uh Ms.

Tombs, uh, for a motion on your bill.

Move for approval.

Okay.

Is there second?

Okay, it's properly moved and seconded, and we're on uh to discussion.

Um is there any uh discussion on uh this ordinance on second of three readings.

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

All right, the ayes have it.

This again is an ordinance on its second of three readings.

This has passed its second reading.

All right, next is agenda item 58, ordinance BL 2026-1254.

Sponsors Cortez, Harrell, Bradford, GAD, and Sepulveda.

An ordinance to amend title six of the Metro Code of Laws regarding the disclosure of personalized algorithmic and dynamic pricing.

Uh sponsor Cortez, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh committee reports, please.

All right, for the report of government operations and regulations, Chair Hill.

Uh we took no action because we lost quorum.

Okay.

Um, no action for uh loss of quorum.

Um with that, I guess I'll put it back to you, sponsor, um, and and see what you want to do with this, sir.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh, may I move for a one-meeting deferral with a brief comment?

You may indeed.

Is there a second for that motion?

Okay, go ahead, sir.

Thank you.

And just so everyone knows what this bill is.

A lot of people don't understand that companies can currently take your search information and charge you more for a product than they charge somebody else to at the exact same time.

So, for example, let's say you're searching for flu remedies.

Somebody else who's shopping at the exact same time could put NyQuil in their cart, just like you, but because you're searching for flu remedies, that retailer thinks you are willing to pay more, so they calculate a price called the reservation price, which is the highest estimated price they think you're willing to pay.

And um, so same product, same price, same time.

You're paying more than someone else just because of your search history.

Um, I think that's wrong.

So we don't have the ability to outlaw that here in the in this body, but I think we do have the ability to bring transparency to it.

So this bill would uh require any retailer in Davidson County who is using algorithmic pricing to clearly display it to customers at the point of checkout.

Thank you, Mr.

Cortez.

Um again, this is a deferral motion, one meeting.

Um is there any further discussion on the one meeting deferral?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um, this will be taken up again on its second uh of three readings.

Um will it have I then at that time a referral to uh the committee?

Okay, and Chair Hill, you all can review it at that um time and have an action.

Then you will have a committee report necessary for the passage of your bill.

Okay.

Um next is agenda item 59, ordinance BL 2026-1255, sponsors Huffman and Horton.

This is an ordinance amending chapter 13.08 of the Metro Code of Laws related to sandwich board signs in the public right of way.

Uh Councilmember Huffman, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, committee reports, please.

Okay, for the report of the budget and finance committee, Chair Toombs.

Budget and Finance voted to um recommend a two meeting deferral, eight in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay.

Uh for the report of the transportation and infrastructure committee, Chair Evan Siegel.

The transportation infrastructure committee voted for a two meeting deferral, eight in favor of the deferral, zero against and zero not voting.

Okay.

Um, and well, okay, this was referred to the traffic and parking commission.

We're not gonna discuss that here at this time.

They've not made a recommendation according to uh special counsel.

All right, so those are our council committee reports in.

Um, and with those uh uh spoken to the record, um it's back to you, Mr.

Huffman for a motion on your bill.

Motion for a two meeting deferral.

All right, uh it's properly moved and it's seconded.

Is there any discussion on this two meeting deferral motion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Um any voting no or abstaining.

All right.

Um this will be taken up at the second meeting in March.

Okay.

Next is agenda item 60, ordinance BL 2026-1256.

Uh sponsors Evan Siegel and GAD.

This is an ordinance amending section 15.64.131 of the Metro Code of Laws to permit landscape architects to prepare and stamp plans for tier one and tier two residential infill development.

Uh, Ms.

Evan Siegel, you are recognized.

Uh committee reports.

Um for transportation and infrastructure committee.

Um, we voted um eight in favor, zero against and zero not voting on the proposed amendment and as amended, eight in favor, zero against zero not voting.

All right.

Uh thank you, uh Chair Evan Siegel.

Um let's uh have a motion, please, ma'am, uh, to get the uh bill before us.

Would move the bill.

Is there a second?

Okay, back to you.

All right.

Is there a second for the motion to amend?

All right.

Um anything that you would like to say regarding the amendment or need to say?

I think it's just a technical amendment.

Okay.

Um, all right.

Um uh so we are on a motion to amend properly seconded.

Is there any further discussion on the motion to amend?

Uh seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um, and if uh Ms.

Evan Siegel, if we could have a uh motion to approve as amended.

Motion to approve as amended.

And a second, thank you.

Any further discussion on this uh ordinance as amended on its second of three readings.

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right, this is passed its second reading as amended.

All right, now we're on to items on third reading, section P of our agenda.

Uh first among those is agenda item 65, ordinance BL 2025-1147, sponsors Tombs Horton and Evan Siegel.

This is an ordinance amending certain access management sections of chapters 13.12 and 17.20 of the Metro Code of Laws to implement the access management manual, which compiles regulations and guidelines for access from private property to the public rights of way to modernize the development review process and make streets safer for all modes of transportation.

Okay.

Um let's see, council member Toombs is the primary sponsor on this.

Okay, um, Miss Toombs, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam vice mayor committee report.

Um for the report of uh let's see.

The planning and zoning committee will be the only.

The other um will have been in uh at this time um on the second reading.

So uh Chair Horton, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh planning and zoning voted for a one meeting deferral.

Nine in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay.

Um right, um, so special counsel that's a mandatory uh deferral by rule uh eight point one.

Um, this will be taken up again um on third reading at the meeting of March third.

Okay.

Next is agenda item seventy-five, ordinance BL twenty twenty-six dash one two oh four, sponsored tombs.

This is an ordinance amending substitute ordinance number uh twenty twenty-one seven four two uh to allow the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation to waive requirements for the completion of specific improvements before approval of the acceptance of a parcel of property at Brick Church Pike.

Um, Miss Tombs, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

It looks like all committee reports are in.

Yes, ma'am.

I'd like to move for approval.

All right.

Uh, there's a motion to approve, properly seconded.

Like to move for approval of the amendment.

Okay.

Um, apparently, um uh okay, so the bill is properly before us.

Um, I believe the uh proposed amendment, it being a third reading bill, um, requires a suspension of the rules.

Okay.

Um, is this a technical amendment?

It is.

Okay.

Um, Miss Tombs has a requested suspension of the rules for purposes of um applying a technical amendment uh to this legislation.

Is there any objection to a suspension of the rules?

So you can make your motion.

Um moved uh for approval of the amendment.

Okay, is there a second?

All right.

Anything you want to say about it other than it's just technical.

This is the technical changes to reference to a um previous ordinance.

Okay.

Um, all right.

Umend.

Seeing no discussion.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

And if you would renew your motion.

Move for approval as amended.

Is there second?

Okay.

Any discussion on that.

This is a bill on third and final reading uh approval as amended.

Seeing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining.

All right.

This has passed its third and final reading as amended.

And that concludes this evening's agenda.

Our next council meeting will be on Tuesday, March third.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

All right, we are adjourned.

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