Evening, everyone.

Today is Tuesday, April the 7th, and I would like to open up the announcements, period.

We're gonna start off with a presentation from Councilmember Zolfat Sorora.

We have a resolution, RS 2026-1765 from Councilmember Sorora, a resolution honoring the 90th anniversary of John Early Museum Magnet Middle School.

And we also have a proclamation, a proclamation honoring the life of Iman Youssef Abdullah.

Uh Sorora, you are recognized.

Thank you, Pro Tim.

Um, I'm so honored to be presenting this proclamation to John Early.

Anyone that knew my story and have had me on the campaign trail and in every space that I am, I talk about this school.

John Early is a school that I think gets enough recognition.

Uh, John Early is a museum magnet school.

The museum program in that school is phenomenal.

Um, my daughter went through it.

John Early is also a feeder to infog.

A lot of people did not know that.

Uh, the program, the academics, but the support uh of the staff there is just it helped shaped my daughter's life.

Uh, she's doing mock trial and everything that she's doing now because of what she got there, the presentation, the attention.

Uh, I and I just want to make sure that I we continue to leave that school up.

Uh uh enrollment is dwindling.

I mentioned this when we're talking about Buchanan Street and all of that the other time.

And what about we need to do to continue to support that school and its area and for all that it's that it's done for uh not Nashville in the last uh 90 years.

So this is a resolution honoring the 90th anniversary of John Early Museum Magnets Middle School.

Whereas on November 6th, 2025, Joan Early Museum Magnet Middle School celebrated its 90th anniversary with an exhibition detailing the history of the school.

And whereas the school was named the Davidson County Businessman Board of Education Chair, was named for Davidson County businessman, board of education chair, and lifelong community advocate John Early.

With generous donations from the Scared Vennett Center, the school became a museum themselves, displaying many artifacts throughout the school and a dedicated exhibit space.

And we're using this 90th year, the school earned a level five rating from the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System into Kitchen Academic Growth Beyond Expectations.

And whereas it is fitted and proper to celebrate the scholars, faculty, and staff of John Early Museum Magnet Middle School for 90 years of service to the Nashville and Davidson County.

Now therefore be resolved by the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

At the Metropolitan County Council, we are by goes on record, honoring John Early Museum Magnet School for 90 years of education in Nashville and Davison County.

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

I have with me the principal of the school and the famous Miss E.

The reason why we went to John Early.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

We are definitely uh honored to be serving at John Early Middle School in North Nashville over by Metro Center.

Uh we are a level five school for the first time this year, and we are meeting 11 out of our 12 focused outcomes by the district this year.

So I'm excited for the growth that we have.

And um, we also are a Vanderbilt Model School, and so we're excited about our partnership with Vanderbilt and our continued growth and our trajectory upward.

But I will let our students speak because that's more powerful than me.

Good evening.

My name is Calissa Lester.

My name is Dale Pratt.

And my name is Tristan Meddox.

I would like to say I am honored to receive this resolution on behalf of John Early Museum Magnet Middle School.

I'm very thankful that you chose to give us this resolution, even though there are other schools that could have gotten it.

In addition to that, I am so glad you let us, the students, accept this award.

I'm positive that this will keep us growing at a high level rate and continue to be a level five middle school.

I just want to say thank you for choosing this school and acknowledging John Early Middle School's 90th birthday.

I appreciate you for giving us this resolution.

I'm glad you see how great we are.

This is a great opportunity for us.

We will continue to be a hardworking school.

I feel honored to address the council.

The students and staff will be pleased to receive this resolution.

It is an honor to be here talking with all of you today.

We are thankful that you let us receive this resolution on behalf of John Early Middle School.

I know that we will make Nashville and everyone in it appreciate John Early Museum Magnet Middle School.

Thank you for this.

Thank you all so much.

And as y'all are taking the picture uh as a mom and a former MMPS school teacher, I am so very proud of those students.

Y'all did an excellent job.

Many of the council members are in committee meetings right now, but we will make sure to spread the word of how excited and appreciative you all are.

Congratulations.

Yeah, you guys, you guys are good.

And Councilmember Swarr now has a proclamation.

I don't know if the uh announcements the group for these are gonna go to announcement real quick.

We will uh we will open the floor up for announcements and then we will come back to uh Councilmember Swore for the proclamation.

Are there any colleagues uh who would like to be recognized for announcements?

Councilmember Kimbrough, you're recognized.

Thank you.

On this Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.

District 1, we have their bingo.

District uh one bingo.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Kimbra.

Does anyone else have announcements?

Councilmember Evans, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tem.

This Saturday, we're having a litter pickup in District 12.

So if you meet me at 9 a.m.

Saturday morning at Ruby Major Elementary School on John Hager, I will give us all supplies, bags to your heart content, and then we can go pick up some trash.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Evans.

Do we have anyone else that would like to be recognized for announcements?

Councilmember Allen, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want to invite all enthusiastic recyclers to the opening of the styrofoam recycling machine at East Convenience Center on April 22nd at 10 o'clock.

This is one of the worst materials that we have to deal with, and we finally have a way to get it out of our landfill.

So show up and celebrate.

Bring your styrofoam.

Thank you, Councilmember Allen.

Would anyone else like to be recognized?

Councilmember Vaux, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Pro Tem.

Um, I just want to invite everyone this Saturday to the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival.

That will be that's gonna be happening right outside on Public Square.

Um, for anyone who has been wanting a cherry blossom tree this Saturday, there's an opportunity for you to get a cherry blossom tree to plant in your yard.

Um, the National Tree Foundation will be handing those out.

You will know which tent they are because it'll have the longest line.

Um, but please come out and support the community.

It is a free festival and uh family friendly.

And if you want to walk with the sister cities of Nashville, they will be doing the walk first at nine o'clock.

Um, and then after that, the festival will begin.

Um, and there will be Tyco drums um and sumo wrestling and uh pet contest.

So please come out to that.

Um, and I just want to make sure that in District 17 um for uh next Wednesday, April 15th at 6 30.

We will be discussing the chestnut um street bike lanes um at the Snap Community Center at 6 30.

Everyone is welcome to that.

Um, and I do want to acknowledge um, you know, in my district um a few days ago we had a tragedy um on Lafayette Street um where two community members uh were um hit uh and killed.

And I just want to make sure that the community knows that we are working and going to address um what is happening on Lafayette Street.

There's been too many um deaths um and what traffic calming will look like and how to slow people down.

Um but uh my heart um and uh my thoughts are with the families, and I know that um the business uh near um the incident, you know, they're closing um as well because uh we need to come together as a community um and support um you know what safety looks like and to prevent and continue to fight against um you know these uh these incidences and for people to drive safer on the streets.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Votes.

Very tragic.

Councilmember Welsh, you're recognized.

Thank you, Pro Tem.

Um, I would like to invite everyone this Sunday to um the 21st birthday party for my radio station, Radio Free Nashville.

Uh Radio Free National was the first community radio station here in Nashville, and we put local people on the air, people whose voices are kept off of corporate media.

We trained people and we put them on the air.

We just started a partnership this year with uh Metro Schools, and we have our first um middle school, right middle school is doing a weekly radio program called Raider Radio.

Um, and we partner with people all throughout the city to come so you can share your culture, your music.

Uh we do programming in all sorts of languages right now.

We have Urdu and Somali and Hindu and uh Hindi, excuse me.

Um, so we've 21 years on the air this April, and we're celebrating this Sunday between two and five at Blackstone Brewing.

Um, open to the public.

Please come on by, say hi.

We'll teach you more about the station.

And if you would like to become a program on Radio Free Nashville, we will tell you how you can do it.

So this Sunday to two o'clock at Blackstone Brewing.

Thank you.

Thank you and congratulations.

Would anyone else like to be recognized?

Any other colleagues like to be recognized?

All right, colleagues.

Um, as you know, we previously were discussing uh community service opportunities for the council to get together.

And for the month of April, there is a debris removal in Davison County.

You can sign up through Hands on Nashville, and that is for anyone.

We're uh announced it for council members, but this is also for anyone on April the 11th at 12 p.m.

There are 47 slots available.

April the 18th at 9 a.m.

There are 50 slots available, and on April 25th at 12 p.m., there are 48 slots available.

So if anyone is interested in uh supporting the debris removal in Davison County, again, you can sign up through uh hands-on Nashville.

I also wanted to announce the Metro Budget 101 series that is being uh led by our budget chair, Councilmember Quante Tombs.

Our next session will be Saturday, April the 11th from 1 to 4 p.m.

That session is going to be on housing and education.

It will be at the Bellevue Regional Community Center, located at 7638A, Highway 70 South.

The third session will be Saturday, April the 18th from 1 to 5.

That's on public safety spaces and resources.

That is at the Southeast Community Center.

And then the fourth session will be Saturday, April the 25th from 1 to 4 on transit infrastructure and community roundtable that will be at the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center, located at 400, Dr.

MLK Boulevard.

Colleagues, do we have any other announcements?

I'll do one final announcement.

This April is transit month.

So please join the National Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructures Program, the National Connector, We Go Transit, and other partners and celebrating buses, trains, and the people that make up Nashville's transit system.

During transit month, you can look forward to regionwide transit challenge with prizes, including giveaways of an e-bike and an e-scooter.

So to participate, you can attend one or more of the various events happening around the city.

Um also by joining the Transit Month Challenge on our Ride Amigos app.

So we hope that people will uh participate.

And with that, we're going to go ahead and close out the announcement portion and go back over to Councilmember Sorora for her proclamation.

Councilmember Sorora, you are recognized.

Uh thank you, Pro Tem.

I just before I did do the proclamation, I just wanted to throw out this since we're talking about transit month to talk about the uh national library position week.

Uh uh, there's a boot out outside for people to go out and show their support, and people can write a note.

Uh, we just want people to say uh say it out loud that we support the library.

Uh, because of the library, I know that my kids were able to have a place to go to uh anytime that I want to keep them busy.

So I just want to put that at many thanks to our librarians and everybody that keeps our library going.

Um, this is a proclamation honoring the life of Imam Yusuf Abdullah.

The family was supposed to be here, uh, but unfortunately, uh they had uh a family emergency that could not be.

Um, but I wanted to go ahead and read it into record.

Uh, when we talk about the Muslim community in Nashville, a lot of people talk about the immigrant community, they'll talk about the mosque on Trifsaults.

But before the immigrants came to Nashua, the blacks were here, and they were black Muslims.

Uh my good friend Batina Nabama McKinney is not an immigrant, but here in Nashville.

Uh, and so the Muslims that have been here for ages uh that uh Americans came on the Buddha sleeves and have been inhabitants of this country uh for a very long time.

So the first mosque in Nashville, uh Imam Abdullah was uh the imam of that mosque, but he was also a pioneer in the North Nashville area.

Uh Ifasaway not too long ago, and this proclamation is honoring the life and legacy of uh Imam Yusuf Abdullah.

Whereas Imam Yusuf Abdullah was born in September 7, 1948 to Albat Moss and Poly Mos and Pasta Will in January 22nd, 2026.

And whereas he graduated from Barret's Chapulai School in 1967, and then Lee studied in the United States Marine Corps, where you served with discipline and dedication.

And whereas in 1972, he joined the Nation of Islam and later pursued studies at the University of Tennessee.

And whereas in 1977, he became Imon of Masjid Islam, providing spiritual leadership and serving his congregation and the broader Nashville community.

And whereas he supported educational initiatives through his work with the Clara Mohammed School of Nashville, playing an instrumental role in maintaining the school and eventually serving as the director of education and whereas he participated in interfaith and community organizations, including Nashville organized for action and hope, known as the Noah, the Brothers Round Table and Hope in the World Association of Religion and Peace, Warp.

And whereas he was married for 54 years to Mahasan Abdullah and is survived by her and their eight children.

Joma, Jennifer Abdullah, Malik, Eric Birch, Hamid, Kenithia Abdullah, Aliya Abdullah, Najib, Alicia Abdullah, Yakina, Eric Coleman, Sharifa, Pintaro, Hazelwood, and Tariq Shah Kharia Abdullah, as well as 32 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Wow.

Good job.

Now, therefore, I solve Councilmember Alaj of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Do you have a recognize the life and service of Imam Yusuf Abdullah?

All right.

Detecting a quorum, will the meeting please come to order?

Today is Tuesday, April 7th.

This is the sixth meeting of twenty twenty six in the fifty-eighth regular meeting of the current term of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville in Davidson County.

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

The invocation is being offered this evening by the right honorable Lord Mayor of our sister city of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Councillor and Lord Mayor Tracy Keller presides over a council of sixty members and is the guest of District 13 Council Member Russ Bradford.

Welcome back to our chamber, Lord Mayor.

You are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, and good evening, members of Council and citizens of our sister city, Nashville.

It is an honor as Lord Mayor of Belfast to have this opportunity to open this evening's meeting.

Before we get beginning I just want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable bond that brings us together.

Because this relationship between Nashville and Belfast is no ordinary relationship.

And the partnership has grown far beyond those early days.

Let us be mindful that every choice be meek has the power to strengthen the bonds between our communities to open doors for future generations and to show the friendship across distance is not only possible but also powerful.

Amen.

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Maribel.

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

So more information to follow.

All right.

Without objection, uh, we will suspend the calling of the roll and ask the clerk to please record the names of the members present throughout the meeting.

Is there a motion for approval of the minutes of the meeting of March 17th, 2026?

Okay.

Um there is a motion.

It is properly seconded and without objection.

And seeing no one seeking to be recognized for a change to the minutes, the minutes of the meeting of March 17th are approved.

Mr.

Clerk, are there any messages from the mayor?

There are no messages from the mayor.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

All right, we are gonna roll right on into uh section E of our agenda, 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 process for elections and confirmations.

No votes will be taken by the body in this section of the agenda.

And Chair Cash.

Um, your brief report, please.

No vote totals necessary, simply the name of those interviewed and for which seats.

Um, and if a person in the appointment and confirmation process was unable to attend your committee this evening, uh please share at what meeting they will next appear.

Go ahead, sir.

You're recognized, Chair.

All right.

Um did a number of interviews, and there were a couple of deferrals.

Um we interviewed um for bicycle and pedestrian advisory, uh, Catherine McDonnell for Board of Equalization Whitney Ellis.

Um the appointment of Christopher Grimes for Board of the Equalization was withdrawn.

Uh for Board of Equalization, Michelle Trueba, for Board of Equalization Scott Tarone.

Fair Commissioner's Board Brittany Tabor.

Farmers Market Board Scott Moskowitz, Housing Trust Fund Commission, uh Lizzie Goddard.

For uh property standards and appeals, um, Mirza Esteban was deferred one meeting.

Sports Authority reappointment of Daniel Russ Pulley.

Um a number for the sustainability advisory committee, um, Jeffrey Izo, Linda Bregen, um Caesar Castro was deferred one meeting.

Also for sustainability advisory uh councilmember Sandy Ewing, Matthew K.

Taylor, uh Jennifer Wang and Erica Weeks.

And for Traffic and Parking Commission, Lauren Gaines, zoning appeals board, Michael Garrigan and Anna Yoder.

All right.

Um thank you for that report, uh, Chair Cash.

And just to confirm, uh Mr.

Christopher Grimes for the Board of Equalization was withdrawn.

Correct.

And uh for uh property standards, uh Mira Esteban is deferred uh one meeting and will be interviewed at the meeting of April 21st.

And then for sustainability advisory committee, uh both uh Cesar Castro and Caroline Everett will be deferred one meeting also to be interviewed um on April 21st.

Correct.

All right.

Um so next uh we are rolling right into uh the second part of your committee report on the appointees in the second step of your committee's two meeting process with vote totals this time and uh consolidated motion for the confirmation of those persons.

Um or first for a deferral motion uh if there are any.

Uh go ahead, sir.

All right, for the arts commission, the reappointment of Evan R.

Brown approved six to zero zero.

Uh Planning Commission reappointment of Jessica Farr approved six zero zero.

Sustainability advisory reappointment uh of C Councilmember Berkeley Allen, six years zero, uh sustainability advisory committee reappointment of Jason Carney, also six to zero zero.

Um sustainability advisory committee uh reappointment of Michelle Hammond, six is zero zero, and uh also the reappointment of Stephanie Tietro to that same committee six to zero zero.

Uh move approval of all um nominees.

All right, there's a motion to confirm uh these nominees.

Is there a second?

Okay.

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

All right.

Uh councilmember Welsh, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I would like to remove F2.

Okay.

Um item F two, the reappointment of Jessica Farr uh will be uh removed um from the consolidated uh motion and vote.

Um are any other uh members seeking uh to remove an item uh from this uh consolidated motion.

All right, uh seeing none, uh all in favor of the remaining confirmations, please say aye.

Aye.

All right, these folks are uh confirmed.

We're gonna recognize everybody at the end.

Let's uh move uh next to uh our remaining confirmation, item F two, um Ms.

Jessica Farr, a reappointment to the planning commission.

Um would all in favor please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting no?

No.

Any abstaining.

All right.

This confirmation requires 21 votes and only hearing one no vote.

Ms.

Farr has also been confirmed.

So um uh I will then now uh share who uh council has confirmed and um uh if you chose um to return to the council chamber this evening, which is not required.

Do please stand as I call your name.

Uh otherwise, if you're watching online, um it's uh our uh honor to to recognize you uh as we confirm.

Uh council has confirmed the appointments of uh Evan R.

Brown to the Arts Commission, uh Jessica Farr to the Planning Commission, Council has confirmed the sustainability advisory committee, the reappointments of council member Berkeley Allen, uh Jason Carney, Michelle Hamam, and uh Stephanie Teatro.

Uh if you are here, please stand.

If not, and you're watching from home, congratulations to everyone on your confirmation.

Um we appreciate your willingness to serve our city.

Thank you so much.

All right.

Um as we conclude our expressions of appreciation, I will acknowledge uh council member Druffel um uh who seeks to acknowledge a local veteran who is celebrating an exceptional milestone this evening.

Go ahead, Mr.

Duffel.

Yeah, uh thanks, Chair.

Uh we have an exceptional uh American in our uh city.

Uh he turns 105 today.

Uh Jerry Neal, he was a bombardier pilot on D-Day.

Uh flew, actually had a crash landing that day after he unloaded his uh uh gas and and uh and his bombs and crashed into uh uh an island, but went on to successfully complete uh over 25 missions.

Uh and an amazing guy.

Uh anyhow, just want to wish him a best happy birthday for an exceptional guy.

Uh he is still as as sharp as uh I wish to be someday, uh, but just uh everybody uh a great happy birthday to an exceptional man.

Thank you.

Happy birthday to Mr.

Neil, who is Mr.

Duffle, I'm not sure if you shared 105 today.

105.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr.

Neil.

Happy birthday.

Okay.

All right.

We're moving to section uh G of our agenda nominations.

All right, so off the top, um, I do want to highlight uh three memos um that council will have received, uh, whether on your desk or via email um regarding vacancies, um, one vacancy each on uh the property standards and appeals board, one on the short-term rental appeals board, and one on the East Bank Development Authority.

Um at this time, um, when sharing this with counsel in the community, I do briefly share what each of these boards and commissions do.

Uh the Board of Property Standards and Appeals hears an acts upon appeals of orders issued by the Codes Department as it administers the requirements set forth in the property standards code.

They can uphold the order, overturn it, modify or extend the order, or place special conditions.

Uh second, again, one vacancy on the short-term rental appeals board.

Uh, this board uh shall hear and decide appeals from decisions made by the zoning administrator regarding short-term rental permits, whereby it is alleged in writing that the zoning administrator is an error or act arbitrarily.

Uh the board shall have jurisdiction to uphold reverse or modify in whole or in part the zoning administrator's decision regarding permit issuance or revocation for all permits eligible for review.

And then lastly, one vacancy on the East Bank Development Authority.

Um the East Bank uh Development Authority is authorized under Chapter 68 of the State of Tennessee private acts of 2024 as adopted by this council uh in 2024 uh and is charged with promoting economic development along the east bank of the Cumberland River.

All right, so um that is all of those memos.

Those nominations will be taken uh at the uh council meeting of April 21st.

Okay.

Um so council members, please do uh be considering uh your nominations and members of the community if you are uh hearing this uh and are interested in serving, please do reach out uh to your council member.

All right.

Um now um for uh nominations um as we uh let's see a prior memo that would have been on March 17th.

Um I will open uh nominations at this time for the Health and Education Facilities Board.

Um uh council members, if you would please enter the queue um if you have a nomination um to make for that uh pursuant to my March 17th uh memo.

Okay, um uh council member Capp, you're recognized.

Nominate Nick Cavan from Health and Ed Board.

Okay.

Um uh council member Capp has nominated Nick Cavan.

Um are there any additional nominations from council members?

All right.

Um uh I uh will now close the nominations to our public comment period.

Members of the public who are Tennessee residents wishing to speak at public comment may sign up at uh the table outside of the council chamber from five to six p.m.

on uh the evening of a council meeting.

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

Um for public comment this evening.

We have two members of the community um who have signed up.

Uh first is uh Philip uh I'm not sure if it's Pile or Pillet.

Um, and then uh next, uh Dr.

Leslie Benmark.

If you would go ahead and come forward, um uh Philip is speaking on um the M L U or perhaps MOU between Metro and Local Law Enforcement speaking in opposition.

Go ahead, sir.

Uh I'm actually speaking um with the local 140 for the firefighters, and uh you did get my name right.

Thank you very much.

Was it PLA or Pillet?

Uh the first one.

All right.

Yeah, I heard Pillet, my whole defense.

Yeah, very good.

Um I'm bringing attention to Article 25 of the MOU between uh Metro and Local 140.

Article 25 has to deal with Kelly days.

Um it seems to follow the federal fair labor standards act up until the point where um the firemen are given 12 days, 12 hours off for a Kelly Day, as defined on uh Article 25.

Um, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act, any time worked outside the work cycle, which is defined in item one here as 27 days, um, is supposed to be compensated at time and a half.

So in a 27-day cycle, firemen are working nine shifts for a total of 216 hours.

Those 216 hours, they're they're paid for 204 and given a Kelly Day for 12 hours off.

That 12 hours off should be 18 hours off because it should be compensated at time and a half.

I don't know if the um wording of this document is incorrect and the practices that the firemen are getting the 18 hours off, but according to this, they're being shortchanged according to the Fair Labor Standards Act, six hours every 27 day day period, which equals out to 13 and a half cycles throughout a 365-day year.

And my question to the committees is who would be the appropriate person to look into this that I could contact and see if it's just wording in a document that's incorrect or that the practice itself is in conflict with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

All right, um, so this is a comment period, but I would invite um the chair of the associated uh committee um to uh speak with you um or be in touch with you.

Can you provide your contact information um perhaps to Ms.

Valdez, a member of our staff, so that somebody can be in touch with you to answer your question?

Absolutely.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Sure.

Um next is Dr.

Leslie Benmark.

Uh she is speaking on agenda item 13.

This is ordinance BL 2026 1311.

Um regarding uh properties um or wanting this property to remain a business.

Um uh she is in opposition uh to this resolution.

Uh go ahead, you're recognized uh Dr.

Benmark.

Yes, uh thank you.

Uh I really thought I'd be speaking later, but I am opposed to uh changing the days in.

I'm a member of uh lived in Davison County for 55 years and in Joelton for over 40 years.

I'll speak later, but I just want to go on record.

Is Jolton needs days in to stay a motel?

It's important to the people there, and we need to, and I choose to vote no to this uh item that'll be coming up later.

We need in Joelton for days in to stay a motel, public motel.

Thank you.

I'll speak later in more detail.

All righty, thank you.

Um also just been made aware and want to acknowledge as I would have done so off the top had I known that we do have uh a scout troop with us, troop number three.

Um apparently one of the oldest in the county um is here this evening to observe, and so uh we welcome them for joining us this evening.

Thank you.

All right.

Okay.

Um that concludes our public comment.

Next agenda item I one.

Uh this is a uh rule of procedure um uh regarding rule 50, an amendment to the rule of procedure um regarding election uh to boards and commissions.

Um we take up these matters as we do uh legislation.

Uh the sponsor of the rule amendment.

Um again, this is regarding the vacancy for a board and commission um and kind of how we conduct the process is uh Mr.

Coupin.

Um you're recognized, sir.

And if you would first request your committee report.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh committee reports, please.

Um Chair Cash uh for the report of rules, confirmations and public election, sir.

Uh we voted six in favor, uh zero against C we're not voting.

We substituted and then voted six in favor, zero against C we're not voting for the substituted rule change.

Okay.

Um all right, it's back uh to you for a motion um to get this before us, please.

Uh Mr.

Koopin.

Move the bill, please.

Okay.

Um uh is there a second uh to the motion of approval for this rule of procedure change?

Okay.

Um already uh with that, Mr.

Koopin, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I appreciate the work um that the rules chair also has done on this uh bill, and I believe he's got a uh substitute um on it.

But basically, this would um address the kind of situations we've ended up in a couple of times where a qualified uh member of the community wanted to either continue serving on a board of court commission or wanted to be considered.

Um, and then we gave them you know the typical like we saw this evening, uh, month, month and a half notice, and that date happened to land on a family trip or a funeral or something that that was unavoidable.

And so I had proposed a way to um defer or allow for a deferral of the uh nominee consideration um with both the rules committee and the council body supporting it.

Um and then um Chair Cash, I know worked a little bit to kind of fine-tune it and change it a little bit.

So um I um am supportive of his uh substitutes.

I don't know if um he wants me to move that or if I if he wants to move that, um, I'm fine either way.

Uh Chair Cash, are you willing to let the sponsor uh or do you seek to be recognized?

Uh yeah.

I'd like to I'm happy to recognize you.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Go ahead, sir.

Thanks.

Um, so I uh agreed with council member Cupin's effort.

I mean, we we kept having some issues with people not being and these are for only for council nominated appointments or elections, right?

Not the mayor's office send somebody in, they aren't able to make it, we can defer it, right?

No harm, no foul.

Um, but for we were seeing some issues with our new two-week kind of system of the inability on occasion for uh a nominee to show up.

Um and it was happening more than once, and it and it felt like we should have some kind of uh way to address that.

Um at first, I uh in my substitute.

I uh Mr.

Cash, if you're gonna speak on the substitute, if you would plead make the motion to the book.

Is there a second?

Go ahead, sir.

Please continue.

Thanks.

And so uh last at the at the substitute that I had last meeting, I had added a uh uh a line that let us as council if we wanted to push back the election for another two weeks so that there was time to um look at the second interview or the blade, the deferred interview, we could do so um with some feedback here and some reflection.

I thought that it made more sense to just if we are going to do that, if we are going to defer um a an interview that we should also defer the election.

So if we if we the rules committee and the council defer a council appointed nominee, then it will defer the the election by two weeks so that there will be that same two-week gap between an interview and the council's ability to go back and watch it.

Um also on the substitute, I went through and kind of like I said last time, took my English teacher red pin to it and just made some wording changes that don't really change anything except I think it reads better.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yep.

Um all right.

Uh there is a motion to substitute that was properly seconded, and you have heard the explanation of the substitute of Chair Cash.

Um is there any discussion on uh the substitute?

All right.

Um seeing none, all in favor of the motion to substitute, please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right, it's back to you to renew your motion.

Thank you, please move the bill as substituted.

Okay.

All right.

Uh is there second um on approval of the rule as substituted.

Okay, now we're on to discussion on that.

Um, Mr.

Parker, uh you are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, and I want to thank uh council members Cupin and Cash for their work on this.

Um I was initially very skeptical about the proposed rule change, specifically because I didn't like the idea of you know some folks uh having the opportunity for their interview to be reviewed by the council, and then other folks for the interview to occur right before an election.

Um that seemed to run counter to the um significant process improvement that we made, um, which now allows council members time to review those.

Um this substitute as I'm reading it, um, does um would defer the election out so there would be time for that additional interview opportunity as well as time for council members to review both or however many interviews there are for a given position.

So um I am gonna be voting in support of the um rule 50 amendment as substituted, and I appreciate all the work on this.

Thank you, Mr.

Parker.

Uh next is Councilmember Welsh.

Go ahead.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, I am rising in opposition to this change to the rules um as substituted that actually all all across the board.

Um I think that's a very slippery slope when we start changing rules um to accommodate things that this does not happen very often.

And in fact, I the only times that I can remember this happening are with nominees of the actual sponsor of this bill.

Um I feel like there are certain requirements when you are nominated to become to serve on a board or commission.

Um and one of them is to show up at the proscribed times for your interviews.

And the substitute allows a nominee to actually change the entire schedule of how this council goes through and and affects the lives of other nominees for this for the position.

So I feel like it's a very, very slippery slope when we start changing rules.

Um I don't think it's allowed to ask nominees to show up when they are required to show up, and they should know from the very beginning when they are nominated what that schedule is.

It's already laid out very clearly what the time frame is.

So um I am rising in opposition to this, and I ask my colleagues to uh not support this also.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh uh Chair Cash, um you're recognized.

Thanks.

Uh I understand that it would be ideal if every every person that we nominate could make it on a specific date, but that doesn't always happen.

It doesn't happen with mayoral appointees.

We frequently have one or two that we have to defer, as I as I referred to tonight um with my report.

Um we we should number one, we should be putting good folks on these boards and commissions.

We and and that is number one, and it isn't it is second that they can come on one specific date.

Now also the it's the rules committee and the full council that has the power to decide if that if that reason is a good enough reason to delay the election.

Um and and so you know, if if you have somebody that you're going to a nominee that you're going to defer, you know, be ready to explain why they're not able to make it.

But that said, I I do believe that there are a number of um criteria we should be considering, and not only whether or not they can make it on one specific date with relatively short notice.

Thanks.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh next, council member uh Swara, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, I do have a question.

Does the substitute say that the uh nominee uh asked to share where the person is not able to make it?

Uh Chair Cash, would you like to clarify that?

I don't believe that it does specifically say they have to share.

Um I would I would ask, I would say it's good gonna be going to be good practice for the uh person who is nominated that person to be ready to share that reason uh when they ask for a deferral and when for of the rules committee and a deferral of the full council.

And if council members don't hear that reason, then they certainly have a right to not vote for the deferral.

Thank you.

And I think with that um uh it changes things for me.

Um we have a lot of situation.

I I'm so thankful to people that serve on our boards and committees.

These are volunteers, and they're giving up their time, so I'm very much appreciative of that.

But we've also had situations where people sell on committees that they don't show up, that we don't have quorum, that we have issues with.

We all have jobs and things and things happened.

Yes, I understand that.

So uh for me, I don't see the need to change this because I feel like some people do make the time to show up.

Now I would have been okay with it if there was the provision that says that uh there would be a meeting or a conversation about the reasoning to make sure that somebody's not just delaying the process, but that is not there.

We're assuming that that will happen.

And so that's not good enough for me.

So I actually want to move that we defer this one meeting to be able to look into if there's a need to look at the reason for not coming, and if this body like Chia Cash said, oh, the rules committee is gonna determine whether this person is not just taking up our time, and there's good enough reason to defer.

I would like that language in that rule.

Thank you.

All right, are you you are making a motion to defer?

Yes, please.

Is there a second for the motion to defer?

Okay, it has been properly seconded.

And so we are on discussion on the motion to defer uh consideration of this rule as substituted uh one meeting.

Uh Mr.

Koop, do you seek to be recognized on the deferral?

Go ahead, sir.

Yeah, I appreciate it.

Appreciate the the thoughtfulness going into this.

I think it's a really important um important rule to to be considering.

Um I I guess I would be curious um to my colleague if that language was added into the bill.

Would that then make her supportive of of it?

Or is that is that kind of what we're looking to get at with the deferral, or just to understand better what that requirement would be.

Uh Miss Swara, go ahead.

Yeah, let's let's not get in the habit of this back and forth.

But go ahead.

Yes.

Um yes, because one of the things we remember that one of the issues is we don't want somebody to just on their own wing for whatever reason, uh, decide that they're not just coming when other people have showed up.

And that changed the process for the entire county.

The chair uh of the rules committee stood up and said, no, no, no, that would not happen because we will get to decide whether that was a good enough reason.

But that's not in the rule.

He said we'll have to assume that will automatically happen.

I don't want that to leave that to assumption.

I don't want us to run into where people just don't show up and we don't know why, and we just automatically extend.

It's not fair to the people that showed up.

So if we're doing this because there's uh uh a circumstance that warranted, then let's know that's the reason, and that makes a makes good sense to me.

So that's the reason.

So back to you, Mr.

Coopin, you have some remaining time.

Um I'll I'll yell at time taking.

Um I'm gonna move then to the next in the queue.

All right.

Um uh councilmember Porterfield on the deferral motion.

Uh Ms.

Toombs on the deferral, uh, Ms.

Allen on the deferral.

All right, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam chair.

I I appreciate the importance of knowing that they're they didn't just you know, didn't have time, and and that's gonna be representative of how they treat the committees, because I think that is an important um uh commitment to establish.

But I just want to read the language one more time as we decide whether this is sufficient or not.

It says a nominee's appearance before the rules committee may be deferred once for no more than one meeting upon the separate approvals of the rules committee and the council.

And what is inferred there is that the rules committee and the council will wonder why they were um absent and and expect a good reason before they approve it.

And uh appreciate the fact that that the council member wants to have that explicitly stated, but it that language does seem to me to not make it an automatic deferral.

It at least requires two different bodies to vote on that approval, and my hope is that they will be thoughtful and ask why they were absent.

So I feel like to some degree there is some language there, it may not be as explicit as it needs to be, but that to me that's part of the discussion.

I'd I feel good about this, but if the majority does not understand why.

All righty.

Um uh councilmember Koopin, I'll I'll come back to you since your earlier time had not expired, sir.

Um, we do have Ms.

Evans in the queue.

Do you want me to come back to you at the end?

Okay.

No, okay.

All right.

Um, Mr.

Koopin, go ahead.

Uh oh, I'm sorry, sir.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I appreciate the the can the consideration of my colleagues, and I think that's important to make sure that question is asked.

I do I do um agree with uh councilmember Allen.

Um I don't believe that the rules committee questions that are asked of various nominees are codified either, but obviously if a nominee is coming before the committee, um there would be um questions asked, and if one of the if if I for example came before the committee to say that my nominee couldn't make it at this at this day and time, um I imagine the first question that would be asked is why.

And if I said, Well, I can't tell you, I imagine that would not go well, right?

So I think that that's kind of inferred.

It's only able to happen once, um, one time.

And again, we look at um, you know, even the ones that are before us now, the we're getting um you know notices on our desk now for a inner uh uh interview um in a couple weeks, and so um I think that we should be putting good people on boards and commissions and making sure that not just a single day in time is limiting for them.

Um so I'm open to a deferral if I felt that more time would would help the bill.

I think that the concern of my colleague is kind of baked already into it.

I think it's something that we've heard on record this evening.

I think it's something that should and would be asked both in the um committee and body itself.

So I'm not supposed of a deferral at this time.

I think that we that's already kind of baked into the implied implied piece of the legislation.

All right, um, Ms.

Evans on the deferral.

Yep.

No, okay.

Sorry, I apologize.

I saw you in the queue.

Um uh Miss Suara on the deferral.

Okay.

Um uh please be brief, ma'am.

Thank you.

Um when I asked the chair if that language was in the in the uh substitute, the answer was that no.

And so that was the deal for the deferral.

That language that says that it has to be approved by the rules committee, I think sophises, and so uh withdraw the uh deferral motion.

Right.

Okay.

Um so the motion uh to defer is withdrawn, and thus we are back on uh the primary motion, the initial motion um to uh approve this rule change as substituted.

At this juncture, Ms.

Porterfield, you seek to be recognized.

All right, Madam Pro Tim, go ahead.

Uh thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, I also have concerns uh mirroring what uh council member Walsh said about this now changing the trajectory of um us taking these votes.

Um I know it was mentioned that uh people don't get a lot of notice.

Um the the piece of paper that's on our disc today is giving us notice and letting us know that if we nominate somebody on the April 21st meeting, they need to be here by May 7th.

This was emailed to us yesterday.

So we're getting at least a month notice to make sure that whoever we're interested in nominating is available.

So it is incumbent upon us to check in with whoever it is that we're nominated to make sure that they're available.

I do have concerns about um we've had uh attendance issues with some of our boards and commissions, and we want to be very mindful that this is a volunteer position.

So we're very thankful for our residents who serve in this capacity.

Um and we also want to make sure that people are able to show up for the uh commitment.

So at this point, I don't support it.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, Ms.

Timbs, uh Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

I stand in support of this rule change.

Um, I agree with Chair Cash that um just because someone can't make this specific date on typically short notice doesn't mean they can't be a valuable member of a board or commission.

Uh some folks have work obligations that are set months in advance, and it just doesn't work for them to be on that to come and be interviewed on that date.

This just pushes an election back potentially on the vote of the rules committee and the full council for one meeting.

So it's not a continuous deferral.

It's given one exception, and it's been more than just a sponsor of this rule change who's had nominees that could not make um the interview date.

So I think that this is reasonable.

Uh and again, uh it's up to the rules committee uh as well as the full council to vet whether or not it's a good reason to move the election.

I don't think that one moving anything one meeting um is that big of a detriment or shows that someone can't be a valuable member of a border commission.

So I support it.

All right.

Um uh Mr.

Koppen, uh, you are briefly recognized, Ms.

Porterfield.

Um go ahead, sir.

Oh.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'll be I'll be very brief on this.

But um I I appreciate all the other discussion.

I think that um I've heard we've heard a lot about attendance issues and quorums, and if these interviews um were taking place at the time of the commission that someone was going to serve and the day they were supposed to serve, then perhaps that would be an indicator.

But for example, um the most recent one I could think of was actually nominated by another one of my colleagues, not myself, um, and they were unavailable at a time that is not the same time day or time um of the of the meeting that they would be required to attend if they were able to serve.

So I do think attendance is a big issue and big thing to address, but I'm not sure that giving someone 30-day notice and then saying, you know, you gotta be here this day or time is an indicator of your ability to show up is is necessarily indicative.

Um and I think you know, we we've got a lot of great people that want to serve on boards and commissions, and I think we owe it to the public and owe it to ourselves, right?

May the mayor's office, vice mayor's office can appoint people, um, and if they can't make it, they can defer.

Um, and I think we should also have that ability again, not continuously.

If someone can't come the first time and they can't come the second time, all right.

Well, maybe this isn't your cycle to serve, but to give people just at least two opportunities to come before us, I think is very reasonable.

Um, and as councilman tomb said, I think one meeting adjustment um shouldn't make too much of a difference.

And again, this is not a given, right?

This is still something that has to move through the rules committee and the council.

So appreciate the support.

Um uh Ms.

Porterfield, uh Ms.

Evans has not yet been recognized.

Is are you okay?

Um go ahead, Ms.

Evans.

Oh, I hit my button by accident.

Okay, go ahead.

Okay.

All right.

Um uh there's uh a motion uh to call uh the previous question.

This requires a second.

Is there a second?

Okay.

This is a non-debatable motion.

It requires two-thirds of those voting.

Um we will attempt to first do it by voice, where I remind members uh this is by number, not volume.

Okay, if you are in favor of the previous question, you want to end debate um on this rule change.

If you are against, if you are a no vote, you want to continue the discussion.

All in favor of the previous question, please say aye.

Aye.

Those voting no.

No.

Okay.

Okay.

Um understood, Miss Porterfield.

Understood.

Um, okay, uh, so we have called the previous question, and we will uh now move to the vote.

Um this uh rules change requires uh 27 votes.

Um and so uh in an abundance of caution, um we will go on the machine.

Um uh Mr.

Clerk, if you would please open the vote.

Um this is for the change to uh rule of procedure 50 as substituted all right.

Uh with all votes in, uh Mr.

Clerk, please show the vote.

All right, this rule change has passed uh barely with 27 votes in favor, six against, and zero abstentions.

Um could you please share when um by rule this rule will be applicable, please, sir.

Councilmember, this rule or vice mayor, forgive me.

Um this uh rule amendment will take effect in 30 days.

All right.

Um so uh members be advised this will not be in effect at the next meeting, um, but rather I presume uh yes, with our first meeting in May um happening on a Thursday, in fact.

Um uh we will definitely be uh within that 30-day window.

So this will be applicable for the meeting of May 7th.

Okay.

All right.

Um we are now uh moving into section J of our agenda of bills on public hearing.

Spanish interpretation services are provided for all Metro Council public hearings.

Uh council office team member Karina Valdez is here as the interpreter.

Ms.

Valdez, will you please share how you can help?

Gracias.

Gracias.

We appreciate you.

All right.

Uh for those wishing to speak this evening as part of public hearings, please do state your name, but it is not required for you to provide your exact address if you do not wish to do so.

You may want to tell us in what neighborhood or area you live, your connection to an agenda item or project, or who your council member is.

Okay.

All right.

All right.

The uh first item um for public hearing uh this evening.

In fact, there are two um which are companions to each other.

Agenda items one and two.

Uh this is ordinance BL 2025-703, and it's companion 704.

Uh sponsors Gad, Horton, and Allen.

Uh just for the record, I will share that this uh 703 is an ordinance to amend title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro Government by applying a historic landmark overlay district for property located at 4301 Harding Pike.

This is 296 feet southwest of Woodlawn Drive.

It is zoned CS and located within the Harding White Bridge Urban Design Overlay.

It is 3.99 acres, and 704 is its companion uh that requires certain materials to be restricted in the construction of buildings at the addresses in 703.

Uh Planning and Zoning Chair Horton, uh, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh I would like to ask for a brief clarification from planning staff and council member guad's absence.

I've been not requested to defer this at the first meeting in October.

Uh question whether to defer hold the public hearing in the first second or to defer third.

I wonder if they may have any instruction on how council member guide wishes this to be handled.

Um hang on, um planning table.

Uh Mr.

Lehman, you're recognized, sir.

Yes, I think the request would be to defer it to the October public hearing so that the public hearing would be held in October.

I'd like to move the second reading and public hearing to the uh first meeting in October.

Okay.

Um uh there's a motion uh to defer uh this bill's second reading and its public hearing.

Um uh uh these two bills rather, 703 and uh 704 at the request of the sponsor.

Is there a second?

Okay, properly seconded.

Is there any discussion on that deferral motion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Okay, any voting no or abstaining.

All right.

703 and 704 um uh by sponsor Gad and Horton as well are deferred to the first meeting uh and the public hearing in October of this year.

All right.

Next is agenda item three.

Uh this is ordinance BL 2026-1195 sponsor styles.

This is an ordinance amending Title 17 of the Metro Code of Law is to remove the bar or nightclub uh use from being permitted within the shopping center zoning districts.

Councilmember Styles, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Vice Mayor.

I'm actually going to withdraw this bill.

Okay this evening.

Thank you.

I hope you are feeling okay there.

Oh, jeez.

I know, my goodness.

Okay.

All right.

So um council member Styles' uh uh ordinance uh one one nine five um has been withdrawn.

Okay.

All right.

Um next is agenda item four.

Uh this is ordinance BL 2026-1257, sponsors Parker, Horton, and Vo.

This is an ordinance amending chapler chapters 17.16 and 17.40 of the Metro Code of Laws to permit detached accessory dwelling units, also known as Dadu's on legally created residential lots with non-conforming lot area.

Uh councilmember Parker, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to open the public hearing.

All right.

Um okay.

I declare the public hearing open uh for council member Parker's ordinance one, two, five, seven.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this bill, please raise your hand.

Okay.

Would all members of the public here in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

Okay.

Seeing no one here in opposition, does the person in support seek to be recognized?

He is shaking his head no.

And so with that, um, Mr.

Parker, I will declare the public hearing closed, and it's back to you for a motion on your bill.

Thank you.

I'd like to move approval.

All right.

Is there a second?

Okay, it's properly moved and seconded.

Um we're on to discussion.

Um sponsor Parker, anything you wish to say.

There's no one else in the queue for discussion.

Thank you.

No, I I believe this is sort of like a technical correction to the um they do code.

So appreciate colleague support.

All righty.

Um, this bill is on its second of uh three readings.

Um seeing no one in the queue for discussion, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

All right.

This has passed its second of three readings.

Next is agenda item uh five, ordinance BL 2026-1303, sponsor Benedict.

This is an ordinance to amend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro government by changing from RS 7.5 to R8A zoning for property located at 800 Gwynn Drive at the southeast corner of Patapsco Street and Gwyn Drive.

This is 0.32 acres.

Uh Councilmember Benedict, you are recognized, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Hopefully, this might be the last time you say Petapsco.

Um you've said that many times on this bill or bills.

I'd appreciate it if you'd open the public hearing.

Yes.

Um, I declare the public hearing open uh for council member Benedict's ordinance one three zero three.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this resolution, please raise your hand.

Okay.

Uh would all members of the public hear in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

All right.

Seeing none and with the gentleman uh in support already at the podium.

Uh I do uh uh presume he wishes to speak.

Um and so you are recognized, sir.

Uh thank you, council members, for allowing me to speak this evening.

I I really appreciate the opportunity.

And and councilwoman Benedict.

Um I'm a transplant like most, so I preapologize for that.

I'm from Minnesota.

Uh I purchased the home on uh Gwynn Drive uh in the very late of December of 24 for an opportunity to build a home down here.

When I purchased the home, it was in tough conditions with some water damage and some mold and some other issues.

The initial project was going to be putting a second floor and extending it and turning it into about a 2,000 square foot home from about a 900 square foot home.

Upon getting into the process a little bit and removing some siding and some interior uh dry wall, uh, we slowly realized there was a lot of water damage that ran behind the walls and was really starting to structurally uh affect the property.

Um my business partner being a co-owner of this property who's a developer uh and a general contractor, we realized that the home itself was gonna need to be completely built from the ground up.

It was at this point I decided to come down to the planning and zoning department to take a look at it because the property being at the end of the street with Patapsco is a double lot in the back and a single in the front, and kind of a weird triangle thing.

So we looked it up online.

It was an RS75, and I said, before we get into the whole thing, let me go and just have somebody tell me to my face.

Upon doing that, I realized that it was originally zoned in R8A when it was originally built, I believe, in the late 40s.

Um with that, and with us wanting to take the house completely to the ground and rebuild, um, we were seeking and started the process uh probably over a year ago to have it return to its original designation.

Um and so from there, we entered the process, got through, and then being a little bit of a naive newcomer, I thought I was all done and finished when I got stamped and got approved.

And it wasn't until about six months later that I realized that it was not.

So I'm seeking to uh remedy the situation as quickly as possible.

Yes.

All right, your time has concluded.

Thank you so much.

You're very welcome.

Um seeing no one else here seeking to be recognized uh in opposition.

All right, seeing none, um, I will declare the public hearing closed.

Um, and it is uh back to you, uh Ms.

Benedict for a motion on your bill.

Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

I'm all over the place.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Move approval.

All right, go ahead.

Sure.

So I appreciate Mr.

McKiernan coming tonight.

Um, as we exchanged emails today, I did receive some opposition um just today about this.

So I appreciate him coming out and sharing some information with me.

Um I am gonna make sure that this gets shared with the uh couple of constituents who had concerns.

Um, and so I'm gonna go back and speak to Mr.

McKiernan in just a moment to address those concerns.

But with that, I seek your approval, colleagues.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, there is a motion to approve uh properly seconded uh for this ordinance on its second of three readings.

Um is anyone seeking to be recognized for discussion.

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstentions?

All right.

Um, this has passed its second reading.

Next is agenda item six, ordinance BL 2026-1304.

Sponsor Harrell.

This is an ordinance to amend title 17.

The Metro Code of Laws is only ordinance of the Metro government by amending a specific plan for property located located at 2304 Hobson Pike.

This is approximately 207 feet northeast of Beach Mistway.

Zoned SP, this is 12.15 acres to permit a daycare center.

All right.

Uh Mr.

Harrell, you are recognized, sir.

Oh, please open a public hearing.

Okay.

Um, I declare the public hearing open uh for Council Member Hurrell's bill uh one three zero four.

Would all members of the public here in support of this bill please raise your hand?

Thank you.

Would all members of the public here in opposition to this bill please raise your hand?

Seeing no one here in opposition to the persons here in support seek to be recognized or speak.

They are shaking their heads no.

Is that okay?

All righty.

Um, and so with that, I will declare the public hearing closed.

It's back to you, Mr.

Harell for a motion on your bill.

Um, I'd like to move forward um with a brief comment of and also uh seeking approval.

Um so this particular development, uh, we um did a 55 and up um community, and they had additional land on that space, and we wanted to add a another positive uh feature and into the community that was not residential housing or there was not uh one of the things that the community had had concerns with, and so we land with making this a daycare, and so that's where we landed.

Uh I thank you.

I ask everyone to approve.

All righty.

Um, you've heard an explanation uh from the sponsor.

Um, is anyone else uh seeking discussion on this matter?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Anybody no?

Any abstaining?

All right, this has passed its second of three readings.

Next is agenda items seven and eight.

They are companions to each other.

Uh agenda item seven uh is ordinance BL 2026-1305, sponsor vo, and again it's companion uh 1306.

1306 also sponsor vo.

1305 is an ordinance to amend title 17.

The Metro Code of Lawson Ordinance of the Metro Government by changing from R 8 to SP zoning for the property located at 1027 Wade Avenue at the southeast corner of Wade Avenue and 11th Avenue South.

This is 0.14 acres to permit for multifamily residential units and 1306 is the ordinance that requires certain materials to be restricted in the construction of buildings at the address in 1305.

Uh Ms.

Vowe, you are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to open the public hearing.

All right, I declare the public hearing open uh for council member votes ordinances 1305 and 1306.

Agenda items seven and eight.

Would all members of the public hear in support of these bills, please raise your hands?

Thank you.

Would all members of the public hear in opposition to these bills, please raise your hand.

Seeing no one here in opposition, uh did the gentleman here in support seek to be recognized.

Ms.

Vowe, they are shaking their heads no.

Um and so with that, I will declare the public hearing closed.

And it's back to you.

Um you may make a consolidated motion um uh to get these bills before us.

Yes, I'd like to move for approval.

All right.

Consolidated.

Okay, there's a motion to approve ordinances 1305 and 1306.

It's properly seconded.

Is there any discussion of these bills on second reading?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Uh these have passed second reading.

Next is agenda item nine, ordinance BL 2026-1307, sponsors GAD and Horton.

Uh, this is an ordinance to amend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, uh, by changing from OR20 to SP zoning for the property located at 100 Kenner Avenue, approximately 315 feet northeast of Ridgefield Drive.

This is 0.34 acres and located within the Harding White Bridge Urban Design Overlay to permit a mixed use development.

Uh Councilmember Horton, you are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to open the public hearing, please.

All right, I declare the public hearing open uh for council member Gad and Hortons Bill 1307.

This is agenda item nine.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this bill, please raise your hand.

Thank you.

Uh would all members of the public hear in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

Seeing no one here in opposition to the persons here in support seek to be recognized or speak.

They are shaking their heads no, Chair Horton.

And with that, um I will close the public hearing and it's back to you for a motion.

Okay, I'd like to move for approval, please.

All right.

Um there's a motion to approve, and it is properly seconded on ordinance uh 1307 on second reading.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right, this has passed its second of three readings.

Next is agenda item 10.

This is ordinance BL 2026 1308, sponsored Greg.

This is an ordinance to mend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro Government by changing from IWD, O R I, and SP to M U L N S zoning for properties located at 911, 911, 920, and 921 perimeter court located approximately 285 feet southeast of perimeter place drive.

This is 14 uh point oh seven acres.

Councilmember Greg, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to open the public hearing.

All right, I declare the public hearing open for council member Greg's ordinance one three zero eight, agenda item 10.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this bill?

Please raise your hand.

Thank you.

Would all members of the public hear in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

Okay.

Seeing no one here in opposition to the persons here in support seek to be recognized.

They are shaking their head no.

And so with that, uh Councilman uh Greg, I will declare the public hearing closed.

It's back to you for a motion.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to move for approval.

All right.

Properly moved and seconded.

Um is there any discussion on this ordinance?

Seeing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstentions?

All right.

Uh this has passed its second of three readings.

Next is agenda item 11.

Um, this is ordinance BL 2026 uh-1309, sponsor Parker.

This is an ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County by changing from RS10 to RM20 ANS zoning for properties located at 3311, 3313, 3315A, 3317, and 3319 Walton Lane, approximately 34 feet west of Arrowhead Drive.

This is 4.13 acres.

Councilmember Parker, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Would like to open the public hearing.

All right.

I declare the public hearing open for Council Member Parker's uh ordinance 1309.

This is agenda item 11.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this bill, please raise your hand.

Thank you, sir.

I see ya.

Um would all members of uh the public hear in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

All right, seeing um no one here in opposition.

Uh does the person here in support seek to be recognized?

Shaking his head no.

And so with that, I will declare the public hearing closed.

It's back to you for a motion.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to move for approval.

All right.

There's a motion to approve, and it's properly seconded.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, uh, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Uh ordinance one three zero nine has passed its second of three readings.

Next is agenda item 12.

This is ordinance BL 2026-1310.

Sponsor Taylor.

This is an ordinance to amend title 17, the Metro Code of Laws is zoning ordinance of the Metro Government by changing from RS5 to R6A zoning for property located at 2507 Maharie Boulevard, approximately 166 feet west of 25th Avenue North.

This is 0.17 acres, and within a detached accessory dwelling unit overlay district.

Um council member Taylor is not here.

Um Ms.

Toombs, are you willing to sign on?

Um, Mr.

Clerk, if you would please make a note of it.

Um right.

Now, co-sponsor uh tombs, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam vice mayor request to open a public hearing.

All right.

I declare the public hearing open on council member Taylor's uh ordinance one three one zero.

This is agenda item twelve.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this bill, please raise your hand.

Thank you.

Would all members of the public hear in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

Seeing no one here in opposition, does the person or persons here in support uh seek to be recognized or speak?

Um uh not you, Mr.

Scout, the person back there uh who raised their hand.

No.

Okay, with that, um, I will declare the public hearing closed.

Um and with that, it's back to you, uh, Ms.

Tombs.

Move for approval.

All right.

There's a motion to approve and is properly seconded.

Is there any discussion on this bill on its second of three readings?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

Okay.

Um 1310 uh has passed its second of three readings.

Next is agenda item 13.

This is ordinance BL 2026-1311.

Sponsor Kimbrough.

This is an ordinance to amend title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro Government by amending a portion of a planned unit development overlay district to permit 120 multifamily residential units on property located at 201 Gifford Place, located at the corner of Gifford Place, and White's Creek Pike.

This is 3.17 acres zoned CS and within a planned unit development overlay district.

Uh Ms.

Kimbrough, you are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to open the public hearing.

All right.

I declare the public hearing open uh for council member Kimbrough's ordinance one three one one.

This is agenda item 13.

Would all members of the public hear in support of this bill?

Please raise your hand.

Thank you.

All right.

Um would all members of the public hear in opposition to this bill, please raise your hand.

All right.

Um, okay.

So um quite a lot of opposition here, so I am going to be presumptive and presume that those here in support uh will seek to be recognized and speak.

Um uh supporting speakers will go first.

Um, if so if those in support um would go ahead and come forward.

Um if you do seek to speak uh in small groups, please please do not block our door for ingress and egress purposes.

Um folks in opposition um will uh speak after the supporting speakers have uh concluded.

All right, go ahead, sir.

You're recognized.

Uh Madam President, members of the council, my name is Sean Henry.

I'm with two Nutrigen and a wide law firm, 511th Avenue North.

I represent the Better Housing Group.

Uh my clients are here tonight and want to address you, but they are under contract to purchase the former Days In, which has been on the property for many decades, and we're talking about the interchange of I-24 and Joelton.

Uh the Gifford PUD has been around since 1977.

Uh one and it's a mixed use PUD, one of the oldest in Davidson County.

The planning department staff has done a really good job of uh thorough analysis and history of this property, and I want to just reference a little bit of their information.

This property has been approved in the past for uh gas station use, fast food use, motel, which is the subject property, automotive servicing.

Uh, and that was in 1977 by this Metro Council.

Uh 20 years after that, a bowling uh alley was added, skating rink, campground.

It was uh approved for there's a church on the property, a boarding house was added uh just not uh not too many years ago.

So you've had a wide range of uses over many years of time, and the time has come to add more residential to this property.

So this proposal is merely to change the existing days in, which has 117 rooming units, and to convert those to multifamily housing.

The planning commission unanimously approved that.

Uh, and that's because the neighborhood center policy that applies to this property and that interchange uh calls for a mix of commercial, mixed use, residential, and institutional uses.

Uses that have been there for many, many decades.

So we have an evolution here, but importantly, we've got a new investment in a really tired old piece of property, and the housing uh is in need more than ever.

I have a few letters of support.

I'd like to file them for the record, and I appreciate your vote tonight.

All right, if you would please uh uh relay those to the Sergeant in Arms.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh all righty.

Um go ahead, sir.

Yeah, good evening.

My name is David Carlson.

Uh zip code of my residence is 37205, District 34.

My interest in this particular matter is from the perspective of the investment and development side of the proposed conversion of the former days in to permanent affordable workforce housing in Joelton.

I'd like to start by thanking Council Lady Kimbrough for her support in this process.

I'd also like to thank all of you for allowing us to present our case this evening.

And while we may not be in ultimate agreement regarding the proposed rezoning at the subject property, I would like to thank the citizens of Jolton and District One for meeting with us on several occasions in the last few months to discuss their thoughts regarding the proposed project.

The facts of the matter are clear in Davidson County as it relates to the current state of permanent housing as well as the future state of permanent housing.

We're short the number of doors that are currently needed, and absent a viable plan coupled with the efforts and creativity of outside capital.

This problem will only worsen in coming years.

Our motivation for this project is simple.

To be part of one group of what we hope will eventually be a number of groups attacking the problem head on in order to address the issue of permanent affordable workforce housing.

Absolutely plan to convert an old older hotel currently used for relatively transient guests to 120 units available for one-year leases.

The future of the subject property is unknown at this time.

And it could very well continue as an outdated property.

However, there's a significantly higher degree of clarity around the future of the Gifford Place property under the plan we have proposed.

Our plan involves spending more than three million dollars above the cost of acquiring the property to improve the premises and bring it to a standard of longer-term living.

New furnishings, kitchenettes, and other amenities.

Most importantly, we believe the nature of longer-term leases improves the overall prospects of the property.

And the permanence of longer-term residents rather than short-term transient hotel guests is a net positive for the Jolton community.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Thank you for the time.

My name is Abishek Mather.

I'm in uh District 34.

Uh, also involved with this project as a sponsor.

Um, my partner just went through quite a bit of the history behind the property.

Uh as a national resident, I just really want to highlight the fact that housing is one of the biggest concerns that we have as citizens of this city.

And regardless of what community we're in, we're trying to help create housing in each of those communities.

In this particular instance, we're not changing walls, we're not changing a building other than improving it, keeping those walls, and really improving the nature of that building so people can choose to live in it for up to a year or longer, depending on the leases they sign.

Um, that's an improvement and betterment for not just this community, but overall the city itself, because that housing is a shortage that we all know of.

There's a lot of literature about what the status of housing will be, affordable housing in the city, one year down the road, five years down the road, or ten years down the road.

And I think by supporting this project, they're not only helping 120 families that will be able to live here, but also ensuring that there's support for future developers to invest money in Nashville and bring more housing here to help solve this problem for all of our citizenship.

So thank you again for the time.

Thank you.

Next, you're recognized.

Yes, my name is Thomas Fowler.

I've lived in the Dalton area uh after moving there for about a year and a half.

Um, I really don't see a problem in the world with growth and getting affordable housing for the area.

Uh for 120 people can be housed and uh it can be affordable living and it can improve their quality of life.

And it turns an old property that's uh you know a transient hotel that really doesn't bring good things to the area at all.

I'm all for it.

Uh other than that, that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Uh go ahead, sir.

You're recognized.

Good evening.

My name is Quincy Blackman, and I was at the last meeting, but I wasn't able to speak due to I had throat surgery, so I apologize.

But uh thank you for your time right now.

I am for approval of departments uh for Jordan.

I am a resident of Jordan, I'm in the Falls area.

Um, like I said, I'm I see the change, I'm ready for the change, and I think it'd be a good thing for the city also.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh next, sir, former council member, Scott Davis, your recognized, sir.

Welcome back.

Um, good afternoon.

You're probably like, um, I'm an East National resident.

How am I involved in this project?

Well, the gentleman with the hat on, um, is my childhood best friend, Mr.

Fowler.

Originally, when talk about this hotel started, you know, he's like, hey, my best friend by high school, he was also one of my grownsmen at my wedding, uh, was like, hey, you know all about this zoning stuff.

Is this true what they're saying?

Are they gonna build 120 units?

And I'm like, they're gonna build uh where?

And so I had to go to the meeting, and when they were signing a weird uh a petition, and so I went, and I'm like, oh, they're just improving the older hotel that's there.

And then we were like, Well, what's wrong with improving?

All they're doing is they're approved by planning unanimously.

I was at the two meetings, council Cimbro Hill for the community, and as a former council member that lived off of Dickerson Road, and and experiencing what old old hotels do when they get that old.

Uh, we've had issues in the past, and I'm no shade on the owner of this hotel, but renovating it and making it an affordable housing for residents is a way better idea.

Because once again, I'm not bounting any hotel owners on Dickerson Road or anything, but as a former council member, a former neighborhood chair.

Um and you know, I've I've had to pull a lot of people with the help of a vulnerable police and love our services from bad situations out of those older hotels.

And I look at these residents, I told them this at the first meeting.

Trust me, you don't want an old hotel that's falling apart in your neighborhood.

Renovate it, make it affordable housing.

Thank you for your time.

Oh, thank you, sir.

Okay.

Um, go ahead, sir.

You're recognized.

Uh good evening, everybody.

My name is Dean Patel.

Uh, we are part of the current ownership of the uh hotel.

Uh, the intention of buying the hotel was to adaptive reuse of it.

Uh, myself, I've been on Trinity Lane and Brick Chick Pike for many years, uh, part of Miss Tombs' uh uh district.

Um, we've had the privilege of turning three old hotels that was the old Super Eight, the King's Inn and Roadway Inn into adaptive reuse uh that have been what wonderful.

Uh one of them is the Wilder, the other one is the Sahana, and the third one is Departure.

Um it's been great.

We've got 90% occupancy.

Um, I don't think we have any any issues with metro police officers or anybody coming in there crime, they're all screened.

Um, we actually had the privilege back in uh January of giving a tour to all the residents that was in Joelton to come out there.

We had about 20 of them come in and out.

Obviously, everybody has positive negative things, but uh the the use of this property we feel is putting three million dollars towards the hotel versus putting three million dollars investment towards uh affordable living, it makes more sense for affordable living is gonna be long term.

Putting three million dollars for a hotel to be reused for a hotel won't work at all because it the pricing won't work.

But as far as adaptive reuse for rezoning and apartments is gonna be made more better than that.

So uh our request is um that we're here to put more funding into the property, and hopefully we can get your support and blessings for it.

We've already did three of them that are successful, and if everybody's knows this property and on Trinity Lane, this is a little bit further.

So we hope to get all your support.

Thank you guys very much.

Thank you.

Is anyone else uh seeking to be recognized to speak in support?

Seeing none, uh with that, we will move to those in opposition who wish to speak.

Um if you do, uh please come forward.

We ask that you do not make a line that blocks the door.

Um, but you are welcome.

Uh go ahead, uh Mr.

Moore, also former council member.

Um, sir, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam speaker.

Don't start my time yet.

Let me clarify.

I'm I've never been a council member.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.

Moore.

I apologize.

That's quite a you're not the first one every firefighter, public servant.

Uh, we appreciate you, sir.

I'm sorry.

Former state rep.

Yeah.

And state rep.

I knew you were an elected officer.

The honorable Gary Moore, who I messed up his uh role.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, ma'am.

Uh, Madam Chair, thank you.

And distinguished council members, thank each and every one of you for your time.

Obviously, I'm opposed to it for obvious reasons.

Uh, let me start by saying I've lived in the uh community for 46 years.

43 of those years I lived in District 1 until the last redistrict, and I became a member of District 10.

However, I'm 2.1 miles from a days in.

I've been stated in several different cases that district 10 is irrelevant to what's going on in District 1.

I would ask you to look at the video that I sent to you via email.

It's uh council lady Well spoke very clearly about.

We should not let district lines divide our communities, and that we that's first.

Secondly, it is it regards specifically to the days in.

We are a rural community and have been for a long time, and we will probably remain that way for quite some time because of infrastructure.

We are not, and it's no disregard, uh disrespect for uh Brook Church Pike or Dickerson Road, but we're not the Brick Church Pike or Dickerson Road.

We are a rural community full of rural people, and it was it's not justifiable to put that there.

And I sent in an email, 126 signatures of people that were opposed to it.

I would ask if possible, madam chair, that those 126 names be added as a matter of record.

They were sent via email.

Is that permissible?

Uh yes, sir.

Special counsel is I mean Mr.

Clerk, how how do we usually handle that, sir?

That can be for me for recording.

Okay, if you would uh we will we will forward it to Mr.

Clerk and enter it into the record.

Thank you, Mr.

Moore.

Uh and I will also I have always advocated for what the people in the community wanted.

And you alluded to the fact I have been elected official, and when I was elected, I did what the people uh constituents wanted.

And obviously my time's up, but uh thank you, madam chair, if we time and thank you, council members, for listening to me.

Thank you, Mr.

Moore.

Uh next, go ahead, sir.

You're recognized.

My name, my name is Mark James, live on on the D1 side of Morgan Road.

Uh I did send an email out to everybody, hopefully it got read.

Uh, had a lot of details in there about the the tour on Trinity Lane and and how it differs from Joelton.

And the thing that I don't understand is how a council person can go against a community.

And we had various meetings.

Um, and I just don't understand it, but just like Gary said, there's a petition with 126 names.

There's about 10 of us here tonight.

There's been people for it, two saying they live in Joelton, and the rest of them are for the investors.

So the way I see it is a no vote tonight will be for all the people of Joelton.

A yes vote will be for a group of investors.

And I'm just gonna leave it at that, and I hope people will answer to my email because the question I asked everybody, including Miss Kimbrough, two times now.

What benefit does this have for Jalton?

And I'll leave it at that.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Uh, next, go ahead.

You're recognized.

Yes.

Good evening.

My name is Bob Shari.

I'm a resident of Joelton.

I've been that way, been there for almost five years now.

I am vehemently opposed to this.

No one has expressed the fact, well, they have expressed the fact that this is going to be family residential.

No one has expressed the fact that these are 300 square foot hotel rooms that are being converted into residential workforce housing.

Jolton does not have the infrastructure to support what we believe would be up to 240 residents in this property.

The traffic the road conditions, traffic conditions where this property sits will not support 120 or more cars coming in and out of it every day.

There's no work in the Greater Jolton area for people to be going to, and certainly the infrastructure, the rest of the infrastructure, including our schools, including our first responders who are already overworked.

It is very difficult for us to get response from the North Precinct, which is the precinct that covers us.

Nothing against that.

But we're at the end, we're at the end of the county.

We need council support to not allow this to happen because Joelton doesn't have space for this many residents until something else changes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Go ahead, ma'am.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

You're recognized.

I'm Dr.

Leslie Ben Mark.

I've lived in Davison County for 55 years and in Jolton for over 35 years.

I've had friends and family stay there on various occasions when they come to visit.

Many came when my husband died, who worked for Metro for 25 years when he died about 10 years ago.

Most recently in January, I had 10 days rental at the days in because we had no electricity.

It had a king-sized bed, very clean, very comfortable, had a television, had a microwave, had a refrigerator.

My Rottweiler enjoyed it.

He stayed there with me.

At a local meeting we had uh about a month ago, I guess the owner of the motel said, hey, if this doesn't go through, we'll keep the motel going.

That's what we need.

We need it to stay a motel in Joelton.

I was lucky enough, my home is about a mile and a half.

I could leave the motel, go check, see how things are going, see if the electricity was on because we had no notification of when when the electricity was turned on.

We needed this facility.

It is a great facility, and we need to keep it in Joelton.

Thank you.

Thank you, and we appreciate your husband's service to Metro Government.

Go ahead, ma'am.

You're next.

My name is Lorenda McLaughlin, and I'm a lifelong citizen of Joelton.

I appreciate you all your time and your service to our communities.

However, I listened to the people who are in support of this bill.

Um, Mr.

Henry.

Um gentlemen sitting on the front.

Um the one that lives in the falls, he is right there in that proximity.

My understanding is the gentleman in the hat lives actually in Cheatham County with the Joelton address.

We represent a small number of the people that showed up to these meetings.

At the last meeting, Miss Kimbrough would not accept a vote, a show of hands vote.

I would like for you, if possible, to have a vote on the record.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Uh Mr.

Nash, uh council member shared with me that you were as well a council member.

Is that accurate?

Thank you for your service.

We're just having old home day night here.

Um right.

Is anyone else seeking to be recognized uh to speak in opposition?

Seeing none, I will declare the public hearing closed.

Um, and it's back to you, uh, Ms.

Kimbrough for a motion on this bill.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I'd like to move for approval with a brief comment.

All right, it's properly moved and seconded.

Go ahead, ma'am.

All right.

Um, I appreciate everyone that came out.

Um, I know I took it to time and effort.

And we have had two meetings on this, and I have also invited the entire Jolton community to go to the property and um look at it, take a look.

Um, what is it when you um tour the property?

So they did that, and the whole I'm sorry, the hotel had it open for them on a Saturday morning just for the Jelton community, so they were able to see it.

I really like this place.

I said it's somewhere I would live, the one that I visited.

So um I think this is a really, really, really good idea, and it kind of saves the hotel because based on what the owners have told me, it will not remain a hotel.

It's just not lucrative enough, they're not making money on it.

So I think this is a wonderful idea.

I think it's great for Jelton.

I know change period is hard on a lot of people.

I would like to say something about that vote, uh, because they were uh people indicated that I didn't take a vote, and I didn't.

I was just simply asked, are you taking a vote?

And I said no.

Uh, and that's because we were having a meeting, they were there, they answered the questions.

We just didn't take a vote.

There was no mandatory or reason to take a vote.

Um initially, one of the people who were here today steck called me, and when I asked why are you opposed to this, he said we just don't want those type of people here.

When I asked him what type of people, he said poor people.

That's what he said.

I was sent a Facebook uh post today from a gentleman from Joelton that has said, I have had a wonderful life in Jolton.

Thankful to be out of Jolton after 33 years.

Bordeaux is coming.

This will be this will speed the process.

Sometimes people are just afraid of people they're not used to seeing every day being around them.

And that is not about any type of uh objective issue with the zoning.

Well, this isn't even it's just removing the put.

But I think this is um a great idea.

I think it will be great for Jolton.

I welcome it, and um I move for approval.

All right, um, there is already a motion to approve, which was properly seconded, and now we are on to discussion.

First in the queue is Councilmember Nash.

You recognize her.

These are always tough, tough calls.

Uh we have several motels that have been converted near district uh 27 that do provide some transitional housing for people that really need transitional housing, but they're also in areas where there's plenty of uh bus service, for instance, transportation, so people can go to work.

And I would ask the sponsor uh what's your sense of number one, the employment opportunities out there and the transportation uh accessibility.

Ms.

Kimbrough, can you speak to uh transit accessibility and employment, Mr.

Nash?

That's that's a question.

Okay, go ahead, ma'am.

Well, I'll say we have approved choose how you move, so we do have that.

But I want to say this is near the interstate where you already have the infrastructure, you have the amenities.

It's where you would want a place like this to be.

And I'd also like to say I'm not doing this willy-nilly.

I have not approved any apartments whatsoever, and we have had them try to come to district one, and that's based on the people saying, no, we don't want it, no, we don't want it, no, we don't want it.

I do what they ask me to do.

District one has the lowest percentage renters out of all 35 districts.

So I'm very careful and purposeful with what I do.

This makes sense, and that's why I'm asking for the approval.

All right, back to you, Mr.

Nash.

I'm not sure I heard is it on a bus line?

Maybe that was my question.

Um, Ms.

Webb is nodding her head that yes, it is on a bus line.

Thank you.

And then I would only ask for the recurrent vote, also if that'd be possible.

Okay, so there is a request uh for a roll call.

We need three seconds.

Okay, so there are uh sufficient um seconds uh to uh Mr.

Nash's request for a roll call, um, such that when the discussion concludes and we move to a vote, it will be a roll call vote.

Next in the queue is council member Evans.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I am uh rising in support of this change.

Um in 2019, I had uh entered office and I had two very troubled hotels um also near the interstate.

I don't think that this sounds like uh this particular property is in the same condition as what I was facing.

Um, but I went down a very long and extended path of what was gonna happen with these properties.

Um one was in much better condition than the other, but to give everyone an idea, one had been set on fire, and half of several buildings was missing from the back.

And so it was uh dilapidated structures, uh, really challenging situation, huge drain on public resources, including um the police, Nashville Fire, et cetera.

And so ultimately um worked with a developer in the area um to kind of figure out what were we gonna do with these properties, and and both of them ended up being converted into long-term housing.

Uh one was faster than the other.

Both properties have a different identity than the other.

One was done by an out of state company.

Um, but the amenities that they were able to at least add um to one of the properties was much better than the previous condition.

Um, the fact that we were converting into housing um that provided people who were already living there uh with you know with protections, you know, afforded by um the Tennessee state law as as much as they are in our state, um, was much better than the conditions that were people were experiencing previously.

We had owners that um acquire the properties that cared that invested you know, funding um to make these conversions to invest in the upgrades and everything to be able to have them.

And the plus side is when we were hearing comments about infrastructure.

We got new infrastructure in the area as a result of those conversions because we actually had more permanent residents.

In addition, across the street, we're getting a new hotel as a result of some of those changes.

And so there's definitely positives that can come from this experience.

And so I would encourage um everyone to keep an open mind uh when it comes to what this conversion looks like because I think to um the sponsor's point, you know, we don't see her in here bringing a lot of radical changes uh to her district or doing anything that is you know per bringing substantial opposition, and so I support you know the fact that she's done a thorough vetting process on this project.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Evans.

Uh, next in the queues, Councilmember Benedict, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, I rise in support of this.

I think that this is the exact type of housing that we need in this city.

Uh we need to build housing that people can afford.

82% of Nashvilleans cannot afford to buy a home in this city.

Um so many people not just buy a home but rent a place to live.

And this is the opportunity.

This is a great opportunity, and I'd like to see more of it in District 7, where we have the number 56 and the number 34.

And I've got two hotels I'd love to look at and see if we couldn't get this done in those.

Um, one thing I pulled this location up on Google Maps um promo for Google or Bing or you know, whatever the maps are out there.

Um, and this is at I-24 as was described.

It actually is at Jolton Plaza, which is the park and ride for this area.

So you go um right on to I-24 on the bus line there.

And I hear the concerns of the neighbors, and I understand that.

I think one of the the things that was talked about was um traffic and um you know, looking at um going into Jolton.

I think when I look at this map, I just don't see the need for people to be driving into Jolton for anything other than to frequent businesses, I hope, right?

And and put more money into the community.

So I understand the change.

I do think that this is um, you know, having micro units like this is crucial to housing people who are moving to the city.

It is exactly the type of housing reform that this city and this council and our planning department and commission have been working on.

And so I'm enthusiastically supportive of this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Benedict.

Uh, next, Councilmember Toombs, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

I stand in support of this um project.

Um, as Mr.

Patel, one of the speakers mentioned, uh, he has been part of a development group that has renovated three hotels in my district.

I actually have a fourth that was renovated.

Uh the renovations, uh, I mean, they're really nice units.

Yes, they are micro units, but they are extremely nice with really good finishes.

Uh, the people that they have attracted, our students, teachers, metro employees, retired folks, uh, is really uh a diversity of people, and that's what you want to see.

You want to have more people have access to affordable housing.

You want to have a mix of people to diversify the community, um, and it does have you know the advantages of being on on the transit line and having access to a lot of different amenities.

But this it was a really good project for some hotels that were kind of problematic for the area, and it's really helped clean up the area and again bring in that diversity of folks who are looking for affordable housing in Nashville.

So it's not those people, it's our student, our college students, our teachers, our metro employees, our retired folks who are just looking for a nice place to live, and this provides an opportunity to do that, is what this project and Joledon.

So I am in full support of it.

All right, thank you, Miss Tombs.

Next uh is Councilmember Huffin.

Huffman, your recognizer.

Previous question.

All right.

Um Mr.

Huffman has called the previous question.

Uh that uh thank you.

It's a non-debatable motion, requires two-thirds of those voting.

Uh if you are in favor of the previous question, you want to end debate and move to the vote.

Uh, if you want to continue uh the discussion, you will vote no again uh by number, not by volume.

Uh all in favor of the previous question, please say aye.

All opposed to the previous question, please say no.

The ayes have it.

Uh the question is called and we will move uh to the vote.

Um there is a roll call vote requested and properly seconded.

So, Mr.

Clerk, if you would please load the vote uh for Ms.

Kimbrose bill uh 1311 uh for approval on second of three readings with all votes in, Mr.

Clerk, please show the vote.

All right, uh this uh bill has passed its second of three readings with 29 votes in favor, two votes against, and three abstentions.

Next are agenda items 14 and 15.

They are companions to each other, and these are our last uh items on public hearing.

Agenda item 14 is ordinance BL 2026-1312, sponsor coupon, uh, and one three one three, it's companion.

1312 is an ordinance to mend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws is only ordinance of the Metro Government by amending the River North Urban Design Overlay District for various properties located on Cowan Street, Cowan Court, and Waterside Drive.

This is 165 uh.21 acres to create a new sub-district three and update the general standards related to future streets and open space and uh bill 1313, the companion, uh, is uh the ordinance that requires certain materials to be restricted in the construction of buildings uh within or um related to 1312.

Um and so with that, uh Mr.

Koopin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

Open the public hearing, please.

All right, I declare the public hearing open for council member coupon's bills 1312 and 1313.

If you all could please take your discussion outside, thank you.

Um these are agenda items 14 and 15.

The public hearing uh for those is open.

Uh, would all members of the public here in support of uh Mr.

Koopin's bills please raise your hand?

All righty.

Um would all members of the public here in opposition to these bills, please raise your hand.

Seeing no one here in opposition, do the persons here in support seek to be recognized or speak.

They are all pretty much shaking their head no.

And so with that, I will declare the public hearing closed, and it's back to you, Mr.

Koopin, for a consolidated motion, please, sir, on these bills.

Thank you, Madam President.

Move approval.

All right.

Um is there a second?

Okay, there's a motion to approve 1312 and 1313 in a consolidated motion.

Go ahead, sir.

Anything else you want to add?

Alright.

Um, we move to discussion.

First in the queue, Councilmember Hancock.

Do you seek to be recognized on this?

Go ahead, ma'am.

Yes, please.

Thank you.

I just wanted to comment in general about how when you have a building that already exists and you're going to repurpose it for something else.

It's a great thing for the environment.

Sustainability.

That's all.

Okay.

I'm not sure if that was on these bills.

Um, but there is uh nobody else uh in the queue uh for discussion.

Um so seeing none, we will move to the vote.

Uh all in favor of these companion bills on their second of three readings, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um, so these uh 1312 and 1313 have passed their second of three readings, and that concludes um our public hearing.

All right.

Um next, we're gonna roll right into uh section K of our agenda, um, the consolidated consent agenda.

All resolutions and 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.

All right.

Agenda item 16 resolution 2026-1861.

Agenda item 17, resolution 2026-1862.

Agenda item 18, resolution 2026-1863.

Agenda item 19, resolution 2026-1864.

Agenda item 20, resolution 2026-1865.

Agenda item 21, resolution 2026-1866.

Agenda item 22, resolution 2026-1867.

Agenda item 24, resolution 2026-1869.

Agenda item 26, resolution 2026-1871.

Agenda item 28, resolution 2026-1873.

Agenda item 29, resolution 2026-1874.

Agenda item 34, resolution 2026-1879.

Agenda item 35, resolution 2026-1880.

Agenda item 36, resolution 2026-1881.

Agenda item 37, resolution 2026-1882.

Agenda item 38, resolution 2026-1883.

Agenda item 39, resolution 2026-1884.

Agenda item 41, resolution 2026-1886.

Agenda item 42, resolution 2026-1887.

Agenda item 43, resolution 2026-1888.

Agenda item 45, resolution 2026-1890.

Right, that's the last resolution proposed for the consent agenda.

Next will be bills on second reading proposed for the consolidated consent agenda.

First among those is agenda item 85 ordinance BL 2026-1319.

Agenda item 86, ordinance BL 2026-1320.

Agenda item 89, ordinance BL 2026-1323.

Agenda item 90, ordinance BL 2026-1324.

Agenda item 91, ordinance BL 2026-1325.

All right, next um are bills on third reading proposed uh for the consolidated consent agenda.

And the first among those is agenda item 92, ordinance BL 2025-1163.

Agenda item 93, ordinance BL 2025-1164.

Agenda item 94, ordinance BL 2026-1266.

Agenda item 100, ordinance BL 2026-1299.

Agenda item 101, ordinance BL 2026-130.

Agenda item 102, ordinance BL 2026-1301.

And then lastly, agenda item 103, ordinance BL 2026-1302.

Do any items need to be removed from the consent agenda?

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

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Item number 50, RS 2026-1895.

Okay.

Um Mr.

Huffman has requested agenda item 50.

Uh resolution 1895 be removed from consent.

It has been removed.

Uh next, uh, council member Cortez, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh, agenda item 44, RS 2026, 1889.

All right.

Uh, Mr.

Cortez has requested the removal of agenda item 44, uh, resolution uh 1889.

Um, it has been removed from consent.

Ms.

Benedict, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam vice mayor, number 45, RS 2026-1890, please.

All right, uh Ms.

Benedict has requested the removal of agenda item 45, uh resolution 1890.

Um, it has been removed from consent.

Uh next, council member Horrell, you're recognized, sir.

Agenda item 94, please.

All right.

Um, council member Harrell has requested removal of agenda item 94.

Um this is ordinance uh 1164.

Um Mr.

Harrell, that is a companion to agenda item 92.

Would you like to remove both, sir?

All right.

Um, so uh Mr.

Harrell has requested the ordinary as a member item four.

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

I thought you requested 93.

994.

Okay.

Um, all right, I apologize.

Um I thought I heard 93, but Mr.

Harrell has requested removal of agenda item 94.

Mr.

Harell, this is ordinance 1266.

Okay.

It will be removed from consent.

Sorry for that misunderstanding.

Councilmember Benton, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Pull number 98, BL 2026 1297.

All right.

Uh Councilmember Benton has requested removal of agenda item 98.

This is ordinance 1297.

Um, it will be removed from consent.

Uh last in the queue, council member Swara, you are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Item number 47, please.

All right, uh, council member Swara has requested removal of agenda item uh 47.

Uh this is resolution 1892, and it has been removed from consent.

Um, are any other members seeking to be recognized to remove an item uh from the consolidated consent agenda?

All right, seeing none, uh Mr.

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

Yes, all committee reports are in.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Members, is there a motion for approval of the consent agenda?

All right, it's properly moved and seconded.

All in favor, please say aye.

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

Next, uh, we will head back in agenda order um from items that were not on consent.

Um, so that is back to section L of our agenda resolutions.

First among those um is agenda item 23.

Uh, this is resolution 2026 uh dash one eight six eight sponsor tombs.

This is a resolution accepting the terms of a cooperative purchasing master agreement with ADP Inc.

for human capital management systems and managed business solutions for the finance department.

Uh council member tombs, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Committee report, budget and finance voted to recommend approval.

Seven in favor, zero against one not voting.

Move for approval.

All right, is there second?

Okay, it is properly moved and seconded, and we are on to discussion.

Um this may have been removed, I believe, for purposes of abstention, but is there any discussion on 1868 regarding uh the purchasing master agreement for ADP?

Okay.

Um seeing none, um, we will move uh to the vote.

Um we can if we have a single okay.

All righty, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

All righty.

Okay.

Um this resolution has uh passed.

Next is agenda item 44.

Uh resolution 2026-1889 sponsors Cortez, vo, and wiener.

This is a resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to support House Bill 1289 and Senate Bill 1247 as amended, which approves the Alyssa Lotkiss Safety Act.

Mr.

Cortez, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Committee reports, please.

All right, for the report of the rules confirmations and public elections committee, Chair Cash.

Um Chair Cash on uh Mr.

Cortez's 1889.

Uh we voted four in favor, zero against they were not voting.

All right, it's back to you uh for a motion to get the uh resolution before us.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Move for approval with a brief comment.

Is there a second?

Okay, go ahead, sir.

Thank you.

Dr.

Alyssa Lockett's was shot and killed on October 14th while an afternoon run in Mill Que Mill Creek Greenway, October 14th, 2024.

She was a beloved advocate whose unwavering love for others, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to progress left a lasting impact.

Alyssa was a strong, independent and compassionate person who deeply cared about empowering others, especially women.

Her commitment to safety, support, and community continues to inspire all those who knew her.

The Alyssa Lockett's Safety Act at the Tennessee General Assembly directs the Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation in coordination with the Department of Safety and Local Governments to develop a comprehensive strategy for park design, lighting, maintenance, signage, surveillance, programming, and public involvement.

This bill would benefit 59 state parks and more than 500 local parks across the state.

A task force would coordinate with TDEC, DOS, and local governments to report and implement the bill's recommendations and support updates to each state park's safety and security plan.

I ask all my colleagues to support this resolution in urging the General Assembly to pass the Alyssa Lockett Safety Act.

All right.

Um there's a motion to approve that's properly seconded, and you've heard a description of the resolution by the sponsor.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

All right.

This resolution uh has been adopted.

Next is agenda item 45, resolution 2026-1890.

Sponsors Spain, Evans, Rutherford Allen, Huffman, Wiener, Gamble, and Bradford.

This is a resolution requesting the Metropolitan Government conduct additional research and analysis regarding tax rates and services within the urban services district and the general services district to ensure all taxpayers in Davidson County are treated equitably.

Uh Councilmember Spain, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President.

Committee report, please.

All right, for the report of the rules, confirmations and public elections committee chair cash.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Pardon me, I'm I'm looking above uh where I was.

That is for the report of budget and finance.

Uh Chair Toomes.

Sorry, Mr.

Cash.

Uh Ms.

Toombs, you're recognized.

Budget and finance voted to recommend approval.

Eight in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay.

It's back to you, Vice Chair of Budget, for a motion to get the bill before us.

Thank you, Madam President.

Move approval with a brief comment.

All right.

Is there a second?

All right.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you.

Colleagues, um, I don't want to rehash all the discussions that went into our budget discussions last year, but you'll recall that um during those discussions, we received a report from raftalists titled the title of the technical memorandum for Davidson County USD GSD cost and revenue allocation analysis.

And you'll recall that that study recommended uh moving some uh cost associated with some services, uh, mainly the fire service from the USD to the GSD.

Uh those changes were implement uh implemented in the FY26 budget.

As a result, the difference between the tax rates in the GSD and USD went from 33.2 cents to 3.2 cents.

Um, but even though the folks in the GSD are now paying essentially the same tax rate as those in the USD, they still have to go out and pay for their own trash collection street lights, et cetera.

Um the study also recommended several other areas that were uh possibilities for further discussion that might mitigate the impacts to the taxpayers in the GSD or uh different ways of providing services that would be more equitable to all taxpayers across the county.

This resolution simply asks that that metro complete those studies uh and bring us recommendations on uh either ways to more directly connect revenue collection with service provision or expand the services that are provided uh across the county.

So uh with that I uh appreciate the those of you who have signed on to this as co-sponsors.

The uh the bottom line is that it is an effort to make sure that we are treating our taxpayers equitably and the folks are getting what they pay for, and I would appreciate your support.

Thanks.

All right, thank you, Vice Chair.

Uh next in the queue for discussion is Councilmember Benedict.

You're recognized.

Thank you, madam vice mayor.

Um I and understand where the concerns come with this, and I know this was a hot button when we went through the budget process last year.

Um, I also understand what an impact it was to residents outside of the USD um, you know, to to play catch up on this.

Um a district that is completely in the USD.

Um, we've been subsidizing is uh based on the report that we we see.

So my folks have been paying extra for services that um the rest of the county has been getting, and so I believe that all of the money that we spent on that last report um was best spent then with the result that we got then.

Um I'm curious for council chair uh vice mayor if we know there's no fiscal note on this because there's it's not that type of a resolution, but do we know how much it would cost to do this work?

Um I am uh happy to address that to the administration.

Um so the request uh Ms.

Wiggins um is um uh for this uh resolution um uh implementing um the studies that were mentioned.

Um go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, we had our first meeting with with Reft Tell us today to show them the legislation and work on scope of work.

We don't have an estimate from them yet.

So we don't know the cost.

And we don't have it in the budget for this fiscal year.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

And Chair, um, again, I understand that the the council members in the GSD um have a you know answer to their taxpayers, and that this is something that you know they've heard about it was certainly a significant cost for members of the GSD to play catch-up on this.

Having said that, um, without knowing what this is gonna cost all taxpayers uh to have a new study done, I would request respectfully a deferral on this until we can get that number.

So I move a deferral.

Is there a second for the deferral motion?

Okay, I've heard it.

So we are now moving uh our discussion to the deferral motion.

Um the queue was already quite full um for the primary resolution.

So I'm gonna go down through the queue and ask if anyone intends or wants to speak on uh the deferral motion.

Uh uh yes, sir.

Mr.

Prep T, you're recognized for a point of order.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Uh my question is this wasn't the the motion for a deferral wasn't for a date specific.

Um so is that a proper motion before the body?

Thank you.

Um that is a uh good point of order.

You need to defer um to a date uh certain, please, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um uh one meeting deferral, please.

Okay, um, one meeting deferral.

Um is there a second for that?

Okay.

Um thank you, Mr.

Prep T.

Again, I will move down the queue.

Um, I see Mr.

Eastlick shaking his head no on the deferral motion.

Ms.

Evans on the deferral motion.

Okay, go ahead, ma'am.

Why not?

I'll speak on the deferral motion.

So I will uh speak in opposition to the deferral motion in particular, because if you remember from last term, whenever we were having this conversation, um, when our colleague uh brought uh resolution or brought this forward as part of the budget process, it actually took a really long time before it got implemented.

It went through the entire process because of budget, you know, initially budget concerns, et cetera.

And then it took a long time to actually get the report.

It it was a very long time that stretched for a long time.

Well, anyway, uh if we think about years, I know, and I didn't want to call any, I didn't want to put a timeline on it like that, but to your point it was years.

And and so if you think about it, the fact that we have you know 17 months left of this term.

The reality is the next time that we have a property tax increase, we are gonna it's all gonna be the same.

GSD, USD, it's not gonna matter.

Uh the rate is gonna be the same.

There needs to be a plan.

Um, and we need to start thinking about it now about what does that look like?

And I know that there's other conversations related to waste and all those discussions about what will happen related to you know how Metro kind of covers those costs, but even things like street lights, um, you know, sidewalk consideration, those details, like there just needs to be some thought, and we need to start early.

So I'm gonna speak against uh the deferral.

I will vote against the deferral, and I'm supporting uh council member Spain's resolution.

All right.

Um next, uh Mr.

Horton, do you seek to be recognized on the deferral?

No.

Um Ms.

Hancock on the deferral.

Go ahead, ma'am.

You're recognized.

Whether we have 17 months or 29 months left on this body, who knows?

But we do want to get to work right away on this.

We are currently the GSD, we are subsidizing the services for the rest of the city.

I currently pay only what is it, three cents less in tax than those in the USD, but I also pay for my trash and my recycling and my street lights, as do everyone else on my street and in my neighborhood association.

I think that the the jump on the deferral place, ma'am.

Yes, I think the jump was extravagant.

We're all hurting and we need answers sooner rather than later.

And it would be great if we could get them in 17 or 29 months.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, Mr.

Spain on uh the motion to defer.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Vice Mayor.

Um I rise in opposition to the deferral, and I I appreciate the the discussion um the comments of my colleagues.

I I agree that um this is obviously a large undertaking and needs to start as soon as possible so that whatever information we have, we can have time to digest it, consider it, and uh decide the best path forward.

Um also as as uh Ms.

Wiggins pointed out, this is not funded in the current budget.

So if there is a contract necessary to do this study, it will have to be considered as part of the FY27 budget, which of course will come back before this body.

So whatever the cost is, we will have a chance to review that at the appropriate time.

So for that reason, I would oppose the deferral tonight and I appreciate your support.

All righty.

Um Ms.

Porterfield on the deferral motion.

Go ahead, ma'am.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I rise in support of the deferral motion.

I think that it is prudent for us to know the cost if we're asking a study to be done.

I think it's important that we know how much this study is actually going to cost all taxpayers before we ask for uh a duplicative study.

Um, we've already received a study um with regards to the USD versus the GSD, in which we found out that the USD has been subsidizing the GSD for all this time.

And I think that if we are saying that we need a secondary study to uh affirm or contradict the study that's already been done, the least we could do is figure out how much this study is going to cost our taxpayers.

So I'm going to stand in support of the deferral.

All right.

Um is anyone else seeking to be recognized on the one meeting deferral motion.

Um Ms.

Benedict, uh, go ahead.

Thank you.

I um thank you, Vice Mayor.

I just would add that a one meeting deferral is two weeks.

So I don't know that there's an urgency to this.

So I would ask my colleagues to support the deferral for the reasons that have been described.

Um I don't know that two weeks.

If we're gonna be looking at funding this in the next budget, um, then I don't understand why a one meeting deferral would impact um what I finding out what the cost is if we're not even going to approve a contract until the next budget.

So with that again, I uh renew my motion.

All right.

Um okay, we will move uh to the vote on the deferral uh motion again.

Number uh not volume, please.

Um if I cannot ascertain it, we'll have to go on the machine.

So uh all in favor of the one meeting deferral motion, please say aye.

Aye.

Uh those voting no, please say no.

I believe um that the no's have it.

Yes, ma'am, you may.

Are there three seconds to the request for roll call?

Okay.

Um uh Mr.

Clerk, if you would please put this uh defer one meeting deferral motion uh to a machine vote, please, sir.

With all votes in, Mr.

Clerk, please show the vote.

All right, colleagues, uh the motion fails.

As I said, number not volume.

Um the vote is uh nine in favor, 26 against, zero abstentions.

Um so we are back on the main motion, um, which is a motion to approve.

Um uh next in the queue on the motion to approve is council member Eastlick.

Thank you very much.

Go ahead, sir.

I'm in support of this study, and I think if we're gonna look for a price, we need to look for the price, the other study cost.

It had no data.

It was basically just splitting the math evenly.

I hear a lot in my district that we don't see police officers because we don't have crime.

Well, that's not true.

We don't see police officers because they're in the USD portion of the Hermitage Precinct and not in the GSD portion.

We have seen for a while, and if you do the math, you'll know that the services are usually toward the USD portion and not in the GSD portion.

We are paying for services that we don't get as quickly or use as much.

And the RAF Tillis study didn't address any of that.

It basically just said everybody pays the same because you all have the same uh opportunity to have it, not that you use it.

And yes, we should be looking at where the assets are going versus who's paying for it.

And the last thing I want to say is that in this area, we don't have all the other amenities, and there's no way this council would propose the money to put street lights in every one of the GSD neighborhoods.

And I don't think we should, at least not at this point, but also agree with another council member's point that we need to make a plan.

We need to tell people the truth that we are actually going to pay the same amount sooner or later and not get the same amount of services.

So we need to start telling the people the truth.

The rate is already showing them that we're not doing a difference between the two territories, and that we do need to address this.

So I think we need to support this, or just go back to the other plan, the way we did it before this year.

This year wasn't vetted when I was when I asked, why don't we just push it off a year?

I think it was something like, well, this is a good idea, and we did a real study on it.

Therefore, we must implement it, or we'll make ourselves vulnerable to being sued.

I responded by saying I feel like if we do this without vetting it and going through to find out if it's actually a good idea, we make ourselves vulnerable for being sued.

And so we need to address this and get it fixed.

There may end up being a credit given to the GSD after this is all resolved.

And with that, I asked for the support for this study and a more equitable fair tax between the USD and the GSD.

Thank you.

All right.

Next in the queues, Councilmember Horton, you're recognized, sir.

Uh thank you, Vice Mayor.

I I rise in support of this resolution, although I think um probably for different reasons than our friend from Bellevue.

Uh I think the studies that the city has conducted to date as to the fiscal impact analysis of different development scenarios show on an anecdotal basis that it is the more dense parts of the city that subsidize uh the less dense parts of the cities, both from an operating perspective as well as from a capital perspective.

Uh granted that um those studies have been anecdotal to date, and then this is something that has interested all parts of the county, and I think as this debate progresses, it would be useful to have a more definitive study as to the different tax and services yield yielded in the GSE versus the USD both both on how much tax revenue was generated and on the cost per service in the USD versus the GSD.

Um so as this debate progresses, I think the study would show have a a useful purpose in grounding that debate in fact.

So for that reason, I I support this resolution uh and ask my colleagues to join me in in voting yes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Horton.

Next in the queue is Councilmember Benedict.

Go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I guess I'd like to understand would this, if this is passed, does that automatically fund it, or do in fact we need to allocate this either by another resolution or in the budget in order to fund the study?

Does if we pass this, does it mean it's going to happen, or do we have to fund it before it happens?

Would you like to address that to the special council or to the administration?

All right.

Uh special counsel Wilson.

Um if you could answer that question, please, sir.

Uh yes, uh, this is a non-binding resolution.

No uh no funding is being allocated or appropriated in this uh in this resolution.

It would take separate action by this body.

Thank you.

Um with that, I'm supportive of the resolution and look forward to voting in favor of it.

I do think it's important as um Councilmember Horton just described.

I would love to understand that you know, for water services, how much pipe does the city pay for that, and how much of that is funded by the USD versus the GSD.

So looking at infrastructure costs like roads um and you know, sewer pipes and water pipes and all those things.

I hope that that's a part of the um analysis as well.

So again, I look forward to supporting this and voting in favor.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh Councilmember Spain, sponsor uh you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I appreciate all the all the thoughtful discussion on this.

It's been mentioned that we already had a study, and we absolutely do.

Uh everything that this resolution asked for is areas of further study that were identified by this original study.

It's simply work that that hasn't been completed yet.

And I think this is the next piece of the puzzle, uh, as several of my colleagues have mentioned.

This is not just about uh taxpayers in the in the GSD.

This is to make sure we're treating all taxpayers across the county equitably, and I appreciate all your support.

All righty.

Uh, with no one else in the queue, uh, we will move uh to the vote on this resolution.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any voting no?

Okay.

Um do we need to go on the boards?

Okay.

Um uh Mr.

Clerk, um uh resolution um uh requires by rule.

Um, if there is a no vote, it must be a recorded vote.

Um, Mr.

Clerk, if you would please load the vote on uh this resolution 1890.

Motion to approve.

All right, with all votes in, Mr.

Clerk, please show uh the vote.

The motion to approve has passed with 34 votes in favor, one vote against, and zero abstentions.

Uh council has adopted this resolution.

All right.

Uh next is agenda item 47, RS 2026-1892, sponsors SWARA, Porterfield, Nash, Rutherford Hill, Evan Styles, Druffle, Prep T, Coop and Gad, Taylor, Gamble, Alan Ewing, Benedict Lee, Cap Vaux, and Wiener.

This is a resolution to honor the life and the legacy of the Reverend Dr.

Bernard Lafayette Jr.

Uh Councilmember Sware, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Committee Post, please.

Further report of rules confirmations and public elections.

Chair Cash.

We voted to approve.

Four in favor, zero against they were not voting.

Thank you, Chair.

Back to you, Ms.

Suara, for a motion.

Uh, thank you.

I'd like to move for approval with a brief comment.

All right, go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you.

Um, this resolution is uh honoring another civil rights legend that had the opportunity to be trained in Nashville, uh, came to school here, Dr.

Bernard Lafayette.

Uh, it was a John Lewis roommate.

Uh, and uh it was part of the people that desegregated the lunch counters in Nashville and also part of the uh freedom rights.

Um, as we talk about history and so many things that is being rolled back these days.

Uh for me, it is important that we continue to honor these um folks, uh these trade blazers that that put their life on the line to change the trajectory of the history of this country and of Nashville.

And I think it's important for at least what I use it for is a motivation um for the way things are going now.

And every time that I find myself uh in a world or in a thought that I'm not, and I kind of make it or tails of what's going on.

I remember what they are to go through, and I remember the world that they had to live in.

And I remember their courage to stand up uh and to do what is right in that time.

And I hope that it motivates me and it moves a lot of the people to look at these folks' history and learn from it, especially with the way our ward is today.

So I rise uh asking for your support.

I also want to ask for 12.3.

Uh uh I'm in my motion to to put that so that all those in favor uh can honor this legend, uh this uh icon uh that came to Nashville, changed Nashville and change the world.

Thank you.

All right.

Um uh there is a motion to approve with rule 12.3 applied such that all those voting in the affirmative um will be listed as co-sponsors, and that was properly seconded.

Is there any further discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right, we have adopted this resolution.

Okay, um agenda item 50, resolution 2026-1895.

Uh sponsors Huffman, Vowe, Wiener, and Swara.

This is resolution recognizing April 2026 as child abuse prevention month in Nashville and Davidson County.

Uh sponsor Huffman, Chair, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Committee reports, please.

Uh for the report of rules and confirmations, uh uh Councilmember Cash.

We vote we voted to approve four in favor, zero against they were not voting.

All right, back to you for a motion, Chair Huffman.

A motion to approve the brief comment.

All right, is there second?

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, colleagues.

I'll keep this short.

Uh we've got some uh more substantive debates coming up.

So I I wanted to pull this off strictly because child abuse is a uh a passionate issue of mine.

Um number one, it any child that is abused is one too many.

Uh we live in a time uh that is stressful for uh a lot of families and unfortunately um children, spouses get the brunt of that, and it's it's not acceptable.

Um I I want to go on the record uh as a body complete that we find this unacceptable, and with that I move for uh to adopt rule 12.3 with approval.

Okay, is there a second for that amended motion?

All right, um, there is a motion to approve with rule 12.3 applied such that all those voting in the affirmative will be listed as co-sponsors.

It's properly seconded.

Is there any further discussion?

Seeing none.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Uh council has adopted this resolution.

All right.

Um now that concludes our resolutions that were not on consent.

Um next agenda section M.

Bills on introduction 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 from the collective uh first reading vote?

All right, seeing none, is there a motion for approval of all the items on first consideration?

Okay, uh properly seconded without objection.

All right, you have approved all items on first reading.

Next is agenda section N, bills on second reading that were not on our consent agenda.

First among those uh is agenda item 81, ordinance BL 2026-1255.

Sponsors Huffman, Horton, and Coopin.

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 are recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Committee Reports, please.

All right.

Um for the report of the budget and finance committee, Chair Tombs.

This is Mr.

Huffman's 1255.

Got it.

Uh budget and finance voted to recommend approval as amended.

Eight in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

All right.

And for the report of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chair Quinn Evans Siegel.

Thank you, Madam President.

Apologies.

We have a lot of worries.

Um for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Um, we voted in favor of the amendment.

Eight in favor, zero against, and zero not voting.

And as amended, eight in favor, zero against and zero not voting.

All right.

Um those uh committee reports are in, and it's back to you, Mr.

Huffman for a motion.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh motion to approve.

Right.

Is there a second?

Okay.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh colleagues, this legislation here uh does a couple of things.

Number one, it's a a very good pro small business piece of legislation.

I have uh several strip malls in Hermitage that butt up to the road that don't necessarily have the space to put uh a sandwich board, also known as an A-frame sign, those that aren't familiar with a sandwich board.

Um they don't have the room.

Uh what they do have is uh stretches of right-of-way where it's not blocking any sidewalk.

And today uh those businesses cannot advertise.

Uh the lack of advertising can cause lack of revenue.

Um it can cause uh businesses to leave Davidson County due to higher rents, higher costs in general, and this is meant to just help them just a little bit advertise daily specials that they have, um, any type of services that they may render.

Uh the big thing with this too is it requires a permitting system for this.

So there will be revenue coming in for the city.

Uh in the downtown area, there also will be set hours today.

It's a free-for-all.

All signs are illegal and they're everywhere.

This puts some some safeguards around those.

There are ADA compliance uh issues that I have heard.

We have made sure that those are covered in this amendment.

I have put in specific uh requirements around the weight of the sign to ensure that we incorporate for different wind gusts within the city.

Uh Mr.

Huffman, would you like to use your time to move make your motion to amend?

And at that juncture, you could share about the amendment.

Move to amend.

Okay.

Is there a second?

Go ahead, sir.

Continue.

Continuing on, just really quickly, uh, I I want to highlight that in the downtown area today.

You can put up a sign anywhere you want.

Probably not gonna get deemed for it.

You may with codes, but you may not.

It's inconsistent, y'all.

And the inconsistency is killing businesses.

It's driving them crazy.

Downtown now, if this passes, you only be permitted to put up a uh sandwich board sign to per location for those businesses that have front and back entrances Monday through Thursday during daylight hours.

Um not included in this uh specific exemption um is parking garages.

That's simply because we required them to display their rates.

Um I I ask that you support this because it is in my opinion, um, good governance just summed up into uh a piece of legislation.

We're helping small businesses, we're clearing up a lot of uncertainty with businesses with residents, and uh we're going to be bringing in more money through a permitting process.

And with that, I'll ask for your approval.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, there is a motion to amend.

Um it is properly seconded.

Is there any discussion specifically on the amendment?

Seeing none.

All in favor of the amendment, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right, and if you would please renew your motion.

Yep, renew my motion as amended.

Okay.

Um motion to approve is amended.

Any discussion on that?

Seeing none, um all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

All right.

Uh this bill has passed its second of three readings as amended.

Next is uh agenda item 82, ordinance BL 2026-1295.

This uh sponsors Alan Bradford and Huffman.

This is an ordinance amending section 2.24.230 of the Metro Code of Laws regarding the community meeting requirements for leasing certain metropolitan government owned properties.

Uh councilmember Allen, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, committee reports, please.

All right.

Um, for the report of the budget and finance committee, Chair Times.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

Budget and finance voted to recommend approval as amended with amendment one and two.

Eight in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay.

All right.

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

I think commanded vice mayor.

We voted for approval with uh amendments one and three, and then also the late filed.

Okay.

Um so one and three, um, and uh the late filed amendment uh by uh Ms.

Allen, okay.

Oh, I'm sorry, I apologize.

Gamble, but Ms.

Allen has also six in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay, got it.

All right, with those reports in, it's back to you, uh Ms.

Allen.

Uh, first to get the uh bill before us.

Thank you, madam.

I would like to uh move the bill with a brief explanation and then move.

Yep, you can roll right into those after that.

Is there a second for the motion to approve?

Okay, go ahead.

Great.

So the bill itself is just a refinement of a program that we've been doing for a number of years now.

Uh when there is a long-term lease of longer than five years for property over a million dollars in worth, it is required to have a community meeting before that lease comes before the council.

The purpose is simply to uh eliminate surprises of of use of public property before the communities had a chance to point out what is important to them.

What this bill does is updates the the sign and notification requirements and it um adds a 45-day shot clock for the council member to schedule a meeting once they are uh written uh may notice in writing uh that there's a a lease being proposed by someone and it adds an optional advisory group that can simply be um uh a group that that makes known what the community values so that that can become part of the discussion about the lease.

Um I would like to with that um move my first amendment, please, ma'am.

All right.

Um there is a motion to amend with amendment one, um Ms.

Allen's amendment.

Is there a second?

Okay.

Anything you want to say on amendment one?

Yes, uh so what the amendment does is raise that threshold from one million dollars to five million dollars that fits all the things that that this is applied to recently, the most most recent being the um Centennial Park lease by the by the predators that so it captures all the ones that were where this has been important and um just adds a little bit more specificity about the advisory group to also include representatives from the Lesee and from the Metro Department that owns the property.

All right.

Um there's a motion to amend with amendment one properly seconded, and you have heard uh a description by the sponsor.

Is there any uh discussion on the motion to amend?

Okay, all in favor of the amendment, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um, Ms.

Allen, if you would renew your motion, please.

I renew my motion of the bill as amended.

Okay.

Um next, do you still have the floor, ma'am?

Uh thank you.

Then I would like to move council member gamble's um late filed bill.

Okay, if I need um suspended, doing so um would require a suspension of the rules.

And I would like to request a suspension of the rules.

Okay, there is a request to suspend the rules uh for purposes of a late file amendment uh for Ms.

Gamble now co-sponsored by uh Ms.

Allen.

Is there any objection to uh the suspension of the rules to take up this late filed amendment?

Um Ms.

Evans, you're in the queue, but you're not objecting to the late file.

Okay.

Um seeing none, the rules are suspended.

Uh go ahead and you may offer that amendment.

I would like to offer that amendment, which uh simply specifically says that this would not apply to leases on metro schools.

That's kind of a whole different animal.

That was not the intention of this.

It's more about parks and and other large metro properties.

Okay, so I consider that a friendly amendment.

Yep.

So there's a motion to amend with the late filed amendment.

It is properly seconded, and you've heard a description.

Is there any discussion on that late filed amendment?

Ms.

Evans, no?

Okay.

Um, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

No.

Okay.

So there um that's the the um amendment does prevail.

Um, if you would please now renew your motion, um, Ms.

Allen.

Thank you, madam chair.

I move the bill as amended and amended.

Okay.

One and two.

Right.

So there is a motion to approve um so far with amendment one and um the gamble allen late filed amendment.

Uh go ahead, ma'am.

You still have the floor.

Thank you.

I can either move council member Evans' amendment or let her do that.

Um Ms.

Evans is deferring her time to you.

Okay, so I would move that amendment, which is amendment three.

Okay, go ahead.

And what that amendment does is require that the community meeting that is has been specified already uh be recorded.

And I have checked with Metro IT, and they can use uh home video recordings.

I mean, if someone records the meeting on their phone um or or other technology, it doesn't have to be MNN showing up to record the meeting, because I didn't want that to be a barrier to ensuring that a community meeting is held.

So this would require that a recording of the community meeting is made and is made publicly available, and I support that as well.

Okay, all right.

There's a motion to amend with amendment three um offered by uh Ms.

Evans.

It's properly seconded.

Is there any discussion on amendment three?

Um Mr.

Koopin, uh go ahead, sir.

Thank you, Madam President, and I appreciate the the work on this bill.

Um I had an amendment that I'm not gonna move, so just to say that now.

Um I appreciate Councilmember Allen's um some tweaks that she has made.

Um and I'm supportive of this uh amendment to have it be recorded.

Um my question would be that this the community meeting and the burden of the cost and kind of setup of the community meeting is on the um the applicant or the the I think the lessee or less or um and this amendment says that the district council members shall make sure that this is um recorded.

So I guess what would be that obligation if a district council member didn't have the resources or didn't have the tools, would they would they be um have resources available to them?

Like how would how would that how would that work if a district council member said I just I can't I don't have uh you know a tool to do that.

All right.

Um uh do you want to address that to the sponsor or special counsel?

Sponsor would be great.

Okay, Ms.

Allen.

I'll just based on the response that I got from um from Metro IT, they said a a phone recording is fine, so it doesn't require anything more than a steady hand uh to record that.

All right.

So thank you.

That answer your question.

Okay.

Um uh we're on a motion to amend with amendment three.

Um uh Mr.

Cash, you don't seek to be recognized.

Mr.

Koopin, um, you have just spoken.

Um okay, so we will move to the vote uh for amendment three.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

Okay.

Um uh so if you would please uh Ms.

Allen, I'm just gonna state it, renew your motion to approve um as amended with amendment one, the late filed gamble amendment, and amendment three.

So moved.

Okay.

Um is there uh any further discussion?

That motion has been properly seconded.

All right.

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

Any voting no?

Any abstaining?

All right.

Um uh this resolution has passed its second of three readings as amended.

Uh all right.

Next is agenda item 83, ordinance BL 2026-1315.

Sponsors Cap, Horton, Evans Siegel, Huffman Hill, Spain, Coopin, Welshgad, Alan Swara, Evans, Ellis, Styles, Parker Vaux, Benedict Bradford Wiener, and Ewing.

This is an ordinance to amend title two of the Metro Code of Laws to create a new chapter establishing a permit prioritization program for affordable housing and daycare development projects.

Uh Councilmember Capp sponsor, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Committee reports, please.

All right.

Uh let's see.

For the report of um.

The planning and zoning committee, Chair Horton, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

We considered the substitute by councilmember Capp and voted uh 11 in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Uh, we subsequently considered uh amendment two by council member Allen and voted uh recommended approval, eleven in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Uh and finally considered amendment one by council member styles and recommended against approval, zero in favor, eleven against zero not voting.

All right.

Um for the report of the transportation infrastructure committee, Chair Evan Siegel, you're recognized.

I thank you, Madam President.

The transportation infrastructure committee um considered the substitute by council member cap and voted eight in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Amendment two by council member Allen following the substitute, eight in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Amendment one, um, following an enlightening conversation um by council member styles, zero in favor, eight against and zero not voting.

Um and then to approve as substituted with amendment two, eight in favor, zero against and zero not voting.

All right, thank you, ma'am.

Uh for the report of the public health and safety committee, uh Chair uh Huffman.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

The public health and safety committee voted to recommend approval as substituted and amended.

Eight in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

And we only voted on uh council member allen substitute to be clear.

Okay, or uh amendment got it.

Amendment, yes, sir.

Okay.

Uh for the report of the if it's a it's a quad report, all right.

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

Uh thank you, madam vice mayor.

Uh amendment one was withdrawn in committee.

So we recommended uh approval of the substitute as amended with amendment two, six in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Okay, thank you, Chair.

Um all righty.

Uh with that, all those four committee reports in uh Mr.

Capp.

It is back to you first for a motion to get this bill before us, please, sir.

Move approval, please.

All right, all right, go ahead, sir.

Thanks uh to all the committees uh who consider this, and I'd uh like to move the substitute, please.

All right.

Um anything you want to share about the substitute, sir.

Yes, briefly, uh, thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh this uh substitute adds some language at the suggestion of our housing division to incorporate uh some of what they've been doing on expediting the affordable housing projects.

It helps make that definition a little bit more rigorous and predictable.

So grateful to them for suggesting that.

Otherwise, it's the same bill that we had on first reading, which takes the permit prioritization process that we already have for affordable housing, sort of moves it into the proper place in the code.

It doesn't involve doing anything new, it's just sort of cleaning up the code a little bit.

And what is new is adding the daycare uh permit prioritization process.

Uh so that's new.

Uh it's put into this legislation as a second priority behind affordable housing, but folks who want to uh do daycare projects are are if when this passes will be able to get an upfront meeting with predictability about departmental reviews.

I think uh program like this is a a solid little way to encourage um day care projects to come online because child care is way too expensive and scarce uh in Nashville, and we at as a metro government should help uh folks who want to care for our children.

There's nothing better or more important than anyone can do than that.

And so I ask for everyone's support.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, so there is a motion uh to substitute properly seconded.

You've heard a description of the substitute of chair uh or rather uh Mr.

Cap, um, who's also chair of another committee.

Um discussion on the motion to substitute.

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no uh or abstaining.

All right.

Um uh Mr.

Capp, um uh I presume you want to renew your motion to approve as substituted.

You still have the floor, sir.

If you would like uh to uh advance any other amendment, or we can just move to discussion on the bill is substituted.

I move approval.

Okay, all right.

Um there's a motion to approve as uh substituted, and we're on to discussion.

First in the queue uh is council member Allen.

You're recognized.

Thank you, madam president.

I'd like to move uh substitute my I mean not substitute my amendment to move amendment two.

Is there a second?

Okay, properly moved and seconded.

Um uh we are uh on to discussion, or you have the floor to describe your amendment.

Yes, briefly, this just adds uh specifically that that inspections will also be expedited, and so in addition to the plan review on the front end, the inspections on the back end will also be prioritized.

Okay.

Um continuing discussion.

Councilmember Capp, you're recognized.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

This is a friendly amendment.

I appreciate Councilmember Allen's work on it and uh suggesting it.

I I think it approves the bill, and I appreciate it.

But I do have a question for our special council, which is just having just substituted the bill, I want to confirm that this amendment would be an amendment to the substitute, or if it if there's some other way we ought to handle this amendment uh since we just substituted.

I can answer that question, but we'll let special counsel answer it.

Go ahead.

Uh council member, the um the the bill has been substituted, and at this point, an amendment uh any amendments or the amendatory language would not conflict with the bill is substituted, so uh they can both work in harmony.

I appreciate that clarification.

Thank you for uh tracking that down and um appreciate the council member for bringing it.

All right.

Um uh there is a uh motion uh to amend um the bill as substituted uh with council member Allen's amendment two.

Is there any further discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor of amendment two, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

Okay.

Um council member cap, I will presume that you want to renew uh your motion to approve as substituted and amended with amendment two.

That's right, Vice Mayor.

Thank you so much.

All right, seconded.

Um is there any discussion on uh that motion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining?

All right.

Um, this has passed its second of three readings as substituted and amended.

Next is agenda item 84 ordinance BL 2026-1316 sponsor styles.

This is an ordinance amending chapter 16.24 of the Metro Code of Laws to require shopping centers to provide publicly accessible rubbish and garbage containers.

Councilmember Styles, you're recognized.

Oh, yes.

Committee reports.

Yeah, um, committee reports are quiet.

That's okay.

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

You're recognized.

Uh thank you, madam Vice Mayor.

We recommended approval as amended.

Six in favor, zero against zero night voting.

All righty.

Um that's back to you.

Uh Ms.

Styles first for a motion uh to get the bill before us.

Go ahead, ma'am.

I'd like to move approval, please.

All right.

There is a motion to approve.

Do I hear a second?

Okay.

Um, we are on to discussion.

Is there anything else you want to say at this time?

I am in support of the amendment from council member Bradford.

Okay.

Do you want to offer it or should it's in the queue so we could go to him and he could speak more about it.

Let's let's do that.

Okay.

All right.

Um, so discussion continues.

Mr.

Bradford, you are next in the queue.

Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, as a colleague said that this is a friendly amendment.

Basically, what this does is uh if you would move, make your message.

Okay.

Um, basically, what this amendment's gonna do is it's gonna include in the language that they also provide recycling receptacles.

You know, as we are, you know, we've seen the issue with our trash and and the landfills that are we're having like we need to be focusing on diverting as much trash into recycling as we can.

So uh would appreciate colleagues supporting this amendment so that we can uh if we're gonna require businesses to have rubbish bins, let's also require that they have recycling as well.

All right.

Um there is a motion uh to amend with councilman Bradford's amendment.

You've heard a description of that amendment.

Um is there any further discussion?

Uh seeing none, all in favor of uh the motion to amend, uh please say aye.

Any voting no or abstaining.

Now, Miss Styles, I am going to restate a motion, and you can simply nod.

Okay.

Um we're gonna renew approval as amended.

And I'm seeing you shake your head.

Yes, that that is a motion.

Um is there a second for that new motion?

All right.

Um, is there any further discussion at this time?

Miss Styles, would you like to be recognized?

Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

I'm so sorry.

I I did not have your um go ahead, ma'am.

I'm sorry, I hate to ask you to say again.

You'll never find I could take advantage of my Lou Rolls this evening.

Yes.

But yes, I'd like to move back.

Okay.

So much.

For the raspy voice of Miss Styles, the vocal stylings.

Um you have uh, hey, she she is herself a singer, you know.

Um uh uh you've heard the renewed motion uh to approve as amended on second reading, seeing no further discussion.

All in favor, please say aye.

Any voting, no or abstaining.

All right.

Um this has passed its second of three readings as amended.

Next is all right, we're moving into um the third reading uh portion of our agenda, um, section O.

Um, items that were not on consent.

Um, first among those is agenda item 94.

Um uh ordinance BL 2026-1266, uh sponsor Harel.

This is an ordinance to amend title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro government by changing from AR2A to RM 15 ANS zoning for properties located at 4046 and 4060 Murphursboro Pike, approximately 399 feet southwest of Maxwell Road.

This is 10.12 acres, and within the Murphursboro Pike Urban Design Overlay District.

Councilmember Horrell, you're recognized, sir.

Um, I actually will like to defer this one more meeting.

Okay, um, there is a motion uh for one meeting deferral that is properly seconded.

Um, anything you want to say in regard to that?

All right.

Is there any discussion on the one meeting deferral motion?

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Any voting, no or abstaining.

All right, this will uh be deferred one meeting um to the meeting of April uh 21st.

All right, next agenda item 95, ordinance BL 2026-1273, sponsors Coupen and Styles.

This is an ordinance to amend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro government, uh to make various changes to the downtown code, uh aka the DTC.

Um council member Koopin, uh you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President.

Committee reports, please.

All right.

Um uh committee reports.

First among them is uh for or and only uh is the planning and zoning uh committee report.

Chair Horton.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um if we consider each of these amendments individually, I think it might be helpful for me to go back as we consider each, but uh at the outset, I'll go through each numerically.

Uh amendment one uh was not moved and not considered by the committee.

Uh for amendment two, we recommended against approval.

Uh four in favor, seven against zero not voting.

For amendment three, we voted in favor.

Uh six in favor, two against two not voting.

For amendment four, we recommended approval.

Nine in favor, zero against one not voting.

Amendment five, we recommended approval.

Nine in favor, one against zero not voting.

For amendment six, we recommended approval.

Seven in favor, two against two not voting.

For amendment seven, we recommended approval.

Nine in favor, zero against one not voting.

For amendment eight, we recommended in favor of approval.

Five uh in favor, two against one not voting.

Amendment nine was indicated to be withdrawn by the sponsor.

For amendment ten, we recommended against approval, two in favor, seven against one not voting.

Amendment eleven, we recommended against approval, four in favor, five against zero not voting.

Amendment twelve, we recommended approval, ten in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Amendment thirteen, we recommended approval, nine in favor, zero against one not voting.

Amendment fourteen, we recommended approval, ten in favor, zero against zero not voting.

Amendment fifteen, we recommended against approval, one in favor, uh, four against five not voting.

Amendment sixteen, we recommended against approval, two in favor, six uh opposed, one not voting.

Amendment seventeen, we recommend approval.

Seven in favor, zero against, two not voting.

Amendment eighteen, we recommended approval.

Five in favor, one against three not voting.

And overall, we recommend approval of the bill overall with the positive recommendations for amendments uh on the bill.

Nine in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

All right, thank you for that very very lengthy uh committee report.

Um, council member Koopin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

Well, I'm gonna remove a lot more of the length if we can.

I'd like to move for a one-meeting deferral with a brief comment.

That's so great to hear.

Is there a second?

All right.

I'd like to get us out of here early if we can.

Go ahead, sir.

Uh appreciate it, and thank you.

Seriously, thank you to see so many people who've worked so hard on this project.

Um members of the the planning department and the development team and members of the public and my colleagues, and so many more that we know this is a generational opportunity before us when we were considering the East Bank development.

Um, I think it was contemplated that it could be years and years, if not decades, before we saw this scrapyard become something more than a wasteland.

And so really exciting to be as close as we are.

Um we've heard from you know the public.

We've had community meetings, we've had public engagement.

Um, I really tried to make it a point not just to hear from my constituents in my neighborhood, but to my my friends across uh across the interstate in East who are gonna be also deeply impacted by this project.

Um, and that was evidenced, of course, by the uh 18 amendments we received yesterday, um covering things like hotels, parking, traffic, design review, and more.

Um there are many quality ideas here, and I really appreciate my colleagues bringing them.

Um, although maybe maybe a little earlier next time, but uh you know they're they're here, and there's a lot of really good uh material in that, I think, to work on.

I know I've talked to some of my colleagues this evening um about ways to kind of bring our amendments together at a couple late file that um will be timely filed for next time.

So again, we're in a generational opportunity, um, but we need to get it right for our city, we need to get it right for our constituents and for the members of the public.

We've heard over and over again how important this is that this neighborhood prioritizes housing, uh, that it's a neighborhood for Nashville's, it's a place that people can access.

Um, and so I think we're really, really close.

I think we're gonna land the plane with something really incredible.

Um, but again, that's gonna take a little bit more time, and so I'm asking my colleagues to give me two more weeks just to get this right and to work with my again, my colleagues to the east and and around the county to to pull this together.

So I'd like to renew my motion for a one meeting deferral.

Thanks.

Okay, there is a motion to defer uh one meeting.

It is properly seconded.

Um we are on discussion of the deferral motion.

There are four people in the queue.

Do you seek to be recognized on the deferral?

Go ahead, Mr.

Huffman.

Previous question.

Okay.

Uh there's a motion to call the previous uh uh question.

It is properly seconded.

This is non-debatable.

A yes on the previous question ends debate.

A no makes the debate continue.

Um would all in favor of the previous question, please say aye.

Aye.

Those against the previous question, please say no.

No.

Oh.

Um, Mr.

Clark, would you please put that on the board?

I have a feeling that was a volume issue, not a number issue, but we're just gonna, in an abundance of caution.

Um, please, Mr.

Clark.

Um, a one meeting deferral uh motion on uh 1273 on its third reading.

Um go ahead, sir.

It sounds like we have a technical issue, but go ahead, Mr.

Pepti.

Recognize, sir.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

There's a bit of confusion in the room.

Could you uh articulate for us what is the question that we are currently voting?

I I do see that.

Um so uh Mr.

Clerk, to clarify, um, the the vote that we are taking is on um and I I apologize.

I didn't miss state that.

Um we were seeking clarity, colleagues on the uh motion for the previous question.

Um I do uh apologize.

I got ahead of myself a little bit there.

Um uh Mr.

Clerk, if you could um uh rescind that vote, and we will proceed with the motion on the previous question.

That requires two-thirds of those voting.

Um I think that's where we are.

Is that the is that your point of order, sir?

That we were on the previous question.

Ms.

Allen, go ahead.

Um go ahead, yes, ma'am.

Will this be referred to could be re-referred to committee or not?

Um that is not presently.

Uh yeah, we're on the previous question at this time.

So we're just let's dispose of the previous question, and then um depending on how that goes.

So I guess I just need to know how to oh depending.

Oh, fair re question.

I need to know if it relates to your but also I would remind you previous question is a non-debatable motion.

Right.

So um, yeah, Ms.

Benedict, point of order.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I I think this is out of order.

Um I think the previous question has I think you were going there.

Yeah, um, the previous question has been called, it is non-debatable.

It is it's a point of parliamentary inquiry.

Does that prevail?

Special counsel.

Uh point of inquiry does take precedent.

Okay.

So um the point of inquiry of Ms.

Allen is if um uh the previous question were to point of inquiry is if we didn't specifically say this needs to go back to committee, will it go back to committee because there were so many that's yeah, just go ahead, special counsel.

Uh this uh the motion as made was it did not include a re-referral to committee, therefore, if uh if the motion prevails, uh uh this will not be re-referred back to committee.

All right.

So now um what is before us um uh for a machine vote is just simply the previous question.

The reason I'm putting this to a vote is I could not tell it by ear or by voice, and it does require a two-thirds of the body.

Okay.

Um uh thank you for the point of order.

Thank you for the point of inquiry.

Mr.

Clerk, if you would please open the vote on the previous question.

All votes are in.

Mr.

Clerk, please show the vote.

Okay, the motion to call the question fails.

Um, and so uh we will continue with uh debate.

The motion fails by a vote of 17, 14, and one.

It does require two-thirds of the body to prevail.

So that means we are back to um the motion that was on the floor when the previous question was called.

That is a one meeting deferral motion.

Um, and so we will uh continue with discussion on the motion to defer one meeting.

First in the queue is council member Parker.

Go ahead, sir.

Um thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um I'm not sure the best way to do this, but I do think that given the level of discussion that we had in um the um planning and zoning committee meeting yesterday with uh consideration of 18 amendments, which I don't believe we would be um required to consider again as they already have recommendations from that committee.

Um but we did have an additional five late filed amendments today.

Um I would feel a lot more comfortable with a deferral here um if we were gonna re-refer this back to um the planning and zoning committee um so that we could consider any new amendments that are presented.

Our precedent has set that that is a substantively different deferral motion if you add the um re-referral.

Okay.

Um and so if you would um please make that motion.