Nashville Metropolitan Council Meeting Summary – August 4, 2026
Nashville Metropolitan Council Meeting Summary – August 4, 2026
The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County held its 14th regular meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Historic Metro Courthouse. The meeting opened with honorary presentations and announcements at 6:00 p.m., followed by the formal council session at 6:30 p.m., concluding at approximately 11:25 p.m. The agenda included presentations, appointments, confirmations, public comments, 40 public hearing items, dozens of resolutions, and bills on first, second, and third reading.
Honorary Presentations & Announcements
- Councilmember Evans presented a resolution commemorating the installation of the 400th One Box naloxone overdose response kit, later corrected to note the program is now up to 500 installations. The resolution recognized partners including MNPD Lieutenant Mike Coates, Sergeant Anthony Cucci, overdose prevention specialist Barbara Brown, the Mayor's Office of Nightlife, and Metro Public Health Department. Presenters stated the kits have helped save 18 lives in Davidson County and the program received the 2025 Project of the Year Award from the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.
- Councilmember Wiener honored Officer Benjamin Cantrell, West Precinct Quality of Life Officer, for 25 years of service with MNPD, joined by his family and Commander Jason Proctor.
- The Vice Mayor reminded the public that election day is Thursday, August 6, 2026, noting that 50,747 Nashvillians (almost 11% of the electorate) had voted early out of 472,000 eligible voters.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda passed unanimously. Items removed for separate consideration included: RS2026-2163 (Dismas House harm reduction grant), BL2026-1464 and BL2026-1465 (Hillpointe Whites Creek water/sewer infrastructure), RS2026-2152 (Youth Villages grant – abstention), RS2026-2181 (Japan-America Student Conference), and RS2026-2180 (Nashville Humane Association 80th anniversary).
Appointments, Confirmations & Nominations
- The Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee interviewed candidates for the Auditorium Commission, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Contract and Compliance Board, Housing Trust Fund Commission, Nashville Entertainment Commission, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation and Licensing Commission. Two Entertainment Commission candidates (Michael Montgomery and Erika Wollam Nichols) were deferred one meeting.
- The Council confirmed seven appointments forwarded with 7-0 committee votes: Wallace Dietz (Airport Authority), Henry Walker (Arts Commission), Eileen Beehan and Dewey Branstetter (Charter Revision Commission), Dr. Raymond "Buz" Martin and Dr. Courtney J. Pitts (Hospital Authority), and S. Will Acuff (Social Services Commission).
- Nominations were taken for the Health and Educational Facilities Board (Dr. Weeta Davis, Matt Wiltshire, Keith Randall, Howard Jones) and the Metro Animal Care and Control Commission, where 13 candidates were nominated for two at-large seats, three nonprofit representative candidates were named, and Councilmember Bradford was nominated for the non-voting council seat after Councilmember Evans withdrew.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mann and Hall supported the no-right-turn-on-red ordinance (BL2026-1497), citing the city's Vision Zero action plan and the recent death of Timothy Ledlock on Broadway, and asked the Council to support a petition to close Broadway to vehicular traffic.
- Steve Ryder opposed the MDHA tax increment financing reauthorization (RS2026-2078), arguing the program lacks limitations and could invite legal challenges from developers.
- Ezra Howard supported the eminent domain authorization (BL2026-1489) but urged the city to "go big and go bold" by adding housing or an early learning center on the site rather than a standalone office park.
- Tawana Chick asked that promised amendments be formally filed so the public can review final versions before third reading, and urged planning for the city's 2076 needs.
- Benjamin Vaught supported Vision Zero and urged approval of transit-adjacent housing, stating that pushing development further out leads to more driving and more deaths.
- Arianne Gooda, a landlord of property affected by BL2026-1389, opposed that rezoning and noted the sponsor planned to defer it.
Discussion Items (Public Hearings & Voting)
- Vanderbilt Innovation Neighborhood (BL2026-1446/1447): After a two-year public process, the Council passed second reading as amended, approving Councilmember Cash's amendment containing concession items 8 through 22, including reduced building heights, traffic-calming funds, construction protections, and a new advisory committee. Third reading was deferred to September 1. Councilmember Allen withdrew her bird-safe glass amendment to refine the language.
- Contextual overlays in Madison (BL2026-1416 and BL2026-1420): Passed second reading by roll call votes of 21-7-2 and 20-8-3 respectively, despite Planning Commission disapproval. Planning staff clarified the overlays do not change density, only setbacks, height, and lot coverage. Speakers debated housing needs against neighborhood preservation; Councilmember Sepulveda and others opposed the overlays as growth restrictions, while district sponsors and Madison-area councilmembers defended them.
- Cane Ridge developments: BL2026-1406/1407 (79 multi-family units and 100 single-family lots) passed second reading after a deferral motion failed; BL2026-1411/1412 (mixed-use at 13181 Old Hickory Boulevard) passed with two abstentions after a deferral motion lacked a second. Community members raised traffic, flooding, and density-transition concerns.
- Anderson Lane SP (BL2026-1479/1480): Passed second reading as amended with a required traffic study, by a roll call vote of 32-0-1, after neighbors requested more review. Councilmember Hancock committed to double the number of trees removed through Root Nashville plantings.
- Condemnation authorization (BL2026-1489): Passed third reading as amended 27-5-0. Councilmember Evans-Segall's amendment requires the Director of Public Property to provide appraisals to the Council; she noted the most recent appraisal of $37 million sets the minimum condemnation award. Supporters cited office space needs and rent savings; opponents called the use of eminent domain a gross misuse of power.
- Nashville Entertainment Commission (BL2026-1431): Passed third reading 28-4-2 despite opposition from Councilmember Styles, who argued the legislation gives the mayor's office too much control and was not supported by the creative community.
- Sheriff salary increase (RS2026-2150): Passed. Sponsor Councilmember Huffman noted the sheriff manages roughly 1,400 employees and a $150 million budget, and his compensation has lagged comparable departments.
- Redevelopment plan amendment (BL2026-1451): Passed third reading as amended after Councilmember Allen's amendment reverted a notification requirement to match MDHA board approval.
- Zoning text amendment (BL2026-1488): Passed second reading as amended to correct additional land use table errors.
Key Outcomes
- Public hearings were deferred to September 1, 2026, for multiple zoning bills including BL2026-1400/1401, BL2026-1422, BL2026-1425/1426, BL2026-1433, BL2026-1467, and BL2026-1481. BL2026-1397 was deferred to October 6, 2026.
- Dozens of grant resolutions and routine items passed, including Ryan White Part A program grants, an air quality monitoring grant (as substituted), the Internet Crimes Against Children grant, Nashville Public Library Foundation grants, and the community solar array lease at Due West Landfill (RS2026-2153).
- The late resolution M1 (563 Veritas water service participation agreement) passed after a rules suspension.
- Several bills were deferred one meeting (to August 18, 2026): RS2026-2135, BL2026-1437, BL2026-1464, BL2026-1465, and BL2026-1493. BL2026-1389 and BL2026-1452 were deferred two meetings (to September 1, 2026).
- The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Which today we will practice our duolinguous. All right. Uh I first want to acknowledge that we are sitting on Chickasaw, UG, and Shawnee Lan. Uh sorry, I'm moving things around. Um a reminder that um no one's illegal on stolen land built with stolen labor. All right, we do have two honorary presentations tonight, one by council member Evans and one by council member Wiener. Um, first is Council Member Evans. Councilmember Evans, are you ready? In the meantime, while we have those two presentations that will be getting ready. If there are council members with um announcements, if you could go ahead and get in the queue, that would be great. Um, this is a presentation on RS twenty twenty-six-2113, a resolution commemorating the installation of the four hundredth one box in Nashville and Davidson County, and recognizing the history and growth of the one box naloxone program. Whereas opioid overdoses have taken a devastating toll on families and communities across the country, including here in Nashville and Davidson County, and whereas naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose if administered in time, and whereas placing naloxone in publicly accessible locations gives bystanders, employees, school staff, and community members the ability to respond quickly during an emergency, and whereas one box units are overdose emergency response kits that provide naloxone and clear instructions for use, helping people take immediate action while emergency responsors responders are on the way, and whereas Nashville's one box work began through the leadership of community partners who understood that overdose response tools are needed in the places where people live, work, gather, and visit. And whereas in January 2023, Gibson Gives, through its training and empowering musicians to prevent overdose TEMPO program, announced an effort to place one box kits in live music venues throughout Nashville in partnership with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and Overdose Prevention Partners and Whereas Sergeant Mike Coates and MNPD played an important role in building relationships, educating partners, and helping install one box units in locations where they could save lives. And whereas, following Sergeant Hotz's promotion to Lieutenant, Sergeant Anthony Cucci helped carry the program forward by continuing the MNPD's outreach, coordination, installation support, and whereas Barbara Brown, a retired critical care nurse, served as MNPD's specialized investigations division overdose prevent prevention specialists has supported overdose response work by helping connect overdose survivors with treatment, recovery, and community resources. And whereas Benton McDonough, Director of the Mayor's Office of Nightlife, along with his team, including Herschel French, Kelly Kaplan, and Kenita Price, helped move the program into more hospitality and entertainment venues by connecting the effort with business owners, operators, and venue leaders, and whereas over time, one box units were installed in bars, restaurants, music venues, sports venues, and other high-traffic community spaces, and whereas Metro partners have reported that one box units have been used in overdose emergencies and credited with helping save 18 lives in Davidson County and whereas the program later expanded to Metro Nashville Public Schools, beginning with an installation in McGavic High School and continuing with plans to place one box units in school community spaces across the district with support of Metro Nashville Public Health Department, and whereas the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service recognized the collaboration between nonprofits, community partners, and the Metropolitan Government with this 2025 Project of the Year Award. And whereas the success of the one box program reflects what Nashville does well, bringing together public safety, public health, schools, non-for-profit, businesses, venues, and community leaders to meet an urgent need. And whereas in the installation of four the installation of the 400th one box on May 4th, 2026, a spring suit's make a major masons. Max, oh my god, Zofat. Max and Major Milestone in Nashville's walk to place life-saving overdose reversal medication closer to the people who may need it. Whereas this milestone represents more than the number of boxes installed, it represents lives that may be saved, emergencies that may be met with action, and a city choosing preparation over indifference. And whereas the Metropolitan Council wishes to recognize the many partners who helped make this work possible, including MNPD's Lieutenant Mike Coates, Sergeant Anthony Cucci, overdose prevention specialist and retired critical care nurse Barbara Brown, Trevor Henderson with the UT Smart Initiative, the Mayor's Office of Night Life, the Metropolitan Public Health Department, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Tempo, the Drug the Drug Intervention Institute, hospitality and entertainment partners, and community advocates. Continued collaboration is critical to maintain existing one box units, expand overdose prevention education, and ensure that naloxone remains accessible in public and high traffic spaces throughout Nashville and Davidson County. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Section One, that the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as commemorating the installation of the 400th one box and commending the public private nonprofit school public safety, public health, and community partners who have worked to achieve this milestone in Nashville's overdose prevention and emergency response work. And section two, this resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville in Davidson County requiring it. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. I want to um bring up uh Lieutenant uh Mike Hotz from MNPD, and then uh director of nightlife, Benton McDonough, um, so that way they can say a few things. Thank you very much, Councilmember. I appreciate it. I very much appreciate the support of the council as well as my chain of command who have given their steadfast support on both sides to uh bringing creative solutions to this epidemic that is plaguing Nashville more than many other similar cities across the country, and they brought us from being one of the cities with the second highest rate of overdose in the United States of America to being one of the cities with the highest percentage reduction in overdose fatalities thank thank you very much. Uh just wanted to uh thank uh uh council member Evans and uh everyone on uh Metro Council as well as the uh the mayor's office. Uh we've had a lot of support uh in this program, and uh I think we we wouldn't be as successful if we had not had every single one of every single one of you and every single one of uh the members of our of our team that that are here. And uh we often laugh about it because uh councilmember Evans uh put us all to together and uh had had me meet meet with uh uh Lieutenant Hotz and uh with Trevor one day, and we and we talked about the fact that um every one of us played an integral part in uh making this program what it was, and so I really do appreciate the support uh that we've had from from everyone in this room. So it means a lot. Thank you very much. Thank you. And I think one thing that they negated to say is that they're actually up to 500 one box installations now, and that's in big response to um Sergeant Anthony Cucci, who could not be here, as well as Metro Nashville uh public health department for supporting uh with all the naloxone supplies that the team needs. So thank you all very much. All right, congratulations on your 501 bucks. All right, while they take a picture, uh just a reminder that council members who have announcements to go ahead and get in the queue. Uh the next presentation will be by council member Wiener. Um and you all we are at 611. So let's go ahead and move to the next presentation. Councilmember Wiener. Thank you so much. I would like to call up whoever wants to stay here and help us thank and recognize Officer Benjamin Cantrell, who is the West Precinct's quality of life officer. He is amazing. We were so fortunate to have him with us during public health and safety. And um very interesting conversation ensued. So without delaying any further, I'm gonna go ahead and start.
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