OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Metro Council Meeting - August 18, 2026: Elections, Confirmations, and Key Zoning Votes

Metropolitan Council — Tuesday, August 18, 2026
BodyNashville, Tennessee
SessionMetropolitan Council
DateTuesday, August 18, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:45:14
Transcript — Verbatim
1:32

Good evening, everyone.

1:34

I want to call this meeting to order.

1:36

Today is Tuesday, August the 18th.

1:38

And I want to open by acknowledging that this meeting is being held on the unceded stolen land of the Cherokee Shiny and Yuchi people.

1:48

And to remind you all that no one is illegal on stolen land built by stolen labor.

1:54

And with that, I would like to open up the announcement period.

1:58

Colleagues, if you have any announcements, please get into the queue.

2:04

Councilmember Styles, you're recognized.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

Next Thursday, we'll be having our District 32 August community meeting, six o'clock, the Southeast Community Center.

2:15

We'll be doing community safety updates as well as a presentation from the Nashville Youth Design Team of the Civic Design Center, as well as a presentation from Weego on the upcoming transit center.

2:29

We'll also hear from Daryl Hawks, the executive director of Friends of Millridge, and he's going to be sharing about the grant for the new event center that we're going to have in the park.

2:39

And we will be doing a discussion on a rezone for property at 3501 Murphy's Borough Road, which is going to be bringing some single family and condos on that site.

2:52

Thank you so much.

2:57

Councilmember Hill, you're recognized.

3:13

The budget, you're more than welcome to watch.

4:05

Um, but it should be completed um at the end of this week.

4:08

And then on Sunday, August 23rd, there will be a road closure on Fourth Avenue, um, south from Oak Street, um, all the way up to Heart Street.

4:19

And so I really would like for um my constituents and anyone and anyone to avoid that area from 9 a.m.

4:26

to 6 p.m., if at all possible, um, because there will be a road closure on that day.

4:36

On Saturday, August 22nd.

4:39

There's the Rising Together at Napier Place in Sudicum Apartments from 12 to 3 p.m.

4:44

And then the East Edge Hill will be having their summer social from 5 to 7 p.m.

4:49

at um the reservoir park.

4:51

So everyone is invited to either of those community events.

4:54

And I do also want to just acknowledge the winners of the SMITI uh ban challenge.

5:01

W.O.

5:02

Smith has an annual uh band competition where uh bands in the community um from their companies can come and uh participate in a battle of the bands and just want to congratulate the winners um and it all supports W.O.

5:18

Smith School in District 17.

5:19

Thank you so much.

5:20

Thank you, Councilmember Vogue.

5:22

Next we have Councilmember Sapulvida, you are recognized.

5:25

Thank you, Madam Pro Tem.

5:27

I just wanted to make an announcement that we will be having Mariposa Parks uh Grand Opening on August 22nd, uh, which is Saturday at 10 a.m.

5:39

Uh it is located on Tusclam Road.

5:41

We will have Mariachi Viva Mexico.

5:45

We will also have um Danza Azteca.

5:49

So just wanted to invite the whole community to come out.

5:52

We will also have food trucks, so it should be a fun time.

5:55

Uh no masquería invitara toda la communidad para que venga uh Lestreno de El Parque Mariposa, vamos a tener Maria Chi, que es Mariachi Viva Mexico.

6:05

Then vamos a tener Danza Azteca y vamos a tener comida.

6:08

And then este August 22, que es el Sabado a las 10 de la mañana.

6:19

Gracias, Councilmember Sapulvada.

6:21

Councilmember Braffer, you recognize.

6:25

Thank you, Pro Tim.

6:26

Just an announcement for residents who may be interested in some free music on the 30th of August, which is on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

6:36

Join us at the Two Rivers Mansion for the Two Rivers Orchestra's music at the mansion.

6:42

Again, that is Sunday, the 20th of August from 3 to 6 p.m.

6:49

Thank you.

6:49

Are there any other council members that would like to be recognized?

6:54

Councilmember uh Evans um is in committee meeting right now, uh, but she did bring beautiful yellow flowers for uh the women to signify uh today, August 18th, uh back in 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified today, which um we know was a part of the women's suffrage, allowing women to have the right to vote.

7:18

Uh so um councilmember Evans did want to acknowledge that and acknowledge the historic nature of our council with the first time of having gender parity with um uh 50% of the council being female, led by a female vice mayor.

7:33

And I also wanted to add to that just a reminder that not all women were allowed the right to vote um when that happened in 1920.

7:42

Uh Native American, Asian American, Latin X, and African American suffrages had to fight for the right to vote.

7:50

Well, after the 19th Amendment was ratified.

7:52

So uh we were still fighting for their right to vote.

7:55

For council members who just came in, we still have the announcement period open if anyone would like to make any announcements.

8:05

All right, CN9, the announcement period is closed.

8:08

Oh, I do have an announcement at our next meeting.

8:11

Uh the first meeting in September during the announcement period, we will be um honoring our resolution on during uh honoring uh Vonda McDaniel.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████35%
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████17%
Budget and Oversight███████████11%
Education Funding███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Legal Affairs██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Metropolitan Council Meeting - August 18, 2026

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Historic Metro Courthouse. The meeting included elections to commissions, confirmations of appointees, public comments, and actions on numerous resolutions and ordinances, including contentious votes on the Music City Center financing and surveillance technology, as well as several zoning changes on third reading.

Elections

  • Auditorium Commission (Item E1): The Council elected Ron Deal, Jr. (29 votes) and Rick Rodriguez (23 votes) to fill two vacancies with terms expiring June 30, 2029. Iman Khoshnaw was not elected.

Appointees & Nominees (Section F)**

  • Interviews were conducted for the Health and Educational Facilities Board, Metro Animal Care and Control Commission (multiple vacancies), Midtown Central Business Improvement District Board, Nashville Entertainment Commission, and Solid Waste Region Board. Several nominees were withdrawn before interviews.

Confirmations (Section G)**

  • The Council confirmed six appointees in a consolidated voice vote: Kim Paige (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission), Marcus T. Booth (Contract and Compliance Board), Lizzie Goddard (Housing Trust Fund Commission), Peter Kurland (Nashville Entertainment Commission), Gina Emmanuel (Parks and Recreation Board), and David Andrews (Transportation and Licensing Commission).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Lacey spoke in support of Ordinance BL2026-1498 (surveillance tech), urging end-to-end encryption to prevent vendor access to footage.
  • Charles Ellis supported Ordinance BL2026-1416 (contextual overlay for Twin Hills Drive), citing concerns about development and traffic in his neighborhood.
  • Trina Huell opposed Ordinance BL2026-1498, stating MNPD misused the exemption by deploying drones for non-emergency incidents like property damage accidents.
  • Dr. Nancy Wilson supported Ordinance BL2026-1420 (contextual overlay for Cumberland Hills/Northside), emphasizing responsible growth management.
  • Tyler Deaton (MI Homes) supported BL2026-1406 and 1407 (Cane Ridge Road development), noting additional commitments made after community meetings.
  • Ronnie Greer opposed the "Choose How You Move" transportation plan affecting Edgehill Avenue, arguing it would worsen congestion.
  • Kelly Cheng supported Ordinance BL2026-1498, criticizing MNPD for deploying surveillance without council approval and alleging unauthorized Flock searches.
  • John Bull supported the substitute of BL2026-1498.
  • Michael Mara opposed the "no right on red" proposal, citing safety concerns and a 2020 NIH study linking congestion to accidents.
  • Benjamin Davis supported BL2026-1498, arguing MNPD showed disregard for rule of law by starting a drone program without council authorization.
  • Manon Hall supported BL2026-1498 and also expressed strong support for the "Choose How You Move" road diet on Edgehill.
  • Casey Abramson urged proactive ice storm preparedness.

Discussion Items

  • Music City Center Financing (RS2026-2135): After extensive debate, the Council adopted the resolution (31-6) approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Convention Center Authority to refinance the Music City Center. Supporters argued it frees up a $300 million backstop for affordable housing bonds and removes Metro's financial liability. Opponents called it "corporate welfare" that locks in downtown-focused spending.
  • Surveillance Technology Ordinance (BL2026-1498): On second reading, Councilmember Sepulveda introduced a substitute that limits drone use to four specific emergency situations (active shooter, hostage, missing person search, declared state of emergency), bans autonomous drones and facial recognition for Metro departments, and requires a public hearing before any new surveillance pilot programs. The substitute and a late-filed typo correction were adopted. The bill passed second reading with one no vote and will return for third reading.
  • Contextual Overlay Districts (BL2026-1416 and BL2026-1420): Both ordinances, which apply overlays to protect neighborhood character, were disapproved by the Planning Commission but passed on third reading with 29-3-1 and 30-3-0 respectively.
  • Zoning Changes on Third Reading: Several specific plan zoning changes were approved, including mixed-use developments on Gallatin Avenue (BL2026-1403/1404, amended to require 40% attached housing), Cane Ridge Road (BL2026-1406/1407, 79 multi-family + 100 single-family units), and Old Hickory Boulevard (BL2026-1411/1412, amended with community commitments).

Key Outcomes

  • Elected Ron Deal, Jr. and Rick Rodriguez to the Auditorium Commission.
  • Confirmed six appointees to various boards and commissions.
  • Adopted RS2026-2135 (Music City Center financing) with 31-6 vote.
  • Passed second reading BL2026-1498 (surveillance technology restrictions), will return for third reading on September 1.
  • Passed third reading BL2026-1416 (Shepherd Hills/Twin Hills contextual overlay) – 29-3-1.
  • Passed third reading BL2026-1420 (Cumberland Hills/Northside contextual overlay) – 30-3-0.
  • Approved several zoning map amendments on third reading, including BL2026-1403/1404, BL2026-1406/1407, BL2026-1411/1412, BL2026-1473, and BL2026-1479/1480.
  • Deferred RS2026-2189 (Journey Pass expansion) to the next meeting.
  • Withdrawn RS2026-2208 (Altec Industries master agreement) and BL2026-1437 (recording board meetings).
  • Adopted late resolutions for a flood-prone property purchase and easement agreements.
  • Passed first reading all bills on introduction, including ordinances on employee surveys, tax increment financing reporting, and solar services agreement.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I want to call this meeting to order. Today is Tuesday, August the 18th. And I want to open by acknowledging that this meeting is being held on the unceded stolen land of the Cherokee Shiny and Yuchi people. And to remind you all that no one is illegal on stolen land built by stolen labor. And with that, I would like to open up the announcement period. Colleagues, if you have any announcements, please get into the queue. Councilmember Styles, you're recognized. Thank you. Next Thursday, we'll be having our District 32 August community meeting, six o'clock, the Southeast Community Center. We'll be doing community safety updates as well as a presentation from the Nashville Youth Design Team of the Civic Design Center, as well as a presentation from Weego on the upcoming transit center. We'll also hear from Daryl Hawks, the executive director of Friends of Millridge, and he's going to be sharing about the grant for the new event center that we're going to have in the park. And we will be doing a discussion on a rezone for property at 3501 Murphy's Borough Road, which is going to be bringing some single family and condos on that site. Thank you so much. Councilmember Hill, you're recognized. The budget, you're more than welcome to watch. Um, but it should be completed um at the end of this week. And then on Sunday, August 23rd, there will be a road closure on Fourth Avenue, um, south from Oak Street, um, all the way up to Heart Street. And so I really would like for um my constituents and anyone and anyone to avoid that area from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., if at all possible, um, because there will be a road closure on that day. On Saturday, August 22nd. There's the Rising Together at Napier Place in Sudicum Apartments from 12 to 3 p.m. And then the East Edge Hill will be having their summer social from 5 to 7 p.m. at um the reservoir park. So everyone is invited to either of those community events. And I do also want to just acknowledge the winners of the SMITI uh ban challenge. W.O. Smith has an annual uh band competition where uh bands in the community um from their companies can come and uh participate in a battle of the bands and just want to congratulate the winners um and it all supports W.O. Smith School in District 17. Thank you so much. Thank you, Councilmember Vogue. Next we have Councilmember Sapulvida, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam Pro Tem. I just wanted to make an announcement that we will be having Mariposa Parks uh Grand Opening on August 22nd, uh, which is Saturday at 10 a.m. Uh it is located on Tusclam Road. We will have Mariachi Viva Mexico. We will also have um Danza Azteca. So just wanted to invite the whole community to come out. We will also have food trucks, so it should be a fun time. Uh no masquería invitara toda la communidad para que venga uh Lestreno de El Parque Mariposa, vamos a tener Maria Chi, que es Mariachi Viva Mexico. Then vamos a tener Danza Azteca y vamos a tener comida. And then este August 22, que es el Sabado a las 10 de la mañana. Gracias, Councilmember Sapulvada. Councilmember Braffer, you recognize. Thank you, Pro Tim. Just an announcement for residents who may be interested in some free music on the 30th of August, which is on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. Join us at the Two Rivers Mansion for the Two Rivers Orchestra's music at the mansion. Again, that is Sunday, the 20th of August from 3 to 6 p.m. Thank you. Are there any other council members that would like to be recognized?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com