Metropolitan Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you for your patience. Today is Tuesday, September 15th, 2026. This is the 17th regular meeting of 2026 and the 69th meeting of the current term of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. There are 21 regular meetings remaining in this council term. 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 Pastor Yves-Marie Joseph of Eglise Baptiste Nouvelle Jerusalem of Nashville. He is the guest of District 25 council member, Jeff Prepti. Welcome Pastor Joseph.

Let us pray. But my prayer will be in my native language, Asian Creole. . to create a nation where man is intelligent and able to dominate nature. We thank you for a beautiful day in our country, which allows us to think about how we can win a fairer and more equitable world. And that's why we ask you to dictate authority so that the decision you make can be taken from you. Already, we put you in a meeting so that you can pray. We count on you and we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. You may be seated. And thank you very much, Pastor. Okay. Welcome council and community members, happy Hispanic Heritage Month, and happy National Voter Registration Day. I know that several council members, Pro Tem, Chair Sepulveda have elevated this as well, but I want to express my appreciation to the Davidson County Election Commission for being with us today out on our mezzanine in the historic courthouse and city hall to answer questions, check registrations, and process change of address. September 17th is Constitution Day, and we are reminded that we the people, in order to form a more perfect union and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, established the Constitution of the United States of America. And ever in an effort to create a more perfect union, the Constitution has been amended four times, specifically to extend the right to vote. The 15th Amendment in 1870 said that men of any race can vote. The 19th Amendment said that women can vote. The 24th Amendment made poll taxes illegal in 1964. And in 1971, the 26th Amendment said that citizens who are 18 and older can vote. People in this country have been showing up for well over 100 years to speak, protest, and march, and have been beaten, lynched, and died for the right to vote. Do not take this right for granted. Exercise it in every election, local, state, and federal. Do not let anyone convince you that your vote does not matter. It absolutely does. Democracy depends on your participation. Without the people's active participation, this nation will descend into oligarchy, autocracy, and fascism. May we vote in numbers never before seen in this election. The last day to register to vote in Tennessee is October 5th for the November election. Early voting will be underway on October 14th. You can go to govotetn.gov to verify your registration and update your address. Encourage your friends, family, and constituents to do the same. The Davidson County Election Commission at nashville.gov forward slash vote is your definitive and trusted source. Administrator of Elections Richardson who joined us this evening shared that we have 477,000 registered voters in Davidson County. Let's all work to make sure that number is increasing and that the entirety of that number are energized and encouraged to vote. Speaking of energy, Nashville's newest home team, a franchise of the professional women's upshot basketball league will debut its official name later this evening. So when we close out the meeting, I'll share that news on behalf of our former colleague and the team's president and CEO, the honorable Nancy Van Reese. Okay. So without objection, we will suspend the calling of the role 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 September 1st, 2026? All right. There is a motion properly seconded without objection and seeing no one seeking to be recognized for a change to the minutes. The minutes of the meeting of September 1st are approved. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the mayor?

There are no messages from the mayor.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All right. Rolling right on into our agenda. First, section E, elections, item E1. Members' tablets are ready for purposes of this election. This is an election for the Health and Educational Facilities Board. These nominees for election in your consideration will fill one vacancy on the board with terms expiring September 30th, 2032. And those nominees are Will Rosenthal nominated by Council Member Allen and Chase Markham nominated by Council Member Parker. This vote requires a simple majority. Mr. Clerk, please open the vote. With all votes in, Mr. Clerk, please show the vote. Council has elected Will Rosenthal with 27 votes in favor. and seven votes go to Chase Markham. We appreciate both of them for putting themselves forward and their willingness to serve and we congratulate Will Rosenthal. Thank you very much and congratulations. All right, section F 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 are 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 other than, yep, in this section of the agenda. Chair Sepulveda, your brief report, please. No vote totals necessary. Simply the name of those interviewed and for which seats. And if a person in the appointment and confirmation process was unable to attend your committee this evening, at what meeting they will next appear, or if there was a withdrawal, please, ma'am. Go ahead, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. We considered F. Corey Mason for the licensing for adult entertainment and safety. We also considered... Well, we withdrew Jamel Boykin, we withdrew Donna Greer, for the Community Corrections Advisory Board for Joseph L. Umberger, and the Human Relations Commission, Christy Brothrick, and Short-Term Rental Appeals Board, Jackson Farrell for Short-Term Rentals Appeal Board, Ben Vaught, and Tourism and Convention Center Commission, Todd Rothermill.

All right, thank you for sharing all those persons interviewed and that Jamal Boykin and Donna Greyer have both been withdrawn for consideration to the Community Corrections Advisory Board. All right, now in section G of the agenda, Chair Sepulveda, for your committee report on the appointees in the second step of your committee's two meeting process with vote totals and a consolidated motion for the confirmation of those persons or first for a deferral motion if there are any. For members' awareness, should there be interest in a no vote or an abstention, there will be time to amend the consolidated motion if any member of the body so chooses. Chair Sepulveda, go ahead, please.

For the Community Corrections Advisory Board reappointment, Joshua L. Brand for a term expiring October 22nd, 2028. Committee voted five in favor, zero against, zero not voting. For the Community Corrections Advisory Board reappointment of Jerrell Summers for a term expiring October 22nd, 2028, the committee voted five in favor, zero against, zero not voting. For the Convention Center Authority appointment of Jim Cooper for a term expiring February 7th, 2030, Committee voted five in favor, zero against, zero not voting. For the Convention Center Authority reappointment of Alfred de Graffenried for a term expiring February 7, 2030, committee voted four in favor, one against, zero not voting. For the Convention Center Authority reappointment of Tracy Harding for a term expiring January 6, 2030, committee voted four in favor, one against, zero not voting. For the Convention Center Authority appointment of Ethan Link for a term expiring September 30, 2027, committee voted five in favor, zero against, zero not voting. For the Convention Center Authority appointment of Sylvia San Martin for a term expiring January 6, 2030, Committee voted four in favor, one against, zero not voting. For the National Entertainment Commission appointment of Dave Pomeroy for a term expiring June 20, 2030, committee voted five in favor, zero against, zero not voting. With that, I would move for approval.

All righty, there is a motion to confirm all one, two, three, four. five, six, seven, eight of these appointees in a consolidated motion. Was there a second? Okay. Does anyone wish to remove an item from this consolidated motion for purposes of an individual abstention or no vote? Mr. Capp, you're recognized, sir.

Well, for the purposes of discussion, I'd ask to withdraw G4, G5, and G7.

Okay, G4, G5, and G6 regarding the Convention Center. G7, thank you, thank you for the clarification. G7, these are all re-appointments or rather all related to the Convention Center Authority. Those will be removed from the consolidated motion. All right, so with those three removed, all in favor of the remaining confirmations, please say aye. All right, those persons having been confirmed, and if you're in the chamber, please do stay with us till we have completed all the confirmations so that you may be recognized collectively. And we will go back to the individual confirmation votes in agenda order. Okay, first among those is item G4 regarding the Convention Center Authority and the reappointment of Alfred de Graffenried for a term expiring February 7th, 2020. Ms. Sepulveda, Madam Chair, would you make a motion for approval, please? Move for approval. Okay, all right. We are on to discussion. Mr. Capp, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. In an ordinary time, I would not be standing to speak on these nominees tonight, but we're not in ordinary times. of attacks on self-government across our country and here in Nashville. The proposed boring company tunnel is not an ordinary policy question. It's an attack on self-government in Nashville. It's a hostile construction project that wealthy special interests want to impose on the people of our city without their support or even their participation. We've seen that before in history and it's never been good. I see it as my duty, I see it as our duty to do everything we can to stop and oppose it. And that includes confirming only nominees that will do the same.

The tunnel- Quiet please, quiet please.

The tunnel doesn't even pretend to work with our neighborhoods or our transportation network. Almost none of our population lives anywhere near where they want it to go. And nobody can drive their car into this tunnel. You still got to get downtown with your suitcase, somehow pay to park down there and then get into the tunnel and pay to use that. All that does is take congestion at the airport and shift it into downtown. That is not a serious transportation idea. And that doesn't even get into the environmental issues, the lack of accessibility standards, the loss of local jobs, the cost to our first responders or our electrical grid. This tunnel is not for Nashvillians. It's for tourists. They actually admit this, and that's why they want a station at the Convention Center. But that Convention Center is owned by the people of Nashville. Now, I want to be a welcoming city, but it's high time we stop focusing our public policy on tourism. The whole point of the Convention Center was to help generate revenue to spend back on the people of Nashville, not to prioritize tourists over Nashvillians. Three of our nominees tonight have told us, though, that they take a positive view or are open to this idea. I trust that they have come to that view in good faith. But as we've seen, the tunnel is bad policy, and more basically, it's an attack on our self-government. I can't support these nominees for those reasons. It's not personal. These are distinguished nominees who have offered their time to public service. But that's not the question before us tonight. The question is who governs our city and for whose benefit. The answer should be the people of Nashville. Remember when they told us that the tunnel project would be done without any cost to the taxpayer? That promise didn't even last for one weekend. Already the state government is spending your taxes and mine to help this special billionaire company evade the normal rules in order to get this tunnel built. That is the height of money in politics, and we don't have to go along with it. They've given up pretending that the tunnel is popular or that it will benefit the people, but they are pretending that it is inevitable. But it's not. In fact, we have here tonight a tangible chance to stand against it. Remember when data centers in our neighborhoods were inevitable? There was a time early in this presidential administration when lots of people were collaborating to dismantle self-government.

Your time has expired.

If somebody would yield me some time when they have a moment.

All right, Ms. Gamble brought to my attention that she was concerned that her name had been cleared from the queue. Not sure what happened there, but Mr. Taylor, if you would please defer to that concern and I will acknowledge Ms. Gamble, okay? Ms. Gamble, you are recognized.

Thank you, vice mayor. I appreciate the comments that have been made regarding this confirmation to the convention board. However, I disagree that this is a referendum on the tunnel. This is not a referendum on the Tesla tunnel. This confirmation does not solidify any position on the Tesla tunnel. This confirmation is to the Music City Convention Board. They are charged with making decisions for the city based on that Music City Center and to hold someone accountable for a decision that they have no authority over. This body has no authority over and to suggest that we use our power as council members to punish or to retaliate against Volunteers, mind you, these are not paid positions. These are volunteer positions of citizens of this city to serve this city. The candidates who were pulled off of consent for reappointment, they have served on this board in a very effective manner. They have done due diligence. They have done research on their positions and votes, not to mention their qualifications. and capabilities for those positions. That is what our job is, is to identify citizens of this city that are qualified and capable of looking at facts and due diligence to make decisions for the Music City Center. So for those reasons, I am emphatically supportive of these candidates like I am the other candidates that were not pulled off consent because as our job, as I said, is to appoint qualified citizens who are interested and thank you for being willing to serve on this board and to represent this city and to make decisions based on facts and due diligence under the authority of the Convention Center, not under any other suggestion of a position on an issue that we have no authority off of. So for that reason, I'm asking for support for these nominees, all of these nominees to be confirmed today. And thank you for listening.

Thank you, Ms. Gamble. Council Member Taylor, your recognizer. Call the question. All right. There is a motion to call the question. This requires a second. Okay, this is non-debatable. It requires two thirds of those voting. What that means is we end debate and discussion on this particular matter. I will try it first by voice as I remind members, it is a number, not volume, please. So if you are for ending the previous question, you would vote aye. And if you are against ending or calling the question and you want to continue your debate, you would vote no. All in favor of the previous question, please say aye. Those voting no. Okay, the ayes have it. Please do not do that mid-vote from the gallery, okay? Was that a council member? Oh. I'm sorry, Ms. Ellis. That's one of those things with that back row. I used to sit on the back row as well. It almost sounds like it's the gallery, but the ayes do have it. The question is called. We will proceed to the vote. Special counsel, for something like this, it requires a simple majority. Do we need a recorded vote if we have nos, or can we just record the nos with the clerk if needed? Go ahead, sir.

Vice Mayor, typically we treat the appointment process as resolutions. In that case, typically if there are no votes, they would be roll call votes.

All right, Mr. Clerk, if you would please open the machine, sir. Open the vote. With all votes in, Mr. Clerk, please show the vote. All right, the confirmation of, and rather reappointment of Mr. Alfred de Graaf and Reeve to the Convention Center Authority has passed with 28 votes in favor and six votes against. All right, we congratulate you and we proceed on through our other next two items. The next is G5, also regarding the Convention Center Authority. Here for the reappointment of Tracey for a term expiring January 6th, 2030. Chair Sepulveda, your report is already in, but if you could please make a motion, ma'am, to get this before us. So moved. All right. Is there a second? Okay, all right. So with that, we are on to discussion. And first in the queue is Council Member Capp. You are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. This is just a continuation of my previous remarks. I don't need to belabor this for every one of these, but just to continue. There was a time early in this presidential administration when lots of people were collaborating to dismantle self-government. It was a bad idea then, and it's aging today. worse and worse every day. It's aging like a dead fish on the kitchen counter, if I can quote my grandmother, and we don't have to do it. Our votes tonight can either help advance or can stand against an oligarchic attack on the people of our city. That is what this vote is about. Let's stand up for the people tonight and get governance at the Convention Center that will stand up for them, too. Thank you.

All right. Discussion continues. No clapping, please. Council Member Suarez, you're recognized, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, and I thank my colleague for the comments. I was adamantly against the boring tunnel. I believe everything that you said in terms of how it affects the people. But I'm a yes vote tonight, and I wanted to say why, and I think it's very important. Last term, when we had another, we had a vote about the Titans Stadium. Some of you remember that. And I remember what happened after that, the cancel culture of people going against each other because of one vote. I was on the other side of that. And what I kept telling everybody is that if we have to continue to build, we cannot forget the 99% of times that we agree and write each other off because of that 1% or one vote. That's what I'm looking at here. I know Tracy Arden, I know Alfred, I know the work that you've done. I've known them for a long time. And I think the body of work that you've put forward for this town, for this city, for the community, outweighs a vote that is hypothetical. And I said it's hypothetical because at the time, and I did talk to Alfred, my understanding is that They said they're open to looking at more information. They want to hear more. I don't think there's any more information that needs to be looked at. I think that it should be no for boring. And I'll continue to say that. But we do disagree on that one. But I do not want to write off people that are capable, people that step forward, people that have done work over the years just because I disagree with them on one thing. And so that's why I think we have to continue to do that. We would never. There's no place in our democracy where we're going to agree 100%. And if we continue to do this council culture over one item, we will continue to lose people under the tent. Because not everybody will think the way we are. Not everybody will arrive at the same conclusion as we do. But if every time somebody votes the way we don't want to, we write them off, we continue to lose people that are like-minded 99% of the time. And so for that reason, I will be voting yes. And I do believe that based on the construction of that committee, based on the state taking over, there's not gonna be another vote on that, but I do think the composition now, we will be able to stop it, and I do hope that the people that have been confirmed, when they do get the opportunity, that we'll be 100% the next time they vote and not 99, but I'm asking everyone to please remember that, that we cannot keep writing each other off over one thing, and I want to take the work that Tracy's done, that Alfred is done, I don't know Sylvia very well, but that's my comment on it, I hope that we continue to find a way to work together, even if we don't agree 100% of the time. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Suara. Next in the queue is Council Member Johnson. You're recognized. Previous question. All right. All right. The question has been called and properly seconded. This is non-debatable and requires two-thirds of those voting. We'll try this by voice again. It requires two-thirds. All in favor of calling the question and ending debate, please say aye. Those against calling the question and wanting debate to continue, please say no. Okay, the ayes have it. The question has been called and we will move to the vote. Mr. Clerk, if you would please load the vote, please, sir. All right, Mr. Clerk, with all votes in, please show the vote. All right, council has confirmed the reappointment of Tracy Hardin to the Convention Center Authority with 27 votes in favor and seven votes against. Congratulations and thank you. We'll just move on through the agenda. And again, we'll thank everyone in this section of our agenda at the end. Item G7, also regarding the Convention Center Authority, and the appointment of Sylvia San Martin for a term expiring January 6, 2030. Chair Sepulveda, to get the matter before us, please, ma'am. So moved. Okay. Is there a second? All right. Ms. Johnson, there is no one else in the queue. And so seeing no one seeking discussion on this matter, we will move straight to the vote. Special counsel has shared with us as this proceeds as a resolution with only one If there are negative votes, we do have to go on the board. So Mr. Clerk, if you would please load the vote. Please show the vote, Mr. Clerk. All right, council has confirmed the appointment of Sylvia San Martin to the Convention Center Authority with 27 votes in favor and seven votes against. Now to all our confirmed appointees, if you chose to return to the council chamber this evening, which is not required, do please stand as I call your name. Council has confirmed the appointments of, to the Community Corrections Advisory Board, Joshua L. Brandt, Jerrell Summers, To the Convention Center Authority, Council has confirmed the appointment of the Honorable Jim Cooper, the reappointment of Mr. Alfred de Graffenried, the reappointment of Ms. Tracy Hardin, the appointment of Ethan Link, and lastly to the Convention Center Authority, the appointment of Sylvia San Martin, and to the Nashville Entertainment Commission, the reappointment of Dave Pomeroy. We extend our congratulations and do sincerely thank you for your willingness to serve the city. If you're watching from home, we appreciate you as well. Thank you. All right, council members, section H of our agenda is regarding nominations. All right, council members received a memo from me on August 17th announcing a vacancy on the Contract and Compliance Board. This vacancy is to be filled by an election of a member of council. The function of the Contract and Compliance Board is in part to evaluate and monitor compliance with existing construction contracts related to construction activities on projects by the Metropolitan Government. Complete descriptions of all Metro boards and commissions can be found on nashville.gov forward slash boards. I will now open nominations. If you seek to make a nomination, please do enter the queue. Council Member Sepulveda, Madam Chair, you're recognized. Thank you, Vice Mayor. I nominate Council Member Harrell. Council Member Sepulveda has nominated Council Member Deontay Harrell. Are there any additional nominations for the Contract and Compliance Board? All right, seeing none, the nominations are closed, thank you. All right, now we are moving into section I of our agenda, the public comment period. Members of the public who are Tennessee residents wishing to speak in public comment may sign up at a table outside the council chamber from five to 6 p.m. on the day of a council meeting. Public comment is limited to 20 minutes in total at council meetings, and each speaker is allowed up to two minutes to speak. Persons speaking on agenda items must be prioritized to comply with state law. All right, first for public comment, if you would please come forward to the podium, is Trevor Silva speaking regarding a potential ICE call center in opposition. Following Trevor Silva will be Jennifer Berry and Alexandra Van Zeelandt, if y'all want to come forward as well. Go ahead. Sir, you are recognized.

Thank you. My name is Trevor Silva and thank you, counsel, for having me today. I live in East Nashville, District 6, and I oppose the ICE call center. You know, just two years ago, a green card holder or visa holder could live in our neighborhoods, drive our streets, and go to work without fearing they'd be kidnapped by unidentified masked agents just because of the color of their skin. Two years ago, tourists could visit the city without wondering if they'd end up kidnapped, injured, detained by the same masked cowards. And two years ago, being anti-fascist, pro-religious freedom, and pro-trans rights didn't make me a terrorist either. But according to National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, apparently here I stand before you today as a terrorist. See, fascism doesn't stop at taking rights from just some. It will always need another to exist. It always needs an enemy. So while those with the boot deepest in their throats may not feel it kick today, those of us who've read the history books know exactly where this leads. It's not a question of if it turns on them too, but when. Because if you're not a billionaire in Trump's America, it's only a matter of time before you realize your rights too are gone. And by then it's too late. Today, it's our brown brothers and sisters, but who do they target next? The thing is, that's not even a rhetorical question. We have the answer because they wrote it down. And SPM7 names anti-capitalists, trans people, atheists, and everyone who is, quote, anti-American, which is a term they get to define as domestic terrorists. That's not a slippery slope. That is the plan, and they aren't even trying to hide it. Because when Trump says, and I quote, homegrowns are next, I believe him, and you should too. Masha Gessen, one of the most prominent independent voices covering Putin's Russia, laid out rule number one very clearly. Believe the autocrat, he means what he says. Every time we tell ourselves he's exaggerating, that's not insight, that's denial. Humans are built to look away from what they can't stand to accept, and we don't have the luxury anymore. We won't stop this regime or their fascist clown car tonight. but we need to let them know that their circus tent of a call center is not welcome in our city. Remember that if you choose to stay willfully ignorant to the plans they have so clearly laid out to conduct from centers like this, that doesn't make you innocent. It makes you complicit in every bit of the harm they cause. Thank you all.

All right.

Folks.

So that we can proceed promptly through the speakers, kindly please don't clap afterwards. We'll just proceed right on through. Signs are allowed, but I do ask you please to be conscious that you are not blocking the view of anybody behind or beside you, okay? Go ahead, Jennifer Berry, regarding the ICE Call Center as well, in opposition, you're recognized. Good evening, Metro Council members.

My name is Jennifer Berry, and I'm a lifelong educator, and I've spent my entire career working with the young people here in Nashville. I am here tonight because I am deeply concerned about what we are teaching our children by potentially allowing a 287G ICE Coordination Center to operate in our community. As educators, we spend an enormous amount of time teaching children that they belong. We teach them that their classroom is a community, that differences make us stronger, that we solve problems together, and that we look out for the person sitting beside us. And then imagine being a child whose family is undocumented or whose parents are immigrants. Imagine sitting in a classroom wondering whether your parents will be here when you get home from school. Imagine hearing that your local police, your neighbors, and your government are becoming increasingly connected to an immigration enforcement system. Imagine trying to concentrate on biology, math, or reading when you are worried that you could be separated from your family. That child does not experience this as an abstract federal policy. They experience it as fear. And fear is not an environment where children can thrive. We are already asking our young people to navigate an incredibly complicated world. They need adults who model courage, compassion, critical thinking, and community. They do not need us to normalize surveillance, suspicion, and the idea that some families are less deserving of safety and belonging than others. The proposed center in Donaldson would support the expansion of 287G, a program that allows participating state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions. Council members, Nashville has a choice. We can become a place where children learn that fear is a tool of government, or we can become a place where children learn that their community protects them, their families matter, and every child deserves to walk into a Nashville school knowing that they belong. I am asking you to oppose this facility, not simply for immigrants, not simply for their families, but for every child in Nashville who is watching what the adults around them choose to do. Because our children are always watching and learning from us.

Your time is expired. Next is Alexandra Van Zeelandt. Alexandra will be followed by Lynn McFarlane and then Kimberly Molnar. Go ahead, Alexandra, you're recognized.

Nashville is a city built on possibility and that possibility comes from our commitment to putting community first. We've always shown what it means to stand united and we show up for our neighbors in their times of need. That is why we are here today. We are here to protect our community from a system that doesn't reflect the morals and ethics of this city. I support a lawful and fair path to citizenship, but I cannot support the current practice of ICE or the inhumane standards that have shaped their agency. The fact is they are shamelessly murdering innocent people and terrorizing communities, and Nashville will not ignore or welcome that reality. I want to speak directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You want a call center in Donaldson, then your infrastructure must change from the ground up on a national scale. If you intend to monitor and disrupt the lives of people seeking a better future, then this community deserves equal transparency. Maybe it's time to put up a 24-7 livestream on future operations. Let the public see what you do and how you do it, the same way our government monitors us via flock camera on our way to work or to buy groceries. Until meaningful reforms ensure humane treatment and ethical deportation practices, Nashville will continue to halt the efforts that you so want so badly. Our city protects its people, all of them, and we expect the same from anyone who chooses to operate here. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Next is Lynn McFarland.

Go ahead, you're recognized.

My name is Lynn McFarland. On the Trail of Tears, one branch of which runs right through Nashville, thousands of Native Americans died. The so-called call center is a trail of tears on steroids, dehumanizing cruelty with efficient execution. But Nashville was also the home of the Nashville student movement, a nonviolent movement that desegregated downtown lunch counters back in the day, a model for standing up for justice with love. for which Nashville is still celebrated. Dr. King said, we humans are a mixture of good and evil, but we can choose. Reverend Lawson said that we can align ourselves with what he called the life force or soul force. We see that each of us has a spark of divinity. We are beloved. When we choose the forces of spiritual wickedness, Reverend Lawson's term for violence, racism, sexism, and the greed that is plantation capitalism, we choose the paths that only destroy, that do not build. One major form of nonviolent action is non-cooperation. Do not cooperate with dehumanizing cruelty. You can choose.

Thank you. Next is Kimberly Molnar, who'll be followed by Luis Mata and then Jessica Marquez Munoz. After that will be Lisa Haller. Go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you for your time. My name is Kim Molnar and I am here to voice my strong opposition to the proposed ice call center in Davidson County. As a 45 year resident of Davidson County, I feel qualified to speak about who we are as a citizenry. I love this county and I love our people. This call center would enable the often unconstitutional actions of ICE, not only in Davidson County, but in Tennessee, but also across the country. I know our majority does not support that. I have watched Wilson County successfully repel an ICE detention center. I have watched Robertson County successfully repelled this call center. I am confident Davidson County can now do the same. We do not want to enable or support ICE on a national level. We have seen Sister Letty Ubagoa detained in McAllen, Texas while walking to mass. Davidson County does not want to enable that. We have seen Liam Ramos in Minnesota and Leon Tatos in Texas, both five years old, detained by ICE. Davidson County does not want to enable that. We have seen the murder of peaceful protesters, American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretty in Minnesota. Davidson County does not want to enable that. This call center is not a benefit to Davidson County in any way, nor a benefit to Tennessee. I venture to say not a benefit to our country. I ask you all to loudly oppose it. And I thank you for your time.

Thank you. Next is Luis Mata. Go ahead, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Vice Mayor and Council. My name is Luis Mata, proud resident of ZIP Code 37203, Council District 17. I'm the Deputy Executive Director of the Tennessee Democratic Party. And firstly, I can't think of a better way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month than with the power of the people coming together and standing united. As we say in Spanish, . I grew up in this state undocumented. I know firsthand what it means when the power of the government is hanging over your family. I know firsthand what it means when immigration enforcement is something your family has to talk about at the dinner table. Now ICE and DHS are trying to take our land and build a national call center facility to expedite their cruel and costly mass deportation agenda across the nation. So thank you to the members of this council who have stood and will stand boldly against this effort. And importantly, thank you to our neighbors from Adams, where they tried this first, to our neighbors in Donaldson and across the state who have organized and refused to let this happen without a fight. They are building the infrastructure to surveil our neighbors, to share information about our neighbors, and ultimately to remove our neighbors from their families and their communities. Someone's father or mother doesn't come home. A child loses a parent. Your favorite small business closes down. That is what all of this infrastructure eventually touches. And now Trump and his weak Republican lapdogs want all of us to make it easier. Their greed, their corruption, and their unchecked power knows no bounds. And this is a moment to say clearly and without hesitation that we will not provide the infrastructure for family separation. We will not look the other way while they come into our communities and ask us to do their dirty work. We will keep fighting for our communities where all of our neighbors who choose to call Nashville and Tennessee home can live here, belong here, and thrive. It's on all of us to stand up, fight back, and make clear, not here, not in Nashville, not anywhere in Tennessee. Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, next is Jessica Marquez Munoz, also speaking on the ICE Call Center in opposition. Again, following Jessica will be Lisa Haller, and then Anastasia Tantaris regarding an agenda item, and then Mr. Zach Liff also regarding an agenda item. Jessica, you are recognized, go ahead.

Hello everybody, I live in District Council 19. With liberty and justice for all. These words have guided generations since 1892. I recited those long before I understood what they meant. I still recite them alongside my Liuna brothers and sisters in hope of that future. But does Nashville share this future? This National Ice Cruelty Center is not just a threat to undocumented people, it is the threat to the values of our city. Since Trump took office, 68 people have been reported dead in ICE custody. That's nearly a 400% increase over the deaths reported during Biden's four years. Every one of those deaths is a human life. Every report of sexual assault, abuse, medical neglect, or mistreatment shows the system that prioritizes punishment over justice, and why would Nashville want to be a part of this system? We're told to trust ICE, yet we have repeatedly seen their public narratives challenged, contradicted, and changed. When agency operates with no accountability and so much power, we have an obligation to demand answers, not hand over more resources and infrastructure. I remember waking up last year on Cinco de Mayo to news of raids in South Nashville. What should have been a weekend of celebration and laughter morphed into a weekend of terror and tears. The impact was felt through with the entire community, not just undocumented people. Entire neighborhoods changed overnight. Businesses emptied and closed, kids stayed home from schools, churches were no longer safe, and now we're being asked to bring a facility like this into our home. This building will become a symbol of fear and a threat to the wellbeing of our city and our state. It sends a clear message. You are not safe. This is not the Nashville I know. We deserve to live and work with dignity and safety. Nashville must live up to the promise of liberty and justice for all. Stand with us and say no to National Ice Cruelty Center in our home.

All right, next is Lisa Haller. She is speaking on agenda item 80. This is ordinance BL-2026-1521 regarding the Midtown Business Improvement District in support. Go ahead, Ms. Haller, you're recognized.

Thank you, good evening. My name is Lisa Haller and I live in Council Member Vose District 17. I'm here tonight in support of BL-2026-1521. The bill before you would approve the FY27 budget for the Midtown Business Improvement District. It is on third reading tonight. I serve as the inaugural chair of the NBIDS Board of Directors, and I am here on behalf of our board and the 543 property owners that we represent. This body approved the enabling legislation back on December 16th, 2025, now almost a year ago. And during these last nine months, we have worked side by side with Metro to shepherd the end bid through all of the required steps to get Nashville's newest bid up and running. Tonight, we want to acknowledge and thank our Metro partners who have made all of this possible. The Mayor's Office and Administration, Metro Finance, Metro Legal, Metro Assessor and Trustees Office, the Metro Clerk, Metro Planning, Midtown Hills Precinct, the Vice Mayor and Council Office, the Rules and Confirmations Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, and the lead sponsors for this ordinance, Council Member Kupan and Evans, and the entire council as a whole. To each and every one of you, we say thank you. We are grateful for your support. As we ask council to approve our budget, we assure you that we take our responsibility seriously and commit to delivering the services in the public realm that we set out to provide. Upon council's confirmation of our board in May, we held our first board meeting in June and continue to meet virtually. Tonight, We ask you to bring the end bit across the finish line. We are ready to get to work. Thank you all very much.

Thank you. Next, regarding agenda items, in order of sign up, Anastasia Tantaris. Anastasia, are you still with us regarding agenda item four, resolution 20262264? I'm gonna wait and see if this is Anastasia. Moving across, it is not. Okay, next in sign up order regarding an agenda item, Zachary Benjamin-Liffe regarding agenda item 46, right turn on red. Mr. Liffe, go ahead, you're recognized.

Thank you for hearing me. Thank you all for being here and for your service. I know it's a lot for you guys to be council people, so appreciate that. Simply, we don't feel like, I own the property at 209 10th Avenue South and 901 10th Avenue South and happen to own about 16 acres in downtown Nashville around that property. And there hasn't really been the engagement, I believe, and I believe some of my neighbors believe, and some of our clients and customers, to really take a sweeping, to have a sweeping bill like this that treats all of these locations in sort of one way. And I know I have not been contacted by Metro about it at all, not NDOT or anyone at Metro. And I'm just urging deferral, so a long enough time to have a real engagement. We're working with our council person, Coopin, to try to arrange that with NDOT and engage and just try to understand why at each intersection this particular solution makes sense, given the local businesses that need intersections to work in particular ways. It's a pretty local solution. I know all you district council people understand how important just a single intersection can be to a business, a set of homes, a stop sign. I mean, you guys get those calls all the time. And it's no different downtown. I think we understand downtown that there are many big decisions for Nashville that impact downtown that have to be made on a community-wide basis. But I do also, I would encourage Council Member Kupin, if there was a bill singling out your constituents and they were coming to you asking to put a deferral so they could really talk about and understand how it would impact them, that he would give you that respect and I hope you'll give him the same.

Thank you. Thank you. Just one more time, last call for Anastasia Tantaris regarding agenda item four. Okay, in that case, we will go back then in signup order to a non-agenda item. And next is Johanna Sesito regarding the ICE call center. Is Johanna Sesito here?

Hi.

Go ahead.

My name is Johanna. I'm here out of District 6, and I just want to call more attention to the potential National Call Center for ICE, not only because of its cruelty and inhumane dispatch targeting our neighbors, but because of the way it is trying to operate in the shadows. We have two entities who are both located out of state who want to bring their... potentially very impactful and harmful operations to our neighborhoods. That's Ray Founds, who is the owner of the building. I would love to see council probe him and find out what are the terms of his agreement and lease. And secondly, the Coneyag corporation, which has operated out of Alaska, they have the federal contract. to facilitate this call center. They currently are hiring for the call center under a very vague job description and posting. We would like to know who are they recruiting, what are they specifically hiring for, and what kinds of infrastructure and surveillance are going to be included in these leases and in these infrastructure agreements that are going to target our Donaldson neighbors as well as neighbors throughout Nashville. I think we have a choice here of how much information we can gather and whether or not we're able to prevent or stop this, we can make it highly limited and unappealing for these out-of-state operatives to come in and ruin our community's strength. So thank you for your time.

Thank you. That concludes our public comment period. All right, next on our agenda is Section J regarding Rules of Procedure, J1. This is a proposed amendment to the Rules of Procedure, Rule 21. regarding legislation concerning appropriation of funds sponsored by Council Member Spain. Council Member, by rule, all proposed rules or procedure changes have a mandatory deferral. That is Rule 53.2, Council Members, and thus this will be deferred to the first meeting in October, October 6th. And so that has been deferred. I wanna express our appreciation to everyone who came out for public comment. Thank you for departing quietly, we appreciate you. Next is section K of our agenda, a resolution on public hearing. Spanish interpretation services are provided for all Metro Council public hearings. Council Office team member Karina Valdez is here as the interpreter. Ms. Valdez, will you please share how you can help? We appreciate you. For those wishing to speak this evening on our one resolution on public hearing, 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 instead to tell us in what neighborhood area you live, your council member, your connection to the agenda item. Public hearing is not time limited. All persons who wish to speak on an agenda item on public hearing will be heard. All right. With that, agenda item one is resolution 2026-2291, sponsor Capp. This is a resolution exempting Bill's Sandwich Palace located at 311 North 16th Street from the minimum distance requirements for obtaining a beer permit. Council member Capp, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Request to open the public hearing, please.

Okay. I declare the public hearing open for Council Member Capp's Resolution 2291 regarding Bill's Sandwich Palace. Would all members of the public here in support of this resolution please raise your hand? Okay. Would all members of the public here in opposition to this resolution please raise your hand? Okay, the gentleman in the way back, you are not in opposition, is that correct, sir? You were waving goodbye to someone? Yeah, I'm gonna chalk that as a bye-bye wave. Black polo shirt friend, you are not in opposition to this, is that correct? You were waving goodbye, all right. We like everybody being friendly, all good. So bye to you as well, sir. So seeing no one here in opposition, do the persons here in support seek to be recognized or speak? Mr. Capp, they are shaking their head no. Is that correct? Do y'all seek to speak? Okay. They are shaking their head no. And so with that, I will declare the public hearing closed. And it's back to you, Mr. Capp, first to request your committee reports, please, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Committee reports, please.

Government Operations Chair Eastlake, you're recognized, sir.

Yes. Government Operations took this up and voted for approval 8-4-0 against 0, not voting.

Okay. Eight in favor. Ooh. What's the next one? Zero against, zero not voting. Okay. Eight, zero, zero. Okay, yeah. Let's all please say in favor, please, new chairs, right? Not four, because four sounds like a number. Eight in favor, zero against, zero not voting. That's your committee report. Back to you, Chair Kapp, for a motion.

Move approval.

All right. Is there a second? Okay. Is there any discussion on this resolution? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? All right, you have adopted this resolution. And that concludes our public hearings. All right, next we are moving into section L of our agenda, 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 along with the resolution and ordinance number of the items on the consent agenda will be read by me. and can be seen on screens in the chamber and at home. Members of the council may remove any item from the consent agenda by request before the consent agenda vote is taken. All right. The first item proposed for consent is agenda item two, resolution 2026-2262. Agenda item three, resolution 2026-2263. Agenda item five, resolution 2026-2265. Agenda item six, resolution 2026-2266. Agenda item seven, resolution 2026-2267. Agenda item eight, resolution 2026-2268. Agenda item nine, resolution 2026-2269. Agenda item 10, resolution 2026-2270. Agenda item 11, resolution 2026-2271. Agenda item 12, resolution 2026-2272. Agenda item 13, resolution 2026-2273. Agenda item 14, resolution 2026-2274. Agenda item 15, resolution 2026-2275. Agenda item 16, resolution 2026-2276. Agenda item 17, resolution 2026-2277. Agenda item 18, resolution 2026-2278. Agenda item 19, resolution 2026-2279. Agenda item 20, resolution 2026-2280. Agenda item 21, resolution 2026-2281. Agenda item 22, resolution 2026-2282. Agenda item 23, resolution 2026-2283. Agenda item 24, resolution 2026-2284. Agenda item 25, resolution 2026-2285. Agenda item 26, resolution 2026-2286. Agenda item 28, resolution 2026-2288. Agenda item 29, resolution 2026-2289. Agenda item 30, resolution 2026-2290. Moving on to items on second reading proposed for the Consolidated Consent Agenda. First among those is agenda item 47, ordinance BL 2026-1511. Agenda item 49, ordinance BL 2026-1533. Agenda item 50, ordinance BL 2026-1536. Agenda item 51, ordinance BL 2026-1537. Agenda item 52, ordinance BL 2026-1538. Agenda item 53, ordinance BL 2026-1539. Agenda item 54, ordinance BL 2026-1540. Agenda item 55, ordinance BL 2026-1541. Agenda item 56, ordinance BL 2026-1542. Agenda item 57, ordinance BL-2026-1543. Agenda item 58, ordinance BL-2026-1544. Agenda item 59, ordinance BL-2026-1545. Now for items on third reading proposed for the Consolidated Consent Agenda. Agenda item 61, ordinance BL2026-1422. Agenda item 62, ordinance BL2026-1425. Agenda item 63, ordinance BL2026-1426. Agenda item 64, ordinance BL 2026-1452. Agenda item 65, ordinance BL 2026-1467. Agenda item 66, ordinance BL 2026-1504. Agenda item 67, ordinance BL 2026-1505. Agenda item 68, ordinance BL 2026-1506. Agenda item 69, ordinance BL 2026-1507. Agenda item 70, ordinance BL 2026-1508. Agenda item 71, ordinance BL 2026-1509. Agenda item 72 ordinance BL 2026-1510. All right, next is agenda item 74, ordinance BL2026-1513. Agenda item 75, ordinance BL2026-1515. Agenda item 77, ordinance BL2026-1517. Agenda item 78, Okay, ordinance BL2026-1518. Agenda item 79, ordinance BL2026-1519. Agenda item 81, ordinance BL2026-1522. Agenda item 82, ordinance BL2026-1523. Agenda item 83, ordinance BL 2026-1524. Agenda item 84, ordinance BL 2026-1525. Agenda item 85, ordinance BL 2026-1527. Agenda item 86, ordinance BL 2026-1528. Agenda item 87, ordinance BL 2026-1529. Agenda item 88, ordinance BL 2026-1530. Agenda item 89, ordinance BL 2026-1531. Agenda item 90, ordinance BL 2026-1532. Agenda item 91, ordinance BL 2026-1534. Agenda item 92, ordinance BL 2026-1535. That concludes all the items proposed for the Consolidated Consent Agenda. Do any items need to be removed from the Consent Agenda? If so, if members would please join the queue to request that. Council Member Evan Siegel, Madam Chair, you are recognized. Item 78, BL 2026, 1518. Okay, agenda item 78, that is ordinance 1518, has been removed from consent. Council Member Stiles, you are recognized, ma'am.

Thank you very much. I'm going to be voting for this, but I wanted to say...

We're removing items from- Number 50. Okay, agenda item 50. We're just moving items from the consent agenda at this juncture. Agenda item 50 is ordinance 1536, sponsor Spain, that has been removed from consent. Okay, next in the queue is Council Member Coopin. You're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. Just wanna make sure I believe it is, but number 46 is off consent.

That is correct, it is off consent. Council Member Parker in Ms. Porterfield's seat. I was like, wait, hey, you got back from that airport very fast. Go ahead, sir.

Please remove 68.

Okay, agenda item 68. which is ordinance 1506. Sponsor Hancock has been removed from consent along with its materials companion bill. Agenda item 69 is these travel together, that is 1507. Both items as they are companions to each other have been removed from consent. Ms. Kimbrough, council member, you're recognized, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I was in the hallway. Did you call the number 49? I can go back and check.

49 is on consent. Remove, please. Okay. Agenda item 49 is ordinance 1533, sponsor Horton and Evan Siegel. It has been removed from consent. Okay, are any members seeking to be recognized to remove anything else from consent? Okay, Mr. Clerk, are all committee reports in for the items remaining on the consent agenda?

Yes, all committee reports are in.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Okay, members, is there a motion for approval of the consent agenda? Okay, all in favor, please say aye. All right, council has passed all items on the consent agenda. And now we will go back through in agenda order for items that were not on consent. Okay, back to resolutions. And first among those is agenda item four. This is resolution 2026-2264, sponsors Spain and Prep T. This is a resolution accepting the terms of a cooperative purchasing master agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for public safety software for the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications. Council Member Spain, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. Committee reports, budget and finance recommended a one meeting deferral, nine in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay, and for the report of the Public Health and Safety Committee, Chair Prep T, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. The committee considered the resolution and voted for a one-meeting deferral, nine in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay, with those committee reports in, that is a deferral by Rule 8.1. That is a mandatory deferral. This will be taken up again at the meeting of October 6th. Next. is agenda item 27. This is resolution 2026-2287, sponsors Cash, Horton, Evans, Siegel and Hill. This is a resolution authorizing the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County to accept new fire hydrant assembly for property located at 2415 Vanderbilt Place, also known as the Vanderbilt University Stevenson Center, number six. All right, Council Member Cash, you're recognized, sir.

Move approval or committee report?

Yeah, for the report of the Planning and Zoning Committee, Chair Horton.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Planning and Zoning recommended approval, 10 in favor, zero against, one not voting.

Okay. And for the report of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chair Evan Siegel.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting. Okay.

It's back to you, Mr. Cash, for a motion.

Move approval.

All right. Is there any discussion? All right, seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no, any abstaining. Council Member Capp will be recorded as an abstention. All right. Next, we have a section in regarding a late resolution. Sponsor Chair Spain, this is a to be numbered resolution that approves a term extension and project scope change to a State Water Infrastructure Program grant and accepting additional funds from the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to the Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County acting by and through the Metro Department of Water and Sewerage Services to modernize and upgrade the Dry Creek Water Reclamation Facility. Council Member Spain, you are recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. I move to suspend the rules for the consideration of this resolution.

All right, I appreciate that. I'm gonna go first to Council Member Cash, or rather, no longer Mr. Cash, Council Member Sepulveda, because this was in fact referred to the Rules Committee Do you have a report on the nature of the late file? And Ms. Sepulveda, Madam Chair? Thank you, Vice Mayor. We had no problem with the late file nature. Okay. Having heard the report of the Rules Committee Chair, is there any objection to the suspension of the rules to consider this matter? Seeing none, the rules are suspended. Mr. Spain, I will proceed with your committee reports.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, all right. Well, you're first, sir. Go ahead for the report of budget and finance.

Budget and finance, recommended approval, seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay, and for the report of the Transportation Infrastructure Committee, Chair Evan Siegel.

The Transportation Infrastructure Committee voted seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay, so it's back to you, Mr. Spain, for a motion.

I will move approval with a brief comment.

All right, is there a second? Okay, go ahead, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. This resolution makes some changes to an existing State Water Infrastructure Program grant between the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Metro Water to modernize and upgrade the Dry Creek Water Reclamation Facility It's late filed because Metro Water just recently learned that we were eligible for some additional funding from TDEC under this program. And it has to be expanded by the end of the state fiscal year, which is September 30th. So that's why it's before us. I appreciate you letting us hear it late filed and appreciate your support.

All right. Is there any further discussion on this resolution? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? All right. You have adopted this resolution. All right, next section O of our agenda, bills on introduction and first reading. By rule, all items on first reading shall be voted on at the same time unless requested otherwise by the primary sponsor or by two other members. Do any items need to be removed from the collective vote on first consideration? All right, seeing none, is there a motion for approval of all items on first consideration? All right, it's properly seconded and without objection. You have approved all items on first reading. Okay, next, section P of our agenda, bills on second reading. First among those is agenda item 46, ordinance BL2026-1497. Sponsors Sepulveda, Welsh, Evan Segal, Benedict, Suara, Gadd, Ewing, Horton, Porterfield, Vaux, Parker, Bradford, and Harrell. This is an ordinance to amend chapter 12.12 of the Metro Code of Laws relative to right turns on red within the Urban Services District and reporting requirements regarding roadway safety. Council Member Sepulveda, you are recognized. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Committee reports. Okay. For the report of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chair Evan Siegel.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted on the substitute, seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting. On the late filed amendment, zero in favor, six against, two not voting. And on the bill as substituted, seven in favor, one against, zero not voting.

Okay, and for the report of the Traffic and Parking Commission, Commissioner Parker, you're recognized, sir.

Think about smear traffic and parking Commission considered the bill as filed recommended disapproval, I believe it was eight in favor of disapproval and zero against, but on the substitute we recommended approval five in favor and three against okay.

All right, thank you for that. And it's back to you, Ms. Sepulveda, for a motion on your bill. Thank you. I'd like to move for approval and then move my substitute. Okay, is there a second on the motion to approve? Okay, with that before us, I hear you saying a motion to substitute. Is there a second on that motion? Okay, go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you, vice mayor and colleagues. Uh, the substitute you have before you was something worked on with the mayor's office and, and dots. Um, It takes specific data, it has nine data points from these intersections that are being proposed before you, and they are 49 intersections. That doesn't mean there won't be more intersections that will be looked at by NDOT, but it gives them a year to study from these nine points. Again, and these nine points are pedestrian crashes and signalized intersections, bicycle crashes, vehicle crashes, fatalities, and serious injuries, traffic operations, public complaints, and requests for expansion, a list of intersections where right turn on red have been permitted, recommendations regarding modifications, recommendations regarding expansion, and prohibition to additional areas in Nashville and Davidson County. So there are nine data points, right? This has been worked on since 2024 by, even before that, since 2024 from NDOT, these are recommendations that we have received and not implemented. The substitute, again, does have a year of study within those points to have expansion. in the areas that were conducted for Connect Downtown tier one and the school zones. So I know that there have been council members that wanted more in their area. So that is happening. If this is approved, again, this doesn't affect one district, this affects the entire county, right? And we have had so many pedestrian deaths in a few seconds, which is, quite literally a few seconds of people being late, I think is something that should not affect the possibility of saving a life, right? I am, however, going to move the substitute and then defer one meeting to give myself and Council Member Kupin the opportunity to have a community meeting since the majority of the data that has already been collected is more centered in his part of town. So with that, I would move for my substitute to be put on and then move to defer one meeting.

Okay, those have to be two separate motions. Move my substitute. Okay. It has been moved and properly seconded the motion to substitute. You have heard a description of the substitute from the sponsor. We have folks in the queue. Is anyone in the queue specifically on the motion to substitute? Okay, Council Member Parker on the substitute, sir, go ahead.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. So we had really good discussion at the Traffic and Parking Commission about this legislation and the substitute. NDOT was supportive of the substitute. I want to make sure that that's noted. And also really critically, I think that a lot of folks felt like the legislation as filed was overly broad, potentially, that it was kind of taking a one-size-fits-all approach across the county. And I want to just... that we kind of sussed it out at the commission and there are 59 intersections that this legislation would call for making no right turn on red in the very near term. Those are intersections that have already been extensively studied through the Connect Downtown process. There are some that are well outside of the Connect Downtown scope. There's a couple on Main Street that I think are really, really critical where we have a lot of students crossing. And I've seen other folks point out individual intersections in their district that they believe are really important to address sooner rather than later. But we are talking about 59 intersections. I believe we have something in the realm of 750. I'm gonna get some numbers wrong here, but I'm hoping to be in the ballpark on all these. It's a very big number. It's a big number of intersections. And the other thing the legislation does is what I think a lot of people have asked for, which is to study and to look at an additional, I believe it's 297. Again, I could have the numbers wrong. It was yesterday that we went through all this. But another 300 or so intersections that will be studied. That does not mean that they are going to be recommended for no right on red. It means that NDOT will take the time to study those. And the legislation initially had asked them to accomplish that work in 90 days, which would be a tremendous undertaking to study that many intersections. So I appreciate that the substitute has sort of stretched that 90-day call out to nine months. One thing I was really concerned about within 90 days was we're going to be studying a lot of these intersections, if that's the case, while school's out. And a lot of these intersections that we're studying are centered around schools, And so if we're studying them when school traffic is not happening, we would not get an accurate picture of the traffic flows and the risks. So I really appreciate NDOT as well as the sponsor for working on a substitute that I think gets us into a really good place. And I also appreciate the sponsor's willingness to defer even the substitute, a meeting to allow folks additional time to study it. It was not an uncomplicated series of changes that the substitute enacts, so I would recommend that folks go back and watch that Traffic and Parking Commission if you didn't get a chance to watch it yet. And I just ask for folks' support on the substitute today, on the sponsor's deferral, and then in the future on this legislation. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Parker.

All right. We continue debate specifically on the motion to substitute. Is anyone in the queue seeking to be recognized on the substitute specifically? All right, seeing none, all in favor of the substitute, please say aye. Okay, any voting no? Okay, so two nos, Mr. Eastlake and Mr. Benton on the substitute, but the ayes have it. Ms. Oh, and I apologize, we've not yet called for abstentions. Any abstentions on the substitute? All right. So Ms. Sepulveda, at this juncture, you could make a motion to defer one meeting your bill as substituted at this juncture. Defer one meeting as substituted. Okay. Okay. Moved and properly seconded. Is there any discussion on the motion to defer one meeting? Okay, anyone seeking to be recognized on a motion to defer? Okay, Mr. Coopin, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you to the sponsor for being willing to defer. I just wanna let folks know that we have a community meeting on the 22nd at five o'clock and that we'll be attending and Councilman Spolvet has been kind enough to say that she'll attend as well. So appreciate that time to engage. Of course, pedestrian safety and bike safety is hugely important to me in the downtown district, but wanna make time to, you know, connect downtown's a couple years old at this point, so make sure we now that we've got a specific list of streets have time to look at it and engage with it and kind of assess these changes. I would wonder if the sponsor would be willing to also re-refer this back to the committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Ms. Sepulveda, are you willing to amend your motion?

Yes, amend my motion to re-referral back to committee.

Okay, a motion to defer one meeting with a re-referral to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Properly seconded. Go ahead, sir.

Thank you. I just appreciate all that work and look forward to engaging further.

All right. Any further discussion on the motion to defer one meeting with a re-referral to committee? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any voting no? Any abstaining? All right, this has been deferred one meeting. And it will be taken back up in committee on October, well, meeting's the sixth, but the meeting will be on the fifth, right? Transportation infrastructure. Yep, okay. but it's a five Tuesday month, so it's a ways off, okay. All right, agenda item 48, ordinance BL2026-1514, sponsors Stiles and Webb. This is an ordinance amending title three of the Metro Code of Laws to require departments, boards, and commissions of the Metro government to conduct annual employee surveys. Council member Stiles, you are recognized, ma'am.

Thank you very much. Committee reports?

For the report of the Government Operations and Regulations Committee, Chair Eastlake, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. We voted for a one-meeting deferral, four in favor, three against, one not voting.

Okay, four in favor, three against, and I'm sorry, how many not voting?

One.

One not voting for a one meeting deferral. With that, that is a mandatory deferral by rule 8.1 without debate or discussion. Okay, all righty. Next is agenda item 49, ordinance BL2026-1533, sponsors Horton and Evan Siegel. This is an ordinance authorizing the Metro government of Nashville and Davidson County to accept new public water and sanitary sewer mains, fire hydrant assembly, sanitary sewer manholes, and easements for property located at 3622 White's Creek Pike, also known as White's Creek Estates. Council member Horton, you're recognized, sir.

Move for approval, please.

Okay. There is a motion to approve. I guess, has this, it's approved. Okay, it's got its committee report already and planning and zoning report already. Okay, this bill is before us. And Ms. Kimbrough, you are recognized for discussion. Thank you, Vice Mayor.

This project is in my district and I'm moving for a two-meeting deferral.

Okay, there is a motion to defer two meetings. It's properly seconded. Anything you want to say regarding the deferral at this time? Not necessary, but you still have the floor if you would like.

I'm just still looking into this. This is a new project and they don't have their site plans yet and this was kind of premature.

So two meeting defer. Okay, is there any discussion on the motion to defer two meetings? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? Okay, this will be deferred to the second meeting in October. Okay, next is agenda item 50, ordinance BL2026-1536. Sponsor Spain, Coop and Toombs, Gadd, Ellis and Suara. This is an ordinance to amend chapter 2.212 of the Metro Code of Laws relative to small business incentive grant programs. Council Member Spain, Mr. Chair, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. Committee reports, budget and finance, recommended approval, seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting, and I will move approval. All right, is there a second?

Okay, there is a motion to approve. It's properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Council Member Stiles, you're recognized, ma'am.

Thank you very much. I'm going to vote for this, but I'm concerned about performative acts, because if we were really serious and genuine about wanting to help small businesses, I think we would have put more than $300,000 in an account. And I think these businesses are going to need more than a couple dollars to function. I hope that if this program is going to exist when we get to next year's budget, we are going to give a substantive amount that's actually going to alleviate the stress. as we continue to hear complaints from business owners post the property tax. And I think this is, $300,000 is really tone deaf and unfortunate. Thank you.

All right, is there any further discussion? Let's bill on second reading. All right, seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no, any abstaining? All right, this has passed its second of three readings. All right, we're into our third reading item, section Q of our agenda. Agenda item 60, ordinance BL2026-1389, sponsor Stiles. This is an ordinance to amend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws is owning ordinance the Metro government by changing from SP to AR2A zoning for properties located at 532 and 538 Bell Road, approximately 570 feet south of Murfreesboro Pike and located in the Murfreesboro Pike Urban Design Overlay District and Corridor Design Overlay District. This is 5.25 acres. Council Member Stiles, you are recognized, ma'am. Thank you. Committee reports. for the report of the Planning and Zoning Committee. Chair Horton, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Planning and Zoning recommended indefinite deferral, six in favor, five against, zero not voting.

Okay, with that though, colleagues, that does not meet, that is a recommendation, but it does not meet the automatic threshold, which would have required a two-thirds vote in committee, okay? So the committee recommended indefinite deferral six to five, but that is not binding, okay? And as well, the Planning Commission has disapproved this bill. Ms. Stiles, go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you very much. I am going to defer this until the first meeting in November. Had a conversation with the owner of this property. Would you like to make that motion? Yes. Okay. All right, go ahead, ma'am. I did have another conversation with this owner and we came to an agreement on what's gonna happen before November. So we'll see what happens.

All right.

I'll be coming back to withdraw it.

Okay. There is a motion to defer to the first meeting in November. Just make a note due to the election day that will be shifted to November 5th. Okay. The Tuesday meeting will move to Thursday. Committees will move to Wednesday. So, okay. You've heard a description for, or a reasoning for that deferral motion, which is properly seconded. Is anyone seeking to be recognized specifically on the deferral motion? Chair Horton, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I think it's useful to provide some context around this. The planning staff is not here. This was unanimously disapproved at the Planning Commission. This is a down zone of a property against the wishes of the property owner. It's also against land use policy. The current zoning with the SP is in alignment with the land use policy governing this parcel. The rezoning back to ARTUA would bring it out of alignment with land use policy. The property owner has showed up at multiple public hearings and committee and then the planning commission do express their desire not to have their rights taken away from them with respect to their property. I question whether deferral and dragging this out in creating further and dragging out the uncertainty for the property owner is APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME BUT WOULD WELCOME ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER'S THOUGHTS AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. MS. STYLES, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING FURTHER ON THE DEFERRAL SPECIFICALLY? YES.

SO THE REASON FOR THE DEFERRALS IS THE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION SPOKE WITH THE LANDOWNER THIS EVENING. I EXPRESSED, ONE, I DID THE REZONE. THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY IN MY DISTRICT THAT WAS DONE BY A PREVIOUS COUNCILMEMBER AND I AM PROPOSING DOWNZONING IT. I SHARED THIS IN COMMITTEE. This has been something that passed three years ago. There had been no communication from this landowner. The property is in disarray, codes has been out. And so my desire to down zone it, given that nothing had happened, there hadn't been any communication, And that is unusual in my district. We did have a good conversation this evening and he was amenable to it. I told him that I would defer this until November. And so we are going to sit down and we're going to talk and I'm going to go see some of the things that he has built. So we have a step forward.

All righty. On the motion to defer council member Parker.

Yes, thank you, Vice Mayor. I have a little bit of consternation about continuing to kick the can on this just based on some of the discussion that we had in committee the other day. I can't, as a fellow district council member across the county, I can't know exactly what the conversations are that are happening, but there was mention of the sponsor trying to, convinced the property owner to take a certain direction. There was also more easily addressable concerns like property standards that were brought up. And I just, I don't want to leave this lingering if it is in a direction of, trying to leverage a property owner to do something or other with their property. So I don't know that I can support a deferral today. I don't know, I haven't felt comfortable with this, everything that I've heard about it in committee and from the property owner who showed up again at multiple meetings to oppose this down zoning. So I don't think I can support the deferral today. I think I'd rather let's vote on this cleanly today.

All right, is there any further discussion specifically on the motion to defer to the first meeting in November? Ms. Gamble, on the deferral, go ahead, ma'am.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I am rising in support of the deferral. I commend the sponsor for asking for the deferral. I was against the rezoning from the SP. I've looked at the SP. The plan is magnificent. It is a mixed-use plan with townhomes, with commercial retail. I know that the council member took a lot of time with her community and with the developer in getting that plan approved. I was not in support of the rezoning to the AR-2A, which could allow land uses that are not as magnificent like a landfill or a campground or a mobile home park. And not that I'm against any of those things, but I think the intention from the council member and the community is to have a nice development that really serves the needs of the community. So I'm very hopeful and grateful that the council member has worked out to where she's wanting to defer this to November at least to allow more time. It takes time to make these, especially mixed use developments that are as comprehensive as the one that I saw in this plan. And so I'm supporting the defer. I'm not sure. that in committee we talked about an indefinite deferral, I'm not sure what the difference is, or maybe the indefinite would have been more time, but a deferral in general is a deferral, and I think supporting this deferral that has been initiated by the council member who is doing the work in her district should be supported, and for that reason I'll be supporting it, thank you.

All right, Mr. Isik on the deferral, go ahead, sir.

Thank you. I support this deferral. I've got areas in my district where the community wants something to happen and the council members are on the hook, whether it's what the community wants versus what the property owner wants. Sometimes it takes a little time to figure those out. I also have some areas in my district that aren't keeping themselves up in the codes standards area as well. And so I support giving time so that Council Member Stiles can speak with the owner and maybe they come up with something that works for the community. And whether it's AR2A or an SP, whatever is best for the community, whatever Joy, Council Member Stiles, and the property owner can work out is probably going to be the best thing for the community. And I would support us giving them time since they are now communicating with one another to make that happen.

All right. Ms. Stiles, we can just move to the vote. Ma'am, if you'd like. Okay, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, and thank you very much to my colleagues that spoke in support of the deferral. I think if anyone that has concerns about it wants to come to a community meeting, because I'm going to have him come to next week's community meeting, and you can hear from him and hear how things are going, I welcome you to come to the Southeast Community Center next Wednesday at six o'clock. But again, I... have monthly meetings, I make sure the community's engaged and involved, and if someone asks for a rezone and does not do the work, then I am not giving my community what they have asked for. So we are communicating now. I would ask for your support in this deferral. We, again, had a positive conversation yesterday. I was very adamantly set on wanting to downzone this. So I think this deferral is going to yield good results, and I think we need to let that happen, particularly because if you haven't been to a meeting and haven't talked about it, then I don't usually have people that come out and complain.

All right, thank you. We have spoken quite a lot on a deferral, but Chair Horton, I will recognize you again, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I appreciate the sponsor's words. I would be encouraged to learn about the outcome of these additional community meetings. I think try to save the council's time. I wonder if the sponsor may be willing to allow those conversations once those have happened to happen in committee, if she's willing to re-refer this to committee as part of her motion.

All right, so I'm gonna restate your motion. It is a motion to defer to the first meeting in November, that consideration with a re-referral to committee being the Planning and Zoning Committee. Is that amenable? I'm fine with that. Okay, is there a second to that motion? All right, I appreciate that. Okay, any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of this deferral motion, please say aye. Any voting no, any abstaining? All right, this is deferred to the meeting of November 5th. Committee consideration would then be on November 4th. Okay, moving on into third reading. Next is agenda item 68, This is Ordinance BL-2026-1506. Sponsor Hancock. This is an ordinance to amend Title 17, the Metro Code of Laws, the zoning ordinance of the Metro government, by changing from RS-5 and CS to SP zoning from property located at 610 Old Hickory Boulevard, located 110 feet west of Lombardia Lane. This is 14.03 acres to permit 33 single-family lots. 18-2 family lots and commercial uses. It also has a companion bill, which is 1507, agenda item 69, which requires certain materials to be restricted in the construction of buildings. Ms. Hancock is not present. Ms. Webb, have you signed on to these? Okay, would you please make a consolidated motion, ma'am, for approval of these two companion ordinances to get them before us? Yes, ma'am, I move to approve Bill 2026, 1506, and 1507. Okay, is there a second to that motion? All right, we're on to discussion. Is anyone seeking to be recognized? Oh, thank you, I appreciate that. Ms. Webb, we needed to get those committee reports. Chair Horton, go ahead, Sarah.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. P&Z recommended approval of both bills, 11 in favor, zero against, Sarah not voting.

Okay, noted. Okay, we are on to discussion. Is there anyone seeking to be recognized? Okay, seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no. Any abstaining? Okay, Council Member Parker will be recorded as an abstention. Okay. All right, next. Agenda item 73, Ordinance BL2026-1512, 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 RS7.5 to RM20ANS zoning for properties located at Lofton Avenue, unnumbered, approximately 351 feet west of Gallatin Pike. This is 1.03 acres. Council Member Benedict, you are recognized, ma'am. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Committee reports, please. For the report of the Planning and Zoning Committee, Chair Horton, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Planning and Zoning recommend approval. 11 in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

Okay. Back to you for a motion. First, to get the bill before us, Ms. Benedict, go ahead. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Move approval. Is there a second? All right. You have the floor. Thank you.

Move to suspend the rules. And... The purpose is...

Right, okay. I move to suspend the rules. Do you want me to say the purpose? You are welcome to go ahead and just share what that purpose is for, please. Sure.

So there was a change to this. This is 351 feet east of Gallatin Pike, and so that was a change that... the council office got, I'm sorry, I'm moving us. Well, yeah, I'm suspending the rules to move a substitute that makes that change. To address a typographical area. That's correct. And so the council office just got that to us. And so I'll ask a committee report from the rules committee, please. Okay.

Chair Sepulveda, you are recognized, ma'am. Yeah, no problem. Okay. Having heard the report of the committee, the chair said, and an explanation of the late filed nature of this housekeeping substitute. Is there any objection to the suspension of the rules? Seeing none, the rules are suspended.

You may offer your substitute. Move approval of the substitute, please.

Okay, is there a second? All right, any discussion on the substitute? Seeing none, all in favor of the substitute, please say aye. Okay, Ms. Benedict, I presume you want to renew your motion for approval on third and final reading as substituted. So moved. Okay, properly seconded. Any discussion on that? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no, any abstaining? All right, this ordinance has passed its third and final reading as substituted. Next is agenda item 76, ordinance BL2026-1516, sponsors Allen, Ellis, Webb, Toombs, and Suara. This is an ordinance amending chapter 5.06 of the Metro Code of Laws relative to annual reporting for tax increment finance loans. Council member Allen, you are recognized, ma'am.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like to move approval, please. All right.

It's before us. Go ahead, ma'am. And then I would like to move an amendment with a brief explanation. Okay. I think I will have to suspend the rules to do that, though, because this is 30. So I'll have to suspend the rules.

All righty. So there will not be a committee report specific to this rules suspension. So if you could just briefly say, please, why you are requesting the rules to be suspended.

So this was a request made by MDHA to tweak the language slightly, and I mentioned to them that that would have been easier at second reading, so they did not make that request until this week. And I'm willing to honor their request. That's why I'm making an amendment on third reading.

That's why I need suspension of the rules. Having heard the explanation of the sponsor for the late filed nature of her proposed amendment, is there any objection to the suspension of the rules? Seeing none, the rules are suspended. You may offer your amendment.

So thank you. The amendment simply makes a change to the timing of the notification requirement. This is just asking MDHA to give council information if they choose to change that 75% that is currently the maximum that we set for TIFs to set aside.

Okay. There is a motion to amend. It's properly seconded. Is there any discussion on the amendment specifically? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? All right. And if you would please renew your motion. I would like to move the bill as amended, please. All right. All right. Is there any discussion on that? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? All right, council has passed this ordinance on its third and final reading as amended. Next is agenda item 78, ordinance BL2026-1518, sponsors Toombs, Evans, Siegel, Gadd, and Allen. This is an ordinance amending the Metro Code of Laws, Title 10, section 10.20.360, solid waste generator fees, Gentleman in the corner, there is some weird sound thing. Y'all sound like you are right in my ear, so bring it down, thank you. Solid waste generator fees, to clarify, fees due upon disposing out of county waste in Davidson County. Councilmember Evan Siegel, in the absence of Ms. Toombs, I will recognize you as second co-sponsor. Go ahead, ma'am. Move for approval. Okay. Are you sure that's the motion? Pardon? Okay, we'll get it before us. So there's motion to approve. Is there a second? Okay, and now it's back to you. Thank you. I'd like to move to defer one meeting with a brief comment. All right. There's a motion to defer one meeting. Is there a second? Okay, go ahead, ma'am.

There is a small amendment that needs to be made to this and the administration has asked that we defer it so that we can make that.

All right, is there any discussion on the motion to defer, as I recall, one meeting, is that right? Okay, any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? Okay, this has been deferred one meeting. to the first meeting in October. Next is agenda item 80, ordinance BL2026-1521. This is an ordinance approved, sponsors Coopin and Evans. This is an ordinance approving the fiscal year 2027 Midtown Central Business Improvement District budget. Mr. Coopin, you're recognized, sir.

Thank you, Madam President. Move approval, please.

Properly seconded. Go ahead, sir. Anything you want to say? All right. Is there any discussion on this motion to approve on third and final reading? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no? Okay. We have to go on the board then. Ms. Wiener? Okay, we'll have ITS come your way. Mr. Clerk, this is an ordinance on its third and final reading. So with any no vote, it must be on the board for roll call vote. Mr. Clerk, please load the vote. Ms. Hill, are you seeking to vote? Ms. Ewing, are you seeking to vote? Ms. Hill? No worries. With all votes in, Mr. Clerk, please show the vote. All right, council has passed this ordinance on its third and final reading with 32 votes in favor, one against and one abstention. That concludes this evening's agenda. I will highlight to you as you depart the historic courthouse and city hall this evening, you all may notice that is illuminated in yellow and blue. This is in celebration of the newly named Nashville Vibe Women's Professional Basketball Team. Congratulations to Nashville's newest team. Our next council meeting will be Tuesday, October the 6th. We are adjourned.

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