Metropolitan Council - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

The Metropolitan Council approved the Capital Improvements Budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 on its third and final reading. The Council also passed on first reading a temporary moratorium on data center developments, following public comment expressing concerns about their environmental impact and potential harm to the Nashville Zoo.

About this meeting

Government Body
Metropolitan Council
Meeting Type
Metropolitan Council
Location
Nashville, TN
Meeting Date
June 9, 2026

Transcript

49 sections

6:23 – 8:42Speaker 1

Thank you. Thank you. you . . Thank you.

16:59 – 21:11Speaker 5

2026 this is a special called meeting of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County Primarily to consider the capital improvements budget on its third and final reading Well all members of the council as well as the public please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance I will remain seated for now to delivers tonight tonight's invocation It is a poem I'm Miller Williams, entitled of History and Hope. We have memorized America, how it was born and who we have been and where. In ceremonies and silence, we say words, telling the stories, singing the old songs. We like the places they take us. Mostly we do. The great and all the anonymous dead are there. We know the sound of all the sounds we brought. The rich taste of it is on our tongues. But where are we going to be and why and who? The disenfranchised dead want to know. We mean to be the people we meant to be, to keep on going where we meant to go. But how do we fashion the future? Who can say how, except in the minds of those who will call it now? The children, the children. And how does our garden grow? with waving hands, oh rarely in a row, and flowering faces and brambles that we can no longer allow. Who were many people coming together cannot become one people falling apart. Who dreamed for every child an even chance cannot let luck alone turn doorknobs or not. Whose law was never so much of the hand as the head cannot let chaos make its way to the heart. Who have seen learning struggle from teacher to child cannot let ignorance spread itself like a rot. We know what we have done and what we have said and how we have grown, degree by slow degree, believing ourselves toward all we have tried to become, just and compassionate, equal, able, and free. All this in the hands of children, eyes already set on a land we never can visit. It isn't there yet, but looking through their eyes, we can see what our long gift to them may come to be. If we can truly remember, they will not forget. 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. Welcome council and community members on a very stormy evening. Happy Pride Month to everyone again. With the capital improvements budget required to pass the council no later than June 15th and our next regular council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th and focused on consideration of the operational budget, we'll move right into our agenda. Without objection, We will suspend the calling of the roll and ask the clerk to please record the names of the members present throughout the meeting. Is there a motion for approval of the minutes of the meeting of June 2nd, 2026? All right, there is a motion properly seconded. So without objection and seeing no one seeking to be recognized for a change to the minutes. All right, the minutes of the meeting of June 2nd are approved. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the mayor?

21:12Speaker 3

There are no messages from the mayor.

21:13 – 22:12Speaker 5

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All right, first on our section, our agenda rather is section E, 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 total at council meetings and each speaker is allowed up to two minutes to speak. We have four persons who have signed up for public comments this evening. Turn on the public podium mic. First is Zach Liette and Zach will be followed by Lauren Curry. Zach is speaking on agenda item F1, a late filed ordinance in support. Go ahead, sir, you're recognized.

22:13 – 24:10Speaker 11

Thank you. Most of the backlash in response to the zoo data center has, for obvious reasons, been focused on ecology. But what if we pretend for a second that the developers aren't lying to our faces and that they really can make it safe? I expect that most of us would remain staunchly opposed. I think the more fundamental problem we have with AI is that we're all too familiar with the type of people who are pushing it on us. These are the same type of people who gambled away our economy in 2008, the same type drowning us in medical debt, the same type of people who started an opioid crisis on purpose. In short, the type of people who will happily ruin millions of ordinary lives to make money. If we had any reason to believe that those in power cared about what happens to us, then maybe we'd be able to embrace AI as a tool with the potential for some good. But as it stands, we have no choice but to see it as a weapon. And right now, a handful of billionaires are holding that weapon to the heads of everybody in this country who works to make a living. What are we supposed to do once they've destroyed the market for our labor, the only thing we have left to sell? They don't care about us. Fine. But if they can get away with not even needing us, then they will watch as we starve in the streets. This council should realize the anger isn't just about the fact that our zoo is obviously the wrong place for a data center. It's about a war being waged by the obscenely rich on all the rest of us. And frankly, until you stop it, you're on their side. Thank you.

24:12 – 24:26Speaker 5

Thank you. Next is Lauren Curry. Lauren will be followed by Heather Schwartz. Lauren Curry is also speaking on agenda item F1, a late filed ordinance in support. Go ahead.

24:27 – 26:27Speaker 8

Members of council, thank you for your service to Nashville and for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Lauren Curry. I serve on the board of the Nashville Zoo. I'm an attorney at Sherrard Row and a former Metro Nashville police officer. Tonight, I'm asking for one thing. Please support the Johnston Bradford Temporary Data Center moratorium. This is not a vote to permanently ban data centers. It's not a final vote on this ordinance. It's simply a vote to allow the legislative process to begin on an issue that deserves careful review. As a lawyer, I believe in process. As a former police officer, I understand the importance of acting before a problem becomes irreversible. This council will have the opportunity to fully consider, should have the opportunity to fully consider this issue before any project becomes vested. The need for a temporary moratorium is straightforward. Metro zoning code does not currently define data centers as a distinct land use. Yet today's data centers are unlike traditional commercial facilities. They involve significant power demand, backup generators, cooling systems, lighting, noise, and round the clock operations. Those impacts deserve your careful consideration, particularly when a proposed data center seeks to locate immediately adjacent to one of Nashville's most important educational and conservation resources at the Nashville Zoo, as well as a Metro school. I also want to thank council member Roland Horton and others on this council for your leadership and bringing forward permanent zoning legislation for data centers. The zoo strongly supports that effort. This moratorium is simply a bridge that would allow this council to complete that work and consider that. It's narrow, it's temporary, and it expires when that permanent legislation takes place. If members have concerns, there will be opportunities to consider and amend that legislation. More than 350,000 people have signed a petition for this issue to be taken up. The public is paying attention. We're asking this council to please carefully consider this issue. Thank you.

26:28 – 26:42Speaker 5

Thank you. Next is Heather Schwartz, also speaking on agenda item F1, the late filed ordinance in support. Heather will be followed by Manon Hall. Go ahead, you're recognized.

26:43 – 28:44Speaker 2

Hi, everyone. Thank you for having me. I'm Dr. Heather Schwartz. I'm the head veterinarian for the Nashville Zoo. And I'm here tonight to ask you to support suspension of the rules so the Johnston and Bradford Temporary Data Center moratorium can be placed on first reading. As the health director and the animal... and the veterinarian for the zoo, it's really simple. Nothing good comes from placing a disruptive data center next to animals living in carefully managed habitats. This center will be placed right against our breeding and propagation centers for very fragile species like clouded leopards and future okapi and large birds like our hyacinth macaws. Our animals depend on consistency, stability and an environment designed around their health and welfare constant mechanical noise the vibration bright lights generators all of that running 24 7 is definitely going to be disruptive to their well-being and that is our number one focus at the zoo is a welfare and well-being of our animals i actually was just doing welfare assessments on our animals today to ensure that all are living happy and healthy lives. And I'm also the Clouded Leopard SSP Veterinary Advisor, meaning that's one of my main focuses as that species we hold more than anybody else in the United States. And their breeding center, literally you can look from their door and see this center. And that is how close it will be. So Metro has invested millions of dollars into this institution, including recent infrastructure investments that allow the zoo to grow and serve more families. So the zoo, is Nashville's preeminent family-friendly destination. I'm proud to be a part of it for over 16 years. It's about education and conservation for the entire community to learn about all that we do and about animals around the globe. So tonight we are not asking council to make a final decision on every detail of this moratorium, but please allow this bill to get onto first reading tonight. Let the process move forward, give council and the public the chance to protect the animals, the zoo, and the public investment Nashville has already made. Thank you.

28:46Speaker 5

Next and last is Manon Hall speaking on data centers generally in opposition. Go ahead, sir.

28:52 – 30:52Speaker 14

Hi, I'm going to go through some facts about them. Big tech corporations, investors in the government are working in partnership to manufacture an AI boom, resulting in the rapid expansion of data centers, the facilities that are needed to power artificial intelligence. As of March 2025, the US had over 5,400 data centers, while the rest of the world combined had 1,469. The propaganda of AI is a massive cover-up of the violence that AI is actually weaponized for. Racialized violence, genocide, surveilling and purging workers, automation of healthcare denials, and keeping people criminalized and locked up. Data centers' massive energy consumption can disrupt electricity flow to homes, increasing the risk of electrical fires, blackouts, and brownouts. Power outages threaten the safety of residents who cannot have access to air conditioning during heat waves, utilize medical devices, or risk carbon monoxide poisoning due to the improper use of generators. Everyday people regularly pay data center energy costs for the wealthiest companies in the world. From Georgia to Ohio, the industry has fought against concrete obligations to ensure its costs aren't passed along to rate payers. Meanwhile, energy costs have gone up for regular consumers directly attributed to data centers and associated energy infrastructure. An analysis of the electricity prices across the country found that monthly electricity costs have gone up as much as 267% over the last five years in locations near substantial data center activity. In Georgia, which in 2025 surpassed Northern Virginia to become the fastest growing data center market to an Amazon hyperscale data center, a typical resident customer is paying $43 more per month or 560 more per year on their electricity bill than they were two years ago. An investigation found that Business Insider found that more than 230 data center locations were in communities highly overburdened by environmental pollutants and regions already burdened by public health challenges stemming from environmental racism and gentrification.

30:55 – 31:44Speaker 5

All right, thank you. That concludes our public comment period. Next is agenda item F1. This is ordinance BL2026, unnumbered, sponsors Johnston and Bradford. This is an ordinance declaring a temporary moratorium upon the acceptance, processing, approval, and issuance of zoning, building, or grading permits for data center developments on property within Nashville and Davidson County. Sponsor Johnston, you are recognized. Committee reports or move to suspend the rules first? If you would move to suspend the rules first, then I'll go to the report of Chair Cash. Okay. I'd like to move to suspend the rules, please. All right. Chair Cash for the report of the rules confirmations committee. Please, sir.

31:44Speaker 1

We considered the late filed nature of the ordinance and voted five in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

31:52 – 32:13Speaker 5

All right, members, having heard the report of Chair Cash, is there any objection to the suspension of the rules to get this matter before us? Seeing none, the rules are suspended. And so it's back to you, Sponsor Johnson, for a motion to get the bill before us. Thank you, I'd like to move approval with a brief explanation, please.

32:13 – 33:45Speaker 7

Go ahead, ma'am. Thank you. So I appreciate my colleagues not objecting to the suspension of the rules. This moratorium is complementary to the bill that is currently in place, sponsored by Councilmember Horton. I think that everybody can agree that time is of the essence for both of these things. The moratorium is very straightforward. It is temporary. It's very narrow in scope. What is not necessarily is the policy, which is so important that we get it right. Text amendments are already very complicated to do and take a lot of time and effort on our planning staff. I know that we are planning to suspend the rules at the Planning Commission to change the two-meeting deferral, normally by rule, to a one-meeting deferral, which is further compressing this already sort of short timeline. I really want to make sure that we get this policy right, not just get it done. We may not need this moratorium. We may not, and that's fine. I would rather have it and not need it than the other way around. But in case we do come across some issues where planning staff needs more time, the commission votes a certain way, or maybe we find ourselves in disagreement about certain aspects of the policy because we all want to get it right, and we understand that timing is of the essence and we don't want to be rushed, the moratorium would be in place to pause any development until we can get it right. Again, it is short. It is 90 days or until the bill passes, whichever comes first. And I appreciate your support.

33:47Speaker 5

All right, we are on to discussion on this bill. First in the queue is Council Member Benedict, you're recognized.

33:56 – 35:18Speaker 16

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. I rise in support of this ordinance. I do appreciate all that we've heard from the public. We've seen a lot in our inboxes, online, of course, and as the public is disgusted by this as I am as well. and we have to do something about this, and I'm committed. I've actually co-sponsored Bill 1391, because this is important for us to get right. I was curious why this was late filed, but that's a non-issue at this point. I think at this point, I just wanna move forward with it. I think we had an opportunity to get this in before. Nevertheless, we do have... we must do something. And that's what we're hearing from the public is that something must be done. So I believe we'll continue to work with Metro departments to see what we can do relative to any permits that have been or could be issued. I want the public to understand that. And I also want the public to know that, for my colleagues I've spoken with here on the floor, and it looks like a lot of them are in the queue and will speak, that we are with the public on this. We want to make sure that any data centers that come into the city are highly regulated. With that, I stand in support, thank you.

35:19Speaker 5

Thank you. Next in the queue is Council Member Toombs. Madam Chair, you're recognized.

35:26 – 35:54Speaker 4

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. I just have a few questions that I think Director Wilson may be able to help me with. Can you, because I know most of the interest from the public is surrounding the proposed data center next to the zoo. And I know there's a lot of activity around that parcel of property. Director Wilson, can you speak to the vesting of rights in the property and where we are in that process?

35:56 – 36:35Speaker 3

special counsel wilson you're recognized uh council member i will i can speak generally about the process and how uh vesting works in this case or in any case typically if a building permit has been applied for the applicant vests in the process in this case. Essentially, they will have the ability to have a decision made about whether that permit is granted or denied by Metro. And then if that permit is granted, then they are vested in that regardless of a moratorium.

36:36 – 36:53Speaker 4

Okay. And in regard to the moratorium, If this goes on, if the moratorium legislation goes on first reading tonight, we don't have a moratorium in place, correct? Special Counsel?

36:55Speaker 3

Yes, Council Member, that's correct. There would be no moratorium in place until the bill was passed on third reading. Okay.

37:03 – 37:29Speaker 4

And then my final question, because I do want to point out that there are currently data centers in Nashville. We have over a dozen of them. So if this moratorium were to pass once it gets through the legislative process, or even the other legislation that we have that's pending that puts parameters around data centers, would there be any impact to existing data centers?

37:30Speaker 5

Special counsel?

37:32Speaker 3

No council member, any existing data centers would not be affected by pending legislation if they've already constructed data centers.

37:43 – 38:09Speaker 4

Thank you, Director Wilson, and thank you, Vice Mayor. I am in support of passage of the moratorium legislation, but I thought that it was important to get some of that information out because there's some misinformation floating out there in terms of the presence of data centers in Nashville and how this particular legislation impacts data centers coming into Nashville or existing in Nashville. So I just wanted to get some clarifying information out there, but I am in support. Thank you.

38:11Speaker 5

Appreciate that, thank you. Next in the queue is Council Member Porterfield. Madam Pro Tem, you're recognized.

38:18 – 41:22Speaker 10

Thank you, Vice Mayor. And I appreciate everyone's passion around this. I agree with Council Member Benedict in that we must do something and I'm thankful to say that we are doing something, we are in the process of doing something. I believe that we all or mostly agree that the data centers, as we are discussing, is something that's gonna be harmful to the community. Now, to Council Member Toombs' point, There are different types of data centers, different sizes of data centers, anything with a server can be considered a data center. So just for the record, not all data centers are harmful, but in most cases when we are having these conversations about data centers, we're talking about these mega data centers that are causing these environmental concerns. And I believe that the majority of this body believes that those types of data centers are harmful. What we don't agree on is the approach and how we can best address this issue. Now there are two, if this passes, there will be two pieces of legislation tracking at the same time, a temporary moratorium that will be in place until the permanent legislation is passed. As it is tracking now, both of those pieces of legislation would pass on the same evening. there's no reason to think that one of those pieces of legislation will be delayed. It is similar to if you are about to have dinner and you have a snack an hour before dinner, that makes sense, because you still have an hour to wait before dinner. But if the snack and the dinner are ready at the same time, there's absolutely no reason to have a snack at the same time as dinner. I also have concerns about the definition of a data center being too broad in this legislation. I feel that that can have negative impacts on existing data, that can have negative impacts because it is not a good definition or a more refined definition of a data center. And then most importantly, I'm concerned with the legal challenges. Some moratoriums have been subjected to legal challenges. There have been two recently, one in Hill County, Texas, where they recently rescinded their moratorium after a $100 million lawsuit was filed by the developer. There was another one that was recently challenged in Cave City, Kentucky. So my concern is that if we pass this temporary moratorium, we are leaving ourselves open and subjected to legal challenges when we can just pass the legislation that we already have on first reading. I think there's been a misconception, I'm glad Councilmember Toombs got this on the record, constituents have been led to believe that this moratorium will go into effect immediately and it doesn't it still takes three readings just like councilmember Horton's legislation which we have already passed on first reading which has more than 25 sponsors there's no reason to think that that legislation is not going to pass it can still be amended if there are changes that need to be made on it so I don't support the moratorium for the reasons listed I'm afraid that it's going to subject us to legal challenges again we all have the same concern here we just have a different in our approach.

41:23Speaker 5

All right, thank you. Next is Council Member Horton. Mr. Chair, you're recognized.

41:29 – 42:25Speaker 9

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I rise in support of many of the sentiments expressed by Council Member Porterfield earlier, and would like to expand on or emphasize one additional part. In the more permanent legislation that we have proposed, we define data center as well as distinguish between different types of data centers with prohibiting the large Hyperscale ones imposing strict rules and environmental protections on others while also recognizing smaller and more accessory uses like you might see in a library computer lab or a IT closet at a neighborhood business. I think unfortunately this moratorium makes no such distinguishment and lumps in the massive hyperscale data centers with the high school computer lab and bans all of them. I think if this legislation progresses, I think that's something that we can workshop and make sure that we're not throwing the baby out with the bathwater on this. If it progresses, hope that the sponsor would be willing to refine the definition of this to make sure that it's as narrow and targeted as possible or as needed.

42:27Speaker 5

All right, thank you. Next in the queue is Councilmember Coop and your recognizer.

42:31 – 43:55Speaker 12

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to my colleague sponsoring and all the folks that are speaking about this. We've heard resoundingly from Nashvillians that this is a major concern and problem that we need to address, and I appreciate my colleague's dinner analogy. I'm getting hungry now. Thanks for that. But kind of expanding on that analogy, I think it's a fair thing to look at. But as we know, sometimes you have to have a snack before dinner because you don't know if dinner is going to take a little longer than you think to cook. So I think that having the two bills tracked together is not necessarily a bad thing. It may mean that on third reading there's some adjustments that need to be made or a bill that does pass or doesn't pass. But I think having, I'm always a fan of having options versus not, and with something that we just cannot afford to get wrong, I'd rather have those tools in the toolbox and move forward than not. And I think that especially when you look at areas like the zoo and you look at these large scale data centers where we don't know all the environmental impacts, we don't know what this does one year, five years, 10 years down the line, having something to say, let's take a beat, let's think about it, let's make sure we're getting this right. No downside to that to me. And I appreciate that there's potential legal concerns or things like that. But again, these are first reading, of course. And so we'll have time and committees to deliberate further. So I stand in support of this moratorium of Councilman Horton's bill. I appreciate that the council has very quickly and robustly jumped into this complex issue and look forward to further discussion on the matter.

43:57Speaker 5

All right, thank you. Next in the queue is Council Member Cortez, your recognized sir.

44:02 – 46:46Speaker 13

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Why does it feel that nearly every community in America is being asked to accept a data center it never requested and often doesn't want? Nothing in modern American history has expanded this quickly with so little public enthusiasm and so little public input. When communities ask questions about the impact on their neighborhoods, their electric grid, their water supply, their quality of life, we see data center developers scoff and tell them that the decision has already been made. And their pitch is always the same, jobs, investment, economic growth. But the reality is often much different. thousands of square feet of industrial development, massive energy consumption, constant generator noise, heat pollution, increased strain on public infrastructure, and legitimate concerns about water use and environmental impacts, all in exchange for a handful of permanent jobs and profits that the community won't see. And somehow when communities ask for better healthcare, better schools, lower childcare costs and stronger infrastructure, we're told the progress takes time. But when some of the wealthiest individuals on earth need more computing power or need something moved forward, the public and private sectors suddenly find a way to move forward at lightning speed. Why can we mobilize extraordinary resources to serve companies with massive lobbying power, but struggle to do the same for working families? I'm not opposed to technology. I'm not opposed to innovation. I'm certainly not opposed to economic development. But the economic development should improve the lives of the people who already live in the community, not ask them to bear the cost while somebody else collects the profits. This industry is changing daily, and we have reports from across the country that data centers create measurable harm to property values to nearby homeowners. Why should that cost be borne by our neighbors, especially when the profits flow elsewhere? Working families should not be forced to subsidize billion dollar industries, the value of their homes and the character and livability of their community. We are seeing the importance of this legislation hit our community in real time. The proposal located next to the Nashville Zoo doesn't affect just a piece of land. It affects the environment around the zoo, the experience of families who visit the zoo, and the quality of life of residents who call that area home. Our community should not be asked to sacrifice their character and livability so a tech company can expand its footprint. This legislation is an insurance policy to Councilman Horton's fantastic and comprehensive zoning changes. It will create protections for our neighbors if we need an extra round of discussions to really hone in the nuance of the protections that our neighbors deserve. I ask my colleagues to support this piece of legislation on first reading and ask to your commitment to making it even stronger over the next two readings. Thank you.

46:47 – 46:58Speaker 5

Thank you. Council Member Johnson, you are next in the queue but already have been spoken. You have two other colleagues. Okay, we'll proceed next then with Council Member Gadd, you're recognized ma'am.

46:59 – 49:14Speaker 6

Thank you so much Madam Speaker and thank you to my colleagues who've already spoken and who have lifted this matter up for us to consider this evening. like others that expressed the incredible concerns that we have over these large scale data centers are real and what we all need is something more permanent with the framework and incredibly proud of my colleagues have already begun that work and look forward to continuing that and for our colleagues support on that. I think the concerning thing as we move forward with this particular late filed moratorium legislation, I will hope that we do address a few things that have already been expressed, which is the concerns of over how it is drafted as we move forward. Right now, it could likely apply to a new library working to get built due to how it's defined when we think about data center. So what I hope will happen is that we have further restrictive conversations and then also make sure we're positioning ourselves in the best way to protect our communities and our resources, which is looking at the landscape, whether it's this company or other companies, and how they have navigated this conversation in other communities. A lot of that has been through lawsuits that they've actually used legal challenges to prevent jurisdictions from having the rights that we want to continue to maintain and restrict. So as we move forward with this conversation, I know the sponsor will do this, make sure that we are being very thoughtful. So through maybe adjusted language, to make sure we're actually focusing and doing the things we need to do and making sure we're also getting our framework in place through some additional regulations. So we can meet all the needs that all of our community members are expressing. I think many of us are aligned in that. It's something that we don't want to see in our neighborhood. We're sympathetic. I know I am with the Nashville Zoo. It's something we don't want to see resources taken from that or any one of our communities that we live in. So look forward to that continued discussion and I appreciate my colleagues who have already spoken on this.

49:16 – 52:45Speaker 5

All right, seeing no one else in the queue seeking to be recognized, we will move to the vote on this matter that is on its first of three readings. Okay, that only requires a simple majority. So we will do that by voice. All in favor, please say. There is a request for a roll call vote that requires three seconds. Okay, all right. So with that, Mr. Clerk, if you would please Load the vote. So this is Ms. Johnston and Mr. Bradford's ordinance as of yet unnumbered on its first of three readings. There was a request for a roll call and it was properly seconded. So you will vote by tablet. With all votes in, Mr. Clerk, please show the vote. All right, this motion has passed. This bill has passed its first of three readings with 26 votes in favor, one against, and zero abstentions. For colleagues and the public, this bill will be assigned a bill number for its referral to the Planning Commission and then its subsequent time on our agenda, but that is still to be determined, okay? All right, now we're in Section G. We had a little bit of a duplication there. We had a double F on our sections of agenda, but we're gonna call this Section G, our Consolidated Consent Agenda. All third reading ordinances on this agenda are included on the consent agenda if recommended for approval unanimously by all committees to which the item was referred. Items on the consent agenda will be voted on at a single time. The item number along with the ordinance number of the items on the consent agenda will be read by me. This is a very short list today. Members of the council may remove any item from the consent agenda by request before the consent agenda vote is taken. All right. Proposed for the consent agenda is agenda item 2, ordinance BL 2026-1383. Agenda item three, ordinance BL 2026-1384. Agenda item four, ordinance BL 2026-1385. And then lastly, agenda item five, ordinance BL 2026-1390. Do any items need to be removed from the consent agenda? If so, members can please join the queue to request that. All right, I am seeing none. Mr. Clerk, are all committee reports in for items on the consent agenda?

52:46Speaker 3

Yeah, all committee reports are in.

52:47 – 53:49Speaker 5

All right, thank you, Mr. Clerk. Members, is there a motion for approval of the consent agenda? Okay, properly moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. Aye. Council has passed all items on the consent agenda. And now we'll go back to the sole item remaining on our agenda. This is agenda item one, ordinance BL2026-1380, sponsor Timms. This is an ordinance adopting the 2026 to 2027 through 2031 to 2032 Capital Improvements Budget for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County as the official Capital Improvements Budget of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for the fiscal year 2026-2027. Council Member Toombs, you are recognized, ma'am.

53:52Speaker 4

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. Committee report, Budget and Finance voted to recommend approval as amended, seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

54:00Speaker 5

All right, and for the report of the Planning and Zoning Committee, Chair Horton, you're recognized.

54:04Speaker 9

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Planning and Zoning voted in favor of the amendment by Council Member Capp, seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting, and voted in favor of the bill as amended, seven in favor, zero against, zero not voting.

54:13 – 54:32Speaker 5

All righty, with those committee reports in, it is back to you, Madam Chair, for a motion to get this before us. Move for approval. Okay, it's properly moved and seconded. And we are on to discussion. Ms. Benedict, you are first in the queue. Go ahead, ma'am.

54:33Speaker 16

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. I'd like to sign on to Council Member Capp's amendment and therefore I'd like to move it.

54:38 – 55:02Speaker 5

All right, you will be signed on. There is a motion to amend with the amendment offered by Council Member Capp. and Council Member Benedict. It is, I believe, a housekeeping type amendment. And so with that, Ms. Benedict, you are, anything else you want to say about this amendment?

55:02 – 55:16Speaker 16

It is indeed a housekeeping amendment. Thank you for that, Madam Vice Mayor. This is an item that's already in the CIB. This is just defining the properties around it. There was a mistake in there. And so this is correcting that mistake. All right. I renew my motion.

55:16 – 56:01Speaker 5

Okay. Is there any discussion on the motion to amend? Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? Ms. Toombs, would you please renew your motion to approve? Move for approval as amended. Thank you. All right. Colleagues, is there any discussion on the capital improvements budget on its third and final reading as amended? All right, seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Any voting no or abstaining? Okay, this has passed its third and final reading. This concludes this evening's agenda. Our next council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 16th. Is there a motion to adjourn? We are adjourned.

56:14 – 56:26Speaker 15

This has been a service of the Metro Nashville Network. If you would like to see this presentation again or for more information on this and other programs, visit nashville.gov.

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.