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2026-08-18 - Metropolitan Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (28 pages). No video is posted.

  • Regular session called to order at 6:30 PM; invocation by Council Member Weiner; 41 members present. Minutes of the August 4, 2026 meeting were approved.
  • Elected two members of the Auditorium Commission: Ron Deal Jr. (29 votes) and Rick Rodriguez (23) beat Iman Khoshnaw (17). See Auditorium Commission Election.
  • Adopted the Music City Center financing agreement (RS2026-2135) 31 to 6 after a motion for the previous question failed 24 to 13. See Music City Center Refinancing Agreement.
  • Passed the tourist accommodation tax bill (BL2026-1493) on second reading by voice vote, with Parker and Welsch voting no and Porterfield abstaining. See Tourist Accommodation Tax Allocation.
  • Passed the drone first-responder bill (BL2026-1498) on second reading as substituted and amended, with Hancock and Eslick voting no and Styles abstaining. See Drone First Responder Rules.
  • Passed on third reading the Cane Ridge Road subdivision rezoning 33-1-1, two Old Hickory Boulevard mixed-use rezonings 34-0-1, the Gallatin Pike area overlays 29-3-1 and 30-3-0, the McClurkan Avenue mixed-use plan 37-0-0 and the Anderson Lane multi-family plan 33-0-0.
  • Withdrew the public-meeting-recording bill (BL2026-1437); deferred the Journey Pass resolution (RS2026-2189); withdrew the Altec Industries purchasing resolution (RS2026-2208).
  • Consent agenda (RS2026-2183 to 2218 and a block of bills) approved 36-0-0.
  • Nominations closed for President Pro Tempore (Hill and Preptit) and for the Health and Educational Facilities Board; five Animal Care nominees withdrawn.
  • First reading of 23 new bills, including the Housing Trust Fund contract-term bill, penny rounding, the Midtown BID budget and the cumulative transportation-effects tool.

Elections, appointments and nominations

  • Auditorium Commission (26-134), two seats, terms to June 30, 2029: nominees Ron Deal Jr. (nominated by Huffman), Iman Khoshnaw (Suara) and Rick Rodriguez (Sepulveda). Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections recommended all three. Result: Deal 29, Rodriguez 23, Khoshnaw 17; Deal and Rodriguez elected. See Auditorium Commission Election.
  • Confirmations (each moved by Cash, unanimous): Kim Paige, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (26-135, term to March 12, 2028); Marcus T. Booth, Contract and Compliance Board (26-113, to March 3, 2028); Lizzie Goddard, Housing Trust Fund Commission (26-136, to September 17, 2031); Peter Kurland, Nashville Entertainment Commission (26-137, to June 20, 2030); Gina Emmanuel, Parks and Recreation (26-140, to April 30, 2028); David Andrews, Transportation and Licensing Commission (26-141, to October 10, 2026 and a new term to October 10, 2028).
  • Re-referred to the Rules Committee for the next meeting: Health and Educational Facilities Board nominees (26-142); Animal Care and Control nominees (26-143, 26-144, 26-145); Angie Gleason for the Midtown Central BID board (26-146); Michael Montgomery and Erika Wollam Nichols for the Entertainment Commission (26-138, 26-139); Council Members Allen and Bradford for the Solid Waste Region Board (26-147, 26-148).
  • Nominations: Health and Educational Facilities Board (26-149): Allen nominated Will Rosenthal and Brian Drobnick; Parker nominated Chase Markham; election September 15. President Pro Tempore (26-150): Bradford nominated Hill; Taylor nominated Preptit; election September 1. See Health and Educational Facilities Board Election, Metro Animal Care Commission Elections, Nashville Entertainment Commission Changes, President Pro Tempore Election and Midtown Business Improvement District Funding.

Public comment

  • Registered speakers addressed the Council; the minutes do not record names or topics.

Music City Center Refinancing Agreement

  • RS2026-2135 (intergovernmental agreement with the Convention Center Authority on financing and refinancing the Music City Center), approved by the Ad-Hoc East Bank Committee. Toombs moved adoption. After discussion Johnston called the previous question; it failed on a roll call, 24 yes and 13 no.
  • Adopted on a roll call, 31 yes and 6 no (Evans-Segall, Kimbrough, Parker, Welsch, Vo, Sepulveda).

Tourist Accommodation Tax Allocation

  • BL2026-1493 (tourist accommodation tax allocation to comply with Public Chapter 1079 of 2026 and extension of the additional hotel occupancy privilege tax) was approved by the Ad-Hoc East Bank Committee. Toombs moved second reading; voice vote, Parker and Welsch no, Porterfield abstaining.

Drone First Responder Rules

  • BL2026-1498 (Section 13.08.080, drones and surveillance technology) was approved with a substitute by Public Health and Safety. Sepulveda moved passage, offered the substitute (voice vote; Hancock no, Styles abstaining), then a late Amendment No. 1 (voice vote). Passed second reading as substituted and amended by voice vote, Hancock and Eslick no, Styles abstaining. The substitute title adds "drones as first responder programs."

Board Meeting Recording Requirements

  • BL2026-1437 (boards with financial authority or fiduciary duty to record and publish their meetings): the Budget and Finance and Government Operations and Regulations Committees recommended withdrawal and Webb withdrew it.

Zoning on third reading

Other business

  • Resolutions: RS2026-2132 (Sweeping Corporation of America cooperative purchase for street sweeping, jetting and hydro-excavation), amended by Allen on voice vote and adopted 36-0-0 on Toombs's motion. RS2026-2196 appropriated $71,900 from the Nashville Public Library to Water Walkers for after-school programming, 33 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Kupin). RS2026-2208 (Altec Industries cooperative purchase) was withdrawn by Toombs on committee recommendation. RS2026-2189 (WeGo Journey Pass for the Music City Construction Careers program) was deferred under Rule 8.1; see Journey Pass Expansion Request. RS2026-2219 honored Brenda Wynn on her retirement as Davidson County Clerk (35-0-0, Suara moved); RS2026-2220 recognized the 40th anniversary of the Master Gardeners of Davidson County (36-0-0). Late RS2026-2221 (option agreements for a flood-prone property at 716 Hite Street for Metro Water Services) was adopted 34-0-0 after Horton moved to suspend the rules.
  • Consent agenda: 36 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. It included state interpreter grants for the courts (RS2026-2183 to 2185), a reduction of general obligation bond authority (RS2026-2186), a Kresge Foundation grant to the Metropolitan Action Commission (RS2026-2187), TDOT agreements for signals and sidewalks (RS2026-2203 to 2207), a cooperative purchase from Lexipol for MNPD (RS2026-2201) and a NIBIN grant application (RS2026-2202), plus water and sewer acceptances, the Property Identification Maps (BL2026-1494), the Code readoption (BL2026-1496), the diaper-changing bill (BL2026-1492, see Diaper Changing Facility Requirements) and a permanent Nashville MTA easement (BL2026-1499).
  • First reading (new bills): BL2026-1513 lets the Housing Fund Commission extend certain grant contract terms (Housing Trust Fund Grant Contracts); BL2026-1514 annual employee surveys; BL2026-1515 and the late BL2026-1535 rounding of cash payments and tax amounts (Penny Rounding Rules); BL2026-1516 annual reporting on tax increment finance loans; BL2026-1517 driver permits for entertainment and sightseeing vehicles; BL2026-1518 solid waste generator fees for out-of-county waste; BL2026-1519 encroachments; BL2026-1520 the "boarding house" definition (to the Planning Commission); BL2026-1521 the Fiscal Year 2027 Midtown BID budget; BL2026-1522 a solar services agreement with Lightwave Sustainable Ventures at the Juvenile Justice Center; BL2026-1523 to 1525 Centennial Park Conservancy space and two greenway easements; BL2026-1526 the transportation-effects monitoring tool (Development Transportation Impact Analysis); BL2026-1527 to 1533 an encroachment, a crane easement, an easement abandonment and sewer and water acceptances; late BL2026-1534 an MPLX Terminals access easement (Kupin).

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