Metropolitan Council

Agenda

1. Announcements and Presentations - 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call

   The roll was called and the following members were present during the progress of the meeting:

3. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

   The invocation was offered by Captain Mark Proctor, Tennessee Highway Patrol (retired). ​The Metropolitan Council gave the pledge of allegiance to the American Flag.

4. Call to Order

   The Metropolitan Council met in regular session on this date at 6:30 p.m. in the Metropolitan Courthouse.

5. Approval of Minutes

   The minutes of the regular meeting on October 21, 2025 were approved.

6. Appointees and Nominees
7. 25-113 General Sessions Judge - Division VI Election to fill a judicial vacancy in the General Sessions Court. Nominees: · C. Michael Robinson · Mark Andrew Cole, Sr. · Jodie Bell · Leroy J. Ellis · David Jones
   Appointment

   The nominees appeared before the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee for consideration. The Committee found that the candidates were qualified to serve. The election for the vacancy will be conducted at the November 18, 2025 Council meeting.

8. 25-107 Metropolitan Board of Health Appointment of Jeffrey Stovall for a term expiring July 9, 2026.
   Appointment

   The appointee appeared before the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee for consideration. The Committee approved a re-referral for the appointee to be considered at the next meeting.

9. 25-108 Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency Appointment of David Lawrence for a term expiring November 5, 2030.
   Appointment

   The appointee appeared before the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee for consideration. The Committee approved a re-referral for the appointee to be considered at the next meeting.

10. 25-109 Metropolitan Planning Commission Appointment of Aria Dang for a term expiring March 31, 2026.
    Appointment

    The appointee appeared before the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee for consideration. The Committee approved a re-referral for the appointee to be considered at the next meeting.

11. 25-110 Stormwater Management Commission Reappointment of Janey Camp for a term expiring October 31, 2029.
    Appointment

    The appointee appeared before the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee for consideration. The Committee approved a re-referral for the appointee to be considered at the next meeting.

12. 25-111 Stormwater Management Commission Reappointment of Jay Fulmer for a term expiring October 31, 2029.
    Appointment

    The appointee appeared before the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee for consideration. The Committee approved a re-referral for the appointee to be considered at the next meeting.

13. Confirmations
14. 25-102 Charter Revision Commission Reappointment of Hal Hardin for a term expiring September 4, 2029.
    Appointment
    Action: approved

    The Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee recommended the appointment. Council Member Cash moved to confirm the appointment, which motion was seconded and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council.

15. 25-103 Charter Revision Commission Reappointment of Susan Short Jones for a term expiring September 4, 2029.
    Appointment
    Action: approved

    The Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee recommended the appointment. Council Member Cash moved to confirm the appointment, which motion was seconded and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council.

16. 25-104 Charter Revision Commission Appointment of Tom Lee for a term expiring September 4, 2029.
    Appointment
    Action: approved

    The Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee recommended the appointment. Council Member Cash moved to confirm the appointment, which motion was seconded and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council.

17. 25-105 Charter Revision Commission Reappointment of Jim Murphy for a term expiring September 4, 2029.
    Appointment
    Action: approved

    The Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee recommended the appointment. Council Member Cash moved to confirm the appointment, which motion was seconded and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council.

18. 25-106 Charter Revision Commission Reappointment of Joy M. Sims for a term expiring September 4, 2029.
    Appointment
    Action: approved

    The Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee recommended the appointment. Council Member Cash moved to confirm the appointment, which motion was seconded and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council.

19. Nominations
20. 25-112 Transportation Licensing Commission Consideration of nominees to fill one vacancy on the Commission for a term expiring on October 20, 2027, with an election to be conducted at the December 4, 2025 Council meeting. · Carey Rogers
    Appointment
    Action: nominated

    The President called for nominations, which were submitted as follows: Council Member Benedict nominated Carey Rogers. The President declared the nominations closed, with an election to be held December 4, 2025.

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22. Public Comment Period
23. Public Comment Period Members of the public, who are Tennessee residents, wishing to speak may sign-up at a table outside of the Council Chamber from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the day of the Council meeting. Public Comment is limited to twenty minutes total at Council meetings and each speaker is allowed up to two minutes to speak. Requests for interpretation services should be directed to the Council Office at 615-862-6780. Las solicitudes de servicios de interpretación deben dirigirse a la Oficina del Consejo a 615-862-6780.
    Report

    Members of the public who registered in advance spoke upon matters of interest.

24. Rules of Procedure
25. Rule 12 Amendment to Rules of Procedure, Rule 12
    Rule Amendment
    Action: deferred

    Council Member Johnston moved to defer the Rule Amendment, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council.

26. Resolutions on Public Hearing
27. RS2025-1591 A resolution exempting Gordo’s Taqueria, located at 515 B Merritt Avenue from the minimum distance requirements for obtaining a beer permit pursuant to Section 7.08.090.E of the Metropolitan Code.
    Resolution
    Action: adopted Passed

    The resolution was approved by the Government Operations and Regulations Committee. Council Member Vo requested a hearing from the public on this resolution which had been previously advertised. The President asked if anyone desired to be heard for or against the resolution and no one came forward to be heard. The President declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Vo moved that the resolution be adopted, which motion was seconded and approved by the following vote: Yes (30): Suara, Porterfield, Evans-Segall, Allen, Hill, Kimbrough, Gamble, Cortese, Capp, Benedict, Harrell, Hancock, Webb, Eslick, Bradford, Huffman, Welsch, Vo, Cash, Horton, Gadd, Preptit, Johnston, Nash, Benton, Ellis, Sepulveda, Rutherford, Lee, Ewing; No (0); Abstain (0).

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29. Bills on Public Hearing
30. 2. An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, relative to the creation of new zoning districts called “Residential Neighborhood” (RN) and “Residential Limited” (RL) and other related changes, all of which is more particularly described herein (Proposal No. 2025Z-009TX-001).
    Bill

    Council Member Porterfield moved that the Bill be tabled, which motion was seconded and approved by the following roll call vote:

31. BL2025-1006 An ordinance amending Chapters 17.04, 17.12, and 17.16 of the Metropolitan Code to amend the regulations pertaining to height within the Single-Family Residential (RS) and One- and Two-Family Residential (R) zoning districts and to simplify the conditions by which two-family dwellings may be permitted in the AG, AR2a, R80, R40, R30, R20, R15, R10, R8, R8-A, R6, and R6-A zoning districts (Proposal No. 2025Z-010TX-001).
    Bill
    Action: deferred

    Council Member Gamble moved to defer the bill to the December 4, 2025 public hearing, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council.

32. BL2025-1007 An ordinance amending Chapters 17.04, 17.08, 17.12, 17.16, 17.20 and 17.36 of the Metropolitan Code, to amend the regulations pertaining to accessory buildings, detached accessory dwelling units and the Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay District (Proposal No. 2025Z-011TX-001).
    Bill
    Action: substituted

    Council Member Gamble requested a hearing from the public on this bill which had been previously advertised. The President asked if anyone desired to be heard for or against the bill and citizens were heard in favor of and in opposition to the bill. The President declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Gamble moved to pass the bill on second reading, which motion was properly seconded. Council Member Gamble offered a substitute bill and moved that it be adopted, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council.

33. BL2025-1022 An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by amending a Specific Plan on property located at 3325 McGavock Pike, approximately 550 feet southwest of Murfreesboro Pike (6.01 acres), to permit 71 multi-family residential units, all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2018SP-020-002).
    Bill
    Action: passed on second reading Passed

    Council Member Bradford requested a hearing from the public on this bill which had been previously advertised. The President asked if anyone desired to be heard for or against the bill and no one came forward to be heard. The President declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Bradford moved that the bill be passed on second reading, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council. The bill is referred to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

34. BL2025-1023 An ordinance to authorize building material restrictions and requirements for BL2025-1022, a proposed Specific Plan Zoning District for property located at 3325 McGavock Pike, approximately 550 feet southwest of Murfreesboro Pike (6.01 acres), to permit 71 multi-family residential units, all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2018SP-020-002). THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUIRES CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE RESTRICTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.
    Bill
    Action: passed on second reading Passed

    Council Member Bradford requested a hearing from the public on this bill which had been previously advertised. The President asked if anyone desired to be heard for or against the bill and no one came forward to be heard. The President declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Bradford moved that the bill be passed on second reading, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council. The bill is referred to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

35. BL2025-1087 An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by changing from RS10 to RM9-NS zoning for property located at Old Hickory Boulevard (unnumbered), approximately 249 feet east of Farris Avenue (1.44 acres), all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2025Z-064PR-001).
    Bill
    Action: deferred Passed

    Council Member Hancock requested a hearing from the public on this bill which had been previously advertised. The President asked if anyone desired to be heard for or against the bill and no one came forward to be heard. The President declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Hancock moved that the bill be deferred to January 20, 2026, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council. The bill is referred to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

36. Message from the Mayor

    Vice Mayor and Members of Council, Tonight, approximately one in ten Nashville households is questioning how they will pay for food this month because of the federal shutdown, an avoidable crisis created by a failure of leadership at the federal level. While the federal administration continues to sow confusion about releasing just some of the SNAP dollars reserved for emergencies like this—benefits we as taxpayers paid for, Congress authorized, and courts have ordered released—we’re working to rally a coalition of Metro departments, nonprofits, and private citizens to help our neighbors put food on the table during a crisis. Unfortunately, this is a familiar place. Time and again, this federal government has retreated from obligations to vulnerable Americans. The megabill passed by Congress several months ago already enacted historic cuts to SNAP, eliminating 300 million meals in Tennessee over the next decade. In just the last six months, since April 1, 2025, Second Harvest Food Bank has lost access to 30% of food received through USDA programs, equivalent to 700,000 pounds of fresh produce, protein, and dairy lost each quarter. The federal government has made all these drastic cuts as food prices have increased 25% in Tennessee over the last five years. It’s almost as if the federal government has been shutting down for months. Our city has stepped up to fill the gap, but local government cannot make up for all these lost benefits. Even when joined by local philanthropy, local faith communities, and local business partners. Even so, Second Harvest Food Bank, their 600+ partners, and thousands of generous donors are in this with us. We joined Second Harvest on Thursday to launch the Hunger Can’t Wait campaign. They’re reallocating resources to increase food distributions, strengthen partnerships, and ramp up emergency food box builds across both the Nashville and Smyrna distribution centers. Currently, Second Harvest is distributing approximately 2,000 boxes of food a week, demonstrating the level of need in our community. To make it easy for people to access local benefits, we created an online resource at Nashville.gov/food where people can find a list of resources for Nashvillians in need. Metro Social Services has activated their Food Crisis Response plan and will host a food pop-up in North Nashville this Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Greater St. John M.B. Church. Their case managers are also doing welfare checks to clients who are elderly, disabled, and homebound; are distributing of Food Assistance Cards to families; and are giving out quick meals. Where we can, we’re expanding programs like our Fresh Bucks offering at the Nashville Farmers Market. Thanks to a grant recently approved by Metro Council, people who receive SNAP can show their EBT card with a recent receipt to get every dollar spent on fresh food matched, doubling their purchasing power for fresh produce. We know transportation is the second highest household cost, and Choose How You Move —overwhelmingly supported by this body and in every district you represent—allows us for the first time ever to offer fare-free access to transit users who need access the most through a new program called Journey Pass. This brand new program just became even more important for even more Nashvillians. The CHYM team and WeGo Public Transit today announced six more registration events for Journey Pass for SNAP recipients. SNAP recipients will be able to register at WeGo Central beginning Wednesday and running through Sunday. Journey Pass registration times and dates are on the resource page at the top of all Nashville.gov pages.  This is a time for us to help one another, too, and there’s one thing I know for sure about Nashvillians: it’s that during times of crisis we’re here for one another. Whether through a pandemic, floods, tornadoes, or a bombing, we've shown time after time that when our neighbors are in need, we step up. At all of our police precincts, libraries, and several Metro buildings—including here at the Historic Metro Courthouse—we have bins for people to drop off food donations for Second Harvest. And you can always support Second Harvest financially at secondharvestmidtn.org. When you give—whether through money, time, or food—we work with our partners to leverage every resource to move nutritious meals where they’re needed most.  While we face a federal government that isn’t working, I want to share my appreciation to the many Metro Council members who’ve reached out, partnered, and stepped up to help our community. Hunger Can’t Wait, and working together with our community partners, we can help reduce the impact of this crisis. All my best, Freddie O’Connell Mayor

37. RS2025-1601 A resolution appropriating a total of $211,866 from the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Health, to United Neighborhood Health Services, Inc., dba Neighborhood Health, Inc., and approving a grant contract by and between the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Health, and United Neighborhood Health Services, Inc., dba Neighborhood Health, Inc., for the provision of outpatient services for participants in the Ryan White Part A program.
    Resolution
    Action: adopted

    Council Member Toombs moved that the resolution be adopted as substituted, which motion was seconded and approved by the following vote: Yes (33): Porterfield, Allen, Hill, Toombs, Gamble, Cortese, Parker, Capp, Harrell, Hancock, Webb, Eslick, Evans, Bradford, Huffman, Welsch, Vo, Cash, Kupin, Horton, Taylor, Druffel, Gadd, Preptit, Nash, Benton, Ellis, Sepulveda, Rutherford, Styles, Lee, Ewing, and Spain; No (0); Abstain (1): Suara.

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39. BL2025-1005 An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, relative to the creation of new zoning districts called “Residential Neighborhood” (RN) and “Residential Limited” (RL) and other related changes, all of which is more particularly described herein (Proposal No. 2025Z-009TX-001).
    Bill
    Action: passed on second reading Passed

    Council Member Gamble requested a hearing from the public on this bill which had been previously advertised. The President asked if anyone desired to be heard for or against the bill and citizens were heard in favor of and in opposition to the bill. The President declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Gamble moved to pass the bill on second reading and to defer the third reading of the bill to the December 4, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was properly seconded. Council Member Druffel moved to defer the bill to the December 4, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was properly seconded. After discussion, Council Member Druffel amended the previous motion by moving to defer the bill to the December 16, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was properly seconded. Council Member Porterfield moved to table the motion to defer the bill to the December 16, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was seconded and approved by the following roll call vote: Yes (22): Suara, Porterfield, Evans-Segall, Allen, Toombs, Gamble, Parker, Capp, Benedict, Harrell, Bradford, Huffman, Welsch, Vo, Cash, Horton, Gadd, Nash, Sepulveda, Lee, Ewing, and Spain; No (15): Hill, Kimbrough, Cortese, Hancock, Webb, Eslick, Evans, Kupin, Taylor, Druffel, Johnston, Benton, Ellis, Rutherford, and Styles; Abstain (0). The matter recurred on the motion to pass the bill on second reading and to defer the third reading of the bill to the December 4, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was properly seconded. After discussion, Council Member Huffman called for the previous question, which motion was seconded and approved by the following roll call vote: Yes (26): Suara, Porterfield, Evans-Segall, Allen, Hill, Kimbrough, Toombs, Gamble, Parker, Benedict, Eslick, Evans, Bradford, Huffman, Welsch, Vo, Cash, Kupin, Horton, Taylor, Johnston, Benton, Ellis, Styles, Lee, and Spain; No (10): Cortese, Capp, Harrell, Hancock, Webb, Druffel, Preptit, Sepulveda, Rutherford, and Ewing; Abstain (0). The matter recurred on the motion to pass the bill on second reading and to defer the third reading of the bill to the December 4, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was seconded and approved by the following roll call vote:

40. Untitled item

    Having been unanimously approved by all of the appropriate committees, upon motion duly seconded, all of the items on the Consent Agenda were approved by the following vote: Yes (33): Suara, Porterfield, Allen, Hill, Toombs, Gamble, Cortese, Parker, Capp, Hancock, Webb, Eslick, Evans, Bradford, Huffman, Welsch, Vo, Cash, Kupin, Horton, Taylor, Druffel, Gadd, Preptit, Nash, Benton, Ellis, Sepulveda, Rutherford, Styles, Lee, Ewing, and Spain; No (0); Abstain (0).

41. BL2025-1101 An ordinance to amend Chapters 16.12, 16.16, and 16.20 regarding change of contractor permit fees for the Department of Codes Administration.
    Bill
    Action: passed on second reading

    The bill was approved by the Budget and Finance Committee and the Government Operations and Regulations Committee. Council Member Cortese moved to pass the bill on second reading, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council.

42. BL2025-1007 An ordinance amending Chapters 17.04, 17.08, 17.12, 17.16, 17.20 and 17.36 of the Metropolitan Code, to amend the regulations pertaining to accessory buildings, detached accessory dwelling units and the Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay District (Proposal No. 2025Z-011TX-001).
    Bill
    Action: passed on second reading

    Council Member Gamble moved to pass the bill on second reading as substituted and defer the third reading of the bill to the December 4, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was properly seconded. Council Member Johnston offered Proposed Amendment 2 and moved that it be adopted, which motion was properly seconded. After discussion, Council Member Johnston withdrew the motion to offer the amendment. The matter recurred on the motion to pass the bill on second reading as substituted and defer the third reading of the bill to the December 4, 2025 Council meeting, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council.

43. RS2025-1618 A resolution calling for the Mayor’s Office and the Metropolitan Government to immediately resume the hiring process of the executive director for the Nashville Office of Entertainment.
    Resolution
    Action: substituted

    The resolution was approved with a substitute by the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Entertainment Committee. Council Member Styles moved that the resolution be adopted, which motion was properly seconded. Council Member Styles offered a substitute resolution and moved that it be adopted, which motion was seconded and approved by a voice vote of the Council.

44. BL2025-1005 An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, relative to the creation of new zoning districts called “Residential Neighborhood” (RN) and “Residential Limited” (RL) and other related changes, all of which is more particularly described herein (Proposal No. 2025Z-009TX-001).
    Bill

    The bill is referred to the Planning and Zoning Committee.