Approves the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the Downtown Central Business Improvement District, with revenues and expenses of $8,898,296 paid by special assessments on downtown property. It also accepts the district's budgets from Fiscal Year 2009 through Fiscal Year 2026.
Metro Council, June 16, 2026
74 bills and resolutions and 9 appointments. Meeting page · Agenda (PDF) · Minutes (PDF)
- 52 passed
- 19 moving forward
- 1 put off
- 1 withdrawn
- 1 on the agenda, no action recorded
Passed 52
Final votes: these are now law or adopted.
Creates an eviction right to counsel program run by the Planning Department's Housing Division. Through nonprofit groups, it gives free legal representation, plus outreach and education, to renters facing eviction whose household income is low enough to qualify, with services offered in languages commonly spoken by those renters.
Lowers the local sales tax on groceries (food and food ingredients) in Davidson County by one-half percent, from 2.25% to 1.75%. The Department of Finance says this will reduce revenue by $9.2 million in Fiscal Year 2027.
Adopts a new pay plan for general Metro employees, not including the Board of Health, Board of Education, Police and Fire, starting July 1, 2026. It gives a 1.7% across-the-board raise, continues step increases, adds new job classifications, removes the Waste Management Supervisor classification, and gives each department extra funding equal to 2% of its open range salary budget for merit raises.
Adopts a new pay plan for Metropolitan Board of Health employees starting July 1, 2026. It gives a 1.7% across-the-board raise, keeps step increases, and adds funding equal to 2% of each department's open range salary budget for merit raises.
Adopts a new pay plan for Police and Fire employees starting July 1, 2026, with a 1.7% across-the-board raise, continued step increases, and funding equal to 2% of each department's open range salary budget for merit raises. It also adds three new job classes: Behavioral Health Counselor 2, Fire Arson Investigator 1, and Police Security Guard Supervisor.
Approves an application to the U.S. Department of Justice for a $1.6 million grant, with no cash match required, for the Metropolitan Beer Board to run a pilot Sobering and Stabilization Center. The center would give people in substance-related crises a safe option other than emergency departments or incarceration.
Approves a change to Metro's contract with National Safety Council for teaching and student materials for the General Sessions Court Traffic School. The change adds an additional course to the pricing and drops the contract-number requirement from the proof of insurance section; the estimated contract value stays at $1,098,840.
Sets pay for the Metropolitan Board of Equalization at $100 per session for the chair or acting chair and $90 per session for other members, starting June 1, 2026. The pay was $100 and $90 per day before, so members now get paid for each session when they hear more than one in a day.
Approves a first amendment to Metro's lease with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority for the Luton Center at Nashville International Airport, which houses an Emergency 911 center. It adds three more one-year renewal options, with rent of $180,000 starting November 1, 2026, and a 3 percent increase each later year.
Accepts the terms of a purchasing agreement between Sourcewell and Blink Network, LLC so Metro can buy electric vehicle supply equipment for the General Services Department. The project is expected to cost $1 million, with estimated savings of $415,071, and the agreement expires September 18, 2029.
Replaces Exhibit A of Ordinance BL2022-1170 to change the Mixed Income PILOT Program, which gives property tax breaks to housing developments that include income-restricted units. It drops the tier system for a calculation-based method and lowers the total yearly tax break limit from $3 million to $2 million.
Approves a change to the grant contract with Southeast Community Capital Corporation dba Pathway Lending, which received $2 million to build 62 affordable rental units, that adds 12 months to the contract for a total of 36 months. Nothing else in the agreement changes.
Approves a change to the grant contract with Urban League of Middle Tennessee, which received $2,007,417.42 to build 50 affordable housing units at 720 Madison Square, to clarify that the money is not from American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Approves a third change to the grant contract with Be a Helping Hand Foundation for two affordable housing units at 2124 14th Avenue North, revising the payment schedule to five draws that follow actual construction costs.
Approves a third change to the grant contract with Urban League of Middle Tennessee, which received $2 million for affordable housing at 590 Joseph Avenue, extending the contract by 12 months to 48 months after it was first signed.
Gives $573,833 from the Metropolitan Board of Health to Park Center, Inc. for recovery support services for people with opioid use disorder, including care coordination for people in its 21 sober living units in Davidson County. The grant contract would run from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028.
Accepts a Tennessee Department of Health grant of up to $2,041,200, with no local cash match, for the Metropolitan Board of Health to run the CHANT program, which coordinates care for eligible families and children. The grant term runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Accepts a grant of up to $144,800 from the Tennessee Department of Health to the Metropolitan Board of Health, with no cash match required. The money is for using data to find groups at high risk from substance misuse and for evidence-based programs that fit their needs.
Approves a second change to a grant from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to the Board of Health for air pollution monitoring in Nashville. The change raises the grant by $136,614, from $136,614 to $273,228, with no cash match required, and lets the Mayor sign it.
Gives $1,718,603 more to Depaul USA, Inc. through the Office of Homeless Services for property management, on-site support, and case management at Strobel House Permanent Supportive Housing. It also extends the contract to June 30, 2027, and changes the scope of services.
Gives a total of $1,926,099 from the Nashville Public Library to nine groups for free after school and summer programs through the Nashville After Zone Alliance. The largest amounts go to Metro Parks Department ($411,481), Why We Can't Wait, Inc. ($380,350) and Rocklife Youth, LLC ($349,287).
Gives a total of $2,452,026 from the Nashville Public Library to 12 nonprofit organizations for free after school and summer programs through the Library's Nashville After Zone Alliance. It also lets Metro sign grant contracts with each group.
Approves a change to the Nashville Public Library's grant contract with Water Walkers that adds $22,400 to the contract for summer programming in the Nashville After Zone Alliance. The contract goes from $27,100 to $49,500, which funds 20 summer spots.
Approves a license agreement that lets Metro Parks use state Department of Transportation land to build and maintain a multi-use pedestrian greenway at Cayce Landing riverfront park. The license costs Metro nothing and lasts 10 years, with the option to renew.
Approves a grant of up to $140,000 to the Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park, acting for Celebrate Nashville, to provide cultural event management services. The money would pay for the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival at Centennial Park, with the grant running from July 16, 2026, to July 15, 2028.
Accepts a $24,215.05 grant from the Centennial Park Conservancy to Metro Parks to pay for one part-time position in the Parthenon Museum Store. No cash match is required, and the grant runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Accepts a grant of up to $46,660.89 from the Friends of Warner Parks to pay for seasonal workers in the S.W.E.A.T. (Special Work Education and Trails) program at Warner Parks. It would fund one winter crew worker and five summer crew workers, including a crew leader, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with no cash match required.
Accepts a $65,560.73 grant from the Friends of Warner Parks to Metro Parks to keep paying for two part-time Naturalists, two seasonal Nature Center workers and a copier. No cash match is required, and the grant runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Accepts a gift from the Battle of Franklin Trust to Metro Parks of a portrait of Frank McGavock and an inscribed silver spoon, worth an estimated $2,125, for the historical collection at Two Rivers Mansion. No cash match is required.
Accepts a grant of up to $100,000 from the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs for the Office of Family Safety, with no cash match required, to support a team approach to improving how the justice system responds to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The grant runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Accepts a Victims of Crime Act grant of up to $474,455 for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, with no cash match required, to pay for counselor and victim advocate positions, supplies, and travel. The grant runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Accepts a Project Safe Neighborhood grant of up to $156,401 for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, with no cash match required, to pay for overtime to investigate violent crimes involving guns. The grant runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Approves an application for a $720,000 Internet Crimes Against Children grant, with no cash match required, so the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department can keep funding its Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.
Approves the second change to a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All grant for safety work along Nolensville Pike. It pushes the project schedule back by about 3 months on average and adds a 15 percent indirect cost rate.
Lets Nashville Phase III Property Holder LLC build and keep a blade sign that hangs over the public right-of-way at 1209 Brown Street. The company must carry at least $2 million in liability insurance naming Metro and must cover the costs and claims connected to the sign.
Accepts the terms of an agreement between Sourcewell, a Minnesota local government agency, and Rynse, Inc. for car washes and preventive maintenance on heavy duty fleet vehicles, requested by the Department of Waste Services. The expected project value is $250,000, with estimated savings of $102,571, and the agreement expires March 13, 2028.
Approves a sole source contract with Ingersoll Rand Industrial US, Inc. for factory authorized products, parts, and services for the Department of Water and Sewerage Services. The contract is estimated at $5 million and runs for 60 months.
Lets Metro accept about 74 linear feet of new eight-inch water main and one fire hydrant assembly at 2704 Murfreesboro Pike.
Changes an earlier resolution so Metro can accept 10 sanitary sewer manholes instead of nine, along with the water main, sewer main and five fire hydrant assemblies, at Rural Hill Road (unnumbered), also known as Bella Terra.
Updates the Fire Marshal's Office fee schedule in Metro Code 10.64.018. It sets permit fees, such as $151 for many permit types and $88 for a Knox Box, a $65 re-inspection fee, and formulas for plan review and inspection fees on building projects.
Changes appraisal rules for right-of-way purchases by the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) and Choose How You Move projects that use only local funds. Shorter appraisal reports would be allowed for sidewalk projects and for property worth less than $35,000, and temporary construction easements would be exempt from the appraisal rules.
Changes fees charged by the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure for event and film permits, parade permits, and right-of-way permits, raising many of them in steps through July 1, 2028. For example, the film permit fee goes from $230 to $330 and then $450. NDOT must also give the Council notice of fee changes, publish performance reports, and study its fees at least every five years starting in 2029.
Sets Metro's operating budget for the fiscal year running July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and spends money for Metro departments and debt payments. It includes up to $67,879,500 for the Hospital Authority (Nashville General Hospital), with up to $3,600,000 of Hospital Authority funds for inmate medical care, and requires the Hospital Authority and Metro Nashville Public Schools to send regular financial reports.
Sets the property tax rate for fiscal year 2026-2027 at $2.782 per $100 of assessed value in the General Services District. Also declares the Urban Services District needs $18,441,100 from property taxes and directs a rate of $0.032 per $100 there.
Creates 17 new Metro job positions, including Automotive Mechanic 2, Fire Arson Investigator 1, Historic Zoning Administrator, Pumping Station Superintendent, and several Pre-Trial Housing jobs. Ten are in the classified service and seven are in the unclassified service.
Approves the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the Gulch Central Business Improvement District, which may not spend more than the special assessments it actually collects. The budget expects revenues and expenses of $792,138 from property owners in the Gulch through December 31, 2026.
Honors Wallace W. "Wally" Dietz for his service as Director of Law for Metro, which began in June 2021, and sends him best wishes on his retirement.
Recognizes June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth in Nashville and Davidson County, marking the end of slavery in the United States.
Honors Tom Palko of the Department of Water and Sewerage Services on his retirement and thanks him for his many years of service and leadership on Nashville's stormwater and floodplain work.
Welcomes the Japan National Men's Soccer Team to Nashville for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and recognizes Nashville's friendship with Japan and the Japanese American community.
Recognizes June 2026 as Black Music Month in Nashville and Davidson County, celebrating the contributions of African American artists to the city's music and culture.
Moving forward 19
Bills pass three readings; these cleared one or two tonight.
Requires the mayor to give each council member a copy of the recommended operating budget, with an executive summary and information about each department, board, commission or agency, when filing it with the metro clerk by May 1. Also requires a copy of the capital improvements budget, with an index of each item, by May 20.
Changes the Metro Code so the mayor appoints the executive director of the commission and the office of entertainment, in consultation with the commission, and the director and any staff are organized under the mayor's office. It also replaces the definitions section, deleting an unreferenced definition and defining entertainment industry, film and television industry, and music industry.
Has the Nashville Entertainment Commission recruit, hire and interview for its executive director, who serves at the commission's pleasure, working with the Department of Human Resources on applications and selection. The director manages both the commission and the office of entertainment.
Replaces "day care" with separate "child care" and "adult day services" uses throughout Metro's zoning and related codes, with size classes and new standards for each. It also updates the rules for permit review priority, short-term rental permits, beer permits, and sex club distances to use the term "child care."
An ordinance to amend Section 13.20.020 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to required notice and permission for excavations in the right-of-way.
Showing the official title: a second reading by Claude found the plain-language summary may not match the text.
Bans new unmetered water connections as of July 21, 2026, and deletes the code sections that set up permits, bonds and sworn statements for them. The water director may inspect previously approved unmetered connections, and other code rules on unmetered connections now apply only to existing ones.
Approves a lease between Metro, through the school board, and PENCIL Foundation for part of 3200 Kings Lane, about 35,733 square feet plus part of 11.5 acres of grounds. The lease runs July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2037, with annual rent starting at $324,302 that PENCIL can offset with goods, services and building improvements.
Requires the Audit Committee, Metropolitan Housing Trust Fund, Industrial Development Board, Health and Education Facilities Board, Convention Center Authority, Hospital Authority, Sports Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, and any other money-handling board the Director of Finance names to record their public meetings and work sessions on video or audio. Recordings must be posted within 72 hours, and the Metropolitan Clerk and Information Technology Services must set up one public website portal for them.
Accepts a donated greenway conservation easement of about 2.4 acres at 0 McCrory Lane from Harpeth Overlook Partners, LLC, for greenway improvements. It costs the city nothing to acquire.
Accepts a donated greenway conservation easement of about 2.04 acres at 4880, 4870, 4860 and 4840 Whites Creek Pike from Whites Creek Landco, LLC, for greenway improvements. It costs the city nothing to acquire.
Accepts a donated greenway conservation easement of about 13.79 acres at 6419 Holt Road from Century Communities of Tennessee, LLC, for greenway improvements. It costs the city nothing to acquire.
Approves a second change to the contract with Waste Management, Inc. of Tennessee for trash collection and cart collection. It adds a new scope of work, new pricing and collection schedules, removes the project name or RFQ requirement from proof of insurance, and adds language on boycotting Israel. As amended, it leaves out the longer term, the $60.5 million increase and the yearly price adjustments that were first proposed.
Changes an earlier approval for water and sewer lines at 5047 John Hagar Road (Kingsley Park Phase 1, Revision 1). Metro may now give up about 75 feet of old sewer main, one fire hydrant and one manhole, and accept about 400 feet of new water main, about 471 feet and 1,015 feet of new sewer main, one fire hydrant, 12 manholes and easements. This is far less than the earlier approval.
Lets Metro accept new eight-inch water and sewer pipes, four fire hydrant assemblies, 18 sewer manholes and easements at 5047 John Hagar Road and John Hagar Road (unnumbered), known as Kingsley Park Phase 2. This includes about 2,073 feet of water main and about 1,825 feet plus about 814 feet of sewer main.
Cancels the Planned Unit Development Overlay District on 2609 West End Avenue, about 197 feet southwest of Natchez Trace, a 1.56-acre property zoned MUG-A.
Zoning terms
- MUG-A
- Mixed Use General-Alternative is intended for a moderately high intensity mixture of residential, retail, and office uses and is designed to create walkable neighborhoods through the use of appropriate building placement and bulk standards.
In Metro Planning's words. All zoning terms and sources.
Rezones 43.16 acres from 30th Avenue South and West End Avenue to Natchez Trace, south to 31st Avenue South, and along 31st Avenue South, Vanderbilt Place, and 30th Avenue South, to SP zoning for a mixed-use development. It limits uses to those in the MUI-A district plus a few additions, bans some uses such as check cashing and car washes, and allows up to 120 short term rental units outside Subdistrict A.
Zoning terms
- SP
- Specific Plan is a zoning district category that provides for additional flexibility of design, including the relationship of streets to buildings, to provide the ability to implement the specific details of the General Plan.
- MUI-A
- Mixed Use Intensive-Alternative is intended for a high intensity mixture of residential, retail, and office uses and is designed to create walkable neighborhoods through the use of appropriate building placement and bulk standards.
In Metro Planning's words. All zoning terms and sources.
Sets building material rules for the proposed mixed-use SP zoning in BL2026-1446. Building facade materials, other than clear windows, must come from a list that includes masonry, textured metal, precast concrete, fiber cement panel and similar materials.
Zoning terms
- SP
- Specific Plan is a zoning district category that provides for additional flexibility of design, including the relationship of streets to buildings, to provide the ability to implement the specific details of the General Plan.
In Metro Planning's words. All zoning terms and sources.
Allows ECG East Bank, LP to build and keep an awning overhang, irrigation lines, private planters, bike racks and seating in the public right-of-way at 501 South 2nd Street. The company must pay all costs, protect Metro from claims, and carry at least $4 million in liability insurance before the permission takes effect.
Lets Metro accept new public water and sewer lines, six fire hydrant assemblies, 23 sewer manholes and easements at 14656 Old Hickory Boulevard, known as Cothern Properties Phase 1. The developer will meet the Historic Commission's condition to replace a construction fence with a permanent fence around Peebles Cemetery.
Put off 1
Deferred to a later meeting or sent to committee.
Urges the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure and the Mayor's Office to renew and speed up Vision Zero work to end pedestrian deaths, after at least 20 pedestrian and cyclist deaths so far in 2026. It asks the department to work with the Vision Zero Advisory Council on a new five-year plan focused on the High Injury Network, and to report to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee before December 30, 2026.
Withdrawn 1
Pauses the acceptance, processing, approval, and issuance of zoning, building, or grading permits for data centers anywhere in Nashville and Davidson County until November 1, 2026, or until BL2026-1391 and BL2026-1392 take effect, whichever comes first.
On the agenda, no action recorded 1
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.
Board and commission appointments (9)
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Reappointment of Alvin J. Haney for a term expiring August 1, 2030. · No action recorded
- Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Board Appointment of Kristofer Carlson for a term expiring June 15, 2029. · No action recorded
- Employee Benefit Board Reappointment of G. Thomas Curtis for a term expiring June 30, 2029. · Deferred to a later meeting
- Social Services Commission Appointment of S. Will Acuff for a term expiring April 3, 2031. · Withdrawn
- Sustainability Advisory Committee Reappointment of Jolyn Mezera for a term expiring March 28, 2028. · Withdrawn
- Tourism and Convention Commission Appointment of Darius McDonald for a term expiring June 30, 2029. · No action recorded
- Contract and Compliance Board Reappointment of Fabian Bedne for a term expiring July 27, 2028. · Approved
- Hospital Authority Reappointment of Alphonso Harvey for a term expiring July 11, 2031. · Approved
- Social Services Commission Appointment of Mandy Spears for a term expiring April 3, 2031. · Approved