Middle Tennessee DSA

MOU back in discussion. Committee deferral noted.

Bill can be found at the link below.

nashville.legistar.com/LegislationD...

Search the link below for “BL2025-1006” for amendments. nashville.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=...

Discussion on a Gamble/Parker/Benedict bill limiting building height values in single-family districts.

CM Kupin has provided an amendment, with several folks from his district speaking on it.

Motion now is to pass it to a third reading. Passes with 29 in favor, 7 in opposition, 1 abstention.

The rules change to require a mandatory 60-day deferral for zoning changes within council districts.

Because it’s a rule change, it would have to be a supermajority.

Voice vote goes to the “yays,” which ends our comment period. Voting on the move to approve amendment to the rules.

CM Capp says that rule changes should provide stability throughout term. Does not see any compelling reasons to change this during the term.

CM Cash calls the question, which moves us to voting.

CM Preptit gets clarification about when the rule goes into effect—should only effect items arriving after rules go into effect.

CM Sepulveda says each district is different. Hers is small and dense, so not many come up. She requires extra steps like translations. Most CMs have meetings, etc. Notes that approaches are different, blanket rule doesn’t work.

Says same ppl angry about changes will still be angry after 60 days.

CM Bradford rises in opposition. Says he would support if it pertained to council-wide changes. Similar reasons cited as Benedict.

CM Horton rises in support of the rule change.

CM Rutherford rises in support. Cites the rule change committee discussion where it was mentioned deferrals happen regularly. Sees this as favoring the property owner.

CM Benedict notes that a deferral can be requested on a case-by-case basis.

CM Gadd speaking in support, seeing this as providing more public input.

CM Kupin rising to speak in support and asking a clarifying question.

CM Benedict rises in opposition. Notes it prevents CMs from making decisions in their own district.

CM Spain talking about a rule change for Rule 29, which dictates how zoning changes happen.

To our reading, this puts in a 60-day waiting period. Seems to be a nod to opposition to recent zoning changes in The Nations to create more “middle options” for housing.

12/04/25 Metropolitan Council Meeting YouTube video by Metro Nashville Network

Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/wE-2FM1...

Big themes tonight in Public Comment at Nashville Metro Council:
• Support for the Gamble, Parker, Benedict zoning bill (BL2025-1005)
• The danger posed by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to put surveillance tech under a public/private partnership (Toombs, Huffman, Johnston)

Hey Nashville: The Boring Co. is hosting a virtual meeting about the Tesla tunnel today at 4 p.m. on the former Twitter. Allegedly they will be fielding questions from the peanut gallery. In case you’re free.

An Amendment to Rules of Procedure, Rule 29, got deferred. This would add a 60-day required deferral for “large-scale zoning ordinance or a countywide zoning text amendment.”

Rules change like this requires a supermajority. The committee voted against and we had a number of speakers. Motion fails 12-14-1

Sees it as limiting voices, not representing our communities as the council should.

CM Vo also rising to speak against.

Notes that resolutions are visible to the public in a way that proclamations are not. Cited International Market’s (Nashville’s 1st Thai restaurant) 50th anniversary being celebrated as a proclamation.

Sees it as gatekeeping which stories get told.

CM Cash says that the rules change goes too far. Thinks of resolutions that they “could have done without,” but others that were important.

Notes that there isn’t a single sponsor that’s a member of the Minority, Immigrant, nor LGBTQ Caucuses.

Notes her own use of proclamation vs resolution differently. Encourages people worried about time to speak less.

Encourages other members to vote against the rule change.

At the council meeting tonight. CM Sepulveda speaking out against the change to Rule 12, which changes how honorary and other non-binding resolutions are handled.

She notes how little time is actually spent to acknowledge important things and putting it on record.

Our wins don’t just happen in NYC. It can happen right here in Tennessee.

bsky.app/profile/dems...

Victories like this start with work in your community to build collations and power. We’re coming together across Middle Tennessee (and not just in Nashville).

Join us. midtndsa.org/sign-up/ 🌹

CM Spain also objecting.

CM Welsch hopes that we can uphold the dignity of all people.

Give her statement a fuller listen when you can. Not quick enough at typing tonight!

CM Welsch now giving a brief comment. Says that we need to call things what we are if we don’t want to lose our humanity.

Interrupted by CMs Cash, Kupin and others.

VM Henderson allowing her to speak further, but says that she’s gone past the will of the body.

Resolution RS2025-1545

“We say things to make ourselves feel better. But we don’t do anything.”

Give CM Suara’s statement a listen. Asks how we can watch children dying in a genocide and say nothing, but pass this resolution (does say it’s a good resolution).

Reposting the council session here for convenience. Public statements on the Palestine resolution are pretty early on. Will try and get time codes when I can (will post below): www.youtube.com/live/au_LIL5...