Nashville Metro Council met on Tuesday and took several actions, among them passing their own redistricting plans for council and school board, in addition to approving a resolution urging the General Assembly to reject the proposed congressional redistricting plans that are heading to the House and Senate floors and continuing the legislative process on license plate readers.
BL2021-1052, an ordinance on third reading, is: “An ordinance approving and adopting a plan for redistricting the Councilmanic Districts of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and revising the school districts pursuant to Article 18, Section 18.06 of the Metropolitan Charter.” The list of the new boundaries and the maps were posted on the bill’s website.
Council Withers sponsored the bill and moved for approval. Several councilmembers spoke during the ensuing discussion, mostly thanking the staff and other councilmembers for their hard work on the matter. It was recognized by some that the The redistricting proposal passed unanimously by voice vote and was met with applause by the councilmembers.
Metro Council also passed several more resolutions and ordinances:
RS2022-1348, is a resolution “honoring the life of Mr. Yusef Harris.” Harris was a celebrated figure by many in downtown Nashville, where he owned and operated Alkebu-Lan Images bookstore on Jefferson Street for more than three decades. The resolution was sponsored by council members Brandon Taylor, Sharon Hurt, Delishia Porterfield, Tanaka Vercher, Ginny Welsch, Tonya Hancock, Angie Henderson, Freddie OConnell, Jeff Syracuse, Jennifer Gamble, Dave Rosenberg, Courtney Johnston, Joy Styles, Gloria Hausser, Bob Nash, Bob Mendes, Thom Druffel, Kyonzte Toombs, Zulfat Suara, Brett Withers, Larry Hagar, Colby Sledge, Nancy VanReece, Emily Benedict, Erin Evans, and Burkley Allen.
RS2002-1353, is a late resolution “recognizing the East Nashville High School Eagles Football team on their Division Championship.” Councilmembers Sean Parker and Emily Benedict were the sponsors.
BL2021-1013, is an ordinance on third reading “approving a Lease Agreement by and between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Education and Liberty Collegiate Academy (Proposal No. 2021M-013PR-001).” It was sponsored by councilmembers Nancy VanReece, Burkley Allen, Brett Withers, and Antoinette Lee.
BL2021-1030, is a zoning change ordinance that passed on third reading. It is 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 R15 and R8 to SP zoning for properties located at Old Hickory Blvd (unnumbered) and 4321 Old Hickory Blvd, approximately 470 feet north of Granwood Blvd, (8.52 acres), to permit 72 multi-family residential units, all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2021SP-062-001).” This was sponsored by Councilmember Hager.
The next Metro Council meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2022.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Nashville City Hall” by Nicolas Henderson. CC BY 2.0.
