There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Update: Thank you all for your warm wishes and your congratulations upon the birth of our son. Your kind words and uplifting messages were a great surprise as. I have been out of office on paternal leave and I returned on September 20. I am in the process of following up from your emails and calls. If I haven't gotten back to you, I ask for your patience. I'm working through several correspondences and I'll get to you very soon.

Thank you District 21 for your support, votes, and most importantly, your trust in me to serve and lead our community for another four years! 

Let's Get Back to Work!

A New Term Begins Tonight!

Let's start off with some good news... At the close of last term, I was able to finally get the funding legislation passed for two projects in our District. I've worked on both of these projects for the past four years and they are now in process. Resurfacing, paving, and pedestrian safety upgrades have started on 31st Ave N near Centennial Park. I'm working on scheduling a meeting with neighbors to review the plans and get any of your questions answered. We've also started work on Dr. DB Todd Jr. Blvd and Clarksville Hwy. (from Jefferson St at DB Todd to Ed Temple at Clarksville Hwy). We will also be having a meeting with neighbors to discuss this project as well.

As the term begins, I'd like to remind you of the Capital Improvements Budget process that happens every October. By the end of the month, I will need to compile my capital improvements wish list that will be added to the  city's overall wish list. The way capital improvements work, such as the projects listed in the paragraph above, Council Members must add these items to a Capital Improvements Budget (often referred as the CIB). Once these items are vetted and a value is associated with each project, they can then be considered for the mayor's Capital Spending Plan (CSP). The CSP is when monies are budgeted to complete said CIB project. Not all items will make it to the CSP, for instance, the Clarksville Hwy and 31st Ave N projects have been on the CIB for my entire tenure in office, and just in February of 2022 they were added to the mayors CSP. I say all of this to say, if there are any Capital Improvements you see that are needed in your neighborhood, please email them to me and I'll review.

What I've Been Up To:

• In late June, Damita and I welcomed our son - That has been where the majority of my time has been spent this summer.
• I'm working with NDOT regarding several traffic calming requests that have come my way. If you see traffic calming needs in your area, contact me and also, complete the Traffic Calming application. Click here for the website to the application.
• I'm working with Planning and NDOT on a North Nashville infrastructure and land use study. We are working to see where we can add value in the area for our traffic mobility, pedestrian mobility, overall infrastructure health and needs evaluation, and how this all ties into future development. The most important piece is how this will tie into the community that we have now and growing this community for all neighbors.
• I'm working to schedule a community meeting for the neighbors along the 31st Ave N corridor to learn more about the street upgrade project.
• I'm also working to schedule a community meeting for the neighbors along the Dr. DB Todd Jr. and Clarksville Hwy corridors to learn more about the street upgrade project.
• I received a call from NDOT yesterday regarding a long talked about project at Jefferson St. and 28th Ave N. Several years ago, right before I took office, Public Works/NDOT and TDOT held a meeting to discuss a round-a-bout at this intersection. I read the minutes and was not convinced that this was a priority project based on some of the statements from neighbors. Once I visit with NDOT regarding this proposed project, I will follow up with you to host a community meeting and share the details that I receive.

Upcoming Community Events

What's Happening tonight:  

RS2023-5 -A resolution extending the time within which the Tax Incentive and Abatement Study and Formulating Committee shall study and submit its complete report and recommendations. This is an affordable housing item that is studying the tax abatement options for building affordable housing.

RS2023-24 -A resolution accepting an in-kind grant from Vanderbilt University to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, to replace the current video board at the Centennial Sportsplex.

RS2023 (LATE FILED) -A resolution honoring the life of Mr. Arnett H. Bodenhamer, Sr.

BL2023-4 -Title: An ordinance approving a participation agreement between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, acting by and through the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure ("NDOT"), and the Cheatham County Railroad Authority, for the rehabilitation and repair of the overhead railroad bridge crossing Albion Street, and an upgrade to Albion Street under the bridge

BL2023-41 -A resolution renewing the support and commitment of the Metropolitan Council toward principles constituting a Community Covenant with the aim of creating opportunities for all residents of Metropolitan Nashville to thrive.

Dates To Remember:

• Clarksville Hwy Paving Project Community Meeting
  • October 19
  • 6:00 pm
  • North Police Precinct (Tentative)

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

You're Invited

Free Movie Night in the Park!

THIS FRIDAY

Click Here to RSVP

Date: Friday, September 22

Time: 6:00 PM (Movie starts at Dusk)

Location: Elizabeth Park | 1701 Arthur Ave

Free Food: Fish Fry Style | Exciting Games for All Ages | Movie: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | 

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and your loved ones for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and community. It's a fantastic way to spend quality time with family and friends. Don't miss out on this memorable event!

I can't wait to see you there!

Click Here to RSVP

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Counting tonight, there are only 4 meetings left in this term!

Let's Continue the Work

Re-Elect Brandon Taylor

Early Voting has Closed!

If you have not had an opportunity to vote, you must vote on Thursday at your designated voting location to Cast your Vote for The City's Municipal Elections.

Click Here - To Find Your Voting Location

WE HAVE A SCOND COMMERCIAL... CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

I'm Running for Re-election to be your District 21 Councilman!

This is a short and sweet newsletter for today. Counting this meeting, we only have two meetings left in this Council Term! This means the agendas will continue to be shorter and we will likely not introduce any new legislative items until October! 

There are two items tonight that I believe are of interest to many of you, 1.) License Plate Readers Pilot 2.) Fairgrounds NASCAR. With both of these items being hot buttons, there is a strong sense that we should defer these items until there's a new Mayor and Council elected. That being said, that is exactly what we are going to do. Tonight, both items were deferred in their committees. 

Let's Connect

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Counting tonight, there are only 4 meetings left in this term!

Let's Continue the Work

Re-Elect Brandon Taylor

Early Voting Begins Next Friday, July 14 and ends on Saturday, July 29

Make a plan to vote Early to Re-Elect Brandon Taylor! Click here to see all the Early Voting locations.

I'm Running for Re-election to be your District 21 Councilman!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

I've learned quickly that sleep is overrated and nice clothes cannot be warn. Baby Taylor has made sure of that!

Alright! I am still home with mom and baby as we enter the last July meeting of the term. We'll be back in mid-season form in no-time! I'll just have a little assistant to help sign you all in at meetings now!

With only 3 meetings (counting tonight) to go, we are on are way to completing a historic Metro Council Term. We have seen so much this term and we made it through with your support. I'm excited to be heading into a new term (with your support at the polls). There's so much more work to do, and we can accomplish many of our goals together.

This is Important for District 21 - Clarksville Hwy is getting Paved! (DO NOT SKIP OVER)

In my haste last meeting, I failed to mention one extremely important item on the agenda. RS2023-2301 is a resolution that  approves an intergovernmental agreement between the Tennessee Department of Transportation (“TDOT”) and the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (“NDOT”) for the repair of existing pavement failures and resurfacing of 0.83 miles of Clarksville Pike/Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard from Buchanan Street to Ed Temple Boulevard/Rosa L. Parks Boulevard.

Like many of you, I am tired of driving down Clarksville Hwy and needing an alignment once I turn off of that street. I've mentioned this to several of you, that we are working hard to get Clarksville Hwy paved. This has been on of the top priorities for me. We are now one step closer to having this become a reality. We now have a signed agreement from both parties (TDOT and NDOT) and we have a contractual cost for each party. The plan is to have this completed by the end of the fall. If this changes, I will let you know.

31st Ave N between Park Plaza and West End Updates

Another item that I've worked on this entire term is updates along 31st Ave N in the Centennial Park Area. I am happy to report, that this will also be coming to fruition. I am working with NDOT to schedule a meeting with neighbors for their input on the upgrades. Specifically safety measures for walkability and pedestrian crossings. We will also complete sidewalks on both the East and West sides of 31st Ave N from Park Plaza to West End. This is more exciting news. Please be on the lookout for meeting dates in the coming weeks.

What's Happening tonight:  

RS2023-2321 - A resolution accepting an in-kind grant from Vanderbilt University to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, to replace the current video board at the Centennial Sportsplex.

RS2023-2319 - A resolution accepting an in-kind grant from Creative Parks Nashville to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, to provide equipment for the support and expansion of the Music and Visual Arts programs at the Centennial Performing Arts Center and Metro Parks Community Centers.

BL2023-2005 - An ordinance to amend Chapter 3.52 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to require that employees of the Metropolitan Government receive annual salary increases that reflect a cost-of-living adjustment consistent with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

Let's Connect

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Counting tonight, there are only 4 meetings left in this term!

Let's Continue the Work

Re-Elect Brandon Taylor

Early Voting Begins Next Friday, July 14 and ends on Saturday, July 29

Make a plan to vote Early to Re-Elect Brandon Taylor! Click here to see all the Early Voting locations.

I'm Running for Re-election to be your District 21 Councilman!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

The last time I wrote my newsletter, we were just about to pass the budget. There were a few amendments that I supported that didn't make it in the final budget, a couple being the our attempt to save the Morris Building and adding 7% COLA increase to all Metro Employees. With this budget we were able to fully fund schools and budget all of the funding the School Board asked for as well as give a 6% COLA to all Metro Employees. 

Baby Taylor is Here!

Most importantly, the last time I wrote you, Damita and I were expecting our first child! Well, the expectation is no longer, and just a few days ago, we welcomed our baby boy into the world! So you know just exactly how tired I am and that I haven't gotten much sleep. But, it has been all worth it and I'm so thrilled to share this news with you!

In between the diaper changes, sleepless nights, and being at every beckoning call of mom and Baby Taylor, I have not had a lot of spare time on my hands. If you have tried to contact me, my apologies, I am working hard to find a sense of new normal, and I expect to be back in the office working with you in the next few weeks!

What's Happening tonight:  

One of the hot button items on tonight's agenda is the conversation regarding the Racetrack at the Fairgrounds. Bristol Motor Speedway would like to partner with Metro Nashville to renovate and upgrade the current racetrack that is located at the Nashville Fairgrounds. This would be a deal that would require the city to pay, via revenue bonds, (similar to the Titans deal) $100 Million. One of the items that worries me the most about this deal is that the City of Nashville and the Taxpayers will become the "backstop" for these revenue bonds, meaning - If the racetrack does not make the money it needs to pay the bonds, then the city of Nashville will be obligated to make these payments. Remember, the only way we as a city can take in a formidable amount of revenue is through property taxes.

I'm interested to see what this overall deal looks like, and maybe even more interested to discuss it in our next term!

Let's Connect

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

I hope you and your family enjoyed all of the Juneteenth Celebrations! Below is a great history of Juneteenth from the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth!

Let's Continue the Work 

I'm Running for Reelection to be your District 21 Councilman!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

Budget, Substitute, and Amendments

We will finalize the city budget this evening. This will be the final budget passed by this council, as the term ends in August.

The Budget Chair will introduce his substitute budget tonight, you can find it here on page 487 of the amendments packet. This is a normal process... Here's a quick reminder. The mayor has until the end of April to present the council with their budget. The council then has until the end of June to amend and pass a budget. If the council does not substitute or amend the mayor's budget, the mayor's budget will automatically go into law. The opportunity for the council to submit a substitute and amendments allows us to review the departments' wish lists and, most importantly, respond to the citizen's public hearing comments and outreach.

The chair's substitute has several changes in the budget, here are just a few areas:

• There's an increase from 4% to 6% in the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all Metro employees.
  • There was an ask for 7% increase, and there are a few amendments that are asking for the total 7% increase that will be presented by council members.
• WeGo has an increase of nearly $400K 
  • There is also an allocation of nearly $3 Million for Better Bus program for capital
• Metro Libraries will see an increase to $630K for a total of $42 Million

There are also a total of 23 amendments. These amendments will be presented following the adoption of the substitute budget. The amendments are in several areas, from budgeting dollars to buy the Morris Building, to a COLA increase, to Arts increases, to removal of SROs in MNPS schools, and many more. You can find the entire amendments packet here. I've been able to get this out much earlier than normal due to all of the additional links and reading I'm asking of you.

District 21 Public Safety Meeting

Tomorrow night at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. I am hosting a public safety community meeting. This is in response to the ongoing gun violence in the DB Todd and Buchanan corridor. Please join us at the North Police Precinct to hear how these issues are being addressed.

What's Happening tonight:  

Tonight's big topic is the budget. I shared a brief update of things to expect in the top of my message. This will take the bulk of the time tonight as we have a substitute and 23 amendments to debate.

BL2023-1867 - A bill to be entitled: The Budget Ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee for Fiscal Year 2024

Dates To Remember:

• District 21 Public Safety Meeting
  • Wednesday, June 21
  • 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
  • North Police Precinct | 2231 26th Ave N

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Let's Continue the Work 

I'm Running for Reelection to be your District 21 Councilman!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

Countywide Participatory Budgeting

Nashville has embarked on a citywide Participatory Budgeting program. What does that mean for you? It means the city’s checkbook is in your hands! $10 million of Nashville’s money has been set aside for projects that are nominated and voted on by Davison County residents. Anybody age 14 and older can suggest ideas – as many as you want! – and then vote on the finalists this fall. 

What kinds of ideas qualify? Just about anything you can dream up, as long as it serves a public use or purpose – meaning it delivers a direct, primary, concrete or quantifiable benefit to the people of Davidson County. Ideas that only benefit private individuals are not eligible.  

To learn more about the process and to submit ideas visit pb.Nashville.gov

City Budget Overview

The first noticeable difference with this year's proposed budget is a 26% increase. The city's budget generally sees only a 4% - 6% growth and we can expect that type of increase moving forward. 

This proposed budget also satisfies a fund balance policy, passed by the City Council, requiring Metro to have at least 2-months worth of operating budget expenses in our savings account and at least 50% of our annual budgeted debt. This was created to ensure that Metro will have at least 2-months of funding to fully operate the city's needs in case of a funding emergency or short fall. We have to make sure we're paying our bills!

The proposal funds MNPS with the largest budget in the School District's history. We essentially had to find ways to increase this budget due to a lack of any increase at all from the State. This required the city to be sure we do not have any funding short falls for schools. This budget will be able to fund 86,000+ students with roughly $15,000 per student.

Some of the increases that are proposed are:

• 4% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Metro Employees
• MNPS is budgeted to receive $55 Million for employee salaries
• MNPS will receive an additional $100 Million for schools
• WeGo will receive just under $10 Million
• Barnes Fund to receive a little over $8 Million

Follow this link to the budget book.

Lastly, there is a Budget Public Hearing tonight. Residents can come to share their thoughts on the Metro Budget.

To follow along with the Council's work with the budget, you can follow this link, The Citizen's Guide to the Metro Budget.

State District 19 Town Halls

What's Happening tonight:  

We do not have a busy calendar this week. There are a few commission elections, a public comment period that requires a previous sign up and several resolutions that will keep the business of Metro moving forward. CM Murphy has a zoning ordinance that has been discussed in length with residents and CMs in this area and I believe we'll see more discussion in the meeting this evening - this may be the largest item on the agenda... BL2023-1829

BL2023-1867 - A bill to be entitled: The Budget Ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee for Fiscal Year 2024

RS2023-2187 - A resolution urging the Mayor's Office, the Metro Health Department, Metro Homeless Impact Division, and Metro Social Services to evaluate housing pods purchased with COVID-19 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant funds and create an action plan for their use.

RS2023-2214 - A resolution supporting a permanent public art lighting installation in North Nashville and approving an application for a license agreement between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, acting by and through the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure ("NDOT") and the State of Tennessee ("the State"), acting by and through the Tennessee Department of Transportation ("TDOT"), relating to the use of certain space on Arthur Avenue under the I-40/I-65 bridge for the permanent public art lighting installation ("the Project').

Dates To Remember:

• State District 19 Town Hall w/ Senator Charlane Oliver
  • Monday, June 12
  • 6pm
  • Lee Chapel AME Church | 1200 Dr. DB Todd Jr. Blvd

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Let's Continue the Work 

I'm Running for Reelection to be your District 21 Councilman!

We are kicking-off our campaign and want you to join us! On Thursday, May 25, I will be hosting my campaign kickoff at Bag Lady's Fry Joint located at 1402 Buchanan St. starting at 6pm. 

I'm excited to formally announce my candidacy for reelection and, more importantly, I'm excited to continue the work that we started a little over 4-years ago. We set out to build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community for all neighbors in District 21 - From West End to Bordeaux and from Midtown to North Nashville! Over the years, we have faced a pandemic, a devastating tornado, a bombing and much more. However, we have seen many accomplishments with traffic calming, transit, and infrastructure investments. A decrease in violent crimes, we've had a very intentional path to smart growth and development, and saw an increased budget to maintain the high level of illegal dumping. 

Let's continue the work, together!

• Campaign Kickoff
• Thursday, May 25
• Bag Lady's Fry Joint
• 1402 Buchanan St.
• 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Click Here to Register For Councilman Taylor's Reelection Kickoff!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

Your Budget, Your Choice! - Countywide Participatory Budgeting

Nashville has embarked on a citywide Participatory Budgeting program. What does that mean for you? It means the city’s checkbook is in your hands! $10 million of Nashville’s money has been set aside for projects that are nominated and voted on by Davison County residents. Anybody age 14 and older can suggest ideas – as many as you want! – and then vote on the finalists this fall. 

What kinds of ideas qualify? Just about anything you can dream up, as long as it serves a public use or purpose – meaning it delivers a direct, primary, concrete or quantifiable benefit to the people of Davidson County. Ideas that only benefit private individuals are not eligible.  

To learn more about the process and to submit ideas visit pb.Nashville.gov

The Budget is Here!

In my last newsletter, I shared with you that budget season is upon us. We received our 503 page budget books yesterday and I'm working through the line items and will share with you the findings in the upcoming weeks. A preliminary view shows that the budget is fair and meets a few needs throughout the county, however, there are a few dollars that could possibly be reallocated. I'm interested in the budget hearings to learn in more detail how the departments are planning to spend their budgets and how that spending will impact District 21.

Below you will find the budget hearing dates. These hearings will start tomorrow and end in a week on Wednesday, May 24. You can join us in the council chambers or watch on any of the MNN streaming services and Channel 3.

Follow this link to the budget book.

To follow along with the Council's work with the budget, you can follow this link, The Citizen's Guide to the Metro Budget.

What's Happening tonight:  

We do not have a busy calendar this week. There are a few commission elections, a public comment period that requires a previous sign up and several resolutions that will keep the business of Metro moving forward. CM Murphy has a zoning ordinance that has been discussed in length with residents and CMs in this area and I believe we'll see more discussion in the meeting this evening - this may be the largest item on the agenda... BL2023-1829

BL2023-1829 - 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 MUL to SP zoning for property located at 4500 Harding Pike, southwest of the corner of White Bridge Pike and Harding Pike

RS2023-2184 - A resolution accepting a donation from 19th Church Street, LLC in the amount of $214,000 as a contribution towards infrastructure improvements at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Church Street.

RS2023-2159 - A resolution increasing the maximum income limit for eligibility in the Property Tax Freeze Program that provides financial assistance to low-income elderly residents of Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County beginning in Tax Year 2024.

Dates To Remember:

Reelection Campaign Kickoff

• Thursday, May 25
• Bag Lady's Fry Joint | 1402 Buchanan St.
• 6pm - 8pm

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Let's Continue the Work 

I'm Running for Reelection to be your District 21 Councilman!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

The Budget is Here!

Last Thursday, the mayor held the State of Metro at James Lawson High School.

Feel free to view the State of Metro address by following this link. During the address, the mayor mentions a few areas his budget will focus on.

The budget process began yesterday, May 1, for the council. The mayors office and the Director of Finance shared a presentation with the budget and finance committee. The budget will be on first reading May 16. We will then host budget hearings with each department between May 17 -24. Second reading and public hearing for the budget on June 6. And finally, the budget should be approved by June 20, however, by Metro charter, we must have it completed by June 30. 

To follow along with the Council's work with the budget, you can follow this link, The Citizen's Guide to the Metro Budget.

What's Happening tonight:  

RS2023-2151 - A resolution approving a participation agreement between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, acting by and through the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services, and GTOM West End, LLC, to provide improved public sanitary sewer service through the construction of an improved stormwater system

RS2023-2121 - A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board reevaluate its decision to offer a Group Medicare Advantage plan to Metropolitan Government pensioners as their only option.

RS2023-2134 - A resolution accepting an Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Nashville Historical Commission, to provide funding for American Baptist College Historic Building Improvements and a Civil Rights Walking Tour.

RS2023-2142 - A resolution accepting a Where It Starts: Breaking Barriers to Business grant from Living Cities in partnership with Main Street America and the Truist Foundation to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Finance Department, to strengthen the relationship between local government and commercial corridor business support organizations with the goal of fostering an equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for business owners of color in Nashville and address systemic barriers for business owners of color during each stage of business development and growth.

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon

There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Let's Continue the Work - I'm Running for Reelection to be your District 21 Councilman!

Support my Reelection - Donate Here 

WE'RE STILL PRAYING

Exhaustion, Pandemonium, Moral, Injunction... These are some of the terms found in headlines over the past few weeks. This city has endured so much and yet, you keep fighting, we keep fighting, together! 

It's been a tough time, I know. Nevertheless, this city seems to always amaze me. Through so much pain and uncertainty, there is an unwavering belief in Nashville; there's a strength in this city like no other. I am extremely appreciative of that characteristic - Nashville Strong! I know you are exhausted and may want to stop fighting, but we cannot take a break right now... This is the time to continue to fight for this city, our children, and our future!

Titans Stadium Deal

Tonight, we will vote on the Titans Stadium contract. It's on second reading. There are an abundance of amendments to the bill. Last week, we were also on second reading with the Titans Stadium contract and we also had several amendments to the bill. One amendment was voted in favor and was added to the legislation. That amendment was presented by me, and it would change a simple $3.00 fee for every non-NFL event ticket sold to a percentage.

So, $3.00 became 3% - 10% escalating over time and capping at 10%. Also, any amount over the $3.00 within the percentage would come back to Metro Nashville's General Fund. It has been calculated that roughly $470 Million would be coming back to the city over the course of 30-years. Prior to this amendment, only $48 Million was coming back to the city in the Nashville Needs Fund, created by the Tennessee Titans.

Fast forward to today... Over the past week the Titans, the mayor, and their lobbyist have been working to tear down the amendment that will put hundreds of millions of dollars back into the hands of the residents. Council Member Pulley has written an amendment that would delete the entire passage of the amendment added in the last meeting (The Taylor Amendment). The mayor's office has pushed an amendment from Council Member Gamble that would lock the percentage in at 3% without any increase over the life of the contract, but the money would go into the Titans created account and not directly back to the city to manage.

The Tennessee Lookout did a great job communicating this in their article this week.

As I've mentioned, the breakdown of who pays for the stadium is a bit even for taxpayers that may not have the chance to enjoy this new venue...

• Titans will pay - $840 Million 
• State of TN - $500 Million
• City of Nashville - $760 Million

It remains that we as a city must have a return on our investment. You and your neighbors deserve that. We are in a hurry to get out of an extremely bad deal and not paying attention to a deal that is better, but not a deal that is best for all of Nashville

Click here to review the amendments for BL2023-1741 - Titans Stadium Deal.

Budget is around the Corner

Also, Metro's budget season starts May 1! Which is another reason the Titans Stadium deal is moving so quickly. We cannot discuss financial matters over a certain amount during budget season. If the Titans deal doesn't close by May 1, it will have to wait until July 1 to be picked back up.

What's Happening tonight:  

RS2023-2044 - A resolution creating a Nashville Needs Impact Fund to help provide resources to nonprofit entities serving Nashville and Davidson County and designating certain amounts thereto

RS2023-2124 - A resolution honoring Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools' response to the Covenant School shooting on March 27, 2023, including the bus drivers who assisted with reunification efforts.

BL2023-1741 - An ordinance authorizing the Metropolitan Government's execution and delivery of an intergovernmental project agreement with The Sports Authority of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County relating to the development and funding of a new, enclosed stadium; designating a geographic area within which 50% of state and local option sales taxes will be allocated to fund capital projects at the stadium or any onsite or offsite infrastructure necessary for the operation thereof; approving the issuance of one or more series of public facility revenue bonds by the Sports Authority to finance a portion of the costs related to the construction of the enclosed stadium; authorizing the use and pledge of certain of the Metropolitan Government's revenues as security for the bonds; authorizing the acquisition of the stadium campus from the Sports Authority and the lease of the new stadium site to the Sports Authority; authorizing the Metropolitan Government's execution and deliver

BL2023-1712 - 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 IR, R6 and RM40 to SP on properties located at 2404, 2500, and 2518 W Heiman Street and W Heiman Street (unnumbered), approximately 198 feet east of W H Davis Drive, (11.68 acres), to permit 150 detached multi-family residential units and 4 attached multi-family residential units, all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2022SP-062-001).

BL2023-1761 - 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 applying a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay District to various properties located north of Clifton Avenue and south of Jefferson Street zoned RS5; R6-A (106-63 acres), all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2023DDU-001-001).

BL2023-1770 - 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 RS5 to R6-A zoning for property located at 913 33rd Avenue North, approximately 200 feet south of Clare Avenue (0.14 acres), all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2023Z-016PR-001).

BL2023-1742 - An ordinance requiring the Metro Division of Housing to establish a public dashboard on how the city is addressing the issue of housing affordability in Nashville and Davidson County.

Dates to Remember

• Community Meeting - Cumberland Gardens
  • Monday, May 1
  • 6pm
  • RE: Proposed 600 Unit Development on Clarksville Hwy near Ted Rhodes Golf Course
  • St. Luke CME Church | 2008 Ed Temple Blvd.

Lets Connect:

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon