Metropolitan Council (Nashville) minutes — May 7, 2026: appointments, zoning actions, consent agenda approvals, and mayor’s budget priorities
At a glance
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The Metropolitan Council met in special session on May 7, 2026. Council confirmed multiple board and commission appointments (including Nick Cavin to the Health & Educational Facilities Board and several Midtown MBID directors), approved a broad Consent Agenda covering housing, infrastructure, public health and safety grants, and water/sewer projects, advanced numerous zoning and specific-plan ordinances to the Planning & Zoning Committee, and adopted the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission FY27 operating support criteria. The Mayor’s message accompanied the minutes, proposing a 22% cut to the local option grocery tax, a $69 million investment in the Unified Housing Strategy, continued funding for the employee pay plan, and reporting on the 2026 Series D bond refinancing.
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Key decisions
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- Elected/confirmed Nick Cavin to the Health & Educational Facilities Board (26-067).
- Confirmed multiple appointments and reappointments by unanimous vote, including Jon Michael (Action Commission), Dr. Michelle Steele (Parks & Recreation Board reappointment), Cesar Castro (Sustainability Advisory Committee reappointment), Laura Donahue (Sustainability Advisory Committee appointment), and David Kleinfelter (Short Term Rental Appeals Board).
- Approved Consent Agenda items including: a Barnes Fund grant up to $1,000,000 for affordable housing (RS2026-1934); a PILOT agreement authorization for Belmont Village Apartments (RS2026-1933); $400,000 appropriation to Safe Haven Family Shelter for emergency family shelter (RS2026-1936); ImageTrend contract amendment for EMS/Fire data software (RS2026-1939); and acceptance of an EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant (RS2026-1945).
- Authorized Metro to enter or approve multiple water/sewer and utility participation agreements, acceptances, and project easements for numerous MWS projects (RS2026-1946, RS2026-1948 through RS2026-1953, etc.).
- Approved preliminary engineering agreement with CSX and NDOT for proposed bridge repairs over rail at multiple locations (RS2026-1943).
- Adopted operating support and Thrive grant criteria for the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission for FY2027 (RS2026-1931) — passed by roll call (27 yes, 5 no).
- Advanced numerous zoning and land-use bills on second reading (multiple BL numbers listed) and passed an ordinance on third reading related to sandwich board signs (BL2026-1255); several specific-plan and multi-family rezonings were referred to Planning & Zoning.
- Deferred or re-referred several items per committee recommendations, including rule amendment under Rule 46 and certain appointments pending further committee consideration (multiple item numbers noted).
- Acknowledged the Mayor’s budget message: proposed 22% local grocery sales tax reduction, $69M for Unified Housing Strategy, full funding of year two of employee pay plan, and disclosure of 2026 Series D bond refinancing ($556,660,000) with ~$18.8M NPV savings.
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