Exciting news - the Metro Nashville Mayor and Council were inaugurated on September 30th! That means I was sworn in alongside my colleagues and the new mayor. This council is celebrating a historic first. We are the first majority woman council in Metro Nashville’s history! Exciting!
So much has happened already: got my Metro email address, lots of emails and calls from constituents and departments and neighbors about all sorts of important issues, and importantly I found my desk in more than enough time for the first committee and council meetings.
Thank you so much for your support and patience as I work to return every call and email! I am working to set up community meetings, weekly coffee meet and greets and other opportunities to engage. You will be the first to know.
Our first council meeting of the term occurred on October 3rd, and we'll be having bi-monthly meetings at the Metro Courthouse for the next four years. Below are ways you can watch online or on television.
If you need to get in touch with me, don't hesitate to shoot me an email at Brenda.Gadd@nashville.gov or give me a call at 615-432-1324.
I'm also working on updating my website, brendafornashville.com, with council updates and neighborhood information, so stay tuned!
Thank you for your support - let's move forward, together.
METRO COUNCIL UPDATES
This month, the Metro Council held its first two meetings of this term to carry out business. Here's a brief account of what transpired at both events, along with links to watch the sessions:
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023
To watch the Metro Council meeting from Tuesday, October 3rd, please click onthis link.
Tuesday, October 17th, 2023
To view the Metro Council meeting from Tuesday, October 17th, please use thefollowing link.
For Tuesday, October 17th meeting member announcements,click here.
I'm thrilled to share that I've been appointed to serve on two committees of the Metro Council – Public Facilities, Arts and Culture, and the Planning and Zoning committee. I requested both of these committees and am grateful for the Vice Mayor's appointment.
It is an honor to serve in Nashville’s first majority-woman council, and an honor to serve with members of the council breaking barriers and signaling inclusion for all.
I am also honored to serve on the LGBTQ Caucus with CM-at-Large Olivia Hill, CM Russ Bradford and CM Emily Benedict.
Here’s how to participate in Metro Council Meetings:
The Metro Council meets every other Tuesday evening of the month with committees meeting the week of council meetings. Details on the process and how to participate can be found here.
Additionally, if you have or know of a young person that would like to engage in the process Metro Council process, please reach out and let me know. I am working to create a Metro Council youth internship and page program for District 24 to encourage youth engagement.
WHAT I'VE BEEN UP To…
On September 28th I joined community leaders and the YWCA of Middle Tennessee and Nashville in the annual event to Stand Against Racism. I am pictured above with Sabina Mohyuddin the Executive Director of the American Muslim Advisory Council.
On the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented attack on the people of Israel. Its terrorist operatives attacked via land, air and sea, on the date of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war, killing, torturing and kidnapping Israeli women, children, men and elderly.
I joined the Nashville community at the Jewish Federation of Nashville at the Gordon Jewish Community Center on Monday, October 9th. I am sharing the Mayor’s message of seeking peace in the face of this conflict, and my heart, prayers and calls for action are to see all children and families safe as well as the hostages returned their homes. Whether one is Jew, Muslim, Christian – no matter the nationality, ethnicity – please treat your neighbor with Love and Kindness. If you see or experience a hate crime or know of someone else that has experienced a hate crime please report here.
We have seen an increase in antisemitism, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions in our community and across the country. We must stand against hate.
On Saturday, October 7th, I was honored to join the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence for their 19th Annual Day of Remembrance and Unity at the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. This event honors those who have lost their lives to domestic violence and those who are working to end domestic violence.
Congratulations to the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee for 125 remarkable years of service to our region. I know they will continue to be a positive force for change for your city for many years to come. Read more from CEO, Sharon Robinson.
Pictured Left to Right (CM Brenda Gadd, CM-at-Large Burkley Allen, YWCA Nashville CEO Sharon Robinson, CM-at-Large Zulfat Suara, CM Joy Styles)
Application for SP Zoning for Belle Meade Theater Property
What You Need to Know:
On September 27, 2023, the owner/applicant applied to change the current MUL zoning to an SP zoning for the Belle Meade Theater property located at 4301 Harding Pike, Nashville.
Helpful information about the process:
Any property owner can proceed with developments that are within their property's zoned permissions.
Since the property owner is requesting a change in zoning, the change must be approved by the planning commission and the Metro Council.
The earliest the property could be reviewed at the planning commission is in December, but it may be deferred.
The planning staff needs to review and provide comments, which has not been completed yet.
The planning commission allows for comments from the public to be submitted and for the public to sign up and speak.
Public meetings will be held to allow for feedback and transparency, and the council member for the district will work to ensure public engagement. (That’s me!)
I will invite staff from different departments will be invited to address concerns, as well as the applicants to discuss the proposal.
I will work with neighbors and neighborhood associations starting with those most directly impacted to coordinate with and set up public meeting schedules.
My pledge: Members of the public, including district 24 residents and neighbors, will have the opportunity to voice their thoughts, concerns, questions, and ideas.
My goal: Take all the time needed for public input and not rush public engagement.
Here are places you can find information on what has been shared publicly on the proposed zone change and redevelopment of the Belle Meade Theater:
Metro Department of Law files lawsuit over Sports Authority legislation
Metro Law Director filed a lawsuit asking the Court to declare unconstitutional the recently enacted state legislation replacing six Metro appointed members of the Nashville Sports Authority with appointments by state officials.
The complaint was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court and will be heard by a three-judge panel. The complaint seeks a temporary injunction to block implementation of the statute before its January 1, 2024, effective date.
The statute fundamentally changes the structure of the Nashville Sports Authority by vacating the current thirteen-member board of directors on January 1, 2024, reappointing seven people who were members of the board as of June 30, 2023, removing the power of Metro Nashville’s Mayor and Council to appoint and confirm the remaining six directors, and giving that appointment power to State officials. The statute does not provide for it to be approved by the Metro Council or the voters.
IMAGINE NASHVILLE wants your input!
Imagine Nashville is a citywide initiative guided by the belief that we as a community must share our dreams and ideas to shape our future. We are working over the next several months to reach across geographic, socio-economic, racial and ethnic lines, and age differences to ensure everyone has a chance to share their wildest dreams, their most practical concerns, and, most of all their ideas for how we should go forward.
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a chance for communities to decide together how government money is spent. The process is simple: craft infrastructure improvements or project ideas and then vote on which ideas to invest in for your neighborhood. Learn more about PB and make suggestions for D24!
As of October 19th the sidewalk installment on Bowling Avenue is still on track to finish by June, 2024. The storm line work will start in earnest this week and will continue through early March, 2024.
Keep track of sidewalks, bikeways, and state routes with these handy trackers
