August Council Update - VOTE TOMORROW!!!

[Allen, Burkley (Council Member)]

METRO COUNCIL UPDATE

August 2026

EVENTS

 

Election Day is thursday, August 6. This is the general election for some county offices and  primary for federal and state elections. Federal and state offices on the ballot include congress, senate, governor, state representatives, and state senate.  Because of the recent redistricting by the state, congressional districts have changed for many voters in Davidson County. See the map for the new districts, which are still being contested in court, but are on the ballot. 

 

Nashville still shares three congressional districts with multiple other counties, but the combinations are very different  from the 2022 redistricting.  District 4 now includes part of Southeast Nashville and multiple counties to the southeast.  District 5, which used to be  Davidson County does not include any of Davidson County and reaches all the way west to include part of Memphis.  District 6 now includes a  “peninsula” reaching in from the east covering most of HWEN and BHN and parts of   Goodlettsville, Madison, Donelson, Old Hickory, East Nashville, and Hermitage. District 7 is now the western half of the county as well as counties to the north. To determine which congressional district you are in, visit  the Tennessee Comptroller’s website. https://tn-cot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=2bd3c9b349634d2ba7153410c0930d27

 

On election day, voters have to go to their specific precinct with a valid state issued photo ID, like an up-to-date Driver’s license https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/dlrenew.html .   Student IDs from a local university will not be accepted.  New voter registration cards with precinct assignments were mailed out in July. Voters can verify precinct locations at  https://www.nashville.gov/departments/elections/find-polling-place . 

A sample ballot can be found at the Davidson County Election Commission website.  https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/Sample_Ballot_August_6_2026_State_Fed_Prim_Cty_Gen_Oak_Hill.pdf?ct=1781625299   The general election is in November. 

 

 Early voting turn-out is up 45% over 2022 mid-terms, but that still puts us on track for less than 30% of voters determining who represents us at the state and federal level. Everyone’s vote matters!  Please make the effort to vote. 

 

 

Metro Schools begin on August 11 with a half day for pre-K and Kindergarten and full days for grades 1-12.  Information on enrollment, meals, immunization, transportation, school attire, and family support can all be found at https://www.mnps.org/back-to-school

 

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, start and end times for zoned schools with MNPS-provided transportation are changing to better match students’ internal clocks. Parents can check the alphabetical school list - or the school website - for the new start time.

 

 

Brush pick-up is scheduled for the following areas:

• August 4 - Area 1: West Madison, Capital View, Douglas Park, Cleveland Park, McFerrin Park, Highland Heights
• August 11 - Area 2: East Madison, Inglewood, Neely’s Bend, Peeler Park, Maplewood Heights, Iverson, Maxwell Heights, Edgefield, Eastwood, Shelby Bottoms, Shelby Hills, and Lockland Springs
• August 25 – Area 3: Old Hickory, Lakewood, Hermitage, Stones River, Two Rivers, River Trace

The Big Old Tree Contest,  one of the Nashville Tree Foundation’s (NTF) most popular and longest running programs, fosters appreciation for the importance of trees by engaging Nashvillians in identifying our city’s largest trees. Trees provide the public benefits by cleaning our air and water, providing lower utility bills, reducing carbon emissions from vehicles, providing cooler climates, and giving shelter and food to wildlife.  Mature trees are the most effective, so NTF wants to recognize the biggest and best.

Trees of any species in Davidson County can be nominated by anyone. The trees can be on the property of the nominator, a neighbor, friend, or stranger, or on public property. The owner's permission is suggested but not required. Nashville Tree Foundation is the only organization in Middle Tennessee that awards trees with tree tags. Winners are judged by circumference, height and crown spread.  The Big Old Tree Contest is open to all residents and organizations within the Nashville area. Nomination period for the 2025 contest is now open. Deadline for nominations is August 31. Winners will be announced at NTF’s Tree Spree in November. The contest and event are free and open to the public.  To view contest guidelines, entry forms and previous winners, visit https://nashvilletreefoundation.org/what-we-do/big-old-tree-contest/

The Transit Citizen Leadership Academy (TCLA) is the Transit Alliance’s award-winning program https://www.thetransitalliance.org/transit-citizen-leadership-academy designed to equip participants across the 10 counties of Middle Tennessee with the tools and resources to understand how transit intersects with our lives, contributes to a higher quality of life, sustains a vibrant economy, and builds pathways to equity.

The TCLA is an eight-session program with presentations led by industry experts and leading professionals. Participants synthesize vital information about regional transit issues through presentations, panels, discussions, homework, and reports. Industry-leading experts lead compelling and fact-based conversations and give participants the knowledge and tools to become thought leaders on the vital role of transit in the region today and into the future.

TCLA participants learn about the following:

• the process of funding transit and infrastructure;
• the impact transit has on our economy, health, environment, and equity;
• the responsibilities of local, state, and federal players;
• the importance of regional, corridor, and other studies and plans; as well as 
• the emerging mass transit options that can address our mobility needs today and well into the future.

Registration for TCLA 25 is open at https://www.thetransitalliance.org/transit-citizen-leadership-academy.  TCLA class sessions begin Tuesday, August 11th, 2026, and run through October 7th.. Classes are in-person at various locations, with some being experiential–meaning participants WILL be riding the bus and the train. 

 

Shakespeare in the Park is back at the Centennial Park bandshell.  A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream is a great way to introduce the whole family to Shakespeare in a totally casual setting under the stars.  The shows will run Thursdays-Sundays, August 20-September 20
and Labor Day Monday, September 7.  Music and food trucks start at 5:15 and the theatrics begin at 7.  Bring a picnic basket and a blanket and enjoy the show.  Tickets are pay what you will.
 

 

 

ISSUES

The Council has passed three bills in the last meetings that define and regulate new Data Centers.  The first bill defines data centers based on size and electrical load and sets standards for noise, water and electrical use, and distance from sensitive uses. The second bill places a moratorium on issuing permits for new data centers until December to allow us further time to study how other cities are working with this new industry and refine our regulations based on what we can learn from experiences around the country.  The third bill specifically enables the Mayor to negotiate on buying or acquiring the property near the zoo that is currently slated for a data center.

 

Tennessee and Nashville health officials confirmed the first two cases of measles in the state this year on July 11. Measles is a highly infectious disease which spreads very easily through the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes. Measles can be contracted from being in a room where a person with measles has been even up to two hours after the infected person has left.

Symptoms often appear 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Measles typically has a classic red, spotty rash that begins on the face and spreads over the body. Other symptoms can include fever, cough, red eyes and congestion, followed by rash. Complications of measles can include encephalitis and extended immune suppression. This can include loss of existing immunity to diseases that the patient has been vaccinated against.

If you think you have measles symptoms and need medical care, do not delay. Call your healthcare provider, urgent care, or emergency department before going in, and tell them you may have been exposed to measles. Of the confirmed cases nationwide this year, 93% were contracted by individuals unvaccinated for the disease. In about half of cases, patients are aged 5 to 19 years. Measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. At that time, there were no measles cases spreading within the U.S., and new cases were only identified among individuals who traveled outside the country.

Two doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective, according to the CDC. The health department offers vaccines Monday through Friday until 2:30 p.m. at three clinics:

• East Nashville Public Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane
• Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue
• Woodbine Public Health Center, 224 Oriel Avenue

Children from birth through 18 years of age may be eligible for free, federally-funded vaccines through the Vaccines for Children Program through the Nashville Health Department. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/health/news/metro-public-health-department-alerts-public-measles-case-nashville  An administration fee of $20 is charged for vaccines, but will slide according to income.

 

 

 

With all the devastation to the tree canopy last winter, it is more important than ever to replace lost trees.  Root Nashville is our city’s drive to plant 500,000 trees by 2050.   This is a public-private campaign led by Metro Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact. Trees are instrumental in absorbing stormwater and filtering pollutants before they enter our streams and rivers; the growth of Nashville’s tree canopy supports the Compact’s goal of improving water quality for residents of the Cumberland River basin .  Tree planting season is quickly approaching - and the search for tree recipients and planting sites is in full swing  There are a few ways to request free trees for Davidson County homes or neighborhoods this fall: 

• property owners can order up to 3 for their yard, 
• businesses and organizations can apply for 10 or more at their office, HOA, place of worship, or other community space,
• anyone can suggest a public planting site (like a park or street) via HUB Nashville https://hub.nashville.gov/s/?language=en_US

Get involved and help grow Nashville’s tree canopy this year - each tree contributes to the Root Nashville campaign’s goal of planting 500,000 trees in Davidson County by 2050. Now is the time to start planning to plant a tree in the fall.  Order at https://rootnashville.org/ . 

 

Mosquito season is at its peak.   In addition to causing itchy bumps, mosquitos can carry serious diseases like West Nile Virus or Zika for people and heart worms for pets.  Getting rid of all outside standing water every week can prevent mosquito breeding, and creating a mosquito bait station (bucket of doom) can stop the next generation from hatching.  A small bucket of water with some leaves and grass and a quarter of a BT disk uses a natural larvicide that won’t hurt any other insects.  Joanna Brichetto (one of Nashville’s local naturalists) has more tips on using this effectively.

1)  Start with one bucket, increase as needed. Site exposure, elevation, size, airflow, vegetation, and how nearby properties deal with standing water mean every yard is unique. She has to use 4 buckets, but other neighbors with similar-size yards are fine with one.

 2) Bti dunks are formulated to last at least 30 days. So add a new 1/4 of a dunk every 30 days. One whole dunk treats 100 sq. feet of surface area, so 1/4 is more than enough for one bucket. Dunks are easy to break into 4 pieces. They can be bought at hardware stores.

 3) Some mosquito species are attracted to the water as it gets muckier. To prevent build-up of algae, keep the bucket in the shade (where mosquitoes prefer to hang out). But if the bucket starts to smell bad to a human, go ahead and dump the water and start over.

 Joanne has lots of details on her website, https://sidewalknature.com/2022/05/08/mosquito-bucket-of-doom/

 

Dr, Learotha Williams, the Davidson County Historian has launched Davidson County Voices to document oral histories, preserve family collections, support collaborative research, and engage the public through programs and partnerships. The program aims to highlight overlooked stories, revisit familiar narratives, and ensure a more representative history for future generations.

 This initiative is rooted in the simple belief that Davidson County’s history is too rich and diverse to be told from a single perspective. It calls for collaboration among scholars and community members, archivists and artists, students and elders to build a fuller and more honest account of our past.

 To participate contact Dr. Williams at Lea.Wi...@nashville.gov or (615) 862-7970 / Ext. 79787  for more information.

 

Metro’s new Waste Services Department is busy looking at ways to dispose of waste most efficiently while decreasing the city’s impact on the environment.  Here are some of the issues they are looking at. 

Balancing and optimizing all collection routes – The city has moved to 4 day/week pick-up,  which decreases the disruption from holidays and allows for Mondays to be used for make-up days when needed. 

Waste Characterization Study – A multi-season study of what is actually in our waste provides information of what can be diverted from the landfill and which waste streams will have the biggest impact. 

Materials Recycling Facility Feasibility  - As Metro explores purchasing our own recycling processing equipment, new options are opening up for getting more materials to markets.  This provides greater transparency so residents can be assured that their recyclables are actually turning into new products. 

Organic Waste Study – the pilot program of 750 homes has been very successful, and is providing useful data on how this can be scaled to include more households.

Convenience Center Study on the facilities, programs, and services – The city’s four staffed convenience centers have all been spruced up, and the search is on for a fifth location to provide options for the western side of the city.

More information is available on the NWS website. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/waste-services

 

Metro has over 75 Boards and Commissions that help implement the goals and policies of the Metro Departments.  These are made up of citizens from all over the county who bring their diverse perspectives and expertise to ensure good decision making.  Board members are appointed by the mayor or vice-mayor and approved by the Metro Council.  The Mayor’s Office is always looking for good people to serve.  Within the next few months, there will be openings on the Minority Business Advisory Council, Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities,Community Corrections Board, Transporation Licensing Commission, Contract and Compliance Board,Behavioral Health and Wellness Advisory Board, and Community Review Board.   If you are interested in serving, you can fill out an application at https://www.nashville.gov/boardslist

 I hope everyone  enjoys the last month of summer.  Please let me know what concerns or suggestions you have for Nashville.  You can reach me at burkle...@nashville.gov or 615-383-6604.  Sign up for my newsletter at www.burkley.org

Burkley

Burkley Allen
Metro Council At-Large

615-383-6604

Council Committees - Budget and Finance - Past Chair

                               Planning, Zoning, and Historic- Past Chair

                               Transportation and Infrastructure - Solid Waste Subcommittee Chair

Barnes Housing Trust Fund Commission

Sustainability Commission

Tax Abatement Study Committee - Chair

Women's Caucus - Past Chair