Council Member Burkley Allen Council Update - Happy New Year!

[Allen, Burkley (Council Member)]

January, 2026

 

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a great holiday, and your new year is off to a great start.

 

The Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) is inviting community partners to apply for funding to engage youth in meaningful summer work experiences. The MAC POWER Youth Summer Employment Program is the agency’s flagship youth work initiative. MAC seeks project proposals from Davidson County non-profit organizations to host youth ages 14–15 for project-based experiences. Funding covers materials for the work experience, while MAC provides stipends for participating youth. Proposals are due by January 9, 2026, with up to $50,000 available per program, based on the number of youth served.  POWER—short for Providing Opportunities for Wealth-building and Economic Resilience—was named by youth to reflect their vision for success. This initiative grew from sessions with Davidson County youth who expressed the need for meaningful summer activities and income opportunities as alternatives  Organizations applying for funding should demonstrate integration of career exploration, skill development, and healthy lifestyle activities that prepare Metro Nashville youth for future success. 

Key Dates:

• Proposal Deadline: January 9, 2026, at 4:30 PM CST
• Program Dates: June 1 – July 17, 2026

To access the full funding announcement, visit www.nashville.gov/mac and click “POWER Youth Funding.” Last summer, MAC awarded 16 grants to community organizations, resulting in over 400 youth ages 14–15 participating in project-based experiences. Combined with employment opportunities for older youth (ages 16–18), nearly 1,000 youth were engaged in summer work experiences.  Organizations interested in employing youth ages 16 and older should contact power...@nashville.gov or visit poweryouth.nashville.gov.

Trash and recycling pick-up will be shifted one day for the weeks of New Years and Martin Luther King Day.  In February, Nashville Waste services will switch to a four day trash and recycling pick-up schedule that will eliminate the disruption of Monday holidays. More information is avaialbe at https://www.nashville.gov/departments/waste-services/trash-and-recycling-services/new-collection-schedule

Metro’s Christmas Tree Recycling Drop-off program will run through February 13 at the following locations:

Cane Ridge Park

 Una Recreation Center

Whitfield Park

Cedar Hill Park

Two Rivers Park

 Joelton Community Center

 Sevier Park

 Richland Park

 Elmington Park

 Edwin Warner Park

 Lakewood City Hall

 Frederick Douglass Park

 Both Living Earth locations at 1511 Elm Hill Pike and 6401 Centennial Blvd

 

Trees must be cleaned of wooden stands, watering bowls, ornaments, lights, wire, string, and other decorations before drop-off.  Neighbors are asked not to dump any other items at the tree drop-off locations.  This program is a great way to keep trees out of the landfill and to provide mulch for trails around Nashville.  Artificial trees cannot be accepted at the pick-up sites but can be taken to any of Metro’s four convenience centers for disposal.  There are several scout and youth programs that will haul the trees for those who aren’t able to do that themselves.

 

Brush Pick-up, which will also includes properly un-decorated Christmas trees, continues in  

Area 8 -  Green Hills, Hillsboro West End, Belmont Hillsboro, Percy Warner, Devonshire

                Jan 6

 Area 9 - Bellevue, West Meade, Hillwood, White Bridge, Cherokee Park, Richland West End,

                             Sylvan Park, Sylvan Heights, Hadley, Fisk, Watkins Park  January 9

Area 10 Whites Bend, Charlotte Park, Cockrill Bend, Nations, TSU, College Heights,

                                Germantown, Buena Vista January 16

Area 11 Joelton, Whites Creek, Marrowbone, Scottsboro, Bells Bend, Bordeaux,

                               Haynes Heights, Haynes Manor January 22

Area 12 Goodlettsville, Dalemere, Bellshire  January 28

 

Metro does not collect brush on private streets or in satellite/self incorporated cities such as Forest Hills, Berry Hill, and Belle Meade. Residents of those areas should contact their city officials for the services available.

 

 

Nashville’s Interministerial Fellowship hosts a number of events to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, beginning with Women of Faith at Scarritt Bennett Center on January 11 Labor Breakfast on Januery 16, and culminating on Monday, January 19 in the MLK Day March.  The march starts at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church 2708 Jefferson Street at 9 followed by convocation at TSU’s Gentry Center at 10.  More information is available at https://www.mlkdaynashville.com/

 

Applications are being accepted for Vanderbilt's School for Science and Math program

The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (the SSMV) is seeking highly motivated MNPS high school students who are passionate about science and math, ready to apply themselves as today's problem solvers and interested in becoming tomorrow's leaders. The SSMV will prepare students to successfully engage in college studies at an accelerated rate, promote the pursuit of graduate, postgraduate and professional study, and provide the strong foundation crucial for career success. Students come to Vanderbilt once a week throughout highschool for hands on science and math research and will earn seven advanced, science elective credits earned over their four years.  The SSMV application is available for current eighth-graders and is due February 14.  Visit the SSMV website at https://www.vanderbilt.edu/cseo-ssmv/ to learn more .

Sign up for the Greenway Challenge!  Greenways for Nashville is challenging everyone in Nashville to Run, Walk, Ride, or Roll All of Nashville's Greenways in 2026.  This is a great way to discover the more than 100 miles of greenways throughout Nashville.  These linear parks are a treasure just waiting to be discovered.  Throughout the year, Greenways for Nashville will host and co-host optional greenway meetup events. Neighbors can also complete the challenge totally solo – but what’s more fun than a group activity?  Sign up at https://greenwaysfornashville.org/2026greenwayschallenge/

Once you’ve signed up for the pledge, you’ll receive the template Greenways Passport, where you’ll mark which greenways segments you’ve completed and when. I’ll be holding office hours on a few of those greenways so I invite folks to join me when I’m in your part of town.

 

Since 2022 Meharry Medical College has promoted Dry January, leading a national movement to encourage individuals to reflect on their relationship with alcohol, adopt healthier habits, and reduce the harmful impacts of excessive alcohol use.   Nashville has officially recognized Dry January and particularly January 7, 2026, as Dry January® USA Day, honoring the initiative’s commitment to fostering healthier communities and focusing our annual efforts on this one day of significance where those who drink alcohol are asked to reflect, for at least one day, and to observe how they may reduce their use of alcohol throughout the rest of the year.  More information is on the Dry January website https://dryjanuaryusa.org/meharry-medical-college/  .

 

Per EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements requirement issued several years ago, Metro Water Services (MWS) has updated their inventory of customer service lines made of lead,  galvanized, or unknown metal and will mail a “Potential Lead Exposure Risk Notice” (known as the PLERN) to customers that have been determined to have a water service line made of lead pipe, a galvanized service line that is or may have been downstream of lead, or a service line that has still not been verified.  These customer notifications do not indicate an imminent health threat but are being sent as a requirement to inform customers so they can take additional precautions as they feel necessary.  Lead is not present in drinking water when it leaves the water treatment plant and analysis shows that the MWS corrosion control program is effective in preventing lead from leaching into drinking water from lead or old galvanized pipes.

 Letters have been mailed for approximately 20,948 locations – 730 were found to have galvanized requiring replacement (GRR), 1,659 have lead pipe, and 18,559 are still unknown.   

The MWS website, also has the following:

• The letters in English and Spanish
• An interactive map showing results of the lead service line inventory
• A video showing how residents can determine their pipe material and a survey residents can complete to provide MWS with information for the inventory
• Results of the triennial MWS lead analysis 
• General lead information

 Residents with questions or concerns can follow up with the contacts below. 

MWS PIPE information: 615-862-4923

Email: MWSPIPEin...@nashville.gov

Website: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/water/water-quality/lead (bit.ly\MWSPIPE)

 

Metro Water has scheduled a rate increase of 3% for January as part of the 2019 rate study and realignment plan.  Steady, planned increases help MWS keep up with inflation and ensure adequate funding to provide reliable and clean water.  The increase will be reflected in the February bill.  More information about the rate structure and how to reduce water consumption are at https://www.nashville.gov/departments/water/customers/rates .

 

The Metropolitan Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for the 50th Annual Preservation Awards program, honoring Nashville's best preservation projects. Anyone may nominate buildings or structures that have been restored, rehabilitated, or carefully maintained over time. The awards also recognize well-designed new construction that harmonizes with a historic environment. To be considered, nominated properties must be located in Davidson County and have an original construction date of 1976 or earlier (50 years of age). Infill projects should be no older than 2023. All projects must have been completed within the past three years. Previous winners may be eligible if the work is significantly different.  Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2026.  The awards ceremony will take place in May in recognition of National Preservation Month. For more program details and submission instructions, please visit Historic’s Preservation Awards page.

 

ISSUES

In 2024 Nashvillians voted overwhelmingly in favor of funding transit improvements, now known as Choose How You Move.  The half cent sales tax increase began last year, and enhancements are now fully underway.    The city has hired Sabrina Sussman as chief  program officer and has begun implementing service enhancements, safety and lighting improvements, and sidewalk and traffic signal improvements.  This current round of funding makes both rapid improvements and prioritize transformational work on Nashville's busiest corridors. This round advances work on Nolensville Pike  and Gallatin Pike, which will see upgrades from downtown to Madison. Here’s the breakdown by category:

Sidewalks  - $31.4 million 

Design and construction of 17 sidewalk projects across more than 10 neighborhoods, improving safe and accessible transit connections to major transit routes in high-traffic areas.

Signals - $32.4 million

Expansion of the fiber network necessary to support future smart corridors across Davidson County, and smart signal installations at 115 intersections that read traffic patterns, adjust to maximize flow, keep buses on schedule, enhance safety of vulnerable users, and synchronize with other traffic signals on the street.

Service - $23.6 million

Key investments to enable WeGo service expansion, including new buses, upgraded stops and shelters, improvements in airport transit rider experience, and planning for a new operations and maintenance facility to support continued expansion of transit service frequency and new bus routes. The funding will advance planning and design for Nolensville Pike and Gallatin/Main Street. It will also advance a curbside bus lane pilot on West End Avenue which was one of 11 foundational projects partially funded in Spring 2025.

Safety - $13.4 million

Safety and security upgrades for the new Transit Safety Division within MNPD and reconstruction of Edgehill/Chestnut Street and Church Street/Elliston Place to improve safe connectivity to major transit routes for all users—whether they walk, bike, roll or drive. The funding also supports planning and design for downtown multi-use lanes at Union, 7th, and Demonbreun for bicyclists and scooter riders connecting to transit.

More information is available on the Choose How You Move website. https://www.nashville.gov/featured-initiatives/transit  

Housing Bill 2025-1008, creating a Voluntary Attainable Housing Program (VAHIP) will be on the council agenda January 20.  This bill was enabled by state legislation last year finally allowing cities to tie increased entitlements to housing affordability.  This bill would allow a property to add two floors above base zoning if the builder voluntarily commits to setting aside 10% of the units for people earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) The AMI for Nashville (meaning half the people in the area earn more and half earn less)  is $80,400 for a single person,.  That means rents in the designated units would be capped at 30% of income or around  $1,600/month. The VAHIP would only be available for properties zoned RL, one of the new zoning district types created by the zoning bills passed in December.  There is currently no property zoned RL, and no rezones can happen until Metro Planning has completed their   update of the Community Character Manual to describe areas where the policy supports that kind of zoning.  That would be determined by proximity to major streets,  frequent transit, and urban character.  That update is expected in April.  After the update, council member, neighborhoods, or property owners could begin to explore rezoning to RL through the community engagement process where it makes sense and where there is support.

 

Openings on Metro Boards and Commissions.  Metro has over 75 boards and commissions that help the government operate and interpret regulations fairly.  These are composed of volunteer citizens with interest or expertise in the particular subject.  Most board members are nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the Metro Council.  When current members’ terms expire, and they decide not to continue, there is the opportunity to add new members to the board.   Terms are expiring, and spots may be opening up on the Arts Commission, Agricultural Extension Board, Metro Action Commission, Historical Commission, Sports Authority, and Zoning Appeals Board.   Anyone who is interested in serving can fill out a form on the Metro website at  https://www.nashville.gov/boards for each specific board.

 

I hope everyone’s New Year is off to a great start.  Please let me hear from you about your ideas and concerns.  Reach out to burkle...@nashville.gov or 615-383-6604.

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