[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6476553,"mediaKeyId","5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153","parentId",5723978,"title","Nashville council elects Delicia Porterfield as president pro tem; Horton, Parker, Spain and Porterfield win key committee posts","audioSeconds",464,"startMs",563000,"endMs",1027000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153&start=563&end=1027","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153/thumbnail_563000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6476553/Tennessee/Nashville-council-elects-Delicia-Porterfield-as-president-pro-tem-Horton-Parker-Spain-and-Porterfield-win-key-committee-posts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476553-f3e7e31362de67f337ef61a4d6356128/orig.mp4?Expires=1772837161&Signature=o4DB74pfdtTgK3X-dUyPOmky6IhpMk18R42jAEe9z-N5xh1dNP9yfm9Ma5vEBtmE2rh8-OVf98WlEr5S3620AeJsYMJMQ41MbVKf03xxOj1HxCjDkDxJv1nM72Cf8DBSbN4wSb9U9ITDE6zkGWxzGG2kluBr0YjZVsdzV0EukzEkrazcDwytjX08biBjMnbDr1lryTGcgR0yP5fLMOibxh2r5TUY~0yaqpBpWVp5ohM77Nv499KXl7CIKmx9WeoH3CnyUoXypJWpjGVDKbl0cPA~su4FlI7wu6h9cIcWty7M3Ank2fnWq0WNZYX1XonL0MpUv4HsoYfUCbBnou-TyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Metro Nashville Network","date","2025-09-03T14:59:25Z","article","Delicia Porterfield was elected president pro tem of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County at the council’s meeting on Sept. 9, 2025, after Vice Mayor Henderson cast a tie-breaking vote. With Henderson’s tiebreak, Porterfield received 19 votes to Russ Bradford’s 18; one member abstained.

The vote followed nominating remarks highlighting experience and representation. Council member at-large Olivia Hill, who nominated Russ Bradford, said, “Representation matters not just what it symbolizes, but how that it shapes leadership, inclusion, and in just injustice,” arguing that pro temship would signal belonging for LGBTQ residents. Council member Quante Toombs, who nominated Delicia Porterfield, emphasized the role’s succession responsibilities and cited Porterfield’s work as budget and finance chair.

The election matters because the pro tem fills the vice mayor’s duties if needed and helps set tone and priorities for council leadership over the coming year.

Council also elected Rollin Horton as chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee by a 20–19 vote over John Rutherford. Horton framed his candidacy around Nashville’s housing shortage and the need for “a very strategic and very intentional approach” to growth. Rutherford emphasized his experience as vice chair and his efforts at community engagement during rezonings.

In other leadership and representative votes, the council chose:

- Sean Parker as the council’s representative to the Traffic and Parking Commission (25 votes to 14 for Jeff Eslick). Parker noted recent work on multimodal plans and voter-approved funding for transportation initiatives and said his focus would be on offering alternatives when commissioners decline neighborhood requests (for example, suggesting traffic-calming options if a four-way stop is denied).

- Two Metro Audit Committee seats were filled after multiple ballots. Jason Spain reached the required majority in an initial round; the second seat required successive ballots and narrowing of candidates, after which Delicia Porterfield was elected to the second seat. The committee chair and vice mayor also serve on the audit committee.

- Council member Cash was selected as the council’s nonvoting representative to the Short-Term Rental Appeals Board; his selection was approved by acclamation. Chair Parker, who previously represented council on that board, said the role gives insight into recurring short-term rental regulatory issues.

The council also confirmed multiple committee appointees and reappointments in a consolidated step later in the agenda; those confirmations were recorded from committee votes and finalized by the council.

Why it matters: these elections set the leadership for committees that will steer zoning and land-use decisions, audits of city functions and finances, transportation and traffic policy, and short-term rental appeals. Several winners emphasized collaboration and experience as priorities in addressing housing, safety, and fiscal oversight.

Details and context

- Vote counts and outcomes: Delicia Porterfield elected president pro tem (Porterfield 19, Bradford 18, 1 abstention; vice mayor Henderson cast tie-break); Rollin Horton elected planning and zoning chair (20–19); Sean Parker elected Traffic & Parking representative (25–14); Jason Spain and Delicia Porterfield elected to Metro Audit Committee after multi-round voting; Cash elected to Short-Term Rental Appeals Board by acclamation.

- Nominators and candidates: Nominators cited leadership experience (Porterfield, former budget chair), neighborhood engagement (Rutherford), and transportation track records (Parker). Bradford noted his leadership of the council’s LGBTQ caucus and committee work.

Ending

Council members thanked nominees and acknowledged the narrow margins in several races as a sign of an engaged and divided body. The elected leaders will begin serving the terms specified in the council charter and will assume committee duties immediately as provided by council rules.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","09/02/25 Metropolitan Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Delicia Porterfield was elected president pro tem of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County after Vice Mayor Henderson cast a tie-breaking vote; Rollin Horton, Sean Parker, Jason Spain and Delicia Porterfield also won key committee and board posts.","taxTitle","Council Announcements & Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",69337,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6476544,"Council adopts youth-policy working group resolution and backs air-quality grant; approves property-standards reporting change",308,8644000,8952000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153&start=8644&end=8952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153/thumbnail_8644000.jpg","/articles/6476544/Tennessee/Council-adopts-youth-policy-working-group-resolution-and-backs-air-quality-grant-approves-property-standards-reporting-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476544-2c870d3c3057110d7b268666c17c15c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1772837161&Signature=Xnk8g32SXoTdqETlKHi9k3bixz80eeKBcJa0cEtyTpy6qwAp8lQYWuQmrQ43Jq90ogyLzSKQSCeuH6jfVH9RRTM8UtZERLYievVfSc~coWTHNPC9mf3X-VeSxIRBnI4FxbKeDOdTEr5-q-FqQmoMr8Mms3sx6OW8s1ZJDaeDdxxR9a~01XEJvwLoYx6TT-oyGnX6Mf-Lz7BNOVMCIZuiO48uLEvyFX4Ky8lynkpcNKWAQXbFNuDDFs4R1JC3kKn7IVz3rrk0UJt1EFeaC~GfnjUj8n16APjYtuC8dakZDw5eodlF4dwqss-UihWq2j6jgLDDq0sS5dQ1y9K~iTzs~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Council adopted a substitute resolution asking the mayor to create an advisory working group to develop a coordinating model for a long-term youth policy and strategic plan that extends beyond a single mayoral term. Sponsor Councilman Druffel said the substitute reflects coordination with the mayor’s office and the city’s existing Department of Youth Safety.

Budget & Finance recommended the substitute and council approved it as substituted. Council members described the resolution as intended to preserve data continuity and embed cross-administration planning for youth services.

The council also approved a resolution accepting federal support for air monitoring. Council member Delicia Porterfield introduced an amendment clarifying the resolution’s intent to support air-quality protection activities; the Budget & Finance committee recommended approval and the council adopted the resolution as substituted. The grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will fund ongoing collection of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) data through Metro Public Health to help improve air-quality tracking.

Property-standards reporting

On code enforcement and property standards, the council advanced an ordinance (BL2025-948) as substituted. The substitute requires the Department of Law to provide data to council members about property-standards cases that will be scheduled in environmental court, including origination date and current status. Sponsor Councilman Eslick said the change is intended to give district council members earlier notice so they may intervene or assist constituents before court orders are issued.

Why these items matter

- The youth-policy resolution seeks to institutionalize cross-agency and cross-term planning for youth services, addressing concerns that program continuity can lapse when administrations change.

- The EPA-funded air monitoring supports long-term public-health data collection on fine particulate pollution, which informs public-health planning and regulatory responses.

- The property-standards reporting change increases transparency for council members and residents by giving elected officials earlier notice of enforcement cases heading to court; sponsors said the measure will help address chronic noncompliance more effectively.

Ending

Council members said the measures reflect a mix of programmatic planning (youth policy), technical public-health assistance (air monitoring grant), and operational improvements to local enforcement processes (property-standards reporting). Each item passed after committee review and substitution language intended to make responsibilities and reporting clear to council and staff.

","The council adopted a substitute resolution requesting a mayoral advisory group to coordinate long-term youth policy, accepted an EPA air-quality grant for ongoing PM2.5 monitoring, and advanced a code change requiring earlier reporting on property-standards court cases.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6476549,"Council defers sightseeing-vehicle ordinance after divided testimony; operator and city staff disagree",300,4058000,4358000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153&start=4058&end=4358","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5723978-912bdce3ebf1ee66ccce567a71c32153/thumbnail_4058000.jpg","/articles/6476549/Tennessee/Council-defers-sightseeing-vehicle-ordinance-after-divided-testimony-operator-and-city-staff-disagree","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476549-b67f535c7be884b6a396db8487b9e2d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1772837161&Signature=IOq1pOfxTMvt-QXoE6wTgadTOAqIbFjV~eliV8ePKcSPH6ik~V7bILFU3zO46~h2yZ-~V1AtFeeF6EakmfJKJCrvFiYAwaqdKNBn~~qFbBwkL6sOuilzvPSHb2hlVIpT1qZXJZlmcmdpIwXyOiD1gCwV6HxvUFj9KlP2ch5lBFulIp0XQRcJcXEYRDntA-rGnPL1piVXaJc322tUuuobe1MwzsEhqSK270ZJvMHd1ZzSBbR3G2-w1B91PJdlJo3XJSgMF~wEdLKbv0SNlL1LLzBBpyuw5Q3Dy51cpa88zA64kqO35C2aozbzQwgE9TqoU8PUEGwm85-j6XD033KjFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Council deferred on first consideration an ordinance (BL2025-954) that would create a standalone regulatory framework for seated sightseeing vehicles (SSVs) in Nashville, sending it back to the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for further review.

At the council public hearing two speakers presented sharply different views. Attorney Gil Schutte urged the council to reject the measure, arguing it “is unnecessary, supported by a single operator, Old Town Trolley, and deemed unnecessary and unhelpful by the Nashville Department of Transportation.” Schutte said Metro is already engaged in litigation over Transportation Licensing Commission rules and told the council that the transportation director, when deposed, said she believed the ordinance should not move forward.

Chris Mader, speaking for Old Town Trolley, said the company has operated hop-on/hop-off, seated tours in Nashville for almost a decade and described the vehicles as distinct from party buses: “We operate on fixed routes, require all passengers to be seated at all times, prohibit alcohol on board, and move tourists between cultural destinations.” He asked the council to adopt a tailored regulatory chapter for SSVs that would clarify enforcement without changing fleet sizes or existing SSV rules.

Councilman Coopin, the bill sponsor and the lead negotiator in committee, said he and planning and transportation staff had worked on a substitute and that he planned a stakeholder meeting to try to reconcile outstanding concerns before the council takes up the bill again. Committee records show Transportation & Infrastructure recommended approval of a substitute version earlier, but the public comment and the director’s deposition prompted Coopin to seek more stakeholder discussion.

Why it matters

The ordinance would separate SSVs from the broader “entertainment transportation vehicle” (ETV) category — historically written for party buses — and would create new permit types and operational rules for seated sightseeing vehicles. Supporters say the change would reduce regulatory confusion and improve enforcement; opponents say the change grants special treatment to a single operator and risks undermining a uniform regulatory approach.

Council action and next steps

- The sponsor moved a one-meeting deferral and rereferral to Transportation & Infrastructure to allow stakeholder talks and technical review. The council approved the deferral and re-referral; no final vote on the ordinance was taken.

- Transportation and Department of Transportation staff will participate in the planned stakeholder meeting; sponsor Coopin asked interested parties to submit concerns before that meeting so the committee can consider them at its next session.

Ending

The council’s deferral keeps the ordinance alive but delayed. Sponsor Coopin said he hopes a committee-level stakeholder process will produce language that can command broader support; opponents urged the council to preserve an existing uniform regulatory approach until the ongoing litigation and the department’s technical concerns are resolved.

","Council deferred BL2025-954, a bill to separately regulate seated sightseeing vehicles, after public testimony from a lawyer opposing the change and a representative of Old Town Trolley supporting it; sponsor Councilman Coopin has scheduled stakeholder talks and the bill was sent back to committee for more review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nashville council elects Delicia Porterfield as president pro tem; Horton, Parker, Spain and Porterfield win key committee posts

Council adopts youth-policy working group resolution and backs air-quality grant; approves property-standards reporting change

Council defers sightseeing-vehicle ordinance after divided testimony; operator and city staff disagree