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Committee rejects substitute; keeps Music, Entertainment and Film Commission hiring authority
Summary
The Rules, Confirmations & Public Elections Committee debated BL2025-688, an ordinance amending chapter 2.147 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws that governs the Nashville Music, Entertainment and Film Commission. A substitute that would have reduced the commission's autonomy failed and the committee approved the bill as filed.
The Rules, Confirmations & Public Elections Committee on Feb. 18, 2025 voted down a substitute amendment to BL2025-688 and approved the ordinance as filed to amend chapter 2.147 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws regarding the Nashville Music, Entertainment and Film Commission.
The substitute, offered by Councilmember Stiles, would have reduced the commission's membership and changed elements of who hires and supervises the commission's executive director. After debate the committee voted 0 in favor, 6 against and 2 not voting on the substitute. The committee then voted to approve the bill without the substitute; the final committee tally recorded on the transcript was 6 yes, 0 no, 1 not voting.
Committee members and administration witnesses framed the debate around how the commission should be organized to attract and retain creative projects and operate sustainably. Councilmember Stiles and supporters said keeping the commission's existing authority to hire an executive director would help the office gain stability and independence. "If this commission is allowed to do the job that they currently are supposed to do, to hire a director that is able to not be touched," Stiles said, the transcript shows, arguing the structure could insulate the office from changes in mayoral priorities. Supporters noted there were "over a hundred applicants" for the executive director position.
Opponents, including several council members and a representative of the mayor's office, said the current code is ambiguous about supervisory lines and therefore untenable. "The existing code which is also in the substitute as far as, executive director and staff is untenable. It doesn't say who hires or supervises the staff," Dave Rosenberg of the mayor's office said during the committee meeting. Rosenberg described two alternatives: clarify the hiring/supervision role with the mayor's office involved in hiring decisions, or make the commission a standalone department with explicit budget and supervisory authority.
Members who favored limiting commission hiring authority cited concerns about accountability, civil-service status and the practicalities of supervision inside the city structure. Supporters of the existing language warned that removing the commission's ability to hire would slow momentum and diminish industry confidence.
The substitute failed and the ordinance as filed passed the committee vote. The record does not show subsequent council steps beyond the committee action in the meeting transcript.
