Council defers NDOT fee changes after members request presentation and more detail
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Summary
The council voted to defer one meeting on an ordinance that would change multiple NDOT fees and update code language after members asked for a 15‑minute presentation, more data on fee calculations and assurances about how fee increases would translate into service improvements.
The Metropolitan Council on a voice vote deferred one meeting an ordinance (bill 20 25‑10‑63) that would modify fees charged by the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) and amend related sections of the Metropolitan Code of Laws.
Council members asked NDOT for a short presentation and more information about how the fee study was calculated and how proposed fees would affect service and staffing. Councilmember Porterfield requested a 15‑minute presentation at a joint committee meeting and a one‑page summary for members. Matt Purvis, council liaison for NDOT, said NDOT could present highlights in 5–10 minutes or a more in‑depth overview in 15 minutes and that the bill’s effective date is based on the date filed and would not change because of the deferral.
Why it matters: The ordinance is intended largely for cost recovery, raising user fees to better match departmental costs and to fund additional positions (NDOT described hiring plans that included 15 full‑time equivalents: eight permanent inspectors, two plan reviewers and five operations staff). Council members pressed NDOT to show how higher fees would produce measurable service improvements rather than simply increasing revenue.
NDOT and council questions and concerns NDOT Director Diana Alcon said the fee study used an average rate across Davidson County, not a strictly “downtown” rate, but council members said using a downtown baseline can already produce very high charges for sidewalk café permits and other downtown uses. Alcon said the only immediate change going into effect would be an increase in the renewal application fee for outside dining permits from $100 to $250; broader rate language will be refined by a task force including industry stakeholders.
Council member Johnston asked NDOT to show a return‑on‑investment analysis comparing contracting costs to bringing services in‑house and requested benchmarks that would allow council to pause further fee increases if expected improvements do not materialize. NDOT said the principal purpose of the change is cost recovery — the department is currently subsidizing many services — but that service increases are expected as new staff are brought on.
Other procedural items Council members discussed whether NDOT inspections should be done by third parties. NDOT staff said the city retains legal liability for right‑of‑way work and that letting third parties perform inspections can leave Metro unable to hold contractors accountable if work is defective.
Next steps Council members asked NDOT to provide a short written summary and a 15‑minute presentation to the joint committee or at the head of the transportation committee before the council takes up the ordinance again. The one‑meeting deferral was approved by voice vote.