August Update

EVENTS

Night out against Crime is August 1. Precincts all over Nashville are celebrating with events to help people know their neighbors and learn how to keep neighborhoods safe.

• East – East Park, 600 Woodland St – 4 pm
• Madison – Madison Park, 550 N Dupont Ave – 5 pm
• Central – Broadway at 1st – 5 pm
• North – Mt Calvary Church, 2448 Herman St – 5 pm
• West – Red Caboose Park, 684 Colice Jeanne Rd – 6 pm
• Midtown – Plaza Mariachi, 3955 Nolensville Rd – 3955 Nolensville Pk – 5 pm
• Hermitage – 433 Opry Mills, 101 University Ct & 1700 Golf Club Rd – 5 pm
• South- Southeast Community Center, 5260 Hickory Hollow PKWY – 4 pm

Elections are August 3 – Nashvillians will be electing mayor, vice-mayor, and new members of the metro council. At the state level, there is a primary for state district 52 to replace the late Bill Beck, currently held by Anthony Davis as appointed interim and general election for state district 51 to which Representative Justin Jones was re-appointed by the Metro Council. I am on the ballot for Council Member At-Large, and I would love to keep working at this job. A sample ballot can be downloaded at the election commission website.

Early voting had a turn-out that puts us on track for less than a third of voters determining who runs our city. Everyone’s vote matters! Please make the effort to vote. On Election Day voters need to go to their specific voting precinct, which may have changed after the 2021 redistricting. Confirm voting precincts here.

After the election, candidates who are not in the run-off are required to remove their signs within 10 days. Signs that are no longer needed can be recycled at Turnip Green Creative Re-use on Fourth Avenue South. The frames can be re-used or recycled at any of Metro’s four convenience centers. Find locations on Metro’s recycling website.

Beginning this September, the Metro Historical Commission will offer its first Citizen Historic Preservation Academy. The application deadline is August 4. The six-week, two-hour, Citizen Historic Preservation Academy starts September 11, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. and continues until October 23. (There will be no class on October 9.) The Academy is an opportunity for Nashville residents to learn more about Metro Nashville’s involvement in preservation, the related benefits and resources, and how citizens can participate in local processes. The Academy will meet at historic Metro sites with an opportunity to tour some of the sites. Class size is limited to 12, and the selection process is competitive. The ideal candidate will be someone who has the interest and the means to share what is learned with their neighborhood and be able to attend at least 5 of the 6 Monday night sessions. Topics of discussion will include: local historic zoning, the Secretary of Interior Standards, recognizing historic styles, researching property, incentives for rehabilitation and designation, and introductions to local and state partners and programs. Interested candidates should send answers to the following questions to historicalcommission@nashville.gov by August 4, 5:00 p.m.

• Why are you a good candidate for the Citizen’s Historic Preservation Academy? Please include what you would like to learn from and share with the Academy and any qualifications/special interests you believe are important.
• List any past or current community involvement.
• How do you plan to share information you receive in the Academy with your neighborhood?

The second annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix takes place August 4-6. The streets of downtown will again become a racetrack for three days. Beginning August 2, right of way and on-street parking may be intermittently restricted in the area around the Titans Stadium and Korean Veterans Blvd/Shelby Street. Beginning Wednesday, August 2, at 8pm, total road closures will be implemented and will remain in place through Monday, August 7th at 6am. More information is available at the Music City Grand Prix web site.

Instead of driving and paying for parking, attendees can ride the bus or train. Tickets are on sale now for WeGo Public Transit’s special event train from Lebanon to downtown Nashville for the race on Sunday, August 6. The train will depart from Lebanon Station at 9 am and arrive at Nashville’s Riverfront Station at 11. The return train to Lebanon leaves one hour after the conclusion of the race. Round-trip tickets cost $15 plus a $2 processing fee and are available for purchase through Tickets Nashville. Tickets will not be for sale on the platforms. Parking is free at the inbound stations.

Metro Schools begin on August 8. Information on enrollment, meals, immunization, transportation, school attire, and family support can all be found on the MNPS website.

The Transit Citizen Leadership Academy (TCLA) is the Transit Alliance’s award-winning program 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 now 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 on the Transit Alliance website. Class sessions are held Wednesdays, 4-6:30 PM, August 16th-October 25th, 2023, with breaks on September 6th and October 11th. Classes are in-person at various locations, with some being experiential–meaning participants WILL be riding the bus and the train. The class graduation is on 10/25 as part of the yearly Alumni social.

Governor Lee has called for a special session of the state legislature to consider gun violence reduction legislation. This is tentatively set for August 21, but the governor has not yet issued the special proclamation that makes it official. A website has been set up to receive public input in advance of the session. It is important for legislators to hear that most people support better protections. Nashvillians can express their support for the session and lay out concerns on the input form. It is also helpful to write or call state legislators and ask them to support the special session and gun violence reduction measures like safe gun storage and risk protection. Contact information for legislators can be found on the State website.

Brush pick-up is scheduled for the following areas:

• August 1 – Area 12: Goodlettsville, Dalemere, Bellshire
• August 7 - Area 1: West Madison, Capital View, Douglas Park, Cleveland Park, McFerrin Park, Highland Heights
• August 14 - 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
• September 1 – Area 4 : Donelson, Airport, Percy Priest, Northeast Antioch

The Broadway Bridge over 11th Avenue will be closed through August. Traffic will be detoured onto Church Street and Demonbreun Street during the 8-week closure of the bridge. Businesses on Broadway between 10th Avenue and Rosa Parks Boulevard will be accessible via one-way traffic from Demonbreun Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard. See more here.

ISSUES (starting with trees)

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has arrived in Tennessee, and ash trees are beginning to die as a result. This little beetle out of Asia burrows under the bark, and ultimately kills most of the trees that it invades unless the tree is treated regularly. Because the trees can suddenly fall over once they are weakened, they need to be removed if they are showing signs of distress, which is usually visible first at the top of the trees. Nashville is full of ash trees, and all the ones in parks and on public right of way have been marked with a big blue circle on the trunk. Metro is working to remove any that seem to be a danger to anyone, but there are thousands of trees affected, so it is necessary to prioritize those that are most likely to fall soon and threaten life or property. Everyone can help by keeping an eye out for trees with the blue circle that have dead branches in their crowns and pale patches on their bark, where birds have removed it looking for the beetles. Distressed trees can be reported on HUBNashville under the tree tab. Homeowners can inspect their own ash trees for signs of infestation and check with a professional arborist about whether the tree can be treated or should be taken down. More information on the EAB can be found here. Replacement shade trees of another species can be planted this fall through the Root Nashville program.

If You Live in 37206 Zip Code (East Nashville), You Can Get Free Trees Through the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps Tree Sale

Anyone living in the zip code 37206 qualifies to receive a tree, or as many trees as can feasibly plant on your property. NTCC has received a grant from Root Nashville, a city wide, city funded campaign to plant 500,000 trees by the year 2050.

The trees offered in this program are 1”+ caliper, around 6 feet tall or taller, with a trunk guard, bag of mulch, and professional planting. Applicants need to find a responsible place to plant them. Trees are delivered starting in the Fall/Winter. Tree recipients will receive emails from NTCC several weeks before deliveries begin, and then 2 weeks before the trees will be delivered. Tree recipients will also receive a packet in the mail with planting flags to put in the yard to let the planting crew know where to plant the tree.

Root Nashville is a city wide campaign and is planting trees all over Nashville for free through other programs. Just email them and see what they can do for you in your area. Send an email with your street address to: hello@rootnashville.org

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 2023 contest is now open. Trees nominated between now and October 1, 2023 are eligible to win the 2023 contest. Winners for the 2023 contest will be announced at Tree Spree (November 2023)The contest and event are free and open to the public. To view contest guidelines, entry forms and previous winners, visit the Nashville Tree Foundation website.

Companies can take advantage of WeGo’s WeGoRide, an employer-sponsored program that offers employees an alternative to driving a car to work and having to find and pay for parking. Offering employees WeGo Ride benefits allows them to commute at a reduced fare using public transit throughout the region. And employers save payroll taxes while allowing employees to commute tax free. Employee ID’s can be used as bus passes, which can be free to employees or deducted from salary like other benefits. Either way, the bus fare is discounted and seamlessly integrated. Some of the largest employers in the city take advantage of this program, which reduces traffic and frees up limited parking downtown. The State government, Metro government, and several universities have been long time participants. Other WeGoRide users include

• W Hotel
• BCycle Company
• Aero Service Group
• Holiday Inn Vanderbilt
• Fisk University
• Gresham Smith
• Chartwell Hospitality (Hampton Inn Capital View and Hilton Hotel – Green Hills)
• TriStar Skyline
• Mall at Green Hills
• Nashville SC
• Bavarian Bierhaus
• Frist Museum

More information is available on WeGo’s website.

Metro is always looking for interested, qualified citizens to fill the Boards and Commissions that guide how Nashville grows and operates. Any voter registered in Davidson County is eligible to apply for a position through the Board portal at the Board and Commission web page. Within the next few months, there will be openings on the Convention Center Authority, Health and Educational Facilities Board, Historic Commission, Hospital Authority, Barnes Housing Trust Fund, Industrial Development Board, Short Term Rental Review Board, and Solid Waste Regional Board.

Public comment period – State law has changed the way Metro Council invites citizens to speak publicly about important issues at our meetings. The council meetings on the first Tuesday of the month always include public hearings for zoning issues on the agenda. The council has now added a citizen driven comment period as well at every council and committee meeting. Residents of Davidson County can speak for two-minutes about any topic on the agenda. Twenty minutes is reserved for the Public Comment Period, allowing for up to ten constituents to speak. Council meetings happen on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Metro Courthouse.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last month of summer. Please let me know what concerns or suggestions you have for Nashville. Contact me at 615-383-6604 or burkley.allen@nashville.gov. Sign up for my newsletter at burkley.org.

Regards,
Burkley Allen
Metro Council At-Large