Final update: What happened at the 9/18/12 Council meeting: Midtown rezoned, poll books bought

09/18/12 Metro Council Meeting

Meeting of the Metro Council on September 18th, 2012 More

Click on the above link to watch the Council meeting.  Below are the highlights with notation of where to go in the video to see the more interesting portions of the meeting.

It is announced that Juvenile Judge Betty Adams Green resigned effective the day prior to the Council meeting. The Council will fill the vacancy. Nomination for the office are to be in the clerk's office by September 25, and the Council will fill the position at the Oct 16th meeting. It will be interesting to see who the Council chooses to fill this vacancy. The Council gets lobbied hard on filling vacancies for these plum positions.

Three bills are pulled from the consent agenda.  This rarely happens. The three bills are Resolution 412 which would appropriate $400,000 from the 4% fund to purchase electronic poll books for the election commission, Resolution 412 which approves an agreements between TVA, NES and Metro for the purchase, interconnection, and operation of electricity generated by solar units installed at two fire halls, and Resolution 428 which authorizes the parking of vehicles at the former Stokes Middle School property.

Discussion of Resolution 410 (purchase of poll books) starts at 16:10. Budget and Finance had approved unanimously. Charlie Tygerd explains that the issues surrounding the controversy of problems with the electronic poll books were fully explained at the B&F committee and half the books have already been purchased and the new poll books save time and money.

Bo Mitchell who is running for a State House seat, gets a lot of TV face time grandstanding on the issue and says the B&F committee did not get adequate answers. He makes a motion to defer. Duane Dominy Speaks and says the answers to the questions raised by Mitchell were provided in committee. On a machine vote the motion to defer fails, 15 for deferral and 24 against.

Councilman Maynard attacks the integrity of the Election Commission and Charlie Tygerd defends the election commission. (This is good stuff. Maynard starts at 29:45; Tygerd at 33:25.) Tygerd gets frustrated and heated and does a great job responding to Mannard. Councilman Tony Tenpenny also takes to the floor revealing his frustration. Several other members speak on the motion and the resolution passes by voice vote. The way I see it, those who are attacking the election commission are simply not wanting to understand the explanation that were offered and are grandstanding.

Resolution 412 which approves an agreements between TVA, NES and Metro for the purchase, interconnection, and operation of electricity generated by solar units installed at two fire halls is discussed. Thanks to Charlie Tygerd, the questions I wanted asked were asked. (See it at 37:10) The return is a twenty year return on investment. That is a bad deal! Great job Councilman Tygerd! 

 Councilman Stein points out that the money has already been spend and all this bill does is enter into a contract to recoup some of the money already spend. On a machine vote, the resolution passes 37-2 with the two "no" votes being those of Tygerd and Duvall. If I had been in the Council, I also would have voted no. This measure was nothing more than a feel-good green project that was not in the city's best interest. The Council should have voted against this bill and sent General Services a message to stop the feel-good green stuff and only engage in green projects if they are good investments.

Councilman Evans explains her opposition to Resolution 428 which authorizes the parking of vehicles at the former Stokes Middle School property. (see 42:52) The resolution passes on machine vote 34-4-1

Each proposed charter amendment is considered separately.

• RS2012-279 by Tygard which would have Nashville’s mayoral, vice mayoral and Metro Council elections at the same time was withdrawn following a recommendation against the bill from the Council's Charter Revision committee. 
• RS2012-280 by Gilmore that would prohibit the Metropolitan Government from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal history on the initial job application is withdrawn following a negative recommendation of the Council Committee. 
• RS2012-377 by Garrett, which would clarify the duties of the sheriff’s office passes. 

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-237 on second reading amends the Metro Code to implement a number of the recommendations of the study and formulating committee pertaining to employee and retiree benefits and pensions. This ordinance basically curtails the benefits of employees going forward. This is a wise move. Many cities are going broke because of liberal defined benefit packages and retirement plans. The bill passes.

An attempt is made by Councilman Clairborne to amend the bill so that going forward, former council members would not be eligible for the subsidized health insurance unless they had served 10 years and then they would pay the same rate as retirees who had served 10 years. (see 1:09:15 for discussion) Councilman Clairborne withdraws the amendment after several council members raise objections that the amendment has not been to committee, but he promises to bring it back as a separate bill.

Prior to term limits there were not that many former council members; with term limits there is growing number of former members of the Metro Council. Claiborne's proposal should be adopted.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-241 by Dominy, on second reading to require the annual contract for services between the Metropolitan Government and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce for the Partnership 2020 economic development program to be approved by resolution of the council and would require 21 affirmative votes to be approved, is deferred for two meetings.

BILL NO. BL2012-195 which would rezone more than 1500 properties over a 450 acre area in Midtown (between Charlotte and West End from I-440 to downtown) passes. The discussion starts at 1:32:50.

Below are news reports regarding this council meeting.

Council approves Midtown rezoning
 also. approved purchase of poll books


by Michael Cass,The Tennessean, Sep 18, 2012

The Metro Council voted Tuesday to approve a 455-acre rezoning in Nashville’s Midtown area and agreed to put five proposed charter amendments up for public votes in November.

 The council also voted to appropriate $400,000 to buy controversial voting equipment for the Davidson County Election Commission, agreeing to honor a contract with a vendor over objections about the technology’s performance in the August primary.(link)

 Metro Council Purchases Controversial Voting Equipment
 from NewsChannel5.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Metro Council Members exchanged some heated words over controversial electronic poll books during a meeting.

Despite the debate, the council voted to appropriate $400,000 to buy the equipment for the Davidson County Election Commission.  The money will purchase 200 machines and upheld a contractual agreement signed last year.

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Community Carnival to support Robert Duvall

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Fairgrounds informational event coming up Oct. 1

Those who want to save the fairgrounds, need to stay involved. The battle is not over.

State Fairgrounds neighbors, stakeholders, and the general public can learn about possible uses for the Fairgrounds and share their thoughts and opinions at an open house from 5-8 pm Monday, October 1, at the Fifty Forward Knowles Center, just outside the Fairgrounds gate at the corner of Wedgwood and Rains.  This will be a "drop-in" session; visitors can come and go at any time with no need to stay for the entire event.

Phase 2 of the Fairgrounds Master Plan Study examines the marketability, economic impact, and physical characteristics of potential mixed-use development on the Tennessee State Fairgrounds site; the Master Plan webpage has more information about the process.

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Join me in the Walk to End Alzheimer's Oct. 13th

2012 Walk to End Alzheimer's 

Nashville Walk - Nashville, TN

October 13, 2012 
Registration 8:00 am / Walk 9:00 am 

Centennial Park (Band Shell Area) 

Please join the "Rod and Louella Team" in the walk to end Alzheimer.  Click on this link, to sign up for the walk or to contribute.  

Any contribution will greatly appreciated. Your donation will support Alzheimer's care services, programs, and vital research. You can click on this link and pay by any major credit card. After submitting your donation you will receive a confirmation message

If you are more comfortable paying by check, make the check out to  Alzheimer’s Association and mail it to me and I will turn it in. My address is Rod Williams, 758 Roycroft Pl. Nashville, TN. 37203.

As many of you know, my sweet wife Louella is afflicted with this disease. I would be honored if you would join Louella and me in this walk on October 13.  Your words of encouragement, prayers and concern are greatly appreciated.

The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s™ is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s unites the entire community — family, friends, co-workers, social and religious groups and more --- in a display of combined strength and dedication in the fight against this devastating disease.

Our mission
To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

Our vision
A world without Alzheimer’s disease®.

Learn more about our mission-related activities or contact your local chapter for information about programs and services in your community.

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Reagan Vs. Obama - Social Economics 101

This is Great!

If you are a liberal and do not agree with the economic message or apolitical and just don't care, watch it for the humor. The cartoon depictions of Regan, Obama, Clinton, Palin, Nixon, and the Bushes is priceless. The personality quirks and wit and mannerisms of the various personalities is really captured. .

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Metro, not state, hurts students

Metro, not state, hurts students
The Tennessean, Letters.
 It is Rep. Jones’ comrades on the Metro board who have acted foolishly by choosing to break the law and, as they knew it would, deprive Nashville children of millions in state dollars. Blaming the state instead is rather like blaming the principal for spanking a student who clogged up toilets. Both the student and the board knew they would be punished.(link)

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Tennessee Public Charter Schools: Get the Facts

The Tennessee Charter School Incubator and the Tennessee Charter Schools Association have partnered to produce a new informational video, "Tennessee Public Charter Schools: Get the Facts."

The video features many prominent community and educational leaders, including Mayor Karl Dean, Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, State Representative John DeBerry, Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and Achievement School District Superintendent Chris Barbic, in addition to testimony from parents of children who attend public charter schools in Tennessee.

 For more information on Tennessee charter schools, visit www.tncharterschools.org and www.charterexcellence.org.

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Eroding economic freedom in the U.S.

The Fraser Institute issues a well-regarded ranking of countries by economic freedom. 
The U.S. ranking is sinking rapidly:

Before 2000: #1
2000: #2
2005: #8
2010: #19
2012: #18


We're sandwiched in between Qatar and Kuwait, both Muslim countries, with Qatar an absolute monarchy and Kuwait a theocracy. What a disgrace! (To read more, follow this link)

 

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Nashville parents explore taking over schools

Never-before-used state triggers law allows public schools to be converted into charters

Sep 19, 2012, The Tennessean

Dissatisfied parents and elected officials from West Nashville are exploring a never-before-utilized state law that would allow a public school to be converted into a parent-controlled charter school.
Under the so-called trigger law, if 60 percent of the parents or teachers at a public school sign a petition, the school board then votes on whether to approve converting the school into a charter. (link)

This is a positive development. Congratulation to Council Member Emily Evans for her leadership roll in exploring  this option for education reform.  

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Tax penalty to hit nearly 6M uninsured people

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 6 million Americans — significantly more than first estimated— will face a tax penalty under President Barack Obama's health overhaul for not getting insurance, congressional analysts said Wednesday.  Most would be in the middle class.

The new estimate amounts to an inconvenient fact for the administration, a reminder of what critics see as broken promises.

The numbers from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office are 50 percent higher than a previous projection by the same office in 2010,... (link)

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Nashville is on hook for millions even if Predators don't play

Nashville is on hook for millions even if Predators don't play

www.tennessean.com

Under terms of Metro government’s agreement with the team, it will still be on the hook for millions of dollars in subsidies to the Predators even if the games don’t resume.

..... doesn’t affect Metro’s obligation to provide the team up to $8.6 million a year.
 In the past five years, the city has given the Predators $38.6 million.

NHL Lockout Could Cost Metro Nashville Millions
News Channel 5
If NHL owners and players fail to come to an agreement before the start of the season, the lockout could cost Metro Nashville millions of dollars.
more>>

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State Senate Candidate Dickerson commends Governor Haslam’s Decision on Great Heart Academies

NASHVILLE, TN. - Dr. Steve Dickerson, the Republican candidate for the State Senate in District 20, has announced today that he supports the expected decision by the Tennessee Department of Education and Governor Bill Haslam to withhold non-classroom, administrative BEP funding from the Metro Nashville Public Schools as consequence of the districts refusal to follow new state law.

“Later today, Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and Governor Bill Haslam are expected to announced that the State will withhold the BEP funding to the MNPS; while this is an unfortunate situation, it is a necessary consequence for a district that has violated state law,” stated Dickerson.

The withholding will be approximately $3.4 million of non-classroom, administrative BEP funding from the school system; the BEP money is the state’s share of the non-classroom components of the state Basic Education Program funding formula. The BEP funding does not affect classroom spending for the school district.

“This issue is one that brings into opposition two of my most deeply held beliefs of maintaining local autonomy and improving education in Tennessee; at times when two principle conflict with each other, we must evaluate each situation on a case by case basis.” Dickerson continued, “In this instance, when you have a school district that has chosen multiple times to not comply with state law, even after advice from their own legal counsel advising otherwise, the State will be making the right decision to step in to ensure that the students of MNPS are afforded the right to school choice.”

Steve Dickerson is a practicing physician and founding partner of Anesthesia Services Associates. Dickerson attended the University of the South in Sewanee graduating with a B.A. in History. He then received his medical degree at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University. Steve Dickerson has been married to his wife Katrina for 19 years and they have three sons, Reid, Evan, and Bennett.

For more information about the Steve Dickerson campaign or to schedule an interview with Dr. Dickerson contact: 615-519-1896 or visit www.votestevedickerson.com

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Nashville schools to lose $3.4M over rejection of Great Hearts

Nashville schools to lose $3.4M over rejection of Great Hearts 

Sep 18, 2012, The Tennessean

The money is being withheld “as a consequence of the district’s refusal to follow state law,” the release said. The department is punishing the Metro school board because of the board’s refusal to approve the controversial Great Hearts Academies charter school even after directed to do so by the State Board of Education.(link)

Comment:  This should surprise no one. The State Board of Ed said there would be consequences for failure to follow the directive to approve the Charter school and there are.  

Some have tried to argue that Republicans complain about federal mandates and interference but accept State mandates and interference. There is a big difference. All of Metro's authority derives from the State. Metro is a not sovereign; states are. The constitution limits the power of the Federal government and leaves all powers not enumerated to the states or the people. There is nothing in the State constitution establishing a similar relationship between cities and the state. 

The five who voted to not approve Great Hearts should be impeached. Unfortunately, they can not be impeached darning the first 180 days in office.

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Update 2: Metro Council Agenda for Tuesday, September 18, 2012

You can get your own copy of the Metro council meeting agenda at this link:Metro Council Agenda. From the agenda you can link to the analysis.

Council meetings can be really, really boring if you don't know what the Council is voting on. With an agenda and analysis, they are just really boring.

I read the analysis and agenda for you so you don't have to. Below are the things that I think are worth being aware of that are on this agenda.

There are a lot of resolutions that simply accept grants in this agenda.

There are eight resolutions that propose amendments to the Metropolitan Charter for consideration on the November 6, 2012 ballot. All but two are innocuous housekeeping things. Below are the worth being aware of:

• RS2012-279 by Tygard, Proposal seeks to merge all elections: A proposal to save money by having Nashville’s mayoral, vice mayoral and Metro Council elections at the same time as other elections is raising concerns among council members who might not support it enough to give voters a say in the matter.(link to Tennessean story). 

I have reservations about extending the current term of the Mayor and Vice Mayor and Council without an election. Also, I fear that if the Council is on the same ballot as the federal and state elections, that very little attention would be paid to Council elections. Even more people may just vote for a name that sounds familiar rather than making informed decisions. However, by voting for this resolution, that simply allows the issue to be placed on the ballot, so I might would vote for it despite some reservations. I don't feel that strongly about it  and could be convinced it is a wise move. It would save money.

• RS2012-377 by Garrett, proposes an amendment to the Charter to clarify the duties of the sheriff’s office. Currently the Sheriff is the keeper of the jail and has no law enforcement functions. The Sheriff's office has been participating in the 287(g) program, which identifies and processes immigration offenders in our correctional facilities. There was an anticipated challenge to this program, claiming the charter did not permit the Sheriff to perform this law enforcement function. and this amendment would have removed the threat of that  potential challenge. However, the term of the 287(g) agreement expires in October 2012, and the sheriff has decided not to seek reauthorization.  While there may be a few other things the Sheriff does that constitute law enforcement, I am not sure this is needed if we are not going to do the 287(g). In any event the urgency is gone for doing it. I, at this point, do not have an opinion and want to see what the Public Safety committee recommended. The charter revision commission only recommended approval by a vote of 4 to 3.

RS2012-410 by Tygert appropriates $400,000 from the general fund reserve fund (4% fund) to the election commission to purchase 200 additional electronic poll books. This was confusing and controversial last Council meeting, when this expenditure was pulled out of a much larger expenditure resolution. To watch that exchange follow this link. The discussion starts at 1:28 in the video. I don't know what has happened since the last Council meeting, so I don't know if this will sail on through or if there will be continuous debate. The election commission is dominated by Republicans as required by State law. Last election there was some problems with the limited use of the new electronic poll books being used for the first time.  The election commission as already said they will not be using the new electronic poll books in the November election. Their is some legitimate concern about the new poll books and there is some politics at play and grandstanding. 

RS2012-412 by Matthews, approves an agreements between TVA, NES and Metro for the purchase, interconnection, and operation of electricity generated by solar units installed at two fire halls. These solar units were installed at a cost of $50,000 each and Metro will receive a credit of $0.12 per kilowatt hour generated and generate roughly 15% of the electricity needs of the two fire halls. I want to know, how many years will it be before the city breaks even?  Is this a wise investment or a politically correct feel-good measure?  I don't know, but would like to know. I hope someone does the math and ask the question. 

RS2012-413 by Matthews  approves an application for a $144,772 grant to the mayor’s office to implement a program designed to help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The program will involve partnering with the United Way to provide counseling services that will include various topics such as business ownership, improving credit, increasing employability, and increasing financial literacy. There would be a required in-kind local match of $105,311. Having spend a lot of my career working in programs that teach people better money management skills and  similar programs, I am supportive of programs like this. Some programs like this can really help people if they are well designed and well executed. I am in favor of programs that help lift people out of poverty  rather than programs that simply subsidize poverty.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-237 on second reading amends the Metro Code to implement a number of the recommendations of the study and formulating committee pertaining to employee and retiree benefits and pensions. This ordinance would basically curtail the benefits of employees going forward. This is a wise move. Many cities are going broke because of liberal defined benefit packages and retirement plans.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-241 by Dominy, on second reading amends the Metropolitan Code to require the annual contract for services between the Metropolitan Government and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce for the Partnership 2020 economic development program to be approved by resolution of the council and would require 21 affirmative votes to be approved. This is a good bill. Metro pays much more of the government contribution to Partnership 2020 than the other nine governments, but it often appears we do not get the bulk of the benefit. The Council should look at the plan annually to determine if Metro's level of commitment is appropriate.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-228 would allow up to 20 hens to be kept on school property for educational purposes on lots of five or more acres in the GSD. There are other restrictions.
 
BILL NO. BL2012-195 by  Council Members Burkley Allen, Erica Gilmore, and Edith Taylor Langster is on third and final reading. This bill would rezone more than 1500 properties over a 450 acre area in Midtown (between Charlotte and West End from I-440 to downtown). (link to what the Tennessean has to say about this.)

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The Machine: The Truth Behind Teachers Unions

America's public education system is failing. We're spending more money on education but not getting better results for our children.

That's because the machine that runs the K-12 education system isn't designed to produce better schools. It's designed to produce more money for unions and more donations for politicians.

For decades, teachers' unions have been among our nation's largest political donors. As Reason Foundation's Lisa Snell has noted, the National Education Association (NEA) alone spent $40 million on the 2010 election cycle (source: http://reason.org/news/printer/big-education-and-big-labor-electio). As the country's largest teachers union, the NEA is only one cog in the infernal machine that robs parents of their tax dollars and students of their futures.

Students, teachers, parents, and hardworking Americans are all victims of this political machine--a system that takes money out of taxpayers' wallets and gives it to union bosses, who put it in the pockets of politicians.

Our kids deserve better. "The Machine" is 4:17 minutes. Written and narrated by Evan Coyne Maloney. Produced by the Moving Picture Institute in partnership with Reason TV.

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School board got what it wanted, but at what price?

by Frank Daniels, Sep 16, 2012, The Tennessean
 
The rationale of rejection sounds empty to me, smacking more of racial politics than sound educational policy-making. And I wonder why, at a time when innovative solutions should be welcomed warmly, we send the signal, “don’t bother bringing your ideas here — we like the way our schools are performing.”

 .....without clear standards to reject the Great Hearts application, and faced with clear instructions from state education leaders that open-enrollment charter schools should be welcomed, a majority of the Metro board chose to vote their feelings and reject the school....

Raising undocumented fears is not responsible leadership at a time when higher academic standards and expectations should be warmly welcomed.(link)

Excellent! I could not agree more. Rod

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