The Council deferred consideration of a proposed letter of agreement and Memorandum of Understanding between Metro and the Nashville Downtown Partnership related to an FY '26 downtown public-safety grant. By rule the item received a mandatory one‑meeting deferral and will return to the council at the Dec. 16 meeting.

Public commenters urged the Council to reject or hold a public hearing on the MOU, arguing the materials handed out to the council contained inaccurate claims about the grantee and the size of the award. Manning Hall said a fact sheet distributed before the meeting asserting that the state had "already awarded the Nashville Downtown Partnership $15,000,000 for downtown public safety" was "misinformation." Hall asked the council to hold a public hearing so the community could examine the grant and the proposed memorandum.

Speakers including Sabina Moyedin, executive director of the American Muslim Advisory Council, argued that expanded surveillance tools can disproportionately harm immigrant communities and people experiencing homelessness. Moyedin told the council that law-enforcement-focused surveillance "does not keep us safe and actually harms our communities," and urged council members to vote against the MOU when it returns.

Committee reports indicated Budget & Finance and Public Health & Safety committees recommended a one‑meeting deferral. The deferral moves the question back to committee ahead of the council's next meeting so members can review committee materials and follow up on the concerns raised at public comment.

What happens next: The resolution and MOU will be reconsidered after committee analysis and any requested clarifications. Council members and members of the public requested additional information about the grantee entity (Nashville Downtown Partnership versus District Management Corporation) and what surveillance technology, procurement or oversight provisions the MOU would entail.