With Nashville’s lawsuit against the state still pending, Metro Council is meeting again to discuss new district maps

Metro Council is set to hold another meeting Tuesday night, as time runs out on their redistricting efforts.

The council is gathering to discuss the two proposed maps released last month by the Metro Planning Department. The meeting will also serve as a public hearing. Nashville residents are encouraged to share their thoughts on the maps. Those who wish to speak will have two minutes on the floor.

More: Nashville officials take first stab at drawing up new Metro Council districts

The proposals arrive after the state legislature passed a law capping the size of city and metro councils at 20. As Nashville’s Metro Council currently features 40 members, this would effectively slash the council size in half.

More: Gov. Bill Lee signs bill to shrink Nashville Metro Council

The law was one of a number of bills passed this legislative session creating tension between state and local governments. Many believe that the measures are a form of political retaliation, after the city rejected a proposal to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.

After the law passed, Metro was given just 30 days to come up with new district lines. The last time Metro was redistricted — back in 2021 after the decennial census — it took the planning department nearly six months to complete the process. The expedited time frame has created concerns, as department officials expect intense debate over where the lines should fall. In the last Metro Council meeting, the council deferred to take any action on redistricting suggestions, citing the rushed timing and lack of public engagement.

Since the last meeting, two map drafts have been released. One would divide Davidson County into 17 districts with three more councilmembers elected at-large. The other option would split the county into 15 districts, with five at-large councilmembers.

The Metro Planning Department has released its first concepts for how Davidson County could be redistricted under a new state law that halves the size of the Metro Council.

Councilmembers and constituents have expressed concerns about how downsizing will affect leadership of color. Nashville’s unusually large council is rooted in the origins of the Metro government. Its creation in the 1960s was intended to ensure representation over a ethnically and geographically diverse area.

Two lawsuits have since been filed. The first, filed by the city of Nashville, alleges that the requirements written in the law violate several parts of the Tennessee Constitution. A three-judge panel convened Tuesday morning to hear arguments on whether to grant a temporary injunction. The court did not issue a ruling but said they would “as soon as they are able.”

A second lawsuit was also filed by some Metro councilmembers and Davison County constituents. The plaintiffs in this suit include Zulfat Suara, Delishia Porterfield and Sandra Sepulveda — all Metro councilmembers currently seeking reelection — as well as Quin Segall, a candidate for Metro Council; David Tucker and Judy Cummings, Nashville religious leaders; Dave Goetz, a former leader of the Tennessee Department of Finance and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce; and Alma Sanford, a community member. Like the city’s suit, they allege that the law is in violation of the state constitution and that the rushed timeline is impossible to comply with.

The Metro Council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. If the court fails to grant an injunction, the Metro Planning Commission will have to establish new district boundaries by April 10.