Nashville city council meets with special seating, short agenda amid coronavirus concerns

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a pandemic. Reported illnesses range from very mild to severe, including death. Agencies anticipate widespread transmission will occur in the U.S. in coming months and recommend social distancing among other measures to slow the spread. Call your doctor and stay home if you are sick. Get more information at CDC.gov/coronavirus or contact the Tennessee Department of Health coronavirus information line at 877-857-2945 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily.

Nashville Metro Council members convened for their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night, deliberating on key legislation amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

With health officials in recent days urging "social distancing" and other precautionary measures during the health crisis, the size of the city's 40-member council — along with staff and members of Mayor John Cooper's administration who attend the meetings — have created challenges for city government to continue business as usual.

But to vote on priority finance and spending items, including authorizing tornado relief capital spending, Vice Mayor Jim Shulman took steps to allow city council members to meet. 

The council chambers were disinfected prior to the meeting and seats were positioned nine feet apart — with some council members taking up the first few rows of the public gallery in the back. 

Several rows were open for the public and were encouraged to take "common sense measures," Shulman told The Tennessean. However, with the council's regular agenda deferred, he urged residents to watch from home on the city's live stream broadcast. 

Council committee meetings were also canceled for Tuesday afternoon. 

"I strongly believe that the role of Government becomes even more important in times of crisis," he said in a statement. "This evening, the Council will only consider financial measures vital to the continued operation of the city."

Health officials gave a brief presentation at the start of the meeting to share information as the city continues to address cases of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the new coronavirus — at the request of the vice mayor. 

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 47 in Davidson County as of Tuesday night, said Metro Health Director Dr. Michael Caldwell, on a video call into council chambers.

The city's coronavirus taskforce chair Dr. Alex Jahangir said a website has been set up to disperse real-time information relating to ongoing health concerns. Officials, he said, are working to set up a hotline and assessment centers in the city by the end of the week. 

Council members approved Cooper's $180 million capital spending plan Tuesday night, which accounts for emergency spending for Metro buildings and schools damaged in the tornado. 

The body also approved, on first reading, legislation from Council member Jeff Syracuse, that would waive all or some building permit fees for those who are rebuilding after the storm. Permits must be obtained by June 30 to qualify for the waiver. 

At the close of the meeting, Council member Zach Young called on council members to stand united to press the city to ensure that first responders, on the front line of the virus, if infected, are treated as "injured on duty," as opposed to having to take sick or administrative leave due to illness. 

Council members also authorized the sale of $330 million water and sewer bonds, and approved the disbursement for grants allocated by the first $5 million from the Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing, as well as for initial projects to begin. 

Yihyun Jeong covers politics in Nashville for USA TODAY NETWORK - TENNESSEE. Reach her at yjeong@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @yihyun_jeong.