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A resolution approving a letter of agreement and memorandum of understanding between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and the Nashville Downtown Partnership related to an application for the FY26 Downtown Public Safety Grant from the State of Tennessee.
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WHEREAS, State of Tennessee, Office of Criminal Justice Programs, has made available a FY26 Downtown Public Safety Grant (DPSG) that requires coordination between the local government and business improvement district; and,
WHEREAS, the DPSG grant provides funding to increase public safety, reduce blight, enhance economic development infrastructure, and reduce crime in downtown business and commercial areas as reflected in the grant solicitation package attached hereto; and,
WHEREAS, the Nashville Downtown Partnership (NDP) has submitted a grant application for the full amount to which the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (“Metropolitan Government”) is eligible; and,
WHEREAS, as part of the application, the Metropolitan Government will submit a letter of agreement acknowledging that it will not apply for the grant and a memorandum of understanding with the NDP regarding its collaboration related to the DPSG; and,
WHEREAS, the memorandum of understanding limits expenditure of grant funds to a specific list of uses; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that the letter of agreement and memorandum of understanding be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the letter of agreement for the FY26 Downtown Public Safety Grant from the State of Tennessee, attached hereto and incorporated herein, is hereby approved and the Metropolitan Government is authorized to submit the letter as part of the application to the State of Tennessee, Office of Criminal Justice Programs.
Section 2. That the memorandum of understanding between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and the Nashville Downtown Partnership, to facilitate cooperation related to the FY26 Downtown Public Safety Grant from the State of Tennessee, attached hereto and incorporated herein, is approved and the Metropolitan Government is authorized to submit the memorandum as part of the application to the State of Tennessee, Office of Criminal Justice Programs.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution approves a letter of agreement and a memorandum of understanding by and between the Metropolitan Government and the Nashville Downtown Partnership related to an application for the Fiscal Year 2026 Downtown Public Safety Grant from the State of Tennessee.
The Tennessee General Assembly approved funding in its FY26 budget bill for a Downtown Public Safety Grant (the “DPSG”) program. This program is intended to provide funds to the local governments of City of Memphis, City of Chattanooga, City of Knoxville, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County or their respective Business Improvement District Management Corporations. Specifically, the state set aside $15,028,698 for program purposes in the Metropolitan Government jurisdiction. The DPSG program specifically allows for either the local government, the CBID, or the CBID management corporation to apply directly to the state for the grant funds. If the CBID or CBID management corporation applies for the funds, they must also execute a state mandated Letter of Agreement with the local government which indicates cooperation and understanding among the eligible grantees of the limited funding available to the jurisdiction.
The DPSG program’s defined purpose is to provide grant funds to develop and implement proven public safety strategies to combat violent crime and to develop, construct, or rehabilitate infrastructure needed to combat violent crime. Among other things, the applicant is required to demonstrate collaboration activities as part of their application.
The Nashville Downtown Partnership (the “NDP”) has filed an application with the State for the grant funds. This resolution would approve the executed form Letter of Agreement, conditionally submitted with the application, and a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”). All grants will be awarded no later than December 31, 2025, and subject to approval of the Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration. While not explicitly provided in state law or the grant agreement itself, if the Letter of Agreement and MOU are not approved prior to the end of the year, it is possible that the state could rescind the grant award will be rescinded since some of the eligibility criteria would have not been met.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the responsibilities of both the Metropolitan Government and the NDP regarding the grant funds. Metro agrees to refrain from applying for the grant funds, will provide the letter of agreement, and will work with NDP to implement the goals of the DPSG program. NDP agrees to apply for the grant funds, comply with the DPSG program requirements, work with Metro to implement the goals of the DPSG program, and ensure that all expenditures of grant funds will be limited to items appearing on the list attached to the MOU. The list includes specific technology, services, and capital items.
Please note that the public hearing requirements under Section 13.08.080 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws would not apply to this resolution because while some of the permitted technology expenditures would be for surveillance technology, as defined, Metro is neither the recipient of the grant funds nor is Metro acquiring any of the designated surveillance technology.
Pursuant to information delivered to the Council from the Mayor’s Office, the state has already awarded the grant funds to NDP and the funds are expected to be received by the end of the calendar year. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office expects that the NDP will be donating most of the grant funds or items purchased with those funds to Metro subject to future Council approval. Should Metro acquire any surveillance technology from NDP, a public hearing will be required pursuant to Section 13.08.080 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws.
NDP would be required to spend the grant funding between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2028.