Metro Council preview: New road questioned

Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes sounded the alarm over the weekend about legislation that would lead to the purchase of land for a new road.

• The $50 million price tag for land on the east bank of the Cumberland River would be a split partnership between Metro and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Why it matters: Mendes in a blog expressed concerns over transparency, since a line item for the east bank road isn't explicitly listed in Mayor John Cooper's capital spending plan.

• The council won't vote on the spending plan until next month, but the separate road legislation will be debated tonight.
• The city is in the midst of an infrastructure planning study for the east bank, which was anticipated to include recommendations for projects such as new roads. Mendes wondered why the administration didn't wait for the planning study to finish before proceeding with acquiring the land.

What we're watching: The council will also vote on legislation to dedicate $1.93 million in federal stimulus funds to manage homeless encampments.

• Proposed amendments to the legislation would remove security cameras and construction equipment anticipated to be used to clear the encampments.
• Councilmember Kevin Rhoten's legislation to end vehicle emissions testing in Nashville is on the agenda, but Rhoten tells Axios he may delay it to allow for more discussion.