Metro Council meeting preview: transportation plan on the agenda

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell's transportation improvement program will be up for a critical vote at Tuesday's Metro Council meeting.

State of play: Council will vote on sending O'Connell's transportation plan and a half-cent sales tax increase to the Davidson County Election Commission, bringing it one step closer to the November ballot.

• The sales tax increase requires voter approval.

Why it matters: The council has boisterously supported the $3.1 billion plan so far. It's expected to pass the second reading at Tuesday's meeting. A final vote would take place later this month.

The intrigue: The transportation program isn't the only ballot measure the council is considering. Other proposed changes to the city's charter would require voter approval in November.

• One proposal would reduce the minimum age required to serve on the Metro Council from 25 to 18.
• Another proposed charter amendment would remove the requirement that fire department employees must be U.S. citizens. The amendment would instead require employees to be legally allowed to work in the U.S.

What we're hearing: There's some consternation that too many charter amendments could create ballot fatigue and bury the transportation plan at the bottom of a lengthy ballot.

• It's possible that other charter amendment proposals will be deferred so that they're in front of voters during a different election.