At an Oct. 21 forum hosted by Councilmember Jacob Kupin, residents raised concerns about revving engines, loud mufflers, amplified music from food trucks and entertainment vehicles, and bucket drumming. Complaints focused on areas including Church Street and Broadway, where homes and nightlife businesses share crowded streets.

Longtime downtown resident Janet Kurtz, in a written statement read at the meeting, said she and her husband have lived downtown for 20 years and value its urban energy. They also want to be able to sleep and enjoy their home, she said. Another resident described groups of three-wheeled Slingshot vehicles playing music at high volume and motorcycles gathering before riding along Broadway.

Church Street received particular attention because of its concentration of residential buildings. Residents suggested speed bumps as one possible way to discourage racing.

Metro police said they have begun targeted enforcement on Church Street. Lt. Paul Stein, who leads the Central Precinct’s Entertainment District Unit, said officers have issued more than 118 Metro citations over roughly three and a half years, including repeated citations to some food truck operators and others.

Central Precinct Commander Rickey Bearden said police are discussing a more consistent presence on the corridor. He also reported that officers from the Central and Midtown Hills precincts made 71 traffic stops and issued more than 40 traffic citations during an initiative along Broadway over the previous two weekends.

Officials said a $50 cap on Metro ordinance fines can make penalties ineffective against repeat violations. Bearden said a citation of that size may be treated as a routine business expense. Kupin said he has spoken with state lawmakers about giving Nashville stronger enforcement options. The discussion concerned Metro ordinance fines; officials noted that some violations involving beer permit holders can be handled by the Beer Board, which can impose higher penalties.

The forum also considered alternatives to dispersing groups of motorcyclists. Kupin said he has spoken with riders who would welcome a less disruptive place to meet and is discussing whether the Speedway could have a role. No agreement has been announced. He warned that moving gatherings without creating alternatives could transfer complaints to another neighborhood or business.

Kupin is also exploring noise-detection cameras that use microphones to identify vehicles producing excessive sound. He said a vendor described technology intended to distinguish vehicle noise from other sounds and link it to a specific vehicle. The proposal remains under consideration, and Kupin acknowledged concerns about surveillance and said cameras alone would not solve the problem.

Officials also discussed bucket drummers, many of whom police said are juveniles. Bearden said the city should address residents’ concerns while seeking alternatives that avoid unnecessarily drawing young people into the criminal justice system. The Mayor’s Office of Nightlife said it coordinates with police and night inspectors on complaints submitted through hubNashville.

Kupin said downtown is home to more than 24,000 residents as well as workers and visitors, and argued that its growth as a residential neighborhood should shape city decisions. The challenge for officials is to protect residents’ ability to rest while preserving public spaces for visitors, businesses and people who gather downtown.