Metro Council walks out on meeting, no vote on downtown library or Galvez Plaza stage canopy

The Metro Council unexpectedly adjourned Wednesday night after it lost its quorum. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker declared the meeting over during council discussion over the Galvez Plaza stage canopy. Noticing that four council members had left their seats, Walker said, “this meeting is adjourned.” Addressing audience confusion, he explained that once the body has lost its quorum, the meeting must close and the council cannot reconvene until adequate public notice has been given. “I have no choice; that’s the law,” Walker said. “I have no choice. I can’t reconvene.” Councilwoman Tara Wicker said she didn’t think the action was an intentional attempt to avoid voting on the canopy. “It’s just people getting up, going to the bathroom, things like that,” she said. All remaining action on the agenda, including a controversial bid to research alternatives to a new downtown library, will be addressed at a future meeting. No decision on if or when a special session will be held has yet been decided.—Ian McGibboney