[9:53] >>
[9:56] sergeant-at-arms,
[9:58] would you please call the december
[9:59] 16th council meeting
[10:02] to order.
[10:03] >> [ indiscernible ]
[10:08] >> I would like to welcome
[10:11] hindu statesman
[10:14] , who is president of the universal
[10:16] decided hinduism to lead us in a prayer
[10:17] . Thank
[10:20] you, sir, being with us.
[10:23] the floor is yours.
[10:24] >> starting with
[10:26] the most sacred month,
[10:29] I will be reading from
[10:32] the scriptures some as old as
[10:35] 1500 bce
[10:38] interpreted into english.
[10:50] we meditate
[10:53] on the transcendental
[10:56] who is inside the heart the life
[10:59] of the sky, and inside the soul
[11:02] of the heaven. May stimulate and illuminate
[11:06] our minds .
[11:12] lead us
[11:17] from the unreal to the real lead us
[11:19] from darkness to light, lead us from death
[11:21] to mortality.
[11:39] strive constantly to serve the welfare
[11:40] of the world by devotion to selfless
[11:45] , do
[11:47] your work with what is always in mind.
[12:00] may we be protected
[12:06] --may we work together
[12:09] with no obstacles arise
[12:12] between us.
[12:15] piece , peace,
[12:18] peace be unto all.
[12:21] thank you.
[12:26] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag
[12:27] of the united states of america
[12:28] and to the republic for which it stands,
[12:29] one nation under god, indivisible,
[12:30] with liberty and justice for all.
[12:39] >>
[12:42] councilman, you are recognized.
[13:00] >> thank you, mr. Chair.
[13:03] greetings, being hereby known
[13:08] in recognition of a life of exemplary
[13:09] qualities, outstanding service to
[13:10] the
[13:12] city in many cities,
[13:15] involvement in
[13:16] humanitarian affairs and demonstrated
[13:17] concern for governmental process has
[13:18] been appointed chaplain
[13:21] of the day
[13:24] of the memphis city council. It is
[13:25] hereby
[13:26] entitled to all the honors, rights,
[13:27] and privileged
[13:28] pertaining to the office and to the
[13:30] display the certificate given this day
[13:33] , the 16th of december
[13:36] by the chairman and myself.
[13:39] >> thank you. >> thank
[13:42] you, sir.
[13:45] could we possibly
[13:47] ask council members to come down and get
[13:48] a photograph with our
[13:51] colleague here? He has been
[13:53] many places and would like to have
[13:54] this as a memory.
[15:41] >> would you please call the roll?
[15:48] >> [ roll call ]
[16:09] you have
[16:12] a quorum.
[16:15] >>
[16:17] thank you, madam controller. I believe
[16:21] vice chair swearengen-washington
[16:24] has read the minutes
[16:27] from december 2nd.
[16:28] >> I have reviewed
[16:29] the minutes,
[16:30] I find them to be in order and move
[16:31] for
[16:32] the adoption of the december 2nd,
[16:33] 2025, meeting minutes.
[16:45] and I so move.
[16:48] >> the minutes were moved by
[16:50] vice chair swearengen-washington and
[16:51] seconded by council member
[16:54] spinosa. Please take us
[16:57] to the voting screen.
[17:13] >> [ roll call ]
[17:25] >> the item passes.
[17:28] welcome
[17:31] to
[17:34] our december 16th,
[17:35] 2025, regular meeting of the memphis
[17:37] city council.
[17:42] meetings of the council should be conducted
[17:43] in an orderly manner to ensure
[17:44] the public has the full opportunity to
[17:45] be heard in the deliberate process of
[17:46] the councils retained at
[17:48] all times. The sergeant at arms has
[17:49] cards available
[17:52] up front
[17:53] and cards for members of the public wishing
[17:55] to be heard on a
[17:57] specific item. All those wishing to
[17:58] speak must turn in their comment card to
[18:00] the sergeant at arms before the item
[18:04] is called . If you're not
[18:05] here to speak on a specific item,
[18:06] you can only request to give general
[18:07] comments at the end
[18:10] of the meeting and
[18:11] as chair I will only recognize citizens
[18:12] that are properly registered to speak
[18:15] by completing a comment request card
[18:16] to the sergeant
[18:18] at arms. Members of the audience and
[18:19] persons addressing
[18:20] the council will not be permitted
[18:21] to engage in gossip, make defamatory
[18:23] slanderous or profane comments or
[18:25] use abusive or
[18:28] vulgar language. Chairperson,
[18:31] the council maintain order and
[18:34] any persons in violation of the
[18:36] --any conduct in order to leave the
[18:40] council chambers
[18:42] for security personnel to remove any disruptive
[18:43] person
[18:46] in the council chambers
[18:47] who refuses to leave voluntarily.
[18:49] these rules were posted
[18:50] on the door as you enter the chamber and
[18:51] as you pick up comment cards. An example
[18:54] of the poster is posted on the door.
[18:58] signs larger than that are
[18:59] prohibited and will be removed from the chamber.
[19:01] all that to say
[19:04] let's have a
[19:05] good meeting. We have some important
[19:06] work to get through. Housekeeping items.
[19:10] 26, 27, 29
[19:13] will be held
[19:16] until january 13, 2026. Item
[19:17] 28 will be held until march third,
[19:22] 2026.
[19:27] madam comptroller, call item number one.
[19:28] >>
[19:31] item number one is a resolution recognizing
[19:34] and honoring the memphis parks literally
[19:37] this is
[19:40] sponsored by council
[19:43] member logan.
[19:46] >>
[19:52] but thank you, chair
[19:55] and colleagues. I am so excited to
[19:57] actually present these certificates.
[19:58] I
[20:01] attended an event
[20:04] -- an amazing event at the park
[20:06] --the community center in raleigh
[20:10] , and it was a
[20:13] joint activity among the
[20:16] community centers.
[20:18] the event was passport to literacy
[20:22] and it was unbelievable how they came together
[20:24] in the parks department, put this
[20:28] program on, and now , we have
[20:31] 10 new published authors
[20:34] from the parks department.
[20:35] I felt like this is an opportunity
[20:37] to recognize our
[20:40] amazing parks staff as well as
[20:43] our parents
[20:45] and those young people that attended this
[20:46] program who worked
[20:49] so hard and now
[20:50] they are published authors as a result
[20:52] of this program. I'm going to call
[20:55] their names and
[20:56] asked them to call their parents name
[20:58] and asked him to come down and I want
[21:01] to bring up the parks director
[21:04] is representing parks to talk
[21:07] about the program and when I called
[21:08] her name,
[21:10] we will ask the parent to stand as well.
[21:25] >> [ reading list of names ]
[21:40] parents are
[21:43] ,
[21:46] >> [ reading list of names ]
[21:52] parents
[21:55] , if you are here,
[21:58] please stand.
[22:01] these are
[22:04] all published authors , and they
[22:07] have the books with them.
[22:13] come right over. I will
[22:15] give you a space to tell about the
[22:16] program and the others.
[22:19] appreciate you.
[22:20] >>
[22:22] good afternoon
[22:25] , council members, the mayor, and
[22:28] distinguished guests. Thank you for this
[22:29] resolution and
[22:31] recognizing us with the literacy program.
[22:32] this is
[22:34] a literacy initiative of memphis parks
[22:35] as
[22:37] you see. They came together and
[22:40] they created
[22:42] and they reimagine how learning can happen
[22:43] in our community.
[22:46] it integrates
[22:48] reading, writing, storytelling, into
[22:49] the neighborhood
[22:52] community centers
[22:54] placed in traditional known recreation,
[22:55] transforming them into spaces
[22:57] where literacy creativity and youth
[22:58] are forced
[23:02] to thrive. Through this program
[23:03] young people are not only playing
[23:05] in our community centers,
[23:07] they are becoming published authors, storytellers
[23:08] ,
[23:11] and leaders. It addresses
[23:14] a critical community need by
[23:15] meeting youth where they are and providing
[23:18] parks and recreation are more than
[23:20] places to play. We are
[23:23] essential to education.
[23:26] to empowering youth
[23:29] an opportunity of potential.
[23:31] we are honored this day by you guys
[23:34] recognizing us and having the grace
[23:35] to
[23:37] give us this on her. We thank you
[23:40] for helping us cultivate the potential
[23:41] and strength
[23:44] by building the family's and
[23:45] becoming more literate and connected.
[23:47] these children
[23:50] --these authors here
[23:52] have become published authors throughout
[23:55] memphis parks , the literacy program.
[23:57] this first time event highlighted
[24:01] creative expression and community
[24:02] pride transforming
[24:04] local kids into storytellers with books,
[24:08] now available online and royalties
[24:11] are earned forever. Thank you ,
[24:13] thank you, thank you, from memphis parks.
[24:20] >> I'm going
[24:23] to read the resolution for
[24:26] your hearing ,
[24:27] then we will come over here and take
[24:29] a picture, okay?
[24:31] whereas literacy including reading and
[24:32] writing is
[24:33] fundamental to academic success, workforce readiness
[24:40] and long life opportunity yet many children
[24:41] and families in memphis continue to face
[24:43] significant literacy challenges. Few
[24:44] than one quarter
[24:46] meet grade level proficiency in reading
[24:49] on state assessments highlighting
[24:50] the urgent need
[24:53] for innovative acceptable
[24:54] and community-based literacy initiatives.
[24:56] and whereas the memphis
[24:59] city council
[25:00] recognizes and honors the memphis
[25:02] parks literacy meets recreation program
[25:05] commonly known as
[25:08] bill young authors guild project
[25:11] for their
[25:12] successful efforts in enabling 10
[25:13] authors to publish books in 2025.
[25:17] and whereas the let me's rec program
[25:20] and the
[25:22] encourage participants to tell their
[25:25] own stories and encourage their literature beyond the
[25:26] traditional classroom setting
[25:29] three unique opportunities
[25:31] special events and interactive activities
[25:32] and whereas the let me's
[25:35] rec program provides
[25:38] joyful and relevant
[25:40] that bridge literacy and recreation fostering
[25:44] a lifelong love of reading
[25:47] and whereas the council member
[25:50] easter-thomas lit meets rec
[25:53] participants project
[25:55] teach participants how to develop,
[25:56] write, and illustrate and
[25:59] publish their own stories
[26:00] including opportunities to receive
[26:02] royalties from books
[26:05] sales inspiring
[26:06] young people to embrace their creative potential
[26:08] engaging in meaningful storytelling
[26:11] and envision themselves as
[26:13] published authors whose work can influence
[26:14] ,
[26:15] educate, and uplift the community.
[26:17] and whereas the memphis
[26:19] city council wishes continued success
[26:20] to the
[26:22] memphis park literacy recreation program
[26:25] and the young actors guild project
[26:28] in their efforts to support youth
[26:29] literacy, creativity
[26:31] and positive development in the city
[26:32] of memphis
[26:35] now therefore be it resolved that
[26:36] the memphis
[26:38] city council hereby stands the
[26:40] sincerest congratulations to the memphis
[26:41] parks literacy
[26:44] meets recreation program
[26:47] and project for their outstanding
[26:50] achievements and
[26:52] meaningful contributions to youth
[26:53] development and literacy
[26:56] in memphis. Adopted december
[26:59] 16, 2025, district 1.
[27:02] let's stand and
[27:05] give them a hand. And their parents that
[27:08] are here.
[27:44] >> congratulations to you, we are so
[27:45] proud
[27:47] of you. Okay.
[27:56] >> amazon and barnes
[27:59] & noble.
[30:45] >>
[30:47] madam comptroller, please read item
[30:51] number two.
[30:52] >>
[30:53] resolution recognizing and honoring the graduating class
[30:56] of the south city leads resident leadership academy.
[30:57] this resolution is sponsored by
[31:00] councilwoman white.
[31:03] >>
[31:06] thank
[31:07] you so much, chairman. I'm so excited.
[31:12] I had
[31:15] the opportunity to go to
[31:18] the graduation , and right here beside
[31:20] me is the brilliant rebecca hutchinson,
[31:24] who leads
[31:27] opportunity
[31:30] revitalization and empowerment.
[31:33] it is south
[31:34] city leads resident leadership academy
[31:39] and these wonderful people decided they
[31:40] wanted
[31:41] to learn more about our government
[31:43] , how they could become engaged. Each
[31:45] one of them participated in a community project
[31:48] and it was the most
[31:51] amazing program to see
[31:52] that we want people to be more interested
[31:54] in what's going on in the community
[31:57] and see that these individuals decided to
[31:58] dedicate
[31:59] their time to serve in their communities
[32:00] and learn more about
[32:02] how the communities operated and make
[32:03] sure they
[32:06] were contributing to our
[32:07] thoughts and ideas and policies that
[32:09] we pass here on
[32:12] the council. I wanted to
[32:14] make sure we recognize not only ms.
[32:15] hutchinson but
[32:17] the graduates. So to the graduating class
[32:21] of s.c.o.r.e.
[32:24] , congratulations. Yes.
[32:32] you all have demonstrated exceptional
[32:33] commitment, leadership and
[32:35] passion for improving your communities
[32:36] through initiatives such
[32:39] as community
[32:41] , school initiatives, school supply
[32:42] drive, neighborhood cleanup and
[32:45] senior outreach.
[32:51] is she here? She's not here.
[32:53] one of the graduates was talking about how
[32:54] before this class
[32:57] she goes along with her
[32:58] children and feeds meals to the children.
[33:00] I want to recognize
[33:03] >> [ reading list of names ]
[33:24] congratulations.
[33:26] we have a certificate and a gift for
[33:27] each one of you all. Thank
[33:30] you for all that you do.
[33:33] >>
[33:36] thank you so very much,
[33:41] council member white. This is an amazing
[33:42] opportunity
[33:45] for our participants in the leadership
[33:48] academy to understand what
[33:49] public policy is about. These are
[33:50] individuals who live work and worship
[33:51] in the
[33:53] south city community , which is not
[33:54] far from here.
[33:57] 38126.
[34:00] we don't believe
[34:01] that we can empower residents but
[34:03] we believe that they already processed
[34:05] the power and what is missing is the
[34:06] connection to information
[34:09] resources and knowledge.
[34:12] and once we help them to connect to that
[34:14] , they activate that internal power
[34:15] and they
[34:18] can go out in the neighborhood and
[34:19] they
[34:20] can work with the ywca and fulfill
[34:21] the wish list
[34:24] of those mothers in the
[34:26] senior housing. There's so much they
[34:27] can do. We just heard
[34:31] about what they've done .
[34:33] they learn about the data in the neighborhood
[34:34] and what
[34:37] it looks like ,
[34:38] they learn about public policy and how they can
[34:40] impact public policy. They learn
[34:41] how to develop the community service
[34:43] project amongst so many
[34:44] other things and we are very proud
[34:46] of
[34:49] cohort eight
[34:52] and we started in 2021.
[34:54] so we are excited about this and we
[34:55] continue to do this work
[34:58] and continued to build
[35:00] into and nurture the residence and neighborhood
[35:01] of south city.
[35:03] thank you so much for this recognition.
[36:04] >> congratulations
[36:07] graduating class.
[36:10] please call item number three.
[36:13] >> honoring the graduating class item
[36:14] number three is a of memphis academy of civil
[36:18] engagement (mace).this resolution is sponsored by
[36:19] councilmembers white and smiley.
[36:28] >>
[36:31] your recognize.
[36:32] >> thank you
[36:33] so much. I had to have councilman
[36:37] smiley come down here. If
[36:40] we could have
[36:43] our former city councilwoman
[36:49] along with the graduates.
[36:58] first of all, I want
[37:01] to thank the council
[37:02] for supporting this program. Back
[37:04] in 2021
[37:07] when I had an idea trying to find
[37:09] a way to give people more engaged
[37:10] with city government so they could
[37:12] learn more about our community and
[37:13] what ended up happening is
[37:16] we created graduates
[37:17] who leave this program more informed
[37:19] and feel more empowered
[37:21] to get involved in the community and
[37:22] become advocates for the
[37:25] community. Deeply appreciative
[37:28] of them and I would
[37:31] like to create space for them to talk
[37:32] about what this program
[37:34] is doing.
[37:35] >> thank
[37:36] you all so much for this privilege
[37:37] and opportunity. We want to
[37:39] say thank you to the city council
[37:41] for approving this program. It's been a
[37:43] tremendous impact
[37:45] in the community we are fortunate
[37:46] to have some
[37:48] the citizens that want to understand
[37:49] the inner workings of government
[37:52] want to understand how they can also
[37:53] be a part of
[37:55] the solutions in our community
[37:56] and have deep impact in their neighborhoods
[37:58] and say thank you
[38:01] to our partners at
[38:02] public safety at the memphis fire
[38:04] and police department.
[38:05] is because of the citizen to dedicate
[38:07] their time and energy
[38:10] to being a part of the change they
[38:11] want to see in memphis. Thank you
[38:13] so much.
[38:18] >> I said I wouldn't speak because
[38:19] I'm a little horse.
[38:22] memphis is
[38:25] a great city.
[38:34] it is always
[38:39] a humbling experience when you see citizens
[38:40] to take their time for
[38:43] 7 weeks two and three
[38:46] hours a session to learn as much as they
[38:49] can about memphis
[38:52] and where they can use their talent.
[38:55] it
[38:57] was not long ago and every time you sit
[38:58] in those seats you must feel honored
[39:01] and humbled . Because people entrust
[39:04] their neighborhoods
[39:07] and communities to you.
[39:12] it's a humbling experience to serve and
[39:13] that's why I'm glad they have
[39:16] an opportunity to see such fine
[39:17] leadership your memphis and especially
[39:19] my colleague
[39:22] mr. Ford.
[39:27] especially my colleague mr. Ford.
[39:34] I feel very honored to have served
[39:35] with him and
[39:37] to know all of you and thank you
[39:40] for investing in our future.
[39:53] but the memphis city
[39:54] council commence these graduates for their
[39:55] dedication to civic engagement and
[39:56] efforts to strengthening
[39:57] the fabric of our city. Congratulations
[40:02] to
[40:03] >> [ reading list of
[40:05] names ]
[40:40] you represent a growing network of informed
[40:44] citizens dedicated
[40:47] to building a better memphis. Thank you for all that
[40:50] you do.
[41:29] welcome and thank you for
[41:30] joining us today from memphis city
[41:32] council meeting.'s
[41:50] >> thank you, chair. The students
[41:52] are the american muslim advisory council
[41:56] here.
[41:59] and
[42:02] we are so honored. I had
[42:04] the pleasure of being in their presence
[42:07] . They came to learn about the policies
[42:09] and legislation here in the city of
[42:11] memphis. Myself, the mayor
[42:14] , and a couple more administrators
[42:17] came and I wanted to tell them thank you.
[42:18] they are asking, can we come back
[42:20] to meeting
[42:22] , and I said you sure can. Thank you.
[42:26] just
[42:27] excited about what you are doing and how
[42:28] you're moving forward and your love
[42:29] for
[42:30] this country because we love you.
[42:38] >> thank you
[42:41] for joining us.
[42:44] welcome and thank you for being here.
[42:45] it's good
[42:47] to see you.
[42:53] >>
[42:56] we appreciate you.
[42:58] although our name sounds a little bit
[42:59] different and I
[43:01] know sometime people were laughing at us
[43:02] here for names
[43:05] , but we've been here for
[43:08] so long and we really appreciate
[43:13] what memphis gives us and we would
[43:14] like to give back to
[43:17] the city here as well. We, as muslims,
[43:18] we
[43:20] are proud to be the fabric of
[43:23] this city .
[43:24] you probably don't know that the 1990
[43:26] it was really
[43:29] the case of
[43:32] [ indiscernible ] who really
[43:38] --more representation for everyone
[43:41] for african americans and minorities
[43:42] to
[43:44] be on the city of memphis. Used to
[43:45] be
[43:46] they had a councilman at large and
[43:47] that really took away all the
[43:50] presentation of the minorities. Just
[43:51] as we
[43:53] do have that contribution
[43:56] , we also would like
[43:58] to show there are a lot of other things offered
[44:01] to the city of memphis and we are
[44:02] proud as well.
[44:05] many of us were born and raised here
[44:07] and went to public school here and
[44:08] we are
[44:11] very proud to represent the city of memphis
[44:12] ,
[44:13] and we want to thank the council for
[44:14] providing us
[44:17] this opportunity to be here as well
[44:20] and to recognize our efforts. We appreciate you.
[44:23] thank you.
[44:29] collies,
[44:32] forgive me. I did not mention
[44:33] it at the beginning of the meeting,
[44:35] but item number four was held in planning
[44:38] and zoning so it will be held
[44:41] for 3 weeks until
[44:44] january 13th meeting. Please call
[44:47] --I'm sorry,
[44:50] the second meeting in january
[44:53] so that would be the 27th of january.
[44:56] held until the 27th.
[44:58] please take us to item number five.
[44:59] >>
[45:01] resolution pursuant to chapter 9.6 of the memphis and shelby
[45:05] county unified development code
[45:08] approving a planned development at the subject property
[45:11] located at 7913 dexter road.
[45:14] this resolution is sponsored by the division of planning and
[45:17] development.
[45:20] applicant: case no. Pd 25-14
[45:26] >>
[45:27] madam vice chair, your recognize.
[45:29] >> this item was sent down with a
[45:30] favorable recommendation
[45:32] and I so move.
[45:33] >>
[45:35] item 5 was moved by
[45:36] vice chair swearengen-washington seconded by
[45:38] council member spinosa.
[45:41] does any member want to hear from
[45:42] the applicant?
[45:45] very good. Please take us to
[45:48] the voting screen.
[46:09] >> [
[46:12] roll call ]
[46:27] >> that item passes.
[46:30] please take us item number six.
[46:36] resolution pursuant to chapter
[46:39] 9. 6 of the memphis and shelby
[46:41] county unified development code approving a special use
[46:45] permit at the subject property
[46:47] located at 577 east raines road. This resolution is
[46:48] sponsored
[46:49] by the division of planning and development. Case
[46:57] no. Sup 25-24
[47:02] .
[47:03] >> thank you, chair. The committee met
[47:06] , there was a
[47:07] favorable recommendation for this site.
[47:09] they have an impressive plan
[47:13] and have been partnering with one
[47:14] of the local memphis city shelby county schools. Thank
[47:15] you
[47:18] and I so move.
[47:21] >> that item was
[47:22] moved by vice chair swearengen-washington seconded
[47:24] by
[47:26] council member green. I do have a
[47:27] comment card.
[47:35] your recognized.
[47:36] >> thank you so much.
[47:46] please give us your name and address.
[47:47] >>
[47:48] dr. Franklin
[47:51] 1755 ash. 38108.
[47:56] good afternoon, city council members.
[48:00] as we gather for the final meeting of
[48:01] this year, I want to acknowledge the citizens
[48:03] of memphis in our
[48:06] local government. We've been
[48:07] fortunate to have incredible leaders
[48:09] like you
[48:12] , yet we face many challenges that
[48:13] often
[48:15] go seen. In this chamber we
[48:16] ask men and women of faith are united
[48:18] in prayer
[48:21] for you and the decisions
[48:23] that will propel her city forward.
[48:26] inspired by the bibles call, follow
[48:27] peace
[48:29] with all men. We are actively engaging
[48:32] in a prayer watch with many groups
[48:33] throughout
[48:36] the city in joining us at this very moment.
[48:39] we are playing not just here in the chambers but
[48:42] online and
[48:45] in various groups.
[48:46] believing god's guidance as we look
[48:48] toward 2026 and work
[48:51] together in unity. Scripture
[48:53] reminds us my people are called by
[48:54] my name
[48:57] will humble themselves and pray
[49:00] see my face and then will I hear
[49:03] from heaven and here
[49:05] --this urgency resonates deeply as
[49:06] we gather today. I
[49:09] genuinely wish for the best for
[49:12] my community.
[49:13] I encourage each of you to join us in a moment
[49:15] of prayer
[49:17] as we physically are present here.
[49:18] we are spiritually connected
[49:21] to those playing across the
[49:24] memphis city. Remembering the scripture that
[49:27] warns us of our responsibility.
[49:29] the blood will be on our hands. As
[49:30] we conclude
[49:33] 25 and
[49:35] reflect on the city affairs, I pray
[49:36] as we answer
[49:39] 2026 our decisions
[49:41] are prioritize the collective needs of
[49:42] memphis
[49:45] over personal interest. I also
[49:48] invite everyone in this chamber
[49:51] to wear red symbolizing the
[49:54] blood of jesus. This serves as a powerful reminder
[49:55] to our
[49:57] city council that we all share the responsibility
[49:59] for the direction in which we take.
[50:03] the bible says what can wash away our sins
[50:06] and the answer
[50:07] is nothing but the blood of jesus. As we approach
[50:09] this final governing meeting of the year
[50:14] we face many ups and downs from the school board to the county
[50:15] commission and the memphis
[50:17] city council. Yet I faith in god and
[50:18] in
[50:21] each of you that together we can try to do what is right
[50:24] for memphis , tennessee,
[50:26] may god bless you and keep you.
[50:27] >>
[50:28] thank you,
[50:30] dr. Franklin.
[50:33] >>
[50:36] number 6? Thanks.
[50:39] >>
[50:42] please take us to the voting screen for item number six.
[50:52] correct.
[50:55] please cast your vote
[50:58] for 6.
[51:04] >> [ roll call ]
[51:19] >> that
[51:22] item passes.
[51:23] >>
[51:27] item number seven is aresolution pursuant to chapter 9.6 of the memphis and shelby
[51:29] county unified development code approving a special use
[51:31] permit at the subject property
[51:37] located at 1032 hale road.
[51:40] this resolution is sponsored by
[51:43] the division of planning and
[51:46] development. Case no. Sup 25-27.
[51:53] >> ma'am, vice chair, your recognize. >> the
[51:55] committee met
[51:57] there was a favorable recommendation and I
[52:01] so move.
[52:04] >> seven was moved by vice chair swearengen-washington and seconded by
[52:06] council member spinosa. Does anyone wish to hear from
[52:07] dpd
[52:10] or the applicant?
[52:11] please take us to the voting screen.
[52:13] castor
[52:16] wrote for item number seven.
[52:28] >> [ roll call
[52:31] ]
[52:49] >> please call item
[52:51] number eight.
[52:52] >> number eight resolution pursuant to chapter
[52:59] is a 9.6 of the memphis and shelby county unified development
[53:01] code approving a special use permit at the subject property
[53:02] located at 5133 park avenue. This resolution is sponsored by
[53:06] the division of planning and development. Case no. Sup
[53:13] 25-32.
[53:16] >>
[53:17] madam vice chair, your recognize.
[53:18] >>
[53:24] the committee met there was a favorable recommendation, and I so
[53:25] move.
[53:26] >> item number
[53:27] eight was moved by vice chair swearengen-washington
[53:28] seconded by council member spinosa.
[53:31] I have one comment card.
[53:34] if you would approach the podium
[53:37] and you have two minutes.
[53:40] >> thank you, chair.
[53:43] 5442 sunday away.
[53:49] I wanted to bring some things
[53:50] to your attention concerning this
[53:52] item. 5133
[53:57] orange mountain park. We've been moving and discovering
[53:58] different things and
[54:01] the gas stations
[54:02] we've been looking at, that's why I
[54:04] think the elder who came
[54:07] from india
[54:10] , we just
[54:13] played against utah
[54:15] but showing the connections spiritually. We have been finding
[54:16] some
[54:19] issues with some people
[54:22] who own these gas stations.
[54:25] I want to inform you to take a closer look
[54:28] at the expansion of these gas stations.
[54:31] I have
[54:34] [ indiscernible ] behind me so I will talk to
[54:37] her privately and I will have some
[54:38] of
[54:39] my concerns hopefully, you know, those
[54:40] questions
[54:41] answered. And then we can move forward
[54:43] ,
[54:45] and I will be able to email you all
[54:46] privately as well
[54:49] concerning this matter. But I want
[54:50] to inform everyone to please take
[54:55] a close look
[54:57] at the gas stations. Thank you.
[54:58] >> thank
[55:01] you.
[55:04] colleagues, any questions?
[55:07] does anyone want to
[55:10] hear from --
[55:16] all right.
[55:19] name and address.
[55:22] but thank you, mr. Chairman.
[55:25] the applicant
[55:28] partnering
[55:31] with the applicant on the record
[55:33] has been developing these particular stores
[55:37] in memphis for the last 15 years or so.
[55:39] we are just under construction on
[55:40] one
[55:41] at the polo grounds your topgolf.
[55:43] he's built extensively
[55:46] in bartlett
[55:49] and germantown and is a resident
[55:52] of memphis and shelby county and has
[55:55] his offices in collierville. His wife
[55:56] was
[55:58] on the design review commission in collierville.
[56:01] they live in south wind
[56:07] and they are here permanently.
[56:13] >>
[56:16] does anybody want hear from dpd?
[56:19] if anyone has any
[56:21] questions, I would ask you day
[56:22] >>
[56:25] is there
[56:28] any opposition
[56:31] ? No?
[56:34] okay.
[56:37] >> anyone else? All right.
[56:40] please take us to
[56:43] the voting screen.
[56:58] >> [ roll call ]
[57:11] >>
[57:14] that
[57:17] item passes.
[57:28] >> madam comptroller, take us to the
[57:31] regular agenda to item number 34.
[57:38] >> number
[57:41] 34 is
[57:44] to
[57:47] mend the operating budget this
[57:48] resolution is sponsored by the administration
[57:50] and help
[57:53] from december 2nd.
[57:54] >>
[57:56] your recognized.
[57:59] >>
[58:01] I can't remember the recommendation.
[58:09] I believe this came down with no recommendation. I will move it
[58:10] to the floor for discussion.
[58:11] >> 34
[58:14] was moved by
[58:17] council member carlisle.
[58:20] >> I
[58:23] didn't know I was in the queue.
[58:26] this is the
[58:29] fire item.
[58:35] >> before
[58:38] I go to the voting
[58:40] screen I have one comment card.
[58:41] >> hold on,
[58:42] mr. Chairman.
[58:45] technically they're supposed to be
[58:47] a vote
[58:50] on the but I know that the rules
[58:54] given the fact we're talking about
[58:56] a $2 million changed the budget,
[58:59] I think, if I may ,
[59:02] thank you. I motion
[59:04] to hold the last meeting in order
[59:05] to try
[59:08] and work on a solution that would
[59:09] acknowledge with the councils trying
[59:11] to do specific to
[59:14] fire employees. I spent
[59:20] 35 or 40 hours going through eight years of
[59:23] audits. I could not get answers to questions
[59:26] on this year's current audit.
[59:31] I failed through committee to get
[59:32] specific answers
[59:33] to specific questions with specific numbers.
[59:35] the more I spent time with
[59:38] the audit
[59:40] , the more I realized kind of where
[59:41] we are at
[59:44] and I'm in the same allotment for
[59:45] the new year because I think it applies
[59:47] to the budget
[59:50] versus general financial health
[59:51] and they are two different things.
[59:53] but ultimately
[59:56] I didn't find a single trigger
[59:58] because I couldn't get the complete information to tie a
[1:00:01] trigger to in order to make sure we
[1:00:02] are in financial health.
[1:00:04] I can continue to go through every metric
[1:00:08] for 2
[1:00:11] 1/2 hours on why no business
[1:00:14] public entity under the sun
[1:00:17] should make this decision today
[1:00:18] based on the current information it
[1:00:19] has. Partial would be an understatement.
[1:00:26] I can answer
[1:00:28] financial questions but I don't really
[1:00:29] think everybody wants them the way they
[1:00:30] want to hear
[1:00:31] them and we would probably be here for
[1:00:32] too long.
[1:00:35] to say we have a spending problem would
[1:00:37] be an understatement of that epic proportions.
[1:00:40] incrementally we've spent over half
[1:00:41] $1
[1:00:44] billion in the last five years.
[1:00:47] 200 million accelerate memphis
[1:00:50] that was --we picked
[1:00:53] up an incremental
[1:00:55] 260+ million dollars in federal funding
[1:00:56] and guess
[1:00:58] what our property tax collections
[1:00:59] were
[1:01:01] on point the whole time. State sales tax on point
[1:01:02] all time. We
[1:01:04] had moments where there were gaps
[1:01:08] in
[1:01:09] what we used to budget too, meaning
[1:01:10] if you go back and look at our audits
[1:01:11] to budget
[1:01:12] we would pick up an extra 20 to 40 million
[1:01:14] throughout the year.
[1:01:17] budget is what you make it
[1:01:20] and you're relying on
[1:01:21] the information given to you by the
[1:01:23] administrators at that time. We
[1:01:26] are crossing administrations.
[1:01:28] when I say to you that we collected --
[1:01:32] we lost
[1:01:34] the hall income tax. That is true. But it was
[1:01:35] made up by
[1:01:38] [ indiscernible ] so
[1:01:41] there was no real funding gap. When
[1:01:42] I say incremental, incremental, hard
[1:01:44] cash that's gone out
[1:01:47] the door. We did real work and we
[1:01:50] did parks, right? So what's
[1:01:52] the financial picture. We raised taxes
[1:01:55] and spend an extra half 1 billion
[1:01:56] and you have to
[1:01:58] ask to be get there? And that's the
[1:01:59] question we will broach january,
[1:02:02] february, march to make sure we have an
[1:02:05] understanding and we can get
[1:02:08] into today and I know you don't
[1:02:09] want to. We need to keep the main
[1:02:11] thing the main
[1:02:14] thing. I've had a very good working relationship --
[1:02:17] I'm not saying
[1:02:19] there's anything nefarious or malicious going on.
[1:02:23] there just a lot of questions
[1:02:26] that cannot be answered today. That's okay. We've made decisions on
[1:02:27] partial
[1:02:29] information before and I respect every
[1:02:32] member's reason. As the three maybe
[1:02:34] four your budget chairman it won't be on
[1:02:35] sound financial ground
[1:02:39] , full stop.
[1:02:41] when jim strickland took office in 2015
[1:02:42] our balance
[1:02:45] was $91 million.
[1:02:47] he took office because his responsibility was billed a city
[1:02:48] guided by
[1:02:49] bad financial decisions and reduced revenues.
[1:02:54] cut first responder pay and benefits. When he
[1:02:57] left office --114 million.
[1:03:00] today it's that 91
[1:03:02] million cash on hand. It's actually
[1:03:03] less than
[1:03:06] that. It's 91 net liabilities.
[1:03:09] we know
[1:03:10] where 15 million so it's really 76 million.
[1:03:12] you will
[1:03:14] draw down the extra 2 million cynee at
[1:03:15] 74 million.
[1:03:18] fiscal policy is
[1:03:21] 8%. If you read a
[1:03:23] bond reports from moody's or s&p everything
[1:03:27] is shifted.
[1:03:29] that is not anyone in the fire department's fault.
[1:03:30] that's not anyone
[1:03:33] in the association's fault.
[1:03:35] they advocate the way they want to only allow
[1:03:38] to happen because we are the keepers
[1:03:39] of the ecosystem here.
[1:03:42] that goes for every other association
[1:03:44] and employed it comes down or anyone
[1:03:45] that talks
[1:03:48] to us.
[1:03:49] I will rap this up but it's a big
[1:03:51] thing since I spent 35 hours I
[1:03:53] feel I have a minute to talk on. Over that time
[1:03:56] city has declined in population so every
[1:03:57] time we raise taxes,
[1:04:00] you heard me today
[1:04:01] second-largest taxpayer went from
[1:04:05] bellsouth communications to the memphis
[1:04:06] city center
[1:04:09] revenue corporation
[1:04:10] holding 300 million in real estate.
[1:04:15] the last and final
[1:04:16] thing I will say and I will be quiet
[1:04:19] that I take a very personal issue with and I
[1:04:21] will directed,
[1:04:23] but personally you know I never enter into
[1:04:27] an agreement on any
[1:04:30] two-year deal
[1:04:31] when I can't I've been clear we cannot be
[1:04:33] --in the very first
[1:04:34] year together we tried to work through
[1:04:36] couple things but I respect
[1:04:38] your position but I will not be called a liar
[1:04:40] , I will not be called a cheat , I
[1:04:42] will not be called anything
[1:04:45] other than what I am,
[1:04:48] which is I do I simply
[1:04:50] do and work my tail off for the city and am speaking
[1:04:51] for myself.
[1:04:57] I built
[1:04:58] an entire political reputation on that and
[1:05:00] I hold very dear.
[1:05:02] I try to support everyone's needs and wishes within
[1:05:03] some sort of
[1:05:06] economic reason
[1:05:07] . I'm telling you now we are getting to the end of
[1:05:09] that rope. For far too long
[1:05:12] it's always we will figure it out
[1:05:14] and memphis has bumped along and survived.
[1:05:18] but step back from to city hall and think
[1:05:20] about what's happening in the environment.
[1:05:21] shelby county is having the
[1:05:31] tissues on revenues. They had to get the state comptroller to borrow money. The public transportation system has a [ indiscernible ] the memphis city school board is
[1:05:33] about
[1:05:34] to see the county commission. They've a
[1:05:36] $2 billion budget
[1:05:37] and they received half 1 billion and
[1:05:39] somehow we are still fixing units.
[1:05:42] we somehow managed to raise taxes.
[1:05:45] my point is I'm
[1:05:48] telling you we
[1:05:49] may have the cash in the account today, but
[1:05:51] that is not going to
[1:05:52] last if we don't make changes soon.
[1:05:57] I know a lot of people here the term broke and
[1:05:58] they
[1:06:00] say from trout and bar the door and
[1:06:01] on
[1:06:03] the street. We
[1:06:05] are broke if we don't make changes.
[1:06:09] we cannot continue down this. It's an
[1:06:11] unsustainable path. We can't tax the same base.
[1:06:13] the people that are mobile belief.
[1:06:15] this
[1:06:18] is a yellow flashing light
[1:06:20] from where I'm sitting, and maybe I'm
[1:06:21] an idiot. Maybe I am
[1:06:24] an idiot.
[1:06:27] but my biggest thing is
[1:06:28] this. This body has the final authority over the budget
[1:06:30] .
[1:06:33] may your
[1:06:36] offered 0% ,
[1:06:38] the impasse committee accepted a recommendation in this body
[1:06:39] in the place
[1:06:42] that accounts set three across the board
[1:06:43] for
[1:06:45] everyone. I respect
[1:06:50] what is being lobbied for, but I don't
[1:06:51] know how it's any different for any
[1:06:53] other association whose agreements
[1:06:54] were passed
[1:06:56] . For me, not only is it a $2 billion problem,
[1:06:57] it's a
[1:07:00] $19 million problem
[1:07:03] because if
[1:07:04] I'm in another organization on the say will
[1:07:06] they got their
[1:07:07] raise that was promised, where's mine.
[1:07:09] those
[1:07:12] are just my general thoughts.
[1:07:15] it has nothing to do
[1:07:16] with the performance of the fire department
[1:07:18] or individuals elected to lobby for them.
[1:07:21] I will
[1:07:31] get into the overtime. But in the reality, this body is not a
[1:07:33] party to an mou between the mayor
[1:07:34] and
[1:07:36] the associations. We
[1:07:37] are just not. There's no signed agreement.
[1:07:42] this
[1:07:43] is the truth. We typically agree those
[1:07:44] deals because it takes the pressure
[1:07:45] off
[1:07:48] of -- it saves months
[1:07:51] and hours
[1:07:53] and hundreds of thousands if not millions
[1:07:54] of
[1:07:57] dollars in salaries, legal fees ,
[1:07:58] and everybody's opportunity costs
[1:08:00] to come down here from
[1:08:02] december and sometimes to july to deal
[1:08:06] with the same five groups
[1:08:09] instead of proactively
[1:08:10] going about what we really want to do.
[1:08:12] so I'm going to leave it
[1:08:14] at that. I respect everyone's position
[1:08:15] in
[1:08:18] this, I really do.
[1:08:19] but on a personal level I'm not can
[1:08:22] be called a liar or a thief or
[1:08:25] saying I went back on my word.
[1:08:26] I've been crystal clear from the beginning
[1:08:28] of what our authority is
[1:08:31] about where position is
[1:08:33] and I know other members probably feel the
[1:08:34] same. At the end of the day
[1:08:35] I respect everyone's vote on this I'm
[1:08:36] telling you right now if you think
[1:08:37] we
[1:08:38] will have the money, there's cash in the
[1:08:40] account
[1:08:42] but you don't have the longevity to go
[1:08:43] the
[1:08:44] distance if we spend this way continually. The mayor said
[1:08:49] it himself. Whatever
[1:08:50] huge number was thrown out there for 5
[1:08:52] years ago indicated when we said
[1:08:54] leases and obligations and inflation,
[1:08:58] the comment was
[1:09:00] it's going to take -- unless there's
[1:09:01] some other
[1:09:02] large federal chunk of money coming
[1:09:05] , we have to work with what we have
[1:09:07] to work with
[1:09:09] and to dr. Warren's point you can raise
[1:09:11] taxes again . With that, I yield the
[1:09:13] floor.
[1:09:14] >> thank you.
[1:09:18] any other members wish to speak? I
[1:09:22] have two public comment cards.
[1:09:28] john, you are first. You have two minutes.
[1:09:34] >>
[1:09:37] I
[1:09:40] yield my time.
[1:09:46] >> all right.
[1:09:49] amber sherman.
[1:09:55] >> I yield my time.
[1:09:58] >>
[1:10:01] my dressed is 6070 --
[1:10:04] I want talk about this is
[1:10:06] fiscally irresponsible. Every year
[1:10:10] we have a budget season
[1:10:11] and folks talk about having to raise taxes
[1:10:15] and actual citizens in memphis don't get the services we
[1:10:16] need but you continue to approve things
[1:10:21] and make people like they are going get
[1:10:22] a
[1:10:23] raise when you don't have the money
[1:10:25] to pay for it and they are not underpaid.
[1:10:28] I know several firefighters.
[1:10:30] they are getting what they wanted, but we don't have the
[1:10:34] money to do that.
[1:10:37] I think it's important going into
[1:10:40] the next budget season that you are
[1:10:41] more
[1:10:43] fiscally responsible and
[1:10:44] listening to people about what we
[1:10:46] want funded.
[1:10:48] we talked about parks and summer school and
[1:10:49] summer camp
[1:10:52] and talked about more
[1:10:55] recreational things. We
[1:10:56] are talking about giving firefighters more money
[1:10:58] we don't have. We don't have the money to
[1:11:01] pay it. Stop
[1:11:02] approving things when you know you don't
[1:11:04] have the money. Thank you.
[1:11:07] >> thank you.
[1:11:10] nobody else right.
[1:11:16] council member white, your recognize.
[1:11:19] >>
[1:11:22] I think
[1:11:24] I'm not going to go for number four.
[1:11:25] my
[1:11:28] question is , and I don't know if
[1:11:29] there's
[1:11:30] someone from the administration but
[1:11:31] when we left here
[1:11:34] the last time it was what
[1:11:35] part of money is this can come from
[1:11:37] ? Toward the end
[1:11:40] of committee it was mentioned some
[1:11:43] additional money had been found from
[1:11:44] I
[1:11:46] think reimbursement. And we got down here
[1:11:48] we discussed another pot of money
[1:11:49] at one point
[1:11:51] I don't think I made a motion for
[1:11:52] come over
[1:11:55] time line and left with
[1:11:58] council
[1:12:00] member green, where did we land on
[1:12:01] how this is going
[1:12:04] to be paid for
[1:12:07] -- funded?
[1:12:08] >> chief adams.
[1:12:16] >>
[1:12:19] antonio adams.
[1:12:22] it's
[1:12:24] my understanding that this money is
[1:12:28] a reimbursement for training
[1:12:31] that firefighters received.
[1:12:32] this money was originally supposed to be booked in fy
[1:12:34] 25 and
[1:12:37] it was received in fy
[1:12:40] 26. It will be coming from the fire
[1:12:43] -- fire department. So fire division personnel.
[1:12:46] >>
[1:12:49] okay. I don't know
[1:12:52] if you were here last time.
[1:12:55] kind of, -- I
[1:12:58] think --
[1:13:01] I'm sorry.
[1:13:07] aside from
[1:13:13] that money the whole idea was is
[1:13:14] still money that should technically go back
[1:13:18] to the general fund. It still the same
[1:13:19] pot of money. Does that make
[1:13:22] sense? We
[1:13:24] were looking at some other alternatives
[1:13:25] to funding
[1:13:28] --we were trying
[1:13:31] to find
[1:13:32] something that fiscally was responsible
[1:13:34] and made sense. In light of us
[1:13:37] trending down in
[1:13:40] expected revenues and exceeding
[1:13:43] budgeted expenditures.
[1:13:46] so I said
[1:13:49] if this is the rule of the
[1:13:50] body one thing I recommended was it
[1:13:52] come from the over time line being fire
[1:13:55] at the time of the quarterly report
[1:13:58] was about $1 million and
[1:14:01] what
[1:14:03] the quarterly budget would be at that
[1:14:04] point in time.
[1:14:06] am I making sense? We were saying
[1:14:07] to take 1.7 from
[1:14:14] the overtime.
[1:14:19] I didn't know --in the resolution it
[1:14:20] doesn't specifically say what would
[1:14:23] come from
[1:14:24] in addition to that is a consideration
[1:14:28] --and I don't know of the chief is
[1:14:29] here and we have this chief here.
[1:14:32] I don't know if
[1:15:02] so overtime will be needed.
[1:15:05] with respect
[1:15:07] to other items in other areas in the personnel line, we've looked at
[1:15:11] in the past full-time salaries.
[1:15:14] we will delay classes.
[1:15:20] it would only exacerbate an issue
[1:15:23] with respect to replacing
[1:15:26] personnel. So, again,
[1:15:29] our logic was to take
[1:15:32] the reimbursable and reallocate
[1:15:35] the reimbursable. I
[1:15:37] understand the argument and the logic
[1:15:38] respect to
[1:15:40] not using that , but that's where
[1:15:44] we identified
[1:15:45] that it was unobligated dollars that we
[1:15:47] could use this year
[1:15:50] to cover
[1:15:53] that 2%.
[1:16:02] I'm just
[1:16:08] --
[1:16:09] >>
[1:16:11] I
[1:16:12] think the chief financial officer's on
[1:16:13] the way but the point is on a reimbursement
[1:16:14] this
[1:16:15] is my point. There's too much dancing around
[1:16:20] using the term budget and budget year in
[1:16:23] fiscal year. We don't get to the end of the
[1:16:26] race and leave the
[1:16:27] arena and go play in the next arena.
[1:16:29] it's one house, and the point
[1:16:31] is with took $15 million out-of-pocket
[1:16:35] to pick up 101 positions the year before
[1:16:38] that were unaccounted for.
[1:16:41] that cost us $15 million
[1:16:44] of credit, which affects our
[1:16:47] borrowing ability and every year we pay more to
[1:16:50] borrow money. You need to put it
[1:16:54] back and [ indiscernible ] it's not
[1:16:56] as expensive.
[1:16:59] this is the stuff
[1:17:01] I'm trying to be professional here.
[1:17:04] I'm not can argue anymore about it.
[1:17:11] I know what I'm talking about.
[1:17:14] I know that because I've sat here
[1:17:17] at certain times
[1:17:19] in this, that, and the other and here's
[1:17:21] the reality. I've gone through these documents.
[1:17:24] but I will say this one more time.
[1:17:26] that $2.2 million
[1:17:29] came in because we spent money
[1:17:32] and came back to pay us
[1:17:35] back for. That is not
[1:17:38] net new revenue.
[1:17:40] it's obligated to pay back thing that
[1:17:41] it
[1:17:44] went to expense. Furthermore it's an ongoing
[1:17:47] obligation.
[1:17:50] if you go back and look at the
[1:17:53] bond rating
[1:17:56] if
[1:17:58] you read the audit from last year,
[1:17:59] one of the specific
[1:18:01] notes talks about the increased pensioners
[1:18:02] and
[1:18:08] premium obligations related
[1:18:09] to all the first responder raises.
[1:18:11] we spent
[1:18:14] an incremental $100 million
[1:18:17] from 2015 through 2023 and
[1:18:20] public safety. Maybe shorter years. The same amount
[1:18:22] of money. I don't want to make about
[1:18:23] --
[1:18:26] it's not about fire or non-represented.
[1:18:31] if we are to make this decision, make it
[1:18:32] because you
[1:18:34] want to give fire raise and stop telling
[1:18:35] me you have money somewhere in the account.
[1:18:38] cash is physically there and will
[1:18:39] be there until it runs out but every
[1:18:41] time you draw down and say
[1:18:44] it's magically
[1:18:46] to the point he just said we can't
[1:18:47] manage to
[1:18:48] the overtime , they know they're going
[1:18:50] to run into all that over time.
[1:18:53] we get to the end of the year with
[1:18:54] you
[1:18:55] to overtime or not there will be reconciliation.
[1:18:59] you're just adding 2,000,002 it. If you
[1:19:00] want to
[1:19:02] vote for that, do it. But
[1:19:04] we are not to talk around how or why
[1:19:05] were doing it.
[1:19:07] the sun good essay and I will leave
[1:19:08] it alone.
[1:19:11] antonio,
[1:19:12] you know I love you but were trying to find
[1:19:14] ways to make it stick the right way and we
[1:19:15] received the
[1:19:17] money this year.
[1:19:19] but the idea we are not can acknowledge
[1:19:20] what happened the year
[1:19:23] before is insane
[1:19:25] to me because again we started at 114 million
[1:19:27] in 2023
[1:19:28] and now we are down to 91 million
[1:19:32] and within a draw down another 10 million.
[1:19:35] when does it stop? When the controller
[1:19:37] comes in? Last time we had to cut salary
[1:19:41] was, as we had ongoing pension liabilities
[1:19:43] increasing salaries and less revenues
[1:19:45] and
[1:19:47] you can ask the attorney what the temperature
[1:19:48] was in
[1:19:51] the room in 2012 and 2014.
[1:19:54] I yield the floor.
[1:19:55] >>
[1:19:59] councilmember logan.
[1:20:00] >> when I came
[1:20:01] on board
[1:20:03] the one thing I said since I got here and
[1:20:06] I said to the chief and
[1:20:09] chief adams is we do
[1:20:12] not want to spend all of
[1:20:15] our money. In our rainy
[1:20:17] day fund. We don't want to spend all of our savings.
[1:20:21] we don't have bad credit. There are some
[1:20:24] things as a
[1:20:25] city that is so important. Our credit rating is so
[1:20:27] important for the
[1:20:30] debt we get that we are able to
[1:20:32] do projects with. Changing that credit
[1:20:35] rating is can it change the trajectory of
[1:20:36] how we are
[1:20:39] able to borrow money
[1:20:41] in the debt service pays a lot of things that
[1:20:44] we use. Just having the responsibility as a councilmember for this
[1:20:45] fiscal soundness
[1:20:48] of your city I know several
[1:20:51] other cities that are in trouble financially
[1:20:52] in
[1:20:54] our state. And we already know
[1:20:57] how the state handles
[1:20:58] us as it relates to the finances.
[1:21:00] so we have to be prudent
[1:21:03] as to how we move
[1:21:05] within that savings, and unfortunately
[1:21:06] a lot of the information we
[1:21:08] have now or that I have now I did not
[1:21:09] have before
[1:21:12] we went through the
[1:21:13] impasse process because during the
[1:21:15] impasse process we all want to be hopeful
[1:21:16] and we all
[1:21:18] want to give -- show
[1:21:21] our gratitude
[1:21:24] and how we stand behind
[1:21:27] our employees
[1:21:29] . However, if information comes along
[1:21:30] after that
[1:21:33] that lets us know
[1:21:36] that it may not
[1:21:37] be the best idea, that's why we have
[1:21:38] that whole process. It's unfortunate
[1:21:42] that we don't have even now
[1:21:45] some of the information that was requested.
[1:21:48] we can at any point
[1:21:51] give raises. We
[1:21:53] can at any point come back to this.
[1:21:54] right
[1:21:55] now not having all the information
[1:21:56] that's needed that's been requested
[1:22:00] , it appears
[1:22:01] we are to come back in january and
[1:22:03] look at that and it changes
[1:22:06] the way we may have looked at it previously.
[1:22:08] I want to say for the public consumption
[1:22:09] that you
[1:22:12] may hear that we
[1:22:14] live for say one thing during that time.
[1:22:18] that is not actually the case. If
[1:22:21] you get more information you
[1:22:23] have to make a better decision. Not that it won't happen,
[1:22:24] it just may not
[1:22:27] be the perfect time now. So I didn't want
[1:22:30] to let the constituents know because
[1:22:31] another thing that we always said is
[1:22:33] we need to pay our staff
[1:22:36] --we need
[1:22:39] higher wages in our city. We are for higher
[1:22:41] wages and that starts with the city government.
[1:22:45] but we have to do it responsibly , and I
[1:22:47] would like for us to be able to plan
[1:22:48] for that
[1:22:51] look at exactly where
[1:22:54] we are in determining that way forward.
[1:22:57] I
[1:22:58] wanted to share that for the public
[1:23:00] because we are responsible for making sure that we
[1:23:03] stay sound as a city. Thank you.
[1:23:06] >>
[1:23:12] council member smiley.
[1:23:21] we said we would do it. I think time I've
[1:23:22] been on
[1:23:23] this counsel for a significant amount
[1:23:24] of time
[1:23:27] when it comes to issues of budget,
[1:23:30] we divert to the full-time employees.
[1:23:33] and the full-time employees are telling
[1:23:35] us today they can find the money within
[1:23:36] the budget.
[1:23:39] I'm not sure
[1:23:42] why we are spending so much time talking
[1:23:43] about this
[1:23:45] but I understand the concern. I'm
[1:23:48] going to toss it to the councilperson
[1:23:51] to close it up.
[1:23:57] >> I've been here a long time.
[1:24:33] >> you can
[1:24:36] believe me the long time I've been
[1:24:39] working on the budget the first thing on
[1:24:43] my mind make sure
[1:24:46] ratings are going to be right.
[1:24:49] you can go
[1:24:52] and call all the other mayors.
[1:24:55] I
[1:24:58] will go back to harrington.
[1:25:16] but the budget
[1:25:19] is very important.
[1:25:25] where wasting a lot of time.
[1:25:28] let
[1:25:29] me get you across the street since
[1:25:31] were talking about
[1:25:34] the comptroller.
[1:25:37] across the street
[1:25:40] with those commissioners
[1:25:43] would've done their job, a
[1:25:45] medical back to budget. My son worked
[1:25:49] on the budget.
[1:26:01] if
[1:26:03] you check around, I'm serious now.
[1:26:07] the comptroller came in
[1:26:10] because they did not turn
[1:26:13] in nothing.
[1:26:15] they did not know what to turn in.
[1:26:16] that's --
[1:26:19] now they got the call
[1:26:22] and I spend this
[1:26:25] money now. Comptroller
[1:26:28] for years. Even sent them
[1:26:31] just feel this out.
[1:26:34] that's how trifling they were
[1:26:37] . Since we want to talk
[1:26:40] about control.
[1:26:43] [ indiscernible ]
[1:26:51] I think we need to vote this on and
[1:26:52] get
[1:26:54] beyond this . The money is there.
[1:26:57] everybody keeps saying it's not or
[1:26:58] does. It
[1:27:01] is there.
[1:27:07] it's not going to affect our ratings.
[1:27:24] I don't want to give the fire department anything
[1:27:28] , but
[1:27:31] what is going on, yes.
[1:27:49] I think we will all be okay.
[1:28:31] we need to move forward.
[1:28:34] chase, I love you to death.
[1:28:44] but I've had many more budgets and
[1:28:46] I worked on
[1:28:49] --
[1:28:52] you wasn't here. We used to have --
[1:28:55] you were here. Yes.
[1:28:58] we
[1:29:00] were here working on budgets until
[1:29:04] 1:00 a.m. In the morning.
[1:29:07] I was the chair.
[1:29:10] they wanted to
[1:29:13] just, let's do this and I recessed
[1:29:16] on them. And said
[1:29:18] when you get these numbers right,
[1:29:19] we can go back
[1:29:22] into session.
[1:29:25] I ordered pizza , do you
[1:29:28] remember that? They said
[1:29:31] , well, can we do this while
[1:29:33] we were eating pizza? No. You eat
[1:29:34] the pizza
[1:29:35] and think about it first. And then
[1:29:37] come back and do what
[1:29:39] is supposed to be. You remember that,
[1:29:40] don't you?
[1:29:46] we had everything correct. We went
[1:29:49] through a lot with kobrick.
[1:29:52] okay?
[1:29:55] strickland and not just him.
[1:29:58] everyone was
[1:30:01] getting money
[1:30:04] . They didn't know
[1:30:07] it was going to come to an end sooner
[1:30:08] or later.
[1:30:10] that's what we are
[1:30:13] looking at. If you look at some of
[1:30:14] these
[1:30:15] other cities, we are doing much better.
[1:30:16] we have
[1:30:19] 2 million out there. To great people
[1:30:23] out there. They know
[1:30:26] what they're doing.
[1:30:29] I think
[1:30:32] we just need call for the vote
[1:30:35] and vote your conscience today.
[1:30:40] let's get this over and move forward. It
[1:30:41] would be okay. We are to
[1:30:44] be okay.
[1:30:47] I'm through.
[1:30:50] >> thank you.
[1:30:53] council member walker.
[1:30:56] >> thank you, mr. Chair. I
[1:30:57] will have to say this is one of my most
[1:30:59] disappointing moments
[1:31:02] since I've been on the council
[1:31:04] . I really don't understand why the
[1:31:05] lawsuit
[1:31:07] was filed. We said we would make good
[1:31:10] in january. January is less than a
[1:31:14] month away. Insider understand
[1:31:16] --I really don't understand why the
[1:31:17] lawsuit
[1:31:20] was filed . This counsel
[1:31:23] does support the race
[1:31:26] in case
[1:31:29] --you support
[1:31:32] the race. We
[1:31:34] are not clear on the money. Where
[1:31:35] the money is or
[1:31:38] is not. So
[1:31:40] how can we have the money and then
[1:31:41] not have
[1:31:44] the money simultaneously?
[1:31:50] it's kind of like faith and fear
[1:31:51] cannot occupy the same space at the
[1:31:53] same time, so how can we have
[1:31:55] the money then not have the money.
[1:32:00] in closing I want to repeat myself
[1:32:02] and say I'm not clear
[1:32:04] on why the lawsuit was filed in the
[1:32:05] first place.
[1:32:07] thank you, mr. Chair.
[1:32:08] >> thank you.
[1:32:12] please take us to the voting screen.
[1:32:14] item number 34.
[1:32:35] >> [ roll call ]
[1:33:17] >> we have
[1:33:20] eight yeses.
[1:33:23] >> the item passes.
[1:33:32] >> when you have faith, you
[1:33:35] fear nothing. Faith
[1:33:38] always overrides fear.
[1:33:41] I just want to say, you know,
[1:33:44] the lord said
[1:33:47] bring your burdens and leave
[1:33:50] them there. The problem with
[1:33:53] a lot of people is they take their
[1:33:56] burdens to him
[1:33:59] and they say ,
[1:34:01] I'm still worried about it. So you
[1:34:05] know what? It tells god
[1:34:08] that you do not believe in me. But
[1:34:10] if you take it to him and you leave
[1:34:11] it there
[1:34:14] and go on about your business, he
[1:34:17] can show up and show out and
[1:34:20] if anybody can say
[1:34:29] --20 some years ago
[1:34:32] they tried to send
[1:34:35] me to . Three years. My lawyer
[1:34:38] thought I was crazy.
[1:34:50] everything I
[1:34:52] told my attorney it happened. My attorney
[1:34:53] gave me
[1:34:56] big old bill. Let me just say
[1:34:59] this, now, after everything was
[1:35:02] over he came to me and said, you
[1:35:05] owe me not a dime.
[1:35:16] he can show up and show out all you
[1:35:17] have to do is leave
[1:35:20] it there. Thank you. I just had to
[1:35:23] say that.
[1:35:26] but thank you, councilman.
[1:35:27] >> take
[1:35:28] us
[1:35:29] to item 35.
[1:35:38] >>
[1:35:41] is an appointment planning
[1:35:44] and development director and there's
[1:35:45] a request
[1:35:47] for minutes.
[1:35:50] >>
[1:35:51] council member easter-thomas, you
[1:35:53] are recognized.
[1:35:56] >> the committee met and recommends
[1:35:57] unanimous
[1:35:59] approval and I so move .
[1:36:02] >> item number 35
[1:36:08] you beat me to it.
[1:36:12] moved by council
[1:36:13] member easter-thomas seconded by council
[1:36:15] member green.
[1:36:17] do you want to speak? But very briefly.
[1:36:18] >>
[1:36:23] I wanted to say thank you for your
[1:36:24] support for this appointment
[1:36:27] and I look forward to continuing
[1:36:30] the work of
[1:36:31] the division and a quick thanks to my family
[1:36:32] for being here as well. Thank you.
[1:36:33] >> [ applause
[1:36:36] ]
[1:36:39] >> thank you,
[1:36:41] mr. Ragsdale. We look forward to continuing
[1:36:42] to work
[1:36:45] with you and we appreciate you. Congratulations.
[1:36:51] >> don't talk yourself out
[1:36:54] of it.
[1:37:09] thank you.
[1:37:15] >> --
[1:37:18] >> [ roll call ]
[1:37:32] >> that item now passes. Congratulations, sir.
[1:37:36] >> [ applause ]
[1:37:54] >>
[1:37:57] please call
[1:38:00] item number 36.
[1:38:06] >>
[1:38:09] a reappointment of
[1:38:11] darius jones to the solid waste municipal
[1:38:12] planning board
[1:38:15] and appointments of
[1:38:16] [ indiscernible ] there's request
[1:38:23] -- these are appointments and reappointments to the
[1:38:24] solid waste municipal planning board.
[1:38:25] >>
[1:38:27] your recognized.
[1:38:30] >> the committee recommends approval
[1:38:33] and I so move.
[1:38:36] >> 36 is moved
[1:38:38] by council member easter-thomas and seconded by
[1:38:42] council member carlisle.
[1:38:45] the council wanted to hear from
[1:38:46] -- they're not coming tonight? Right.
[1:38:51] does anyone have any questions? Comments.
[1:38:57] mr. Jones.
[1:39:00] your recognized.
[1:39:03] >> I want to thank you and the city council for support
[1:39:04] on this nomination.
[1:39:06] thank you.
[1:39:09] >> yes,
[1:39:15] solid waste administrator.
[1:39:18] I want to thank you for
[1:39:21] the appointment
[1:39:23] . I've been working with the city going
[1:39:24] on 15 years now and started
[1:39:27] from the bottom as a mechanic
[1:39:30] helper and here I am now
[1:39:33] hopefully to do good things and help out
[1:39:34] the
[1:39:36] community.
[1:39:37] >> thank you.
[1:39:42] >>
[1:39:45] philip davis.
[1:39:48] solid waste director.
[1:39:50] andy the other nominee was present this
[1:39:51] morning
[1:39:54] and committee and he's the head of
[1:39:57] the development corporation
[1:39:58] very involved in the solid waste and
[1:40:00] recycling initiatives and
[1:40:03] we are happy to have them
[1:40:06] on board with the solid
[1:40:08] waste board.
[1:40:09] >> thank you, sir.>>
[1:40:11] please take us to the voting screen.
[1:40:24] >> council members, please cast your vote.
[1:40:45] >> [ roll call ]
[1:41:03] >> the item passes. Congratulations.
[1:41:12] please call item number 37.
[1:41:13] >>
[1:41:15] a resolution
[1:41:18] to outtake an appropriate
[1:41:21] $2,600,000 in
[1:41:22] city council community grant funds
[1:41:24] to nonprofit agencies
[1:41:27] for fy26.
[1:41:30] all council districts, this resolution
[1:41:32] is sponsored by the memphis city council.
[1:41:33] this request for
[1:41:36] [ indiscernible ]
[1:41:37] >>
[1:41:39] thank you, mr. Chairman.
[1:41:42] I recommend the approval and I so
[1:41:43] move.
[1:41:44] >>
[1:41:45] can I get a second?
[1:41:47] please take us to the voting screen.
[1:42:09] >> [ roll call ]
[1:42:28] >> that item passes. >>
[1:42:31] please call item 38.
[1:42:34] 's
[1:42:38] >> item number 38 is a resolution
[1:42:40] to allocate an appropriate
[1:42:43] and transfer a sum total of
[1:42:46] $3,920,000
[1:42:49] through
[1:42:52] [ indiscernible ] award 11516
[1:42:55] to
[1:42:56] the first part of the city's pledge
[1:42:58] of funding to
[1:43:01] the clubhouse. Project to
[1:43:04] be announced and to design
[1:43:06] the jesse turner park improvements project
[1:43:12] number to be announced later. District
[1:43:13] four and
[1:43:15] five and super district 8 and nine.
[1:43:16] this resolution is
[1:43:19] sponsored by the administration and there's
[1:43:21] a request for same night minutes.
[1:43:22] >>
[1:43:25] council member carlisle.
[1:43:26] >>
[1:43:28] I recommend the
[1:43:29] approval and I so move.
[1:43:30] >> 38 was
[1:43:33] moved by council member carlisle.
[1:43:34] and seconded
[1:43:37] by council member warren.
[1:43:39] I would like the whole council to
[1:43:40] sponsor
[1:43:43] this.
[1:43:51] >> please take us to the voting screen.
[1:44:10] would you please hold the
[1:44:13] voting screen.
[1:44:14] council member easter-thomas is glasgow attorney
[1:44:16] question.
[1:44:56] >> thank you. All right. Members,
[1:45:01] if you have casted your votes for
[1:45:02] 38, and whenever you
[1:45:04] have casted your votes, you can release
[1:45:05] the voting screen.
[1:45:59] >> carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, yes.
[1:46:00] easter-thomas,
[1:46:01] yes. 40, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes.
[1:46:05] smiley, yes. Logan, yes. Swearengen-washington,
[1:46:08] yes. Warren, yes. White, yes.
[1:46:13] chairman canale, yes.
[1:46:14] >> that item
[1:46:15] passes. Thank you, colleagues. Madame
[1:46:16] comptroller,
[1:46:17] please call item 39.
[1:46:18] >>
[1:46:19] item number 39 is a resolution authorizing
[1:46:20] final payment fy
[1:46:23] 2026
[1:46:26] tax equivalent payment from memphis light
[1:46:28] gas and water divisions electric system
[1:46:32] and total distribution of the fy 2026
[1:46:33] tax
[1:46:35] equivalent payment
[1:46:37] to taxing jurisdictions in shelby
[1:46:38] county, tennessee. All
[1:46:39] counsel districts. This resolution
[1:46:41] is
[1:46:44] sponsored by mlg w and
[1:46:45] there is a request for same night
[1:46:47] minutes.
[1:46:48] >>
[1:46:53] councilmember spinosa, you
[1:46:54] are recognized.
[1:46:55] >> thank you, chairman canale, chair recommends approval
[1:46:56] and I second
[1:46:57] period
[1:46:58] >> 39 was seconded by green, moved by
[1:46:59] spinosa, seeing no members in the queue, please bring the
[1:47:02] voting to the screen.
[1:47:26] >> carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, yes.
[1:47:28] ford, yes. Green, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes.
[1:47:29] spinosa, yes.
[1:47:37] swearengen-washington, yes. Walker,
[1:47:38] yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairman canale, yes.
[1:47:39] >>
[1:47:40] that item passes.
[1:47:41] >> madam comptroller, please call item 40.
[1:47:42] >> item
[1:47:44] number 40
[1:47:46] is a resolution authorizing the final payment
[1:47:48] of the fy 2026 tax equivalent payment
[1:47:50] from memphis light, gas, and water
[1:47:51] divisions
[1:47:53] gas system and total
[1:47:56] distribution of the fy 2026 tax equivalent payment
[1:47:59] to taxing jurisdictions in shelby county, tennessee. All
[1:48:02] counsel districts. This
[1:48:05] resolution is sponsored by
[1:48:14] mlgw.
[1:48:16] there is a request for same night minutes.
[1:48:17] >> councilmember spinosa, you are recognized.
[1:48:18] >> thank you, committee chair,
[1:48:19] committee recommends approval.
[1:48:20] >> item 40 was
[1:48:21] moved
[1:48:23] by spinosa, seconded by warren. Seeing no members in the queue, please
[1:48:27] take us to the voting screen.
[1:48:39] >> carlisle, yes.
[1:48:52] cooper-sutton, yes. Ford, yes. Logan, yes. Spinosa,
[1:48:53] yes. Swearengen-washington, yes. Walker,
[1:48:54] yes. Warren, yes.
[1:48:55] white, yes. Chairman canale, yes.
[1:48:56] >> that item passes.
[1:48:57] madam comptroller,
[1:48:58] please take us back to our mlgw fiscal
[1:49:00] consent items.
[1:49:03] numbers 12 through 24.
[1:49:18] >>
[1:49:19] item number 12 is a resolution approving contract
[1:49:21] number 12658 reliability
[1:49:22] coordination agreement, for a period
[1:49:27] of january 1st, 2026,
[1:49:33] to december 31st, 2026,
[1:49:34] stipulating that a sum of $1,147,890 will
[1:49:36] be furnished by the division for
[1:49:37] the tennessee valley authority to
[1:49:41] act as mlgw's designated reliability
[1:49:42] coordinator.
[1:49:50] item number 13, is a resolution approving ratification,
[1:49:51] renewal, scope change, and increase
[1:49:54] to
[1:49:57] contract number 12276,
[1:50:00] mobile radio replacement with leonardo
[1:50:01] u.s. Cyber and security solutions, llc, to
[1:50:03] ratify, renew,
[1:50:05] expand the scope and increase the
[1:50:06] current contract in
[1:50:09] the funded amount of
[1:50:12] $819,262. Item
[1:50:15] number 14,
[1:50:18] is
[1:50:19] a resolution awarding contracts number 12601,
[1:50:21] ips energy, to ips-energy
[1:50:24] usa, inc.
[1:50:30] in the funded not to exceed amount
[1:50:33] of $479,216. Item number 15
[1:50:36] is a resolution awarding contracts
[1:50:39] number 12661, variable frequency drive, for
[1:50:40] the
[1:50:42] lng plant to
[1:50:49] second. In the funded amount of $419,212.
[1:51:00] item 19 is a purchase order
[1:51:03] for vertical turbine,
[1:51:04] and motor assembly to wastewater solutions llc in the amount of $229,445.
[1:51:06] item number 17 is
[1:51:09] a resolution awarding contracts number
[1:51:12] 12610,
[1:51:15] allen
[1:51:17] pumping station reservoir baffling
[1:51:18] and piping installation to
[1:51:21] kajacs
[1:51:23] contractors, inc. In the amount of $12,750,000. Item
[1:51:24] number 18,
[1:51:26] is a resolution approving ratification
[1:51:27] and renewal to
[1:51:30] contract number 12435,
[1:51:33] external corrosion direct assessment
[1:51:36] with integrity solutions field services inc.
[1:51:38] to ratify and renew the current contract
[1:51:42] in
[1:51:45] the funded amount of $228,000. Item
[1:51:48] number 19 is a resolution
[1:51:50] approving increase to contract number 12244
[1:51:57] smart sheet with smart sheet inc. To increase the current
[1:51:58] contract value in the funded amount
[1:52:00] of $45,750.03.
[1:52:03] item number 20
[1:52:08] is a resolution awarding contract number 12547,
[1:52:09] enterprise synergy frames and
[1:52:17] gen11 compute modules for vdi to logicalis, inc.
[1:52:20] in the funded amount of $1,104,904.50.
[1:52:24] item number 21 is
[1:52:27] a resolution awarding
[1:52:29] purchase order for palo alto firewalls
[1:52:30] for the 5g
[1:52:33] project to unico technology, llc in the amount of
[1:52:36] $340,798.00.
[1:52:39] item number 22 is a
[1:52:47] resolution awarding purchase orders for crew cab trucks with
[1:52:48] enclosed service bodies to automation
[1:52:51] ford memphis in the amount of $163,142.00 and nashville automotive llc dba serra chevrolet buick gmc for
[1:52:54] $88,500.00.
[1:53:03] item
[1:53:06] number 23, is a resolution
[1:53:08] approving renewal to contract number 12563
[1:53:12] --
[1:53:17] mlgw flower planting, mulch maintenance, & turf area management with enlightenment
[1:53:18] inc.
[1:53:21] doing business as
[1:53:24] aps facility maintenance to renew the current contract in the funded amount of
[1:53:27] $95,517.12.
[1:53:33] and our final item, number 24,
[1:53:34] is a resolution approving an annual salary
[1:53:36] in the amount of $178,552.80
[1:53:40] for a new hire to fill
[1:53:41] the vacant position of director, central
[1:53:43] support services.
[1:53:45] there is a request for same night
[1:53:46] minutes for that
[1:53:49] item, mr. Chairman, and
[1:53:51] that concludes your mlgw consent items.
[1:53:54] >> well done, madam comptroller. >>
[1:53:58] thank you, mr. Chair.
[1:53:59] >>
[1:54:00] councilmember spinosa, you are recognized.
[1:54:01] >> thank
[1:54:02] you, chairman
[1:54:03] canale. Committee recommends approval and
[1:54:04] I so move.
[1:54:05] >> mlgw is moved by spinosa, seconded
[1:54:07] by green. Seeing no members
[1:54:10] in the queue,
[1:54:11] members, please cast your votes for
[1:54:13] the mlgw fiscal consent.
[1:54:25] >> carlisle, yes.
[1:54:28] cooper-sutton, yes.
[1:54:31] easter-thomas, yes.
[1:54:32] ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes.
[1:54:34] spinosa, yes.
[1:54:38] swearengen-washington, yes. Walker,
[1:54:40] yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairman
[1:54:41] canale, yes.
[1:54:42] >> that item passes.
[1:54:43] madam comptroller, please take
[1:54:45] us to the consent agenda items number 10,
[1:54:49] nine, and 10.
[1:54:52] >>
[1:54:55] we will have a display on the
[1:54:57] monitor, momentarily. On our consent
[1:54:58] agenda, we
[1:55:01] have item number nine,
[1:55:03] a referendum ordinance to amend article
[1:55:04] 34, section 250,
[1:55:07] of the home rule charter of the
[1:55:09] city of memphis, relative to the classification of
[1:55:13] officers and positions,
[1:55:16] exemptions from article,
[1:55:17] to amend the classification of employees
[1:55:19] of the
[1:55:21] memphis and shelby county public library
[1:55:22] to
[1:55:24] allow civil service status up for
[1:55:28] first reading.
[1:55:30] ordinance number 5966 is sponsored by
[1:55:31] councilmembers smiley,
[1:55:36] canale, cooper-sutton, easter-thomas, ford,
[1:55:37] green,
[1:55:40] spinosa,
[1:55:41] swearengen-washington, walker, and
[1:55:43] warren.
[1:55:52] item number 10 is also up for first reading. Ordinance
[1:55:54] amending the memphis and shelby county unified
[1:55:55] development code, as adopted
[1:55:58] by the city of memphis on august 10th,
[1:55:59] 2010,
[1:56:00] and by shelby county on august 9th,
[1:56:01] 2010,
[1:56:05] as amended, to revise the zoning and
[1:56:06] subdivision regulations within the
[1:56:07] city of memphis, pertaining
[1:56:09] to core lecture facilities specifically
[1:56:10] detention
[1:56:13] centers, jails, and prisons, up for
[1:56:14] first reading. Ordinance number 5958
[1:56:16] is sponsored by
[1:56:19] councilwoman easter-thomas.
[1:56:34] it
[1:56:35] was held from december 2nd. Mr. Chairman,
[1:56:36] that concludes our consent agenda
[1:56:37] items.
[1:56:38] >> thank you,
[1:56:39] madam comptroller. Madam vice chair,
[1:56:40] you are recognized.
[1:56:41] >> thank you,
[1:56:42] chairman. The committee met,
[1:56:43] there were favorable recommendations
[1:56:44] for both of these items, and I so
[1:56:45] move.
[1:56:46] >>
[1:56:47] consent was moved by swearengen-washington,
[1:56:48] seconded by carlisle. Councilwomen
[1:56:49] white, you are recognized,
[1:56:50] followed by
[1:56:51] councilwomen green.
[1:56:52] >> thank you,
[1:56:53] chairman, I will be recusing from
[1:56:54] this matter, specifically item 10,
[1:56:55] as I am
[1:57:04] not officially on the county commission.
[1:57:05] >> please
[1:57:06] show white as a recusal. Councilwomen green,
[1:57:07] you are recognized.
[1:57:08] >> thank you, chair.
[1:57:09] I just want to
[1:57:10] note for the record that when item
[1:57:11] number 10, the ordinance regarding the
[1:57:12] jails
[1:57:13] being held and heard in committee,
[1:57:14] I asked to be added
[1:57:15] as a cosponsor and that was approved without
[1:57:19] objection so I would just
[1:57:21] like the record to reflect that.
[1:57:22] >>
[1:57:23] all right. Thank you, councilwomen.
[1:57:25] please show
[1:57:26] green as a cosponsor, white as a recusal,
[1:57:28] and take us to the voting screen, please.
[1:57:55] >>
[1:57:56] carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, abstain. Easter-thomas,
[1:57:57] yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan,
[1:57:58] yes. Smiley, yes.
[1:58:00] spinosa, yes. Swearengen-washington,
[1:58:01] yes. Walker, yes. Warren,
[1:58:04] yes. White, recused.
[1:58:06] chairman canale, yes.
[1:58:07] >> that item
[1:58:08] passes.
[1:58:12] madam comptroller, please call our fiscal consent
[1:58:13] agenda.
[1:58:19] item number 11.
[1:58:21] >> thank you, mr. Chairman. Item number
[1:58:22] 11 is a resolution to accept grant
[1:58:23] funds
[1:58:25] in the amount of $634,009
[1:58:28] from the u.s. Department of justice
[1:58:29] through the united states marshals
[1:58:30] service western district of tennessee.
[1:58:31] all council
[1:58:32] districts. This resolution is sponsored
[1:58:34] by police services. There is a request
[1:58:35] for
[1:58:37] same night minutes.
[1:58:46] >> madam vice chair, you are recognized. >>
[1:58:47] thank you, chairman. The
[1:58:48] committee met, there was a favorable recommendation to
[1:58:49] accept these grant funds, and I
[1:58:52] so move.
[1:58:53] >> 11
[1:58:54] was moved by swearengen-washington,
[1:58:55] seconded by spinosa. Seeing no members
[1:58:56] in the queue, please take
[1:58:58] us to the voting screen.
[1:59:13] >> carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, yes.
[1:59:14] easter-thomas, yes. Ford, yes.
[1:59:15] green, yes. Logan, yes. Spinosa, yes.
[1:59:17] swearengen-washington, yes. Walker,
[1:59:19] yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairman
[1:59:20] canale,
[1:59:23] yes.
[1:59:24] >> that item passes.
[1:59:25] madam comptroller, please take us
[1:59:26] back
[1:59:29] to our regular agenda,
[1:59:32] item number 25.
[1:59:38] and for the record,
[1:59:39] madam comptroller, as you read it,
[1:59:41] it was
[1:59:46] amended in executive.
[1:59:47] >> okay. Thank
[1:59:48] you, mr. Chairman. Item number
[1:59:49] 25 is an ordinance to establish with
[1:59:52] the city council meeting dates for
[1:59:53] 2026, up for
[1:59:54] third and final reading. Ordinance number
[1:59:55] 5965 is sponsored by councilmembers
[1:59:57] swearengen-washington and carlisle.
[2:00:04] >> madam vice chair, you are recognized.
[2:00:05] >> thank you,
[2:00:06] chairman. The committee met, there
[2:00:07] was a favorable recommendation to
[2:00:08] accept
[2:00:11] the schedule as amended, and I
[2:00:14] so move.
[2:00:19] >> all right, 25 was moved by swearengen-washington, seconded by
[2:00:20] carlisle.
[2:00:21] colleagues, this is your chance to
[2:00:23] make any changes, if you wish. Speak
[2:00:26] now, or forever hold your peace.
[2:00:28] can we get a --before you --before
[2:00:32] we go
[2:00:35] to the
[2:00:37] voting screen, I am going to --I want
[2:00:38] everybody to see the changes, in
[2:00:41] case you didn't see them in insect executive.
[2:01:36] >> all right, madam comptroller, I
[2:01:38] will tell you what we are going
[2:01:39] to do, we are going to ponder on 25.
[2:01:41] we are going to come back to
[2:01:43] it. If you would call item number 30?
[2:01:49] >> item number 30 is displayed on
[2:01:50] the monitor. It is a
[2:01:51] resolution to accept a donation in the amount
[2:01:53] of $2000 from
[2:02:01] funcity memphis llc to help support the operation of ridgeway station. District 3, super district 8. This resolution is sponsored by
[2:02:07] the administration.
[2:02:08] >> councilwoman
[2:02:09] white,
[2:02:10] you are recognized.
[2:02:11] >> thank you, the committee
[2:02:12] chair made
[2:02:16] recommendation for approval, and I so
[2:02:17] move.
[2:02:18] >> 30 is moved by white, seconded
[2:02:19] by carlisle. Seeing no members in the
[2:02:20] queue, please take us to the
[2:02:23] voting screen.
[2:02:32] >> carlisle, yes. Easter-thomas, yes. Ford, yes.
[2:02:38] green,
[2:02:39] yes. Logan, yes. Spinosa, yes. Walker,
[2:02:40] yes. White, yes. Chairman canale,
[2:02:41] yes.
[2:02:44] please show vice chair,
[2:02:47] swearengen-washington,
[2:02:49] voting on this item.
[2:02:50] >> all right,
[2:02:53] item 30 passes.
[2:02:54] >> cooper-sutton
[2:02:55] and vice chair swearengen-washington
[2:02:56] --yes.
[2:02:57] >> madam comptroller, please
[2:02:59] call item 31.
[2:03:02] >>
[2:03:03] item number 31 is a resolution to appropriate
[2:03:05] $11 million in
[2:03:08] fy 2026 cip funding for the
[2:03:10] axon enterprise solution, project number
[2:03:11] pd04031.
[2:03:16] all council districts. This resolution is
[2:03:17] sponsored by
[2:03:20] the administration.
[2:03:21] >>
[2:03:22] councilwoman white, you are recognized.
[2:03:23] >> the
[2:03:26] committee
[2:03:27] met and recognized approval, and I
[2:03:29] so move.
[2:03:30] >> 31 was moved by white.
[2:03:40] 31 was moved by white, seconded by smiley.
[2:03:41] seeing
[2:03:42] no members in the queue, please take
[2:03:44] us to the voting screen.
[2:03:53] >> carlisle, yes.
[2:03:59] easter-thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green,
[2:04:02] yes. Logan, yes. Smiley, yes.
[2:04:09] spinosa, yes. Swearengen-washington,
[2:04:10] yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White,
[2:04:11] yes. Chairman canale, yes.
[2:04:12] >> that
[2:04:13] item
[2:04:14] passes. Madam comptroller, please
[2:04:15] call item 32.
[2:04:20] >> item number 32
[2:04:29] --should display momentarily --it
[2:04:30] is a resolution to amend the fiscal
[2:04:31] year 2026 cip budget by allocating
[2:04:32] and appropriating $5,100,000 and
[2:04:35] $5,900,000
[2:04:40] in funds for the purchase of various vehicles and equipment through
[2:04:41] incurrence
[2:04:44] of indebtedness via the
[2:04:46] execution of a master equipment lease.
[2:04:49] all council districts. This resolution
[2:04:50] is sponsored by the administration.
[2:04:51] >>
[2:04:54] councilman smiley,
[2:04:57] you are recognized.
[2:04:58] >>
[2:04:59] committee recommends approval, and
[2:05:05] I so move --mayor gave me permission.
[2:05:09] >> 32
[2:05:12] was --I need you to
[2:05:13] move it electronically, please. 32 is
[2:05:15] moved by smiley, seconded
[2:05:16] by warren. I do have one common card,
[2:05:18] ms. Glenda hicks.
[2:05:33] >> glenda hicks, 608 gillies.
[2:05:42] I reviewed the documentation
[2:05:45] that was presented on this item,
[2:05:48] and was somewhat
[2:05:50] baffled, so I thought I would just come and
[2:05:51] ask my questions. So,
[2:05:54] understanding that the citizenry
[2:05:55] pays, just residential citizens, pay
[2:06:05] $41.96 per month on the light, and gas bill for
[2:06:06] solid waste, and if I take a mere
[2:06:09] 150,000 citizens
[2:06:12] times that,
[2:06:15] then we are looking at over $6 million a
[2:06:16] month. So, I was a bit baffled, as to why we
[2:06:18] are in a lease agreement
[2:06:21] with jpmorgan,
[2:06:24] to purchase this equipment,
[2:06:25] and why we are not just purchasing
[2:06:27] to -- to lease
[2:06:30] --excuse me --this
[2:06:31] equipment. And why are we not just
[2:06:33] purchasing it outright,
[2:06:35] given the amount of funds that are
[2:06:36] collected just on
[2:06:39] the basis of
[2:06:42] residence paying? And
[2:06:44] I know that is more than 150,000 citizens.
[2:06:51] residential, I'm
[2:06:52] not even counting the commercial,
[2:06:53] which is double that amount. So, just
[2:06:54] trying to understand
[2:06:55] why we are in some lease agreement,
[2:07:00] going
[2:07:01] back to 2013, based on the documentation that
[2:07:02] was provided.
[2:07:03] >> thank you, ms. Hicks.
[2:07:06] I think
[2:07:08] I can have director davis come up and speak
[2:07:09] to the specifics, why
[2:07:11] he chose the lease as opposed to the purchase.
[2:07:15] >> pay. Philip
[2:07:18] davis, solid waste director,
[2:07:20] 208 bullock drive memphis, 21119.
[2:07:27] yes,
[2:07:29] good question. So, we do enter into a
[2:07:30] five-year lease, it is a lease
[2:07:31] purchase. We finance these vehicles because we have
[2:07:32] about --to the common areas point
[2:07:34] --we do have about a $104 million
[2:07:36] operating budget.
[2:07:38] we have 181,000 customers that pay
[2:07:42] --
[2:07:51] largely 4196,
[2:07:52] give or take, the fee classification,
[2:07:53] but most of our customers pay 4196
[2:07:55] per month, that brings in about that
[2:07:56] much revenue, about $104 million.
[2:07:57] we have about a $35
[2:08:00] million payroll for personnel.
[2:08:06] we also finance these vehicles. This
[2:08:07] is
[2:08:08] about $11 million. It is going to
[2:08:09] replace about
[2:08:12] 10% of our operating fleet.
[2:08:15] and so,
[2:08:18] we finance, because of a cash flow,
[2:08:21] a cash flow
[2:08:24] for the operation. So, this is why
[2:08:26] we do this.
[2:08:27] >> thank you, director davis.
[2:08:28] madam comptroller, please take us
[2:08:30] to the voting screen for item 32.
[2:08:51] >> carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, yes.
[2:08:52] ford,
[2:08:54] yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes.
[2:08:57] smiley, yes. Spinosa, yes. Walker,
[2:08:58] yes.
[2:09:00] warren, yes. White, yes. Please show
[2:09:01] easter-thomas as voting
[2:09:03] yes on this item.
[2:09:06] chairman
[2:09:07] canale, yes.
[2:09:08] >> that item passes.
[2:09:09] madam comptroller, please call item
[2:09:10] 33.
[2:09:11] >> item
[2:09:12] number 33 is a resolution to
[2:09:15] allocate inappropriate
[2:09:17] $2,600,000 in city council community grant
[2:09:21] funds to
[2:09:23] nonprofit agencies for fy 26. All
[2:09:24] council districts.
[2:09:25] this resolution is sponsored by the
[2:09:27] budget committee.
[2:09:28] >>
[2:09:39] councilmember carlisle, you are recognized.
[2:09:40] >>
[2:09:41] thank you, chairman canale. Committee recommends
[2:09:42] approval and I so move.
[2:09:43] >> 33 was
[2:09:44] moved by carlisle, seconded by green.
[2:09:45] seeing no members in the queue, please take us to
[2:09:48] the voting screen.
[2:10:14] >> carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, yes. Easter-thomas,
[2:10:15] yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes.
[2:10:16] smiley, yes.
[2:10:17] spinosa, yes. Swearengen-washington, yes.
[2:10:18] walker, yes. Warren, yes. White,
[2:10:20] yes. Chairman canale, yes.
[2:10:21] >> that item
[2:10:22] passes.
[2:10:24] >>
[2:10:25] madam comptroller come out of an abundance
[2:10:27] of clarity, we reread 25 into the record.
[2:10:39] >> item number 25
[2:10:42] is an ordinance
[2:10:45] to establish
[2:10:46] memphis city council meeting dates
[2:10:48] for 2026
[2:10:54] up for a third and final reading.
[2:10:55] ordinance number 5965
[2:10:56] is sponsored by councilmembers swearengen-washington
[2:10:58] and carlisle.
[2:11:00] >> so, I spoke incorrectly earlier, it is a substitute
[2:11:04] ordinance,
[2:11:09] with the changes --
[2:11:10] >> for the record,
[2:11:11] it is
[2:11:12] a substitute ordinance and we will archive
[2:11:13] it as that.
[2:11:14] >> thank you. Madam vice
[2:11:15] chair, you are recognized.
[2:11:16] >> thank
[2:11:17] you, chair. The committee met and
[2:11:18] received a favorable
[2:11:19] recommendation for the schedule of
[2:11:20] meeting dates
[2:11:24] --it has been a minute.
[2:11:25] >> 25 was moved
[2:11:26] by swearengen-washington, seconded by
[2:11:28] carlisle.
[2:11:30] councilman warren, you are recognized.
[2:11:34] >>
[2:11:35] thank you, mr. Chair. As you know,
[2:11:40] we have meetings on january 13th and 27th,
[2:11:43] and a week from the 27th,
[2:11:46] february 3rd.
[2:11:47] if we could avoid having those throughout
[2:11:49] the year, I think it
[2:11:52] helps us.
[2:11:55] the sixth this pretty far
[2:11:57] in from the beginning of the year,
[2:11:58] so I think
[2:12:01] most people
[2:12:07] are back from vacation
[2:12:08] after that we can, they are back from
[2:12:10] the weekend of the
[2:12:11] first. It seems that the sixth and
[2:12:12] the 20th would have eliminated that problem.
[2:12:15] we got november 2nd, I guess, or third,
[2:12:16] that is right on the
[2:12:18] voting day of --I think that is the election --
[2:12:19] so, that is
[2:12:21] why we moved in november and december back,
[2:12:28] but
[2:12:29] that keeps us from having a lot of these that
[2:12:31] are just back to back, as we go throughout
[2:12:32] the
[2:12:33] year. So, I would like to see if there
[2:12:34] are other people that
[2:12:37] will comment on why
[2:12:39] we shouldn't go back to the sixth
[2:12:40] and the
[2:12:41] 20th of january.
[2:12:42] >> all right, colleagues, if
[2:12:43] you have any thoughts or opinions
[2:12:45] on moving the 13th to the sixth and the
[2:12:46] 27th to the 20th
[2:12:47] in the month of january, please speak up.
[2:13:10] >> madam vice chair,
[2:13:11] you are recognized.
[2:13:12] >> thank you,
[2:13:13] mr. Chair. That is all I needed.
[2:13:14] >>
[2:13:15] so, everybody
[2:13:16] is okay with these dates in front
[2:13:17] of them? Love these dates. Okay. All
[2:13:18] right.
[2:13:19] 25 was moved by swearengen-washington,
[2:13:20] seconded by carlisle. Will
[2:13:21] the members of the queue please take
[2:13:22] us to the voting screen?
[2:13:33] >> carlisle, yes. Cooper-sutton, yes.
[2:13:40] ford, yes. Green, yes. Please
[2:13:41] show easter-thomas as voting yes on
[2:13:43] this item. Logan, yes. Smiley,
[2:13:44] yes. Spinosa, yes. Swearengen-washington,
[2:13:46] yes. Please show
[2:13:51] councilmember walker as voting yes
[2:13:52] on this item. Warren,
[2:13:53] yes. White, yes. Chairman canale,
[2:13:55] yes.
[2:13:56] >> that item passes.
[2:13:57] all right, colleagues, that brings us to
[2:13:58] the end of our agenda, I
[2:14:01] believe the vice chair has
[2:14:03] our same night minute items available?
[2:14:07] >> thank you, chair. Our same night
[2:14:08] minute
[2:14:10] items are
[2:14:13] items 11, 24, 25, 33, 35, 36,
[2:14:16] 37,
[2:14:19] 38, 39,
[2:14:22] and 40.
[2:14:27] and I so move.
[2:14:28] >> all right, same night minutes
[2:14:29] were moved by
[2:14:31] swearengen-washington --
[2:14:32] I need a second? Seconded by smiley,
[2:14:34] councilman smiley, you are smart recognized.
[2:14:35] >>
[2:14:36] think you, mr. Chair. I moved to the
[2:14:40] approved item 34 same night minutes.
[2:14:43] item number 34 is the item that
[2:14:46] we had much
[2:14:48] discussion about.
[2:14:49] >> all right, any
[2:14:50] objection to adding
[2:14:52] 34 to our same night minutes? All
[2:14:55] right, hearing no objection,
[2:14:58] item 34 will be added. Please note
[2:14:59] that,
[2:15:01] madam comptroller, item
[2:15:07] 34 will be added to the list
[2:15:08] of same minute items.
[2:15:09] >> thank you,
[2:15:10] mr. Chairman.
[2:15:11] >> seeing no members
[2:15:12] in the
[2:15:13] queue, please take us to the voting screen.
[2:15:30] >> cooper-sutton, yes. Easter-thomas,
[2:15:31] yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes.
[2:15:34] smiley,
[2:15:35] yes. Spinosa, yes. Swearengen-washington,
[2:15:37] yes. Walker, yes.
[2:15:39] chairman canale, yes.
[2:15:40] >> that item
[2:15:41] passes.
[2:15:44] all right, colleagues, this brings
[2:15:46] us to the public comment portion of
[2:15:49] our meeting.
[2:15:52] dr. Cornelius atwater, you are up
[2:15:53] first.
[2:15:54] name and address for the record. You
[2:15:55] have two minutes, ma'am.
[2:15:58] >> dr. Carlita atwater,
[2:16:01] 1005 firestone memphis,
[2:16:04] tennessee, 380107. I came to
[2:16:07] speak on the number,
[2:16:12] on the agenda, 10, item 10. I think
[2:16:13] it is a disservice
[2:16:14] and disrespectful to not let the public
[2:16:16] speak on a
[2:16:19] permit, a
[2:16:21] resolution, an ordinance that is going
[2:16:22] to affect the jail, the new jail,
[2:16:28] the detention center and all that.
[2:16:34] but I will
[2:16:35] address that with a legal situation because I thought
[2:16:37] that was very disrespectful.
[2:16:38] >>
[2:16:40] dr. Atwater? Can you pause her time
[2:16:41] for just
[2:16:43] a second?
[2:16:52] you would be able to speak on that item, but
[2:16:54] you can only speak on ordinances when it comes
[2:16:56] up for third reading. When it comes up
[2:16:58] for third reading, anybody who wishes to speak on that item -- which is when
[2:17:00] we will truly vote on that item --
[2:17:01] we are just letting it go through
[2:17:02] the
[2:17:03] process of consent, but when it comes up for third reading,
[2:17:05] anybody who wishes to
[2:17:06] speak will be given the option to
[2:17:08] speak at that
[2:17:09] time. Thank you, you can consider
[2:17:11] your comments.
[2:17:12] >> are you going
[2:17:13] to take time back? Okay. So, now,
[2:17:14] what I want
[2:17:17] to address is, july 27th,
[2:17:22] I gave you all the memphis black agenda and
[2:17:24] I want to read that into record, so
[2:17:25] that can be documented publicly. You
[2:17:26] never
[2:17:29] did respond to that. So, let me
[2:17:31] go to what I will say in the few minutes
[2:17:35] I have.
[2:17:43] I am reading this document into record
[2:17:44] of
[2:17:45] the memphis black agenda, presented
[2:17:46] to you july the 22nd. I am requesting
[2:17:47] a
[2:17:50] forensic investigation
[2:17:52] and accounting of all fiscal budget on
[2:17:59] the fiscal budget 2021, '22,
[2:18:02] '23, '24, and '25, regarding the
[2:18:05] funding of accelerated
[2:18:08] memphis
[2:18:09] cra, memphis chamber of commerce,
[2:18:11] memphis downtown commission, and
[2:18:17] review board, and land bank, and any other
[2:18:18] organizations who have received funding
[2:18:19] from the city of memphis, city council,
[2:18:20] in the
[2:18:23] last five years. And
[2:18:24] I am requesting that and I want to
[2:18:26] put that into the record.
[2:18:27] >> thank you, dr. Atwater. Sammy hunter?
[2:18:56] >> yes, my name is sammy hunter.
[2:19:00] I live at 4211 park chester avenue,
[2:19:02] memphis, tennessee, 83318.
[2:19:07] bored, I just want to address you,
[2:19:08] all, about the concerns of these security
[2:19:09] guards
[2:19:10] that are down here at the north end terminal.
[2:19:16] about the bus riders, how aggressive they are
[2:19:17] being toward the bus
[2:19:19] riders and stuff. We had a lady that
[2:19:20] was thrown down by the
[2:19:22] security guards, down at the north
[2:19:26] end terminal.
[2:19:29] she was intoxicated -- yes,
[2:19:30] she was -- but, she was handcuffed, but
[2:19:32] she didn't deserve to
[2:19:33] be thrown down that aggressively by security guards.
[2:19:35] now, we have went to mr. Holmes
[2:19:38] and told mr. Holmes
[2:19:40] that he needs to put body cams on these
[2:19:41] security guards, as
[2:19:44] they are
[2:19:49] being aggressive toward the bus riders.
[2:19:50] if a
[2:19:51] bus rider is waiting on a bus, if
[2:19:52] the bus is not showing up, you can't
[2:19:53] just push
[2:19:55] them out because his bus hasn't came.
[2:19:58] so, these are things that we wish
[2:19:59] you all would
[2:20:00] look into. The bus riders don't deserve
[2:20:02] this. It's just bad, down there.
[2:20:05] with me and mr.
[2:20:07] mosier from citizen assistant services wish
[2:20:08] you
[2:20:11] would check in with this. The other
[2:20:14] thing is,
[2:20:18] the bus riders went to know, when
[2:20:20] are y'all going to assemble a
[2:20:21] board? Because they need to come to address
[2:20:23] their concerns, because they --they
[2:20:24] come
[2:20:25] to me, but they need to be able to
[2:20:26] come to a board, to address their
[2:20:28] concerns with what they are going through
[2:20:29] out here.
[2:20:31] it's --we need a board. We need a
[2:20:32] board, so we can
[2:20:34] come and tell you about the issues
[2:20:35] that are going on
[2:20:38] out here, about these buses.
[2:20:44] and another thing, we want to know, when are
[2:20:45] the
[2:20:46] buses coming? Are they coming in january?
[2:20:47] because we badly need
[2:20:49] them. It is fine that you all are
[2:20:50] doing a free-for-all, but if
[2:20:52] the buses are not showing up on time,
[2:20:53] then it's --it does no
[2:20:54] good. So, that's what we want.
[2:20:55] >>
[2:20:56] thank you, mr. Hunter. And to answer
[2:20:57] your question
[2:20:59] about --
[2:21:09] the board, those board appointees
[2:21:11] do have to come from the administration
[2:21:12] and we either vote the appointment
[2:21:14] up or down, we don't get to pick
[2:21:15] who serves on the board.
[2:21:16] >> okay,
[2:21:17] thanks.
[2:21:18] >> thank you, sir. Johnny mosley?
[2:21:29] >> johnny mosley.
[2:21:35] 1150 pebble lane memphis, tennessee, 38109.
[2:21:44] the
[2:21:45] citizens service route, I have been
[2:21:46] an advocate for citizens bus service
[2:21:47] riders
[2:21:50] since 1973.
[2:21:53] I guess mr. Hunter just about
[2:21:54] said everything I wanted to say, and of course you
[2:21:55] all know that I wrote a three-page
[2:21:56] letter to mr. Holmes,
[2:22:05] talking about some of the things that mr. Hunter talked
[2:22:06] to y'all about just
[2:22:07] a moment ago. And so, I would just
[2:22:08] like to reiterate
[2:22:11] what he says, I would like to see
[2:22:12] our
[2:22:14] city council,
[2:22:16] not only find out what is going on
[2:22:17] down at the north end terminal and
[2:22:20] the william hudson
[2:22:23] stop, but just for you all
[2:22:25] to go and take some time to go and
[2:22:26] talk to bus riders at the
[2:22:29] transit center.
[2:22:31] in 1984, I played a role in making
[2:22:32] sure that the city
[2:22:34] council at that time allocates dollar bills
[2:22:40] -- I thought that would be a dream
[2:22:41] for bus riders.
[2:22:44] bus riders are scared.
[2:22:47] telling me
[2:22:50] that
[2:22:52] security guards are losing their mind.
[2:22:59] I am sure you all know we get telephone
[2:23:00] calls 8:00, 9:00
[2:23:01] to 10:00, 11:00 at night complaining about
[2:23:02] the security guards and how they
[2:23:05] are treated, being treated like
[2:23:08] they are second-class citizens. Yes,
[2:23:09] bus fare
[2:23:11] is free today. Our bus riders do not fear
[2:23:14] --they feel that they
[2:23:17] are
[2:23:19] not treated with a sense of human dignity as
[2:23:20] respect and as I said,
[2:23:22] they are treated just as bad as my father,
[2:23:35] back in 1968 when he marched for dignity.
[2:23:36] >>
[2:23:37] what is the
[2:23:38] name of the security company? Do you know
[2:23:39] off the top of
[2:23:40] your head?
[2:23:41] >> water security --there's
[2:23:42] two security companies --yeah, water
[2:23:45] security company. We want
[2:23:46] to see the security company change,
[2:23:48] because we just don't want
[2:23:51] to see
[2:23:54] the bus
[2:23:55] riders continue to be scared while
[2:23:56] they are waiting on the buses.
[2:23:57] >>
[2:23:58] thank you,
[2:23:59] mr. Mosley.
[2:24:00] >> thank you. >> yes,
[2:24:01] sir. Alayna, a.k.a. Philly?
[2:24:13] state your name, please.
[2:24:14] >> at evening and
[2:24:15] happy holidays, my name is amita brown, 8236
[2:24:17] waverley avenue 38114. Good evening,
[2:24:21] city councilmembers,
[2:24:26] my name is amita, a.k.a. Philly, I am
[2:24:27] the civil rights advocacy
[2:24:29] director for we fed up, a community
[2:24:33] organization fighting for
[2:24:34] constitutional compliance and the
[2:24:35] protection of fundamental rights.
[2:24:36] under the memphis
[2:24:39] city charter, behold
[2:24:42] legislative authority,
[2:24:44] legislative oversight and responsibility
[2:24:45] for the city
[2:24:48] government operations,
[2:24:52] including the mayor and the memphis
[2:24:53] police department. Therefore, this
[2:24:54] body proves funding
[2:24:57] and establishes policies
[2:24:59] and betraying the duty and authority to act
[2:25:00] when
[2:25:03] city officials violated the law.
[2:25:08] the united states department of justice
[2:25:09] has formally
[2:25:10] confirmed that the city of memphis
[2:25:11] engages in a pattern and practices
[2:25:12] of unconstitutional policing, and
[2:25:15] including excessive force. These findings place
[2:25:28] this council on actual notice. When a
[2:25:30] governing body knowingly hires,
[2:25:31] retains, and pays public servants who violate
[2:25:32] federal law, that conduct that conduct, triggers
[2:25:33] municipal reliability under 42
[2:25:36] u.s. C 1983 as established in
[2:25:38] mondale the department of social service.
[2:25:39] used
[2:25:42] her correct
[2:25:45] known constitutional
[2:25:50] constitutes indifference. Under the
[2:25:51] supremacy clause of the
[2:25:52] united states constitution federal
[2:25:54] civil rights law
[2:25:56] overrides local policy and political
[2:25:57] discretion. This
[2:26:00] council is now on the record.
[2:26:07] failure to act converts knowledge
[2:26:08] into reliability, public office is
[2:26:09] a public trust, and
[2:26:10] when the trust is breached, the people
[2:26:12] retain the right to petition,
[2:26:13] demand redress, and seek accountability
[2:26:16] under constitutional federal law when rights
[2:26:18] are violated under law.
[2:26:20] you are not observers, you are employers. And
[2:26:33] continued interactions will
[2:26:34] be treated as ratification, the record is preserved, and
[2:26:36] the rights of the people are not negotiable, accountability needs
[2:26:38] to come one way or another, and I will see you
[2:26:39] soon.
[2:26:40] >> thank
[2:26:42] you. Joe kent.
[2:26:56] >> joe kent, 5111 flamingo. Since 2019, the chamber
[2:26:57] has excessive tax incentives
[2:26:59] that have brought 20,000 job losses. Since
[2:27:00] 2022, the prosper
[2:27:06] 2030 plan since august of 2023
[2:27:12] skill
[2:27:13] center announcement, 3500 job losses have occurred.
[2:27:15] all of this results in $100 million
[2:27:16] of deficient
[2:27:18] revenue growth, since 2021.
[2:27:22] so, blame the chamber of nashville
[2:27:24] for the revenue
[2:27:27] problems.
[2:27:30] bobby white, yesterday,
[2:27:33] imply that
[2:27:36] the pile is the chamber's only incentives
[2:27:39] while others
[2:27:44] resort to other incentives. This is
[2:27:45] more joke chamber propaganda and a
[2:27:46] gross
[2:27:47] misrepresentation. Here are some examples
[2:27:48] of cash incentives.
[2:27:51] 18,000,030 6 million in private garage
[2:27:52] loans
[2:27:53] can be attributed to cash grants.
[2:28:03] through the
[2:28:05] ccd see the cd mc is handing out cash
[2:28:06] grants all the time. One example is
[2:28:07] a one million-dollar
[2:28:08] carlisle storefront grant and another
[2:28:09] is a $30 million sheraton grant from the city.
[2:28:10] and
[2:28:11] there is more. Edge gave $4 million
[2:28:12] to fedex to move across town
[2:28:15] to downtown,
[2:28:18] and edge administers a
[2:28:20] whole bunch of cash grants for the
[2:28:21] state, job infrastructure, job skills training,
[2:28:22] and
[2:28:23] cash incentives. What about the low,
[2:28:24] below-market edge $10 million loan
[2:28:25] to skerritt building? And
[2:28:26] what about the $10 million grant to
[2:28:29] the snape district? And what about
[2:28:30] all the infrastructure works going
[2:28:31] on at
[2:28:33] liberty park? What about
[2:28:35] the free lease to agro center? That
[2:28:36] is again affecting a cash
[2:28:39] grant for agro recruitment
[2:28:41] and there will be even more cash grants
[2:28:42] from the obnoxious board authority
[2:28:45] cash
[2:28:47] bunker so blamed chamber, edge, and punk
[2:28:48] families of memphis for your public
[2:28:49] revenue problems. Which are significant.
[2:28:51] blame them.
[2:29:00] blame them. Start publicly blaming
[2:29:01] these baskets. They are ripping the
[2:29:02] city
[2:29:03] off.
[2:29:04] >> thank you, mr. Kent. >> thank
[2:29:05] you.
[2:29:06] >>
[2:29:07] dan snyder.
[2:29:24] >> dan snyder, 27 years old. I am
[2:29:25] here
[2:29:26] with a couple other librarians today
[2:29:27] and we would like to thank everyone
[2:29:28] who voted
[2:29:29] yes on cosponsor and we look forward
[2:29:30] to the second and third readings,
[2:29:32] as well. Have a good evening.
[2:29:33] >> thank
[2:29:34] you. Alexander farmer?
[2:29:54] >> alexandra farmer, 1044 bruce street.
[2:29:56] yeah, thank you, all, so much. We are so grateful
[2:29:58] and excited that this is
[2:29:59] moving forward. We will see you at the second and
[2:30:00] third readings, and we really hope
[2:30:01] that all
[2:30:02] of you will cosponsor, as well. We
[2:30:03] know we still have three of you that
[2:30:04] have
[2:30:05] yet to cosponsor, we would love to
[2:30:07] have you on board, as well. So, thank
[2:30:08] you, all. We are all very grateful.
[2:30:10] >> thank you,
[2:30:13] ms. Farmer. Laura?
[2:30:16] >> hi, laura, 84942
[2:30:19] east askers and, 30108. I just
[2:30:22] want to say thank you
[2:30:24] for giving us the encouragement of
[2:30:25] your cosponsorship, your sponsorship
[2:30:28] of this resolution,
[2:30:29] collaborating with workers. We appreciate
[2:30:31] the work you do for us. Happy holidays.
[2:30:34] >> thank you. G wayne downey?
[2:30:43] >> g
[2:30:44] wayne downey, 3574 marriott avenue
[2:30:46] memphis 38 0101
[2:30:52] --I wish to
[2:30:53] provide the council with information
[2:30:54] that I respectfully believe should
[2:30:55] be considered in drafting the
[2:30:58] referendum ordinance
[2:31:04] referencing article 34
[2:31:05] 250. In 1949, the tennessee general assembly passed
[2:31:07] a private act and
[2:31:08] the memphis board of commissioners passed
[2:31:09] an ordinance creating a comprehensive
[2:31:10] civil service commission for
[2:31:11] memphis. The ordinance states all
[2:31:12] employees holding positions covered
[2:31:13] by the provisions of this act for
[2:31:16] a period
[2:31:19] of six months or more
[2:31:20] immediately prior to the adoption
[2:31:22] of this law shall be continued in the
[2:31:23] respective positions without the necessity
[2:31:25] of a qualifying test.
[2:31:27] in 2000, ordinance number 4763 was passed,
[2:31:31] which abolished
[2:31:40] the park commission and replaced it
[2:31:41] with the commission of parks services. These
[2:31:42] services will meet of city workers,
[2:31:43] but were
[2:31:44] not included on the list of city employees
[2:31:45] exacted from civil service protection.
[2:31:47] in 2005, ordinance 5093 was passed,
[2:31:49] which added library employees
[2:31:52] to
[2:31:53] the list of city workers exempt from
[2:31:55] civil service protection.
[2:32:01] it is my professional opinion that
[2:32:03] the 1949 municipal code and city ordinance 4763
[2:32:04] suggests that
[2:32:06] no city employees have ever been dismissed
[2:32:12] and compelled to repeat the hiring process
[2:32:13] to join the ranks of civil
[2:32:16] service. Therefore,
[2:32:18] I respectfully suggest that the library
[2:32:19] division workers are not required
[2:32:22] to be rehired
[2:32:24] in order to be classified as civil service.
[2:32:25] thank you.
[2:32:28] sir?
[2:32:31] what?
[2:32:37] >> they just wanted a copy of
[2:32:39] what --
[2:32:40] >> yeah, I got it. Yeah, I
[2:32:41] will give it to
[2:32:42] you.
[2:32:43] >> thank you, sir. Judge sink?
[2:32:44] is he gone? Okay.
[2:32:52] madeline rogers?
[2:33:01] >>
[2:33:06] 670 west drive 38112. I've got copies,
[2:33:07] if y'all
[2:33:10] want them. I just want to
[2:33:13] say --thank you all so much
[2:33:19] for getting us through the first reading
[2:33:20] today, and I
[2:33:21] am really excited for the second and
[2:33:22] third --
[2:33:23] happy holidays.
[2:33:24] >> thank you, ms. Rogers.
[2:33:25] lisa peterson?
[2:33:34] >> hello, my name
[2:33:37] is lisa peterson. 5012
[2:33:40] newcastle road.
[2:33:46] I wanted to join my coworkers from
[2:33:47] the new memphis public libraries and
[2:33:48] thank you for getting us through the first
[2:33:49] reading, and
[2:33:50] hopefully, as we move through the
[2:33:51] second and third readings and onto
[2:33:52] the referendum, we are
[2:33:54] able to find a way to make what wayne
[2:33:55] is saying is true,
[2:34:01] where library staff are
[2:34:02] able to maintain their positions and
[2:34:03] gain civil-service status. Thank you
[2:34:04] and happy holidays.
[2:34:05] >>
[2:34:06] thank you, ms. Peterson. Councilman
[2:34:07] warren, you are recognized.
[2:34:13] >> thank you,
[2:34:16] mr. Chair. I was just looking
[2:34:18] at the calendar bill we passed, and realized that
[2:34:19] today, is the 15th of
[2:34:22] december and january 13th is 28 days
[2:34:23] away. So,
[2:34:25] that is four
[2:34:28] weeks that we would not be here. And although
[2:34:33] the 19th is, you know, a time that
[2:34:34] would be hard for staff, I
[2:34:36] am wondering, do we really not want to be
[2:34:37] here for four weeks? Will that be
[2:34:40] acceptable? And I am thinking
[2:34:45] if this might not --we might not want
[2:34:46] a four
[2:34:49] week vacation. At least have us
[2:34:52] reconsider,
[2:34:58] having four weeks off and come back
[2:34:59] to three
[2:35:00] weeks. I think it will make our meeting
[2:35:01] when we come back ridiculously long and hard to do.
[2:35:03] >> stop talking. >> thank you, councilman.
[2:35:04] I will let
[2:35:10] council member carlisle respond to
[2:35:11] that.
[2:35:12] >>
[2:35:13] you have main meetings and committee meetings.
[2:35:14] if there is business
[2:35:15] that doesn't have to be composed of
[2:35:16] the official act, call your committee, right?
[2:35:29] chairman ford wants to
[2:35:30] call the transportation committee on
[2:35:32] a tuesday, he feels like he has
[2:35:33] a right to do that. Chairman spinosa can call mlgw
[2:35:35] --
[2:35:36] >> sounds like a good idea.
[2:35:37] I'm with you.
[2:35:38] >> okay. >> thank you,
[2:35:39] thank you. Thank you. All
[2:35:41] right. Bennan al-shamari?
[2:35:47] >> hello,
[2:35:50] my name is
[2:35:52] bennan al-shamari and I live in for 840
[2:35:56] lynn road.
[2:35:57] I am a sophomore at west asian high
[2:35:59] school and ever since I was a
[2:36:02] sixth-grader at
[2:36:03] last station middle school I have
[2:36:04] been going to jeffrey red library.
[2:36:05] as a student
[2:36:06] growing up in a working-class family,
[2:36:10] I loved going to this library and
[2:36:11] reading
[2:36:12] comments until my mom had to shout
[2:36:14] at me to run home. Now,
[2:36:16] jeffrey renton wasn't always called
[2:36:17] jeffrey renton. It
[2:36:18] was honored after the heroic officer
[2:36:24] who lost his life after being shot
[2:36:25] outside of the library while responding
[2:36:26] to a
[2:36:29] call on february 2nd, 2023.
[2:36:34] after three years of this tragic event,
[2:36:35] my family
[2:36:36] still has concerns over me going to
[2:36:38] this beautiful area. This is why we
[2:36:39] need more protection and security
[2:36:41] for library workers --for library
[2:36:42] workers. Another challenge, I have
[2:36:43] learned that memphis library workers
[2:36:44] face, is the
[2:36:46] livable wage that they have. The same
[2:36:47] people who helped me
[2:36:48] pick out my books to achieve the education
[2:36:50] I have today,
[2:36:54] and who have provided a safe space
[2:36:56] for me
[2:36:59] struggled to
[2:37:00] provide for their children. According to
[2:37:02] the commercial appeal,
[2:37:05] laura that works in the
[2:37:07] science department at the benjamin library
[2:37:14] stated that many library workers make
[2:37:17] less than $44,000 and that is
[2:37:25] the living wage for a single person with
[2:37:26] no children living
[2:37:27] in memphis, but that doesn't have
[2:37:29] to be that way, like how my favorite
[2:37:30] author, cs lewis, stated, "you are
[2:37:31] never too old to set another goal
[2:37:32] or
[2:37:35] to dream a new dream." let this
[2:37:42] letdown of memphis library and lead
[2:37:44] us to a new day that helps us resolve
[2:37:46] so I urge you to pass this ordinance
[2:37:47] to alleviate the struggles of library
[2:37:48] and workers. Thank you.
[2:37:49] >> thank you.
[2:37:50] paul williams?
[2:38:05] >> paul williams. 711.
[2:38:08] I am
[2:38:11] here today
[2:38:15] to talk about the vms that runs the
[2:38:17] city of memphis impound lot. So, back
[2:38:18] in 2023,
[2:38:19] y'all signed a contract with them
[2:38:20] for them
[2:38:23] to run the impound lot.
[2:38:24] after doing some research on it, it
[2:38:26] comes to my
[2:38:28] attention that they do the same thing
[2:38:29] we do for
[2:38:32] free. So,
[2:38:38] but the system is exactly how this
[2:38:41] is. So
[2:38:47] --
[2:38:53] vms
[2:38:57] is an out-of-state company, out of
[2:38:59] chicago. There is no
[2:39:01] --well, this is my thing --can anybody
[2:39:02] tell me
[2:39:10] how much did the city of memphis make
[2:39:11] off of the impound lot
[2:39:13] last year or since they have been in
[2:39:14] control, really?
[2:39:15] >> no, sir, we
[2:39:16] don't have contracting authority,
[2:39:17] that rests solely with the administration.
[2:39:23] >>
[2:39:25] with that being said, we are talking about the
[2:39:26] city of memphis being broke,
[2:39:28] when these people are making over
[2:39:29] $5 million on something that we do
[2:39:31] for free. So, tell me, why is that?
[2:39:32] >> so, actually, sir,
[2:39:41] we actually redid the structure of that
[2:39:42] lot in the
[2:39:43] last 12 months and one of the things
[2:39:44] we talked about today was
[2:39:45] getting the update on the new contract,
[2:39:47] how well it was performing, because
[2:39:48] a couple of years
[2:39:50] ago, as you know,
[2:39:58] it was a disaster. So, I appreciate
[2:39:59] you coming down and making your
[2:40:01] comments, and at the january meeting,
[2:40:02] if the chairman of the public's work
[2:40:03] and
[2:40:04] solid waste will allow it, I would
[2:40:05] like the administration to come and
[2:40:06] talk about
[2:40:07] where we are since we made those changes
[2:40:08] at the lot and we will get
[2:40:10] into it.
[2:40:11] >> so, I understand the changes
[2:40:12] that were made, but the --these
[2:40:13] are the same citizens that they hired
[2:40:14] from the city of memphis, so why
[2:40:17] couldn't y'all just hire with them and get
[2:40:18] new management instead of just letting
[2:40:19] them
[2:40:20] keep that whole $5 million? And y'all
[2:40:21] won't even give $2.5 million for
[2:40:22] the fire department? That could have give
[2:40:29] raises and added the police department
[2:40:30] a raise, too. And we do the
[2:40:32] job for free. So, why would y'all
[2:40:33] pay them for that?
[2:40:34] >> I appreciate
[2:40:35] you
[2:40:36] coming down and I want to be respectful
[2:40:37] of the
[2:40:38] chair at your time but basically out of
[2:40:39] respect for you coming down here,
[2:40:40] at the first year
[2:40:41] --meeting of the year, we will get into
[2:40:42] it, we will get into how
[2:40:43] that process is going and get into
[2:40:45] it. Thank you, sir.
[2:40:46] >> okay. >>
[2:40:48] thank you, sir. Lisa bennett?
[2:40:56] >> good evening. My name is lisa d
[2:40:57] bennett. My
[2:40:59] address is 4321 royal palace cove
[2:41:03] memphis 38128.
[2:41:11] it is my understanding, from previous
[2:41:12] council meetings, that sitting councilmembers
[2:41:13] are
[2:41:14] not to be named during citizen comments, and
[2:41:15] so, I
[2:41:16] won't name the councilperson in the
[2:41:18] email thread that
[2:41:21] I have. However,
[2:41:24] I can name
[2:41:27] the person who is cced
[2:41:36] in that
[2:41:37] email thread and that person is mlgw
[2:41:38] president, doug mcgowan. I would like
[2:41:40] to read this thread, this three emails,
[2:41:41] into public record. "dear councilperson,
[2:41:42] the last
[2:41:43] time I attended a council meeting
[2:41:45] regarding the water issue on
[2:41:46] my street, I asked if there were specific
[2:41:49] protocols that were used to determine
[2:41:51] how and when the emergencies
[2:41:53] are addressed." that question was never
[2:41:54] answered, so I am
[2:41:57] asking again.
[2:42:06] how does mlgw
[2:42:07] leadership determine which emergencies are addressed and
[2:42:09] in what manner? This includes both
[2:42:10] the residential and commercial customers
[2:42:11] and areas. Is there software, or a
[2:42:12] protocol system used
[2:42:13] to make determinations? I would like
[2:42:15] to think that
[2:42:18] the
[2:42:19] councilmembers will also have this
[2:42:20] specific information about our public utility,
[2:42:23] so that they could inform constituents.
[2:42:27] I look
[2:42:29] forward to a response that is thorough and
[2:42:30] timely.
[2:42:33] best regards, lisa d bennett,
[2:42:48] lisa constituent.
[2:42:49] the email response from mr. Mcgowan
[2:42:50] and I will read through directly what
[2:42:51] he wrote. I am
[2:42:52] an english teacher, retired english
[2:42:53] teacher, and I will read exactly what
[2:42:54] he wrote because
[2:42:55] this is public record. "ms. Bennett, if
[2:42:56] you could please provide an address
[2:42:57] and date when
[2:42:58] the water leak occurred, I would be
[2:42:59] better equipped for answering the
[2:43:00] question.
[2:43:02] I apologize that I do not recall the
[2:43:03] discussion you referenced.
[2:43:06] respectfully, doug." my response --
[2:43:07] "dear
[2:43:09] mr. Mcgowan, respectfully,
[2:43:15] I don't understand how information about
[2:43:16] my specific situation is necessary
[2:43:17] for answering questions regarding
[2:43:18] mlgw's
[2:43:32] emergency response protocols or procedures,
[2:43:33] in general. If there is something
[2:43:34] I
[2:43:35] am missing, please let me know. However,
[2:43:36] my questions are about emergency response,
[2:43:37] procedures, and protocols, in the
[2:43:38] entire mlgw service area, and are
[2:43:39] not specific to my
[2:43:40] residence or neighborhood. Sincerely,
[2:43:42] lisa d bennett,
[2:43:45] district
[2:43:46] 1 constituent." there were no more
[2:43:48] emails. I did not hear from mr.
[2:43:51] mcgowan. I am very frustrated
[2:43:53] that this seems not to be something
[2:43:54] that is important to y'all,
[2:43:57] when we spend
[2:44:00] millions and millions of dollars
[2:44:02] for our public utility. I am particularly disturbed
[2:44:06] that I turned in a comment card to
[2:44:09] be able to speak on items
[2:44:12] 12 and 34, but I
[2:44:14] was not called for either one. Now,
[2:44:33] someone told me that I couldn't speak on
[2:44:34] a fiscal consent item. I don't recall
[2:44:36] that happening before.
[2:44:37] >> that is
[2:44:38] correct.
[2:44:39] >> okay, that is correct. >> if the
[2:44:40] card was turned in before --
[2:44:41] >> however
[2:44:42] --however, item 34 was not physical
[2:44:43] consent, in my understanding that
[2:44:44] correctly?
[2:44:45] >>
[2:44:46] yes, ma'am, I called on everybody
[2:44:47] who submitted a card.
[2:44:48] >> I did not
[2:44:49] speak
[2:44:50] on that particular item. I would have
[2:44:51] liked the opportunity to
[2:44:54] speak what I am sharing now, before you all voted
[2:44:55] on
[2:44:56] both the mlgw resolutions 14 through 21,
[2:44:57] and before you voted on fiscal year
[2:44:58] '26 budget. Now, it is unfair, it
[2:45:00] is disrespectful,
[2:45:18] and
[2:45:20] I believe there is some dissembling going on.
[2:45:21] >> thank you, ms. Bennett. I need
[2:45:23] you to hold your comments.
[2:45:24] >> I need
[2:45:25] you to understand what you are saying.
[2:45:26] >>
[2:45:27] we will afford you two more minutes.
[2:45:28] yes, ma'am.
[2:45:29] >> I believe there is
[2:45:30] the
[2:45:31] simply going on that I turn in a card
[2:45:32] and I am not allowed to
[2:45:33] speak to items that speak to a significant
[2:45:34] portion of our city's budget. I
[2:45:35] also heard from people behind me,
[2:45:36] how disappointed they were, that they were not
[2:45:37] allowed
[2:45:38] to speak to specific items. So, in
[2:45:39] addition to asking, what are the procedures
[2:45:40] and protocols for emergency response
[2:45:42] for mlgw,
[2:45:50] especially considering it will have a significant
[2:45:52] burden on our utilities with xai
[2:45:53] and other businesses and corporations
[2:45:54] coming in, and considering that we are experiencing rate
[2:45:57] increase next year, I think it is more than fair that we
[2:45:58] know
[2:46:07] --
[2:46:08] that you know --what the policies and
[2:46:09] procedures are.
[2:46:10] >> thank you, ms. Bennett. >> nope,
[2:46:12] I'm not finished.
[2:46:13] >> well, yes, you are, because you
[2:46:14] have already spoken
[2:46:15] two minutes.
[2:46:16] >> no, I'm not. I'm not finished.
[2:46:17] and so, I am asking you all --
[2:46:18] I am asking --I am asking that question
[2:46:19] about mlgw --
[2:46:22] [ inaudible - low
[2:46:25] volume ]
[2:46:34] >> amber sherman?
[2:47:04] >> my name is amber sherman, my
[2:47:07] address is 6070
[2:47:16] north
[2:47:18] bilbo cove. I want to talk about the
[2:47:19] situation
[2:47:20] in the jail, especially as y'all, as
[2:47:21] city councilmembers, and the power that you
[2:47:22] have, currently
[2:47:23] from the data transparency that we
[2:47:24] actually asked the mayor to put up, there
[2:47:25] have been 569
[2:47:53] misdemeanor citations given out by
[2:47:54] 3600 physical arrests, 2400 misdemeanors,
[2:47:55] at 2600 that are nonviolent.
[2:47:57] I asked the mayor, can we have a list
[2:47:58] of the actual charges? Because nobody
[2:47:59] actually knows what the charges are,
[2:48:01] but the folks that we are bailing
[2:48:02] out
[2:48:03] of jail from the official memphis
[2:48:04] chapter going to jail for suspended
[2:48:05] license or not
[2:48:06] paying the registration, or not having
[2:48:07] insurance, which are all financial
[2:48:08] responsibility's, not things
[2:48:09] you should actually be going to jail
[2:48:10] for, so I think this body needs to
[2:48:12] use the public safety committee to
[2:48:13] ask for a list of those
[2:48:14] things, what are the charges folks are being
[2:48:15] taken in for? Because people who are
[2:48:16] going to
[2:48:18] jail have also been seeing a higher
[2:48:19] rate of suicide watch, from the november
[2:48:20] report
[2:48:21] card from the jail --are y'all going
[2:48:22] to listen? We are queuing away? Rude.
[2:48:25] yeah. So,
[2:48:37] from the november report card
[2:48:38] from the jail, there has been an increase
[2:48:40] of 133% of attempts for suicide.
[2:48:42] there is a longer processing time
[2:48:43] of up to six days, and people are
[2:48:44] attempting
[2:48:45] to kill themselves before that's the jail is so
[2:48:46] disgusting. The folks we are bailing
[2:48:47] out
[2:48:48] is talking about how there are pods that are being
[2:48:49] covered by one person, so
[2:48:51] up to 500 people and there is one
[2:48:52] deputy covering them and when they
[2:48:53] are
[2:48:54] calling for medical attention, they
[2:48:55] don't hear someone for
[2:48:56] hours because there's only one person
[2:48:57] covering five to up to 600 people. So, I think
[2:48:58] that this
[2:48:59] body, because you represent memphians
[2:49:00] and shelby county is 70% memphis,
[2:49:01] so the folks who are going
[2:49:03] to the jail, to the shelby county jail,
[2:49:04] are memphians, you need to hold them
[2:49:06] accountable, get a list of the charges
[2:49:07] of what folks are going to jail
[2:49:08] for and hold them accountable for
[2:49:10] siding people. There is very clear
[2:49:12] law about citations and there is a
[2:49:13] clear law, listing out what you should
[2:49:14] be cited for,
[2:49:15] at the things folks are being arrested
[2:49:16] for, I think
[2:49:17] they should be cited for, so I am
[2:49:18] asking this body to do your job, because
[2:49:19] we
[2:49:20] also emailed y'all two weeks ago asking
[2:49:22] all to ask the mayor to do his job
[2:49:23] and y'all don't hold him accountable.
[2:49:24] >> thank you, ms. Sherman. Councilwoman
[2:49:25] green, you are recognized.
[2:49:28] >> thank you,
[2:49:33] mr. Chair. Ms. Sherman? Ms. Sherman, I just wanted
[2:49:34] to
[2:49:35] let you know, this is definitely a concern
[2:49:37] for me, it is something I am working on,
[2:49:39] on this side of the street, and on
[2:49:40] the county side. As you know,
[2:49:41] sheriff bonner is in charge of 201
[2:49:43] and that limits a lot of
[2:49:44] what we can do. As it relates to who
[2:49:46] end up staying there, I am on an
[2:49:47] interagency justice workforce, that
[2:49:48] involves the sheriff's office, and
[2:49:49] the chief jailer, it involves
[2:49:50] pretrial, it involves the clerk's
[2:49:51] office, the mayor's administration,
[2:49:52] csa.
[2:49:58] we are meeting
[2:50:00] together regularly and looking at
[2:50:01] who is being arrested and what the
[2:50:02] charges are, and
[2:50:03] who we can get out. We have started a
[2:50:04] system to speed up
[2:50:07] low-level offenders that
[2:50:10] we can get out quicker. We are also
[2:50:11] putting overflow
[2:50:12] people in our department of corrections
[2:50:13] so that they are not staying in those
[2:50:14] conditions
[2:50:15] because the department of corrections is
[2:50:19] run
[2:50:20] by the mayor's administration is better.
[2:50:21] all that to say that I appreciate
[2:50:22] what you are saying,
[2:50:25] and I agree with you,
[2:50:29] I think the conditions over there are
[2:50:31] inhumane and what is happening to
[2:50:32] people is unacceptable. But,
[2:50:33] the person we need to be holding responsible
[2:50:34] is sheriff bonner.
[2:50:37] and everyone who is running for sheriff right
[2:50:38] now. So, I
[2:50:39] don't -- and I will also say this,
[2:50:55] mpd was invited to be a part of that task force,
[2:50:57] that working group, and they were
[2:50:58] a part of it for one meeting and now they are not
[2:51:00] anymore, it is all just county officials,
[2:51:01] now. The sheriff is at the table.
[2:51:02] tennessee highway patrol is at the
[2:51:04] table. So, we have done everything
[2:51:05] we
[2:51:06] can, to be able to limit the number
[2:51:07] of people that are going in for low-level
[2:51:09] offenses. And even when they get in,
[2:51:10] we are having d.a.s reviewed the cases
[2:51:11] quicker
[2:51:12] to get them out. I don't know what else
[2:51:13] we can do, we
[2:51:15] can't tell -- but, we can't tell the
[2:51:16] administration how to run the police department.
[2:51:19] so --
[2:51:23] it's janicka.
[2:51:24] >>
[2:51:26] [ inaudible - low volume ]
[2:51:32] >> you can come to the mic. I agree. And
[2:51:33] there is a public dashboard available, now,
[2:51:35] I believe
[2:52:11] clerk
[2:52:12] sawyer has posted it online.
[2:52:13] >> and
[2:52:14] I asked
[2:52:15] her to also add more details because that dashboard
[2:52:16] doesn't have any details just like the city
[2:52:18] link and I do want to say we requested multiple times
[2:52:19] for the intergovernmental body you
[2:52:20] are talking about
[2:52:21] to have a community representative
[2:52:22] and they denied it both times, so
[2:52:23] I think
[2:52:24] as a city council, you can request
[2:52:25] mpd come back, if not, you should
[2:52:26] say
[2:52:27] something to the public knows what
[2:52:28] is happening and also, you should
[2:52:29] recommend that
[2:52:30] you have a community partner or community representative
[2:52:31] in those meetings because we have
[2:52:32] requested
[2:52:33] it multiple times.
[2:52:34] >> I don't disagree with
[2:52:35] you. I didn't set up the meeting,
[2:52:36] I
[2:52:37] didn't pick up the partners, I just
[2:52:38] agreed to participate because I think
[2:52:39] it
[2:52:40] is such an important issue. In the
[2:52:41] public defender is also there, in
[2:52:42] addition to
[2:52:44] the d.a.
[2:53:02] so, I just want you to
[2:53:03] know that there are people working
[2:53:05] on this issue and trying to get it,
[2:53:06] and if you look at the trend, we are
[2:53:07] down, in the numbers, we are still
[2:53:08] way overcrowded.
[2:53:09] we were close to 3000 people, at one
[2:53:11] time. We are getting closer to
[2:53:12] the max capacity, which is 2400.
[2:53:13] >>
[2:53:14] and the suicide rate has gone up about
[2:53:16] 40% in the last month, even though y'all
[2:53:17] are doing all those changes, there
[2:53:19] is still a lot of people in there and people
[2:53:20] are attempting to
[2:53:21] kill themselves because they would
[2:53:22] rather die in jail for
[2:53:23] >> okay, I don't want
[2:53:24] to interrupt, but this could probably be
[2:53:26] handled in a private meeting, I don't
[2:53:27] know if
[2:53:28] we can keep doing the back and forth.
[2:53:29] >> I actually want this in public
[2:53:31] record because I have seen jerry say
[2:53:32] this in text message and it is great
[2:53:33] that she is advocating but actually
[2:53:35] the public should know what is happening,
[2:53:36] here.
[2:53:37] >> I agree and that is why I want
[2:53:38] to put it on
[2:53:39] the record. Thank you, chair. Thank
[2:53:40] you, ms. Sherman. We will continue
[2:53:41] to work on
[2:53:42] it.
[2:53:43] >> thank you. Any further comments?
[2:53:44] >> hello, everybody hey, hi, how you doing? My
[2:53:45] name is brady price, she/we. 316 summer
[2:53:47] sage. I was summoned here tonight
[2:53:48] to
[2:53:49] address a comment that was most horrendous.
[2:53:50] I came here to address the disrespect
[2:53:51] that
[2:53:52] has been thrown on our public servants
[2:53:53] of the fire department, and also for
[2:53:54] the rest of the citizens, here in
[2:53:55] memphis, tennessee. I was summoned
[2:53:56] here because someone
[2:53:57] on this council said the fire department
[2:53:59] was "raping" the city of memphis,
[2:54:00] knowing full
[2:54:01] well, the amount of untested held
[2:54:02] by memphis
[2:54:03] police department that goes untested
[2:54:05] every day,
[2:54:08] every day, that is a slap
[2:54:11] and a spit to our faces
[2:54:14] in each one of the citizens faces. A
[2:54:15] lot of
[2:54:17] you, council people,
[2:54:23] are living high
[2:54:25] on the hog, while the rest of us are in hell. We live
[2:54:26] in
[2:54:27] hell by the policies that y'all push, that y'all push
[2:54:29] and enforce upon us. Meanwhile, y'all
[2:54:30] allow elon
[2:54:31] musk to take 3 million gallons of our drinking
[2:54:32] water,
[2:54:33] per day, with a promise of a great
[2:54:35] water facility, with a
[2:54:41] --with 5 million
[2:54:43] gallons at their peak. When the water
[2:54:44] level drops to a certain
[2:54:45] level, arsenic gets into the water,
[2:54:46] and the whole greater memphis area
[2:54:47] will not have a single drop to
[2:54:49] drink. Not a single drop to drink.
[2:54:50] not a single
[2:54:53] drop to drink, we won't have anything
[2:54:54] to
[2:54:56] spare. Now,
[2:55:01] people say, things are bad, crime
[2:55:02] is bad,
[2:55:03] but y'all have unleashed, truly, hell on
[2:55:05] earth.
[2:55:10] and when y'all come join us, when
[2:55:11] the a.I. Replace
[2:55:12] your job security, I am going to laugh
[2:55:14] at you. I am going to laugh at you,
[2:55:17] just like this. [
[2:55:20] laughter ]
[2:55:26] you need to step down from your position,
[2:55:27] because you disrespected the people.
[2:55:28] >>
[2:55:29] thank you.
[2:55:30] >> you disrespected the
[2:55:31] people.
[2:55:32] >> thank you. >>
[2:55:33] step down.
[2:55:34] >>
[2:55:41] councilwoman cooper-sutton, you are
[2:55:42] recognized.
[2:55:50] all right.
[2:55:55] colleagues, that brings us to the end of
[2:55:56] our public comment.
[2:55:59] if you would indulge me for
[2:56:02] just one minute --
[2:56:05] this is --where am I going?
[2:56:08] going to be coming down there? All right.
[2:56:17] to each of you, it has been an honor
[2:56:18] of a lifetime to serve
[2:56:19] the minute the citizens of memphis
[2:56:22] since 2018 and most importantly, as
[2:56:23] your chairman for the
[2:56:25] last 12 months. I couldn't have done
[2:56:26] it without each of use confidence
[2:56:34] and trust. I know the toll it takes
[2:56:35] on each of you and I
[2:56:38] know the toll it takes on your families. And
[2:56:39] I want to assure
[2:56:40] you that each day, I woke up with a
[2:56:41] clear vision in my mind,
[2:56:44] and some days were easier than others,
[2:56:45] and that was to
[2:56:46] lead this body to the best of my ability,
[2:56:47] and I hope that I
[2:56:49] served you well, and I want you to
[2:56:50] know that I
[2:56:53] believe in each one of you and I believe in this institution, and I
[2:56:54] want
[2:56:56] you and all of the staff to know that
[2:56:58] I love you, and I care for you, and
[2:57:11] I know that this is not the end, I
[2:57:12] have two years left, and I look forward
[2:57:14] to working alongside you, these next
[2:57:15] two years, but I want to take this
[2:57:16] opportunity now, while I have the
[2:57:18] chance, because I am truly
[2:57:19] grateful, from the bottom of my heart,
[2:57:21] to be able to serve you. To my
[2:57:22] advice, chair, and your next chairwoman,
[2:57:23] it has been an absolute pleasure to
[2:57:24] work
[2:57:25] alongside you. You have been a true
[2:57:26] committed adviser and a trusted friend,
[2:57:27] and I
[2:57:28] wish you and vice chair elect carlisle
[2:57:29] nothing but the very best. And with
[2:57:30] that,
[2:57:32] I will pass this gavel to you.
[2:57:33] >>
[2:57:39] [ applause ]
[2:57:42] [ cheers and applause ]
[2:57:48] >> I appreciate you.
[2:57:49] >> hold on, one second. There is a
[2:57:50] gentleman behind you, trying to show
[2:57:51] you some love.
[2:57:54] >> ain't that so sweet! [ laughter ]
[2:58:00] >> [ applause ]
[2:58:02] >> we have one more person coming
[2:58:03] to show
[2:58:06] you some love.
[2:58:07] >> come on up! >>
[2:58:17] well chairwoman emirites is coming,
[2:58:18] I just wanted to say, I appreciate
[2:58:19] your dedication, your consistency
[2:58:20] in touring me, and all of the things,
[2:58:21] I have
[2:58:24] appreciated having not only a friend
[2:58:25] and a colleague, but a brother.
[2:58:26] >>
[2:58:27] thank you.
[2:58:28] >> brother! >>
[2:58:30] [ applause ]
[2:58:31] >> thank you so much.
[2:58:36] >> congratulations.
[2:58:41] I just wanted to be the first to decorate my
[2:58:42] old office.
[2:58:45] [
[2:58:46] laughter ] and your new office. Please,
[2:58:48] open it.
[2:58:49] >> all right,
[2:58:51] let's see.
[2:58:54] >> what is it? >>
[2:58:57] aw!
[2:59:00] that's beautiful! Thank you!
[2:59:03] represent memphis. I love it.
[2:59:09] >> it was
[2:59:11] personally drawn for you.
[2:59:12] >> aw, it's
[2:59:13] beautiful!
[2:59:15] >>
[2:59:17] that's my grandson, my knees -- my daughter
[2:59:18] is somewhere.
[2:59:30] >> this is a councilwoman --
[2:59:33] [ inaudible - low volume ]
[2:59:36] [ laughter ]
[2:59:39] group picture.
[2:59:42] group picture.
[3:01:41] >> I couldn't have done any of this,
[3:01:42] I couldn't have
[3:01:45] woken up
[3:01:47] every day and done this without god's
[3:01:48] grace and god's mercy.
[3:01:50] so, with that, I will entertain a
[3:01:51] motion to adjourn.
[3:01:52] >> mr. Chairman,
[3:01:54] I move to adjourn.
[3:01:55] >> we are
[3:01:56] adjourned. For one last time. God
[3:01:57] bless you.