[0:09] [music]

[0:13] Heat.

[0:17] [music] Heat.

[0:23] [music]

[0:30] » [music]

[0:33] » There we go. >> All right, welcome everyone. Let's uh

[0:36] open the meeting with the pledge of allegiance

[0:41] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

[0:46] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[0:52] for all.

[0:57] Dumbar >> present.

[0:59] » Harper >> here.

[1:00] » Maer >> here.

[1:02] » Sofa >> here.

[1:03] » Weaver >> here.

[1:04] » Way >> here.

[1:05] » Zimmer >> here.

[1:10] » All right. [snorts] Uh, do we need to remove anything from the consent agenda?

[1:17] [clears throat] If we're not going to remove anything,

[1:20] if uh I can get a motion to adopt it and list off what what it is

[1:28] presented. >> Yes, please.

[1:33] » What do you Oh, you want all? >> Yes.

[1:36] » August distribution reports electron transfers nothing else.

[1:41] » Yes. August dispersion reports $365,34068

[1:51] [clears throat] >> the electronic wire transfers of

[1:54] $20,5365

[1:58] and there are no communications on >> support.

[2:04] All right. All in favor? >> Any opposed?

[2:10] adoption of the agenda. Any changes to the agenda?

[2:16] » I don't know if we need to add it or if we can include it as part of the animal

[2:21] ordinance, but we received the um application uh from the last meeting

[2:27] about the kennel. An advisory has a recommendation from it. Do we do you

[2:30] think it would be appropriate to add it as an agenda item or as a subsection of

[2:35] unfinished business? Maybe just an agenda item.

[2:40] » Yeah. >> I mean, I'm fine either way.

[2:43] » Well, we're not going to have a presentation, so that needs to be

[2:46] removed. >> But we can talk about that. Yeah, we

[2:50] can. >> Yeah.

[2:52] Pass the time. >> Item K, the presentation is not

[2:56] happening. >> It's not happening. If not, he can come

[2:58] to the next meeting on the 15th, but he can't come he couldn't come tonight.

[3:02] » Okay. But that that won't change anything for this.

[3:05] » No. >> Okay. So can we motion to amend the

[3:10] agenda to remove the presentation of the animal ordinance from Mcome County and

[3:17] replace that or actually I'm sorry add to unfinished business

[3:23] the uh request for approval for the rescue dog under the animal ordinance

[3:30] for the city of Memphis. Is that about cover?

[3:33] » I think so. Um, so I make a motion to approve the agenda as amended.

[3:43] » All in favor? >> Any opposed?

[3:50] » Okay. Approval of minutes from August 11th,

[3:54] 2026.

[4:00] There are no amendments. Can I get a motion to approve?

[4:04] » Make a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 11th.

[4:12] » Support. >> All in favor?

[4:15] » Any opposed? Motion car.

[4:20] Okay. I have nothing this this week. reports

[4:25] from city council members committees >> advisory met yesterday. Um there was a

[4:32] lot of things to come out of that meeting. There's still some follow-ups

[4:35] that like um that are happening. So we don't necessarily have anything for

[4:39] today. Um uh aside from the

[4:45] application um but there will be more for us.

[4:50] » Okay.

[4:58] reports from administration.

[5:03] » Donnie, you want to start? >> I don't have anything.

[5:06] » Mr. Wilson, >> nothing.

[5:11] I just want to report I um we have to replace uh so many service lines,

[5:17] galvanized lines within our city and I have one that came up that's actually an

[5:22] emergency that I'm about to jump on tomorrow

[5:25] um because he has no water be a galvanized line. It's up to the city to

[5:31] get that line from that curve box up into the house within 18 in.

[5:38] Um, just want to let you know. So, there's expenditures trying to get

[5:43] worked on, but this one happened to be an emergency. And then, um, then we have

[5:48] an issue with our elevator at the library

[5:53] that needs inspections. And I didn't want to just drop it in

[5:58] your lap tonight, but at the next meeting I will bring you a couple of

[6:03] quotes I have for um two inspections a year.

[6:09] » Okay. I think at the moment that's >> Have they been been being inspected

[6:15] twice a year already? >> No.

[6:18] Assume somebody else is doing that. But when the inspector came over, I got a

[6:24] phone call from the department head there.

[6:29] » Anyways, >> okay,

[6:31] » I'm taking care of it. >> We were issued another permit because it

[6:36] was all new, but in two years when he comes back, he

[6:41] he would like to see the maintenance log on it.

[6:50] All

[6:55] right, parks and wreck. >> So, we have our senior lunch next

[6:59] Friday, September 11th, and then um we're doing a fundraiser with the Lions

[7:06] for the park that's next to the Lions Club, um which is the side byside run

[7:13] and the foot race. And that is September 19th at 1:00.

[7:32] And how do they sign up for that? >> Right here at the city.

[7:41] » Okay. Any

[7:45] other administration?

[7:50] All right. Public comments. Uh Judy Kendall.

[7:58] » I won't take much of your time. Um my name is Judy Kendall and I am with Twin

[8:03] Pine Apartments on Boardman Road. In regards to the um advisory committee, I

[8:10] did attend with um Robbie and Tim yesterday

[8:14] uh going over the proposals, the current ones and proposals. Uh we had a one of

[8:20] the best discussions I've ever had with the city of Memphis yesterday and um it

[8:25] was very productive. Um with meeting with a group of the landlords, etc. Um,

[8:32] we still are missing the list of those who are actually in town that rent. So,

[8:39] we don't even know who to contact to say what do you think, what's your input,

[8:44] what can you give us, what can we learn from you, etc. Um, we are we got the

[8:51] feel I got the feeling and shared it with the other landlords the other day

[8:54] that the group was very very very open to working with us, listening to us,

[9:01] brainstorming, coming up with something that would work um

[9:07] for a lot of us. Um, we think there's a whole whole lot to do. we have been

[9:13] doing constant hours and hours of research uh with other towns, other

[9:19] cities um that it really just puts this all way down the line because you got to

[9:25] have that list. You can't collect taxes if you don't know who you're collecting

[9:29] them from. So, it's that's an analogy there. Um the prices are still too high

[9:34] even in the proposal. Um we did not want the individual that you selected to uh

[9:41] do the inspection. We feel like that's putting the fox on the hen house. I'm

[9:45] making a couple of points only to get the wheels moving here just to so we can

[9:50] kind of think about things and and be open and honest with each other. Um

[9:56] we're wondering how many complaints have been from people. Um we haven't had any

[10:00] and everybody else I talked to says they haven't had any. So I'm not sure where

[10:04] all this uh manure came from. So, um, and then there's another thing of how

[10:10] are we going to be notified of the inspections with the date and time

[10:14] because we as landlords are in a mission law. Um, it's a big book. Um, and we

[10:20] have to give them 24-hour notice that we're coming in and they have to know

[10:24] why. That's the law. So, we have to be following the law as well. Um, things of

[10:31] uh all the rentals that are uptown and the businesses that are uptown. Do you

[10:35] rent? If you have a building and you rent a business, is that going to be

[10:39] inspected? If you have a a business up there and you have a rental above it, is

[10:42] that being expected? Which we darn well better be. Um, and um wondering how

[10:50] often is it going to be yearly, quarterly, 6 months, 2 years, etc., etc.

[10:54] A lot of the things that were brought up in here were very good. It took a lot of

[10:58] thought and and thoroughess. Um, in in conclusion here, I did get a the other

[11:04] list and it's so it's just not there, folks. It's just

[11:09] not there. The people aren't there. Um, we can't have a group of people work

[11:15] with you beautiful group people if we don't know who to ask to be there.

[11:19] That's not fair to the public. It's not fair to the business landlords. It's

[11:24] just not right. It needs to be fixed. Um, and that is our not our job to run

[11:29] around town knocking on doors. Do you have a rental? Do you have a rental?

[11:34] That's not our job. Um, the other thing is we would very much as

[11:40] a group like to meet with um I don't know Tim if Mr. simmer if this goes to

[11:48] the um advisory council again or I I don't know what your um thing but we

[11:55] want to meet again as a group. We want other people want to come.

[11:58] » I shared a lot of the um your great ideas. Some of the ones I we totally

[12:03] disrespected or we respectfully disagreed.

[12:07] » Um but we worked around a lot of them. Um but I think there's a whole lot more

[12:13] that we really need to have some meetings with you guys. um you know, you

[12:17] guys can't go in close session and do this and then we go in uh somebody's

[12:22] living room and do it and that that ain't working. We've already proved that

[12:25] doesn't work. So, we're not going to keep doing the same thing and expect

[12:28] something different. So, that we would are requesting a meeting for that. Thank

[12:32] you for your time. Have a good evening. >> Thank you very much.

[12:35] » Can I respond? >> Yeah. So, just so everyone knows, Judy

[12:41] was here yesterday. We talked for probably an hour and a halfish

[12:46] roughly. >> Y

[12:48] » um more than willing to have continue those conversations as long as it stays

[12:52] respectful, right? The biggest thing. >> Very good.

[12:56] » No hard feelings, no animous, no anything like that.

[12:59] » Um I did reach out to uh the attorney that was here last time. I don't know if

[13:04] you saw that. I did have I respond the correct email address. Um, so the wheels

[13:09] are in motion to make those improvements. Um, I don't think we're

[13:13] going to be finalizing anything tonight. So,

[13:15] » no, >> I think continuing the conversation is

[13:17] completely fine. >> Yep. I just we just want to keep that

[13:20] ball rolling. We don't want to get stuck.

[13:30] » Unfinished business advisory.

[13:36] I guess it's all us today. >> Yes.

[13:39] » So, um, at the last meeting, you got the proposed changes that we, uh,

[13:47] after our meeting recommended. Um, and we just wanted to open up the

[13:50] conversation very similar to the conversation we had with M. Kendall

[13:54] yesterday about thoughts, ideas after our conversation yesterday. There are I

[14:00] mean, it it can be changed, right? There's different ideas to to flesh out

[14:04] and talk out. Um, I think advisory is probably going to have to meet again.

[14:08] Robbie, would you agree? >> Yes.

[14:10] » To, but we want to make sure everybody has ideas. One of the like one of the

[14:14] big ones that stood out to me yesterday after talking with Miss Kendall was

[14:18] pricing, right? So, the way it's structured right now is that it's a flat

[14:22] rate fee. So, you know, in some pe in some landlord situations, there are

[14:27] apartments that are I'm going to make up a number 500 ft² and they are paying the

[14:32] same fee for someone who has a house that is 1,600 square f feet.

[14:39] Pricing based based on square footage is probably something we should look at.

[14:42] And we would have never we would have never had that if we didn't have that

[14:45] conversation yesterday. So, I I think there's a lot more to flesh out. I think

[14:50] there's a lot more conversation to be had about it. Um, I did email uh Sarah

[14:56] Grout, I think. >> Just like tile grout.

[14:59] » Yeah, Grout. Sarah Grout. Yes. Uh, this morning, this afternoon,

[15:04] » something like that. Uh, I emailed her this afternoon. She hasn't responded

[15:07] yet. Um, just so she also had that information. Um, I did tell her and

[15:12] watermark it as, you know, this is a draft. The council still has to meet,

[15:16] advisory still has to meet. We want to continue talking with landlords. Um I

[15:22] think that we can both agree like a great negotiation is that neither side

[15:25] is going to be happy with everything, right? We're gonna it's give and take on

[15:29] both sides. Um and it sounds like, you know, we're in the same spot, right? We

[15:35] have the same beliefs. We both want the same things. Um so I don't think there's

[15:41] similar similar things. Yeah. >> Yeah. And and I think that's the the big

[15:47] thing. I was going [snorts] to I was going to kind of end with that, but um I

[15:51] I wanted to open up to conversations here with the full council as opposed to

[15:55] just advisory. But one of the things I do want to make sure that is is very

[16:00] very clear is this is not intended to generate revenue for the city. That was

[16:07] never the intention. That has never been the intent attent in intention and that

[16:12] will never be the intention. It is not a revenue generating mechanism. So

[16:16] » disagree >> that and we can respectfully disagree

[16:19] and that's fine but that is that is not the intention of of this council. I feel

[16:24] confident saying that. Um so yeah I just open the floor to what you guys looked

[16:31] at what we presented as a recommendation what your thoughts were anything like

[16:35] that. I think we're open to it. I think we're taking notes.

[16:38] » We met yesterday from >> We didn't change any of that.

[16:41] » Didn't change anything. didn't change anything. We just generated I mean I got

[16:45] like a few pages of notes just from that conversation. Um

[16:51] the square footage was just an example of one of the things that came out of

[16:54] that conversation. Yeah. >> So I think there's more work to do. I

[16:58] don't I I mean I I'm I think this is a good starting point. I don't think it's

[17:02] the final. >> Oh no. No.

[17:06] I think something fair, you know, just to show that this is not a revenue

[17:10] generating thing is to um at least as we go along with this, you're going to have

[17:16] have a fee that you're going to charge. Um it'd be nice to be able to show at

[17:20] least annually or something how much came in and where it went. It went to

[17:26] pay this inspector. went to pay Donna and and the clerks for doing whatever

[17:30] paperwork they did so that we can just show that this isn't we're not, you

[17:34] know, we're not getting anything above and beyond what we're actually paying to

[17:40] do the work is all, you know, and that would be a good to show the landlords

[17:45] that, hey, we're not, you know, trying to make anything off [clears throat] it,

[17:48] but this is what it costs to do.

[17:53] » Like detailed accounting of the fees collected.

[17:55] » Yeah. just [snorts] you know you did how many you paid the inspector how much um

[17:59] that the you know city clerk put this much time into it you know

[18:04] » I wouldn't think that would actually go into the ordinance I think that would

[18:07] just be best practice best >> practice how we carry out the ordinance

[18:12] » the majority of the fee structure was going to pay Mel for his time correct

[18:15] » 100% but

[18:18] » you know honestly some of that is you're walking into a one-bedroom apartment and

[18:23] you're checking smoke alarms and this and that you're going to be in and out

[18:26] of that apartment in about a half hour. >> What are you charging for a half hour?

[18:31] » You know, >> that's kind of the idea,

[18:33] » especially when you're walking through something like the old school apartments

[18:35] and you're going from apartment to apartment to apartment and you're

[18:38] charging how much per unit, >> you know, that that's the kind of stuff

[18:42] that needs to be figured out. It's going to take him, you know, this much time

[18:46] and we don't really know until he starts doing it,

[18:48] » right? >> Um,

[18:52] that's what I think. Like I said, like you said, if you're doing a house, yeah,

[18:54] you're probably going to have to walk around, look at the grading, look at the

[18:57] drainage, um, things like that. Now, if you're walking

[19:01] a large apartment building, you're he's going to be in and out pretty quick.

[19:09] » I think that the fee should kind of reflect that a little bit.

[19:13] » Yeah. When we created that fee structure that you guys have in front of you, we

[19:16] did it as just a strictly number [snorts] of units breakdown, which I

[19:22] mean after our conversation yesterday should be adjusted. I think I totally

[19:25] agree with the whole square footage conversation. I think that that makes a

[19:30] huge difference. And that wasn't even something we we didn't even talk about

[19:34] that when we had our meeting to create that fee structure.

[19:40] I mean, because pretty much when he walks into an apartment, what's he

[19:42] looking at? You know, smoke alarms, do the windows open and close, um, you

[19:47] know, trip hazards, handrails, >> right? You know, um,

[19:53] » clear exits, >> you know. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, clear

[19:56] exits, [clears throat] uh, gas, electric, any leaks, things like that.

[20:02] It shouldn't be a big long process inside each apartment. [cough]

[20:07] Anyone else?

[20:12] » Because the whole goal of it was for safety. [clears throat]

[20:15] Right. Right. That was the entire goal of it. It was just um people who live in

[20:21] apartments, they are our citizens of the city of Memphis. There are voters and by

[20:27] proxy they're are taxpayers. Um and you know to look out for their safety I

[20:33] think is a good idea. [cough] That's what everybody needs to

[20:36] understand is that this this whole program was a was is to be implemented

[20:42] for the safety of the residents. [snorts]

[20:46] That's the whole goal there is to make sure that we if anybody is renting that

[20:52] that it's the safety. >> Yeah. One of the things we tal another

[20:57] one of the things we talked about yesterday is integrity. It's going to

[21:00] challenge some people's integrity because, and I'm just making up a

[21:04] fictitious example, say like I have a spare, you know, apartment above my

[21:10] garage that I rent to Councilman Dunar, but I don't claim it on my taxes. Like,

[21:16] there's some integrity issues with that. And I I think as a city, it's it's

[21:20] important to have integrity and character that you recognize that. So, I

[21:27] think that's important.

[21:33] If nobody has anything else, I would just I I mean I would make a motion to

[21:38] table this until uh we're able to spend some time with addition with Miss

[21:44] Kendall and some additional landlords and have additional conversations when

[21:47] we're ready to present a final uh update to the ordinance

[21:53] board. Can I just mention one more thing?

[21:58] » No. >> Okay. [laughter]

[22:01] » Just kidding. Bart, >> when you have, let's say, a separate

[22:06] building on your property or or a loft in your garage, what have you, I

[22:11] remember years ago, there was something in our code, if you have a family

[22:17] member, there was

[22:20] » something in that code book regarding family members that's living in that.

[22:23] So, we did talk about that a little bit about like family members because like

[22:26] um >> you know, say for example, you know,

[22:29] your child comes back from college >> and is, you know, living in the

[22:33] apartment of the above the garage until they can get their feet under them and

[22:36] and things like that. >> Does that count as the same thing as

[22:40] someone who has a structured lease, who has a binding document, um like those

[22:45] types of things? Those are conversations to have. I would say no. family members

[22:50] I would probably say no to. But I mean I would want everyone to be on board with

[22:56] that. I'm only one one [clears throat] person. So

[22:58] » just something I remember from years back

[23:02] » like a wealth of knowledge. [snorts]

[23:09] I support it >> the table until

[23:12] » until we can continue having conversations, continue negotiating,

[23:15] continue, you know, figuring out what the final version will look like.

[23:21] » I mean, realistically, it's not cutting any time off.

[23:24] » I I mean, I there's no damage being done to any, you know, any city people, any

[23:29] landlords. We're just uh probably doing some due diligence that we should have,

[23:36] you know, regrettably done previous to just rolling it out.

[23:41] » Like I think we have an implementation plan. I think we have a a structure in

[23:46] place. >> Uh I think we I think we need more,

[23:50] right? I think we need more. >> It's a it's a lot better. It's a better

[23:54] uh better position for us to be in. Um I think we're closer, but you're right. we

[24:00] can we can continue to work on it and get something that's

[24:05] you know that everybody can agree is you know

[24:09] » a good thing for the city. >> And I could just squeak real quick with

[24:14] regards to the um and some may already know this to the welfare of our citizens

[24:19] here in the community. Um we'll get into that with you later but

[24:25] uh oh happy day. Uh they uh Pat passed away.

[24:31] » So if you did Yes, he did. The one that was in the fire on the house on the

[24:35] corner. So God rest his soul. But there was a citizen that was in a very very

[24:40] dilapidated house that nothing got done with and that breaks my heart. But it is

[24:46] what it is and we'll just keep them in our prayers.

[24:49] » Thank you. >> All right. We have a motion.

[24:53] » Second. >> All in favor?

[24:55] » I. Any opposed?

[25:00] » All right. >> Okay. Channel 10.

[25:02] » Yes. So, [clears throat] we received the uh

[25:07] application for approval um to continue operating. Uh

[25:15] it's a rescue, right? I thought I'd say it's it's like a rescue, right? Is that

[25:19] the best for not a cattle? Um, it's very well

[25:24] written. Robbie and I both read it. Advisory's recommendation is to approve

[25:29] the request and allow her to continue operating as a rescue. Um, as a uh I

[25:35] don't think we'd call it a variance. I think we've just approved the

[25:39] application to continue operating as a rescue. you I mean we can all read it

[25:44] but um [clears throat] >> I mean that's advisor's recommendation

[25:48] and that is based on the fact that multiple individuals were there

[25:53] inspected the property inspected where the dogs were kept inspected the home

[25:57] talked with the homeowner talked with um with her with the citizen about it and

[26:02] there were no issues that were found >> I know the chief already also talked to

[26:06] neighbors and who didn't even know that it was that they were there

[26:09] » right so I think all of that in And >> I think all of that in total is what led

[26:14] us to without even knowing that she did that. I think all of those things in

[26:18] total led us to believe that this is is not a a harm or a burden on the city in

[26:24] any way, shape, or form. I think if anything changed, we would, you know, we

[26:28] would find out about it. But advisor's recommendation is to approve the

[26:32] application to allow uh should this just be a motion? Should it just be a motion?

[26:39] » Just go ahead. Just to be clear, we we do not have to

[26:43] um send letters to adjacent property owners for this.

[26:47] » Well, she said that

[26:51] » he didn't he just >> he talked to a couple neighbors. That's

[26:56] what he's told me.

[27:00] » I'm not an expert on the ordinance. >> I mean, if they're all fine with it,

[27:06] » it doesn't it doesn't. >> It doesn't say that in there

[27:08] specifically.

[27:16] » [snorts] >> Strictly there'd have to be a

[27:20] notification to property owners if you were talking about a variance.

[27:24] » Well, it would be a variance if we're not changing the

[27:28] » I'm just saying if it is does involve a variance.

[27:30] » If that happened, >> that is a hard pass black and white rule

[27:34] in the ordinance. >> If that was the case, then absolutely.

[27:39] I don't think there is anything >> without a change without a change to the

[27:44] variance. I don't >> a change to the ordinance though.

[27:47] » You're not changing zoning. >> Yeah.

[27:49] » Um

[27:54] if you made you're making that recommendation granted that the

[27:58] neighbors could complain. I would go look at it. The county might come out.

[28:02] » They already did. But I'm just saying in the future if you if you granted it, if

[28:06] there was any change to the worst, then we go look at it.

[28:09] » Right. >> Right now, nobody's even knew it was

[28:12] there. >> Right. Okay.

[28:13] » Well, she still has to adhere to >> the rules.

[28:17] » The rules. >> It's just the only thing that changes

[28:19] the number, >> right?

[28:20] » So, this just says that we have to notify the residents of the north,

[28:25] south, [clears throat] east, and west of the property.

[28:27] » We still have the ability to review and either grant or deny that request.

[28:32] So we can approve it and then >> and then we would have to send a notice

[28:36] that says the city of Memphis has approved the application to continue

[28:40] » operating as motion made. I support it. >> All right. All in favor?

[28:47] » Any opposed? >> So moved.

[28:52] » Donna, do you want this back for record keeping?

[28:57] [clears throat] >> All right. New business. I know

[29:01] » Richmond Lennox EMS smart contract. >> Mr. White,

[29:08] » good evening. Um, mayor, members of council, we're here for kind of what is

[29:13] almost an annual ritual uh with regards to uh your local public transportation

[29:19] as relates to funding. As you know, you know, the city of Memphis does not get

[29:23] any line hall type buses, the big buses from from SMR. Um, however, I our

[29:30] residents nevertheless in the Mcome County portion of Memphis pay 1 mil to

[29:34] Smart for buses. And so, um, since 1999, uh, we've been working with Smart Bus,

[29:43] uh, on your behalf to provide local what's called community partnership

[29:47] transportation, which simply means we can use buses that you probably often

[29:52] see here in the community. be there about the size of an airport shuttle and

[29:55] transport people to and from everything from doctor's appointments, regularly

[29:59] scheduled medical treatments to the grocery store and even to work. Uh we

[30:04] have a number of people actually that's become surprisingly popular um that uh

[30:09] can't drive for one reason or another. Maybe their cars broke down. Maybe they

[30:13] have a sight issue or or a medical problem that prohibits them from getting

[30:17] a driver's license. But nevertheless, uh they they are out uh being, you know, a

[30:22] hardworking member of our society in various different jobs. They just don't

[30:26] have a means to get there. And so that's what the the service does. We operate uh

[30:30] six days a week uh here in the community. Uh and how the funding and so

[30:37] we provide about just over 700 annual rides here in Memphis. So pretty good

[30:43] number for the size of your your population. We do have about a 10% rate

[30:47] of refusal. That means we don't really refuse people. We don't want to do that,

[30:51] but we're just full. Uh and there's only a limited amount of funding to so once

[30:55] we're out of funding, we can't provide more rents, if you will. Um a little bit

[31:00] of good news on that front. The um through a lot of work from some of the

[31:06] larger communities farther to our south, uh you receive about 3% of the one mill

[31:12] that you pay back from smart. but not a very not a very big number. Um there's a

[31:18] lot of pressure put on by the county board of commissioners uh as well as

[31:22] others um to convince Smart if the next millillage passes which will come up in

[31:27] November they'll be reserving they'll be returning uh 12 and a half% of your mill

[31:32] back to the community. So with that we're hoping we can reduce that number

[31:36] of people returning away uh when all the communities start to receive them. Um,

[31:42] the other thing I'd like to mention real quickly before I move on to the actual

[31:45] number, uh, is that we are hiring at the MS. We are looking for hiring at the EMS

[31:51] in our transit division. Um, we are looking for drivers, uh, for those small

[31:56] buses. Uh, we have both full-time positions that uh that come with, you

[32:01] know, full pay as well as healthcare benefits. Um,

[32:05] and then we are also looking for part-time people. We have uh we have

[32:09] part-time folks that work for us. A lot of retirees, other people that might not

[32:12] want to work all the time, but can build the schedule around their need, their

[32:16] children's needs, uh or just uh like you say, want to make a little bit money for

[32:20] their golf game now that they're in retirement kind of thing. Uh so, so we

[32:24] have a lot of those folks working for us. We welcome uh folks coming in to

[32:27] apply uh at the EMS. They can come right to our building on 32 Mile Road or they

[32:31] can go right to Google and go rms.org or and it'll take you right to our

[32:36] website where there's an application online. So, um with that, the amount of

[32:41] uh funding that SMART has provided back to your community that you can then if

[32:47] you if you so choose provide back to the EMS for that uh community partnership

[32:52] transportation service this year. The contract is in front of you. And

[32:56] basically, if you get through all the all the language in there, it's the same

[33:00] contract year after year. So, there's nothing new in there. The total amount

[33:03] is $3,593 for this year. And the EMS is simply

[33:08] asking uh for council to approve the mayor to execute that uh that agreement.

[33:14] Send it back to us. We will forward it to SMRT and the money passes right from

[33:18] SMRT to us at that point. So it does not pass through the city's um through the

[33:22] city's treasury.

[33:26] That's all I've got unless there are any other questions.

[33:29] » I have a quick question. Where's the where's the pickup here in Memphis? We

[33:32] don't really do. So this this is uh we do it we I like call doors show, right?

[33:37] But we used to do it we used to have a a a vehicle that started in Memphis and

[33:42] just went down to Chesterfield for people to catch the um I think they call

[33:46] the 5310 bus. The bus that leaves 23 and Grash there uh and goes to Point South.

[33:53] We just weren't getting enough ridership on that. So we still have some people

[33:56] that take that. We just pick them up at their door.

[33:59] » Okay. So that's still available to folks to go down and catch that bus and go

[34:02] farther south. But but like you say, we we were we had an empty bus going a lot

[34:07] and so we didn't want to we didn't want to continue operating the empty bus, but

[34:10] we have people that were turning away for service. So this way if somebody

[34:13] calls their home, they say they want to go to that bus stop, we just pick them

[34:15] up their house and take them. >> And I think was it last year that you

[34:20] brought it to us that they restricted the area of uh travel for smart bus?

[34:25] only Mcome County right before I think there was

[34:28] » so uh so that's only so what we had is we had some of our senior groups

[34:34] » that were um using the bus to go fairly great distances taking the bus out of

[34:39] service for for for an extended period of time

[34:43] » um and and a lot of times it was just to go to a meal we had folks that were

[34:46] wanting to get the bus in >> ex community up here in the north and

[34:50] they'd want to go down to um Detroit for for lunch. Well, that that's great. I

[34:56] like to go to Detroit for lunch, too. But but at the end of the day, we were

[35:00] doing those trips, you know, for eight or 10 seniors, but that bus was gone all

[35:04] day, >> right?

[35:05] » And so, we had to make a decision. And this was our decision. So, I'll take

[35:10] credit for this because I had to make a decision with the limited funding that

[35:14] we get to say >> I felt like it was more important that

[35:17] we get as many people as we can to those I call the medical, the grocery, the

[35:20] pharmacy to work. Um, and so by simply saying we will take you in Mcome County,

[35:26] we can take that same group of seniors or community members, we can take them

[35:30] to a restaurant here in our area, we can drop them off, we can go pick up a

[35:35] couple people and get them to a doctor's appointment and then we can go back and

[35:38] get them. But when we send a bus all the way to Detroit, that becomes more

[35:41] difficult to do. >> Absolutely. I was just curious.

[35:43] » So yeah, so that's how that all came about. It really was an issue of

[35:46] funding. We we may be able to look at um tweaking some of those things if we you

[35:50] know should the taxpayers decide to continue with the smart village and

[35:54] should uh you know should those additional funds come I think I think

[35:57] then we'll be able to talk about how do we expand and improve service

[36:01] » absolutely curious >> are they still doing airport runs

[36:04] » we we are I don't I don't talk as much about that as I used to and I'll tell

[36:07] you exactly why uh simply we've become a victim of our own success the airport

[36:11] runs are generally very very full they are still available I I I'm I'm always

[36:16] cautious because every time I bring it up, I have two people that are very

[36:19] happy with me in the audience and three people that are not. [laughter] So,

[36:24] so in in honesty, um we still encourage people to call for it, we encourage you

[36:28] to call way in advance because it does book up and that's another area that

[36:32] we're really looking at. Um one of the discussions that we've been having with

[36:35] some of the communities is as opposed to doing this airport shuttle the way we've

[36:39] done it, which is kind of pick you up at your house and take you is having a

[36:41] central location for people to come and then do it several times throughout the

[36:44] day. So maybe we have the location at our headquarters on 32 Mile Road and we

[36:49] say three times a day we're going to go at these times to the airport and you

[36:53] can come book a ride and and you can drive your car to our to our location.

[36:57] We have a big parking lot there. Uh and and you know it's all camera I'll set my

[37:02] cameras or what have you. You can park your leave your car there. You can still

[37:05] do everything. You might just have [music] to get to our station and then

[37:07] we could look at doing something like that. And that's one of my hopes if we

[37:11] are able to get this additional funding. >> It's expensive to park at the airport.

[37:16] » It sure is. And I really feel like, you know,

[37:20] I've been in this community a long time. Been here, I think I'm at 35 years or

[37:24] something like that. I've been here. And I think one of the things that uh

[37:28] has has um hopefully been a key to my longevity is I believe if I take your

[37:33] money for something, then I should give you something back for it. That's just

[37:37] Jeff White's philosophy. And I feel like with smart sometimes uh there are

[37:41] certain groups that benefited from it but not others. And this was the airport

[37:44] was a great way to give something back, right? Because you go to the airport

[37:49] once or twice a year. You pay for that mill that you're paying to Smart. And so

[37:53] we want to continue that. We want to expand upon it. Um and with this we're

[37:58] we're not Smart won't be asking for any more millillage. We've just negotiated

[38:02] with them to give more of it back to our community so we can do those things.

[38:08] Okay. Thank you very much. >> Yes.

[38:11] » Um I'll make a motion to add into the municipal credit and community credit

[38:16] contract for fiscal year 2027. [clears throat]

[38:21] » All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries.

[38:26] » Thank you all.

[38:34] » All right. Planning Commission appointment of Ken Riley uh reappoint

[38:41] Ken Riley uh onto the planning commission to

[38:45] expire July 31st, 2029. And we need a motion.

[38:53] » A motion to reappoint Ken Riley with a term to expire on July 31st, 2029 to the

[38:57] Memphis Planning Commission. >> Support.

[39:01] » All in favor? I. >> Any opposed?

[39:06] All right.

[39:14] Okay. Administrative me memo uh

[39:20] city of Memphis office requesting council approve to allow the

[39:26] city office to start at 11 a.m. the day after all elections.

[39:32] » I did have a question. Is this in perpetuity

[39:35] like for every election from from now on?

[39:41] » You think they're working from the morning till 8:00? I don't know.

[39:48] » The polls close at 8. You're still there. So,

[39:52] » I'm not saying it was wrong. Just >> No, I know. [laughter]

[39:59] You want to take a dog or do you want me to take

[40:01] » Oh, it don't No, I mean this last election that wasn't really even that

[40:06] big. Me and Amber didn't get back from the county till midnight. U presidential

[40:11] elections, we're usually home around 1 or two and we just can't get up at 8 and

[40:15] come. It's just too hard. After working them two weeks straight, too.

[40:19] » Robbie's done it this year, so she knows.

[40:23] I wouldn't wish that on anybody because you're working the early voting prior to

[40:28] it too and it's a very >> weekends everything

[40:30] » very stressful day. [clears throat] >> So yeah, I would

[40:35] » I'd make a motion to approve this for 11 a.m. the day after all.

[40:43] » All in favor? >> Any opposed?

[40:47] » Motion carries. historical society.

[40:57] Hi. Um yeah, as my letter says that um our source right now is in the basement

[41:07] of the community center that's attached to the library. It regularly floods.

[41:13] Um, and there's a lot of times we aren't o able to get over there to clean it up.

[41:20] And it's been worse this past year cuz it's been raining a lot more this this

[41:25] this past year than than before. And uh when we were getting ready for Memphis

[41:32] days, we noticed a lot of stuff was uh some of it was starting to mold. It was

[41:37] very musty smelling when you went down there. Um, we have like dresses and

[41:44] older clothes on a rack. We have old maps. We have old like large atlases.

[41:53] Um, there's just a lot of things that cannot take the moisture in there, the

[42:01] humidity there. You you can see they're deteriorating really bad. And so we were

[42:06] wondering since you moved into this larger building if there is any space at

[42:11] all that we can move just those items in. The rest of the stuff will stay in

[42:15] the basement as is. They're they're secure most of them, but some of them

[42:20] are are, you know, really in danger of of being ruined. So

[42:25] we were just wondering if there was an area that we could put some of the

[42:29] stuff.

[42:33] Wonder why it's flooding. Barb.

[42:37] » Yeah. >> When you hear the word flood, I'm not

[42:41] sure how you all interpret that, but you're probably picturing a foot or two

[42:45] of water, what have you. That's not the case. It's an old

[42:50] building, stone foundation. If anybody knows what a Michigan

[42:55] basement is, generally they're damp and there's water comes in. It kind of goes

[43:01] through the floor. not 100% of the basement.

[43:05] » No, but >> if things were setting up on pallets

[43:08] versus right on the floor, >> they are

[43:10] » and and items right now in the library and in that

[43:15] basement. >> They're they're piled right in front of

[43:18] electrical panels, which I'm going to tell you right now is illegal.

[43:23] And the librarian is going to have to move stuff around. Historical society

[43:28] needs to move stuff. Um because we we're in deep violation on

[43:33] that. Speak that up. But by flooding, no. Do you have water? Yes, you have

[43:38] water. They make what you call >> they make what you call dehumidifiers.

[43:43] » No, a mission basement. I I have a mission basement. I cannot keep anything

[43:47] down there that I that I have any value >> any value because it's musty. It's

[43:54] everything smells. You can't use anything that's that's down there. So,

[43:58] » yeah. A lot of basements are like that whether they leak or not. The question

[44:01] is, do we have any area that they could h how much stuff are we talking about?

[44:09] » I'd say the the rolling rack with our clothes on it, maybe

[44:16] four or five boxes. You know, the everything is off the

[44:21] floor. Um, we if it's not on a on a shelving unit, we have something stuffed

[44:28] underneath it that's plastic. Um, and we don't cover up the electrical

[44:36] in our room. >> Then you've changed it.

[44:38] » You We You mentioned it like last year. You mentioned it like last year.

[44:44] I'm just saying I last I was down there. It's all

[44:47] » But um yeah, it's it's it's not that great of

[44:53] an amount. It's just yeah, like I said, like a

[44:58] rolling rack of clothing, several other pieces, items and clothing that's that's

[45:02] like you can't hang because they're are delicate, so they have to be kind of

[45:06] laid out and maybe four or five boxes. >> Average closet size.

[45:12] » Exactly. Kind of. Yeah, it's not >> Well, particularly the documents, I

[45:16] think you would want to get in a dry environment. I can appreciate that.

[45:19] » Right. Yeah, it's >> there is quite room bit of room

[45:21] upstairs. I'm not going to allow who gets to call on it,

[45:25] » but there is quite a bit of open space up there. If you're talking, you know,

[45:29] 2T 3T by 6T long or something, >> I'm sure temporarily that would be a

[45:35] workable solution. >> Temporarily is really all all we need

[45:38] until we can find another solution. Um

[45:44] that off limits up there by the way >> a building inspector I'm not mistaken

[45:49] that's not supposed to be open to public up there. Yeah, he said it's

[45:53] » Well, I don't know if anybody's accessing it by the public. It's just

[45:56] talking about storage. making we we

[46:01] construction zone and I'm just saying that our building inspector advises does

[46:06] not >> Well, I'm I'm fine with running to buy

[46:08] metal circumstanc Sorry, that's not No big deal.

[46:11] » And then how do they gain access [clears throat]

[46:14] » at any time they want? >> They don't, you know, they come during

[46:18] business hours. Well, hey, I'm just saying they come anytime at the library.

[46:23] So, I feel like >> we we are able to get to the library at

[46:27] any time now because the city gave us keys so we could get in on a Sunday and

[46:32] that's when we were doing all our work for Memphis days. Um, but yeah, most of

[46:37] this stuff is more storage. It's not going to be on display until we, you

[46:43] know, change some stuff upstairs, get some new um, cases and things like that.

[46:50] It's just strictly going to be [clears throat] for right now in

[46:54] storage. And if we do need it, we could definitely come during the day when you

[46:58] guys are open and just grab maybe the one or two things out of there that we

[47:02] might need. >> I would ask Donna

[47:05] I feel like you're the one that knows the most about like what and Mel

[47:10] » Yeah, Donna and Mel would be the ones to to talk.

[47:13] » Yeah, I just know what Mel said that nobody from the public's lot upstairs.

[47:17] Um I'm trying to think. I'm I would like to see how much to be honest before I

[47:22] say like, "Yeah, we can fit it here." I like to just go over and see how much.

[47:26] » I'm not against >> I think it's just understanding, right?

[47:30] Like >> Yeah. I just I know he said nobody

[47:32] upstairs so that kind of counts that out if you have to go um

[47:36] » I think the size of the current room is >> what like 8 by 10

[47:42] » you know I I'm bad at I'm bad at [cough] >> the best 10 by 10

[47:49] » whole room you need >> No no I just need a small portion just

[47:53] to put some of the rest of the stuff can stay down there just let me know when

[47:58] you're there and I'll come back if I can look at it and we'll

[48:01] that >> I don't think we need to.

[48:04] » I don't think we need >> No, because they're going to they're

[48:06] going to meet then Donna can have you know a recommendation of where you know

[48:13] you know it might fit in a corner of the invol the old involvement room or

[48:17] something you know down there

[48:26] » historical that would literally

[48:35] Okay. >> So, there are some options. So, let

[48:38] we'll let Donna get with you. >> Is our basement dry

[48:43] » like that be the same as >> same thing similar, right?

[48:48] » We don't want people going. >> I wouldn't want I'd rather both.

[48:53] » Yes. >> I don't want to go.

[48:56] That's just okay.

[49:04] [clears throat]

[49:06] All right. Um, I just want to uh talk a little bit

[49:14] about uh the festival. We just had the beginning of of uh of August. Um it was

[49:24] I think our best festival in many years. Um the

[49:30] return of Miss Memphis which we had a lot of good participation with. That was

[49:35] great. Uh the parade, the fireworks were were outstanding. Um lots of events

[49:40] going and lots of collaboration around town. Everybody supporting everybody

[49:46] else. And that's it just it it was just a very great fun weekend and we had a

[49:53] lot of people in town and that was good to see. So I appreciate everybody who

[49:58] put on events, supported each other and uh hopefully next year will be will be

[50:05] even better. >> Yeah, because uh you got that haunted

[50:09] trail that's going to help >> Yeah.

[50:12] » some stuff.

[50:16] Yeah. Okay.

[50:19] Anything council member?

[50:23] » Uh I saw on the sign when I was walking in that there's a CBA public hearing

[50:29] » on one of the days coming up. >> 16th.

[50:33] » 16th. What's that? >> There's a resident uh there's a resident

[50:36] applying for a variance on their uh on their fence. it was put up. Um Mel gave

[50:42] them a stop work order um to which they um asked for a variance as opposed to

[50:49] you know they wanted to continue. Um so uh

[50:52] » just curious >> uh yeah the

[50:54] » I didn't know if it was something >> the fence isn't supposed to be come into

[50:58] your front yard and because they're a corner lot they technically have two

[51:01] front yards. Um, so the the uh fence is coming into the front yard of their

[51:06] Henderson Street property and uh Mel gave him a stop

[51:10] » work order. >> Yeah, just curious.

[51:13] » Okay,

[51:17] so

[51:21] » laborer. >> Good.

[51:24] » All right. Motion to

[51:36] » [music]

CITY OF MEMPHIS COUNCIL MEETING (09-01-2026)

Transcript