[0:01] There we go, sergeant lawrence. Please

[0:05] call our may 26 2026 meeting to order. I

[0:11] would like to recognize our chaplain of

[0:15] the day, arnell morris, of the memphis

[0:19] fire department. He has been invited by

[0:23] councilman spinoza. Mr. Morris, please

[0:27] lead us in prayer.

[0:31] >> arnell morris: shall we pray? Dear

[0:33] god, first of all, we want to give you

[0:36] thanks for this day and for the many

[0:38] things that you've done for us. We ask

[0:41] you to look upon this meeting and give

[0:43] grace to every person that's here, the

[0:45] leadership of this city, we thank you

[0:48] for what they've done thus far. So we

[0:50] ask you for peace today, and that you

[0:52] would guide our efforts and give us good

[0:55] success. We give you praise and glory in

[0:57] your son's name. We do pray. We all can

[1:00] say, amen.

[1:02] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:03] thank you. Please remain standing for

[1:05] the pledge of allegiance.

[1:06] >> I pledge

[1:22] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:23] counselors, melosa, you're recognized at

[1:24] this time,

[1:38] >> councilmember: thank you, madam

[1:41] chair. Greetings. Be it hereby known

[1:43] that chaplain arnold morris, in

[1:46] recognition of a life of exemplary

[1:49] qualities, outstanding service to the

[1:52] city, meritorious involvement in

[1:54] humanitarian affairs, and demonstrated

[1:57] concern for governmental process. Has

[2:00] been appointed chaplain of the day of

[2:03] the memphis city council, and is hereby

[2:05] grant entitled to all the honors,

[2:08] rights, and privileges and prerogatives

[2:11] appearing to the office into the display

[2:14] of the certificate gender given under

[2:16] this seal, 26th day of may, 2026 signed

[2:19] by chairwoman janice

[2:22] swearengen-washington and myself. Thank

[2:25] you, madam chair. Good to see you, sir.

[2:27] thank you.

[2:30] >> madam comptroller: thank you so much,

[2:34] madam comptroller. If you will, please

[2:37] call the roll. Thank you, madam

[2:41] chairwoman, council members canale,

[2:45] carlisle, cooper, sutton, easter,

[2:49] thomas, board. Green, logan, smiley,

[2:52] spinoza, walker, warren, white,

[2:56] chairwoman swearengen-washington

[3:00] present. Madam chair, you have a quorum.

[3:04] thank you, councilman canale. I believe

[3:07] you reviewed the minutes.

[3:11] >> councilman canale: yes, madam chair,

[3:13] I have reviewed the meeting minutes from

[3:16] the may 12, 2026 meeting, and find them

[3:18] to be in order and move for their

[3:21] adoption.

[3:23] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: it

[3:28] has been moved by council. Councilman

[3:32] for canal, and second by councilor

[3:37] spinoza. Madam comptroller, if you will,

[3:41] please prepare the screen for the

[3:46] >> madam comptroller: vote. Council

[3:47] members in the cast

[3:48] >> of rose,

[3:52] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[3:56] please catch your votes in the minutes.

[4:01] >> madam comptroller: canale, yes.

[4:04] cooper-sutton, yes. Easter-thomas, yes.

[4:07] ford, yes, green, yes, logan, yes,

[4:10] smiley, yes, spinoza, yes, walker, yes,

[4:12] warren, yes, chairwoman

[4:15] swearengen-washington, yes.

[4:18] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[4:21] that item passes. Welcome to the may 26

[4:24] 2026 regular meeting of the memphis city

[4:27] council meetings of the city council

[4:30] shall be conducted in an orderly staff

[4:33] to ensure the public has the full

[4:36] opportunity to be heard and the

[4:38] deliberate process of the council is

[4:41] retained at all times. Our council staff

[4:44] has meeting agendas available up front

[4:47] with mr. Clay. Clay, please raise your

[4:50] hand, as well as comment request cards

[4:53] for members of the public wishing to be

[4:56] heard on a specific item. All those

[4:59] wishing to speak on an item must turn in

[5:02] their comment card to staff before the

[5:05] item is called. If you are not here to

[5:08] speak on a specific item, you can note

[5:11] that your request to give general

[5:14] comments at the end of the meeting. As

[5:16] chair, I will only recognize citizens

[5:19] that properly registered to speak by

[5:22] submitting a completed comment request

[5:25] card to council staff. Okay, items 28

[5:28] no, that's going to be withdrawn. We do

[5:31] have a presentation, colleagues. I want

[5:34] to take a point of privilege to

[5:37] recognize mr. Mason todd and his

[5:40] beautiful family that are joining us

[5:43] here today for his innovation,

[5:46] compassion, and commitment to serving

[5:49] others through technology. Where are

[5:51] you, mr. Mason? Where are you? Come on

[5:54] down in your beautiful family. Come on

[5:57] down. Come on, family. Mason's work in

[6:00] developing an ai-powered health

[6:03] application focused on helping

[6:06] low-income families access healthcare

[6:09] resources reflects not only impressive

[6:12] talent, but also a deep understanding of

[6:15] the importance of equity and community

[6:18] impact. His initiative demonstrates how

[6:21] young leaders are already helped shaping

[6:24] a stronger and more connected future for

[6:27] our city and beyond. On behalf of

[6:29] councilwoman logan, congratulations to

[6:32] mason todd on his outstanding

[6:35] accomplishment, and for using innovation

[6:38] to making a meaningful difference in the

[6:41] lives of others. Councilwoman logan, you

[6:44] are recognized at this time.

[6:47] >> councilwoman logan: thank you,

[6:49] chairwoman, and to my colleagues. I am

[6:52] so excited today to present this

[6:54] resolution on behalf of the council. I

[6:57] was watching the news, and I happened to

[6:59] see this clip about this incredible

[7:02] young man who was using his talent and

[7:04] ability, god-given talent and abilities

[7:07] to help those across the world, and the

[7:09] africa app, africa health app, correct.

[7:12] and so he wasn't just talking about it,

[7:14] but he was being about it, and he has

[7:17] done a tremendous work, and I was at

[7:19] that moment just impressed to

[7:21] acknowledge him. We always want to

[7:24] acknowledge and celebrate our hometown

[7:26] heroes, and so this young man, we

[7:29] encourage you, we appreciate you, and

[7:31] want you to continue using your vision

[7:34] and your innovation for good, for not

[7:36] just here locally but worldwide, and so

[7:39] hopefully this will be a motivation to

[7:41] other young people to think worldwide

[7:44] and to think beyond themselves. So,

[7:46] thank you so much. We have a resolution

[7:49] that I want to read, and I also want to

[7:51] say my church member, mr. Mays, came up

[7:53] and said, "hey, y'all recognize my

[7:56] grandson after, and I said, "you are

[7:58] right for some, huh? But he is such a

[8:01] wonderful young man, and so humble. So

[8:03] we want to read this into the public

[8:06] hearing, memphis city council

[8:08] resolution. Whereas it is with great

[8:11] pride and admiration that this

[8:13] recognition is presented to mason todd

[8:16] for his outstanding innovation

[8:18] leadership and commitment to improving

[8:21] the lives of others through technology

[8:23] and service, and whereas mason todd has

[8:25] demonstrated remarkable, innovate,

[8:28] innovative, and forward-thinking

[8:30] creativity through the development of an

[8:33] artificial intelligence-powered health

[8:35] application designed to assist

[8:38] low-income families in accessing

[8:40] healthcare resources and support, and

[8:43] whereas his work reflects a meaningful

[8:45] commitment to addressing real-world

[8:48] challenges faced by underserved

[8:50] communities and highlights the

[8:53] importance of equitable access to health

[8:55] care information, guidance, and

[8:58] services, and whereas through his

[9:00] innovation, compassion, and dedication

[9:02] to community impact, mason todd

[9:05] exemplifies the positive difference that

[9:07] young leaders can make when they use

[9:10] their talents and education to uplift

[9:12] others and create solutions that benefit

[9:15] the public good, and whereas mason

[9:17] todd's achievement serves as an

[9:20] inspiring example of excellence,

[9:22] determination, civic-minded leadership,

[9:25] demonstrating demonstrating how

[9:27] technology and innovation can be used

[9:30] responsibly and thoughtfully to

[9:32] strengthen communities and support

[9:34] families in need, and whereas his

[9:37] accomplishments bring pride not only to

[9:39] those who know and support him, but also

[9:42] to the broader community, while

[9:44] encouraging other students and young

[9:47] innovators to pursue their ideas with

[9:49] purpose, integrity, and a heart for

[9:52] service. Now, therefore, be it resolved

[9:54] that the memphis city council does

[9:57] hereby recognize and celebrate mason

[9:59] todd for his exceptional

[10:02] accomplishments, innovative spirit, and

[10:04] dedication to creating meaningful

[10:06] solutions that positively impact the

[10:09] lives of others. We extend our sincere

[10:11] congratulations and best wishes for his

[10:14] continued success, future endeavors, and

[10:16] the lasting impact of his work within

[10:19] the community and beyond given by my

[10:21] hand under the great seal of the city of

[10:24] memphis this 26th day of may 2026 rhonda

[10:26] logan, member, memphis city council

[10:29] district one, and we congratulate you. I

[10:31] want to acknowledge his mother and

[10:34] family, grandmother and grandpa,

[10:36] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[10:38] madam comptroller, if you will, please

[10:40] show that approved by affirmation.

[10:42] >> madam comptroller: thank you. Bye.

[10:51] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[10:53] madam comptroller, we will please call

[10:54] item number one.

[10:56] >> madam comptroller: item number one is

[10:58] a resolution recognizing may as mental

[11:01] health awareness month. This resolution

[11:04] is sponsored by councilman canale.

[11:06] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[11:12] councilman canale, you are recognized.

[11:17] >> councilman canale: thank you, madam

[11:19] chair. If I get the alliance folks

[11:22] great, I think so, colleagues, as most

[11:24] of you know, the month of may is mental

[11:27] health awareness month, and the great

[11:29] folks at alliance do so much in that

[11:31] space to help so many memphians on a

[11:34] daily basis. So, we want to thank you

[11:36] for all that you do, and thank you for

[11:39] coming down and receiving this

[11:41] recognition. They are certainly not the

[11:43] only ones that do the work in memphis,

[11:46] but they are a big part, and we, they

[11:48] are valuable peace to our city. We

[11:51] definitely need it for those that are

[11:53] struggling. So, whereas mental health is

[11:55] the foundation of our overall

[11:58] well-being, because it shapes how we

[12:00] care for ourselves, how we show up for

[12:03] the people we love, and how we

[12:05] participate in the life of our

[12:07] community. And yet, mental health

[12:10] challenges remain among the most common

[12:12] conditions memphians will face in their

[12:15] lifetime, affecting two in five adults,

[12:17] one in six children, and one in three

[12:19] teenagers. Whereas, while mental health

[12:22] has long been a struggle for many in our

[12:24] community, we have witnessed a sharp

[12:27] rise in anxiety, depression, and a sense

[12:29] of disconnection from one another,

[12:31] especially among our young people, and

[12:34] this crisis has been made significantly

[12:36] worse by the prolonged isolation brought

[12:39] on by the covid-19 pandemic, and whereas

[12:41] we affirm as a community that treatment

[12:43] works, that recovery is real, and that

[12:46] no person should ever feel shame or fear

[12:48] in reaching out for help, and we renew

[12:51] our commitment this month and every

[12:53] month to confronting the stigma

[12:55] surrounding mental illness and removing

[12:58] every barrier that stands between our

[13:00] neighbors and the high quality care that

[13:03] they deserve, and whereas we recognize

[13:05] and deeply honor the mental health

[13:07] professionals, advocates, faith leaders,

[13:10] first responders, parents, teachers,

[13:12] coaches, and the countless friends,

[13:15] family members, and neighbors who give

[13:17] of themselves every day on the front

[13:19] lines of this crisis, and we pledge as a

[13:22] community to stand with them by unifying

[13:24] our efforts to educate, raise awareness,

[13:27] and expand access to prevention, early

[13:29] intervention, and treatment resources

[13:31] for all memphians. Now, therefore, be it

[13:34] resolved that the month of may, and the

[13:36] city of memphis is hereby recognized as

[13:39] mental health awareness month, given by

[13:41] my hand under this great seal of the

[13:43] city of memphis, and our chairwoman,

[13:46] janice swearengen, washington. Really,

[13:48] on behalf of all of the memphis city

[13:51] council, thank you for all that you

[13:53] >> alliance healthcare representative:

[13:56] do. Thank you, guys, so much. I know

[13:58] some of you on the city council. Hello,

[14:01] dr. Warren's my doctor. I have to say

[14:04] that you're a great doctor, and you're

[14:06] awesome, councilwoman cooper-sutton. She

[14:09] came out and toured, and you guys, if

[14:12] you need my cell, a lot of the

[14:15] commissioners have it. Reach out to me

[14:17] if anybody needs help. We just opened up

[14:20] our 24 hour, seven days a week

[14:23] children's crisis stabilization unit,

[14:25] jail diversion unit, 24 hour walk in

[14:28] center, and that's exactly what we do

[14:31] for adults. Over the weekend, I was told

[14:33] we had 43 of our 45 beds full, and we

[14:36] had 13 people walking in from crisis on

[14:39] the streets. We are the largest jail

[14:41] provider in the entire jail provider,

[14:44] jail diversion, jail diversion provider

[14:47] in the entire state. People need

[14:49] immediate access to treatment. They do

[14:52] not need incarceration, and that's my

[14:55] heart. 34 years straight, and I hope to

[14:58] keep doing it. Thank you so much, guys.

[15:00] I love the work, and I'd like to

[15:03] acknowledge my chairman of the board,

[15:06] clinton robinson. You can't do your job

[15:08] without a good board chair. So,

[15:11] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[15:14] thank you so much for your service.

[15:16] >> alliance healthcare representative:

[15:19] good evening, councilman canale, other

[15:21] members of the memphis city council. We

[15:24] certainly appreciate your support and

[15:26] advocacy on behalf of alliance health

[15:29] care, as we endeavor to provide services

[15:32] to as many individuals in this community

[15:34] as we can, especially those that are

[15:37] underserved. So we appreciate your

[15:40] thoughtfulness, and we also appreciate

[15:42] your financial support. We receive

[15:45] monies from the council to construct our

[15:47] new youth facility, as well as our duck

[15:50] facility. So, just thank you so much.

[15:53] and it's truly an honor and a pleasure

[15:55] to be able to work with this great

[15:58] organization, serving the needs of our

[16:01] folks in the community who need

[16:03] assistance for mental health services

[16:06] and substance abuse disorder. So, thank

[16:08] you so much for your partnership.

[16:11] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[16:14] thank you. Before we move to our next

[16:17] item, we would like to acknowledge that

[16:20] we have councilwoman patrice robinson in

[16:24] the audience. If you'll please stand at

[16:27] this time. Thank you so much for your

[16:30] service, madam comptroller. If you will,

[16:33] please call item number two.

[16:36] >> madam comptroller: item number two is

[16:39] a resolution approving the honorary

[16:42] street name change on horn lake road

[16:44] between west shelby drive and west

[16:47] holmes road for dr. Gerald rayborn,

[16:50] district six, super district eight. This

[16:52] resolution is sponsored by councilwoman

[16:55] cooper-sutton.

[16:58] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[17:09] councilwoman cooper-sutton, you are

[17:21] recognized at this time.

[17:32] >> thank you, chair, and my

[17:36] esteemed council members.

[17:41] >> your beautiful wife and

[17:43] daughter, come on, come on, don't be

[17:44] able to come on

[17:46] >> and all of the church

[17:49] members, the memphis city council

[17:53] resolution, whereas when worthy

[17:56] circumstances arise, the memphis city

[18:00] council has seen fit to name certain

[18:03] public roads to honor citizens who have

[18:07] served the city of memphis. The reverend

[18:10] dr. Gerald rayborn sr. Is certainly

[18:14] befitting of this honor, and whereas

[18:17] reverend dr. Gerald rayborn, senior, a

[18:21] faithful servant of god, visionary

[18:24] leader, gifted gospel preacher, and

[18:28] beloved community pillar, was born on

[18:31] april 23 1946 in hernando, mississippi

[18:35] to the late mr. C j g rayborn and miss

[18:38] elsie rayborn, and rose from humble

[18:42] beginnings as one of 10 children to

[18:45] become a powerful voice of faith and

[18:48] hope throughout the city of memphis, and

[18:52] whereas reverend dr. Gerald rayborn sr.

[18:55] is a devoted husband to bonnie rayborn

[18:59] and a loving father to gerald rayborn jr

[19:02] and stacy rayborn, amplifying the values

[19:06] of faith, family, integrity, and

[19:09] unwavering commitment throughout his

[19:13] life and ministry, and whereas after

[19:16] receiving his education at delta center

[19:20] high school in walls, mississippi.

[19:23] reverend dr. Gerald rayborn sr. Answered

[19:27] the divine call upon his life by

[19:30] pursuing theological training at the

[19:34] william herbert brewster clinic in

[19:37] memphis, tennessee, where his passionate

[19:41] preaching and electrifying spirit earned

[19:44] him the unforgettable name fabal

[19:47] rayborn, and whereas the reverend doctor

[19:51] gerald rayborn has faithfully dedicated

[19:54] his life to the work of the gospel,

[19:58] beginning his ministry in 1976 and

[20:01] answering the pastoral call to mount

[20:05] moriah baptist church in east tennessee

[20:08] before beginning called in 1977 to lead

[20:12] mount sinai baptist church in memphis,

[20:15] tennessee, where his dynamic leadership

[20:19] transformed lives, strengthened

[20:22] families, and expanded the ministry far

[20:26] beyond the church walls, and whereas

[20:29] under reverend gerald, dr. Gerald

[20:33] rayborn, senior anointed leadership,

[20:36] mount sinai baptist church flourished

[20:40] spiritually and numerically, resulting

[20:43] in the establishment of the new mount

[20:46] sinai missionary church, and the

[20:50] expansion of countless outreach efforts

[20:53] designed to uplift the hurting, feeding

[20:57] the hungry, encourage, encourage the

[21:00] discouraged, and bring hope to the

[21:04] community, and whereas for then 40 years

[21:07] the reverend dr. Gerald rayborn senior

[21:11] has stood boldly as a beacon of truth,

[21:14] compassion, and righteousness, preaching

[21:18] with conviction and power, while

[21:21] reaching multitudes through his ministry

[21:25] broadcast on 1340 w l o k radio station,

[21:28] ensuring that the message of christ

[21:32] reached beyond his community, and

[21:35] whereas the city of memphis wishes to

[21:38] honor the reverend dr. Jill rayborn

[21:42] senior outstanding contributions and

[21:45] lasting legacy by bestowing a symbolic

[21:49] recognition near the church that he will

[21:52] leave a long life legacy lifetime of

[21:56] dedicated service and undeniable impact.

[21:59] now, therefore, be it resolved by the

[22:03] memphis city council that horn lake road

[22:06] and hernandez dr, between horn lake road

[22:10] and west shelby drive, and horn lake

[22:13] road and west holmes road, shall be

[22:17] designated honorary as the reverend dr.

[22:20] gerald rayborn senior drive. Be it

[22:24] further more resolved that the city

[22:27] engineer is requested to affix suitable

[22:31] signs denoting the public road. Adopted

[22:34] tuesday, may 26 2026 yolanda

[22:37] cooper-sutton, memphis city council,

[22:41] super district eight three. This is for

[22:44] you, sir. Congratulations. And I'm going

[22:48] to give him an opportunity to say a few

[22:51] words, but if you're hungry on sunday

[22:55] mornings, he'll get you some grits, some

[22:58] biscuits, sausage, bacon, orange juice,

[23:02] apple juice, and some water and some

[23:05] jelly. This man still fixed breakfast

[23:09] every sunday morning, whether you

[23:12] remember or not. At his church, you can

[23:16] go eat breakfast, and he don't even make

[23:19] you stay there. Listen to him sing, but

[23:23] I wanted to share that, that he's still

[23:26] serving the community with a hot

[23:30] breakfast. Pastor,

[23:33] >> thank you. Thank you, miss

[23:37] cooper. And I'm just grateful to be on

[23:40] like this, and we're just grateful for

[23:44] our church family, as she fores stated

[23:47] that we have been there, and we do a

[23:51] community service every sunday morning,

[23:55] and it's not for the churches, it's for

[23:58] the whole community. If you, it doesn't

[24:02] matter whether you homeless, poor, or

[24:05] rich. I look for all of y'all to come by

[24:09] and have a hot breakfast on sunday

[24:13] morning. Amen. 7 o'clock breakfast is

[24:16] hot and ready to go, and I just want to

[24:20] say, thank you so much for all of your

[24:23] kindness. God bless

[24:27] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[24:29] you. Thank you, madam comptroller. You

[24:31] will please go by acclamation that that

[24:33] has been approved. Thank you, minister.

[24:35] madam comptroller, please call item

[24:37] number three.

[24:39] >> madam comptroller: item number three

[24:42] is a resolution honoring and recognizing

[24:45] peyton gibson, carter holmes and ty

[24:48] miller as prize winners in the 2026

[24:50] c-span national documentary competition.

[24:53] this resolution is sponsored by

[24:56] councilwoman white. This was held from

[24:59] may 12.

[25:02] >> councilwoman white,

[25:04] you're recognized, you

[25:07] >> thank you so much. Good

[25:10] afternoon, council members, and thank

[25:12] you so much, audience. I have up here

[25:15] with me some more of our students whom

[25:18] we are very proud of today. We proudly

[25:20] recognize three outstanding students

[25:23] from t-stem academy at east high school,

[25:26] ms. Peyton gibson, carter, mr. Carter

[25:29] holmes, and mr. Ty miller, for earning

[25:31] national recognition in the 2026 c-span

[25:34] student competition. We're also

[25:37] recognizing their mentor, mr. Marshawn

[25:39] calvin. He's not okay. Well, tell him

[25:42] that we shouted him out as well. We are

[25:45] recognizing them today as young leaders

[25:47] who use their talent, creativity, and

[25:50] voices to produce the pursuit, which was

[25:53] a documentary that explored immigration

[25:55] reform and the experiences of daca

[25:58] recipients with compassion, courage, and

[26:01] purpose, their work reminds us that

[26:03] excellence is achieved when preparation

[26:06] meets opportunity. These students

[26:09] reflect the excellence that we want to

[26:12] see out of our, out of our students, the

[26:14] innovativeness, but also the courage and

[26:17] the boldness to speak on issues that are

[26:20] impacting people on a daily basis. We

[26:22] also have already stated recognize their

[26:25] mentor, marshawn calvin. I'm not going

[26:28] to read the resolution, but I do want to

[26:30] say that we are so proud of you all for

[26:33] taking your ideas, for using your voices

[26:36] and your vision, and you all turned it

[26:38] into something powerful enough for the

[26:41] nation to notice, and we want you to

[26:44] know that we noticed it here in memphis,

[26:47] and we celebrate you. One thing that I

[26:49] always tell young people, and maybe this

[26:52] will be good for every person in the

[26:55] room, is to be a thermostat, not a

[26:57] thermometer. A thermometer only reacts

[27:00] to the environment around it. A

[27:03] thermostat sets the temperature in the

[27:05] room. Leaders do not wait on the world

[27:08] to change, they walk into rooms and

[27:11] change the atmosphere themselves, and

[27:13] that's what you all are already doing.

[27:16] keep setting the standard, keep raising

[27:19] expectations, keep believing that what

[27:22] starts in memphis can impact the nation,

[27:24] because it can, and you all did it. Now,

[27:27] therefore, be it resolved that the

[27:30] memphis city council hereby honors and

[27:32] congratulates peyton gibson, carter

[27:35] holmes, and ty miller of memphis east

[27:38] c-stem academy for earning national

[27:40] recognition in the 2026 c-span student

[27:43] can national documentary competition,

[27:46] and commends them for their outstanding

[27:52] documentary, the pursuit, as well as

[27:55] their commitment to education, civic

[27:58] awareness, and excellence in

[28:00] storytelling. Be it be further resolved

[28:03] that the memphis city council extends

[28:06] its appreciation to the advisor,

[28:09] marshawn calvin, for his dedication to

[28:11] mentoring and empowering students to

[28:14] achieve such academic success.

[28:17] congratulations, you all.

[28:19] congratulations,

[28:22] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[28:26] madam comptroller. If you will, please

[28:29] show that confirmed by acclamation, you

[28:33] >> and we're also joined by

[28:42] their wonderful parents up here too.

[28:51] congratulations, and thank you, parents

[29:09] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[29:14] thank you, madam chair, a chair woman,

[29:18] we're going to move to our public

[29:22] hearing part. Madam comptroller, if you

[29:27] would please call item number four.

[29:32] thank you.

[29:36] >> madam comptroller: item number four

[29:38] from our division of planning and

[29:41] development is a resolution pursuant to

[29:43] chapter 9.6 of the memphis and shelby

[29:46] county unified development code

[29:48] approving a special use permit at the

[29:51] subject property located at 2342 frazier

[29:53] boulevard. This resolution is sponsored

[29:56] by the division of planning and

[29:58] development. This item was held from may

[30:01] 12. The case number is sup 26 03

[30:03] councilors spinoza, you're recognized at

[30:06] this time.

[30:08] >> councilman spinosa: thank you, madam

[30:11] chair. Committee met recommended

[30:15] approval, but I'll move

[30:18] >> it all right. Properly

[30:21] moved by councilman spinoza, moved by

[30:23] councilman dr. Warren. Councilwoman

[30:26] easter-thomas, you are recognized at

[30:29] this time. Thank you, chair. And thank

[30:31] you, councilor espinosa. So, I did have,

[30:34] so, and when we met in committee two

[30:37] council meetings ago, four weeks ago,

[30:39] and pnc committee, I did have questions,

[30:42] and I also had a withholding of my vote

[30:45] for said questions. Since then, I was

[30:47] able to talk to mr. Kent and meet mr.

[30:50] sunny chow, who is standing right here

[30:53] before us, and also was glad to learn

[30:55] about that there are other restaurants

[30:58] similar to this one that has come into

[31:01] district seven, that they are active in

[31:04] the community, that they have a standard

[31:06] of non-code violations and just doing

[31:09] what they said that they were going to

[31:12] do, and so knowing that we'll be able to

[31:14] uphold them to the standard they set

[31:17] their sales to, and then we also have a

[31:20] way of holding them accountable as well.

[31:22] I'm glad to support this project and ask

[31:25] my colleagues to do the same. This was

[31:28] not what I said in committee, so I just

[31:30] want to be clear that I help support the

[31:33] project, especially with the rendering

[31:36] that we have, and that we'll be able to

[31:38] just contact with communication if

[31:41] anything goes wrong, but I'm sure that

[31:44] they won't, since mr. King assured me

[31:46] earlier. So, thank you, chair.

[31:49] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[31:51] thank you. And I would like to attest

[31:54] that I belong to an organization, and we

[31:56] had a meeting at one of your restaurants

[31:59] at another location this weekend, and

[32:01] the customer service was fantastic, the

[32:03] food was wonderful, everything was

[32:06] clean. So I just want to thank you for

[32:08] your high standard of excellence. Dr.

[32:11] warren, you're recognized.

[32:13] >> I just want to thank my

[32:15] colleague, easter-thomas, for taking a

[32:17] teacher's perspective, getting more

[32:19] information, and actually changing your

[32:21] mind. So, people that say we never

[32:23] change our minds, the reason we change

[32:26] our minds is we get more information and

[32:28] we think about it, so thank you for

[32:30] thinking and bringing that to us and

[32:32] changing your mind. Thank you. So, when

[32:34] I do it, back me up,

[32:36] >> all right.

[32:37] >> please, please

[32:39] remember this, dr. Walker. I think it's

[32:42] a sign of good, good governance. Thank

[32:44] you, councilwoman walker. You're

[32:47] recognized. Thank you, madam chair. I

[32:49] just want to concur with your comments,

[32:52] and also mr. Kent and his company. They

[32:54] have poured a lot of positive energy, a

[32:57] lot of wonderful investments into

[32:59] district three. And I just want to thank

[33:02] you for that. And best wishes on this

[33:04] project. And I yield the floor. With

[33:07] that being said, madam

[33:09] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[33:29] comptroller, if you will, please prepare

[33:49] the screen for the vote.

[34:09] >> madam comptroller: canale, yes.

[34:12] easter, thomas, yes. For yes, green,

[34:15] yes. Logan, yes. Smiley, yes. Spinoza,

[34:18] yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White,

[34:21] yes. Chairwoman swearengen-washington,

[34:24] yes.

[34:27] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[34:29] that item passes. We'll move to our

[34:32] consent agenda items, which are items

[34:34] number 56789, 10, and 11. Madam

[34:37] comptroller, if you will, please call

[34:39] the consent agenda items, beginning with

[34:42] number five

[34:45] >> madam comptroller: item number five is an

[34:48] ordinance for the designation of a

[34:51] qualified public use facility creation

[34:54] of the 33 bill street tourism

[34:57] development zone tourism surcharge, and

[35:01] otherwise providing with respect to the

[35:04] foregoing up for first reading ordinance

[35:07] number 5972 is sponsored by the downtown

[35:10] memphis commission and central city

[35:13] revenue finance corporation. Item number

[35:16] six is an ordinance pursuant to chapter

[35:19] nine dot 10.1 c of the memphis and

[35:22] shelby county unified development code,

[35:26] approving a street name change at the

[35:29] subject property located between eh

[35:32] crump roundabout and mental museum drive

[35:35] up for first reading. This ordinance is

[35:38] sponsored by the division of planning

[35:41] and development. The case number is snc

[35:44] 26 02 ordinance number 5973 item number

[35:47] seven is up for second reading.

[35:51] ordinance number 5971 is sponsored by

[35:54] the administration from that engineering

[35:57] division. Item number eight, resolution

[36:00] approving the engineering plans for

[36:03] tournament trails center plan

[36:06] development county and accepting bond as

[36:09] security. There's a request for same

[36:12] night minutes. The contract number is cr

[36:15] dash 5495 item number nine is a

[36:19] resolution approving the final plot for

[36:22] oakland estates plan development phase

[36:25] three and accepting bond as security.

[36:28] there's a request for same night

[36:31] minutes. There's a request for same

[36:34] night minutes. The contract number is cr

[36:37] that 5496 item number 10 is a resolution

[36:40] accepting public improvements for fill

[36:44] and go south third street, sup 2012

[36:47] contract number 5475 and releasing the

[36:50] bond. There is a request for sign nine

[36:53] minutes for this item. Our final item on

[36:56] our consent agenda is number 11. It is a

[36:59] resolution approving supplemental

[37:02] agreement number one for memphis brooks

[37:05] museum of art contract number 5447 and

[37:09] accepting bond as security, there is a

[37:12] request for same like minutes for this

[37:15] item. Also, madam chairwoman, that

[37:18] concludes our consent agenda items.

[37:21] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[37:22] councilman canal, you're recognized.

[37:23] >> councilman canale: thank you, madam

[37:25] chair. The committee met, recommended

[37:28] approval.

[37:30] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: it

[37:34] has been moved by councilman for canal,

[37:39] and second by councilman spinoza. Madam

[37:43] comptroller, if you will, please prepare

[37:48] the screen for the vote,

[37:52] >> madam comptroller: I canali, yes.

[37:56] easter, thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green,

[37:59] yes. Logan, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker,

[38:03] yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman

[38:06] swinburton, washington, yes.

[38:10] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[38:12] thank you. That item passes, madam

[38:14] comptroller. If you will, please call

[38:15] for fiscal consent agenda item.

[38:17] >> madam comptroller: thank you. Our

[38:20] item is number 12, a resolution to

[38:23] accept a donation in the amount of

[38:26] $90,692.98 from the eloise bishoprical

[38:29] trust memphis animal shelter to

[38:32] authorize expenditures for heartworm

[38:35] treatment, adoption subsidies, and

[38:38] related services for shelter animals.

[38:40] all council districts, this resolution

[38:43] is sponsored by the administration.

[38:46] there is a request for saint mike

[38:49] minutes, and that concludes our fiscal

[38:52] consent agenda items. It's always

[38:55] exciting to get a donation. Councilman

[38:58] for canale, you are recognized.

[39:01] >> councilman canale: thank you, madam

[39:03] chair. Committee recommend approval. Not

[39:04] so moved.

[39:06] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[39:11] it's been moved by councilman for

[39:15] canale, second by councilman spinoza.

[39:20] madam comptroller, if you will, please

[39:24] prepare the screen for the vote.

[39:29] >> madam comptroller: canale, yes.

[39:31] easter, thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green,

[39:34] yes. Logan, yes. Smiley, yes. Vanessa,

[39:36] yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White,

[39:38] yes. Chairwoman swearengen-washington,

[39:41] yes.

[39:43] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: an

[39:47] item passes. Madam comptroller, if you

[39:51] will, please call the mlgw fiscal

[39:55] consent agenda items 13 through 27 with

[39:59] same night minutes on item number 18.

[40:03] >> madam comptroller: bear with us while

[40:04] we experience some minor, minor

[40:06] technicalities.

[40:07] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[40:08] yes, ma'am.

[40:09] >> madam comptroller: item number 13 on

[40:11] our mlgw disconsent is a resolution

[40:14] awarding contract number 12660 drill

[40:18] pier foundation installation to chris

[40:22] hill construction company llc in the

[40:25] funded amount of $1,205,865 item number

[40:29] 14 is a resolution approving the scope

[40:33] change and increase to contract number

[40:37] 12649 newton x support and maintenance

[40:40] with c d w government llc to expand the

[40:44] scope and increase the current contract

[40:48] in the funded amount of $313,532 and 52

[40:51] cents. Item number 15 is a resolution

[40:55] awarding contract number 12645 nerc

[40:59] consultant to gds associates, inc. In

[41:02] the funded not to exceed amount of

[41:06] $1,908,000 item number 16 is a

[41:10] resolution approving the scope change

[41:13] and increase to contract number 10332

[41:17] abb software maintenance with hitachi

[41:21] energy, formerly abb power training and

[41:25] development company incorporated, to

[41:28] expand the scope and increase the

[41:32] current contract value in the amount of

[41:36] $1,113,362 item number 17 is a

[41:39] resolution approving the payment for

[41:43] street cut permits to the city of

[41:47] memphis in the amount of $2,500,000 item

[41:50] number 18 resolution awarding a 36 month

[41:54] purchase order for asphalt to lehman

[41:58] roberts company in the amount of

[42:01] $1,330,000 please note there's a request

[42:05] for same night minutes on this item,

[42:09] item number 19 resolution awarding

[42:13] contract number 12677 net worth

[42:16] maintenance to logicalis inc. In the

[42:20] funded amount of $729,621.66 item number

[42:24] 20, resolution approving the increase

[42:27] and renewal to contract number 12545

[42:31] vera this net fact of renewal with

[42:35] thomas consultants inc to increase and

[42:38] renew the current contract in the funded

[42:42] amount of $227,248.68 item number 21 is

[42:46] a resolution approving the scope

[42:49] expansion and increase to contract

[42:53] number 12069 rfm viewer replacement with

[42:57] ssp innovations llc to expand the scope

[43:00] and increase the current contract in the

[43:04] funded amount of $20,000 item number 22

[43:08] resolution approving the increase and

[43:12] extension to contract number 11594 power

[43:15] plan maintenance agreement with power

[43:19] plan inc to increase and extend the

[43:23] current contract in the funded amount of

[43:26] $2,814,188.38 item number 23 is a

[43:30] resolution awarding purchase orders for

[43:34] four wheel drive trucks with service

[43:37] bodies to landers ford inc and nashville

[43:41] automotive doing business as sarah

[43:45] chevrolet buick gmc in the amount of

[43:48] $948,499.20 item number 24 is a

[43:52] resolution awarding a purchase order for

[43:56] four wheel drive backhoes to stribling

[44:00] equipment llc in the amount of

[44:03] $1,706,625 item number 25 resolution

[44:07] approving of increase to contract number

[44:11] 12371 system furniture with office

[44:14] interiors to increase the current

[44:18] contract in the funded amount of

[44:22] $1,500,000 item number 26 resolution

[44:25] awarding contract number 12662 billing

[44:29] services assistance to hometown of llc

[44:33] in the funded amount of $5,709,705.67

[44:36] our final item tonight is number 27

[44:40] resolution approving the increase and

[44:44] renewal to contract number 125 through

[44:48] three division copy fleet with kanoka

[44:51] minolta to increase and renew the

[44:55] current contract in the funded amount of

[44:59] $117,720 madam chairwoman, that

[45:02] concludes our mlgw fiscal consent items.

[45:06] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[45:08] thank you, madam comptroller.

[45:09] councilwoman walker, you are recognized

[45:10] at this time.

[45:12] >> thank you, madam chair.

[45:14] the committee met with a favorable

[45:15] recommendation, and I so

[45:17] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[45:20] move. It has been properly moved by

[45:22] councilwoman walker, second by

[45:24] councilman warren. Madam comptroller, if

[45:27] you will, please prepare the screen for

[45:30] the vote, you

[45:32] >> madam comptroller: canali, yes,

[45:37] cooper-sutton, yes, easter-thomas, yes,

[45:41] green, yes, logan, yes. Smiley, yes.

[45:46] spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes.

[45:51] white, yes. Chairwoman

[45:55] swearengen-washington, yes.

[46:00] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[46:03] that item passes. Madam comptroller, if

[46:06] you will, please call the add-ons and

[46:08] same night minutes, items 3132 and 33

[46:11] >> madam comptroller: starting with item

[46:14] number 31 which should slowly display on

[46:17] the board a resolution to accept

[46:20] additional grant funds in the amount of

[46:23] $1,303,991 from the us department of

[46:26] justice through the united states

[46:29] marshal service of the western district

[46:32] of tennessee, all council districts.

[46:35] this resolution is sponsored by the

[46:38] administration, and there is a request

[46:41] for same night minutes.

[46:44] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[46:45] thank you, councilman canale. You're

[46:47] recognized.

[46:48] >> councilman canale: thank you, madam

[46:49] chair, the committee met, recommended

[46:51] approval, and I so moved.

[46:52] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: it

[46:56] has been moved by councilman canal, and

[47:00] second by councilwoman green. Madam

[47:04] comptroller, please prepare the screen

[47:08] for the vote.

[47:12] >> madam comptroller: I canal, yes.

[47:15] cooper-sutton, yes. Easter-thomas, yes.

[47:18] green, yes. Logan, yes. Smiley, yes.

[47:22] spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes.

[47:25] white, yes. Chairwoman

[47:28] swearengen-washington. Yes,

[47:31] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[47:34] that item passes. That moves us to our

[47:38] regular agenda items, items number 2829

[47:41] and 30. Madam comptroller, please call

[47:44] item 28 and what add 32 did I skip 32

[47:48] okay. Okay, item 32 madam comptroller.

[47:51] we have such a fabulous staff. Thank you

[47:55] all.

[47:58] >> madam comptroller: I couldn't do

[48:01] without them. Item number 32 is a

[48:03] resolution allowing the mayor's veto of

[48:06] ordinance number 5969 to stand and

[48:08] establishing an impasse ordinance review

[48:11] committee, all council districts. This

[48:14] resolution is sponsored by council

[48:16] members swering and washington and

[48:19] smiley, and there is a request for same

[48:21] night minutes.

[48:24] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[48:26] councilman canal, you are recognized.

[48:28] >> councilman canale: thank you, madam

[48:30] chair, the committee met recommended

[48:32] approval, and also moved. It

[48:34] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: has

[48:38] been moved by councilman canale, second

[48:41] by councilman spinoza. Madam

[48:45] comptroller, please prepare the screen,

[48:48] I

[48:52] >> madam comptroller: the vote for item

[48:57] number 32 regarding the mayor's veto

[49:02] ordinance 5969 canale, yes,

[49:06] cooper-sutton, yes, easter-thomas, yes,

[49:11] ford, yes, green, yes, logan, yes,

[49:16] smiley, yes, spinoza, yes, walker, yes,

[49:20] warren, yes, white, yes, chairwoman,

[49:25] swearington, washington, yes,

[49:30] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: bet

[49:34] item passes. Will you please call item

[49:39] number 33

[49:43] >> item number 33 thank you.

[49:47] item number 33 is

[49:51] >> madam comptroller: please see the

[49:54] revised add on agenda number 33 is a

[49:57] resolution to schedule an impasse

[50:00] presentation before the full council,

[50:02] all council districts sponsored by the

[50:05] memphis city council. There is a request

[50:08] for same night minutes,

[50:11] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[50:12] let's let's get a point of

[50:13] clarification. Councilman smiley,

[50:14] >> all right. So, item

[50:17] number 32 was the resolution to allow

[50:20] the mayor's veto to stand and create an

[50:23] impasse committee to put together an

[50:25] impasse process and credit the impasse

[50:28] ordinance. I'm number 33 on the revised

[50:31] agenda, which some of the council

[50:34] members do not have is the setting of

[50:37] the date of the impasse hearing for asme

[50:40] in june 8, but it's a june 8 hearing of

[50:43] ase impasse, so that's what's item

[50:45] number 30 on the revised bill. I know

[50:48] those of us on this side, we don't have

[50:51] it. It all right, council members.

[50:54] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[50:55] let's get a motion.

[50:56] >> move it.

[50:57] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[50:58] it's been moved by councilman smiley,

[51:00] second by councilman dr. Warren. Madam

[51:03] comptroller, if you will, please prepare

[51:05] the screen.

[51:07] >> so, again, item number 33

[51:12] is setting the hearing date for impasse

[51:17] for ask me labor year is june

[51:22] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: 8,

[51:28] so item number 33 is a resolution to

[51:31] schedule an impasse presentation before

[51:34] the full council, all all council

[51:37] districts sponsored by the memphis city

[51:41] council, and there's a request for same

[51:44] night minutes. Thank you very much. We

[51:47] will show that in the records.

[51:50] >> madam comptroller: and here are the

[51:53] votes for item number 33 canale abstain

[51:57] easter-thomas yes ford yes green yes

[52:00] logan yes smiley yes spinoza yes walker

[52:03] yes warren yes chairwoman

[52:07] swearengen-washington yes

[52:10] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[52:13] that item passes that pulls us to the

[52:15] regular agenda items. Item number 28

[52:18] madam comptroller, if you will, please

[52:20] call item number 28

[52:23] >> madam comptroller: that's a joint

[52:25] ordinance about the public private

[52:27] partnership

[52:29] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[52:31] withdrawn. Councilwoman easter-thomas,

[52:32] you're recognized.

[52:34] >> thank you, chair. I'd

[52:36] like to withdraw item number 28

[52:38] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[52:40] madam comptroller, if you will, please

[52:42] show that item being withdrawn. Thank

[52:44] you, madam chair. Madam comptroller, if

[52:46] you will, please call item number 29

[52:48] >> madam comptroller: item number 29 is

[52:51] a resolution to amend the fiscal year

[52:53] 2026 general fund operating budget in

[52:56] the amount of $575,000 for the memphis

[52:59] parks division. All council districts,

[53:02] this resolution is sponsored by the

[53:04] administration.

[53:07] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[53:12] councilman white, you are recognized at

[53:17] this time, we we can wait. She's worth

[53:21] the wait.

[53:26] >> the committee met and

[53:28] recommended approval, and I shall move.

[53:31] we appreciate you moving. It

[53:33] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: has

[53:37] been moved by councilwoman white, second

[53:42] by councilman smiley. Madam comptroller,

[53:47] please prepare the screen for the vote.

[53:51] >> madam comptroller: canali, yes.

[53:53] cooper-sutton, yes. Easter-thomas, yes.

[53:56] ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes.

[53:59] smiley, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes.

[54:01] warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman

[54:03] swearing to washington, yes.

[54:06] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[54:11] that item passes. Madam comptroller, if

[54:16] you will, please call item number 30.

[54:21] >> madam comptroller: item number 30,

[54:24] which should appear momentarily, is a

[54:27] resolution fiscal year 20 26/3 quarter

[54:30] budget neutral adjustment. All council

[54:33] districts, this resolution is sponsored

[54:36] by the administration. All right, we do

[54:39] have some comment cards for this item.

[54:42] miss dorothy connor,

[54:45] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[54:51] after miss connor, we have miss, we have

[54:57] marley, I madam comptroller, please put

[55:04] two minutes on the screen.

[55:10] >> I'm dorothy connor,

[55:12] >> my address.

[55:15] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: no,

[55:16] just your name.

[55:17] >> dorothy conner.

[55:18] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[55:19] yes, ma'am. Go ahead.

[55:20] >> as a volunteer of the

[55:23] better transit, better for better

[55:26] memphis, we asked the vote to increase

[55:29] the city of memphis investments and

[55:32] public transit from 32 to 52 million for

[55:35] the next fiscal year. Public transit is

[55:39] a public good that spurs economic

[55:42] development. The american public transit

[55:45] association estimates that every dollar

[55:48] spent on public transit produces $5 in

[55:51] growth in the gross domestic product.

[55:54] the extra 20 million invested in public

[55:57] transit can expect to see 80 million in

[56:00] the gdp growth. Downtown businesses have

[56:03] reported to members of the better

[56:06] transit for better memphis that they are

[56:09] financially hurting, and looking at

[56:13] closure due to the current state of

[56:16] public transit in the downtown area.

[56:19] memphis lags far behind peer cities in

[56:22] our cap and per capita investment in

[56:25] public transportation. We would have to

[56:28] double our budget to catch up with

[56:31] birmingham, alabama, we would have to

[56:34] quadruple our budget to catch up with

[56:37] new orleans, louisiana. This request for

[56:40] an extra 20 million, that is 52 million

[56:43] total for next year, is an investment

[56:47] that will start getting us back to these

[56:50] economic development benefits. Thank you

[56:53] for supporting community development.

[56:56] let's go, let's get on the bus with

[56:59] public transit.

[57:02] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[57:04] thank you so much for coming down and

[57:06] sharing your thoughts, marley.

[57:08] >> thank you, madam

[57:11] chairwoman, and city council. My name is

[57:13] marley unigas, and I'm here as a

[57:16] volunteer with better transit for a

[57:18] better memphis to ask you to vote to

[57:21] increase the city of memphis' investment

[57:24] in public transit from 32 to 52 million

[57:26] for the next fiscal year. Public transit

[57:29] is essential infrastructure, it connects

[57:31] 1000s of residents to jobs, health care,

[57:34] education, and daily necessities.

[57:37] investment in mata reduces poverty and

[57:39] ensures greater connection with the

[57:42] city, including for seniors, people with

[57:45] disabilities, and other marginalized

[57:47] communities. Last year, more than 40,000

[57:50] riders relied on mata each and every

[57:52] day. That ridership has increased to

[57:55] 50,000 with the introduction of fare

[57:58] free travel. Memphis city council voted

[58:00] to make this public service available to

[58:03] more of the public, but now we need to

[58:05] increase funding realistically to

[58:08] support this growth. Currently, more

[58:11] than 25,000 memphians lack access to a

[58:13] car, even for those who have a car, the

[58:16] economic impact of car ownership is

[58:19] substantial. According to scientific

[58:21] american, americans spend on average 13%

[58:24] of their income on transit. For those

[58:26] with lower incomes, this can reach 30%

[58:29] of their income for transportation. The

[58:32] rising cost of gasoline compounds this

[58:34] affordability crisis. Thank you for

[58:37] supporting community connections. Let's

[58:39] get on the bus with public transit.

[58:42] >> thank you so much, susan

[58:44] neely. Thank you, madam chairwoman, and

[58:47] members of the council. My name is susan

[58:49] neely barnes, and I'm also here as a

[58:51] volunteer with the better transit for a

[58:54] better memphis to ask you to increase

[58:56] the city of memphis investment in public

[58:58] transit from 32 to 52 million for next

[59:01] fiscal year.

[59:03] >> the

[59:04] >> memphis transit vision

[59:07] forecast that increasing funding for

[59:10] mata would result in 39% more jobs

[59:12] within a one hour commute by bus

[59:15] investment in public transit is critical

[59:18] to ensuring a more reliable workforce,

[59:21] and would support job opportunities and

[59:24] stability for memphians. There are

[59:26] proposed changes to the federal budget

[59:29] that will create additional challenges

[59:32] for mata if those come to pass. House

[59:35] bill 8870 the build america act proposes

[59:38] to reduce funding for public

[59:40] transportation by 25% this would shift

[59:43] money to state block grants and reduce a

[59:46] key funding source. This would also mean

[59:49] that we're relying on the state to

[59:52] continue to fund memphis when other

[59:54] cities in the state have competing

[59:57] demands with a smaller budget. This

[1:00:00] makes the council's investment in public

[1:00:03] transit even more urgent. This change in

[1:00:06] policy, if it passes, will be a real

[1:00:08] threat to the funding of mata. In my

[1:00:11] last 30 seconds, I just want to mention

[1:00:14] that when my daughter was 817, 18, and

[1:00:17] had her first job, she worked at the

[1:00:20] einsteins that used to be on poplar

[1:00:22] corridor, and even right there in that

[1:00:25] very central location, many people who

[1:00:28] worked with her had trouble getting

[1:00:31] there because of unreliable transit.

[1:00:34] thank you for supporting community, our

[1:00:36] community vision. And let's get on the

[1:00:39] bus with public transit.

[1:00:42] >> thank you so much, mr.

[1:00:44] ron davis. Thank you. My name is ron

[1:00:46] davis. I am an organizer with the better

[1:00:48] tresor for better memphis coalition. One

[1:00:50] of the things I have today is a couple

[1:00:52] of postcards, because our leaders that

[1:00:54] you see behind us, who are just regular

[1:00:56] members of our community, have been

[1:00:58] working day and night trying to figure

[1:01:00] out what it is that we need to do in

[1:01:02] order to make how public transit system

[1:01:04] work for us. Memphis still faces a

[1:01:07] significant gap between the level of

[1:01:09] service residents need and the resources

[1:01:11] currently allocated to support it.

[1:01:13] currently, matter has about 56 busses

[1:01:15] running on a daily basis, that serves

[1:01:17] about 50,000 daily riders. Matter needs

[1:01:19] over 70 busses to operate effectively

[1:01:21] and sufficiently, and sufficient budget

[1:01:23] to maintain the fleet. Additional bus

[1:01:25] drivers and mechanics are also needed,

[1:01:27] but all of this can only happen if you

[1:01:29] have funding, which is why we are also

[1:01:31] demanding that the city of memphis

[1:01:33] invest $20 million into public transit,

[1:01:35] bringing it from 32 million to 52

[1:01:37] million. We have been also meeting on

[1:01:39] direction from the mayor with holmes,

[1:01:41] who is the current interim ceo of mata,

[1:01:43] and we've actually had some very

[1:01:45] productive conversations. These leaders

[1:01:47] that you see behind me, who again are

[1:01:49] not career politicians or career transit

[1:01:51] authority figures, have been trying to

[1:01:54] figure out of their own volition what it

[1:01:56] is that mata can do on their own to make

[1:01:58] services more reliable, and we are happy

[1:02:00] to report that through the time that

[1:02:02] holmes has been in his position, we have

[1:02:04] seen a marginal increase. Riders are

[1:02:06] saying they are seeing slowly that

[1:02:08] holmes is addressing certain issues,

[1:02:10] whether it be at hudson with security,

[1:02:12] or whether it be trying to get more

[1:02:14] security on busses, or whether it be

[1:02:16] trying to rearrange bus services, so

[1:02:18] they work more effectively. He even had

[1:02:20] a community meeting about two weeks ago,

[1:02:22] which is the first time that community

[1:02:24] riders have had a chance to actually

[1:02:26] voice their opinions or get any

[1:02:28] knowledge or information for transit in

[1:02:30] the last six months, since we don't have

[1:02:32] a board. However, cut a summer

[1:02:34] satisfaction remains low due to the

[1:02:36] inability of current systems to meet the

[1:02:38] published schedule, with riders some

[1:02:41] time waiting hours for a pickup date.

[1:02:43] even have a leader from out of town who

[1:02:45] wanted to ride the bus down here, but it

[1:02:47] will take him 50 minutes, and he didn't

[1:02:49] want to be late, so you got to call an

[1:02:51] uber. That's why we are proposing a 32

[1:02:53] million increase in 32 million to $50

[1:02:55] thank you so much. And we hope to be

[1:02:57] able to meet with you all soon. And I'm

[1:02:59] gonna hand you all some postcards people

[1:03:01] wrote to you all.

[1:03:03] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:03:05] thank you. That brings us to our same

[1:03:07] night-minute items. Council mccann

[1:03:10] alley, would you please read the same

[1:03:12] night-minute items into record?

[1:03:14] >> councilman canale: thank you, madam

[1:03:17] chair. Same recommended items are eight

[1:03:21] 910 1112 1831 3233 and 34 with that,

[1:03:25] madam chair, I move it to the floor.

[1:03:28] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:03:31] thank you so much. It's been moved by

[1:03:35] councilman canal, and second by

[1:03:38] councilman dr. Warren, madam

[1:03:41] comptroller, if you will, please prepare

[1:03:45] the screen for the vote.

[1:03:48] >> madam comptroller: thank you, council

[1:03:51] members, for your votes.

[1:03:55] >> thank

[1:03:59] >> madam comptroller: canale, yes.

[1:04:03] easter, thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Logan,

[1:04:07] yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White,

[1:04:11] yes. Please show council members spinoza

[1:04:15] as voting yes. Please show green, and we

[1:04:19] show smiling, I have set the names for

[1:04:24] the record. That item passes. Madam

[1:04:28] comptroller, would you please look at

[1:04:32] item 30 and make sure we voted on that

[1:04:36] item, I well, now, well, now, what a

[1:04:40] wonderful system.

[1:04:44] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: for

[1:04:47] the record, can we please just cast the

[1:04:49] vote on number 30? My system is not

[1:04:52] allowing me to call it back up. Item 30

[1:04:55] is a resolution, fiscal year 20 26/3

[1:04:57] quarter budget neutral adjustment all

[1:05:00] council districts. This resolution is

[1:05:03] sponsored by the administration. I'll

[1:05:06] entertain a motion and a second at this

[1:05:08] time.

[1:05:13] >> anybody

[1:05:14] >> madam comptroller: like someone

[1:05:15] saying something. White, so

[1:05:16] >> alliance healthcare representative:

[1:05:17] this

[1:05:18] >> came down with no

[1:05:21] recommendation. Okay,

[1:05:25] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: can

[1:05:27] I get a motion? It's been moved by

[1:05:28] councilwoman white, second by councilman

[1:05:30] dr. Warren. If you'll please prepare the

[1:05:31] screen,

[1:05:33] >> madam chair, you said

[1:05:35] could we have someone give a little bit

[1:05:38] further explanation of this. This is our

[1:05:41] third quarter budget neutral adjustments

[1:05:43] that we did earlier. Some

[1:05:45] administration,

[1:05:48] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:05:50] okay? Is there anyone from the

[1:05:52] administration that can offer clarity on

[1:05:54] item number 30?

[1:05:56] >> councilmember: I'll make a motion to

[1:05:59] hold the item,

[1:06:01] >> if I could, madam chair.

[1:06:02] >> all right. All right, I

[1:06:04] got an emotional to hold two weeks,

[1:06:06] madam chair.

[1:06:08] >> yeah, hold on for two

[1:06:09] weeks

[1:06:10] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington: for

[1:06:14] the next council meeting. Thank you.

[1:06:19] number 30. All right, can you prepare

[1:06:25] the screen that we're going to hold it

[1:06:30] without two weeks. All right, two weeks

[1:06:35] without objection. All right, that moves

[1:06:40] us to our general comment cards. We have

[1:06:45] three cards: cynthia bailey. After

[1:06:50] cynthia bailey, we'll have johnny

[1:06:56] mosley. After johnny mosley, sammy

[1:07:01] hunter.

[1:07:06] >> yes, cynthia bailey,

[1:07:09] transit advocate. I'm coming here today.

[1:07:12] I like to start off saying hey to

[1:07:15] everybody. I'm coming out here today on

[1:07:19] the behalf of the bus riders, and this

[1:07:22] is some of the things that the bus

[1:07:25] riders have brought to my attention at

[1:07:28] mata no road supervisor at the bus

[1:07:31] stations. When busses don't show up, if

[1:07:34] you don't have a supervisor there, then

[1:07:37] people are stranded, and you have no way

[1:07:41] of getting to your destination. Then

[1:07:44] also we wanted to request for the mayor

[1:07:47] to ride the bus to do a ride along.

[1:07:50] also, it was a request as well for a

[1:07:53] timeline on new busses. Secondly, each

[1:07:56] bus stop should need, I mean, excuse me,

[1:08:00] each bus stop needs shelter at each

[1:08:03] stop, improving customer service at the

[1:08:06] call center and the reception, because

[1:08:09] they are very rude, very disrespectful,

[1:08:12] and it's just not customer good customer

[1:08:15] service. Also, I have also some writers

[1:08:18] have told me lack of unqualified people

[1:08:22] that varies that work in position that

[1:08:25] matter, that's in those positions not

[1:08:28] qualified, so that's a red flag as well,

[1:08:31] but my most thing for me is I strongly

[1:08:34] disagree with the new adjustment

[1:08:37] changes. It is a hinder on everybody

[1:08:41] that I talk to, and I'm trying to see

[1:08:44] this part right here that really puzzled

[1:08:47] me. Is how was the adjustment changes

[1:08:50] without a board? You have to have a

[1:08:53] board in order to make changes to any

[1:08:56] kind of routes scheduling, because it's

[1:08:59] a proposal you cannot make a proposal

[1:09:03] without a full board. So I'm trying to

[1:09:06] see who at mato made those changes.

[1:09:09] thank you.

[1:09:12] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:09:14] thank you so much for sharing all those

[1:09:16] concerns. Our staff is going to take

[1:09:18] note and follow up with those. Mr.

[1:09:20] johnny mosley,

[1:09:29] >> thank you. I'm johnny

[1:09:32] mosley. I'm chairman of citizens with

[1:09:36] better service group that's been dealing

[1:09:39] with public transportation issues since

[1:09:43] 1993 just to pick it off, what miss

[1:09:46] bailey said, is that that is a concern

[1:09:49] about how can matter cut service cut

[1:09:53] frequencies and bus route without a coin

[1:09:56] from the board. I think it's a violation

[1:09:59] of the city charter, because the city

[1:10:03] charter gives that sole power to the

[1:10:06] malabar. They said that it was for to

[1:10:10] make matter better, to make the system

[1:10:13] reliable when it cuts become reliable

[1:10:16] service. When it cuts and frequency

[1:10:20] become reliable service, people are

[1:10:23] still waiting at the bus stop trying to

[1:10:26] get to the designation. Some can't get

[1:10:30] to the designation because service have

[1:10:33] been cut in their neighborhoods. Just

[1:10:37] give you an example. If we had not got

[1:10:40] involved, the whole box town area would

[1:10:43] have been cut. They said that they

[1:10:47] wanted to cut certain areas in the box

[1:10:50] town because of a train. We had to send

[1:10:53] mall, and I also sent a letter to

[1:10:57] council member ford, a route that would

[1:11:00] allow the metro dev your transit thor to

[1:11:04] get a round of train, whatever happened

[1:11:07] to the matter that occurred about the

[1:11:10] ridership, whatever happened to the

[1:11:14] matter that treat people with a sense of

[1:11:17] human dignity and respect, we need that

[1:11:20] matter back, and only way that matter is

[1:11:24] going to come back is this much, the

[1:11:27] city council get involved, as well as

[1:11:31] mayor young. Thank you very much.

[1:11:34] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:11:37] thank you for coming down, mr. Sammy

[1:11:41] hunter,

[1:11:44] >> you good evening,

[1:11:46] council. My name is sammy hunter. I live

[1:11:48] at 4211 park chester avenue. I co-chair

[1:11:50] the memphis bus riders union. I've been

[1:11:53] doing it here since 2012 I just want to

[1:11:55] speak on this on this topic, because bus

[1:11:57] riders, a lot of work, they go to work,

[1:11:59] they pay taxes, and they deserve

[1:12:01] reliable, sufficient transportation.

[1:12:03] they're not getting it on a daily basis.

[1:12:05] the next thing I want to say, they're

[1:12:07] standing out here two or three hours

[1:12:10] waiting on busses, and it's very

[1:12:12] frustrating to them, and it's

[1:12:14] frustrating for most of our bus riders

[1:12:16] are women. This plays into crime. They

[1:12:18] have to stand out there two or three

[1:12:20] hours waiting on the bus. They don't

[1:12:22] know if they're gonna get robbed or

[1:12:24] anything. This is something that I hope

[1:12:27] you all will look into and try to come

[1:12:29] in and try to give us better

[1:12:31] transportation, because I've been at

[1:12:33] this a long time. I have gotten money

[1:12:35] from you all from the when some of you,

[1:12:37] I went here. I got 7.5 million, me and

[1:12:39] miss cynthia bailey. We was coach her,

[1:12:42] so I've been just.. It's not nothing new

[1:12:44] to me. So I'm trying to get a better

[1:12:46] transportation system here for these bus

[1:12:48] routes. I care about them and

[1:12:50] everything, because I know what they go

[1:12:52] through, and I would like to see some of

[1:12:54] you council members come out and get on

[1:12:56] the bus and ride bus with me and talk to

[1:12:59] some of them, and if you don't believe

[1:13:01] what I'm saying, y'all know you tired

[1:13:03] hearing me come down and talk to you.

[1:13:05] just get on the bus, just ride, and

[1:13:07] they'll let you know how they feel about

[1:13:09] this transportation system. Memphis

[1:13:11] needs a better transportation system.

[1:13:13] memphis is being bigger than boston,

[1:13:16] massachusetts, and square mile. We

[1:13:18] deserve better transportation system in

[1:13:20] the city of memphis. Thank you, ma'am.

[1:13:22] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:13:28] thank you so much. Jessica miller,

[1:13:35] >> my name is jessica

[1:13:37] miller. I'm a community organizer with

[1:13:40] indivisible memphis. I'm reading this

[1:13:42] straight from mpds handbook dr 301

[1:13:45] excessive force, excessive force

[1:13:47] unnecessary is defined as the amount of

[1:13:50] force which is beyond the need and

[1:13:52] circumstances of the particular event,

[1:13:55] or which is not justified in the light

[1:13:57] of all circumstances, as is the case of

[1:14:00] deadly force to protect property, as

[1:14:02] contrasted with protecting life

[1:14:05] comptroller may be achieved through

[1:14:07] advice, warnings, and persuasion, or by

[1:14:10] the use of physical force. While the use

[1:14:12] of reasonable physical force may be

[1:14:15] necessary in situations which cannot be

[1:14:17] otherwise controlled, force may not be

[1:14:20] resorted to unless other reasonable

[1:14:22] alternatives have been exhausted or

[1:14:25] would clearly be ineffective under the

[1:14:27] particular circumstances. This past

[1:14:30] week, more footage was released from the

[1:14:32] no kings event, and it showed what many

[1:14:35] of us already knew and have talked about

[1:14:37] many times in front of you all: obvious

[1:14:40] excessive force that appears to directly

[1:14:42] contradict mpd own policies. At first,

[1:14:45] the public was told the internal

[1:14:47] investigation would be completed by

[1:14:50] june. Now, after media inquiries last

[1:14:52] week, mpd says that there is no timeline

[1:14:55] at all for when this investigation will

[1:14:57] be finished. Meanwhile, two people have

[1:15:00] been killed by law enforcement in the

[1:15:02] last two weeks. What are we doing?

[1:15:05] people in memphis are exhausted from the

[1:15:07] same cycle over and over again of

[1:15:10] endless ongoing investigations with no

[1:15:12] deadlines. Public discussions

[1:15:15] mysteriously moved from council agenda

[1:15:17] to behind closed doors, accountability

[1:15:20] delayed until outrage dies down, and

[1:15:22] officials refusing to admit that this

[1:15:25] city has a policing problem, not just a

[1:15:27] crime problem. And I want to remind this

[1:15:30] council of something else. Every single

[1:15:32] member of this body voted to retain cj

[1:15:35] davis as chief of police. You made that

[1:15:37] decision, so at what point do you either

[1:15:40] admit that that vote of confidence was a

[1:15:42] mistake, or finally hold her and these

[1:15:45] officers accountable.

[1:15:47] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:15:49] councilwoman easter-thomas, you are

[1:15:50] recognized.

[1:15:52] >> thank you, chair. For ms.

[1:15:55] bailey, mr. Mosley, and mr. Hunter, ms.

[1:15:59] bailey, johnny, miss bailey, mr. Mosley,

[1:16:02] and ron, if it's not too much to ask for

[1:16:06] what you three said, we get what y'all

[1:16:09] said. Thank you. If it's not too much

[1:16:12] for what you all three said, the issues

[1:16:16] that you talked about, everything

[1:16:19] outside of mary on riding, because we

[1:16:23] don't have anything to do with that. If

[1:16:26] we can get it, either mr. Moser, you can

[1:16:29] send us a bullet list, so that we can

[1:16:33] send that to mr. Holmes. He was in here,

[1:16:36] but, but he's not in here anymore. But

[1:16:40] well, he came in, but he left back out,

[1:16:43] but we can. I'd like to send it to him,

[1:16:46] so that we can at least get some, start

[1:16:50] get some answers for you, so that the

[1:16:53] council will know if there's any action

[1:16:56] we can or need to take. Here, come back,

[1:17:00] mr. Holmes. I just said, mr. Holmes,

[1:17:03] that's not mess. Okay, yeah, we can't

[1:17:07] see a period. What I just said to miss

[1:17:10] cynthia bailey, mr. Johnny hunter, I'm

[1:17:13] johnny mosley. I'm sorry, mr. Hunter, is

[1:17:17] that I was asking for a written just

[1:17:20] bullet list. It don't have to be too

[1:17:24] fancy, just put what you said. Hold on,

[1:17:27] miss mosley, so that we can get to mr.

[1:17:30] holmes, so that we can start as a

[1:17:34] council seeing how, if, how these things

[1:17:37] that they mentioned can be addressed. Is

[1:17:41] that okay, miss holland?

[1:17:44] >> okay.

[1:17:46] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:17:47] thank you so much.

[1:17:48] >> councilwoman cooper-sutton: just send

[1:17:50] the bullets of what you and miss cynthia

[1:17:52] said, so we can just send it on. Yes,

[1:17:54] sir. Thank you. Thank you. I know you

[1:17:57] will, councilwoman cooper-sutton. You

[1:18:00] are recognized. Thank you, chairwoman.

[1:18:02] to address miss bailey, ron, and mr.

[1:18:04] johnny, I am, and I have.. I'm taking

[1:18:07] tours now with real people, real time,

[1:18:10] without anyone messing with the

[1:18:12] schedule, because I wanted to see for

[1:18:14] myself, and I've written.. I've written

[1:18:17] on the one that goes in binghampton,

[1:18:20] that takes the people to the grocery

[1:18:22] store, and I've gone shopping with them

[1:18:24] in walmart. I've taken the one. Where

[1:18:27] should we go, deja? We've been.. I mean,

[1:18:30] I'm actually.. They did not substitute,

[1:18:32] they did not make it better. I wanted to

[1:18:34] be on the worst bus they had. They did

[1:18:37] not fix it where it was perfect for me.

[1:18:40] I got on the bus and I'm riding around

[1:18:42] the city, and I'm talking to the riders,

[1:18:44] and I'm listening to what they're

[1:18:47] saying. And I wanted you to know that

[1:18:50] you do have council members. Some of our

[1:18:52] council members work, and so once we got

[1:18:54] through with our ride, we have two more

[1:18:57] weeks to go on this ride. Days and I

[1:19:00] will get a full report and give it to

[1:19:02] our council members, but the rides that

[1:19:04] I'm taking real time, don't try to sugar

[1:19:07] coat it, make it right. I talked with

[1:19:10] mr. Holmes, he set it up, and the riders

[1:19:12] that I'm riding with, and I don't know

[1:19:14] if you all know, I don't think everybody

[1:19:17] knows that there is a program out there

[1:19:20] that you can ride personally. You don't

[1:19:22] even have to sit there, wait at the bus,

[1:19:24] and wait for the bus. You can call them,

[1:19:27] and they will come pick you up to make

[1:19:30] sure that you're not late for work. This

[1:19:32] is something that can routinely happen.

[1:19:34] I didn't even know that existed. Ready

[1:19:37] service, is that ready services, ready

[1:19:40] services. I went over there to the

[1:19:42] senior citizen place over there for

[1:19:44] danny thomas, and I think it's south

[1:19:47] side city over there. People are really,

[1:19:50] they don't even, they don't even know

[1:19:52] this exists. It's ready service, so it's

[1:19:54] working to make sure if it's in certain

[1:19:57] areas, if we can get it across the city,

[1:20:00] but if you don't use it, how do you know

[1:20:02] that it's going to work? I didn't know

[1:20:04] it exists, because I'm a bus rider, I

[1:20:07] live in new jersey, new jersey in east

[1:20:10] orange, so bus riding was my thing to

[1:20:12] ride a bus, and I was looking forward to

[1:20:14] that, but I just wanted to just clarify

[1:20:17] that, as a council member, I heard you

[1:20:20] out when you first drove up, and that

[1:20:22] was a while back, telling us to go back

[1:20:24] and take the ride, and that's what I'm

[1:20:25] doing right now, and I have two more

[1:20:28] weeks of riding the busses.

[1:20:30] >> thank you so

[1:20:31] >> much. We will give

[1:20:33] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:20:34] you, thank you for being involved, and

[1:20:36] thank you, aaron. We will now entertain

[1:20:38] a motion to adjourn.

[1:20:39] >> a motion to

[1:20:40] >> chairwoman swearengen-washington:

[1:20:41] adjourn. It is properly motioned and

[1:20:43] seconded. Thank you, staff council

[1:20:47] member.

City Council Full Meeting

Agenda

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