Memphis City Council Regular Meeting – December 6, 2022

The Memphis City Council met on December 6, 2022, at 9:45 AM for a regular meeting. The agenda included honorary street name changes, a special use permit, zoning reclassification, a redevelopment trust fund for Klondike, MLGW budget approval, and multiple resolutions honoring community leaders. Several items were approved by acclamation, while one zoning item and the Klondike TIF were held for further community engagement.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes – Minutes from the November 15, 2022 meeting were approved by unanimous vote.
• Items 8–13 (Consent Agenda) – Ordinances, engineering plans, and bond releases approved en bloc (unanimous).
• Items 14–17 (Fiscal Consent Agenda) – Grant funds and in-kind donations accepted (unanimous).
• Items 18–21 (MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda) – Contracts and purchase orders for gas, electric, and water infrastructure approved (unanimous).
• Item 34 – Transfer of remaining CIP funds for various parks projects approved (unanimous).
• Item 22 – Appointments to Memphis & Shelby County Airport Authority (Jack Salmons) and Board of Adjustment (April Bostick, Kevin Bruce) approved (unanimous).
• Item 24 – Ordinance establishing 2023 council meeting dates approved as substituted (one abstention).
• Item 25 – Resolution appropriating $580,000 for traffic signal improvements approved (unanimous).
• Item 26 – Resolution approving acquisition of property at 0 Stonebrook Circle for $170,000 approved (unanimous).
• Item 27 – MLGW FY23 electric, gas, and water operations and capital budget approved (unanimous).
• Item 28 – Joint resolution supporting the More for Memphis initiative approved (unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 7 (Zoning Reclassification) – Lucille Alexander and Michelle Alexander spoke in support of the rezoning, emphasizing the need for a park for children. They expressed hope that the developer would donate land for a park, but acknowledged they had no formal plan or entity to manage it.
• Item 23 (Klondike TIF) – Four residents spoke:
  • Kathy Gray (733 Speed Street) – Opposed, stating residents were not adequately informed about the TIF; only 2 of 40 residents she contacted knew about it. She expressed concerns about legacy renters, lack of homeowner opportunities, and concentration of control among a few organizations.
  • Rashawn Austin (377 Angeles, President of The Works Inc.) – Supported, detailing $13 million in private investment, home repairs for legacy homeowners, and a community land trust model. Noted existing homeowner assistance programs.
  • Corey Davis (589 North Second Street, The Works) – Supported, describing community engagement efforts (open houses, door-to-door) and arguing the TIF would fund infrastructure without displacing residents.
  • Charles Aldridge (733 Speed Street) – Neutral, seeking more information about the TIF’s impact on the community.
• General Public Comment – Joe Kent (511 Flamingo) criticized workforce development efforts (Seeding Success) and called for a report on the $100 million riverfront investment; also questioned the transparency of the city budget and the Memphis Academy of Civic Engagement.

Discussion Items

• Item 1 – Presentation of Memphis City Beautiful Slam Dunk Litter League Winners – Councilwoman Logan recognized winners: 1st place Klondike Smoky City CDC (1,500 points, 704 bags of litter, 337 tires, 469 volunteer hours), 2nd place Style Stuffers (1,106 points, 480 bags, 74 tires, 77 hours), 3rd place Orange Mound Blight Patrol (984 points, 436 bags, 147 tires, 183 hours). Approved by acclamation.
• Item 2 – Honorary Street Name for Pastor Ricky Floyd – Resolution presented by Councilwoman Logan, citing Floyd’s community and youth work. Approved by acclamation.
• Item 36 (actually Item 2?) – Resolution Honoring Tawan Stout Mitchell – Speakers (former Councilman Harold Collins, Councilman Ford, others) praised her 20+ years of service. Approved by acclamation.
• Item 3 – Honorary Street Name for Jarvis R. Greer – Resolution sponsored by Councilman Colvet, honoring the retiring WMC sports director. Approved by acclamation.
• Item 4 – Honorary Street Name for Pastor C.L. Mathis – Resolution sponsored by Councilwoman Easter Thomas, honoring his 30+ years of ministry. Approved by acclamation.
• Item 5 – Resolution Honoring Doug McGowan – Approved by voice vote.
• Item 6 – Special Use Permit at 999 Channel Avenue – Approved unanimously after favorable committee recommendation.
• Item 7 – Zoning Reclassification (EMP to R3) at North Bingham – Public comments supported the development. Councilman Carlisle raised concerns about a promised park with no plan or funding entity, and about the Blight Authority’s property transfer process. He moved to hold the item for two weeks to allow stakeholders to develop a plan. Councilwoman Johnson noted the neighbors were not opposed to the apartments with or without the park. The hold was adopted without objection, with a commitment to bring the item back on December 20 with same-night minutes.
• Item 22 – (Appointments) already listed under Consent Calendar.
• Item 23 – Klondike Redevelopment Trust Fund (TIF) – Councilwoman Easter Thomas moved to hold the item for two weeks, citing insufficient community engagement about the TIF itself. Representatives from The Works argued they had held multiple meetings over four years. Councilman Carlisle suggested a community meeting facilitated by the council. Vice Chairman Smiley offered to organize a meeting with council resources. The hold was motioned, seconded, and approved without objection, with a commitment to hold a community meeting before December 20.
• Item 28 – More for Memphis Initiative – Approved after public comment critical of Seeding Success.

Key Outcomes

• All honorary street name changes (Items 2, 3, 4) and resolutions (Items 5, 36) approved by acclamation.
• Special use permit (Item 6) and consent agenda items approved unanimously.
• Zoning reclassification (Item 7) held to December 20, 2022, for additional planning on the community park component.
• Klondike Redevelopment Trust Fund (Item 23) held to December 20, 2022, with a community meeting to be scheduled before then to address resident concerns.
• MLGW FY23 budget (Item 27) and all fiscal consent items approved.
• Meeting dates for 2023 (Item 24) approved as substituted.
• Councilman Carlisle noted that the Blight Authority will be asked to present on its property disposition process at a future meeting.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at approximately [time not specified in transcript].