Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - January 10, 2023

The Memphis City Council convened its regular meeting on January 10, 2023, at 9:45 AM. The meeting included the adoption of prior minutes, recognition of community leaders, approval of zoning and land use items, consent agenda passages, fiscal allocations, appointments, and extensive public comment periods focused on towing industry concerns and a mental health crisis response program. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the December 20, 2022 meeting were approved electronically by a vote of 12-0 (Councilmembers present: Canale, Colvette, Easter Thomas, Ford, Johnson, Logan, Morgan, Robinson, Vice Chairman Smiley, Swearington Washington, Warren, Chairman Jones).
• Items 8 and 9 (first reading ordinances on animals/horse-drawn carriages and Unified Development Code amendments) were approved without discussion.
• Fiscal Consent Agenda (Items 10–21) Including: $400,000 grant acceptance for Orange Mound community land trust (Item 10); multiple MLGW contract changes and extensions (Items 11–21); all passed unanimously. Councilman Warren praised MLGW workers for storm response.
• Same Night Minutes (Items 10 and 34) approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mental Health Crisis Response (Item 24): Three speakers (C.K. Harley, MICA delegate; Reverend Judy Hoffman, St. John’s United Methodist Church; Marilyn Pavola, retired mental health professional) urged council to fund the Fire Department’s C.A.R.E. mobile crisis unit. They emphasized keeping mental health crises out of the criminal justice system and reducing police burden.
• Uptown TIF (Item 34): Joe Kent (511 Flamingo) requested deferral for technical investigation, citing unanswered public information requests and questioning the use of TIF proceeds for non-public housing. He also criticized past CRA transactions.
• Appointments (Item 22): Joe Kent spoke against Alan G. Crone’s appointment to Sports Authority, calling him a “civic failure.”
• Towing Industry (Public Comment): Nine speakers (including Evan Miller, Wanda Culp, Rod Cornelison, Mike Mace, Scott Westbrook, Nathaniel Fripp, Angela Inman) expressed that the primary issue is not dispatch but delays at the city impound lot (2–5 hour wait times for a $125 flat fee). They urged against a third-party dispatch system (Auto Return) and requested rate increases (currently outdated 2006 rates, lowest in state). Some noted unpaid bills from the city (e.g., $45,300 owed to one company). They asked for a separate intake line for tow truck operators and better lot capacity.
• Alcohol Sales: Raymond Neal proposed repealing Sunday alcohol sales, citing spiritual concerns. Walter Brody offered a closing prayer.

Discussion Items

• Item 24 (CARE Program Funding): A resolution to allocate $1.5 million from ARPA funds for mental health crisis teams was amended on the floor by Councilman Canale to draw from premium pay funds ($1.88M remaining) instead of MATA ARPA dollars. The amendment was approved, and the item passed unanimously.
• Item 30 (Affordable Housing Fund Transfer): A resolution to transfer $451,027.45 to the Memphis Housing Trust Fund was held for two weeks by Councilman Canale to consult with Director Cash.
• Item 34 (Uptown TIF Bond Resolution): Passed after public comment and roll call vote (12-0), authorizing the CRA to incur debt for the Uptown redevelopment plan amendment.
• Item 22 (Appointments): Sarah Burnett was appointed to the MATA Board (clerk corrected agenda error listing “Blight Authority”). Alan G. Crone was appointed to the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority; Judge Jane Chandler was appointed as administrative judge for Municipal Court.
• Towing Issue Discussion: Council members (Logan, Morgan, Johnson, Robinson, Chairman Jones) acknowledged the impound lot bottleneck. COO Shandale Ryan stated Chief Davis would review impound lot operations and return with a plan. Chairman Jones noted the administration is responsible for lot expansion, not council.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Items (8,9,10–21): Approved unanimously (12-0 on each roll call).
• Item 24 (CARE Program, as amended): Passed 12-0. $1.5 million reallocated from premium pay to fire division for crisis response.
• Item 23 (Fire Station 11 Renovations): Passed 12-0.
• Item 25 (City Hall Cladding): Passed 12-0.
• Item 26 (Coke Facility Adaptive Reuse): $8 million appropriated; passed 12-0.
• Items 27,28 (Property Sales): 1498 Ethlon Ave ($1,500) and 1557 Florida St ($600) approved 12-0.
• Item 29 (Land Transfer to School Board): 13.63 acres near Windbridge Middle School transferred; passed 12-0.
• Item 30: Held two weeks to January 24, 2023.
• Item 31 (Library Grant): $50,946 from United Way approved 12-0.
• Items 32,33 (Drainage Improvements): St. Elmo/Argonne ($169,404.40) and Mill Avenue ($686,735.61) approved 12-0.
• Item 34 (Uptown TIF): Passed 12-0.
• Appointments (Item 22): All three appointments approved 12-0, with Sarah Burnett correctly for MATA Board.
• Public Comment Follow-up: COO Ryan committed to presenting a plan to address impound lot issues by the first February council meeting. Tow operators were encouraged to compile a comprehensive list of concerns.