The Memphis City Council convened on February 7, 2023, for a regular meeting that began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of minutes from the January 24 meeting. Early items included honorary resolutions and a humanitarian award, but the bulk of the meeting was devoted to police reform following the death of Tyre Nichols. The council passed one resolution (item 25) and advanced seven ordinances (items 27–32) on first reading, all aimed at increasing accountability, transparency, and reducing pretextual policing. Extensive public comment was heard on these items.
Public comments were heard on multiple police reform items and during the general public comment period. Key themes:
Mr. Sergeant at Arms, will you please call our February 7th, 2023 meeting to order? Oh, yes, we have a couple of minutes. All right, I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Reverend Joshua Narcis, Spiritual Care Director of Church Health Center. He's invited by Councilman Morgan today. The prayer will be followed immediately by the Pledge of Allegiance. Reverend Narcisse, will you please lead us in prayer? Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Let us join our hearts in prayer. God, we give you thanks that when our eyes fluttered open this morning, you greeted us with the gift of new mercies. We give you thanks that you granted us grace enough to make it to this moment. And God, we do give you thanks that you are continuing to call women and men to govern with wisdom and understanding. God grant that this body, as they continue to discern and deliberate, grant them the wisdom that only you can give, and deepen the level of understanding of every comment that is shared, presentation that is made, every resolution that is offered, and ordinance that is read. God, we know that you alone are God of the conscience. And so we pray that you would grant this council and indeed all those who call Memphis home the wisdom and the courage we need to face this present hour. Save us, God, from the allure of weak resignation to the evils that so easily beset us. And God give us endurance, the endurance and the will to care for one another. Help us to make justice our common aim. God, bind us to the way of mercy, and remind us in each moment that love is our only hope for all of these things. And indeed, those concerns that reside in the quietness of our hearts where no human hand can touch. We ask that you would tend to them with the tenderness with which you tend to our very lives. It's in the name of the one who is closest to us that we do pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Reverend Joshua Narcis. Many of y'all, not unlike myself, may not know Reverend Joshua. He comes to us, a young man from Queens, New York, through Yale to Memphis, and he's been in our community now, coming up on his fourth year, and he serves as the spiritual guide director at the Church Health Center. If you're not familiar with the Church Health Center, they serve about 60,000 Memphians and patients on a yearly basis. We have the largest uh I believe primary caregiver in the Mid-South area and the largest nonprofit faith-based caregiver in the country. Uh they do incredible work in caring for the sick and the needy and where they are on a daily basis. And Reverend, I just want to say thank you on behalf of the Memphis City Council for the work you do there. Welcome to Memphis, if it hadn't been said enough already. And we look forward to the work that you're going to set to here, both with your hands and in the hearts and souls of our community. Thank you so much for opening us in prayer today. Uh acknowledged your Yale affiliation, but he didn't mention that you are bison. As am I. Well, welcome to Memphis, my friend. Madam Comptroller, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Canale. Carlisle. Call that Easter Thomas Ford. Johnson Logan. Morgan. Here. Rodinson. Vice Chairman Smiley.