Memphis City Council Meeting - April 11, 2023: Honors, Police Reform, and Driving Equality Act
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Memphis City Council Meeting - April 11, 2023: Honors, Police Reform, and Driving Equality Act
The Memphis City Council convened on April 11, 2023, at 9:30 AM for a regular meeting. The session opened with prayer by Reverend Clifford Ballinger, followed by approval of the March 21st meeting minutes. The council approved numerous resolutions honoring individuals and organizations, passed consent agendas, and conducted legislative business including the third reading of the Driving Equality Act, which was amended and renamed in honor of Tyree Nichols. Items related to police reform were tabled indefinitely, and public comment included calls to rescind bans on community members.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from March 21, 2023 (unanimous).
- Items 1-7: Resolutions honoring Jasmine Carson (LSU basketball champion), Dr. Derek Payne (dentist and community advocate), Blue and Green Day for organ donation, Timothy Jones (Black Autistic Foundation), City University School Girls Preparatory (charter renewal), Overton High School boys basketball team (state champions), and FedEx (50 years in Memphis). All passed by acclamation.
- Consent agenda (second reading of ordinances 5860-5863; first reading of 5864-5865; engineering resolutions 16-17; add-on 46) passed unanimously.
- Fiscal consent agenda (items 18-21, plus add-on 45) passed unanimously.
- MLGW fiscal consent agenda (items 22-33) passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Numerous speakers urged the council to pass the Driving Equality Act and to rename it in honor of Tyree Nichols. Speakers included Beth Hoffberg, Richard Massey, Josh Adams, Luci Char, Reverend Rosalind Nichols, Jamin Carter, Sarah First, Gillian Wenhold, Seymore Rasul, Zayania Cruz, Maria Oseja, and others. Many thanked Councilman Smiley for community meetings and criticized Chairman Jones for banning community members (Amber Sherman, Seymore Rasul, Gil Carter, Yolanda Cooper) from meetings. Some speakers rejected the proposed Wade ordinance and called for rescinding bans.
- Jimmy Franklin warned that the tag ordinance could lead to gang wars over illegal temporary tag sales.
- Barbara Sisak, George Boyington (Tennessee Young Democrats), and Theron Bond criticized the bans and urged democratic participation.
- Lisa Bennett, a redistricting committee member, expressed disappointment with council attendance and urged focus on city-wide interests over individual districts.
- Walter Brody offered a prayer.
Discussion Items
- Item 35 (Police Reform Ordinance): Ordinance to codify policies on traffic stops, use of force, body cameras, etc. Vice Chairman Smiley moved to table indefinitely; no objection, so tabled.
- Item 36 (Meeting Dates Amendment): After discussion, council voted to change June meetings from 6th and 20th to 13th and 27th (yes: 8, no: 1, abstain: 1).
- Item 38 (Driving Equality Act): Third reading of ordinance restricting pretextual traffic stops for five minor violations (expired registration under 60 days, misplaced temporary tags, loose plates, single light bulb out, loose bumpers). Sponsor Councilwoman Easter Thomas detailed allowed stops and emphasized the ordinance does not prevent stops for aggressive driving or counterfeit tags. Councilwoman Robinson requested an accountability/data reporting provision; Councilwoman Logan noted a companion data ordinance. Councilman Carlisle passed on Councilman Canale's suggestion for a repair assistance program. After public comment, Councilwoman Easter Thomas moved to rename the ordinance the "Tyree Nichols Driving Equality Act"—approved by acclamation.
- Items 39-43: Various resolutions on budgets, grant funds, and infrastructure transfers, all passed unanimously.
- Same Night Minutes: Motion for same night minutes on items 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 35: Tabled indefinitely (no objection).
- Item 36: June city council meetings moved to June 13 and 27, 2023 (8-1-1).
- Item 38: Driving Equality Act passed as a substitute ordinance, amended to include short title: "Tyree Nichols Driving Equality Act." Effective immediately.
- Item 47: Resolution to reallocate ARPA funds for Memphis Food Waste Project passed unanimously.
- Items 48-54: All passed unanimously, including funds for fire station projects, ground lease for Carpenter Art Garden, sale of city-owned parcel, and Raleigh Civic Center funding.
- Appointments: Board of Ethics, MATA, and Convention Center Commission reappointments approved unanimously.
- Bans: Chairman Jones did not rescind bans on community members, though several speakers requested it; no action taken.
Meeting Transcript
Mr. Sergeant at Arms, will you please call our April 11th, 2023 Council meeting to order? All right, please. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Reverend Clifford Ballinger, Senior Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, invited by Councilwoman Logan. The prayer will immediately be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Reverend Ballinger, please lead us in prayer. Let us pray with boldness. Mighty and merciful God, lover of justice and equity. You call us to support the weak, to help those who suffer, and to honor all people. By the power of the Holy Spirit, make us advocate of your justice today. Justice on this day, for justice delayed, is too all you denied. We cry out for justice, justice for the death of Pyrene Nichols, justice for victims of sexual abuse, justice for victims of domestic violence. We pray for protection to the for the vulnerable, protection for the abused, courage to the fearful, strength to parents and caregivers, urge the privilege of their sense of superiority, and help us build communities of equity and diversity. We pray for our city council and pray for all who serve the local city government. Give them a voice that seeks a common good for our community. We pray for meaningful police reforms in our city. We pray that the people will be heard this day. We pray for courage to address real problems with real solutions. We pray that we never have to vary the innocent victim of police violence ever again at our city and we pray for fair wages, public education, accessible health care, and compassionate elder care. Pray for juvenile justice reform, living wages for our workers, and family leave in times of crisis. Pray for wisdom, discernment. We pray for action. We pray in particular for our home, our community here in Memphis, Tennessee. We give thanks for clean water, a deep aquifer, and a mighty river. Help us to be good stewards of these good gifts of creation. We pray for Memphis that Memphis may be a city of safety, a city of peace, a city where all will welcome, a safe place where all can live out their diversity without fear. Pray all these things, and the one who created it all, and thought that we would have a good community love one another, love our God the Creator. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. And I'd just like to um come on up, please. Just like to thank um Reverend Ballinger for his willingness to be involved in the community always. He's never um closes doors on the community. He's always been from voting booth to community meetings, always been active in the community, and we um thank God for uh public servant uh such as himself being available to uh the community. And I'd just like to read this for your hearing by the city council greetings. Be it thereby known that Reverend Clifford A. Ballinger is recognition of a life of exemplary qualities, outstanding service to the city, meritorious involvement in humanitarian affairs and demonstrated concern for governmental process, has been appointed chaplain of the day of the Memphis City Council and is hereby entitled to all of the honors, rights, privileges, and prerogatives appertaining to the office and to the display of this certificate given under this CEO this 11th day of April 2023. Martavis Jones, Chairman, presented by Ronda Logan, member of City Council, and again, we so appreciate you. And have a gift for you. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Councilmembers Canale, Carlisle, call that Easter Thomas, Ford, Johnson, Logan, Morgan, Robinson, Vice Chairman Smiley, Swearman Washington, Frederick, Warren, Chairman Jones. Here. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you. I believe Vice Chair Smiley has read the minutes from our March 21st meeting. Indeed. I have reviewed.
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