Memphis City Council Meeting - May 3, 2023: MLGW Consent, Animal Carriage Debate, and Public Safety Concerns
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Memphis City Council Meeting - May 3, 2023
The Memphis City Council convened on May 3, 2023, to address a full agenda including the MLGW fiscal consent calendar, several ordinances, appointments, and public comments. Key topics included amendments to animal carriage regulations, police funding, and community concerns about public safety and transparency. The council voted to hold two items for further discussion and made adjustments to the budget hearing schedule.
Consent Calendar
- MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda (Items 9-30): Approved unanimously. Items included contracts for electric smart meters, gas leak surveys, utility relocations, law firms (Glenkler Round PCC and Harris Shelton Hanover), insurance renewal, substation maintenance, and equipment purchases (dump trucks, switchgear, reclosure switches, trash removal). Councilwoman McGowan requested a report on legal spend for the prior fiscal year.
- Item 38: Resolution amending the FY23 federal budget for low-income housing energy assistance program. Approved unanimously.
- Item 31: Appointments to the Memphis Landmarks Commission (Michael Winter) and Public Art Oversight Committee (Kate Roberts). Approved unanimously.
- Item 36: Resolution to amend the FY24 Community Grant Program. Approved unanimously.
- Item 32: Ordinance to extend the sunset clause for the Equal Business Opportunity Program (third and final reading). Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Susie Hollenbach (community outreach): Objected to the animal carriage vote being moved from May 16, citing lack of public notice and transparency. She urged a delay to allow community input. Council agreed to hold the item.
- Donna Fields (individual, dog owner): Expressed support for animal services but opposed the impoundment language, arguing the city should provide adequate resources for stray enforcement rather than shifting responsibility to residents.
- Gilbert Barnes Carter III (resident): Asked for clarification on whether party buses are included in the horse-drawn carriage ordinance (council confirmed they are not). Also voiced opposition to police funding and the juvenile crime abatement program, and demanded the driving equality ordinance be amended to include cracked windshields.
- Mel Adkins (individual): Warned against privatizing police impound lots, stating it would increase auto theft due to lack of security.
- Vincent Spriggs, Amber Sherman, and others: Spoke in opposition to increased police funding, citing police brutality and advocating for community investment in education, mental health, and transportation.
- Luci Charm (individual): Praised council for listening to public but criticized police brutality and the lack of transparency in the recent beating of a high school senior.
- Beth Hopper (resident): Called for amendment to the driving equality ordinance to include cracked windshields, and opposed the proposed $42 million increase to the police budget.
- Charles Todd (resident): Requested replacement of the historical marker at the corner of Mississippi and Walter (People's Grocery site), which had been down for two years.
Discussion Items
- Item 34 (Renaming South 2nd Street): Councilman Ford proposed holding the item for two weeks to explore an honorary designation instead of a full street renaming. No objection, held.
- Item 35 (Animal Carriages Ordinance): Director Alexis Pugh presented an amendment to the first impoundment statute. After public comments, council decided to hold the item until May 16 to allow further community input and separation of horse carriage and stray issues. The vote was delayed over procedural concerns.
- Budget Hearing Adjustments: Vice Chair Smiley announced that the schedule would be tweaked to allow council members to request presentations from agencies not originally listed, such as 311 and community affairs.
Key Outcomes
- MLGW fiscal consent agenda and all uncontested consent items passed unanimously.
- Item 34 (street renaming) held for two weeks.
- Item 35 (animal carriages) held to May 16 for further review and community outreach.
- Council directed staff to investigate the beating of 18-year-old Cortavius Claxton by police, including obtaining body camera footage and the police report.
- Council acknowledged the delayed replacement of the People's Grocery historical marker and committed to follow up.
- Budget hearing schedule will be updated to include additional agency presentations.
Meeting Transcript
Our May 2nd, Memphis City Council meeting. Madam Comptroller, will you please call our MLG and W fiscal consent agenda? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will do so momentarily. Okay, thanks, Richard. I'm setting up the roll call again, Mr. Chairman. One moment, please. Okay. Uh if we can move the contract amount to $500,000. I just want to say that. Thank you for your patience, Mr. Chairman. Item number nine on our MLGW fiscal consent is a resolution awarding a purchase order to engineered ceiling components for electric smart meters in the amount of $1,052, $702.16. Item number 10 is a resolution approving change number one to contract number 12352. Smith driving to Smith System Incorporated to expand the contract scope and increase the current contract value in the funded amount of $202,000. Item number 11 is a resolution approving change number two to contract number 12188 gas leak survey and heath consultants in to ratify and renew the current contract in the funded amount of $1,200,000. Item number 12 is a resolution awarding contract number 12401. MLGW utility relocations for street improvement project water to Fisher and Arnold Incorporated in the funded amount not to exceed $100,000. Item number 13 is a resolution awarding contract number 1240. MLGW utility relocations for street improvement project gas to barge design solutions incorporated in the funded amount not to exceed $500. $500,000. Item number 14 is a resolution awarding contract number 12405 solicited under contract number 12346. MLGW utility relocations for street improvement project water to Gresham Smith in the funded amount not to exceed $500,000. Item number 15 is a resolution awarding contract number 12404. Item number 16, resolution awarding contract number 12399, MLGW utility relocations for street improvement project electric to Gresham Smith in the funded amount not to exceed $500,000. Item number 17 is a resolution approving change number two to contract number 12053 local dial tone services with ATT to renew the current contract in the funded amount of 172,735. Item number 19 is a resolution awarding contract number 12402 MLGW utility relocations for street improvement project gas to Allen Hoschel Incorporated in the funded amount not to exceed 500,000 dollars. Item number 20 is a resolution awarding contract number one two three four six MLGW utility relocations for street improvement project electric to Allen and Hoschel Incorporated in the funded amount not to exceed $500,000. Item number 21 is a resolution approving change number one to contract number 12286 MLGW utility payment centers with the first check incorporated to renew the current contract in the funded amount of 297,009 dollars. Item number 22 is a resolution approving change number four to contract number 12060 DOT drug and alcohol testing with mid-south drug testing incorporated to renew the current contract in the funded amount of 125,000. Item number 23 is a resolution approving the law firm of Glenkler Round PCC to be employed on an as-needed basis at the following hourly rates. Partners members 300 to 350, associate 225 to 300, and paralegal assistance 175 to 220. Item number 24 is a resolution approving the law firm of Harris, Shelton, Hanover, WASH, PLC to be employed on an as-needed basis at the following hourly rates. Partners members, 300 to 350, associates, 200 to 250. Item number 25 is a resolution approving change number four to contract number 12043, property and baller insurance with FM Global to renew the current contract in the funded amount based on approved rates not to exceed $2,905,827. Item number 26 is a resolution approving change number two to contract number 12238 Electric Substation Construction and Maintenance Services with RMS Energy Company LLC to renew the current contract in the funded amount equal to approved contract licensing limit by Tennessee State Board for Licensing Contractor not to exceed 10 million dollars for this renewal period. Number 27 is a resolution awarding a purchase order to global power components for a switch year in the amount of $1,999,712. Item number 28 is a resolution awarding a purchase order to automotive tool group for three-phase bypass reclosure switches in the amount of $1,388,400. Item number 29 is a resolution awarding a purchase order to Dobbs Peterbuilt for the purchase of six-yard and ten-yard dump trucks in the amount of four hundred sixty-three thousand six hundred and seventy four dollars. Mr. Chairman, our last item is number 30. Resolution awarding contract number 12409, trash removal services to BFI Waste Services LLC doing business as Republic Services of Memphis in the funded amount of $348,232 and 32 cents. Council members, that concludes our MLGW items. Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Uh our MLG and W fiscal consent agenda has been moved by Councilwalmer Robinson, seconded by Councilman Canale. I don't see any members in the queue, but uh I do have a question for President McGowat. Ms. McGowan, uh this is just a request that I would have based.
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