Memphis City Council Regular Meeting – September 12, 2023

The Memphis City Council convened its regular meeting on September 12, 2023, at 9:45 AM. The meeting included recognition of a councilmember's nomination to the TVA board, introduction of new staff, and unanimous or near-unanimous approval of all agenda items. Public comments raised concerns about a street project, MLGW transparency, and a suggestion for a spiritual consultant.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the August 22, 2023, meeting minutes (unanimous).
• Item 1: Resolution approving honorary street name change on Hillbrook Road for Reverend Dr. T. L. Taylor (passed unanimously, same-night minutes requested).
• Item 3: Special use permit for a 12-child group daycare at 4757 South Third Street (passed unanimously after applicant presentation; councilman Canale later noted a caption error corrected to reflect child care).
• Consent agenda (items 5–7): Includes setting a public hearing date for McLean Boulevard height variance (SE 23-01), approving engineering plans for Brooks Museum, and approving final plat for Homes Road truck facility. All passed unanimously.
• Fiscal consent agenda (items 8–10): FY24 grant allocations, $4M HUD grant for Mississippi River floating dock, and $1,417,600 state grant for police training. Passed unanimously (Councilmember Easter Thomas abstained on item 8).
• Add-on items (20–26): $250,000 for Pinch District infrastructure, $1.35M for speed humps, $1.9M and $300,000 for park improvements, $2M for fire station renovations, $322,437 for fire station canopy/patio, and $150,000 for Greater Memphis Chamber/Sound Diplomacy partnership. All passed unanimously.
• Item 11: Appointments of Stacey Clinton to Memphis Civil Service Commission and Tanja Mitchell to Memphis Housing Authority (passed unanimously).
• Items 14–19: Traffic signal equipment ($590,000), safety improvements ($250,000), firefighter gear grants ($635,327.27 and $171,761.42), personal protective equipment ($1,274,000), and a zoning text amendment on street renaming process. All passed unanimously.
• Same-night minutes motion for items 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 20–26 (passed unanimously).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matthew Houston (3330 Lampier, owns vacant lot at 3327 Henry) expressed opposition to a project on National Street in District 5, claiming it would block intersections and restrict left turns from Lampier. He stated that the Heights CDC did not engage with residents and that requests for speed bumps were ignored. He characterized the project as possibly segregative.
• Joe Kent (511 Flamingo) criticized MLGW for lack of transparency regarding a $16 million paving approval from a prior council meeting. He questioned MLGW’s move into paving, referenced the cobblestone landing contract, and urged the council to order a full report on all riverfront projects and spending. He also defended the council’s $1,800 expense at a restaurant as acceptable.
• Walter Brody (4256 Ed Better Cole) suggested hiring a spiritual consultant to address crime, calling Memphis the “most dangerous city in America.” He led the council in prayer.

Discussion Items

• Item 12 (Ordinance 5881, third reading): Ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Article 2 of the city code regarding facilities and capital assets for council operations. Passed 11–1 (Councilman Warren voted no). No discussion recorded beyond motion.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions and ordinances were approved with the exception of Councilman Warren’s no vote on Item 12.
• Correction: Councilman Canale noted that the caption for Item 3 incorrectly stated “vehicle repair” instead of “child care”; staff directed to correct the minutes.
• Public hearing for McLean Boulevard height variance set for September 26, 2023.
• A full report on riverfront projects was requested by speaker Joe Kent; no council action taken on the request.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned after public comments and a prayer.