Memphis City Council Regular Meeting – December 19, 2023

The Memphis City Council held its final meeting of 2023 on December 19, recognizing outgoing members and addressing several contentious items including street closures, the Brooks Museum management agreement, and the transfer of Liberty Bowl Stadium to the University of Memphis. The meeting included public testimony, committee reports, and votes on multiple resolutions and ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of December 5, 2023 meeting minutes (passed unanimously).
• Resolutions honoring Dr. Sammy Holloway (honorary street name), Wanda Taylor (Ladies in Need Can Survive), Bobby Austin (MUS coach), and outgoing council members Cheyenne Johnson, Patrice Robinson, Frank Colvet, Worth Morgan, and Chairman Martavius Jones (all approved by acclamation).
• Consent agenda items 14–18 (engineering plans and bonds) approved.
• MLGW fiscal consent agenda items 19–26 approved after public comments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joe Kent urged reconsideration of MLGW rate increase votes, alleging illegalities and lack of public notice.
• Glenda Hicks asked council to weigh citizen financial burdens when approving MLGW contracts.
• Pamela Moses complained about a false gas leak charge and threatened federal action if council continued funding MLGW.
• Richard Massey opposed the mayor’s salary increase, advocating for wage increases from the bottom up.
• Fred Jones (Southern Heritage Classic) and Steve Earhart (AutoZone Liberty Bowl) expressed concerns that the Liberty Bowl transfer documents were received too late and could harm their events; they requested time to negotiate.
• On Chickasaw Gardens street closures (Items 9 & 10), proponents (Cindy Reeves, Sue Clark, Jim Raines, Jarrett Wilder) cited 92% neighborhood support and pedestrian safety. Opponents (Lou Wardlaw, Julie Green, Michael Hoots, William Maroon, Lynn Joyner) argued the gates were exclusionary, would block public park access, and set a bad precedent.
• Virginia McLean and Stacy Greenway (Friends for Our Riverfront) asked to delay the Brooks Museum management agreement due to ongoing litigation and lack of public contract details.

Discussion Items

• Chickasaw Gardens Right-of-Way Vacation (Items 9 & 10): Staff presented the request to close two street segments to vehicles but allow pedestrians and bikes. Council debated safety, inclusivity, and data. A motion to hold until January 9, 2024 passed 6–5 (Ford, Logan, Smiley, Swearingin Washington, Warren, Jones in favor; Carlisle, Colvet, Johnson, Morgan, Robinson against).
• Plan Development – Self-Storage Facility (Item 11): Approved 8–1 (Warren opposed).
• Brooks Museum Management Agreement (Item 43): After removing same‑night minutes, the council approved the agreement with Vice Chairman Smiley abstaining. Public comments noted litigation over land ownership.
• Liberty Bowl Stadium Transfer (Item 38): The council voted 8–2 (Jones and Swearingin Washington opposed; Logan abstained) to approve the transfer to the University of Memphis without same‑night minutes, giving parties until January 9 to finalize terms. The LOI includes a three‑year firm term and five one‑year options for current events. Council members stressed that material changes must return for approval.
• Mayor and Council Salary Ordinance (Items 28 & 29): Ordinance 5892 (mayor’s salary increase) passed. Ordinance 5893 (referendum to allow council to set salaries independently of county commission) passed as a ballot item.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes and consent calendar.
• Held Chickasaw Gardens street closures to January 9, 2024.
• Approved self‑storage plan development (8‑1).
• Approved Brooks Museum management agreement (with one abstention).
• Approved Liberty Bowl stadium transfer to University of Memphis (8‑2, one abstention); parties to finalize agreements by January 9.
• Passed mayor salary increase and salary referendum.
• All remaining add‑on items (40–44) and regular agenda items approved.
• Meeting adjourned after closing remarks and prayer.