Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - March 5, 2024
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Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - March 5, 2024
The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting on March 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM. The meeting opened with a prayer by Chaplain Robert Say (Teamsters Local 667), roll call, and a special recognition of women council members in honor of Women's History Month. The council welcomed incoming Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Fagans and approved several resolutions recognizing community members. Items 4, 6, and 8 were held until March 19, 2024; items 11 and 17 were held until April 9, 2024.
Consent Calendar
- Item 9: Notation from the Land Use Control Board regarding alley closure (SAC 23-08) with a public hearing date set for April 9, 2024.
- Item 10: Resolution accepting public improvements for Madison and Diana mixed-use (Contract 5446) and releasing bond, with request for same-night minutes.
- Item 26: Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances regarding contracts and salaries of Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) to decrease limits on contracts and salaries requiring council approval (first reading).
Motion by Councilmember Carlisle, second by Councilmember Green. The consent calendar passed unanimously.
Recognitions & Presentations
- Recognition of Lisa Waddell (Item 1): Resolution honoring Lisa Waddell for her 40-year career as an educator at Bruce Elementary School. Councilmember Swearingen Washington presented the resolution. Approved by acclamation.
- Recognition of Savoy Beard (Item 2): Resolution honoring Savoy Beard for his musical accomplishments, including being the first African American to pass the audition for the United States Army Band and performing for five presidents. Approved by acclamation.
- Honorary Street Name for Judge Ernestine Hunt Dorse (Item 3): Resolution approving an honorary street name designation on Dallas Street (between Carnes Avenue and Park Avenue) as "Judge Ernestine Hunt Dorse Street." Judge Dorse was the first African American female city court judge elected in Memphis. The resolution was co-sponsored by the full council. Approved by acclamation.
- Welcome to Superintendent Dr. Marie Fagans: Council members welcomed Dr. Fagans, who begins officially on April 1, 2024. Multiple council members expressed support and commitment to partnering with her for the success of Memphis students.
Discussion Items
- Item 5: Special use permit at 3925 Chelsea Avenue. The PNZ committee recommended approval. No comment cards or speakers. Motion by Councilmember Canale, seconded by Councilmember Ford. The item passed unanimously with request for same-night minutes.
- Item 7: Special use permit at 2426 Lamar Avenue (SUP 24-01, held from February 20). The committee recommended approval. Motion by Councilmember Carlisle, seconded by Councilmember Green. The item passed unanimously.
- Item 19: Resolution authorizing the City to accept $1,000 and transfer ownership of a parcel at 32 West Devont Street to the Blight Authority (Memphis Metropolitan Land Bank Authority). Sponsored by the administration. Committee recommended approval. Motion by Councilmember Swearingen Washington, seconded by Councilmember Logan. The item passed by roll call (all members present voted yes).
Fiscal Consent (MLGW Items)
Items 12-16 were approved as a block under the MLGW fiscal consent agenda (no separate discussion).
- Item 12: Change order number one to contract for water well production drilling (National Water Services LLC) – increase of $4,640,640.
- Item 13: Change order number two to contract for electric meter testing application (Radian Research Inc.) – increase of $22,743.
- Item 14: Change order number one to contract for distribution engineering analysis software (CYME International TND) – increase of $215,303.98.
- Item 15: Change order number two to contract for janitorial services (Mason's Professional Cleaning Services LLC) – renewal increase of $1,150,393.04.
- Item 16: Change order number two to contract for janitorial services (Mason's Professional Cleaning Services LLC) – renewal increase of $271,318.50.
Motion by Councilmember Spinoza, seconded by Councilmember Warren. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Several resolutions were approved by acclamation: recognitions of Lisa Waddell, Savoy Beard, and the honorary street naming for Judge Ernestine Hunt Dorse.
- Special use permits at 3925 Chelsea Avenue and 2426 Lamar Avenue were approved.
- The consent calendar and MLGW fiscal consent items passed unanimously.
- Item 19 (blight authority transfer) passed with all council members voting yes.
- The meeting experienced a voting screen malfunction during item 19 but proceeded with a verbal roll call.
- Items 4, 6, 8 were held to March 19, 2024; items 11 and 17 held to April 9, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Sergeant Owens, please call our Marsville 2024 Council Meeting Order. Oh, yes, sir, some kind of city. Let me see if I call the work of two days, Mr. John. All right, please. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Mr. Robert Say from Teams Local 667, invited by Councilwoman Walker. Mr. Say, um, and if it is not appropriate, he looks amazing. He's 92 years old. Could you please come lead us in prayer? Mr. Chairman and Councils, thank you for the invitation to be here today. And um before I begin the prayer, I have a couple of verses that I feel that is necessary for me to read. So let's look to God's word. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, the powers that be our ordained of God. Blessings to God's word. Thank you. Let's pray. Holy Father, we come today thanking you for the great God you are, our Lord and Master and Creator. We thank you, Holy Father, for those who submit to your authority, and we thank you for those who are dedicated to serve in different categories of government. Many years ago, when you first created heaven and earth, and you began to populate the earth, you saw fit to have order. And now, Holy Father, after all these years, we have many different segments of uh authority, and this council here for this great city is one of them. And holy father, they work diligently to try to make this city a better place for everybody. Holy Father, we have so many problems that need solving. And uh they've been working for such a long time to do that. And that's very bad. And I pray, Holy Father, that you won't let us get at least quite that far. We pray, Holy Father, that you know the answers to all the problems, but we search for them, and we asked Holy Father that you would put upon the hearts of these men and women here that are searching and trying so diligently to solve these problems. So I asked Holy Father that you would guide and direct them in all the work they do. There's 13 seats here, 13 people serving. But let those 13 become one together to solve these problems. Holy Father, thank you for your love. Thank you for your precious son, Jesus Christ, for the Savior and Redeemer. You loved us so much that you were willing to give your son that we might come to you and have eternal life. So, Father, one of your first commandments was to love one another. And if we had that love among all of us, we wouldn't be facing so many of the problems we're facing today. But that is not the case yet. But I pray, Father, it will come. If we would have a citywide revival, I believe, holy God, that would help us a lot. But you are our father. And we ask for your divine guidance, and that you would use us to your good and for your sake. And again, holy father, if there's anyone here in this audience today that has a health problem or any other kind of situation that needs attention, that you would look upon them with that care. Again, God, our Father, we thank you for your great love. That you would uh continue today with this body of uh of the council and be with them through the work that they have before them, that they would find ways to work together to find the solutions to the problems. We love our city, but most of all, we love you, holy father, and so we asked your continued blessings, and we asked all this in your holy and divine power, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen. Thank you. To the flag of the United States of America, and to the Councilwoman Walker, you are recognized. Oh, okay. Thank you so much for coming out today.
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