Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - October 1, 2024
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Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - October 1, 2024
The Memphis City Council met on October 1, 2024, at 10:15 AM (CT) to conduct its regular business. The meeting included approval of minutes, consent agenda items, MLGW fiscal items, a series of resolutions and ordinances, and public comments. Chairman JB Smiley presided.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from the September 24, 2024 meeting were approved unanimously.
- Items 2–5 were held to later dates: Items 2 and 5 to November 12, 2024; Items 3 and 4 to December 3, 2024.
- Consent agenda items (6–8) were approved unanimously. These included:
- Ordinance 5917 (second reading, sponsored by Councilwoman Swearington Washington).
- Zoning ordinance (case Z24-05, first reading).
- Resolution accepting termination of public improvements for sanitary sewer extension on Elvis Presley Boulevard and East Shelby Drive.
MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda
- Items 9–16 were approved unanimously. These included:
- Resolution authorizing up to $330,000 in matching funds for utility bill assistance (item 9).
- Five contract changes/renewals for ISIT services, fuel supply, and transportation uniforms (items 10–16).
Discussion Items
Most items were voted on without debate. Key items included:
- Item 17: Appointment of Erskine McCrate to the Police Advisory and Review Committee – approved unanimously.
- Item 18: Resolution for up to $16 million in economic development revenue bonds for the city (District 7, Super District 8) – approved unanimously.
- Item 19: Resolution approving use of $3 million (amended from $2.5 million) in compounded interest from Accelerate Memphis bonds for traffic engineering camera mesh project – approved unanimously after a caption amendment and revote.
- Item 20: Resolution appropriating up to $1.5 million in PILOT proceeds for affordable housing – approved unanimously.
- Item 21: Resolution accepting insurance proceeds for damages at 281 East Parkway North – approved unanimously.
- Items 22, 24, 23, 25: Resolutions regarding quarterly updates from city departments, fire station improvements, a five-year lease for parking spaces, and acceptance of federal historic preservation funds – all approved unanimously.
- Items 26, 27, 28: Resolutions related to the Sheraton Hotel purchase, including a $30 million bond, $1.5 million in tourism surcharge funds for earnest money, and transfer of the city's interest to the Memphis Center City Development Corporation – all approved unanimously (items 26–28 were sent from committee with no recommendation).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joan Hart (178 South Grove Park Road, Bethel Grove neighborhood) spoke against the proposed hotel purchase, citing 300 missing teachers, low downtown hotel occupancy (60%), and 200 unusable rooms at the Sheraton. She also criticized spending on Memphis Animal Services (5.8 million), the bus crisis, and the lack of programs for youth. She urged the council to redirect funds to education, animal welfare, and community centers.
- Kenyatta Harden (2763 Browning, 38114) spoke about his experience as a former employee of the Memphis Fire Department apparatus maintenance shop. He alleged racial discrimination and harassment from 2012 to 2017, leading to his termination in July 2017 without explanation. He noted that a third-party study documented the hostile work environment. He requested the council investigate his case.
Key Outcomes
- All consent and regular agenda items were approved unanimously, with no recorded dissenting votes.
- The council amended item 19 from $2.5 million to $3 million and revoted.
- Same-night minutes were approved for items 8, 9, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28.
- The meeting was adjourned following public comments.
Note: Agenda and minutes were not available for cross-reference; all information is derived from the meeting transcript.
Meeting Transcript
Um stay on the Sergeant Arms, please call our August first October 1st, 2024 Council meeting order. All right. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Mr. Kelsey Johnson, member of the Presbyterian of the Mid-South, past president of the Downtown Clergy Association. Please lead us in prayer. Let's pray together. Gracious God, we come to you this afternoon, this evening with a spirit of thanksgiving and our hearts thankful for all that you do, all that you've done, and all that your word promises that you will do. You have quit you've equipped us to see victory in this city. You've equipped us to improve those places that are hurt right now. Lord, we just pray right now that you bless this body, that you give them the strength to continue to lead God and direct this city along the path that you have for us. Well, God, we are thankful for every win, and we thank you for the things that we've learned and our losses. We're thankful for the victories and the defeats. We are thankful for the storms that we've endured. We're especially thankful for the storms you allowed to pass us over. And Lord, we just pray right now that as we sit together and reason together this evening, that we can see each other as teammates and not adversaries, with one goal with the improv for the improvement of this city and the people who live here. Continue to bless us, keep us, and speak to us in that still small voice. In Jesus' name we say together, thank God. Together we say amen. Amen. Dr. Warren, you recognize to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, where we just stand for a nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you for their prayer. Um Councilman Moore. You recognize another time. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's my pleasure to read this announcement from the city council for my friend Reverend Kelsey Johnson. Be it hereby known that Reverend Kelsey Johnson, in recognition of a life of exemplary qualities, outstanding service to the city, meritorious involvement in humanitarian affairs, and demonstrated concern for governmental process, has hereby been appointed chaplain of the day of the Memphis City Council, is hereby entitled to all the honors, rights, privileges, and prerogatives appertaining to that office and to the display of this certificate given this day under the seal. Uh uh JB Smiley Chairman and presented by Jeff Warren, Councilmember. Thank you, Red. All right. Thank you. Thank you so much. That's yours. Madam Controller, you know what to do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Councilmember Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton. Easter Thomas. Ford Senior. Green, Logan, Spinoza. Swearing in Washington. Present. Walker. Warren. White. Chairman Smiley. Present. Chairman Smiley, you have a quorum.
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