The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting on October 15, 2024, at 9:45 AM. The meeting opened with a prayer by Dr. Lee Ramsey, the Pledge of Allegiance, and adoption of minutes from the October 1st meeting. Major agenda items included resolutions recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, approval of an honorary street name for Terry Don Douglas Sr., a high-profile debate over a planned development amendment to expand a Class III landfill at 3086 Cussia Street (which failed unanimously), and several other planning and zoning items. The council also approved quarterly financial reporting from MATA, a moratorium on certain storm shelter requirements, appointments to various boards, and fiscal consent items. The meeting concluded with public comments.
Sergeant at Arms, please call our October fifteenth, two thousand twenty-four council meeting order. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Dr. Lee Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey is an ordained United Methodist minister and recently retired from twenty with from twenty-five years of teaching at the Memphis Theological Seminary as the Marlon Sheila Foster professor and pastoral care and preacher. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the council. Thank you for the invitation and citizens of Memphis. Let us pray. A city not defeated by its scarred past, but made stronger in the broken places. A city inspired by our rich cultural roots to nurture creativity and productivity in business, the arts, in education and medicine, in hospitality, religion and economics, in transportation and safety, in public health and recreation, in law and human resources, and yes, in leadership and politics, our very work of this hour. So grant us, O life-giving God, wisdom and prudence that we might govern well for the benefit of all. Bestow upon us patience with one another as we agree and disagree. Enable us to set aside the thorny things that block agreement and to reach for the greater things that clear the path of wholeness as we counsel together, hold before us your vision of the common good of Memphis and all its citizens. Anoint with us a generous portion of discernment, as we often face the hard, practical and detailed decisions between what is good and what is best. And so use us in this hour, as you have used us and our predecessors in the past to shape present policies and economic decisions that will lift the hopes and support the livelihoods of every neighborhood, every child, youth, and adult who we serve. This we ask in your holy name and in the name of all that is true and good, and together we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republicans for nation of God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to say that during the COVID pandemic, when my family members came down with COVID, I was sitting in Starbucks with no place to go, talking to my good friend who walks in the door, and next thing I know, I'm in his guest house for a week. So not only does he two weeks, two weeks, but uh thank you. Two weeks painful guest out sitting. But uh I just want to say thank you again for that. Reverend appreciate you. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. Hold up, photo, photo, photo, photo, photo. Madam Controller, you know what to do. Chairman, Council Members Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Spinoza, Swearing, Washington, Walker, Warren, White, Chairman Smiley, Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Absolutely. Um, I believe the vice chairman has read the minutes for our October 1st meeting. Vice Chairman Connelly, you're recognized. Yes, sir. Thank you. Hold up your mic. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have reviewed the minutes from the October 1st meeting. Find them to be in order and move for their adoption. Move by Cannelli. Seconded by Councilmember Warren. Madam Comtroller, could you please prepare the screen? Council members cash of oaths. Carlisle, yes. Cooper, Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes. Ford, yes, Green, yes.