Memphis City Council Meeting – November 26, 2024

The Memphis City Council convened on November 26, 2024, for its regular meeting. The session opened with an invocation by Father Ruben Bilalan Rivera and remarks from Shelby County School Board leaders, then proceeded through the consent calendar, MLGW budget approval, and public comments. All items on the agenda passed; Councilwoman White recused from the consent vote because of item 5.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the November 12, 2024 meeting minutes.
• Approved by acclamation a resolution honoring Linda Bates on her retirement from Memphis Parks and a resolution designating a section of North Court Avenue as W.J. 'Mike' Cody Street.
• Approved planned development PD 24-11 at 1145 East Brooks Road and special use permit SUP 24-36 at 888 North Perkins Road.
• Approved consent items 5–11, including first reading of the economic-mobility fiscal-agent ordinance (ordinance 5922), second readings of ordinances 5920 and 5921, a street name change to Stereo Alley, zoning changes, and a bond release. Councilwoman White recused from the entire consent vote over item 5; a council member disclosed a possible conflict on item 11 but said it had no impact on the vote.
• Approved item 12, accepting $1,367,200 from the state for in-service training of 179 police officers.
• Approved MLGW consent items 13–25, including $22 million for air disconnect switches, $8.6 million in environmental consulting, $10 million in environmental abatement, $950,000 for fleet maintenance, and multiple equipment and technology contracts.
• Approved item 26, appointment of Rashida Jones to the Memphis and Shelby County Redevelopment Agency.
• Approved item 27 (convention center cover line funds), item 28 ($54,309 in insurance proceeds for Mississippi River Museum water damage), item 29 (sale of Zero Quince Road parcel for $6,000), item 30 (sale of 1632 Bricken Street as amended), item 31 (sale of 564 North Mananza Street), item 32 (weatherization grant of $1,178,517.02), item 33 ($1.5 million transfer for Central Library escalator/elevator repair), item 35 (additional construction funds for the Pinch A.W. Willis sewer project), item 36 ($5.9 million capital lease for solid waste vehicles), and item 37 (MOU with Shelby County for solar panels at the Memphis Zoo).
• Same-night minute requests were approved for items 2, 11, 12, 36, and 38.

Public Comments & Testimony

• School Board Chair Joyce Coleman, Commissioner Sable O'Tea, and Commissioner Natalie McKinney said the board is not advocating a specific site for a new high school but wants to partner with the council and the Cordova Business Association.
• Linda Bates and representatives of the Cody family thanked the council for the honors.
• Lisa Bennett from Raleigh described a water leak and potholes in her cove that took over a year to address and asked how the council and MLGW decide which infrastructure needs are emergencies.
• Joe Kent praised MLGW's transparency, said the $20 million reduction in tree-trimming costs should eliminate the proposed 4% residential electric rate increase, and urged the council to reject the five-year MLGW budget and cut it by $300 million. He also called More for Memphis non-transparent and redundant.
• Charles Moss and Brianna Scott spoke in support of More for Memphis; Moss called it the 'heartbeat of the city,' and Scott said it brings $100 million in resources and asks only for cooperation, not city money.
• Amber Sherman opposed additional city funding without detailed justification, said downtown crime is down 27%, questioned the need for a downtown command center, and asked for more investment in parks, youth, and infrastructure.
• Centeria Johnson accused the council of mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and pay-to-play behavior tied to More for Memphis and asked for funding verification, recusals, and ouster proceedings.
• Xavier Wade criticized More for Memphis as corrupt and said the initiative showed double standards, but declined when asked to specify the actual issue.
• Diamond Johnson said the issue is the City Council, not More for Memphis, and alleged racism in funding access for Black organizations. She said she would file a complaint with the Department of Justice and asked which council members received donations from Tennessee Prosperous.
• Chairman Smiley responded that the council runs a community grant program distributing over $2 million annually, mostly to Black-owned nonprofits, and does not rubber-stamp items. Councilwoman Green warned that threats to influence votes are not permitted.

Discussion Items

• MLGW FY2025 budget (item 34): Councilman Spinoza moved approval after praising MLGW President Doug McGowan and the utility's team. Public comment and follow-up discussion focused on infrastructure. After the unanimous vote, Councilwoman Logan asked McGowan to respond to Lisa Bennett's complaint. McGowan apologized, explained that an asphalt contractor failure delayed repairs, and described new coordination with the city engineer, a new gas/water operations vice president, mobile dispatch, drone inspections, and QR-code outreach for lead service line work.
• More for Memphis / fiscal-agent ordinance (item 5): The first-reading ordinance passed on the consent agenda. Chairman Smiley told public speakers the council had held the item in committee after the administration could not answer questions, and that it still needs additional readings.
• Mental health supports resolution (item 38): Approved, with all council members added as co-sponsors; Councilwoman Green said supporting officers' mental health means a safer community.

Key Outcomes

• All agenda items passed, with recorded roll-call votes unanimous except Councilwoman White's recusal on the consent agenda.
• The MLGW FY2025 operating and capital budget was approved.
• Item 30 was amended to sell the Bricken Street parcel for $300, requiring a public garden for two years and reverting to $2,200 if the condition is not met.
• Same-night minute items 2, 11, 12, 36, and 38 were approved.
• Public comments raised concerns about MLGW infrastructure, More for Memphis transparency, and downtown command center spending; council members responded by defending the process and pledging improved coordination with MLGW.