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Record of Proceedings

Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - May 20, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, May 20, 2025
BodyMemphis, Tennessee
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:07:16

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
2:10

I do.

2:12

I said I'm just saying that I've got that.

2:42

What's the song?

2:43

Um is it?

3:16

I thought they called me.

3:30

Yeah.

4:21

No, I think that's a good one.

4:39

No, it was um it was another one.

4:41

Right.

4:41

Yeah.

4:54

I remember you say you could do some on.

5:02

You were fooled up first.

5:05

Oh it was an ad in ad block.

5:16

Hopefully it ain't like no remix Memphis come up there like that.

7:08

You know, we'll think anybody want to stand up and speak.

7:16

If you want to get up and speak over half your pay rate.

7:23

Okay.

9:27

I see the same.

9:28

I see a feature.

9:37

Sure, that's a job.

9:50

No, this is four.

10:02

Yes.

10:05

Could you quickly like say that's what you uh say problem?

10:45

Sorry, I'm not sure.

10:47

Okay.

10:52

So I'll be talking about it.

12:34

Oh, big.

12:46

You know, like I think you can test it.

13:03

Testing.

13:10

So it's supposed to be working next.

13:17

Testing.

13:24

Testing.

13:32

Testing.

13:42

Testing.

13:58

All right.

14:08

Oh, you know, I can't fight.

14:24

Oh, sorry.

14:26

So it's one.

14:34

Right.

14:50

Testing.

14:55

Testing, testing.

14:56

I think it I think it's really working.

14:58

It's just a lot of people.

15:01

One, two, three.

15:05

One, two, three.

15:52

No, I just go by the gate.

16:10

I might work in the days happen.

16:15

I'm from a small sound of commitment to the seat.

16:21

Yeah.

16:54

I'm just coming down to which well they see if they need it.

17:23

I saw you walking around.

17:27

Yeah, yeah.

17:34

But I got to it before I ready.

17:40

Okay.

17:55

Oh, yes.

19:35

Sergeant at arms, please call the May twentieth council meeting to order.

19:48

I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Dr.

19:51

Reginald Boyce of Riverside Missionary Baptist Church, invited by Councilman Spinoza.

19:58

Doctor Boyce, please lead us in prayer.

20:01

At this time, every head bowed, every eye closed.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Zoning Ordinance███████████████15%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%
Community Engagement████████8%
Youth Programs██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Historic Preservation███3%
Labor Relations███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - May 20, 2025

The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting on May 20, 2025, beginning with a prayer led by Dr. Reginald Boyce, roll call, and approval of the May 6, 2025 minutes. The council conducted multiple recognitions, debated land use items including a controversial drop yard and a subdivision appeal, and approved the impasse votes for city employee associations. Several resolutions and ordinances were passed, with notable votes on a gas station special use permit, a planned development rejection, and the approval of wage impasse.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of May 6, 2025.
  • Item 6: Approved closure of an unimproved alley near 610 TM Henderson Avenue (unanimous).
  • Item 48: Added to consent agenda to consolidate and approve impasse votes for employee associations (unanimous).
  • Consent agenda (items 10-17, 46, 48) passed with Councilwoman White recusing from items 14 and 46.
  • Same night minutes approved for items 8, 17, 19, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Glenda Hicks (co-founder 21st Century Memphis Robust) thanked the council for approving the impasse (item 48) and urged careful review of plans for subdivision entrances, specifically opposing the drop yard on Tulahoma/Shelby Drive. She also raised concerns about budget items.

Discussion Items

  • Honorary Street Naming (Item 1): Resolution approved designating Cincinnati Road between Person Avenue and Dunn Avenue as "Coach Roosevelt Hancock Street." Coach Hancock spoke, thanking the council and highlighting his mentorship.
  • Central High School Jazz Band Recognition (Item 2): Recognized for winning first place at the Essentially Ellington International Competition. Director Dr. Ollie Liddell thanked the city for financial support.
  • Top 10 Under 20 Honorees (Item 3): Recognized 10 youth from Memphis Parent Magazine's Impact Award. Christian Love spoke expressing gratitude.
  • Evolve Pilates Day (Item 47): Recognized May 18, 2025 as Evolve Pilates Day, sponsored by all council districts.
  • Special Use Permit – Gas Station (Item 5): Debate on a gas station at Mendon Hall and Fox Plaza. DPD recommended rejection due to proximity to residences and existing gas stations. Applicant Eric K. Robinson argued profits fund affordable housing projects, citing prior developments. Councilman Walker expressed concerns about property upkeep. Passed 9-0 after conditions.
  • Planned Development – Drop Yard (Item 7): Proposed truck drop yard at Shelby Drive and Tulahoma. DPD and Land Use Control Board recommended rejection. Applicant Stephen Christides presented environmental benefits (idle-free parking), security features, and community support letters. Opposition from Councilman Ford, Walker, and residents cited traffic safety, environmental concerns, and landlocking of adjacent property owner. Failed 1-7 (Spinoza yes, others no).
  • Subdivision Appeal (Item 8): Appeal of Land Use Control Board approval for a two-lot subdivision on Grandview Avenue. Councilman Carlisle recused. Neighbors argued lots would be smallest on street (76% of average size). DPD stated it met criteria within 500-foot radius. Council voted 1-6 (Spinoza yes, others no) to reject the appeal, upholding the subdivision.
  • Zoning Ordinance (Item 9): Rezoning of 23 acres off Mount Moriah held until June 24, 2025 at applicant's request.
  • MLGW Fiscal Consent (Items 18-30): Passed on consent, including a $43.8 million contract for private 5G wireless network.
  • Add-on Items (41-45): Passed, including fire prevention renovation ($806,171), hazard mitigation grant ($4.69 million), hotel-motel tax supplement, and solid waste budget reallocation ($2.4 million). Item 44 debated on vacancy savings; amended presentation provided.
  • Item 40: Transfer of $500,000 for Hollywood Bridge repair passed.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 5 (Gas Station Special Use Permit): Approved unanimously (9-0) with conditions.
  • Item 7 (Drop Yard Planned Development): Denied (1-7), with only Councilman Spinoza voting in favor.
  • Item 8 (Grandview Subdivision Appeal): Appeal rejected (1-6), allowing the subdivision to proceed.
  • Item 48 (Impasse Votes): Approved unanimously, confirming council support for city employee wage increases and benefits.
  • Item 43 (Hotel-Motel Tax Supplement): Passed after reconsideration with Councilwoman White recusal.
  • Same Night Minutes: Approved for multiple items.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for May 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM (budget hearings).

Meeting Transcript

I do. I said I'm just saying that I've got that. What's the song? Um is it? I thought they called me. Yeah. No, I think that's a good one. No, it was um it was another one. Right. Yeah. I remember you say you could do some on. You were fooled up first. Oh it was an ad in ad block. Hopefully it ain't like no remix Memphis come up there like that. You know, we'll think anybody want to stand up and speak. If you want to get up and speak over half your pay rate. Okay. I see the same. I see a feature. Sure, that's a job. No, this is four. Yes. Could you quickly like say that's what you uh say problem? Sorry, I'm not sure. Okay. So I'll be talking about it. Oh, big. You know, like I think you can test it. Testing. So it's supposed to be working next. Testing. Testing. Testing. Testing. All right. Oh, you know, I can't fight. Oh, sorry. So it's one. Right. Testing. Testing, testing. I think it I think it's really working. It's just a lot of people. One, two, three. One, two, three. No, I just go by the gate. I might work in the days happen. I'm from a small sound of commitment to the seat. Yeah. I'm just coming down to which well they see if they need it.

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