Memphis City Council Meeting - July 22, 2025

The Memphis City Council met on July 22, 2025, at 10:15 AM. The meeting included a prayer led by Pastor Michael C. Ellis, approval of minutes from July 8, 2025, consideration of several consent and discussion items, and public comments on various community issues. All agenda items were approved, with a few abstentions noted.

Consent Calendar

• MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda (Items 7-10): Approved changes to four contracts: electronic bill presentment with Fidelity Information Services ($3,278,191.82), Citrix license support with Logicalis ($495,060), Microsoft support with Crayon Software Experts ($218,257), and security automation with Access Control Integration ($187,000). Motion by Councilman Spinoza, seconded by Swearingin Washington. All members voted yes.
• Consent Agenda (Items 4, 5, 6, 15): Approved ordinances and resolutions: funding for transit and mobility (first reading), allocation for AI property, amending zoning for social service institutions (first reading), and honorary street name change for Promised Land Church (same night minutes). Councilwoman White recused on Item 6 due to being special counsel for Shelby County Commission. Motion by Vice Chair Swearingin Washington. All others voted yes.

Discussion Items

• Item 1 – Special Use Permit at 5536 Summer Avenue: Approved unanimously. The Land Use Control Board and DPD gave positive recommendations. Motion by Vice Chair Swearingin Washington, seconded by Dr. Warren.
• Item 2 – Special Use Permit at 60 North Second Street: Approved with abstentions from Councilmembers Cooper Sutton and Warren. DPD recommended rejection, but the Land Use Control Board recommended approval. Dr. Warren commented on the need for public bathrooms at new parking lots. Motion by Vice Chair Swearingin Washington, seconded by Spinoza.
• Item 3 – Zoning Reclassification at 2572 Park Avenue: Approved with same night minutes. DPD and Land Use Control Board recommended approval. Third and final reading. Unanimous vote.
• Item 13 – Lease for Old Daisy Theater at 323-329 Beale Street: Approved. Lease to Beale Street Development Corporation. Motion by Swearingin Washington, seconded by Easter Thomas. Unanimous.
• Item 14 – Resolution on Monthly Transit Reporting: Approved. Sponsored by Councilman Carlisle. Motion by Ford Senior, seconded by Warren. Unanimous.
• Items Held: Item 11 was held until August 19, 2025; Item 12 was held until August 5, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Marvus Rogers (3059 Victoria Park Cove): Expressed concerns about unsafe conditions at the recently reconstructed intersection of Frazier Boulevard and Overland Crossing. Stated the project was not a priority for Fraser residents during the Accelerate Memphis process.
• Linda Street (4221 Beach Shore Cole): Asked that no city- or county-owned parcels be sold to investors or developers without a community benefit agreement and consultation, citing gentrification and negative impacts on elderly residents (32% of the population in Walker Homes).
• Patricia Lee (4511 Bluebell, Memphis Black Agenda): Demanded support for African American homeownership, use of federal funds for down payment assistance, opposition to tax lien sales, and no new jail in New Chicago community.
• Catherine Larsha (Tintin Hawthorne Street, Memphis Black Agenda): Demanded amendment of the City Charter to clarify responsibilities to citizens. Opposed the blight remediation policy, calling it anti-citizen.
• Damon Curry Morris (1529 Dunmore Road, Memphis Black Agenda): Presented demands from the Memphis Black Agenda, including dissolution of the blight initiative, citing potential economic and cultural harm. Noted a potential conflict of interest with a council member on the board of Habitat for Humanity.
• Dr. Carnita Atwater (1098 Firestone, Memphis Black Agenda): Presented the Black Agenda from 23 African American communities, charging genocide and citing 25 signatures and 15,000 questionnaires.
• Joe Kent (511 Flamingo): Criticized the council for not caring about transit ridership, MATA spending, and the withholding of a $600,000 forensic audit. Accused the council of wasting money on TransPro.
• Chief Andre Matthews: Requested support for Memphis farmers, asking where $3 million designated for the North Memphis food desert in 2022 has gone. Emphasized the need for food security.

Key Outcomes

• All items on the MLGW fiscal consent, consent agenda, and discussion docket were approved. No votes failed.
• Same night minutes were approved for Items 3 and 15.
• Councilwoman White recused from Item 6.
• Councilmembers Cooper Sutton and Warren abstained on Item 2.
• The council acknowledged the last meeting for staff members Ivy Johnson and Alicia Green.
• The meeting adjourned after public comments.