Memphis City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025
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Memphis City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025
The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting on August 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The meeting included approval of minutes, recognition of Black Business Month, honorary street namings, recognition of the Greater Memphis Chamber, approval of consent agenda items, and several public comments on library worker reclassification, tax revenue allocation for AI data centers, towing regulations, road conditions, and neighborhood nuisances. All agenda items were approved, with several items held over to future dates.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (July 22, 2025): Corrected item 14 to reflect approval as amended; all members added as co-sponsors. Approved unanimously.
- Items 7–11 (Consent Agenda): Included second reading of ordinances 5952, 5953, 5954 (zoning and engineering), acceptance of public improvements, and bond releases. Councilwoman White recused herself from item 9. Approved unanimously.
- MLGW Fiscal Consent (Items 12–25): Included contract changes, purchase orders, and emergency awards for various MLGW and city services. Approved unanimously.
- Items 32–33: Item 32 (cost-sharing agreement with Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority for sewer improvements) – discussed under Discussion Items; Item 33 (sale of 924 Thomas Street to Young Actors Guild) – approved unanimously.
- Items 30–31: Item 30 (appropriation of $7,250,000 for Southwest Twin Redevelopment) and Item 31 (additional $261,500 for drainage line repairs) – approved unanimously.
- Same Night Minutes: Items 3, 10, 11, 32, and 33 were approved for same-night minutes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dr. Kimberly Owens Pearson (1110 Starline, Memphis): Opposed the proposed 25% cap on tax revenue from the XAI facility for area 38109, demanding 100% of revenue for the most impacted one-to-three-mile radius. Called for a community advisory board and no cap on funding from billionaires.
- Janetta Williams (711 S. Dudley St.): Supported towing ordinance Section 6-88-10A for safety; proposed expanding the MPD rotation system for towing services to reduce administrative burden and ensure fair access.
- Sibyl Presley (1056 Linden Ave.): Requested paving of Elvis Presley Boulevard with blue asphalt (two miles on both sides of Graceland) to commemorate Elvis’s blue suede shoes and improve road conditions; urged city to apply for grants and involve citizens in paperwork processes.
- C. Yargen (1508 Madison Ave.): Opposed consent agenda item 8 (ordinance allocating AI data center tax revenue) because it did not include the planned XAI facility on Two Lane Road; urged amendment to cover that facility before final reading.
- Alexandra Farmer (1044 Bruce St., librarian): Requested reclassification of library workers from appointed employees to civil service employees to gain protections and benefits; noted broad support among library workers.
- Emiline Rogers (670 West Dr., library assistant): Supported reclassification, emphasizing that library workers serve as social workers and community anchors, not political appointees.
- Tiara Mathis (6680 Century Arbor, library worker): Echoed support for reclassification, stating library workers are social workers, not politicians, and deserve civil service status.
- Anthony Lucatelli (1375 Tutweiler Ave., librarian): Noted that library workers are hired by HR, follow same rules as other city employees, but can be fired at will; urged reclassification to civil service.
- Devin McGrath (teacher, father): Supported library worker reclassification as essential for community stability and child welfare.
- Markela Love (2058 Townsend Ave.): Supported reclassification, citing libraries as community hubs and the need to protect workers.
- Paul Williams (711 S. Dudley St., tow business owner): Proposed a city parking authority to increase enforcement revenue (citing Boston’s $83M vs. Memphis’s $2M) and free up police for serious issues; called for collaboration with towing companies.
- Alexis Agnew (4321 E Lane): New resident urged council to protect library workers, citing negative experience in another county where protections were weakened.
- Joe Kent (511 Flamingo): Criticized MFA taking $415K from Chandler Park, requested deferred maintenance report for parks, criticized MATA and the chamber, and called for less emphasis on sports and more on transit reliability.
- Robert Joyce (1886 Lyndale Ave.): Complained about a nuisance property owned by out-of-state investor with code violations, pests, and unruly renters; requested assistance from code enforcement and Rhodes College.
- Cards of Opposition: Submitted for item 28 (held to September 9, 2025) from Ethan Edwards, Swathy Shady, John Shicouley, Doug and Mary Ketchum, Nick Scott, and Ronald Caldwell.
Discussion Items
- Item 32 – Cost-Sharing Agreement with Airport Authority: Director Scott Morgan explained the project involves replacing failing sewers near Charles Baker Airport on Flight Road. The airport requested an alternate sewer connection, which cost more; the airport agreed to pay the additional $354,000. Council clarified there is no cost to the city; the airport is paying for its own connection. Approved unanimously.
- Library Worker Reclassification: During public comments, multiple council members (Green, Walker, Easter Thomas) engaged with HR Chief Fonda Fouche and Chief Adams. Councilwoman Green noted that library workers are classified as appointed in the city charter, requiring a charter amendment. Councilwoman Easter Thomas requested a committee discussion on unionization for library workers at the August 19 committee meeting, separate from the compensation study. Councilwoman Cooper Sutton advised library workers to understand the difference between civil service and unionization.
Key Outcomes
- All agenda items were approved as listed, including the consent agenda, MLGW fiscal consent, items 30-33, and same-night minutes.
- Holds: Item 5 (held until August 19, 2025), Item 26 (held until September 9, 2025), Item 27 (held until September 23, 2025), Item 28 (held until September 9, 2025), Item 29 (held until December 16, 2025), and Item 6 (held for two weeks).
- Next Steps: The council will consider library worker reclassification and unionization at the August 19 committee meeting. The HR compensation study for library positions is expected by end of August/early September. Councilwoman Green will work with legal and HR to explore charter amendment options.
- Public Comment Follow-up: Councilman Canale indicated he would follow up with Janetta Williams on towing proposal. Councilwoman Green requested legal analysis on library worker classification.
Meeting Transcript
Sergeant Arbitch, please call our August fifth meeting to order. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, my friend, Reverend Dr. Robert H. Washington Senior at Pillow Street see me church in his third week. Congratulations on your new assignment. Invited by Councilman J.B. Smiley, Junior. Pastor Washington, would you please lead us in prayer? Amen. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we gather today to seek your presence at this meeting today. We ask for your guidance and your wisdom as decisions are made that will impact our community. And bless all participants with an open mind and compassionate hearts and striving together for the common good of Memphis. Outstanding service of the city. Your involvement in your humanitarian affairs, and also demonstrating concern for governmental process has been appointed as the chaplain of the day of the Memphis City Council. And you are hereby entitled to all of the honors, the rights, privileges, and prerogatives appertaining to the office and to the display of this certificate given under the great seal of the City of Memphis, August 5th, 2025. J. Ford Canale Chairman, Janice in Washington, Vice Chairman, presented on behalf of J.B. Smiley Jr. Thank you so much for your service today. Thank you. Thank you, Pastor, for praying with us and over us today. Madam Comptroller, would you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Council members Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Smiley Jr. Spinoza, Swearing Washington, Walker, Warren, White, Chairman Canale. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Cap Troller. Colleagues, before the minutes of our last meeting are approved, I would like to note a correction. Item 14 should reflect that it was approved as amended, as there was a scrivener's error, and all members were added as co-sponsors. I move that the minutes be corrected accordingly before council approves without objection. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So no objection to that. Madam Vice Chair, I believe you've read the meeting minutes from July 22nd. Yes, sir. Thank you, Chairman. I have reviewed the minutes and find them to be in order. I move for the adoption of the July 22nd, 2025 minutes as amended. There you go. All right. That item was moved by Vice Chair, seconded by Spinoza. Colleagues, any questions on what I said on about the voting screen for our meeting minutes from July 22nd. Cooper Sutton, yes. Easter Thomas, yes. Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes. Spinoza, yes. Swimmerton, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes.
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