Sergeant Arms, would you please call our October 21st, 2025 Council meeting to order.

I would like to welcome Pastor Stephen Brown, invited by Councilwoman Janica White to pray with us today.

Pastor, please lead us in prayer.

Come on, let us bow our heads.

Father, we thank you for another day of life, health, and strength that you blessed us all with.

We thank you for all of your many blessings.

We thank you for how you have Memphis on your mind and on your heart.

Lord, you said in your word that when the righteous are in authority, the people will rejoice.

We thank you today that Memphis will rejoice because you have your people in place.

You also said in your word that when we dwell together in unity, you will command a blessing.

Let a positive great outcome be the result of this meeting this afternoon, and we will give you the glory for it.

In Jesus' name we pray and everybody said amen.

Thank you so much, Chairman.

Pastor Brown, you can come out with me.

This is one of my absolute favorite pastors in town, my pastor of Lido Glory International Church, Logic, the church where it just makes sense.

Pastor Brown has served our community diligently.

He continues to do so with so many outreach programs, and he's been traveling abroad, spreading the word of God.

We're just so proud of him and grateful for all you do.

Thank you for serving as our chaplain today.

I have a resolution for you.

I do.

As well as a little gift from us.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Pastor Brown, for praying with us and over us today.

Madam Countroller, would you please call the roll?

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Council Member Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Smiley.

Swearing Washington.

Present.

Walker.

Warren.

White.

Chairman Canale.

Mr.

Chairman, you have a quorum.

Thank you.

Spinoza.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

I believe Vice Chair Swear and Washington has read the meeting minutes from our October 7, 2025 meeting.

Thank you, Chairman.

I have reviewed the minutes and find them to be in order.

I move for the adoption of the October 7th, 2025 meeting minutes as amended.

And I so move electronically as soon as I can.

Here we go.

Meeting minutes removed by Swearinger Washington, seconded by Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue, please prepare voting screens.

Members, please cast your votes.

Carlisle, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes.

Logan, yes.

Please show Council Member Spinoza is voting yes on the minutes.

Swearing in Washington, yes.

Walker, yes.

Warren, yes.

White, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Welcome everyone to the October 21st, 2025 regular meeting of the Memphis City Council.

Meetings of the council shall be conducted in an orderly manner to ensure the public has the full opportunity to be heard in the deliberate process of the council is retained at all times.

The Sergeant Arms has meeting agendas available up front as well as comment request cards for members of the public wishing to be heard on a specific item.

All those wishing to speak on an item must turn in their comment card to the sergeant arms before the item is called.

If you're not here to speak on a specific item, you can note your request to give general comment at the end of the meeting.

As chair will only recognize citizens that properly registered to speak by submitting a completed comment request card to the Sergeant at Arms.

Members of the audience, persons addressing the council will not be permitted to engage in gossip, make defamatory personal, slanderous or profane comments, or use abusive or oral language.

The chairperson of the council may maintain order by giving any persons who are in violation of the stated rules of decorum a warning to cease any violative conduct in order to leave the council's chambers or by giving an order for security personnel to remove any disruptive person in the council's chambers who refuses to leave voluntarily.

These rules are posted on the doors.

You enter the chamber, and as you pick up comment cards, an example of an 11 by 17 poster is also posted on the door.

Housekeeping items.

Okay.

I would like to recognize Judge Marcy Ingram from General Sessions.

Thank you for joining us today.

Appreciate you being here with us.

No, hold on.

Don't do that.

Start us out with our MLGW fiscal consent items 13 through 24.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Item number 13 is a resolution.

Let's get it up on the board.

A resolution approving renewal, change number three, contract number one two three zero two, substation engineering services protection with Fisher Arnold Incorporated to renew the current contract in the funded not to exceed amount of one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Item number fourteen is a resolution awarding contract number one two five eight six.

She hand pumping station switch gear upgrade to tri-state armature and electrical works inc in the funded amount of eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars.

Item number fifteen is a resolution awarding purchase order for replacement filter valves and actuators to brighter days and nights in the amount of what 289,170.

Item number sixteen, a resolution approving ratification and extension to contract number one two five five two Gardner Advisory Services with Gardner Inc to ratify and extend the contract in the funded amount of two hundred twenty-five thousand three hundred and sixteen dollars.

Item number seventeen is a resolution approving renewal to contract number one two four three three professional services ISIT with one link technology LLC to renew the current contract in the funded amount of two million six hundred twenty-five thousand seven hundred ninety-six dollars and forty cents.

Item number eighteen is a resolution approving renewal to contract number one two four six five professional services ISIT with cook systems to renew the current contract in the funded amount of two million nine hundred and fifty-two thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars and eighty cents.

Item number nineteen is a resolution approving renewal to contract number one two four six six professional services ISIT with CTD staffing to renew the current contract in the funded amount of two million eight hundred and fifteen thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine dollars.

Professional services ISIT with CTD staffing to renew the current contract in the funded amount of $2,815,969.

Item number 20 is a resolution approving renewal to contract number 12467 professional services ISIT with NIXTEC LLC solutions to renew the current contract in the funded amount of two million three hundred and fifteen thousand four hundred seventeen dollars and eighty-four cents.

Item number 21 is a resolution approving renewal to contract number 12468 Professional Services ISIT with Stradistics Technology Inc.

to renew the current contract in the funded amount of $2,663,745 and 60 cents.

And our final nope, item number 22 is a resolution approving renewal to contract number 12469 professional services ISIT with tech systems to renew the current contract in the funded amount of 1,894,733 and 60 cents.

Item number 23 is a resolution approving renewal to contract number 12470 professional services ISIT with VACO to renew the current contract in the funded amount of $2,590,555 and 78 cents.

And our final item number 24 is a resolution approving increase change number seven to contract number 12348 temporary employment services for skilled craftsman technical with resource management group to increase to increase the current contract in the funded amount of 400,000 dollars.

Mr.

Chairman that concludes our MLGW fiscal consent items.

Thank you, Madam Countroller.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Committee Matt recommends approval and I so move.

MLGW is moved by Spinoza seconded by Walker seeing the members in the queue.

Please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please take us to our fiscal consent items seven through twelve, please.

Item number seven is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $75,000 from International Paper Foundation for Lit Meeks Rec programming at Community Centers.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number eight is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of thirty-five thousand dollars from the Hyde Family Foundation for data collection software.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number nine is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging for Senior Programming at the Hickory Hill Community Center, District 3 and Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 10 is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $28,000 from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging for Senior Programming at the Orange Mound Senior Center, District 4 and Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 11 is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $40,000 from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging for Senior Programming at the Lucille McWerter Senior Center, District 5 and Super District 9.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 12 is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $45,000 from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging for Senior Programming at the Ruth Tate Senior Center, District 6 and Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

From our add-ons, we have item number 39, a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2026 operating budget.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by Council Members Carlisle, Green, Walker, and Canale.

And there is a request for same night minutes.

That concludes our fiscal consent agenda items.

Thank you, Madam Countroller.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

We wholeheartedly and unanimously gave a favorable recommendation for accepting these grant funds for all of these different items.

And ISO move.

Fiscal consent was moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue, please pair the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearington, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us to our consent agenda starting with item two through six and item 38.

On our consent agenda item number two is a resolution approving the engineering plans for 1870 Coventon Pike and accepting bond as security.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number three is a resolution approving the final plat for Dexter Grove Subdivision S2024-001 and accepting bond as security.

There is a request for same night minutes.

The contract number is CR5485.

Item number four is a resolution accepting public improvements for Frank Kazaza, part of lot four, ASPR 2021-076.

The contract number is 5452, and the request is to release the bond.

There is also a request for same night minutes.

Item number five is a resolution accepting public improvements for Madison Midtown Apartments and releasing the bond.

There is a request for same night minutes.

That contract number is CR-5308.

Item number six is a resolution approving the honorary street name change on North Third Street between Jackson Avenue and A.

W.

Willis Avenue for Pastor Elmore Shelton Jr.

District 7 Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by the Memphis City Council.

And there is a request for same night minutes.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Mr.

Chairman, if there are no 38.

Please read 38 into the record.

On the add-ons one moment, please, sir.

Item number 38 is an ordinance to amend the code of ordinance of ordinances of Memphis, Tennessee regarding the small business enterprise opportunity program up for first reading.

Ordinance number 5959 is sponsored by the administration.

Mr.

Chairman, that concludes our consent agenda items.

Thank you, Madam Controller.

Pardon me.

Madam Vice Chair, you are recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation for all of these items.

And ISO move.

Consent was moved by Swear Engine Washington, seconded by Spinoza.

Seeing no members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes.

Please show Council Member Green as voting, yes.

Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Swearing in Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us to item 36 on our add-ons.

Item number 36 is a resolution amending the FY26 CIP budget by accepting additional federal grant funding in the amount of 1,24,290 and 97 cents from the Tennessee Department of Transportation for construction on the CMAQ New Traffic Signals Project, EN01094, Districts 1 and 2, Super District 9.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration, and there is a request for same night minutes.

Councilman Warren, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Committee Matt recommended approval and ISO move.

36 was moved by Warren, seconded by Swearinger Washington.

Seeing no members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Warren, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please call item 37.

Item number 37 is a resolution pursuant to Chapter 9.6 of the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code approving a special use permit at the subject property located at 1936 the Elms Avenue.

This resolution is sponsored by the Division of Planning and Development.

The case number is SUP 25-22.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognize.

Thank you, Chairman.

The committee met there was a favorable recommendation for this item and ISO move.

37 was moved by Swear Engine Washington, seconded by Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearington, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please call item 40.

Item number 40 is a resolution to amend the application period for the Memphis City Council Community Grant Program for FY 2026.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by Councilwoman Walker, and there is a request for same night minutes.

Councilman Carlisle, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

The committee matter recommends approval and I said move if we get item 40 on the screen.

Thank you, Madam Uh Comptroller.

All right, 40 was moved by Carlisle, seconded by Warren, seeing the members in the queue.

Please prepare the voting screen.

For those entering the chamber, I'm gonna ask that you enter in silence while we are conducting business, please.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us to our regular agenda starting with item 25.

Item number 25 is a joint ordinance amending the 2021 Memphis and Shelby County Building Code so as to amend storm shelter requirements for educational buildings and add a new appendix relating to optional middle scale housing construction requirements.

Up for third and final reading, ordinance number 5955 is sponsored by the Division of Planning and Development.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognize.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation for this item, and ISO move.

All right, 25 was moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Warren.

Councilwoman White, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Chairman.

I'm recusing from item number 25, as I am special counsel for the county commission.

Please notice note white as a recusal for item 25.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

We'll note that we have one public comment card.

Miss Winnie Hardaway, I'm gonna let you speak first.

Ms.

Hardaway.

And then I want to hear from Chief John Zina after Ms.

Hardaway speaks.

Ms.

Hardaway, name and address for the record.

You have two minutes.

My name is Winnie Wade Hardaway.

How are you all doing?

Um tonight.

I said something to you last time we were here.

I'm talking about item number 25.

I don't believe, I think last time Washington made the statement that you all did not have anything to do with the school buildings or the bond uh building codes in the item 25, 26, and 27 directly talks about the safety of the schools.

It may not affect our children now, and I understand we may be getting out of school or education as a school uh as a city since we voted the charter out.

But the building that the children are going to go in is still upon our shoulders.

These are not going to be next year's buildings, these are going to be buildings two years, three years, five years down the road, there will not be storm safety up to codes.

That only benefits the construction's companies coming in and not us.

Or the housing, the mo that other part of it, it says mid-scale housing construction requirement.

That normally it's going to either be low-income housing or middle class housing.

It's not going to affect those out in Germantown.

Those are all the things houses built within the city in the next three, four, five years from now.

None of you may be sitting on the board then, but the decisions that you're making tonight will affect us then because it clearly says educational buildings, which are schools, which are children.

And we're all voting, you all all voted yes on that.

And I don't think you really understood or needed to reread that.

Please reconsider your votes tonight or last night because this is your final reading.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Hardaway.

Chief Zena.

Thank you, Chairman Kennelly.

Uh John Zina, Chief of Development.

Am I on I think that's better.

John Zena, Chief of Development and Infrastructure.

Um these, of course, are three uh ordinances.

We'll start with the first, um, that is the International Building Code.

Um, just to go back uh 12 months to what this has to do with uh a year ago, council members, you passed a resolution uh instituting a moratorium on a specific requirement in the International Building uh Code that has to do with the ICC 500 uh standard for storm shelters for educational buildings.

In 2018, the International Code Council added this ICC 500 standard uh for storm shelters to all educational occupancies in 2021.

The Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission adopted the 2021 version uh of the International Building Code.

Uh did not address this in the amendments, and so this went into effect.

What this requires is essentially that an educational building uh create an area that is hardened to withstand an EF5 tornado, winds of 255 250 miles per hour at a educational building.

Of course, this is on top of any new standards uh that already apply to the building code.

Uh so any new building that's whether it's an addition or a new construction is already being built to the most recent building code standard.

The ICC 500 uh goes on top of that.

The reason why this came up last year uh and this uh initially was brought by councilman Carlisle, but I think others um understood why this was a uh was an issue was because there were several uh school facilities.

Uh I believe uh I remember Whitehaven High School dealt with this with the STEM building.

It added I think close to two million dollars to the cost of construction uh for this component alone.

Um Hutchison School also was dealing with this.

Libertos uh charter school in Fraser was also dealing with this.

This requirement was making it prohibitive for a lot of these school projects to even move forward.

Um we are I believe still the only jurisdiction in the state of Tennessee that has this uh as a requirement for educational occupancies.

The state fire marshal has made this optional uh for uh jurisdictions across Tennessee that they regulate.

Uh Metro Nashville just a few months ago uh adopted the 2024 model code, made this optional as well.

Uh and so what is before you is essentially making this requirement optional uh in our building code uh so that essentially that that those savings um uh can be experienced by these school projects uh so that they're able to go forward.

Um and then of course, related to the middle scale housing, if since that was brought up, if I can just address that.

If you remember a few years ago, we made some attempts to move um uh small multifamily into the residential code.

We had some issues with the state fire marshal, we had to move them back.

Since then, we began working with the state fire marshal's office on coming up with an amendment to the building code that would allow for small multifamily to achieve similar cost savings that we were trying to uh uh uh achieve with those changes, uh, but still maintain the same level of safety.

Uh and so what is before you on item 25 related to middle scale housing has been approved by not only the Tennessee State Fire Marshal but our local code official and our local fire marshal as well.

I'm available for any questions.

Stay right there, Chief.

Um so one, what's the difference between 5955 and 5956?

Thank you.

And two, you're saying that the requirement for the storm shelter can make some projects for educational buildings unaffordable.

Unaffordable.

And you're saying that some of these requirements for housing can make affordable housing unaffordable.

Correct.

Okay, so I want you to walk this body through what 5955 does exactly and what 5956 does exactly.

Okay, so I'm gonna just just uh I'm gonna explain it this way.

So when we adopt the building code, as you all know, there are eight technical building codes that we adopt at one time.

The built the International Building Code, which governs new construction of commercial buildings, the existing building code, which is what is the subject of uh item number 26, which governs existing buildings.

So if there is an uh an uh uh a renovation, a significant renovation or a change of use to an existing building, it falls under that code, not the new building code.

There's a residential code, there's a plumbing code, a mechanical code, et cetera.

And so the reason why you have three things in front of you related to this is if you change something in the building code, there's going to be downstream effects on other codes.

So really all of these are a package.

The the reason why that this needs to be done as the building code and the existing building code is we want to make sure that the standards for new buildings and changes to existing buildings are consistent.

Okay, so we'll take them one at a time.

So item 25.

If item 25 passes, it makes it mandatory for the storm shelter, not optional.

If item 25 passes, it makes the storm shelter optional.

Right now it's make it optional.

Right now it's mandatory, it would become optional.

Okay.

Colleagues, any questions on 25, Chief Zena?

Cooper Sutton, you're first in the queue.

Thank you, Chairman.

So 25 makes it optional.

So that means the storm building from what I'm hearing you saying in layman term is the cost savings will, and I'm just kind of going back, the cost saving will prohibit the building from moving forward if they wanted a storm shelter.

The the cost of complying with the code today with the ICC 500 standard has been estimated locally to be $500 a square foot to harden the area.

So in many of the cases that we've talked about, this standard alone is adding somewhere in the range of one, two, and even more million to a project.

So if number that would prohibit a project from moving forward, yes.

So those additional costs has come up as an issue prohibiting projects from moving forward.

So the moratorium was put in place last year by the city council to allow these projects to move forward without that standard.

So there were projects that moved forward in the last 12 months without that standard.

And so what 25 does is essentially take what the moratorium did and make it permanent to where that standard is now optional, which would mean that many of these educational building projects are more likely to move forward.

So if I wanted to build a school, and I decide I don't want the storm.

It became effective in Memphis and Shelby County January 1st of 2022.

There's a grace period, so there's it's it's roughly been in place only about two years before the moratorium went in place.

So there are very few buildings that are that were built with this standard to begin with.

So there are many educational buildings that have been built since.

Again, that would withstand wind speeds of 250 miles per hour.

I'm I'm no weather expert.

The other thing I would say though is I believe it is the practice for Shelby County Schools, for example, if we do have a storm of that magnitude, that schools are dismissed.

So that this would only benefit where the very few places where they're built to begin with, and overall allowing more new projects to go forward under the current code, uh I think would create more safer buildings uh within our educational environment.

But how did they vote?

I need to know how did they vote on both of these items across the street.

I'm so sorry to go.

I'm so sorry.

They they did approve uh these items to move forward.

They're they're on second reading uh uh at uh the county commission.

Good enough.

Uh let me correct something that you just said, it hasn't been seen a tornado that strength.

I'm gonna go back.

That's what they said about Katrina.

That was money funded for the levies and everything, and it will never happen.

But Katrina came and it happened.

I'm just saying that because don't ever say what won't be, because the average person that says it won't be, it will be.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

I'm not against you, but I'm just saying because like I said, an expression thing would find oh, it'll never be this.

But you know, good Lord show you better than to you.

Okay, and look what really happened.

Okay, and schools may get out, this may get out, but are they gonna get out in time?

Katrina, they didn't get out in time.

We lost a lot of lives and probably some that they never found yet.

Okay.

A lot of people that may be in the ordinance may be from New York.

A lot of them moved up here.

But things happen, you know.

They always say about climate change.

Look around.

It's there.

We don't know what may be anymore.

But protection.

That's why I'm asking you about how did the county that they approve for this?

Okay.

I'm good.

Colleagues, any other questions on item 25?

Council McCarlow, you recognize.

I I did raise this issue.

There are other things impact and not to discount anybody else's position, but I just say it because it was raised.

So and I'm making a vote.

I have three school age children, a daughter who will be directly impacted by the vote that I make, and I'm comfortable with making that vote.

All right.

I'm supposed to tell you I'm gonna vote for this.

All right, colleagues.

Any other questions on item 25?

If not, please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearington Washington, yes, Warren, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please take us to item 26.

Item number 26 is a joint ordinance amending the 2021 Memphis and Shelby County Building Code so as to amend storm shelter requirements for educational buildings and optional middle scale housing construction requirements up for third and final reading, ordinance number 5956 is sponsored by the division of planning and development.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognize thank you, Chair.

The committee met there was a favorable recommendation for this item, and I so moved.

The item was moved by Swurchman Washington's seconded by Spinoza.

Chief Zena, will you succinctly uh tell us what 26 does?

Yes, sir.

Um, I do want to note that the um agenda does leave off the word existing from existing building code, but it is in the caption of the ordinance.

Um but as I stated a moment ago, um, when you make changes to a building code, there are other downstream effects on other related codes.

The existing building code would mean we're we're staying consistent with the standards that we just approved uh on the international building code for the international existing building code.

So this would be if you're renovating an existing building, these are the standards you follow.

So 25 was for new buildings, 26 is for renovations.

That's correct.

Okay, but same standards.

Colleagues, any questions on 26?

All right, please bring the voting screen.

Council, hold the screen, please.

Oh, you got it.

Well, I did recuse.

I just wanted to make sure that I stated it where it was.

You can say it again for the I was recusing again on this ordinance for the same reason as previously stated.

I special counsel for the county commission.

Thank you.

Yes, please note white as a recusal again for 26.

Madam Countroller, you can read the voting record.

Carlisle, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearington, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white recused, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes Madam Countroller, please take us to item 27.

Item number 27 is an ordinance amending the 2021 edition of the International Code Council International Fire Code, including certain appendices in that code and other local amendments and amending chapter 9 through 36 of the City of Memphis Code of Ordinances up for third and final reading.

Ordinance number 5957 is sponsored by the division of planning and development.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognize.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation for this item, and I so moved.

My screen's frozen.

27 was moved by Swimmer Washington seconded by Warren.

I have one public comment card.

And Chief, you want to go through 27 first, and then I'll let the sure.

Okay, so um item 27.

Um is on under the same theme of once you change something in the building code, their downstream effects.

Um this one doesn't have anything to do with the storm shelter.

This is purely on the small multifamily.

Uh one of uh actually a couple of the changes that were approved by the state fire marshal that we are amending has to do with the type of sprinkler that would be required.

Um it would be a uh NFPA 13D would be allowed for up to eight units.

Um that sprinkler type allows for uh the building to tap into the domestic water rather than having its own separate water line, and so there's a cost savings associated with that.

Um and and not an insignificant cost savings.

Uh there also are uh exceptions in this related to uh if you have, say, for example, um, like we have in uptown.

Uh uh Mr.

Jones, who's built Malone Park Commons is built uh fourplexes with two living units on the top, and then uh on the bottom.

Uh he's got a sandwich shop and a Pilates studio.

I think you all are maybe familiar with with that one.

Um would allow an exception for those commercial uses on the ground floor uh to not have to uh comply with the strictest sprinkler standard, which is the NFPA 13, uh, as well as other uh related provisions uh connected with that.

Thanks, sir.

Councilwoman Cooper Sutton.

Thank you.

So this is regulations that legislation in the state for the fire department has already passed.

The state fire marshal has we worked with them on this uh amendment.

So the full set of amendments related to middle scale housing that were in item number 25, where it affects the fire code is in this item number 27, but the state fire marshal's office uh has approved our adoption of this full package.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Thank you, Chairman.

Maurice Spidey.

Name and address you have two minutes, Mr.

Spezman.

Thank you.

Mr.

Rennes.

Uh Maurice Five E45 Bill Street.

I just want to ask the council who will be repairing that ordinance.

Will it be union workers?

Will it be the men and women who keep this city going?

Because I see a whole lot of bills, a whole lot of ordinance, a whole lot of money being passed around.

This administration has become great at building buildings and horrible at building people.

Every ordinance that you all have passed, one of these union members is going to have to put their hands on it when it breaks, when it does not respond, when it floods, when it does not open.

It is y'all time to show the intestinal fortitude.

Get involved, because that ain't the only fire y'all gonna have to worry about.

There's a fire behind this right now.

Union strong Union Strong!

Thank you.

All right, I'm gonna I'm fair, but let's be clear.

No outbursts, or I'll have you removed.

I mean, you can continue to test me and see if I'll do it.

All right, please prepare the voting screen for item 27.

Carlisle, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Cow troller, please take us to item 30.

Mr.

Uh Chairman, I'd like to note that Cooper Sudden voted yes on the last item as well.

All right, so noted.

Okay.

What did you ask me to do?

Please take us to item 30.

Item number 30 is a resolution transferring CIP FY26 allocations in the amount of $2,352,400 from CIP project number GS24100.

FY24 major modification, a cover line to GS24101 major modification, roofing, and appropriating funds for roof replacements at Bickford Community Center, Skinner Community Center, Fire Station Number 24, and the EDU office, districts four, five, and seven, and super districts eight and nine.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilman Smiley, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Committee may recommend approved on some move.

30 was moved by Smiley, seconded by Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Yes.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes.

Logan, yes, Smiley, yes.

Swearing Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 31.

Item number 31 is a resolution transferring CIP FY26 allocations in the amount of 438, 750 from CIP brought project number GS2410, FY24 major modification, a cover line to GS24102, FY24 major modification, electric and appropriating funds for security access controls at 555 Beal Replacement Elevator Lift at Gaston Community Center, installing opticum traffic signals at Crump and Georgia, and replacement generators at fire station number 15 and fire station number 25.

Districts five, six, and seven, and super districts eight and nine.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilman Smiley, you recognize.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair of the Committee Rip.

31 was moved, but Smiley seconded by Warren.

Seeing no members in the queue, please pair the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearingen, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 32.

Item number 32 is a resolution transferring CIP FY26 allocations in the amount of 1,608, 850 dollars from CIP project number GS24100, FY24 major modification, a cover line to GS24104 major modification HBAC and appropriating funds for repair and or replacement of HBAC units and controls at the Pink Palace Museum, the zoo, fire training academy, and police training academy, districts five and seven, and super districts eight and nine.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilman Smiley, you're recognized.

Committee may recommend approval and I submove.

Seconded by Warren, seeing the members in the queue, please pair the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swerman Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 33.

Item number 33 is a resolution transferring CIP FY26 allocations in the amount of 1,500,000 dollars from CIP project number GS24100, FY24, major modification, a cover line to CIP project number, GS24107, contingency and appropriating funds in the amount of one million five hundred thousand dollars for emergency repairs throughout the city.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilman Smiley recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The committee meant recommended approval and I so move.

33 was moved by Smiley, seconded by Swearing Washington.

Seeing the members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 34.

Item number 34 is a resolution to amend the sewer FY26 CIP budget by transfer and appropriation of funds in the amount of 25,901,459 from South Plant Expansion, project number SW02033 to cover it and aerobic lagoon project number SW02011 for the construction of TE Maxon Wastewater Facility Lagoon Number 5 Renovations District 6 Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilman Smiley, you recognize I appreciate it, Chairman Committee recommender approval and I saw move.

34 was moved by Smiley, seconded by Spinoza.

Seeing the members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, and Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 35.

Item number 35 is a resolution to establish requirements for fiscal year 2026 quarterly financial status reports.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by Councilman Carlisle.

Councilman Carlisle, you recognize.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Bonosa, yes, Swearington, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, and Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Colleagues, this brings us to the end of our agenda and to our same night minute items.

I believe the vice chair has those ready for us.

Thank you, Chairman.

I say nine minute items are items two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-nine, and item 40.

And I so move.

Same night minute items moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue, please prepare the voting screen.

Our votes for the same night minutes.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinosa, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

All right, colleagues.

This brings us to our public comment portion.

First up, Keith Caldwell.

Mr.

Caldwell, name and address for the record, you have two minutes.

My name is Keith Caldwell, as I live at 584 East MacLamar.

That's my address.

I'd like to talk to the council today about organized labor and respecting the dignity of all labor.

Our city has a responsibility to respect the work of people that keep this city running.

Faith and labor has had a long relationship.

I find it ironic that in the city where Dr.

Martin Luther King gave his life for the sanitation workers that we're back at stripping the rights of workers of people who keep this city who wake this city up every morning and put it to bed every night.

And I just want to implore this council to please honor the dignity of all labor and pass this collective bargaining.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Caldwell.

Appreciate your comments.

Before I go to the next, Miss Rogers, if you wait for one second, but you are up next.

Um I'd like to ask uh Councilwoman White to speak about her compensation task force, and she can make it the announcement of the next time they are going to meet.

Thank you, Chairman.

We had a meeting um on this past Thursday.

That was the first meeting uh where we went through and and let me back up.

So at the last um, the end of our last budget season, we passed a resolution for a workers' compensation task force to try to determine where everyone is represented and unrepresented employees to make sure that we are at least um what's the word moving in the direction of the marketplace and at least in the direction of other municipalities comparable to ours.

And so the next task force meeting is November thirteenth on the fifth floor in the committee room.

I'm absolutely open to um if any of you all as representatives want to send packages and or possibly provide presentations that would be helpful to understand um where we are, but we are aware that we do have people in certain positions who and I said this during budget season, this tale of two cities, even within the city for people who, even though they may get the same raises as you all got, um, for instance, um, in this last budget season, they still may be woefully under what the market is for the work that they do.

So that's why the task force is the compensation task force is so important, and we would absolutely appreciate your input um as we go forward and your participation even at those meetings.

Thank you so much, Chairman, for the opportunity to speak on the compensation task force.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

All right, Ms.

Rogers.

Name and address you have two minutes.

Emily Rogers, 670 West Drive, um three one one two.

Everybody in this room deserves a fair wage and fair compensation, but that is only a fraction of what we are asking for here today.

I was so glad to see some of you outside today with us as we gather together as unions, as the force of labor that keeps our city on its feet, especially at this time of occupation.

It is a relief to hear some of you stand with your city to publicly commit to doing the work of fighting for workers' rights.

So I would like to ask from each of you if you're willing, can you commit to standing with labor?

Can you commit to to placing a referendum on the ballot today to change the employment status of library workers from appointed to civil service and placing us on the agenda for the next council meeting?

I was so glad to see y'all outside today.

I was like, It is all well and good to say that you support labor, but we are looking for action.

But we are looking for action.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Rogers.

Samar Solomon.

Ms.

Solomon, hold on one second when you get to the podium.

Councilman Smiley, you recognize.

Well, um, you know, I just asked Meredith to come up.

Ms.

Keaton.

She has the very difficult job of being with me.

Um, you know, I I've been pretty consistent on this issue when it comes to things like this.

A referendum is this, um, putting something on a ballot to let the people decide.

I don't see why the council shouldn't let the people decide.

So I'll be bringing something.

So Chris, thank you for consistently showing up.

We're gonna let the people decide.

Well, we'll see what this council does.

We're gonna bring something next council meeting to talk about this issue.

Let's see what happens.

Thank you, Councilman Smiley.

Miss Solomon.

You may go ahead and Solomon, 1186, Ascend Drive, Memphis, Tennessee, 38119.

Right now, Mayor Young's administration is attempting to roll back decades of progress for organized labor in Memphis by asking the courts to invalidate public sector collective bargaining agreements in the city as part of his countersuit against police and fire unions.

If he succeeds, this would undermine the legacy of Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., the sanitation workers, and the rights of every city worker to have a fair and recognized voice in their workplace.

Library workers and Memphians deserve better.

We deserve the respect of our elected leaders and the dignity of having a real say in the decisions that affect our pay, our safety, and our ability to serve our communities.

This is about more than wages.

Workers have the right to represent ourselves and be in the room when decisions are being made about us if we democratically elect to do so.

When this council speaks out in defense of collective bargaining and takes action to help library workers secure civil service protections and clear the path to our right to collectively bargain, we will know that our work is not only honored by our communities, but respected by our city's leadership.

Thank you.

Does that sound like an employment category that a librarian should be under?

Um so uh I think it's incumbent upon this body, and I think it's incumbent upon Paul Young's administration to rectify those issues.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Alexandra Farmer, Alexandra Farmer, 1044 Bruce Street, 38104.

Strong leaders protect democracy.

And a key part of our democracy has been ensuring that workers have the right to represent themselves in a union of their peers.

That legacy runs deep in Memphis, from the sanitation workers to every single public sector employee in this room today who has fought for and continues to fight for fairness and respect.

Yet right now, library workers are being unfairly denied the right to collectively bargain.

In the past few weeks, when we've spoken to council members, we've been told about salary reviews and new compensation task forces.

We appreciate being heard on our low pay, and we are grateful and welcome for long overdue increases in our wages.

But to be honest with you, these offerings, while very positive, feel like a distraction and a sidestep from the real issue we've been raising to you for months.

Our right to form a union.

We don't need our problems solved for us.

We need to be respected as partners and brought into these conversations through the mechanism that already exists for this exact purpose.

A democratically decided union that we ourselves have formed.

If you will just take the affirmative step to clear the unjust legal obstacles we face in order to do so.

So we are asking you as our elected leaders to speak out publicly in support of collective bargaining for all city workers and to take concrete steps to ensure library workers have the same rights as every other city employee.

So we really appreciate that Councilman Smiley has said that he will work with us on this ordinance, and we really hope that we can count on the rest of our council members to support us.

All we are asking for is for this to go to the voters.

Let the voters decide if librarians should be classified as appointed or if we should be the civil servants that we are.

I think the voters will agree that we should be civil servants.

Thank you, Ms.

Farrell.

Denise Yule.

Y'all Eddie Fulton.

Mr.

Fulton, you give us your name and address for the record.

You have two minutes.

My apologies, I'm a bit of an awkward man, so I'm gonna try my best.

Without civil service and union representation, my hands are tied.

As a library worker, I feel the weight of responsibility for my community and the neighborhoods in which I serve.

And those the people who otherwise would have access to things that so many of us take for granted on a regular basis.

Things like running water, the internet, clean bathrooms, people who help them and want to care about them.

It weighs so heavily on me because we are unable to fully carry out our duties because that we are appointed workers in that status.

That's not right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Fulton.

Uh last card is Kylie.

There's no last name.

Kylie Thalkmore, 3854 Tutweiler Avenue, zip code 38122.

I, like all of us here, am a Memphian.

The library is one of the last places where everyone is welcome, providing vital resources to all of us.

This kind of censorship has historically been an early step on the short path to authoritarianism.

Time and time again, we see it and time and time again, it does more harm than good.

We call in we are called in this moment to act, not to comply in advance, but to resist.

God bless you.

Be careful on your way home.