Sergeant Arms, will you please call our meeting to order?

Oh, yes, we're going to call the council city of my call for order transaction before we draw.

All right.

The chaplain for today is Pastor Julio May Jr.

from Tabernaculo de Vita Christiana.

Pastor, would you please lead us in prayer?

And uh I just want us to lead in a word of prayer.

Peace.

So why don't I use that as our prayer?

Let us pray.

That you will grant and protect the the city of Memphis peace and bring peace to our neighborhoods, guide the council towards decisions that promote safety and stability.

We pray for equity and justice.

Pray for collaboration and unity.

Pray for the respectful dialogue, unity and diversity, and productive cooperation, even amidst disagreement.

Pray for endurance and strength for public servants.

We pray for the health and endurance and emotional strength and integrity of those who serve in the public office of the city of Memphis.

Councilmember Carlisle.

Cooper Sutton.

Easter Thomas.

Ford Greed Logan.

Smiley.

Spinoza.

Swearing in Washington.

Present.

Walker.

Warren.

White.

Chairman Cannelly.

Mr.

Chairman, you have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

I believe that Chairwoman Alex Swearing Washington has read the meeting minutes from our November 4th, 2025 meeting.

Thank you so much, Chairman.

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

I move for the adoption of the November 4th, 2025 meeting minutes, and I so move.

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

Members, please cast your votes for the minutes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes, Smiley, yes.

Spino, yes.

Swear engine Washington, yes.

Walker, yes.

Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Welcome to the November 18, 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 excuse me, the full opportunity to be heard in the deliberate process of the council is retained at all times.

The Sergeant in 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 at arms before the item is called.

If you are 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, I will only recognize citizens that properly register to speak by submitting a completed comment request card to the sergeant at arms.

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

Chair personally, the council may maintain order by giving any persons who are in violation of the state of 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 door as 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.

Signs larger than the permitted size are prohibited and will be removed from the chamber.

All that to say, let's have a good meeting.

We have some important work to get through.

Some housekeeping items.

Item number 39 is held until December 2nd, 2025.

Madam Comptroller, would you please call item number one?

Item number one is a resolution recognizing and honoring the sacrifice of service members and their families during veterans and military families month.

This resolution is sponsored by Councilman Spinoza.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chairman Canale.

It's an honor to be here today.

Um also got obviously Councilwoman Easter Thomas with me to help read this resolution, and Councilwoman Cooper Sutton.

If we could please have the honorees come join us up front who are in attendance today.

If you don't mind, we'd like to take a photo or two.

Um, and then we've got a unique resolution for each one of you and a gift as well.

Any council members that want to come down, you can come down as we read this.

But with that, again, it's an honor to read this today.

Whereas throughout our nation's history, members of the United States Armed Forces have answered the call to defend our freedoms and safeguard democracy, often at great personal cost and sacrifice.

And whereas November is designated as Veteran Veterans and Military Families a month, a time to recognize and honor not only the brave men and women who have served or continue to serve in our armed forces, but also their families who stand steadfastly beside them through deployments, relocations, and the many challenges of military life.

And whereas military families serve our country in their own right, offering strength, resilience, and unwavering support to their loved ones in uniform, and deserve the full gratitude and respect of our nation and our community.

The city of Memphis is proud to be home to many veterans, active duty personnel, reservists, and military families whose contributions enrich our neighborhoods, strengthen our civic institutions, and inspire future generations of public service.

The Memphis City Council recognizes the importance of ensuring that veterans and military families receive the care, support, and opportunities that they have earned, and reaffirms its commitment to promoting initiatives that improve their quality of life.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Memphis City Council on behalf of the citizens of Memphis, Tennessee, hereby recognize November 2025 as veteran in military family month, and honors the extraordinary service and sacrifice of our veterans, service members, and their family.

And I'll hand it back to you.

Thanks.

Now, therefore, be it ordained or be it further resolved that the Memphis City Council and Ordained proudly honors the following in recognition of veteran and military families month, November 2025.

So with that, we've got the list of all the people here.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

That is all, Mr.

Chair.

All right.

We'll call the names.

We'll call the names.

All right.

We've got Cassandra White, and Antonia.

Cassandra White is councilwoman, East Thomas's mother.

Antonio Parkinson, Will Richardson, Seth Mitchell, Richard Griffin, who is my honoree today.

He's a fine man.

He's a police officer at the Tillman Station.

Kevin Brooks, Kelsey Johnson, John Lawson, Will Minton, Fred Dorse, Donier Ectanaugh, and Terry, my friend, Terry Newswander.

Thank you all very much.

Picture time.

Madam Council, would you show that approved by acclamation?

Yes, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

You're welcome, Mr.

Chairman.

You can go ahead and call item two, please.

Item number two is a resolution honoring First Baptist Church of Lauderdale celebrating 160 years.

This resolution is sponsored by Councilwoman Cooper Sutton.

Councilwoman Cooper Sutton, you're recognized.

Okay.

Thanks, right.

Thank you.

This resolution is by Councilwoman Cooper Sutton and Councilman Edmund Ford Sr.

Okay, do you want to read this part?

Okay.

Okay.

Whereas the First Baptist Church Lauderdale, FBCL, is celebrating its 160th anniversary, making a remarkable history of faith, leadership, and community service in Memphis, Tennessee, and founded in 1865 as the first independent Black Baptist Church in Memphis.

The congregation, the First Baptist Church, Lauderdale is widely record regarded as the mother church for most black Baptist congregations in Memphis by extension across West Tennessee.

And under the leadership of the Reverend Morris Henderson, First Baptist Church Lauderdale was chartered as the first colored Baptist Church.

And First Baptist Church Lauderdale has been guided by nine remarkable pastors throughout his history.

And I would turn it over to Councilman Ford.

Starting with Reverend Morris Henderson, 1865 to 1877.

Reverend W.S.

Ellington, 1894 to 1900.

Reverend Dr.

T.O.

Fuller, 1900 to 1942.

And you know we got T.O.

Fuller Park named after him.

Yes.

Yes.

Reverend Dr.

J.

M.

Nabret Sr., 1943 to 1947.

Reverend Dr.

Henry Claude Nabrit, 1947 to 1968.

Reverend Dr.

Charles L.

Dincan Sr.

Getting to my age now.

Yeah, 1969 to 1994.

Reverend Dr.

Noel G.

L.

Hutcheson, 1995 to 2001.

Reverend Chester Berry Hill Jr.

2019 to 2024.

And the church relocated in 1906 from Zion Hall at 217 Bill Street to 495 Frazier Street, now St.

Paul Avenue.

And in 1939, moved to its current location at 682, South Lauderdale Street.

And in 1941, the sanctuary choir of First Baptist Church, Lauderdale, presented the first rendition of Hendale's Messiah by the Black Congregation in Memphis, an annual tradition that continues to this day.

And in recognition of his service, the Shelby County Negro State Park was renamed T.O.

Fuller State Park in 1942, honoring the church third pastor.

And in 1954, the church amended its corporate charter, changing its name to First Baptist Church, Lauderdale, and in 1963 became duly affiliated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

And the American Baptist Convention.

And in 2000, the church was listed as the National Register of Historic Places, acknowledging its historical and cultural significance, and the members and leadership of First Baptist Church Lauderdale have demonstrated enduring commitment to spiritual growth, community service, and the empowerment of generation of Memphians.

And by the Memphis City Council, that we hereby honor and commend First Baptist Church Lauderdale on its 160th anniversary, recognizing its profound contribution to faith, culture, and history, and Memphis, and we extend our best wish for continued blessings and success.

Be it further resolved that on this day this resolution be presented to the members and leadership of First Baptist Church Lauderdale and an expression of the City of Memphis' deepest gratitude and admiration for 160 years of faithful ministry and enduring contribution to the spiritual and cultural life of our city.

Given by the hand and under the great seal of the city of Memphis, the 18th day of November 2025.

Yolanda Cooper Sutton, and we will add Councilman Ford because he's older and he knew some of these people.

Memphis City Council.

And we're going to give this to you because we need to add him.

Okay.

And put me in the middle.

Oh, well, yes, sir.

We will.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

And please call item number three.

Item number three 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 3605 Lamar Avenue.

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

It was held from November 4th.

The case numbers SUP 25-28.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

This item received a favorable recommendation at committee.

The Department of Planning and Zoning, also LU LUCB both recommended approval with conditions.

And ISO move.

Three was moved by Swords from Washington.

Second of a Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue.

Anybody want to hear from DPD or the applicant?

Very good.

Please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Swearing Jen Washington, yes.

Walker, yes.

Warren, yes.

Please show Councilman Smiley is voting yes on this item.

White, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

The item passes.

In the amount of one million nineteen thousand five hundred and forty dollars.

Item number eighteen is a resolution approving renewal to contract number one zero three three two ABB software maintenance with Hitachi Energy to renew the current contract in the funded amount of seven hundred seventy-four thousand seven hundred and thirteen dollars.

Item number nineteen is a resolution approving the payment for street cut permits to the city of Memphis in the amount of two million dollars.

Item number twenty is a resolution awarding contract number one two six zero seven Davis Ariator Building Screen Replacement to A and B Construction Company Inc.

Item number 21 is a resolution awarding contract number 12605 McCord Mechanical Maintenance Building to Barnes and Brower Inc.

in the funded amount of $3 million.

Item number 22 is a resolution approving the execution of an amendment and extension of contract number 12416 between Memphis Light Gas and Water Division and Trunkline Gas Company LLC in the amount of $16 million approximately.

Item number 23 is a resolution approving the execution of a new contract number 12640 between Memphis Light Gas and Water Division and Texas Gas Transmission LLC in the amount of six million dollars approximately.

Item number 24 is a resolution approving the amendment of contract number 12313 between Memphis Light Gas and Water Division and ANR Pipeline Company in the amount of approximately $9,500.

Item number 25 is a resolution approving the execution of an extension of contract number 12398 between Memphis Light Gas and Water Division and Texas Gas Transmission LLC in the amount of $70 million approximately.

Item number 26 is a resolution approving renewal and scope change to contract number 11292, cashiering system replacement with system innovators to renew and scope change the current contract in the funded amount of 159,497 and 24 cents.

Item number 27 is a resolution approving extension to contract number 12650.

Flex deploy automatic code migration to EBS Apex with Flexagun LLC to extend the current contract in the funded amount of 197,760.

Item number 28 is a resolution approving of extension to contract number 12652 meter reading with United Systems and Software Inc.

to extend the contract value in the funded amount of 137,082.90.

Item number 29 is a resolution approving renewal to contract number 12378 fleet maintenance with Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Centers to renew the current contract in the funded amount of $987,996.

Item number 31 is a resolution awarding contract number 12558 Mallory Pumping Station Filter Building Roof Replacement to B for applied Inc.

in the amount of $504,870.

Madam Controller, you skipped item 30.

Item number 30 is a resolution awarding purchase order for fuse elements to brighter days and nights inc.

In the amount of $669,900.

Item number 31 is a resolution awarding contract number $12558, Mallory Pumping Station Filter Building Roof Replacement to B4 Applied Inc.

in the funded amount of $54,870 and 30 cents.

Item number 32 is a resolution approving ratification of purchase order number 7068545 with brighter days and nights inc for Luminaire Flood Lights LED $1000 watt in the amount of $151,450 and 50 cents.

Item number 33 is a resolution awarding purchase order for smart water meter modules to West Coast Distribution Inc.

in the amount of $2,04900.

Item number 34 is a resolution awarding purchase order for water meter registers to Badger Meter Incorporated in the amount of $1,048,950.

Item number 35 is a resolution awarding purchase order for gas smart meters and equipment to Ed Young Sales Company Inc.

in the amount of $1,900,389.94.

Item number 36 is a resolution approving increase to contract number 12236 meter support maintenance with Elster Solutions LLC to increase the current contract in the funded not to exceed amount of $1,397.

Item number 37 is a resolution approving ratification renewal and scope change to contract number 12464 Samsara Fleet Safety and Track Solution with Samsara Incorporated to ratify renew and expand the scope of the current contract value in the funded amount of $929,714 and 14 cents.

And our final item number 38 is a resolution approving renewal and extension to contract number 12186 Family Medical Leave Act with Unum Group to renew and extend the current contract in the funded amount of 301,282 and eight cents.

Mr.

Chairman, it concludes our MLGW consent items.

Well done, Madam Comptroller.

You can take a deep breath.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh committee met recommends approval and ISO move.

And I feel like we should give you a round of applause or something.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

MLGW was moved by Spinoza.

Who is my second?

Warren.

Seconded by Warren.

Members, please cast your votes.

Carlisle, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Board, yes, Smiley, yes.

Spinoza, yes.

Swearing in Washington, yes.

Walker, yes, Warren, yes.

White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Controller.

Please go take us to our consent agenda, which will be items four through eleven plus item 45 on our add-ons.

What's going on?

I'm sorry, I'm here and it's not uh thank you.

And please add me as a yes on the last vote.

So again, that's items for on consent items four through eleven plus item 45 off of our add-ons.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Item number four is up for second reading.

Ordinance number five nine six zero is sponsored by councilwoman Easter Thomas.

Item number five is up for second reading.

Ordinance number five nine six one is sponsored by the administration.

Item number six is up for second reading.

Ordinance number five nine six two is sponsored by the administration.

Item number seven is up for second reading.

Ordinance number five nine six three is sponsored by the administration.

Item number eight is up for second reading.

Ordinance number five nine six four is sponsored by the division of planning and development.

Item number nine is up for second reading.

Ordinance number five five nine five nine is sponsored by the administration.

It was held from November 4th.

And on our add-ons, we have an ordinance up for first reading, ordinance to establish Memphis City Council meeting dates for 2026 up for first reading.

Ordinance number 5965 is sponsored by council members Swear Ingen Washington and Carlisle.

And there is a request for this to be added on to the consent agenda.

And items 10 and 11, please.

And our engineering division, item number 10, a resolution approving the engineering plans for MBA regional detention pond and outball phase one and accepting bond as security.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 11 is a resolution accepting public improvements for Austin Peace Center.

And releasing bond, there is a request for same night minutes.

Mr.

Chairman, that concludes our consent agenda items.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation, and ISO move.

Councilwoman White, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

I'll be recusing from items number four, six, and seven as I represent the Shelby County Commission.

Note White as a recusal on four, six, and seven.

Councilwoman Green, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I just wanted to note for the record.

Um I've received numerous emails about item number nine, the ordinance regarding small business enterprise opportunity program.

And many of the people who emailed me were confused procedurally.

So I just wanted um maybe our comp troller or someone can state on the record that when we say the action requested is to adopt the ordinance on the second reading that these will all still go to a third reading.

Yes, we cannot approve an ordinance on two readings, it must have three readings.

So I was the one that held it from the last meeting, held the second reading.

So it will be up for third reading on December 2nd.

And if members of this body uh are not satisfied with the language the to amend it, um we can hold it again from there, but it will not be adopted on second reading.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Consent was moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Warren.

Seeing no other members in the queue, please, members please cast your votes.

Carlisle, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, green, yes, smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white recused, Chairman Cannelli, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us to our fiscal consent agenda, items 12 through 16 plus item 46 from our ad on agenda.

Thank you.

And item 46, Madam Controller, if you will note as amended.

Thank you.

Item number 12 is a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of 105,175 dollars from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee for repairs at David Carnes Park, District 6, Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

It was held from November 4th.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 13 is a resolution accepting grant funds of $30,000 from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging for the Josephine K.

Lewis Senior Center, District 7 and Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 14 is a resolution accepting grant funds of $30,000 from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging for Frazier Raleigh Senior Center, District 1 and Super District 9.

This resolution is sponsored by Memphis Parks.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 15 is a resolution approving the acceptance of a donated KNM side by side UTB valued at 32,009 dollars and 99 cents by Shelby County government.

All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by police services.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Item number 16 is a resolution to accept donation of one uh rocket M18N dual power light valued at 550,000 dollars and two M18 Red Lithium XC5.0 batteries valued at 169 each from Banity, all council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by police services, and on our add-ons number 46, a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2026 operating budget.

All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration with requests for it to be added on and same night minutes as amended.

Mr.

Chairman, it concludes our items.

Thank you, madam countroller, and just to note that 16 was also same night minutes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Green, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I just wanted to note for the record, item number 46 is a really big deal.

I am excited to see the council in unity on this and sponsoring it.

Um the caption doesn't quite capture what it does, but this is the one that raises everybody's minimum pay for full-time employees in the city of Memphis to 40,000.

And as you know, recently we had some freezing of SNAP benefits, and I went in to the SNAP calculator and put in a single mom of two children, making what some people in the city of Memphis were making prior to this resolution, and they qualified for food stamps.

And so I am glad to know that especially as we approach the holidays, the council has seen fit to move this item forward to help lift those up who work for our city to make sure that they have food on the table and are able to you know afford basic needs.

So I'm grateful.

I know it's taken us a long time to get here from when I originally proposed it back in budget time, but I am grateful that we have gotten here and that we are going to be able to help so many families in the city of Memphis.

So thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Councilwoman Green.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

I agree with our fellow councilwoman.

Councilwoman Green, you shared your concern.

We listened and we responded, and that's what we will always do.

We're in this together for the betterment of our citizens.

Madam Controller, I want to make sure on number 16 that you said 550 dollars.

It sounded as if you said something else.

Um that's one hundred and fifty dollars.

No, that's what it should be five hundred and fifty dollars.

Yes, she said you said 550,000.

I wanted to clarify, make sure we meant five.

We'll take that too.

Uh fiscal consent was moved by Swearinger Washington, seconded by Warren.

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

Colleagues, this is includes item 46 as amended, just to make sure.

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

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us to item 44 off of our add-ons.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

One moment, please.

Item number 44 is a resolution to accept and appropriate additional surface transportation block grant funds in the amount of 1,724, 723 from the Tennessee Department of Transportation for the Winchester Drive Interchange at Perkins Road, project number PW01025, districts three and four, super districts eight and nine.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

There is a request for same night minutes for this item.

Councilman Smiley, recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The committee member recommended approval I saw move.

44 was moved by Smiley, seconded by Spinoza.

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

Yes.

Thank you.

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

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us to item 40 off our regular agenda.

Item number 40 is a resolution approving the permanent easement acquisition of four properties located in the Greater White Haven Gardens subdivision for the use and benefit of the public works division, Memphis Stormwater, Memphis Stormwater Quantity and Quality Project, MSQ2.

District 3, Super District 8.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Committee met recommended approval and I so move.

40 was moved by Smiley, seconded by Spinoza.

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

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, green, yes, smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing Washington, yes.

Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white, yes, and Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Country, please take us to item 41.

Item number 41 is a resolution approving the 2026 operating and capital budgets for the electric gas and water divisions.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by MLGW.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Committee manner recommends approval and I so move.

Committee manner recommends approval when I submit 41 was moved by Spinoza, seconded by Warren before we go to the voting screen.

I do have three public comment cards.

Christine Fox up first, followed by Glenda Hicks, and then Andrea Bell.

Name and address for the record, you have two minutes.

Thank you.

Christine Fox, 584 East McLamore, 38106.

Good afternoon.

I am here this afternoon to ask you to vote no on the proposed MLGW budget and the increase in the streetlight fee.

Right now, MLGNW is asking ratepayers for more money while millions of dollars in their budget are unexplained, inflated, or simply not justified.

The biggest red flag is the 228 million five-year tree trimming contract.

Last year, MLG and Went 43.6 million dollars trimming 1,884 miles.

This year, they've spent 35.5 million and say they've trimmed more than the 1400 miles planned.

If productivity is increasing, the cost should be going down, not up.

Instead, we're staring at a 28 million dollar over budget cushion with no clear explanation.

We also heard claims that Memphis terrain explains the higher cost.

But anyone who knows Tennessee knows that Nashville and Knoxville have far far more hilly, treacherous terrain.

That justification does not stand up to common sense.

At the same time, MLGW is proposing to buy the Goodlett Farms property for $31.8 million and another $30 million for renovations.

These enormous expenditures are happening while streetlights all over the city still don't work.

Yet ratepayers are being asked to pay more.

But wait, there's more.

At the recent MLGW budget hearing, only three of 13 council members were present.

You would think that for decisions of this scale, the public deserves full oversight, not rubber stamping and pol and rubber stamping budgets and policies.

This budget shows no adjustments to the water division, even though several large industrial users have drastically reduced their draw on our aquifer.

When production needs fall, costs should fall too.

Okay.

It is year to demand transparency.

I urge you to reject the streetlight fee increase, reject the 2025 electric rate increase, and require an independent audit of the tree trimming contract.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Fox.

Ms.

Hicks.

Good afternoon.

Glenda Hicks, 608 Gillies, co-founder 21st Century Memphis Rebust.

I sent each of you emails earlier regarding the budget.

And I hope I can get through my comments.

On November 4th, I came before this body saying that this critical, overwhelming, hurting state that the government shut down has put the majority of the citizens in, must be at the forefront of your actions.

The 2026 MLGW budget does not give any consideration to this true, no fault of our own reality that our most vulnerable citizens drastically now find themselves in.

To act with genuine concern, extending heartfelt aid and financial ease.

There has been much back and forth said about the massive 228 million dollar allocated funds for the five-year tree trimming contract using common sense and simplistically looking at the data.

As factually stated, if MLGW stays the course and trims its plan 1400 miles per year, their documentation clearly shows that 40 million a year is lavishly questionable and definitely more than adequate.

Approving lavish budgets is not Memphis's reality.

It is absolutely not just not equitable usage of weight payers' monies, doing business as usual without consideration for harm harmful impacts of first MLGW's massive billing delay fiasco.

The MLGW's continuous overestimated building and inaccurate billing occurrences.

TVA's constant fluctuating fuel cost adjustment charges.

Yes.

So all of these factors need to be taken into consideration and have not.

So we are asking, and we represent over a thousand members.

We are asking that you certainly pause and dismiss this 4% rate increase and that you not allow any increases, period, including street lighting.

Thank you.

Andrea Bell.

Good afternoon, Andrea Bell, 5445 Ridge Millane.

I am here because I would like for you to deny the budget and send back for reconsideration.

And dismiss the 4% electric rate increase.

We have shown that we have the money to delay the 4% increase.

Think about this, please.

TVA is the lowest utility provider in the US.

It services seven states.

And here in Memphis, we just gave our city employees a pay raise to a minimum of 40,000.

We are the most impoverished city and Tennessee Commissioner Ford.

Memphis used one-fifth of their income for their utility bill.

Let's put this in perspective.

But that is a band-aid.

Lower cost utilities is a fix.

It is a fix to help us out.

What is the issue?

The issue is that we council members should do our due diligence.

MLGW is just business, but we should be just business for our people.

Nashville's rates are lower than ours.

Across the board, it's lower.

And here we are in Memphis and we're struggling, and we have the highest rates.

Please, council members and women, deny this bill.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Bill.

Councilman Carlisle, and then I'm gonna ask President McGill to come up after Councilman Carwell finishes.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I'm sure chief or President Gown probably do a far better job.

I'll say a couple things, and I unfortunately I've got a family emergency that I've got to go immediately for.

Um probably I'll admit I probably haven't dove into this budget as well as I should have because it's a multi-billion dollar utility company that has senior leadership that was put in place and has a board of commissioners that was appointed, which is how the structure is set up.

If you don't like the structure, that's one thing.

But the idea to insinuate that members have rubber stamped this plan is insulting at the least.

How hard the senior staff at MLGW have worked, and the reason that you didn't have multiple members in there is because it's possible, maybe possible during our part-time jobs with our other lives.

We took time out of that schedule to go and meet with them one-on-one to get those questions answered.

Maybe that's possible.

You know what?

It is because that's what happened.

When you're not here, we're not here in this room.

We actually do take meetings and spend time.

So I take extreme extreme issue with saying that that got rubber stamped.

People work very hard up here, including the staff.

Like it's insane.

You guys want better politicians, and you beat the crap out of them when they're here 24-7.

It's like a lose-lose.

Like you want more, but you want to pay less for it.

It's a lose-lose.

Like get on board with the vision.

We're trying to build something better.

We're not perfect, but we're working on it.

We appreciate you being here, but like at the end of the day, I've been here for six years, and I'll channel Martavius Jones.

You cannot pay less and constantly expect more in this city.

Full stop.

I will also acknowledge that we have to have better oversight, and we are working every day to do that.

And you see it in the documents that are being produced.

But I appreciate all the hard work that everybody on this body has put in and continues to do.

I appreciate you being here and being away from your families and taking that time.

I appreciate the people in the audience doing the same thing.

But honestly, if you really want better representation, start being more optimistic and supportive of the people instead of just absolutely coming here every day and beat the crap out of them.

And then wondering why, quote, good people don't run.

Thanks.

I'll be supporting this, but I've got to go.

Thank you, Councilman Carlow.

President McGowan, you want to come uh give us a brief uh synopsis.

Good evening, everybody.

Doug McGallan, Memphis Light Gas of Water 220 South Maine.

Thanks for allowing me to be here, Mr.

Chair.

So I certainly appreciate the passion that people have for supporting the work that we do and holding us accountable, including this body and the work that you all have done to meet with me individually and ask questions, hard questions about the budget.

At the end of the day, this budget in 2025 is excuse me, 2026 is smaller than the budget that we had in 2025.

Um it allows us to continue all the good work we've done to improve the reliability of all of our customers, and it doesn't include any new rate increases for water or gas.

It does have that third increment of the electric rate increase that was approved a few years ago.

But the one thing that it certainly does not do is continue business as usual.

Business as usual for decades was to underfund the organization to not do preventative maintenance that was necessary, to put into place new controls that said we can wait to replace infrastructure until it fails, and to delay modernizing our system.

Well, that bill has come due, as we've talked about some number of years ago when we put these rate increases in place, and we are paying that penalty today for lack of reliability, and something we have got to get over.

So we had a modest increase that we requested in order to improve that reliability.

So this continues that very same plan.

We are staying the course, the plan that you all reviewed and approved, uh, to and continue to fully fund preventative maintenance to renew and replace infrastructure and to modernize our infrastructure.

And so, what have we wrought from that?

From that investment in the last two years, we have reduced customer outage minutes by more than 50 percent in just two years.

It took us 20 years to get here, and two years we reduced it by 50 percent.

And so there is value to our customers, and we fully understand the impact of having to pay a few more dollars per month, whether it's two dollars or five dollars per month, but in comparison to, as we often hear about, losing that refrigerator full of groceries because your power's out for too long.

That is uh what we have avoided in many cases.

Um, a couple of things I want to comment on.

Uh, first of all, um we have the lowest utility rates in the country for a three-sector utility, electric gas and water.

You heard earlier somebody say that Nashville has lower rates across the board than we do.

Well, the recent rate survey that was just conducted in January shows that Memphis for electric gas and water has 291 dollar average bill.

The very same volumes in Nashville cost 421 dollars for the very same volume that is open for inspection and it is open for uh anyone to request.

We have the rate study here.

In fact, our peers use our rate study to compare themselves to other utilities across the country.

The other piece that I'll uh we just want to comment on are two.

The first is the street light fee.

Um, this body in 2014 transferred the costs of the street lights to MLGW to recover through a streetlight fee.

It used to be paid through the general fund taxes out of the city, and in 2014, that was transitioned, so the city was no longer responsible.

MLGW was responsible for charging a fee.

The rate for that was set in 2014.

There was an ordinance that did so.

In that ordinance, it said that MLGW shall come back periodically when the rate needs to be adjusted to accommodate the costs of running the street light plant.

2014, I'm here asking in 2026, 12 years later, to increase the fee by 17%.

That is 76 cents for a residential customer per month and 19 cents for an apartment dweller per month.

During that period of time from 2014 to 2027, the rate of inflation has been 37%.

So I'm not even asking to recover that.

There was a separate ordinance by the city council in about 2018 that allocated to MLGW the requirement to absorb the cost of all security cameras that are installed by MPD.

When MPD puts those sentinel cameras or security cameras, the electricity cost is borne by MLGW.

The attachment fees and labor rates are borne by MLGW.

That annual cost to MLGW is $650,000.

We have not asked to recover that until this point.

And so, together with those increased costs of running those in ever increasing security cameras and the rate of inflation, we're asking for a modest increase in the street light fee.

To the point about street lights not working, when we began this project, there were almost 2,000 street lights in the system that weren't working.

Today there's less than 400, and we've transitioned all of them to LED streetlights, and our response time when they are out is down by more than 50%.

So the plant is working much better.

The last comment I'll make is about this the tree trimming contract, which has been uh much talked about.

There are three arguments that people are making.

Number one, that the cost has ballooned from 100 million dollars to 228 million dollars.

Number two, that we pay well more than our peers do, and number three, that there's some kind of financial fraud or misappropriation of funds going on.

I'll address number three, first of all.

We are independently audited multiple times by independent audit agencies.

All of our financials are open to public scrutiny, including every invoice that I receive and pay, and anyone's welcome to view them if they should.

We have sent those to multiple parties who have inquired and asked through a public records act for an accountability, and we have that chapter and verse.

Second, we do not pay any invoice until such time we're satisfied the work is done.

So that's the final point.

The first point that the costs exploded from 100 million dollars to 228 million dollars.

In 2018, when we bid a five-year tree trimming contract, the lowest bidder came back at 100 million dollars.

Other bidders started the next lowest bid was 140 million dollars in 2018.

This is prior to COVID.

I want to say that the successful bidder that bid 100,000, or excuse me, 100 million dollars for five years, came to us two years later and said, we cannot do the work for the price we quoted you.

We need more money.

That was about the time I arrived at MLGW, and we said, you quoted us the price.

You have underperformed.

We were supposed to do 1400 miles a year, you did 600 miles one year, 500 the next, and now you've only done 90.

We had to find a new vendor, and I'm not gonna pay you more money for underperformance.

So we went through an open bidding contract in 2023 so that we could get a new vendor.

The bidder that bid 100 million dollars in 2018 submitted a bid for 420 million dollars in 2023.

They understand what it took to get the work done, and their bid was four times larger than it was in 2018.

There is no comparison between a contract in 2018 and a contract in 2023 when you have more than twice as much debris to remove and you have COVID in the middle.

Next, oh, by the way, we had eight bidders on that contract.

The bidding process is open to the public.

All the bids are available for anybody to inspect, as is our scoring on the sheets.

Please seek us out.

Look for the information.

It's open to scrutiny.

The last point I'll make is the comparison between us and other cities.

Yes, we pay more per mile than other of our peer cities do.

It's not because of the terrain, certainly we have a lot of trees, as do other service territories.

But what we have in Memphis, Tennessee is 37% of our overhead distribution lines are on rear property lines of people's houses.

In Nashville, it's less than 20%, and in Knoxville it's less than 5%.

When a tree trimming contractor performs tree trimming in the rear lot line, they cannot use a bucket truck to cut those trees, and they cannot use heavy equipment to remove the debris.

It's all done manually.

And tree trimming contractors charge five times more for that kind of work than they do for trees trimming with a bucket truck.

So, yes, 37% of our system's rear lot line, the next closest is 20%.

It's not even close in the comparison.

That matched with the fact that our prior contractor underperformed for at least three years, meant that we had at least two times as much debris to remove.

That is why the cost is inflated from the original bid, which was not realistic in the first place.

Again, I will come back to results.

What are we getting for it?

About a 50% reduction in outage minutes for our customers when combined with infrastructure improvements.

So quite frankly, it's defamatory for people to continue to assert that there's some kind of financial malfeasance down here when absolutely nothing is further from the truth.

With that, Mr.

Chair, I will conclude my comments.

I would ask for your approval of the 2026 MLGW budget.

Thank you, President McGowan.

Very well said.

Colleagues, seeing no other members in the queue.

Madam Countroller, please take us to the voting screen.

Members, cast your votes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes, Green, 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 42.

Item number 42 is a resolution to appropriate 250,000 dollars in FY26 CIP funding for the Oberton Park Shell to renovate the lower set of restrooms and add six upper rest room stalls.

District 5, super district nine.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Thank you, Madam Countroller.

If you could move the screen to item 42.

Thank you.

Councilman Dr.

Warren, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Committee met recommended approval without so move.

42 is moved by Warren, seconded by Swear Engine Washington.

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

Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Green, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swear Ingen Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 43.

Item number 43 is a resolution approving an additive change order to amend the stormwater FY26 CIP budget by transfer and appropriation of funds in the amount of 394,520 from drainage ST cover line, project number ST03205 to South German Town Road Drain Improvement Project Num, ST0327, due to additional funding resource, EPA white be alone established for the installation of pipes along South German Town Road, District 2, Super District 9.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

If you can move the screen to 43, Madam Comptroller.

Thank you.

Councilman Smiley.

Committee may recommend movement I thought move.

43 was moved by Smiley, seconded by Spinoza.

Seeing no members in the queue, please take us.

Members, cast your votes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes, green, yes, smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Swear in Jen Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

All right, colleagues.

That takes us to the end of our agenda.

I believe Madam Vice Chair has our same night minute items ready.

Thank you, Chair.

Our same night minute items are numbers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 44, and 46.

And I so move.

Same night minutes removed by Swearing Washington, seconded by Spinoza.

Seeing no members in the queue.

Members, please cast your votes for our same night minute items.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, green, yes, smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Swear in Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Colleagues, that brings us to our public comment portion.

Missy Robinson.

Missy Robinson here up first.

And name and address, you have two minutes, please.

Missy Robinson, 4358 Rhodes Avenue.

In 2021, Councilman Smiley proposed a resolution to start the Memphis Academy of Civic Engagement, a program that helps citizens learn how local government works and discover ways to get involved in the community.

I'm a lifelong Memphian, but until I participated in the spring cohort of that program this year, I've never watched a city council meeting, spoken with a city leader about an issue, attended a protest, or joined an advocacy group.

And this year I have done all of those things and more.

It isn't an overstatement to say that the program changed my life and awakened my desire to get involved.

So thank you, Councilman Smiley.

I'm here today to commend you on your continued leadership as one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the deployment of the National Guard in Memphis.

While our city does need assistance from the governor and state officials in terms of helpful policies and resources, they need to be born out of hope, not fear.

The merits of the various federal agencies involved in the Memphis Safe Task Force can be debated.

But the lawsuit is specifically about the governor sending the National Guard to Memphis without the proper legal basis.

And even though the easy thing would have been to just say, oh well, they are here now.

I appreciate the local officials who courageously stepped up to move forward with this suit.

This is my first time to make a public comment, and I'm here simply to say thank you to Councilman Smiley.

Thank you, Ms.

Robinson.

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you for being here.

Jonathan Hill.

Hi, I'm Jonathan Hill, 1350 Concourse Avenue, uh 38104.

I want to start also by thanking Councilman Smiley for showing up at our union rally free concert this past Saturday.

Uh library workers, as you witnessed, are really good at putting on community events on a shoestring budget or with no budget at all.

And we all enjoyed listening to great local music, creating art together, and being encouraged and supported by our neighbors.

So many people were enthusiastic about our organizing.

In fact, every time we canvas festivals or show up at community events, every door we knock, we hear the same thing.

I love the library.

Every all of my feedback has been positive, 100%.

Supporting the library is never a wrong move.

We know there are many issues affecting Memphis right now.

We also know that supporting the library, especially at this time, tells Memphians that its city leaders believe they deserve good things in their communities.

Libraries are safe spaces, and library workers are the ones who keep our libraries going.

Library workers facilitate access and opportunity, and access and opportunity is what can build community wealth, joy, and safety.

We know this.

Thank you sincerely for your time.

Thank you, Mr.

Hill.

Councilman Smiley, you recognize.

So I think this is a good time.

At the next council meeting, you see how Meredith's looking at me.

That means she has to do a lot of work.

Um Ms.

Keaton has prepared an ordinance, uh referendum ordinance.

Um, and to channel Councilman Carlisle.

First of all, keep his family in prayers to channel um Councilman Carlisle.

I think the very least we can do is give the people an opportunity to say whether they want to support the library workers or not.

So at the next council meeting, we'll have a referendum ordinance because I know Attorney Wade and Attorney Owens have reviewed it and have it ready to go for this council meeting.

So, you know, this is an opportunity to say if you want to be at it as a coastalist.

I think we have Councilwoman Walker.

Thank Councilwoman Green.

And Councilman Fuller.

I would love everybody to join us.

Thank you all so much.

Councilman Walter.

Thank you, Councilman Smiley.

Uh Emiline Rogers.

I think we picked up some more.

Emiline Rogers, 670 West Drive, 38112.

Every Thursday I sit down to knit and crochet with whoever makes it out to the East Shelby Library with a willingness to learn.

This past Friday, one of my regulars asked me about a news interview she'd seen about our union.

I'm so glad I was able to tell her that we have the support of the council and are moving forward towards gaining the rights we deserve.

She has come to the last three fiber arts classes I've held, and she uses the library regularly to study and print, as well as a place to meet people and decompress at the end of the work day.

She believes us to be invaluable.

She and the rest of our patrons are a big part of why I joined MPL Workers United and why I come here to speak.

As we finalize the language of our proposed referendum, I would like to thank JB Smiley, Jerry Green, Pearl Walker, and Dr.

Warren for their efforts to work with us on these issues.

Every Memphis and Shelby County resident will benefit from a well-funded library system with basic workplace protections for every employee.

They are already paying attention to what we are doing here.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to have something good to share when they ask.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Rogers.

Denise Ewell.

She leave Alexander Farmer.

Good evening, Alexandra Farmer, uh 1044 Bruce Street, 38104.

Uh yeah, I also want to start my comment by by thanking all of you.

I um really excited and all of the library workers are really excited for the city council's support.

Um, and we do hope that more of you will join in uh Councilman Smiley and be a co-sponsor of his ordinance.

Uh I just wanted to talk a little bit tonight about our union and tell you about how MPL Workers United is really all about democracy.

It's about the democracy that we serve in our libraries and the democracy that we're building for ourselves together as workers.

Um libraries don't exist to make profit, they exist to serve the public and to increase access and opportunity for everyone.

But that mission can only work when the people who keep our libraries running are protected, respected, and able to speak up without fear.

But currently, our status as political appointees has denied us these basic rights by limiting transparency in our libraries, silencing workers, and ultimately weakening library services.

But library workers have come together to change that, and now Memphis will have an opportunity to change that as well.

We are really grateful to Councilman Smiley and to his co-sponsors for bringing forward an ordinance to that would let the people of Memphis um vote on a charter amendment to reclassify library workers as civil servants.

That is how democracy should work.

The public deciding how its public institutions operate.

Civil service and a union for the library workers means stability, accountability, and efficient, transparent processes that strengthen all of our libraries across the city.

We hope we can count on all of your support and for more of you to become co-sponsors for this ordinance.

Thank you so much for all of your time and for your commitment to the people of Memphis who we all serve.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Horber.

Timothy Foster.

First of all, I like to start out by saying that I'm a nobody.

But now my agenda is Mud Allen.

And I don't know if anybody is we into Mud Allen, but I know we got the King's Bridge that's coming.

So I thought we'd change Mud Island to King Allen.

And we need to be known, Memphis needs to be known for something I feel that would be really uh exciting to uh the whole United States and King's Island, and we decided to do that.

I would like to see Memphis being noted for the world's largest fair as we are on King's Island.

So when people come across and see, and I got this from uh New York at uh Coney Allen, they got the World's Fair when you on the island over there.

So if Memphis and could turn Mud Island, it's been sitting there dormant for so many years, and I feel that it's time for Mud Allen to change the name for Mud Allen, because the word mud sounds like I don't know whether we change it to King's Island to go along with King's Bridge.

I think we have something going good there, and we would put the world largest friends we are there, and I would like to be a part of this if it ever become to existence.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Foster.

And you are not a nobody, you are very much a somebody, and we very much appreciate you being here and your comments this evening.

That's a great idea.

Chief Andre Matthews.

Chief Andre Matthews, 2115 Storball Avenue, District 7.

Greetings to all honorable councilpersons here.

For the record, I represent the local farmers called Family Farmers Cooperative.

My grandfather Woody Daniels and his uncle, Clifton Howard, uh had the cottonfield buses that took people to Arkansas in the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

So we are longtime farmers in our family.

I'm here to request assistance for the North Memphis food store and market located at 1849 Warforth Street on 10 acres.

Our network of farmers stand ready to help support the community food pantries and the Memphis Food Bank.

We have been growing in the Tennessee for over uh 100 years.

And as you know, recently, long lines have been formed around the city, and at every site, the food runs out.

We offer our assistance with our farmers, our equipment, refrigerator trucks, and our experience in food service and production.

We are needed at this time.

People need food now and in the future.

Will you hear our cry?

Will you support our local farmers?

Will you help us feed the community?

We have a lot to do.

We have a backup support system from farmers in the Tri-State area to supply our market.

Uh if we can get some assistance.

So we need uh we've been waiting since 2022.

Please hear our cry.

These are our children, these are our hungry families.

My phone number is 901-690-2258.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, Chief Matthews.

Councilwoman White.

Well, I was just asking for clarity.

Is it a nonprofit or yeah?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

If you could, sir, I would Chief Foster.

Matthew Foster.

You don't have to come back up.

I'll I'll come after you once the meeting is over.

All right.

Colleagues, that brings us to the end of public comment.

Um, I would like to say before we go to my colleagues and to the staff and to all of your families as we approach Thanksgiving week.

I want each and every one of you to know how thankful and grateful that I am for each one of you and your families and all the service that you provide to our beloved city.

I know what a tough task it is, and I know the hours that you put in, and I love and care for each one of you.

So I wish all of you a very, very happy Thanksgiving and let your your families know how much they're appreciated too because sacrifice for them as well.

So with that, um I will entertain the motion to adjourn.

We are adjourned.

Be careful going home.

God bless you.

All right.