So if we had ideas for one and they want to respect this one.

So I guess that's what they mean by outspeeding.

Yeah.

We do.

But just to be in the form.

You know.

How about I can do this?

Yeah.

Well, I'll read what it says about covering more interface.

Oh yeah.

You know, just someone helped organizing some way more.

I think that's really my soul.

In a way.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Sergeant Arms, would you please call our December sixteenth council meeting to order?

I would like to welcome Hindu statesman Rajhan Zed, who is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, to lead us in prayer.

Thank you, sir, for being with us in praying for us and over us today.

Starting with Gaytri Mantra, which is considered the most sacred mantra of Hinduism, I shall be reading from ancient Hindu scriptures, some as old as fifteen hundred BCE, then interpret in English.

May we work together with great vigor.

Greetings be it hereby known that Rajhan Z, in recognition of a life of exemplary qualities, outstanding service to this city and many cities, meritorious involvement in humanitarian affairs, and demonstrated concern for governmental process, has been appointed chaplain of the day of the Memphis City Council.

Could we possibly ask the council members to come down and get a picture with uh our colleague here?

Uh he uh has been many places and would like to have this as a member a memory of the

Madam Comptroller, would you please call the roll?

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Councilmember Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Spinoza, Swear Engine Washington Present.

Walker Warren White.

Chairman Canale.

Mr.

Chairman, you have a quorum.

Oh sheet.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

I believe Chair Elect Swear Engine Washington has read our meeting minutes from December 2nd.

Thank you, Chairman.

I have reviewed the minutes.

I find them to be in order.

I move for the adoption of the December 2nd, 2025 meeting minutes.

And I so move.

Seeing no members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes.

Green, yes, Logan, yes.

Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Swear engine Washington, yes.

Walker, yes, Warren, yes.

White, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Welcome to our December sixteenth, twenty twenty-five 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 at 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, I 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 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.

Housekeeping items holds are items 26, 27, and 29.

They will be held until January thirteenth, 2026.

Item 28 will be held until March third, 2026.

Madam Comptroller, would you please call item number one?

Item number one is a resolution recognizing and honoring the Memphis Parks Literacy Meets Recreation Program participants.

I attended an event, an amazing event at the park, I mean the community center in Raleigh, and it was a joint activity among a number of community centers.

But the event was Passport to Literacy Authors.

And it was, it was unbelievable how they came together in the parks department, put this program on, and now we have 10 new published authors from the parks department.

And I felt like this is an opportunity to recognize our amazing parks staff as well as our parents and those young people that attended this program who work so hard, and now they have their published authors as a result of this program.

So I'm gonna call their names and ask, I'm gonna call their parents' name, ask the young people to come down.

And I want to bring up our parks director or who's representing parks to talk about the program.

And when I call the young person's name, we're gonna ask the parent to um stand as well.

Tyson Van Hook, Royalty Smith, Ricarlos Jones, Kamira Partee, Rowan Erby, Masiah Irby, Christian Basquez, Christopher Basquez, Chanel Basquez, and Jaquela Walker.

Parents are Travisia Van Hoek, Lake, La Keyvet Smith, Cynthia Jones, Jamika Van Hook, Neely Wright, and Ashley Basquez.

Parents, if you are here, Stan.

Hey, okay, well, fine.

You are these are all published authors, and they have their books with them.

Okay.

Come on right over and gonna give you a space to kind of tell about the program and the authors.

Thank you so much.

Appreciate you.

Good afternoon, council members, the mayor, and distinguished guests.

Thank you guys for this resolution and recognizing us with the Lib Meets Rec program.

This is a literacy initiative of Memphis Parks, as you see.

They came together and they created and they reimagined how learning can happen in our community.

Lit Meets Rick integrates reading, writing, storytelling into our neighborhood community centers, placing traditional known recreation, transforming them into spaces where literacy, creativity, and youth voice their thrive.

Through this program, young people are not only playing in our community centers, they are becoming published authors, storytellers, and leaders.

Lit meets rig addresses a critical community need by meeting the youth where they are and providing that parks and recreation are more than places to play.

We are essential to the hoods of education, to the hoods of empowering youth and opportunity of potential.

We are honored this day by you guys recognizing us and having the grace to give us this honor.

We thank you for helping us cultivate the potential and the strength by building the families and becoming more literate and connected to Memphis.

These children, these 10 selected authors here, have become published authors throughout Memphis Parks, the literacy program.

This free first-time event highlighted youth voice creative expression and community pride, transforming local keys into lifelong storytellers with books now available online and royalties there earned forever.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you from Memphis Parks.

Whereas literacy, including reading and writing is fundamental to academic success, workforce readiness and long time and long life opportunity, yet many children and families in Memphis continue to face significant literacy challenges.

Fewer than one quarter of Memphis Shelby County school students currently meet grade level proficiency and reading on state assessments, highlighting the urgent need for innovative, accessible, and community-based literacy initiatives.

And whereas the Memphis City Council recognizes and honors the Memphis Parks Literacy Meets Recreation Program, commonly known as Lip Meets Rec, and the Young Authors Guild project for their successful efforts in enabling ten youth authors to publish books in 2025.

And whereas the Lit Meets Rec program and the Young Actors Guild project encourage participants to tell their own stories and encourage their literature beyond the trend traditional classroom setting through unique opportunities, special events, and interactive activities.

And whereas the Lip Meets Rec program provides participants with accessible, joyful and relevant experiences that bridge literacy and recreation, fostering a lifelong love of reading and writing among Memphis youth, and whereas the Lip Meets Rec program and the Young Actors Guild project teach pro participants project teach participants how to develop write and illustrate and publish their own stories, including opportunities to receive royalties from book sales while inspiring young people to embrace their creative potential, engaging meaningful storytelling, and envision themselves as published authors whose work can influence educate and uplift the community.

And whereas the Memphis City Council wishes continued success to the Memphis Park Literacy Recreation Program and the Young Actors Guild project in their ongoing efforts to support youth literacy, creativity, and positive development in the city of Memphis.

Now therefore be resolved that the Memphis City Council hereby extends its serious sincerest congratulations to Memphis Parks, the Literacy Meets Recreation Program, and project for their outstanding achievements and meaningful contributions to youth development and literacy in Memphis.

Adopted Tuesday, December sixteenth, twenty twenty-five, Ronda Lug and Memphis City Council District One.

Thank you all so much.

Let's stand and give them a hand.

And their parents that are here.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Congratulations to you, young men and women.

We are so proud of you.

Okay.

Barnes where Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

So we want to support our newest author.

All right, y'all say Memphis.

I love it.

All right, y'all say Memphis.

You want us to come down?

What do we do?

Madam Council, would you please call item two?

Item number two is a resolution recognizing and honoring the graduating class of the South City Leeds Resident Leadership Academy.

This resolution is sponsored by Councilwoman White.

Councilwoman White, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Chairman.

I am so excited.

I too had the yes, let's cheer for score.

I too had the opportunity to go to the graduation of score, and right here beside me is the wonderful, brilliant Mrs.

Rebecca Hutchinson, who leads Score.

And that stands for Opportunity Revitalization and Empowerment.

And so what this class was, it is South City Leeds Resident Leadership Academy.

And these wonderful people decided that they wanted to learn more about our government, how they could become engaged.

Each one of them participated in a community project, and it was the most amazing program to see that we want people to be more interested in what's going on in the community and see that these individuals decided to dedicate their time to serving their communities to learn more about how the communities operated and to make sure that they were contributing to our thoughts and our ideas and the policies that we um that we pass here on the council.

And so I wanted to make sure that we recognize not only Mrs.

Hutchison, but also our graduates.

And at score, we don't believe that we can empower residents, but we believe that they already possess the power.

But what is missing is the connection to information, resources, and knowledge.

And actually, we started in 2021.

So we are excited about this, and we continue to do this work, continue to build into and nurture the residents in the neighborhood of South City.

So thank you very much for this recognition.

Thank you.

Did you get me to say?

Okay.

Okay, take a picture.

She's welcome.

Congratulations.

Graduating class.

Madam Cal Troller, please call item three.

Congratulations.

Item number three is a resolution recognizing and honoring the graduating class of Memphis Academy of Civil Engagement.

Mace, this resolution is sponsored by Council members White and Smiley.

Councilman Smiley and Councilwoman White, you're recognized.

Thank you so much.

I had to have Councilman JB Smiley come down here because this is his grandchild.

If we could have Miss Sharika Hines and our former city councilwoman, Ms.

Mrs.

Tawan Stout.

To one stop Mitchell, along with the Mace graduate.

First of all, I just want to thank the council for supporting this program back in 2021 when I had an idea of trying to find a way to get people more engaged with city government so they can learn more about our community.

And what ended up happening is we've created graduates who leave this program more informed.

They feel more empowered to get involved in our community, and they become advocates for our our community.

But deeply appreciative of the honorable to one style mental and Ms.

Himes.

I would love just to create space for them to just talk about the wonderful things that this program is doing.

Good evening.

Thank you all so much for this privilege and this opportunity.

We first of all want to say thank you to the city council for approving this program.

It has been such a tremendous impact in the community.

We are so fortunate to have so many citizens that come down, want to understand the inner workings of government, want to understand how they can also be a part of the solutions in our community, how they can have deep impact in their neighborhoods, and we want to say thank you to our partners at public safety, both at the Memphis Fire and Memphis Police Department.

But it is because of these citizens who dedicate their time and their energy to being a part of the change that they want to see in Memphis.

Thank you so much.

Uh-uh, uh-uh.

Now it said, and I wouldn't speak because I'm a little hoarse.

I just want you to know that Memphis is a great city.

It's a great city to love, make your home, work, play, and also fellowship.

And it's always um, it's always humbling experience when you see citizens who take their time for seven weeks, two and three hours a session to learn as much as they can about Memphis and where they can use their talent.

It was not long ago, and every time you sit in those seats, you must feel honored and humbled because people entrust their neighborhoods and communities to you.

It's an umbrella experience to serve, and that's why I'm glad they have an opportunity to see such fine leadership here in Memphis, and especially my colleague, Mr.

Ford.

But especially my colleague, Mr.

Ford.

Um, there you go.

I feel very uh honored to have served with him and to know all of you, and thank you for investing in our future.

Absolutely.

So the Memphis City Council commends these graduates for their dedication to civic engagement and their efforts to strengthen the fabric of our city.

Congratulations to Myosia, Alexander, William Honor, Arnold, Mayana Bailey, Sherika Blair, Dr.

Maria Blaze, Doris Carter, Morie Cooper, Dominique Davis, Marquarius Hampton Senior, Sidney Jones, Carlisha Jones, Kizzy Jones, Terrell Jones, Go Joneses, Faith Marshall, Candice McKinney, Arquita Moore McCain, Demetrick Mohammed, Maria Richardson, Argery Sutton, Theresa Ward, Christopher Eugene West, and Elena Wilgen.

Thank you all for demonstrating such a strong commitment to learning, leadership, and service.

And you all represent a growing network of informed citizens dedicated to building a better Memphis.

Thank you all for all that you do too.

Thank you.

So we're doing over there over here.

You want to take that?

I do a meeting.

We got a quick picture right over here.

Congratulations, graduates.

Uh colleagues, before we move on, I want to recognize and welcome Muslim Voices for Change Fellowship with the American Muslim Advisory Council.

They are guests today of Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper Sutton.

Councilwoman Cooper Sutton, would you like to say anything?

I know that you have something to give them.

Welcome.

Thank you for joining us today for our Memphis City Council meeting.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

These students are the American Muslim Advisory Council here.

And we are so honored.

I had the pleasure of being in their presence.

They came to learn about the policies and legislation here at the city of Memphis.

Myself, the mayor, and a couple more administrators came and I just wanted to tell them thank you.

They asked, can we come back?

Can we come back to a meeting?

And I said you sure can.

And so thank you.

Um just excited about what you all are doing and how you're moving forward and your love for this country because we love you.

Okay.

Thank you for joining us.

And Dr.

Nabil Pyakli.

Welcome.

Thank you for being here.

It's good to see you.

Cool.

You're good.

We appreciate you.

Uh we, although that we our name sounds a little bit different, and I know sometime some people were laughing at us here for our names.

But we've been here for so long, and we really appreciate all the opportunities that Memphis really give us.

And we also like to give back to the to the city here as well.

Uh we as Muslims, uh, we are really proud to be the fabric of this uh city.

Uh you probably don't know that in 1990, it was really the uh the case of Dr.

Uh Ohmad uh Talib Karim, who really sued the city of Memphis so that you will have more representation, more fair representation for everybody for for African Americans and minorities to be on the city of Memphis.

It used to be the head of councilman at large, and that really took away all the representation of the minorities.

So just as we do have that uh contribution, we also would like to show that there are a lot of other things that really our community had offered to the city of Memphis, and we're very proud Memphians as well.

Uh many of us were born and raised here, and they went to public schools here, and we're very, very proud to represent the city of Memphis.

And we thank the council for providing us this opportunity to be here as well and to recognize our efforts.

We appreciate you.

Thank you, Dr.

Biocley.

We got your guests.

You got your guests.

Okay.

Uh colleagues, please forgive me.

I did not mention it in executive and did not mention it at the beginning of the meeting, but item four was held in planning and zoning.

So item four will be held for three weeks until the January 13th meeting.

Madam Council, would you please call I'm sorry, the second meeting in January.

So that would be the 27th of January.

Item four held till the 27th.

Madam Council, would you please take us to item number five?

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Item number five is a resolution pursuant to chapter 9.6 of the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code approving a plan development at the subject property located at 7913 Dexter Road.

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

The case number is PD 25-14.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

This item was sent down with a favorable recommendation.

And I so move.

Item five was moved by Swear Engine Washington, seconded by Spinoza.

Does any member wish to hear from DPD or from the applicant?

Very good.

Please take us to the voting screen, Madam Countroller.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes, Green, yes.

Spinoza, yes.

Swear engine Washington, yes.

Walker, yes, white, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

Warren, yes.

Please show Dr.

Warren.

Smiley, yes.

Please show Smiley is voting, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Countroller, please take us to item six.

Item number six 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 577 East Rains Road.

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

The case number is SUP 25-24.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation recommendation for this site.

They had an impressive plan and is even partnering with one of the local Memphis City Shelby County Schools.

Thank you, and I so boo.

Uh that item was moved by Swear Engine Washington, seconded by Green.

I do have a comment card from Dr.

Talesa Franklin.

Dr.

Franklin, you're recognized.

Thank you so much.

Pull my little notes up.

If you would give us your name and address for the record before you begin.

Absolutely.

Dr.

Talesa Franklin, 1755 Ash, Memphis, Tennessee, 38108.

Good afternoon, City Council members.

As we gather for the final meeting of this year, I want to acknowledge the citizens of Memphis and our local government.

We've been fortunate to have incredible leaders like you.

Yet we face many challenges that often go unseen.

In this chamber, we as men and women of faith are united in prayer for you and the decisions that will propel our city forward.

Inspired by the Bible's call, follow peace with all men.

We are actively engaging in a prayer watch with many prayer groups throughout this city, is joining us at this very moment.

We are praying not just here in the chambers, but online and in various groups.

Believe in God's guidance as we look towards 2026 and work together in unity.

The scripture reminds us if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray.

This urgency resonates deeply as we gather today.

As we physically are present here, but we are spiritually connected to those praying across our Memphis City.

Remembering the scripture that warns us of our responsibility.

The blood will be on our hands.

As we conclude 25 and reflect on the city affairs, I pray as we enter 2026.

Our decisions will prioritize the collective needs of Memphis over personal entrance.

I also invite everyone that's in this chambers.

They're wearing red symbolizing the blood of Jesus.

This serves as a powerful reminder to our city council that we all share the responsibility for the direction in which we take.

The Bible acts, what can wash away our sins and is answered nothing but the blood of Jesus.

As we approach this final governing meeting of the year, we're facing many ups and down from our school board to our county commission and to our Memphis City Council.

Yet I have faith in God and in each of you that together we can strive to do what's right for Memphis, Tennessee.

May God bless you and may God keep you.

Thank you, Dr.

Franklin.

Councilman Carlisle, you recognize.

All right.

Seeing no other members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen for item six.

Correct.

Members, please cast your votes for six.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

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

Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes.

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

White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Cow troll, please call item seven.

Item number seven 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 1032 Hell Road.

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

The case number is SUP 25-27.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

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

Seven was moved by Swearinger Washington, seconded by Spinoza.

Colleagues, anybody wish to hear from DPD or the applicant?

Okay, please take us to the voting screen.

Colleagues, cast your votes for item seven.

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 Comptroller, please call item number eight.

Item number eight 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 5133 Park Avenue.

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

The case number is SUP 25-32.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

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

Item eight was moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Spinoza of one comment card.

Mr.

Nehemiah Hartaway.

If you would approach the podium, you give us your name and address.

You have two minutes, sir.

Right.

Thank you, Chair.

Nehemiah Hardaway, 5442 Sundale Way, Memphis, Tennessee.

Um, I just wanted to bring some uh some things to your attention concerning this item.

Um 5133 to Orange Mountain Park.

We uh with the fraternal order police, of course, we've been moving and discovering different things.

And uh the gas stations we have really been looking at.

That's why I think the elder uh who came from India, well, he's now currently standing in Utah.

We just played against Utah, uh, but I'm just showing you the uh connections spiritually, and we have been finding some issues with some people who own these gas stations, and so I just want to inform you to take a closer look at the uh the expansion of this gas station.

Now I I have Miss Bazarra behind me here, and so I'll talk to her privately, and so I'll have some of my concerns hopefully, you know, um those questions answered, and then we can move forward.

Um, and I'll be able to email you all uh privately as well concerning this matter.

But I just want to inform everyone to please take a closer look at the gas stations.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hardaway.

Uh colleagues, any questions?

Any questions?

Anybody want to hear from Mrs.

Salomino Baser or name and address.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Brenda Salamito Baser, Salamito Land Planning, 1779, Kirby Parkway, Memphis.

Uh, the applicant, Mr.

Anwar Amon, uh partnering with the applicant on the record, has been developing these particular stores in Memphis for the last 15 years or so.

We are just under construction on one at the Polo grounds near Top Golf.

He's built um extensively in the suburbs in Carrierville, Germantown, Bartlett.

Um he is a resident of Memphis and Shelby County.

He has his offices in Carrierville.

His wife was on the design review commission in Caireville.

So they are um Memphians and they live at Southwind, and so they are here permanently.

All right, colleagues, anybody want to hear from DPD?

All right, if anybody has any questions, I would ask that you kindly get in the queue.

Councilman Smiley, you recognize to DPD.

Is there any opposition, written opposition or anything?

No opposition, written opposition.

Okay, and it was okay.

That's all for me.

All right, anybody else?

All right, please take us to the voting screen.

Madam Cap Troller.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes.

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

White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Cowtroller, please take us to our regular agenda to item number 34.

Item number 34 is a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2026 operating budget.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

It was held from December 2nd.

Councilman Carlisle, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

The committee Matt.

Uh, I can't remember the recommendation, but it moved to the floor.

I think I think it was I think it was no recommendation.

Yeah, I believe this came down with no recommendation.

I'll move it to the floor for discussion.

All right.

34 was moved by Carlisle, seconded by Green.

Councilman Smiley, you're recognized.

I'll be in the queue.

And I didn't know I was in the queue.

Um I just want to uh point of information.

This is the fire item, correct?

That's correct.

All right.

Call the question.

All right, colleagues, before there's nobody else in the queue, but before I go to the voting screen, I do have one coming card, Mr.

John's.

Hold on, Mr.

Chairman.

All right.

All right, easy.

First off, we call a question.

Technically, there's supposed to be a vote on that.

It just ends debate, and then there's a vote on whether to call the question.

All right.

But I know that our rules typically lend hand.

I I think given the fact that we're talking about a two million dollar change to the budget in the year, maybe just a touch.

I I think if Mr.

Chairman, if I may.

Thank you.

Um I I guess I I motioned the hold at last meeting in order to try and work on a solution that would acknowledge what the council is trying to do specific to fire employees.

I spent 35 or 40 hours going through eight years of audits.

I could not get answers to questions on this year's current audit.

I failed and I failed through committee to get specific answers to specific questions with specific numbers.

The more that I spend time with the audit, the more I realize kind of where we're at.

And honestly, I'm gonna save a lot of it for the new year because I really think it more applies to the tone and tenor about how we go about what we call the budget versus our general financial health.

And they're two different things.

But ultimately, I didn't find a single trigger because I couldn't get the complete information to tie a trigger to in order to make sure we're in financial health.

I could continue to go through every metric for two and a half hours on why no business public entity under the sun should make this decision today based on the current information it has.

Partial would be an understatement.

I'll leave, I mean, I can answer financial questions, but I don't really think everybody wants them the way they want to hear them, and it would we'd probably be here too long.

To say that we have a spending problem would be an understatement of epic proportion.

Incrementally, we've spent over half a billion dollars in the last five years.

You've got 200 million in accelerate Memphis that was incremental to our 97 million dollars a year that we would issue in geo bonds.

We picked up in an incremental 260 plus million dollars in federal funding.

Guess what?

Our property tax collections were on point the whole time.

State sales tax on point the whole time.

We had moments where there were gaps in what we used to budget to, meaning if you go back and look at our audits to budget, we would pick up an extra 20 to 40 million throughout the year.

To budget.

Well, budgets what you make it, and obviously you're relying on the information given to you by the administrators at that time.

Meaning we're crossing administrations.

So when I say to you that we collected mainly like we lost Mayor Strickland, we lost the whole income tax.

That's true.

But it was made up by state formula.

So there was no real funding gap.

So when I say incremental, incremental.

Hard cash that has gone out the door.

And you're like, but that's okay, we did real work, we did, we did parks, we did that, right?

And so it's like, what is the financial picture?

Well, we raised taxes, we we spent an extra half a billion, and then you have to ask yourself, did we get there?

And that's the question that we'll broach, I think January, February, March, going into budget season to make sure that we are having that understanding.

We we could get into it today, but I know you don't want to, and you're we need to keep the main thing the main thing.

I've had a very good working relationship with Chief Person.

I just heard someone ask if he's here, and again, I'm not saying that there's anything nefarious or malicious going on.

I think there's just a lot of questions that cannot be answered today.

Now that's okay.

We've made decisions on partial information before.

I respect that.

I respect every member's reason why they make it.

I will tell you, as the three, maybe four-year budget chairman, it will not be on sound financial grounds, full stop.

When Jim Strickland took office in 2015, our unassigned fund balance was 91 million dollars.

He took office because his sole responsibility was to build back a city that had been gutted by bad financial decisions, long-term liabilities, and reduced revenues.

Cut first responder pay and benefits.

When he left office, the unsigned fund balance is 114 million dollars.

Today it sits at 91 million cash on hand.

In accounting terms, it's actually less than that.

It's 91 net its liabilities, which we know are 15 million.

So it's really 76 million.

You're gonna draw down an extra two million.

So now you're at 74 million.

The state's fiscal policy is 8% fund balance.

If you read our bond reports from Moody's or SP, everything has been shifted to negative outlook.

That is not anybody in the fire department's fault.

That is not anybody in the association's fault.

They advocate the way they want to, and we allow it to happen because we're the we are the keepers of the ecosystem here.

That goes for every other association, every other employee that comes down, or anybody that talks to us.

I promise I'm gonna wrap this up, but it's a pretty big thing, especially since I spent 35 hours.

I feel like I got a little bit minute minute to talk here on it.

Over that time, the city has declined in population, so every time we raise taxes, it's over the same base.

I told you you heard me today, our second largest taxpayer went from Bell South Communications, Wolf Chase Galleria to the Memphis Center City Revenue Finance Corporation holding $300 million worth of real estate.

The last and final thing that I will say, and I'll be quiet, that I take very personal issue with, and I will direct it because we I believe we were friends, Mr.

Malone.

But personally, you know that I never entered into an agreement on any two-year deal.

One I can't.

I've been clear that we cannot be bound.

And even in our very first year together, remember we try to work through a couple things, but I respect your position.

But I will not be called a liar.

I will not be called a cheat.

I will not be called anything other than what I am, which is I do what I say I'm gonna do, I work my tail off for the city, and I'm not saying that anybody else here doesn't.

I'm just speaking for myself.

And I've built an entire political reputation on that, and I hold that very dear.

I've always tried to support everybody's needs and wishes within some sort of economic reason.

I'm telling you now that we are getting to the end of that rope.

For far too long, it is always we will figure it out.

And Memphis has always bumped along and survived.

But I want you to step back from just City Hall and think about what is happening out in the environment.

Shelby County is having its issues on revenues.

They had to go to the state comproller to get to borrow money from its debt service fund.

Our public transportation system has a trustee.

Our Memphis City School Board is about to sue the county commission.

They have a $2 billion budget that received half a billion dollars in federal funding, and somehow we're still fixing HVAC units.

We spent an incremental half a billion dollars and somehow managed to raise taxes.

So my point is is like I'm telling you that we may have the cash in the account today.

But that is not going to last if we don't make changes soon.

I know a lot of people hear the term broke and they're like, furniture out, bar doored or door barred and on the street.

I'm saying we're broke if we don't make changes.

We cannot continue down this.

It is an unsustainable path.

You cannot go tax the same base.

The people that are mobile will leave.

This is this is a yellow flashing light from where I'm sitting, and maybe I'm an idiot.

Maybe I'm an idiot.

But my biggest thing is this.

This body has the final authority over the budget because it's important that it does.

The mayor offered zero percent.

The impasse committee accepted a recommendation of five, and this full body and the place that it counts, said three across the board for everybody.

I respect what is being lobbied for, but I don't know how it's any different for any other association whose agreements were passed and what would stop them to coming.

So for me, not only is it a two million dollar problem, it's a 29 million dollar problem, or even 19 million if you want to bump it down to the general fund.

Because if I'm in another organization, I'm gonna come and say, Well, they got their mid-year raise that that was promised in impasse.

Where's mine?

Those are just my general thoughts.

It has nothing to do with the performance of our fire department or the individuals that are are elected to lobby for them.

I won't get into the overtime and some of those things.

Those I will hold for other members, but in the reality, because I don't want to make it about the people, but in the reality, this body didn't mislead the public.

It it is not a party to an MOU between the mayor and the associations.

We're just not.

There's no signed agreement.

We typically, and this is the truth, we typically agree to those deals because it takes the pressure off of buzz season.

It literally saves months and hours and hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in salaries, legal fees, and everybody's opportunity cost to come down here from December and sometimes all the way to July to deal with the same five groups instead of proactively going about what we really want to do.

And so I'm just gonna leave leave it at that.

I respect everybody's position in this, I really do.

But on a personal level, I'm not gonna be called a liar or a thief or saying that I went back on my word.

I've been crystal clear from the beginning of what I think our authority is about where our position is and how I've gone through it, and I know other members probably feel the same.

But at the end of the day, I respect everybody's vote on this.

But I'm telling you right now, if you think we quote have the money, yes, there is cash in the account, but you do not have the longevity to go the distance if we continue to spend this way.

And I'll just add the last thing on this debt cliff.

The mayor said it himself.

Whatever huge number was thrown out there four or five years ago, as was indicated when we said, hey, that's gonna get eaten up by cost leases and obligations and inflation.

The com it did, and the comment was it's gonna take a minute to build up.

So, unless there is some other large federal chunk of money coming, we've got to work with what we've got to work with.

And to Dr.

Warren's point last meeting, or you can raise taxes again.

With that, I yield the floor.

Thank you, Councilman Carlisle.

I've got two any other members wish to speak.

All right, I've got two public comment cards.

John Sink.

You're up first.

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

John Sink, John Sink of 1599 Venton.

I yield my time.

All right, Amber Sherman.

He said, I yield my time.

What do you say?

I yield my time.

My name is Amber Sherman.

My address is 6070 North Belgrove Cove.

I just want to talk about how this is definitely fiscally irresponsible if y'all agree to this.

Every year we have this budget season, and folks talk about how we either have to raise taxes or we have to cut things, and actual citizens in Memphis don't get the services we need.

But y'all continue to approve things, or you know, make people feel like they're gonna get a raise when you don't have the money to pay for it.

And the new fire chief himself said they are not underpaid.

I know several firefighters, they definitely aren't underpaid, they just aren't getting what they wanted, but we don't have the money to do that.

And Memphians are gonna suffer if you agree to give them something that we don't currently have.

And I really think it's important, especially going into this next budget season that y'all are more fiscally responsible and listening to Memphians about what we want to be funded, because I ain't mentioned nothing about no firefighters.

We did talk about parks, we did talk about summer school, we talked about summer camp, we talked about more recreational things.

We still don't even have pools open, but we're talking about giving firefighters more money they don't have.

Like we as a city do not have the money to pay it.

So stop voting for things or approving things when you know you don't have the money anywhere.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Sherman.

All right, Kelly, should nobody else in the all right, Councilman White, you're recognized.

All right.

Well, I've I've got given my whole spill about my logic behind this, I think three times now.

I'm not gonna go for try number four.

So my question is, and I don't know if there's someone from the administration or my colleagues.

When we left here the last time, it was where what pot of money is this gonna come from specifically?

I know towards the end of committee, it was mentioned that it some additional money had been found from I think reimbursements.

Then when we got down here, we discussed another pot of money at one point.

I proposed, but I don't think I made a motion for it to come from the overtime line, and then we left with uh councilwoman Green giving a recommendation.

Where did we land on how this is going to be paid for, like funded?

Thank you, Councilman White.

Chief Adams.

It is my understanding that this money will is a reimbursement for training that firefighters received.

This money was uh originally supposed to be booked in FY25, and it was received in FY26.

That money will be coming from the fire fire the fire departments or five divisions personnel line.

So okay, and I don't care if you were here last time, Chief Adams at that last meeting.

So kind of the, and I think I'll I'm sorry, because it's like I think it aside from that money, we were discussing some other options because the whole idea was is that that's still money that should technically go back to the general fund.

It's still the same pot of money.

Does that make sense?

And we don't have to go.

I'm sure Councilman Carl Allen is gonna go through and explain that.

And so we were looking at some other alternatives to fund it, given we were trying to find something that fiscally was responsible and made sense in light of us trending down in expected revenues and exceeding budgeted expenditures.

And so I said if this is the will of the body, one thing that I recommended was that it come from the overtime line being that fire at the time of our quarterly report was about a million dollars under what their quarterly budget would be for that point in time.

Does that make sense?

Am I making sense?

No, yes.

And so we were saying to take the 1.7 from the um from the overtime.

And so I didn't know in the resolution, it doesn't specifically say where it would come from.

And then the other thing that I would maybe propose is in addition to that is a consideration, and I don't know if Chief Person is here, and then we have Chief Foucher here too.

I don't know if well, let's just start there.

The overtime budget line.

So I don't I'll say this in talking in to the fire department or in chief arrest and this uh team.

Taking overtime at this particular point in time is not the best course of action as we need to move forward through the holidays and then move into critical days uh where we do see spikes in in activity.

So overtime will be needed.

Um with respect to other items and uh other areas in a personnel line.

We've looked at in past full-time salaries.

What we've looked at full-time salaries is that we would delay classes.

Right now, they are at a nutrition rate of replacing one for one.

So it would only exacerbate an issue with respect to replacing uh personnel.

So again, our logic was to take that reimbursable and actually re-allocate that reimbursable.

I definitely understand the argument and do and and the logic with respect to not using it, but that is where we identified that that was unobligated dollars that we could use this year to cover that two percent.

So I'm I'm not saying no, I'm just I'm I'm just giving you our our thaw pattern.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Councilman Carlo.

Thank you.

I think the chief financial officer is on the way, but I think the point is is on the reimbursement.

This is my point.

There's too much dancing around using the term budget and budget year and fiscal year.

Like we don't get to the end of the race and then and then leave the arena and then go play at the next arena.

It's one house.

And the point is that we came $15 million out of pocket to pick up 101 positions the year before that were unaccounted for that cost us $15 million worth of credit, which affects our borrowing ability, which means every year we pay more to borrow money.

So you when you quote find a reimbursable, you need to put it back where you found it, and you found it in the unassigned fund balance so that when we go borrow money, it's not as expensive.

This this continu this is the stuff that I'm like it's I'm trying to be professional here.

I'm not gonna argue any more about it.

At some point, it's just gonna get it's gonna get real ugly because I know what I'm talking about.

And I know that because I've sat here in the prior administration and been and certain times and this, that, and the other.

And here's the reality.

Like, again, I've gone through these documents.

I wish that I had a whole team to go through them.

But I'm gonna say this one more time.

That 2.2 million dollars came in because we spent money and it came back to pay us back for it because we had ex personnel expenses, etc.

I got that.

That is not net new revenue.

It is obligated to pay back the thing that it went to expense.

Furthermore, it's an ongoing obligation versus something else like a bonus, which is not, and that is the other issue.

Like if you go back and look at our bond rating, it is the ongoing pensioners' obligation that continues to be these problems.

If you read our audit from last year, one of the specific notes continues to talk about the increased OPEB pensioners and and and uh uh uh premium obligations related to all of the first responder raises.

Like we spent an incremental hundred million dollars from 2015 to 2023 on just public safety, maybe actually less than that.

I mean shorter years, same amount of money.

So my point to you is is I don't want to make it about it's not about fire or ask me or non-represented.

It is if we are gonna make this decision, make it because you want to give fire raise, stop telling me you have the money somewhere in the account.

The cash, yeah, it's physically there, it will be there till it runs out.

But every time you draw down on that or pretend like we are not gonna have this liability, like it's magically to the point he just said we can't manage the to the overtime.

They know they're gonna run into all that overtime.

So when we get to the end of the year, whether you drew it out overtime or not, there's gonna be a reconciliation.

We know that.

You're just adding two million to it.

And if you want to vote for that, do it.

I'm cool with that, but we're not gonna talk around how or why we're doing it.

That's all I'm gonna say, and I will leave it alone.

Thank you.

I Antonio, you know I love you, but like we're trying to find ways to make it stick the right way, narrative-wise, and that is a true thing to say.

We received the money this year, you technically use it this year.

But the idea that we're gonna not acknowledge what happened the year before in the budget, like the two are unmarried is insane to me.

Because again, we started at 114 million dollars in 2023, and now we are down to 91 million dollars in the unassigned fund balance, and we're gonna draw down another 10 million.

We're down to 81 million dollars.

When does it stop?

When the comproller comes in.

The last time that we had to cut salaries was because we had ongoing pension liabilities, increasing salaries, and and and less revenues.

And you can ask attorney wade what the temperature was down in the room in 2020 and 20 in 2012, 2013, 2014.

Pretty dicey.

I yield the floor.

Thank you, Councilman Carl.

Councilman Logan.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh I I want to say this.

When I came on board, the one thing that I have said since I got here that I said to um Chief Person and to Chief Adams is we do not want to spend all of our money.

We want to keep in our rainy day fund.

We do not want to spend all of our savings.

We do not want to have bad credit.

You know, there are some things that as a city is so important.

Our credit rating is so important for our um the debt that we get that we are able to do projects with, you know, changing that credit rating is going to change the trajectory of how we're able to borrow money, and that debt service pays a lot of things that we use, and just having um the responsibility as a council member for this fiscal soundness of your city.

I know several other cities that are you know in trouble financially in our in our state, and we already know how the state handles us as it relates to our finances.

So we have to really be prudent as to how we move within that that savings.

And unfortunately, a lot of the information that we have now, or that I have now, did not have before we went through the impasse process because during the impasse process, we all want to be hopeful, we all want to give what um that you know show our um our gratitude and and stand how we stand behind our um employees.

However, if you know information comes along after that that lets us know that that may not be the best idea.

That's why we have that whole process, and so it is unfortunate that you know we don't have even now the uh some of the information that we've requested.

Um we can at any point give raises.

We can we can at any point come back to this right now, not having all of the information that is needed that has been requested, and it appears that we're gonna come back in January and look at that.

Um, you know, it changes, it changes the way we may have looked at it previously.

So I do want to say for the public consumption that um you may hear that we we lied or we you know said one thing during that time, but that's not actually the case.

If you get more information, you're more informed, you have to make a better decision.

Not that it won't happen, it just may not be the perfect time now.

And so I did want to let the um constituents know because one thing that another thing that we've always said is that we need to pay our staff, uh, we need higher wages in our city, and so we are for higher wages, and that starts with um the city government, but we have to do it responsibly, and I would like for us to be able to plan for that and to look at exactly where we are in determining that way forward.

So I just wanted to share that for the public um because we are responsible for making sure that we stay sound fiscally as a city.

Thank you, I guarantee chair.

Thank you, councilwoman.

Uh councilman smiley.

Um thank you.

Well, I'll usually like to talk a little longer, but not today.

Uh council voted on this in 24.

We said we're gonna do it.

I think um for the time I've been on this council for a significant amount of time when it comes to issues of the budget.

Um, we deferred to the full-time employees, and the full-time employees are telling us today that they can find the money within the budget.

So I'm not sure why we're spending so much time talking about this, but I do understand the the concern, but I'm gonna toss it to uh councilman for and let him close it up and we better just call the question.

All right, I've been here a long time, y'all.

I've been working on the budget over 25 years, every year.

I wouldn't hear not working on the budget.

I'm very serious right now.

You know, people talk, talk, talk, talk, but they talk around the budget.

I'm talking about the budget.

Okay.

We wasted a lot of time.

It's not gonna hurt, and you can believe me.

Out of all the time I've been on working on budget.

First thing on my mind, make sure our ratings are gonna be right.

Okay.

I don't mess with nothing, it's gonna mess with the ratings.

You can go and call all the other mayors, okay.

I'll go back to Harrington.

Okay.

Call him.

Asking about me working with the budget.

That was on a certain things that I was concerned about.

Okay?

Like I said, when I got off this, I was still maybe behind the sink.

But the budget, very important.

Money's there.

Let's wake up, y'all.

We're wasting a lot of time.

Don't be like across the street.

Now, let me get you across the street since we're talking about the uh control.

Hell, if the mayor that was upstairs, not the IMA, cross the street.

With those commissioners, would have done their job.

I'm gonna go back to budget.

My son worked on the budget.

They didn't want him to be the budget chair no more.

They wanted to bring in somebody that didn't even know numbers.

Flunk man.

But if you check around, I'm serious now.

Controller came in because hell.

They did not turn in nothing.

They didn't know what to turn in.

That's why they are dealing with the controller.

Now they got to call and say, can I spend this money now?

Control of four years.

Even sent them nicely.

She said, just feel this out.

That's how trifling they were over there.

Since we wanna talk about control.

We got a little more sense than cross the street.

You know.

I mean, we got a little more sense.

I think we need to vote this on beyond this.

Money's there.

Everybody keeps saying it's not, it's this, it's this.

Oh, it's there.

It is there.

It's not gonna affect anything, it's not gonna affect our ratings or anything like that.

I've already checked that out, okay.

But I'm just tired of talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.

Okay.

I don't want to give fire department anything to be on.

But what's going on?

Yes.

Okay.

And I think once we deal with this, we'll deal with all of the rest.

And things are going on with the rest of them, okay.

And I think we all be okay.

Let's get this beyond us, and when January comes.

Let's do what we're supposed to be doing, okay?

Let's not talk all this now.

You know, us talking.

I I've been going to meeting across the street, you know.

I've been there.

And wow, they put you to sleep.

And then they go back, and you know what?

They talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, minute, minimum, minimum, minimum, this, that, and the other, and always go back to the same motion again.

That's how bad they are.

Let us not be like that.

Okay, we need to move forward.

Uh, Chase, I love you to death.

But I didn't had many, many more budgets that I worked on.

And I I worked on, and let's see, you weren't here.

How were you?

But we used to have budget.

You were here.

Yes.

Yeah.

We were here working on budgets at 12, one, two o'clock in the morning.

I was the chair.

They wanted to just say, well, let's do this, that, and the other, and I recessed on them.

And said, now when you get these numbers right, we can go back into session.

I said, I told them, I said, order pizza for them to eat.

Do you remember that?

They said, well, can we do this while we eat pizza?

You eat the pizza and you think about it first.

Then let's come back and do what's supposed to be.

You remember that, don't you?

We had those numbers, everything correct.

Okay.

You know, we went through a lot with COVID.

Okay.

Uh Strickland and everybody else, not just him.

Everybody was getting money.

They forgot about the future.

They didn't know that it was gonna come to an end sooner or later.

Okay.

That's what we're looking at.

But hey, if you look at some of these other cities, hey, we're doing much, much better.

We got two men out there.

Hey, two great people.

Out there, know what they're doing.

And I'm gonna be quiet, but I I think we just need to call for the vote and vote your country today.

Let's get this over and move forward.

We're gonna be okay.

We're gonna be okay.

Okay.

I'm through.

Uh thank you, Councilman.

Thank you, Smiley.

Thank you, Councilman Ford.

Councilwoman Walker, and then we're gonna go to the vote.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I would have to say that this is one of my most disappointing moments since I've been on the council.

I really don't understand why the lawsuit was filed.

We said we would make good in January.

January is less than a month away.

And so I don't understand why I really don't understand why the lawsuit was filed.

Um this council does support the raise in case some of you all are not clear.

This entire council, as far as I know, supports the raise, but we're not clear on the money, where the money is or is not.

So how can we have the money and then not have the money simultaneously?

Um it's kind of like faith and fear can't occupy the same space at the same time.

So how can we have the money then not have the money at the same time?

But in closing, I just want to repeat myself and say I'm not clear on why the lawsuit was filed in the first place.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and I yield the floor.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

All right, Madam Councilman, please take us to the voting screen for item 34.

Carlisle, no, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, abstain, smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swimrent in Washington, yes, Walker, no, Warren, yes, White, abstain, Chairman Canale, yes.

Please show council member Sutton as voting yes on this item.

Uh please show us voting no on this item.

Thank you.

I'll tell you the yeses one moment, please.

Not counting Cooper Sutton.

You have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

We have eight yeses, sir.

That item passes.

Yes, sir.

When you have faith, you fear nothing.

Faith always overrides fear.

I just want to say this, you know.

Lord said, burdens.

He said, bring your burdens and leave them there.

The problem with a lot of people, they take their burdens to him, and you fear and say, hey, I'm still worrying about it.

So you know what?

That tells God that you do not believe in me.

But if you take it to him and you leave it there and go on about your business, he can show up and show out.

And if anybody can say that, I'm a witness.

I am witness.

Because 20 something years ago, they tried to send me through pure deep hell for three years.

My lawyer thought I was crazy.

Okay.

Everybody really thought, but I took it, I left it there, and shot.

Everything that I told my attorney, it happened.

Okay.

My attorney gave me a big old bill.

But let me just say this now.

After everything was over, he came to me and said, Hey, you just made a believe out of me.

You owe me not a dime.

So take that.

Everybody, I want y'all to take.

Because hey, if you can show up, show out.

All you have to do is just leave it there.

Thank you.

I just had to say that because I'm a witness of it.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilman.

Madam Council, please take us to item 35.

That's what I'm making.

Item 35 on our add-on agenda is an appointment.

Planning and development director, Brett Ragsdale, and there's a request for a same night minutes.

Councilwoman Dr.

Easter Thomas.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee may recommends unanimous approval.

And I so move for same night minutes.

Item 35.

I don't know.

I didn't see you beat me to it, Madam Country.

Move by Easter Thomas, seconded by Green.

No members in the queue.

Mr.

Ragsdale, you want to speak.

Very briefly.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman and members of the council.

Brett Ragsdale.

I wanted to thank say thank you for your support for this appointment.

And I look forward to continuing the important work of the division.

And just a quick thanks to my family for being here as well.

So thank you.

This happened there.

Thank you, Mr.

Ragsdale.

We look forward to continuing to work with you.

We appreciate you, sir.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Yeah, why don't you take us to the voting screen?

Somebody's gonna take your own.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Easter.

Thank you.

Carlisle.

Ma'am.

Everybody.

I'm just waiting on everybody.

Thank you.

Congrats.

Oh.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes.

Green, yes.

Logan, yes.

Smiley, yes.

Spinoza, yes.

Swearing in Washington, yes.

Walker, yes.

Warren, yes.

White, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

That item now passes.

Congratulations, sir.

God bless you.

No, no, no.

Madam Controller, please call item 36.

Item number 36 is a reappointment.

Reappointment of Darius Jones to the Solid Waste Municipal Planning Board and appointments of Nick Kwan and Andy Kizzy.

There's a request for same night minutes.

These are appointments and reappointments to the Solid Waste Municipal Planning Board.

Thank you, Madam Countroller.

Councilwoman Dr.

Easter Thomas, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee may recommends approval and ISO move for same nine minutes.

36 is moved by Easter Thomas, seconded by Carlisle.

Colleagues, correct me if I'm wrong.

I believe two were not available on committee, and the council wanted to hear from them.

They're not coming tonight.

Okay.

All right.

Does anybody have any questions?

Comments.

Do you want to hear from the appointees?

All right, Mr.

Jones, you're recognized.

Um nomination to the solid waste region board.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Clark.

Yes, sir.

Hey, yes, uh, Nick Juan, uh Solid Waste uh administrator, uh one twenty-five Northern.

Um, just want to thank thank you all for the appointment.

Um, I've been working at the city for going on 15 years now.

Uh started from the bottom um as a mechanic helper.

Uh here I am now.

Um, hopefully to do good things and help out the community.

Thanks, sir.

Mr.

Kazee Kizzy, is he here?

He left.

Okay.

You gotta speak on his behalf directory.

Yes, yes.

Um Philip Davis, uh 2081, Old Oak Drive, Solid Waste Director.

Yeah, uh, Andy Kizzy, the other nominee, he was present this morning in committee.

Um, he's the uh head of the Big Hampton Development Corporation, uh, very involved in the solid waste and recycling initiatives.

Um we are happy to have him on board with the with the solid waste board.

Great, thanks, sir.

Madam Countroller, please take us the voting screen for these appointments for 36.

Council members, please cast your vote for the appointments.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Venosa, yes, Swearington, Washington, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes, Chairman Penale, yes.

That item passes.

Congratulations.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Madam Countroller, please call item 37.

Item number 37 on our add-ons is a resolution to allocate and appropriate two million six hundred thousand dollars in city council community grant funds to nonprofit agencies for FY26.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by the Memphis City Council.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Councilman Carlisle, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

The committee map recommends approval and I said move.

37 was moved by Carlisle.

Can I get a second about Warren?

Seeing no members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Cooper Sutton, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Please show Council Member Smiley is voting yes on this item.

Swearington Washington, yes.

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

That item passes.

Madam Councillor, please call item 38.

Item number 38 is a resolution to allocate appropriate and transfer a sum total of three million nine hundred and twenty thousand dollars from the Left Witch Tennis Center project number, PK0305, award one one five one six to the first part of the city's pledge of funding to the Audubon Goth Clubhouse.

Project number PK to be announced, and to the design of phase two of the Jesse Turner Park improvements project PK number to be announced later.

Districts four and five, super districts eight and nine.

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

Councilman Carlow, you're recognized.

Thank you, Ms.

Chair, can that recommends approval and I say move?

38 was moved by Carlisle, seconded by Warren.

Um I know this is a is this resolution was sponsored by the administration, but I would love for the whole council to sponsor this, co-sponsor this as well.

I think this is very meaningful.

Something that everybody was supportive of upstairs.

Without objection, Mr.

Chairman.

Madam Countroller, please take us to the voting screen.

About this item.

Madam Council, will you please hold the the voting screen?

And Councilwoman Dr.

Easter Thomas is gonna ask uh attorney weight a question.

Thank you.

All right.

Members, if you all cast your votes for thirty-eight, and whenever I cast the votes, you can release the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes.

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

That item passes.

Thank you, colleagues.

Madam Comptroller, please call item thirty-nine.

Item number thirty-nine is a resolution authorizing final payment of FY2026 tax equivalent payment from Memphis Light Gas and Water Divisions Electric System and total distribution of the FY 2026 tax equivalent payment to taxing jurisdictions in Shelby County, Tennessee.

All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by MLGW, and there is a request for same night minutes.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chairman Canale.

Committee Met recommends approval and I say move.

39 was moved by Spinoza, seconded by Green.

Seeing the members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

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 Countroller, please call item 40.

Item number 40 is a resolution authorizing final payment of the FY 2026 tax equivalent payment from Memphis Light Gas and Water Divisions Gas System and total distribution of the FY 2026 tax equivalent payment to taxing jurisdictions in Shelby County, Tennessee.

All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by MLGW.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Committee met recommends approval and I submit.

Item 40 was moved by Spinoza, seconded by Warren.

Seeing the members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Ford, 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 back to our MLGW fiscal consent items, numbers twelve through twenty-four.

Item number twelve is a resolution approving contract number one two six five eight reliability coordination agreement for a period of January first, twenty twenty-six to December thirty-first, twenty twenty-six, stipulating that a sum of one million one hundred and forty-seven thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars will be furnished by the division for the Tennessee Valley Authority to act as MLGW's designated reliability coordinator.

Item number thirteen is a resolution approving ratification, renewal scope change, and increase to contract number one two seven six mobile radio replacement with Leonardo U.S.

Cyber and Security Solutions LLC to ratify renew, expand the scope, and increase the current contract in the funded amount of 819,262.

Item number 14 is a resolution awarding contract number 12601 IPS Energy to IPS Energy USA Inc.

in the funded not to exceed amount of 479,216.

Item number 15 is a resolution awarding contract number 12661 variable frequency drive for the LNG plant to Agilex Solutions in the funded amount of 759,412.

Item number 16 is a resolution awarding purchase order for a number 5 vertical turbine pump and motor assembly to Wastewater Solutions LLC in the amount of 229,445 dollars.

Item number 17 is a resolution awarding contract number 12610 Allen Pumpin' Station Reservoir Baffling and Piping Installation to CADAX Contractors Inc.

in the funded amount of $12,750,000.

Item number 18 is a resolution approving ratification and renewal to contract number 12435 external corrosion direct assessment with integrity solutions field services in to ratify and renew the current contract in the funded amount of 228,000 dollars.

Item number 19 is a resolution approving increase to contract number 1244 SMART sheet with smart sheet incorporated to increase the current contract value in the funded amount of $45,750 and three cents.

Item number 20 is a resolution awarding contract number 12547 enterprise synergy frames to Gen 11 compute modules for BDI to Logicalis Inc.

in the funded amount of $1,104,904 and 50 cents.

Item number 21 is a resolution awarding purchase order for Palo Alto Firewalls for the 5G project to Unicode Technology LLC in the amount of 340,798 dollars.

Item number 22 is a resolution awarding purchase orders for crew cap trucks within closed service bodies to Auto Nation Fort Memphis in the amount of 163,142, and Nashville Automotive LLC doing business as Sierra Sarah Chevrolet Buick GMC for $88,500.

Item number 23 is a resolution approving renewal to contract number 12563, MLG flower planting, mulch maintenance, and turf area management with Enlightenment Inc.

doing business as a PS facility maintenance to renew the current contract in the funded amount of $95,517 and 12 cents.

And our final item number 24 is a resolution approving an annual salary in the amount of 178,552 dollars and eighty cents for a new hire to fill the vacant position of director central support services.

There is a request for same night minutes for that item, Mr.

Chairman, and that concludes your MLGW consent items.

Well done, Madam Countroller.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chairman Canale.

Committee Met recommends approval and I so move.

Seeing the members in the queue.

Members, please cast your votes for the MLGW fiscal consent.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, 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 Controller, please take us to the consent agenda items number 10 and 10.

It should display on the monitor momentarily.

On our consent agenda, we have item number nine, a referendum ordinance to amend Article 34, Section 250 of the home rule charter of the City of Memphis relative to the classification of officers and positions, exemptions from article to amend the classification of employees of the Memphis and Shelby County Public Library to allow civil service status up for first reading.

Ordinance number 5966 is sponsored by Council Member Smiley, Canale, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Spinoza, Swearing, Washington, Walker, and Warren.

Item number 10 is also up for first reading.

Ordinance amending the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code as adopted by the City of Memphis on August 10th, 2010, and by Shelby County on August 9th, 2010, as amended to revise the zoning and subdivision regulations within the city of Memphis pertaining to correctional facilities, specifically detention centers, jails, and prisons.

Up for first reading.

Ordinance number 5958 is sponsored by Councilwoman Easter Thomas.

It was held from December 2nd.

Mr.

Chairman, that concludes our consent agenda items.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognized.

Thank you, Chairman.

The committee met.

There were favorable recommendations for both of these items, and ISO move.

White consent was moved by Swearinger Washington, seconded by Carlisle.

Councilwoman White, you're recognized, followed by Councilwoman Green.

Thank you, Chairman.

I will be recusing from this matter specifically number 10 as I am a special counsel for Dean County Commissioner.

Please show White as a recusal.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I just wanted to note for the record that when item number 10, the ordinance regarding the jails was held, uh heard in committee.

I asked to be added as a co-sponsor, and that was approved without objection.

So I'd just like the record to reflect that.

All right, thank you, Councilwoman.

Please show green as a co-sponsor.

White as a recusal and take us to the voting screen, please.

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

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please call our fiscal consent agenda.

Item number 11.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Item number 11 is a resolution to accept grant funds in the amount of six hundred thirty-four thousand and nine dollars from the U.S.

Department of Justice through the United States Marshall Service Western District of Tennessee.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by police services.

There is a request for same night minutes.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognize.

Thank you, Chairman.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation to accept these grant funds, and I so move.

Seconded by Spinoza.

Seeing the members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

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

That item passes.

Madam Comptroller, please take us back to our regular agenda.

Item number 25.

And for the record, Madam Comptroller, as you read it, um, it was amended in executive.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Item number 25 is an ordinance to establish Memphis City Council meeting dates for 2026, upper third and final reading.

Madam Vice Chair, you recognize.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met.

There was a favorable recommendation to accept this schedule as amended.

And ISO move.

All right.

25 was moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Carlisle.

Colleagues, this is your chance to make any changes if you wish.

Speak now.

Or forever hold your peace.

Okay.

Can we get a before you before we go to the voting screen?

I'm gonna get I want everybody to see the dates in case you didn't see them in an executive.

She should have had that.

We're gonna punt on 25.

We'll come back to it.

Um if you would call item number thirty item number thirty is displayed on the monitor.

It's a resolution to accept a donation in the amount of two thousand dollars from Fund City Memphis LLC to help support the operation of a Ridgeway Station District Three, Super District Eight.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilwoman White, you recognized.

Thank you, Chairman.

The committee made and recommended approval and I so moved.

30 was moved by White, seconded by Carlisle.

Seeing the members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes, green, yes, Logan, yes, Spinoza, yes, Walker, yes, White, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

All right, item 30 passes.

Cooper Sutton and Vice Chair Swearington Washington's yes on the side.

Madam Comptroller, please call item 31.

Item number 31 is a resolution to appropriate 11 million dollars in FY2026 CIP funding for the Exxon Enterprise Solution.

Project number PD 04031.

All council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Councilwoman White, you're recognized.

31 was moved by White.

Okay.

31 was moved by White, seconded by Smiley.

Seeing the members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, 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 should display momentarily.

It's a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2026 CIP budget by allocating and appropriating five million one hundred thousand dollars and five million five million nine hundred thousand dollars in funds for the purchase of various vehicles and equipment through incurrence of indebtedness via the execution of a master equipment lease.

All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Committee may have recommended approval.

And I so move mayor to give me permission.

I need you to move it electronically, please.

32 is moved by Smiley, seconded by Warren.

I do have one comment card.

Ms.

Glinda Hicks.

Glenda Hicks, 608 Gillies.

I uh reviewed the documentation that was presented on this item and was somewhat baffled.

So I thought I would just come and ask my questions.

So understanding that the citizenry pays, just residential citizens pay 41 dollars and ninety-six cents per month on their like ass and bill for solid waste.

And if I take a mere 150,000 citizens times that, then we're looking at over six million dollars a month.

So I was a bit baffled as to why we're in a lease agreement with JP Morgan to purchase this equipment and why we're not just purchasing to lease, excuse me, this equipment, and why are we not just purchasing it outright given the amount of funds that are collected just on the basis of residents paying?

And I know that it's more than 150,000 citizens, residential.

Thank you, Ms.

Hicks.

I could answer your question, but I'm gonna let Director Davis come up and speak to the specifics why he chose lease as opposed to purchase.

I would like to talk to you.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am.

Hey, Philip Davis, uh waste director, 2081, Old Oak Drive, Memphis 3119.

Uh, yes, good question.

Um, so we do enter into a five five-year lease, it's a lease purchase.

Uh, we finance these vehicles because we we have about to the commoner's point.

Um, we do have a about a hundred and four million dollar operating budget.

Um, we have a hundred and eighty-one thousand customers that pay largely forty-one ninety-six, give or take the different fee classification, but mostly mostly most of our customers uh pay forty-one ninety-six per month.

Uh, that brings in about that much revenue, about 104 million dollars.

Uh we have about a $35 million uh payroll uh for um personnel.

We also um finance these vehicles.

This is about $11 million.

It's gonna replace about 10% uh of our operating fleet, and so we just we finance our uh because of a cash flow um a cash flow for the operation.

Um so this is why we do this.

Thank you, Director Davis.

Madam Countroller, please take us to the voting screen for item 32.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Ford, yes, green, yes, Logan, yes, Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Walker, yes, Warren, yes, white, yes.

Please show Easter Thomas as voting yes on this item.

Chairman Pennale, yes.

Madam Countroller, please call item 33 item number 33 is a resolution to allocate and appropriate two million six hundred thousand dollars in city council community grant funds to nonprofit agencies for FY26, all council districts.

This resolution is sponsored by the budget committee.

Councilman Carlisle, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Committee and that recommends approval and I say move.

33 was moved by Carlisle, seconded by Green.

Singing the members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes, green, yes, Logan, yes.

Smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes.

Swearing in Washington, yes.

Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes.

Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

Madam Country, out of an abundance of clarity.

Will you reread 25 into the record?

Item number 25 is an ordinance to establish Memphis City Council meeting dates for 2026 up for third and final reading.

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

So I spoke incorrectly earlier.

It's a substitute ordinance.

Um with the changes.

For the record, it's a substitute ordinance, and we will archive it as that.

Thank you.

Madam Vice Chair, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

The committee met and received a favorable recommendation for this schedule of meeting dates.

It has been amended.

25 was moved by Swearinger Washington, seconded by Carlisle.

Councilman Warren, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um as you note we've got meetings on January 13th and 27th in a week from the 27th to February 3rd.

Uh you know, if we can avoid having those throughout the year, I think it helps us um the sixth uh is pretty far in from the very beginning of the year, so I'm thinking it most people will be back from vacation after that weekend.

They've gone out for the week of the first.

Uh it seems the six and the twentieth would eliminate that problem.

We've got November 2nd, I guess, or third, that's right on the voting date of I think that's election.

So that's why we've moved November and moved December back.

Uh, but that keeps us from having a lot of these that are just back to back as we go throughout the year.

So uh I'd like to see if there are other people that would comment on why we shouldn't go back to the six and the twentieth of January.

All right, colleagues, if you have any thoughts or opinions on moving the 13th to the 6th and the 27th to the 20th, the month of January.

Please speak up.

Okay, yeah, that is madam vice chair.

You recognize I was gonna say thank you, Mr.

Chair.

That's all the answer I needed.

Okay, so everybody's okay with these dates in front of them.

Love these dates.

Okay.

All right.

Uh 25 was moved by Swearing Washington, seconded by Carlisle.

No other members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Carlisle, yes, Cooper Sutton, yes, Ford, yes, Green, yes, please show Easter Thomas is voting yes on this item.

Logan, yes, smiley, yes, Spinoza, yes, Swearing Washington, yes.

Please show Council Member Walker is voting yes on this item.

Warren, yes, white, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

All right, colleagues.

That brings us to the end of our agenda.

I believe the vice chair has our same night minute items available.

Thank you, Chair.

I say night minute items are items 11, 24, 25, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40.

And I shall move.

All right, same night minutes were moved by Swear and Jim Washington.

Need a second.

Second by Smiley.

Councilman Smiley, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I would like to move to make item number 34.

Uh same night minutes.

Item number 34 is the item that we have much discussion about.

All right, any any objection to adding 34 to our same night minutes?

All right, no objection.

Item 34 will be added.

Please note that madam council 34 to be added to the list for same night minute items.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Seeing no members in the queue, please take us to the voting screen.

Cooper Sutton, yes.

Easter Thomas, yes.

Ford, yes, green, yes, smiley, yes, but no say yes.

Swearing in Washington, yes.

Walker, yes, Warren, yes, Chairman Canale, yes.

That item passes.

All right, Colleague, this brings us to the public comment portion of our meeting.

Dr.

Carnita Atwater, you're up first.

Name and address for the record.

You have two minutes, ma'am.

Dr.

Carnita Atwater, 1098 Firestone, Memphis, Tennessee, 38107.

I came to speak on the uh number the gender uh 10, item 10.

And I think it's a disservice and disrespectful to not let the public speak on a permit a resolution or uh ordinance that's going to affect the jail, the new jail, the um the uh detention center and all that, but I will address that with a legal situation because I thought that was very disrespectful.

Dr.

Atwater, uh we both pause your time for just a second.

He will be able to speak on that item, but you can only speak on ordinances on third reading.

But when it comes up for third reading, anybody that wishes to speak on that item, which is when we will truly vote on the item, we're just letting it go through its process on consent.

But when it comes up for third reading, anyone that wishes to speak will be given the opportunity at that time.

Are you going to add the time back?

Okay.

So now what I want to address is I gave you all in July, July 27.

I gave you the Memphis Black agenda, and I want to read that into record so that can be documented publicly.

You never did respond to that.

So let me go to what I want to say in a few minutes I have.

I'm reading this document into record.

The Memphis Black agenda presented to you July the 22nd.

I am requesting a for instance investigation and accounting on all physical budget on the physical budget 2021, 22, 23, and 24 and 25 regarding the funding of edge accelerated Memphis CRA, Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Downtown Commission, Industrial Review Board, Land Bank, and any other organization who have received funding from the City of Memphis, City Council in the last five years.

And I'm requesting that and I want to put that into the record.

Thank you, Dr.

Atwater.

Sammy Hunter.

Yes, uh, my name is Sammy Hunter.

Uh live at 4211 Park Chester Avenue, uh, Memphis Tennessee 38118.

Um Board, I just want to address you all about the concerns of the security guards that are down here at the North End Terminal.

Um about the bus riders, how aggressive they are being towards the bus riders and stuff.

Uh we had a lady uh that was thrown down by these security guards down at the northern terminal.

She was intoxicated.

Yes, she was, but she was handcuffed, but she didn't deserve to be thrown down by uh aggressive security guards.

Now we have went to Mr.

Holmes and told Mr.

Holmes that he needs to put body cams on these security guards, and they're being aggressive towards the bus riders.

Uh if a bus of a bus rider is waiting on a bus, if the bus is not showing up, you cannot just want to push them out because his bus hadn't came.

So these are things that we wish you all would look into.

Uh the bus riders don't deserve this.

Uh it's it's just bad down there.

When we was uh me and Mr.

Mosehill from the Citizen Bus Service wish you all would check into this.

And another thing is uh the the Memphis the bus riders want to know when are y'all gonna assemble a board because they need to come to address their concerns because they'd have they they come to me, but they need to be able to come to a board to uh to address their concerns of what they're going through out here.

Uh it's it's it we need a board.

We need a board so we can come and tell you tell about the issues that are going on out here about these buses.

And another thing we want to know when are the buses are coming.

Are they coming in January because we violently need them?

It's fine that you all are doing the free firm, but if the buses are not showing up on time, then it's it does no good.

So that's what we want.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you, Mr.

Hunter.

And to answer your question about the board, does board appointees have to come from the administration, and we either vote their appointment up or down.

We don't get to pick who serves on the board.

Okay, thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Johnny Mosley.

Johnny Mosley, 1150 Pedican Lane, Memphis, Tennessee, 38109.

I'm chairman of Citizen for Better Service Route that has been an advocate for bus riders in the city since 1993.

I guess Mr.

Sammy Hunter just about said everything that I wanted to say.

And of course, you all know that I wrote a three-page letter to Mr.

Holmes talking about some of the things that Mr.

Hunter talked to you all just a moment ago.

And so I just like to reiterate what he says is that I like to see our city council not only find out what's going on down at the North End Tournament or the William Hudson Transit Center, but I'd also like for you all just to take time out to go and talk to bus riders at the transit center.

In 1984, I played a role in making sure that the city council at that time allocate dollar bills to get that bus tournament built.

I thought it was going to be a dream for bus riders.

It has turned into a nightmare.

Bus riders are scared.

They're constantly calling me, telling me that security guard are losing their mind.

Imagine, I'm sure you all know he get telephone calls eight, nine, ten, eleven o'clock at night, complaining about the security guard treating them like psycho like they are psychological failure or second-class citizen.

Yes, bus fare is free today.

But bus riders do not feel that they are free.

They fear that they're not treated with a sense of human dignity and respect.

And as I said in my letter, they are treated just as bad as my father, who was a garbage man for 50 years, was treated back in 1968 when he marched for dignity.

Um, what's the name of the security company you know off the top of your head?

What water security?

There's two security companies down there.

Yeah, water security company.

We want to see the security company change because we just don't want to see bus riders continue to be scared while they're waiting on the buses.

Thank you, Mr.

Wesley.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

I need a name and address for the record, please.

No problem.

Good evening and happy holidays.

My name is Ewainer Brown, 1836 Waverly Avenue, 38114.

Good evening, City Council members.

My name is Iwana, aka Philly.

I am the civil rights advocacy director for We Fed Up, a community-based organization advocating for constitutional compliance and the protection of fundamental rights.

Under the Memphis City Charter, this council holds legislative authority, budgetary power, and oversight, responsibility for the city government operations, including the mayor and the Memphis Police Department.

Therefore, this body approves funding and establishes policies, and you retain the authority and the duty to act when city officials violate the law.

The United States Department of Justice has formally confirmed that the City of Memphis engages in a pattern and practices of unconstitutional policing and including excessive force.

These findings place the this council on actual notice.

When a government body knowing knowingly hires, retains, and pays public servants who violate federal law that conduct that conduct triggers municipal liability under 42 USC 1983 as established in Monel B Department of Social Service.

Failure to correct known constitutional violates constitute deliberate indifference.

Under the supremacy clause of the United States Constitution, federal civil rights law overrides local policy and political discretion.

This council is now on the record.

Failure to act converts knowledge into liability.

You are not observers, you are employers, and continuing in interactions will be treated as ratification.

The record is preserved, and the rights of the people are not negotiable.

Accountability is coming in one way or another, and I'll see you soon.

Thank you.

Joe Kent.

Joe Kent, 511 Flamingo.

Since 2019, the Chamber and Edge's excessive tax incentives have brought 20,000 job losses.

Since 2022, the prosper 2030 plan 11,000 have occurred since August since uh 2023.

Accelerated Skills Center announcement, 3,500 job losses have occurred.

All this results in a hundred million dollars in deficient revenue growth versus the chamber selected selected peers since 2021.

So blame the chamber and edge for the revenue problems.

Okay.

Excess excessive scenes have never worked or proven not to work now and never will work.

Bobby White yesterday implied that the chat the pilot is the chamber's only incentive while other cities not in Memphis resorts to cash and other incentives.

This is more joke chamber propaganda and a gross misrepresentation.

Here are some examples of cash incentives.

18 million of 36 million in private pilot extension garage loans can be attributed to cash grants through the C C C D C the DMC is handing out cash grants all the time.

One example is the one million dollar Carlisle storefront grant, and another is a $30 million Sheraton grant from the city.

And there's more.

Edge gave four million dollars to FedEx to move across town to downtown, and Edge adminers a administers a whole bunch of cash grants for the state for infrastructure, job skills, training, and job incentives.

Or what about the below market edge 10 million dollar loans to Hunter North Mainster Building?

And what about the CRA's 10 million dollar grant to Billy Orgall's Snuff District?

And what about all the infrastructure work going on at Liberty Park?

What about the or what about the free lease to agri center?

That is in effect a cash grant for ag recruitment.

And there's going to be even more cash grants from the obnoxious sports authority cash bunker.

So blame the chamber edge and the punk families of Memphis for your public revenue problems, which are significant.

Blame them.

Blame them.

Publicly start blaming these bastards.

They're ripping the city off.

Thank you, Mr.

Kitts.

Thank you.

Van Snyder.

Dan Snyder, 2478 Zenome, Memphis 38114.

I'm here with a couple other librarians today, and we'd like to thank everyone who voted DS and co-sponsored.

And we look forward to the second and third readings as well.

Have a good evening.

Thank you.

Alexandra Farmer.

Alexandra Farmer, 1044 Breeze Street.

Um, yeah, thank you all so much.

We're so grateful and excited that this is moving forward.

Um, we'll see you at the second and third readings, and we really hope that all of you will uh co-sponsor as well.

We know we still have three of you who have yet to co-sponsor, and we would love to have you on board as well.

So thank you all.

We're all really grateful.

Thank you, Ms.

Farmer.

Laura Bontrager.

Hi, Laura Vontrager, 8492 East Askerskin 38018.

I just want to say thank you for uh giving us the encouragement of your co-sponsorship, your sponsorship of this resolution for library workers.

We appreciate the work that you do for us.

Happy holidays.

Thank you, Ms.

Bontrager.

G.

Wayne Dowdy.

Gene Wayne Dowdy, 3574 Marion Avenue, Memphis 38111.

Arise to provide the council with information which I respectfully believe should be considered in drafting the referendum ordinance amending Article 34, Section 250.

In 1949, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a private act, and the Memphis Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance creating a comprehensive civil service commission for Memphis.

The ordinance states all employees holding positions covered by the provisions of this act for a period of six months or more immediately prior to the adoption of this law shall be continued in their respective positions without the necessity of a qualifying test.

In 2000, ordinance number 4763 was passed, which abolished the park commission and replaced it with the division of park services.

These workers were made city workers but are not included on the list of city employees exempt from civil service protection.

In 2005, ordinance number 5093 was passed, which made library employees city workers and added library employees to the list of city workers exempt from civil service protection.

It is my professional opinion that the 1949 municipal code and city ordinance 4763 suggests that no city employees have ever been dismissed and compelled to repeat the hiring process to join the ranks of civil service.

Therefore, I respectfully suggest that the library division workers are not required to be rehired in order to be classified as civil service.

Thank you.

Sir they just wanted a copy of what oh I got it.

Yeah, I'll give it to you.

Yes, sir.

John Sink.

Okay.

Emiline Rogers.

I just want to say.

Thank you all so much for getting us through the first reading today.

Um I'm excited for the second and third.

Happy holidays.

Thank you, Ms.

Rogers.

Lisa Peters.

Hello, my name is Lisa Peterson.

Uh it's 5012 Newcastle Road, and I wanted to join my coworkers from the Memphis Public Libraries and thanking you for getting us through the first reading.

And hopefully, as we move through these second and third readings and on to the referendum, we're able to find a way to make what Wayne was saying true, where library staff are able to maintain their positions and gain civil service status.

Thank you and happy holidays.

Thank you, Ms.

Peterson.

Councilman Ward, you're recognized.

Thank you, Ms.

Chair.

I was just looking at the calendar bill that we passed and realize that today is the 15th of December, and January 13th is 28 days away.

So that's four weeks that we would not be here.

And although the 19th is, you know, a time that would be hard for staff.

I'm wondering, do we really want to not be here for four weeks?

Is that going to be acceptable?

And if it is, then I'm I'm I'm thinking poorly, but I'm wondering if we might not want a four-week vacation.

Uh I don't know.

I I would like to at least have us reconsider having four weeks off and coming back in three weeks.

I think it'll make our meeting when we come back ridiculously long and hard to do.

I have a sneaky suspicion, the council said.

Stop talking.

Thank you, Councilman Ward.

Councilman Carl, I'm gonna let you respond to that.

Yeah, yeah.

So look, here's the deal.

You have main meetings and you have committee meetings.

If there is business to be done by the body that doesn't have to be disposed of by an official act, call your committee.

Right?

Chairman Ford wants to call the transportation committee on a Tuesday, and he feels like he has the right to do that.

Chairman Spinoza can call M L GW.

Sounds like a good idea.

Right, I'm with you.

Okay.

Thank you, thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh Benin Al Shimari.

Where do I stand?

Thank you.

Um, my name is Benin Ashmari, and I live in 4840 Lynn Road.

I am a sophomore at White Station High School, and ever since since I was a sixth grader at Y Station Middle School, I've been going to Jeffrey Red Library as a student growing up in a working class family.

An escape for me was going to this library and reading comics, so my mom had to shout at me to go home.

But these memories are no more.

Jeffrey Red Library wasn't always called Jeffrey Red.

Um, it was honored after the heroic officer who lost his life after being shot outside of the library after respond while responding to a call on February 2nd, 2023.

After three years of this tragic event, my family still has concerns over me going to this beautiful area.

This is why we need more protection and security for library workers for library workers.

Another challenge I've learned that Memphis library workers face is the unlivable wage that they have.

The same people who helped me pick out my books to achieve that um to achieve the education I have today, who provided this uh and who provide this who've provided a safe space for me, struggle to provide for their children.

According to the commercial appeal, Laura Bon Bondrager that works in the science departments at the Benjamin L.

Hooks uh library stated that many library workers make less than 44,000.

And that is the that is the living wage for a single person with no tr children living in Memphis.

But that doesn't have to be that way.

Like how my favorite author, C.

S.

Lewis stated, you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

Let this let down of Memphian library of Memphis libraries, librarians guide us to a new day that supports and helps all.

So I urge you to pass this ordinance that to alleviate the struggles of the library workers.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Al Shimani.

Paul Williams.

Paul Williams, 711 South Dudley.

Um, I'm here today to um talk about the um VMS that runs the city of Memphis impound line.

So back in 2023, y'all signed a contract with them to um for them to run the impound line.

Um after doing some research on it, it comes to my attention that they do the same thing that we do for free.

So us as tow companies have a system that we use.

And um the system is exactly how they exist.

Yes.

So VMS is an out of state company out of Chicago.

Um, there is no well, this is my thing.

Can anybody tell me how much did the city of Memphis make off the impound lot last year?

Or since they've been in control of it?

No, sir, we don't have contracting authority.

That would be solely with the administration.

Okay, but with that being said, but we're talking about the city of Memphis being broke when y'all paying these when these people are making over five million dollars off something that we do for free.

So tell me what why is that so uh here's the deal actually, sir.

Uh we we we actually redid the structure of that lot in the last 12 months, and one of the things that we talked about today was getting an update on the new contract, how the lot was performing, because a couple years ago, as you know, it was a disaster.

So I appreciate you coming down and making your comments, and at the January meeting, if the chairman of the public works and solid waste division will allow it, I'd like to have the administration come and talk about where we are today since we made all of those changes at the lot and we'll and we'll get into it.

So I understand the changes that was made at the lot, but the thing are these are the same citizens that they hired from the city of Memphis.

So why couldn't like y'all just hire with the end to get new management instead of just letting them keep that whole five million dollars?

Yeah.

And we do the job for free.

So why would y'all pay them for that?

Look, I appreciate you coming down, and I'll I want to be respectful of the chair and your time, but basically to your point of coming down here at our very first meeting of the year, we're gonna get into it.

So thank you for bringing it to my attention to the council's attention.

We're gonna put it on the agenda and we're gonna we're gonna get an update on how that that process is going, and we'll get into it.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

Lisa Bennett.

Good evening.

My name is Lisa D.

Bennett.

My address is 4321 Royal Palace Code, Memphis 38128.

It is my understanding from previous council meetings that sitting council members are not to be named during citizen comments.

And so um I won't name the council person in the thread uh email thread that uh I have.

However, I can name the person who is CC'd in that email thread, and that person is MLGW President Doug McGowan.

I would like to read this thread, it's three emails into public record.

Dear councilperson, the last time I attended a council meeting regarding the water issue on my street, I asked if there were specific protocols that are used to determine how and when emergencies are addressed.

That question was never answered, so I am asking again.

How does MLGW leadership determine which emergencies are addressed and in what manner?

This includes both residential and commercial customers and areas.

Is there software or protocol system used to make determinations?

I would like to think that the council members would also like to have this specific information about our public utility so that they can inform constituents.

Best regards, Lisa D.

Bennett, District One constituent.

The email response from Mr.

McGowan, and I will uh read directly what he wrote.

Uh I'm an English teacher, retired English teacher, but I'm gonna read exactly what he wrote because this is public record.

Ms.

Bennett, if you can please provide an address and date when the water leak occurred, I will be better equipped for answer the question.

I I apologize that I do not recall the discussion you referenced.

Respectfully, Doug.

My response.

Dear Mr.

McGowan, respectfully, I don't understand how information about my specific situation is necessary for answering questions regarding MLG and W's emergency response protocols or procedures in general.

If there is something I am missing, please let me know.

However, my questions are about emergency response procedures and protocols in the entire MLG and W service area and are not specific to my residence or neighborhood.

Sincerely, Lisa D.

Bennett, District 1 constituent.

There were no more emails.

I did not hear from uh Mr.

McGowan.

I am very frustrated that this seems not to be something that's important to you all.

When we spend millions and millions of dollars for our public utility, I am particularly disturbed that I turned in a comment card to be able to speak on items 12 and 34, but I was not called for either one.

Now, someone told me that I couldn't speak on a fiscal consent item.

I don't recall that happening before.

Okay, that is correct.

And if the card was not turned in before the however, item 34 was not fiscal consent.

Am I understanding that correctly?

Yes, ma'am.

I called everybody that is a very important thing.

I was not called to speak to that uh particular item.

I would have liked the opportunity to speak what I'm sharing now before you all voted on both the MLG and W resolutions 14 through 21, and before you voted on fiscal year 26 uh budget.

It is unfair, it is disrespectful, and I believe there's some dissembling going on.

Hold on, I'm I let me finish saying what I'm saying.

You for exchange your judicials.

Okay, yes, Mayor.

I do believe that there is dissembling going on that I turn in a card, and I'm not allowed to speak to items that speak to uh a significant portion of our city's budget.

I also heard from people behind me how disappointed they were that they were not allowed to speak to specific items.

So, in addition to asking what are the procedures and protocols for emergency response for MLG and W, especially considering that we'll have a significant burden on our utilities with XAI and other or uh businesses and corporations coming in, and considering that we are experiencing a rate increase next year.

I think it's more than fair that we know that you know what the policies and procedures are.

No, I'm I'm not finished.

Well, it's maybe more because you forgot to be able to do that.

No, I'm not gonna I'm not finished.

And so I'm asking you all to continue asking that question.

Oh, how is the chairman?

I'm gonna continue asking that question about the interrupting policy.

And I also ask you all to be very clear about Amber Sherman.

From these different decisions.

My name is Amber Sherman.

My address is 6070 North Belgrove Cove.

I want to talk about the situation in the jail, especially as y'all as city council members and the power that you have.

Currently, from the data transparency that we actually asked the mayor to put up, there have been 569 misdemeanor citations given out, but there's been 3600 physical arrests, 2400 from misdemeanors, and 2600 that are nonviolent.

I asked the mayor, can we have a list of the actual charges?

Because no one actually knows what the charges are.

But the folks that we're bailing out of jail from the official bill of Memphis chapter are going to jail for a suspended license or not being able to pay their registration or not having insurance, which are all financial responsibilities, not things they should be actually going to jail for.

And so I think that this body needs to use the public safety committee to ask for the a list of those things.

What are the charges folks are being taken in for?

Because people who are going to jail have also been going seeing a higher rate of suicide watch from the November report card from the jail.

Y'all gonna listen?

Brooke you in the way.

Rude.

Yeah.

So from the November report card from the jail, there has been an increase of 133% of attempts for suicide.

There's a longer processing time of up to six days, and people are attempting to kill themselves because the jail is so disgusting.

The folks were bailing out talked about how there's pods that are being covered by one person, so up to 500 people, and there's one deputy covering them.

And when they're calling for medical attention, they don't hear for someone for hours because there's only one person covering five to up some up to like 600 people.

And so I think that this body, because you represent Memphians and the Shelby County is 70% Memphis.

So most of the folks who are going to jail to the Shelby County jail are Memphians.

You need to hold them accountable.

You need to get a list of the charges of what folks are going to jail for and hold them accountable to citing people.

There's very clear law about citations, and there's a clear law listing out what you should be cited for and the things folks are being arrested for.

I think they should be cited for.

And so I'm asking this body to do your job because we also emailed y'all two weeks ago asking you also to ask the mayor to do his job and y'all to hold him accountable.

Thank you, Ms.

Sherman.

Councilman Green, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, Miss Sherman.

Ms.

Sherman, I just wanted to let you know.

Um, this is definitely a concern for me.

It is something that I'm working on on this side of the street and on the county side.

Um, as you know, Sheriff Bonner is in charge of 201, and that limits a lot of what we can do.

As it relates to who ends up and is staying there, I am on an interagency justice workforce um that involves the sheriff's office and the chief jailer, it involves pretrial, it involves um the clerk's office, the mayor's administration, CSA, and we get together regularly and look at who's being arrested and what the charges are and who we can get out.

We have started a system to speed up low-level offenders that we can get out quicker.

We're also putting overflow people in our department of corrections so they're not staying into a one in those conditions because our department of corrections is run by the mayor's administration, it's run better.

All that to say that I appreciate what you're saying, and I agree with you.

I think the conditions over there are inhumane, and what is happening to people is unacceptable.

But the person that we need to be holding responsible is Sheriff Bonner, and everyone who is running for sheriff right now.

So I I don't and I will also say this MPD was invited to be a part of that task force, that working group, and they were a part of it for one meeting, and then they're not anymore.

It's all just county officials now.

The sheriff is at the table.

Um Tennessee Highway Patrol has been at the table.

So we have done everything we can to be able to limit the number of people that are going in for low-level offenses, and even once they get in, we're having the DAs review the cases quicker to get them out.

I don't know what else we can do.

We can't tell but we can't we can't tell the the administration how to run the police department.

So it's Janika.

And I also know all of you are telling me about you tell me about that, but I think you tell the public.

You can come to the mic.

I I I agree.

And I and there is a public dashboard available now.

Um, I believe Clerk Sawyer has posted it online.

And I asked her also to add more details because that that dashboard doesn't have any details just like the city one.

And I do want to say that we requested multiple times for that intergovernmental bodies are talking about to have a community representative, and they denied it both times.

So I think that as a city council, you guys can request the MPD comeback.

If not, you should say something so the public knows what's happening, and also y'all should recommend that you have a community partner or community representative in those meetings because we requested it multiple times.

I don't disagree with you.

I didn't set up the meeting, I didn't um pick the partners.

I just agreed to participate because I think it's such an important issue.

So we are and the public defender is also there in addition to the DA.

So I just want you to know there are people working on this issue and trying to get it, and if you look at the trend, we are down in the numbers.

We are still way overcrowded.

We were close to 3,000 people at one time.

We're getting closer to the max capacity, which is 2400.

Um the suicide rate has gone up about 40 percent in the last month, even though y'all are doing all those changes.

There's still a lot of people in there, and people are attempting to kill themselves because they would rather die than be in the jail.

100% agree.

I don't want to interrupt, but this could probably be handled in a private meeting.

I don't know that we need to continue.

I actually really want it on the public record because Jerry has told me these things before in a text message, which I think is great.

I think it's good that she's doing stuff and advocating, but actually the public should know what's happening.

I I agree, and that's that's why I wanted to put it on the record.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Ms.

Sherman.

We'll continue to work on it.

Thank you.

Brandy Price.

How you doing?

My name is Brandy Price.

Uh pronounce she we am from uh 316 Civil Age.

I was summoned here tonight to address a comment that was most horrendous.

Uh I was came here to just address the disrespect that has been thrown on our public servants of the fire department, and also for the rest of the citizens here in Memphis, Tennessee.

I was here, summoned here because someone on this council said that the fire department was raping the city of Memphis, knowing full well the amount of untested rape kits and our fire uh police held by Memphis Police Department that goes untested every day, every day.

That's a slap and a spit to our faces on each and every one of the citizens' faces.

A lot of you council people are living high on the hog while the rest of us are in hell.

We live in hell by the policies that y'all push, that y'all oh y'all push and force upon us.

Meanwhile, y'all allow Elon Musk to take three million gallons of our drinking water per day, but with the promise of a uh water, great water facility with a five million at their five million gallons at their peak.

When the water level drops to a certain level, arsenic gets into the water, and the whole greater Memphis area will not have a single drop to drink, not a single drop to drink, not a single drop to drink.

Will we have anything to spare?

Now, everybody say things are bad, crime is bad, but y'all have unleashed truly hell on earth.

And when y'all come join us, when the AI replace your uh job security, I'm gonna laugh at you.

I'm gonna laugh at you just like this.

You need to step down from your position because you disrespect it the people.

Thank you, Miss Price.

You disrespect it the people.

Thank you.

Step down, you lie to Councilwoman Cooper Sutton, you're recognized.

If you would and and if you would indulge me for just one minute.

This is where where am I going?

Um to each of you.

It's been an honor of a lifetime to serve the citizens of Memphis since 2018.

And most importantly, as your chairman these last 12 months.

Um I couldn't have done it without each of you's confidence and your trust.

I know the toll that it takes on each of you, and I know the toll it takes on your families.

And I want to assure you that each day I woke up with a clear vision in my mind, and some days we're easier than others.

But that was to lead this body with the best of my ability, and I hope that I served you well, and I want you to know that I believe in each one of you, and I believe in this institution, and I want you and all the staff to know I love you, I care for you, and I have I know that this is not the end, I've got two years left, and I look forward to working alongside you uh these next two years, but I want to take this opportunity now while I had the chance, because I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart to be able to serve you to my vice chair and your next chairwoman.

It's been an absolute pleasure to work alongside you.

You've been a true committed advisor and a trusted friend, and I wish you and vice chair elect Carlisle nothing but the very best.

And with that, I'm gonna pass this gavel to you.

I appreciate you.

Hold on, one second.

There is a gentleman behind you gonna show you some love.

Oh, ain't that so sweet?

You got one more person coming to show you some love.

Come on.

Why chairwoman emeritus is coming?

I just wanted to say I appreciate your level headedness, your dedication, your consistency, mentoring me and including me in all of the decisions that you made, and I really appreciate you.

You're not only a friend and a colleague, but you are a brother.

Thank you.

Brother, my big sister.

Congratulations.

I just wanted you to be the first to decorate my old office, and your new office.

Please open it.

All right, see what it is.

Oh that's beautiful.

Thank you.

Represents nothing.

Yes, I love it.

I love it.

It was personally drawn for you.

Oh, it's beautiful.

Thank you.

This is a this is a councilwoman hairstylist.

Come on, all the council, come on, y'all.

No, I feel like it's where you washing.

Come on, people.

Act like we love each other.

Honestly, go on pretty long.

I have to give Jens credit now.

Hold on.

Nope.

Without God's grace and God's mercy.

So with that, I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

We are adjourned for one last time.

God bless you.