Memphis City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026
Memphis City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026
The Memphis City Council convened on January 13, 2026, presided over by Chairwoman Janice Swearing Washington, to conduct regular business including honors, fiscal resolutions, zoning approvals, and public comment. The meeting featured a unanimous approval of the previous minutes, a fiscal consent agenda, and significant bonding resolutions. Public testimony focused heavily on police accountability, specific zoning ordinance clarifications, and housing authority concerns.
Consent Calendar
- Honorary Street Name: The committee recommended and the council approved a resolution to rename Mill Branch Road (between East Rains Road and David Drive) as "Mr. Commodore C. Primus Senior Way" in District 6, honoring the late educator and community leader. The sponsor, Councilwoman White, noted his 12-year retirement after decades of service, including his time as principal at Robert R. Church Elementary.
- Memorial Resolution: The committee recommended and the council approved a resolution honoring the life of Bishop Jerry L. Ivory Sr., authored by Councilman Warren. The resolution details his ministry, his survival of childhood injuries, his work in Kenya, and his local leadership in drug and alcohol treatment programs. His widow, Lady Valerie D. Rogers Ivory, expressed gratitude and commitment to continue his work.
- Fiscal Consent Agenda: The council unanimously approved items including:
- $1,430,311 grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- $1,800,000 revenue payment from M Street Fiber Memphis LLC.
- Amendments to the FY 2026 operating budget.
- Fiscal & CIP Resolutions (Items 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 34-39): The committee met and recommended approval for numerous resolutions involving:
- Transfer of $4,454,265.86 in "Accelerate Memphis" funds for the engineering sign shop (Item 23).
- Transfer of funds to the Chelsea Avenue Green Line and Southeastern Industrial Road Improvements (Item 24).
- Transfer of $1,972,371.00 for the gender separation project (Item 27).
- Reallocation of $2,183,689.86 in accelerate funds to 10 Memphis Parks projects to meet expenditure deadlines (Item 28).
- Allocation of $730,144.44 from the Memphis Parks Capital Reserve to four parks projects (Item 29).
- Appointments to the Animal Shelter Advisory Board (Items 34).
- $1,500,000 FYCIP funding for the Mount Mariah Police Station (Item 35).
- Transfer of $1,000,000 for the Downtown Command Center Phase 2 (Item 36).
- Funding source changes for wastewater and South Plant Expansion projects from Capital Pay-Go to Sewer Revenue Bond financing (Items 37, 38).
- Amendments to the Task Force on City Employee Compensation resolution (Item 39).
- Legislative Ordinances (Items 5-9): The council approved multiple ordinances on first and second readings, including changes to MLGW contract limits (Item 5), and zoning/subdivision regulations regarding correctional facilities (Item 6, sponsored by Councilwomen Easter Thomas and Green).
- MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda (Items 11-19): The council approved resolutions for:
- A joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey ($916,000 by division) for groundwater data collection.
- Various hardware purchases (F5 load balancers, Infoblocks, Luminaire Floodlights).
- Contract ratifications and renewals for electronic board agendas, prepay services, temporary employment (general laborer, clerical support, skill craftsmen).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Willie Gordon (923 Tuther Street): Expressed frustration that officers did not accept a police report for a burglary in October after he found his door open and window broken. Speaker stated officers turned off body cams and accused him of breaking his own house; he noted no arrests were made and blood was found on his remote. Position: Speaker demands accountability and action from law enforcement regarding the unaddressed burglary report.
- Serena Lindsay (Shalisa Cox): Expressed confusion regarding Item 6 of the consent agenda, specifically regarding the revision of zoning regulations for correctional facilities. After clarification, the speaker accepted the explanation.
- Shalisa Cox (Town Council Constituency): Expressed concern regarding the Memphis Housing Authority. Position: Speaker stated the department "has not been the same" in the last five years due to the loss of a long-term staff member and the operation of the Section 8 department by a third-party company not based in Memphis.
- D'Waina Waynor (Glenville District): Spoke on behalf of the community regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) report on the Police Department. Position: Speaker demanded a public apology, acknowledged wrongdoing, and called for public timelines and deadlines for reform. Speaker stated, "Without acknowledgement, there is no trust. And without trust, there is no reform." Speaker noted the mayor's lack of response to a recent meeting and threatened further action.
- Damon Morris (1529 Dunmore Road): Spoke regarding the death of his 18-year-old grandson and alleged misconduct by Internal Affairs police officers. Position: Speaker stated the Memphis Police Department is "run and rogue," cited a violation of the consent decree regarding monitoring of his Facebook page, and called for the resignation of Police Chief CJ Davis. Speaker noted he is prepared to sue the city if necessary.
- Catherine Larsha: Requested clarification on Item 6 regarding zoning for correctional facilities.
Discussion Items
- Zoning Resolution (Item 4): The committee recommended approval for a special use permit at 2710 South Minden Hall Road (Case SUP 25-26). The sponsor, Councilman Spinoza, noted a favorable recommendation from the December 16th meeting and the item passed unanimously.
- Bond Resolutions (Items 25 & 26): The administration sponsored resolutions to authorize the issuance of stormwater system revenue bonds up to $60 million. Position: Both items were recommended for approval by the committee and passed unanimously. The resolutions cover financing for improvements, additions, and extensions to the storm water system, including the appointment of paying agents and approval of official statements.
- Drainage Improvements (Items 32 & 33): The committee recommended approval for resolutions to transfer construction funds. Item 32 involves transferring $276,103.30 for drainage improvements near Lillian Drive (District 6). Item 33 involved a similar funding transfer recommendation. Both passed unanimously.
- Clarification on Item 6 (Councilwoman Green): In response to public comments, Councilwoman Green explained that Item 6 is designed to ensure that no prison or correctional facility is located in the city without a review by the Land Use Control Board and City Council. Position: The resolution seeks to ensure public input and prevent facilities from being placed in specific districts (noting concerns in District 8 regarding Shelby Farms) without oversight.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: The minutes of the December 16, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously. Minutes from the current meeting (Same Night Minutes) for items 1, 8, 9, 10, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 were approved unanimously.
- Funding & Bonds: The council authorized $60 million in stormwater system revenue bonds and approved multiple transfers of Accelerate Memphis and Parks Capital Reserve funds totaling in the multimillions to meet June 30, 2026 expenditure deadlines and fund ongoing projects.
- Appointments & Contracts: Several appointments to advisory boards and major contracts for MLGW services, hardware, and labor were ratified and approved.
- Public Affairs: The council committed to following up on a burglary report (cited by Mr. Gordon) and received formal calls for accountability regarding police reform from citizens D'Waina Waynor and Damon Morris, with the latter explicitly calling for the Chief's resignation.
Meeting Transcript
Sergeant at Arms, please call our December 16th, 2025 council meeting to order. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Pastor Preston Pointexter of Life Church, invited by Councilwoman Logan. Pastor Pointexter, please lead us in prayer. This day, this is your day. Father, we're starting off this year, this new year, recognizing what your what your word says, unless the Lord keeper the city, the watchman wakes in vain. And God, today we're asking you to just preside over every aspect of this meeting. Give us ideas and thoughts and that we can have before you as we seek to do your will and your business in this place. Janice Wearing Washington Chairwoman presented by Rhonda Logan, member of the council. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Madam Controller, if you will please call the roll. Thank you, Chairwoman Swearing Washington, Councilmembers Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Spinoza, Smiley, Walker, Warren, White, Janice Swearing, Washington Chairwoman. Present. Madam Chairwoman, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Comptroller. I believe Vice Chairman Carlisle has read the minutes for our December 16th, 2025 meeting. Thank you, Madam Chair. I've reviewed the minutes and find them to be in order. And I move for the adoption of the December 16th 2025 meeting minutes. I need the screen, Madame Comptroller. Ms. Mayor. Can I get a second? All right. It has been properly moved by Vice Chair Carlisle and seconded by Councilman Spinoza. All right. Move it to a vote, please. Will you give us a voting screen? For the minutes, Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes. Green, yes, Logan, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes, Warren, yes. White, yes. Swearing Washington, yes. All right, it's been approved. Welcome to the January 13th, 2026 regular meeting of the Memphis City Council. Meetings of the City Council shall be conducted in an orderly manner to ensure that the public has the full opportunity to be heard, and 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 at arms before the item is called. If you are not here to speak on a specific item, you can note your request to give general comment at the end of the meeting. As chair, I will only recognize citizens that properly register to speak by submitting a completed comment 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 vulgar language. The chairperson of the council may maintain order by giving any persons who are in violation of the stated rules of decorum a warning to cease any violative conduct or an order to leave by the council chambers, or by giving an order for security personnel to remove any disruptive person in the council's chamber who refuses to leave voluntarily. These rules are posted on the doors as you enter the chamber and as you pick up the comment cards. An example of an 11 by 17 poster is also posted on the door. Signs larger than the permitted size are prohibited and will be removed from the chamber. Before we begin, it is an honor to serve as your chairwoman of this majority woman-led council. Hey.
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