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.
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.