Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - February 11, 2026

Note on date discrepancy: The agenda and transcript identify the meeting date as February 3, 2026. However, the official record provided for this summary specifies the meeting took place on February 11, 2026. The following summary reflects the content of the meeting as transcribed, using the date provided in the instructions.

This meeting was conducted remotely due to a declared state of emergency related to inclement weather. The council approved several consent items, MLGW fiscal consent items, and resolutions for pedestrian safety projects. A public comment was read criticizing the council's remote meeting procedures and an MLGW board appointment.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance No. 5968 (Second Reading): Renaming Monroe Avenue between Front Street and Riverside Drive as Hyde Square. Sponsored by Memphis City Council. Approved.
• Ordinance No. 5969 (Second Reading): Amending Article VIII, §2-370 of the Code of Ordinances regarding arbitration of labor disputes, impasse procedures, and preservation of charter powers of City Council. Sponsored by Memphis City Council. Approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pamela Moses (submitted written comment, read aloud by staff): Argued that the remote meeting violated the Tennessee Open Meetings Act, alleging lack of adequate public notice and unequal access (council members via Zoom excluded the public). Also expressed concerns about the MLGW board appointment process, claiming a qualified Black woman applicant (Glinda Hicks) was bypassed in favor of Kevin Wood, calling it a pattern of corruption and lack of transparency. She stated that ethics complaints and legal challenges are forthcoming.

Discussion Items

• Resolution to ratify remote meeting (Item No. 18): Approved without debate. This resolution retroactively approved the chairperson's decision to hold the meeting remotely due to the state of emergency.
• Hanley Elementary School Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Project (Item No. 16): Resolution amending the FY26 CIP Budget by accepting $390,279.33 in additional TDOT grant funding for construction. Approved.
• STP Pedestrian Routes Project (Item No. 17): Resolution transferring $165,692.72 from Architecture and Engineering to Contract Construction within the FY26 CIP Budget for pedestrian safety improvements at three locations. Approved.
• MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda (Items 6–10): Approved as a block without individual discussion. Included:
  • $227,000 matching funds with TVA Community Care Funds for utility bill assistance.
  • Contract No. 12606 for Data Historian Replacement ($710,857).
  • Purchase order for Quest Toad software licenses ($461,065.29).
  • Renewal of janitorial services contract ($360,484.38).
  • Renewal of on-call consulting services ($500,000).
• Items held without discussion: Items 1 (to March 3), 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (to February 24). These included a resolution honoring Gina Sweat, two planned development cases, several third-reading ordinances (MLGW salaries, correctional facilities, library civil service, downtown parking garage program, small business program), and a referendum ordinance.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of previous meeting minutes (January 27, 2026): Amended to change Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton's vote on Item No. 25 (an MLGW appointment) from an affirmative vote to an abstention, as she requested due to missing information. Minutes approved as amended by roll call vote.
• Item 18 (remote meeting ratification): Approved by roll call vote (unanimous).
• Item 16 (Hanley grant): Approved by roll call vote (unanimous).
• Item 17 (STP pedestrian routes): Approved by roll call vote (unanimous).
• Consent Agenda (Items 4 & 5): Approved by roll call vote (unanimous).
• MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda (Items 6–10): Approved by roll call vote (unanimous with Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton disconnected momentarily, later reconnected).
• Same Night Minutes (Items 16, 17, 18): Approved by roll call vote (unanimous).
• Meeting recessed at conclusion of agenda.