The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting remotely on January 27, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. due to a state of emergency declared by the President, Governor, and Mayor for inclement weather. The meeting was conducted via electronic means to protect public health and safety. The Council approved several routine items, including consent agendas, fiscal items, and two resolutions for emergency repairs and drainage improvements. Multiple items were held for future meetings.
The regular meeting of the January 27, 2026 meeting will now begin. Sergeant in arms, if you will please call our January 27, 2026 Council meeting to order. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, this honorable council of the city of Memphis is here by call to order for the transaction of business pursuant to adjournment. Thank you so much. I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Pastor Kenneth Lewis of Briarwood Community Church. He's been invited by Councilwoman Logan. Pastor Lewis, if you will please lead us in prayer at this time. Thank you, Councilwoman Srevers in Washington. And please pray with me. Father God, we thank you for your many blessings upon us. Because you are good. We receive much good from you. We thank you even through this weather event that you have kept things as well as they are. Father, we are we thankful for those who have worked hard to uh keep the streets in order, keep the power functioning, and to keep people well protected. And God, we know that there are some who are still in trouble and have needs, and we pray for them right now. Father, uh, we thank you for this new day. We thank you for this the means you have provided for this council to meet. And although, Father, it is uh less than ideal, but Lord, it is sufficient for this time. Oh God, you have ordained government. Lord, you have you have provided it for the peaceful and orderly function of our society. And Lord, we know that government functions best when it is ordered according to your divine will. Government is your minister, and these councilpersons, Lord, they are your anointed, your ministers. May they minister in truth, in righteousness and justice. We pray, Lord, your wisdom upon each of them. Pray for your guidance. We pray that your purposes may prevail as they conduct this meeting, the business affairs of this city. We pray, Lord, for council um, for councilwoman, our chair, uh chairperson, Sarah Jen Washington, as she leads this council today. We pray for each of the councilpersons, Lord, um, as they uh as they participate in this meeting today. Uh Lord, we pray for each of them for councilwoman Logan, Councilwoman Green, Councilwoman Walker, Councilman Spinoza, Councilman Ford, Councilwoman Easter Thomas, Councilman Smalley, Councilwoman White, Councilwoman Cooper Sutton, Councilman Carlisle, Councilman Connolly, and Councilman Warren. Lord, may your peace and your wisdom rest upon each of them. May you bless them, Father God, their families, their overall well-being as they seek the good of the city, that its citizens, all of us may live a quiet, peaceable, and prosperous life for your glory. We pray, Father God, where there may be proneness to uh conflict, there be cooperation. Uh, where there's misunderstanding, may there may be communication and understanding. We pray, Father God, that whatever is needed to overcome, you would give them the grace to do so. May they know, Lord, they're prayed for, they're supported. And while their jobs are uh challenging in some regards, Father, we know that you have set them apart to do it, and may they do it to the best of their ability and seeking your glory and your will. It's in the name of Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world that we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for that beautiful prayer. Councilwoman Logan, you are recognized at this time. Thank you, chairwoman, and amen to that prayer. I'm going to read into your hearing the resolution. Be it hereby known that Pastor Kenneth Lewis of Briarwood Community Church, in recognition of a life of exemplary and outstanding service to this city, his meritorious involvement in humanitarian affairs and his demonstrated concern for governmental process has been appointed chaplain of the day of the Memphis City Council. Pastor Lewis is hereby entitled to all of the honors, rights, privileges, and prerogatives appertaining to the office and the to display of this certificate given on this day, the 27th of January by Chairman Janet Swearing in Washington and presented by myself, Rhonda Logan, member of the Memphis City Council. And I so move. Thank you so much. Thank you.