Memphis City Council Meeting Summary – April 14, 2026

The Memphis City Council convened on April 14, 2026, holding committee sessions from 8:30 a.m. and the regular council meeting at 4:00 p.m. The agenda included a contentious liquor license appeal, routine land use approvals, significant financial resolutions for infrastructure and the arts, and extensive public testimony regarding Memphis Police Department conduct during a peaceful protest.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 (Honorary Street Name): Approved by acclamation, naming Decatur Street between Vollintine Avenue and Jackson Avenue as "Gladys Ann Hunter Sawyer Street."
• Items 3–6 (Land Use): Approved planned development at 0 IKEA Way (PD 26-01), alley vacation for Litty Place (SAC 25-06), special use permit for vehicle sales at 3575 Emerald Street (SUP 26-01), and special use permit for a childcare center at 4180 Elliston Road (SUP 26-05).
• Zoning Ordinance Z 26-01 (Consent Agenda): Approved on second reading, rezoning roughly 3.3 acres on Tully and Woodlawn Streets from Residential Urban-1 (RU-1) to Mixed Use (MU).
• Fiscal Consent (Items 8 & 20): Approved amending the FY2026 Operating Budget, transferring funds from Community Initiatives Grants for Nonprofits to Miscellaneous Professional Services for BLP Film Studios, the Gregory and Kimberly Price Foundation, and Reaching Back.
• Item 9 (Convention Center Commission): Approved appointments of Kyle Veazey and reappointment of Calvin Anderson.
• Item 14 (EDGE Board): Approved appointment of Ed Stephens, III.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scooter Moore (Food Truck Vendor): Expressed confusion over outdated and conflicting versions of the food truck ordinance provided by city officials and requested a committee hearing to clarify the regulations.
• Sakita Johnson (Former City Court Clerk): Stated she was wrongfully terminated by Mayor Paul Young and city court judges on April 8, 2026, and formally requested her right to appeal the decision to the council as provided by the city charter.
• MPD Accountability (Majority of Speakers): A dozen citizens provided detailed testimony on the MPD response to the March 28 "No Kings" protest. Speakers alleged officers used excessive force—including pepper spray and tackling—against peaceful protesters and volunteer safety marshals without warning. Specific claims included an organizer receiving threats after MPD leaked her personal information, a woman reporting she was kicked in her already-broken leg and arrested without charge, safety marshals tackled while directing the crowd, and officers bearing patches of an extremist group. Speakers demanded public identification of officers, preservation of all footage, an independent investigation, officer terminations and pension revocation. Many referenced the 2024 DOJ pattern-or-practice report and criticized the silence of Mayor Young and Chief CJ Davis.
• Environmental Justice: Sarah Houston stated xAI has indefinitely paused the water reuse facility, threatening the Memphis aquifer. She requested the council hold a public hearing and review reversion clauses in the 2025 land sale agreement.
• Dr. Kimberly Owens Pearson & Joy Brook Fairfield: Drew historical parallels to the 1968 sanitation strike, criticized the administration's silence, and urged the council to reject the Trump administration's disavowal of the DOJ findings.

Discussion Items

• Item 2: Appeal of Quince Liquor 2, LLC: The appellant argued the Alcohol Commission's 2023 approval of the same location created an equitable estoppel and presented homeowner letters of support. The commission countered the property lies within 200 feet of R-6 residential zoning, explicitly violating city code. Council Attorney Wade provided a legal opinion that the council’s role is a non-discretionary review of the code, stating a prior governmental mistake does not create an estoppel, and equitable arguments must be directed to chancery court.
• xAI Water Facility Pause: Councilwoman Jerri Green confirmed ongoing discussions with MLGW, the Chamber, and the Mayor’s office. She committed to contacting xAI/SpaceX's representatives to demand project timelines before her committee.
• Council Rules of Procedure (Item 19): The council approved an amendment formally updating the standing committee list.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2 (Quince Liquor Appeal): Denied. The appeal was denied by a vote of 5-4 with 1 abstention, upholding the Alcohol Commission’s decision based on the 200-foot residential proximity rule.
• Item 16 (Minutes Reconsideration): Failed. A motion to remove an item from the March 24, 2026, minutes for reconsideration failed on a 5-5 tie vote.
• Item 13 (Historic Melrose School Ground Lease): Held. Held until the next regular meeting (scheduled for July 7 per pending list) to provide the administration time to supply additional information. Councilwoman Walker expressed concerns about senior residents living in the proposed development.
• MPD Oversight: Councilwoman Green requested the Public Safety Committee chair place Chief CJ Davis on the next agenda to address the March 28 incident. Councilman Smiley noted Ordinance 5852 (enacted after Tyre Nichols) may allow council access to body-cam footage, pending state preemption review.
• Financial & Admin Items (15, 17, 18, 19): All approved.
  • Item 15: Transfer of $375,980 for design modifications to the Fire S&L Building Seismic Repair project.
  • Item 17: Transfer of $6,000,000 from the Harbor Docks Project to the Monroe Plaza Infrastructure Project for the Memphis Brooks Museum, funded by state grants.
  • Item 18: Interlocal agreement with MATA establishing a temporary bridge line of credit not to exceed $13,000,000 to address federal reimbursement timing gaps.
  • Item 19: Amendment to the Council Rules of Procedure.