OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Memphis City Council Meeting: April 28, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, April 28, 2026
BodyMemphis, Tennessee
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:38:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Sergeant at arms, if you will please call the meeting to order.

0:03

Oh, yes, we have cross reports returned back to you.

0:10

All right.

0:17

We want to recognize Dr.

0:18

Lassimba Gray.

0:19

If you will please come down and offer prayer.

0:32

Let us pray.

0:35

Father God, we invoke your presence to give thanks and to seek your guidance in the proceedings of this meeting.

0:44

That what we do and say and what we approve and project will be a blessing unto your people and bring glory to your name.

0:52

Bless our leadership in a special way in the name of Christ we do pray.

0:58

Amen.

1:00

If you'll remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:28

Thank you so much, Dr.

1:30

Gray, for that beautiful prayer.

1:34

If you will please call the roll comptroller.

1:38

Thank you.

1:39

Council members Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Smiley, Logan, Spinoza.

2:02

Walker.

2:04

Warren.

2:06

White.

2:09

Chairwoman Swearing Washington.

2:12

Present.

2:13

Please show Councilmember Logan as being present as well.

2:17

Thank you.

2:18

We have a quorum.

2:18

Thank you, Madam Comptroller.

2:21

Vice Chairman Carlisle, I believe you read the minutes.

2:25

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

2:26

I've reviewed the minutes and find them to be in order.

2:27

I move for the adoption of the April 14th, 2026 and April 21st, 2026 meeting minutes.

2:34

It's been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle and second by Councilman Dr.

2:38

Warren.

2:39

Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

2:57

Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes.

3:00

Green, yes, Logan, yes.

3:05

Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes.

3:08

Chairwoman Swearing Washington, yes.

3:13

That motion passes.

3:14

Thank you.

3:15

We will start with item number 18, which is an add-on item.

3:21

Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item 18.

3:34

Item 18 is an add-on item.

3:42

Item number 18 is a presentation recognizing the impact of the Memphis legal community, all council districts.

3:49

This presentation is requested by Councilmembers Canale and White.

3:57

Councilman Carl Councilman Corkinale and Councilwoman White, you're recognized at this time.

4:04

Thank you, Madam Chair.

4:05

Thank you, Madam Chair.

4:06

Colleagues, members in the audience.

4:10

Today it is both a privilege and a deeply personal honor to rise and recognize someone who has shaped this body in ways that cannot be measured simply by years of service, but by the steady presence, wisdom, and integrity he brings to every moment.

4:28

And Attorney Wade, I'll say this up front so there's no confusion.

4:33

This may be a bit of a surprise.

4:35

But we are pleased to be here to celebrate you, Attorney Alan J.

4:39

Wade on being named to the Memphis Business Journal Power 100, a recognition that reflects not only professional excellence, but enduring impact.

5:04

But for those of us who sit on this dais, this recognition feels even more personal.

5:10

Because to us, Alan is more than our council attorney.

5:14

He's a trusted advisor in moments when the path forward is not always clear.

5:19

He is a steady voice when tensions are high and decisions carry weight.

5:23

He is a guardian of this institution, ensuring that we operate not only within the law, but with purpose and principle.

5:34

And for me personally, he has been a friend and a great mentor.

5:40

One whom I say is simply brilliant.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████22%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Public Safety█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Educational Institutions████4%
Pending Litigation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Memphis City Council Meeting: April 28, 2026

The Memphis City Council convened on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting included several resolutions, zoning cases, presentations, and a discussion on the Parks and Environment Ad Hoc Committee's recommendations. Key actions included the approval of a rezoning, a special use permit, fiscal consent items, and the acceptance of the Compensation Task Force recommendations, while the Parks resolution failed to pass.

Consent Calendar

  • Item #5: Approved a resolution accepting and appropriating $9,150.00 from the Tennessee Historical Commission for Memphis Landmarks Commissioner, staff, and neighborhood representative training. The city provided a matching amount of $6,100.00.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Leona Venezia: Speaking for a third consecutive meeting, Ms. Venezia called for transparency regarding the investigation into MPD's response to the March 28th "No Kings Rally and March." She noted Chief CJ Davis was questioned in a closed committee meeting earlier in the day and expressed that the community needs accountability for police conduct, including an incident where an MPD employee posted a protester's home address on the department's public Facebook page.
  • Dexter Ellsbury: Announced the formation of the "Memphis Covenant," a mandate for radical transparency. He detailed personal experiences including an alleged unlawful detention on April 13, 2026, and a physical assault during a pretextual stop on April 22, 2026. He called for reforms to ensure police accountability.
  • Scooter Moore: Representative of Scooter's Barbecue, invited council members to Court Square for a free barbecue event. He raised concerns about city ordinances affecting food truck operations, specifically regarding restrictions on times and places for business, and requested further dialogue with city officials.

Discussion Items

  • Item #3 (SUP 26-02): A resolution granting a special use permit for vehicle sales at 3568 Lamar Avenue. Councilwoman Walker reported visiting the property and described it as a quality project with concierge car service that aligns with improvements along the Highway 78 corridor. The Land Use Control Board (LUCB) and Division of Planning and Development (DPD) recommended approval with conditions. Approved unanimously.
  • Item #4 (Zoning Ordinance - Third & Final Reading): Ordinance to rezone +/- 3.3 acres at Tully Street and Woodlawn Street from Residential Urban-1 (RU-1) to Mixed Use (MU). DPD recommended approval. Approved unanimously.
  • Item #16 (Parks and Environment Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations): A resolution to adopt nine recommendations for managing city park leases and management agreements, including requiring program descriptions, quarterly financial reports, a 5-year lease term preference, and a compliance manager role. Councilman Warren moved to table, citing concerns from non-profits about fundraising challenges under short leases. Councilman Carlisle and Chief Legal Officer Tannera Gibson clarified that the resolution is non-binding and the 5-year preference includes language allowing longer terms. Speakers from the Children's Museum and Metal Museum testified that a 5-year lease would hinder capital campaigns and major projects. The motion to table failed 7-5. On the main motion, the resolution failed with 5 yeas and 7 nays.
  • Item #17 (Compensation Task Force Recommendations): Resolution to accept recommendations from the City Employee Compensation Task Force, including job classification reviews, targeted salary adjustments, overtime management, improved communication, and a recurring task force. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Item #3: Special use permit for vehicle sales at 3568 Lamar Avenue (SUP 26-02) passed unanimously.
  • Item #4: Rezoning at Tully and Woodlawn Streets (Z26-01) to Mixed Use, third and final reading, passed unanimously.
  • Item #5: Fiscal Consent – Acceptance of $9,150 grant from Tennessee Historical Commission for Landmarks training, passed unanimously.
  • Items #6-13: MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda approved unanimously, including eight resolutions for bucket trucks ($550,854.00), trash removal services ($461,421.31), environmental site investigation ($996,250.00), substation construction and maintenance ($12,000,000.00), Allen Pumping Station engineering and inspection ($6,035,491.00), physical archive storage ($9,503.30), pickup trucks ($1,263,999.80), and electric vehicle charging equipment ratification ($885,647.71).
  • Item #16: Resolution to accept Parks and Environment Ad Hoc Committee recommendations failed (5 yeas, 7 nays).
  • Item #17: Resolution to accept Compensation Task Force recommendations passed unanimously.
  • Item #14: Ordinance to rename Monroe Avenue between Front Street and Riverside Drive as Hyde Square was tabled without objection.
  • Item #15: Ordinance regarding the Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Program was held until May 12, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Sergeant at arms, if you will please call the meeting to order. Oh, yes, we have cross reports returned back to you. All right. We want to recognize Dr. Lassimba Gray. If you will please come down and offer prayer. Let us pray. Father God, we invoke your presence to give thanks and to seek your guidance in the proceedings of this meeting. That what we do and say and what we approve and project will be a blessing unto your people and bring glory to your name. Bless our leadership in a special way in the name of Christ we do pray. Amen. If you'll remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you so much, Dr. Gray, for that beautiful prayer. If you will please call the roll comptroller. Thank you. Council members Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Smiley, Logan, Spinoza. Walker. Warren. White. Chairwoman Swearing Washington. Present. Please show Councilmember Logan as being present as well. Thank you. We have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Vice Chairman Carlisle, I believe you read the minutes. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I've reviewed the minutes and find them to be in order. I move for the adoption of the April 14th, 2026 and April 21st, 2026 meeting minutes. It's been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle and second by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Easter Thomas, yes, Ford, yes. Green, yes, Logan, yes. Walker, yes, Warren, yes, White, yes. Chairwoman Swearing Washington, yes. That motion passes. Thank you. We will start with item number 18, which is an add-on item. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item 18. Item 18 is an add-on item. Item number 18 is a presentation recognizing the impact of the Memphis legal community, all council districts. This presentation is requested by Councilmembers Canale and White. Councilman Carl Councilman Corkinale and Councilwoman White, you're recognized at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Colleagues, members in the audience. Today it is both a privilege and a deeply personal honor to rise and recognize someone who has shaped this body in ways that cannot be measured simply by years of service, but by the steady presence, wisdom, and integrity he brings to every moment. And Attorney Wade, I'll say this up front so there's no confusion.

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