Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - June 23, 2026

The Memphis City Council held a regular meeting on June 23, 2026, beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of items including budget amendments, public transit funding, employee compensation, MLGW procurement, and community honors. Significant public testimony was heard on public transit, artificial intelligence property community benefits, and MLGW layoffs. The council approved a substantial omnibus budget resolution, rejected an AFSCME raise package, and authorized interim financing for AutoZone Park repairs.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the June 9, 2026 meeting.
• Adopted Ordinances on first reading: Amendment to Chapter 25 (Pension and Retirement), sewer fee increase (Ordinance 5975), and referendums on civil service arbitration and lobbyist registration (Ordinances 5976, 5977).
• Added to consent: Honorary street name change for B.B. (Item 34, same night minutes) and Referendum Ordinance on uniform administrative procedures for civil service appeals (Ordinance 5978, first reading).
• MLGW Fiscal Consent (Items 8-11): Approved contract increase for high volume outage call management ($1,503,125), purchase orders for gas meters/AMI equipment ($5,176,100.54), water meter registers ($3,058,598.34), and water modules ($5,476,434.98).
• Overton Park Conservancy grant (Item 35): Accepted $494,875.31 for renovations and accessibility improvements.
• Accelerate Memphis fund transfer (Item 36): Transferred $703,675.20 for equipment and vehicles for roads, parks, and blight remediation.
• Community Grant to Reach Memphis (Item 37): Allocated $5,000 from Councilman Canale's FY26 funds.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Transit (Items 21/38): Multiple speakers from Better Transit for Better Memphis and Micah Transit Equity urged the council to increase the city's investment in MATA by $20 million (from $32M to $52M+). Speakers cited low on-time performance (60%), threats from federal funding changes (Build America 250 Act), and the need for dedicated funding. Councilmember Warren noted the city has underfunded services for 25 years.
• Metal Museum (Item 26): Carissa Hussong and Ted Davis requested $1.9 million in capital funds for unforeseen repairs at Rust Hall, noting the Museum has not previously received city capital assistance.
• AI Community Benefits (Item 20): Richard Massey, Raquel Miller, Dr. Kamillie Owens-Pearson, Glenda Hicks, and Pamela Moses criticized the recommendations from the Public Advisory Board, arguing the $3.3 million annual allocation (25% of XAI tax revenue) is insufficient given the pollution and water usage by SpaceX/AI facilities. They demanded prioritization of healthcare access, pre-weatherization assistance, and air quality monitoring. Councilmembers clarified the resolution only accepts recommendations, not final allocations.
• AFSCME Compensation (Item 29): Christopher Jones, Austin Kimball, and Bob Green (AFSCME members) supported the 5% raise and $2,000 bonus, emphasizing the struggles of workers making $600/week.
• AutoZone Park (Item 39): Brendan Ward (game day employee) and Mike Todd (business owner) supported the $5 million interim financing for life-safety repairs, highlighting the park's community value.
• Drainage Issues: Stephanie Lee and Keith Lee Sr. described severe flooding in their backyard due to runoff from Old Dominion, with water waist-deep. Councilmembers Walker and Cooper-Sutton pledged to follow up with engineering.
• MLGW Layoffs: Several former supervisors (Deon Newsom, Adrian Lomax Hernandez, Joanna Blanton, Ricky Lewis) testified about the elimination of 16 frontline leadership positions in credit and customer care, claiming promises of reassignment were not kept and questioning the justification of "modernization."
• Other: Tyranny Macon and Jamiya Irby (Equity Alliance) urged community-led governance for housing investments. Robin England and D. Reed criticized lack of council engagement. Clark Anderson also reported flooding.

Discussion Items

• Omnibus Budget Resolution (Item 38): Councilman Ford Sr. sponsored an amended resolution incorporating numerous council initiatives. Key elements included: $10 million for MATA from auto registration fees (Item 21), $1.5 million increase for Pre-K, $1.5 million for Family Youth Stabilization Package (housing, foster youth, food security), $500,000 for park security cameras, $200,000 for environmental court blight fund, $150,000 for Mud Island Amphitheater repairs, and capital projects for Zoo maintenance ($1M), Metal Museum ($1.9M), Hospitality Hub North ($1.5M), and John F. Kennedy Park ($1.2M). CFO Walter Person requested a minor amendment to change "Summer Camp Expansion" to "community center hours," which was accepted. The resolution passed 11-1-1 (Carlisle no, others yes).
• AFSCME Impasse Vote (Item 29): Councilman Smiley proposed amending the budget to fund a 5% raise and $2,000 bonus for AFSCME employees by cutting $1.574M from Solid Waste vacant positions, $1.49M from professional services across divisions, $135,500 from Sewer Fund, and $177,976 from Storm Water Fund. CFO Person noted the general fund cut would come from fund balance and create recurring costs. Councilman Canale preferred targeting underpaid divisions post-budget. After debate, the measure failed 4-8 (Easter-Thomas, Green, Smiley, Chairwoman Swearengen-Washington in favor; Canale, Carlisle, Ford, Logan, Spinosa, Walker, Warren, White opposed).
• AI Public Advisory Board Recommendations (Item 20): The council adopted a resolution accepting 11 recommendations from the advisory board for using property tax revenue from AI properties, including pre-weatherization, healthcare grants, blight remediation, and air quality monitoring. Councilwoman Walker clarified this is not a final allocation but a framework. Passed.
• AutoZone Park Interim Financing (Item 39): Approved $5 million in commercial paper for critical life-safety repairs and renovation planning. The guaranteed maximum price for repairs increased from $5M to $8.5M. Passed.
• Tax Levy Ordinance (Item 16): Third and final reading of the FY2027 budget ordinance (Ordinance 5971), amended to reflect prior budget actions. Passed 11-1 (Carlisle no).
• Street Name Changes: Approved honorary street name for Carolyn Goodwin Willett (Item 1) and official name change from Alston Avenue to Metal Museum Drive (Item 15).
• Housing & Community Development: Accepted $5.7 million HUD grant for Lead Hazard Reduction (Item 18).
• TDEC/SWIG Grant (Item 19): Accepted $250,000 for stormwater asset management plan.
• Appointments: Reappointed Monice Hagler and Howard Eddings to Health, Education and Housing Facility Board (Item 12); appointed Carmeon Hamilton and Linwood Dillard to Convention Center Commission (Item 13).

Key Outcomes

• Budget Omnibus (Item 38): Approved as amended (11-1-0). Includes $10M for MATA, $1.5M Pre-K increase, $1.5M family stabilization, $500K park cameras, $200K environmental court fund, $150K Mud Island repairs, and capital projects for Zoo, Metal Museum, Hospitality Hub North, and JFK Park.
• AFSCME Raise (Item 29): Failed (4-8). AFSCME employees will receive 2% raise and $2,000 bonus as part of the broader budget, but not the 5%/$2,000 requested.
• AutoZone Park (Item 39): Approved $5 million commercial paper for interim financing.
• AI Community Benefits (Item 20): Council formally accepted recommendations; further allocation decisions pending.
• All consent items, MLGW fiscal agenda, and same-night minute items (16, 17, 34-39) were approved.
• Tax Levy Ordinance (Item 16): Adopted on third reading.
• Street Name Changes (Items 1, 15): Approved.
• Council will follow up on drainage issues in the 38116 area and MLGW layoff concerns.