Memphis City Council Regular Meeting – August 4, 2026

The Memphis City Council met in regular session on August 4, 2026. No agenda or minutes were available, so this summary is based solely on the raw transcript. The council approved numerous resolutions, ordinances, and consent items, and heard public comment on several matters.

Presentations

• The council unanimously approved a resolution honoring Patricia Ann Rogers for her dedication to fighting blight in Memphis. Rogers, a public relations executive and founder of Patricia A. Rogers Public Relations, recently launched 'Join the Fight Against Urban Blight.' She thanked the council and her family.
• The council approved an honorary street name change of East Street between Stage Road and Fairhaven Lane to Pastor Leon Jones Jr. Street. Councilwoman Logan sponsored the resolution, citing Pastor Jones's 30 years of service, the Dwelling Place Church's work, and partnerships including Mid-South Food Bank (feeding over 450,000 people). Pastor Jones accepted the honor.
• The council approved a resolution honoring Coronda Hootabrown Dawson, recognized as the first African American woman to scuba dive in every ocean in the world. Dawson completed the challenge in 11 days, 23 hours, and 40 minutes, beating the prior record of 19 days. Councilwoman Cooper Sutton and Councilwoman Logan sponsored the resolution.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda (items 5–11) was approved in a single vote after item 8 was removed for separate consideration. Item 8 approved the engineering plans for the intersection of AW Willis Avenue at North Fourth Street, with a bond; the traffic signal is required for the St. Jude development and will be paid for by the developer. Items 5–7 were first-reading ordinances on short-term rental enforcement, a zoning reclassification (2021 Berry Hill Road), and a zoning map replacement procedure.
• The fiscal consent agenda (item 12) authorized $200,000 in FY27 sponsorships for Memphis Parks programming.
• Add-on agenda items 17–19 were approved: $13,672,960 in GO Bonds for the Southwest Twin Redevelopment Project; the FY27 Annual Action Plan and federal entitlement funds for housing and community development; and a resolution supporting a public art mural at Alliance Health Care Services Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center.
• Same-night minutes were approved for items 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pamela Moses spoke on the lobbyist referendum, supporting change but urging the council to also address public safety issues such as car chases and the cost of damaged poles.
• On the civil service referendum, four speakers – Casey McCoon, Chelsea Cheshire, Nancy Hazard, and Denise Ewell – expressed concerns about vagueness, timing, and potential weakening of civil service protections. They asked for clarity or a no vote.
• During general comments, Janice Davis, a former MATA bus driver, said she was mistreated and terminated without proper procedures; she said documents were provided to Chief Gibson.
• Rev. Gordon Myers criticized XAI's use of the Memphis Sand Aquifer, noting the water reuse facility is on hold, the company pays 19 cents per 100 gallons, and Elon Musk's planned $120 million election spending.
• Reagan Murray, a licensed mental health professional, opposed the Memphis Unsafe Task Force and HSI responding to mental health calls, citing four deaths and statistics on mental health.
• Lucy Changles acknowledged the new 911 mental health response option but asked who authorized HSI to handle such calls and urged the council not to spend $13 million on a police complex in Southwest Memphis.
• Glenda Hicks of 21st Century Memphis or Bust questioned whether constituents trust the council and criticized the sewer rate increase and additional fees.
• Rhiannon Watson of Protect Our Aquifer noted a fourth data center had been built without public knowledge, cited Colossus 1's use of 840,520 gallons per day in February 2026, and called for XAI transparency on water use and the reuse facility timeline.
• Brandy Price described XAI as a cancer and accused the council of enabling pollution and water theft.
• Teal Wright of the Glenview Edgewood Manor Neighborhood Association invited the council to the Glenview Community Roots Festival on September 26, noting $3,600 raised toward a $20,000 goal.
• Chuck Thomas invited the council to Southwest Tennessee Community College's Legislative Day on August 13, highlighting free tuition, 8,000 students, an aviation program, and 95% job placement.

Discussion Items

• Item 4 (Special Use Permit SUP 25-36): DPD planner Chloe Christian presented a request by Luke Catcher Menis for a 130-foot monopole tree-style cell tower at 3778 Old Waverly Cove. The property is zoned R-10 with a plan development overlay for apartments. No public comments were received; the council approved the permit unanimously.
• Item 13 (Lobbyist Registration Referendum): Councilman Carlisle's referendum ordinance to establish lobbyist registration and disclosure requirements passed on third and final reading. It will appear on the November ballot.
• Item 14 (Civil Service Appeals Referendum): Councilman Carlisle's referendum to authorize uniform administrative procedures for civil service appeals passed on third reading with Councilman Smiley voting no. Councilwoman Walker and Carlisle explained the ordinance aligns with the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, provides due process, and addresses a broken appeals process that can take up to two years.
• Item 15 and Item 16 (Solid Waste Vehicles): The council authorized a financing lease not to exceed $7.1 million for solid waste vehicles and amended the FY27 CIP budget by $7.1 million for vehicle and equipment purchases. Philip Davis said the 'other matters' language covers closing costs and insurance.

Key Outcomes

• All items on the agenda passed, except item 14 passed with one no vote (Councilman Smiley).
• Item 8 was removed from the consent agenda at Councilwoman Cooper Sutton's request, discussed, and then approved.
• The lobbyist registration and civil service appeals referendums will be placed on the November 2026 ballot.
• The consent agenda, fiscal consent agenda, add-on agenda, and same-night minutes were all approved.