Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - September 1, 2026

The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting on September 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The meeting included the adoption of minutes, approval of multiple consent agenda items, zoning changes, budget allocations, and extensive public comments primarily focused on a proposed data center moratorium and community concerns about environmental justice and police accountability.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from August 18, 2026, were approved (moved by Councilman Ford, second by Councilwoman Green; unanimous vote with all members present voting yes).
• Item 1: Resolution approving an honorary street name change for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris on Union Avenue. Sponsored by Councilwoman Green. Approved with Councilman Canale abstaining and Councilman Ford voting no; all others yes.
• Items 4-9, 23, 25-26: General ordinances, zoning amendments, and public improvement resolutions were passed as a consent agenda. Included first readings of ordinances related to pension system (amending Chapter 25), strategic large load development and digital infrastructure district (sponsored by Councilman Spinoza), and data center regulations (sponsored by Councilman Warren). All passed unanimously.
• Item 10: Resolution to accept a donation of $3,936.47 from the 100 Club of Memphis to the Police Department TACT unit. Passed unanimously.
• Items 11-12: MLGW fiscal consent items – amending a water pilot agreement (extending to 2048) and approving contract increase with Granicus. Passed unanimously.
• Items 16-24: Various resolutions for appointments, CIP funding for parks (Audubon Golf Clubhouse, Memphis Parks Security Cameras, Glennview Park Aquatic Facility, Guach Park Improvements), community grant funds ($2,388,000 to nonprofits), debt service budget amendment ($2.6 million), and Memphis Animal Shelter renovations ($300,000). All passed unanimously. Councilman Ford Canale noted that total nonprofit requests were $13 million with only $2.6 million available. Councilman Warren pointed out that Room in the Inn (homeless families) was initially excluded but later reinstated.
• Item 2: Third and final reading of a zoning change for 2021 Berry Hill Road from Conservation Agriculture to Residential Single Family (R-6). The applicant seeks to create six single-family lots on 3.36 acres. No public opposition was received; Planning Department recommended approval. Passed unanimously.
• Item 14: Resolution appropriating $150,000 for Mud Island Amphitheater (CIP). Passed unanimously.
• Item 15: Resolution transferring $300,000 in CIP budget from continuous improvement to operational infrastructure fix. Passed unanimously.
• Same-night-minute items (1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24) were bundled and approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Numerous residents and community advocates spoke during the public comment period, with the overwhelming majority addressing the proposed data center moratorium and related environmental and social justice concerns. Key points include:

• Alexander Perkins urged the council to consider rapid technological advances in AI and data centers, citing estimated $30 million/year in environmental damages from XAI turbines.
• Reverend Gordon Myers thanked the council for proposing a moratorium, stating it signals that people matter more than profits.
• Alexa Pouncey demanded that the council pass the moratorium and prioritize people over big business.
• Sharon Smith (New Don Social Services) requested funding for her organization supporting formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Batsell Booker (Box Town resident) described his community as a "canary in the cave" suffering from pollution and urged the council to act.
• Adam Saleh linked data center pollution to U.S. military contracts with Israel, stating his Palestinian family has been affected.
• Zoe Dalinger emphasized that the moratorium must cover all AI data centers, including XAI, claiming they host child sexual abuse material and contribute to military targeting.
• Easter May Knox (Box Town resident) described health impacts including her husband's death from lung cancer after the data center arrived.
• Jasmine Houston (District 38127) questioned why the council is not representing constituents and called for a pause.
• Brandy Price stated the council is a representative body and must listen to citizens demanding a moratorium.
• Sarah Houston (Protect Our Aquifer) supported the moratorium, stressing the need for guardrails on water, wastewater, NDAs, and joint city-county action.
• Noel Hutchison accused some council members of kicking the can down the road on the moratorium.
• Amber Sherman criticized Councilman Spinoza's proposed framework as not what the community asked for, and accused Councilman Warren of deferring to the Chamber of Commerce.
• Handy O'Neill noted that XAI management failed to deliver a promised water recycling facility.
• Carrie Yakamini (District and super district constituent) called for the council to stand up for communities over big business.
• Jessica Miller expressed being "fired up" about the council's inaction on data centers, police violence, and ICE raids.
• Lucci Chambliss asked for a town hall to address accountability regarding a task force that has resulted in five deaths.
• Emily Bishop (Midtown Memphis) requested a new RN district for traditional neighborhoods and proper notification in zoning changes.
• Representative Justin J. Pearson (District 86) urged the council to pass the third reading of the moratorium, citing high cancer risk in South Memphis and noting that Republican-led counties have enacted moratoriums.
• Dr. Kimberly Owens Pearson stated Westwood and Boxtown are being treated as a "digital dumping ground" and called for a moratorium.
• Leana Venezia questioned why data centers are only proposed in South Memphis.
• Rihanna Watson (Protect Our Aquifer) echoed community health concerns and urged prioritizing people over profit.

Discussion Items

• Item 13 (not specified in transcript) was deferred to October 15, 2026.
• The council discussed and voted on all consent and fiscal items with minimal debate. Councilman Ford Canale provided context on the nonprofit grant funding gap.
• Councilman Warren clarified that Room in the Inn had been reconsidered for grant eligibility.
• Councilwoman White corrected the amount in Item 22 (debt service budget amendment) to be not to exceed $2.6 million, which was acceptable.
• For Item 2, Councilman Ford Canale asked the applicant about plans for the Berry Hill property; the applicant stated six lots of about 6,000 sq ft each.
• No council members spoke in opposition to any item; all votes were nearly unanimous.

Key Outcomes

• All agenda items (1-24, consent, and public items) were approved either unanimously or with minimal dissent (Item 1 had one abstention and one no vote).
• The data center moratorium (Item 25 and related ordinances) was only introduced (first reading) and will return for second and third readings. Public sentiment strongly supports a moratorium; exact timeline for final vote is October 6, 2026 (Item 3 was held to that date).
• The council took no immediate action on the community's requests for a town hall on police/ICE task force, but public comments highlighted ongoing demands.
• The meeting adjourned after public comments with a motion by Councilman Smiley and second by Vice Chair Carlisle.