Memphis City Council Meeting Summary – September 1, 2026

The Memphis City Council met on September 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The meeting opened with a prayer led by Evangelist Latrice Ryan and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council approved minutes from the August 18 meeting and moved through a consent agenda, fiscal items, and multiple resolutions for capital improvements and community grants. The meeting also featured extensive public testimony on proposed data center regulations, health concerns, and community accountability.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the minutes from the August 18 meeting (moved by Councilman Ford Canale, second by Councilwoman Green; unanimous vote).
• Items 4–9, 23, 25–26 (ordinances and resolutions on first reading, including data center district and regulations) were adopted as a consent agenda (moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Spinoza; unanimous vote).
• Fiscal consent agenda item 10 (donation of $3,936.47 from the 100 Club of Memphis to the TACT unit) was approved (unanimous).
• MLGW fiscal consent items 11 and 12 (amendment to water pilot agreement and extension of Granicus contract) were approved (moved by Councilwoman Walker, second by Councilwoman Green; unanimous).
• Same-night minute items (1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24) were approved (moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Ford Canale; unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Data Center Moratorium: Nearly all public speakers urged the council to pass a moratorium on data centers, particularly AI facilities like XAI. Speakers included local residents, activists, and representatives of Protect Our Aquifer. They cited health impacts (respiratory issues, cancer), environmental degradation (pollution, water usage), and lack of community benefit. Key speakers:
  • Alexander Perkins: Noted rapid technological changes and urged council to consider resource efficiency over time.
  • Rev. Gordon Myers: Thanked the council for crafting a moratorium and declared that “people matter more than profits.”
  • Alexa Pouncey: Demanded passage of the moratorium, saying “we don’t care about the bottom dollar.”
  • Sarah Gladney (Boxtown resident): Shared personal health fears and urged a moratorium.
  • Easter Knox: Described her husband’s death from lung cancer and her own COPD, linking to data center pollution.
  • Jasmine Houston: Questioned the benefit of GDP growth when residents struggle with multiple jobs.
  • Brandy Price: Argued the council should listen to constituents; called the issue “the purview of the antichrist.”
  • Sarah Houston (Protect Our Aquifer): Supported the moratorium and emphasized need for comprehensive regulations (water, wastewater, NDAs, power).
  • Amber Sherman: Accused council of ignoring community demands and being beholden to donors.
  • Rep. Justin Pearson: Noted that Republican-led counties (Knox, Fayette, Coffee) have passed moratoriums; Memphis needs one to protect marginalized communities.
  • Dr. Kimberly Owens Pearson: Stated “Westwood and Boxtown are not a digital dumping ground.”
  • Other speakers (Noel Hutchison, Leana Venezia, etc.) echoed similar concerns.
• Other Public Comments:
  • Lucci Chambliss: Asked for a town hall on police task force and ICE raids, alleging five unjustified deaths.
  • Sharon Smith (New Don Social Services): Requested funding for transitional housing.
  • Emily Bishop (Midtown Memphis): Requested adding a new RN zoning district for traditional neighborhoods and clarification on zoning mailing notice.
  • Batsell Booker: Represented Boxtown community, calling for action on pollution.
  • Adam Saleh: Linked XAI’s military contracts to violence in Palestine.

Discussion Items

• Item 1: Resolution for honorary street name change for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris (Union Avenue). Sponsored by Councilwoman Green. She highlighted Harris’s achievements. Passed 7–1–1 (Ford no, Canale abstained).
• Item 2: Zoning ordinance for 2021 Berry Hill Road (rezoning 3.36 acres from CA to RSF6). Presented by Chloe Christian (DPD). No public opposition; applicant Josh Burnett plans ~6 single-family lots. Approved unanimously.
• Item 3: (Held until October 6, 2026 – no further discussion).
• Items 17–20, 24: Multiple CIP resolutions for parks, security cameras, animal shelter, and community grants were passed after brief committee reports and questions.
  • Item 21 (community grants): Councilman Ford Canale noted the total ask was $13,128,184 against $2.6 million available. Councilman Warren highlighted correction for “Room in the End” organization. Approved.
  • Item 22 (arbitrage rebate): Clarified that the not-to-exceed amount is $2.6 million, but actual is $2.58 million. Approved.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Item 1 (Honorary street name) – Passed (7-1-1).
  • Consent agenda and fiscal items – Passed unanimously.
  • Item 2 (Zoning change) – Passed unanimously.
  • All add-on items (16–24) – Passed unanimously, with noted abstentions/recusals.
• Next Steps:
  • Item 3 will be taken up on October 6, 2026.
  • The council received extensive public input on data center regulations; no immediate vote on a moratorium was recorded during this meeting (items 25 and 26 on data centers were placed on first reading consent agenda).
• Other: The chair announced that Item 13 is held until the 15th (date unspecified).