Memphis City Council Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026

The Memphis City Council held its regular meeting on September 15, 2026, beginning at 10:15 AM. Chairwoman J. Swearington Washington presided, with all 11 council members present (Canale, Cooper Sutton, Easter Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Smiley, Spinoza, Walker, Warren, White, and Chairwoman Washington). The meeting opened with a prayer by Pastor Dwayne Hunt of Abundant Grace Fellowship, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of minutes from September 1, 2026, and recognition of several honorees. The council processed numerous consent items, planning and development resolutions, and add-on agenda items, including a $950,000 appropriation for middle-income housing infrastructure and a $2.388 million community grant fund allocation. Two ordinances were held over: Short-Term Rental regulations (to October 6) and Blight Remediation (to October 20). Public comments focused heavily on immigration enforcement, data center moratorium, and city operations.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of September 1, 2026: Approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda Items 6-13 (second readings and engineering resolutions including final plats, bond acceptances, public improvements): Approved unanimously.
• Fiscal Consent Agenda Items 14-15 (grant acceptance: $88,800 for EMS training; $1,023,200 for in-service training): Approved unanimously.
• MLGW Fiscal Consent Agenda Items 16-24 (contract renewals, increases, payment deposits for utility relocation, software licensing, insurance, transformers): Approved unanimously as recommended by committee.
• Planning and Development Items 4-5 (Planned Development at 795 Tanglewood Street and Special Use Permit at 525/529 South Main Street): Approved unanimously.
• Add-On Agenda Items 29-33:
  • Item 29: $950,000 from geobonds for middle-income housing infrastructure – Approved unanimously.
  • Item 30: Transfer of $800,000 from Winchester-Perkins project to Knight Arnold Bridge Repair – Approved unanimously.
  • Item 31: $2,388,000 in community grant funds for FY27 – Approved unanimously.
  • Item 32: Honorary street name change on Patterson Street for Ms. 8 (equal education courage) – Approved unanimously.
  • Item 33: Acceptance of Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funds – Approved unanimously.
• Same Night Minute Items: Approved unanimously for items 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.

Presentations & Recognitions

• Item 1: Recognition of Mr. Leon Lynn on his 100th birthday, citing his career as a brick mason, co-founding of Little Hands Learning Academy, and community service. Adopted by acclamation.
• Item 2: Honorary street name on Travis Road for Elsie and Jesse Ford Sr., sponsored by Councilman Ford Sr. Adopted by acclamation.
• Item 34: Honor of the 31st Annual Stone Awards, recognizing civil rights leaders and foot soldiers. Adopted by acclamation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Glenda Hicks (21st Century Memphis Orbis): Expressed concern about Item 30 funds being moved from an unready project to an urgent need, urging procedural review. Highlighted congestion impacts from XAI on Holmes Road and Tulahoma.
• Keishon Pearson (Memphis Community Against Pollution): Demanded protection of air quality and passage of a moratorium on data centers, citing 50+ methane turbines in South Haven, premature deaths, and degradation. Also urged action against ICE and the administration's inaction.
• Maria Oseja: Spoke as a daughter of Mexican immigrants, noting the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month. Described the August 30 ICE raid (largest in Memphis) taking 121 people, leaving 40+ children behind. Urged council to take a stance against ICE.
• Reverend Keith Caldwell (MICA H): Called ICE actions a crisis and testing ground for erosion of civil liberties, comparing requirements to show papers to historical freedom papers. Urged council to stand against totalitarianism.
• Luci Chambless: Contrasted the response to Dr. Hazlett's killing with treatment of community organizers. Argued Memphis invests in billionaires instead of its poor. Supported roller derby team and opposed additional pollution in Westwood, Boxtown, South Memphis.
• Tracy Woods: Requested ordinance changes regarding overgrown hedges and tree limbs; criticized street name awards and referenced Lee Harris.
• Brandy Price: Spoke about climate change, water deficit, ICE kidnapping families, and air destruction. Accused council of hardened hearts, complicity in raids, and prioritizing profit over people.
• Jessica Miller (Co-founder, Immigrant Pantry through Indivisible Memphis): Described humanitarian crisis: deliveries rose from 8/week to 81/week after raids; children crying, fed sugar water. Begged council to address the crisis and reconsider resolution on National Guard.
• Christine Fox (Faith leader with MICA H): Called for removal of National Guard from Memphis. Noted militarization of public safety, ICE collaboration with MPD, and erosion of trust. Criticized allowing corporations to poison and exploit communities.
• Dr. Joy Brook Fairfield (Rhodes College): Supported data center moratorium, citing 300+ moratoriums nationwide. Cited research showing little local economic benefit from data centers; called for transparency and joining other cities in slowing development.
• Eunice Garcia: Described 3,000 calls to rapid response network documenting ICE activity; accused Unsafe Task Force of targeting Hispanic and Black communities. Provided specific harassment locations. Called for council to acknowledge atrocities.
• Reagan Murray: Criticized ongoing cooperation with federal/military occupation. Alleged MPD lying about involvement with Unsafe Task Force. Demanded answers on shooting of black man and death of Joan O'Neal during mental health crisis. Called council "one of the most sorry city councils."
• Carrie Yakimini: Changed remarks after observing council behavior (rolling eyes, walking out). Emphasized community hurt and begged for leadership on moratorium and ordinances. Urged council to visit affected areas and not treat public as offensive.
• Ricky Lewis: Criticized MLGW spending and contract awards to "friends" (Timothy Davis). Council clarified they do not approve MLGW contracts, only set salaries and rates.
• Michael Harris (private citizen): Called for action on the Land Bank, which has been shut down for 77 days despite $400,000 appropriation in June. Quoted former chair's email about "almost intentional" neglect. Requested oversight.
• Sarah Holding: Reported falsified code enforcement warning on her door; city denied existence despite video. Also noted 26 city-owned properties visited with overgrown weeds and trash. Called for city to clean up its own house.
• Gisela Guerrero (MICA H): Recounted the August 30 raid in Council District 5. Noted statistics: 20,426 arrests (only 37 violent), 187,838 traffic stops, 6 deaths, $319 million cost of National Guard. Urged action.
• Martha Lopez (grandmother): Two daughters taken; left with eight grandchildren. Described suffering of separated children, one-month-old without formula, etc. Asked council to stop ICE.
• Dexter Britt (former teacher, co-chair with MICA H): Vividly described scene of raid: zip ties, assault rifles, families crying. Implored council to use their power.
• Makeisha Allen (attorney): Stated everyone in the U.S. has due process rights; accused task force of violations. Criticized council for not listening, talking while citizens speak, and using resources for street renaming instead of addressing ICE crisis.
• Sarah Houston (Protect Our Aquifer): Announced petition with 1,000+ signatures against MLGW water rate increases, noting XAI pays 19 cents per 100 gallons vs. residents' 32 cents. Supported data center moratorium and called for council to be co-sponsors.
• Sharman Murley: Supported data center moratorium, citing pollution and water waste. Called for stewardship of resources.
• Erika Alegria (late card): Mother and sister detained Aug 30; left with five siblings at 25 years old. Described trauma, zip-tied like animals. Vowed to teach siblings about voting and rights.

Discussion Items & Deliberations

• Item 26 (Short-Term Rental ordinance): Councilman Spinoza requested hold until October 6 for revisions; Councilman Ford Sr. asked to be co-sponsor. Held without objection.
• Item 27 (Blight Remediation ordinance): Councilwoman White requested hold until October 20 to allow STR ordinance to progress first. Held without objection.
• Item 28 (Acceptance of referendum results): Attorney Wade explained it certifies passage of referendum ordinances 596, 597, 5978. Approved unanimously.
• Council comments during public testimony: Councilwoman Cooper Sutton and Councilwoman Easter Thomas acknowledged the ICE crisis, announced intention to present a resolution to ask task force to exit at next meeting. Councilwoman Easter Thomas offered to connect Jessica Miller with city administration regarding funds for immigrant food access.

Key Outcomes

• All regular agenda items and consent items approved as noted (see votes above), with all votes unanimous.
• Holds: Item 3 and 25 held to October 6; Item 26 held to October 6; Item 27 held to October 20.
• Upcoming Action: Councilwomen Cooper Sutton and Easter Thomas to present a resolution at the next meeting (likely October 6) asking the Memphis Unsafe Task Force to exit the city. Hispanic Heritage Month resolution deferred accordingly.
• Public Records: Same night minutes authorized for multiple items (2, 10–15, 17, 19, 29–34).
• No further discussion on data center moratorium during the meeting, though several public speakers urged support.
• Land Bank oversight: Council aware of shutdown; no immediate action taken but public raised concern.