Gov901

0:29

Speakers: Lasimba Gray

Calling meeting to order, prayer (by Dr. Lasimba Gray), pledge of allegiance, roll call.

Lasimba Gray

Testing. Testing. Sergeant at Arms, if you will please call the meeting to order. We want to recognize Dr. Lasimba Gray, if you will please come down and offer prayer. Let us pray. Father God, we invoke your presence to give thanks and to seek your guidance in the proceedings of this meeting. That what we do and say, what we approve and project will be a blessing unto your people and bring glory to your name. Bless our leadership in a special way. In the name of Christ, we do pray. Amen. If you will remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may be seated. Thank you so much, Dr. Gray, for that beautiful prayer. If you will please call the roll, Comptroller. Thank you. Council members Canale, Carlisle, Cooper Sutton,

• lasimba-gray
• prayer

People: Chase Carlisle, Dr. Jeff Warren, Edmund Ford, Sr., J. Ford Canale, Jana Swearengen Washington, Janika White, JB Smiley, Jr., Jerri Green, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Pearl Eva Walker, Philip Spinosa, Rhonda Logan, Yolanda Cooper-Sutton

2:32

Speakers: Jana Swearengen-Washington

Item number 18 (in the agenda: https://memphis.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=memphis_ffedd4fb89d6d15a63aa3913bd71ea3f.pdf&view=1 ) is addressed as an add-on agenda item. It is a video presentation recognizing the impact of the Memphis Legal Community. All Council Districts. Requested by Canale and White.

Jana Swearengen-Washington

Easter-Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Smiley, Logan, Spinosa, Walker, Warren, White, Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, Present. Please show Councilman Logan as being present as well. Thank you. We have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Vice Chairman Carlisle, I believe you read the minutes. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I've reviewed the minutes and find them to be in order, and I move for the adoption of the April 14th, 2026 and April 21st, 2026 meeting minutes. It's been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle and second by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Cooper Sutton, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Please show Councilman Spinosa as voting yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. That motion passes. Thank you. We will start with item number 18, which is an add-on item. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item 18. Item 18 is an add-on item. Item number 18 is a presentation recognizing the impact of the Memphis

• addon

People: Chase Carlisle, Dr. Jeff Warren, Edmund Ford, Sr., J. Ford Canale, Jana Swearengen Washington, Janika White, Jerri Green, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Pearl Eva Walker, Philip Spinosa, Rhonda Logan, Yolanda Cooper-Sutton

4:32

Speakers: J. Ford Canale

Item number 18 (in the agenda: https://memphis.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=memphis_ffedd4fb89d6d15a63aa3913bd71ea3f.pdf&view=1 ) is addressed as an add-on agenda item. It is a video presentation recognizing the impact of the Memphis Legal Community. All Council Districts. Requested by Canale and White. Specifically this is a presentation about Alan J. Wade - the Council attorney and advisor.

J. Ford Canale

legal community, all council districts. This res- presentation is requested by Council members Canale and White. Councilman Carl- Councilman Ford Canale and Councilwoman White, you are recognized at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Colleagues, members in the audience, today it is both a privilege and a deeply personal honor to rise and recognize someone who has shaped this body in ways that cannot be measured simply by years of service, but by the steady presence, wisdom, and integrity he brings to every moment. And Attorney Wade, I'll say this up front so there's no confusion. This may be a bit of a surprise, but we are pleased to be here to celebrate you, Attorney Alan J. Wade, on being named to the Memphis Business Journal Power 100, a recognition that reflects not only professional excellence, but enduring impact. For more than three decades, Allan Wade has served the Memphis City Council and the people of this city with unwavering dedication, sound judgment, and a level of integrity that has become the standard for all of us. But for those of us who sit on this dais, this recognition feels even more personal. Because to us, Alan is more than our council attorney. He's a trusted advisor in moments when the path forward is not always clear. He is a steady voice when tensions are high and decisions carry weight. He is a guardian of this institution, ensuring that we operate not only within the law, but with purpose and principle. And for me personally, he has been a friend and a great mentor. One whom I say is simply brilliant. When I endeavored [clears throat] to take on the role as counsel for the commission, he was my first call. I

• alan-j-wade

People: J. Ford Canale, Janika White

6:34

Speakers: Janika White

Item number 18 (in the agenda: https://memphis.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=memphis_ffedd4fb89d6d15a63aa3913bd71ea3f.pdf&view=1 ) is addressed as an add-on agenda item. It is a video presentation recognizing the impact of the Memphis Legal Community. All Council Districts. Requested by Canale and White. Specifically this is a presentation about Alan J. Wade - the Council attorney and advisor.

Janika White

wanted to know what he thought. I wanted to know his experience, and I knew that he could help guide me. We all know Alan is just that guy. He is a man of immense intelligence and wisdom, and there have been been many times where many of us on this council and many members of councils before us have had to lean on him in difficult moments, seek him out as counsel, and he has shown that we are not alone. Every member knows that this from this body that when we have a question, when we need clarity, guidance rooted in experience and wisdom, you go to Allan Wade. And he'll give it to you straight,

Janika White

[laughter]

Janika White

just like it is, and let you know that he usually wins and

Janika White

[laughter]

Janika White

This is why this recognition is so fitting. Because while the while the Power 100 acknowledges influence across Memphis, we have had the privilege of seeing that influence up close. We have seen it in the decisions he has helped us shape, the challenges he has helped us navigate, and the countless ways he has strengthened this body over the years. Alan, your legacy is not just in the work you've done. It is in the people you have guided, the leaders you supported, and the institution you have helped uphold with excellence. And today, we wanted to do more than simply recognize you. We wanted to give you space for others to share just how much you have impacted their lives and their careers. There are several individuals here who wanted to be part of this moment and offer their own reflections. But to you, Alan J. Wade, on behalf of this body and many bodies before us, and I would like to call call up former Councilman Martavius Jones and Shay Flynn, we owe you, the city owes you a debt of gratitude, and we are forever grateful

Janika White

for you, my friend. Together, please join us. Well, first, let me go back. At this time, I would like to ask anyone here today who is present in support of Attorney Allan Wade, including former council members and colleagues, um who had the privilege of working alongside him, please stand and be recognized as we pay tribute to a great man indeed. Together, please join us in honoring Attorney Alan J. Wade. And we also have here with

Janika White

Well, well, first Did I just hear something? Okay. Okay. Will you all please stand and come and join him and You ready? Okay. We have a quick video for you. And so, just you all have a seat together right here, and let's enjoy. Well, well, first of all, uh uh, it it's it's really an honor for me to have the opportunity to express, uh, a few comments about Allan Wade. Attorney Allan Wade. Uh, I met Allan Wade, I guess formally, in, uh, 1992. Uh, I had just entered the office as city mayor of of Memphis. And Alan, uh, was the attorney for the Memphis City Council and obviously, uh, uh, when you're the mayor, uh, you have a lot of relationships uh, with members of the City Council and their legal attorney.

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• martavius-jones
• shay-flynn

10:36

Speakers: Willie Herenton

A video for Allan Wade where former colleagues talk about him.

Willie Herenton

I met Allan Wade, but before I met Alan, I knew his father. I knew his father very well and his his father was a trailblazer and I respected him a great deal. So, I kind of felt that Allan Wade was really a good guy. He was smart cuz it said it was a good guy and very smart. But, uh, when I became the mayor, uh, I had interactions with Alan uh, learning about municipal government, uh, how the City Council related to the office of the mayor. And then, uh, we had a number of critical legal issues that required an opinion, uh, from Allan Wade. And let me just tell you, I have worked with a lot of lawyers, okay? A lot of lawyers in Memphis, worked with some lawyers outside of Memphis. I can truly say that Allan Wade is an extremely competent, uh, dedicated, professional. I mean, his his knowledge of law stretches across, I mean, a lot of areas. Uh, it it is finance, it's municipal government, it's state law, it's federal law. So, Allan Wade is, uh, very competent attorney, a strategic thinker, and, uh, for Alan to be in this position, I think for several decades, uh, he must be very dedicated about it. Um, let me let me just reflect on two very significant legal matters that Allan Wade really demonstrated, uh, some highly acumen, uh, in the area of jurisprudence, law. Um, we had a case dealing with the creation of the toy towns. And many people will may not remember that. That was a serious threat

Willie Herenton

to the growth of Memphis, uh, because there were suburbanites who didn't want, uh, some of our reserve areas to be annexed. So, there was a movement on the part of some suburban areas to kind of succeed. Uh, they wanted to make sure that Memphis could not annex their areas. So, there was a a very onerous bill that was passed in Nashville, the toy town legislation, which it if it had been implemented, would have impeded Memphis' ability to grow. So, what I did, I knew this was a critical legal matter. So, we talked with Alan and we hired a very reputable law firm to represent the City of Memphis and Allan Wade was on that team. We took this matter all the way up to the Tennessee State Supreme Court. And Alan, along with other members of the team, they argued this case before the Tennessee, uh, Supreme Court and we prevailed. Had we lost that toy town legislation, the Memphis that you are enjoying today would not have existed. So, I saw Allan Wade, in my judgment, in one of his finest hours in assisting our legal team in in in getting that victory for Memphis. To me, Allan Wade is one of the wisest lawyers I've ever encountered. When I think of him, I think of wisdom, institutional knowledge, you know, extreme intelligence, you know, genius level, uh, intelligence, wisdom, um, history. All of those things are what Alan means to me specifically. My most memorable experience was when we were adverse in a pretty big, pretty controversial case.

• allan-wade
• willie-herenton

14:39

Speakers: Tannera George Gibson

A video for Allan Wade where former colleagues talk about him.

Tannera George Gibson

Um, it was memorable because, A, he was one of the most formidable opponents I'd ever had. Um, very next level. I learned a lot watching him and as hard as I go, and I go hard when I litigate, it was it was an amazing experience to to be opposed to someone, to be in an adversarial position, and simultaneously watch their strategy and to learn as much as I did from Alan in one case. I would like Alan to know that I can't overstate how much I appreciate you. Um, for all that I've accomplished, and I've accomplished a lot of things. If I became first black woman president of the Memphis Bar Association, first black woman, you know, partner in my law firm, won countless awards for which I'm grateful, but for all of that, knowing that Alan thinks that I'm a good lawyer is more meaningful than all of those things combined because when someone who can practice and function at that level respects your talent and is willing to work with you, um, I just can't overstate how much it means and and that he always answers the phone and I know I get on his nerves, okay? I call him all the time. For as long as I've practiced, at no point have I ever believed that I'm, you know, I know everything or do I have a need to be the smartest person in the room? Uh, so I appreciate his willingness to to work with me and to continue to mentor me as long as I've practiced because, you know, I just have still have a lot to learn from him and it just means a lot. Alan and I have known each other for many years and I had the privilege of working closely with him for 7 years when I served as city attorney. During that time, we collaborated on some of the city's most significant and challenging projects. And in particular, his strategy and leadership on the Tiny Town lawsuit and FedEx Forum lawsuit are worth remembering. Alan has always been someone that can be

• allan-wade

16:41

A video for Allan Wade where former colleagues talk about him.

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relied on without hesitation. He is an exceptionally competent lawyer, thorough, thoughtful, and deeply committed to achieving the right outcome. But most of all, what has always stood out to me about Alan is his tenacity. He is a fierce advocate, a fighter, someone who doesn't back down when the stakes are high, and who consistently puts the interests of his clients, including the City Council, front and center. But beyond his professional skill, Alan brings great integrity and a steady sense of purpose to everything he does. His years of service to the Memphis City Council is an extraordinary achievement and reflects not just longevity, but also dedication. It has been an honor to work with him and an even greater honor to call him my friend. Congratulations, Alan. You've truly earned this recognition. Allan Wade is the definition of steady leadership and integrity here in the City of Memphis. Allan Wade is an individual who has given his all in dedication and devotion to not only the Memphis City Council, but to the citizenry here in the City of Memphis. I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the importance of having an individual in the room who not only understands the law, but an individual who makes sure the law is used and recognized not only for the benefit of the City Council, but the benefit of legislation throughout the City of Memphis and the State of Tennessee. Allan Wade has made contributions beyond my recollection of knowing, but he's made contributions that have been impactful not only locally, but statewide. Uh, he fought the Confederate

• alan-wade

18:41

A video for Allan Wade where former colleagues talk about him.

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fight. He has fought many fights and he is that voice who actually has brought calm in the midst of chaos during debates that could be heated, during debates that have gone left, but leaning on Alan, he's been able to say the right things at the right time to make those debates more logical and centered. I just want Alan to know that I appreciate the service and dedication that he has given to this community and to the Memphis City Council and, uh, congratulations, my friend, on being nominated and named one of the Power 100. Well deserved and your work, your dedication and devotion to the City Council and the City of Memphis doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you. Hi, Dad. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone to make this video, but I thought that I should considering how appreciative I am for everything you do for me. Without you, I wouldn't be fortunate enough to have so many of the amazing opportunities I have today that have shaped me into the person that I am. So, I thought I would take a second to tell you how proud I am to be able to call you my dad and how much I love you. And while I'm so excited and grateful to call the Hilltop home next year as a what state, I will miss you so much when I leave for college in a few months. So, I truly thank you for being an amazing role model and everything you've done to get me this far. I know there's no one more deserving for any of the awards and accolades that you receive. So, I love you.

• allan-wade

20:49

More people talk about Allan Wade.

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If I could get Martavious Jones and Shayphlin to come forward, they wanted to say a few words about attorney Wade. Madam Chair, would you put a clock on Shayphlin, please? I sure will. Shayphlin, 2893 Air Wato Lane. Um 14 If you all don't know it, some of his detractors call him 14 as the 14th council member. And it's not really the insult they think it is. Because I'm not going to speak for them. I'm just going to speak for me. My time on the council, you taught me so much. You enabled us to us to serve this this community through your service. And anything that I'm proud of that I did on the city, I did with your help. And anything I'm ashamed of, you told me not to do and I didn't listen to you. So, thank you. I'd love to see the actual ranking on the power 100 to see if they got you right because if this is the first time they're recognizing you, they've been asleep at the switch because you've been serving this community for decades and we all thank you. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Mr. Wade and I probably met on an adversarial basis and you may recall this, Dr. Warren, doing the doing the school board battles. But during that time, I recognized your as a lot of people have said, your legal acumen. And once I got on the Memphis City Council, you turned out to be a fierce advocate and you always fought for your client, the Memphis City Council. And we were better for it. One of the things when this when the new council members were elected, and I'm sure probably some of you all would agree when I say this, I

• allan-wade

22:51

Speakers: Allan Wade

Allan Wade finally talks himself.

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said that you may not like him coming in,

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[laughter]

Allan Wade

but you're going to recognize the valuable asset that Mr. Allan Wade is to this particular body. So, you have done a great job and congratulations on this because it is long overdue. But anybody who sat on this dais here, we've already known that you one of the most 100 powerful people in this city. Congratulations, my friend. I can't believe you. Um I asked Brooke a minute ago, I said, "Am I getting fired?" Well, I mean, I can't live up to everything that everyone said.

Allan Wade

[snorts]

Allan Wade

But I do remember working with Louis Donaldson. He was one of the finest lawyers in the state. And he was honored here and they named a street after him. And he he said something that uh that was that I smiled about. He said, "You know, a lot of times people praise you for things you do. You don't We don't do it for that." He says, "But um when people start praising you the way you have praised me today, they think you're going to die." And his response was, "I ain't going to do it. I'll see y'all tomorrow at work. Thank you." We would like to take a picture with

• allan-wade

24:51

Everyone gets up to take a picture with Allan Wade

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you, please, before you go to your seat. Come on, council members, right quick. It won't take but a minute.

• allan-wade

27:01

Speakers: Jana Swearengen Washington, Jerri Green

Item 14 tabled. Item 15 will be held until May 12th, 2026. Item #1: a resolution honoring and recognizing Cato Johnson for 40 years of dedicated service to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and the entire Memphis community. Item #1: a resolution honoring and recognizing Cato Johnson for 40 years of dedicated service to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and the entire Memphis community. Item #1: a resolution honoring and recognizing Cato Johnson for 40 years of dedicated service to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and the entire Memphis community. Item #2: a resolution recognizing and honoring Gina Sweat for her service to the Memphis Fire Department and the city of Memphis.

Jana Swearengen Washington

I'd like to recognize Councilwoman Easter Thomas at this time. Thank Chair. Chair, I would ask that we table item 14 without objection. All right. Without objection, item number 14 will be tabled. Our hold items will be item number 15. It will be held until May 12th, 2026. Item number 14 will be tabled will be tabled. Madam Comptroller, will you please call item number one? Thank you. Item number one is a resolution honoring and recognizing Cato Johnson for 40 years of dedicated service to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and the entire Memphis community. This resolution is sponsored by Chairwoman Swearingen Washington. We are so excited to be able to present this resolution and honor to a gentleman who has had so much tremendous impact in our community. And we want to commend you. We honor you. We have great pride in saluting you. Whereas the Memphis City Council takes great pride in recognizing individual whose lives of leadership, service, and integrity have profoundly shaped our community. In this spirit, we honor Mr. Cato Johnson, a respected leader, visionary, and pillar within the healthcare and civic landscape of Memphis. Mr. Cato Johnson has dedicated more than four decades of exceptional service to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, serving as senior vice president and chief of

Jana Swearengen Washington

staff while leading public policy and regulatory affairs since 1985, helping guide one of the region's most vital healthcare systems with wisdom, excellence, and unwavering commitment. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Cato Johnson has played a critical role in advancing healthcare policy, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and ensuring that communities across Memphis and Tennessee have access to quality, compassionate care. His leadership extends far beyond healthcare, having served in numerous influential roles, including chairman of the University of Memphis Board of Trustees, chairman of the Medicaid Advisory Committee and former chairman of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission demonstrating a lifelong commitment to education, public service, and institutional excellence. Whereas Mr. Cato Johnson has been a champion for equity and opportunity helping to establish and lead Partnership Tennessee, a coalition dedicated to advancing workforce diversity and leadership opportunities, and contributing to initiatives that uplift both individuals and communities. Whereas Mr. Cato Johnson's life work stands as a testament to what can be accomplished through dedication, wisdom, vision, service, and leaving an indelible mark on the health care community, the city of Memphis, and the lives of countless individuals. Now, therefore, be it resolved that Chairwoman Jauna Sweringen Washington and the entire Memphis City Council, we hereby and honor, we celebrate Mr. Cato Johnson for his extraordinary career of 40 years of dedicated service to Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and the

Jana Swearengen Washington

city of Memphis. Be it further resolved that we extend our deepest gratitude for your leadership, for your commitment to advancing health care and public policy, and your unwavering dedication to strengthening our community. Be it further resolved that this resolution be presented as a lasting symbol of the city of Memphis' highest appreciation recognizing you, Mr. Cato Johnson. Your legacy of excellence, service, and leadership will continue to inspire generations to come given by my hand under the great seal of the city of Memphis this 28th day of April 2026. Jauna Sweringen Washington, Chairwoman, and the entire Memphis City Council, we definitely salute you. God bless you. Thank you, ma'am. Congratulations, Bobby. Of course you can. This is for you. Madam Chairwoman, members of the council, when they had my retirement ceremony, one of the things I told them I said, "None of us is good as we think we are. I only stand here by God's amazing grace. And if not for God's amazing grace, I do not make it. One of the things I've understood, we all stand on the shoulders of many others. And if nothing else, God is not through with me yet. I have run the race, I have fought the good fight, and I will return. Thank you. Thank you, Bobby. Thank you, Bobby. Thank you. Madam Controller, could you call item

Jana Swearengen Washington

number two? Thank you. Item number two is a resolution recognizing and honoring Gina Sweat for her service to the Memphis Fire Department and the city of Memphis. This was held from March 3rd. Councilwoman Green, you're recognized.

Jerri Green

Thank you. I am truly honored to stand here with Chief Sweat and to present her this honor. I apologize for it being delayed by weather and my illness and all kinds of things, but um you truly are a servant to this city and do this recognition. The resolution reads, "Whereas Chief Gina Sweat has dedicated more than three decades of exemplary service to the city of Memphis through her distinguished career with the Memphis Fire Department. And whereas Chief Gina Sweat began her service on May 26th, 1992, and rose through the ranks of driver, lieutenant, battalion chief, division chief, and deputy chief through demonstrated professionalism, leadership, and commitment to public safety. And whereas in 2014, Gina Sweat was appointed as the city of Memphis' first-ever female fire director. And in 2016 became the city's first female fire chief breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women in public safety. And whereas during her tenure as fire chief, the Memphis Fire Department achieved significant operational advancements including improving the Insurance Services Office Public Protection Class 2 classification from a Class 2 to the highest possible Class 1 rating. And whereas under Chief Sweat's leadership, the department implemented innovative programs such as the Healthcare Navigator Program, expanded youth and workforce recruitment initiatives, and strengthened community-focused emergency response efforts.

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• gina-sweat

People: Jana Swearengen Washington, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Jerri Green

35:06

Speakers: Jerri Green, Gina Sweat

Item #2: a resolution recognizing and honoring Gina Sweat for her service to the Memphis Fire Department and the city of Memphis.

Jerri Green

And whereas Chief Gina Sweat led transformative infrastructure and safety investments including major facility renovations, new fire stations, enhanced firefighter health and wellness initiatives, and modernized emergency response equipment. And whereas during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Memphis Fire Department served as the lead agency for vaccinations in Shelby County in 2021 facilitating the delivery of more than 1 million vaccine doses to protect the health and safety of the community. And whereas Gina Sweat retired on October 28th, 2025 concluding a historic 33-year career marked by service, innovation, integrity, and lasting contributions to the city of Memphis and its residents. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Memphis City Council honors and commends Chief Gina Gina Sweat for her outstanding service, historic leadership, and lasting contributions to the Memphis Fire Department and to the citizens of Memphis. Thank you, Chief Sweat. Thank you for your service. We'll let you speak. Uh City Council,

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[snorts]

Gina Sweat

uh Gina Sweat, just a regular old civilian, citizen of the city of Memphis. Uh I want to thank you for this recognition.

Gina Sweat

[clears throat]

Gina Sweat

I had the privilege of working alongside one of the best fire departments in this country. They show up. As [snorts] we say on the street, they show out. They show up on people's worst days and they bring skill, courage, and heart

• gina-sweat

37:08

Speakers: Gina Sweat, Jana Swearengen Washington

Item #2: a resolution recognizing and honoring Gina Sweat for her service to the Memphis Fire Department and the city of Memphis.

Gina Sweat

every single time.

Gina Sweat

[snorts]

Gina Sweat

Cuz that's what our profession demands. Uh sorry. This [snorts] work will test you. It will challenge you. And it will require you to stand firm in who you are. It requires you to follow through on what you promised to do, especially when that's not easy. But I've learned this, if you do the work,

Gina Sweat

[snorts]

Gina Sweat

if you stay ready, and if you step forward when the moment calls for, no one can ever take that away from you. I'm proud of the work we've done. I'm proud [snorts] of the people I've served with. And I'm proud of the way I showed up. For those coming behind me, do the work. Be ready. And don't let anything move you off of who you are. Thank you.

Jana Swearengen Washington

And I am proud to say that I am her councilwoman. She's in the heart of District 4. We're so thankful for your service and happy retirement. Enjoy yourself. You have definitely earned it. God bless you. We will now move to our Councilman Chairman. I was wondering if I could say a word. Okay, go ahead. Coun- Council- Councilman, go ahead. I just want to say that many people in Memphis are alive today because of Gina Sweat's leadership and the fire department's follow-through during COVID, and I really appreciate them. Thank you.

• gina-sweat

People: Jana Swearengen Washington

39:11

Speakers: Jana Swearengen Washington, Philip Spinosa, Pearl Eva Walker

A number of permits are approved related to zoning and use permits with the Division of Planning and Development.

Jana Swearengen Washington

Amen. Thank you so much for your service. We will now hear our zoning cases, items number three and four. Madam Controller, if you will please call item number three.

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Item number three is a resolution pursuant to Chapter 9.6 of the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code approving a special use permit at the subject property located at 3568 Lamar Avenue. This resolution is sponsored by the division of planning and development. The case number is SUP 26-02. Thank you, Madam Controller.

Jana Swearengen Washington

Councilman Espinosa, you are recognized.

Philip Spinosa

Thank you, Madam Chair. This item came downstairs with a positive recommendation. We do have people here if we need to see a presentation, but you know, with our new processes, I'm going to make the motion and I'll recommend that we go ahead and vote. Again, came down with a positive recommendation and I so move. All right. It has been moved by Councilman Espinosa, seconded by Council Councilman Warren. Councilwoman Walker, you're in the queue.

Pearl Eva Walker

Yes, I just wanted to share from last [clears throat] time I didn't get a chance, but I actually had the opportunity to visit the property and walk around. I do think it's a good project, especially with the um the renovation of the Highway 78 corridor. And this is what we want, businesses that are going to locate and if they're going to relocate their new businesses moving forward, we want them to be of a certain quality, of a certain standard. And I just want to say that um the way they were explaining it, they have a small fleet in the front. And the majority of the fleet is on the inside and it's it's a it's a great concept and I would welcome that to that part of the city, my district, next

• division-of-planning-and-development
• develop901
• 3568-lamar-avenue
• sup-26-02

41:14

Speakers: Pearl Eva Walker, Jana Swearengen Washington, Philip Spinosa

A number of permits are approved related to zoning and use permits with the Division of Planning and Development.

Pearl Eva Walker

to your district, as well as the city of Memphis. So, I just wanted to share that. Thank you and I yield the floor.

Jana Swearengen Washington

I'm hoping as well it will be a model. It's a concierge car service where they are only putting out a few cars at the same at a time. And the ones that they are putting out, they are putting them inside in the evening. So, it takes down theft. You don't have a lot of cars out. So, hopefully this will be the new norm of the car services and car businesses that we're having. With all that being said, we will take it to a vote. Madam Controller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

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Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Cooper Sutton, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes.

Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Controller, if you will please call item number four.

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Item number four is a zoning ordinance amending ordinance number 5367 of the code of ordinances, City of Memphis, Tennessee, adopted on August 10th, 2010, as amended, known as the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code, to authorize a zoning use district reclassification for land located on Tully Street and Woodland Street by taking the land out of the residential urban use district and including it in the mixed use district. Up for third and final reading, this ordinance is sponsored by the division of planning and development. The case number is Z26-01. The ordinance number is 5970. Councilman Espinosa, you are recognized.

Philip Spinosa

Thank you, Madam Chair. This came downstairs with a positive recommendation. DPD's here if any

• division-of-planning-and-development
• develop901
• 3568-lamar-avenue
• sup-26-02
• z26-01

43:16

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council member has any questions, but again, came down with a positive recommendation and I'll move it. Okay, there are no councilmen in the queue. It has been moved by Councilman Espinosa, seconded by Councilman Ford-Canale. Madam Controller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Chairwoman, I'm sorry. I had a quick question. I'm sorry. I was just trying to make sure there were no residents over there in that area. I know it's been it's after they start reading. I was just trying to remember that. Okay. Um is someone from DPD clarify that? Chairwoman, Pennix, Division of Planning Development. Sorry, what was the question? Speak to your mic, please. Be in opposition. There was no residents in opposition. Okay. That's what I was trying to find out. It was it's after it starts reading. I just couldn't remember couldn't remember it. And that's what I was trying to make sure. Yes, you're correct. I don't know residents All right, thank you. I appreciate it. That's what I thought. Thank you, Chairwoman. You're welcome. Council, please Cast your votes. Cast your vote. Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Cooper Sutton, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. That item passes. We're now at the fiscal consent agenda, item number five. Madam Controller, please call the fiscal consent agenda, item number five with same night minutes. Thank you. Item number five is a resolution to accept and appropriate $9,150

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from the Tennessee Historical Commission for Memphis Landmarks Commissioner staff and neighborhood representative training. All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration and there is a request for same night minutes. Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh I'm going to move this item to the floor as to accept. This item has been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, seconded by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Controller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Cooper Sutton, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. That item passes. We will now move to our MLGW fiscal consent agenda, items six through 13. Madam Controller, please call the MLGW fiscal consent agenda, items six through 13. Thank you. Item number six is a resolution awarding a purchase order for class eight 55-foot bucket trucks to Altec Industries Incorporated in the amount of $550,854. Item number seven is a resolution approving the scope expansion, renewal, and increase to contract number 12409, trash removal services with BFI Waste Services LLC, doing business as Republic Services of Memphis, to expand the scope, renew, and increase the current contract in the funded amount of $461,421.31.

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Item number eight is a resolution approving the scope change and increase to contract number 12491, North Service Center and expansion sites environmental site investigation with Ensafe Inc., to expand the scope and increase the current contract value in the funded amount of $996,250. Item number nine is a resolution approving renewal and increase to contract number 12238, electric substation construction and maintenance services with RMS Energy Company LLC, to renew the current contract and increase the contract value in the funded amount of $12 million. Item number 10 is a resolution awarding contract number 12666, Allen Pumping Station Construction Engineering and Inspection Services to HDR Engineering Inc. in the funded amount of $6,035,491. Item number 11 is a resolution approving the ratification, increase, and extension to contract number 12029, physical archive storage with Vital Records Control Inc., to ratify, increase, and extend the current contract in the funded amount of $9,503.30. Item number 12 is a resolution awarding a purchase order for half-ton four-wheel drive pickup trucks to Wilson County Motors LLC in the funded amount of $1,263,999.80. And our final item number 13 is a resolution approving the ratification of purchase order number 7079631 with Seven States of Power vehicle charging equipment in the amount of

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$885, $647.71. Madam Chairwoman, that concludes our MLGW consent items. Thank you, Madam Controller. Councilwoman Walker, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee met with a favorable recommendation and I so move. If you'll move electronically. All right, it's been moved by Councilwoman Walker, seconded by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Controller, if you will please prepare the screen. Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Cooper-Sutton, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearengin to Washington, yes. That item passes. We will now move to our regular agenda. Items number 16 and 17. Madam Madam Controller, if you will please call item number 16. Item number 16 is a resolution to accept the recommendations of the Parks and Environment Ad Hoc Committee. All council districts. This resolution is sponsored by the Memphis City Council. This item was held from March 24th. Councilman Warren, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee met and this was brought down, I think, without a recommendation and I so move. All right, it's been moved by Councilman Dr. Warren. May I get a second? I'll second. It's been seconded by Councilwoman

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Cooper-Sutton. Dr. Warren, you are recognized at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Do we have any people speaking on this item? Ms. Allison, do we have any cards regarding item number 16? No, sir. Okay. Actually, I was wrong. This is to invite This was with recommendation to adopt this. You want to adopt item number 16?

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Yeah, I'm going to say this item, I think, I would like, if we possibly could, to table. I'd like to move to table this item. So, I think, Madam Chair, so he made the motion, right? And it was seconded, so I'll go ahead and interject and I'll The second was Cooper-Sutton, I believe. No, I put the motion. Oh, okay. All right, there has been a motion to table. With this Can I get a second? Is the Or is there a second? Okay. It's been moved by Warren and it's been seconded by Espinosa to table that item. Now, we're on to discussion of the motion. Thank you, Madam Chair. I've received a number of calls from people who would be affected by this and part of this, I think, is going to be a problem with raising funds, particularly if you're borrowing money to build large projects. Having a 5-year contract to get a large commitment for bringing extra capital in is not good. So, I felt like we could table this,

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that would give us more time if we're going to actually change this to do it and we can bring it back when we have it in better position. We have held this item on on the 12/16, 1/13, 1/27, 2/24, and 3/24. So, that's a sign I don't think that we have it ready, even though it's been worked on, I think, recently by our our legal teams. I think there needs to be more discussion with the groups involved. And I think the committee met and looked at leases. I'm not sure how much interaction there was with each one of the groups. So, therefore, I think tabling makes sense at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Councilman Ford Canale, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Before we vote on the table, um I would like to ask the sponsor if we could send it back to hold it and send it back to committee for further discussion. If there are some changes that need to be made, I think that makes more sense than than tabling it at this point. All right. Carlisle is in the queue. All right. I think we've got speakers. I know they're going to come up and say basically what Councilman Warren probably just said, so it'll be something of the version. Here's I'm just looking at this document. It's kind of a non sequitur, but it's not. It's like any other resolution. It's basically asking the administration to ensure the leases and management agreements contain reporting compliance language. Okay, nothing wrong with that. And if if somebody's not doing their job, it you know, they have to get their partner in the contract to agree to it, but if they're able to get the provision in there, it's basically asking the administration one to put a provision in and get their partner to agree to set provision before they even execute the agreement, but if they were to agree to that that that provision, and they don't comply, there may be some sort of clawback. So, we're just asking the administration to do that. That's one. Two, it is what it is. It's transparency and awareness. It's basically saying, "Hey, walk members through these leases and make

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sure that they understand them." Okay, nothing wrong with that. Number three is a non sequitur. I hear the point and and I can offer I wrote down it I can offer a friendly amendment to it to make it easy, but here's the deal. Most contracts are 5 years, management agreements can be longer. We mirrored the RDCs, which is now the partnership, to 13 to match the funding. Actually, your sister did that when she was our liaison. There are many reasons. Here's how I read the language as is. It says it's our preference that they not exceed five, which means if there are special circumstances, then it's the onus is on the partner and the administration to come before the body and stipulate why they need more time. So, it's basically setting a baseline of like what's going on. There's nothing wrong with that. So, if if you want, I'll offer a friendly amendment to clean up the language, but we don't have to. But I would say you you could just generally just take number three and say, "In an effort to maintain oversight and accountability, the Memphis City Council recommends the administration not recommend any lease agreement under the Parks Division for a period not to exceed 5 years." Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administration may recommend a lease over 5 years and extenuating options based on a set of circumstances. So, if an organization were to come forward and say, "Hey, we need to amend our agreement to go raise money," the first person they're going to call is the mayor anyway. Because we've already done that. We did it with the RDC. So, this is like a big non issue. Like I got it that no organization wants to have like any any any check on them or anything in the way that may cause like a hiccup, but like this is a non issue. We're going to waste a bunch of time sending this back. And last thing I want to say about all this holding of documents, it's got to stop. Like it's not good government and it's not real notice to hold a document for 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 months. Like we've got this thing for more for Memphis on here. Like it should start completely over. And it's nothing about the sponsor or the individuals. It's like literally that thing has been on here so long that we could bring it off the table right now and pass it and no one would know we did it. So, like that stuff's got to stop. So, if the document's not ready, it's not

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ready. It's got to stop coming down here and getting held and held and held. That being said, this is a series of of recommendations to the administration. It's a non sequitur. We just kind of need to either let's move on. Like we got stuff to do. So, with that I yield the floor. I'm happy to offer that if the sponsor wants it, but I mean, this is a this is a total non issue that we're making an issue. Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton. Thank you, Chairwoman. Thank you, Vice Chair uh Carlisle, for making it very simple. There's nothing here. It's very it it it's transparent. Up or down. I mean, it's just still um I went through the legal process. Um it was uh my first ad hoc committee. We got the University of Memphis involved to make sure that we uh understood and followed the guidelines, but I would like Chief Gibson to speak on it because she was she helped us and the team and the ad hoc to make sure that um when we bring it forward, it would not have an issue. And so, I totally concur with Vice Chair Carlisle. It's just simple. It's I mean, what's hard about it? It's just transparency. Well, it fundamentally doesn't change a lot of things and I think that's an important Tamera Gibson, 125 North Main, Chief Legal Officer for the City of Memphis. Um if you read the language, because I've gotten several phone calls about this also. If you read the language, it's quite intentional and it states the clause that precedes the preference to not have a lease exceeding a term of 5 years says lessees lessees will be limited to a term commensurate with the purpose of the lease. So, for instance, that's very intentional language. So, if the the work to be performed or if the nature of the lease is such that it wouldn't 5 years wouldn't be commensurate with the work. For instance, if we look at the the Brooks Museum, we couldn't give them 5-year lease. You can't stand up a museum that fast, for instance. It may need to be 50. So, it's acknowledging the fact that

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we'll will you know, conscious of the fact that when we're, you know, setting lease terms or recommending lease terms, that we're it's not just throwing out 99-year leases or not just giving everyone a 50-year lease, it's being conscious of, you know, when recommending a lease term, that it's commensurate with what we're trying to accomplish. And I think that's the language that everyone overlooked and went right to to to Vice Chair Carlisle's point, it's a preference for 5 years, so that is a baseline, but in no way has it restricted the administration or the council in any way whatsoever. It sounds like he's giving opportunity of having a case-by-case basis.

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Absolutely. That's it. All right. Colleagues, we do have four cards. Madison Miller. Okay. Um good afternoon. Thank you. May I defer my time back to Carissa Hussong? No, we're not going to do that. Okay. Okay. Um I'm do not need time. Thank you so much. Dr. Stewart Burgess. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for your service and your time. I'm Dr. Stewart Burgess. I'm the CEO of the Children's Museum of Memphis since August of 2019. We see about uh quarter of a million family members, children, and adults per year. Of those, 46% are from families of color. Our income demographic is actually uh blocks out as a median of um low income, not middle or high, based on our visitor bureau statistics. We see between 30 and 40,000 school visitors each year, and 82% of those are Title 1 schools. Our mission is about getting kids to fall in love with learning.

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And and I hear the notes about um exceptions. Ours would have to be an exception, um and a really strong one. So, the minute that we're not like we have to have a long-term lease all the time for every year's fundraising, for every grant we apply to, for every partnership that we enter into, one of the very first questions is, "How long's your lease? How long are you there? How long are you in control of the property?" And so, the city doesn't maintain our property, doesn't manage any part of our operations. Our bylaws don't allow for that. Um so, our board wouldn't go for it. So, the moment that we get a short lease is the moment we have to start shopping. And I'm not that's not any sort of like threat. That's not any sort of threat. It literally means we can't do business under that. I'm right at the beginning of uh the plans for an $18 million capital campaign to improve the campus. What would be one of our very first steps is to bring it to you all to make sure that you were in line with it. All of our stuff is transparent. Our 990s are out there. Some of the things that might be preferred for us to do in this agreement, um we actually it wouldn't actually be appropriate for us to be that transparent because we have a board. We're not sign and we have a leaseholder, but we're not signing up for another manager. Okay. Thank you.

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Thank you, guys. Beth Flanagan. I'm going to pass. Okay. Carissa Hussong. Forgive me if I mispronounced it. That's okay. Um Carissa Hussong, 1912 Central Avenue. I represent the Metal Museum. The Metal Museum is the only institution of its kind in North America and is proud to be located in Memphis. This is a really exciting time for us. Labor Day weekend, we will be opening our doors to the our new building, the former Memphis College of Art building in Overton Park, and we hope you will

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all join us for the upcoming celebrations. If the proposed ordinance was passed prior to our starting this project, it would not have happened, and it would it will pose serious challenges for the community if it's adopted. We have a long-term lease with the city that has enabled enabled us to raise approximately $30 million, over half of which has come from out from donors outside of the city of Memphis. Our donors, both local and national, would not have provided funds for the project if we did not have a long-term lease. The return on investment for a 5-year lease is simply not there. Had we been invited to the ad hoc committee meetings where this ordinance was discussed, we could have shared our concerns and answered any questions you may have had about our operations, use of, and investment in city-owned property. For context, we signed our current lease in May of 2022. We were unable to raise the bulk of the funds until that time because donors did not want to give money to a project that might not happen. We then needed time to finish the architectural drawings. Construction has taken nearly 2 years, and we will need additional time to move our collections and programs into the new building. If we were under operating under a 5-year lease, this would given had given us less than a year in the building before our lease was potentially terminated. No non- or for-profit entity would make this kind of risky investment. Um as an Overton Park partner, I'm deeply distressed about the impact the proposed ordinance will have on the future of the Brooks Museum. Prior to deciding to move their operations downtown, renovation of the current building was estimated to be $80 million. So, I thank you. Thank you. But don't you already have a long-term lease? You have one, right?

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Yes. Okay. This is for moving forward, correct? This is correct, and this is not an ordinance. It's a resolution. So, it's not an ordinance. It's a resolution. And

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the things that you just shared are the things that you would should be sharing anyways. And why would we do that? I mean, this is not what that's about, and I'm not sure how you how you came about it, but we want the Children's Museum and the Metal Museum. I've talked with you. I've been out there. And so, this is not to interrupt or take any powers from you or mess with your money or any things. Carlisle just explained that. Vice Chair just explained that. So, first, let's get this understood. On the record, it's not an ordinance. It's a resolution. Thank [clears throat] you. Thank you, Chief. Councilwoman, you're recognized at this time, Vice Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I I appreciate you all the work that you do in coming down here. I think I've supported every organization. The city is more than happy to stand as your partner in allowing you the opportunity to occupy our real estate and for the services that you provide. To my colleague's point, this is the stuff that absolutely kills me. One person came down and said, "This is all the things that we do, which is why we lease you the space." The other one is a repurposed building, which you were awarded because you said you could raise the money based on the lease. Like I don't want to I like I again, this is because this is we've already spent too much time today on this. This is a non-issue. Every lease, whether this document exists or not, has to go to the administration, and they decide what they want it to be. The council is just taking a position saying, "If there is not a reason for a lease, like we're raising $30 million or on an $18 million a year capital campaign, like I would love to see you try to move the Children's Museum. I would laugh all the way home." Like that is crazy talk to come down here. Like I know your donors. Like I know your big donors. I know who they are. Like that that kind of stuff and like pitching like who you serve when we're talking about whether or not the council and the administration should recommend a 10- or 15- or 99-year lease is insane

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to me. Like we're talking about best real estate practices, not service. And like it's the administration's job to do everything that you just said, which is vet which is vet those things, and then to bring to the council the reason that they chose to do an 8, 9, 30, 40, and then the lease, and it's the council's job then to go forward and determine whether that that is an appropriate use of that real estate. All we're doing is setting the stage. That's it. This is we've got to move on. Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilwoman Easter-Thomas, you're recognized. Or let's get to To to the maker of the resolution, it is yours, right? Cuz it says okay, cuz it says City Council, but I just wanted to be sure. Would you entertain a friendly amendment to remove number three? No, I'm not No, because we worked very hard, and it's self-explanatory. We're not I mean, yeah. Yeah. And I'm and I want to call the question. Dr. Warner, you're recognized. And then we I'll get you, Chief Gibson. I'm sorry. Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, one of the reasons we're having this discussion is when this document originally came down, it was in a very different format. And as this committee worked, you know, some of the ways and some of the things that were done seemed to be incredibly aggressive oversight. Like somehow we were going to come in and start to run these nonprofits. It has been gradually improved over time, but what's happened is if men perceive events as real, they're real in their consequences. So, if we have nonprofits out there that are thinking that we're really wanting to try to come in and insert City Council into their day-to-day business, when they're doing things that we don't have time to do and we need them to do. It will affect how they fundraise, it will affect how they

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act, and it will affect their entire organization. And as we move forward our city So, that was the reason that the motion we're voting on now is to table this. And if we want to bring it back in another forum, we can work on it and it won't come back every [clears throat] week and it won't be taken away. So, in my mind, you know, what we need to do is table this because as Councilwoman Willis said, we've been dealing with this for quite some time. We've held it six times. Obviously, there's some reason we had to hold it six times. I think it's not in the city's best interest to do this. And if there's something in here that we want, we can bring it back. But I think we can ask for that same sort of clarity about their organization and their funding, etc. Every time they come to us for any any funding. So, in my mind, tabling this will make this go away. Thank you. Councilwoman Cooper-Sudden I'm sorry, Chairwoman. Let Councilman Ford go ahead on and speak. He was He's been in the queue and I'm okay with that. And then after that, I will call the question and we can move forward. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Councilman Ford, you're recognized. Thank you, Chair. I've been listening to this. I really want to hear city attorney one more time what your answer is and then I want to talk. This morning, some of y'all wasn't in the meeting. We got a lot a lot of money. So, when you get through speaking, the ones who wasn't here, I'm going to tell you about the losing money. And I'm talking about Mississippi and over there in Arkansas. Okay? We love to do things. We have ideas. We don't deal with

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Mississippi and Arkansas do. Everything that we want, Mississippi and Arkansas, they do it. Do things. We lose a lot of money. Y'all don't understand that. The biggest folks that have come to this city that have helped us because when it comes down to taxes, we ain't got the one thing. We got to bring somebody in that's going to help you do some things. They put a halt on things. And uh please forgive me. You said they ain't going to go nowhere. Please don't tell me they won't go nowhere. People love to leave Memphis and go right on across the line because everybody going to come from Mississippi to Memphis spend money only in their state. They're going to take everything away from us that just come in here charge. Get on 55 Interstate at 5:30 in the morning coming north. Huh? I'm talking about money. Yeah. Yeah. I want you to listen to me. I listen to you. Okay? I think all of this is very important. Okay? The Metal Museum came up here. Please don't tell me they might not leave. We got the Children's Museum. Do you know who almost ran it until I kind of stopped it? Southaven, Mississippi. That's what I'm talking about. And that's parts. If you want to say parts. Get on 55, go down to Landers Center right now.

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I ain't talking about y'all living in East Memphis and all the rest cuz y'all got everything except out there and y'all don't even think y'all live in Memphis. Okay? I'm just going to be honest. Go on. That's the problem. Don't listen to a fool.

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[clears throat]

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I'm tired of losing money here. They getting ready to build everything against us. We need what we can get. I'm going to be quiet for a minute, but he can go on about his business. I really don't care. Because you know what? That's where funds come in that we're losing to. Don't get me started today. I'm going to let you talk because I'm going to be quiet for a minute. But you know what? Don't get me started because some of these folks that we've given millions millions and millions, I want them to pay us back. Because they don't care nothing about this city. Nothing about what we can give them. A lot of things that we need to wake up, y'all. I'm just telling you little things. You just don't know what you're doing. But if you were in the meeting this morning, something was stopped. And that's kind of sad. We give it away. We give it away. Go on. Thank you. Chief, can you offer some context, please? I can. So, the original resolution when it was presented to our office was presented in a highly restrictive form. There were about 10 conditions. 10 conditions that would restrict our ability to negotiate a contract. So, I you know, I worked with Councilwoman Cooper-Sudden for several months to come to some agreement around what might be workable. I'm a bit respectfully baffled by some of the things I've heard here today because I'm actually when you read what it says, it doesn't operate the way that is causing this concern. And so, I'm trying to highlight the fact

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[clears throat] that we were very careful. And if you you all have engaged me enough to to to know that anything that encroaches on the mayor's contracting authority, I'm not going to agree to anyway as an initial matter. So, we tried to work in between those lines because leases have to come before the council for approval anyway. And so, at the end of the day, we are you know, we try to build these things into our leases during the negotiations period anyway. You know, the transparency we we want at least our administration tries to have an you know, open dialogue with the council members anyway. And so, you know, the compliance we do anyway. So, we're memorializing those things. As to the 5-year lease, the words in this document, not the perspective, not the concern, the actual words, the way they operate are a recommendation to be mindful of what we are issuing leases for. So, when we're issuing city-owned space, if it is the Children's Museum or the Metal Museum, I can't imagine a scenario where any of what one in my office would say to the mayor or to the council, we should just give them a 5-year lease. The preference is a floor. Just to raise consciousness during negotiations. And it's written that way intentionally. That and it's a resolution requesting that we do these things, most of which we do anyway. When we negotiate any contract, the term is always a point that we have to negotiate. So, it's not placing, you know, a bar. It's not placing any restriction on any of these negotiations. It's just saying, "Hey, if you know, we're leasing city space, don't start at 99 years in your minds like we've done for for many many years before. If it's a lease that's going to require a short term, then be open to a short term. But if it's a lease that's going to require a long term, then you know, be open to a long term." That's hence the the commensurate with the purpose of a lease language. Just to be conscious of it. But in no way, Councilman or or any of to any of the council, is the intent or the words that they don't operate to restrict our ability to negotiate long-term leases at

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all whatsoever. Thank you. Councilwoman White, you're recognized. Chief Gibson just clarified what I was going to try to just make sure everybody understood. Essentially, these are one recommendations and does not restrict in any way the administration's ability to enter into any type of contract. It's simply saying these are things that we have identified during this ad hoc committee that are potential issues and we would like for you to review these when looking into entering into these types of agreements. And so, with that said, I don't I mean I I I I kind of don't understand kind of whether And maybe it's just because people don't fully understand what it's doing. It doesn't in any way restrict the administration's ability to enter into those contracts taking into consideration the very things that you all spoke about. It's not infringing on that at all. It's just saying an ad hoc committee met, reviewed these different types of agreements, and these were some of the issues that were identified. So, in the future administration, please look for these things that we believe cause some issue causes some issues potentially. But it's in the by no means to target you all's institutions. And we do appreciate that we have the Children's Museum here. It's a quite fine place to go. And Metal Museum as well. I'm very excited about it. It's always great to have the development. We appreciate your service and your dedication to what you do for our citizens. And so, we're not trying to restrict you all or the administration. We want everyone to carry on. Thank you. All right, Madam Controller, if If will please prepare the screen for the vote. Motion? The motion? He pulled the table, so the motion.

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Well, let's vote on the table. So, yes is the table and no is to not table the item. Canale, no. Cooper-Suggs, no. Easter-Thomas, no. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, no. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, no. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, no. That item will not be tabled. If you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Seconded by Cooper-Suggs. Don't worry about it. Canale, yes. Cooper-Suggs, yes. Easter-Thomas, no. Ford, no. Green, no.

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Logan, yes. Espinosa, no. Warren, no. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. Please show Councilwoman Walker is a voting no. That item fails. Excuse me, let's If Walker said no, that would make six no's and I count five yes's. Okay. That item fails. Madam Controller, if you will please call item number 17. Item number 17 is a resolution to accept the recommendations of the compensation compensation task force. All council districts. This resolution is sponsored by Councilwoman White. Councilwoman White, you're recognized at this time for item number 17. The committee met and recommended approval and I so move. All right. There are no council to speak on item number 17. Madam Controller, if you will please prepare the screen for item 17. It has been moved by Councilwoman White and seconded by Councilman Espinosa. Council, if you will please prepare your screen and vote. Cast your vote. Canale, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. That item passes. That brings us to our same night minute items.

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Okay. Thank you. Please show Cooper-Suggs is voting yes on this last item. That passes. Same night minutes. Vice Chairman Carlisle, um Vice Chairman active Ford-Canale. Would you please read the same night minute items into record? Thank you, Madam Chair. In however many years I've been here, I can't remember a night where we only had one one same night minute item, item number five. And with that, I so move. All right. It has been moved by Ford-Canale. It's been seconded by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Controller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Canale, yes. Cooper-Suggs, yes. Easter-Thomas, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Logan, yes. Espinosa, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. That item passes. That now brings us to our same night not same night, but our comment card sections. As a reminder, these meetings are for official business of the council and are held in public, not as a meeting with the public. Any person wishing to speak is expected to reflect a total sense of respect for the office held by those assembled to conduct business. Speakers shall be courteous to one another, to any member of the administrative staff, as well as persons who may address the council. Each speaker must state their name for the record. Speakers are respectfully asked to refrain from using names of city personnel or elected officials,

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particularly when lodging a complaint. Speakers will not be permitted to engage in a gossip, make defamatory comments, or use abusive of or vulgar language. The chairperson will have the authority to revoke the permission granted to any individual to speak if any such individual is disruptive or does not adhere to council rules. As continued disturbance may result in removal from the council meeting or possible removal from this council meeting. Each speaker will have no more than two minutes to speak. These rules are posted on the doors as you enter the chamber and as you pick up the comment cards. The chairperson shall recognize persons who have registered to speak with the sergeant of arms in the proper order of signatures as handed to him by the sergeant of arms. Recognition of any person who failed to sign in will be discouraged, but final decision shall rest with the chairperson. No citizen may yield any allotted time to another person or speaker. An example of an 11 by 17 poster is also posted on the door. Signs larger than the permitted size are prohibited and will be removed from the chamber. It's nothing like a good understanding. So, now we're going to start with our comment request cards. Before we do the cards, can I make a few statements pertaining to Well, it's about this funeral, not about him no more. Okay. All right. First of all, this funeral needs a moment of silence for Representative Holloway. Just a few minutes. I just want to give service times and everything else.

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Uh Representative Holloway will be going to Nashville, Tennessee. He will lay out in the capital about Thursday from 12:00 until 4:00 p.m. Then he will come back to Memphis. Services will be at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Visitation is from 9:00 to 12:00 noon. Service will start at 12:00 noon. I just want to make that statement. He was here quite a bit. He was across the street quite a bit. He did a lot of things for this city. And I just want to recognize him. And if anybody want to go to Nashville, just let me know on the council. Okay? And uh we can bring you back also if you want to go. Uh services, I would like everyone to at least try to attend the services on that Friday where we can give him the right send off. This is the first time and I must say this, that a representative from Memphis and a black representative have ever been in the white I mean in the capital building laid out in state. Wow. And it's never happened. A lot of others have been there, but we have not. But this time we will be laying him out there. And that's a new thing coming up. And he deserves it all. He's been a lot of time in Nashville and all. So, hey he deserves every bit of it. So, we going to send him out just like one of these presidents. We going to take him there, bring him back. And the governor's office and all, they're going to have the state troopers take us just like president. We'll take him from Memphis all the way to Nashville and they're going to bring us back. Wow. Yes, and I think he deserves

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everything and I just wanted to say that.

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Thank you for that, councilman.

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Thank you. Okay. We do appreciate our representative G.A. Hardaway's service, his unwavering commitment to our community. We send prayers to his beautiful family. Leanna Venezia Good evening. Good evening. My name is Leanna Venezia. This is the third week in a row that I have spoken before this council. Two weeks ago, myself and many of my friends and colleagues came here to ask this council for clarity and transparency regarding the investigation of MPD's violent response to the No Kings Rally and March on March 28th. We were told that Chief C.J. Davis would be asked to appear here on this date to answer questions from the community. This morning, I was informed that Chief Davis was instead questioned during a closed committee meeting at 10:15 this morning. I watched the live stream of this committee meeting and I would like to thank Councilwoman Chairwoman Swearingen Washington and Councilwoman Green for asking for transparency on our behalf. However, given that Chief Davis is not here, I must once again remind this council of the importance of this investigation. First, because MPD's violent response to our peaceful protest demonstrates a clear threat to our First Amendment rights. We need to see the officers responsible for this held accountable to ensure that Memphians can continue to use their voices without feeling threatened by police violence. Second, because we, the people of Memphis, deserve law enforcement that we can trust to react appropriately. It's clear from this morning's committee meeting that crime reduction is deeply important to this council. But how will we reduce crime in Memphis if the people cannot rely on an appropriate response from law enforcement? Who will feel safe calling

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911 if they feel retaliation from the very people meant to help them? Despite the much lauded accomplishments that were discussed in this morning's committee meeting, the feedback I continue to hear from members of my community is that Memphians feel over-surveyed and under-protected. It is really difficult to feel safe when police violence is answered with excuses rather than transparency. In order to preserve our trust in law enforcement and city leadership, we need to see accountability when police behave inappropriately. And not just for the events of March 28th, and I'm almost done, but for the MPD employee who felt it was appropriate to post a march organizer's home address on MPD's public Facebook page. Our next speaker is Mr. Dexter Elsberry. Please come down. Thank you. Dexter Elsberry, you're next.

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[clears throat]

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Good evening, council, everyone. My name is Dexter Elsberry. This is the Memphis Covenant, a vow of radical transparency. Council, fellow citizens, my name is Dexter Elsberry, but I stand before you today as Mr. Memphis. I am not here to ask for a favor, I'm here to deliver a mandate. Leadership isn't found in a budget of nearly $900 million alone. It is found in the integrity of the people that budget funds.

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Today, I am here to announce that the era of business as usual is over. We are entering the era of the Memphis Covenant. For 10 months, I have audited the city's failures while battling FedEx for my medical restoration, docket 2025-80-7100. Memphis claims to be a city of industry, yet we allow a corporate giant like FedEx to practice a chronology of neglect while holding diagnostics for 300 days until an acute injury rots into a chronic disability. They trade on our city's name while attempting to starve out our citizens with bad faith delays. But the true crisis is also on our streets. On April 13th, I was unlawfully detained on Lauderdale, denied the reason for my stop in direct violation of the 2026 Transparency Act and left to suffer in a sweltering cruiser despite a documented spinal disability. Less than 10 days later on April 22nd, the system checked me again. Shortly after midnight, I was physically assaulted during a pretextual stop. While my license was in the officer's hand, he reached into my vehicle and forcibly unbuckled my seatbelt. And when I tried to record, I was withheld and told to be quiet. They wanted to delete the truth, but Mr. Memphis will never be quiet. Today, I launch the Memphis Covenant. This is a mission for true reformation. It is a sacred vow that this campaign will never cease until our duty to transparency is complete. We are demanding a city where an officer cannot hide the reason for a stop, where a citizen Thank you so much. We're now ready for Uh thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. We're now ready for Scooter Moore.

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Please just state your name and you may proceed. You will have 2 minutes. Oh, excuse me. Go ahead. Hi, Scooter Moore of Scooter's Barbecue, Memphis, Tennessee. I was here was going to I got it all together now, which um I'd like to invite you all down to Court Square this Thursday. And as true number one food truck, meaning um quality cues is 92. In recognition of 15 years, we'd like to we'd like you to enjoy one free barbecue sandwich, pork or chicken. Um I'm prepared to give away a couple hundred sandwiches to the citizens and the the people here. But now, I need to use my other minutes. Um Ms. Green, you you got me to talk to Mr. Zena. You called him a Well, you referred to him as your I don't know. Expert. in the food truck things. He was helpful with getting an understanding that this redline version that was given to me by city official that it wasn't that and we kind of got through that. But we I would Congratulations, sir. I would also I think I don't know if it's proper for me to ask a question to the attorney, but he's looking into some questions for his city attorney. If we got something in this ordinance that talks about time and places that we can do business, is it okay for the city engineer to put a sign up to say we can't do it from 5:00 to 7:00? And um I would like to I don't know what I would like to talk to somebody at city council. I appreciate some of your your aids and stuff. Back in Myron Lowery's days, he would kind of get back at us, you know, but I know everybody's busy. Please, it's kind of important to me. Um and I'm I'm putting together a presentation cuz on our side of fence, I consider myself a self-proclaimed expert

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in this issue cuz I've been doing it a very, very long time. And I'm going to enlighten you on all that. Have a good day and come see us. I got um free barbecue for everybody.

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Thank you for coming down and please know we are never too busy for our constituents. You'll please hand him a card. Chair, if I if I might uh we are in the midst of scheduling a call. I was just speaking to my analyst about that, so we are working on it. Okay. And you all have a great day. And this is the first time someone has come down to offer us something. We appreciate you. If I could just say one other thing. to our hearts, too. If I could say one other thing. Um the mayor, Paul Young, and I, we spoke like twice before he became the mayor and I saw him at a a town hall meeting. I would like for somebody if y'all can get word to him to come down cuz he's I mean, the administration has a lot to do with what's going on with the food truck stuff in downtown. Um and I need more time if I could ever be able to talk to him and we go from there. You all have a wonderful day. Please come see us and see how real food trucks operate. All right, we're going to come check you out, Scooter's Barbecue. Yeah, believe it. You all have a good day. All right, our birthday Council person has left, but in his absence we say happy birthday to Vice Chair Carlisle. We will now entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. All right, second.