City Council - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

The Memphis City Council approved an honorary street name change for Mayor Lee Harris and several capital improvement projects. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments, primarily focusing on strong community opposition to data centers and advocating for a comprehensive moratorium.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Memphis, TN
Meeting Date
September 1, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

79 sections (from 80 segments)

0:18 – 0:42•Jana Swearengen Washington

I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Evangelist Latrice Ryan of Latrice Ryan Ministries Incorporated, invited by Councilwoman White. Evangelist Ryan, please lead us in prayer.

1:39 – 2:00•Jana Swearengen Washington

Please 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. Councilwoman White, you are recognized.

3:07•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you so much for your beautiful prayer, Evangelist Ryan. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call the roll.

3:53•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you. I believe Chairman Ford has read the minutes from the August 18th meeting.

4:01•J. Ford Canale

Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. I have reviewed the meeting minutes from August 18th, find them to be in order and move for their adoption.

4:10•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilman Ford Canale, second by Councilwoman Green. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screens for the vote.

5:08 – 7:16•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Welcome to the September 1, 2026 regular meeting of the Memphis City Council. Meetings of the council shall be conducted in an orderly manner to ensure the public has the full opportunity to be heard and the deliberate process of the council is retained at all times. The Sergeant at Arms has meeting agendas available upfront as well as comment request cards for members of the public wishing to be heard on a specific item. All those wishing to speak on an item must turn in their comment card to the sergeant at arms before the item is called If you are here to speak on a specif

8:47 – 9:44•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item has been moved by Councilwoman Green and second by Councilman Smiley. Are there any colleagues who would like to be in the queue? We're waiting. Can you come up for a second please? Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

10:37 – 10:57•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call the consent agenda items. which are items four through nine, 23, 25 through 26, and the same night minute items six, seven, eight, and nine. Thank you.

15:01•Jana Swearengen Washington

Vice Chair Cardinal, you are recognized at this time.

15:12 – 15:23•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item has been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Spinoza. There are no council in the queue to speak. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

16:01•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call the fiscal consent agenda.

16:35•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Vice Chair Carlisle, you're recognized.

16:44•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Spinoza. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

17:24 – 17:38•Jana Swearengen Washington

Please show council member Walker is voting yes on this item. Thank you, that item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call the MLGW fiscal consent agenda items 11 and 12.

18:16 – 18:32•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Councilwoman Walker, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee met with a favorable recommendation, and I so move. It has been moved by Councilwoman Walker, second by Councilwoman Green. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screens, a vote.

19:00•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call on our add-on agenda and same-night minute items.

19:58•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilwoman White, second by Councilman Spinoza. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

20:44•Jana Swearengen Washington

Moved by Councilwoman Walker and second by.

21:31•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 17.

22:10•Dr. Jeff Warren

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee met, recommended approval, and I so move.

22:14•Jana Swearengen Washington

It's been moved by Councilman Warren, seconded by Councilwoman Green. There are no counsel in the queue to speak. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

22:41•Jana Swearengen Washington

Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 18.

23:24•Dr. Jeff Warren

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee did meet and recommend approval and I so move.

23:29 – 23:40•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Spinoza. There are no council members in the queue to speak. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for item number 18.

24:05•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 19.

24:47•Dr. Jeff Warren

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee met, recommended approval, and I so move.

24:52•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilman Warren, seconded by Councilman Ford-Canale. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote for item number 19.

25:27•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 20.

26:01•Jana Swearengen Washington

Then I, Councilman Warren, you're recognized.

26:05•Dr. Jeff Warren

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, colleagues. We're getting a lot of good parkway done here quickly. The committee met, recommend approval, and I say move.

26:13•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Spinoza. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote for item number 20.

26:44•Jana Swearengen Washington

Chairwoman Swearengin, Washington, yes. That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 21.

27:24 – 27:42•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilwoman White, second by Councilman Spinoza. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen. Did you have, did you, were you in the queue? Fort Canale. Fort Canale is in the queue to speak. before we vote?

27:43 – 28:30•J. Ford Canale

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mine was really just a statement. To all of our nonprofits, I know we have some wonderful nonprofit partners out there, but just to put it in perspective and for everyone to know, like, if anyone is considering this uh their bread and butter uh don't because this year we had a total ask of 13 million dollars 128 184 and there's 2.6 million dollars available so for whatever information is out there that go ask the city they've got plenty of money that's just simply not the case so we're happy to support who we can, when we can, but as you can see, an ask of $13 million t

28:31•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, Councilman Forgan-Alley. Councilman Warren, you are in the queue.

28:35 – 29:01•Dr. Jeff Warren

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is for our colleagues here. You may have seen the email, but Room in the end was removed from the group that we could not donate to. Those are people that take homeless families and take them to churches from downtown. And initially they told us they didn't qualify. They looked at it again and they made a mistake. So as you're thinking about where you want to go, that helps with our homeless families, particularly homeless kids. Thank you.

29:02 – 29:16•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, Councilman Warren. Madam Comptroller? It was properly moved by Councilwoman White, second by Councilman Spinoza. We are now voting on item number 21.

29:45•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 22.

30:22•Jana Swearengen Washington

Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized.

30:29•Jana Swearengen Washington

Item number 22 has been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle. Can I get a second? It's been seconded by Councilman Ford Canale. Councilwoman White, you're recognized.

31:14•Jana Swearengen Washington

Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

31:41•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 24.

32:13•Jana Swearengen Washington

Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized.

32:21•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been properly moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Warren. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for item number 24.

32:52•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, we will move to the regular agenda item, starting with item number two,

34:27 – 34:53•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilman Spinoza, second by Councilman Warren. We would love to hear a presentation on this item. While she's setting up, Madam Comptroller, if you would please note that item number 13 is being held. So after this, we will move to item number 14.

35:01 – 35:12•Jana Swearengen Washington

Attorney Wade? Until the 15th. Thank you. Where's Attorney Wade? Maybe the...

37:55•Jana Swearengen Washington

Any council in the queue? All right. Councilman Ford Canale, you're recognized.

38:02•J. Ford Canale

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Burnett? Yes, sir. Could you tell us more about your plans for this property? Yes, sir.

38:50•Jana Swearengen Washington

All right, Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

39:39•Jana Swearengen Washington

Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 14.

40:11•Jana Swearengen Washington

All right, Councilman Smiley. You're recognized for the Mud Island Amphitheater.

40:22•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Councilman Smiley, second by Councilman Ford Canale. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

40:57•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 15. Thank you.

41:40•Jana Swearengen Washington

Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized.

41:49•Jana Swearengen Washington

It has been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Warren. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for item number 15.

42:27•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. That brings us to our same-night-minute items. Vice Chair Carlisle, would you please read the same-night-minute items into records?

42:48 – 43:01•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you. It's been moved by Vice Chair Carlisle, second by Councilman Ford Canale, Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screens to vote for the same night minute items.

43:26 – 43:39•Jana Swearengen Washington

That item passes. That now brings us to our general comments. Do we have any general comments? Oh, we don't have any?

43:46 – 44:16•Jana Swearengen Washington

I'm teasing. Code zero. All right. All right, we will begin with Alexander Perkins and then Reverend Gordon Myers, followed by Alexa Pouncey. Alexander Perkins.

45:48•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you so much for your comments. We will now have Reverend Myers.

47:19•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you. Ms. Pouncey and then Sharon Smith. After Sharon Smith, Batsell Booker.

49:01•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, and thank you for the wonderful work that you are doing for our community. Booker, then Adam, Selah,

51:10 – 51:21•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you. Thumbs up, thumbs down. Thank you. Adam Sela and then Zoe Dollinger. Dondalinger. Thank you. There we go.

53:22•Jana Swearengen Washington

Zoe Dondalinger, and then Sarah Gladney. After Sarah Gladney, Easter Maynox.

55:35•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you for your thumbs up and thumbs down. Sarah Gladney, then Easter Mernatz.

58:17•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, Jasmine Houston and Brandi Price.

1:00:41 – 1:01:02•Jana Swearengen Washington

Brandi Price. After Brandi Price, Sarah Houston and Noel Hutchison.

1:03:11•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you so much. Sarah Houston and then Noel Hutchison.

1:05:35•Jana Swearengen Washington

All right, thank you. Noel Hutchinson, then Amber Sherman. After Amber Sherman, Jasmine Bernard.

1:07:02•Jana Swearengen Washington

Amber Sherman and Jasmine Bernard and Andy O'Neal.

1:07:11•Jana Swearengen Washington

Ma'am, Jasmine had to go to soccer practice, so she won't be here. Oh, okay, okay. Okay. Okay, cool.

1:12:37•Jana Swearengen Washington

Jessica Miller, and then Lucci Chambliss. After Lucci, then it'll be Emily Bishop.

1:17:42•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you so much. Ms. Bishop and then Representative Justin Pearson.

1:20:02 – 1:20:19•Jana Swearengen Washington

Can you email that to us, please? Can you email that to us, please? Thank you. Did you get all this? All right. Representative Justin Pearson and then Dr. Kimberly Owens Pearson.

1:22:46•Jana Swearengen Washington

Dr. Kimberly Owens-Pearson, and then Richard Massey.

1:25:30•Jana Swearengen Washington

Thank you, Liana Benizia, and then Rihanna Watson. Leannan Watson.

1:30:15 – 1:30:31•Jana Swearengen Washington

All right, thank you for all your comments. Thank you for coming out, being involved, being engaged. I will now entertain a motion to adjourn. Moved by Councilman Smiley, second by Vice Chair Carlisle. Thank you, everyone. Have a safe evening. The meeting is adjourned.

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.