City Council - Regular Meeting

Sergeant in Arms, if you will please call out August 18, 2026, meeting to order.

I would like to recognize our chaplain of the day, Pastor Christopher D Walton of First Baptist Church Lauderdale, invited by Councilman Smiley. Pastor Walton, if you will please lead us in prayer, we will follow the prayer with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you. Councilman Smiley, you're recognized at this time.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Pastor, can you come join me? Greetings be it hereby known that Pastor Chris Walton, in recognition of a life of exemplary qualities and outstanding service to the city, meritorious involvement in humanitarian affairs, and demonstrated concern for governmental process, has been approved and appointed Chaplain of the Day. And it is hereby entitled to all honors, rights, and privileges, prerogatives appertaining to the office and to display of this certificate given on the seal on the 18th day of August, 2026. Chairwoman Jenna Schwartz-Washington, Councilman J.B. Smiles w

Madam Comptroller, will you please call the roll?

Thank you. I believe Councilman Canale has read the minutes for the August 4th, 2026 meeting.

Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. I have read the minutes from that meeting, the August 4th meeting, I'm sorry. Find them to be in order and move for their adoption.

It has been moved by Councilman Canale, second by Councilman Warren. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screens for the vote to approve the minutes of the August 4th, 2026 meeting.

That item passes. Welcome to the August 18th, 2026 regular meeting of the Memphis City Council. Meetings of the council shall be conducted in an orderly manner to ensure that 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 up front 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 not here to speak

Councilwoman Dr. Easter Thomas, you're recognized at this time.

All right, left side, or y'all's right side, okay. Put a buddy in one over.

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

Councilman Canale, you're recognized at this time.

Thank you, Madam Chair. If I could get some of you colleagues to come down and join me, since it's sponsored by all of us. Don't everybody come at the same time now?

All right, colleagues, if y'all would indulge me and we'll take, break this up into different sections and I'll read this together. As I said upstairs, when Judge Jenny Latta brought this to my attention and I thank her for that, it was very meaningful to me and for a variety of reasons. But I think that it's something that St. Peter's Church, of course, certainly is proud of and wants to celebrate and recognize, but also special people in our history that haven't necessarily gotten the recognition that they deserve. we'll be recognized in a meaningful way. So I'm gonna let you, Councilman Gre

And whereas Samuel Henderson, who was formerly enslaved, a devoted member of St. Peter Catholic Church, a convert of Catholicism, and a church handyman, demonstrated exceptional courage, compassion, and faith during the devastating yellow fever epidemic that struck Memphis in 1878. And whereas...

Whereas the members of the Catholic community have initiated discussions to promote his consideration for sainthood and recognition of his remarkable demonstration of faith and selfless service.

Whereas the Memphis City Council finds it appropriate to recognize the enduring legacy of Samuel Henderson, whose courage, humility, steadfast faith, and selfless service served as an example for future generations of Memphians.

Now therefore be it resolved by the Memphis City Council that Adams Avenue between North B.B. King Boulevard and Fourth Street be honorarily known as St. Peter's Sam Avenue in recognition of the profound and lasting impact Samuel Henderson made upon the city of Memphis through his extraordinary service during one of the city's greatest times of need. Be it further resolved that the city engineers hereby are requested to affix suitable signs designating this public road. adopted by our hands, this Memphis City Council. Thank you, colleagues. I'm very grateful for each one of you for joining me

Madam Comptroller, if you will show that approved by acclamation. And please call item three.

Come on all Bonner's family and friends and supporters, you come on up. This is quite an honor. Our sheriff is leaving us. He's retiring. He's going to be on his boat, yacht, whatever he's going to be doing, enjoying life. But we want to celebrate his service and his tenure. Whereas before Floyd Bonner Jr. ever wore a badge of his own, He watched his father wear one. And in doing so, the truest lesson of his life was that you serve your neighbors is to live a life worth living. Whereas that lesson took root. a graduate of Hillcrest High School and later the University of Memphis, where he earn

Madam Comptroller, please show that approved by acclamation. And for the record, will you note that item number two had the same night minutes?

Congratulations, Sheriff Bonner. Job well done, my friend. Enjoy your retirement. Madam Comptroller, would you please call item number four?

Councilwoman Cooper Sutton, you're recognized.

Thank you. Will you please show that approval by acclamation? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. All right. Item number five.

Madam Comptroller, will you please show that approved by acclamation. This will move us to our consent agenda items, items six through 10, 25 with same night minutes on items nine and 10. Madam Comptroller, will you please call the consent agenda.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Councilman Canale, you are recognized at this time.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee may recommend approval and also move.

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

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call the fiscal consent item with item 11, having same night minutes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move the fiscal consent agenda to the floor for discussion.

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

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, we will please call the MLGW fiscal consent.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Councilwoman Walker, you are recognized.

It has been moved by Councilwoman Walker. Can I get a second? It's been seconded by Councilwoman Logan. There are no counsel in the queue to speak. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. That will take us now to our add on agenda and same night minute items. We will now go to our add on and same night minute items. Please note that the addition of items 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 to same night minutes. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 19.

It has been moved by Councilwoman White, second by Councilwoman Green. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen.

I'm so grateful. Councilwoman Green, say something.

You're welcome, we're here to serve. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 20.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee met, recommend approval, I so move.

It has been moved by Councilman Warren. Can I get a second? Second. It's been second by Councilwoman Walker. Okay, there are no council in the queue to speak. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 21.

Thank you, Madam Comptroller. Councilman Warren, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee met, recommend approval, I so move.

It's been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Ford-Canale. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote. Canale.

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

Thank you, Chair. Committee met, recommends approval, and I so move. It's been moved by Councilman Ford Sr., second by Councilman Ford Canale. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 23.

Councilman Ford Senior, you're recognized.

It's been moved by Councilman Hoard Senior, second by Councilman Hoard-Canale. Please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 24.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee recommended approval, not so moved.

It has been moved by Councilman Ford Canale, seconded by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Comptroller, please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. I'll do it. Okay, I missed two comment cards for item number 22, Ms. Dorothy Connor and Leo Arnott. Forgive me if I mispronounced your name. If you'd like to come at this time.

Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 26.

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

It has been moved by Councilman Warren and seconded by Councilman Canale.

That item passes. Yes, okay. All right. Madam Comptroller, we will please call item number 27.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee met, recommend approval, and I say move.

It's been moved by Councilman Dr. Warren, second by Councilman Ford Canale. Madam Comptroller, please prepare the screen for the vote.

Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington, yes. That item passes. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 28.

Madam Chair, we're still on 27 on our screen. Thank you. The committee met, recommend approval, and I so move.

Okay. Item number 28 has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Ford Canale. Please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 29.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee met. They recommended approval, and I so move.

Item 29 has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Ford-Ganale. There are no council members in the queue to speak. Madam Comptroller, please prepare the screen.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 30.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Commitment, recommend approval, and I so move. I need a second.

Item 30 has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Smiley. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for item number 30.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 31.

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

It has been moved. I'm not seeing it electronically. I think they took it away. It was there a second ago. Item number 31. There we go. It has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Ford-Canale. Madam Comptroller, if you will please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number 32.

All right, Councilman Warren, you are recognized. We're so excited for the parks in Memphis, Tennessee.

There's going to be a lot of good stuff here. The committee recommended approval, and I say move.

It has been moved by Councilman Warren, second by Councilman Ford Canale. Please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. That moves us to our regular agenda item. Madam Comptroller, please call item number 18.

Councilwoman, Attorney White, you are recognized. Thank you, Chairwoman. The committee met and recommended approval, and I so move. It has been moved by Councilwoman Attorney White, seconded by Councilman Dr. Warren. Madam Comptroller, if you would please prepare the screen for the vote.

That item passes. That brings us to our same night minute items. Councilman Canale, would you please read the same night minute items into record?

Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. Those items are two, nine, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32. And I move it to the floor, Madam Chair.

Madam Comptroller, if you would please prepare the screen for the vote for Same Night Minutes. Cooper Sutton is in the queue first.

That item passes. That moves us to our general comment comment cards. public comments. Our first comment card is from Claudia Hyman. Is Claudia okay?

Thumbs up, thumbs down. Thank you for not clapping. If you'll please do thumbs up, thumbs down, we would appreciate your cooperation so that we can continue. Andrea Bell, we had her. Now we're gonna have Ricky Lewis and Reverend Gordon Myers is after that, immediately following. If you can come start making that way.

Thank you. We can do thumbs up and thumbs down. Ricky Lewis and then Reverend Gordon Myers. Are they not here? Reverend Gordon Myers. And then Rachel Chantel and Aaron Lewis.

Rachel Chantel and then Aaron Lewis. If we could just do thumbs up, thumbs down, please. Aaron Lewis isn't here.

Thank you. thumbs up or thumbs down and not clap. Refrain from clapping please. Amber Sherman and then Brandi Price and Royce Davis.

Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton, you're recognized.

Joyce Davis. Oh, Brandi Price. Where's Brandi?

Royce Davis and then Dylan Duke. After Dylan Duke, Kashawn Pearson. Royce Davis.

Thank you. Dylan Robinson Duke and then Kashawn Pearson.

Thank you so much. We'll have Kashawn Pearson and then Christian Dennis.

Thank you. Christian Dennis and then Jax Branson.

Thank you. Jack Branson and then Richard Massey.

Thank you. Richard Massey and then Jeremiah Smith.

Thank you. Jeremiah Smith and then Wanisia Hyman.

Thank you. Juanita Hyman and then Lucy Chambliss.

Thank you. Tracy Woods and then Breonna Smith.

Thank you. Christine Favre and then Sarah Houston. After Sarah Houston, Jasmine Bernard.

Thank you. Sarah Houston and then Jasmine Bernard.

Thank you. Jasmine Bernard and then Debbie Arrowood.

Thank you. Ms. Debbie Arrowood. She's not here. Okay. Well, that ends our public comment cards. I will entertain a motion to adjourn. All right. It's been moved by Councilman Smiley, second by Councilman Warren. Everyone have a safe.