City Council - Regular Meeting

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.

Thank you so much. Let us bow. Father, we bless you and we thank you for who you are. We thank you for being holy. We thank you for bringing us together, especially on the 901 day. Father, we ask now that you will give our council members, you will give them wisdom to make the right decisions. You will give them the courage, Father, in Jesus' name to enact those decisions. Father, we ask that you would bring unity in our city. We ask that you would bring safety to our streets today. Cover every neighborhood. Cover every school. Cover every council member. Cover every elected official in the name of Jesus. Cover the citizens of Memphis. And Father, let us know, God, and give us confirmation that we shall arise out of every disparity. We shall arise out of every discouragement. That we shall arise. That we are stronger together than we are departed or divided in the name of Jesus. We ask these blessings in your name, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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.

Evangelist Ryan, I just want to say on behalf of myself as well as the Memphis City Council, thank you so much for being our chaplain of the day, but also thank you so much for your prayers over our city, state, nation continuously. We know that we benefit from your prayers. You are greatly appreciated, and thank you. And one other thing I will say is that one thing is Evangelist Ryan has a Tuesday morning 6 a.m. prayer that I have been tuning into probably for the last, what, four or five years. Even if I miss Tuesday morning, you can always go back and watch the replay. Yes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Council members Canale, Carlisle, Cooper-Sutton, Easter-Thomas, Ford, Green, Logan, Spinoza, Smiley, Walker? Present. Warren? Present. White?

Present.

Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington?

Present.

Madam Chairwoman, you have a quorum.

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

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.

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

Our vote for the minutes, Connelly, yes. Green, yes. Smiley, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington, yes.

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 specific item, you can note your request to give general comments at the end of the meeting. As chair, I will only recognize citizens that properly registered to speak by submitting a completed comment request card with the sergeant at arms. Please remember that members of the audience and persons addressing the council will not be permitted to engage in gossip make defamatory, personal, slanderous, or profane comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. The chair of the council may maintain order by giving any persons who are in violation of the stated rules of decorum a warning to cease by giving any persons who are in violation of the stated rules of decorum a warning to make sure that in order to leave the council chambers or by giving an order for security personnel to remove any disruptive person in the council's chambers who refuses to leave voluntarily. These rules are also posted on the doors as you entered the chamber and as you pick up the comment cards. The holes are item number three. Item number three will be held until October 6, 2026. Madam Comptroller, if you will please call item number one.

Item number one is a resolution approving an honorary street name change on Union Avenue between Dunlap Street and Manassas Street for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris in recognition of his dedication and lifelong commitment to Shelby County. District 6, Super District 8, this resolution is sponsored by Councilwoman Green and there is a request for same night minutes. Councilwoman Green, you are recognized.

Thank you, Chair. As you know, for many years, I worked in the office of Mayor Lee Harris, and we are planning a street renaming in his honor later this month. I just wanted to acknowledge that he was the first person black full professor of law at the University of Memphis. He is now a tenured full professor at Ole Miss. He was the first black leader in the Tennessee General Assembly, a two-term county mayor, previous council member here and budget chairman, and he was a state senator. And I think in his years of service, especially ones that I worked in, he's done incredible work for the community, I'll note as he left he invested 150 million dollars in a new school in Frayser and I think he is worthy of our recognition and I ask for your vote.

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.

Canali abstain? Ford, no. Green, yes. Smiley, yes. Spinoza, yes. And Walker, yes.

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.

We have general ordinances up for first reading. Ordinance to amend chapter 25, Pension and Retirement System of the City of Memphis, Tennessee, up for first reading. Ordinance number 5983 is sponsored by the administration. Item number 25 on our add-ons is an ordinance to establish a strategic large load development and digital infrastructure district program to replace a blanket data center moratorium with source neutral tiered and timed review to define substantial compliance to adopt a Memphis water assurance standard and recurring fiscal floor to require strategic development agreements to authorize Memphis Digital Infrastructure Development District number one and for related purposes Up for first reading ordinance number 5985 is sponsored by Councilman Spinoza. And there was a request to add this on to the consent agenda for first reading. Item number 26 is an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Memphis, Tennessee amending ordinance number 5367 known as the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code. to establish regulations for the sitting initial development, construction, expansion, alteration, and operation of large scale data centers, establishing data center development standards, prohibiting routine evaporative and once-through cooling, requiring closed-loop water circulation systems, prohibiting major withdrawals of local water resources for data center cooling, requiring water conservation and monitoring, requiring progressive use of renewable and non-carbon electricity. Establish a schedule for the phase out of carbon-based electricity, establishing requirements for expansion of existing data centers. providing for public disclosure, reporting, enforcement, penalties, and other matters related thereto. Up for first reading, ordinance number 5-9-8-6 is sponsored by Councilman Warren, and there was also a request to add this on. We have a second reading general ordinance. Ordinance number 5982 is sponsored by council members Smiley Green, Swearingen Washington, and Easter Thomas. We have joint ordinance number 23, amending the Memphis Shelby County Building Home Program up for first reading. Ordinance number 5984 is sponsored by the administration. And there was a request to add this one on as well. In our engineering division, we have a resolution approving public improvements for seven manned civil plans, phase one, and releasing the bond. The contract number is 5384, and there is a request for same night minutes. Item number seven is a resolution accepting public improvements for Conwood Snuff Redevelopment Board of Adjustment Case 20-03 and releasing bond. There is a request for same night minutes. The contract number is 5439. Item number eight is a resolution accepting public improvements for Conwood to development and releasing the bond. There is a request for same night minutes. That contract number is 5453. Item number nine is a resolution accepting public improvements for Peachtree development and releasing the bond. The contract number is 5464, and there also is a request for same night minutes. That concludes our consent agenda items. Madam Chair.

Vice Chair Cardinal, you are recognized at this time.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move these items to the floor for their approval.

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.

Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Green, yes. Please show council member Ford as voting yes on this item. Smiley, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington, yes.

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

Thank you, we have one item, number 10, a resolution to accept a donation of $3,936.47 from the 100 Club of Memphis as awarded to the City of Memphis Police Department to support the TACT unit. All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration. There is a request for same night minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. This item has been moved to the floor.

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

Connelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Smiley, yes. Spinoza, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes.

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.

Thank you very much. Item number 11 is a resolution to amend 2001 Water Pilot Agreement with the City of Memphis term to end 2048. And number 12 is a resolution approving the increase and extension to contract number 11462, Electronic Board Agenda Solution with Granicus, formerly Acela Incorporated, to increase the contract value and extend the current contract in the funded amount of $47,699.48. Madam Chair, that concludes our MLGW fiscal consent items.

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.

Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearington-Washington, yes.

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

Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Item number 16, appointments and a reappointment to the Memphis Area Transit Authority. The appointments are Sharon Harris, Tate Wilson, Willie Gregory, Dr. Gwen Sutton, William Mallory IV, Allison Donnell, Antoine Clark. Our reappointment to the Memphis Area Transit Authority is Brandon Arendelle. And there is a request for same night minutes for these appointments and reappointment.

Councilwoman White, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chairman. The committee met in recommended approval and I shall move.

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

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. May I please have the motion and second re-enter for item number 16 and that was the appointments and the reappointment. All right, thank you.

Moved by Councilwoman Walker and second by.

I know it's not. All right, move by. Walker. Second by Spinoza. Okay, thank you. Council members, please cast your vote for item number 16. Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearengin, Washington, yes.

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

Item number 17, this should display momentarily, is a resolution to approve the allocation and appropriation of funds of $4 million for FY2027 CIP Audubon Golf Clubhouse. Project number PK24107, project contract construction. District five, super district nine, this resolution is sponsored by the administration. There is a request for same night minutes. Councilman Warren, you are recognized.

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

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.

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes.

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

Item number 18, it should display momentarily, is a resolution to approve the allocation and appropriation of funds of $500,000 for FY2027 CIP Memphis Parks security camera project number to be announced, fixtures, furniture, and equipment. All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration. There is a request for same night minutes for this item number 18. Councilman Warren, you're recognized.

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

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.

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington, yes.

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

Item number 19 is a resolution to approve the allocation and appropriation of funds of $200,000 for FY2027 CIP Glenview Park Aquatic Facility. Project number to be announced, contract construction, District 4, Super District 8. This resolution is sponsored by the administration. There is a request for same night minutes for this item.

Councilman Warren, you are recognized.

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

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.

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. Please show Councilmember Ford as a voting yes on this item.

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

Number 20, a resolution to approve the allocation and appropriation of $3,389,000 for FY2027 CIP Gooch Park improvements. The project number will be announced later. It will be for contract construction. District 7, Super District 8, this resolution is sponsored by the administration. There's a request for same night minutes for this item number 20.

Then I, Councilman Warren, you're recognized.

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.

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.

Here is the vote for item number 20. Connelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes.

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

21 is a resolution to allocate and appropriate $2,388,000 in city council community grant funds to nonprofit agencies for fiscal year 2027. All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the Memphis City Council. There is a request for same night minutes for this item number 21. Councilwoman White, you are recognized.

The committee met and recommended approval and I so move.

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?

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 to $2.6 million available, it really doesn't go very far. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

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.

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.

We vote for 21. Connelly, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes. Please show Council Member Walker as voting yes on item number 21.

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

Item number 22 is a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2027 debt service fund operating budget to appropriate an amount not to exceed $2,600,000 for arbitrage rebate payments to the internal revenue service. All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration. There is a request for same night minutes for this item number 22.

Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. That recommends approval, and I so move.

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.

Thank you. I believe, and I'm not, I can't recall specifically, but I believe after Chief Davis presented, because we did it with the request for same night minutes, I think it's not 2.6 million. I think it's the 2.5, I think it's, I'm saying it off the top of my head right now, 2.58 million.

So the resolution, as I read it, is just not to exceed. So if it's underneath that $2.6 million, then they're authorized to change it.

Okay, I just wanted to make sure we didn't change it in committee. Okay, thank you.

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

Canale, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swammerton-Washington, yes.

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

Item number 24 is a resolution to appropriate $300,000 in FY27 CIP funding for the Memphis Animal Shelter to provide much needed renovations, modifications, and repairs to the shelter. District 1, Super District 9, this resolution is sponsored by the administration. There is a request for same night minutes.

Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee recommends approval and I say move.

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.

Kennelly, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearengin, Washington, yes.

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

Item number two 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 2021 Berry Hill Road by taking the land out of the conservation agriculture use district and including it in the residential single family use district. Up for third and final reading, this ordinance is sponsored by the Division of Planning and Development. The case number is Z26-05. Our ordinance number is 5981.

Councilman Spinoza, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee met, recommends approval, and DPD is here as well if anybody wants to have them speak to this, but I just moved it.

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.

Madam Comptroller, Madam Chair, is that going to be held to a certain date, your number 13?

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

Oh, you ready? Okay, we're ready. Okay, sorry about that. Good afternoon, I'm Chloe Christian with DPD. I'll be presenting this case. It's a rezoning request known as case number Z2026005. The applicant is Josh Burnett, and he's here with us today. This property is located at 2021 Berry Hill Road in District 1 and Super District 9. And the request is to rezone 3.36 acres from the CA District to the Residential Single Family 6 District. Here's a location map of the property. It's located in the Cordova area on Berry Hill Road. We did mail out 220 notices on June 15th, and we did not receive any comments in opposition nor support for this request. The applicant did host a neighborhood meeting as required by the Unified Development Code, and this is just a snip of the sign-in sheet from said meeting. The property is currently zoned conservation agriculture, and it's surrounded by predominantly single family zoning districts. There are some planned developments directly to the south of this property, but the underlying, or the base zoning for those planned developments is also R6, which is residential. The property is currently vacant. Here are some photos of the property. This is just a survey of the property it's approximately 3.36 acres in size. Analysis was prepared by Memphis 3.0 comprehensive planning and they found the proposal to be consistent with the goals of the Memphis 3.0 comprehensive plan. So in conclusion, as I mentioned before, the applicant is seeking a rezoning request to convert 3.36 acres of vacant land from conservation agricultural to residential single family. The land abutting the property is complimentary to this zoning district and given the nature of the adjacent land uses and residential quality of this area, we do recommend approval of this request. And the Land Use Control Board also recommended approval of this request. And that concludes my presentation, but I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.

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

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

So the property is approximately 100 feet wide, a little under 100 feet wide. It's very long. Just to the south, we have lots that are sized about 6,000 square feet, and we're asking for that same size. Just to the southwest, lots are sized at 8,000 square feet, and to the southeast, we're an RU2 district. Just to the north, there's going to be a cell tower, which should buffer the remaining CA units. So this will be single-family residential. I'm thinking we're only going to be able to get about six lots. Did you say there was already a cell tower or there's going to be one? There's a cell tower on the property north of this one. Yes, sir. Got it. All right. Thank you very much. Yes, sir. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swervington-Washington, yes.

That item passes. Madam.

Thank you. Yes, sir. No, sir. No, sir. I don't do cell towers. There's one just north of this property that's already there. Yes, sir.

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

Item number 14 is a resolution to appropriate FY27 allocations in the amount of $150,000 in CIP project number GA01028, Mud Island Amphitheater, District 7, Super District 8. This resolution is sponsored by the administration.

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

No, I'm eager. Councilman Mayer recommend approval and I so move.

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

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Smiley, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes.

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

Item number 15 is a resolution transferring FY27 capital improvement. program budget allocations from CIP project number IT01006 continuous improvement cover line of $300,000 to CIP project number IT01007 operational infrastructure fix. All council districts, this resolution is sponsored by the administration.

Vice Chair Carlisle, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee now recommends approval and I so move.

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.

Thank you. Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Smiley, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swearingen-Washington, yes.

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?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The same-night-minute items are items 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24. And I move to the floor.

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.

Kennelly, yes. Carlisle, yes. Ford, yes. Green, yes. Smiley, yes. Spinoza, yes. Walker, yes. Warren, yes. White, yes. Chairwoman Swervington, Washington, yes.

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

I'm teasing.

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.

Alexander Perkins. ChatGPT was launched less than four years ago. In terms of being widely accessible to the public, generative AI is still relatively new, like electronic calculators were in the 1960s. In 1961, Bell Punch Company released Sumlock Anita Mark 7 and 8. Each one was about the size of a cash register and required at least 70 watts to power it. It took six years for companies such as Sharp and Toshiba to release calculators efficient enough to even cut their electricity usage by half. But by the early 1980s solar powered handheld calculators became widely available from companies such as sharp, as well as Texas instruments. Whether city council votes in favor of a data Center moratoria or at least creates a framework, it should, if it can take into consideration the potential for rapid changes in technological development. Per the southern environmental law Center the turbines at xai Colossus to alone are projected to cause more than $30 million per year environmental damages. If additional data centers are built that do not run on clean renewable energy, then any additional pollution of water, air and or noise that they create will likely outweigh any supposed economic benefits in the relative short term. Because before long, the time may come when running these data centers does become more efficient using fewer resources, not out of concern for the environment, but just out of convenience for the companies that own and operate them.

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

Thank you. In the past when I've approached this podium, it's usually to be in a critical prophetical role, but today I find myself rising to a different purpose, a more pastoral role. I need to say thank you. I need to recognize your efforts to propose and craft that moratorium on data center development. You are declaring that in Memphis, people matter more than profits, that the rights and needs of many should not be sacrificed for the benefit of the few. and that the water, air, and fruits of creation upon which all our lives depend should be rightfully sustained and protected and accessible to all. This moratorium is an important step in the right direction. Your leadership is deeply appreciated. Your example to other communities is making a difference, and it's been a ray of hope Sanity and justice in a world where those things have been in very short supply. In the words of scripture, well done, good and faithful servants. Thank you.

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

Hi. I'll keep this short since there's quite a few of us in here that want to speak. I came tonight to talk to you guys, one, about the people that you guys represent. Excuse me. Excuse me. I just want to have everyone's attention because every time I come up here, no one wants to pay attention. So thank you for all of your time. Our people in this city are asking you to do the right thing. We are asking you to pass the moratorium. We don't care about the bottom dollar of the big businesses here in Memphis. We care about the people. And we need you guys to start caring about us. That's all I got to say today. Thank you.

First Lady Sharon Smith. Yes, ma'am. Greetings, everyone. Hi, my name is Sharon Smith. I'm the Executive Director for New Dawn Social Services. We house men and women transitioning from incarceration or rehabilitation centers. We submitted a proposal for funding and for support. We service 38109, 38112, 38104, and 38105. However, Our residents extend across Shelby County. I would love to have your support.

What's the name of the organization again?

New Dawn Social Services. Thank you.

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

My name is Basil Booker. I live in the Box Town community. We've been on the front line a long time, waiting on help as far as it comes to pollution. And it's always the can kick down the road. We are the community on the front line. for this city. Not only that, we are the canary in the cave. We're alerting everyone about what's going on, but we are constantly being dumped on. There has been no civil disobedience, but we feel like our life is constantly being threatened. And we're trying to use our platform and talk to the people that have been put in a position to care for us, to love for us, to have our best interests. And so we come here as orderly and peaceful as we can to express ourself to y'all. And this is an issue that is very, very, very important because our lives are on the line. So if you love us, like you say you love us, if this is one Memphis, like you say is one Memphis, then numbers should speak. Thank you.

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

Thank you.

It's Adam Saleh. Saleh means righteous in Arabic. Thank you. I'm a Memphis resident. I was born and raised in Memphis. I'm Palestinian. My parents came to this country. My father, an immigrant. And he is a civil engineer of over 30 plus years in the city, serving and building so much infrastructure like Shelby Farms and other places in Memphis. I'm sorry? Oh, I'm good? Okay. So basically, I'm here to mention that Space XAI has signed over hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts with the U.S. military The U.S. military just merged their technological resources with the Israeli government. So it's not very hard to see that space XAI and that technology that's polluting our city and killing our citizens is also contributing to the killing of my citizens, of my people in Palestine. I can't go into detail about where I'm from because it puts me at risk, but three of my cousins were killed in Palestine a month ago. It's been seven years since I've been and there's literally a military base upon the mountain, which my ancestors have owned for centuries. So I want you to really think about this, about where we have seen over 100 immigrants being pulled from their homes just this past Sunday, that that has been happening in Palestine as well, and it all connects. Our struggles are connected. And I want you all to look deep inside yourselves and just think about your grandparents and what they had to go through and understand that it truly is all connected. Thank you.

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

Hello, my name is Zoe Dondalinger. I put on my card to speak on ordinance number five, so that's what my thing is for. I'm speaking on this ordinance to emphasize the importance of placing a moratorium on data centers in Memphis. Some are weary that this would discourage businesses from choosing Memphis. I am here to plead with the council that this moratorium isn't enough. We need this ordinance to cover all AI data centers in Memphis, including the XAI data centers. These XAI data centers are a moral stain upon our city. It is creating child sexual abuse materials based on real life child sexual abuse materials in their servers from this abuse and molestations of real children. Is this what we want to be known for? Housing the child porn machine? How about being the home of the genocide machine? XAI has been confirmed to have been used to target bombings in Iran, a war that the United States is losing, a war that nobody asked for and is costing all of America the basic necessities we need to live. Data centers are bad for communities, they are bad for children, and then when we are getting pennies on the dollar for XAI's, excuse me, and then we are getting pennies on XAI's dollar in taxes for having this moral stain in our community, This entire project is an insult to the people of Memphis. It is cruel and designed to be the downfall of Memphis, a majority black city, by draining all of our resources under the guise of progress. If you have a backbone, you will do everything in your power to stop the operations of the AI data centers in Memphis. Please change the language to reflect a moratorium on all AI data centers in Memphis. Permanently for the safety of children and the future of Memphis. Thank you.

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

Hello, Council. My name is Sarah Gladney. And first of all, I would like to ask each one of you a question. How many of you have been to XAI, SpaceX on Paul Lowry Road? How many of you? By a show of your hands. Okay, Pearl. Okay, so I suggest to you all to take a trip to Paul Larry Road, to the SAI Data Center, and just spend a little time over there, because if you haven't been there, you can't understand what we've been through. I've had sarcoidosis, which is a lung condition, and it's in remission, and I fear for my safety every day. I fear, I like to walk in my community, I like to garden, and I like to, I just love life. And I got to keep on begging just to breathe clean air. So I'm asking you all today to place a moratorium on any more data centers. Thank you.

Thank you.

Jasmine Houston and then Brandi Price. And I agree with Sarah Gladner. I'm from Box Town. My name is Easter Knox. And I have relatives that go to the little elementary school in that area. And sometimes I go busy. And then my husband had asthma. But it led to, when the data center came, he died. you know conduct i mean got lung cancer he passed from it and now i have copd here copd you don't understand unless you have those medical problems and i'm seven to seven years old and i want to live a long life but how can i live a long life i've been box time with all the scent and smell and you know it's it's rough and i like to open up my window so i can smell the fresh air but we don't get any fresh air anymore we get that scent and you can just imagine if you stayed out there in boxtown what it would feel like so we are begging our city councilman to please you know think and and help us out we need your help you know and i'm not just wearing this mask to be wearing it i'm wearing it for a purpose so We are begging you all, please, you know, help. We need your help. Thank you.

Thank you, Jasmine Houston and Brandi Price.

Hey, everybody. My name is Jasmine Houston. I live in 38127. Honestly, this is my first time up here. And truthfully, I really don't even want to be here. I want to go spend time with my daughter. But if I don't come up here and voice my opinion, I'm not sure if it'll be heard or if my daughter will actually be able to see the potential that Memphis has. I'm almost convinced that the person who represents us might have, like, some safety concerns or something because he doesn't even speak out against this. So I guess this is our last resort to ask if y'all would actually represent us. I saw somewhere where we brought in $100 billion in GDP, but I'm trying to see, like, how did that benefit me because I'm working. two three jobs still struggling I'm at the schools we still don't have teachers so I feel like we need to just take a pause period and see what are we becoming as a society because it's very sad and I feel like we've let capitalism take over us capitalism is the privatization of natural resources or production. And anytime someone has the ability to take something that was given to people to survive and to sustain life and say, everybody got to come through me to get it, there's something that's wrong. Anytime something affects everybody, whether they want it to affect them or not, that's wrong. And on top of that, we already been experiencing this for years. I used to sub at Douglas, and I'm wondering, why is this being let out every day and kids coming to school every day? Like, why is this allowed? Why is this stuff planted in my back neighborhoods where we drive around the back roads? But when I used to live in Germantown, all these other places, they're not there. So, please, like, I don't know what the holdup is. I know it's things to consider, but can we consider a pause to see what's really going on? Because profit should mean, like, I looked it up, so I would just be getting up here talking. It means, like, progress, increase to improve, and accession of good and labor. Thank you so much. After my labor, what comes of it? What's in it for us? Thank you.

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

Hello, my name is Brandy price and three 109 I am here to say please vote yes on the third reading of the moratorium also came to say the state that this body. This body is not a parental body, it is a representative body. That's one thing. This body is merely made of representatives for the citizens of Memphis. If the citizens of Memphis came out to say that we want a moratorium, we want this moratorium, it's not for the body from on high to just draft up a moratorium in the cover of night and say, here, just be satisfied. You know what I'm saying? If this body really cared about its constituents, then it would work with us on the shaping of this moratorium. No one here is saying they're against progress. No one here is saying they're against green energy. We are well-informed constituents when it comes to green energy, more so than some of y'all here. We the public are here today because we are concerned and we are informed about these AI data centers affecting our health, physically and spiritually. This issue is an issue that has united both the right and the left. People from all over the country has come to tell me the horrors of these AI data centers, stillborn calves, kidnapped children from ICE, working with ICE, cattle sleeping on barbed wire just to get away from these data machines. Child pornography. Children having strokes and directing people to commit suicide. This is a false hope machine. Look it up for yourself. Do the research. Do the research. When I list all these things out, does this sound like economic development or does this sound like the purview of the Antichrist that people are so afraid of? Y'all so Christian. I just want to say, condemn The Antichrist.

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

Good evening, council. Thank you for your consent vote today. We got the moratorium round two done. My name is Sarah Houston. I serve as executive director of Protect Our Aquifer. And as you all know, we've been in on this data center conversation from day one when it comes to SpaceX AI. And we fully support this moratorium for this pause. You know, MLGW has stated today that, you know, there's not a lot in the hopper when it comes to this. So really, is the 12-month pause going to, like, derail the chamber's entire game plan? Like, I don't think so. But really it's because that time, that pause is so critical to get our ordinance right, get these guardrails right. I know there's a bunch of different ordinances flying around, there's a lot of stuff in there, a lot of good stuff in there, but we need to think about obviously the water impact, closed loop systems, but that can also contain water, that can contain propylene glycol, that can control different antifreeze, PFAS, what's gonna be the wastewater discharge, what are all these different components of just that? What about pilots? No pilots for data centers. Can we put that in an ordinance? What about NDAs? No city officials can sign NDAs. Why don't we put that in an ordinance? What happens if MLGW says, we can't deliver power to you, we can't serve you? So therefore, they're going to try for behind the meter power, and that's going to be turbines. And Health Department regulates turbines. They regulate air pollution. When it comes to groundwater wells, if MLGW doesn't serve them water, they can drill wells. That's through the health department and the groundwater board as well. So this should be a joint ordinance. This should be with the city and the county. I know that Councilman Carlisle loves the idea of the metro government. Here's an opportunity to play a little game like that. Let's make this work for the county and the city. Think about data center regulation holistically. That's going to take time. Fayette County, our next-door neighbors just passed a 12-month data center moratorium. They have formed a committee. They have invited Protect Our Aquifer to serve on that committee over these next few months. I've got time. My staff can figure out our game plan. We don't have to stress out and rush and freak out. We can do it right. And that's what we need this body to do, and that's what we need Memphis to do.

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

Good afternoon, Memphis City Council.

Good afternoon.

Many of you found out about the initial data centers like us on the news. But words came to me today that it seems like some of you want to kick the can down the street to avoid dealing with the much needed moratorium. Now, you weren't respected enough to be told about these data centers in advance. And without any guardrails, any data center will be free to treat us any way they want. Now, we understand that business has its place, but if there are no workers left due to pollution, it won't matter. Memphis already has multiple Superfund sites as one of the most polluted cities in the South. To be truthful to y'all, this is a Fannie Lou Hamer moment. The citizens are sick and tired of being sick and tired. So I urge you to vote for a moratorium. And if you feel like you can't, stop calling the people who voted for you your constituents. They're just your convenience.

Amber Sherman and Jasmine Bernard and Andy O'Neal.

Jasmine had to go to soccer practice.

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

My name is Amber Sherman. That committee meeting today was a mess, and a great example of how the people of Memphis will ask for something, and our city council will hear that and say, no, I'm gonna propose something completely different that doesn't give you what you're asking for, but it does fit what my donors want. Phyllis Pinoza introduced a framework for data centers that we didn't ask for as a response to our ask for a very clear data center moratorium. And my question is, why do members of this body often disregard what the community is asking for, especially the white ones? While in committee today, I also watched Councilman Jeff Warren hand his phone over to Bobby White from the Chamber of Commerce to show him an ordinance he wrote about data center zoning and asked him, is this good? So once again, we're seeking the approval of businesses, not community. Mind you, the community here in this room and online haven't even seen the ordinance. Councilman Warren did offer to send it to me this afternoon, but also I'm not the entire community. And there continues to be a lack of transparency from this city council. And you know, Dr. King wrote a letter that talks about folks like Dr. Warren. He warned us of the white moderates who is the biggest detriment to the success of the black community. The white moderate who is more loyal to businesses and capitalism than the health and safety of black people. And my hope is that this body will reject that undying allegiance to the Chamber of Commerce and listen to the people, especially those in South Memphis, and pass the moratorium.

Andy O'Neill. And then Kerry Iacomini.

Good afternoon or good evening, whatever. But my name is Andy O'Neill. I just want to give you my two cents in less than two minutes. I heard a lot of comments, a lot of interesting comments at the committee meeting today. I agreed with some of them. I disagreed with others. But what I did not hear is what I want to talk to you about. I didn't hear anything wrong with the moratorium. Some people said it wouldn't be needed because of what MLGW is doing, but to that I say, so what? It still doesn't hurt anything. The other thing I didn't hear was anything about the dishonesty from the XAI management when they told us that by now we would have a water recycling facility. And now they're saying, no, trust us, we'll do it next year. I'm reminded of that dishonest contractor that keeps telling you he's going to get the job done in two weeks, two weeks, two weeks, and it never gets done. This moratorium would be a statement to the companies that while we want to work with them, they must work with us in good faith. That's all I need to say.

Carrie. Eocomony.

Good evening, council. My name is Carrie Yakimini. I am a constituent of your district, councilwoman, as well as the Super District 9. I am a former candidate for Congress for District 5. I want to let you know that on the campaign trail since May, a major concern around the state and not just the city was data centers. And it was both a blessing and a burden to be from Memphis and talk to constituents in South Memphis and Westwood and Boxtown and hear their health concerns while going to the rural communities that were very scared of their land, their water, their resources, because these companies are also looking at them. And when we think about big business, when big business comes here, they're not investing in our communities. They are poisoning our communities and taking advantage because our city council doesn't seem like it is standing up for our people until it's convenient for an election year. I am asking the city council to think on behalf of the constituents that you claim to represent because big business is not giving us jobs. They are not investing in the young people. And if the business wants to come here, billionaires are not creating business unless they're paying you directly. The businesses that we need to support are the small mom and pop shops that are struggling in this economy. Entrepreneurs from young people that want to make a difference in their community. And the council needs to focus on that and not protecting business because the greater Memphis Chamber of Congress thinks that they know business. When more than a majority of our community is struggling and paying with their bills. and to find out that my councilman this afternoon, who I live down the street from, asked the Greater Chamber of Commerce CEO, or whatever he is, who is not a representative of us, if his ordinance was good. AI is coming for our jobs, not just ours, but also yours, when it comes next year. So please do the right thing, because we all breathe the same air and drink the same water. Thank you.

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

Hi, city council. My friend, representative, and future congressman Justin J. Pearson has this question he asks at his events. He asks, who's fired up? And the answer is, we're fired up. We're fired up because you have the chance next meeting to give us what we've been asking for and roll back some of the wrongs y'all made along the way. of letting Elon Musk come in here and pollute our air, damage the beautiful land and our precious aquifer, just so he can add a couple more zeros to his trillions on kiddie porn. Today, the Supreme Court Justice of Memphis Attorney Wade says that there will be 5,000 data centers in the next 10 years. If it's up to my skin twins up there, 4,999 of them are gonna be in black Memphis communities. We fired up because we have sat in this occupied city for 337 days, 17 hours, and 16 minutes waiting on the Democrat leaders we elected to find their spine and stand up to this fascist administration that came in and took our city like Debo did Craig on Friday. We fired up because we watched the National Guard murder Tyron Johnson by shooting him in the back, along with three other murders by this task force. We watched black community members have their Fourth Amendment rights trampled on in a club. Then this last weekend, we watched eyes burst into a club that our brown neighbors frequent and haul them away like cattle. in buses to concentration camps, including this little girl's mother, who was trying to pay bills as a bartender. We're fired up because next year is city election year, and most of y'all sitting up there paying us no mind right now are going to be soliciting votes from us. We're fired up because one of the only great things that has come of these dark days since January 20, 2025, is that people power is on the rise, and we will answer the call.

Thank you. Susan Lucci.

Hey, I'm sorry. Excuse me. Thank you.

Good evening. Lucci today, Chambliss, 38104. I'm going to take a little break from the data centers. I wish I could take a physical break from the data center. You might hear it in my voice. I'm a little cracky today due to all the pollution in the air. So I've been coming up here the last four months asking y'all to do something about this task force. Just really just asking y'all for some answers. Y'all sat with Chief Davis a couple weeks ago, and all she could tell you is she don't know nothing about what's going on with this task force. And then Mayor Harris said the National Guard isn't part of the task force anymore, and everybody else said that's not true. And then Paul Young... Paul said MPD isn't helping ICE with these raids. They're just doing crowd control. But if we leave here and some of my friends decide to rob a bank and I serve as the lookout, I'm going to jail too, right? That's the law. That makes me complicit. So how are they not helping the task force with these ICE raids if they're helping the task force with the ICE raids? That doesn't make sense to me at all. Does that make sense to y'all? I mean, for real, because maybe I'm just dumb. Maybe I just don't know. Does that make sense to anyone? I didn't think so. I didn't think so. So we have an opportunity right now. We've got a new county mayor. We've got a new sheriff. We've got a chief of police who doesn't know what the hell is going on. We got a... mayor who pretends he doesn't know what's going on but personally I think he's just a liar so what I'm asking y'all to do is host a town hall so that we can figure out what's going on so the Chief Davis can figure out what the hell's going on so the Paul Young can be held accountable And so that we can get some answers because we now have five dead neighbors because of this task force. And we know for a fact that at least four of them were not justified. And if y'all have questions about that, I know the Chief Davis couldn't answer any questions about it. I know what's going on. I've seen the videos. I've talked to the attorney. I know what happened in each of those cases. And I'm happy to share that information with y'all if y'all care.

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

Hi, thanks City Council Reps for allowing me to speak today. There's been a lot of emotions in the room for sure. I'm here to speak on a different topic. Midtown Memphis supports the continued improvements of neighborhoods in Midtown and the rest of Memphis. We are engaged with neighborhoods that are in the process of getting on their feet. We have joined neighborhood organizations in planting trees. Thanks to a neighborhood grant from you, we will soon paint artistic crosswalks at Madison and Avalon. We are currently working with Rozelle Ansdale Neighborhood to establish their own arboretum around Rozelle Elementary School. Our goals are the same as those of the Memphis 3.0 planning efforts. We believe that compromise with the Division of Planning and Development is possible and will result in the best solution for Midtown and the rest of the city. Reaching compromise will take some time and willingness by both sides to work together so that Memphis 3.0 will revitalize neighborhoods and major road corridors that need help. I'm here today with two requests. One, we respectfully request to add a new RN district for traditional single family neighborhoods with lots less than 10,000 square feet. Without this district, property owners in Midtown and throughout the city will not have, who don't meet the requirements of 10,000 square feet, will not have a meaningful option for appealing the zoning of their property proposed by DPD. So we're asking for the addition of an RN district when it comes time to adopt the new UDC. I know it was held today, but the ZTA that clarifies the mailing notice, we were... That's all. Thank you so much.

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.

Good evening. Good evening. Hey, everybody. I'm Representative Justin J. Pearson, representing District 86 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. And thank you all so much for passing the second reading of the data center moratorium. And hopefully in two weeks, unanimously, we will pass the third reading. I represent the district and the county that has 80% of the polluters in Shelby County. The cancer risk for people who live in Westwood, Boxtown Walker Homes is 4.1 times the national average. And if you live in Mallory Heights, your life expectancy is 10 years shorter than if you live in Germantown or Collierville. That is the status quo that we are currently dealing with and that's the status quo that happened when Elon Musk built XAI in our communities and illegally polluted it for over a year and nothing was done. This is only worsened because currently there are 69 gas turbines that are operating in North Mississippi also illegally operating in violation of the Clean Air Act and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Shelby County Health Department allowed for this to happen and be perpetuated against us. This is reality. These are the facts, and we need a moratorium to give us a responsible amount of time to come up with the regulations that protect our community. It is not banning them. It is doing a responsible timeout, as one person said, so that we create regulations in community with other elected officials, as well as with the people who are being deeply impacted by these projects, particularly in Whitehaven, in Westwood, in Boxtown. Knox County, Republican-led. Fayette County, Republican-led. McMinnville, Republican-led. Coffey County, Republican-led. And every last one has a moratorium against data centers. And McMinnville's is 18 months. Nashville passed a moratorium and regulations to protect zoo animals. Zoo animals. And we here are begging for you to protect our lives.

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

Dr. Owens-Pearson. Good evening. Okay, so y'all know I'm upset already, but I appreciate your approval of the moratorium, and I'm looking forward to it being unanimously approved for A minimum of 12 months. Preferably longer. 38109 is not as my daughter in love, Oceanae, or Gillian Pearson would say a digital dumping ground. You guys are turning Westwood and Box Town and Mitchell to Memphis Cancer Alley. Yes, we were already surrounded by a lot of pollution. We know this because we were redlined years and years ago. Was not by choice. So this is strategic. Now in 2026, here we go again with the same playbook. I need you to know that we're not against technology and that hospitals and stuff are exempt. So everybody can bow down, that's fine. We good right there. What we're saying no to is formaldehyde. What we're saying no to is methane gas. What we're saying no to is 24 seven, inhaling this over and over again. And this is unfair when y'all won't go in other neighborhoods. Why can't they move into other neighborhoods? You have deemed us disposable. Well, they already have these. They got 17. What's a four more? We need y'all to show up for us. Show up.

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

My name is Liana Venezia. I'm a public health educator and a MICA leader. I live in District 5, and I just want to make sure I have the attention of my councilperson. Funnily enough, I've never heard of anyone proposing to build an AI data center near my house. I've also never heard of anyone proposing to build an AI data center in Germantown or Collierville or Arlington or Lakeland. No, the AI data centers have only popped up in South Memphis, despite strong opposition from the people who live there. And I really wonder why that could be. I'm concerned that there's some hesitation to approve this moratorium. Two weeks ago, it looked like the moratorium had strong support, so I'm just curious what happened. Memphis was not prepared when this industry came to our streets. We let Elon Musk make promises that he never intended to keep. The jobs and tax money have not materialized. We let XAI set the agenda and our neighbors are worse off for it. Our brothers and sisters in South Memphis cannot breathe. This moratorium would give us the chance to prepare, to do studies, to do testing, to host town halls and take input from the community, to pass strong legislation to ensure that our children's health is protected, and that Memphians retain autonomy over our city. The future of Memphis cannot be determined by out-of-state billionaires, nor a handful of city elites, nor a morally corrupt Chamber of Commerce. No, if Memphis is to truly thrive, our future must be determined by the people. Your people are calling for a moratorium now. And I encourage this body to listen to the people who elected them, the people they work for. Moratorium now. Ice out now. Thank you.

Ms. Watson.

Hello, everybody. First things first, I would love to ask the folks in attendance, if you support this moratorium and you're physically able, would you please stand? Okay, my name is Rhiannon Watson and I serve as the advocacy coordinator for Protect Our Aquifer. And I am not going to say anything that you all have not heard already. I'm just going to echo what everybody has been saying at this point for over a year. We're just asking the council to prioritize the people and not the bottom line. When we talk about the environmental and health impacts of these facilities, it's not hypothetical. These folks, the folks in South Memphis have been suffering from the noise, from the odors, from the air pollution. This is a historical black, excuse me, historical black community with seemingly measureless legacy of environmental harm. Boxtown in particular is an area with a legacy of groundwater contamination, where there's a known breach in the clay layer just above the aquifer that helps to filter our drinking water. Our water and our air are precious. They are human rights. Yet even when discussing a temporary 12-month moratorium, too much of the conversation has centered on the fear of scaring away businesses. We appreciate that this ordinance distinguishes large-scale data centers from everyday computing needs of hospitals, small businesses, and other institutions, but we'd also like to see meaningful community oversight during this moratorium. Our organization, or as Sarah Houston, the Executive Director of Protect Our Agra, mentioned, our organization has expertise and can provide meaningful insight to this moratorium, our science director, Scott Schaefer-Nackers, on the committee for the Fayette County Moratorium. There are numerous organizations, including ours, that could contribute and would be glad to support during this process. This is such an incredible opportunity to involve the community and to decide what responsible development looks like before we move any further. Thank you.

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.

Second, Madam Chair.

Moved by Councilman Smiley, second by Vice Chair Carlisle. Thank you, everyone. Have a safe evening. The meeting is adjourned.