There are 980 article(s) tagged Memphis City Council:
The set of a dozen appropriation resolutions topped a relatively uneventful council agenda Tuesday, Sept. 27. Memphis City Council to consider resolution enforcing curfew for juvenilesRelated story:
The council discussion is the second since a series of violent crimes earlier this month that have raised new questions about how police and the community are battling violent crime.
In wide-ranging discussion about violent crime, the Memphis City Council voted to ask the state for at least 50 more state troopers for at least six months and a digital messaging system similar to Amber Alert.
The council’s monthly crime update from Memphis Police brass could be more than a regular check-in. Last week’s violence has renewed a long-running civic discussion. And it has moved swiftly to questions about the criminal justice system.
Council members had questions about whether the financing sets a precedent now that the owners of the Downtown Memphis Sheraton have plans to add several hundred rooms to the original convention center hotel. Downtown board proposes One Beale resolution for $95M in bondsRelated story:
Teri Dockery was appointed to the vacant District 4 council seat last month. She isn’t a candidate in the Nov. 8 special election for the council seat but is eyeing a full four-year term on the October 2023 ballot.
The special meeting is the second in a week for the council. The compromise involving $10 million was announced by Mayor Jim Strickland before the Labor Day weekend.
The item would have required the winner of the 2023 Memphis mayor’s race to get a majority of the votes either on election day or in a runoff.
Teri Dockery, a counselor at the YMCA, is the newest Memphis City Council member.
The 12 council members have seven applicants for the seat, vacant since the Aug. 9 resignation of Jamita Swearengen.
Michalyn Easter-Thomas has the backing of a coalition of groups who want to explore not only new district lines for the council but possibly a restructuring, including runoffs and eliminating super districts.
With little fanfare, the council pulled its Aug. 9 vote defeating a ballot question on partisan city primaries. The reconsideration could amend that plan to a proposal to restore the runoff provision in the race for Memphis mayor.
The goal was to set new boundaries for the District 4 special election in November but the map, released just ahead of the Tuesday vote, featured changes to other districts. The council appeared likely Tuesday, Aug. 23, to reopen and redraw the map next year ahead of regular October 2023 city elections.
The council sets the district lines for the Nov. 8 ballot special election in council District 4. Meanwhile, the council plans to appoint someone to the seat in the interim to serve until the special election winner is certified.
Whoever gets the appointment would serve approximately two months until the winner of a special election on the Nov. 8 ballot is decided. Meanwhile, the deadline to file for the special election race on the November ballot is Thursday at noon.
The race for the vacant Memphis City Council District 4 seat has already drawn four contenders, including the sister of a council member who gave up the seat following her victory in the August county elections.
The resignation comes as the council debates whether or not to make changes to district lines ahead of the special election .
The council vote Tuesday, Aug. 9, followed a Democratic sweep last week in county elections and a failed ballot question on extending city term limits.
Developers would like a 30-year lease with plans to open with the debut of the renovated Tom Lee Park next spring. Chicago company proposes zip line adventure park for Mud IslandRelated story:
Council members talk about new district lines a week after council chairwoman Jamita Swearengen was elected Circuit Court Clerk. She has 90 days, under terms of the county charter, to resign from the council.
Council chairwoman Jamita Swearengen and council member Worth Morgan are running for county positions. The possibility of either or both winning is behind a scramble by the council to draw new district lines.
Among other topics, the discussion of the city’s capacity for bond debt will come into play during Tuesday morning committee sessions.
Some City Council members think the city could take on more risk with One Beale’s Grand Hyatt, while some say other projects come first.
The standoff over terms to start construction of the third of three hotels at One Beale remains despite Thursday’s council vote.
The Thursday 4 p.m. session at City Hall comes after the city administration balked at a change in the terms of a city-funded backstop for the hotel project. The delayed Tuesday vote came as the administration got some expressions of concern from state officials.