There are 940 article(s) tagged Memphis City Council:
Proposals by Memphis City Council members and Shelby County commissioners emerged during a second joint meeting Thursday of the two bodies. But other elected officials expressed concern that just talking about changes in economic development incentives could put the city and county at a disadvantage.
The second joint meeting of the County Commission and City Council includes several proposed changes to economic development incentives used locally to grow the Memphis economy.
The City Council Scorecard peels back the layers on the council’s April 6 vote on a $520,000 contract that put the issue of MLGW leaving TVA back on track after six months in limbo.
No date has been set for the return to City Hall by the council but it comes as budget season approaches. Meanwhile, the city’s political scene remains active, as chronicled in The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast.
The City Council voted Tuesday, April 6, to approve a consultant’s contract that is the next step leading to recommendations by the end of this year. But there was some dissent on the council before the vote.
City Council also endorsed a general plan for athletic fields by Christian Brothers University on 7 acres at the intersection of Avery Avenue and South Hollywood.
A timetable for the Fairgrounds conversion has the new youth sports complex opening in the fall of 2022.
The April 6, council session includes a vote on $75 million in revenue bonds for the Fairgrounds renovation as well as a vote on the $520,000 contract to explore alternatives to TVA as MLGW’s electric power supplier. And council members review a month of vocal complaints about trash pickup.
The bill in the Tennessee General Assembly seeks to allow the open carrying of handguns in the state.
The four-hour online joint meeting of the two legislative bodies Thursday, March 25, was mostly questions and answers. The group agreed to start talking about proposals to change incentives at the second April 15 session with plans for a third joint meeting.
The final vote Tuesday shifted dramatically after the owner of a Petland store in Wolfchase that prompted the ban ordinance complained he had been harassed by city inspectors who cited him for three violations last Friday.
In addition to the Wells monument, the council approved two new sewer fees and a TIF agreement for Downtown.
Some council members questioned why they, along with the public, will not get a chance to question the seven police candidates before Mayor Jim Strickland nominates one of them for the top police job.
Questions about opinions and litigation Tuesday in council committee turned into a rallying cry for some to join a legal fight in the name of the city’s underground water source.
The council could take the first of three votes Tuesday, March 16, on a ban of retail sales of dogs and cats as a national pet store chain has moved into Wolfchase. The council could also try to regulate where pipelines are located as a first step toward stopping the Byhalia pipeline project.
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, council member Rhonda Logan says the police force needs more officers but also needs to change the way those officers are used with a return to community policing.
During this week’s council discussion, sponsor Worth Morgan asked for a list of pet breeders used by the Wolfchase store franchisee. When he didn’t get it but an offer of a guided tour, Morgan compared it to inspecting a nuclear facility in Iran.
Council member Chase Carlisle was sharply critical of health officials, the County Commission and county Mayor Lee Harris. The wording was later amended after a lengthy council debate.
Proposed rules delay action on the city adding a $2.6 million community grants program to its next budget.
Council member J.B. Smiley argues that if the city accepts police and fire applications from outside the city, more effort will have to be put into screening candidates.
The city plans to offer the property to developers once the sale from THM Properties of New York City closes. Demolition of the part of the city’s skyline is also an option.
The items added Monday evening to the council’s committee list include $1 million in funding for the city’s vaccine ramp-up. They join what was already a busy council day, including the 100 North Main building, street racing and sewer fees.
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard looks at a committee vote this past week on whether to send $2.6 million to the council grants program or the city’s bus system.
One City Council member wanted to lock in $2.6 million for the community grants after the amount took a cut in the current city budget because of the pandemic’s impact. But another proposed doing away with the grants and sending the money to the city’s bus system.
State environmental officials are helping in the effort to find leaks and resolve water problems.