Memphis City Council adopts multiple building-code updates, budget adjustments and contracts; votes at a glance

The Memphis City Council on Feb. 18 approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and contract ratifications covering planned development approvals, building-code updates, budget adjustments and municipal contracts.

Highlights include adoption of technical updates to bring the city into compliance with state law on energy conservation and building codes, approval of a planned development at 3763 Jackson Avenue, several municipal contract renewals and a $1.84 million FEMA revenue appropriation. The council voted to approve a mix of individual items and consent agendas; several items were approved with same-night minutes as recorded by the comptroller.

Key adopted items and outcomes

- Item 2 (PD24-17): A resolution approving a planned development at 3763 Jackson Avenue (case PD24-17). The council voted to approve the item as amended; Vice Chair Swearingen Washington moved and Councilman Warren seconded the motion. The item passed on the council voting screen.

- Item 3 (Ordinance No. 5929): Joint ordinance adopting the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and implementing amendments to Memphis and Shelby County building and residential codes. Director John Zena (Division of Planning and Development) told the council the change brings local codes into compliance with recent state law changes. The ordinance passed on third and final reading.

- Item 4 (Ordinance No. 5930): Joint ordinance further amending the 2021 edition of the ICC International Building Code and prior local amendments; up for third and final reading. The council voted to approve the ordinance.

- Item 5 (Ordinance No. 5931): Joint ordinance adopting the 2021 International Residential Code and local amendments; this ordinance moves 3- to 6-unit multifamily buildings back to the building code and retains a local provision allowing 3- and 4-unit buildings to avoid sprinkler requirements if a two-hour fire separation exists. The council approved the ordinance.

- Items 6–8 and 26–27 (Consent agenda): The council approved consent items including acceptance of public improvements on Tulane Road and State Line North; approval of engineering plans for an indoor events venue; an honorary street-name change for Mario Bridal on Beacon Hill Drive; and first readings of ordinances on neighborhood parking permits and amendments to the municipal code on alcoholic beverages. All consent items passed together with a committee recommendation.

- MLGW fiscal consent (Items 9–18): The council approved multiple Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) fiscal consent items, including contract renewals and change orders for landscaping, directional drilling, construction contracts, DocuSign services, vehicle procurement, janitorial services, a large emergency meter repair contract to Utility Partners of America (UPA) and actuarial services on an as-needed basis. The MLGW fiscal consent passed after a committee recommendation.

- Item 19 (Ordinance No. 5928): An ordinance amending the Memphis Transportation Commission term of service; passed on third and final reading.

- Item 20 (Ordinance No. 5932): An ordinance amending council meeting dates for 2025; passed on third and final reading with same-night minutes.

- Item 21: Resolution for FY25 second-quarter budget adjustments for unanticipated circumstances (administration-sponsored); passed as amended with same-night minutes. Joan Harp offered public comment raising questions about specific line items in the budget.

- Item 22: Resolution for FY25 second-quarter budget adjustment related to transportation (administration-sponsored). The committee recommended approval; the item passed with one recorded no vote by Councilman Espinosa. Public speakers from the Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICA) and Better Transit for Better Memphis urged increased, sustained funding for MATA and oversight of the Transpro contract.

- Item 23: Budget-neutral amendment to FY25 operating budget to fund three full-time positions inadvertently excluded from the adopted FY25 budget; passed.

- Item 24: Resolution approving sale of city-owned parcel at 0 Dexter Road for $28,080,000; passed.

- Item 28: Resolution to appropriate FEMA deployment revenue for FY25 funding in the amount of $1,835,730; passed with same-night minutes.

Discussion and public comment

Speakers during the meeting addressed several agenda items. Transit advocates called for increased operational funding and oversight for the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA). Leah Warnold of the Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope said recent inflation has left current annual allocations insufficient and urged sustained investment. Gisela Guerrero, lead organizer for MICA, supported the $5 million pilot funding for transit included in the meeting materials but urged a longer-term sustainable funding source and rider/community representation on any advisory council overseeing consultants.

Council and staff comments

John Zena, director of Planning and Development, summarized code changes and said the three building-code items are technical updates to comply with state law. Council members generally recorded support for administrative items after committee recommendations; several items were moved with "same-night minutes" to allow expedited action.

Votes: how the council voted

Across the items voted on Feb. 18, the council recorded the votes on the public voting screen; most items passed with majority or unanimous votes. Item 22 recorded one no vote (Espinosa). Several items were approved by acclamation or as part of the consent agenda and many included same-night minutes, as shown in the official meeting record.

What’s next

Most adopted ordinances take effect according to local ordinance provisions and applicable state law; further administrative steps (permits, contract implementation, budget disbursement) will be needed for project-specific actions such as MLGW contract work, transfers of city property and budget allocations for transit operations. Several speakers requested follow-up reporting on pilot funds and the administration's management of prior transit-related pilot allocations; Councilman Warren asked the administration to provide a report at a future meeting on the status of earlier pilot funding for MATA.