Memphis City Council lets mayoral veto stand and forms impasse ordinance review committee

The Memphis City Council on May 26 voted to allow Mayor’s veto of Ordinance 5969 to stand and approved formation of an impasse/ordinance-review committee to review the ordinance and related process. Councilman Ford Canali moved the recommendation from committee and the motion passed on the council floor. Councilman Smiley, a sponsor of the measure, explained the committee’s role in developing an impasse ordinance and ultimately setting a hearing date before the full council.

Councilman Smiley said the item aims to “create an impass process to create an impass ordinance,” and the council then approved a separate motion to schedule an impasse presentation related to an ASK ME labor-union impasse for June 8; the scheduling motion recorded Councilman Canali as abstaining and passed with other members in favor. Chairwoman Janice Swearington Washington and Councilman Smiley jointly sponsored the resolution allowing the veto to stand and establishing the review committee.

The vote on item 32 (allowing the mayor’s veto to stand and establishing the review committee) was recorded as unanimous among voting members present. Item 33 (scheduling the impasse presentation) passed with one abstention: Councilman Canali. Council staff noted same-night minutes were requested for the add-on items.

The committee will draft next steps for an impasse ordinance and present its recommendations to the full council at the hearing. The council did not adopt a final ordinance on May 26; the June 8 hearing has been scheduled to consider the impasse presentation and the committee’s work.