Memphis City Council OKs some referendums for the November ballot. Here's what to know

The Memphis City Council on Monday voted on multiple ordinance referendums for ballot initiatives that could appear before voters in November.

If all the referendums pass, there would be five for Memphis voters to decide on during the November General Election. The questions for voters range from local gun control measures to residency requirements for the mayor and City Council.

The referendums that relate to gun control within the city of Memphis have already passed and been approved by the council but did not make it onto the August ballot. Because the council passed the referendums again, they will now be slated to appear on the November ballot.

The referendum would amend the city charter and ask if residents would like to implement additional gun control measures.

The first question focuses on handguns, and asks voters if they would like to see the city charter amended to not allow people to carry handguns in the city without a valid handgun permit; to not all people to carry, store or travel with a handgun inside a vehicle in city limits without a valid permit; and to make it illegal for someone to store a firearm or ammunition within a motor vehicle without hiding it, and locking it, within a trunk, glove box or a locked container attached to the car.

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The second question asks Memphians if they would "find and declare that the proliferation and use of assault weapons pose a threat to the health, safety and security" of Memphis citizens; if they would make it illegal to openly or concealed carry assault rifles within Memphis with the exception of those with valid handgun permits on privately owned property or a shooting range; to ban the commercial sale of assault rifles; and to exempt law enforcement and armed forces from the ordinance.

The second question allows pre-existing rifle owners to own rifles but limits their public carrying.

The third question would create an extreme order of protection — often referred to as a red flag law — policy in the city charter, allowing law enforcement, a family member, a member of someone's household, a significant other, a healthcare provider or school official to block the purchase of a firearm if probable cause of the firearm purchaser posing "a significant danger or extreme risk of personal injury or death to the respondent or another person."

City council, mayor residency requirements

Council on Monday also passed the first reading of a voting referendum that would put restrictions in place for those running for Memphis mayor or City Council. It is scheduled for another reading during the city's next meeting.

If passed by both the city council and then subsequently voters, it would permit only those who have lived within a respective district for two years to run for that City Council district. It would only allow those who have lived within the city of Memphis for at least two years to run for mayor.

Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins last year ruled that the five-year residency requirement for Memphis mayoral candidates was eliminated by a 1996 ballot referendum. The ruling allowed two mayoral candidates, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and Memphis NAACP President Van Turner, to continue their campaigns for Mayor in the 2023 Municipal Election. Both lost to Mayor Paul Young.

The language for voters would be:

1. "No person shall be eligible for the office of Mayor who is not at least eighteen (18) years of age, and who has not been a bona fide resident of the City of Memphis for at least two (2) years preceding the date of the municipal election for Mayor, or who at the time of his election and qualification holds any other office, or who is directly or indirectly interested in any contract with the City."
2. "No person shall be eligible for any office of the City Council who is not at least eighteen (18) years of age, and who has not been a bona fide resident of the City of Memphis for at least two (2) years preceding the date of the municipal election."
3. "All existing provisions of the Charter that establish qualifications for the Mayor are hereby expressly repealed.”

MLGW suburban voting members ordinance

The Memphis Light, Gas and Water suburban voting members referendum was initially on the consent agenda, but Councilwoman Janika White pulled the item off the consent agenda. After the item was pulled, multiple council members stated they would vote against it, and thus kill it before it received its final vote on the third reading.

Before the council was set to vote on the item, sponsor Councilman Dr. Jeff Warren pulled the item.

The question to voters would be if the MLGW Board of Commissioners should or should not add two suburban members with voting power to the board.

MLGW has said multiple times that currently, 32% of ratepayers reside outside of Memphis city limits.

The question for voters, if passed on the final reading of the ordinance would be:

• Shall Article 65, Sec. 667 and 668 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Memphis be amended to read as follows: ‘The Memphis light, gas and water division shall consist of a board of Light, Gas and Water Commissioners composed of seven members. Five of the members shall be required to live and maintain a residence within the City of Memphis and two of the members shall be required to live and maintain a residence outside of the boundaries of the City of Memphis but within Shelby County. The Mayor shall consult with the mayors of the other incorporated municipalities in Shelby County prior to naming the appointees residing outside of the city limits. All Commissioners shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Memphis and shall be subject to approval by the Memphis City Council.’?

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis City Council OKs some referendums for the November ballot. Here's what to know