Memphis City Council retreat focused on ethics, infrastructure | News | #citycouncil

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Budget, ethics and infrastructure were the top topics discussed during a retreat Saturday held for Memphis City Council members.

City Council said the retreat served as a good onboarding tool for the six new members.

Lots of knowledge were given on how to be the most effective councilperson for the City of Memphis.

“I always go back to my first retreat. You learn about the grant process,” City Council Chair JB Smiley said. “The do’s and don’ts when it come to grant. The do’s and don’ts when it comes to ethics.”

Smiley said the retreat was needed to keep councilmembers out of any negative light.

“We also have various roles in the community and sometimes the roles conflict,” Smiley said. “And we learn how to recuse and when to step back and when we cannot vote on issues. And those things are really important.”

Smiley said the retreat was also important so that council members can come together when it comes to balancing a budget for the city.

“The budget is the biggest duty of the Memphis City Council which is approving the budget,” he said.

Classes will be offered to the newest members to help them understand the budget before they began working on it in December.

Smiley said the retreat also serves as a resource to allow this council to explore its possibilities.

“This council will move different than any other council. We will be direct and take a more actionable role,” he said. “Over the last four years, we’ve kind of stepped back and allowed the mayor to administrate everything. This council won’t do that.”