Open containers will not be permitted on Main after the Memphis City Council decided Tuesday to do away with the proposed amendment.
Sponsored by councilman Martavius Jones, the amendment to the city’s Open Container ordinance would have allowed open plastic containers of alcohol on Main from E.H. Crump to A.W. Willis, as well as surrounding streets from Riverside to Danny Thomas.
But, after hearing Downtown stakeholders and business owners’ concerns about the change and its possible negative safety, crime, and other implications, Jones withdrew the amendment.
Crowd Control on Beale
In an attempt to control crowd sizes on Beale Street, the Beale Street Task Force may hire a consultant conduct a crowd-control study.
Event Risk Management Solutions was chosen from four applicants to present a draft of the study to the council by March 19.
Gas, Electric Rates
The council also decided to revisit a discussion on gas and electric rate hikes for Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) customers.
After a council committee recommended increasing gas rates by 4.5 percent this year and next and a 3 percent increase in electric rates each year until 2020.
During the first year, gas rates would increase by an average of $1.62, while electric rates would go up by about $2.62.
The council’s MLGW committee will reopen the discussion on Feb. 6.
Term Limits, Deannexation
Meanwhile, the council voted nearly unanimously to add a referendum to the fall ballot, asking voters to extend their term limit.
The 11-1 vote will let voters decide if the the city charter should be amended to allow the council and the mayor to serve a third four-year term.
Also approved was a resolution to begin the deannexation process of Eads, which is south of Highway 64, and Riverbottoms in the Southwest portion of the city.
