Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will present plans to de-annex two East Memphis areas to the Memphis City Council on Tuesday.
The proposal to de-annex Southwind/Windyke and Rocky Point are in step with the mayor’s stated goal of next “right-sizing” the city.
“As we look to a thriving third century, it’s important to increase our density so we can better deliver services,” Strickland said. “By right-sizing Memphis, we’re making significant steps toward a more efficient city government. This has been a locally-controlled, data-driven process from the start, and we continue to keep our word about what we’ll do.
“Memphis may well be the first city in the country to voluntarily explore and propose de-annexation. For too long, Memphis grew only by annexation. We must change that, and we must grow from our core and our neighborhoods. Right-sizing our city by this process helps us do that.”
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The areas proposed for de-annexation are two of the seven identified last year by the Strategic Footprint Review Task Force as potential de-annexation candidates.
To identify areas for de-annexation, the task force and the administration focused on “areas that were low density, were challenging to deliver municipal services, and specifically asked for de-annexation.”
Also among the seven, are Riverbottoms and Eads, which the council voted to de-annex last month. Additionally, areas in Frayser, Raleigh, and South Cordova were also indicated.
While city officials have decided not to proceed with de-annexing the areas in Frayser and Raleigh, de-annexation of South Cordova is slated for the future.
The ordinance to de-annex Southwind/Windyke and Rocky Point is sponsored by Councilman Bill Morrison, who chaired the Strategic Footprint task force.
In order for the areas to be officially de-annexed, the council must approve the ordinance in three readings. If passed, de-annexation is set for January 2021.
