Memphis Municipal Boards Meet Today as Recovery Efforts Continue Under State of Emergency

City Services Navigate Aftermath of Winter Storm

As Memphis enters its fifth day under a municipal State of Emergency, the city's political and administrative landscape remains focused on recovery. Mayor Paul Young declared the emergency on January 23 in anticipation of the severe winter weather that impacted the Mid-South over the weekend. While major legislative sessions have faced disruptions, two specific municipal boards are scheduled to convene today, Wednesday, January 28, to address ongoing city business.

Scheduled Government Meetings for January 28

• Board of Adjustment Meeting: Scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at 125 North Main Street. This meeting is slated to take place in the City Council Chambers on the first floor. The board is responsible for hearing and deciding on applications for variances and special exceptions to the city's zoning ordinances, which are critical for ongoing development projects across the city.
• MCCC Board Meeting: The board for the Memphis Cook Convention Center (MCCC) is set to meet at 3:00 p.m. at 255 North Main Street in Room 101. This session will cover administrative and operational updates for the city's primary convention and tourism facilities.

Legislative Shifts and Emergency Status

The scheduled meetings today come at a time of significant adjustment for local government operations. On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council was forced to transition its full session to a virtual format to protect the safety of the public and city staff during the post-storm cleanup. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners took more significant measures, rescheduling its planned Monday session to February 2 due to hazardous road conditions and the ongoing cleanup of priority routes like Lamar Avenue.

Mayor Young and Public Works officials have indicated that while road crews have made progress plowing priority streets, the city remains in a heightened state of readiness. The State of Emergency, which allows for the mobilization of emergency resources and federal reimbursement through FEMA, is currently slated to remain in effect for at least seven days from its initial declaration. President Donald Trump granted Tennessee’s request for an emergency declaration earlier this week, further supporting local recovery efforts.

Looking Ahead

City officials are also preparing for a significant milestone next week. Despite the weather-related setbacks, Mayor Paul Young is still expected to deliver his 2026 State of the City address on Monday, February 2. The event, themed "Memphis Is Rising," will take place at the First Baptist Church Broad and is expected to highlight the city's recent achievements in crime reduction—reported to be down 40% from 2023 levels—and the administration's goals for sustaining that growth throughout the remainder of 2026.