Powers of City generally.

Memphis Charter, art. 78, § 869

in effect

Sec. 869. - Powers of City generally. The City of Memphis shall have power and is hereby authorized: (a) To construct any public works project, within or without the municipality, or partially within and partially without the municipality. (b) To operate and maintain any public works project for its own purposes or for the benefit and use of its inhabitants and also to operate and maintain such public works project for the benefit and use of the municipality and persons, firms and corporations therein and persons, firms and corporations, including municipal corporations, which are situated or whose residence or places of business are situated outside of the territorial boundaries of such municipality but within the State and within a radius of twenty miles from the territorial boundaries of such municipality. (c) To accept from any Federal agency grants for or in aid of the construction of any public works project. (d) To contract debts for the construction of any public works project, to borrow money, and to issue its bonds to finance such construction, and to provide for the rights of the holders of the bonds and to secure the bonds as hereinafter provided. (e) To assess, levy and collect unlimited ad valorem taxes on all property subject to taxation to pay bonds, and the interest thereon, issued to finance any public works project. (f) To fix, levy, and collect fees, rents, tolls, or other charges for the use of or in connection with any public works project, and, in the event any agreements with holders of bonds shall be made as hereinafter provided, to fix, levy, and collect such fees, rents, tolls, and other charges in accordance with such agreements and subject thereto. (g) To acquire by purchase, gift or the exercise of the right of eminent domain and to hold and dispose of any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, or any right or interest in any such property, in connection with any public works project, whether or not subject to mortgages, liens, charges or other encumbrances, and to construct any public works project subject thereto, and whether within or without the municipality, or partially within and partially without the municipality. (h) To exercise the power of eminent domain, which is hereby expressly granted, for the purpose of acquiring any property, real, personal, or mixed, or any right, title or interest therein, necessary to carry out any public works project, as defined in section 1(e) of this Act (section 868), such right to be exercised in accordance with the general law now in force, or hereafter to be enacted, governing the acquisition of private property for public use. Said power of eminent domain may be exercised by the City of Memphis as to any such property within, or without the municipality in furtherance of any public works project as herein defined. (i) To make contracts and execute instruments containing such terms, provisions and conditions as in the discretion of the governing body of the municipality may be necessary, proper or advisable for the purpose of obtaining a grant, loan or other financial assistance from any Federal agency pursuant to or by virtue of the Recovery Act; to make all other contracts and execute all other instruments necessary, proper or advisable in or for the furtherance of any public works project; and to carry out and perform the terms and conditions of all such contracts or instruments. (j) To enter on any lands, waters and premises for the purpose of making surveys, soundings and examinations in or for the furtherance of any public works project. (k) To subscribe to and comply with the Recovery Act and any rules and regulations made by any Federal agency with regard to any grants or loans, or both, from any Federal agency. (l) To perform any acts authorized under this Act through, or by means of its own officers, agents and employees, or by contracts with private corporations, firms or individuals. (m) To exercise, for the purpose of obtaining a grant, loan or other financial assistance from any Federal agency pursuant to or by virtue of the Recovery Act, any power conferred by this Act independently or in conjunction with any other power or powers conferred by this Act or heretofore or hereafter conferred by any other law. (n) To delegate to any board, commission or department of the City of Memphis already created, or hereafter to be created, subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by any existing law or ordinance, or any law or ordinance to be passed, all the rights, powers and privileges herein granted to the municipality with reference to the acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance of any public works project as herein defined, subject to such conditions as the governing body may elect to impose, and, to that end, to pass any ordinance in furtherance of such public works project not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, or of the State of Tennessee. (o) To lease grounds, buildings, structures, facilities and/or equipment to carry out any public works project; and to contract with the United States Government, or any agency thereof, the State of Tennessee, or any political subdivision or agency, or any of them, or with any person, firm or corporation for the acquisition, building, leasing and letting of such facilities, or any of them, and/or for the equipment, operation and maintenance thereof as may be determined upon by the governing body, and to that end, shall have, and may exercise, all rights and powers with reference to the acquisition, operation and maintenance of public works as fully as if it were a natural person. (p) To mortgage or convey in trust any public works acquired under the provisions of this Act, including land, buildings, equipment, franchises, tolls, revenues, or facilities incidental to the operation of such public works, as security, for money borrowed to carry out the purposes of this Act to pay the principal and interest of any bonds, certificates of indebtedness, or other evidences of indebtedness issued to carry out the purposes of this act, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the governing body. (q) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers given in this Act. (Priv. Acts 1935, ch. 108, § 2, 1st Spec. Sess.)

Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/charter?nodeId=PTICHRELA_ART78PUWOAC_S869POGEFetched: 10/28/2026