Spartanburg City Council Meeting - September 8, 2025

The Spartanburg City Council held a meeting on September 8, 2025, at 9:29 PM (the meeting likely began earlier). Key topics included extensive public comments on two major issues: the proposed relocation of the downtown clock tower and a call for a local hate crimes ordinance. The council also proclaimed Constitution Week, received an update on the upcoming microtransit pilot program, and paid tribute to the late former Mayor Juni White. The meeting was well-attended, with speakers expressing a range of positions.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the August 25, 2025, city council meeting were approved unanimously.
• Approval of Agenda: The agenda for the September 8, 2025, meeting was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

The public comment period was extensive, with most speakers addressing either the clock tower or the hate crimes ordinance. Several speakers yielded their time to Kimberly Branch.

Clock Tower (Preserve/Relocate)

• Kimberly Branch (Woodruff) led a presentation arguing that the current clock tower (erected in 1979) is a historic landmark within the National Register historic district and that city manager Chris Story's August 25 presentation downplayed its significance. She cited news articles and design guidelines to argue for its preservation in place. She noted that only the General Assembly can lift historic protections.
• Karen Lawson, John Lawson, Martha Hayden, and Anne Weaver Rogers each yielded their time to Branch, supporting preservation.
• George Hayden (Greer) implored the council to leave the clock tower at its present location, calling its removal "a disaster and a violation of trust."
• Don Bramlett (Spartanburg) expressed support for moving the clock tower and incorporating it into the new city-county administration building, referencing a "silent majority" in favor of progress.
• Elke Scholkopf (Spartanburg since 1971) opposed additional brick-and-mortar buildings downtown and wanted to keep the historic feel and green space where the clock tower sits.
• A resident from Boiling Springs argued the tower is a welcoming monument and asked the city to integrate the past with the future, comparing it to Big Ben or the Space Needle.
• Bailey Wren (Spartanburg) expressed full support for removing the clock tower and creating a display of its historic elements, citing priorities on walkability, disability access, and native plants.
• Jamie Bishop (Spartanburg) criticized past city demolitions and questioned the city manager's motives, suggesting he was being paid by the developer. He asked: "How long is a generation?" and demanded transparency.
• Reverend Larry Bateman (Spartanburg) opposed the hotel proposal that would relocate the tower, questioning the distinction between history and memories made in the previous meeting.
• Mataf Kumar (Spartanburg) supported removing the tower and creating a public exhibit but requested a dedicated public forum for dialogue.

Hate Crimes Ordinance

• Alice Sutton (Spartanburg, Unitarian Universalist Church) urged the council to add a hate crimes ordinance to the agenda, noting many other South Carolina cities have done so.
• Liv Hawkins (Spartanburg, District 6) spoke as a queer resident, recounting experiences of verbal slurs and witnessing anti-Latino remarks, arguing the ordinance is needed to ensure safety for all.
• Sam Bakieran (Spartanburg) voiced wholehearted support, noting the city's prior actions on equity.
• Mark Monahan (Spartanburg) asked the council to place the ordinance on the agenda, stating that even one hate crime incident is too many.
• James Jones (Spartanburg) criticized the council for not backing up a 2020 racial reconciliation ordinance with law, saying "Make it not be a lie."
• Kayla Orr (Spartanburg, SARI) cited FBI data that hate crimes in South Carolina nearly doubled from 2022 (66) to 2023 (115) and urged the council to lead with courage.
• Dr. Rosalind Henderson Myers (House District 31) requested the council place the "Roy C. Henderson hate crime ordinance" on the agenda for a vote, defining hate crimes and stating that only two states lack such laws.
• Mataf Kumar also supported the ordinance based on personal experiences of harassment.

Other Topics

• Alina Tillman (Converse) described discriminatory lending practices at Spartanburg Honda, including inflated financing terms and refusal to return her keys, and called for attention to the Military Lending Act.
• Tiffany Foster Bailey (Highland Crossing) raised concerns about speeding in her apartment complex, harassment from maintenance staff, and neglect by property management; she asked for speed bumps.
• Dr. Philip Stone (Spartanburg) thanked the fire department for their quick response to a March 25, 2025 house fire on South Spring Street, preventing spread.

Discussion Items

Proclamation: Constitution Week (September 17–23, 2025) Mayor Jerome Rice read and signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 17–23, 2025, as Constitution Week in Spartanburg. Representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) were present and distributed pocket constitutions. The proclamation passed without opposition.

Update on Microtransit Pilot Program (Sparta Go) City Manager Chris Story presented an update on the "Sparta Go" microtransit pilot program, set to launch in the coming weeks.

• The program is an on-demand, technology-enabled public transit service operated by the company VIA.
• It will cover over half the city's population, including both sides of South Church Street, the Highlands, downtown, parts of Park Hills, the hospital campus, and major retail destinations (e.g., two pharmacies and a grocery store).
• The pilot involves three vans operating Monday–Friday 6 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Fare is $2 per ride, with the first four rides free for new riders during the first two months.
• Minimum expenditure is $250,000 from federal grants with local match; final cost depends on utilization.
• The program is a pilot; service area and operations will be adjusted based on six months of data.
• Council members expressed excitement. Councilwoman Smith inquired about accessibility for seniors without smartphones; Story confirmed alternative booking methods will be provided. Councilwoman Jones asked about safety features (GPS tracking is included). The program will be cross-marketed with the existing fixed-route bus system.

Staff Updates City Manager Story noted:

• The Hub City Spartanburgers baseball team made the playoffs (home game September 9).
• The International Festival is scheduled for the first week of October.
• Preparations are underway for the transition of surface parking lots downtown coming offline in about a month.
• In response to a question from Councilwoman Smith, he noted the city is contacting telecom providers about dangling cable wires but lacks direct enforcement authority.

Council Member Comments

• Council member (unidentified) paid tribute to former Mayor Juni White, who passed away, noting his many acts of kindness in putting minority youth through college and providing jobs. A memorial service is scheduled for September 14, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Spartanburg Community College downtown campus.
• Councilwoman Smith mentioned attending the groundbreaking for a new childcare center at Mary H. Wright Elementary School (opening fall 2026, serving 66 children) and a future center at Jesse Bobo Elementary.
• Councilman Foreman also eulogized Mayor White, congratulated the Spartanburgers on their inaugural season, and noted a new production studio (Salt Run) coming to the community college downtown campus.
• Mayor Pro Tem reflected on Mayor White's bravery in issuing the 2010 Pride Proclamation and connected it to the need for a hate crimes ordinance. She also noted a 9/11 remembrance event on September 11 at USC Upstate.
• Mayor Rice reiterated the opportunity for citizens to attend Mayor White's memorial and the upcoming Neighborhood Conference on September 13. He thanked the audience for their participation and stated, "We do hear you."

Key Outcomes

• The minutes of the August 25 meeting and the September 8 agenda were approved unanimously.
• The Constitution Week proclamation was approved and signed.
• No formal vote was taken on the clock tower relocation or the hate crimes ordinance; these items were discussed during public comments and may be considered at future meetings.
• The microtransit pilot program will launch beginning the week of September 15 (vans on the street) with a public marketing rollout around September 23.
• Staff will follow up on the concerns raised about Highland Crossing apartments and dangling cable wires.