We have any Boy Scouts.

I didn't get a notice.

We try to get them to lead us in a pledge.

Well, but before we do that, we're gonna stand for a moment of silence, a moment of silence.

Then we'll be led by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the body of the United States of America and to the revolver for which he says nation under God.

Thank you for that.

City Council meeting.

All in favor?

Any that opposed?

Eyes have it.

Before we have item four, we're gonna make an amendment to the agenda for October the thirteenth.

And we're gonna move the citizens academy recognition to item five and public comment to item six.

Any that opposed habit?

So we move right into item five will be recognition of uh the twenty twenty-five Citizens Academy graduates.

Miss Kathy Heel Community Relations Manager.

We also have a growing number of graduates who have expanded their interest in the city by attending more events, volunteering, becoming more active with their neighborhoods, and joining our boards and commissions.

And I just want to put up a few pictures of um this is also showing like who we usually have people that participate in the program.

Um there's a lot right there variety of people that do a participating in each year.

And then also, as I said, about the graduates.

And then right now we actually have 14 graduates who are serving as members of the city boards and commission.

And these are some of the pictures of some of the sessions they had this year.

We do bus tours around the city.

And we visit the public works office department.

And then we met with city council members and also the police department, planning department, and many more.

Just want to say thank you to city staff that presented and their willingness to participate each year, providing the relevant information about the services provided.

And if I could now just had a class to come up.

All right, um Kern, he is not here.

Wendy Bennett, you would come up right, please.

Sheila Dawkins, Andy Drott, Shantae Glenn.

Candy Glover, Takora Harris, Caitlin Hazel, Naomi Israel, Renee Johnson, Kathae Jones, Kendra Little John, Kristen Lyon, Jasmine Zong, Jill O'Connell, Vanessa Petty, Carrie Hines Rice, Shirley Smith, Kadata Tate, E.

Jean Williams McIver, Whitney Wright, and Ruth Young.

This is your 2025 Citizen Academy graduates.

Very good.

Thank you.

During council updates, we usually give words of encouragement and thank you, but I want to go ahead and tell the uh graduates tonight.

Just congratulations and thank you for your time and your effort with participating in the program.

And I know it's definitely when people talk about giving, you giving up your time really means a lot.

It really means you want to put forth some effort and get some things done.

So we really do appreciate the time that you all spent in the academy.

So thank you.

So I'm back up to public comment.

So that would be item six, correct.

Item six public comment.

So now we have a graduate.

Come on down.

Give us your uh a name again, Andy, your address, and uh you'll have two minutes after you uh give us that address.

All right, my name is Andy Drott.

I live at 525 Parent Drive.

And I am just here to say thank you.

Uh my about three years ago, my daughters chose USC Upstate uh to go to college together, and as a result, our family started hanging out in Spartanburg more, and we found love.

Uh we were charmed by the walkable nature of Morgan Square.

Uh we dug into the comprehensive plan and we were inspired.

And uh we started to get to know uh some of the leaders, some of the staff, some of the people, and we put our houses up for sale in Greenville, bought property here in Spartanburg about six months ago.

We bought property here in Spartanburg about six months ago.

We uh moved over here and tried to dive right in and get back because it was clear that so many people in Spartanburg were already giving and making it a cool place for us to come and land as new folks.

So we helped find uh helped found uh with several others, the Strongtown Spartanburg, who you'll probably hear uh for at least a couple people tonight.

Um and I signed up for Citizens Academy.

And I have to say, if you haven't done it, you're out in the crowd uh or watch it online.

Uh consider applying to be part of it because it's like a big resource in our community.

Uh I want to say thank you to Kathy and Kinsley.

I want to thank you to say thank you to the leadership of the city for making it a priority, and also thank you to all the staff at the city who give their time and clearly make it a priority.

I know so much more about our city and feel so much more permission uh to get involved.

And so I want to say thank you, and uh that's it.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Um Tiffany Bailey.

Hello.

Hi, Tiffany.

I'm Tiffany Bailey.

My name's Tiffany Bailey.

I live at 201 Highland Avenue at Highland Crossing Apartments.

I'm coming here straight to the point.

Highland Crossing has been there, I want to say nine years.

I've been there the whole time it's been here.

From the time I've been there up until this point right now, it has got a whole 180 that I'm down to respect for the tenants, uh, not the other tenants, um, any type of respect for the tenants, and it should stop.

It needs to stop.

We have no landlord.

The landlord we have is in Florida on a sale on a phone that we have to talk to from the marquee.

We have tenants that are harassing other tenants.

I have my neighbor here with me today so she can speak for herself.

But we have one tenant that is harassing her, and it's been going over two years and it's too much.

Nobody's doing nothing about it.

Police come out, they don't help, they don't do, she doesn't move, they don't evict her, nobody talks, nobody does nothing.

Something has to change because I'm I'm I'm kind of shaking feeling like this.

Um that apartment doesn't have drama, it doesn't have problems.

We have people that know how to have common sense and live.

You have other people that feel like they can just do whatever they want because of whatever they feel like they can in their mind.

Everybody doesn't think the same.

People's minds are the same.

If somebody snaps on somebody else because of what they're doing, that's all you can do.

But the disrespect and the the lack of acknowledgement for Highland Crossing is something I just I don't understand why.

I know we're in District 7.

I know we're in District 7, and um I always wanted to know if Highland Crossing was a part of District 7 or just in District 7 and not a part of Highland.

I only ask that because I've been told, oh, well, Highland Crossing isn't a part of Holly.

You're just in how that makes me feel like we get pushed to the side when things are happening or things need to be done.

We see more police, we don't see anything positive.

We don't see help, we don't get help.

I've called Ms.

J.

I've called so many people to try to get help because of what's going on, and nobody's doing anything.

And I'm only a I'm just I'm not even from here, but I've been here and I'm speaking.

I'm I'm a loud person if I need to be.

And when something going on and I feel like it's wrong, and nobody's making moves.

I'm on the phone.

Who's gonna help?

I've been calling everybody, nobody's giving me answers.

We'll call the police, we'll call this, we'll call that.

We have thank you, Tiffany.

We uh I'm sure staff is hearing that and uh we're taking notes.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Ashley Renner, uh Reynolds, yes.

Hello.

I don't mean to change the morale and everything because I'm so proud of the graduates and everything.

Give us your address, ask you.

Um 201.

I'm also Highland Crossing tenant as well.

I've been at um also been um experienced harassment uh with a neighbor.

This has been going on for mostly only a little bit over two years now, and I've been reaching out and I've been a part of the community.

I've I work with uh kids at the Bethlehem Center, I've thrown my neck out there.

I've I've participated and partaken, everything with this before school starting.

I'm out there with the kids.

I'm having a really hard time with this neighbor.

I've reached out to police.

I'm having a uh I I got a story.

The police, I called the police, the uh the officers that came out there have laughed in my face.

I had oil thrown on my door by this tenant, and I have it on video, and nothing has happened.

Um I have medical records showing that I'm allergic to everything, and nothing has happened.

So now I'm trying to.

This is my I'm trying to just go down the list of the things to do to you know do get involved with doing things uh the right way.

So I don't know what else to do.

So I'm just piggybacking off uh what Miss Tiffany just said.

I I don't know what to do.

We'll we'll we'll get some answers for you, actually.

But so one of staff verses I'm sure we'll talk with you tonight before you leave today.

Okay before you leave here this evening.

All right, thanks.

Thank you.

Courtney McLean.

Good evening.

Um, my address is 346C East Crop Circle, and I will be speaking in support of the hate crimes ordinance.

South Carolina is only one of two states in the entire country that still refuses to pass a hate crime law.

And in 2025, this is not just outdated, but it is dangerous.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 33 active hate groups operate in South Carolina, and two are right here in Spartanburg.

Over 500 hate crimes have been reported since 2015, and that is local, and that is real danger.

17 other communities, including Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and counties like Richland and Orangeburg have already acted.

They've passed ordinances to protect their residents and send a clear message that hate has no home here.

And yet, while thousands of travelers drive past the cis drive past a symbol of hate that still stands on our highway, our city faces a choice.

We can look away or we can lead.

Thank you.

Sabrita Serena Edgerton.

Sarita Edgerton, PO Box 17072.

So I spoke out at the last meeting against the hate crimes ordinance, and I'm still of the same mind.

But when I got home and was watching the very end, um, when the uh honorable attorney got up to speak, and he was asked if there was any education component in the ordinance, and he said that's not exactly truthful.

So, in that vein, I'm going to address that because I don't like to be called less than truthful.

I was also approached at a social function and told virtually the same thing.

So let me read to you from your ordinance from your own site here.

The sentence imposed must be consecutive to the sentence for the underlying criminal offense unless the court articulates on the record the reasons why the sentences should run concurrently.

Any sentence may be suspended upon completion by the defendant of the appropriate education counseling or community service employment as ordered by the court.

So, yes, there is an education component, and my question was who gets to decide what that education is?

What organization decides that?

That's not very clearly defined, and that's a question that your residents need to know who's going to be doing the educating on that part.

That was my statement then.

I said it then, read it from your own words.

I'm assuming written by the attorney, and to be called less than truthful is uh an affront on my character, and I will not stand for it, which is why I came back to speak again one more time.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Hey guys, um audience, and I know I let it go with the citizens uh academy here, but let's let's try to be respectful of the next person that's coming up with our applause and all that and time.

Elizabeth York.

Hello, I'm Elizabeth York, 185 bucks with Lane here in Spartanburg.

I'm a retired professor of music at Converse University.

I grew up here in Spartanburg, but when I left in 1968, I did not feel safe here.

But Spartanburg never ceases to amaze me.

I came back to accept an academic position here at Converse.

And Barbara and I were married here when it became legal.

And I was happy to hear that the first reading of the hate crimes ordinance received such overwhelming support.

It again renewed my faith in the city.

Passing this ordinance, in my in my point of view, continues Mayor Juni White's legacy.

When he read a proclamation designating gay pride day at the first gay pride march I attended, I knew that my partner and I could make a life here in Spartanburg in relative safety.

We have been here close to 20 years and close to my family.

I believe that Mayor White would be proud to hear that on its second reading, the vote passed again with your overwhelming support.

Thank you in advance for protecting the rights of all Spartanburg citizens.

Thank you.

I just asked if we could please re uh frame from uh the applause so we can get through this in a timely fashion.

Alice Sutton.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Council people for passing the first reading of the hate crimes ordinance last time.

And I'm speaking.

Did I say my address?

Give us your address.

426 East Park Drive, Spartanburg.

I'm speaking on behalf of my church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg.

We endorse this ordinance.

We thank you for your support.

And we hope at the end of the day we'll be celebrating Spartanburg as the 23rd municipality in South Carolina to have a hate crimes ordinance and make us all much prouder to be part of this beautiful city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Antonio Tanum.

Good evening, members of council.

Antonio Tanner, uh 225 Milligan Street.

I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they sense once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.

Quotes from Notes of a Native Sun by James Baldwin.

This evening, we have heard a considerable amount of disinformation and last week as well, regarding the hate intimidation ordinance, and the community is aware of this because those spreading disinformation focus solely on the words race and ethnicity while neglecting important aspects like national origins, including Americans, Ukrainians, etc.

Creed, such as Christianity, national origin, including Americans and Ukrainians.

Again, that's just sorry.

Um the religion, Baptist, which is Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, and Ancestry, which refers to discrimination based on a person's family's background.

Importantly, a person can experience ancestry discrimination based um when they are uh also a United States citizen.

Additionally, mental and physical disabilities also fall under this discussion, affecting many, including sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandmothers, and grandfathers.

With that being said, it is clear and the community recognizes your words.

All city residents, prior to their employment, sign a document that prohibits them from discriminating against anyone based on national origin, race, color, religion, disability, sex, and familial status as mandated by federal law.

The city of Spartanburg is implementing the same rules to comply with federal hate crime guidelines, especially when state laws do not offer the same protections.

Spartanburg boasts a diversity rate of 90%, which is exceptionally higher than most cities.

The West Side is the most diverse.

Thank you.

Thank you, Antonio.

Kobe King.

I think the thing I want to say tonight is I grew up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania.

Um I grew up with a real sense that I was going to have to move away from home to find an opportunity that would work for me and a community in which I would be comfortable.

Um I'm a straight white guy.

It should not be a problem, but I still um encountered slurs when I was a kid, right?

I mean, I think most of us remember the 90s, and there's a lot of like anti-homosexual, and there's a lot of homophobia, right?

I experienced those slurs.

I I don't I'm um I I work here, I live here, and I'm raising my daughters here.

I don't want them to grow up in a community feeling like they need to leave to be comfortable.

That's why I'm so glad and so proud of the city of Spartanburg for working on this ordinance over the past year, for talking with my friends and I in Siren and other community leaders to get this passed.

Um I also very much appreciate the diligence you all have put into considering the ordinance.

Um the converse the what I thought was a very educational conversation with Mr.

Kohler at the last meeting to help better inform the broader community about what the ordinance is and does.

Uh, I very much appreciate it.

I have five other stories I could tell you about it.

I could do that one-on-one.

Thank you all so much.

Um thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, counsel.

I'm Amaria Dawkins, 385 Hodge Drive.

In agreement with Tony, bringing knowledge to the questions on this hate crimes ordinance.

It doesn't silence anyone's belief or speech.

It simply holds people accountable when they commit a crime motivated by hate.

The First Amendment protects free expression, but it does not protect violence, intimidation, or harassment.

Hate crime laws have been upheld for decades as constitutional and a central for public safety.

They don't regulate speech or religion, they regulate criminal behavior motivated by hate.

The First Amendment safeguards our right to believe and express our faith, but not to engage in violent or threatening conduct in the name of religion.

When speech crosses into threats, harassment, intimidation, or violence, it is no longer protected under the First Amendment.

Your free speech rights are not being violated by the passing of this ordinance.

And to be clear, this ordinance does not create thought police.

It does not punish anyone for disagreeing, praying, or preaching their beliefs.

It only steps in when hate turns into harm when someone's biases fuels violence or destruction.

That is where free speech ends and criminal accountability begins.

Claims that this ordinance targets religion or silences voices are simply false.

And that it protects people of all faith from being attacked or intimidated because of who they are, what they believe.

We cannot continue to use the First Amendment as a shield for hatred or violence.

The Constitution was written to protect freedom, not to excuse oppression or terror in our communities.

As a black woman of faith, I stand in full support of this ordinance because protecting our communities from hate-based harm is not only constitutional, it's moral.

It's just and it's necessary.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

You see, I grew up in a world where being different could get you laughed at, where holding hands could get you hurt.

Well, loving out loud could get you killed.

And I'm here to say that world, that fear, that silence, it has to end.

This hate crime ordinance is not just a law, it's a lifestyle.

It's a message to the bully teens who just want to dance in peace.

It's protection for the trans woman walking from walking home from work.

It's just for everyone that's been targeted simply simply for daring to be exactly who they are.

Let's pass this ordinance.

Let's protect our people.

Let's never be afraid to love louder than hate.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Kumar.

Hello, I'm Mod of Kumar and I live at a uh 206 Cart Drive in Spartanburg.

Honestly, the people before me have done a really good job, so I'm not gonna believe the point.

I would just like to uh speak in favor of uh passing the uh hate crime ordinance.

Um I'd also like to uh uh talk about something a little different, which is uh accessibility in terms of uh public comments.

Uh my my partner has a uh disability that makes it difficult for them to be able to stand for long periods of time uh and give uh public comments like this.

Um it would be really, really lovely if there were opportunities for them to be able to make requests for uh accommodations, or if those exist to be able to highlight those.

Um I think that you know that would give more people the ability to uh to share their opinions, and I and I truly believe that uh as our city we are stronger when uh everyone gets uh to be a part of of building it.

So thank you.

Thank you for that.

We hadn't had that opportunity, but yes, thank you.

Mark uh Monaghan Monahan Monaghan.

Well, good evening.

Uh yes, my name is Mark Monahan.

I live at 150 East Victoria Road here in Spartanburg.

Um, just to tag on to what has been said.

I left here at the last time we had the first reading, and I was intrigued by the people who were in opposition to it, and many of them were people of faith, followers of Christ.

And as followers of Christ, there's love, but we don't have hate.

And then I I got home and I was thinking about it about a conversation I had about nine years ago online, and this woman was really angry, and as a follower of Christ, I was trying to empathize and understand, but she put me down by finally saying, You just don't understand how we hate.

And it was big bold cap letters, and that stuck with me all these years.

And so when this came up here, I thought the reason we need a hate crimes law is that Christians, we can't understand how somebody can hate so much as to shoot a bunch of Bible study people in Charleston.

You can't imagine the kind of hate it takes to blow up a a church in Birmingham, Alabama, and kill three little girls.

You can't imagine the kind of hate it must take to blow up a nightclub in Orlando.

And 48 years ago, my own mother got the phone call that her brother had been brutally slaughtered, and she cried.

You see your mother cry, you'll never forget it.

To see she could not imagine the kind of hate that took somebody to brutally murder her cut her brother and stab him multiple times, and the coroner could not finish counting the wounds.

And then we couldn't imagine the kind of hate that when he the man was finally caught 15 years later and sentenced to only seven years in prison.

So yes, hate exists, and these laws are tools to protect people from hate.

We need this law.

Spartanburg, South Carolina is a leader.

South Carolina needs to change, and we need to join the 21st century.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jason Spencer.

Hi.

Jason Spencer, 206 Sharon Drive.

Um I'm the chairman of Siren and on behalf of our board and our team.

We just wanted to thank the city for considering this tonight.

Uh, hopefully passing it on second reading on Indigenous People's Day.

Uh, and I think Chris is Chris and Bob and the city team for getting something in front of you.

Uh it's been a long journey.

Uh, and it's been kind of amazing to hear all the different stories tonight.

Um, I've had a few people come up and say that we're excited to be here to see history being made.

And uh speaking of history, I wanted to invite you all to our next big event, which is November 7th at Harvest Park, 69 p.m.

It's called From Protest to Policy, Five Years of Siren.

Our guest speaker's named Noble Sissel Jr., his father trained here during World War One and was in a unit that would go on to become known as the Harlem Hellfighters.

And Noble's dad was a victim of what we would call a hate crime today.

And the effects of that uh rippled across the world of music, it ripped across the culture of Europe, and it was kind of a cool story.

I don't want to give too much away, but Noble Jr.

is a great storyteller.

Uh Harold Mitchell's gonna lead kind of a fireside chat with him.

There's not a fire, but we're calling it a fireside chat.

And um hope you can join us.

So uh we'll have music and food and look to the next five years.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you.

Dr.

Midas Hampton.

Umidas Hampton 227, Hillcrest Commons Way.

I arise tonight tonight as the chair of the Spartan Burgess Foundation and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the same fraternity that shaped the conscience of leaders that across history have championed progress.

And I also stand here as a resident, an everyday person trying to live life, a man who believes in the responsibility that we all share for one another.

Now, the research we've looked at it, and it's very, very clear.

Hate crimes don't just harm individuals, they harm entire communities.

They send a signal that belonging can be revoked, that difference can be punished, that fear has the final word.

And we know from the science and from life that fear changes the brain at a molecular level, at a chemistry level.

It narrows empathy, it raises our guard, it makes being a neighbor really hard to do.

But when people feel safe, when they feel seen, the brain opens up, trust grows, collaboration flourishes, communities thrive.

And that's what the ordinance is about.

It's not about the politics, and I know everybody tries to make it about those things all the time, but it's about protection.

It's not about punishing anybody, right?

It is about prevention.

It's about saying in Spartanburg, we will not wait for anyone, the state to find its conscience.

We will lead with ours.

South Carolina is one of the only two states where we've heard that here tonight.

We have an opportunity and the power to say, not in our city, not in our time, not on our watch.

So I urge you as a brother, as a neighbor, as a citizen, to pass the hate crimes ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Hampton.

Liv Hopkins.

Hawkins.

I'm thinking about Dr.

Hopkins.

Liv Hawkins the Third.

Yes.

Hello, y'all.

My name is Liv Hawkins the Third.

Um, I live on uh 501 Howard Street in the city six uh city council district.

Um I'd like to first of all uh speak to you about the hate crimes ordinance and once again say that I'm in favor of it as a queer professional working with students as someone who not that long ago was a queer student.

Uh what I've heard a lot from people I went to high school with, from people I went to college with, was that they don't feel like Spartanburg is a place that they can call home.

You know, uh I think it leads to a lot of brain drain to have this kind of thing where students don't feel protected, people don't feel protected, and I think uh I'm very excited to see this pass.

Uh, I also want to piggyback off of what Colby said, because I already plan to say it, but like Mr.

Kohler did an awesome job articulating and pushing back against a lot of the misinfo and disinfo that we heard last meeting, and I thought it was a very productive meeting.

I'd also like to talk to you about accessibility of public comment and not just asking for accommodations, but maybe uh prompting staff and council to think about ways, especially as we move into a new space, and maybe we can rethink what's public comment looks like, how we can make it accessible by design so that our disabled and chronically ill neighbors can participate at the same level that I can participate as an able-bodied guy.

Um, you know, not just so, you know, sometimes there can be a barrier if you have to ask for an accommodation versus just right off the bat having that accommodation built in uh very meaningfully.

So those are the two things I'd like to talk about.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you, James A.

Jones, James A.

Jones, 582 West Main Street, attorney, school district seven board member, member of Siron Board, and supporters of Save the Clock Tower.

Mr.

Mayor, members of council.

When government stops listening, democracy starts dying.

Local government must listen to the people because our community knows what it needs.

Real leadership starts with open ears and humble hearts.

Mothers, fathers, children who cry out for change in the face of epidemic gun violence for years demanded change, but they've mostly gotten silent.

Please hear their cry.

Siren and proponents of the hate crimes ordinance.

Hear them and please pass this ordinance as a down payment on justice.

Save our clock towers proponents.

Had to get an attorney and a judge to get you to listen to us.

But we now ask you to listen to the voices of the 3,000 plus who want the tower to be replaced and removed to a place of our choosing together.

Please hear them.

And as you will note tonight about pregnancy and infant loss awareness day, hear the plea of those both living and those who now have joined the ancestors that health care in Spartanburg must be strengthened.

We can't have so many more dying mothers trying to get birth to child.

When we listen, we build trust.

When we act, we build hope.

And when we do both, we build a beloved Spartanberg community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Carl Presbatino.

Thank you.

The reason I'm here is to complain about a city contractor that cuts the grass on the median that is on Mills.

Mills is directly down from the entrance to Converse College.

Over three blocks from there.

I've noticed in the last two weeks, the same contractor of riding lawnmower.

Goes very fast, and he runs over the median.

And he merely just cuts up the leaves and blows them onto the median, but also onto the street.

And the problem with that is years past is that the accumulation of grass or leaf cuts, the leaves on the median, kills the grass.

And the ground becomes very hard.

And so this winter I said I'm going to do something about it.

So two months ago, I planted plants and flowers directly at the front of my house on the medium, about 20 yards.

But flowers and plants.

He cuts it.

It doesn't need to be cut.

And he uh crunches up the leaves, which I blow off and break off on my own.

But he does it before I can get to it on that whatever day he shows up.

And he also causes leaves to go discurred.

The bottom line is this.

I'd like for you to tell this contractor, leave the mediums alone, and let the wind blow the leaves to the curves, which it will, or in the case some of us residents will blow it.

And the city, I noticed this morning has a really cool truck that sucks up those leaves beside the right.

That's going to be your time, Mr.

President.

Thank you, man.

We got the message.

Okay.

Hi, my name is Emily Gomez.

I'm a USC AfC student.

First, thank you for giving me a chance.

My address is 126 could drive.

Um, as someone who lives, studies, and spends a lot of time in Spider-Mark.

I notice a lot of important issues within our city.

Um, especially when it comes to public safety, uh, the condition of the public buildings and public transportation.

For many students like me, uh, and for a lot of residents, public transportation is a is a lifeline.

Not everyone has access to a car and a reliable in reliable buses and transit um transit roads.

I think they're essential not just to get to school, but to work in the community events.

It's not just about convenience, it's about making sure that everyone has a chance to fully participate in what is brand has to offer.

When public transportation is dependable, safe and far-reaching, it helps to play in connect to connect the parts of our city.

Also, many building in our facility in facilities are aging and showing signs of wear.

This worn appearance not only affects our community, but it also uh feels like the place that we rely on every day are empty.

Also, I hope that there's repairs and upgrades because we need to ensure these buildings meet some standards, they can continue serving residents effectively.

I believe the council, the city council plays an important role in these because a decision that you guys make to these projects shape how Sparnam would grow within the years of the future.

Um this topic is important to me because I care about my community, and it makes a place where all we come where Project call home.

As a student, I want to see the city where everyone has equal access to good public services where the bus system lets people connect easily and where uh the infrastructure supports a thriving healthy community.

Thank you for your time and your dedication to make Swimberg a better place for all of us.

Thank you, Mike Fowler.

Good evening, very county.

Um first of all, congratulations to the Academy.

I am one of the original members of the Academy.

I'm a proud member.

So thank you.

I didn't get a green shirt that but okay, but I want to director Tony Fitch, and I'm very proud to be a uh Academy Graduate.

Um Mike Fowler, um 275 South Church Street.

Don't start.

Um we're here to answer the call, Mr.

Mayor and Council.

Uh we've talked about first of all as my business partner on uh patent.

Um year and a half now we've been working on the brand project to bring a food market back to South back to the community, and we are 90% there now.

So we need to community we're bringing in um it's called the South Church Street Bodega.

And it's located right here in Montgomery Building Sky Building across from Tom's.

Uh we have a space there at 28 by 48 space, and we will have um fresh produce uh from 20 local um farmers, 24.

Uh we have a deuce bar, uh sandwich station.

Uh of course we have your uh food, um dairy bread, and all the supplies.

So um we're looking for you guys to come out and support it.

The mayor, uh, we have uh overwhelming support from the community and several other organizations, and we look at you guys to get on board.

That's my just happen.

Uh first of the year we have a new store on our south side where it serves the entire community, not just the south side.

So thank you very much.

Thanks for your time.

And again, congratulations to this one again.

Y'all rock.

Wow.

Thank you.

All right, we have uh item seven proclamation recognizing October the 15th, 2025 as pregnancy and infants loss awareness day.

Yeah, two days.

Yeah, come on down.

Whereas pregnancy in the arrival of new babies should be a time of joy and celebration for families, whereas many families in sponsor across the nation unfortunately unfortunately face the heart-wrenching experience of pregnancy and infant loss, which affect parents, civilians, grandparents, and the beer.

Whereas recognizing the need for support for passion and awareness around the pregnancy and infant loss, the month of October has been designated as pregnancy and increment loss awareness month.

Whereas October the 15th of each year, a day of remembrance, known as pregnancy and infant loss remembrance day is observed with a uh wave of light where candles are lit at 7 o'clock p.m.

in all time zones across the world, uniting grieving families and friends in the power of symbolic show of support and revenue.

Whereas the city of Sparkberg wishes to honor and remember the babies who have left this world too soon and to express solidarity with the families who have experienced such loss.

Now, therefore, I divorced food by the virtue of the authority destined in me as the mayor of the city of Sparnberg, and on behalf of my fellow city council members do here by proclaim October the 15th, 2025 as pregnancy and infant loss awareness day.

Now stay with me in the city of Swineburg and encouraging all residents to participate in the pregnancy and infant loss remembers day by light of the three seven o'clock p.m.

Remembering those precious live laws and offering support and capacity to the families affected by pregnancy and law.

Again, 7 o'clock p.m.

All citizens of the city of Spineburg will lie to Canada.

We're asking everyone in this room.

Seven o'clock on the 15th, 7 o'clock p.m.

We all should lie to candidate and remember of those laws.

So let me think about it again.

To amend the chapter 22 offenses and miscellaneous provision of the code of ordinance of the city of Sparnberg to add a new section, providing that a person who violates another section of the city's code of ordinance with the intent to harm, injure, or intimidate another person or persons in whole are in part because of ethnicity, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or physical or mental ability, disability of the victim is guilty of a separate offense of hate crime intimidation.

Second reading, Mr.

Bob Cole, Rob Ocola City Attorney.

Good evening, uh mayor and council members.

Before you is second reading of the ordinance, um here to answer any questions that you might have.

Before I do, I do want to make one uh recommendation from close.

Microphone.

Sorry.

They want to hear it.

Yeah, I understand.

How's that?

Let's get the doors closed too.

Good, good, good.

Now we're good.

Thank you, Bob.

So uh before I answer any questions, um, we are making one uh recommendation from staff.

We're recommending that the um council consider striking the last sentence.

Um that's the sentence that says that any uh fine or jail time may be suspended by the court upon completion of community service, counseling, education, uh, and the like.

Um I was after the meeting uh last a couple weeks ago, had a great conversation with our city judge, and she reminded me that she doesn't need an ordinance to give her the authority to suspend fine or jail time uh upon community service, counseling, uh, good behavior and the like.

Um, she does that all the time with or without that language in the ordinance.

And and it's my fault.

I think I didn't, I presume that a lot of folks understood that, but they simply don't.

So that conversation led me to some more contemplation.

And you know, when I read the 23 other ordinances that have been passed by cities and counties across the state, um, it never occurred to and about half of them use the language that gives the says the court has the authority to suspend uh jail time or suspend the fine upon community service counseling and like uh it didn't occur to me that that some people would interpret that as you know a government run government run uh um education class or a government-run program that would offer ideas of of its own to the participants, um but they do so um you know we listen and we hear people and we we contemplate and we think about the the changes that can be made, and after hearing from some of you and then conferring with all of you, it's my recommendation that we simply strike that language.

Um I'll remind you what the judge reminded me.

That language does nothing to add any authority to or subtract any authority from the court.

She always has that authority to suspend a sentence uh in it with an alternative that that she deems is appropriate, and again, does that all the time?

So if we've got a potential language that causes a potential um misunderstanding or potential confusion, and it does nothing, it seems to me that the best thing to do is simply take that out.

So to be clear, um, if without that language, the sentence for violating the uh hate crime ordinance would be if you're convicted of that because you committed another underlying offense and got charged with the hate crime ordinance, um, you would be punished up to 30 days in jail and up to 500 andor any combination that the court seems deems appropriate.

Um so that's what I'm recommending y'all do tonight with second reading.

Um, I'm glad that glad to answer any questions about that or address any concerns.

Councilwoman more pro tem, I'm sorry.

Bob, just so we're clear.

This this is not it's not the city that decides what that punishment may be, and the judge has full authority to decide what those consequences with with an additional hate crime charge would be.

We we aren't there's no list of programs that they have to participate in, etc.

That is fully up to the judge.

Yeah.

First of all, so this ordinance won't include that language anymore.

This ordinance will simply say it's punishable punishable by up to 30 days in jail and up to 500 and/or any combination thereof.

Um courts across this state are vested with the authority to suspend that upon the completion of alternative sentences, and they do that.

That is always in the discretion of the court.

And I will tell you that it's always voluntary.

If a court tells somebody they've been convicted of public intoxication, and instead of 30 days in jail, they have to go attend a mothers against drunk driving uh class.

They can choose to do that and get their suspension.

Fine suspended, but they can also choose to not do it and pay the fine.

It's voluntary.

Courts don't make people engage in alternative uh resolutions.

They give offer it as an option.

Um so, yes, they the court will have no involvement in in dictating or directing any counseling, education, community service.

Uh the court will fine or punish by jail, and if the court deems fit, as the case happens all across the state all the time, uh, it could fashion alternative sentence if it deemed that would appropriate.

Okay.

Councilwoman Smith.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Just to confirm, we've had folks that have been very invested in this process.

Striking that sentence does nothing to change the substance of what we're seeking here.

Correct to quote one of our speakers, it doesn't change anything on the prevention, the protection, or the punishment side.

Correct.

Section A of the ordinance defines the offense, and that does not change.

If you commit, if you if your actions um satisfy the elements of Section A, you are guilty of that ordinance, and you will be punished per sentence B.

And sentence Section B says you will get five up to 500 in fines, you will get up to 30 days andor any combination thereof.

Thank you.

Councilman.

Bob, I understand your point about the latitude the judge would have, but but wouldn't there be wouldn't the principle of legislative intent apply here as well?

I mean, you know, the judge would look at you know the council action and not see that as a remedy and may you know may be more uh you know willing to not include that as a remedy given that was the intent of counsel.

Yeah, I think I think courts oftentimes engage in that uh analysis.

And but again, remember them being one of the three branches of government as a check on legislation.

I think they ought to do that.

So yes, I think you're exactly right.

Yeah, and I mean I I think the fact that this is a the penalty for this would be $500.

Um, you know, I I think that striking that and making it more limited in scope, makes it more enforceable and and may have more meaning if and when we occur incur uh instances where this would apply.

It's entirely possible.

Any other comment questions?

Do I hear a motion?

I'd like to make a motion, Mr.

Mayer, that we adopt the hate crimes ordinance.

Do I hear a second?

Okay, I figured it would be a fight of the second.

All in favor.

I think any of that oppose.

I have it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Keep going.

You got about 10 seconds, 10 more seconds, and then we'll cut it off.

No, no, you you were good.

I was we're gonna let you go with that one.

Item Bay Ordinance authorizing the execution of and delivery of a development agreement by and between the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and 11 Main Street LLC, with respects of the certain economic development projects on the property within the city, whereby such property will be received development uh incentives and other matters related thereunto.

First reading, Mr.

Chris Story, city manager.

Mr.

Mayor, members of council, this is uh uh a good day uh in regard to a project that has been on our radar screen for for some time, but as I'll share over the next few minutes, had some um design and other challenges to overcome that we've been working through to get to this point.

Um this is an 18 uh million dollar investment that will contain 13,000 square feet of commercial space, restaurant retail space that is, and 26 apartments.

Um it involves some new construction of and the adaptive reuse of uh property that would be eligible for special assessment for rehabs historic property.

Uh it's strategically significant to us in that it is um in those critical blocks between church and uh street on Main Street uh between uh church and Denny's Plaza, which we think is an area that is uh significant strategically for the downtown, and importantly, the the developers have secured a letter of intent from uh a very desirable regionally known specialty retailer uh which will which would be a real shot in the arm for the downtown retailing and shopping offerings in the community, and so we're excited about that.

It's a project put together by John Bogknight and Andrew Babb to uh local uh residents with experienced and in uh downtown development projects that have successfully executed uh several projects have been associated with lots of positive activity in our downtown.

What's proposed tonight is is an agreement that would um that would enable the investment, deal with a couple of uh matters related to its sighting and um it involves a ramp up uh schedule of fees in lieu of taxes that begin at 36,500 uh in year one ramping up to uh 193,400 in the in the 20th and final year of the agreement.

And I'll show you some images and and uh address a couple of questions here.

Uh this is uh 109 and 11 East Main are the two addresses that are that are together part of one project.

Um they as I mentioned uh it's part historic restoration and part new construction.

You see the the two um structures there in this this rendering.

There are um four uh at least in my mind, the the architects and developers may characterize it differently.

There are four reasons why uh this project was tricky from a design standpoint.

The first is is the fact that this block of these two blocks of uh East Main uh that sit between um church and Denny's Plaza are long, or it's a very deep block between Maine and Broad.

And that creates a condition in which uh getting use of the uh of the middle section of a very long uh skinny uh uh development project is tough, right?

You got to get natural light in, you gotta get uh uh other challenges um that come with the shape of the of these long blocks.

Um a second uh design challenge that that I think they've artfully and successfully worked through is mixing in the restaurant retail space with the residential space and making high quality residential units uh that can work well with retail space um and commercial space there, and then of course, mixing in new construction um and um historic uh restoration, which is not an easy thing to do.

Somehow I lost uh the pretty pictures.

So you what uh okay.

That's it.

It's a uh it'll take just a moment, but I do want to show you the rest of the rest of that.

And then the fourth uh challenge that they work through on this site is as a long block zero lot line, uh, their challenges for for electrical infrastructure.

So the development agreement involves uh the best case uh remedy for that.

Um so we're pleased that all those ingredients uh could come together um in a way that we think is a very attractive project.

That again, particularly because of its inclusion of um noteworthy addition to our retail uh uh landscape in downtown will be a real shot in the arm for this section of downtown.

Um so our recommendation tonight is for you to uh take first reading uh to the development agreement, which is the current agenda item we're on, and also the same project is the subject matter of item 9A, which immediately follows this item, which is a resolution uh uh authorizing pursuit of state abandoned buildings revitalization act credits.

Um so I will not filibuster longer while the for the images to come up.

I'll just ask Christopher if we think if you think we're heading towards being able to show images.

Don't know.

Okay.

All right.

So if you uh um if uh uh I think the full battery of images was in it was in your packet, but it's always good to show them uh publicly as well.

Um, but certainly welcome any questions uh uh from the council about the project.

Councilwoman Ludajan.

Yes, Chris, for clarity that that's right there, you know where the Carolina Cash building used to be.

Is that the location what this is where you're talking about?

Well, this is so if you were walking from Morgan Square toward Denny's Plaza, you'd pass the um Lime Leaf Restaurant and Oh, it's on that side of the sort of next door to Lime Leaf.

Um those next two addresses are 109 and 11.

So one of them uh and these have been uh underutilized uh uh for quite some time um and hence they're eligible for the abandoned buildings revitalization credits and also important for generating the additional activity.

Okay, but it's still on that side of the street.

The what can we do?

Yes, ma'am, on the south side of Main Street between Maine and Broad.

Okay, it's between the front yard and limelief.

Between freight yard and limelief, that's the best way to say it.

Um and it uh it will have entrances on both broad and um uh main.

So thanks.

Chris.

Yes, uh you got councilman.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um Chris, thank you.

This is a unique project for several reasons, unique locations.

The first thing that we've had that might actually come to fruition on West Maine, uh unique realtor, which we're excited about, and the unique challenges with the utilities and the spacing.

Um, but it's also unique in that it's the first development agreement that we have considered that does not have an affordable or workforce housing component to it.

Um for the last five years at least, or the whole time I've been on council, at least, any time that we've done a tax abatement of FILO, we've required that there be a 10% affordable component.

Um this is a much smaller project, 26 units compared to the 200 plus that we've done.

So I understand that it's um much more difficult to make the numbers work.

Um affordable housing is important, I think, to all of us up here and making sure that that can happen.

And I've been trying to think all day about how to get comfortable with moving forward on both this project and on the affordable piece, and I don't think it's a zero-sum game necessarily, and I know that we've had all of our folks that we work with to run the numbers and to see that that that's not gonna work for this particular project, but a thought that I had um that I'm proposing, I guess, to you and to my colleagues maybe.

Uh, you went over that the philo schedule that ramps up over 20 years.

Is it possible to take and I I'm I'm asking you, I guess, to come back maybe with the with a particular percentage, but is it possible to take a half percent of the fees that we would receive over 10 years, over 20 years to put into our affordable housing trust that way on projects that aren't able to make the numbers work to have the affordable units, we are still investing in affordable housing in the city overall.

Is that something that we uh how would that look with the county and what they would need to approve?

Is there a possibility that just we could move forward with that?

Just curious to your thoughts.

Sure.

And and that is an interesting idea, and in the biggest sense that's consistent with what we're uh trying to do uh with um growing our downtown and making uh our downtown more uh continue to be uh uh more robust economy, more jobs, more opportunity, and and that type of thing.

It's not simply just to grow the tax base, it's right, is to create the the the cast the the long-term effects that come with more jobs, more opportunities, uh more employment, that type of thing, and to provide needed housing at all price points.

But as you mentioned, that this with just with with 26 units and with the internal courtyard structure and the and the um the unique uh design, it really doesn't lend itself very well to that.

Uh but absolutely a portion of the revenue that it creates could be by city council authority alone redirected into uh affordable housing investments.

type of thing and to provide needed housing at all price points but as you mentioned that this with just with with 26 units and with the internal courtyard structure and the and the um the unique uh design it really doesn't lend itself very well to that uh but absolutely a portion of the revenue that it creates could be by city council authority alone redirected into uh affordable housing investments um and that it that same option exists uh with any of the new projects that come forward uh for consideration economic development uh projects so I think we can work with the team and and uh come back and uh and and share some specific thoughts of what that might look like um that is a uh a clever strategy for for dealing with not every project lends itself to the to the kind of workforce housing integration that we've been able to get on several others that were larger in scale councilwoman salley well actually councilwoman megan who's already still my thunda okay well at least two uh two of us are thinking in that that that same day councilman so Chris thank you i and i i understand the unique characteristics of this project i mean it's part historic preservation it's part um new build uh it's you know in cap uh in in that block um with accessibility issues and all the things and so you know i think i think that's an interesting idea i mean i i kind of think we ought to separate that from from our discussion about this this specific project so that we can so that we can move forward uh and i understand the challenges of the economics of this given all of those things um and i'm just pleased that that the conditions have improved to the point that that we can move forward with this i know the developers have long wanted to and as you point out have been have been faced with a number of different challenges but there was never any doubt that they intended to do this and deliver on their their promises and so I think this is this is really exciting for Spartanburg um for for a number of different reasons but as you also pointed out the that portion of our downtown um you know could could use something like this to help further ignite its growth and so when you you know you know add that piece as a conduit between Morgan Square and what's happening with project core all the way down to the grain district you know this this inches us closer and closer to the Denny's plaza and and I think that's exciting and helps um you know kind of eliminate some of the dead gaps that we have in downtown so I'm excited about this and appreciate the developers investing their capital and and uh moving forward with this project definitely excited about the opportunities you know to cross over to church street onto that side as well and I'll ask one more thing for Chris I know you include this because I'm always interested in it but but year one this is a $37,000 contributor to our tax base far in excess of probably what the properties generate currently and then by year 20 I mean we're talking about you know a a real revenue contributor and so you know I think you know we should never lose an opportunity to point to those types of projects as and understand I mean they had a complicated type financing structure with the Bailey credits or or Bailey bill and then historic abandoned his uh credits and and things like that.

And so you know getting to the point where you know we can we can also now see them contribute early on is is really exciting.

I think it it underscores why we do these abatements and why they're important to stimulate growth and and when you look at this compared to you know what's there currently you know I think I think we would all agree that those those abatements are well worth it paid dividends for for generations to come absolutely and when these these assets come online in addition to the uh you know the the retail and restaurant space the additional residents all of that has a positive feedback loop of more spending more activity that benefits uh the adjacent businesses Christopher got the slides back so why don't I show you four images Mr.

Mayor on the question from the mayor pro tener just no no question I just wanted to I agree with Jamie and that you know we've talked to some of the downtown business owners those that are on this east end of Maine and and that's really important is the foot traffic and increasing that foot traffic so really think a project like this is gonna stimulate some of the development going east um you know I understand that this project has taken a while to get here and I understand you know your your thoughts on that as well um but given there has been no activity since the announcement of the the previous development that sort of fell through the cracks I think this is um a good way to to hopefully get some something going in that direction because I know that's a concern a lot of um business owners have have talked about is of that just being completely vacant nothing occurring from you know the the previous agreement that we had so I'm I'm really hopeful and I'm super excited about this project and and what it will bring.

So I'm I'm really hopeful, and I'm super excited about this project and and what it will bring.

And this development will make development of that existing property far more likely sooner rather than later.

Right.

So just want to point out a couple of things about the design.

You see that the new construction elements that are behind the the former facade of or the restored facade of 109, and then if you notice on the right of that, how you can see the balconies from some of the residential units overlooking a courtyard, an internal courtyard.

That's part of dealing with the challenge there.

You can that's a floor plan that just gets you that, but that's another look at how the creativity of dealing with some of these uh long buildings uh to get natural light into the apartment units and light into the to the spaces there.

I just think they did a real good job uh dealing with with that challenge.

This this aerial view down into that open courtyard and how it benefits the the commercial space and the residential space uh is is a nice touch and maybe will help us um as a model for some other projects.

So I just wanted to share those.

Okay, I'm done, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Chris, I just want to get clear on on my question.

I understand that what I'm proposing really has nothing to do with the developer, that's just us allocating a portion that we were already going to receive.

Correct.

If if that is something that is the will of counsel, and I've not talked to any of my colleagues about that, so I apologize for swinging this on them.

Um, but is that something that needs to be inked in this agreement, or that is something that we decide on our own?

I think it can be a separate council decision, and it could come you know soon, um, or it could actually come as part of the budget process of uh in the spring.

Either of those would be certainly fine from a legal perspective.

Okay.

Well, I am in favor of this, and I will be advocating hard for that to allocate funds for our trust for projects that are not able to allocate units.

And one other question, since everyone loves good news and gossip.

What will it take and when can this reveal the name of the realtor?

I mean a retailer.

I don't know the answer to that.

Okay, I know that I it it I know it's not tonight, but I don't know when the imagination running out of the way.

It is a retailer we've had on our radar as a great fit for downtown spark.

Mr.

Mayor I make a motion that we approve the ordinance as uh drafted.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye, that opposed.

I say have it unanimous.

Thank you.

We uh nine resolution resolution um certified five units as an abandoned building site was going to the South Carolina Abandoned Build and Revitalization Act, Title 12, Chapter 60 uh 712 67-0.

Uh presenter, Mr.

Chris Story again.

Uh no new information.

This is another component that's referenced in that development agreement.

This is uh the because it's uh existing uh structure that's been underutilized, it's eligible for some credits against some state taxes.

Um, and they simply require a local government to bless it before the application can be.

Mr.

Mayor, I make a motion we approve.

Second, all in favor, aye.

Any that opposed, eyes have it.

Everybody nine again.

So we have nine B resolution authorizing city manager to execute the settlement agreement related to the clock tower.

Presenter, Mr.

Colin.

Good evening again, Mayor and Council members.

Um the the resolution before you is um requesting your permission to authorize the city manager to execute a settlement agreement that was reached with the plaintiffs in the clock tower suit on um last week.

It uh I'll tell you just just briefly.

Uh we had an extended hearing on Monday morning, and then we engaged in about a day and a half of mediation with the plaintiffs.

They were represented by an able and talented lawyer.

The judge was involved in those mediations, and and we had um myself and several of our team members in the room, and this settlement agreement uh reflects the will of both parties who left that mediation and both were in agreement with it.

So I recommend that you authorize the city manager to execute the uh settlement agreement.

That will resolve the lawsuit in and it'll result in a dismissal of the lawsuit.

And Bob, this the mediation was strongly encouraged by the judge, correct?

It was he was kind enough to actually participate, and he was deeply involved in those conversations, and again, I think every party was well represented and their wishes were heard, and this this settlement agreement reflects uh all parties agreement when we left that room.

But the agreement does not determine location of where the clock tower would be relocated to.

That's correct.

That it retains it in your discretion to um make those decisions down the road after thoughtful and thorough study uh under which you deem the appropriate conditions.

I I'd also encourage public participation in those discussions.

Suggest the same thing in committee or something put together.

I don't know about a committee.

No, but we have an existing committee for the Morgan Square for Morgan Square we do, but we know the land that we own because that's where we would want it to go, so we don't a future council doesn't find themselves in these situations again.

I think we can task council to come back with a preliminary report on what all of our options are and start there, but I think in order to show our good faith, we want to move on this fairly quickly.

Um the land we own is the land we own, so we can at least start there.

I agree with you.

Yeah, I I agree with that.

I mean, I think we need to move.

I mean, we're we're the committee.

Yes, um, and in my mind, and um hopefully staff can can start moving quickly on um you know 2.0 or 3.0, I guess, as it is in this case.

Um Mr.

Mayor, let me yeah, I we I told somebody last week I I think our you know the approach was messy, but the landing was smooth.

Um, you know, and and so I'm glad we were able to get to this to this um to this point in time, and and uh you know I'm just really excited about the future of the clock tower going forward and its new location, which I think will be prominently displayed, and and I think people will be proud of it, uh, as proud of it as they are now, and and as proud of it as they have been.

Um, but but then also we can turn to the positive aspects of Project Core again.

Uh the jobs, the the the new hotels, the new office buildings, the new activity in our in our downtown central business district, and all that it means.

And and it's appropriate that we that we turn our eye toward that, particularly on a night like tonight when we've just talked about another great economic development catalyst project that that will join the new planetarium that opens this week and and uh or learning center, I think as they call it, um, and and and the new city county complex and in the next three to five years.

So, you know, I mean I think I think we now can get back to focus on the momentum that we have as a community and and build excitement around that because it really is something special.

So I'm excited we're we're at this point.

Thank you for those.

And I make a motion.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

I make a motion we approve the settlement.

Agreed.

I second it.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any doubt opposed?

Ayes have it.

Great job.

Thank you.

Other business, we're at award the bid for the H back replacement at C C Woodson Recreation Center.

Presenter Mr.

Tony Maccabee.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Uh we uh will continue uh with this project uh as from last year, which seems to be uh we uh continue sustainability and sustaining our facilities.

CC open 2010, and so with uh it being 2025, most HBA systems are in your 15-year range.

So we did these are the big units that are on top of the uh facility.

So we had six companies to attend the pre-bid meeting.

There were no MWBEs who bidded on it.

There were only two bids who came in to bid on this.

There was LPB of South Carolina and Bill Kirkland, and so we bring uh this uh to you tonight.

LPB of South Carolina was below it, and both of these contractors have done uh extensive work for us uh in the city.

And this is just a continuation of doing it.

You just don't want to replace everything at one time and everything go out.

So portion of it was done last year.

We kind of staged it.

We we've got a couple more units we'll probably come, might not have to see you next year because that hopefully that number, but if we do, we'll come see you.

But we should be finished with CC Woodson in about another year.

And do they come with any kind of warranty?

Warranty.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, we put that that that is in the packet that they have to supply the warranty.

And really, you wouldn't believe it.

The the biggest the big cost in this is when the contractor has to have a crane.

So we don't own a crane yet to see anybody.

They have to tie in the crane.

There's a big expense in that.

Okay.

But we're doing our due diligence.

We're we're your building maintenance staff, and we'll bring it to you.

Okay.

Mr.

Mayor.

Yes.

I uh make a motion that we uh accept the reward for the bid for the HVAC replacement.

I second that.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any that opposed?

Thank you.

I said thank you, Mr.

McCabe.

What was your time in the Josh Lee 5K?

I knew you knew right off the bat.

All right, where are we?

So that should have been to services provided annual on site uh by your uh fighters.

Uh uh, Mr.

Starks.

Assistant fire chief.

Uh good evening, Mayor Council.

Thank you for having me to come before you do this evening.

Um, we are requesting approval for award uh for our annual firefighter physicals under a three-year contract um for to be uh awarded to life scan wellness centers out of Florida.

They were the effective low bidder based on specifications of the um bid package that we put out publicly.

Was anything different that uh what we're going with the life scan?

Uh no, they're the ones that uh not only were the effective low bidder uh but they were the ones that met every component of the specifications for our fight firefighter physicals because they are very specific and they have to come on site.

Okay, and Chief Stark, that's who we use currently.

I guess correct?

Yes, and the the ultrasound of the organs, all of that is part of it.

Nothing's changing.

We're just essentially renewing the bid.

That's correct, yes.

Um, I know that those have saved some of our firefighters' lives and finding cancer when might not have otherwise.

So I'm really glad that we can offer that service to our team.

We've had findings every year since we've moved life scan uh versus previous uh vendors.

Yeah.

That's great.

Good.

Well, I make a motion that we accept a bit that's been presented.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any of that opposed?

Ayes have it.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Staff update.

Mr.

Mayor, I have four items I'd like to to cover, and then I'll be uh happy to answer any questions that you may have.

First is uh we were some good news to follow along uh with tonight's prior discussion related to uh affordable housing and and making sure that we have a mix of incomes uh um in our housing stock um and particularly downtown.

Uh as you recall, we have uh we as part of an agreement with uh uh developer um uh involving the what is now a grass lawn on the southeastern um edge of the Kennedy Street parking garage.

So at the corner of uh Kennedy Street and Converse Street, we have now competed three times uh for low-income housing tax credits for uh approximately 50 units that would sort of be connected to the garage there and built out to uh on the corner of that garage.

And I can finally say that the project has won and uh the rigor through the through the rigorous South Carolina housing finance process, so that project is now a go.

It'll be moving into the uh to the to the next phase of work.

Um it's significant to us from a staff level in that it brings um uh additional affordable housing uh to the downtown in a location that is complementary to other objectives, and it's right here in the heart of downtown.

Um, and we think it'll be an attractive high quality uh project.

So we're what other projects uh in the city have we won that or been awarded that grant?

Uh well we've over the years we've we we've had different projects win LiveTech credits a number of times.

Um there are two pipelines, two baskets of of LITEC credits to compete for.

One is uh senior specific, and the other is a more general population.

This one in the more general population.

The the last win we had prior to that uh was on the north side for some senior uh housing.

Uh the Ellington uh one.

Yeah, the the other one that's under construction now, which have the blanket on the name uh but uh where the Fremont Street where the dialysis are both uh senior LITEC developments um and uh and so this is our first win in a while in the non-senior category.

Um but it's a uh I'm excited to we'll I mean it'll of course be back in front of you as it takes its next step, but that's the real gate that it is clear.

Um second update was is related to uh our additional effort and accommodations to ensure that uh the surface parking coming offline in different parts to enable uh uh some of our downtown construction projects um is minimally disruptive to our businesses.

We've had we've got a week under our belts of the valet service and it's going well.

Um shuttle service will launch in coming days uh that will involve helping folks uh get around uh the core of our downtown uh conveniently uh in a golf cart style, not a golf cart per se, but a that style of vehicle.

Um and uh so those uh those two supports are up and running, and um uh so far so good in this transition uh of away from um dependence on surface parking uh to move towards full utilization of our 3,000 plus uh uh parking garage spaces.

And then the fourth uh activity I wanted to comment on uh and Councilman Fulmer already touched on it.

I've I've had the opportunity uh to tour the planetarium, as I know some of you all have and the public opening for that is this Friday.

Um and I just wanted to encourage any anyone present tonight and those who uh uh who may be watching online uh I wish they could feel the excitement I feel about that project.

Uh that is just about the coolest thing we could be adding to our downtown right now in so many ways.

It uh the Sparmer County library system is as good as there is in the country, and to be only the the second library system in the country to have a facility like this is uh that is truly fully public is is just an awesome day for our for our downtown and and I just wanted to express the on behalf of the city staff team our appreciation to Todd Stevens and his team and all of the folks that have been involved in bringing that really world-class destination to the community, and so folks need to check it out Friday.

Uh it is awesome.

Um, and it will generate uh a whole lot of uh uh additional positive activity uh for not just young people for any lifelong learner and creative individual in our community can find uh something positive there.

And I'm just uh I I feel like it's Christmas come early with that project.

Uh so if y'all have any additional questions, I'd be happy to try to answer.

I'll be trying to get out.

Sorry.

No, you're good.

You're good.

All right.

Now we have council updates.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um not an update, but a few comments from me.

Um I've been thinking a lot about what to say tonight.

I've been very troubled and very bothered this last month um with the different conversations that we've had or that have been happening in this room, and more importantly, the way that those conversations have translated online.

And I try to be empathetic as someone I also shared tonight, and see those comments for individual folks, and I've I've learned a lot and I've thought a lot about our social fabric.

That's a phrase that we use and talk about at my job a lot.

And I have felt that social fabric pulling nationally for a while now, but locally in a way that I haven't in a in a ever really before.

And there's a quote that I wanted to read from John Dewey.

Some of y'all who are old enough might remember the Dewey Decimal system and going to find him at the library.

But he's the father of modern education.

But this I think sums up what we are trying to accomplish up here, and what I think is gonna be harder, that we're gonna have to fight harder and harder to preserve.

But it says a society is a number of people held together because they are working along common lines in a common spirit, and with reference to common aims.

The common needs and aims demand a growing interchange of thought and growing unity of sympathetic feeling.

That they need to be tarred and feathered out of town, as many people have said about us uh this past month, that we need to be eliminated.

But I can disagree with all of these people up here and trust that we are all working toward a common aim and a common good, and that we all want what is best for Spartanburg.

We have different ways of getting there.

We hear so much that Spartanburg is different, that there's something that's different about our community, and I believe that that is true, but that is not inherent.

That is something that we are gonna have to continue to re-earn and re-learn and continue to fight for.

Thank you.

Yes, but first let me comment on council member Smith's comments.

I am glad that we work well together, but we just beat us, we just beat each other up in the back and come out.

I am so proud of the council members that I work with.

You know, we get along very well.

Um I have a few things here that I want to bring up.

I uh wanted to congratulate the Mike Fowler on his um the thing that he has going, and I tried to find that.

I told him that I would be there Friday, and I was all over that place and trying to find it, and I asked the neighbors next door, and they didn't know where he was.

So I've got to go back again and try to find his location because I promised him that I would be there, and I'd I was not, and I want to congratulate all of the graduates, although they are not here to hear me now.

And I want to congratulate Council Member Smith on your recognition that you got on the Neville, you know, that long list of recognition that you got.

I congratulate you on that, and you are worthy of it.

I really admire you because and all that you accomplished.

Um also want to congratulate Laura Ringo on her uh 20 years at PAL.

She is a hard worker too.

I attended a spot and high's school board on the six, and I'm not going to comment on that.

Okay, I won't comment on that.

And then I want to remind you all that early voting starts October the 20th.

And I encourage you to please go out and vote.

I know that there are so many people that say that they vote, but you know they are records showing, you know, that whether you voted or not, you know, you don't know who you voted for, but you know whether you voted.

So I encourage people to please please go out and vote in this election.

Um we have because someone here that is running.

So uh I don't know if you can qualify to vote in her district, but please go out and vote.

Okay, and the planetarian, because you've already mentioned that.

And the last thing that I want to say is that something something that has really really bothered me.

And I see all of the people that show up to speak for different things, and I admire you all for coming out to speak because it means a lot because when you see people that are passionate about things that they believe in that they are coming out to speak about it.

But the thing that concerns me, and it continues to bother me, is for a baby to get killed in its bed at 3 a.m.

And nobody says anything.

It's like everybody is quiet about this.

I don't know what is going on, but if we can live with something like that, and nobody says anything, there is something wrong with our society, and uh I am deeply troubled by it.

I am deeply deeply troubled by that.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

We appreciate it.

Council War Massell.

Thank you all for coming out tonight.

Yeah, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, just a couple of quick things.

I mentioned the the planetarium, and I hope everybody comes out on Friday.

That's that's really exciting.

Um also I had the the privilege of representing council today at the ribbon cutting for the new uh newest restaurant in downtown, downtown pizza um on Magnolia Street.

Um I didn't get a chance to try it, but it looks fabulous.

I encourage everybody to go.

Uh it's a great new space and a good job of renovating that.

And and you know, we talk about a lot of things related to you know, Morgan Square and everything around uh Project Core.

But if you haven't been to Magnolia Street lately, um you need to go down there.

Uh new restaurants are popping up, new retail's popping up along there.

It it's a happening spot, and and uh is an indication of of more of what's to come for our downtown in the next uh several years, and and it's it's extremely exciting.

Good mayor pro temp Mr.

Mayor, um congratulations, Megan.

Excited for this new can you say what the name of the board is.

It's it's a statewide fellowship.

There's 18 of us called the Hunt Fellows.

Um, those of us that are elected at the local level to talk about education in a bipartisan manner.

So we had our first time talking about early childhood education, then we'll talk about K-12 and then post-secondary.

Well, we're excited that you'll be representing us.

Um had I'm excited about the planetarium, sad to miss the opening.

We will be out of town, we leave Friday morning.

Um, so I will miss the mayor's walk.

Um had the opportunity um to attend my we won't say what number, but Wafford Homecoming this year, and it was a great weekend.

It was beautiful weather.

So many of my classmates that came in town for for this event are just blown away at what Spartanburg has become and all of the growth.

I'm I mean, it they are just like what is happening.

This is so amazing.

So it was really exciting to see um them be so excited when when we didn't really have anything to do.

I'm aging myself.

Um so it was really exciting.

Um, and um I'm just glad that they got up to to be a part of seeing that.

Um Ruth, to your point about the you know, your young child that was murdered, um, you know, this this past weekend, um, there's a mass shooting in my hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina.

You all may be familiar and have heard about it on St.

Helena Island, which is just a few miles from where I grew up.

Um, and it made me think, you know, we receive these crime index reports every month.

Um, and we need to do better.

Um I was going and reading through the the crime stats, and one of them was about the um number of guns that have been stolen since up through you know, Jan 1 through September.

And of a hundred and eight of those weapons, 44, which is 41% of those guns were stolen from unlocked vehicles.

Unlocked vehicles.

If you don't know how to responsibly have a weapon, you should not have one.

I mean, it's just I cannot when I think about these young people and and some of the events that have have happened since I wonder in my I go to bed at night and I'm like, I wonder if one of the weapons used is one is one of these stolen weapons, and it keeps me up at night.

I don't know what the answer is, but it it does keep me up at night, and it pains me to see that we have so many people that um settle their differences by way of violence.

Um and we we have to do better, we must do better.

Um, and you know, if you are one of those individuals who has had your weapon stolen from your unlocked vehicle, you are a part of the problem.

You need to be a part of the solution.

If you are going to my parents are retired Marines, my father has an arsenal.

I'm just being honest.

It it is he is an outdoorsman, he's a hunter, he's all of the things.

There is a safe in our home that is larger than this here.

I mean, it takes actual machinery to remove it from the home.

But he's responsible gun owner.

And we just we need to do better.

Um, please do not be a part of the problem and and contribute to the this problem.

Please be a part of your solution this solution.

Um get involved, um, and and lock up your weapons if you're if you're gonna have one.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

And uh thank you all for all of the comments.

Uh a couple quick things, not necessarily quick, but since we are talking about the violence piece, uh, Megan, thank you for your comments on the hate uh and the in the reactions we've gotten these last couple of uh council meetings.

I was gonna have this long drawn out, but you you said it well.

I mean, and and we are up here doing what we feel is in the best interest of Spartanburg.

Um, and we have been elected to these positions, and that's that's why we sit in these seats, that's why we serve and and and do what we do.

So again, staff make recommendations to um the mayor and council, and it's just their recommendation.

We make the final vote.

It's not about staff.

This is not about uh other individuals that may play a part.

Uh we we are the ones that have been elected to make these decisions and and to cast these votes.

Um and I know that does come with some criticism, uh, but but not to where, like you said, we need to be eliminated.

Wow.

That's crazy.

Um stop the violence.

I don't know if you guys noticed the uh young men and and young ladies that came in.

Uh we have Miss Uh Tess Thompson, Miss Karen Beasley, Miss Lily Green, Miss Angela uh Edwards, and some young men with the uh stop the violence uh um coalition that are here, and they've had um um opportunities where we've had meetings, we've had sit-downs, we've talked about the gang violence, we've talked about um marching over in uh Collins Park.

We've talked about and just uh had a brunch with Miss Beasley of about the the life that are lost here, and and so thank you all for being here today.

And we we definitely want to talk with those young men um uh here following.

So thank you all for being here.

Thank you.

Um ladies too.

I I just mentioned their names.

I called out these young ladies.

I called them out by name.

I just do happen to know all of them, so thank you for that.

Uh so uh stop the violent coalition, thank you for coming out.

Uh national night out was was major.

Um we had 14 different sites that that had uh uh um an opportunity to participate in national night out.

Uh Shay and I made 13.

We didn't make all 14.

Um but we did was the one you didn't make.

Across the street.

I didn't see it.

Okay, don't do it call me.

Ask your son.

Ask your son.

Yeah.

Oh, ho ho ho.

Don't call me out like that.

And I won't share which one we didn't make, but that was an awesome, awesome event.

And I and I share that piece to say the information that was given out.

Not only from PD, not only from the neighborhood, but we had a young lady that works for us now, works for the city now, that gave information to a friend of hers about one of Miss Beasley's that well, not one of her events, the event she shared.

She had on this past Saturday.

And the information came and they had lost children.

And I won't go into all the details, but they needed that group.

They needed that space for themselves to talk about that grief.

And Miss Beasley, thank you.

Thank you.

Oh Jones, Joe Jones, uh man, my uh buddy of mine.

I mean, because I I am so sorry.

Uh I am so sorry.

Joe Jones and Joe are gonna get me.

That's Joe's wife.

Joe is definitely gonna get me.

Um thank you for correcting me too, because I kept saying pizza.

And um Fire Fireman uh had their open house on on yesterday.

Uh cheat, thank you.

Uh well, well received.

I know when we were there early on, very well received.

Shay was crawling through the little smoke and and all that on all fours.

And um, so so I appreciate her participating.

Uh police open house this coming Saturday.

Police open house this coming Saturday from 8 to 12.

Um ribbon cutting.

Where's the mayor?

Miles with the mayor is the last thing.

Slow your roll, slow your roll.

Spartago is it is on.

If you guys have not uh utilized Sparta Go yet, please do, please, ma'am, please serve us a uh a service that we are providing uh here in Spartanburg, and uh it's an awesome opportunity.

And if you have not um participated, uh please do just uh another uh service within inside the city.

One of our favorite events is International Festival.

International Festival was also had just a week uh a couple weeks ago, and uh we had a great time at the international festival.

Uh the fair I think leaves tonight or tomorrow uh if you hadn't gone to the fair.

And last but not least, if you come to Miles with the Mayor, nine o'clock Saturday morning.

We will meet uh on Morgan Square.

Our uh tour will take us down to the planetarium.

So if you do not have an opportunity to make it Friday, that's what you get for leaving out of town.

Uh we we will have an opportunity to walk in and see the planetarium during the miles with the mayor walk uh this coming Saturday at 9 o'clock.

So uh I think that's all for me.

And again, thank you all for being here.

I know if you didn't catch that spider high school beat dormant uh this past and and as far as Erica's homecoming, I think it was 35.

I don't know.

Just kidding.

Just kidding.

Having a good time tonight, guys.

Thank you all for being here, and I definitely love seeing our young people.

I know uh Tony Sutton uh has her granddaughter, and I know we uh always see uh uh yes, always with his uh kids and young folks and the young men we mentioned earlier in the college students.

So thank you all for being here.

Do I hear a motion?

Make a motion that we adjourned.

All in favor, let's go home.

Thank you.

You out.