OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Spartanburg City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025

City Council Meetings — Monday, November 10, 2025
BodySpartanburg, South Carolina
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, November 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:16:03

Transcript — Verbatim
1:51

Let us bring the uh wow slow the uh Spartanburg City Council meeting to order.

1:59

We're gonna stand for a moment of silence, and as we stand for a moment of silence, just remember all of those that we recognize Veteran Day on tomorrow.

2:10

I know we have um Councilwoman Little John's husband Horace, uh Mayor Pro Tim Parents, uh, as well as Councilwoman Sally, husband Roland were all served.

2:24

So thank them for our service for their service to this community, any of you in our audience, thank you as well.

2:31

Moment of silence.

2:42

Amen.

2:46

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands my nation, honor God, and peaceful with liberty and justice for all.

3:07

Thank you.

3:08

Item three, we have approval of the amendments for the October twenty-seventh twenty twenty-five City Council meeting.

3:15

Second.

3:16

All in favor.

3:17

Aye.

3:17

Any that oppose, I have it.

3:20

Item thirty item four, approval of the agenda for the November tenth, twenty twenty-five City Council meeting.

3:27

Summoned.

3:27

Second.

3:28

All in favor?

3:29

Aye.

3:29

And then oppose.

3:31

Thank you.

3:32

Public comments.

3:33

We have a round five or so.

3:36

So the way this worked, um, when you come up, please give us your name and your address.

3:42

And once you give us your address, speak on the topic you have written down, you have two minutes.

3:48

So, um Adrian, come on up, buddy.

3:55

Uh, my name is Adrian Wilmot.

3:57

I'm from 411 Forest Avenue.

3:59

I'm a resident of Sparnburg, South Carolina, and I'm addressing a city council this evening regarding the potential to change the current recycling schedule, which is set on a bi-weekly schedule, and hopefully we can get a change to a weekly schedule, which would be, of course, more efficient and would decrease frustration among residents who are currently enrolled in the program.

4:18

As I said before, the current program unfortunately is inefficient and increases frustration among residents as residents within the first week of recycling have are usually filling their recycling bins up.

4:31

And due to the current schedule stating that it is two to three weeks for collection due to the last week of the month being set on the Monday, residents have to wait, of course, three weeks to have their recycling collected.

4:44

A current recycling schedule for a weekly basis would of course reduce frustration and would be more efficient, as instead of course waiting for two weeks to have their recycling collected, residents would then, of course, have to only worry about a weekly collection for recycling.

5:04

This would, of course, um also negate the fact of um potentially discarding materials as waste for recycling collection.

5:17

As some residents are, of course, due to it being waiting two to three weeks, or instead discarding some of their materials that could be recycled as risk.

5:27

Additionally, some residents have also taken upon themselves to order an additional recycling bin at their expense.

5:35

And due to, of course, not having a weekly scheduled pickup.

5:40

A weekly scheduled pickup, of course, would be more efficient.

5:43

It would help a lot of residents out as they do not have to worry about having their recycling collected on a bi-weekly basis.

5:52

Thank you very much for listening to my proposal, and hopefully we can get a change to a weekly schedule.

5:57

Thank you.

6:05

Next up is meeting in the Michael Moon.

6:08

Hello, everyone is the Maya Woods.

6:10

Lamaya, pull that mic over a little bit.

6:12

There you go.

6:13

Thank you.

6:13

Okay, my name is Lamaya Woods.

6:15

My address is 470 Hodge Drive.

6:17

I'm a student at USC Upstate.

6:19

As a student at UFC Upstate, I've dealt with the struggle of finding affordable housing near campus.

6:24

While I have a complex like Valley and Alden, the reality is that the options are too expensive for the average college student.

6:32

On campus housing is limited to only two dorms and one apartment style dorm, and they feel very quickly, leaving many students without realistic choices.

6:40

This forces students into a tough position.

6:42

We balance tuition books, groceries, and more needed necessities while working full-time jobs with classes, or while paying rent that often exceeds 1200 a month in Spartanburg.

6:53

For many of us, that is difficult.

6:54

Sharing rooms or having multiple roommates can lower the cost, but it also creates its own challenges.

7:00

Overcrowded housing impacts our ability to focus risk and succeed academically.

7:05

The lack of affordable options also increase the number of commuters.

7:09

Many students have to drive 30 minutes or more to campus East Day for classes.

7:13

This not only adds to financial screen on gas and car maintenance, but it can contributes to traffic congestion and environmental impact.

7:21

The community have risk of target the commuters have risk of tardiness because of traffic or city construction, which can cause academic performance to decrease since professors penalized for missing class.

7:34

Affordable housing near the campus would reduce these issues and allow students to interact with the campus life.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Procedural████████████████16%
Veterans Affairs█████████9%
Public Health████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Economic Development███████7%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Spartanburg City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025

The Spartanburg City Council met on November 10, 2025, to address routine approvals, public comments, a community health update, and several administrative items. The meeting opened with a moment of silence honoring veterans ahead of Veterans Day, followed by approval of previous meeting minutes and the agenda. Public comments covered recycling frequency, affordable student housing, veterans appreciation, neighborhood character and zoning, and a public health call to vote. The council approved calendar changes, a board appointment, a bid for airport hangar floor installation, and an update to the business license ordinance. City staff provided updates on Veterans Day events, the opening of the emergency cold shelter, and clarifications on park improvements and SNAP benefits.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of amendments for the October 27, 2025 City Council meeting: passed unanimously.
  • Approval of the agenda for the November 10, 2025 meeting: passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Adrian Wilmot (411 Forest Avenue) expressed frustration with the current bi-weekly recycling schedule and requested a weekly collection to reduce buildup and illegal dumping. He noted that some residents buy extra bins at their own expense.
  • Lamaya Woods (470 Hodge Drive), a student at USC Upstate, described the difficulty of finding affordable housing near campus. She cited rents over $1,200/month, limited on‑campus housing, and long commutes that hurt academic performance. She asked the council to encourage policies and partnerships for affordable student housing.
  • Brent Cobb, Director of Spartan County Veterans Affairs, reminded the council of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Veterans Day parade on November 11 at 4 p.m. He thanked the community for honoring veterans and their families.
  • Andy Drott (525 Parent Drive), representing Strong Towns Spartanburg, praised Porchfest and the Hampton Heights neighborhood as a model of diverse housing, noting that current zoning would make such variety illegal. He urged the council to follow the comprehensive plan’s housing goals.
  • Dr. Octavia Amechi (108 Candler Place), a family physician and candidate for Commission of Public Works, framed voting as a public health intervention. She highlighted the upcoming runoff election on November 18 and noted that early voting runs Wednesday through Friday that week.

Discussion Items

  • Amend 2025 Council Calendar & Approve 2026 Calendar (Presenter: City Clerk Christy Lindsey): The December 8 meeting was moved to December 15 to avoid a conflict with County Council. The 2026 calendar (with meetings in blue, holidays in red) was presented and approved. Councilmember Jamie asked about communicating the change to the public; staff agreed to coordinate with communications. The city does not observe Veterans Day as a holiday. Approved unanimously.
  • Board Appointment – Public Safety Board (Presenter: Christy Lindsey): Angela Jeter was recommended and appointed, meeting all qualifications. Approved unanimously.
  • Live Healthy Spartanburg Update (Presenter: Jaleesa Jordan, Coalition Manager): Jordan presented the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment, highlighting:
    • A 17‑year life expectancy gap within three miles (68.2 years on north side vs. 85 years on east side).
    • Approximately 40,000 uninsured residents in Spartanburg County.
    • 13% of residents are food insecure.
    • Opioid overdose deaths increased 40% since 2021; 153 deaths in 2022; county ranks 15th out of 46 for substance misuse.
    • 14 census tracts rated “very low” for child opportunity; nearly 15,000 children live below the federal poverty level.
    • Priority areas: access to care, behavioral health, healthy eating/active living, and resilient children and families. Jordan noted the full report will be released early 2026 and invited the council to align city strategies. Discussion followed on data breakdown by census tract and specific policy recommendations (e.g., mixed‑use agreements for playgrounds). Councilwoman Smith requested more granular city‑specific data.
  • Award Bid for Hangar D Floor System Installation (Presenter: Terry Connington): The project replaces the floor in an airport hangar built in 1970. The lowest bid was from Southern Painting. Funding comes 100% from the Department of Commerce for Economic Development. Councilmembers asked about qualifications and references; staff explained the bid process included site visits and references. Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance to Amend Business License Ordinance (Presenters: Chris Story, City Manager; Dennis Locke, Finance Director): The update rebalances business license rates every two years per Act 176 of 2020, using federal NAICS data. This update is expected to reduce revenue by about $90,000 annually if the same businesses were unchanged, but growth is expected to offset. Only a small number of businesses are affected. Council expressed concern about communication to affected firms; staff said renewal packets include explanations. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • December City Council meeting moved from December 8 to December 15, 2025.
  • 2026 City Council calendar approved as presented.
  • Angela Jeter appointed to the Public Safety Board.
  • Hangar D floor installation bid awarded to Southern Painting (amount not specified but accepted as lowest bid).
  • Business license ordinance amended to update class schedules; revenue impact estimated at ~$90,000 reduction if static.
  • Positions open on Hospitality Committee, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Stormwater Committee (noted by City Clerk).
  • Runoff election reminder: November 18, 2025, for Commission of Public Works and City Council District 2.

Staff Update & City Council Updates

  • City Manager Chris Story reminded of the Veterans Day parade at 4 p.m. on November 11 traveling north on Church Street.
  • The emergency cold shelter opened that night, operated by County Emergency Services.
  • Regarding the recycling request: Story explained that the current schedule (bi‑weekly recycling, weekly garbage) is the most efficient with existing fleet. Switching to weekly recycling would require additional trucks and crews. He also noted the city does not accept glass because no regional processor currently handles it, though the city would revisit if economics change.
  • Councilwoman Smith asked about misinformation regarding park improvements (pickleball courts at Duncan Park). Story clarified that the funding was from ARPA and other sources, allocated over a year ago, and not connected to any SNAP benefit threats. He also updated on SNAP: the city is collaborating with county partners to support food banks, with emphasis on mobilizing the city.
  • Story reported that Spartanburg Housing held two meetings on November 10 with tenants of Archibald Rutledge Apartments regarding recent issues; the COO offered to meet individually with any tenant with unaddressed needs, and contractors will perform work in the coming days.
  • Councilmember updates included congratulations to re‑elected members, thanks to veterans, recognition of the passing of community volunteer Elsie Wright, and a reminder about early voting from Wednesday to Friday of that week.
  • Councilwoman Smith noted that she works at St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic (162 North Dean Street), which serves uninsured residents of Spartanburg County earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

Other Business

  • The next “Miles with the Mayor” will be at the Christmas parade. The meeting adjourned into executive session.

Meeting Transcript

Let us bring the uh wow slow the uh Spartanburg City Council meeting to order. We're gonna stand for a moment of silence, and as we stand for a moment of silence, just remember all of those that we recognize Veteran Day on tomorrow. I know we have um Councilwoman Little John's husband Horace, uh Mayor Pro Tim Parents, uh, as well as Councilwoman Sally, husband Roland were all served. So thank them for our service for their service to this community, any of you in our audience, thank you as well. Moment of silence. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands my nation, honor God, and peaceful with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Item three, we have approval of the amendments for the October twenty-seventh twenty twenty-five City Council meeting. Second. All in favor. Aye. Any that oppose, I have it. Item thirty item four, approval of the agenda for the November tenth, twenty twenty-five City Council meeting. Summoned. Second. All in favor? Aye. And then oppose. Thank you. Public comments. We have a round five or so. So the way this worked, um, when you come up, please give us your name and your address. And once you give us your address, speak on the topic you have written down, you have two minutes. So, um Adrian, come on up, buddy. Uh, my name is Adrian Wilmot. I'm from 411 Forest Avenue. I'm a resident of Sparnburg, South Carolina, and I'm addressing a city council this evening regarding the potential to change the current recycling schedule, which is set on a bi-weekly schedule, and hopefully we can get a change to a weekly schedule, which would be, of course, more efficient and would decrease frustration among residents who are currently enrolled in the program. As I said before, the current program unfortunately is inefficient and increases frustration among residents as residents within the first week of recycling have are usually filling their recycling bins up. And due to the current schedule stating that it is two to three weeks for collection due to the last week of the month being set on the Monday, residents have to wait, of course, three weeks to have their recycling collected. A current recycling schedule for a weekly basis would of course reduce frustration and would be more efficient, as instead of course waiting for two weeks to have their recycling collected, residents would then, of course, have to only worry about a weekly collection for recycling. This would, of course, um also negate the fact of um potentially discarding materials as waste for recycling collection. As some residents are, of course, due to it being waiting two to three weeks, or instead discarding some of their materials that could be recycled as risk. Additionally, some residents have also taken upon themselves to order an additional recycling bin at their expense. And due to, of course, not having a weekly scheduled pickup. A weekly scheduled pickup, of course, would be more efficient. It would help a lot of residents out as they do not have to worry about having their recycling collected on a bi-weekly basis. Thank you very much for listening to my proposal, and hopefully we can get a change to a weekly schedule. Thank you. Next up is meeting in the Michael Moon. Hello, everyone is the Maya Woods. Lamaya, pull that mic over a little bit. There you go. Thank you. Okay, my name is Lamaya Woods. My address is 470 Hodge Drive. I'm a student at USC Upstate. As a student at UFC Upstate, I've dealt with the struggle of finding affordable housing near campus. While I have a complex like Valley and Alden, the reality is that the options are too expensive for the average college student. On campus housing is limited to only two dorms and one apartment style dorm, and they feel very quickly, leaving many students without realistic choices.

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