Let us bring the City of Spartanburg City Council meeting to order.

We're gonna stand for a moment of silence, and then we're gonna be led by the pledge of allegiance by the uh Dukes and Duchess, Baron and Baroness, uh princes and prince and princesses, Jack and Gill here with Spartanburg in a pledge of allegiance.

You guys are gonna lead us, okay?

All right, let's stand for a moment of silence.

So you guys gonna tell us what to do.

Do we have one one specific that can come up with good?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, which is just one nation, by God, and this school with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Before we go to item three, uh, I I will have an opportunity to speak tomorrow about civic engagement.

And just to the young people that are here today, I want you to know what you're doing here today, this evening is truly civic engagement.

Finding out what's going on in your city, listening to elected officials and also willing to make a change wherever you know it may happen for you at school or at church or in the playgrounds.

But uh I want you guys to know that it's great to see you all coming and uh that you are making a difference here in Spartanburg.

So thank you for being here tonight.

So with that we have item three.

The swearing in of City Council member Erica Brown.

So uh Erica, she gonna take her time going down.

The honorable Erica Brown, Councilwoman of District uh six.

Oath of office administered by Miss Natalie uh Britz Brown.

Assisted by Abigail Riley.

Hi, Erica Brown, do you solemnly swear?

That I am duly qualified according to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina to exercise the duties of the office.

And that I will to the best of my ability.

Discharge the duties thereof.

And preserve, protect, and defend.

And preserve, protect, and defend.

The constitution of this state.

The constitution of this state.

And the United States of America.

And the United States of America.

And I do further solemnly swear.

And I do further solemnly swear.

That as a council member for the municipality of Spartan.

That as a council member for the municipality of Spartanburg.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

To the best of my ability and skill.

To the best of my ability and skill.

Exercise the trust.

Exercise the trust.

Proposed.

Proposed in me.

And I will use my best endeavors to preserve.

And I will use my best endeavors to preserve the peace, support, and defend.

The peace deport support and defend.

The interest of the citizens of this city.

The interest of the citizens of the city.

And carry into effect.

And carry into effect.

According to the law.

According to the law.

The purposes for which I've been elected.

The purposes for which I've been elected.

Thanks.

Had to go and make sure that I had my own special day.

Be amongst my colleagues and everyone here today.

First and foremost, thank you.

Thank you to the voters of Spartanburg City and especially District 6 for placing your trust in me once again.

I'm deeply grateful for your support, your confidence, and the opportunity to continue serving our community.

Serving on Spartanburg City Council has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life.

From the very beginning, you welcomed me into your neighborhoods, shared your hopes and concerns, and challenged me to lead with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

Every conversation, every phone call, every vote has mattered, and I carry that with me in the decisions that I make.

Together, we've made real progress.

We've expanded housing opportunities, supported economic growth, invested in public safety, improved our infrastructure, and worked to create pathways to our youth and families to thrive.

None of this happened alone.

It has happened because of the collaboration with residents, neighborhood leaders, small businesses, nonprofits, city staff, and community partners who care deeply about Spartanburg.

But tonight is not just about looking back, it's about looking forward.

As Spartanburg continues to grow, I remain committed to ensuring that District 6 grows with it through inclusive development, equitable investment, strong neighborhoods, and opportunities that reach every corner of our community.

There's still work to do, and I'm energized, ready, and determined to keep delivering results for you.

Thank you for believing in this vision.

Thank you for showing up for voting and being active partners in shaping the future of I of our city.

I'm honored by your trust, humbled by your support, and excited for what we will accomplish together.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Erica.

Item four, we have approval of the minutes of the January 12th, 2025 City Council meeting.

2026 City Council meeting.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Anyone oppose?

I have it.

Item five, approval of the agenda for February the uh 9th, 2026 City Council meeting.

So move.

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any other pose?

Eyes have it.

Public comment.

We do have one.

Um and the way it works is that when you come up, and Miss Sutton, I'll just address you and anyone that gives public comment comments.

Just give us your name.

You don't have to go through your address or numbers anymore.

We have that here.

We don't want to put that out.

But you have two minutes to uh state what's on your name and what's on your mind and uh what you want us to hear.

So come on up, Miss Sudden.

So you don't put that one away.

You made me go through all this, and I'm looking at that.

Thank you.

Uh thank you for being here.

So I don't have any others, unless I'm missing Linda Jones, and Paul Bailey.

Paul.

Okay.

Those were from uh the previous meeting that was canceled, so we didn't know if they would show up tonight or not.

So no public comment tonight.

Item seven, we have 2025 crime stats and police crime and policing uh statistics.

Chief Alonzo Thompson, Sponberg uh Police Department, Deputy Chief Jennifer Kendall, and I do see Major Art Ludigan over there as well.

Chief, it's on you.

Honorable mayor, distinguished counsel.

Uh it's my pleasure to come and present the Sparbury Police Department 2025 crime report.

Uh let's see here.

Hopefully the Gremlins won't get me today.

All right, here we go.

This first graphic that you will see will show for the past 29 years the benchmark crimes for our city.

And but the focus is on those in that that square or rectangular block to your right, which is the past 10 years.

Last year is the best overall numbers during that time period, and in fact, it's the best numbers we've experienced the past 29 years in our city.

And I will say this from the very beginning.

Policing and partnership isn't just a memo on the side of our cars.

This reduction is due to the work that we've done with individuals, neighborhood associations, different entities, business communities throughout our city.

So thank I'd like to thank everyone.

Last time I spoke here, I'd asked people to help us not just uh complete the puzzle but turn over the puzzles pieces where we can see it, and we've definitely had people being involved because we cannot successfully operate in a vacuum and do the job we do without our citizen engagement, involvement, and participation.

So thank you very much.

The next slide pertains to again the benchmark crimes, and again, you'll see 2016 to 2025.

Uh those numbers pretty much plateau us, but there was a noticeable reduction in 2025 regarding crimes against persons, as you can see by the dip of that top or yellow or goldish line.

Um, but I do acknowledge these past been years, these past years have somewhat plateaued or been steady, but we did see some noticeable improvement.

I'm sorry, can you hear me now?

Is that better?

Sorry.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Normally they let me do just one thing as part of 10 years within the past 29 years worth of benchmarks crimes, which will include your shoplifting, theft from vehicle, and other property crimes.

There was a significant reduction in shoplifting and theft from motor vehicles and other types of property crimes like malicious injury to property, as you can see by that.

Particularly about the other property, which has a more dramatic increase in this graph.

The 10-year index crimes.

First, let me just define what index crimes are.

The FBI advised the index crimes comprised of murder, non-negligent manslaughter, robbery, forcible rape, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, including shoplifting, and motor vehicle theft and arson.

Uh, how was in 2018 the past 10 years with 3,072 uh incidents reported?

And you see how low in 2025 is 2,148.

So this was a significant incline in index crimes were 22% below the 10-year average.

Approximately 83% of our index crimes were property crimes.

21% of index crimes were shoplifting, 15 were theft from vehicle, and 15 were burglary.

70 percent of theft from vehicle and 49% of burglary reports were coded for no size of force.

The area near Dorman Center off WOEZL Boulevard and East Black Sock Road had the highest density.

10 years of crimes against persons.

And our low was 2025 or 1,781.

Property crimes were 25% below the 10-year average.

Approximately 25% of property crimes were shoplifting, 19% were theft from motor vehicles, and 18% were burglaries.

The area near the dormant center off WO EZL Boulevard and East Blackstock had the highest density.

Wasn't the lowest that we had, but it wasn't in reduction, even though a minor one of 2% below the 10%, the 10 year average.

Approximately 76% of violent crimes were aggravated assaults of these 57 involved or alleged involvement of a firearm, and 21% involved domestic violence or child abuse and neglect.

The areas near the intersection of Crescent Avenue and Pine Needle Drive, Waffert Street and R Street.

Dr.

O.

C.

Kirkland Terrace and excuse me, Reverend Booker T.

Search Street had the highest density.

Spurberg County, unfortunately, ranks first or second annually in the number of traffic collisions and fatalities resulting from them.

As you can see, we had a 7% reduction below the five-year average.

Tremendous improvement, but more work has to be done for us to reach our target zero.

We will like to lose no one needlessly to traffic collisions.

Five years of psychological calls.

Contrary to public opinion, even my own at one time, or popular opinion, the overwhelming percentage of our homeless have ties to our city, county, or here in the upstate.

They're not being busted in or dropped off.

These are local folks who for whatever reason have fallen on hard times, or there's alcohol, mental health, or some other issue, some major uh tragedy in their lives that cause them to be in this head space and out of place.

But our cause for homeless has risen over 31% over the past five-year average.

Narcan.

Some consider it mission creep, but we're in the life-saving business.

And we have and will continue to use it as the situation calls for it to hopefully to save lives.

Oftentimes we'll be dispatched to wellness checks or subjects down type calls where we will respond.

But we will also respond to accidental overdose deaths and other drug or narcotic type complaints.

And also, as I mentioned before, we were driving well impaired or under the influence that create these crashes.

We may also end up using our cannon at collisions as well.

We did not have any reported incidents or investigations by our agency the last two quarters of 2025.

Is one of the few drugs that someone other than the person to use it can have it prescribed.

So if you have a family member or friend that you know has some type of substance abuse problem, that you can get it.

And should the unfortunate incident happen where they overdose, you can have it at your disposal to administer the drug and hopefully save your friend or loved one's life.

This particular slide has two parts.

To the to your left, or your 79,000, that is for 20 uh 25.

And this section to your right of the slide where it says 80,559 is 2024.

I want to draw your attention to the boxes encircled in yellow or encased in yellow.

You'll notice that the number of citations went from 5,624 in 2024 to 1,700.

I'm sorry, 7,247 citations in 2025.

You also will see an increase in the number of field interviews and contacts.

And warrants signed were also increased in 2025.

So our folks are out engaging and taking appropriate actions when needed, up to it, including the rest.

Basically 11 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

is the most prolific.

But Friday is still the busiest day of the week for us.

Stolen firearms in 2025 versus 2024.

Again, to the left column there underneath the direct line underneath our shield is 2025.

The other is 2024.

As you can see, the numbers in 2024 was 129, and we had an increase slightly of 143 in 2025.

You will notice that theft for motor vehicles and theft from vehicle with vehicles stolen that will have firearms in them.

Please keep your valuables out of sight if you leave them in your vehicles.

And please lock your doors to your cars and your homes.

A lot of our young people who are engaging in gun play in our city, they're not buying these guns at gun stores.

They are stealing them and they're still in them because of crimes of opportunities.

Unlock vehicles or vehicles where they can see something of value inside.

And the drive home that point about securing our vehicles, you know, I mean, to prevent some of these guns falling to the wrong hands.

In 2025, 89 firearms were stolen with or from a vehicle.

56 or 63 percent showed no signs of fourth entry.

In 2024, 76 firearms taken, stolen with or from a vehicle, or 63, 80, 3% showed no signs of force.

I'm sorry, need to flip that side for you.

I was doing so well.

And lock your cars and secure your vehicles.

Responsible gunnership, well, responsible gun ownership will help us greatly in this area.

Next slide here.

So most of the juvenile offenses that we've experienced in 2025 showed an increase from 60% to 8%, totaling 68% for 2025.

Adult arrest in 2025 and 2024.

Non-resident, 52%, residents, 37%, and homeless, 11% in 2025, compared to 8% homeless in 2024, 56% non-residents, and 36% resident.

The next slide I had put in because I thought I think we need context when it comes to uh the crimes or arrest of our homeless persons to tell you what they are involved in.

As you can see, number one for 2025 were trespassing, and that nearly doubled the number in 2024, where it was 47 incidents of trespassing, but we had 99 in 2025.

Second shoplifting in both categories.

Excuse me, it was other incidents, like some probably littering, begging, or sleeping in public incidents of that type.

Wanted to just share with you some that I asked that you consider engaging in and assisting us going forward in 2026.

Secure your vehicles, houses and firearms.

There were no signs of force and 70% of theft from vehicle reports, 49% of burglar reports, and for 63% of firearms stolen from or with the vehicle.

It's like securing food at a campsite, as my crime analyst would say.

If everyone does it, barrels are less likely to visit the capgrounds.

And plan ahead.

Smart 911 allows you to share information with with uh that you want first respondents to have and to know, such as medical conditions or emergency contact phone numbers in an emergency.

When you sign up for SMART 911, first responders will be aware of important information you have provided that will help police fire and MS locate and help you in an emergency.

And have you ever wanted to see inside SPD?

Register for the Spartanburg Police Department Spring Citizens Academy.

Applications are available online or at the police department.

The next class will be held March 24th through May 26th.

Also, I asked that you help identify leads for law enforcement assist in exposing sex trafficking.

Visit the website, they're listed above to learn about Project 1591, which uses tech savvy volunteers online to look for victims of self-track trafficking.

And looking for data this year, we will be publishing incident report data online.

There will be a summary for general review and a record list for independent analysis and visit visualization.

Just want to reiterate the 2025 was the safest within the past, not just 10 years, but 29 years.

And I just like to thank uh thank all the citizens again, our neighborhood associations, our business communities, nonprofits and other entities to help make this happen.

Because again, we cannot do it alone at this time.

If there are any questions, I'd be more than happy to take them.

Sure, I'm and I'm sure there's uh a few questions up here.

Um, but I'm I have one or maybe two.

Chief, and you um we can see that violent crime is down over the over that 10-year uh span.

Yes, but youth, teenagers, violent crimes.

Do we have any idea the percentages?

Is it higher, which I would assume it is?

Well, I could be wrong.

I think anecdotally we will feel that way.

We have had a number of juveniles engaged in gunplay.

There's no question about it.

I can have data drawn to get uh compiled and get you that exact data as how many of those were.

But a number of our incidents here recently, that time, that age bracket of that 20 to 21, that's where we're having where we're losing a lot of our folks to.

Right.

Uh so but I can have that data.

Yeah, I definitely would like to see it from younger, younger than the 2018 years.

Along those lines, Chief, it it while the while the overall uh crime index seems to be trending downward.

I mean, it's this it's the best year we've had um in the last 10, 29 years, depending on what you want to look at.

But our violent crimes has remained largely stagnant across the world.

Well, it was a two percent.

Yeah, so yeah, very small decrease.

Um, and it seems to be sort of consistent with the last years or so.

So really then as a percentage of our overall crimes, our violent crimes have increased as a percentage, if if I'm thinking about it right.

No, no, sir.

I think again, we're below the 10-year average as indicated.

As I said before, it peaks the valley, it's been kind of stable or plateaued.

Uh hopefully, um hopefully we're in the good right direction and going to continue the downward trend because if I'm not mistaken, and I have to look back at my previous ones, but we have had years where we will uptick one or two percent.

So our top, I would take any positive direction that we get, but we'll take efforts to obviously reduce it.

We're not satisfied by any stretch and imagination.

Sure.

And I can tell you that the homicides our folks are working, uh, like I said, tirelessly that bring we brought a number of folks to just where we've identified and made arrests on some of our recent homicides.

We still some have outstanding.

I can tell you the babies that Mirror Smith one keeps me up at night sometimes.

That was a horrific incident.

Not that any of them was good, it was all senseless.

Um, but I'm encouraged because I do think we have people that do care, and there's lines that won't be crossed, and we do get more information.

And I I think resolution will come, but I do ask for your patients.

Because we only get one bite at the apple with this for you.

When you bring charges and go to court, if you don't have it right, then we can't bring justice to them.

So again, I've asked for the patients.

Uh also ask for continued assistance from those that may have my have knowledge and don't know how it may seem insignificant, but it may be that missing piece that enable us to get that final little piece of probable cause that where we can go into court and prove a charge beyond the shadow for that.

Yeah, I guess where I was headed with my question was focusing on, you know, as we think about violent crimes in our in our city, and you know, we look to you know going forward the prevention aspect of it.

You know, how are you and your leadership team thinking about ways to to maybe approach the the challenges of today and the future differently than we've looked at it over the last 10 years?

Because clearly y'all have been doing a great job of moving this number down and and creating an environment where our community is safe, but we still see you know a large number of violent crimes, and so you know, as a council, we we can't we can't prevent that.

Um what we can do is support you and and your efforts to prevent that and and you know address any you know deficiencies that we have from from our approach.

So is there anything we need to be doing differently to support you and your team's efforts to reduce violent crimes even more than the two percent that we've seen in the well, let me say this as far as our efforts.

Um as I said before, we're the tip of the spear, we're that investigative piece, and unfortunately, a good portion of our actions are reactionary, but we try to do things proactively on the front end as well, and some of the partnerships when it comes to mentoring or uh trying to trying to get into spaces and places in the village.

First off, let me let me say this let's use the hour pronoun because it's gonna take all of us.

Uh as I said, we're the tip of the spear, but we're not the entire thing.

I tell you, the village, as we talked about growing up, some of that has changed.

I would even say some of our villages broken uh from the standpoint that we have to somehow instill in our folks that they're that we are to value life, and and that starts at home.

So having those conversations, engaging young people and as well as adults, when we go and speak to senior groups, I ask them to tell your story, help remind folks of the the pride in the neighborhood and how we used to be and how we can be again.

So, but the relationships, the partnerships we we develop, whether it's in our schools, whether it's in our neighborhood associations, obviously with our partnerships with our law enforcement agencies and the information sharing, because I'll be totally honest with you, it's 10% roughly.

A lot of the folks that are causing issues here inside the city also causing issues in the county, and it's the same type, same folks, but they're getting smarter.

Uh they're doing some things so it's harder to catch.

But we're uh I have a bright bunch, and by us also acquiring certain technologies that are enabling us to uh be even better at our job uh in the absence of having our witnesses and what have you, because again, we understand the fear of retaliation and reprisal, and to be able to vet information that we get where we can keep people anonymous is what we prefer to do, if and when possible.

But I can tell you we're doing things on the preventive end, on the intervention end, as far as our investigator strategy and abilities, but we're also uh trying to when we can make those solid cases, identify that tempus and remove them from the equation.

But unfortunately, we find ourselves it's kind of like old Greek mythology.

You have the hydrogen cut off the head of three or go back because logic says, okay, you shot at my friend, now I gotta come shoot up, and it's just a retaliatory deal.

Somehow, some way we have to engage with the the families and the adults in the room involved to be say where this has to end.

This has to stop somewhere because we already seen where innocence can be harmed by that.

Okay.

Like I said, I know it's a long case, but that but I would love to have you come by and see what we can really lay out for you, more specifically some of the things that we're doing on our end.

But I can tell you, for us to be successful, it's gonna take everybody in our county, everybody in our city kind of working together.

Councilman Lou to John.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, chief.

I want to thank you for this report.

Yes, ma'am.

As I look over this report, and I was listening to you, and I think back on my um my years in real estate, like 21 years.

You never like to make your neighborhood sound like a bad neighborhood, or your town sound like a bad place because you want to draw people in.

You don't want to scare people out.

Um I am excited about this report.

However, um looking at this, because you're witnessing some things that are taking place in my district.

I have to disagree with a lot of things that I'm seeing here.

Um I wish that there was a way that we could focus on all areas of the city as we do some.

I'm not saying that you don't, but I'm just saying the way that it appears, because um we are having problems with youth and people from outside of the city, and I think that they have found a haven on the south side of town, and that's where they are.

And I would like to see more patrols.

I would like to seek more police in these areas where you know that there is a problem.

And this has been something that I have stressed for a long time, and I know that y'all are tired of me calling, because I know that there are parts of this city, and I know that there are people that are saying, Oh, you don't want to make the city sound like a bad place.

The city is not a bad place.

I would not want to live any other place than where I am living here now.

However, I do think that there needs to be more police patrol in certain parts of this city, more so than others.

Especially because you know that there are hot spots.

There needs to be more patrol.

Um I mean, I call you all all the time, not as much as I should, but um I do believe that more patrol is needed in certain areas of the city.

And again, I wouldn't want to live any other place than the city of Spartanburg, and I love where I live.

I love where I live because there are good people there.

They are good people.

However, the people that are coming in and posing the problems don't live in Spartanburg.

They are young people who do not live in Spartanburg, and this has been proven over and over again that they are coming in from the outside book because they have a haven here.

I would just say that we go utilize our resources where they're needed.

Um, as far as being able to create much more present than we currently have and still deal with the issues at hand, challenging, but it's something that we try to do.

Now, I will ask, now we'll pass my hat around here if we can get more personnel, but that but we got to retain the ones that we have.

And right now, in this day and time when people can go and make five or ten thousand dollars more per officer somewhere else and not be here to have the number of officers that's needed.

Um I'll just be told honest with you.

We're gonna have to step our game up as a city.

I mean, that's there's just no other way around it.

Now we have uh force multipliers.

I'll take knowledge say if it wasn't for what we have acquired, and which and I thank you for your support in that area with ARPA funding and money that we got from Representative Myers from the state, we'll be so far behind.

But we're leaning and we're winning.

And I hate that you feel that we're not taking care of your area, but we are.

Yes, there's a lot of area concentrated there, but the work is being done there, and it's taking time.

But I tell you, if we do not do what's necessary to make it where our officers can come here and stay, and we can track those.

We track good people, and we train them up, and they do a tremendous job.

But when they can go and not even have to move from their current home and make considerably more, that's a challenge.

Um, but I can pledge to you we go where the problems are and try to work on some problems are easier to fix than others, and I hear you, and we will still do, I can assure you, we'll do all we can to try to enhance not just the presence, but try to to deal with the very issues where our presence is required was needed.

But I tell you, we cannot do it alone.

It starts at home.

The village and has to be in total.

I asked the deputy chief for permission to speak.

She granted it.

She so we've been having some long-standing conversations around our youth.

Uh as the chief noted, it does take a village, and I will tell you as it relates to engagement.

Our team is doing an amazing job.

It is not just the police department.

Uh, in engagement, it happens with MLK at TK Gray with the Parks and Rec team, repeating was involved.

We engaged over 300 youth that they led that conversation.

So some of the things that you asked about, like what are we doing differently as regards to our youth?

I think some of the engagement efforts we are leading.

The engagement that took place at CC led by law enforcement, over a hundred young people, mostly young black males that were present that was building their relationships.

You know, we had a speaker for MLK, and he talked about, you know, what's the opposite of hate, and he noted knowing those young people had a chance to get to know our law enforcement officers that day.

You know that would have a huge impact on how they see the police moving forward and their willingness to connect and share what they know with law enforcement.

Those are things we're doing.

We're also forming an internal task force on youth to make sure that parks and rec city managers office, PD are talking and communicating strategically.

So there's a lot of infrastructure that is taking shape around our youth.

So I just wanted to add that context.

Thanks to that.

Thank you, Deputy Chief.

And thank you, sir.

Um and from again from an investigative and enforcement standpoint.

I I'll just be totally honest with you, I will never come and talk about sources and methods here because it's counterproductive for what we're doing.

Again, I ask for your patience.

Councilwoman Smith.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, just to reiterate your point at the beginning, another data piece that I would like to see is this one that has the victims of benchmark crimes.

And the most startling piece in all of this report is that 10% of those victims are 17 and under.

And that is truly unacceptable for a community that that many of victims of crimes are 17 and under.

But I would like to to know if that is different from previous years, if that is less, if that has grown.

So um you all have long known that irresponsible gun ownership is something that um irks me to no end, and people leaving them in their cars is you know also unacceptable.

Do we know if any of these guns that have been stolen from vehicles have later shown up as guns used in crimes that we have later recovered?

Get you the number, but unfortunately and unfortunately, well, sometimes we we find them and we can trace and see if there's a connection, but sometimes the guns are discarded and not found after they've been used.

So that makes it somewhat challenging.

Right.

Um but but uh we can see what we can find out from you as far as those that we have been able to confirm have been stolen and was using a subsequent time.

And I know in in the past we've done some messaging around that.

We've done two gun buybacks in the past, and you know, I think some of my fellow council members will speak on the impact of our social media from the storm and how people listen to us when we use our platforms.

And to me, this is very much uh a reason to use our platforms to tell people do not leave your gun in your car.

You are just as much a piece of this puzzle, like you say, it takes all of us.

Um, the other question I wanted to ask, and and I usually ask this one every year that we have this report, is when you talk about the hot spot areas, um, those of us that have a Walmart in our district, that's usually the area when we talk about the hot spot for shoplifting.

Yes.

And I'm we've had a couple of very high profile incidences at the West Side Walmart this past year that I've heard several folks in my district um express serious concern over, rightfully so.

And usually we have a or always we have a car there, but I'm wondering, can you just talk a little bit more about our relationship with the Walmart, as my grandmother says, the Walmart, um, with the big box stores and specifically what we're doing with them to help them not just respond, but to either implement new policies or practices because every year, and and I understand that every year the the Walmarts show up as the hot spot.

Um, you know, I read Betty Mendoka's name every single day in the in the reports.

But I'm just curious if if we're trying new things, if we're tracking specific data and new interventions, what we're seeing on the on the commercial real estate side.

Well, what I would say is I think the relationship and the efforts of our big box stores has improved tremendously with them acquiring certain technologies.

Um we have off-duty personnel that will work at some of the big box stores, which is also an enhancement uh and reduced crime ban shoplifting is one of the things that we have made considerable impact on because of those enhancements.

So even though that number is still high, and that's still where the majority of them is, because our major shopping centers in those areas on the east side and west side.

But that we we have seen declines in that arena because of the work that they've done and we've done in conjunction with them.

But having also the technology we have in some of our vehicles, uh, been able to identify some of those who are shoplifting, leaving the area, and we find them later on and can do some positive things to deter, if you would, some of that activity.

But they still could be the draw because especially the one on West Side because of where it's located, uh, to be totally honest with you.

Uh and as noticed in the past too, a lot of our shoplifters, they come even from the southwestern part of North Carolina.

You come down 26 or 85 and boom, you're at the Walmart or the mall, and you do your dirt.

But again, I'm I'm proud to say that there has been a reduction, and I can't um thank the those at Walmart enough for some of the efforts that they've made to try to take a little bit more responsibility.

Now they're never going to uh and and probably rightfully so have their um like a lot of stores have their employees go out and try to apprehend or stop the person shoplifting, which still will discourage that.

But but the cameras we're able to identify the folks and and be able to uh generally find them later if they've done any kind of assault or any type of theft at the big box stores.

But also that's a result of the fact that they're actually intentional about those crimes, right?

They have a staff that's the design to address those crimes.

Yes.

So you see, because of the density of shoppers that go in and out of that store, or the one on the east side, or the one at Cedar Springs on a daily basis.

I mean, you have volume, but they also have a more robust component to address it.

So they're always gonna be, you know, red on our heat map associated with that.

It's just to, you know, the fact that they're working in tandem with our folks to see those numbers come down.

They're always as a percentage, they're always gonna be high, right?

Yes, sir.

And the good thing about it, when when it shows that it's showing the incidents, but what that incident doesn't show is the number of folks we have arrested who've been involved in those incidents.

So again, we have gotten better at being able to identify those perpetrators of the those shoplifting thefts than we have in years past because of some of the technology inside.

And as you mentioned, uh they've taken a little bit more well, responsibility of being able to identify even before people leaving the store who are doing involved in some of the activities.

And folks who who understand and look at this data should realize that it's not a it's not a fertile environment for them because they're gonna get caught more than likely.

Um so the deterrent is the fact that we're being more intentional collectively to to address those correct shoplifting crimes or whatever.

Yes, sir.

Councilwoman Rogers.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, Chief, just thank you for for this report.

And you know, I I think we're we're starting to talk about these these areas.

Um, Councilman Little John talked about you know specific areas in her district.

Can you just talk the the council and and and the room through, you know, when you do identify a place like you mentioned the dormant center and uh West Joshua like seven several times in the report.

How do you how do you begin to address that so that we can start to see that the decline?

I mean, we talked about technology, but specifically outside of a big box store.

Again, once you determine a certain you look for certain patterns or trends, and then you determine strategy how to best curtail that because you have to have that information first.

You know, you have some things one also are outliers or they may be cyclical.

You know, we had a situation.

Well, I'll stick to the big box so that I'll finish about another thing where it was it was almost based on if we were having a big event somewhere, we knew there were certain things that were going to take place, so we increased our presence.

Okay, plain clothes and marked uh units.

Okay, because we knew that certain activities brought in a certain group of people want to take advantage of the crowd, right?

So, but again, once we're able to identify how something is going on, because before you can slate something, you have to kind of understand this habits and whatever how they're doing it, and then you try to reinforce things either at the store itself, you know, with better locking mechanisms, whether they have cameras there themselves, not just ours.

Um we have some other technology around it where if we see a picture, for example, at a store, and this leaves, but we have this tag number, now we're able to track that tag until we can find out hopefully who's owning it.

They may still have the stuff, but at least we know who they are, and then we can try to piece together our case there.

But again, finding out is the people on foot, are they driving vehicles, those types of things.

But you want to target harden the areas that are vulnerable.

And that like I said, that comes from everything to lighting.

You look we'll do SEP test studies, for example, and that's crime prevention through environmental design.

Sometimes if we see a place that's targeted, we say, okay, well, it may be you we need to cut back your hedge rope.

We need to have improved lighting.

You need to have airboat locks as opposed to just your regular small name of a company, but uh, but a lot that's not as secure.

So you you target harden the location first, and then we try to put more eyes on it, you know.

So we'll do keep checks for certain businesses or whatnot, from time to time if they've been targeted, and then we'll do some of the things that I talked about uh that I can't talk about because of sources and methods.

Um may I ask one follow-up question.

Um, just looking at the the adult arrest, um you know, versus 2024, there's a definite trend that non-resident um crimes are being committed by non-residents.

So thinking about the technology of how or like the approach of how you target, you figure out what's going on.

Um, you know, again, Councilman Little John mentioned they're they're outside of our city residents.

How do you plan on addressing the case?

But that's where the partnership comes with our other law enforcement entities, the county and other municipalities, and the information sharing uh that we do.

Okay, so that that is extremely helpful because I said that that those who are committing these type crimes, they don't have jurisdictional lines.

And if a situation where we know person A is doing something here, but we also contact the county, they say, Oh, well they've done something here too, and we share that information, and we'll come up with joint strategies to deal with some of the actions depending on what the the type of incident it is.

Okay.

Councilwoman Sally.

Thank you.

Um, Chief Thompson, I just wanted to say I don't have a question, just a compliment to the officers and the police department in general, because I have seen some improvements, you know, and it depends on the area.

I know that there are hot spots in my area as well, and I know that they're working on them, and I really appreciate that.

Well, thank you very much.

Mayor Pro Tim, one last question.

Yes, yes, one last question.

Yes, and I hate to ask this because it's a duel in but it's something that eats at me almost every day.

I just want to know if you all have any leads on the person who killed that baby in the bed at four o'clock in the morning.

I could just tell you, please be patient and let us complete the investigation.

Um you still investigating it.

Oh, most definitely, ma'am.

Okay.

Not only do we investigate homicides that recently occurred, we have a cold case unit.

That the crimes that happened years ago that we're not letting go.

Because again, we know we cannot bring back what we cannot do for the families what they want more than anything, which is to have their loved one back.

But what we can do is continue to work those cases tirelessly and hopefully identify that perpetrator, make a solid case, because nothing would make me feel worse than for us to rush the judgment, take a case to court that's not solid and lose it.

There's a thing called double jeopardy.

We won't be to go back again.

So we're gonna take our time and do it right.

And uh I like I said, please be patient on that because it's still on the investigation, and um, as I said, uh I really won't rest until we get that one resolved because I know the pain that's caused this community.

Council.

Okay, no.

Oh, oh, I'm sorry.

No, go ahead.

Okay, let me say this.

I think that we have the best department police department in the world, and I brag about y'all all the time.

I brag about you because so please don't think that I'm coming at your heart when I ask questions.

Trust me, I understand.

Okay, it's not a problem, ma'am.

I understand uh trust me, uh the desire for each one of you to be responsive to your constituents.

I can understand the frustration when things don't get resolved as quickly as possible.

Uh, trust me, we care too, because we know we're gonna have moments like tonight, but I don't mind it.

Uh, don't mind at all because I know we're still working, we hear you, and we will adjust accordingly.

But I do ask that you be patient.

We have professional people who do this job as well as any that I've had the pleasure of working with and uh enjoy working with them and we uh like I said, we'll make some things happen.

I did that just trust us on that.

Mr.

Mayor Chief, thank you for this report.

Um I'm just trying to get a better understanding of the um calls for service, five years of the homeless calls.

Yes, ma'am.

What does that mean exactly?

Um is it a call that you all receive that someone says someone's homeless, or was there a crime committed, or well, again, that goes back to that page.

Let me find it here that showed the different call types.

Homeless, and I'll pull it up there, too.

If I seven for the and it'll show you the number of actual incidents that were reported, and you'll see that a lot of it was trespassing calls, it was like 99 of them.

Okay, um, I get to you can just say were those numbers reflective of the fact again that we're being more intentional about addressing.

Definitely.

Yeah, yes, sir.

So we don't really know what to call them.

See what you're uh because we're up 31% what as far as the number of homeless encounters, yes, sir.

I guess and and but again to try to give some perspective is why I had that those pages insert inserted to show what the um the type of incidents okay, thank you.

Okay, the type of incidents were you know you have 285 and the 213, those are actual call types or people and it's broken down.

Okay, where you can see this all the conduct that was nine or drunkenness or whatever the case may be.

So that so those are the types of things, but as I said, number one by a long shot in both of them, but it doubled in 2025 and went from 47 trespassing to 99.

And one of the things that we did, because we do know, like for right now, even during the summer, but now we'll find homeless at some of the at our business locations and spaces and places behind them and their interests is where they can get out of the cold more or less.

Sure.

And we have an officer assigned downtown to go at six o'clock in the morning to go and try to make sure that those business places are clear are clear.

But that doesn't even include those riding around during the night trying to try to make sure the homeless are in and taken care of to the extent that we can, but there's still a number of people that are out, and they're gonna find places where they can uh pretty much escape the cold as best they can, and unfortunately some of our business establishments.

Um but if we get there and someone called, and then there've been people where they've called in years past, we have given uh a warning, say please, you know, we've been trespassed, whatever, but now none of they've done he that wanted them to come back, and we're affecting the rest.

I think uh I'm fine with seeing this type of data.

The only thing that makes me a little bit uncomfortable is how it's separate, seems to be separate from those.

The reason I'll be totally honest with you, I did that because of so much energy that we've had around homelessness.

Yeah, and to me, I want that shows what it shows to me.

Like, for example, the salts, which is number three.

Those are salts amongst themselves.

They're not we have this belief people homeless, you know, I'm downtown, and here come the homeless.

The homeless are not assaulting other people.

Now they may come up and beg, they may make people uncomfortable, but they're not engaging assaulted behavior.

That's not saying we haven't had a couple of incidents where we've had homeless uh uh a couple of incidents with an overwhelming majority.

It's an outlier for homeless to engage in some type of activity like this against someone other than homeless.

Um so to me, I asked that that be put in because I anticipated that uh but with some of the energy around homeless because as y'all know I'm I'm one of those folks, you know.

I remember um somewhere I read that said you're hungry, you're clothes the naked, and you welcome the foreign in.

And um, and I think we need to remember that in a sense.

It's great that we have the multi-million dollar investment, and I know we may not want to see so many people in spaces that they are, but they have to go somewhere.

We're not investing in some kind of way for some space in place for them to be, especially in times like these when the weather's cold and whatever else.

That's problematic.

But I know we're better than that.

So I do think that as we think about the business development, because we we have become, I mean, our crime data, I'll just say this.

We're not crime free, but I but our folks are working and we capture our data and we do it, I think the right way, and we deal with the real.

But we're still know have become a resident of choice for folks moving here for businesses moving here, and they're not gonna come, people are not gonna place their treasure they're feeling safe.

So, but we still got work to do, but but let's acknowledge it that like I said, this is a place where people want to come.

Individuals want to come, families want to come, businesses want to come, corporations want to come, and that's a testament to our to our city.

But I will say though, when it comes to the homeless piece, as I said before, these are local folks, these are people being dropped off in here.

These are people I'm being dropped off in here.

We still have to attend to the least of these in some kind of measurable way, or we're gonna continue to have this problem.

So part of our investment has to be we just have to find the location, because as you all know, NIMBY is alive and well.

Nobody wants anything in their backyard.

But we do have to have a place where we say, you know, when my officers are asked to come and engage a homeless person, and we say you can't be here, it's like, well, where do I go?

Right.

And right now there's nowhere to go.

Mr.

Kent, I can tell you.

But that's the complexity.

I was gonna say that's the complexity of the homelessness problem, right?

Is you know, you're trying to address multiple different issues, and oftentimes the police have been historically charged with being the tip of that sphere.

We're trying to be more holistic in our approach.

And the place to go home has been fantastic.

But this is still important data because what we once we there are certain people, whether they're homeless or transient or not, that fall into this bucket at some point.

And so being intentional about making sure that we we take care of that because you know, in years past, we had so many property owners in our downtown say, I've had this happen at my property and nothing happens.

Well, did you report it?

No.

So having them feel comfortable reporting this so that we can get this data allows us to address the the criminal aspect of it, but then focusing on what we do with a place called hope, to try to find them a place to go to try to help them get the resources they need, whether it's you know, physical or mental or whatever, um, you know, that's where we take the holistic approach here, which may be different than in some other communities, but but it is important that we address this aspect of it as well.

Oh, no doubt.

And and again, this has always been a balance.

Yeah, you know, it's one of those things.

Yes, I want to we want to help and get the person to the place where he or she needs to be to get the assistance, but they also have to be remindful of spectral property they may be trespassing on or things that they may be doing on those properties.

Because I know if I'm a business owner, I gotta come and each and every day clean up and water around my place, that could be annoying.

We get that.

And after we've given you a warning or two, and you've been trespassing, you come back, then we have to take, we have to go another route.

But uh but the calling doesn't bother us.

We go, we're gonna take appropriate action based on what we find.

Uh we're not going to arrest someone because uh because we'll get a call, these calls where people just don't like the way someone look.

I just be totally honest with you.

And I always give the analogy.

I got two people sitting in Morgan Square, one on the bench wearing Penny Loafers, cackets on a polo shirt, the other one's kind of tattered jeans and whatever else.

They're both not which one, and then people say, Well, will this person here make four?

That person's not doing anything different than a public space, enjoying the well, I ain't gonna say the good weather today.

Well, weather above ground is good weather, by opinion, but but anyway, uh, they're not enjoying summertime.

Well, springtime, it's it's it would be unfair for me.

Or my people, well, first off, it's legal, we're not doing it.

We're not gonna arrest nobody for not, I'm not we're not gonna make homeless sense of crime.

But by the same token, when they commit certain activities, we will, and the evidence suggests it shows it.

I just wanted to note what Councilman Foreman noted is related to your question.

We heard from you all several years ago about documentation, which you see today is a byproduct of that conversation.

It not only helps from a policing standpoint, it helps uh a place to call home from a documentation standpoint and how we mitigate the issues around substance abuse and mental health.

Without data, we can't drive resources to assist those individuals.

So tracking every incident is paramount.

And this team, the conversations that take place with police officers in a place to call home where they're talking about people just by a simple description.

The police officers know the individuals that we see experiencing homelessness by name, and that is an increase in the last couple of years.

The intentional engagement by law enforcement in a place to call home is a byproduct of that.

But also, there will be additional context that we'll come back with you in a few weeks with an update in what's happening with a place to call home from a strategy standpoint.

So I just wanted you to note that that is coming.

And it does work.

There was a gentleman, and I won't call his name, but when I first came to Sparkburg 12 years ago, they used to sleep in the steps of City Hall.

One because we knew it was safe, and there was a little break in the building that kept wind off generally from the direction it used to come.

Here's a home now, right?

A little place to call home.

Right.

But just like I said about us, investigations of criminal activity, but also dealing with folks who are having the toughest time in life for us to get them in the hip.

It may take time, but we get there.

And again, we we know what leverage the pool and who to call, because we we're out here, we're 24-7, 365 days a year, 366 of the leap year.

But normally we're not the ones gonna actually solve the problem, but we know who to call to help solve the problem.

And that's what's been so beautiful about here.

We're doing a lot of things right.

I don't think it's drawing a whole bunch of people in, but it's happy to stay care of the people who are here that are ours, our neighbors who are born and raised and grew up here.

And I think uh, and again, I commend the city and those community partners uh that are assisting us in that endeavor to deal with whole homelessness in a holistic way.

Um, but some of that does take time.

But when I think about partners like bridge and like I said, some good stuff going on, and we should be proud of it.

Good, good.

Thank you, Chief.

Uh and I think uh something you said just throughout the conversation that we're gonna do it the right way.

So you're gonna put the actuals up there, the real, they keep it real as they say, and we're gonna keep it real in Spartanburg.

Yes, sir.

Identify.

Thank you, man.

Thank you to you and your team.

We have item um eight, the resolution, resolution uh certifying an abandoned building site pursuant to South Carolina Abandoned Building Revitalization Act, Title 12, Chapter 67, Section 12-67-100 of South Carolina Code Laws and 1976 amending regarding the property located at Mandela Lane, Spartan Burg bearing the tax map number 7-08-09-092.00 for the purpose of uh enabling application for credit against South Carolina State Income Taxes.

Mr.

Chris Story, a lot of information.

Thank you, young people for coming.

Thank you, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, members of council, the the item before you uh is allows a project to advance that is consistent with the goals and purposes that the city has for broadening our economic development strategies and uh encouraging the reuse um and reinvestment in underutilized properties um in the city.

Uh the South Carolina Abandoned Building Revitalization Act enables credits uh against future uh taxes when a building has set uh dormant for a period of five years and is reactivated by um uh different ownership.

And in this case, one mandala lane is a long vacant commercial building just off North Church Street.

It's um in the it's generally on the north side of uh the community near the hospital campus.

Uh John Moore and his associates have a plan to uh renovate that structure and put it back into active use.

That is positive for our tax base and and for the tax base of the school district and others.

Um and it is uh purely consistent with uh the purposes of the South Carolina Abandoned Building Uh Act, and we would encourage your approval of the project to pursue those credits.

Um there'll be subsequent discussion of the specific of of the project as it moves through the development review process.

This is an early stage sort of gate gatekeeping uh hurdle to to make the project economically viable to justify additional um investigation and design work and the like.

Certainly welcome any questions that you would have.

Any questions on Mr.

Storr?

Do I hear a motion?

I move that we accept the resolution certifying the abandoned building.

Um as stage.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Ayes have it.

Ordinance number nine, ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute agreement for the lease and sale of property located at 362 Union Street, Spineberg, South Carolina, bearing the map number seven-12-15-336.

First reading, Mr.

Martin Livingston, community development director.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, members of council, staff is requesting approval of a lease and purchase of a property vacant lot.

Uh that's owned by the city.

Uh, the lease and purchase agreement will be with the lemonade check.

I didn't make that up.

Uh lemonade check LLC.

It's a uh registered LLC with the state uh secretary of state.

Uh they're a small business, local might already own small business that have been developing out of their home.

Uh they make bakery goods and uh a variety of uh drinks, and they approach the city about using this property for parking purposes.

Uh they were making renovations to a property next door, uh where they have 388 Union Street where they have um where they have the um uh a purchase agreement with the property owner uh and its owner financed.

And so uh staff is recommending approval of this lease purchase agreement, they'll lease the property for five years.

That'll give staff enough time to determine if their PAL connection can be made in that area uh as well as the viability of the business that they're expanding.

So uh staff is requesting approval, and uh so any questions you may have.

Any questions to Mr.

Livingston?

I just have one question.

Did you say um they're gonna use the building for parking?

Parking.

So the the building itself is 388 union street, that's where they're gonna be operating from.

But the building, the property behind them is the city property.

Okay, and that that's a vacant property which they'll be using for parking.

There's not enough parking availability in the front of the property.

You don't have any pictures of it.

I do have something somewhere.

Where is it?

388.

Uh in your packets, you should see if for uh part of the agreement there's a page that shows the property location.

Yeah, I would just couple of aspects of the property that are that make this a nice fit.

Is that it's it's sort of a landlocked remnant parcel of that's highest and best use is related to the it needs at some point to be connected to an adjacent property for it to make sense.

It's an it's otherwise unusable if except for its neighboring property.

This cost it to your street coming this way.

No, age uh 16 of the packet.

362 is it 362.

So through 388.

We're so what's that cross street right there?

Is that Marion?

Yeah, it's across from the skate park.

Yeah.

Oh, okay.

So that is that oh, so they're going in the old Clancy's?

Yes.

No.

Yeah.

You just aged yourself.

Well, that's where I was talking about that.

I can still hear the beer clank in the track.

Oh classes.

All right, so skate park, so it's down right at the end of okay.

Where's the it's close to the glass place?

Across from the glass.

Okay, yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah, I mean, do everybody feel comfortable what where it is now we know.

I make a motion, Mr.

Mayor, that we approve the ordinance as read.

Second.

All in favor, aye.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Now we uh uh public hearing uh here uh ordinance that to amend the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina zoning uh ordinance and comprehensive plan uh plan use element by amending section 206, change the district boundary specifically to properly located at 1619 Yambi White Senior Boulevard from the current zone in R15 single family residence to B1 neighborhood shopping district and providing uh for uh servability and effective date uh ordinance is 2026 uh through zero zero dash zero zero two.

Uh Ms.

Fredlyn Frazier, planning director.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

Uh the matter before you tonight is an application for the rezoning of 1619 John B.

White Senior Boulevard.

And um, I'll just briefly go through some um the findings, and the applicant is also here this evening as well.

There you are, yes.

So um the owner and applicant, the owner is Ruth Hillman.

Uh the applicant is Brandon.

I hope I'm pronouncing this right, Brandon Kuglinow.

Um, and the request here is to um rezone this property that is currently zoned as R15, which is general residential, to uh more compatible use, which is B1, which would um neighborhood shopping district.

So with any rezoning, you know, we have several um hurdles or steps that we have to go through.

So the first is a public information session, and so that was held on January 6th.

At that time at the Woodson Community Center, uh, there were no public attendees at that meeting.

We did not receive any inquiries either at the meeting because no one was there, but also there were no inquiries that came through the office at that time.

Uh and then moved on to the planning commission as uh as required.

And at the uh planning commission meeting, again, there were no public uh individual anyone from the public there to speak in favor or opposition, and there was no other additional comments coming that came through the office as well.

And so the public uh the planning commission unanimously unanimously approved the application to move forward, and that's why we're here now for first reading.

Should you decide that you want this to move forward, it would then come back to you for a second reading on the 23rd of February.

So that's the process that we're following right now.

So a little bit about the property.

It is um just little over an acre, and as I mentioned, it is currently zoned R15 single family.

We um have a significant kind of mix of uses or zoning around this property.

Uh there's uh B-1, you also see light office industry um district there as well, and there's also um again some more residential R 15, and this property also abuts the county, and so there's the the south the southern portion of this uh parcel is uh along the county, and there's predominantly residential there, and I'll go into some more figures here.

But a little bit about B1 and what we're proposing here.

It's generally for uh general softening um shopping and convenience uses, and so that's where we feel as though this is perhaps the most compatible use to move forward with here's um the reason why we see this as we did um walk through our analysis.

As you can see, this is a corridor that is in transition, it is moving from more uh residential to more commercial and retail.

It's surrounded right now by B1, and I mentioned LOD as well, and also um B3.

And if you've driven down there recently, you'll see the different new uh businesses that have come in there and those that are prepared to move in there as well.

So, you know, we have a car wash that has recently um uh taken has been developed there, a take five oil change, there's a Jersey Mike and a five guys, all of that is relatively new in terms of development along the corridor, and as you can see, this is a single uh residential piece that sits in the middle of all of that.

And here it is just an aerial to show you the transition of the uses as you move down the corridor.

So, what you see in the yellow is the proposed use.

Right now, there is still a single family on the parcel, but of course, that will be removed.

But adjacent one lot over to the east is the uh car wash that I mentioned, and then there's a proposed use on that vacant lot there that is an oil change, but it has not come before us.

We have the application, but we have not conducted the site plan review for that one that's immediately to the right of this parcel.

So when you think about rezoning and what um some of the criteria that needs to occur here, we first look at the comprehensive plan and the land use plan that we have for this area, which we call our growth and conservation map, clearly indicates that this area is uh where we want to see more dense in commercial use.

And so the purple there is what we call center in field growth sector, and that is proposed for uses that are transitioning along corridors, highly trafficked areas, and this is what is in our comprehensive plan.

The orange piece that you see there shows that that's intended or was intended for us to make that more and um more intense use.

So it does align with our growth and conservation plan.

But there are other criteria that we also take into account when we talk about a rezoning, and there are the five that we have here.

I just have that large check box there because it meets all of those criteria that we have here.

Um compatibility, I think we demonstrated that in terms of the sound uh surrounding uses to this property, the suitability again because of the uses that are there now.

Um, the marketability, of course, with the rezoning certainly enhances marketability, but we already have a proposal for the Dutch Brothers coffee there, and then of course, because there's sewer and water and everything else, the infrastructure is there to support it, and it is along a major corridor.

So we feel as though it has met all five criteria, and that's one of the reasons also that the planning commission um approved it unanimously.

So this just gives you an idea of the site plan that they're proposing for the coffee shop, and just wanted to leave that with you.

It's the area that's highlighted in yellow, is the proposed Dutch Brothers coffee.

And with that, I'll take any questions that you may have, or if you have any for the applicant.

Any questions?

No, no questions.

Um, just a comment.

I I completely support this rezoning.

And uh Miss Ruth here getting a great parcel from the sweetest lady.

Um I'm sad to lose a constituent who has lived there for quite some time, and she has been so complimentary of the city who has worked with her as you have said, as her neighborhood has changed around her, but she's recognized that it is finally time to let go, as she said today.

Um so take good care of that piece of land.

Um and Steven, she specifically has mentioned how you have been such a help to her in the past.

Um, and Martin as well, but he but he just walked out.

So um gonna be sad to lose her, but wish her the best in her new endeavors.

Any questions?

Yes.

Um Fredelyn, the the So I assume that the inter exit area is all going to be along John B.

White, you mentioned I think that behind that was a residential yes.

So the the ingress and egress will be off of John B.

White.

The other um road that runs behind there, which I think is Knollwood, uh, is actually residential street.

The the the pictures you should show us in the package.

The the that that property, those homes or or dwellings, those are in the county, correct?

Yes, where you see the gray, where you see the gray here is the county.

Right, but the pictures in the package of the not it's not on the slides, it's in the package.

That those those dwellings are in the county.

Is that right?

So does the same buffer requirements um exist when they abut the county?

Well, typically what we do is we work with the county staff to make sure that whoever has the highest and best buffer is the one that's applied.

So that's the lowest common denominator, the the which likely would be the city's buffer requirement.

Exactly.

Okay, I guess it is no, we uh have to go into a public hearing.

I was gonna make a comment.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Okay, okay.

I just want to piggyback on what Megan, I mean, councilwoman Smith said about Miss Davis.

She is a beautiful person, and she's also my church member.

We attend church together.

Uh along with Mitch.

All right.

So we uh have to go into a public hearing, and the way the public hearing works is that uh we have 20 minutes uh per side.

No one person can speak over 10 of that 20 uh for or against this uh rezoning.

So do I hear a recommendation to go into public hearing?

So second.

All in favor, aye.

Any that opposed, eyes have it.

So we're in a public hearing.

Uh anyone want to speak in favor of this um recommendation.

Anyone would like to speak against this recommendation.

Mr.

Mayor, I make a motion we close the public hearing.

Second, all in favor?

Aye.

Any that oppose, eyes have it.

Now we need a motion.

Mr.

Mayor, I make a motion we approve the rezoning.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any not opposed?

Great job, staff.

Staff updates, Mr.

Story.

It's been a long time since we've been here.

A bunch of information you got.

Uh actually not so much, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, we have uh I'll start just highlighting a couple things quickly.

Um we as everyone is aware of had a had a couple weeks in a row of winter weather.

Uh and when that happens, uh our team, our teams, and most notably our public works department, but also uh police and fire have to operate differently.

Um I just want to to take a moment to express appreciation for the diligence of uh particularly our public works team and their aggressive efforts on that.

That's a lot of overtime back-to-back weekends, uh, a lot of time away from family back-to-back weekends, and of a lot of uh special services and work and that type of thing, and they handled it um, in my opinion, extraordinarily well.

And I know there were a lot of other partners in the mix to to get us through those um uh winter weather uh events with minimal disruption, but really proud of the coordinated efforts of the team uh doing things to have each other's backs in the sense of um uh you know sharing meals so they can stay on shift, um uh sharing equipment and things of that nature.

And I know there were a lot of other partners in the mix to to get us through those um uh winter weather uh events with minimal disruption, but really proud of the coordinated efforts of the team uh doing things to have each other's backs in the sense of um uh you know sharing meals so they can stay on shift, um uh sharing equipment and things of that nature, uh really good teamwork and uh a lot of efforts to prioritize the health and safety of the citizens.

Also appreciative of the of the community uh for heeding the call to to minimize uh unnecessary travel movements during the winter weather that makes a huge difference, not just in uh folks avoiding accidents involving themselves, but uh by keeping uh traffic down, we can make it safer for the emergency responders and other things.

The other side of that coin that I just uh wanted to mention is that when we had take that amount of time out of regular services, there is a bit of a catch up that has to occur, particularly as it relates to like our green waste and yard waste collection services.

Um so you we you will be seeing us play catch-up on that front um in in the coming weeks because we missed effectively a couple of weeks out of that rotation.

Um so uh we ask folks patience and cooperation uh with that.

Um so that's that's my uh primary update tonight.

Certainly welcome any questions uh that you all have about other folks.

I uh I also wanted to um uh highlight the great cooperative efforts that are going on in downtown with the new uh traffic pattern changes going into effect in the construction sites um uh getting more and more active and the infusion of additional construction workers into our downtown the cooperation level uh not just with the the city team and those contractors but also with the downtown businesses and downtown residents has been terrific, and we are grateful for it.

Any questions, Mr.

Mayor?

Any questions, Ms.

Dore?

Great, sounds good.

Let's move forward.

James Smiling.

We have uh council updates now, Ms.

Rogers, Councilwoman Rogers.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, so going in order of the topics, um, Mr.

Mayor, I just really want to echo your your thoughts on civic engagement, having youth in the room, having having a room that is more full um tonight versus some others.

It's just really nice to see people here and listening and participating in the the operations and the things that are important to our community.

So thank you for being here.

And I I hope we all continue to engage um the youth and and different groups to come and and take part.

Um and then in terms of the police report, um, thank you so much.

I really look forward to uh hearing on more continued collaboration with community partners, specifically um data as well around around the youth and and our homeless community.

Um it is encouraging to see that even though the the mention of homeless is is increasing, they are they are calls of service, they are not crimes, they are not um you know, less than one percent uh for overdose and and drug related incidents.

Um, you know, don't like to see numbers grow, but the fact that we're tracking it and working to understand it and address it is encouraging, and thank you to our our community partners for sure.

Um and then lastly, to to echo Mr.

Story, I just looking at our communications, looking at what our public works teams, our police, our fire departments, um, around the storm, also our school districts.

The the fun and yet very clear message of stay home and also have some fun.

Um, I was really encouraged to see um, you know, uh a storm is a storm, and it was very cold, but I know that our family truly enjoyed the moment uh the several moments of of wait um in the safety of our home.

But I just would like to thank public works and and our departments um as well as our communications team to truly encourage us to experience snow in a safe and uh trivial way.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilwoman Smith.

Yeah, not much for me tonight, Mr.

Mayor.

Um I had the opportunity to attend the municipal association with the mayor.

Um, and the chief was there as well as the new sheriff.

I had not had an opportunity to meet or interact with him yet, and was actually quite impressed.

Um, and with many of the ways with the ways that he answered questions and the kind of new foot forward foot forward, is that an expression?

Um that he put, and so thank you, Chief, for being there.

Um, and he was asked some very pointed questions about the way we've seen law enforcement in other states, um, especially coming from our federal government, and he was given an opportunity to pander, um, and he did not, and he said we we do things differently here.

Um, it's about protecting our community, um, folks who don't have documented status, we're not here to go after folks.

We're here to make sure that everyone in our community feels safe, that they feel like they can come and report crimes um to us.

So I it was a it was a breath of fresh air, especially after what we've been seeing across our country right now.

So I was thankful for that, and some of the different ways that he's talked about our department partnering with the sheriff's department was interesting, and um looking forward to to those coming to fruition.

So thank you all for coming out tonight.

Councilwoman Brown.

Mr.

Mayor, yeah.

Don't really have much either.

I've kind of been at home, so it's nice to be out and about and starting to get my bearings again in the new year.

But I do want to thank you all for all the support and the well-wishes that you've given me.

Um it was quite an experience to you know, be you you really kind of take for granted small things like bending over and picking tying your shoes and those sort of things.

I my mom came down and um helped take care of me while I was in the hospital, and then you know, stayed for a couple weeks.

Um I kind of shoved her out the door after once I started to get my own bearings on things.

I was like, okay, it's you can go now.

So um, but you really no matter how independent you are, you you always you don't ever realize no matter how independent and how old you get, you never realize how much you need your mom.

So it was it was good to have her here, and um, you know, my wife that was here tonight, and um and my best friend who also they everybody just kind of tag teamed, and um that's why I love this place so much.

You know, I'm not born and raised in Spartanburg, but I have found my family that is here who has always been there for me at any given time.

You you mentioned it's you know came by and saw me at my worst, you know, unshaved and unbathed, and so um I'm just eager to get back into the swing of things.

I probably will not be at the next mayor's walk because I can't quite, you know, but I I know I owe you this year, so thank you all for the well-wishes.

Glad to be back.

Awesome.

Councilwoman Savage.

Thank you.

Uh Ben have you back, Erica.

Thanks.

And uh I want to say, I think I see Mr.

Nowwood out there in the audience.

So good to have you here with us.

It's been a while.

Um to the chief and the deputy chief, I want to say I I want to compliment your officers.

Doing the weather, the bad weather, and the snow snoring.

One of my residents called and needed assistant for her father, and Officer Wright was there, Johnny on the spot to assist her with getting her father settled in a proper way.

And I know that she's not the only one on the forest that has helped other residents or people with some concerns, but we do have a great police department, you guys, and I hope and pray that we see an officer say hello and thank you.

Thank them for their services, because they are a point, they are very important to my our city and and for us, and they do take care of us.

They may not be next to you like Jamie is to me, uh, Councilman Fulman is next to me, but they're there, and I appreciate that.

And thank you all for being here as well.

Thank you, Councilman Foreman.

Yes, sir, Mr.

Mayor, just a couple items.

Um, since our last meeting, uh, a few of us had the opportunity to attend uh one Spartanburg's Outlook event, which was uh an incredible and incredibly informative event.

Um, but one thing that I'd like to highlight, uh Councilwoman Smith and I stayed to the very end, and and at the end of the day, they had a a panel of developers uh that were investing in Spartanburg that were from outside of Spartanburg.

And uh in particular, uh the Barrett folks who are doing the rap, uh they're from Indiana, and they're doing the rap around the city county complex, and and you know, to a to a T, those developers were singing Spartanburg's praises.

Uh and I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact of the good things that are happening here.

Um, but beyond the disruption that we're seeing in our downtown, progress was happening.

We're creating something exciting and new, and and that creates opportunities for everybody, but but you know, to a T, those developers sung our praises and said Spartanburg gets it.

We work in other communities across the country.

They're difficult to deal with, their permitting process is cumbersome.

Their staffs are anti-progress and seem to be doing ways to or come up with ways to say no.

And in Spartanburg, you're saying yes, you get it.

And you know, we think about the investment the Johnsons have made and others in our community, and we're starting to attract new investment from outside of our community, and that's healthy, and I think that's exciting.

And so I think we should not lose sight of that when we get into the to the weeds about well, I couldn't find a parking place or my car got dusty because I drove downtown.

I mean, that's all progress, and we should celebrate that.

The other thing I would uh I I also had the opportunity to attend uh the GoForth Recovery Celebration, um, which was an incredibly informative event, speaking to the conversations we were having around uh crime and drugs and things, and and you know, the work that they're doing along with others in our community is is really uh nothing short of miraculous, and and it was a great opportunity to learn more about that organization, but also the the inspirational message of of hope, grace, and recovery that that uh they are helping people, individuals in our community uh achieve every day, and and so you know that's exciting.

And then lastly, uh today the the mayor and I had the opportunity to attend uh the Hub City Spartan Burgers event where they announced their I guess their third alternate uh uh uh identities.

Uh they've got the the sluggers that they identify uh introduced last year, the regiment I think that was identified earlier this year, and then today they introduced the pastime, which which is incredibly exciting because it coincides with the the hundredth anniversary of Duncan Park Stadium, uh and it shows their continued commitment to not only the history of our community but the history of baseball in our community, which is very rich and exciting, uh, but it's also a way to tie the the hit the the past, the present, and the future together.

And so uh, you know, I think that's uh that's incredibly notable and exciting.

And then lastly to the chief and and uh everybody in our in our city team, uh, public works, police fire, um, you know, the the work that we do, nothing showed nothing highlights the the core essential functions of government like a storm, right?

Uh it it requires everybody on the city team to to fire on all cylinders and and and and I believe we did that here in Spartanburg, and and I think as a council, at least since I've been on council, I've never heard one of my colleagues say that we weren't willing to invest in the critical resources that are needed to address any issue that we're facing in our community.

And so, especially as it relates to those core essential uh functions.

So, and so as we hear the chief present on their statistics, um, you know, and and we see other statistics on a on a weekly, monthly, and and yearly basis, uh, we're gonna make sure that we invest in those core essential functions in government so that we're delivering quality services to the people of our community because they deserve that, and and it's our responsibility to deliver.

So, thank you.

Oh, that must have been more than two minutes.

Sorry.

I mean you only got three seconds.

Yeah, well, first of all, let me say we have a great team.

I just I love the team, and you, Christy, you must do the five jobs.

I mean, because she is on every time that you call, guys, she gets things done.

But uh, okay, that doesn't mean that you do for rays.

Okay.

On Sourday, I attended um the cycle of violence down at C C Woodson Gush, and thank you, Chief, Gush and Deputy Chief, you know, for being there.

It was a large group of people that were there, and it was a lot of youth, and I want to thank everyone that put that on because it was a great event.

And I think it was the city.

Was it the city that wanted to put it on?

Well, it was NACP.

Whoever put it on, it was great.

Okay, it was really great.

You know, the ones that put it on, and then I want to congratulate you on achieving your MEO government estate.

Well, thank you.

I mean, you're welcome.

And then uh, and then uh I do this newsletter.

Okay, you all know that I do this newsletter, but this I get uh compliments all the time.

But because from this one, I got so many people to contact me because you wanted to bring people to help.

Councilwoman Smith contacted me, and she wants to bring uh youth in to help me.

And then it was a student from Wolford that contacted me.

He wants to help because he said he could get somebody to help.

And then a lady that attended the Y with me, and she contacted me and she said, that is such a great letter.

I would do anything that you want me to do.

So I'm grateful, but y'all don't want to come and help me because I get up at two and three o'clock in the morning.

Yeah, but thank you anyway for your help.

Can we put pictures of me in there?

Thank you.

No, thank you.

Thank you, uh Mayor Pro Tim.

Um councilman Former just mentioned the uh 100 year of uh Duncan Park baseball.

We did have that opportunity to be there for that announcement with the Spartan Burgers.

Also, um Councilman Former also mentioned creating opportunities, and that's what we're really trying to do here in Spartanburg with everything that goes on.

We're trying to create opportunities for everyone, at least, you know, that's uh that's my thought process.

Umgagement.

I do want to say thanks again to the police to fire uh public works, even for their little Kirky videos during the storm about stay off the streets and all that.

People see this stuff on social media all the time, and it it actually works.

Um I was not one that stayed off the streets.

We did get out to see how bad it was, but no accident.

And to that point, our son, Shay and our son had a uh uh fender bender um uh in the ice and uh fire first on the scene, police there, everything worked out and it is working out, but you know, again, they're just out there for us, and and I get that opportunity quite often uh when the park and rec team uh may feed public works or fire may feed public works or what have you, and that's what happened in the last storm, and I get a chance to go by and thank the guys for what they're doing because when I'm at the Y over in the morning, you know, it's not a time that doesn't go by.

Man, you guys did a great job with this storm.

You did a great job with the storm, and I so proudly take credit and the pats on the back, but you know, to the ones that are really doing the work out there.

I always always want to say thank you.

Thank you for making this council looks good.

Thank you for making the staff look good.

Thank you for Spartanburg uh looking good as well.

Miles with the mayor is um the third Saturday.

We will huddle up at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church uh at nine o'clock to have our walk through Holland, talk and uh share about some things that's going over in that area.

And again, one more thing about civic engagement.

I do so appreciate the Jack and Jill young people coming today to get their feel, but also Spartanburg High School just a couple um uh days ago uh had a protest, a protest about what's going on here in America, and it was a peaceful protest.

Uh, and they're showing their civic engagement, and it's nothing wrong with that by any stretch of the imagination.

I know um uh we had about five, six hundred Chris.

I did go back to verify that actually uh went to the gym uh and had a peaceful uh protest in the gym for about 20 minutes, Dr.

Rice.

Uh uh 20 minutes that had flags and um uh showcasing them on the um uh gym floor, uh missing school time at that particular time, and once it was time to go back, the school still has to be orderly and in and in order.

They went back to class.

A few did leave campus, but um um those few will be dealt with, but again, they were showing their civic duty, and that's what it's all about.

Each and every one of us should get involved in some form or fashion about something we see that we do not agree with, and we all may not disagree or agree with everything, but get involved, get involved.

All right, thank you all for being here.

Do I hear motion?

Mr.

Mayor, before I make a motion to go into executive session, um you made me think of something when you mentioned uh communication videos.

I know the chief doesn't like to talk about specific uh uh criminal incidents, but I was just curious.

Did y'all ever arrest Paxitoni Phil?

Very much so.

Very much so.

We go into executive session.

All in favor?

Do that opposed.

Executive session.

Who is that that you said?