We have the approval of the minutes.

Christopher.

So I moved.

Turn it down a little bit.

Approval of the uh minutes for the May the 11th 2026 City Council meeting.

So all in favor?

Aye.

Any dot oppose.

Eyes have it.

Item four, uh, approval of the agenda for the May 26, 2026 uh city council meeting.

Some live.

Sag it.

All in favor?

Aye.

Anybody pose.

Eyes have it.

We have public comment item five.

We have a few public comment items.

It's the way it works.

I'm just gonna give your name.

You can repeat your name when you come up so we'll know that it's you.

And uh you have two minutes after that.

Do you have to ah you do not have to give us an address any longer?

So we have Vanessa Leach.

Vanessa.

She's nice.

Okay.

We have uh Haley.

Drought.

I try to put the T on it.

Hi.

Hi.

Um my address, right?

No, don't give me a good.

Hi, I just wanted to advocate for um the more of the public buses.

I think it's really cool that we have public buses, but uh with the college students, uh, since we have seven colleges, it would be great to have like more frequency and um more stops.

And like I think the most important part would be like staying open longer because it doesn't even really go to six, even it stops a little earlier.

And even that, um college students can't go downtown to like help the economy and go out to eat and have drinks and like safely come back home.

And if you don't have a car, you can't go at all.

But even if you have a car, it would really help with like safety of everybody going downtown.

And I have some friends who in different towns that like have the bus systems like baked into their college tuition.

So it would be cool to maybe it would help the buses like gain more um more money to do this if we could like partner with the colleges to have like unlimited bus passes for colleges if the colleges paid for it.

Um so I thought that could be a helpful way to make that happen.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Thank you.

We have Miss Gina Troll.

My daughter's much taller than me.

Hi, from Gina Drott.

And um, I'm just here just as kind of like a uh advocate for the Dan today.

I'm just appreciation for the Dan.

Um I live in Hillbrook neighborhood and there are no sidewalks there.

Um and I've been walking that uh neighborhood for a year anyway, just trying to get, you know, for my health, trying to walk four miles a day.

Um, but it's hard to walk there because uh lots of people don't slow down, they don't get over, and so um and so I started uh driving to the Wildflower Way instead because there's no cars there, and um, and I just want to say I just like really appreciate walk four miles from the beginning of the Wildflower Way to the end of the river birch and back, and um so I'm just advocating for more of that, more connections so that we can go further and everybody has access to safe places to walk.

Thank you.

Liveston Hawkins Hi y'all, my name is Liv.

I would just like to thank both city council and city staff for uh all the work that you have been doing in conjunction with us C DOT to work on the East Main Road diet.

I'm really excited to see it come to fruition.

Um I have a friend at Converse University who will be a senior next year.

Um they do not have a car with them on campus, and they have been super excited when they first heard about this project, texting me and asking me questions about it, because they're excited to kick off their senior year with a safe bike route to downtown because right now they've been biking uh to downtown, but sometimes you know they have to take different ways and they have to be creative and they have to you know hit some of these really crack sidewalks.

I'm especially really uh excited.

I've already seen some of the work on the curbs along that area, and that's something that needed to be done regardless.

Um, and I'm excited for once that project's done, how it will connect to the Hub City Hopper and then connect to downtown.

And I know uh project wrap is going to be discussed, and there's some comments about trail connectivity in that uh project.

Um, so I'm excited to see how all that goes, and then suddenly you're bringing the West main bike lanes in.

And I think for a long time we've seen islands of connectivity, and I think in the very soon future, we're gonna see some real direct connectivity that's really going to lead to a lot of good outcomes, both economic, health, uh just community vibrancy.

So I want to thank both council and staff for all y'all's advocacy around that and bringing more infrastructure like that to our city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Andy, I don't know how we got out of order, but rest of my family is more out of the wall this time for a year than I did.

So my name is Andy Draft, and uh it came as a surprise to me, it may be a surprise to others, but our family has only been in Spartan Burke for a little over a year.

Uh, and I wanted to get up today and just say thank you uh to mayor at the council, to uh other members of the community to kind of who welcomed us with open arms.

We found this place incredibly welcoming uh and easy to get involved.

We've you know found places to volunteer and plug in and help start things, and um I know that we're in a moment where it can be easy, you know, for those watching at home or in the in the you know in the audience that it can be easy to feel like uh a little nervous about the pace of growth in Spartanburg in the Spartanburg area, and I just wanted to remind us that if we don't continue to welcome others with open arms, we might miss out on members of the community, new entrepreneurs, uh new leaders, and new friends.

And so I'm really looking forward to participating in the ordinary zoning, the housing you know, changes and ordinances coming up uh over the next year, and just wanted to say thanks for being a place that is willing to kind of stretch a little bit and make room in ways that are smart, uh not terribly disruptive to our community, and just being a really welcoming place.

Our family really appreciates it, and I'm sure others will when they come too.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Steve Duncan.

Steve Duncan.

Okay.

That concludes our perfect comment section.

Item six, consent agenda.

Make a motion we approve the consent agenda.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any that opposed?

Ay, as have it, thank you.

Item seven, we have the 20 uh 50 long-term long-range transportation plan survey.

Information only from the Spats Committee.

Daniel is up front.

Yes.

Um, so good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Daniel Griggs, and I'm a transportation planner for the SPATS MPO here in the county planning department.

Um, and I just wanted to give a brief update on our current 2050 long-range transportation plan.

Um, currently we are in the public involvement period for it.

And basically, what it is, it's a 25-year visionary document that acts as the county's transportation blueprint.

Um, this purpose is to identify the needs regarding all forms of transportation here in the county.

Um, that includes roads, public transit, and multimodal path and more.

Um and these projects are identified through weighted criteria, which includes public feedback.

Um, and why this is important is because our community input is vital for this document.

Um, you all know the area um and you know your neighborhoods the best.

Um, so by participating, you ensure the final plan reflects real community needs and the impact directly affects daily commutes safety and other improvements.

So how you can participate.

At first, we opened up public involvement on April 21st, and it ends May 29th this Friday.

So we held public meetings in person on May 6th and 7th.

So if you weren't able to make it to those, you can participate online.

So we have a project website housed on our SPATS website.

And there you can access all this information.

There's a QR code there.

Um if they want to grab one of those.

But so please participate.

Thank you for allowing me the time and emphasizing this importance of the LRTP.

Um and hopefully we can continue to strive to make this community better.

So thank y'all.

Thank you, Daniel.

Any questions to Daniel?

Yes, I think you got one.

I think you got one.

Um, question maybe Mr.

Mayor, I know councilman rain used to sit on spats.

What who of us is on spats now?

I'm I I'm still on STATS along with councilwoman Sally.

Okay.

Yes.

And for those in the audience that don't know what SPATS stands for, would you mind um elaborating?

Yeah, of course.

So SPAT stands for the Spartanburg Planning Area Transportation Study.

Um, so we're an MPO metropolitan planning organization, um, and we're just housed within the county planning department, and we touch base on everything transportation in the community.

Like I said, that could be roadways, um, that's multimodal paths.

We look at freight, um, we look at transit, everything that just moves people efficiently, making the roadways safer, more efficient, and just listening to community needs and uh making improvements where we can.

So, Daniel, how do we, and maybe this is a question for you, Chris?

How do we as a as a city and our transportation systems?

Um, she mentioned our our bus system, Sparta, you know, something that we own, but obviously operates and serves members of the county.

How do those how do our two entities interact together when it comes to implementing this plan?

Right.

So basically, right now we're working with a consultant and we get all this feedback, and we have, like I mentioned, we have this weighted criteria where we evaluate, we look at all this different data, and then we'll rank projects and in order and put that into our tip, which is a transportation improvement program.

And this is a document which actually you know fiscally gets projects constrained, and as far as transit goes, um, because it is a separate entity from us, we facilitate as middleman, and you know, grants and stuff that come from the federal level will pass through us, and we're actually able to put that into the tip so Sparta is able to use those funds to improve their systems.

Okay, good.

Do I see that the does it say that the long range plan is for 2050?

2050, it's a 25-year visionary document.

So we're looking at existing conditions right now, and then we take into account future conditions, what the county is gonna look like 25 years down the line.

Um, that takes a lot of different data and population being a big one, and why that's important.

That's gonna tell us, you know, what the roads are gonna look like, what areas are currently congested, um, where subdivisions and houses are popping up, and how we can mitigate that and go ahead and get on get that rolling so we can efficiently mitigate traffic in the future and just have um I guess the infrastructure in place already because we know our community is growing vastly at a crazy pace right now.

So good question, yes.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh Daniel, what is public comment?

Have you have you gotten a public response?

What is the response about Mike in terms of it's been open since the 21st?

Have you gotten uh a lot of feedback and and input from the community?

Yeah, so we've gotten um lots of lots of feedback already.

I don't know the exact number off the top of my head of how many people have participated.

Um, but obviously the more the better.

Um, we're seeing a lot of a lot of comments based close and within the city boundary.

Um that's expected.

Um so that tends to be where people are seeing or they want to see the most improvements, um, but we're also seeing places like Reedville, um, Reedville, Reedville Road, that corridor are getting a lot of lot of input as well.

Um, and because you know there's schools coming in over there, and that place is growing super fast as well.

So it's pretty spread out, um, but primarily the responses are within the city.

Okay, okay.

Um Chris, have we have we shared this on would this be appropriate for city communications just to share that there's a public comment period?

Sure, and we we I think we have pushed it out a a time or two, but that's one of the reasons why we invited them tonight just to continue to generate attention to the to the process because we hear a lot from the the community about it, and this is an opportunity to actually make sure that any specific issues are recorded and incorporated in the plan.

So we'll we'll use this as a prompt for one more push through our various channels.

Um and of course they've been doing it through theirs as well, and we'd encourage assistance from the media and getting the word out over the final week of the input period.

Thank you for coming.

I frequently hear about traffic and planning in district two, so I'm very glad that you're here.

Thank you.

I hope the media takes takes a mo takes attention.

The draught family should participate.

Maybe for the general public's uh information, how does the the SPATS planning work in concert with uh say for example the the penny sales tax road improvement projects and you know, just so people understand the holistic um you know approach that government in Spartanburg County takes to road infrastructure uh improvements?

Sure.

The way I would characterize it is that the SPATS long-range transportation plan is um one of the ways that shapes the allocation of the federal funds that flow through to the area.

So it it you know it you talking about major corridors and that type of thing.

But a lot of the um capital project sales tax has been driven around catching up on maintenance backlog issues.

So those two things are they're both important, both critical needs, but they're slightly different in that um the folks in with South Carolina DOT and the Federal Highway Administration, the first document they'll pick up when when they're thinking ahead to what major projects could be undertaken and in this metro area would be the SPATS long-range transportation plan.

That's why it's so important.

Yeah, if I could add the uh SPATS, we get a set amount of money um that gets passed on federally to SCDOT, which then they split it up between the different NPOs in the state.

Um so we're primarily doing corridor and intersection improvements rather than maintenance of already existing infrastructure, which is where those those funds would likely go.

So yeah, I just want I want to make sure when people say fix the road, you know, they understand that it's it's you know it's it's multiple layers of government that go in to to achieving that.

Um and then I I know in previous uh conversations uh with the spats team.

I don't know that you were part of that, but but there was a lot of concern expressed about the Pine Street corridor, um, particularly as it related to uh the movement of tanker trucks uh near and around Pine Street School.

Um SCO SC DOT has been uncooperative in that um in that effort to our disappointment.

Um is there anything else we can do through the SPATS conversation and the general comment period to try to re-introduce that as a concern because concerns not going away.

Um the the fix according to DOT always was major infrastructure improvement on some of the alternative routes.

They didn't deem there to be a viable alternative route uh unless there had been major concerns.

I mean major uh um uh corrections at at different uh intersections, mainly the Reedville Road, uh Southport Road intersection.

Um but but are we going back and looking at that as part of this uh 2020 vision plan because you know, as as the traffic increases uh you know in our in our community grows, you know, I believe the the potential threat is only growing, it's not going away.

So I want to make sure that we're we're you know we're while we're not winning in incremental battles, we're not giving up on the greater war because I think it's extremely important.

Yeah, and anything that has previously been looked at and our other LRTP, like our past um previous LRTP, because we we redo this every five years.

Um so the last one would have been a 2045 update, and this one's the 2050.

But anything that was already previously identified, we're continuing to look at and also evaluate those.

So that hasn't been swept away and um looking at other um improvements throughout the county is not gonna get rid of that either.

Good.

Send Jodie Trail up to that site.

Definitely.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your item uh eight, public hearing.

And um an ordinance to provide the adoption of the city operating budget, it's execution for the physical uh period year July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 ordinance uh Chris Story, City Manager presenting.

And Mr.

Locks over there.

Yes, Mr.

Mayor and members of council.

This uh presentation and discussion will relate to item eight a the next item up and also item nine a those two are companion ordinances we do each year.

Um the the first ordinance establishes the the budget, which is the spending plan for the year that would take effect um the year beginning July 1.

And the second um uh ordinance there um authorizes the the property tax millage and the the rev, you know, the the fee and revenue side of the budget.

Um and so those two work in tandem.

One's expenditure, one's the revenue side.

Uh the um we discussed this at the last meeting, and so I'll briefly recap a number of the key points, and then Dennis and I will do our best to answer any questions that you all may have.

Um just a refresher on the process.

Uh tonight is an opportunity for the public to comment on next year's budget.

Uh it's also an opportunity for you to make any amendments to the balanced plan that staff has prepared.

Um that can amendments can occur tonight or at second reading.

Um staff's effort to put in in place this balanced uh uh product, which is in your your packet, is based on our our best efforts to make sure that the budget aligns with your priorities and values, but you all have the final say in whether or not it does, and so we encourage you to make those amendments.

The the only thing I would suggest is that um in order to maintain the balance that uh that any amendment itself be balanced as well.

Um the key points that drove our uh preparation of of the uh staff's recommended budget is that uh we believe it it reflects a stable uh sound uh financially uh healthy condition uh for this organization and and frankly for our community.

Uh we believe that if you if you dig in to look at the the areas in which uh additional resources are being invested, you'll see continued alignment with with our priorities.

It uh despite some archaic wording in the the title of uh ordinance nine, which says raise revenue.

Uh uh, we are not proposing any uh changes to our property tax rate or or or to our household fees.

Um that language is carried over from state law, and they presume you start at zero each year.

So uh that's the the nature of uh of that wording, but uh the as proposed the tax millage rate wouldn't remain the same as would the rates of our uh uniform household fees like uh uh solid waste fee and stormwater fee.

Um we continue to prioritize our employees.

Uh about 60 uh six percent of of every dollar we expend is uh salaries and and benefits um wages uh paid to the to the minimum women who work with the city.

remain the same as would the rates of our uh uniform household fees like uh uh solid waste fee and stormwater fee um we continue to prioritize our employees uh about 60 uh six percent of of every dollar we expend is uh salaries and and benefits um wages uh paid to the to the minimum women who work with the city that is our most uh valuable resource and it's reflected in our uh priorities and our expenditures includes a cost of living uh wage adjustment for all employees and absorbs rising health uh insurance costs um so that they don't make their way through onto the the take home pay to reduce the take home pay of employees um we also are prioritizing facilities and equipment uh equipment costs are rising of course um and uh uh we think it's important that in in order to maintain level of efficiency that we give the tools provide the tools and equipment to our team that they need to to do the job and encourages some additional flexibility to deal with uh uh downtown uh policing and um otherwise keeps a very stable uh city head count of about 425 um employees uh just to quickly summarize you'll you'll you'll see um uh year over year uh growth in revenue projected to be about uh roughly on the order of five percent just a little bit under five percent um and most of that is coming from our business related revenues property tax base growth uh we're we're beginning to see some of the commercial developments uh come online and and and uh um produce growth in our property tax base um we also see uh strong activity and in business related uh business license tax revenue and um hospitality tax food and beverage sales this is expenditures by category uh across our organization and you'll see that um uh where we're seeing the significant uh expenditure growth um uh is what police uh fire and uh public works you see those we've we've moved some functions and services around within our budget just to better align we have uh some of our downtown related activities moved into the uh admin division of um uh the policy and management category which you'll see some of those changes but uh it remains that our core functions of uh police fire and public works are the lion's share of the expenditures uh Dennis is prepared for any and all uh uh hard questions uh I'll try to answer uh uh as best I can and then he'll probably need to correct me but we want to make sure that um that this plan for next year um best aligns with your values and priorities and welcome any questions that you've got sure any questions in Mr.

Story Councilwoman Rogers Chris um just as a reminder can you high level community services what's what's packaged under under that line in the community services basket that's um uh mostly what you'll have there is parks and rack is is probably the biggest function under that uh heading and community development work um uh so neighborhood services department um and Martin's team and the like great and why does Dennis spend so much money then it and yeah yeah there's so there are always some some quirks in any you know it's a it's a 75 page document and believe it or not that's shorter than then many of it's 75 page document but there are a lot of organization wide expenditures uh liability insurance things of that nature that are that are captured in um some of those administrative functions but actually have an effect across a lot of departments and divisions okay sorry Chris may I also ask um in your previous slide it was additional uh I think police presence is there more that you can give on that line because I know we've talked about it additional resources for downtown we are um you know the the biggest constraint uh that we face in regard to policing is that we are constantly doing our best to recruit additional officers and I think if you do a little looking that's a national challenge right now um and uh so we've always had budget room to hire and still have this budget authorizes about a about 10 police officer slots that are currently today unfilled I look forward to the day where we get to the point where they're all filled and we have to come back and have that conversation about how we go beyond that number uh but we're not there today but there are some things that we're experimenting with in downtown to free up the ability to um have more visible police presence downtown and that involves um some strategic use of some outside resources um in terms of uh uh additional security in our garages um that would

Uh, but we're not there today.

But there are some things that we're experimenting with in downtown to free up the ability to um have more visible police presence downtown, and that involves um some strategic use of some outside resources in terms of uh uh additional security in our garages that would free things up, maybe changing the way we do some of the special events support that's carried out by police.

Maybe that can be carried out by non-sworn folks that would free up some additional hours, and also when I say non-sworn, that means it's just it's a little bit easier for us to recruit and hire folks that can do things that make this community safer, but may not be fully credentialed law enforcement officers.

One of those things is working in the real-time crime center, right?

Which can free up uh some uh uh and having eyes on those those cameras during peak times downtown allows the officers who are downtown to be in the spaces where they're needed most quickly.

Uh so we've got some additional resources plugged into the budget to to do that, but uh still working with the the team to figure out exactly how that manifests and works its way through.

But the goal is uh more more visible presence um in the heart of the city.

Any other questions?

Yes, um I noticed that the hospitality tax discretionary allotments weren't in this budget.

I assume that's because the committee is still working, but we'll be in for second reading, right?

The space for that for the for that allocation is built into the budget.

Um, hope is we'll plug it in for second reading the specific ring.

So all right.

This here also uh requires a public hearing, and uh the way the public hearing works, we will um have 20 minutes each side if you're for this budget or if you're against this budget, so this is your opportunity to speak on behalf of the city's budget, and um no one person can speak no uh speak any longer than 10 minutes on either side.

Okay, so if you would like to speak in favor of the budget, excuse me.

Um, do we make a uh may I make a motion that we enter into a public hearing?

Second all in favor, aye, aye.

Do that oppose and we entered into a public hearing.

Now, anyone wants to speak in favor of this budget.

Come to the mic, just give us your name, please.

My name is Vanessa Lack.

I always have a few things I want to mention about the budget that I do support that I was gonna add to my later comments because they signed up for the actual general comment period, but I'm just gonna speak on the ones that pertain to the budget now.

You're Vanessa.

Yes, okay.

Anyway, so I do I definitely support the additional resources for downtown policing because there's a public drunkenness problem, and it really deters I know me and others I know from frequenting the restaurants and walking down there freely.

I've seen men down there multiple with coolers filled with alcohol, and they're just drinking one right after the other, getting smashed in the streets on the sidewalk.

I saw it as early as like 10 a.m.

in the morning after I got done with an event, and I was going to have brunch, and this is your view from like the restaurant we were at, and the restaurant didn't want this either.

And then a friend of mine, she was being harassed by a man in the street, her and her friend when she was trying to go into a restaurant, and it ruined their experience, and they weren't able to do what they intended doing, which is having lunch there in peace.

So I definitely support additional resources for downtown policing, it's definitely needed as well as like the cameras that were mentioned or something.

That sounds like a great idea.

Um, and I also support the no tax increases on property taxes and household fees.

Thank you, ma'am.

Anyone else?

We still speaking in favor of the budget, proposed budget.

Anyone want to speak against this proposed budget?

No one person can speak over 10.

You have up to 20 minutes.

Anyone would like to speak against the proposed budget budget.

Do I hear a recommendation to close the public hearing?

Mr.

Mayor, I recommend that we close the public hearing for second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any that opposed?

Ayes have it.

Here a recommendation for the budget.

Mr.

Mayor, make a motion that we uh approve the um adopted operating budget as read.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any that oppose eyes have it.

Budget passed their ordinance.

Uh and Mr.

Story may mention their ordinance to provide for the adoption of the city operating budget.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, I'm reading the one up top.

No.

An ordinance.

I was gonna read uh ordinance to raise revenues, and he made clearly that we're not raising any for the city of Spartanburg for the physical year of 2026 to 2027 to levy taxes on all real estate and personal property except such as exempt by law in the uh corporate limits of the city of Spartanburg for the corporate purposes of the physical year of 2026 and 2027 to provide penalties and delinquent payments of taxes levied and provided.

Uh Chris Story again has explained that any other questions of Mr.

Story.

Mr.

I just want to make it clear.

I think I mentioned it at the last meeting.

If it I didn't mention it was on my mind.

Um we when we did the reappraisals and reassessments in what year 2023, four.

I'd have to have to be sure.

We rolled back our millage rate um so that we didn't add to the outside of appraised value of property.

We didn't increase the tax burden on from the city's perspective on any city taxpayer.

Um, as a result of that.

And so that continues this lower rate from when we readjust it.

That's correct.

Yes, sir.

Okay, Mr.

Mayor, I make a motion that we adopt the ordinance as read, second.

All in favor, aye.

Any that oppose eyes have it now B ordinance to amend the code of the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina 2020 uh to include a provision regarding obstruction of public property, obstructing public properties, Mr.

Kennedy.

I'm sorry.

Evening mayor and members of council.

Uh this item is an ongoing effort by staff to clarify our codes uh to enable a quick and appropriate resolution to neighborhood and community issues.

We've had a few incidents in the past uh related to the obstruction of public property, and uh it required staff to look at our ordinance and what it provides as guidance to address these items, and we found that the code language was not adequately clear, and so this ordinance would address it.

It will ensure that public spaces within the city of Spartanburg, including sidewalks, parks, plazas, public right-of-way streets, and other city-owned areas remain safe, accessible, and clean for residents and visitors.

Um specifically, the ordinance clicker.

Oh, it I'm sorry, I just I just read it.

Then uh the ordinance notes that the amendment of the city code uh provisions regarding obstructing public property as follows.

It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct any street, alley, park, square, public right-of-way or sidewalk intended for free movement of pedestrians or vehicles by placing any personal property.

B it shall be unlawful for any persons to obstruct any street, alley, park, square public right-of-way, or sidewalk intended for free movement of pedestrians or vehicles by prolonged congregating without special event, a picketing permit.

So this code and the provisions, it shall be effective upon the adoption of city council in the ordinance supersedes any other inconsistent ordinance in this particular matter, it would be section 30-156 of our code that previously was the tool we used, and we saw it that it needed to be revised to give us the ability to address these uh issues in the appropriate time and the appropriate response.

Yes, how I guess it's two-fold question.

How and if it does, does this relate to you mentioned sidewalks?

So, for example, you know, we have some neighborhoods who have issues with their trash bins, yes.

Um, is does this sort of clean that up so that people understand you know your your trash goes out, your roll cart goes out, but at the same time, you know, yes, once it's picked up, it needs to go back up to your property line.

Is that yes?

Does that relate to exactly?

That's a good example, and um the enforcement of this would be carried out uh by our property maintenance office and our environmental services office.

The example that you just uh noted would be carried about out by our environmental service office.

I have one question.

Sure.

Um I'm sorry.

Um what if someone is having their yard service and the person who's doing it put out yellow tape?

Yellow tape?

Yes, to deteriorate traffic coming through while they're doing that.

That's obstruction.

Yes, it is.

And our code permits um with property, personal, you give it seventy seventy-two hours to address that item.

And so they would be noted of the evaluation in the personal property.

You're given 72 hours to remove it, unless it creates a safety measure, which allows us to address it in a manner more efficient if it's creating a safety issue for the public.

Mitch, I know, like in neighborhoods like Beaumont where there's always been an issue with cars on the on the sidewalk or you know, obstructing the sidewalk.

Um does this does this ordinance make it sufficiently clear, for example, for people that that are parking in their driveway that blocks the sidewalk in their own driveway.

Correct.

You know, is those, yeah.

Okay.

Mr.

Mayor.

Yes.

Um, but Mitch, to be clear, these would be code violations, not criminal violations that the police department would handle.

The enforcement would be carried out by property maintenance.

Um mostly uh most of these concerns do happen in residential districts.

So property maintenance, environmental service would be uh uh the tools of enforcement in those cases where they're non-compliant, the city has the ability to abate the situation when it comes to personal property, we can abate it, meaning we can remove it at their expense.

So there's never any involvement by law enforcement if a vehicle fails to be removed within this, we would tow it at the owner's expense.

So I am not a bike rider.

I own a bike, but I have not um ridden it.

The tire is flat, and we'll just leave it at that.

I need some help.

Is that a is that a code violation?

Yes, but I I don't know how bike riders store their bikes.

I know there are bike racks, but I sound really dumb right now.

Um but I imagine maybe Liv might prop his bike up outside the coffee bar, so to say, to go inside to get a coffee.

Is that then obstructing the sidewalk?

It doesn't allow free passage of pedestrian, then it is obstructing it.

You must have allow free passage.

So a bike propped up, propped up is certainly allowing free passage.

Yes.

Okay.

Right.

For clarity, I know that uh the rule was as long as a resident could bring their garbage bin off the curve.

You can still leave it out front because as long as it is not on the sidewalk.

But now the new rule that you're stating now is that you have to bring it back to your specific to obstructing public right-of-way sidewalks.

This is not related to the other ordinance regarding uh the storage of your roll card.

This is specifically to the sidewalk matter.

And if it's placed on the sidewalk, you'll if you don't if you're not able to pass that sidewalk if that then it's a it's a it's a violation of obstructing of the the right-of-way.

I am um waiting for the day that you go.

We have a strict rule rule, you know, because for people gosh to bring their garbage bins back to their residence and not leave them out in front.

So we recently, within the last six months, um uh added a process in addressing that, and we have a staff person in the environmental services office that has been working hard to address that item separately from this code.

Thank you.

I know, Mitch, I know this is one ordinance, and and I know Kevin, we've got other ordinances that we're looking to clean up over time.

Um, and I'm all for providing clarity and additional ordinances that allows us to enforce the codes because I think from my perspective, one of the things that that we can improve on as a as a city is code enforcement as a whole.

I mean, you know, for example, you can't, I mean, I I can hear it in just about every uh neighborhood in my district.

Uh the loud vehicles that go down uh Pine Street, for example, at all hours of the day, including late at night, um, either racing or you know, without muffers, you can't go downtown uh at any point and sit outside without hearing you know a loud vehicle go through.

Uh sometimes it's it's mufflers, sometimes it's uh the stereo.

Um and so you know, I think as we improve these these ordinances and codes, I would I would hope that we will do more on the enforcement side of these because you know, just passing an ordinance makes us feel good and it makes us feel like that we're cleaning up things and providing clarity, but if we're not gonna enforce it, it really is gonna have no impact on our residents.

Yeah, to be uh clear, that's part of the drive behind this revision is uh having the coats and ordinance as the structures around how we operate, but the people um problem solving the real issues and addressing it.

So we're having conversations around it.

Any other questions?

Yes, sir.

I'm yes, ma'am.

Mitch, I just want to say that um this ordinance and the topics that covers, I know Kevin, you and you have helped me with a number of you know residents in district two that have issues that this would address.

Um so I appreciate bringing this to council and um just providing you know the the city team with clear, concise ordinances to actually just support our our community and and shared space.

Thank you, Ms.

Do I hear a motion?

I move mayor that we accept this ordinance to amend the code to city's Martin Marie, South Carolina 2017.

Do I hear a second?

Councilman Blue John?

Go ahead.

Great.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any of that opposed?

Eyes have it.

With item C ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of development agreement between by and between the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

And Barry really um to investment incorporated with respects to a misuse development at 145 West Bride Street in downtown Squattenburg and other matters related thereunto.

Mr.

Stories back up.

Yes, sir, Mr.

Mayor, uh members of the council.

This is our um this project is consistent with our strategy to try to get multiple benefits of each major investment or or minor investment for that matter that we might make in our community.

What are the what are the ways in which it can be executed to create multiple layers of benefit?

So as you know, for a number of years now, we've been working alongside the county to build South Carolina's first joint governmental complex um on South Church, uh just a block um off of Morgan Square.

And uh this project that I will describe tonight and discuss the the proposed development agreement will complete that block um in a way that is intended to accomplish multiple aims.

Uh the the first is uh to make sure that our uh the facility we'll share with with the county has um an attractive positive context um uh surrounding it.

We want it we want to with this project continue to meet the housing demand in our uh in our community because we know if we don't provide new downtown housing with the growth pressures we are we are um experiencing as a community, the effect of that will change the character of our neighborhoods around that nearby.

So we want to we want to make sure that there are housing choices for folks who want to live in the heart of the city um so that we don't experience any displacement in our neighborhoods that ring downtown.

Um we want active street edges in in our downtown.

We think that's terribly important.

It's the pedestrian experience that the park wants to do multiple things uh kind of uh uh ability that really makes uh downtowns great.

Um and we want uh we want to make sure that when we have uh major public uh investments that they're ext aesthetically pleasing, and I think you'll see that by incorporating some private development within the block uh we take what would otherwise be an exposed parking facility and and allow it to to be you know the parking that's part of the joint governments center facility is absolutely necessary.

It's important to the men and women that that work with the city and the county and the folks that go that visit to do do business with them.

It's also important to the surrounding area downtown, but parking decks aren't the most beautiful thing in the world.

So uh this allows us to add some um attractive elements to it.

And importantly, it's uh using uh a public-private partnership to grow our tax base.

This project will generate a lot of local government revenue down the line.

Um and importantly, uh it will help us uh fulfill our obligations as you know, uh uh part of the process in identifying the site for the joint government center, uh, did have the effect of displacing uh downtown business, Blue Moon.

Um their business will have a home in a permanent home, and they'll own a portion of the the private development that I'm that I'll show you here in just a minute.

So we're fulfilling that obligation with this with this agreement.

And we're building on this the whole Morgan Square area of our downtown as a as a restaurant and retail hub by adding additional spaces there.

Um so I want to share how this project um came came together.

We we did a national um search for developers uh that had significant amount of experience in complex public-private partnership.

When we're building a full block redevelopment, most of which will be owned publicly and and some of it will be owned privately.

It is important that to have a partner that has done similar work uh before on that scale.

And um over the course of some time uh we we uh connected with the Barrett's who are from Indianapolis uh area that have done some extensive projects of a similar nature in the uh Midwest and were looking for a flagship property and uh project in the south, and this this aligned very well.

After speaking with my peers and their communities that had worked, we our confidence grew that that was the right group.

I'll orient you to the to this first image so you can get a sense sense of uh this in the in the in the lower uh edge of the image is the intersection of broad and spring street, and uh you see shaded out in white, although the building will actually be red brick, but uh it's a the uh city administrative complex.

Um that is uh uh on the church street frontage, and just beyond that is the new planetarium expansion of the library in the interior of the block um is uh almost a thousand stall parking garage.

That's the structure you see now coming out of the ground with the big concrete walls that you can see um uh on broad and in spring.

Um those concrete walls will be in the interior.

The white rooftop that you that you see here is the private development of which this uh agreement uh prescribes.

Um this is a look at the project from uh the intersection of Kennedy and Spring Street.

Um so just looking at it from the other side, and you can see how uh the private development will wrap the garage on all sides.

Um that was important aesthetically into street life and to some of those goals uh discussed.

Um this is uh uh more of a street level view of that um uh first intersection there.

Um this is uh the second intersection, that's a street level view.

Um this is a just a sidewalk of of how the walk from Hampton Heights up uh Spring Street, uh the sidewalk that is now currently uh a less than desirable pedestrian way right now uh with barricades and the like, I think will be very pleasant on the other side of this work.

Um this gives you uh uh look at how it all comes together.

The big rectangular at the on the bottom half of the image, the the the big cross hatched diagonally hatched uh rectangular space is the parking garage.

Um the the blue units are residential units, the yellow um and what is it?

What color is that?

10?

I'm not I'm colorblind, so uh 10 work that is restaurant retail space.

And of course, on the top of the of this image is the building that will be occupied by the city and in county government where future city council meetings will be held and and things of that nature.

This largest restaurant space of overlooking there'll be a plaza that will be situated between the projects.

Um and overlooking that plaza and overlooking Broad Street will be the uh home of the new Blue Moon there on the street, um, and also overlooking the plaza, so it'll it'll be a great uh uh three-sided uh space there, and additional um commercial space there.

So we're pleased with um how this design uh all came together.

This this is really complicated stuff when you're sharing entries and exits and um underground infrastructure and things of that nature.

On toll uh all told the the Barrett's will uh invest about 70 million dollars um and they will um pay uh uh a series of um uh tax payments that will escalate over the life of the 20-year agreement.

Um and I was meant to highlight the top end number, but it'll take me a second to find it.

Um it is a substantial uh project in this substantial um addition of uh quality development and uh tax revenue to the downtown, and we're pleased that it's come together as well as it has.

Um it is uh let's see uh the revenue to be generated um let's see 84,000 in the first in year five, 425,000 by year eight, six hundred and seventy-two in year ten, one point two five million in year fifteen, and one point nine million in year twenty escalating every year in between, just to give you a sense of that curve there.

Um so this is uh this is a win-win from our our perspective, and we recommend uh your approval of this development agreement.

Welcome any questions that you have.

Questions, Chris.

I'm excited about uh this project for so many reasons.

Uh one, I mean, having a group like the Barrett's come in.

I think many of us have a chance to meet them, and and they're extremely high quality developers and and seem to be great people and and that type of investment in Spartanburg is I think validation from from the outside that Spartanburg is on the move and Spartanburg is a place where where people can feel comfortable investing their uh their resources, so that's exciting.

And also this project just looks tremendous.

It's a it's a great great project.

It will be a tremendous asset for our downtown.

Does the I mean and me personally, I'm I'm thrilled that Blue Moon returns to to downtown uh in such a prominent location and excited about that.

Does the tax incentive component of this uh also apply to Blue Moon in terms of any any taxes or fees related to their condo?

That's they will own their portion as a condominium, and it would be covered by the multi-county park structure that the deal is in.

So and how many units uh residential units does this project have?

220.

And they all they all are rentals, yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

It's uh uh and these are large uh high quality apartments with the amenities that have come to often be seen in projects of this nature.

I don't know if you can really see it in this image, but there's an open you can sort of uh right here at this corner.

You see those open railings?

Yeah, that's a pool deck for the for the residents there, um, and some of their other amenity spaces on the that'll be on the Kennedy Street side on the Kennedy Street edge.

We uh are planning to be able to accommodate the Dan uh connection on the the Kennedy Street side, and of course, big wide sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure on all sides.

Um Chris, do you know the square footage of these units and the number of bedrooms?

I do um I mean I have that information.

I don't have it uh um I don't think we included that as an exhibit in the agreement.

Uh but it's a variety of um uh bedroom counts up to three bedroom units.

There are not many of those, but most are two bedroom units.

Uh and when I s I don't I I will get you the spreadsheet that shows the specifics of the units.

I'm sorry, I don't have I didn't bring that file.

And do you know the um cost the rental price starting?

Uh I these are these will come online in about two years and they're likely to be the highest rents we we have in the downtown market.

Do you have an estimated?

Uh it varies by the unit and square footage, but uh I don't want to suggest that a f uh a figure not knowing exactly what the the latest developer expectation is, but these are uh high end luxury units.

Okay, Mr.

Mayor, so the the units for this particular project are all market rate.

I assume there will be no designated that's correct workforce housing uh rates, but on the I guess we'd be going east end, the new project on Kennedy.

Right, that will be all affordable.

That's correct.

That's a 48 unit uh all affordable uh development, and you know, we're we are continuing to work on a number of downtown possibilities for affordable and mixed income uh projects.

We we believe we need all of the above.

And that the project on the the east end would be 50 to 60 percent AMI, is that correct?

Correct.

Those are uh that's a lie tech uh low income housing tax credit deal targeting that income range.

I I do wish there was a component in this project, but I am encouraged um that we will see, you know, just a block away, um, you know, sort of that missing middle um median income that we often talk about is that we you know all most of these projects are 80 percent workforce.

Those that are you know receive vouchers and and things of that nature, but that 50 to 60 is what they consider the missing middle, so I'm encouraged to see that we'll see a project like that in downtown as well.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor Smith.

Um the the part that you just read, Chris, about the kind of escalating payment and taxes.

The sentence right before that says the final payment schedule shall be determined once project costs are finalized.

Does that mean we're to expect uh a final development agreement later at some other time?

We've never really seen it phrased like that.

It's always been a year year by year, you know, uh exhibit at the end.

That's because I haven't given up on it being higher than that curve of that it is in there.

So this will be interpreted to establish a floor.

Okay.

Right.

And so I am optimistic that it that it will be in excess of that floor.

Um, but uh I wanted to go ahead and establish a low-end bracket for the minimum amount that it would be.

So then does that mean we'll need to revisit this, or that then just becomes the what we give you as a city manager the freedom to well it it would technically it would technically ultimately be executed by the county when they uh so I can talk with the the county about how we best do that.

And and they have been this project given its complexity with all the construction and the infrastructure and stuff like that.

We've literally been meeting weekly for a year and a half on it.

Uh and uh so we're uh we're we're deep in it and the county's been heavily involved in and getting to this point, and so we'll we'll figure out, but there will be a uh a published uh detail of that that will be in excess of these numbers in this uh when it when it gets finalized in a couple months.

Okay.

Does the county pick this up after we voted on it twice, or do they pick it up as soon as we've voted on it once?

It typically will since you all have to consent for there to be any alternative treatment of anything, it's usually it usually happens when it's final.

So they so they'd be dealing with it.

I I would expect late summer fall, something like that.

Okay.

Just thinking timeline.

Sure.

Well, we're gonna and there uh we are going full speed ahead so that the private development side of construction can begin as at the earliest point at which the public construction would allow for it too.

That's the tricky part.

That we're trying to ferret out on the front end.

So this isn't specific to this project, but but when you think about going back to our budget, um, and I meant to ask this question earlier, but but it's appropriate to ask now when you talk about timelines and and meeting all obligations to start the building, which is permits and approvals.

Um are we looking at in our in our building services and in our developmental services team, um adding additional head count to you know handle the the the anticipated uh increase in activity uh related to all of these different projects so that you know when we have projects that have gone through um the the process of development agreements and things like that.

I mean that's sort of the the first hurdle, but then the next hurdle can become you know all of the other things that are required to get something you know up out of the ground.

So you know, are we are we looking at that hard enough to make sure that we're we're not creating bottlenecks um you know and having bandwidth issues in some of those areas we the there's twofold answer to that.

One is that the budget does include authorization for an additional in-house plan review uh position.

We uh but we currently and have been in this recent wave of activity um using contrast additional supports from credentialed third party firms.

Um and that it that has enabled us to, you know, what what we want to do is staff for what we think is likely to be the sustainable volume, and then when we have additional a bulge of activity, use some some contracted additional resources so we don't delay those projects.

Um and that has served us well over the past year.

I just want to make I mean we hear anecdotally from time to time, oh they're waiting on the city for this or waiting on the you know it's it's never a very specific um you know um uh complaints but but I do think you know it is a is a relevant point that that we want to make sure we want it done right and we want to we want to be uh you know very diligent about making sure we're we're getting the quality projects that we all want, but I think we also want to move as fast as we can, and so and so you know, I would I would make sure that we're spending a lot of time thinking about those resources, whether it's additional head count, contract, temporary, whatever it is to make sure that not only are we are we viewed as a community people want to invest in, but but we take it to the next level through you know delivery of service and and excellence and every aspect of what we're trying to do to bring those quality because I think that will that will help attract additional developers as well.

I mean, a lot of times I think people will shy away from communities where there's a lot of hassle and red tape that that you know while important can can you know can be used to slow the process down uh bureaucratically, and I think we need to be you know very mindful of that.

Yes, sir, and I've been real real pleased with the team's effort.

We have a we have a whole lot of work coming out of the ground right now, and uh they have been flexible and nimble and uh diligent in getting all the key schedules met.

And that's been the overriding theme.

I don't want it to come across as any kind of negative comment.

That's been the overriding theme, but I think it's just something that we need to keep thinking throughout.

Absolutely.

Awesome, awesome.

So we need a motion here.

And I just make a motion that we approve the development agreement.

Second.

All in favor, and not opposed.

We have Mr.

Story up the 10 uh staff updates.

Um sorry, just mayor.

I don't have any substantial updates, but I'll welcome any questions that you have.

Mr.

Mayor?

Yes.

Andy mentioned in his public comments about the zoning ordinance updates.

A process, and thought it would be a good time to ask about that.

Sure, sure.

We are uh very close to uh uh a final action uh plan in terms of you know the chart of the sequencing of public meetings and the like um and are working on your schedules.

I know we've got a couple of other things that are pulling additional uh time from council members, but for uh a briefing uh on that process with the consultants, um uh because y'all will be uh first point of input, and then there'll be uh various ways for public and stakeholders and neighborhood leaders, the community to give input to that, and then there'll be iterations from there.

But that work is um uh dialed in, planned out, ready to go.

Um we have hired yes, a consultant group.

Yes, uh that's excellent.

Oh well that's great.

But the hard work's still ahead.

No, that's good.

That's good good news.

Another question I like to um occasionally ask about is our COVID um no the Helene, the Helene money from FEMA, and if we've had any update on being reimbursed by the federal government.

You got any words?

That was we've got both of the reimbursements back to the tools.

Most of the reimbursements back.

We can't ever hear you, Dennis, unless you come to the microphone.

The people online can't.

So that's excellent news that I think you should speak into the microphone.

Yes, we've got most of the the reimbursements back.

We were eligible for about 1.5 million dollars.

We've got it back a little bit over 1.2 or 3 million dollars so far.

Well, hot dog.

That's a good name.

All right, thank you.

Yes, Councilman Roger.

Mr.

Mayor, if I just uh add, um, I can personally attest that there are there is fencing along some of the trails and public spaces that we know and love because of that FEMA money.

So thank you.

Yes, Councilman Sarah, Chris.

I just wanted to know that uh have we utilize all the funding to clear up any city-owned property that has Helene damages that we know of that is city owned.

Uh we have we're also and I'll ask Martin for a more uh thorough current update.

We have I think some remaining homes that are you know private properties that qualified for the relief that we are administering uh that can be uh utilized on private property that are still working their way through the system, but I think we've done what we understand to be achievable on public property, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, Chris, the young lady mentioned earlier uh in her comment mentioned the the uh buses and the connectivity to the colleges.

Um I've been encouraged and excited about our microtransit um pilot because I think that's gonna be the future of our public transportation system for a city like the size of Spartanburg.

And so um my my question is specific related to colleges are in our pilot.

Do we go to all of our colleges in the city of Spartanburg currently?

Those in the city limits, yes, sir.

Yeah, uh we'd like to get out to the community college main campus and to USC upstate, but we don't currently do that with microtransit.

Well, and that might be a way to then engage with those those institutions as they look to move you know their students into downtown.

The the other question I have is that you know, and maybe it's not maybe it would be in a in a in an upcoming meeting where we have a lighter agenda uh than this, but but to get some updated statistics of the microtransit program because I think you know, I mean, I I've been promoting it, um, but but so many of the neighborhoods in my district aren't aren't in the the you know the the approved bans yet, and and so you know I I know people would be excited about the possibility of using that.

So I'd like to know you know, kind of where we stand with the the statistics of use, but then also what would be our barriers for for you know expanding it uh even even more because I think we're gonna get some useful information from our pilot, but we're really never gonna know the advocacy of it until we open it up across the city, yes, sir.

And we are we're working actively on that analysis of the the pilot and uh we'll have that information for you subsequently.

Councilwoman sound.

I just want to tag on to what he was saying, and I like our idea about them going downtown or coming downtown after hours because our transit stopped at a certain time.

And I know that uh no spot of us is got the same kind of schedule.

So maybe you can look into that as well for the students.

Just in case.

But the great thing about the microtransit program is that the Sparta buses require a different license and certification, which makes staffing more difficult.

Whereas micro trap transit, you know, makes it easier to bring in, you know, uh available resources to manage the the fleet.

So far Methodist College is just barely outside the city line.

So let's not forget about that one.

That one is a residential campus as well.

Councilwoman Rogers.

I just wanted to add a reminder that it does go from door to door.

I think that is also different than the buses, and it creates safety, and yes, it's great for for our youth and our college students, but I've had a number of uh more elderly members of our community truly lean into the opportunity to use a transit.

You talking about drain.

I have ridden the spar to go.

I'm waiting for the west side of town.

I I have employed my my children actually use it.

My oldest will take them around.

Yeah, um from place to place.

Soccer practice, actually.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, I could see it being you know, any neighborhood around town, a group going downtown for dinner, you know.

I mean, and and particularly now with parking, you know, um, you know, being you know, uh an issue, um, you know, to have that as an additional tool in addition to the the uh shuttles and the valet and all of those things, it's just another another uh tool in the shows.

If we can get councilman former from joy riding on the shuttle, it was a great weekend.

I'm enjoying right on going to my car.

Good, good stuff, good stuff.

Awesome.

Thank you, Mrs.

Uh Story.

Wish I was uh starting Councilwoman Sally starting with you with city council updates.

I'm just so happy that we have rain because it's been so dry, and I want to say thank you to all those who are in the audience tonight.

And I have no other um thing.

Oh, yeah, I do.

I do.

Um I believe you may mention it, or one of you all may maybe go ahead and miss it.

But the monumental wall uh talk starts Monday at 5 30.

Yes.

Okay.

Awesome.

Councilman Foreman.

Yes, sir, Mr.

Mayor.

I just want to mention, you know, this is one of the meetings that we have on and off day on on a Tuesday, primarily because of uh the Memorial Day holiday, and I just want to uh recognize uh those in our community who have uh who've given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom uh and those who've lost loved ones uh as a result of that as well.

Thank you for that.

Mayor Pearl Tim.

Well, I went to Florida last week.

Um I went down there for a birthday party.

They're friends of ours, twins that had this birthday party, and we were supposed to be going to the party, but then after we got down there, we were staying with some friends, a friend, and it didn't end up the way we were.

I only got to spend about 45 minutes at the party.

And that's because the friend that we were staying with was grieving because she had lost her husband, and then she lost two sisters on this year.

And so and I ended up um staying with her up until about an hour before the party ended.

So I only got to spend 45 minutes at the birthday party, because so that's what my weekend was like.

And um get out and vote everybody.

I'm not telling you who to vote for, but I'm going to say get out and vote.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Councilwoman Rogers.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Yes, I want to um echo uh Jamie's message about Memorial Day, just um taking a moment and thanking the families and loved ones of those that have really really um served our country and served the life in which we are all here to support and protect and also grow.

Um I did want to note there have been a number of remembrance uh ceremonies, um, but there is one upcoming the flags for heroes, the Boy Scouts are doing in Duncan Park.

Um it will be June 18th at 5 30 p.m.

in Duncan Park.

Um my next my next point is just at the end of our meeting, a reminder to participate in the SPATS public comment period.

Uh you've got until the end of this week to to voice your opinion on our transportation long long-term plan.

Um, and also be safe in this uh weather.

It was it was definitely interesting driving over here.

So please be safe and enjoy the rain.

Councilwoman Smith.

Yeah, real quick, just thank you everyone for being here.

Um it's been a good dayslash week uh to be reminded that advocacy still works.

Um thinking about live you and um you used your comments to talk about the DOT road diet and the advocacy that you made for some changes to the DOT plan.

Um so thank you for using your voice and for everyone who spoke up about that.

Um, and then for everyone who who oh no, my sticker fell off.

I had my sticker on.

You didn't really vote.

Oh, there it is.

There it is.

I really did.

I was number 564 today at noon.

Um South Carolina uh broke records today for early voting on the first day of early voting.

Um, and I won't go into it too much, but hopefully you saw that the Senate did not have enough votes to pass the um redistricting map, which would have split the city down Pine Street into two different congressional districts.

Um many of our own uh representatives voted for that, um, which I think would have damaged the city's influence.

Um we talked about the importance of federal funds, and anyway, if you want to talk to me about that after, I'd be happy to.

But thankfully, um who you vote for today will be the same person who you vote for on June 9th, and we won't have to we won't have to change congressional districts here in the city.

So that is that is good news.

Um this year, yeah, this year, right now.

So thank you for everyone who showed up to vote.

And please do get out to vote.

We have a lot of really important elections at the local, state, and federal level for this these primaries.

Councilwoman Brown, Mr.

Mayor, um, thank you all for being here.

Um, yes, it is important to make your voice heard uh no matter which way you vote.

It's very important that you show up, you know.

People um fought for us and died for the right to vote.

So, you know, it is our civic duty to to show up each and every election.

I was very pleased with the outcome this afternoon.

Um taking off my council hat and I'm putting on my private citizen hat.

Kevin, uh I mentioned this to you in the in the meeting a little bit ago when I was uh whispering.

I know at one point when we talk about our parking garages and some of the challenges.

Um one point we had the top part of the parking garage, which it's had become sort of a mini race track.

Um I believe that barrier has been taken down because of course folks need to somewhere to park.

We've had you know baseball games and lots of events downtown, and so those parking garages are I suspect that one is filling up, I suspect.

Um the one over at I guess it would be St.

John, uh the George Dean Business School.

That top part has now become the new mini race track.

So I I hope that is something maybe we can look into Friday night.

I was just you know, sitting on my balcony, just trying to enjoy you know nice weather, and it just was non-stop and the screeching of the tires, and I don't know, maybe it's for like influencer for the gram, I guess as the kids say these days.

So perhaps that's something we could look into.

I I don't know how um full that particular garage becomes.

Um, but we we need to put an end to that.

So and I'll thank y'all for being here and try to stay dry.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Um, also uh we we did just celebrate Memorial Day, and that's why we are here on a Tuesday again.

Eccle and Jamie's um comments about the ones that gave the uh ultimate sacrifice.

We just want to thank them and their families.

Um the military uh soldiers.

Miss Samara make a motion that we go out of it.

You you cut me off.

That's first I also want to.

I can tell Chris is ready to go.

I wanted to uh thank all the graduates as the graduates have.

I mean, I think Walford was the last school to graduate, so all of the graduates here locally, colleges and high school, and even little people thank for those uh graduates.

Also, I want to uh recognize we are proud to announce uh city community relations manager Kathy Hill was recognized with the legislative resolution um at the State House, House Bill 5696, honors Kathy for her 35 years of dedicated public service to the state of South Carolina and to the city and county of Spartanburg.

And so that's a great uh honor on behalf of Kathy.

Thanks to our uh senators on uh stopping the passing of the redistricting, and and and we we all have our own thoughts and and reasoning behind what what we say about redistricting, but redistricting is supposed to ensure fair representation, and this is these are my words, uh we all have our own fair representation as populations grow and change.

But when district lines are drawn for political advantages instead of fairness, communities like Spineburg can lose their voice in government in South Carolina unfair redistricting has especially harmed minority communities by weakening their voting power in areas like Spainburg where community is uh are diverse and growing districts can district maps, can be manipulated to divide neighborhoods and concentrated minority votes into limited districts.

The impact reaches far beyond politics.

Representation affects our funding for schools, health care, health care, access, infrastructure improvement, public safety, housing, and economic development.

When communities are unfairly divided, their needs are easily ignored.

Spartanburg has a rich history, a strong working population, a diverse community that deserves equal representation.

Every resident, regardless of their race, uh uh income or neighborhood, should have equal voice in choosing leaders who represents their interests.

Fair district maps should keep communities together, reflecting the true population of the region, and protect the voting rights of all citizens.

Politicians, politicians should not be allowed to redraw maps in ways that weakens minority voice and guarantee politics, politics, outcome, political outcome.

So just my few words on that there, but thank the state house, thank the uh state senators for standing up and making sure this doesn't go forward right now.

It's important to vote.

Get out and vote.

So now, Miss Lula John.

Well, I'm glad that we were last finish, but thank you for that message.

I make a motion that we go into executive session.

Thank you.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any that opposed, eyes have it, Miss Vanessa.