The Spartanburg City Council met on July 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM (presumed) to discuss youth engagement programs, the microtransit pilot program, board appointments, and the appointment of a new city attorney. The meeting included public comments, unanimous consent agenda approvals, and council updates. Councilmember Erica Brown was absent due to a conflict.
Well, just take a look at the comments. Let us bring the Spartan City Council meeting to order for um July twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-six. And we gotta be led by the pledge. I just power for which it stands one nation on God and memory and justice for all. Thank you for that. We do have Council person, Erica Brown that has uh conflict, so she will not be here this evening. Uh Councilwoman Smith is on her way. Got held up at work, but she is in the process of coming. Item three, approval of the minutes for the July 13th, 2026 City Council meeting. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any that opposed? Ayes have it. Item four, approval of the agenda for July 27, 2026 City Council meeting. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any that opposed? Eyes have it. We have public comments, and I think we have three here. The way it works. I'm just gonna call you up and please restate your name so we know that that's you. And uh you'll have two minutes after you give your name. Dr. Clark, come on up to the podium, sir. Which podium, sir? Either one. All right. Can we adjust our devices? Thank you. Good evening, council. Members, my name is Marquis Clark, as the mayor stated. Uh I was before this very governing body some years ago in my former capacity as principal of the Cleveland Academy of Leadership, where we received a proclamation for the historic success at the school. However, today I'm here in my other capacity as husband, uh dad, and unfortunately, son-in-law to a movie and mother-in-law. And so uh as a resident of the north side, uh, want to uh thank this governing body as well as the city's leadership for its historic transformation. Uh, but this transformation did not happen by chance, it happened because city leaders uh to my right, community partners, residents, business churches, and schools, and nonprofits believed in the potential of the community and committed themselves to the work 15 years ago. The results are powerful. Uh, some previously reported numbers came in uh just this week. Um 85% reduction in violent crime since 2012, an 80% reduction in teen pregnancy since 20 uh 2007, and a 40% reduction in poverty since 2011. Those numbers represent far more than statistics. Uh, they represent safer streets, stronger families, greater opportunity, and renewed hope. They show what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision. The north side is no longer a simple story of change or challenges. It is a story of progress and resilience and a testimony to what is possible when we all come together. As we celebrate this success, it is also a moment to build upon that. We should few we should view the progress of the past 15 years not as a reason to slow down, but in the words of Bill Barnett, as proof that our investments are working and that we should actually go full steam ahead. As I bring my minutes to a close, I simply want to say uh before uh this governing body and city leadership uh that the north side has already shown what can happen when a city uh remains committed to a long-term vision, and thank you for your leadership.