1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:08,800 Want to welcome everyone to tonight's meeting of Greenville City Council. Nice 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:12,800 to have you with us. If you'll rise now for invocation by Council Member 3 00:00:10,559 --> 00:00:15,759 Brazington, followed by the pledge of allegiance. 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:20,080 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Would you please join me in prayer? 5 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:24,560 Dear Lord, we gather together here today intend on doing good work. We seek to 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:29,599 represent fairly and well all those who have given us this important task of 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:33,920 serving the public good. May our efforts be blessed with insight and guided by 8 00:00:31,519 --> 00:00:39,520 understanding and wisdom as we seek to serve with respect for all. May our 9 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:45,440 personal faiths give us strength to act honestly and well in all matters before 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:50,000 us. Dear Lord, we ask for your continued guidance as we carry on in our 11 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:53,680 collective work and we offer thanks for the many blessings that you have 12 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:57,199 afforded us. It's in your name we lift this prayer. Amen. 13 00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:03,760 » Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United 14 00:01:00,719 --> 00:01:10,159 States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under 15 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:16,840 God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 16 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,840 » Thank you. Thank you all very much. 17 00:01:17,759 --> 00:01:25,200 That was a vigorous pledge. Thank you. >> Very good. Clerk will now call the role. 18 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,680 » Council member John Dewin. >> Yeah. Council member Lillian Fleming 19 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,600 » here. >> Council member Ken Gibson. 20 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,079 » Council member Will Breington >> here. 21 00:01:32,159 --> 00:01:36,000 » Council member Tina Belgi >> here. 22 00:01:34,479 --> 00:01:37,680 » Council member Dorothy Dao >> here. 23 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:42,640 » Mayor Knox White >> here. You have the minutes of August 24 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:45,280 10th, 2026, which will stand approved as submitted. Unless there are any 25 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:49,520 objections. Seeing none, they are so approved. We 26 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,439 have a few folks who signed up to speak to council tonight. Uh we have a 27 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:57,520 threeinut rule. So there's the clock on the wall there. So, just keep an eye on 28 00:01:55,040 --> 00:02:05,280 that and I'll take comments at this time. Uh, let's see. Elias Ryan. 29 00:02:02,159 --> 00:02:09,520 Yes, sir. Thank you. Good afternoon, council. My name is 30 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:13,680 Elias Ryan. I'm an electrician. I live in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood on 31 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:19,280 the south side of town. And today, I'm addressing the council in regards to the 32 00:02:16,239 --> 00:02:23,920 ALPR camera system, uh, mostly most commonly known as block cameras. Um, I'm 33 00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:29,440 here today to speak about two issues primarily. One of them is the potential 34 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:34,879 for abuse from this camera system that our city employs and the other one is 35 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:39,200 something that I've called tourism vandalism. And I'll start with that 36 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:47,360 because I think it's the more immediate issue. Um the flock camera systems that 37 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:52,879 the city uses are u they're not difficult to find and people who are 38 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:58,640 seeking to uh vandalize the cameras are going to start uh taking action in the 39 00:02:55,760 --> 00:03:02,800 city to vandalize them um and other public property. And I don't want to see 40 00:03:00,239 --> 00:03:07,760 that because I like for things to be kind of orderly and clean. And you're 41 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:11,120 seeing a movement, especially in bigger cities, but it's trickling down into 42 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:15,040 cities that are our size of people coming from out of town or from in town, 43 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:21,360 but a lot of people coming from out of town uh with the intent to vandalize 44 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:26,080 these security systems. And these security systems are not well 45 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:30,799 appreciated by uh by the public. Myself and my neighbors don't appreciate the 46 00:03:28,239 --> 00:03:34,480 surveillance system that's in place. Um, but there are people who are uh doing 47 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:40,159 things other than coming to speak to y'all about it that are going to cause a 48 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:44,159 lot of problems for not just the the security system, but also for public 49 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,519 property around the security systems. Um, and so I just wanted to bring that 50 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:51,920 issue to y'all's attention because it's not something I would have thought of, 51 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:56,799 um, until I, uh, heard a news story about it this week, uh, about somebody 52 00:03:54,159 --> 00:04:01,280 coming from out of town to a town in Texas, uh, driving across state lines to 53 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:05,840 vandalize these cameras. And so I think that maintaining this sort of 54 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:10,560 surveillance system acts as uh, the creation of a target for vandals and 55 00:04:08,319 --> 00:04:15,120 criminals to do damage to them and to other city infrastructure. The second 56 00:04:12,959 --> 00:04:20,160 part I wanted to speak to you about was the potential for abuse from the flock 57 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:25,280 camera system. The Greenville County uh Sheriff's Office had to fire two 58 00:04:21,919 --> 00:04:29,840 employees uh over flock abuses, Richard Man and Lorie Wilkinson. Uh Miss 59 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:33,680 Wilkinson was a dispatcher, not an officer. Uh nonetheless, they both 60 00:04:31,759 --> 00:04:40,000 abused the flock camera system and were thus fired. Um the city of Greer had a 61 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:44,639 flock abuse incident a few weeks ago and uh just two or three days ago uh 62 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:49,040 suspended their flock camera system for 90 days following this incident in 63 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:55,360 incident of abuse. And then in the city of Malden uh another officer used the 64 00:04:51,680 --> 00:05:00,560 flock camera system to flag her ex's vehicle 166 times. Uh my wife lives in 65 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:05,040 the city. I don't want her getting flagged by someone 166 times who's 66 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:08,639 feeling vindictive or crazy for some reason. So, I just wanted to bring this 67 00:05:06,639 --> 00:05:12,960 to your attention today, hoping that you would uh move forward to legislate the 68 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:16,880 deactivation and removal of the flat camera systems from the city. 69 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:20,520 » Okay. Thank you, Mr. Billy Taylor. 70 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:30,960 » Billy Taylor. Um, mayor, council, thank you for having me. Um, I want to speak 71 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:36,639 tonight about the surveillance network taking shape around us. ALPRs, facial 72 00:05:33,919 --> 00:05:40,880 recognition, phone GPS location data, and private databases are not separate 73 00:05:39,039 --> 00:05:44,479 when they can be connected. I don't know if you guys are aware, but Flock did a 74 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:47,360 firmware update last week. Anybody know what it does? 75 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:51,520 » You guys should record. >> You should know what it does. [laughter] 76 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:55,759 So, together, they can build a detailed record of our movements, our routines, 77 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:58,880 and our associations. What happens? The question is, what happens to a 78 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:02,240 generation raised to believe that the government recording their movements 79 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:06,880 without individualized suspicion, a warrant, or their consent is simply a 80 00:06:04,479 --> 00:06:10,560 normal part of leaving home? Researchers have not yet measured the lifelong 81 00:06:08,479 --> 00:06:14,160 effects of this technology. That is precisely the problem. We are building 82 00:06:12,479 --> 00:06:19,120 an environment first and asking what it does to people afterwards. A generation, 83 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:24,080 bless you, a generation may come to accept the innocent people belong in a 84 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:29,120 searchable database. Is that right? Citizens and rather than government must 85 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:34,000 now justify privacy. That's not who we are. That's not America. A plate reader 86 00:06:31,759 --> 00:06:38,319 records where the vehicle was and when. Facial recognition attaches an identity. 87 00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:42,880 Location data reveals routines and associations. Each supplies what the 88 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:47,759 others lack. It's called text stacking. I work in cyber security. This issue is 89 00:06:45,759 --> 00:06:52,720 the power created when the they are combined. And if we are one additional 90 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:57,199 and if we have one additional dollar in our law enforcement budget, shouldn't 91 00:06:54,800 --> 00:07:01,680 that money go toward crime prevention instead of crime solution? I would say 92 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:06,960 yes. Here's a great example. In Colorado, Flock Colorado Flock cameras 93 00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:10,479 showed Croissa Elser's vehicle or a vehicle vehicle that looked like hers 94 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:16,400 passed through a town near the time of a package theft. An officer then turned 95 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:21,599 that coincidence into a conclusion. He arrived with a summon already prepared. 96 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:27,280 Called the case 100% locked in airtight and and refused to 97 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:31,759 hear the couple's evidence. He said that she could not, and this is his quote, 98 00:07:29,599 --> 00:07:37,120 take a breath without the police knowing it. Is that where we want to live? I'd 99 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:42,960 say it's not. The c the uh camera produced a lead the officer treated as 100 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:46,800 proof. She spent weeks gathering records to establish what our justice system 101 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:50,880 should have presumed that she was innocent. The police chief eventually 102 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:55,039 voided a summon, but not without its impact on her. See, for the government, 103 00:07:53,039 --> 00:07:59,440 that was an error. It was a search and an interference, a a summon. For the 104 00:07:57,599 --> 00:08:03,919 citizen, she had to take time off. It cost her money. It meant fear. It meant 105 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:07,520 bullying from that police officer. It meant her expenses that she will never 106 00:08:05,599 --> 00:08:12,400 recoup. She was in a position to do that. Most people are not. So the 107 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:16,879 efficiency belongs to the government and the burden the cost of their error 108 00:08:14,319 --> 00:08:21,360 belongs to the citizen. I ask council to pause further expansion and place a full 109 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:26,560 public review on this agenda. Publish the contracts policies sharing uh 110 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:31,360 sharing relationships, access rules and audit results require we need to require 111 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:37,039 enforceable limits and independent oversight before um adding cameras, 112 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:41,440 vendors or uh integrations. Um these are our roads. This is our city. The last 113 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:45,120 thing I'd ask every member is, have any of you met with any of these 114 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:49,040 surveillance companies in the past or do you plan to? Have you signed an NDA with 115 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:53,120 them? Have you received any money from them? And if you do or have, you should 116 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:55,120 expose all that to us or let us all know. Thanks a lot. Thank you very much. 117 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,680 » Thank you, Billy. >> Mr. Tim Simpson. 118 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:12,720 » How's it going, guys? Uh good evening. Uh my name is Tim Simpson and I'm a 119 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:16,800 resident here in Greenville. Um and I ask you I came to ask you guys to lead 120 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:20,160 on something. Uh right now every trip you take across Greenville gets logged 121 00:09:18,399 --> 00:09:24,160 by automated license plate readers which several of the folks here have already 122 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:27,920 spoken about. Um and fed into algorithmic tracking and surveillance 123 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:31,600 system into an algorith algorithmic tracking and surveillance system that I 124 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:36,480 and many others believe is a clear violation of the fourth amendment. And 125 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:41,200 this is why one photograph of my car tells you not a whole lot. Um, but 126 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:45,920 thousands of them stored and searchable become a mosaic of my life. Uh, where I 127 00:09:43,839 --> 00:09:50,640 worship, who I visit, and when I see my doctor. Courts call this the mosaic 128 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:54,160 theory. Um, and the Supreme Court has embraced its logic. It's held that 129 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:58,720 tracking a person's movements over time is a search that requires a warrant. uh 130 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:02,720 because the these scattered points add up to something that the government has 131 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:07,200 no business assembling on people who are accused of nothing. And like people have 132 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:11,600 already mentioned here, we already know that the system can be turned on 133 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:15,920 ordinary people because it just was. Uh this summer, five employees of three 134 00:10:13,839 --> 00:10:20,000 departments around our county were fired for using these cameras to track people 135 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:24,000 in their personal lives. They were using the system for exactly what it's built 136 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:28,640 to do. Pull up a searchable map of everywhere a person's car has been. The 137 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:33,040 only thing that made it abuse was who they aimed it at. Uh and the very same 138 00:10:30,959 --> 00:10:37,839 cameras are running right now, released by our own police department and logging 139 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:42,640 every one of us and every one of you. Just last week, Aone County showed 140 00:10:40,079 --> 00:10:45,680 showed us a way forward. Their county council had voted to advance an 141 00:10:44,079 --> 00:10:50,640 ordinance that they call protection from mass surveillance. Uh the chairman put 142 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:54,079 it plainly. We have the constitution to limit the government for a reason. The 143 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:58,800 effectiveness of the tool doesn't outweigh the citizens right to privacy. 144 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:02,800 And right next door, Greer has paused its own cameras program to take a 145 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:07,279 careful look at it. Um the upstate here is already moving with this and 146 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:11,920 Greenville can and should help take the lead on it. You guys don't have to wait 147 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:15,600 for the legislature or county to act. That authority is already here in this 148 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:20,480 room with you, the people that we elected. So, here's my ask in two parts. 149 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:25,120 First, let's get these cameras off our streets. Direct your staff to end the 150 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:29,279 contract and take them down. Second, so we just don't swap one company's cameras 151 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:33,279 for another. Pass public rules that apply to any system like this, whatever 152 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:37,519 the brand, no tracking our movements without a warrant, hard limits written 153 00:11:35,279 --> 00:11:41,760 into law, and a public vote before new cameras go up. A system this powerful 154 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:46,560 aimed at people accused of nothing has no place in our city, no matter whose 155 00:11:44,079 --> 00:11:49,760 name is on it. I genuinely welcome the chance to sit down with any of you, 156 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:53,760 share what we've learned at Deflock South Carolina, and be a resource 157 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:57,600 however I can. You are trusted with this with this authority for exactly these 158 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:00,800 kinds of decisions, and I'm asking it to use it. I'm asking you to use it to 159 00:11:59,279 --> 00:12:04,560 protect the people who gave it to you. Thank you. 160 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:08,200 » Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. John Doron. 161 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:22,160 » Hello, Mr. Mayor. Council members, good evening. I am here to uh represent my 162 00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:27,040 client on uh docket item Z-4-2026. Um we've been before you before. We are 163 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:30,560 um wanting to just give a quick update on some of the efforts. As you're aware, 164 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:35,839 we've we are requesting reszoning of this property to an industrial 165 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:40,320 designation from a client. Um we have tried to follow staff's recommendation 166 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:46,000 which did support suggest support of this. Um, we've gotten the first reading 167 00:12:42,959 --> 00:12:50,720 passed. Um, we have expended a lot of effort with uh, economic development and 168 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:55,120 I've talked with several of you to try to understand where we are with this. 169 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:58,639 Um, we have looked at no less than four additional parcels 170 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:03,440 for those efforts and we have not been able to find anything uh, that's going 171 00:13:00,959 --> 00:13:08,079 to be suitable for the potential land swap or sale, however that would need to 172 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:14,800 work. So, we are asking for your support tonight to uh provide a reasonzoning of 173 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:19,680 this property to I or IG designation uh allowing my client to um advance work in 174 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:24,720 the same area which he lives and work and has for many years and we hope we 175 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:28,240 can gain your support tonight. >> Okay. Thank you. 176 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:33,320 » Thank you. writing. We have a couple presentations tonight to make uh 8A 177 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:36,680 contest. 178 00:13:43,344 --> 00:13:47,440 [laughter] >> Hi, how are you? 179 00:13:45,839 --> 00:13:50,560 » Yeah, good to see you. >> Good evening. Uh mayor, city council, 180 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:54,480 excuse [clears throat] me. My name is Josh McGee and I am a senior uh special 181 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:59,199 events coordinator for parks, recreation, and tourism department. It 182 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:05,839 is my honor tonight to introduce you all to Leon Franco. Leon is a 13-year-old 183 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:11,040 powerhouse vocalist, musician, and stage actor. And uh recently he's been taken 184 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:15,440 the upstate by storm. Uh after first captivating audiences in the musical 185 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:20,560 theater debut in the South Carolina Children's Theater production of Juni B. 186 00:14:17,279 --> 00:14:25,920 Jones, Leon has continued to shine on other stages across the region. And this 187 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:30,560 summer, he soared to new heights in the city of Greenville as he was named the 188 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:34,440 winner of the 2026 Give Me the Gig Battle of the Bands competition. 189 00:14:41,199 --> 00:14:48,959 Leon is the youngest performer to ever compete, let alone win the competition. 190 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:54,320 Uh he beat out almost 20 other local music acts uh to claim his spot as a 191 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:58,880 performer at this year's concert series in Noma Square. A student at Rudolph 192 00:14:57,199 --> 00:15:02,639 Gordon School, Leon is already nationally recognized for his 193 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:08,079 extraordinary vocal range, earning a coveted spot among the top 14 singers in 194 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:14,160 the nation at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. 195 00:15:11,199 --> 00:15:18,320 Leon star continues to rise with recent honors such as being named Rookie of the 196 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:24,000 Year for his showstopping performance as Olaf in the Wildcat Players theatrical 197 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:27,839 production of Frozen. He's also selected by the South Carolina 198 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:33,760 Children's Theater as a featured performer at the 2026 American Alliance 199 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:39,680 for Theater and Educational Awards ceremony. It's amazing. Um, no. Up next 200 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:44,880 on Horizon for Leon, he'll take center stage as the lead role as James u in the 201 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:50,240 South Carolina Children's Theat season opening production of James and the 202 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:53,360 Giant Peach. Um, and uh, like we mentioned, the Give Me the Gig. We 203 00:15:51,680 --> 00:16:00,160 invite you all to join us this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in NMA Square as Leon takes 204 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:04,000 the stage as and performs as the 2026 Give Me the Gig Competition winner. 205 00:16:02,399 --> 00:16:08,199 Please join me in a round of applause for this impressive young man. 206 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:24,639 » Go right ahead. I would like to say thank you to the 207 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:28,560 community and to the city council for this opportunity in order for me to come 208 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:33,680 here and um be recognized here cuz this is a 209 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:37,839 great opportunity. I love singing. Singing is my passion. It's what I want 210 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:43,440 to do with my life. And I'm so grateful for everyone here, all you community 211 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:47,680 members, and even everyone over here because 212 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:51,120 because this is just this is just a dream. I never would ever think that 213 00:16:49,279 --> 00:16:54,920 this would happen to me in my life. So, thank you guys so much. 214 00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:06,319 » We look forward to hearing him on Thursday. You said this Thursday. Okay. 215 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:10,640 You can overcome your shyness. I think you'll really go far. But uh but 216 00:17:08,559 --> 00:17:18,600 congratulations. Speaking of another shy person, 217 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:18,600 Dave, I believe uh are you the one? 218 00:17:20,559 --> 00:17:23,439 » You want me to follow that? Huh? >> All right. 219 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,839 » Really? >> I'm not that guy. 220 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:31,640 » You guys have talent, too. >> All right, 221 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,640 we're going to start. 222 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:43,000 Excellence is not an act, it's a habit. It's in the name public works. We 223 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,919 Excellence is not an act, it's a habit. >> It's in the name public works. We 224 00:17:48,317 --> 00:17:52,720 [music] are here to help the public. >> We just ensure we give the residents 225 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:56,960 what they're paying for, the best quality service we can give them. for 226 00:17:54,480 --> 00:18:02,072 30,000 agencies that are in inside this APWA [music] organization, about 300 of 227 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:07,967 them are accredited, which means that [music] puts us at the top 1% 228 00:18:05,039 --> 00:18:09,987 of the nation. [music] 229 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:16,799 We've always said we set the bar and now we've proven it. All the divisions here, 230 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:21,067 everybody at [music] public works works together as one cohesive unit. 231 00:18:18,559 --> 00:18:25,520 » On a daily basis, I'm picking up roughly [music] around 700 trash cans. Um, I 232 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,640 call it if they ask me, I'm picking them up, putting them down. 233 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:31,919 » I look at the [music] parking garages as kind of the gateway to our city. 234 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:35,120 Greenville is a walk-in city, but before you can walk it and experience it, you 235 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:38,320 have to park your car first. So, we want to provide a great experience to begin 236 00:18:37,679 --> 00:18:42,320 with. >> Wastewater, we do a lot of investigating 237 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:45,120 and [music] maintain all the city's sewer systems. 238 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:48,960 » Getting to know a lot of people, knowing that you help them with their repairs, 239 00:18:47,039 --> 00:18:52,640 their inquiries, and all the maintenance of their vehicles, making sure they're 240 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,840 safe. Excellence specifically for us is something that we we try to achieve 241 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:59,760 every day. [music] It's something that we try to repeat. We go out there, we 242 00:18:57,679 --> 00:19:03,360 give everything we have to make sure that we're serving the community here uh 243 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:06,240 over and over again. And that's one of the reasons why this accreditation 244 00:19:04,298 --> 00:19:10,400 [music] is so uh great is because what we did is we documented how well we did 245 00:19:08,559 --> 00:19:12,880 this so it's always something that we can repeat every day. 246 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:16,160 » Not only are we providing a place to park, but you know, our maintenance 247 00:19:14,778 --> 00:19:19,380 [music] staff, they keep the garages clean. It just makes it just a nice 248 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:23,200 experience all the way around. It's [music] things that people and citizens 249 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:26,960 take for granted are the stuff that we help maintain and keep in order and make 250 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:30,320 sure that it's okay because if there was no public works, I feel like the city 251 00:19:28,559 --> 00:19:32,000 and the community would notice it very quickly. 252 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:35,200 » Honestly, [music] it's different experience every day and I love the 253 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,880 people that I work with. >> I really enjoy the crew that I work 254 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:42,320 with. Face a lot of different challenges every day and problem solve together and 255 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,880 it's nice uh nice having people [music] to learn from. 256 00:19:43,039 --> 00:19:50,320 » What I love most about what I do is having the satisfaction that our city 257 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:53,679 looking good. Um, we work hard at it. It just shows the community also that, 258 00:19:52,113 --> 00:19:59,373 [music] you know, we're here for them and and we just strive to be the best at 259 00:19:55,919 --> 00:19:59,373 what we do. [music] 260 00:20:07,919 --> 00:20:15,440 » Well, Mr. Mayor, council members, this is a really special night tonight. I've 261 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:20,080 been waiting 40 years to be up here in my career, over 40 years to be able to 262 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:23,840 talk about this. So, it's a crowning achievement for me personally, but this 263 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:29,600 is about the public works department that we have in the city of Greenville. 264 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:34,159 It's an amazing team. So, every one of those team members, all of our 265 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:39,760 supervisors and managers are here, but this is no small achievement. As you 266 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:44,880 heard James say, less than we're number 231 out of over 30,000 agencies in the 267 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:49,000 country. >> Okay, less than 1% 268 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:56,720 have achieved this. The other two cities I worked at, there was no way. I mean, 269 00:20:54,559 --> 00:21:02,400 they were just it's just too much work. It's too hard and it takes too long. But 270 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:09,520 we persevered and here we are tonight celebrating this. So it it reflects our 271 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:14,400 strengths, our perseverance and unity of everyone involved, all the city 272 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:18,559 employees. So Shannon, thank you Brandon, Tara for your support getting 273 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:23,039 us to this point. I know it's been a challenge. Uh had a little bit of a 274 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:27,760 segue there with our friend Helen coming to visit. So, that was a challenge. But, 275 00:21:26,159 --> 00:21:30,080 » and I know I'm in the South, so I should probably talk about the national 276 00:21:28,799 --> 00:21:35,200 championship, but I'm going to talk about the Super Bowl because this is our 277 00:21:33,919 --> 00:21:40,240 Super Bowl. >> Okay, this is the Super Bowl of public 278 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:47,120 works. So, I'm truly blessed and thankful to be the head coach of this 279 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:51,280 all-star team. It's amazing. Okay, I I can't thank enough. First, I'm going to 280 00:21:49,039 --> 00:21:54,960 start with my the guys in the white shirts. All right, those are the 281 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:58,880 managers of the divisions, the major divisions. So, of course, deputy 282 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:01,919 director Ben Carroll right there. Well, I guess he's in a white shirt underneath 283 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:05,760 the jacket. >> Solid waste recycling manager Hal 284 00:22:03,679 --> 00:22:11,200 Crawford. Uh, Bill Foster, our parking manager. 285 00:22:09,919 --> 00:22:15,360 Where's Brad? Brad's over there somewhere. There's Brad Rice hiding back 286 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:19,760 there. Our facilities manager. And then, of course, our all-star fleet manager, 287 00:22:17,679 --> 00:22:24,559 Scott MacGyver. Um, your commitment, patience, and 288 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:30,000 leadership often happen behind the scenes, 289 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:34,080 but the impact is front and center. You serve as the backbone of our team, 290 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:39,039 guiding, mentoring, and encouraging all of our team members to be the best each 291 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:45,200 and every day. We also have all of our supervisors over 292 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:49,600 here in blue shirts, I think. So those outstanding supervisors and team team 293 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:54,240 members are all the heartbeat of this city. As you saw in the video, 294 00:22:52,799 --> 00:23:00,640 yeah, we do a lot of it behind the scenes. People don't know until we do 295 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:03,280 something wrong or something happens, then they call us, but they don't call 296 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:08,080 us and tell us, you know, you did a great job picking up my garbage today. 297 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:13,200 But anyway, every challenge, every long day has led to this and to our success 298 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:18,960 today. I'm so proud of that. You guys are the best and you are true champions. 299 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:24,240 You deserve the Super Bowl. But every Super Bowl has an MVP 300 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:30,080 » and we have that MVP here with us tonight. Jennifer Simpson is our 301 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:35,039 business and finance administrator. She's the reason we're here tonight. She 302 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:41,120 put in hundreds of hours, nights and weekends, dogged every one of these 303 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:45,840 managers in the field, everybody until we got every single one of our 304 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:50,640 accreditation points done. >> It's amazing. So, you raised the bar, 305 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:55,559 set the tone, and inspired all of us. Jeff, great job. Um 306 00:24:00,559 --> 00:24:08,880 and finally really together all of us the whole city and the mayor council 307 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:13,279 managers all the departments and of course all the public works team members 308 00:24:10,799 --> 00:24:18,880 who all contributed to this. This is an incredible outstanding achievement very 309 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:23,360 rare. I can count on one hand how many cities have an accredited police 310 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:29,279 department, accredited fire department, accredited public works department, and 311 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:34,480 an accredited zoo. And hopefully we'll have public work or parks and wreck next 312 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:39,039 year. So, it's an incredible achievement. We're really proud of it. 313 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:42,640 So, congratulations to all of my team. Let's celebrate. Let's [clears throat] 314 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:48,000 carry this momentum forward and continue to strive for excellence each and every 315 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,000 day. Thank you. 316 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:06,320 Good evening, mayor and members of city council. First, I just want to say I'm 317 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:10,159 so proud to work here and to be a part of this team. It's it's a wonderful 318 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:13,679 place to be. Tonight, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the many 319 00:25:11,919 --> 00:25:18,480 individuals and departments who made our APWA accreditation possible. This has 320 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:22,000 been a long journey. Thank you to Helen. And we could not have achieved this 321 00:25:19,919 --> 00:25:26,320 milestone without a remarkable team behind us. I also want to extend a 322 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:30,080 heartfelt thank you to the APWA members from our local, state, and regional 323 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:33,760 chapters who have joined us tonight to mark this occasion. Your support, 324 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:37,279 guidance, and partnership throughout this process have meant so much to our 325 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:42,080 team, and we are grateful to celebrate this accomplishment with you. 326 00:25:39,919 --> 00:25:46,080 to the following individuals. Jana Sains and Athena Miller with human resources, 327 00:25:43,919 --> 00:25:50,960 Christina Junker and Laura Marfield with finance, Mike Svenelli with legal and 328 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:55,200 Morgan and Mary Pate with risk, Joe School meers and Mike Jan with IT and MJ 329 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:59,200 Simpson and Beth Brotherton with communications. Thank you for all your 330 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:03,520 help developing policies and procedures and for the time you took to out of your 331 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:08,080 regular responsibilities to meet with the evaluation team this May. Many other 332 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:11,279 individuals throughout most of our city departments were also instrumental in 333 00:26:09,679 --> 00:26:16,240 helping us put the necessary policies and procedures in place. It truly takes 334 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:19,360 a city to go through this process. A special thank you also goes to Taylor 335 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:23,120 Talbot and Pam Lambert for their assistance with the technology and 336 00:26:21,039 --> 00:26:27,919 logistics during the evaluator visit in May. Their behind-the-scenes support 337 00:26:25,039 --> 00:26:31,039 helped everything run smoothly. To all of you, thank you. Your willingness to 338 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:35,200 give your time, share your expertise, and go the extra mile was tremendous 339 00:26:33,919 --> 00:26:38,480 difference. Within public works, especially to me, 340 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:42,159 our operations managers and superintendents were invaluable. In 341 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:46,159 addition to fulfilling their already demanding responsibilities, they 342 00:26:43,679 --> 00:26:50,320 documented procedures, created manuals, and captured institutional knowledge 343 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:54,960 work that ensures we continue providing exceptional service for years to come. 344 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:58,240 If I have inadvertently left anyone off this list tonight, please know that it 345 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:01,200 was certainly not intentional. There were countless people who contributed 346 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:05,279 their time, knowledge, and support throughout this journey, and we are 347 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:08,720 sincerely grateful to every one of you. And last, but certainly not least, thank 348 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:13,679 you to our head coach, the Vince Lombardi of Public Works, Dave Dar. 349 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:18,480 Under Dave's leadership, we are inspired to aim high, set the bar for excellence, 350 00:27:16,559 --> 00:27:22,320 and serve the residents, visitors, and employees of the city of Greenville with 351 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:26,080 pride and purpose. To everyone who helped get us here, thank you. The 352 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:30,919 accreditation belongs to all of us and we are proud to serve alongside each of 353 00:27:27,919 --> 00:27:30,919 you. 354 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:46,000 » Now I'd like to introduce a past national APWA president, Mr. Bill 355 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:48,960 Spearman, right from our own state of South Carolina. 356 00:27:47,039 --> 00:27:55,360 » All right. >> Thank you, Dave. Folks, mayor, council, 357 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:59,360 staff, citizen, it's with great pleasure that I'm with 358 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:03,760 you tonight. I think the last time I address council was probably in 1991 359 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:08,640 when we were implementing a storm water act. 360 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:14,080 » This is by far more pleasant and I get smiles today when what's the state doing 361 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:17,600 to us? But regardless, so glad to be here. You've heard a lot about this 362 00:28:15,919 --> 00:28:23,520 process. You were evaluated on 241 363 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:28,399 practices. Just think about it. Just even having that many practices is 364 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:33,600 remarkable. And it was done a peer review. This is not people like me or 365 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:40,159 others consultants coming in. These are public works folks who understand these 366 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:45,440 folks who every day and how hard it is to do what they do every day. My mantra 367 00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:51,919 when I was president was the public works because of public works. And think 368 00:28:49,919 --> 00:28:56,240 about it, Florida and other people like to do is the first responder and that's 369 00:28:53,760 --> 00:29:02,000 very important. But that public works, I mean, think about COVID. Think about the 370 00:28:58,799 --> 00:29:07,919 solid waste folks out working during CO. >> They gave us a semblance of normality 371 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:11,360 that we really needed. And then Helen, who could have imagined [clears throat] 372 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:17,760 that a storm like that would have that impact? But you know what you guys did? 373 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:21,679 You recognize them and let them lead the parade. 374 00:29:19,039 --> 00:29:27,279 » Those quiet folks that don't get any recognition, only notice when something 375 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:33,520 goes wrong, but you've made them proud. And today they're wearing an accredited 376 00:29:30,799 --> 00:29:37,600 seal on their chest that everyone will be wearing. That's a sense of pride. 377 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:41,840 That's a pride in their community. And you've got a lot to be proud of in this 378 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:47,840 community. My grandfather owned a house off the Lounge Hill Road and I had two 379 00:29:44,399 --> 00:29:54,080 aunts that lived there years ago when I was a toddler. Hard to believe, but we 380 00:29:50,240 --> 00:30:00,320 would ride the bus downtown to shop. You know, think about Mayor Heler, Mayor 381 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:04,799 Workman, you staff, Mayor Knox, what you guys have done for this city. And you 382 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:08,320 know, it's a perfect example of what you have done in the public works 383 00:30:06,159 --> 00:30:12,480 department. You've made this a place where people want to live 384 00:30:10,399 --> 00:30:17,440 » and you've supplied them. One of the most impressive things I've ever seen in 385 00:30:14,399 --> 00:30:22,559 public works is when they move their equipment from the old facility to the 386 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:28,799 brand new facility. And I have to tell you that new facility is the envy of 387 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:34,080 everybody in the state and for most of the country. and y'all invested in that 388 00:30:31,279 --> 00:30:39,360 and you gave them a place to be proud of where they could do their work so much 389 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:45,440 better. So, you know, and not only did they have to do the 241, 390 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:49,120 this peer review group also recognizes other things that are done and they 391 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:54,000 actually saw seven practices that this public 392 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:58,000 works department does that they're going to put out there that maybe some other 393 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:02,000 department needs to do this around the country. So, you're leading the way 394 00:30:59,919 --> 00:31:06,640 there. You know, I'm very, very proud of you. Very, very proud to say I've been 395 00:31:04,559 --> 00:31:11,200 in Greenville for many, many years and loved what's going on here. But I also 396 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:14,480 have to say one thing. >> Yes. 397 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:20,640 » Your coach >> is in the Hall of Fame. Number of years 398 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:25,679 ago, he was named as a top 10 public works leader. So when you can see the 399 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:29,840 leadership and I had the pleasure of knowing this gentleman when he was in 400 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:33,919 Florida and when you brought him here gave him the opportunities. Oh, I said 401 00:31:32,159 --> 00:31:38,960 where is this place going to go? It's only going to go up. So I and he's a 402 00:31:36,559 --> 00:31:47,600 symbol of staff just like he has everywhere else. But so today I'm very 403 00:31:41,919 --> 00:31:52,880 very happy to present today the black 404 00:31:49,519 --> 00:31:57,640 that signifies your entrance into the accredited agency hall of 405 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:27,360 There is nothing more to add than what you said. Thank you so much for bringing 406 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:32,000 that message. Uh thank you so much. We are so proud of this department, proud 407 00:32:29,519 --> 00:32:35,919 of Dave, proud of all of his team. Just words don't express though. You said it 408 00:32:33,519 --> 00:32:39,279 better than anyone else can. But uh I I think her I'm glad you mentioned 409 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:42,799 Hurricane Helen because the day-to-day work that makes neighborhoods shine. It 410 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:46,159 shows our commitment to neighborhoods. It's all expressed by our commitment to 411 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:50,320 public works. But boy, when Hurricane Elaine came by, that wasn't a test. You 412 00:32:49,039 --> 00:32:54,320 know, do we have that kind of organization and we passed that test in 413 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:57,360 flying colors. Thank to public works and everyone else in the city. So, thank you 414 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:01,600 for bringing that up as well. Well, we're proud of everyone, but thank you. 415 00:32:59,679 --> 00:33:06,080 And accreditation to all the all the different teams. We'll have to play that 416 00:33:03,519 --> 00:33:09,519 as a team sport. Yeah. >> Thank you so much. Okay, council. 417 00:33:08,159 --> 00:33:12,159 Getting back to our agenda now. We have a we have a No, we have a public hearing 418 00:33:10,799 --> 00:33:13,039 first. We have one more. Yeah. Public hearing. 419 00:33:12,399 --> 00:33:18,000 » Yes, sir. >> We have a proposed 75% annexation method 420 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:24,600 of property located on Woodruff Road, Interstate 385, Smith Hines Road, Love 421 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:24,600 Drive, and Praau Way. 422 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:29,080 Right. 423 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:38,399 » 75% annexation method um for various properties off of Woodruff Road. 424 00:33:36,559 --> 00:33:42,960 Proposal is to bring them into the city limits. Um so pursuant to state law, 425 00:33:41,679 --> 00:33:45,919 there are a couple of things that we have to go through for this public 426 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:51,760 hearing. So just going to go through these slides and make sure we cover our 427 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:58,720 bases. Um this item is relative to item 15F on your agenda. So, first reading 428 00:33:54,480 --> 00:34:02,480 later this evening. Um, the 30-day public notice public hearing 429 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:07,760 requirements requirements have been met. Um, the petition exceeds the 430 00:34:04,559 --> 00:34:13,839 requirements with 84.6 of the property owners signing petitions owning 97.6% 431 00:34:11,679 --> 00:34:18,000 of the assessed value in the annexation area. We have provided a copy of the 432 00:34:16,079 --> 00:34:22,960 petition for public inspection with the clerk's office and that's been available 433 00:34:19,839 --> 00:34:27,679 in their office for review. Um public notice was properly provided to uh 434 00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:31,919 newspaper of general circulation in the community. It's posted on the city's 435 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:36,079 bulletin board and mailed notice was provided to all required parties 436 00:34:33,919 --> 00:34:40,079 including taxpayers of record, chief administrative officer of the county, 437 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:43,520 public service and special purpose districts for the area and all fire 438 00:34:42,159 --> 00:34:49,200 departments in the public in the annexation area. 439 00:34:46,639 --> 00:34:52,960 The property description is available in the lobby for review. another state law 440 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:59,440 requirement have to have it here at the meeting. Um then these next five maps 441 00:34:55,919 --> 00:35:06,400 show the annexation boundary. So um various part portions of uh Woodruff 442 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:10,240 Road um including the I85 interchange visible here on the screen. Um if you 443 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:15,280 want to go through these next couple of maps just just focuses on different 444 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:21,280 areas of the annexation territory um including the Sam's Club property. Next 445 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:27,839 slide. uh Maravan uh business and distribution park. 446 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:33,680 The southern end of Maravan is also on this screen. Um got Smithhines Road, 447 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:38,720 which is another bridge over I85 or 385, excuse me, as well as Contender 448 00:35:35,359 --> 00:35:42,640 Development there at the southern tip. We got the shops at Maravan Shopping 449 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:47,599 Center, um which includes Dave's Hot Chicken and several other businesses 450 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:52,320 within that area. and then uh various other properties along Woodruff Road as 451 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:58,240 well. So um the proposed zoning on the next map is a combination of BG, BH and 452 00:35:56,160 --> 00:36:02,960 EX which are zoning districts inside the city of Greenville and um there's more 453 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:09,280 details that we will go over for the annexation as a part of the uh ordinance 454 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:16,480 reading later this evening. So um services to be provided by the city upon 455 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:20,160 annexation um are single family duplex triplex and residential weekly solid 456 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:24,640 waste recycling collection and street cleaning as well as other public work 457 00:36:22,079 --> 00:36:28,640 services. Um they will also be subject to the city's jurisdiction for police 458 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:33,040 and fire coverage. They'll receive planning, permitting and engineering 459 00:36:30,079 --> 00:36:38,160 services and uh participate in municipal elections. 460 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:42,480 Here are the associated taxes and fees. These properties are currently in tax 461 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:46,880 district 790 and we'll move to tax district 500 which is for the city of 462 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:50,240 Greenville. That mayor, I will turn it over to you 463 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:54,320 to conduct the public hearing. >> Okay. Thank you very much. This is the 464 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:59,200 public hearing. So if anyone wishes to speak on this matter, this is the time 465 00:36:56,320 --> 00:37:03,440 to do that. Okay. 466 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:08,160 All righty. So it concludes the public hearing. Thank you. 467 00:37:05,839 --> 00:37:12,240 Now we are ready for the consent agenda. Madame clerk. 468 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:13,599 Have a motion and a second on the consent agenda. 469 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,640 » So moved. >> Second. 470 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:19,280 » Motion. >> Second. 471 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:22,480 » Did I hear it? Okay. >> I said second. Sorry. 472 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:24,160 » Okay. Clerk, call the role. >> Council member Dewarkin. 473 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:25,760 » Hi. >> Council member Fleming. 474 00:37:25,359 --> 00:37:27,520 » Hi. >> Council member Brazington. 475 00:37:27,119 --> 00:37:29,200 » Hi. >> Council member Belgi. 476 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,800 » Hi. >> Council member Dao. 477 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:36,880 » Hi. >> Mayor White. 478 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:41,839 » I. Okay. Regular agenda 14A, >> an ordinance to reszone approximately 479 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:47,800 5.06 acres of real property located on Fork Scholes Road from RHV to IG. 480 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:55,240 » Okay. Is there a motion? >> Motion. Is there a second? 481 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:02,240 » No. Second. >> Second. 482 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:08,240 » You may have a second for discussion if you discuss. Do we need discussion? 483 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:10,400 » Okay, go ahead. 484 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:14,400 » Um, so this is sort of an item that's come 485 00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:19,440 back to us a number of, well, not a number of times, but we deferred at the 486 00:38:16,079 --> 00:38:25,119 last reading. And just as a recap, um, this property was annexed from the 487 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:32,960 county into the city a little over a year ago, June of 2025. Mhm. 488 00:38:27,839 --> 00:38:40,720 » It sits at the at the perimeter of SCAG. It was zoned residential in the county. 489 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:45,520 We annexed it and zoned it residential in the city, which is 490 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:50,960 general procedure, right? A like for like zoning. Um 491 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:58,400 my understanding is while there was an attempt to develop as residential, 492 00:38:53,839 --> 00:39:02,640 uh an unforeseen requirement by Riwa, um caused that to be not feasibly 493 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:09,920 possible. >> This property is fully wooded. 494 00:39:06,079 --> 00:39:14,880 Uh it does have a slope to it. Mr. Deron has done some great work in outlining 495 00:39:11,839 --> 00:39:20,160 that and I appreciate you being here. Nonetheless, it does drain towards a 496 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:25,599 creek bed fed from Connesty Park. 497 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:29,680 And it's it's really an issue of philosophy for me and this is why I'm 498 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:36,720 opposing it that we annexed it in as residential and 499 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:41,040 residential is a priority for the city. We recognize we need more housing at all 500 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:47,440 levels. Residential won't work on it. Um, it 501 00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:51,680 could serve certainly to to serve our green space priorities. It's full of 502 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:55,359 wooded next to our cherished Connesty Park. 503 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:58,720 That doesn't work for the property owner. And I understand the property 504 00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:02,160 owner has been everybody opens the conversation with, he is delightful to 505 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:06,560 work with, which believe me isn't something we always hear. And I really 506 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:13,119 appreciate hearing that over and over consistently. Um when it came up for 507 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:17,760 second reading, we tried to um find a pathway forward to find another site for 508 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:25,040 the property owner. He wanted to uh develop it to park his um industrial 509 00:40:21,359 --> 00:40:31,119 vehicles on and and so our economic development group has worked hand inand 510 00:40:27,119 --> 00:40:36,560 with him over time along with Mr. own to try and find another site within the 511 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:42,480 city zoned for such and that has not been successful. So here we are. It is a 512 00:40:40,240 --> 00:40:46,880 parcel that I can't in good conscience support reszoning to industrial from 513 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:51,920 something that was annexed with the intent of residential serving one of the 514 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:56,640 city's priorities with the prospect of being kept as green space which would 515 00:40:54,160 --> 00:41:01,359 also serve one of the city's priorities but certainly not as a surface parking 516 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:06,720 lot for industrial vehicles that would discharge ultimately into this creek. 517 00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:11,359 Um, you know, I think everybody tried really hard on it and I appreciate 518 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:15,200 everyone's efforts. I know there are a number of partners interested in 519 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:20,640 purchasing the property from the owner to preserve it. However, they like a 520 00:41:17,839 --> 00:41:25,280 city are limited to appraised value of the property. Cannot pay a premium for 521 00:41:23,119 --> 00:41:30,000 that. So, that's, you know, that's a decision point for the property owner. 522 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:34,720 But because of those reasons, I will be voting no tonight. But a a deep level of 523 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:38,800 thanks not only to the business owner but also to our staff that has worked 524 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:43,440 very hard to to make this work for everybody. We just couldn't get to it. 525 00:41:41,839 --> 00:41:48,400 » Any other any other comments? >> I'll just add in um uh first of all John 526 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:53,200 thank you so much for being here and appreciate your client as well. Um I'm 527 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:56,800 I'm of I'm always the I think everybody on this dasis understands a lot of 528 00:41:54,880 --> 00:42:02,240 people out there know I'm always someone that tries to get to yes and if you 529 00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:10,960 can't get to yes try to find an alternative pathway to find a solution. 530 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:14,800 Um and uh I you know I I'd love to just see you know what other opportunities we 531 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:19,440 have but I think we may have ended up exhausting those. So [clears throat] 532 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:26,160 it's it it I think for all of us up here, we do try to find a pathway to yes 533 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:30,319 or at least a pathway to an alternative instead of saying no because I think 534 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:34,880 we're just we all have the personalities up here of especially with good good 535 00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:39,200 people. We have the personalities up here of trying to find a pathway 536 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:45,440 forward. Um I don't think we have found one. Um so because of that I'll you know 537 00:42:43,599 --> 00:42:49,599 I I would love to defer but I don't know. I think if you defer, I'm not sure 538 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:55,440 we're going to get we might just end up same place in a month that we are today. 539 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:59,359 Um, so I'm I'm disappointed we couldn't find a path forward with it. So 540 00:42:57,839 --> 00:43:04,720 » yeah, I was just going to echo the same. I mean, we have our 2040 plan to go by. 541 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:10,480 We have future land use. I mean for the case of the exercise, like is there an 542 00:43:08,079 --> 00:43:14,960 ability to when something goes to be annexed in the city look a little more 543 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:20,560 critically at the flu and we have to go by residential to residential or and 544 00:43:17,839 --> 00:43:26,319 also just for practice, why was the original staff recommendation 545 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:29,800 for for this if it doesn't quite fit with the change? 546 00:43:29,839 --> 00:43:36,880 » So, a couple points there. Um it's usually kind of a like forl like 547 00:43:34,079 --> 00:43:40,079 reasonzoning. It's not always the case. >> Um for a lot of our annexed areas, there 548 00:43:38,720 --> 00:43:44,000 is no future land use map recommendation. 549 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:48,800 » So um we look at a variety of factors kind of existing development patterns in 550 00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:55,839 the area, growth trends um as well as some of those future um or some of those 551 00:43:51,760 --> 00:44:02,560 existing like major uses. um balancing the nature preserve with um with the 552 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:08,480 location at the end of the SCTAC runway there. Um and so going through our 553 00:44:06,720 --> 00:44:12,400 analysis, the work that they would have to go through with the aeronautics 554 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:16,560 commission for eventual site approval. Um staff did recommend approval. 555 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:23,359 Planning commission supported that that recommendation and um then there obvious 556 00:44:20,319 --> 00:44:25,920 concerns over reasonzoning to industrial council. So 557 00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:29,760 » so maybe if it's not always having to be like for like I don't know maybe we 558 00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:35,119 could do like a postmortem on this a little bit and see how when something's 559 00:44:31,440 --> 00:44:38,160 annexed do we create an additional parcel? I mean you have to I don't know 560 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:42,720 if you have to adopt a whole new flu every time a new parcel. can't do that. 561 00:44:40,720 --> 00:44:45,680 But, you know, something to just to make sure we don't end up back in the same 562 00:44:44,079 --> 00:44:52,400 space. But I really appreciate staff's work on this too and um council as well. 563 00:44:49,839 --> 00:44:56,240 » Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Well, clerk will call the role. 564 00:44:54,880 --> 00:44:59,040 » Council member Dewarkin. >> No. 565 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:02,240 » Council member Fleming. >> No. 566 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:05,280 » Council member Brazington. >> No. 567 00:45:03,839 --> 00:45:07,920 » Council member Belgi. >> No. 568 00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:09,839 » Council member Dao. >> No. 569 00:45:08,960 --> 00:45:16,160 Mayor White. >> No. Okay. Thank you very much. 570 00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:21,599 Uh 15A, new business. First reading. 571 00:45:17,839 --> 00:45:25,440 » An ordinance to appropriate 30 $38,98 in the miscellaneous grants fund for the 572 00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:29,359 FY2025 Edward Fern Memorial Justice Assistance 573 00:45:27,680 --> 00:45:30,480 Grant Program. >> So move. 574 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:34,800 » Second. >> Motion second. Cl. 575 00:45:33,440 --> 00:45:36,400 » Council member Dwarkin. >> I. 576 00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:38,960 » Council member Fleming. >> Hi. Council member Brazington. 577 00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:40,800 » I, >> Council Member Belgi. 578 00:45:40,240 --> 00:45:42,480 » Hi. >> Council member Dao. 579 00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:45,040 » Hi. >> Mayor White. 580 00:45:43,119 --> 00:45:51,319 » Hi. >> Uh, 15B, 581 00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:51,319 » an ordinance to appropriate 8,279,571 582 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:58,400 in the utility undergrounding fund for the Augusta Street undergrounding phase 583 00:45:56,640 --> 00:46:03,200 1 project. So moved. >> Second. 584 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:05,040 » In a second. Clerk, call the RO. >> Council member Dearkin. 585 00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:08,160 » I. >> Council member Fleming. Hi, 586 00:46:06,800 --> 00:46:10,319 » Council Member Brazington. >> Hi, 587 00:46:08,560 --> 00:46:12,000 » Council Member Belgi. >> Hi, 588 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:13,440 » Council Member Dao. >> Hi, 589 00:46:12,560 --> 00:46:16,560 » Mayor White. >> Hi, 590 00:46:15,119 --> 00:46:19,359 » do want to make one comment. This is certainly one of the most one of the 591 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:23,440 more significant burial of undergrounding we've done some time now. 592 00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:28,240 So, I'm pleased we're finally making some progress on that on Augustus Road. 593 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:33,119 So, thank you. 15C, >> an ordinance to abandon a portion of 594 00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:37,000 rightway on Spartanberg Street AB3. >> So moved. 595 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,000 » Second. 596 00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:45,599 motion in a second. >> Mr. Mayor. Yes. If you don't if you just 597 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:51,520 uh allow me just a moment that uh I I do think we um uh continue to uh need to 598 00:46:49,599 --> 00:46:55,359 look at this part. This is not Spartanberg Street, but just this part 599 00:46:53,119 --> 00:47:00,480 of Stone A. We need to continue looking at I'll I'll see manager I'll keep 600 00:46:57,440 --> 00:47:04,960 beating the drum of u continue need to look at that section of stone a where 601 00:47:02,319 --> 00:47:10,079 it's you know 11 feet wide or 12 feet wide and big old trucks going down 602 00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:14,079 there. So lots of solutions unrelated to this but appreciate you and Clint 603 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:18,160 continuing to look at seeing what we can do there. 604 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:21,599 » It might be harder than 14A to find a solution. I don't know. Okay, clerk will 605 00:47:20,640 --> 00:47:24,480 call the role. >> Council member Dwarkin 606 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:26,240 » I. Council member Fleming. >> Hi. 607 00:47:24,960 --> 00:47:27,920 » Council member Brazington. >> Hi. 608 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:29,520 » Council member Belgi. >> Hi. 609 00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:30,960 » Council member D. >> Hi. 610 00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:33,280 » Mayor White. >> I. 611 00:47:31,839 --> 00:47:38,720 » 15D. >> An ordinance to annex approximately 0.18 612 00:47:36,079 --> 00:47:44,800 acre of real property at 41 East Fifth Street and 0.02 acre of adjacent rideway 613 00:47:42,640 --> 00:47:47,760 and to provide the zoning designation of RNA. 614 00:47:46,079 --> 00:47:50,720 » So moved. >> Second. 615 00:47:48,720 --> 00:47:54,800 » There's a piece of it on the edge of the city. Okay. 616 00:47:53,119 --> 00:47:56,400 Clerk, call the role. >> Council member Dwarkin. 617 00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:58,000 » Hi. >> Council member Fleming. 618 00:47:57,599 --> 00:48:01,119 » Hi. >> Council member Brazington. Hi. 619 00:47:59,839 --> 00:48:02,800 » Council member Belgi. >> Hi. 620 00:48:01,520 --> 00:48:04,000 » Council member Dao. >> I. 621 00:48:03,119 --> 00:48:07,040 » Mayor White. >> I. 622 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:12,880 » 15e. an ordinance to annex approximately 0.51 623 00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:19,599 acre of real property at 200 Minus Street and 202 Minus Street and 0.15 624 00:48:17,040 --> 00:48:24,480 acre of adjacent prop right ofway and to provide the zoning designation of RNA. 625 00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:29,119 » So move second >> motion in second call. 626 00:48:27,760 --> 00:48:30,640 » Council member Dwarkin >> I. 627 00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:32,400 » Council member Fleming. >> Hi. 628 00:48:31,040 --> 00:48:34,160 » Council member Brazington. >> Hi. 629 00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:35,839 » Council member Belgi. >> Hi. 630 00:48:34,720 --> 00:48:39,920 » Council member Dao. >> Hi. Mayor White. 631 00:48:37,119 --> 00:48:43,440 » I 18 F. 632 00:48:41,599 --> 00:48:48,800 » An ordinance to annex approximately 87.46 633 00:48:45,119 --> 00:48:53,680 acres of real property and 47.60 acres of adjacent rightway comprising the area 634 00:48:51,200 --> 00:48:59,280 partially commonly known as Maravan Center uh etc. And this is AX212026. 635 00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:00,640 » So move >> second. And I have a question. 636 00:49:00,339 --> 00:49:04,640 [clears throat] >> Motion and second question. 637 00:49:02,319 --> 00:49:12,000 » A question. Can we get the aerial aerial I'm sorry aerial view up, Michael? Okay. 638 00:49:09,440 --> 00:49:18,800 Question for you. When you look at the Maravan Center area, 639 00:49:15,200 --> 00:49:21,680 the teeny tiny teeny tiny green dot in the middle. 640 00:49:20,640 --> 00:49:23,839 Are you with me? >> I see it. 641 00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:27,520 » What's the story there? >> Is that a cell tower? Yeah. It's usually 642 00:49:26,160 --> 00:49:31,040 a cell tower or a billboard. This one. >> So, it doesn't it doesn't count as being 643 00:49:29,200 --> 00:49:32,960 annexed in with everything else. So that will stay in the that will stay in the 644 00:49:32,480 --> 00:49:37,520 county. >> Well, I hope nothing goes wrong with it. 645 00:49:36,079 --> 00:49:41,520 » Mr. Mayor, I do have a question. >> Yeah, go ahead. Uhu. 646 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:47,440 » So, assuming this uh item passes council momentarily, um sizable acreage wise, 647 00:49:45,440 --> 00:49:51,040 where does this fall in terms of annexation considerations historically 648 00:49:49,359 --> 00:49:56,000 in the city of Greenville? It's a bigger proposition. So this uh represents our 649 00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:59,599 largest annexation um exceeding some of the other previous 650 00:49:58,240 --> 00:50:08,160 ones that we've done in recent years including Cherryale um cemetery. Um so 651 00:50:04,240 --> 00:50:11,599 um this actually crosses us over the uh two square mile mark since we really 652 00:50:09,920 --> 00:50:17,839 started focusing on annexation efforts back in 2021. And that's a huge kudos to 653 00:50:15,280 --> 00:50:22,880 the whole planning team, city attorney's office, um, city manager, uh, city 654 00:50:20,880 --> 00:50:26,800 council, um, and then all of our departments that go in and provide 655 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:31,920 permitting and public work services for these annex territories. Um, so really 656 00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:35,440 pleased to be able to bring these to you and then to be able to provide those 657 00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:39,359 services after the fact. I do want to also, of course, recognize um, Austin 658 00:50:37,839 --> 00:50:42,359 Rutherford for all of his work in particular. 659 00:50:45,359 --> 00:50:51,520 It's like the super super bowl of annexations, right? 660 00:50:49,359 --> 00:50:54,000 » That would be true. Yes. That's right. Thank you, Austin. 661 00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:58,000 » Wait a minute. Let Austin stand up. >> I know. Austin, stand up, Austin. 662 00:50:56,720 --> 00:51:02,480 » All right. There you go. >> Oh, come on. 663 00:51:00,559 --> 00:51:06,640 » Yeah. The people have have just worked on him and just gave him pure age. Bless 664 00:51:06,079 --> 00:51:11,520 his heart. >> And sometimes he brings us Sometimes he 665 00:51:08,880 --> 00:51:14,319 brings us like 0.25 25 and all that kind of stuff, you know. So, this is really a 666 00:51:13,760 --> 00:51:16,640 » good work. >> And this is the super 667 00:51:15,599 --> 00:51:20,160 » every little bit. >> Yeah. Clerk will call the clerk will 668 00:51:18,640 --> 00:51:21,760 call the role. >> Council member Dwarkin. 669 00:51:21,359 --> 00:51:23,839 » Hi. >> Council member Fleming. 670 00:51:23,359 --> 00:51:25,680 » I. >> Council member Braington. 671 00:51:25,200 --> 00:51:27,520 » Hi. >> Council member Belgi. 672 00:51:27,119 --> 00:51:29,760 » Hi. >> Council member Dao. 673 00:51:29,520 --> 00:51:32,640 » Hi. >> Excuse me. Mayor White. 674 00:51:31,359 --> 00:51:38,079 » I. >> Okay. Thank you very much. 15G. We got a 675 00:51:35,920 --> 00:51:43,680 few more annexations to do. an ordinance to annex approximately 0.16 acre of real 676 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:48,400 property at 101 Mason Street and to provide the zoning designation of RNA. 677 00:51:47,200 --> 00:51:52,480 » Some moved. >> Second. 678 00:51:48,880 --> 00:51:55,760 » Motion and second off traction. Okay. Clerk, call the role. 679 00:51:54,559 --> 00:51:57,680 » Council member Dwerin. >> Hi. 680 00:51:56,079 --> 00:52:00,079 » Council member Fleming. >> I. 681 00:51:58,240 --> 00:52:01,839 » Council member Brazington. >> Council member Belgi. 682 00:52:01,359 --> 00:52:03,520 » Hi. >> Council member D. 683 00:52:03,040 --> 00:52:06,160 » I. >> Mayor White. 684 00:52:04,319 --> 00:52:11,200 » Hi. 15H, 685 00:52:08,160 --> 00:52:17,040 » an ordinance to annex approximately 1.20 acres of real property at 111A street uh 686 00:52:15,200 --> 00:52:23,040 and the streets that are listed before you and 0.36 acre of adjacent rightway 687 00:52:21,040 --> 00:52:24,559 and to provide the zoning designation of RNA. 688 00:52:23,920 --> 00:52:26,640 » So moved. >> Second. 689 00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:30,760 » Motion to second. Got your map on this one to roll up. 690 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:37,200 There we go. Yeah. Tip ends. Mr. Clerk will call the role. 691 00:52:35,359 --> 00:52:39,359 Council member Dwerin. >> Hi. 692 00:52:37,599 --> 00:52:41,200 » Council member Fleming. Hi. >> Council member Brazington. 693 00:52:40,800 --> 00:52:43,040 » Hi. >> Council member Belgi. 694 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:44,720 » Hi. >> Council member Dao. 695 00:52:44,319 --> 00:52:47,040 » I. >> Mayor White. 696 00:52:45,920 --> 00:52:52,079 » I. >> Okay. 15H. 697 00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:56,319 » An ordinance to annex approximately 0.11 acre of real property at 22 Draper 698 00:52:54,640 --> 00:53:00,000 Street and to provide the zoning designation of RNXC. 699 00:52:58,960 --> 00:53:03,991 » So moved. >> Second. 700 00:53:00,559 --> 00:53:05,599 » Motion and second. >> [clears throat] 701 00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:07,280 » Clerk will call the role. >> Council member Dwarkin. 702 00:53:06,880 --> 00:53:08,960 » Hi. >> Council member Fleming. 703 00:53:08,559 --> 00:53:10,720 » Hi. >> Council member Brazington. 704 00:53:10,319 --> 00:53:12,480 » Hi. >> Council member Belgi. 705 00:53:12,079 --> 00:53:14,079 » Hi. >> Council member Dao. 706 00:53:13,599 --> 00:53:19,960 » Hi. >> Mayor White. 707 00:53:15,839 --> 00:53:19,960 » Hi. Okay. 708 00:53:20,559 --> 00:53:26,640 That it reports. [laughter] 709 00:53:25,520 --> 00:53:30,640 » We're exhausted. >> I know. But this is some more good news. 710 00:53:28,960 --> 00:53:33,839 So, if you can just give me a couple more minutes, Mr. Mayor. I have several 711 00:53:32,400 --> 00:53:38,319 recognitions to share with you this evening. First, I'd like to recognize 712 00:53:36,160 --> 00:53:42,640 our Green Link employee, Cat Morland, and William Flake. And Cat's here with 713 00:53:39,839 --> 00:53:46,559 us tonight. Cat, who is Green Link's finance and compliance administrator, 714 00:53:44,400 --> 00:53:52,920 was named to Mass Transit Magazine's annual 40 under 40 list. 715 00:53:49,920 --> 00:53:52,920 » Congratulations. 716 00:53:55,680 --> 00:54:01,680 The list honors individuals in the mass transit field who have shown the 717 00:53:59,359 --> 00:54:06,319 capacity for innovation, demonstrating leadership and a commitment to making an 718 00:54:03,520 --> 00:54:09,839 impact in transit. Cat has 18 years of experience in the transportation 719 00:54:07,680 --> 00:54:14,720 industry before joining the Green Link team in August of 2025. She spent more 720 00:54:12,640 --> 00:54:19,119 than 13 years as senior associate director of parking and transportation 721 00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:24,400 services at Clemson University. We're so glad to have her here. Congratulations. 722 00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:29,359 » Nice. Next, William, who is Green Link's transit projects coordinator, has been 723 00:54:26,079 --> 00:54:33,839 named the 2026 support staff of the year urban system by the Transit Association 724 00:54:31,520 --> 00:54:37,760 of South Carolina for his extraordinary impact on Greenville's transit system. 725 00:54:36,079 --> 00:54:42,800 In just two years, William has accelerated ADA compliant bus stop 726 00:54:40,079 --> 00:54:47,119 upgrades, improved systemwide on-time performance, modernized writer 727 00:54:44,960 --> 00:54:51,040 information tools, and introduced the innovative afternoon in sync program 728 00:54:49,599 --> 00:54:56,680 that dramatically reduced misconnections. So congratulations to 729 00:54:53,119 --> 00:54:56,680 William. Also, 730 00:55:00,559 --> 00:55:07,280 I also want to recognize the public works department 731 00:55:04,480 --> 00:55:11,119 and specifically the solid waste team who recently received two national 732 00:55:09,200 --> 00:55:14,880 recognitions for excellence in solid waste management. Mhm. 733 00:55:12,720 --> 00:55:19,200 » First, the solid waste division received the safety award for workplace wellness 734 00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:24,480 from the solid waste association of North America recognizing its commitment 735 00:55:21,760 --> 00:55:29,119 to employee safety and well-being. A large part of the award was based on our 736 00:55:26,480 --> 00:55:33,119 citywide wellness and safety programs. In addition, the division received the 737 00:55:31,119 --> 00:55:37,520 Tim Mccclure award for outstanding corporate leadership from the National 738 00:55:35,119 --> 00:55:42,079 Recycling Coalition, honoring its leadership and measurable impact in 739 00:55:39,359 --> 00:55:46,480 recycling, organics management, and advancing a circular economy. These 740 00:55:44,559 --> 00:55:50,079 awards recognize the dedication and innovation of the public works 741 00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:53,760 department and its solid waste division house here to highlight Greenville's 742 00:55:51,760 --> 00:55:57,680 commitment to workplace wellness, sustainable resource management, and 743 00:55:55,839 --> 00:56:02,520 exceptional service to the community. Congratulations to our solid works team. 744 00:56:06,640 --> 00:56:13,280 Mr. Mayor, I think we saw tonight just what a great team of city employees that 745 00:56:10,720 --> 00:56:17,119 we have here and what they commit each and every day to providing outstanding 746 00:56:14,960 --> 00:56:20,880 community and public service and I could not be prouder to work with the amazing 747 00:56:19,440 --> 00:56:23,440 individuals that work for the city of Greenville. So, thank you. 748 00:56:22,160 --> 00:56:28,960 » Awesome. They're proud. Thank you. >> We agree. Um, if you don't mind, madame 749 00:56:26,079 --> 00:56:33,280 man, I want to recognize James Keel, uh, hosted helped bring to South Carolina, 750 00:56:31,359 --> 00:56:37,760 excuse me, bring to Greenville, the South Carolina Public Transportation 751 00:56:35,520 --> 00:56:40,559 Association >> first time in Greenville they've ever 752 00:56:39,040 --> 00:56:43,520 met. So, that was a great thing. And James is president, so they may have 753 00:56:42,160 --> 00:56:47,280 something to do with it. You know, we appreciate that. It's an honor to speak 754 00:56:45,200 --> 00:56:50,079 to them. And, uh, Clint, where are you? C, can you tell everybody about the 755 00:56:48,480 --> 00:56:52,480 conferences? We have one of the largest conferences perhaps ever to be in 756 00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:55,119 Greenville. >> Big deal. 757 00:56:53,119 --> 00:56:59,040 » And they're here now everywhere. And it's a good story to hear in light of 758 00:56:57,040 --> 00:57:02,400 our new conf downtown conference center we hope to build because this may be a 759 00:57:00,480 --> 00:57:06,640 little hint of the future to come. So tell everybody what 760 00:57:03,440 --> 00:57:11,440 » Yes. So this is um hosting SE DOT is hosting the Sashto conference. Uh it 761 00:57:09,440 --> 00:57:15,200 started last Friday, went through through the weekend, lots of events and 762 00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:19,280 networking um activities and events and that sort of thing. and it runs through 763 00:57:17,359 --> 00:57:25,280 Wednesday of this week, but it's um essentially about 15 different state DOT 764 00:57:22,559 --> 00:57:29,359 organizations um throughout the southern region of the United States. It actually 765 00:57:27,359 --> 00:57:35,119 extends out to Hawaii and Puerto Rico as well. They're they're included. Um but 766 00:57:31,680 --> 00:57:39,680 uh a large number of DOT um agency representatives are here as well as the 767 00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:44,480 consultants and contractor community. Uh but somewhere between a,000 and 2,000 768 00:57:41,839 --> 00:57:48,400 people that are that are here um visiting Greenville and we're getting so 769 00:57:46,319 --> 00:57:52,079 many compliments. Uh everybody's having a great time enjoying things um and 770 00:57:50,960 --> 00:57:55,520 really getting out and seeing our beautiful city. So, 771 00:57:53,119 --> 00:57:59,200 » and you heard that right, nearly 2,000 delegates here for this. They're meeting 772 00:57:56,799 --> 00:58:01,440 at the Bonsor Center, the Peace Center, taking over, I believe, every hotel in 773 00:58:00,960 --> 00:58:04,400 downtown. >> That's right. 774 00:58:02,400 --> 00:58:09,119 » Unprecedented. But just a hint of what is what our future could look like. 775 00:58:06,000 --> 00:58:15,040 » Mr. Mayor, think about all those people, not only the DOT personnel, but all the 776 00:58:12,240 --> 00:58:18,480 contractors and vendors, all those people that have never been to 777 00:58:16,960 --> 00:58:22,079 Greenville before >> and now they have, right? How many 778 00:58:20,240 --> 00:58:24,880 people have never been to Greenville and now they've seen what Greenville is 779 00:58:23,440 --> 00:58:27,920 about? That's a big deal. >> Talk to probably five people today says, 780 00:58:26,400 --> 00:58:30,559 "I I've never been to Greenville. It's a beautiful city. Y'all are doing great 781 00:58:29,200 --> 00:58:33,280 things here." It's a whole southeast. It's Texas and Arkansas all the way to 782 00:58:32,319 --> 00:58:38,480 West Virginia and >> Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, 783 00:58:36,640 --> 00:58:40,960 Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina. 784 00:58:39,440 --> 00:58:44,160 » I sent Clint a little note yesterday because I did a little welcome to one of 785 00:58:42,480 --> 00:58:47,870 the dresses. Basically, what are you where are you? What are you up to? And 786 00:58:45,200 --> 00:58:51,200 he said just what we said networking, [laughter] 787 00:58:49,200 --> 00:58:53,839 » whatever that means. Okay. >> It's been good though. And they're 788 00:58:52,319 --> 00:58:55,680 they're having a great time. So, and thank you for your help with this, 789 00:58:55,359 --> 00:58:58,960 mayor. >> Okay. We look forward to the national 790 00:58:57,359 --> 00:59:05,720 public transportation group coming here too, James, in the future as well. We 791 00:59:01,440 --> 00:59:05,720 get that group. Thank you very much, C.