From the Ellipse: 10-27-2026

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ON 10-27-2026

1. Call to Order – 5:59 p.m.
2. Roll Call – There were no absences.
3. Pledge of Allegiance – Mayor Paul Shewmaker led Council Chambers in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Approval of Minutes – The minutes for the Committee of the Whole Meeting on September 22, 2026 were approved as submitted.
5. Proclamation – Mayor Shewmaker read into the record the Red Ribbon Week proclamation for the Upstate Young Marines.
6. Presentation – A CoTransCo Director of Operations Clay Baldwin gave an update on the Downtown Project. Thrift Development’s approximately $11.6 million construction contract was 14 percent complete. The update included work on eight drainage systems ahead of more visible curb, gutter, sidewalk and roadway improvements; activity on College Street, Jonesville Road, Poinsettia Drive and S.C. Highway 14; proposed additions involving Hedge and North Main streets pending pricing; and an anticipated eastbound College Street closure before year-end.
7. Citizen Comments
   1. Geneva Lawrence asked the City to share information from the impact-fees workshop with residents and make it available promptly.
   2. Mike Barker supported retaining the Flock automatic license plate reader system, discussed its public-safety value based on his law-enforcement experience and urged Council to study safeguards before acting.
   3. James Dye questioned reliance on a 2022 downtown traffic study in light of subsequent growth and requested an updated corridor-wide traffic-impact study using current traffic counts and development information.
   4. Former Simpsonville mayor Perry Eichor supported retaining the camera system as a public-safety and manpower-saving tool for law enforcement.
   5. Morgan Rittrick thanked Councilmember Sherry Roche for introducing Ordinance O-2026-14 and supported an ALPR ban based on privacy, data-sharing, data-retention and constitutional concerns.
   6. Cassie Bentley opposed ALPR cameras, raised concerns that movement data could reveal private medical, religious and personal activity, and said public safety did not justify surrendering individual freedoms.
   7. Kimberly Dix requested improvements to Council Chambers audio and discussed transparency, accountability, public trust, ALPR technology and the purpose, cost and evaluation of the proposed City Prosecutor position.
8. Staff Reports – Department heads were available to answer questions about the Unified Departments Report.
   1. A. Financial Report: Finance Director Maria Tooley presented the monthly Financial Report, including General Fund revenues and expenditures, capital-project spending, and Hospitality and Sewer Fund revenues. Council discussed the report and expressed appreciation for its new format.
   2. B. City Administrator Report: City Administrator Tee Coker discussed municipal-complex park work, potential acoustic treatments for Council Chambers, the impact-fee model and the Municipal Tax Relief Act ballot question. Mr. Coker said an impact-fee presentation could reasonably be ready around the first of the year, with January being the next regular Committee of the Whole opportunity.

Mayor Shewmaker took item 10.C out of order before executive session because members of the public and Police Department staff were present for the item.

10. Business – Item Taken Out of Order
    1. C. O-2026-14: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance O-2026-14 with a motion by Councilmember Roche and a second by Councilmember Chad O’Rear. The motion carried in a vote of 5-2 with Mayor Shewmaker and Councilmember Tim Pinkerton dissenting. The proposed ordinance would prohibit the City’s use of automatic license plate reader camera technology in city limits, direct termination of the City’s ALPR contracts in accordance with their terms, and arrange for deactivation and removal of the technology, with exceptions for contract wind-down, contract termination and actions required by law.

9. Executive Session – Council voted to enter executive session with a motion by Councilmember Roche and a second by Councilmember Aaron Rupe. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. Council entered executive session at 7:18 p.m. pursuant to S.C. Code § 30-4-70(a)(2) to discuss negotiations incident to the proposed Segra Fiber franchise agreement and receive legal advice regarding the matter. Council returned to open session at 7:41 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.

10. Business – Continued
    1. A. O-2026-09: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance O-2026-09 with amendments recommended by City Attorney Kimberly Wunder and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for first reading. Mayor Shewmaker made the motion with a second by Councilmember Pinkerton. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The proposed ordinance would issue a fiber franchise agreement to South Carolina Telecommunications Group Holdings, LLC d/b/a Segra Fiber.
    2. B. O-2026-13: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance O-2026-13 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for first reading with a motion by Councilmember Pinkerton and a second by Councilmember Rupe. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The proposed ordinance would add the position of City Prosecutor to the Code of Ordinances.
    3. D. O-2026-15: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance O-2026-15 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for first reading with a motion by Mayor Shewmaker and a second by Councilmember Shannon Williams. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 16 of the Code of Ordinances to comply with new election laws, including Act No. 213 of 2026, effective January 1, 2027.
    4. E. O-2026-16: Council voted to postpone indefinitely proposed Ordinance O-2026-16, which would establish rules for individual Councilmember access to the City Attorney. Mayor Shewmaker made the motion to postpone with a second by Councilmember Roche. The motion carried in a vote of 6-1 with Councilmember O’Rear dissenting. Before postponement, Council approved an amendment changing the section reference from 2-224 to 2-225 with a motion by Mayor Shewmaker and a second by Councilmember Pinkerton. The amendment carried in a vote of 7-0. The amended main motion, made by Mayor Shewmaker with a second by Councilmember Roche, was not voted on.
    5. F. TX-2026-01: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance TX-2026-01 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for first reading with a motion by Councilmember Williams and a second by Councilmember Rupe. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The proposed ordinance would adopt staff-recommended text amendments to the Land Development Regulations.
    6. G. TX-2026-02: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance TX-2026-02 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for first reading with a motion by Councilmember Pinkerton and a second by Councilmember Roche. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The proposed ordinance would adopt miscellaneous refinements to the Zoning Ordinance.
    7. H. TX-2026-03: Council voted to approve proposed Ordinance TX-2026-03 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for first reading with a motion by Councilmember Pinkerton and a second by Councilmember Roche. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The proposed ordinance would adopt miscellaneous refinements to the Zoning Ordinance.
    8. I. R-2026-21: Council voted to adopt Resolution R-2026-21 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for a final vote with a motion by Councilmember Williams and a second by Councilmember Rupe. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The resolution approves the annual fair operating agreement with Event Coordinators, Inc.
    9. J. R-2026-22: Council voted to adopt Resolution R-2026-22 and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for a final vote with a motion by Councilmember Roche and a second by Councilmember O’Rear. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0. The resolution authorizes the First Amendment to the Amphitheatre Management Agreement with Simpsonville Amphitheatre, LLC d/b/a Opry Entertainment Group.
    10. K. R-2026-23: Council voted to adopt Resolution R-2026-23 and approve the Emergency Operations Plan as presented and place the item on the agenda of the next Business Meeting for a final vote with a motion by Councilmember Roche and a second by Councilmember O’Rear. The motion carried in a vote of 7-0.

Adjournment – 8:54 p.m.