 Mr. Brennan. Present. Mr. Rickerman. Here. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Right. Mr. Varn here. Mr. Davis. Here. Mayor Benjamin. Here. Thank you. Will you join me for the Pledge of Allegiance? The Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. McDowell, you give us the word, please. That is free, gracious and kind father, for your benevolent love, for grace that covers each of us individually and collectively. In this season of this pandemic, as it reaps havoc in the lives of these citizens and nationally, we pray for those persons who succumb. We pray for the 10,000 persons in South Carolina who have given their lives. We pray for a discerning spirit so that as we move forward, we not only capture and conquer this pandemic, not alone, but with your grace and with your mercy. Touch us individually and collectively, allowing us to sense your anointing presence. Lord, we need you. We need you more now than we've ever, ever needed you before. Let us all. Amen. Amen. There's an emotion to approve the agenda. There's one amendment to adding on the Bank of Abraham Senior Day Proclamation presentation. Emotion to adopt the agenda with that amendment. So move to the second. Second. In discussion. Move to the previous question. Court call roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. MacDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Byron. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. That's pretty nice. Yes, sir. Mayor Benjamin, at this time, we can certainly and with, I guess, heavy hearts for many of us, but take up the Nathaniel Abraham Senior Day Proclamation presentation. Okay. Yeah. Second. In discussion. Move to the previous question. Court call roll. Mayor, this is a proclamation. Well, I apologize. I thought we had the agenda. I mean, the approval minutes. I apologize. I skipped over. I was, I was, I was far away with Mr. Rickerman. I apologize. I'd like to read this proclamation on behalf of the people of Columbia. Whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior first came to Columbia South, came on to improve African-American conditions in the early 1960s. And whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior was summoned by civil rights leader with just assumptions to sell newspaper advertisements and eventually published a commentator leader. And whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior became an instrumental voice that championed many civil rights issues that helped shape South Carolina's history. And whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior affectionately called the Dean of Black Publishers in South Carolina. Founded Southern Dews Magazine, how many times of Greenville, how many posts of Columbia, Tri-Counting Sentinel, Carolina Conorama, and Progressive American Magazine forcing a need to represent and reach out to underprivileged communities. And whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior worked with the Richland County Citizens' Committee to protect local and nearby residents' rights. And whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior was bestowed a proclamation from Mayor Robert DeCobo signed by E.W. Cramarie II, District Council member on May 13th, 2005, declaring that day, Nathaniel Abraham Senior Day, which was presented to the City of Columbia at the roast and toast honoring Nathaniel Abraham Senior. Whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior continued to use the voice of print media to complete and disseminate information to inspire African Americans economically, educationally, and politically until his retiring as publisher emeritus of Carolina Panorama newspaper. And whereas Nathaniel Abraham Senior as part of his final contribution to community work created a legacy of white business awards Gala in 2013, acknowledging African American owned businesses in operation more than 40 years. Now therefore, I, Stephen K. Benjamin, Mayor of the City of Columbia, along with our fellow members of Columbia City Council do hereby proclaim August 17th, 2021 as the day of celebration and recognition, Nathaniel Abraham Senior Day. Obviously this is a little bit hard. But of course we want to say, I'm sorry, I am Tanita Abraham, the youngest daughter of Nathaniel Abraham Senior. He lived his latter years with me and Fort Mill, South Carolina. So of course as we've traveled with my son to accept this, we greatly appreciate it. And of course, just a couple of words of thankful I just want to say we can't begin to say that we can speak as eloquently as my father or even partially fill his shoes. And we acknowledge that. But I do know that in everything that he fought for and everything that he stood for, right now he's smiling and he is pleased and sorry. So, but we are statin' by our loss and the loss for the community. We know and you know that it is a life well lived and a job well done. So we thanks again, thank you again to each of you for recognizing all that he attempted to do to assist his fellow man. And please know that although we're saddened we will definitely do our very best to continue and to build on his legacy. I know when here has stories with Mr. Abraham ever present, always leading, always serious about his business covering the people's work and the people's business and he'll be sorely missed. And I can only imagine the treasure trove of memories that helped shape the city over the last half century that you might have in your archives and you guys spend some time talking about that too. I'm gonna present this. I was so anxious to acknowledge Mr. Abraham mayor, but yes sir, we do need to approve the minutes. I'm not gonna do it now. Okay, August 3rd, 2021 city council meeting minutes. Is that motion? Second. Any discussion? One of the previous questions on the first call roll. Mr. Vernon? Yes. Mr. Rickman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. Vine? Aye. Mr. Davis? Aye. Mayor Benjamin? Aye. Thank you. And another presentation of Benjamin and council, the Columbia Richland Fire Department Appreciation Day Proclamation, the honorable Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin. I'll wait for the timing. Usually when you do that, a prior truck comes racing by, heading to an emergency perfectly timed by Chief Jenkins. He misses Q. He misses Q. The... The... The... That was actually pretty good. He even has that, devil. That was actually pretty good. He's been practicing. Yeah, that was actually pretty good. That was pretty good. Oh man, I'm gonna read this by acclamation. Whereas the city of Columbia South Carolina is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living and visiting Columbia. And whereas the Columbia Richland Fire Department has roughly 620 Korean volunteer fire members committed to protecting the public from the dangers of fire and fire related injuries. And whereas the department's fire prevention division has worked tirelessly to promote education and fire safety in our communities. And whereas the fire department turned to virtual means of engaging with citizens on fire prevention, fire safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. And whereas Columbia Richland Fire Department was conducted more than 2011 fire inspections, 106 virtual home fire safety surveys and 21 virtual fire education presentations over the course of 2020. And whereas these activities are more and more earned the department the recognition of fire safe South Carolina community for the second year in a row. And whereas that designation came from fire safe South Carolina which promotes risk reduction programs and fire departments to prevent fire related injuries in our state. And whereas the Columbia Richland Fire Department was asked to present at a national conference on the best ways to virtually promote fire safety and education with the public. And our Stephen K. Benjamin, mayor of the city of Columbia along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council to hear by proclaim August 17th, 2021, Columbia Richland Fire Department Appreciation Day and the great city of Columbia and urge our fellow citizens to recognize and participate in its observance. We know that this one sheet of paper we couldn't begin to encapsule all the work that you and the men and women of Columbia Richland Fire Department do. Time and time again, we lean on you even in some very non-traditional responsibilities and time and time again you stepped up and just made it happen. It's a brief opportunity to say how much we appreciate you and thank you for your service, Chief. Thank you, Mayor Counselor, Madam City Manager. I had this long speech to say, but since you read the proclamation, they said it all. So we just wanna say thank you all for this recognition and certainly we're gonna continue hard to make sure that we continue to keep not only the citizens here safe but those that pass through here and visit us as well. So we just wanna say thank you, thank you, thank you. That's all I've got. I don't wanna be good. Thank you, Mayor. At this time, we will have an update from the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, Ms. Miriam Atria, the President and CEO of Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. Say that real fast five times. I left my sound effects at home but I bought a large voice today. On behalf of Capital City Lake Murray Country, Mayor Benjamin and members of Council and City Manager, thank you for this opportunity. We just had our annual meeting and our annual meeting is where we get together with our funding partners, tourism allies, tourism advocates to unveil what we've kind of done in the past year and what's expected in the coming year. And so we brought you some real updates today on how our Regional Tourism Organization has been marketing the Fort County region in the last year. In the last four months of our physical year, thanks to our Special Events Director, Vicki Davis, who is with us today, we hosted five major national tournament events in four months. All of these events brought national TV exposure, which included our tourism ad to this region. Vicki and I also have just returned from ICAST, which is the largest fishing and outdoor show in the United States. You know that in this tourism region, 1.5, it is a $1.5 billion industry for the four counties that our organization promotes. But the good news about ICAST, we're returning with some great business for the year 2022, 2023, and even into 2024. And it's all not necessarily fishing. We are hosting in September, the National Women's Cell Sunfish Regatta out on Lake Murray, and they will be coming from all across the United States. Some of the business we are bringing will also support rentals at the Columbia Convention Center. During the pandemic, Capital City Lake Murray country committed 54% of our budget on direct marketing and advertising. And on the way, we are on the way to the World Food Championship. Seven chefs from this region were chosen. John Cooper, a resident of the city of Columbia, who is the master chef at Aladias, will join the six other chefs. This region is going to receive unprecedented media coverage from the World Food Championship on the Food Network Television Show, along with our tourism ad. Our region will be competing. Those seven chefs will join. There's 350 chefs, and they will be competing for a seat of 10 contestants at the final table event, where one of those chefs will win $100,000. The results are in. Our region's message is being shared through our media press partners who provide us with an annual report as well. Last year, last physical year, 162 articles were published on this region's various tourism facilities, attenuaries, attractions, et cetera. 18 billion media impressions were made from the 162 articles. And they also confirmed to us that is a 168 million marketing value for this region. We spent $681,000, pretty smart marketing. We have a regional show getting ready to air that was filmed right before the pandemic dropped. And it's called Beyond Your Backyard with Eric the Travel Guy. Many Columbia and regional attractions are featured in this 30-minute television show, which will be airing in the fall on PBS. I believe it's 142 markets across the United States, Kerry, yes, and Beyond Your Backyard. And as well, Eric the Travel Guy, we kind of close to him, talked him into producing a one-hour show. We joined with our South Carolina tourism region partners to produce a one-hour show on the Revolutionary War trail journey through South Carolina. That show has been completed in the production and will be airing as well, January 2022. Hot off the press, Orbs Magazine named our region a top Southern destination. And more real news last week, Vicki is showing, Food and Travel Magazine named us as a top food and travel destination. So hopefully you get a glimpse. We're bringing in the fishing folks, we're bringing in outdoor recreation. We're putting this region on national television through so many televised shows. So we're spreading the message that we are the region in South Carolina to come to visit, to come spend the night, and to come and spend your money. But we couldn't do it without our partnership with the city of Columbia. And for that we'll be ever grateful. I'd like to close by asking council member, Sam Davis to join me at the podium. If you may, will please. Sam's Hur has served on our board along with council member, Howard DeVall. Sam has served on our board of directors for 20 years. And we kind of heard through the grapevine. He's thinking about maybe retiring. And so we did not want you to leave us without some small memento and recognition for the wonderful partnership, for helping us with our tourism efforts for over 20 years. You have been an asset to our organization as well and just wanted to give you a big hug today and a small token of appreciation. Again, thank you. That is a fact. And in our annual report, that is not a made up fishing story that is a true fishing fact. True fishing fact is. Thank you. Mine or about that big? That's it. Thank you. Some more. Mayor, thank you. I mean, your presentations always capture all the great substance of the work that you've been doing. And you're right, the exponential value to the quality of life in the Midlands has been amazing. So I guess somebody else to guard the door. I guess Howard has to do it now because this guy right here, he would say Sam would make sure no one ever mess with your budget. I'm sure Howard would do just a good job. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, you and your team. Ms. Benjamin, if you are ready, we can move into a period of city council discussion and action. Let's go ahead and report. I guess. Let's go ahead. Director Tinsley. Okay, sure. At this time, we'll ask Mr. Harry Tinsley, Emergency Management Director to come forward for a COVID-19 situation report. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, members of council, Madam City Manager. I'll be brief, just a quick data update on the COVID-19. So as of, according to CDC, seven-day moving average for daily COVID-19 cases has increased 18.4% from the previous week. Previous week was about a little over 96,000 and we're at 114,000 for that report cycle. Of noting of the four classified variants of concern, the combined proportion of those cases attributed to Delta is estimated to increase from 83.4% to 97.4% as we start to move through this next wave or this way we're in now. As of August 15th, 44 states, previously 38 are now classified as regard to high community transmission. South Carolina is included in that. At our last meeting, we were a substantial. Six states, previously 12 are now classified as substantial, zero states are classified as low. The top six states with the highest cases is Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and South Carolina. We currently ranked number six in the nation. And you'll notice also that all 46 counties in our state now have high disease activity. At our last reporting, we had a few that were medium. So now everybody at the last reporting is at high. According to DHECs of data running from July 1 to 31st. And I think I put this in a brief snapshot set wrap I sent out earlier this week. Of the 26,848 cases reported where DHEC could determine vaccine status, 88% of those were considered not fully vaccinated. That's of those 26,848. The 550 hospitalizations reported 77% of those were considered not fully vaccinated. And then of the deaths reported during that month of July, 110 of those, 79% of those or 87 of the 110 were considered not fully vaccinated. Some international data as of August 14th, Japan and Mexico are seeing their slope increase. United Kingdom is plateauing. Their peak took about two months to get there. South Africa is decreasing. Their peak took about a month in their wave. India is fully plateauing and it took about two months to their peak. So we started seeing hours in July. So we're kind of in the middle of ours in our state and that mirrors in Richmond County and the city of Columbia as the data shows. Of note, vaccine clinics are still, it's your shot quality campaign. We do have two more vaccine locations next week, the 24th of August, which is at Norwood Park and the 25th of August, which is at Woodland Park. And those will be from one to five clinics. DHEC is our sponsor on that. They've been awesome partners with us as election and medical center and Prisma help. We're continuing to work on scheduling additional as we continue to move through. And all that information is on our website current. So the epi data that posted today, state's case count is now stands confirmed case count at 545,625. There have been almost 9,000 tests today. The new case count confirmed as of today was 1,991. That's down slightly. There were 286 probable for a total of 2,277 combined cases. Percent positivity rate was at 13%. And that test sample was about 28,000, lower 28,000 tests. Unfortunately, there were six new confirmed deaths, one probable, bringing our state confirm total of 8,900. Here in Richmond County, where our case count stands at 44,307, we had an additional 129 cases as of reporting today, 23 probable. Over the last 14 days, we're averaging about 179 cases per day in Richmond County. And that's, I think our last meeting, it may have been 79. So we're definitely seeing that spike continue. As far as statewide hospitalizations, bed utilization rate is at 79%. ICU bed utilization is at 79% as well. The number that came out today was there 1,718 patients currently hospitalized to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 due to confirmed or suspected. You'll notice two weeks ago, when we met at a number was 729. So we're continuing to go up with the hospitalizations. In Richmond County, our hospital bed utilization is 68.9. There are 129 patients hospitalized to COVID. That's up from 62 from my last. I don't have the Lexington numbers, but I know they were reaching some high rates as of the weekend, last week. And I think you're starting to address that issue. As far as DHEC reports, there have been 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 administered in our state. 57.7% or over 203,000 residents in Richmond County have received at least one dose. 48.8% of those have completed their vaccination process. And according to the latest data as of the 16th of August COVID-19 vaccinations, there's 168.6 million US citizens or 59.8% that are fully vaccinated and 80.8% of those 65 and older have been fully vaccinated. And 72.1% of those who are above age of 18 has received at least one dose in the US. If you need any questions, that concludes my report. All right, that's divine. Harry, out of those hospitalization numbers, do we have the children's hospital numbers? I do not have that. They report by county total. I will have to reach out to their PM and emergency management. Can we start including that in our report just so we can track the school starts tomorrow and we'd like to see, and as the schools are doing everything that they can do, we've done what we can do, but it'd be nice for us to be able to monitor that. Thank you. Harry, if you would give me the, maybe I didn't hear it, the new case numbers. For today? Yes. The case number for today in our state was 1,991 confirmed, 286 probable for a total of 2,270.7 and in Richland County, that number was 129 cases, 23 of those probable with 152 combined. Thank you. Just, I agree it'd be great to see those numbers by children's hospital numbers on a regular basis. I do know that just overnight, statewide, Prisma saw a 10% increase in admissions this day to day. Lexington numbers referenced earlier, Lexington has highest number of admissions, couple of admissions since the beginning of the pandemic this past weekend and we're seeing a trend there that is again, incredibly concerning. One consistent thing we see is that the likelihood of someone surviving goes up dramatically if in fact they receive vaccine. So we want to encourage as many people within the Son of our voice to take one of the vaccines that's been authorized for emergency use. It can indeed help save your life as the data indicates. As Director Tinsley indicated as well, the pretty much almost every case now and soon to be every case we're seeing is a Delta variant case. If you haven't started reading much about Lambda and Epsilon, then you should. The Epsilon variant shows a significant vaccine resistance and if we don't do everything we can because as many of us vaccinated as quickly as we can, then it seems like this may be a never ending journey. There are ways to stop it. Obviously get vaccinated when you're in close quarters as we are now, mask up. Let's do all the common sense things we've been talking about from the very beginning. And if we do indeed, we can save lives, I'll improve public health, we'll improve the educational opportunities for children and we'll also save our businesses, many of whom are struggling right now under the weight of the pandemic. We can do more and I want to thank again, thank this council for leading because we've led a lot of others have been inspired to do so as well in their own right. We're seeing good strong support statewide bipartisan support. And I think this is the partisan issue with strong bipartisan support as well to protecting our children and our educators as they go back into the schoolhouse this week. So let's stay the course. Let's stay the course. Thank you. Thank you, Director Tinsley. All right. Thank you, thank you. At this time, we are bringing back the chief of officer proposal by the honorable Edward H. McDowell. Thank you, Ms. Wilson and members of the council. Thank you for again, I want me to share with you a passionate plea for this chief medical, I'm sorry, health officer slot. Harry, you made whatever I wanted to say today, you've done that. You've said it simply. You've given us enough information to simply say, we need to do this. As you know, there are 10,000 deaths in South Carolina related to COVID. Children are continuing to be diagnosed with COVID. There's the pandemic of diabetes that we have not talked about. There's the pandemic of cancer, the pandemic of HIV, the pandemic of obesity, sickle sale, continuing to ravish the lives of people. We hear the Delta variant, the Epsilon variant, and of course the Lambda variant. I hope we don't get to the point where we have to execute a name for every one of the Greek alphabet. It is time for us to move forward. And then so moving forward, if our city is going to be a health haven, we cannot continue to negate the fact that 29203, 29229, and one other zip-coded area, particularly, 29203 resonates with the highest number of amputees and the highest number of hard issues. How do we get at the crux of this matter? What do we do? Do we just sit silently by and not do anything? Or do we allow persons with expertise to step forward and to help persons in those areas? Of course, there are several other things that we could do as a city. But if we are going to beat this Delta variant, if we are going to move in a direction where folk are being resourcefully helped, we need to do something, we need to act today. Cannot continue to sit and not do anything. Persons are dying, that's a reality. That's not fictional at all. Persons are dying, what do we do? Do we sit back and just perhaps think that it will all go away? Harry was very eloquent today, the numbers are glaring. And it's not lowering at all. We could very well involve ourselves as a council on other opportunities, but right now it's a health opportunity, whether you live or die, whether resources are available and a resource person is available, it saddens me. When I talked to a family who just admitted a child to ICU, it saddens me. I have children, you have children. And I must admit to you with all the passion that is within me, I'm scared. So I made my way to DHEC this morning, early this morning to get tested again. I've had my shots, but supposing there are persons in your community that have no earthly idea, who do you call? Who do you call? Who are you able to touch bases with? Or are you able to converse with in not a medical, I guess a medical way, what their particular malady is and what is needed for healing? This is not, and I wanna say this quite poignantly. This is not political at all. This is about saving our city. There are other municipalities in these United States that have health offices. You have Atlanta, Baltimore, Miami, all of the other cities, of course, that have these persons in place. We've never had this conversation in chamber. We've never had this conversation around this table. Is it gonna be time for us to step up and make health a priority? And if we don't make it a priority, we're gonna find ourselves in a quagmire. Hope we're going to continue to die, be diagnosed. Our children are at risk. They are at risk. What are we gonna do? It's beyond me at this point to say anything more than to say, Harry, you took my thunder today because all of what you said today is actual, inclusive, and we ought to be able to do something. So, Mr. Mayor, what I'd like to propose if you'd allow me is that we transfer this to the administrative committee, continued conversation. I've had a preliminary chat, talk with members of our staff. I'd like to transfer this to the administrative committee. And within the parameter of two to three weeks that we bring with additional materials to be added in that conversation back to the council for a goal. Okay. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Is your mic on, Howard? Is your mic on? Okay, excuse me. It's not on what it was. I'd like to take exception to Councilman McDowell's request. He says this is not a political question, but we all know that it is a political question. One of the candidates in this mayor's race has run on this and I received an email called Irresponsible Endangers Yesterday where he criticizes one of our colleagues for objecting to it. And I'm not sure if I object to the position of a health officer as much as I object to it being interjected into the city council debates before the people vote in November. I have told many people in the last couple of years that I think that the group of people we have representing the city of Columbia at the present time and our staff is one of the best councils I've ever sat on. It is representative of lots of diverse opinions. We debate, we come to decisions and we move on. And our staff has been wonderful too. But the position of chief health officer has been promoted by a candidate that's running from there. It is being debated in the many forums that are coming to the city of Columbia about the mayor's election. And I think we should at least wait until the new council is sworn in in January to see if this has public support and political support on the seven member council. We're gonna have at least three new members of the council coming up in January, maybe four. And I think that we need to hold this debate. I don't mind referring it to the administrative committee but I don't think our staff should spend a lot of time doing research. I can tell councilman McDowell that if he researches South Carolina he will not find a city in South Carolina with a chief medical officer because that is a county responsibility. We have county health offices. We have department of health and environmental control. We have chief Tinsley and his staff that work with us and I'm not sure what more we could do in the COVID fight with the chief medical officer than we are doing presently with our staff and the hard work that the staff and councilman McDowell and his committee got 2000 people vaccinated. That's what we need to be doing is getting people vaccinated and not debating whether or not we need another position in the city government. So I would respectfully ask that this be held until we have the election. Let it be voted on by the people that the candidates two of which are on this panel right now, this council right now debate it in public and see who the public elects and when they get it and sworn in in January then we can have a fresh look at it based on public sentiment expressed in the next election. Thank you, Mr. Dwell. Mr. Mayor. That's right, Mr. McDowell. Mr. Dwell, I disagree with your political stance on that. I think that is totally incorrect. You raised the issue about this being a political stance for me. It's a health stance for me and several thousands of other folk. You raised the issue about this being political and having to wait until the election. Folk are dying Howard. Do you know that? Folk are dying. They've got to wait until someone is elected whoever that person he is. You've made political statements around this table referencing two months ago. So let's not make this political. You've made it political by wanting to push this off, not make it doable. Folk are dying, man. And if you don't recognize that, there are persons, other folk around this table that have recognized that it's not only COVID-19 but it's also diabetes, it's also cancer. So I totally, totally disagree with that that we've got to wait until November 5th, November 2nd for something to happen. You also support the candidate of your choice right or wrong. Yes, sir. You support and several other folk around on this DA supported their candidate. That's your choice. But it's not a choice for me to just sit idly by because one person decides or brings up the whole notion of a chief medical officer. Again, folk are dying. And if you wait until November 2nd, folk are going to continue to die. And Harry is going to see those numbers escalate. Thank you, Mr. McDowell. Yes, sir. Mr. Rickerman and Ms. Devine. Well, since nobody on this council is coming out from me, I'm gonna go ahead and speak. I think that's a fair statement. Mr. McDowell, I appreciate you bringing forth some of the issues because they are priorities that need to be addressed. But one of the things I've discovered is since this discussion has come forth is that we haven't reached out to the agencies here and engage the folks who can do things today. And I think that's our first step. And I think if this goes to committee, you need to make sure those folks are at the table because between DHAC, the School of Medicine, the medical school, public health, and the 1700 providers who provide home health that's covered through various between insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, there is opportunities to make sure that we get the help that folks need. The advice that they need, the services they need, it can be telemedicine, it can be home visits. It's amazing to me as I dug into the issue a little deeper to see how many opportunities we have out there for folks to get the help and to tackle these. And I think bringing it forth like you have is a great step forward and making the acknowledgement that we have some disparities and concerns and districts in our city. But I'm not sure that I agree that the health officer is going to make that happen faster or quicker than the agencies that have been doing it. We need to make sure that people are taking advantage of what's out there and understanding that. And every one of these agencies has phone banks, they have people who visit homes. I think we should reach out to all these agencies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield that provides services and money through their health foundation to help bring forth this and make that part of city council and the city moving forward going, hey, we really need this address. We know we have the agencies out here to do it. Let's bring them to the table and start the discussion now because you're right. It needs to be addressed, but it doesn't need to be the city. It needs to be the people who specialize and have the resources in the depth to make the difference. So I would ask that you bring those people to the committee and ask them to be engaged because everybody from the American Society for Diabetes to the School of Public Health, to the Medical School, to DHEC, to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Prisma Health, MUSC Health, all of these agencies are right here in our doorstep along with people like SC Calls who is invested in our community. They're building other things in our community as one of the office buildings proposed for Phillips Street and next to the stone manufacturing was a 24-hour daycare, 24-hour PES. Bring them to the table and let's help solve it. All right, Mr. Viner. Thank you. I guess let's take a step back a little bit. I do believe that the way that this came forward probably was not, well, not probably, was not our normal process. And so certainly whether it's political or not the perception is that it is when you have a press conference out in front of City Hall and announce something before it is brought to the city manager for consideration. However, after that happened, it was asked, Mr. McDowell asked the city manager and staff to look at it. And I thought that's what we were actually gonna hear from them today is what they have looked into. And then I think that we all should be able to also give them some additional information regarding other things. There's been discussions and Mr. Rickman rightfully said there are a lot of agencies who are out there doing things. This resolution that was prepared talks a lot about statistics in 292.03 specifically. And I know this predates Mr. McDowell, so he may not be aware of this, but in 2014 Prisma Health came here to this council at my request to make a presentation on the work that they are doing to address health disparities. And they told us then that there was a community health council specifically for 292.03. I wanted to verify that that is still happening. So I text them and that is still happening. It is actually revamped into Rise Up Richland and they have DHEC, they have the school districts, they have mental health providers, all of them at the table in this Rise Up Richland. And so I would ask if our staff has not reached out and talked to them about what they're doing, what are they doing and that be part of the report. I have no objection to it going to a committee. That's the way we do think the committee evaluated and look at it, but I think that we have to actually look at the data and figure out who is doing what. I don't know if there's anything additional that we have the ability or authority to do as it relates to COVID-19 at this point. But if there is, I think that each of us individually and collectively have been out there advocating for more information, more access. So if there's something specific, Councilman McDowell, because, and then the other thing I'd like to hear from the city manager is he's talking about the timeliness of this, if this is a budgetary requirement, would that be somebody that's hired immediately as Councilman McDowell is discussing? So I would like to hear from staff on what information they have already pulled together. What additional information do they feel needs to be put together? And then before it gets to the committee, let us have an opportunity to provide additional information based on the resources that we know. Some of us are very active in the healthcare field in this community and we know who is doing what. And I think all of those players need to be at the table. If we want to address something, it doesn't always have to be the city saying we're doing it. It is working together with our partners to actually make sure we're impacting our community. So I would like us to take that approach. And Mr. McDowell, if you would consider that, also bringing forward other people who need to be part of this discussion. But Ms. Wilson, I'd like to hear, have you guys, I think last week you, or last meeting you mentioned y'all had done some work. Where's that information? I can speak to it or Reverend McDowell can, but yes, we presented the information to Reverend McDowell that we've put together so far. So I would like you to present it to us. Okay. Well, I think that- I think the plan was to present it to the committee. That committee- Yeah, exactly. So I can present it now briefly. I don't necessarily think this is probably the format that's going to be in depth about it, but I can certainly tell you the initial information. I think the goal after we met this meeting, we presented it to him first, being that it was his request, as I would do with any of you when you make an initial request to me, he came up with wanting to come here today and talk to you all about moving it forward of a committee process. And I can tell you just about everything you said, particularly Mr. Rickman and Mr. Vines, the research which shows us are that it is, and should be a collaborative effort with the different agencies that we have at our disposal here in the Midlands. We certainly did do a pretty thorough review of what a chief health officer, which is very different from a chief medical officer. So I've heard that term being interspersed together. This is not someone who is a doctor, necessarily medical doctor in a hospital system. This is someone who is very much so knowledgeable about authorities, public health, et cetera, as you've described. When those particular, I guess, municipalities or cities in our country have those type positions in place, they're typically the cities where the health department itself reports up in that chain of government, which is not the way we're structuring Columbia. However, we do have DHEC, and we do have wonderful hospital systems and medical school and a university that has a public health department that we can certainly, as we taught the government, now about bring all of those different entities together potentially as some type of committee of the city to work with you all and focus and drill down in the particular zip codes where you're seeing underserved communities and health disparities in particular. So that is what we left the conversation with. And I think Reverend Dowell was hoping from our discussion and I'm not gonna take credit for it because Ms. Benjamin and Ms. Ashley Jenkins Wood, who's the program manager in my office have done thoroughly searches. Many of you know Ashley is working on her masters in public administration and she was able to even work with some of her colleagues, young colleagues, I will add we're already working in these fields with public health to bring a lot of good research. So we have it, we have some great recommendations, we have two options, but again, to your point, Ms. Devine, I mean, we're just doing the research and happy to do it. The council would ultimately need to give through the committee process and the ability to see some of these recommendations, what you feel would be the best direction to go. And no, it would not be this budget year, from my perspective, it would be going through the policy, what you wanna do. And if it is, even if it was a position, it certainly wouldn't be during this current budget cycle we're in, because no, we haven't budgeted for anything like that. But at the end of the day, I think the research would show that there is a way to probably address what all of you are saying, but in a very collaborative way with other entities in the middle. Can I get that, go to the committee? Ms. Devine finished and Mr. McDowell wrapped up, and I'm gonna make some final comments so we're gonna move on. Thank you. I would just again suggest Rise Up Richland is someone who is currently working specifically in 209203, if that's not part of your research, I would suggest that reach out to them, as well as I know that Jocelyn Brandon, Walter's Brandon at DHEC is working specifically with Environmental Justice as a way to help the disparities within our community. And they actually have a grant and are doing a lot of work. So I just, I think that we need to cast a wide net to understand who is doing what. I do think Mr. McDowell that count city, the city is uniquely positioned to be the leader and bring people together that might be working in silos and bring that together for the collective good of our constituency. But I would just suggest that before the committee starts discussing it, having this additional information might be just fruitful to understand who's doing what and then also identify there any gaps. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. McDowell, that's another hand, if I don't, please. Yes. Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Look, it's obvious to me that this resolution has gone through the normal processes. Is that correct, Ms. Wilson? Well, I think, yes, sir, it's been of the attention of your colleagues. I mean, you all certainly haven't taken it up for action. We're talking, we're talking my variants now. Rise up Richland. I commend the program. Folka Dine now. What's the solution right now? What's the solution right now? If what I'm proposing, I had a real good conversation with our chief of staff and with Ms. Jenkins. There are models out there that we could frame this work in. Daniel, I think you're absolutely right. One of the models, of course, comes out of Louisiana, where it's called Healthy Cities. And that model, of course, sort of looks, and I think we've got to be very, we've got to be very specific when we say a health officer and a medical officer, because they are not one in the same. So what do you, you've said medical, but this says health. What are you asking for? The, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, what I'm asking for is for help for folk in our city, discounting what it's going to cost. Because if we got to put a cost on the lives of people, then we are in a quagmire. My, my particular position is simply this, Daniel. And I think you're absolutely right. One of the ways that we can do what you suggested a few minutes ago, bringing folk together, the committee meets. We look at the framework, framing this board or whatever into something that will speak to the need people who have expertise in those particular areas that I casually mentioned this morning. I think for us to not to do anything right now is a travesty. It's a travesty. Whether you call it a medical officer, whether you call it a medical officer or a health officer, the point is folk are dying and we're discussing the deaths of people. That is tragic. And for anybody to talk, other than what we were talking about today is talking nonsense. Talking nonsense. We cannot rationalize death. Either you live or you die and folk are dying. How do you rationalize that? And say it in such a way that we can't, we want to do something. We gotta act today. We gotta act. Yeah, I'm gonna refer, I'm gonna move that we refer this, Mr. Mayor. Simple as that. I'm through. Let's see, Mr. Davis. Yeah. Silly season as we call it. I don't have a problem of having the city play a major role if not the P roll, the point roll in taking care of or making sure that the health of our citizens is top notch number one. Number two, Daniel's right. We have a number of partners, agencies that are specifically assigned certain areas of health management and healthcare. 29203, I'm proud to say that I made a conscious decision to move with my family into 29203. But if we're getting true benefits from all of these partners and agencies that we have that are on the payroll, then why in the hell are the numbers so high in 29203, 29222? There's gotta be a reason. Somebody's not hitting the target. Pure and simple. And there's nothing wrong with having a professional that guides this city down the path of being a truly a true healthy city. Number one, and make sure that the people who work for this council and the people who serve this city are in the best of health. So as far as I'm concerned, I think the committee process is fine. It's okay, I don't have a problem with that. Also, I'm not approaching this from a political standpoint, but the idea and the concept sounds very good. It sounds good to me because somebody's missing the boat in this city if these health disparities are this high. With all these partners we have, the hospitals, the volunteer groups, you go on and on. So there may be a justification for not going down that path, I don't see it. And so brother McDowell, I agree with you. I appreciate your stance on this. Thank you. I was not preparing to speak on this item. And I think in terms of ripeness, the issue will be for us in the motions portion of the agenda to refer this administrative committee for discussion as a subcommittee of council and for a recommendation in which Mr. McDowell has indicated that he will bring back a recommendation after full consultation with so many of the different organizations represented here to this council for final action. There's a lot said and a lot of it that they're completely unrelated to the issue before us. But some of it that seems to be presented as mutually exclusive options that are not mutually exclusive options. A couple of things I just wanna make sure it's clear. The two paths we have before us on this specific item under our state statute, the city manager has the authority to establish departments and staff positions. This council can decide that they will vote on the spirit of this and direct the city manager to move forward with the council will as a chief health officer. There's also obviously the authority under state law for a city to establish its own health commission that is our authority under state law save some folks some research time. It's I think it's state code section 44310. If in fact that were the option. I just wanna make a couple of thoughts that I think is important to make and then we'll take this back up and at the time it's appropriate. We've never hesitated to be the tip of the spear. The fact that there's no position like this in South Carolina doesn't matter. There have been a number of laws that have been ripe for need in South Carolina. And the city of Columbia has never hesitated to be the tip of the spear to set the stage. We've seen that just in the past two weeks alone. We should never hesitate when it's right, when it's in the interest of the life, health and safety of our citizens to act because there's no one else that mean we can't do it. We obviously have the authority under state law to maintain a Board of Health that will have operational responsibilities that would feed up into DHEC. Maybe in the age in which we're living it's time for that. It's time for that as we work through some of the challenges, chronic illnesses that are faced across the city, not just in 203, but certainly as we work our way through this pandemic we have been as a society, not as a city or state fairly reactive as it relates to the pandemic. And the opportunity to be more proactive it's not a bad idea. I think we're talking about if you want a legal expertise you hire a chief legal officer you want a law enforcement expertise you hire a dog and good chief of police or even project management expertise you hire good people for that too. So I think that's all up for discussion but those are our two paths. At some point after discussion by the committee that comes to the city manager with the support of a majority of council or if there's an alternate path of some type of a commission department then that's our option. I will say this and I'm gonna wrap up my comments and then we're unless there's more to be said I think we go to the motions section at the end of the agenda and we'll take this back up then when it is again when it's right. I remember sitting in city council chambers it's been several years now and at one point there at least one sometimes two of our colleagues that if I said the sky was up they say it was down if I said it was blue they say it was black if I said it was left they say it was right and I am smart enough and honest enough to know that sometimes I was wrong and sometimes I was right but I knew that whatever I said they go in the other direction and I remember one of our colleagues making a suggestion he was convinced that I would be in the alternative and I said that's a good idea let's I support it and he was dumbfounded and I think it's important for us that if we believe something is a good idea and something as important as this yes although we're in a political environment it's important that it's a good idea then allow a good idea to advance if it has our support if it's a bad idea then we go through the process and we choose that otherwise the opportunity to discuss it and have all the other parties here in the Midlands who are charged with these responsibilities to participate and have a say it's important but it's our responsibility also our responsibility to do everything we possibly can to a budget amendment we've done budget amendments before appropriating one full time and the equivalent employee position out of over 2200 we can do that as well we've done it so let's do our very best as this goes to committee and comes back before us hopefully having significant amounts of input from all the different parties mentioned here if a recommendation comes back from the committee then we'll take it up in whatever form it is and hopefully not have to debate this again and again until that very point but those are the paths before us an option for us before us I'll leave it there unless there's more comment we'll take it back up in motions for referral to committee and then we're good, all right all right, thank you, thank you let's keep on moving I think he's saying it's not appropriate to move it this way yeah, we're gonna do it on the motions on the motions, yes sir, on the motions all right, ma'am, say ma'am, Andrea most and another committee that has been proposed by you all, the tax study ad hoc committee while the whole band is under discussion I wouldn't expect it to be under discussion because we've already taken action as a council and we all had put together a subcommittee that was supposed to be put take three different economists one from all of us to choose to move forward I just wanted to get us to go ahead and let that committee do their job because it is pertinent we need to have this discussion we need that committee to get operating if we're gonna be competitive and the restructuring that's going on in the US I had three institutional lenders and developers in town this week looking around our city and they all said the same thing to me we need to have a discussion about how to be competitive to get that outside investment to grow as the restructuring is coming it's coming to the Sun Belt we had great growth, 6% in the Sun Belt but they're projecting double digits and I want to make sure we don't get left behind so we've got the beginning of the discussion we've all picked the economists to do this let's let them move and do their job that's the only reason I wanted to bring it up is let those three economists get together and structure in this committee so that we can have community dialogue and try to advance the ball that benefits this community what's the reason for that? Is that not happening? It's kind of stalled and that's why I wanted to put it on the agenda to find out where we are Well, we've got the three economists we've written the letter I wrote the letter on April the 26th Mr. Rickman responded that he hadn't got it on May the 25th and I wrote it on May the 25th and so he has read the letter now and it's the will of the council just for us to go ahead and schedule that I'll get to the clerk and we'll give you the three economists to come in and make a turn and play Any other comments? We'll take care Okay I'm not even sure who's Bailey with that saying who's that even rest with? I will let the record reflect that you've had 12 years and no tax increases in the city of Columbia reduced profit taxes by eight mils and I know Mr. Palin is watching us online he'll probably text me as soon as I'm done talking but 10 of the last 12 years so we've got a budget surplus DFA award of excellence six, seven years running increasing investment in public safety significantly by double digits good 21st century safety fully restored our city's reserve fund which was damaged during the pandemic and we've done this all by while walking and chewing gum at the same time the if you haven't driven around Main Street, Lady Street, Bull Street, Assembly Street and seeing the construction that's going on in the city or right now we're moving forward and moving forward post haste there's a lot of good stuff going on or right now we've done that while also investing with the magic number how much have we done in infrastructure investment the last few years seven hundred three quarters of a billion dollars in infrastructure and investment as well so we've got a story to tell and when I tell that to institutional investors and I tell that to bankers and I tell that to folk from Wall Street to Main Street they're pretty darn going to happy about it so whoever if it's Howard Teresa whoever's going to get this together to tell us how we can do better what we need to be doing I'm interested in hearing the report as it relates to the county and school districts and state policy and everything else that's a whole different discussion but the city of Columbia has its act together I want to make sure we know that thank you Ms. Wilson meet with the economists please somebody all right well you know since we're going to get political for a minute those are facts I just I want to say that those are facts what what a lot of us had to do in 2008 and seven to make decisions so that in 2010 there was a reserve account and there was an opportunity to grow I think you know we need to acknowledge what some of us on this council have to do to make hard decisions and to get the city right you know this isn't about the city this is about our community in the future growth and yes we've had growth but we've had limited growth we got communities outpacing us all I want to do is make sure that we have the information so that this council as the mayor said earlier can do what it does best which is debate and try to move policies forward that will benefit us in the long run because we have opportunities and the world's changing and we need to be prepared that's I think that's the purpose of the committee and I just want to make sure we understand that I appreciate that Mr. Ricken and with all due respect however it's important your reference 0809 and 10 it's one of the reasons I chose to run for mayor is because we couldn't close our books for two years it's because we were furloughing police officers it's because we were playing the shutdown the shand in the fire station of the fire stations the decisions were made then and we wouldn't invest in infrastructure that's $750 million as a result of a consent decree that because we wouldn't make the investments that we needed to make so it's important that that that the decision to put us in a position where we are now have been decidedly the decisions made of the last 12 years and I and obviously I don't plan to engage in that debate over the next several months I'll let the four of you have that discussion but every time it's raised if I'm in the room or someone asks my opinion I'm going to share my opinion the and obviously we all know we all have opinions right all right meet me with the economists agenda please miss I'm sorry we'll approve with the consent agenda all right is your mic on all right was the second is there a second second all right approve with the consent agenda item seven through 27 any discussion with the previous question call roll Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman I Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall hi Mr. Vine hi Mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi thank you Mayor Benjamin and counsel for the ordinances first reading the first one being item 28 I would need a motion to amend the not exceeding amount to 31 million dollars and then if you could allow me to read this item into the record which item that again um 28 28 who's going to you who's going to read it in you want me to read it in oh I didn't know if you wanted to amend and then I would read it in Mr. Mayer uh I didn't hear that call you go ahead go ahead and read it in read it in and and then we'll amend uh I could do such read it in as it reads certainly or I'm or you want me to I meant I just didn't hear your the figure 31 million 31 million so I would move to amend ordinance 2020 2021 067 to not to exceed 31 million dollars second discussion read into the record ordinance number 2021 067 just supplemental ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of the city of Columbia South Carolina special obligation refunding bond hospitality beef pledge series 2021 in the aggregate principle amount of not exceeding 31 million dollars in order to refund all or a portion of the city of Columbia South Carolina special obligation bond hospitality fee pledge series 2014 authorizing the mayor the city manager the assistant city manager for finance and economic services for any two of them acting together to determine certain matters that to the bond prescribing the form and details of such bond and other matters relating there to our motion on the floor to yeah so do we need to vote on the the move approval is there a second second any discussion with a previous question correct color wrong Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye thank you I'm sorry this clarification Mr. Mayor my motion was to amend we didn't vote on that but then you read it in so are we covered Mr. Hammond or do we need to vote on both I've read it Mr. Adam divine so I think you can now vote on the actual item after you took the vote on the amendment okay so that's it was for the yes yes we now we need to vote on the vote move approval yes we know yes I second any discussion with a previous question correct color wrong Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye thank you sorry about that thank you item 29 ordinance number 2021 072 authorizing the city managing to execute a purchase and sale agreement between the city of Columbia and latitude 32 development LLC for the sale of 2221 divine street and rich yes yes that motion yes oh oh is that a visual okay is that a visual is that a visual is that a visual is that a visual is that a visual is that a visual second second second in discussion second move the previous question current color roll Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye for a zoning planning matter item 30 20 text a minute to amend the text of Unified Development ordinance there a motion now we've had the public hearing already okay so I made is there a second second we've had the public hearing Chris's head is like just in the background in discussion we'll move the previous question current color roll Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye item 31 moving into a period of resolutions resolution number R20201047 approving assessment roll for city center business improvement district second second we'll move the second in discussion saying none with the previous question current color roll Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye item 32 resolution number R202090 supporting we love five points LLC's proposed concept for development of the former Wells Fargo property this man this man yes sir Mr. sir move second second moving second in discussion saying none move the previous question for current Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye thank you item 33 resolution number R202090 one ratifying and authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement between the city of Columbia and the city of Jackson shopping center LLC for the move helping second discussion saying none move the previous question for current Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vyron aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye item 34 resolution number R202090 nine three certifying five building sites of abandoned buildings pursuant to the South Carolina abandoned buildings revitalization act title 12 chapter 67 section 1267100 it's a motion so moved this is second second it's a discussion Mr. Davis question are we indicating that there have been five buildings so designated no survey or only this one these are an additional five which certified five building sites one of my mission five sites yes yes on the on the footprint of that property it is just one property but the the statute allows for there to be sites or buildings on the proposed usage so there is a diagram in there that shows the different five sites and we've done that in the in the past the illusory the illusory and few other places as well thank you man all right any discussion for this question we'll move to the previous question the first call to roll Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman all right Mr. Mcdowell yes Mr. Duvall all right Mr. Vines hi Mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi the following the next two resolutions are event resolutions and the safety plans have been prepared and submitted to the police department for a review before you go to so as president I want to thank you all for being being here and for moving forward with this we're very excited about it and look forward to seeing you next Monday spend some time together all right thank you all right I'll be blessed item 35 resolution nine for our 2021 080 authorizing consumption of beer and wine only with invoice father adjacent to the Columbia Museum of Art so second back in discussion and then we'll move to the previous question for the first call roll Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman aye Mr. Mcdowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. DeVine ag Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye item 36 resolution number R-2011086 repealing and replacing R-2021-034 authorizing consumption of beer and wine averages only at the lifting as we climb fundraiser on Main Street on Saturday September the 18th 2021 is there a motion I mean is there a second second in discussion we'll move to the previous question for the following Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman Mr. Mcdowell yes Mr. Duvall aye Mr. Vines aye Mr. Davis aye Mayor Benjamin aye moving into a period of appointments there are several appointments listed many of which have not all we have brought before you all previously so I'm really encouraging appointments to be made I think there are a few potentially DDRC for example where oftentimes they may be running into a forum issue Ashley has done a good job of bringing the memos forward so if there's something else that we need to do differently to help you all move these along please let me know it needs to get through us quicker we don't have time when we get the nominations and all to review it and talk to the district representatives to see who they might have or who they might want to support so we need to get the information before the Friday before well most of what you're getting the Friday before at this point are things you've gotten for weeks before I think she's tried to email them I think that I think she's tried to email them with the backups and give us kind of the heads up I think it really is incumbent upon us to go through that email when she brings it and then ask him yeah I I disagree that these are coming on the Friday before for the first time I don't think that's accurate but if again what Ashley has suggested is she can meet with you all if that would help you to go through them well in advance but there's not any of these that haven't come before you before I don't see the election commission on here we've got an election coming up here and we might need to get all three members of the election commission appointed there's only one baby happy and it'll be on your next meeting agenda next meeting all right so so we're gonna we're gonna walk through these and I actually does a pretty good job making sure I have the information and I think I'm in the same list of everybody else I know we have a pretty our challenge is once we have the information let's let's be diligent I mean we've done a I think a pretty good and fair job listen to one another as we speak geographic diversity across the city sometimes maybe even maybe a bit too deferential but when it comes time to act we have to we have to really act and you have what we have some places you know obviously we could we could pull teeth and get people to serve on on committees and commissions and and some we have a whole lot of people wanting to serve so we gotta get and put them put them to work so the quicker we get through some of these then less we'll have to deal with so actually thank you for the juggling act of what we have if there's a way to get any additional information to us individually and request let's do it you want to try to feed us real quick sure so and let me let me ask one more question to you I think it's a policy and that's he case in here too as it relates to the existing board members that serve the terms I'm thinking about Mr. Green on the housing authority specifically are we able to reappoint if someone's rendering excellent service if we get the term we use that's an option if they've already used up the yeah the term the terms okay I know we're only taken up we've been holding on the we've had other applicants who know as well and we have Mr. Cromarty which I think is yeah the housing authority is on here I think specifically for the reappoint men of Mr. Cromarty Mr. Mayor but I I think that you all can make it a negative that's right at the right at the right I just want to make sure we're not in conflict with any housing authority with that I think obviously it's our prerogative the point I was just thinking through that a little and we got that's a another good situation we got a lot of good applicants yes that's not true so all right um can we do the a quality committee yeah as a group but we don't have the number that we have picked for that can we so let's just put them all along there and um work work with the group that's volunteered yeah I would move approval of I didn't know that well I don't see him in here at this point but I know that Mr. Rickerman had questions about he asked me about that we we discussed it and um he was thinking more equality and to diversity of african-american Hispanic that's one of him that's pretty it's specific so he's fine with that he's fine with moving on it okay well that's it that's it I am making sure that everybody I certainly make sure I know this I don't think that's it oh we're gonna we're gonna wait for Mr. Rickerman to come back in the room yeah that was good all right yeah um so let's go to housing authority real quick so all right you you yes so Ms. Wilson yes sir just to make sure what's up what's up primarily for the C.A.J. of course is Mr. Pomade being reappointed yes sir and it's within our will with all to reappoint Mr. Green yes can we do that today too if you would like to yes ma'am yes sir with it just as long as Ms. Mott doesn't say there's anything wrong I'm sorry yes no yeah the answer just it is fine yes sir it's fine all right not a problem if you wanted to thank you ma'am all right we got we got a really really good we got Mr. Rickerman back with Ross Ms. Devine so um to me because back in the room she said let's rock and roll on housing authority we'll take up the uh to Daniel the question that came up was uh I think he had some questions I think you Ms. Devine they ever resolved them on the advisory committee on equality I wasn't aware so I didn't want you to missed yeah the discussion so okay our resolve okay I'm sure she wants to be in the room for the motion so so we'll we'll wait let's go to the housing authority take up the appointment of uh we can do them separately the appointment of reappointment of Ernest Cramarty move for approval is that a second second any discussion with a previous question for all of all Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman yeah Mr. MacGallum Mr. Duvall Hi Mr. Vine Mr. Davis Mayor Benjamin Hi I know that Mr. Green has been the residential commissioner since March of 16 and our policies allow for the reappointment of someone on the term for exceptional service and I think it's clear Mr. Green has been a fantastic commissioner I support his reappointment for one last term is that housing authority executes on these various projects major projects half a billion dollars with a project how that they've been working on and I'll move to the reappointment we'll move this man I'll give them a second any discussion with a previous question for color all Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman Mr. MacGallum yes Mr. Duvall Hi Mr. Vine Mr. Davis Hi Mayor Benjamin Hi the ERC you got something there I have really been trying to find some my it's not it's not easy to find an architectural historian it is not and we're very limited I did reach out to Scott Garvin in several other folks who have done a lot of projects in town and asked them if they could try to help and they're trying to help us find somebody but I have that is a very hard position how about how about if we how about if we do this is Christa still here Christa Missy would we talk to Amy I know we're trying again this is probably I think all the different positions we I think we've had more challenges this one than anyone else and you guys maybe give Daniel some good options that might not reside in District 4 this is some some really good people and we'll just have to defer to that recommendation someone who needs the criteria and we'll take that up at the next meeting all right and see if we get someone applying Ashley will open up the architecture historian for another couple weeks you guys get Mr. Rick and then some recommendations he's most comfortable with someone and we'll bring it back up again it may not be District 4 but someone that we forget about all right yeah yeah all right is that that was the only one for a D.R.C. am I correct yes so we're gonna architectural historian to make Daniel agreed all questions are answered on the ACE committee you want to make a motion I'll move approval what do you need me to say for me I said I move approval of Todd Shaw Dillon Gunnels Darius Jones Tara McRaven Tyson Lust Connie Hatton Jeff March Brent LaFever and Cian Rivera to the advisory committee on equality Mr. Duval you want to second that second any discussion move the previous question for Carl Robb Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickman Mr. McBowell yeah Mr. Duval hi Mr. Vines hi Mr. Davis Mayor Benjamin hi and next we have the food policy committee all right so what we're gonna do here y'all we've been we've been waiting on a lot of folks here so we have 11 yes we have 11 vacancies 11 blocks the the current committee has because we took forward three of them last time you took for two reappointments of Tracy Dixon and Ashley Page and those 11 vacancies are outside of their reappointments and then the committee has also provided recommendations as well what do you have here 19 I was on time 19 19 yeah 19 applicants 19 for 11 slots a lot of really good people with some incredibly relevant experience I think we should not take persons outside of the city limits because we've got plenty of inside the city limits what is that that's some good applicants from outside that's your direct narcissistic sometimes so that gets us closer I think you certainly ought to appoint the person whose name is yummy to the food service committee I think I think there's one one applicant who shows up it's for I think that's for our sake his address I would I know very few of these individuals personally I would say I'll get ahead and lift up a few just because of the relevant experience I think we should take a serious look at and that's a Mr. King who's the diabetes-free South Carolina coordinator at Blue Cross Blue Shield certainly would be an asset the district four well that's actually outside to them too but the business is in district four you have food bank employees and there's no food bank have a mission they'll help me out here on May what about health phd students and Mr. Drauger Mr. Espanizo I'm sorry Mr. Mr. Guillermo Espanizo I can't I can't hear you well I'm sorry Guillermo Espanizo not in the I guess any district but you know with these donut holes Mr. Mayor it could be very close to a district senior planner development director central midlands capital governments I think that's a good fit I'd say um oh May Salma never figured her name I mean yeah yeah I'll May with food food chair absolutely director Paulson happy to see and obviously and and uh Ashley the would you would you help lift up the the names of the recommendations from the committee as well real quick yes Jabari Broderick Roger Duggar Lauren Ekstrom Guillermo Espanizo Regina Greer Quinn Hayes Jennifer Lobel Kahn Zach King Tyler McDonald Omne Salma Mula Yumi Weatherssea those are the recommendations how many were they 14 how many recommendations that's 11 that's the think they're recommending remind you those recommendations are without regard geography so uh uh these folks have been grinding you remember how much we went through this to get this established they've been working hard I trust their judgment I moved acceptance of the recommendations from the committee second second discussion move the previous question for I'm sorry Mr. Rickman yeah I just I wanted to add I think if we could at some point try to find a specific position maybe with somebody with some HUD experience because I know that we have the ability to leverage loans to help build grocery stores Houston and several other cities have used this to combat um food deserts and so we ought to try to make sure we can find somebody who has thing and it may be a staff person that we want to have join it and and look but I think we ought to try to have every option available to the committee as they try to move forward and help us deal with the issues in hand let's make let's maybe make that um very specific directive to them and we want them to take a look at at these opportunities all right any of this comments have none ludicrous discretion for approval Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman hi Mr. Mcdowell Mr. Duvall hi Mr. Vine Pat Mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi Penny Penny, Penny, Penny all right so they have two vacancies and three applicants but the first applicant well I talked with the chair or the director of transportation Penny Oversight and we discussed the applicants but I think they recommended the first after some discussion oh I'm sorry a recommendation that came forth concerning the applicants for the transportation Penny Oversight was the first name on your list when discussing the applicants with accepting on a car on a car we've got two inside the city limits two reforms you know and there's been a whole lot of changes and machinations and legal issues and everything else I wouldn't mind if we could hold off on this one meeting open up we you know we got we got one good person there and and the mash burn now when you need someone the more folks like Lee Craig frankly you understand business understand consulting construction rather and it can advocate I'd love to get some folks to some focus on on multimodal transportation obviously if any of you remember when the when the penny was conceived there was a whole lot more walk bike in there that didn't seem to make it to the end of the day post referendum I would love to have someone there on the committee who can advocate for the city's position on on those issues and maybe if we go come up with a few names for the next meeting to submit a little bit in some of these folks may actually fit that fit that bill yes sir I don't I don't know that not clear so let's plan open back up yes and have it on the next council meeting so much of that seven days 10 days whatever the the limit is but we'll plan to act on postase okay thank you they make it dark easy today yes all right good day thank you appreciate that yes ma'am moving into a period of city council committee referrals and reports I would like to take up Mr. Mayor when you all finish the November meetings schedule okay yes ma'am yes ma'am all right Mr. no I'm in control Mr. Mayor to the administrative committee to the the the discussion regarding the prospective appointment of the chief health officer all right all right I'll second the motion to send to committee any discussion with the previous question part color all Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman all right Mr. Mcdowell yes Mr. Bevall all right Mr. Byron at Mr. Davis all right Mayor Benjamin all right thank you any other reports or referrals Mr. Mr. Bevall Mr. Mayor I inform the council that but for Rillo is asked if we look at reconstituting the memorial park committee it was formed I think about 30 years ago but never has had a structure to it and the members of the committee some of them are now deceased and he wants to reinvigorate the committee and get it properly function and the legal staff is working on it right now okay awesome awesome thank you Mr. Mayor yes sir Mr. I have a question for staff please Mr. Wilson yes sir you know a lot of the topics we've talked about today would benefit the leverage of federal states non-profit funding that's out there floating around can you give us a quick update on where we are with our full-time grant writer position that that we can maybe take some action on pursuing these funding outlets yes sir well we haven't posted we were not seeing the breadth of applicants applicants but maybe not the breadth of what we were looking for so we reposted it I do think on we're at a point now to take and have interviews so it is moving forward wonderful yes sir and I would say though that you know we absolutely I think I brought the first grant professional grant writer to the city many years ago and to have her has been to our benefit we lost her to the university unfortunately but we still partner with her a lot so we have I think even at your suggestion Mr. Brennan reached out to her to you know help us look for some of the applicants but I will say too notwithstanding that because we have to get that person higher we're also utilizing it within the different departments particularly with parts and recreation ACM Simon hired a grant writer specific for the parts and recreation efforts with the foundation and that is proving to be really successful so we're trying to and you know certain departments definitely police and fire they're always applying for grants as well so we're working on that wonderful post haste we appreciate it thank you any other referrals or reports saying on them for me have you signed up or anyone signed up online we have an individual who signed up upon arriving to the meeting Ms. Lover she's here in the room but there are no callers on the line in the speakers too so we do have someone who's in the room but it's not in the room signed up signed up here but it's not in the room okay the lover's here and she would like to speak oh Ms. LaVita okay thank you hey sorry and sweet I've never you're always sweet I've never heard to be short thank you very much my mayor you know we love you here's a theme for you for next year since sitting here I came up with this and it's the city of the first so think about that when you go but I want to say greetings council those of you that don't know me I am LaVita Glover and I'm wearing three masks and I've got one right there but I need to get it if I can the first mask that I'm wearing today and I want to say I appreciate the opportunity to come before you I'm not fussing these are days this is a day of thank yous I am representing the family this is the color neutral color and friends and folks saying thank you for the taking the unprecedented and making the decisions to mandate mask wearing in our schools in the effort to save our youth our future to the attorney general sit down somewhere council continue to stand for your rights write our IGHT being responsible making intelligent decisions governing for a healthy tomorrow meaning save our youth and communities mask too as I change it I represent funds incorporated the organization that sponsors the annual statewide black history parade and festival which is an effort to educate our communities about our history the city of Colombia parks and locations have assisted with this effort for many years since 2004 and we wanted council to hear and see us say thank you thank you for your continuous support and we shall see you in February mask three I stand as president representing the Colombia branch in doubling CP to inform you that the membership of the branch wholeheartedly stand with the city council and visiting county mask mandate let the records reflect that we have your backs we are demanding the governor make master make mask band be lifted and that he does the efforts of saving lives of our youth and our communities by replacing the mask mandate we are encouraging everyone to continue to wear masks and get vaccinated to the community save our lives by saving your life in February the Colombia branch in double ACP we launched a housing navigator program an effort to guide or assist those community members that are facing the evictions from their homes people we have people that are going to be put out that have been in their homes all their lives we are there to help navigate them through a system the system that we project as they call in we will take information on that person we have partnered with over 40 lawyers South Carolina Appleseed and some other entities with monies team that people can receive we encourage those of you that are hearing my voice at this time to please tell anyone that may be facing evictions that they have a person that can assist them in organization and what we will do is navigate them we stay there if you call in if you're crying we have that customer service ready for you just to call you down and get you where you need to go as well to this state we have been able to guide and assist over 120 families since February council you stepped up with support for this effort again we say thank you bye on the other hand we'd like to say a lot of people say where is the NWT my last statement at this point Columbia branch is a quiet storm when you look up we up on it dog gone thank you very much thank you Mrs. Lover always full of energy with a smile doing the right thing and you had no choice you come from a line of civil rights leaders Reverend Lover to Reverend Wright and you've been doing this since since you were in elementary school and we thank you for your continued leadership thank you so much so much Madam Perk no one else to sign up this week all right Mr. DeVall you got a motion Mr. Mayor Mr. Mayor I apologize yes Mr. Mayor Justin announced before we go into executive session this come in Saturday from 12 and to three I've issued a challenge to county council person Derek Pugh to stuff the bus school supplies I've already declared that the city is going to win this amen amen we're going to win this thank you thank you brother Strowman 12 to three o'clock page Ellington Park please come out and show your support not only for this effort but primarily for our children we've already designated the schools that these gifts are going to be given to we have computers that have been given to us so please 12 to three page Ellington Park we have a bus that is so designated city and county with the city we may have to bring in another bus for the so please please give us your support we certainly appreciate it thank you absolutely thank you Mr. Mcdowell I got two amegas doing that you need a cap or I offer to help lead the organ lead the whole effort make sure it gets done right Patrick my volunteer I don't know let's figure that Miss Mr. Duvall Mr. Mayor I'm sorry yes ma'am may I discuss the November meeting schedule just very briefly with you all yes um as rightfully I think and appropriately advised by our with Clark we are anticipating that there will possibly be a runoff election on November 16th and you all are already scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on that day so we are suggesting or I'm suggesting that council consider meeting on November 9th instead um the proposed schedule would be November 2nd November 2nd election day November 9th a council meeting and zoning public hearing at 2 o'clock p.m November 16th runoff election day and November 25th would be Thanksgiving Day I'm sorry you're proposing I'm sorry see that one more time we're proposing that moving your November 16th meeting to November 9th in anticipation of November 16th being a runoff election but okay and November 2nd not happening November 2nd is election day yeah something exactly so we're not happy no okay okay election day other we're saying we're gonna meet on election day I apologize no right now you're meeting on a what we would it would be a runoff we think will probably be a runoff election on that day so now we're talking about meeting on the night yes sir okay that's fine we go ahead and make that I'll make that a motion just a second second all right discussion and move the previous question for color on Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickman hi Mr. McDonald yes Mr. Duvall hi Mr. Vines hi Mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin thank you thank you all right can I go now please Mr. Mayor I move we go into executive session for receipt of legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to Seco 30-day 4-day 78-2 COVID-19 Philip Street franchise agreement gun crime legislation Monticello Road SCDOT pavement improvement plan discussion of matters related to the proposed location or expansion of services to encourage location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body pursuant to 30-day 4-day 78-2 beer killer and graphic discussion of negotiations in proposed contractual arrangement pursuant to 30-day 4-day 78-2 legislation affairs and big restrictions for 1001 Senate Street a second seconds discussion with a previous question Clark Valero Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickman hi Mr. McDonald yes Mr. Duvall hi Mr. Vine hi Mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi