 Mr. Brennan, Mr. Rickerman, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Duvall, Mr. Vine, Mr. Davis, Mayor Benjamin. President, ma'am, I'm going to divert from the stated agenda. We'll pick it back up just a little bit later in the executive session. I do want to do the Pledge of Allegiance. Sebastian, you want to join, you and your mom want to come up and come on, come on. Mr. Sebastian Mendes, I'll do it with you. Come on. He's getting shorter and shorter every time I say his name. Okay. Well, why don't we all just stand where we are and do the Pledge of Allegiance. Theresa, hold them up again. I wish I got that. Awesome. Thank you, Sebastian. All right. Reverend McDowell, would you bless us with a word? Gather to conduct the agenda before us. We pray your blessings upon each of us collectively and individually. Allow us to sense and to feel your presence. Undergird the city with grace and with mercy. And allow this city to continue to grow and prosper. We ask it and claim it in your name. Amen. Amen. I'm going to, along with this motion to adopt the agenda, just make it clear we've moved the executive session to item nine and a half. We'll do it after the Municipal Quality Index report. We want to go ahead and handle the presentations. Immediately we have several families, noted families in our community here with us today. And we wanted to, this is, as you all know, we might seem a little clunky. This is only our second meeting back in the chambers since the beginning of the pandemic. So we're still managing through it. And it doesn't still disabuse us of the temptation to want to go shake hands and kiss babies and everything else too. We still are who we are. So thank you for your patience. So we're going to work our way. Yes, sir. Mr. Duvall. And please. With the request of Mr. Brennan, I'd like to add item, add redistricting to item 57 executive session. And I'd like to add an additional exact item number 59 and executive session under section 30-4-781 discussion of employing of an employee evaluation of the city manager and city attorney. All right. Is there a second? Discussion. I'm going to repeat this question. I'll call her roll. Mr. Brennan. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. All right. Thank you very much. We're going to go into the period of presentations. And I know that between the district representatives as well as the city's main members of the board of directors, I think that's a good question. Yes, sir. Mr. Mcdowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. All right. Thank you very much. We're going to go into the period of presentations. And I know that between the district representatives as well as the at-large members, there's some preference to handling the recognitions. I'm going to chime in when I want to on the significance of each of these namings. I'll defer to Mr. McDowell for item number three on the agenda. Whereas William Joseph Sumter was born and raised in Hopkins, South Carolina. And whereas he was prominent entrepreneur and the first African American to own and operate a barbershop in the state of South Carolina from 1910 to 1960, which was located at 1818 Main Street in Columbia. And whereas the 1900 block of Henderson Street was one of the first blocks in Columbia, South Carolina, where prominent African American families lived and Mr. Sumter owned a property located at 1931 Henderson Street. 1925 Henderson Street and 1921 Henderson Street. Whereas these properties have remained in Mr. Sumter's family for several generations, now therefore be it resolved that on this day, December 7th, 2021, that the mayor and city council of the city of Columbia hereby approve the honorary naming of the corner of Richland Street and Henderson Street. The 1900 block of Henderson Street and the 1600 block of Richland Street, William Joseph Sumter Lane. And I will second that motion of Mr. McDowell. Any additional discussion? Mr. Dozier, I will tell you it's always been a point of personal pride for those of us who value history and particularly the contributions of the African seat and the American son here in Columbia, South Carolina to be able to walk those streets and see those beautiful distinct buildings and be able to point out with pride over century of African American ownership in the heart of our city. It's a point of pride. I know for your family, but certainly for all of us. If there's no further comment, move the previous question. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. And Mr. Duvall corrected me. He wanted to have a word as well too. Sorry, Howard. Okay. I have Resolution 2021-129, approving the honorary naming of Lady Street between Hughes and Pulaski Street. Kay Kaplan, Thigpen Way. Whereas Kay Kaplan, Thigpen and her husband Jim co-founded Trusted Theatre in 1985 and whereas Trusted Theatre was originally located in Assembly Street and moved to its current home located at the 520 Lady Street in the Vista in 1989 where it became a premier professional theater company and has played a vital role in the arts and entertainment scene in Columbia. Whereas Trusted was awarded the governor's award for the arts in 2000 in South Carolina Theater Association, Theater of Distinction in 2014. Whereas Kay Kaplan, Thigpen has left a legacy that will continue to benefit the Columbia arts community for years to come now therefore be it resolved that this seventh day of December 2021 that the Mayor City Council of Columbia hereby approve the honorary naming of Lady Street between Hughes Street and Pulaski Street, Kay Kaplan, Thigpen Way. That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. I don't think you can discuss arts in Columbia in the manifestation of it in such a meaningful way without talking about the legacy of Kay Thigpen. And I know that Representative Beth Bernstein is here to accept this on behalf of the many loving family members and supporters of Kay Thigpen and Trusted. Is there any other discussion? If not, we'll move to the previous question. Call her all. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. Duval. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. Beth, did you want to say anything? Aye. I was contacted by a relative who does not live in Columbia and this community meant so much to Kay Thigpen as we know in the, in Trusted. It meant so much, I think it's very appropriate that that portion of the street right where Trusted's theater resides will forever be known as the Kay Catholic. So thank you very much. Representative Bernstein says, do I take this with me? Yeah, you take it with you. You take it. And I thought that Mr. McDowell and I are going to have to arm wrestle for this final one. We're debating over who is going to get a chance to do it. Well, the mayor won. I won. This is to approve the honorary naming of the corner of Colonial Drive and Willow Street, the 3800 block of Colonial Avenue, the corner of Colonial Avenue and Man Street, 4100 block of Colonial Avenue, Milton, Kimson Avenue. Whereas Milton Kimson, the son of the late Milton and Ruth Kimson grew up as a sharecropper along with his three siblings in Calhoun County, South Carolina, the Kimson children subsequently helped purchase a home for their parents located at 2216 Man Street. Mr. Kimson later bought his own home located at 2233 Man Street and lived there until his death on January 30th, 2021. So whereas Mr. Kimson had a lifelong commitment to education, he earned his degrees from Benedict College as well as University of Wisconsin, Syracuse University, University of Miami, and University of Georgia, he served as a mathematics and science teacher and guidance counselor at the historic Booker T. Washington High School and Principal at Lyon Street Elementary School and Carver Elementary in Riton School District 1. He later became one of the first African American supervisors of elementary education at the South Carolina Department of Education. And whereas Mr. Kimson fostered better relationships among persons of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds as the first executive director of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce from 1970 to 1979. Whereas Mr. Kimson held various positions for the State of South Carolina to include Executive Director of Health, Education, and Human Services, Chairman of the South Carolina Workers' Comp and Station Commission, Associate Commissioner to the South Carolina Higher Education Commission and Deputy Commissioner for Program Services at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. And whereas Mr. Kimson was a member of many professional civic and community organizations to include the South Carolina Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights and the North Columbia Eau Claire Reutery Club. And whereas Mr. Kimson has received many honors, including the Order of the Palmetto from the Governor of South Carolina, the Colonel Staff Award from the Governor of Mississippi, the NAACP Man of the Year Award, and honorary doctorate degrees from Benedict College and Wofford College. In 2017, about joint resolution of the South Carolina General Assembly and interchange function of Highways 126 and 226 was named in his honor. And whereas Mr. Kimson was married to Wilhelmina Page, a retired educator with Richon County School District 1 who continues to live at the Family Home and Man Street where they raise their sons, Honorable Milton G. Kimson, an administrative law judge, Mark Kimson, a senior accountant analyst with South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority and State Senator Marlon E. Kimson, a member of the legislature and attorney in Charleston, South Carolina, now therefore be it resolved the seventh day of December 2021 that the Mayor's City Council of the City of Columbia, hereby approve the honorary renaming of the aforementioned streets, Milton Kimson Avenue. I'm going to actually amend that to Dr. Milton Kimson Avenue. The design and color of the honorary signs shall be subject to approval of the Director of Public Works. That's a motion. Is there a second? And I know it's not just Mr. McDowell and I, I think any member of this council would arm wrestle me for the opportunity to recognize Deacon Kimson, our longtime chairman of Aborted Deacons, My Deacon, a dear man, trusted advisor to so many, and we miss him dearly. Judge Mrs. Kimson, I'm not sure who plans to have a word. I did have the pleasure of speaking with Senator Kimson yesterday as well. I know he couldn't be here, but I know he wouldn't love to be here as well. I think you've been nominated, the judge. I know how the Kimson House runs usually by parliamentary procedure, but... Mr. Mayor and members of the council, we'd just like to say thank you for this wonderful honor. Of course, my mom is with us, my brother Mark and my wife, the one thing that was left out of that resolution that I must add is that in addition to my dad's love of education and a number of things, he loved the city of Columbia. Of course, all of us grew up in the city and this city means so much to us. We just thank you so much for this honor. Every time we pass that block we will think about this experience. Thank you so much. I will say this, and I ask everyone to join us for a photograph. Milton Kimson met so much to so many of us, and I've shared this with the family in the past. Everything I've ever done professionally in my life that I've gone to Deakin Kimson for advice and counsel on, the answer was almost always, why not? It was always, go for it. I'm with you. I've got your back, even when no one else ever was, and the legacy that Deakin Kimson leaves is so large. I just want to say thank you all for sharing him with us. Teresa, I need you to help guide me a little bit. We can work our way through the rest of the agenda before we get to the executive session. Yes, sir. As we have to take up that one discussion in a more time-sensitive manner, I want to just make sure. And also, as many of you may know at Mrs. Divine's urging, we did agree to keep the public comment period open on the redistricting plans. Obviously, well beyond 6 p.m., so people who may be working obviously and have something to contribute would have an opportunity to come, so we're going to keep that open nonetheless. Thank you for your help. Guide me through the rest of the agenda post-haze. Where do we go next? So, Mayor, we'll have the additional two presentations as listed, and I do have another presentation if you would so allow me. Please. As a moment of personal privilege, I would ask Chief Holbrook to come forward. Our Columbia Police Department acknowledges the excellence in law enforcement. I think it's hot off the presses and I didn't know or it would have been on the agenda. We need just a brief few words. This award is presented annually at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association Awards Band Quet. The Dominion Award recognizes the overall activities and outstanding achievements of an entire law enforcement agency and the entire law enforcement team rather than individual qualifications for this award is as follows. Effort, innovative service to the community and efficiency results. This is the second time in five years Columbia Police Department has received this coveted award of course, all during our Chief's tenure. We were an honored recipient of the Dominion Award in 2016 recognizing our efforts in 21st Century Policing Initiative and the Implementation Plan. Congratulations Chief and the Department. Well done. Thank you, Mr. Mayor members of city council. It is my honor to move the following resolution number R-2021-138. Whereas Deborah Christie was born in Heidelberg, Germany and raised in a military environment in various parts of the United States in Europe. Whereas in 1980, Ms. Christie moved to Columbia, South Carolina and began a career with Bank of America as a teller. Quickly became a branch manager and then served as Vice President for 18 years. Whereas Deborah Christie served as Executive Director for the Columbia Housing Development Corporation in 2011. Whereas Deborah's experience in housing redevelopment and educational programs provided her an opportunity to serve as Director of Community Development for 2011 until her untimely passing in May of 2016. Whereas Deborah Christie was well known in the community for her hard work and dedication to serving our most vulnerable and low moderate income population. Whereas some of Deborah Christie's many accomplishments included revitalization, disinvested neighborhoods through providing rehabilitated and newly constructed single family homes for sale and affordable multi-family housing for rental. Whereas Ms. Christie was instrumental in the development of educational programs to build interpersonal skills and on-the-job training for the underemployed and unemployed. Whereas Ms. Christie also had a vision for providing opportunities for individuals to improve their quality life by living a healthy lifestyle. Whereas the teaching kitchen at the Book of Washington Heights Center would be one of the ways to address nutrition and health disparities in designated and targeted areas such as 29203 and 29204 where health disparities are a challenge. Whereas many people, particularly minorities suffer from hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Whereas Ms. Christie understood the importance of facing health challenges through a combination of medical treatments combined with healthy lifestyle. And whereas Ms. Christie's goal before her passing was to establish a teaching kitchen to show individuals how to eat healthier, prepare meals with fresh local food selections and work towards better outcomes. And whereas the city leadership staff and residents continue to benefit from the commitment, dedication and impact of Deborah Christie, now therefore to be resolved by the mayor and city council on the seventh day of December 2021 that in honor of Ms. Deborah Christie's tireless efforts and dedication to the city of Columbia and its residents, the city commits to naming the proposed teaching kitchen at the Book of Washington Heights Center after Deborah Christie. Fantastic. Ms. Deborah Dealey, is there a second? Is there any discussion? With a previous question, the court call the roll. Mr. Brennan? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. Vine? Aye. Mr. Davis? Aye. Mayor Benjamin? Aye. I'm proud to do it. Now, I have spoken to Councilman Livingston to make sure that Malia knows of this and that we will make sure that we send something to her. Okay. Super. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Scott, you want to help me with recognition of the fellows? Mayor Benjamin, as Scott is coming forward, I knew you would want us to do this as well. So, David has been very helpful in participating as a former Mayor's fellow, but came back to assist. David, come forward as well. David Oles. We wanted to recognize him because he has taken on the monstrous task of archiving Mayor Benjamin's everything. So, he's working with Erica, our clerk, and it really has become a labor of love for David. I saw him in the stairwell and he said, Ms. Theresa, Ms. Erica said that I might be remembered in history in a way for doing this. One day I will have archived some really important things. I said, that's actually very true. So, when we see these young people take on such projects and it means something to them, it's just amazing. So, we wanted to recognize David as well. Hey David, our track star at the University of Sacramento. I was just telling David's grandfather just how much of an amazing contribution he's made first as a fellow. And now as our official archivist, is that fair, Erica? But representative of the amazing young people and we're so thankful I have Blakely Harden, Jaheem McLaurin here with us today. Part of our, what, 50% of our final class of Mayor's fellows, Zoe and Sophia couldn't be here with us. The students at Benedict College went home much earlier this year. They're both students at the University of South Carolina. And when we started this program almost 12 years ago, never really anticipated that. I just needed some more help, y'all. We just needed more bodies. We needed some talent and we had this amazing group of thousands of students at USC and Columbia College and Benedict and Allen and Midlands Tech and South University. And those are the ones that's here. Obviously in the summer sessions we're able to pull students from as far west as Iowa and California, as far south as New Hampshire and south as Florida. But we've had well over 300 young people come through this program including Deacon Kempston's granddaughter Andrea, who was just with us earlier this year. This program allows young people to just learn more about them. Some of them are lucky enough to get course credit, but learn more about what interests them. Many of you, unless you're like me, I wasn't sure until I was about 39 years old what I wanted to do when I grew up. So being exposed, having mentoring opportunities, having a chance to sit with leaders in the business community to spend time understanding how the fire department, police department run from to the best professionals in the country and just learning more about what makes a city special. While at the very same time we have these incredible digital natives who have wonderful life experiences, who just passionately believe in the promise of this country and the city and in humanity, and Blakely and Jaheem, you're closing out this class and my last class of Mayors Fellows, I know that Mr. Rickman and Scott have been working together to continue the program going, it's one of the best things that we've done and just want to take a moment to thank you for your service to the city. Love if you want to have a brief word, you're more than welcome to do so. Scott, I'm not sure if you told them that, but I'm not sure if we scripted it. Well, I don't, you know, as the last fellow standing after 12 years. Last fellow standing. I don't mind putting them on the spot. I'll let you introduce yourself. What you're going to do after you turn 39. So. Thank you, Mayor Benjamin, city council and Mr. Scott. My name is Jaheem a political science major at the University of South Carolina and I would love to go to law school. So that's the plan right now. Thank you guys for allowing me to be a part of this program. I have really enjoyed working for Mayor Benjamin alongside the rest of the fellow. So thank you guys again. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Jaheem, for also being a friendly face throughout the program. My name is Blakely Hardin and I am a sophomore studying political science in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. While I'm currently studying political science, I hope to transition a little bit in the future to a master's in public policy, hopefully to do work in education policy in South Carolina. I would really just like to take this opportunity to thank both Mayor Benjamin and Scott for making this program an opportunity for all of us. I know I've greatly enjoyed and appreciated my time here and I'm very grateful for the experience. So thank you. All right. And again, Zoe Dohn and Sophia Gomez round out our class and I want to thank you all for being the young leaders you are. We have to continue to invest in leadership. So thank you all. Thank you. Our Benedict students wrapped up their semester about two weeks ago. Zoe Dohn has returned to her family in Palo Alto, California and Sophia Gomez returned to her family in Costa Rica. Say that again. Where did she live? Costa Rica. So Palo Alto and Costa Rica. Touching the whole world. Real quickly, I would be remiss without adding my thanks and our thanks to Ashley Jenkins and Kay Hampton who helped out a tremendous amount with the selection process, reviewing the applications, going through the interviews and then helping me in selecting the four fellows that we had for the fall. So thank you. Thank you, Scott. Swag bags to remember the city. Thank you. No. Mayor Benjamin, as you take your seat our emergency management director, Mr. Harry Tinsley can come forward for our normal COVID-19 situation report. Mayor Benjamin and council we are still making good progress internally in the city. Let me say this point of personal privilege before director Tinsley begins. All of our families we've had an opportunity to honor. Y'all don't feel obliged to stay here with us right now. I know you're all good public servants and everything else but I know you've got stuff to do too. So we would not take it personally if you slipped out right now, okay? All right, thank you so much. Please. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, members of council, managing manager. Thank you for your time. There's additional in your inbox information on the current SITREP. As you know the first case of the Omicron variant was confirmed in the United States on December 1st. Currently there's about 19 states that have confirmed or detected cases of the new variant. The closest one to us right now I think is Georgia although I think Florida may have their first confirmed case but that's not posted to the CDC site as of yet. CDC scientists are still working through that variant to provide additional data but right now nationally the seven day average trend of new hospitalizations which is one of the metrics we watch for patients with confirmed COVID-19 is up 13% from the previous seven day report. As far as case rates here in South Carolina we've dropped in the rankings. We're now 45th in the nation which is a good thing right now. Forecast models for our state continue to show that we will remain stable for the next four weeks or so. And the DHEC seven key indicators for COVID-19 as reported by DHEC continue to show downward trends. As the case reports case count reports out today our state stands at $39,796 confirmed cases. There have been over 12.6 million tests to date. Today's report out was 661 cases. 500 of those were confirmed. Our state's positivity rate is 6.4%. And unfortunately there were four new deaths reported out today. Through our state those were confirmed to a probable 12,386 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 in our state. Here in Richland County our case count stands at 57,297. Today's report out was 41 new cases. 35 of those were confirmed. And our average case rate right now in Richland County is about 31 cases a day. As of the December 1st Richland County's 14 day recent disease activity incident rate shows our percent positivity at 2.4%. Statewide bed utilization is 76% currently. As of the December 6th report out 471 patients currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 confirmed or suspected in our state. Richland County bed utilization rate is 71% with 18 patients currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 confirmed or suspected. Prisma Health Children's Richland Hospital has one confirmed pediatric patient. The act also reports 5.9 million doses of COVID-19 has been administered in our state and as of December 5th 50.6% of our eligible population are fully vaccinated in our state. 58.6% have received at least one vaccine dose. 8.3% have received at least five to 11 have received at least one dose and 63.5% of children age 12 and older have received at least one dose. Here in Richland County 53.5% have completed their vaccination series 62.2% have received at least one dose and as a national snapshot according to CDC's latest vaccination update 63.8% have been fully vaccinated in the country 86.6% of those 65 or older have been fully vaccinated and 83.5% those 18 years or older have received at least one dose and lastly city staff continues to work with our partners to schedule and host vaccine clinics including after hours mobile clinics and on the weekends as well we're working with DHEC to try to get them to providing some vaccines clinics at our Divine Street location because we've been doing testing there throughout the process on the weekends we're still working through that process once that is completed we'll put that on our website and all our social media platforms and lastly safety and risk management continues to provide updated guidance on any of the COVID-19 protocols to our city staff and to what we're doing can you any questions? That's my report. And you did did we mention employee 87% 87% That's fantastic and I really want to thank everyone for the leadership in that space we're leading from the front there it seems like the numbers are still low things are starting to take up a little bit too and I don't think that's not Omicron that's still Delta my eyes on those trends hopefully 6.4 I think you said this today but we're seeing the benefits of good practices and vaccinations and everyone kind of it's amazing I asked Scott to send me pictures some of you may remember what March 6, 2020 was like when we hosted our very first Midlands Coronavirus Task Force meeting we're all packed into the room side by side like sardines that we up until that evening there had not been one diagnosed case in South Carolina the reality is that regardless of what may come whether it be Delta Omicron or anything else we have so many more tools at our disposal now obviously the vaccination being the most important but every other protective measure that we can put in place regardless of what may come we can manage through it we choose to so again thank you for your leadership this council at the city managers constant urging push forward with our vaccination plan it was a wonderful balance of carrot and stick that has gotten us nearly 90% vaccinated y'all that's something to crow about obviously realize we're going to have to continue going in that direction but we're going in the right direction and let's all just remain vigilant as we kind of work our way through what hopefully is the tail end of this pandemic so thank you Harry thank you Teresa and the whole team for your leadership any questions for director tinsley alright thank you Harry thank you mayor and council at this time our next item is the 2021 municipal equality index report the honorable tamika isaac divine thank you miss Wilson mr. mayor members of city council you know the city of columbia has been ranked over the last several years about the human rights campaign with the municipal equality index and just for history the human rights campaign was established in 1980 and strives to end discrimination against the LGBTQIA community this index is done on an annual basis for 506 municipalities of varying sizes across every state in this nation we have traditionally ranked high in this index over the last couple years and I think it's just goes to show sometimes when you take your ball a little bit we can see a decrease and so last year councilman DeVall and I after the mayor showed us where we were on our index asked if the two of us would take the lead in looking at where the city was ranking and what we could do to make sure that we were looking at our ranking and so this is the 10th year of the scorecard for the City of Columbia and it is my pleasure to announce that the City of Columbia has received a score of 82 on the scorecard which is the highest rate of a city in the state of South Carolina I think this certainly goes to the intention of this current leadership of making sure that we have an inclusive city and that we meet the needs of all residents of the City of Columbia and so it has been a pleasure to work with our citizens on this and this year we did establish our advisory council on equality, our ace which councilman DeVall will continue to lead and make sure that we are working towards not only improving this score but working to bring in more inclusive City of Columbia and so I just wanted to recognize Tyson Lusk who is one of our citizens who has served on the advisory committee Tyson did you want to say anything I know you have worked very closely with us and HRC as far as where the City is and as you are coming forward Mr. Mayor I would just be remiss if I didn't say when we first took this on I reached out to your friend and mine Mayor Steve Williams who we stole our great police chief from and their city has really done a lot and so when we got this rating I reached out to Mayor Williams and let him know that thanks to some of the pushing that he gave us and some ideas we were able to increase our score and so he has challenged the City to get to at least to get to a higher score of 100 unfortunately some of our ratings are not within our direct control they are based on our county and so hopefully we can maybe work with the county to look at doing some things and then looking at the way the City has led on this issue and hopefully we will see an increase in the score next year but Tyson Thank you Councilwoman Isaac DeVine I just want to say thanks to you and Councilmember DeVall for your leadership on this issue and many of the members of council what was really endearing about this process is that I think this worked exactly how we want our City to work with City staff, a good friend Pam Benjamin and the City Attorney's Office and then citizens as well all coming together for the betterment of our community so I really appreciate all of your efforts I think it was a model way to do this and we will really move our City forward and we talked a lot about the importance of our City being equitable and inclusive one but it is also truly an economic issue as well we talked a lot about wanting to retain students from Allen and Benedict in South Carolina I think that this is an economic driver for our community, young people are now more open than ever when it comes to issues of LGBTQ equality so I think when we talk about retaining our talented students and many of which that we just recognize that it's an important aspect to ensure that we're leading in this space and I think we can all take a point of pride that it's the City of Columbia who has the highest rate in the State of South Carolina so thank you to everyone who's involved and we look forward to seeing this good work and 82 is great but we can always keep going forward so thank you all very much. Thank you. I want to thank Ms. Devine and Ms. Duval this is we've had good years before and some years in which we've been highest in South Carolina and the Carolinas but the metrics have changed so much it requires that much more work to actually get a good score now so this is an impressive accomplishment so thank you for your leadership and Tyson thank you for your leadership as well. Alright. I think we have an executive session. Yes sir. Is it okay if we break that that initial executive session up we take up the administrative policies issue which is more timely one and do the second item and the last executive session discussion of the day. Mr. Duval I want you to take the first bullet point. That's okay. Mr. Mayor I'd like to make a motion we go into executive session for a seat of legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to SC code 30-40 782 administrative policies. Thank you. Second. In discussion I want to make sure everyone we anticipate this will be a very short executive session so we're going to recede the second floor. Let's go to the conference room. Second. We need to okay. All right. So we're recede but it will be brief unlike most executive sessions so you'll be patient with us this one as timely as it relates to the rest of the agenda so in discussion with the previous question Mr. Mr. Mr. Duval Mr. Mr. you got a little worked out hey is there a motion to come on executive session move is there a second any discussion I've seen them and with the previous question I think we're gonna slip in the committee reports we will start with our city council committee referrals and reports I know that we do have two reports out from two standing committees the first being administrative policy committee the honorable Edward H. McDowell junior mr. mayor yes sir the two items in administrative in administrative policies committee items 2-51 and 2-127 one related to the municipal court administrator and the length of term for the mayor proteam I asked that we move them take them off of the calendar for this committee all right the so that's the motion to pull them up okay put them before council okay sure and then we have a minor amendment to section 2-7 and we hadn't touched the other one yet right so the as previously shared with the public section 2-7 refers to the election of a mayor pro tempore the amendment that we proposed to this is that the language should read on or before the second meeting of January following a general election for the council and after the comma all the language stays the same on the before the second meeting of January following a general election mr. mayor we'll have that opportunity so okay number 13 okay so we're just gonna bring them up now and take them up then okay yes okay thank you sir all right that's a motion to pull the committee put on the full agenda is this I'll second it in discussion with the previous question mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickman hi mr. McDowell mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi mr. McDowell thank you mayor and then the public safety committee report the honorable Daniel J Rickman I also would like to pull out of committee and present to the whole council for action on the code enforcement changes that are presented from David Hatcher in the Columbia police department second session with the previous question Carl Carlisle Mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickman hi mr. McDowell mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi thank you mayor Benjamin and council we will make sure that those recommendations are shared with the full council and we will bring those recommendations for your consideration on the 21st that takes us to the actual administrative policy changes by ordinance first reading in item 12 ordinance number 2021 097 amending the 1998 code of ordinances of the city of Columbia South Carolina chapter 2 administration article 1 in general section 2 9 an article 2 mayor council and city manager section 2 5 1 and again this change mayor and council is simply changing or establishing the time for the regular meetings of the council to be held at 4 o'clock p.m. at City Hall on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in each month and less changed by a majority vote of members present at any meeting the council may also decide by a majority vote of members present at any meeting to hold a regular meeting in a different location and again this is a statutory requirement that we establish these times at the begin or before the beginning of the year when I move that we amend this to state the regular meeting time of council be at 4 p.m. that's it that city hall is there a second discussion with the previous question for color all mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickam and I mr. McDowell yes mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi item 13 is ordinance number 2021 099 amending the 1988 code of ordinances of the city of Columbia South Carolina chapter 2 administration article 1 in general section 2 7 an article 3 directors departments and employees section 2 1 27 these are the items that were reported out of the administrative policy committee mayor Benjamin as you stated with section 2 7 regarding the mayor pro tem to now read on or before the second meeting in January following a general election for the council the council shall let one member of their body as a mayor pro tem to serve as such for one year who shall act as mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor and if a vacancy occurs shall act as mayor until a successor is duly qualified and elected in addition a simple clean up matter section 2 1 27 the director of the municipal court it will now read as such the director of the municipal court subject to the city manager shall have administrative supervision over the activities relating to municipal court and administration and city records management and shall perform such additional duties as may be assigned by the city manager it removes the reference to the administrative municipal court judge performing both functions and this does comport with state law as it relates to the appointment of judges there's some specific language and state law that gives at least an appointment authority of temporary judges or substitute judges to the mayor directly under this form of government this is not in any way conflict with that I should have asked this early I apologize just struck me yeah this is in compliance with the law I'm gonna refer to our city attorney but I think it is in compliance all right all right thank you all right is there a motion I'm sorry there's one amendment to this to checks in two points 2-7 mayor pro tempore as I stated previously the amendment would state that on or before the second meeting in January following a general election for the council the council shall like one member the body as mayor pro tempore and the rest of language reasons as previously published that is offered as an amendment so a second discussion with the previous question carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman I mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Devine hi mr. Davis our mayor Benjamin hi with the consent agenda thank you items 4 through 33 consist of today's consent agenda I would also know Mayor Benjamin and council that there are several items where we are utilizing the protégé lead project method for some of our major water and sewer projects I know that's always of interest to you all second lots of good infrastructure work going on thank y'all those items 14 through 33 discussion with the previous question carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman I mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi ordinance is first reading starting with item 34 ordinance number 2021 075 granting an encroachment to the University of South Carolina for the use of the right-of-way area of the 1300 block of Barnwell Street for the installation and maintenance of a concrete sidewalk adjacent to 1307 Barnwell Street in Richland County that motion the second discussion with the previous question correct carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman I mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi item 35 is ordinance number 2021 076 granting an encroachment to Columbia student property owner LLC for the use of the right-of-way area of the 1400 block of Assembly Street in the 1000 block of Washington Street for the installation and maintenance of sidewalks landscaping irrigation and parking adjacent to its building under construction or to go on a second discussion so you know the previous question correct carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman hi mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi item 36 ordinance number 2021 077 granting an encroachment to Palmetto garage works LLC for the use of the right-of-way area of the 1500 block of Gervais Street for the installation and maintenance of sidewalks landscaping irrigation and parking adjacent second in discussion saying none with the previous question correct carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman hi mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi item 37 ordinance number 2021 095 granting an encroachment to Catawba apartments LLC for the use of the right-of-way area of the 900 block of Catawba Street in the 300 block of Lincoln Street move to the second second in discussion with the previous question correct carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman hi mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi item 38 ordinance number 2021 096 granting an encroachment to Sam and Omar Kamaj for the use of the right-of-way area of the 3700 block of Gibson Street and the 3800 block of a river drive for the installation and maintenance of landscaping adjacent to 3820 and 3900 river drive some move the second second in discussion with the previous question correct carol mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman hi mr. McDowell yes mr. Deval hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi mayor Benjamin and council I think for item 39 you may have received an email but our staff did double check the question of the constituent regarding item 38 so it's it's fine resolutions item 39 resolution number R 2021 one to one approving the issuance by the housing authority of the city of Columbia South Carolina of its multifamily housing revenue notes or bonds at the Errington Place Apartments in the maximum principal amount of 7,540,000 dollars and one or more series pursuant to section 147 f of the internal revenue code of 1986 is amended providing certain other matters in connection there with and providing an effective date again these resolutions 39 through yeah and I was gonna ask miss Wilson is it possible that we just say the project in the mount and move 39 through 40 43 is there all the same yes ma'am I can go through for the record and read the amounts if you would like and like you said the project names would you like me to do that yes okay so item 39 was the Errington Place Apartments at 7,540,000 dollars an issuance an issuance for the Brookfield Point and item 40 and the maximum principal amount of 9,999,999,999 dollars the item 41 for st. Andrews crossings and the amount of 10,500,000 dollars item 42 is the Haven at Congaree Point project in amount not to exceed 30 million dollars for multifamily housing and 43 item 43 the Garden Lakes apartment project and an amount not to exceed 35 million dollars multifamily housing revenue bonds and yes those would be the items 39 43 I'm sorry no record that's the housing authority in it this is just procedural just to the public yes sir the formality to the worth noting it's nearly 100 million dollars in affordable housing development in the city which is important yes sir is there a motion so we're looking specifically at 39 through 43 yes yeah I removed second discussion further discussion clarification Jane on with the previous question card color on Mr. Burnin yes Mr. Rickman I Mr. McDowell yes mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi can we make it just a tablet and warming here to an icebox yes all right thank you item 44 is resolution number R 2021 126 certifying a building site as abandoned buildings pursuant to the South Carolina abandoned buildings revitalization at title 12 set chapter 67 section 12 67 100 of South Dakota code the second second this is 2638 to natural any discussion with the previous question card color all sir this I'm sorry I jumped up I'm sorry I jumped down I apologize this is 12 12 middle street yes sir I apologize and 15 oh not sure very fitting the nagiv a street application all right moved in second in further discussion saying that would previous question card color Mr. Burnin yes mr. Rickman hi mr. McDowell yes mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi thank you thank you item 45 is resolution number R 2021 131 certifying building sites pursuant to the South Carolina abandoned buildings revitalization at title 12 chapter 67 section 12 67 100 of the South Carolina code of laws is amended regarding the property located at 2638 two-notch road second move in second discussion with the previous question card color all mr. Brunnan yes mr. Rickman hi mr. McDowell yes mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi that is the old Midland shopping center item 46 resolution number R 2021 120 authorizing the city to request defelorization of the revolving loan fund from the EDA and to use such award funds for the continuation of a revolving loan fund this was is providing us much less restrictions second second discussion mr. Rickman that's not gonna affect any future EDA money because there's a lot now should actually probably open us up to more opportunities and how to disperse the funds thank you just want to make sure thank you most I do want to thank your team three said this wonderful stewardship of EDA dollars before the pandemic work Tina did before and I'm sorry councilwoman elect Herbert did before and but but really throughout the pandemic we really found some really thoughtful and creative ways to support small businesses and entrepreneurs here and it's good to see so much more money coming through EDA to the benefit of our of us citizens yes our Melissa and the team are doing a great job with that with the previous question Mr. Rickman we are deferring item 47 and moving to item 48 resolution number R 2021 135 providing funds to the CEC ink for property acquisition for parcel a 1 in support of an affordable housing project on the same parcel is there motion second discussion with a previous question car color all Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickman Mr. McDowell Mr. Duvall Mr. Vine Mr. Davis I have a question I'm sorry please go ahead the property reference at 48 where is that it's out atlas road sir okay southeast I'm good thank you district what so he didn't care anymore I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm the last one to vote right did he vote yet okay all right thank you ma'am for the record I know it's in the resolution but for the record we say what this funds amount is I'm sorry the amount 600,000 thank you I'm 49 yes sir item 49 is resolution number 2021 137 establishing one Columbia for arts and culture as the official local arts agency Mr. Duvall than Mr. Brennan Mr. Mayor I'd like to amend the ordinance ending date instead of 2022 to be 2023 2022 would only give one Columbia six months or so to operate this for give them 18 months the motion is for 2032 2032 all right with the amendments second I'm not sure they've crossed the second but got three of them with the previous question I'm sorry you get Theresa I am I just wanted for clarity because I think Mr. Vine was asking the contract for this item was already approved sure and it essentially is something we do annually with one Columbia I think the request was made to also have a resolution which is essentially saying the same thing but it's giving a little bit more time if you all are extending the yeah all right so an additional year 2023 all right move the previous question Kurt Colorado Mr. Brennan yes Mr. Rickerman Mr. McDowell yes mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi we're Benjamin hi thank you Lee and your team for your work we have one event resolution and the safety plans that adhere to the COVID-19 pandemic safety and social distancing protocols have been published and reviewed and approved by our Columbia Police Department for resolution number R 2021 130 authorizing consumption of beer and wine only within Boit Plaza adjacent to the Columbia Museum of Art for the Contemporaries annual ball on Saturday January 29th 2022 I move approval second mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman mr. McDowell mr. Duvall hi mr. Vine hi mr. Davis hi mr. Benjamin hi moving into a period of appointments this Jenkins would will come forward to assist with the Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission the Planning Commission and South Carolina South Carolina Memorial Park Commission first we have the Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission Council has asked to appoint up to two appointees to fill the two of four at large appointment slots Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission is a little bit different because they have a total of nine at large slots currently four are open we would be able to fill two today because there's two people that have applied if counsel Jesus to you yes all right so we got one of these are the major Sam you're gonna hold on one that you had right Sam yeah yeah so train Appearance Commission who we have actually there's Kristen Dowell and then also Shannon Catherine and again there are two additional at-large slots still so I believe some of us have two copies of the Planning Commission in here and not the tree and Appearance Commission I'm only I only have misdowell's tree and Appearance Commission application I don't have the rest of the documentation with members and everything and I think you have the same one yes I apologize you're supposed to have both my apologies I was not supposed to be and you said you're missing Columbia Tree and Appearance this is a rather unique construction so the at-large district slots Ashley these I guess these would probably need to go I mean district four does it doesn't have any representation this three has several who you got but he's off he's off yeah he's off untrained appearance yeah he's no longer on here we got to to at-large district to at-large so these two applicants that we have before us whether you have application that are both for they could they could make it the one is a one would have to be at-large they're both living district three they're both living district three they can very easily be a district slot or at-large slot so yes sir it's a can you say it again mayor I'm sorry okay what do you want to say it's set up a little bit differently Columbia this is unique this is unique with the nine at-large and essentially I've broken it down into I think they're all I think they're all at-large but we've sought balance in the past yes so I don't have Ms. Dowell's application if you'll I'm fine with with the other application Ms. Catherine yeah yeah we'll just move forward fill two slots and we'll still have two more at-large slots to fill move the appointments of Ms. Dowell and Ms. Catherine yes sir is a second second discussion with a previous question clerk call roll is this something on this issue item or something else okay so I don't know sir okay so we know we just moved the appointments of Ms. Dowell and Ms. Catherine to the Columbia train appearance commission both at-large slots all four of that large slots it's a two and a four thank you it's been moving you've probably moved by me second by Mr. Brennan with the previous question mr. Brennan yes yes mr. Duval hi mr. Mr. Davis hi Mayor Benjamin hi thank you next we have the planning commission and council is asked to reappoint dr. Issa Mandel to the planning commission she currently represents district three mr. Mayor can we hold this and get some candidates dr. Mandela served greatly but she's this will be this will be her fourth term and she served previously for two terms that she'll already have served five terms totally we got a lot of talent in Columbia we need to make sure we're we're we're getting people involved we'll shut this we have fifth term I think because I think Issa came off of the historic years ago when okay for two times before this three terms so I think it might be nice to have some it's no five no five terms is a lot and I thought with I thought we had term limits at some point and though we've waved we've waved them I think and maybe we may have waved them previously for he's and maybe even mr. Cohn when he was here we I think she thinks she makes it excellent commission member but I deferred to counsel on how you handle it I was just going to comment on the discussion I think it's good every now and then in years is a long time it is and so I believe I appointed her but it's good it gives us opportunity to look and give everybody else an opportunity to contribute their talents to the city so I don't have a problem with that all the job discusses amongst yourselves and convenience list of the applications we have what do we do have to refer back to our policy because I remember I'm trying to remember the policy as of what the policy wasn't term limits so we're so we're talking about a fourth consecutive term here yeah yeah and I think if I remember correctly the policy indicates that anything beyond the term limit requires a supermajority vote in and of itself if I remember correctly this can always come back y'all y'all educate me on policy I didn't know about earlier so I figure just I'm guessing here a little bit so let's take this appointment under advisement I'll let y'all dialogue about that I think that makes an excellent appointment and commissioner but I understand always the interest in having new eyes and old challenges how many so we did not solicit applications because this is a reappointment this was strictly for reappointment and she was recommended by the committee and by probably you probably should cast cast a wide net and maybe maybe want to make sure that she's interested in serving again to right they have talked with her but then additionally to Atkinson and my planning has other things that we've been advertising as well that's opening up and that will need to be filled by the end of the opening at the end of the year so I can send that the council okay all right so we'll hold on the planning commission appointment for now maybe I can have some robust dialogue maybe before let's go ahead and post and see if we get some some if we don't appoint someone I think the next meeting I think they're having issues with could potentially have issues with meeting a quorum as well serve until replacement is reappointed mm-hmm yeah all right right but let's get it out there for the next couple weeks and see what we can get up in the new year all right we'll show you have Memorial Park Commission increase the appointee count by one member update the bylaws so but so same you're holding on you don't have a nominee for district one yet no see we're working on it so we're done then right so we'll take up the Memorial Park Commission hopefully by the 21st it's not sir yeah all right thank you thank you thank you thank you so much Ashley thank you actually moving into a period of other matters the council is asked to approve the installation of two-speed homes on Kaplan Drive is requested by the public works department second second this question for Mr. Brunnan yes Mr. Rickerman I Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall Mr. Vaughn Mr. Davis Davis item 54 speed bumps I thank you Mayor Benjamin all right thank you item 55 fiscal year 2021 2022 hospitality tax supplemental application allocations Ms. Missy Kauffman our budget and program management and grants director can't assist if necessary the missies shared the recommendations I'm going to move to make a just a brief amendment to the three make it recommended amounts we also have according to my discussion CFO maybe a separate discussion separate each tax allocation maybe even take up as soon as the next meeting with some additional resources with these are monies that are being reappropriated since we're not doing New Year's Eve this year there has been I know there'll be another request for the Ambrose Valley at the next meeting but want to make these recommendations that we approve seven Sunday in the amount of ten thousand dollars the Ambrose Valley in the amount of ten thousand dollars the women leadership of a day event twenty five thousand dollars in the valence of hope and born in a national for twenty five thousand dollars is a second okay we're gonna hold the SE will board as a separate vote it's not gonna be just some separate philanthropic leadership role that miss divine plays there so we're gonna take up and Brody ten thousand seven Sunday ten thousand violent of hope born in a national twenty five thousand that's a motion is there a second discussion the previous question Colorado mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman mr. McDowell mr. Duvall mr. Vine hi mr. Davis mayor Benjamin I was second motion twenty five thousand for a South Carolina women in leadership for the opening day event just second second second okay second mr. McDowell in the further discussion I do want to use as one point this is a really important effort to increase representation of women on our boards and commissions throughout the state and we have a wonderful opportunity here to serve as a model with our clerk as as the post-a-child of leadership in this space so Eric I want to thank you for your continued leadership with a previous question part color all mr. Brennan yes mr. Rickerman mr. McDowell mr. Duvall mr. Vine not voting just for the record I'm I serve on the board and although that is a volunteer position due to the recent interpretation of the South Carolina ethics law I cannot vote on this so I'm very supportive that can I vote clarification mr. Davis hi mayor Benjamin hi thank you mayor Benjamin and counsel if I might make a suggestion we are at the point where you could open the redistricting public hearing and ordinance for first reading I know we do have a presentation in that regard we are having some technical difficulties it's my understanding and in order to deal with those and make sure that we have every opportunity for the public to be able to call in be heard and also hear the presentation I'm asking possibly for y'all to go into executive session I think your intention really was to get closer to six o'clock anyway for this purpose and so if you would like to do that we could go into executive session now and you could open your public hearing at six o'clock sure is there is there any possibility to hear comments even from citizens who might be time restricted now in advance of a full presentation and folks may may have timed and I do so that there's just some input to get on the record prior to I don't want to keep y'all here much longer if you have other things to do so and that might not be prudent I'm just trying to be that's always racing through the agenda when to make sure we were yes I thought for the people's time I support that just want that's fine maybe I'm gonna remember Benjamin however you all like to handle it we right now if individuals are calling in or trying to the problem stream in I don't know that they can hear what these individuals might be saying and so when the technology issues will be resolved my instruction is to get it resolved post haste even if we have to put up some directions on the live stream to instruct people to call in via another conference call line and although we did test this in Tubble and triple chat we have our consultant here that's been working on it but I'm not sure what the problem is so as folks although we may not be able to people may not be able to hear or see presentation will we be able to record those presentations absolutely we're fine with what's happening in here my concern is for people who I know maybe wanted to participate remotely okay if we can if we can record out loud the folks who want to speak now I'm president counselor do you want to go ahead and present will we recording that the challenge as you as you heard is that some of the citizens who now we've gotten somewhat spoiled people can call in and record comments are and also share their thoughts contemporaneous of us whether we want them or not but we will be recording so if you want to speak on the record that's fine mr. McDowell but it's gonna be critical at some point that the technical issues are resolved there are a lot of folk who want to call in and of course having the ability to listen to speak we need that technology as soon as as expeditiously as possible yes sir so as the man suggested if we could perhaps go ahead with I know a president of the NAACP is here and of course there's a presentation there we need to be able to make sure that those technical issues are said and that folk are able to hear and respond yeah so so why don't we well hold off on our formal presentation we'll give our citizens who who want to comment on it now the opportunity to do so and be recorded doing so and and then also and this is an opportunity or an opportunity just to wait until the technical issues are resolved as well so you know what will so it's your choice the but if you if you want to present now I think we go ahead and have feedback and continue to work through our technical issues if it seems like it's going to take a little more time then after all citizen input the folks in the chamber are stating we can go in the executive session and work through the other issues on the agenda and come back out okay yes so I'm going to go ahead and I wonder what that look in your face was earlier in relatively technical issues the thank you very much so we have we're going to go ahead and just go ahead and call the public meeting public hearing the order and call a public hearing to order redistricting public hearing and ordinance first reading we have at least two citizens who sounded to speak there may be some others in the chamber who want to speak and I'll take them up in order in which they signed in first as Ms. Elizabeth Marks did you want to speak Ms. Marks are you here just please so good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity wanted to speak to the redistricting map just briefly as it regards to district 2 and I think we're almost there having looked at the map really carefully I wonder whether or not the people who have given you advice on it have taken into consideration the diminishing numbers of minority density in the district and so what is happening is that if you look at the traditional minority neighborhoods and think well we're going to include those in district 2 because they are clearly minority neighborhoods historically they were but there's been a large influx of non-minority property owners and investors because those properties are traditionally lower cost and so our concern is that there is diminishing minority representation in those neighborhoods and just believing that because they have been strong minority neighborhoods in the past doesn't mean you're getting the minority density that you believe that you are I live in one of those neighborhoods so I can speak to it myself so our concern is with the new projects coming online in downtown district 2 which is a huge powerhouse for new development that it is going to impact the minority representation and redistricting of course is about trying to make the playing field level and fair and those many of those developments were already on the books before the 2020 census and so I'm hoping that some of those large projects in downtown that are upper income projects which clearly don't include low income or minority opportunities that the council will recognize that when you combine those new projects with diminishing minority density in traditional district 2 neighborhoods we're really looking at like within 18 months having an inequality not a complete balance which is what I'm sure you're striving for so I'm just asking that council take just a second look at district 2 I know you've done a good job and I know there's been a lot of hard work that's gone into it we're 100% in favor of diversity in district 2 I think that's really our strength but diversity and equality of opportunity are not the same thing I see my time is almost up thank you just take another look at that at the trend of diminishing minority residents in traditional minority neighborhoods the gentrification of the downtown is really impacting that thank you thank you thank you so much Madam President Vita Glover the president of the Columbia branch NAACP Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. I don't know why the guys with me are members of the Columbia branch as stated earlier by you and these two are appointed redistricting committee members and they came just in case you have some questions you can ask them and I'll step back and let them but in the meantime I'm here on behalf of Columbia branch and I submitted on behalf of Columbia branch maps and a letter and thank you and we look we asked that you the maps of the district maps for you all to review that we drew on behalf of this redistricting the proposal includes an overall city council map as well as a map that highlights the downtown area I also include demographic information and shapefiles in case they are of interest or of use to you our focus on redistricting is part of our mission to ensure that African-American voters as well as all voters of colors receive fair and equitable access to political power and electoral opportunity in particular we believe it to be of critical importance to maintain two of the city's council's district specifically districts one and two as districts where the city's racial minority voters have a meaningful opportunity to elect a representative of their choosing as demonstrated through our map and drawing our proposed maps we have been mindful of city council's obligations under the United States Constitution as well as traditional redistricting principles such as minimizing the splitting of communities of interest and keeping districts together adjoining we have also kept the far front of our minds of the value of voting value falling both the veteran and the spirit of federal voting rights act by focusing on voting power of historically disadvantaged groups like the black community and doing our best to ensure that this voting power is not diluted or minimized we believe that our proposed map accomplishes fair representation and we urge you to consider it thanks for your consideration and we are happy to discuss and our work closely with you for fair and inclusive districts redistricting maps we believe that our map is better than yours thank you any questions thank you madam president and Larry the dare thank you both Alicia I do want to have written comment put in the record Ms. Wanda breed love I wish that comment be considered in the redistricting decisions my understanding is that there should be an analysis of the racial polarization profile before district lines are drawn and this is not done I would like it done I think it's required that it be done before the redistricting is finalized and my input is that it certainly shouldn't be done until that is done I also think that we should be informed as to why it wasn't done so that is my comment and I would like a response phone numbers in here also want to know why we were given the information this is going to be in the ninth it was changed to the sixth again is this an attempt that we don't have to say a same redistricting or were we given the incorrect information to start with and these are all the things I think cast out in the process and decisions that are being made let's put this in the record and if there are any questions that have been asked make sure that they're responded to post ace a couple of questions maybe statements of phrases questions rather mr. mr. Davis Nevada Ms. Glover I had some difficulties pulling down your maps you had to do the job tweak the map I don't stand that you could not open but the other five you could open and that's where the maps are the letter that I you you my question is you also tweak the map or are you talking about the ones that we have we sent you a map okay I did not I could not get an open some reason I'm hoping it's just me and not my new computer okay so can you try again to send it is there a way maybe to get the hard copies of the branches map okay we had the hard copies okay okay what we need hard copies of them of everything that's been submitted by the other branch be very forth-sacred for items say that you will not be able to open that's correct that would help tremendously she has them so you should be good all right now I get sneak to help me I think it was in them to you all but we're she's working on something right now we're gonna verify how that was distributed but she did okay I'm good sure and I know we're gonna have some opportunity to talk to get the full presentation because I know we're waiting to get our presentation for the technology to come back up I know there's been some comparison between the match for us and the branches submissions and some dialogue around that particularly you know as relates to the the comments of the awesome business marks made about about be that in this city-wide but certainly in district 2 so certainly a significant concern all of us so all right and Mayor Benjamin Erica lady verified Erica sent them via email but she's wondering if maybe the file was so large that might be why you are having a hard time opening them she's gonna resend in a different way all right sure okay thank you if the if the PDF we can get it to transmit that way that probably be yeah we have and we have and we have opportunities obviously this meeting and yeah and also second reading to to perfect whether it whatever it is that we do I will say that obviously in the spirit of 421 the role that the NAACP helped play in establishing that my personal roots as a prospective law student working for John Ray Harper in the redistricting 30 years ago I'm an old man Lord that the conversations that have happened in this chamber will be not only complicit with the rule of law the spirit of the law and certainly looking forward to full infringement and representation in this council for the next 10 years so we're gonna make sure we have a continued dialogue to help us get you know we we're not gonna let the perfect be the enemy of the good but we're gonna get something that that will stand a test of time past muster and be in the spirit of what we all want to see happen here in the city so so thank y'all and I do have at least one more citizen John Black the president of the council neighborhoods I think it's not redistricting comment but but we but we may recede and until we get our technical issues resolved into executive session in the interest of time so John if you want to get something on the record might be the time to do it right now so as you said I'm John Black I am the president of the Columbia Council in neighborhoods however I'm not here in that capacity I'm here is the capacity of the president of the 2000 Watermark Association who on Thanksgiving Day a couple of our condos suffered some fire destruction and displaced two families and the reason I'm rising is because I want to publicly shout out Chief Jenkins and the Columbia Fire Department for a phenomenal job we are kind of down by the Broad River and we're kind of out of the way but from the time that the call was made to the time they arrived on scene it was like nine minutes and I believe there was 20 some emergency vehicles there it was a layered we're a small HOA and they just it was just amazing the tools that they had and what they did to save property this also brings up another issue that we have been facing with the city for some time months ago we had a water leak we fought with the city for months the Water Department and one of the assistant city managers and we you know there's this back and forth back and forth it's not the city's fault it's your fault it's our fault no it's not blah blah long story short after eight nine months the city finally admitted it was their problem and they fixed the problem finally the problem was in the meantime there was probably about a 30 to 40 yard section of our road now we are small HOA our roads are private we have to maintain our own roads the damage caused by this leaking pipe it was a main waterline I believe under the road damaged our road to where we have some serious potholes I've been in communication I believe I have emailed all of you city manager Wilson Mr. Mr. Clint and we're told it was gonna get addressed we were told our road would be repaired this was the city's negligence for allowing this leak to go on as long as it did and our fire that occurred on Thanksgiving Day seeing these big ladder trucks come down barreling down our road they didn't care about those potholes they were worried about the safety of our residents and again I applaud Chief Jenkins and the fire Department for that but it also brings to attention the potential damages to the vehicles because of these potholes because of again the city's negligence in addressing this issue we were told there's gonna be an assessment done I'll get a report I'll get back to you they got back to me all right telling me another leak on the upper level of our condo units would be repaired because the city months ago removed a three-fourth section of the sidewalk and it still has not been repaired I implore you I'm not gonna beg because I'm not a beggar but something needs to be done thank you thank you are the citizens who want to be heard prior to the full redistricting presentation as part of public hearing right now we're still going to have the presentation and full consideration by council and hopefully by the time we we come back out of executive session we will be back online full-fledged with the technology necessary to allow for full participation and viewing of the event until then Mr. Duvall you have a motion from Mr. Mayor I move we go into executive session for receipt of legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to 30-4-7-8-2 COVID-19 redistricting and prisma discussion and negotiations as proposed contractual arrangement pursuant to SC code 30-4-7-8-2 1042 out of line drive 1701 Washington Street Conga River remediation project update and executive session for discussion of employment of an plowy evaluation of city manager and attorney under section 30-4-7-8-1 is there a second yeah you had a prisma right yeah I got okay all right second move the previous question correct color all yes I recommend Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duvall Mr. Vine Mr. Davis Mayor Benjamin I thank you so we're the previous question correct color all Mr. Rickerman I Mr. McDowell Mr. Duvall Mr. Vine all right so we're going to reopen obviously we did not suspend as we work through technical issues the redistricting public hearing we've so far had comments and testimony from our president of Columbia branch and ACP and several of her committee members who joined her including council and we also had one of our key neighborhood association leaders in district 2 expressing her concern do we have any other citizens who signed up to want to speak on redistricting I don't have the form and then maybe after received continued receiving the comment I want to go ahead and ask councilor Opperman to come up and share the city's plan for the edification of us our citizens who are here as well as those watching us online I'll take everyone in the order in which they've signed up first we have Regina E. Williams I know okay I hear observing and in part and as she wrote I hear just in case and Richard Derlai also here observing and obviously you a police we want to hear from you we want to hear from you yeah right now right now right well I'm not as informed as on the on this subject as I would like to be but I was told by various sources of there had been a racial polarization study done and that it was supposed to be a part of the consideration before this matter was made final and I just got a hot off the presses text that says the the detailed racial polarization study for Columbia arrived at the city today and so since it's supposed to be part of this mechanism by which you make these decisions I can't understand why you would go ahead without making it a part of what has to be considered otherwise your base your considerations on old data and old data is not a good way to move forward or make progress or consider all parties concerned I understand that there have been two or three people who have been on the telephone to make their concerns knowing also about slowing this process down a long bit instead of going head strong with the decisions that seem to be on the table and I would suggest that although two or three people doesn't seem like a lot of people it's three hundred percent more people that are on the phone waiting to urge you to push it through so please I don't know what legal measures are possible but please be sure you take this racial polarization study into account and I don't see how that can be done without a delay actually I know that times of the essence but fairness and what is right is also of the essence thank you thank you thank you all right so if there are no the citizens who signed up anyone on the phone Erika for comment and maybe important to go ahead and bring up Mr. Opperman for presentation is anyone else on sign up on the phone to speak or we know utilizing that tool tonight we do have one voicemail from Miss Wanda Breed Love and we have a holler is that separate than the one I read earlier or the same one I read earlier it's the one that was printed out okay I read I read into the record earlier thank you for doing that and we have a call on the line who has not entered the speaker okay stopman I'm sorry Joey yeah mr. Mayor miss Wilson even we've got the technical difficulties rectified yes sir folk aren't asking a question they can hear it yes sir all right thank you yes sir would you give us a an overview of the redistricting plan my name is Joseph Opperman I am an attorney with Opperman law firm been retained by the city to advise as to the law and help develop the city's plan which we'll be talking about a little bit today an initial question is why do we redistrict and many of the folks who are here today take a thank you many of the folks who are here today take a keen interest in the subject but many people watching may not know the reason we redistrict is because City of Columbia has single member districts and Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution to require some parity if you have single member districts we have four single member districts in the City of Columbia and there's a legal principle called one person one vote that the City of Columbia and all municipalities all jurisdictions in the United States are required to follow if they have single member districts and specifically what that means it doesn't mean that you have to have exactly the same number of people in each district if you're talking about a United States House plan you have to be pretty close or exactly on that because that's what the Constitution specifically says but the Supreme Court has said for other single member districts that aren't the United States House you have a little bit of wiggle room there's no precise number but the generally accepted number in case law is that if there is a no more than a 10% deviation from mean district size from the largest district to the smallest district and that plan will comply with one person one vote so one of the initial questions we had to look at as we started this process is had as based on the 2020 census data had the city changed sufficiently to require redistricting from a one person one vote perspective and we found that the answer to that question was yes under the current plan which was adopted in 2011 the districts had changed so in 2011 the plan that was adopted was was certainly comply with one person one vote at that time but based on the 2020 census data what we found is that district one had deviated down in population there was actually a total loss of about 958 people or deviation changes because population got bigger over that period of time but district one was down 958 people district two was up 4,377 people district three was up 2,547 people and district four was up 1,394 people however under the new census data what we're looking at is what's the deviation from mean district size well what does that mean will you divide your total population by the number of single member districts according to the 2020 census the total population of the city of Colombia is 136,632 people dividing that by four we get 34,158 people that's a mean district size and so if the difference between the largest district in an adopted plan and the smallest district in an adopted plan is greater than 10% of that number in other words is more than 3,416 or thereabouts then the city could be in trouble as regards one person one vote and face liability in federal court any elections the city held under the circumstances could be problematic thus I'm being of the essence if if the city heaven forbid should have a special election for any reason under the current district lines now that sufficient time has passed since the census data became available late this year unfortunately in August the city could be in trouble so for this reason time is very much of the essence that's more a function of the impact of COVID on the Commerce Department and the Census Bureau's ability to collect and make that data available under the law federal governments required to make this data available to states and local governments in April and the next year after a census so you should have had this April this year but because of COVID and because of the delays the Commerce Department the Census Bureau that flowed from that the data was not available until late August that's why we're doing it now so is it necessary yes here's why with the lines from that were adopted in 2011 with a new census data what we discover is that there is a deviation of about 14.7% and that comes from district one being under mean population by 2,848 votes and district two being over mean population by a significant number so that that total difference one is minus 8.338 two is plus 6.365 so we got to do it otherwise elections that the city holds in the future might not hold up in federal court and the city could face federal liability and the equality of voting power and citizens in different districts in the city would be jeopardized that is a primary consideration in redistricting that's why we're doing it that's why we're doing it now the second major legal issue that we have to take into consideration and doing this is compliance with the Voting Rights Act 1965 as amended in the past the Voting Rights Act required jurisdictions in South Carolina because all of the state was what was called a Section 5 covered jurisdiction to submit any election law change to either the Justice Department or the DC Circuit Court of Appeals for preclearance in 2013 the Shelby versus Holder case struck down the portion of the Voting Rights Act that applied that to jurisdictions like South Carolina so that that is not a requirement in this cycle it may be in the future if the Voting Rights Act is amended but it's not in this cycle however Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does apply and it applies everywhere in the country and that includes Columbia the primary concern that we would look at for Voting Rights Act compliance is shall we pass a plan that violates the Voting Rights Act particularly the Voting Rights Act prohibition on vote dilution we've been very careful about that so that the two primary concerns animating council's process they've been compliance with one person one vote compliance with the Voting Rights Act and I'll for folks who are following I'll direct you to the fourth whereas clause in the ordinance under consideration whereas the redefining of the election district boundaries for redistricting purposes is based on the 2020 US census in order that the population of such election district shall comply with the constitutional requirement of one person one vote and the requirement set forth in the United States Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended and this is also relevant because it goes to the process of how council is deciding to guide this process whereas the city acting by and through its city council will follow certain criteria adopting new boundaries for its election district specifically election district shall be contiguous in other words you can't have one piece over here and one piece over here that aren't connected and the city shall endeavor to reduce the splitting of neighborhoods primarily residential and character and minimize the splitting of precincts provided this is very important provided that these criteria shall be subordinate to election district contiguity which we got to do and compliance with the law one person one vote in the Voting Rights Act it pretty self-evident that district one would be a protected district under section two of the Voting Rights Act the question is what are the implications for section two that will guide councils decisions councils instruct me as to that any advice and guidance I give to council prior to the option of a planet second reading or reflect that so I would like to describe a little bit about what we've done with the plan that's proposed for first reading here the plan moves Columbia into compliance with the one person one vote principle reduces the total deviation well below ten percent as to compliance with the Voting Rights Act district one would remain a majority minority district district two one of the noticeable changes from 2011 to the 2020 census is that black voting age percentage in district two dramatically declined apparently due to strong white population growth in district two appears to be primarily concentrated downtown and it may be that it's been mentioned a racial polarization analysis this is a valuable tool for determining compliance with section two the Voting Rights Act council will have access to that analysis before making its final decision but it may be that that analysis requires action along these lines in response to but not exclusively because of that change the proposed plan for district two as a black voting age percentage of forty five point seven two and a white voting age percentage of forty five point one three data on the voter registration in district two and voter participation in district two be available to council upon request and I'm sure to members of the public as well that's a little bit about the sort of data underlying the plan as to the principles the criteria that council seeks to adopt in this ordinance complying with the law complying with one person one vote and the Voting Rights Act while following sound redistricting criteria in other words following clean lines internally of course South Carolina municipalities are threading at the edges as we all know but with internal lines the lines in the proposed plan are very clean they follow major roads or railroads for the most part I would particularly draw attention to the boundary between one and two following the railroad tracks just east of North Main Street very predictable boundary that makes it easy for folks to know I live in this district versus that district I would likewise draw the council the public's attention to the boundary between districts three and four which predominantly follows a divine street on down to Garner's Ferry Road again a clean line and a clean boundary has the public benefit of making it easy for people to understand I live in this district versus that district want to draw attention to a few other positive features of the plan one of the things that we noticed as we began to review the plan is that there are a number of city neighborhoods that were split under the prior plan and much of that has been ameliorated in this proposal neighborhoods that are no longer split in the proposed plan and if you'll note the projection you'll be able to see this the Burton Heights Standish neighborhood would no longer be split between two districts currently it split between districts one and two Burton Heights Standish would go entirely into district two likewise Lincoln Park which is split between two districts would go into one district the Midland Terrace neighborhood which is currently split would go into one district the Grove Park neighborhood which is currently split would go into one district the Meadowfield neighborhood which is currently split would go into one district the South Meadowfield neighborhood which is currently split would go into one district the Hampton Ridge neighborhood which is currently split would go into one district and the Heathwood West neighborhood which is currently split would go into one district it's fair to point out that there are a few split neighborhoods under the proposed plan two of them were split before they were they remain split. No new splitting has occurred. One of those neighborhoods is Colonial Park. The boundary within Colonial Park between District 1 and District 2 stays the same under the proposed plan. USC, which is technically a neighborhood in the way the city categorizes it, remains split between districts 2 and 3 in a slightly different configuration but it remains split. The only three neighborhoods that are newly split in the proposed plan, one is the Vista and that seemed necessary to meet other goals that were primary specifically complying with the one person vote principle in the Voting Rights Act. The two residential neighborhoods that are newly split are minimally split and I want to draw attention to that. The Melrose neighborhood is split only north of Trennell so that core Melrose remains entirely in District 3. The old Shandon neighborhood is almost entirely together however those blocks east of Maple Street remain in District 3 so that the overall impact of the proposed plan is to significantly reduce the splitting of neighborhoods within the city and minimize the splitting of precincts within the city. I realize this is very dry. I think I've covered the salient features of the plan. I'm happy to answer any questions members of council may have. Any questions? Ms. Devine. Joey, you can just kind of answer the question of the comment that was made before about the racial polarization study. I'm not sure that it actually was delivered today. Can you just give a time frame so that people understand that and then how that input will impact if it does at all the final maps? Thank you Madam Councilwoman. Council has requested a racial polarization study. I have commissioned that study through my firm. The results of that study have not yet been available to me or to council. It's our expectation that by the end of the week those will be available. The reason such a study is necessary is for determining compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. There are factors that are considered under the case of Thornbord versus Gingles. One, can you draw up a reasonably compact majority minority district? If all these factors are present then Section 2 requires action on the way a district is drawn. So the first factor is can you draw a reasonably compact majority minority district? Factor 2 is does the minority community in said district tend to block vote? And the third question is does the majority community in the affected area tend to vote in such a way to defeat the minority community's candidate of choice? And a racial polarization study is necessary to answer that question on the third factor and is important and very relevant to the council's considerations in determining whether or not its proposed district 2 complies with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The point was made that it would be valuable to have that study guiding council deliberations. That is absolutely true. It's not only valuable it's necessary. The reason we don't have that today is in order to get a good study you need to study the most recent relevant elections and as it happens Columbia had elections in November, November 2nd, November 16th. And the data from those elections was only at the end of last week available from the state election commission. So as soon as that data became available for study it was necessary otherwise the study wouldn't have been any good. Immediately went to our expert, our expert is at work on that study as we speak. But it would have been started earlier but for that but the timeline we're on necessitated starting it when we had access to that data and we didn't have it till the end of last week because it was impossible to get it till the end of last week. Yes, absolutely. Mr. Mayor just clear so thought processes you give it first reading and then get the racial polarization study match it up and at that point either move forward or delay it until we can get more input. Is that what councils will? Yes. Yes. Yes. I just had a comment. It wasn't a question. So you can go ahead. Yeah, that's what I think is I think it's very very important that that data is looked at prior to the 21st of and we will get that joy. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You were correct. It must be it must guide the council's decision and council will have it. Thank you. Miss divine comment. Yeah, final comment. I know the hour is getting late. First of all, I want to thank Joey for his good work on this and certainly taken into account the concerns. I know we've heard from community leaders today. I've heard from several over the last week or so and I'm definitely trying to communicate with as many as possible so that they understand that although there's a lot on the news about the state lines and the federal lines that we're going through this as well. I just think it's important to just point out because in conversations, you know, it's important that we know our history and where we came from and why we're here and Joey did a real good job at giving the history and really the thought about where we are. But one thing I just wanted to add to his explanation is currently we have four single member districts. We are under a plan that people routinely call four to one. But honestly, a lot of people in our community don't understand how we got to four to one. And I think it's important that we continue to know our history and why four to one. And it's it's interesting that today on the day that we honored Dr. Kimson, Dr. Kimson was one of the people on the original city commission that came up with the plan for four to one because there were lots of iterations. I think there was a six to one and others. But the NAACP and Frank Washington, who we honored also honored earlier this year, brought lawsuit against the city of Columbia so that we would be able to have minority representation on this council. After the lawsuit, there was a settlement and the settlement was four to one to have four districts and out of those four single member districts to would be drawn such that would require or would allow for majority minority districts and for minority communities to have representation of their choosing. And so we got Luther Pertice and E. W. Cromarty. And I think it's very important that as we look when I was elected, I became the first African American elected at large. Then Mayor Benjamin came along and he was elected at large. Our city has continued to grow and be a very diverse city. But I think that there is a growing fear throughout this country, quite honestly, that minority voting rights are being taken away and that minority representation is not is not always achievable like it was prior to four years ago. So to just be very frank and honest, I think we have to understand the concern of the community regarding the preservation of four to one and understanding that the representation for districts one and two need to be such doesn't mean that there will always be a minority elected, but that there is a reasonable opportunity for minority to be elected. And so as we continue to look at these maps, we look at the racial polarization, but also as we just look at communities of interest, we have to be mindful. And so I think that Joey has done a really good job at presenting to us based on where we are. But the other reality that we have to be very honest about is that our city is gentrifying and that we have to be very intentional on how we move forward so that we can not only preserve four to one, but also preserve the diversity of this city. So I just wanted to kind of add that context because we have members that ran for office. Maybe some members up here don't quite understand what four to one is and the importance. And so I thought it was important to elevate that. But I also think for the community that we have to recognize that we're not going to solve every concern with the redistricting plan. We have to, and I say we, this council and councils prospectively have to be intentional on making sure that the way this city grows is representative and that we don't gentrify communities of color that have traditionally been in our city and had a voice, not just here at City Hall, but you know in our neighborhoods. Thank you so much, Mr. Mein, for every sentiment expressed there. Any other questions for Mr. Opperman? I move approval. First reading. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion of the motion? Mr. Mayor, would it be, are we going to allow after the, before the second reading and after the analysis? Are we going to allow? I think we should, we should continue to allow more public input. I mean I think this, this is a dialogue, your conversations with every other statistician and cartographer and attorney and others sharing their views once you continue to feed those thus that you have. And let's keep, unless there's some legal prohibition which I'm unaware of, I'd love to continue to receive any public comment at the next meeting as well. As much, as much interaction and transparency and exposure and information we can see, we want to receive it. Mr. Mayor, members of council, I'd just like to say that I, I intend to be as available as I possibly can, both in person, by Zoom, over the phone to each and every one of you between now and the completion of this process, because I know how important it is to all of you that we get this right. Sure. And just as, as questions have been asked by citizens here directly and, and shared electronically, we want to encourage those of us within the sound of my voice to continue to send those questions to us. I've individually as council to staff and we'll make sure that they're addressed by us. Move the previous question. I'm sorry, Mr. Davis. I just want to ask that in your discoveries and other areas where you, where you're, you're doing the studies, if you can come across anything from an educational standpoint in terms of other municipalities, histories and experience that we could take advantage of and share that with us. And it has been said, a lot of folks don't know how we got here. You know, I've always been proud that I was, you know, part of that process of that movement. Now we say back in the day, but it was totally necessary. And I don't know how some folks feel of not being able to, to run for public office because of intentions to keep you from doing that. And the city stepped up to the plate and made a decision that, you know, we're not going to have that. We've got to have a logical, a more logical approach to African American and other minorities representation on council and that it was a battle. And it was a long process. And I'll, you know, Luther Matisse and EW as Mr. Devine has mentioned, but it wasn't easy. And I think for people who have gone through that, it's, it's something special to them because they understand and they've, they've been on both sides, being able to vote and having them a fairly good chance of being elected and not being having the chance to be elected. You know, we, I think we all could say things are better. I know it is because I wouldn't have been here, but you have to main figure out a way to maintain and always build an atmosphere and show activities of fairness as a city, as people who say they love the city and they're proud to be here. I think everybody's proud to be of something that's good and positive. But, you know, we're here, we've been here for a while, but there are some signals, not only, well, I won't say in Colombia, I don't have proof of that, but around the country there are signals that no matter how precious the vote is to some people. There's, there's energy being spent to either really retard, minimize, or take that privilege away. Both plans sort of lends credence to that kind of impairment, particularly in district two, and I keep saying this from 10 years before, we've finally got back to a point where we're close to 50%. And that 50% is something that we ought to strive for. And if we can make that happen, I think that's a plus for district two. But I keep harping on that same notion 10 years ago, we had, we had the lack of a better word, demand power to do what we needed to do in district two. And of course, 10 years down the road, of course, it began to wane. Both plans, both NAACP plan and the plan that is on the table with you, Joey, gives us a semblance that we're getting back to where we're close to where we need to be in terms of that. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, that's right. In both Columbia's proposed plan and the plan shared by the NAACP today, lack voting age percentage, and that's the relevant statistic for voting rights act analysis, is plurality lack voting age percentage. What that really means is those people counted by the census over the age of 18. And the NAACP's proposed plan, the proposed black voting age percentage was 45.8%. And in the city of Columbia's proposed plan before the council in this ordinance, the proposed black voting age percentage is 45.72%. So the difference between those two plans as to that statistic is about 807% percent. Mr. Brennan, Mr. Mayor, thank you. Joey, thanks again for your interaction and educating us as we've been speaking over the past couple of weeks. Ms. Wilson, I would ask that could you please share this presentation with us so we can continue to engage our residents, our constituents, not only in the districts, but citywide. I have found this is a topic that a lot of people are very interested in. And I think Joey does a wonderful job presenting it in a very easy to understand way. So if we can tighten up his presentation, not only through our city media outlets, but share with us so we can get into the neighborhood association email chains and really push engagement and education on this. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. And we'll continue to receive feedback over the course of the next two meetings. I'll move the previous question and call the roll. Mayor Benjamin, I'm sorry, there are two additional callers. I mean, you can take them after if they just went into the speaker queue or I'm not sure how you want to handle that, sir. We'll hear them out as we should. Time limits, stand, make sure they're aware and let go ahead and let them be heard. I think one is in speaker queue and one is here. That's great. Mr. Durlach had an additional statement that he wanted to make me. Okay. Who we have in the queue? Mr. Durlach, please. Thank you. Well, I didn't know you could take your mask off to speak either. And I didn't introduce myself before. My name is Richard Durlach. I live in the city at 1401 Laurel Street. And we also own and manage the Big Apple, which is a stark landmark. So we have an interest not only as people who live here, but as people who do business here. But I will say I'm heartened by the discussion I hear. Councilman Isaac, Councilman Devine's comments about how we got where we are. And where we are is a city where a lot of people have a voice, different voices are heard, no one seems to be excluded. We often say to our friends that in Columbia, we don't do things the way they do in a lot of other places. And we're grateful for the way we do things in Columbia. So I'm heartened by your words indicating there's going to be a lot of fairness here. The previous speaker, our colleague, even he said he'd made somewhat of a dry presentation. And so I'll give you some, one number that may help you understand here. As we know District 1 and District 2 are the most diverse districts based on projects under construction and currently permitted. Affordable housing will be exceeded by upscale housing in District 2 by 1200 units just based on things currently permitted. And so unless you know something about permitting for affordable housing that I don't know, these are matters that need to be taken into consideration for Columbia to be known as a place where we do things differently. Thank you very much. And maybe we're looking at the agenda from earlier today too and the raft of new affordable housing projects that we worked by financing for today. Excellent. A significant number of them. But thank you for your sentiment and I know where it comes from. So thank you. Thank you very much. And thank you for the Big Apple. Again, as we talk about history, Big Apple is a huge part of this city. He also has a coolest house. The coolest house on Laurel Street I might add to. So honored to be chosen as the subject for the official Christmas ornament. Buy as many as you can. I'll be buying, you know, 20 of those myself to give to my friends. Thank you. Thank you. I think, I think, I think, but is Briella back on the phone? She is. All right. It's a tag team tonight. All right. Let's do it. All right, Ms. Greenlove, we're adding you to the speaker queue. You have three minutes. Am I okay? Am I being heard? Yes, ma'am. Okay. First question is if you can make it clear how the public can access the NAACP map so that we have a chance to review and study those. Secondly, am I correct that the current analysis polarization study was on September 29 data? Is that the election that was for the school board? Is that the one that's being analyzed? I couldn't really hear that question. I'm wondering why I'm wondering why the general election, which I would have thought would have brought out a better representation of the city was not used instead of a school board election. Or should both be used in the differences between those and even the runoff be addressed? Answer both of those. First of all, I'm not sure how do you access the NAACP information if it's available on the website or where it might be made available and that we ought to help people access that. The second question, I believe the city's election actually was the data being used, right? Right into the microphone, Joey. So expert statistician who makes those decisions and looks at relevant election data over a period of time. So I'm not at this time able to speak to that. It might be an issue of work product to even answer the question. But I what I can certainly verify is that one, you know, the analysis once done will look at the most relevant elections over a period of time according to standard industry practice for bivariate regression analysis. And the reason that's important is bivariate regression analysis is the more robust of the two racial polarization and analytical methods that has been specifically approved by the Supreme Court in a Supreme Court case. I know that's a lot of jargon, but the analysis will be robust. It will cover a number of relevant elections. And it will be according to methods specifically approved of by the Supreme Court in its case law dealing with these matters. Yes, it would not be a very good analysis if it wasn't. And that is critical to the analysis and will be part of the analysis. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. There was some interference between two voices, so I did not. I heard two people speaking, but I couldn't tell what I was hearing. The answer, yes ma'am, is that there will be several elections including the analysis and the latest municipal election will be included as well. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. And Mayor Benjamin, the maps from the NAACP will be posted on the redistricting link to our website. Okay. And did you hear that, ma'am? So the NAACP maps will be posted on the redistricting link on the City of Columbia's website at columbiasc.gov. She heard me. Okay. All right. Good deal. Mr. McDowell has moved the previous question. Clerk, please call the roll. Mr. Vernon. Mr. Rickerman. Mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall. Mr. Vine. Mr. Davis. Mayor Benjamin. I will encourage citizens to continue to look at the city plan, continue to look at the NAACP plan and any other plans worth considering. Continue giving us feedback. We want to make the very best decision in a reasonable legal amount of time. So let's keep it going. Thank you all so very much. Is there a non-debatable motion to adjourn? I'll move. Let's hear a second. Discussion with the previous question. Clerk, call the roll. Mr. Vernon. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. Thank you.