 Good afternoon, everyone. We are going to call the Columbia Community Development Committee meeting to order right now. It's a 1103. We're about three minutes behind. These y'all kept talking to me and it made me run late. So for the role purposes, Miss Ham, I haven't been here in a minute yet. Madam clerk. Madam clerk. Can you call the role for us? Thank you so much. All right, I'm excited to be here. It has been a while. I think this is not a normally scheduled time, right? I think we moved it around, but because we had some some things we wanted to discuss. And first thing I'm going to do is turn it over to the Honorable Will Brennan to discuss the Columbia Town and Gown Committee. And Will, you may have to give, I'm sorry, Councilman Brennan, you may have to give some of us a little background to about the concept and how it works. Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. As our city grows and our universities and higher ed institutions prosper, the goal for the city is to keep the talent that comes through the pipeline of these wonderful institutions. And with that is creating great neighborhood practices and great communication. And I think that's the root of what the Town and Gown structure is for. It's for big picture planning, working with city planning staff on pre-development and growth initiatives in the area surrounding universities, but also good stewardship programs and connecting the students with our neighborhoods and our neighborhood leaders and ultimately just creating the best quality of life for residents and students. So that's the big picture. We are a member of the International Town and Gown Association. And so as we move forward to formalizing a committee, they will be a great asset to work with Missy, I believe, our planning department and the mayor's office with the leadership of Miss Lang, Payton Lang, as we do that. So the structure is defining the key members from the school's faculty leadership, local government, student reps, and our neighborhood leaders. So essentially I just want to take this time to request that we officially move it and put it into the hands of staff to come up with the structure over the next 30, 60 days as we move in to the start of the new school year. The mission statement's probably something that should be started on, but should be buttoned up at the first meeting of the Town and Gown. And I realize a lot of people, a lot of groups take on different initiatives every year. But at the root of it, it really is how do we work with our colleges and universities in the urban setting for creating the best quality of life. So Madam Chairwoman, that is my short request today for this agenda item. I think we've done a lot of research through the city over the years. I know the mayor's office has some wonderful ideas for the student group that he has engaged from all the universities to play a role in that. And I know the University of South Carolina, Rebecca Best is here from the University of South Carolina. I know they are committed to really working with us, not only as the city grows, but as the University of South Carolina grows. So thank you. And just for clarification, it's not just for University of South Carolina, but it's for all of our colleges or is it? We are blessed to have universities all over the city in every district. We had talked about getting it off the ground by concentrating on the University of South Carolina first. So it might be a stepped approach. Excellent suggestion. To get it in, I think the University certainly is the, I hate to call it a 900 pound gorilla, but it is the most meaningful university that we have in our city. And we need to make sure that they are the foundation. The foundation and very much engaged as well. So you're absolutely right. And I think what I would say is it probably has the biggest impact on the city and the number of students that are coming out. So it would be a good starting place and to develop a really good model. I'm right across the street from Columbia College. Honestly, I missed it when they started having guys at the school several years later. But I really didn't miss it. You would have been across the street earlier. But you know, just to be right across the street and not, you know, know some of the things that are happening and how they're changing their campus, I think that would help, you know, with the communities. And first is to know what's going on and then making sure that the relationship is all about relationships, the kind of thing. So I think it's a wonderful idea. And they could do so much to be the engines for developing our communities in the right way. So are you looking for us to bring our proposal back for a committee structure? Because we've worked really well with all the universities across Columbia. Good groups working together. One of which I would say probably in the past was the town and gown type committee, but maybe not formalized. So are you looking for staff to come back with recommendations? Okay. And to engage with the University of South Carolina on who would be the best fit to be the active members, members on their side. We'll do that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Brennan. Next up on our agenda, we have the Food and Security Solution Initiative update by Ms. Aisha Driggers, the Director of the Office of Business Opportunities, wherever you want to be, honey. I think the mic might be good. Yeah. Perfect. All right. So the Food and Security Solution Initiative RFP was released earlier this year to address the lack of healthy food options in various communities throughout the city. We work very closely with the Food Policy Committee, Ashley's here from there, as well as our procurement team, Kent and Shannon. The proposed agreement will be presented at council tonight. So I'm careful about what I can say because technically it is still considered an active procurement, but the plan is hopefully afraid to be awarded tonight. And we are not going to do anything to mess that up. Okay. The notice of intent has been published to award the project to Tom Creek Farms. They're based out of Hopkins, South Carolina. And as the RFP listed, it'll be a mobile market in the city with a priority for the targeted zip codes of 29203 and 29204, as it was identified in the Food Policy Committee business plan. The vendor will provide fresh produce, protein, dairy, baked goods. They are also part of the Healthy Bucks program through DSS, and they have partnerships with local farms throughout South Carolina. They will customize the trailer that is outfitted with freezers, coolers, produce, rake space and grocery item shells. And it will also be ADA compliant. It'll be a minimum of three days per week, as listed in the RFP, and a minimum of six hours per day between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Services will be provided to more than one location in a day. And I've already started working with parts and rec to identify sites. We looked at Greenview, Hyatt, Earlwood and Fairwald as the starting locations, and we do have part locations at those sites. So parts and rec is ready to help coordinate that schedule. The idea is that it will be self-sustained within 18 months. However, we have an option to extend that three additional one-year periods. We've included quarter, yep. One quick question because one of our other council members was just asking me about that. What are some of the factors that you will look at in considering whether or not to fund beyond 18 months? So we are requiring that they provide quarterly reporting to include the sales, the type of food they're selling, partnerships, promotional activities and resources leverage. So we'll look at those measurements to determine success of the project. Of course those following months would be less expensive than the first initial setup for just the operational costs because they already have that outfitted trailer at that time. Are there any questions about that? Yes. What are the payment methods? Are we part of the programs for food payments and everything? Yeah, they can be payments can be done through SNAP. It's an option in cash, of course. They can take all payment options. I knew all the answers are here now. Thank you. And I think the plan is once we have the award finalized to have that vendor come in and do a full presentation and discuss more details but we're really excited about moving forward with this. I'm excited too. Yes, Mr. DeWall. I'm interested in the trailer. We have seen some pictures of other cities that have mobile markets like this. Are we going to use some of their plans or is this going to be a uniquely designed trailer for the City of Columbia? Not too unique. So the models that they sent us was I think Kroger has an example of ones they use. I don't know what else they... I think Kroger was the only option. Yeah, but I love the fact there's so much space. It's ADA compliant. It looks like a grocery store, like a mini grocery store that you walk through. There's an air conditioner in there registering everything, a ramp to make sure that it's ADA compliant and those things. Will that trailer be City of Columbia property or will it be Tom Creek? It'll be Tom Creek. Yeah. And so those vehicles, there's already something in place where they come fit for mobile markets. Right. Yeah. So he's already expected all out. The trailer is a eight and a half by 40 Gooseneck trailer with the space for the shelf. I know with the space for the shelving. We'll make sure we bring pictures next time because I think it's a little bit easier when you see a picture other than kind of kind of visualizing in your head, but it's a nice outfit. Okay. Is there a prepare food option there? We did discuss that. It's going to start with the fresh food, but there is an option to include prepared foods as well and baked goods, dairy, meat. That might be a good partnership with the new kitchen that they're planning on. Is it shop road or bluff road? Alice. Yeah, there might be a good outlet. And there'll be a set schedule I show once we've been awarded. And yes, and we're going to help them with promotion of it as well and marketing materials to make sure the work is out. I'm sure we'll do some type of ribbon cutting to announce that it's operation. It's an operation. We're excited about all the partnerships that they already have established. I think it's going to be even better than we imagine. Oh, I like to hear that. Yeah. Mr. Gers. Miss Ashley, do you want to add anything or give any input? As the representative of the food policy council, I just want to make sure we have your co that you know, you have cosigned what we have thus far. Short people, you got to bring the microphone. We are just happy. We're going to have I'm the representative for the 11 a.m. meeting. We're gonna have a lot more folks for the afternoon council meeting. But we're just excited for this to finally come to fruition. We are familiar with Tom Creek farms. They came to the make that dough event that we had back in October. He has told us he told us he was going to apply. He told us some visions that he had at that point. So, you know, they already accept snap help. Actually was not a part of this. I was not. I was not. I was not. I was not. So all of this is new information. But you know, definitely, we are excited that they have been awarded. We look for it to work with them and continue to work with OBO to support them. You know, but this is just a good, good day. This is, you know, this has been a long time coming. So we are excited for this talk more after it's been approved. Wonderful. And and and folks, someone said, I saw that this was going to be senior research that I saw that the mobile market is going to be on the agenda. They said, well, we want them to stop by some of our locations. So we already have some folks who are wanting the mobile market to stop by. So I think that's exciting. Please reach out to senior resources and the partnership at the Lord. They have a kitchen. So that might be a part of exactly what was mentioned. The new the new partnership. Greenview Park. I was thinking about the Greenview Park as Monday morning. Well, I'm glad to hear it. I'm very excited. And I don't want to jeopardize anything. And so we're going to cut it right. We're going to cut it right there and come back is am I doing the right thing, Shannon? Trust me, I want to make sure it's done correctly. Thank you all so much. Thank you all for the help. I miss you. Thank you. It's been a long time coming for real. So I'm excited about it. All right. Any other questions? Anybody else have questions? Good news. We may have a record meeting today. Oh, wait, is there anyone here for more justice? I just want to make sure I did send them an email yesterday that we were presenting it. So I wanted to make sure. All right. So the last thing on our agenda. Business license incentive for grocery stores. We have Greenville has a program and do you have a copy? Okay. Greenville has a copy of it. It's called it's under their economic development incentives. And when I saw it, I thought it would be something great for us to consider. The way that it works is there is a rebate of your business license fees, basically that different, I guess, retail stores have. There's was much, much broader because they were addressing if I can find the list. Manufacturing businesses, grocery stores, retail businesses, childcare business. So this was very broad that they were trying to attract into the area. Our concern as it continues to be is food scarcity. So we're really going to look at grocery stores. I have looked through this. I really like it. We may need some input from the food policy council because we want to make sure too that we're not it's not a we're not putting anything out there for every and anybody but we want to make sure that we have any impact in the 29203 and 29204 areas to be precise. But what happens is we're hoping that this will be yet another incentive. Greenville, I think someone Jeff may have told me that about 20 businesses have taken advantage of it. Honestly, I only need one or two grocery stores to come. The other part of this that I really like to is that they provide an incentive for existing qualified businesses. And that is an issue that we do deal with. We do deal with grocery. We got here because grocery stores left. And so I was really excited about the ability to provide I guess a rebate. We had to get the right wording for it for our existing businesses so that we can help keep them here. My one little bit of research I did last night, because I've always said that they're really small margins with grocery stores. And the sweet spot is 2.2%. And that's about nothing. And so that's why it's very, very any I think any amount that we could do to help with those small margins will have a great impact. And Jeff, you gave me a number, but you know, I've already forgotten grocery stores and how much their their business license fees or renewals are sure. I'm sorry. That's right. Yeah, we looked at several. So it ranges depending on the services from the grocery store anywhere from about 9000 to 22,000. And so I think that that's a pretty good I mean 22,000 if you have really small margins, I think makes a difference if it were like $10 or $12, you know, if it was something much smaller, maybe not. But I would like to give this to staff to kind of tweak it so that it meets our purposes here in Columbia. I don't know if you gentlemen have any, any position on whether or not it should be beyond grocery stores. I mean, I think it should, you know, any, any, what else do you think any retail store that would like to take on the programming for a grosser, I guess, you know, fresh fresh vegetables, you know, I don't know what the business license fees are, say for a for a dollar general or, or, you know, some of these markets that are already existing in these zip codes and throughout the city. But you know, if the coolers are already hooked up, making some room for this fresh food offerings, I think it might be worth it to, to, for that rebate check for the business license fee, if they stick with the, the, the service and the consistently for it. The brick and mortar is already out there. You know, the coolers are in place. The alternative offerings to fresh food, it might be an easy fit. But again, I don't know what the financial, what turn would be on the business license side of that incentive? I think we can control that by using the NAICS code. A grocery store will have a certain code. I'm not sure if a dollar general that has a grocery department in it would have two NAICS codes or we'll look compare. So now also though, we're talking dollar generals, are we focused on fresh food? I'm not sure that's there. Yeah, sure. That we that would be feedback from the food policy committee, right? I mean, to figure out in the past, we've also talked about the lack of medical providers providers and the same zip code. So I don't know if Dr. Dennis, I care. We'll be a consolation pharmacist. Just a thought. No, that's for the business license component. Yeah, absolutely. I like that. Yeah. That's I'm glad you said that. I know we need those. A lot of those groups also don't pay business license. I'm not proud of this yet. They're already non-profit. Yeah. And certain zip codes, you're right. So and instead of doing zip codes with NAICS codes, maybe, maybe we could do food deserts. If you're a mile away from an existing store. And that's what I wanted to get. So the data folks are the food policy folks. I'm leaning on y'all to give us the best data for where the needed areas are. Is that fair? Yeah. They're the data folks. And how to define it. Yeah. This looks like they're going listing. Oh, they're doing every road by road. Yeah, they're going like every quarter that they have. Easier way to do it. But again, there may be some other corridors. Yeah. I know our planning staff can help us to find the boundaries once we. So we wanted to focus on food. Grocery stores. Grocery stores. Healthy food options. And we want to focus on food desert areas. Yeah, it would absolutely have to be for areas where we've lost grocery stores in this food scarcity. That's that's the primary thing to get them back to where they were before. And I think the medical. If they're applicable. Yeah. If they're for profit. Now I do have a note in my notes just for us to consider. And we talked about this with economic and community development before defining a grocery store. So, you know, we have food stores that we talked about, but I have always been an advocate for a full service grocery stores such that when I go in, I can get everything I need pretty much 95% of what I need from one location. I don't think that's the official definition of a grocery store, but that's kind of the concept as opposed to having to go to this store because they have all, you know, they have certain things, but then in order to complete a meal, you have to go somewhere else. That's always been one of my concerns. So, but I'm sure that there is a official definition for a grocery store with that regard. Yeah, it looks like they've got it in their definitions and it looks like they have excluded developed generals. So, so the process with the new state business license procedure, would this just be a rebate from the city to anybody, any business qualifies? Who would rebate their business license fee? Potentially. We'll work with legal to figure out exactly. They call it a grant in the Greenville ordinance, but we've had discussions over the years on this various city attorneys, so we'll come back with our recommendation on how to do that. Well, and I was going to say, because I do know for a fact, we couldn't charge different rates for different types of groups and businesses. Like it had to, we can't, it would have to be on the back end as opposed to something in the front end. You can't say, we can't reduce their business license. We can pay it back on the back end. All right, any questions? Any questions from anyone in the group? Again, you got a question? It wasn't, we didn't have a whole bunch of stuff. Yes. So, we just talked about the mobile market. So, say if someone wanted to do a mobile, right please. Thank you. So, if someone wanted to do a mobile grocery store operation, would they also be afforded the same credit? That's what we're going to ask staff to look into how that works, because like when I'm talking about grocery stores, not, but maybe under a fresh food model, yes sir. I mean, yes ma'am, but we need to get, we need to look at that and see how that works, because you know, we have a lot, it's very interesting, we have a lot of markets that set up, and they don't stay long, some of them do, but try to see what could help them, could, you know, as possible. Anything that we can do to help, yeah. But I guess we have to be careful to, competition is good, so we don't want to put, we don't want to create competition for our own project too. So, those are a bunch of factors we just have to consider. Thank you. Thank you Ms. Ashley. Anybody else have anything? Anybody, Ms. Erick, we got, we do, I think we're perfect. All right, I hate to do this, but I think I will take a motion to adjourn, and it's eleven thirty. I move to adjourn. Second. Second. Can we adjourn unanimously? Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you.