 Mr. Rickman Mr. Duvall present mr. Badura mr. Devine here mr. Davis Thank you Yes, mr. Mayor this time we would ask counsel to adopt the agenda holding item number four Mr. Rickman mr. McDowell mr. Duvall Mr.. Vine mr. Davis mayor Benjamin We would ask for any public input related to the agenda items as outlined No, and we asked counsel to approve consent agenda. I Consent agenda items one through three and number five I'll move Mr.. Rickman mr. McDowell mr. Duvall. Hi mr. Badura mr. Vine Mr.. Davis mayor Benjamin at this time we would ask you to open a budget public hearing We will move into ordinances first reading there after for the first two items six and seven Ordinance number 2019 3a to raise the revenue and adopt the budget for the city of Columbia, South Carolina for the fiscal year ending June 30th 2020 as well as ordinance number 2019 039 amending the 1998 code of ordinances of the city of Columbia, South Carolina chapter 23 Utilities and engineering article 5 water and sewer rates section 23 143 water service rates in section 23 149 sewer service rates a and b at this time is Kauffman our budget and program management director will also come forward to give a brief presentation Public hearing of the city of Columbia fiscal year 1920 proposed budget Public hearing there'll be a presentation. Hopefully coming up soon on your screen I'll go ahead and get started though as we are Waiting for the presentation to start Tonight we will be talking about The proposed budgets for our general fund our enterprise and business type funds which include water and sewer fun Store water fun and parking fun as well as our special revenues for hospitality tax Accommodations and the capital improvement program for water and sewer and storm water Proposed budget as we as we put together the budget every year as we prepare for the budget We started with some budget goals mostly starting of course with envision Columbia and the Direction provided by city council in the envision Columbia focus areas our Goals that we use in terms of Get it So one of the areas of the one of the budget Goals that we work on of course is resiliency and that's providing our services today while we're preparing for the long term Not thinking about just what we need to fund today But what also what services we have today and what programs we will need to carry on in the long run and also in terms of How we will address our growing needs and our growing services? Also addressing those infrastructure needs and making sure that the infrastructure is in place so that we can Our citizens residents and to customers of the city Sustainability and that's moving beyond the budget that's balanced not looking at just what we need to balance the budget But what we need to do to help make the budget sustainable for our long-term goals into the city of Columbia City councils envision Columbia making those investments. Yeah. Oh, sorry making investments in public safety and neighborhood improvement initiatives We also want to make sure we're focusing on providing quality services Providing high quality municipal services efficiently and effectively and responsibly as a basis for why we are here Maintaining the competitors of the city's compensation plan to attract and retain employees They are one of the most critical pieces of our city's infrastructure Is this if city employees to be able to provide the services that our citizens and residents and visitors expect on a daily basis? The total 1920 proposed operating budget for all funds is 357 million 363 thousand six hundred and fifty seven dollars 43 3% of that represents the general fund, which is a hundred and fifty two million the utility or enterprise and business type activities of water sewer storm water and Public parking fund make up another fifty seven fifty three percent of the budget The remaining hospitality tax and accommodations is four percent of that total budget By the numbers unfortunately the Graphics with regards to the city's budget is much more than just numbers and sense of Cost but it's also it represents our employees. It represents our with our our services that we provide for our 133,000 plus citizens are more than a hundred and forty thousand water and sewer customers our fifty one hundred businesses And our million or so visitors we have on an annualized basis The general fund budget for f1 1920 is proposed at a hundred and fifty two million Which is an increase of four million or two point seven percent It does not reflect an increase in property taxes. It's been the same property tax rate for the past ten years We also Will be going through a reassessment in 2019 for Richland County and the Lexington County portion of the city We'll go through a reassessment in 2020 The budget Presented today focuses on maintaining current service levels The f1 1920 general fund revenues are a total of a hundred fifty those revenues and transfers in our total of a hundred fifty two Million or four million increase two point seven percent of that total revenues represent a hundred and thirty two million an increase of two point two percent and Transfers in total nineteen or right at twenty million of the hunt of the total but of the total budget an Increase of about four percent transfers in account for about thirteen percent of the city's total revenue and transfers in budget Property taxes are the largest portion of the general fund revenues coming in at fifty nine million We reflect an increase of one point six million or two point eight percent Business licenses and permits is the next largest source of revenue for the general fund Combined those total forty two point forty two million an increase of seven hundred twenty thousand or less than two percent Those also reflect a reduction from the franchise fee. We are into spending a reduction in franchise fee in this coming fiscal year Service charges and other revenues total fourteen point six million and then transfers and other financing sources coming in as mentioned as Nineteen point nine million which is an increase of one point two and that's a increase Is coming solely from the increased use of fund balance for this coming fiscal year general fund expenditures Public safety represents 46% of the total general fund budget followed by public works and parks and recreation The public safety book portion of the total hundred fifty two million dollar general fund budget is sixty nine million or three point four percent Public works is twenty one point six million is a is no change budget general government which includes departments of finance human resources legal a different administration offices Public information city clerk's office Are several of the budgets in general government those represent seventeen point five million or one point two percent Parks and Recreation is thirteen point five and that's two percent Non-departmental and transfers out are six point six percent. That's a increase of eleven point seven percent again That is related to the use of our Capital improvement program and the lease purchase annual payment debt service is eight point seven million or four point seven percent change in the current fiscal year capital replacement is a The capital replacement program is a is remaining at eight million Development services and planning is three point six million is no change and community Economic development is three point one a six point seven percent change Overall again the general fund budget is a hundred and fifty two million and represents a two point seven percent increase Miss you on the on the general property taxes fifty nine million dollars Is that include the local option sales tax that's inclusive of all property taxes, so it'd be property taxes Homestead exemption credit the local option sales tax all of those how much of the fifty nine million is paid by the local option sales tax About twenty something million Okay, continuing on with our general fund highlights. I'll just get since we are Without the technical abilities, I will just get through straight and talk more through the numbers General fund your infographics. I do have my infographics. Unfortunately. I can't show my numbers My city by the numbers, but it'll be available in paper copy We'll be sure to be able to show this on the website, too police budget does reflect an expanded use of technology with ShotSpotter and some Efforts towards replacement of our security camera upgrade of our security cameras city-wide security camera system Over time to provide coverage at different trainings professional development and court attendance residential code enforcement Focus on proactive code enforcement and continuation of neighborhood initiatives with public works Municipal court does reflect the addition of two court court clerks facility improvements as well as Review of processes for efficiency and better operations So I was just saying that the the code enforcement is continuing efforts on focus on Proactive code enforcement. There are two code enforcement officers that were transferred From civilian staff over into code enforcement in this coming year and we will be addressing I think the desire is to address some additional code enforcement officers in the coming year parking parks This year we will be opening two parks in the city One from the penny tax and that's the Saluta River Greenway At least phase one of the park and then Bull Street 20 acres Park will be opening this year as well Business license includes the addition of one additional revenue technician for enforcement of business license and then business Opportunities includes an increase in their commercial redevelopment and retention program formerly known as the facade improvement program There is funding also for the complete count program for the promote the 2020 census As well as some funding for the walk bike plan outreach and education The 1920 general fund capital replacement program for eight million This is the program that the city uses to fund our annual replacement for rolling stock and heavy equipment as well as parking I mean as well as Excuse me technology replacements the fire department Reflects 12 vehicles at 1.6 million how it works is 17 Vehicles and equipment at 1.7 Parks and Recreation is 13 vehicles and equipment at 675,000 and then police department reflects 62 vehicles and equipment for 3.1 million and then we have technology upgrades of 750,000 Moving on with our enterprise funds the first budget will be the after the Proposed water and sewer operating budget the proposed budget is a hundred and sixty seven million an increase of five point two or three point two percent It does reflect a proposed rate increase of seven point zero six percent This rate increases applied across both water sewer system and sewer system and is used to fund the cap on proof program as well as the associated debt service Of course the focus of the goal of the Of these revenue adjustments also helps to maintain our debt coverage ratio of 2.0 coverage For helps with regards to our financial systems As far as utility impacts That would for an in-city customer using an average of 800 cubic feet would be a $4 and 26 cents a month increase per month The water and sewer budget of the 167 million operating budget Reflects $93 million of the total budget those were increases of less than 1% with focusing continuing on improving enhancing customer service services maintaining an efficient effective water and sewer system through technology and process improvements such as Automated meter Automated meter infrastructure project, which is underway mobile service orders as well as improved mapping of our water distribution system Staff reorganization and technology process improvements are aiming to provide high quality services that are affordable to our customers Economic development is a $1.2 million budget and reflects an increase of 13,000 or 1% This includes department staffing operating costs and contracts for partner agencies Continuing with the water and sewer budget depart non-departmental totals 48 million The largest portion of that 48 million of course is our debt service, which is an increase of 2.3 million And then cash reserves are budgeted at 8.7 which is an increase of 3.9 Those are also as required for our debt coverage or debt coverage in our funding mechanisms for our capital improvement program Transfers out total 24.3 million, which is a reduction of 3.5 over the current year It includes 17.5 transferred to the generous the water and sewer capital improvement program It maintains the indirect cost allocation to the general fund at the same levels of 4.1 million as the current year Of the total hundred and fifty seven million dollar budget Departments represent 58 percent of the total budget with followed by debt service at 23 percent of the department's Utilities represent 69 percent of the total operating budgets followed by engineering at 13 percent The capital improvement sewer water and sewer capital improvement program for water projects for proposed for FY 1920 You have a copy of the capital program in your packet There is a total budget of 80 million for both water and sewer water reflects 25.5 million and wastewater is 54.5 million Water and sewer capital improvement program reflects a priority on clean water 2020 Programs to meet the EPA consent degree along with system expansion and water quality projects We of course have lovely graphics that you'll get to see The FY 1920 proposed budget for storm water is a total operating budget of 14.3 million It's an increase of 903,000 or 66.7 percent over the current year This budget reflects continuation of proposed rate adjustments adopted by city council for the comprehensive storm water improvement program The storm water and fee will increase 78 cents per Equivalent residential unit or ERU per month From $12 to the rate will go from $12 and 54 cents to $13 and 32 cents per month The FY 1920 capital improvement program for storm water is 30.5 million It will be funded using 1.7 million in cash from the storm water fund and the remaining will be covered with bonds Including the green bonds that were recently The total CIP over the next five years is 96 million for the storm water program and the operating and capital improvement program focuses on Projects that meet the initiatives of alleviating nuisance flooding and promoting water quality in our storm water Engineering and public works makes up the largest majority of the storm water budget Public works is 30 percent that includes the staffing and operations for the storm drain maintenance program as well as some construction projects Engineering is 23 percent of that budget the on them on slide 28 Could have thought slide five The FY 1920 proposed parking fund budget is 8.8 million is an increase of 165,000 or 2% over the current year It reflects operating revenues of 8.5 an increase of 555 515,000 or 6% parking garage and parking meter revenue make up a majority of the increase in the revenues street meters and parking Garages and lots of course of the majority of the source of the revenue for the parking fund non-moving Non-moving violations or parking tickets revenues are actually down from prior years Which is attributed in part to the passport app and in other words employees or customers have the ability to pay In advance of getting a parking ticket now, so that's help with help help customers out. Definitely We have reflected a use of fund balance of 96 million, which is a reduction of 344,000 from the current fiscal year the parking fund operating budget The Operating for operating departments reflect 5.1 million an increase of 195,000 or 4% Parking services totals 3 million no change from the current year and parking facilities Totals 1.7 an increase of a hundred twenty one thousand or seven percent Reflects the addition of the annual support for cloud hosted solutions as well as the addition of the Divine Street parking garage That services 2.7 percent, which is a reduction of a hundred thousand from the previous year Parking debt service is the majority of the allocation of the parking fund budget followed by parking services and parking facilities Moving on with the proposed hospitality tax budget The proposed the hospitality budget is proposed at 12.1 million. It is no change from the current year It is a flat budget. There are four designated funding categories of the hospitality budget The committee allocations represent 2.1 million. It's the same as current year line item agencies reflect are reflected at current year levels as Well requests have come in from increases from line item agencies that will be addressed by council. I think at a later date City council allocations reflect commitments made to prior years in one new request Those would be multi-year commitments that have been made and reflect from current year Transfers out reflect a slight increase based on the debt service schedule The transfer of the general fund is the same as it is current year and it has been for the past several years There is no change in the transfer of the general fund And so missy, I think that definitely needs to be noted because there is some Misinformation that we have increased the transfer to the general fund to meet our general fund obligations Based on the committee is getting the same amount and the transfer is the same except for debt service Yes, yes, yes ma'am. So the transfer to the general fund has remained three million dollars for the past at least five years or more We're and it's flat because at this point we are seeing limited revenue growth So we're trying to maintain current year commitment prior year commitments and limits But of course limits opportunity to find new initiatives As we continue to monitor collections for the revenue for the hospitality tax fund right now Those are projections are flat the proposed accommodations tax fund is is two point six million It does reflect a ninety thousand dollar increase of three point five percent increase over the current year Accommodations tax allocations are based on requirements of South Carolina state law South Carolina state law requires that twenty five thousand be transferred to the general fund Thirty percent is allocated to advertising and promotion of tourism 65 percent is allocated for tourism and related expenditures and five percent for general purposes The committee allocation is based on prior allocate prior prior city council direction of eighty five percent to experience Columbia and fifteen percent to Lake to Lake Murray Final allocations are of course subject to city council approval Five percent allocations do not reflect any specific allocation and five percent represents the remaining amount to be allocated Those are used as a general purposes or like general fund purposes in those five percent We do not reflect any specific allocations however historically these funds have been used to fund together We can read an initiative and one columbia's general fund portion of their funding With that that is the proposed f1 1920 budget for the city of Columbia to include both operating budget the 357 million is just our operating budget The total capital improvement budget is a hundred and ten million in addition to that Making a water sewer and storm water combined. Thank you miss coffee. Thank you missy. Thank you very much Questions of this coffee We're going to public hearing Thank you Ocean to move with the proposed budget. Oh, we got public here first public here first so we have Some citizens who sound to speak I assumed Folks who want to speak for historic columbia. I want to speak on on the budget We will not be taking up eight stacks at this meeting. They'll be done at a later meeting, but But it's all rolled up into this budget. So if if you care to be heard now, that's fine as well I Would add this budget does not reflect allocations to specific. Yeah, it does not it's just for allocates the funding This just approves Right, this does not allocate. Yeah, did y'all get that? All right. We got that. Yeah. I'm gonna worry about you. I'm actually sorry the public gets it All right, I'm Dawn Mills Campbell evening I'm Dawn Mills Campbell. I am a proud member of the Historic Columbia Board of Trustees Since 1994 Historic Columbia and the City of Columbia have partnered in the preservation of some of the most significant historic assets in the Midlands Including the Robert Mills house the man simons site and the Majesca Simkins site which are owned by the city Your support allows us to use local history as a tool to educate the public to draw visitors to the region and To establish preservation as an economic driver This fiscal year over 40,000 people of all ages and backgrounds from across the country have visited our managed sites for tours public programs festivals and special events and While the six buildings and 14 acres of grounds of which we are stewards serve as the most dynamic Local history Destinations in the region we tell stories that go far beyond the city center and offer programs that do the same Highlights include the Columbia Jewish Heritage initiative now in its fourth year Which has garnered awards for research documentation Programming and interpretation of the capital city's Jewish communities Do you believe our festival of black history and culture that continues to surpass previous efforts each year? drawing thousands of visitors who enjoy performances tours hands-on education and entertainment and preservation efforts at the Majesca Simkins site Where thanks to a civil rights grant from the National Park Service the property stands poised for enhanced Interpretation through new exhibits and marker space late next year Meanwhile the historic Columbia staff has applied its model for engagement in support of separate pro projects Including an exciting new partnership with Wren the women's rights and empowerment network To bring the Columbia City of Women Project to life and the Columbia SC 63 the collaborative initiative to share Columbia's civil rights Story both of which received dedicated funding from the City of Columbia So on behalf of the historic Columbia and your constituents seeking to better understand our very rich and complex history Thank you for your past support and for your continued support. Thank you perfectly on time to Everyone take note From a pro of rally, thank you so much miss miss Campbell and Warner Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight My name is Anne Warner, and I'm the CEO of Wren on behalf of the Columbia City of Women Steering Committee and Partner organizations many of whom are with us this evening y'all wave I want to thank the city for its support of the Columbia City of Project City of Women project last year Which helped us get this project off the ground and leverage additional private funding The city of women is a project that recognizes remarkable women of Columbia's past and present Celebrates their victories engages the community through their stories and inspires future leaders The initiative is the brainchild of Rachel Hodges former first lady of South Carolina and is being implemented by historic Columbia and Wren it is received funding from the city of Columbia the John s and James L night fund at the Central Carolina Community Foundation and other private donors Additional partners include the University of South Carolina Richland School District 1 and the Richland Library our project is the first of its kind in South Carolina Currently only one of the 41 streets in downtown Columbia Lady Street kind of attempts to recognize a woman But it does not reveal her true name or identity the first first lady of the United States Martha Washington Less than 4% of the 206 historical Markers in Richland County are specifically named after women We know that there are many more women who have helped shape our city and this project helps us to tell their stories So what have we done so far? We have honored 12 remarkable women in our inaugural honoree group From trailblazing educator Celia Dal Saxon artist and a whit Hayward Taylor Supreme Court Justice Gene toll coached on staley We're telling their stories through a website Columbia city of women calm that includes a digital map and extensive content We publicly launched the project in March with a sellout event at the Columbia Museum of Art More than 400 people Gathered to celebrate our first 12 honorees Since the launch historic Columbia and Wren have continued to raise awareness through digital and educational programming We've established buzz across the city and the state with city representatives from Greenville to Florence to Charleston expressing interest in establishing a city of women and their cities to first fulfill the potential of this to fulfill the Potential of this project in Columbia We request continued funding to help us take it to the next level to honor more women Raise more awareness engage more people and create permanent markers to recognize the honorees throughout the city We are working with private funders and one Columbia on a potential permanent art project to be a major attraction in downtown Columbia these activities tell a fascinating story to attract and inspire people around the state and Country to visit Columbia Cities around the country are rethinking how they recognize traditionally underrepresented groups in their public spaces Columbia is doing something truly remarkable Remarkable by investing in an innovative public-private partnership that celebrates the diverse contributions of women from across history and Backgrounds with your continued support the Columbia City of Women project will help us honor our past and Recommit to an ever-more inclusive welcoming and vibrant tomorrow. Thank you for your consideration Thank you so much Thank you those long to folks have speaking from a historic Columbia and or Ran on the city of women. We have Fielding Pringle the public defender And thank you. Everyone's excited about the city of women Very excited and looking forward to supporting it the effort in the initiative. The first meeting was electric So I do have a half to note that the honorary naming of Washington Street after Sarah May Fleming is something we did several years ago So it's a whole lot more of that. So That's exciting Madam public defender. Good evening mayor Benjamin members of council. I am Fielding Pringle I'm your public defender here in Richland County And this is Jasmine Burns of Nelson Mullins He is here in support of us. She and George Cawthon have been very very supportive Can you hear me now? I'm gonna be very direct my husband tells me I can't say anything in three minutes or less So I'm gonna talk fast. He can be Very good point Just by way of background we entered into a contract with the city beginning in 2015 to fund the services for two dedicated full-time public defenders starting in 2015 This followed a state proviso that required us to stop spending state money and go to city council go to cities municipalities and request the funding I will tell you this city has been ahead of the curve and way out front And you guys did the right thing by funding your public defenders back in 2015 Avoiding the litigation that these other municipalities are now embroiled in across the state that is still continuing So why am I here? You guys? Provided funding at the amount of a hundred thousand dollars starting in 2015 as I said I've provided two full-time dedicated lawyers in addition to another attorney who works in your homeless court It's simply not enough. I am requesting an increase the increase that we need is really twofold We have one issue is that our budget was never whole I didn't make the first agreement Mr. Strickler did so I can't really speak to the details of that But in looking at my budget numbers and putting together my funding Analysis for the county for the state. I'm coming in at 54,000 under so we are providing two lawyers Another attorney to staff homeless court and so to make my budget whole I am asking you for $54,000 just to get us to that point so that the city is fully funding The attorneys that are being provided the second request the second part of the request is I am seeking to add another attorney Obviously, that's a higher request that would put it to a total of 125 That would allow me to add another attorney and bring us whole the reason is our cases are rising The city is doing a good job of addressing its backlog. I know they've been very aggressive and are very invested in doing so The results is our caseloads are going up since 2015 our caseloads we Handled 743 cases in 2015. We're almost up to 1,100 now so We desperately need an additional attorney To do that the city has placed a value on protecting the liberty of its citizens and funding the public defenders and doing that at the Inception when this proviso first came out and I applaud you for doing that And I would be more than happy to provide any information answer any questions That would be helpful to you in our in considering our request. Thank you fielding. Thank you. Thank you Counsel the burns short timer. Thank you Daz has taken the clerkship with Judge Gurgle and Charleston, so she's leaving us All right Anyone else to speak on the budgets, thank you counsel for the opportunity my name's Hans Pauling I'm with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office. Mr. Gibson is under the weather. We're not be able to be here to speak with you personally our current budget for this year is proposed at 215,817 Dollars we are actually requesting an increase of 127,681 specifically for our special city prosecutor Up until between 1997 and 222 we had a special city prosecutor assigned that handled city cases on the violent crime load In 2012 we then requested two additional prosecutors. They were included, but then the special city prosecutor was eliminated currently In our office right now. We have approximately 3,831 pending City of Columbia warrants and of those 524 for violent crimes With respect these numbers alone do illustrate the wisdom of actually the city council's vision in 1997 by appointing a special city prosecutor To handle specifically violent crimes in the city of Columbia We have the same issues obviously that the public defenders have Sometimes the caseload start to increase and grow in the workload with it We're humbly requesting that the special city prosecutor be funded again. It has not been funded. I believe in since 2012 I've been working with the slizzard office since 2011 and have primarily done city prosecution cases I thank you all for your continued support over the years and we would ask for the addition of that money in the budget Thank you. If you have any questions Couple questions and if you can't answer them if if you could get with Byron and then get back to us But just for us. I mean we understand Extreme importance of both sides and that both sides need adequate funding in order for the system to work No, Fielding has has presented the folks that she has and that we're funding for her or are dedicated I know and I remember the change that you're talking about. We had Dolly. She was a city Prosecutor she was kind of doing all of our stuff and then I remember I guess Dan did the changes the two That you're talking about that were that we're funding now. That's in general sessions court Yes, we currently we have Saquisha Tobin who's working in the domestic violence court in municipal city court She's been there for several years now And so that's one of the ones that we're funding now Up until mr. Gibson assumed office in January I was part of the city team and we had a dedicated group of between eight and ten prosecutors who are specifically focused on City crimes The city only funded two of those people All the rest were funded by outside Richland County And we did handle 100% of the city Defendants they may sometimes be linked in with Richland County charges as well But Dolly Garfield was the city team leader until she left the office in December of 2016 And then Vance Eaton became the city team leader in 2017 through 2018 We had up until very recently been divided by regions of the county and region five was the city and I was a proud member of region five Since November of 2011. So now we're divided more by Types of crimes and the violent crime team has eight prosecutors on it And we're looking to add the special city prosecutor as a member of that team So the two that we're currently funding you're saying that those are Those are dedicated to the city. They're not handling other things out We're not we're not supplementing a salary for Someone who's doing other things. They're just for the city Not that I'm aware if they're a drug prosecutor They may have the bulk of their cases are Columbia City drug cases because they work better with the narcotics group in the city But we are now divided by crime As opposed to by region that we were prior to January of 2019 And so the addition you're asking for for a city prosecutor would go back to having the person that is Prosecuting cases in municipal court full-time Well in general sessions city homicides city robbery city kidnapping city rate. Yes So that we can have someone dedicated to city violent crime prosecution Okay All right, so it may be and I'd asked Miss Knox if she could it's just would be easier because I know y'all are all structured differently as well It would be easy Maybe if miss Knox could get with you guys and just understand the structure of both and make sure that we are Funding what we're getting and and I know this always comes up and this is not for you directly to you But I think mr. Rickman would agree, you know city residents are County residents as well. Yes, and so, you know, we appreciate and we need the structure of that But if we're funding city prosecutors, then we need Additional services in addition to the I'm a Richland County funded prosecutor who does city homeless court So I totally understand okay, so so anyway, so we so we understand the structure Just so we can make sure that we're the point she was making is that people who live in the city also pay county taxes So there's a ongoing conversation always with the county as if we live in a bubble The reality is that we pay city taxes and county taxes But this is not for you, but just just internalize it anything anything you all need will make sure we can get it Thank you. Thank you. Make sure the social knows we love them We hope he feels better. Yeah All right, good deal No one else is Well, I'm sorry to speak on the public hearing on mr. Badura. Is that motion? Yes I make a motion to approve the budget for 19-20 I'm six and seven moving to the second discussion with the previous question cart color all Mr. Rickman Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Ball. Hi, Mr. Badura. Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Dave. Hi, Mayor Benjamin All right Record reflected the budget again has no tax increases for the 10th year in a row, but they're about a Tax increase, okay. All right Public ordnance public hearing on the ordinances first reading Item 8 ordinance number 2019-040 amending the 1998 code of ordinances of the city of Columbia, South Carolina chapter 23 Utilities in engineering article 5 water and sewer rates section 23-150 Discharge a septic tank waste and repealing section 23-151 of approvals of septic tanks I'm sure this is this is a public hearing on these ordinances as well. Yes, because they include fees. Okay, gotcha. Okay All right, you're here to speak in favor of or against this Seeing none move the previous is there motion Move approve a second discussion with the previous question cart color all Mr. Rickman. Hi, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mr. Badura. No, Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Davis Mayor Benjamin. I Ordered number 2019-41 The code of ordinances Columbia chapter 23 utilities engineering as relates to sewer rates water sewer rates industrial user permit fees Is anyone here speaking in favor of or against this? Is there a second move in second discussion saying no move the previous question Clark color all Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mr. Badura. Hi, Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Davis. Mayor Benjamin. Hi Ordinance number 2019-42 and many of the 1998 code of ordinances of the city Chapter 23 utilities engineering article 4 wastewater service sections 23-112 violations and penalty Is anyone here speaking in favor of or against this? Is there a motion? To move second second discussion seeing none and with the previous question for color all Mr. Rickman Hi, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mr. Badura. Hi, Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Davis. Hi, Mr. Benjamin. Hi Ma'am say manager. Do we have a motion? amendment I'm loving we come back to that come back to that so okay. We'll move on to item 12 for it now Leave to go back and invite John Ando the executive director CEO of the comet Well, good evening mayor and council John Ando executive director of the comet I'm here before you today to request approval from city council of our proposed 2019 operating and capital budget For the central Midlands Regional Transit Authority When I'm passing out to you is a hard copy of the budget and I'll just summarize this budget in greater detail and answer any questions this is As we discussed at the previous work session under the South Carolina Code of Laws We are as a regional transportation authority We're supposed we're supposed to present and seek approval of our operating and capital budget from each of our member agencies We have presented this budget to Richland County Lexington County City of Forest Acres have each approved This budget so I'm City of Columbia is our last member agency that we do need to present this to in on page 8 gives you a summary of our revenues and We are looking at a 29 million eight hundred thousand eight hundred and thirty five dollar operating budget which is a change of 13 percent You'll see on page nine that twenty three million two hundred and seventy thousand nine hundred and sixteen is attributed to our operations and Six million five hundred and twenty nine thousand nine hundred and nineteen is attributed to our capital The reason why we have a 13 percent increase is primarily due to the use of More federal funding to support operation and capital needs this fiscal year We are going to be purchasing or this upcoming fiscal year We plan to purchase four additional vehicles which includes two trolleys two low-floor gasoline powered cutaways to operate in the rural areas Continued renovation of the transit center Laurel and Sumter Intelligent transportation systems bike share stations in downtown Columbia additional bus shelters and benches within the service area redesigning our website and What is treated as capital expenses under FTA terms as mobility management training and development of staff and then? Purchasing computer hardware and software our operational expenses will include transit operations marketing administration for services within Richland and Lexington County's security on our buses transit centers and bus stops we do Do special duty contracts with City of Columbia Richland County City of Casey and City of West Columbia to patrol the various buses bus stops and transit facilities We have a van pull program We've implemented preventative maintenance on our buses and bus facilities and then the continuation of the Lyft uber subsidy The bite of the blue bike program which allows comment writers to access the blue bike system limited for 45 minute sessions and the start and the development of a new volunteer Transportation and mileage reimbursement program as well as a subsidized taxi spirit program for seniors and persons with disabilities Within the Columbia urbanized area page is 10 and 11 gives you a detailed explanation of those expenses Page 12 gives you a summary of our how the comet is funded and how we get the 28 million 29 million dollars to cover our overall costs and Page 13 gives you a detailed explanation of each of our line item expenses 716 and 17 goes into further detail of Salaries fringe benefits membership contributions contractual services costs that we pay for security enforcement And the last part of this presentation is we started to implement a service equity policy at the comet the board adopted this policy back in March and basically we are Calculating services based on Contributions that each jurisdiction provides to the transit authority so that we're ensuring that we're only Running services and the respective jurisdictions that are contributing appropriately You will notice that on page 18 that I should say on page 20 that 55 point 48 percent of the services that the comet provides are within the city of Columbia and Then 29 percent is in Richland County less than 1 percent in East over 1 percent in forest acres to first about 3 percent in West Columbia 3 percent in KC 1 percent in Springdale and Then about 3 percent between the other jurisdictions that we serve With that in mind, I'll be happy to answer any questions about our operating capital budget if there are any John so just The to the contribution to from Lexington and Newberry do they those cover the actual costs? they do What we've been doing is Because the Columbia urbanized area consists of the urbanized portions of Richland and Lexington counties You will find on pages 18 of how we split the federal funding between each of those jurisdictions in page 19, so in essence in the case of Lexington County, they're contributing about 200 and 28,771 dollars we're matching that 50 percent with federal funds The balance of the federal funds that would have been allocated to Lexington County is being redistributed to Richland County because Lexington County doesn't have the appropriate match to spend their Fair share of the allocation So with that, that's how their services are covered You'll notice that we do not pay The transit system does not operate in a large portion of the county because they just don't have the local match To warn additional services beyond what they have today Do I do need an action though from the council Now the other Municipalities I understand you to say John has you presented it to them and there has been a vote Yeah, they've approved it. This is the last member agency that we're waiting a confirmation from So the confirmation is in terms of a vote vote and not for information That is correct. I believe he's requesting a vote to actually approve the budget. I think there there was some discussion Previously as to whether or not this council felt we were in a position to do that today I had stepped out, but I believe what I heard was the decision was that we were receiving this information today Take any action today and I and I I personally Don't think I can vote on a budget that we have no control over So I don't think you're gonna get my support if we ever gonna take action, but the reason I'm Telling you that is I don't think we can have any control on over your budget and for me. It's not the appropriate thing to do The city manager John and the city attorney don't recommend that the council take action on the item I'll have to consult with our legal counsel just because of this the state law that basically But John I've been back here for two years and nobody's come here before and there were a lot of There's a lot of questions in here And I don't think that any of us are gonna take responsibility for something that we can't control And I think over probably the last five to seven years the comment has not come to us as a regional authority They've made contracts. They've renewed contracts. They've spent money without this group Being involved, so I don't think that they can come back to us now and ask us to obligate Ourselves to a budget both past present and future that we have no control over I respect that and that's one thing that we're trying to do is start making sure that we're operating in compliance with the regional Transportation authority law that the state is created for our TAs. I can't speak for actions of the past But what we're just trying to make sure we're in compliance So John will receive it as information today if you want to get the RTA's attorney To contact Ms. Knox and you know if there's something different than if in the future if we have to take action And we can revisit that but today is the decision to counsel just to receive it as information. Okay, appreciate that Thank you so much for coming Have item 11 left You've got it might be some posed voice amendment But at this time, I'm not sure if you want to go back to a session and discuss it or I think we would want to Go back into executive session and discuss what's been presented to us Madam mayor for Tim I move to return to executive session based on the previous announcements Is there a second? It's been probably moved in second and discussion Uh, no, we were going back in executive session because we're going to come back and vote on this Yeah, you want to go ahead? That's different dr. Mel first and then we can go to the executive session if that's all right Yeah, please think you only sit this in who signed up to speak so Evening Um With great pride, I must say that the rich members for parks and recreation city of columbia Actually followed through what I asked them to do We are in the process of finding scholarship funding for summer camp. I want to thank mr. Dave is very much for letting us do this And I suggested that they come up with something creative To encourage donation as you see in front of you. There is a flyer on june 28th The city of columbia Young adults are going to roast mama g It's going to be at taps And the uh donations from it. We're going to assist young people Who may come from single family homes and need funding? To go to summer camp So if you hear about this, uh, yes, I will have to sit there and not say anything impossible I understand too that um, the bets have been being placed already If I can do it or not I'm going to try but they they came up. They were very creative with this. I wish to thank taps For uh being a part of it. Uh dpk printing. We have a lot of businesses who are supporting us We have young people coming in from philadelphia, washington, california Mars venus now Who have home are waiting for this opportunity? A very long time to roast you pardon, sir Because they have things to say I told them be aware Because I get to go and speak last but thank you very much for your continued support Looking forward to a great summer camp Um, mayor wrenchman. Thank you city council. Thank you very much Congratulations. Excuse me, sir. Thank you. Um Checks may not to taps it would be to chat to checks and you can go online to taps Yes for this So it should be in I think they're going to film it too Thank you. All right. Congratulations. Thank you for being you. All right, um, mr Duvall All right, uh Maybe we could move we go back into the executive session based on the previous announced Reasons Second by miss divine In discussion with the previous question court carol Mr. Rickerman. Hi, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. Hi, mr. Badura. Hi, mr. Von. Hi, mr. Davis. Hi, mayor benjamin. Hi