 Good evening. Mr. Rickerman. Mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall. Mr. Badura. Mr. Vine. Mr. Davis. Mayor Benjamin. Here on the note for the record, Mr. Badura has been here for the entire work session. I think he had some personal issues he had to attend to and we expect him to join us a little bit later. Last student by the President, Dr. Haslip, come lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Introduce yourself to everyone too. Hello, my name is Shamar Butler and I'm the student by the President at Dr. High School. A Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, and invisible with liberty and justice for all. A great conversation with Jamalia. It's big dreams written once preparing our kids to go take on the world, so we're excited about it. Rev, would you please bless us with a word? Let us bow our heads, create a merciful God for the many blessings you've bestowed upon us. For this opportunity to gather as a city, as a family, to discern what it is your will is calling each of us to participate in. Touch us individually and yet collectively, allowing us to feel the sensitivity of your will in our lives. We ask it in your name, amen. Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, at this time we would ask Council to adopt the agenda with a few minor adjustments, Mr. Mayor, removing the following presentation, the Global Entrepreneurship Week and Women's Entrepreneurship Day Proclamation, and adding the following presentation, the marketing update by Ms. Miriam Atria, the President and CEO of Capital City, Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. Thank you. Oh, and I'm sorry, one additional item on the consent agenda. We wanted to... Number 13. ...remove, yes, sir, item 13. Thank you, Councilman McDaw. DuVall, just removing that from the consent agenda, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Wilson, I have an additional presentation I'd like to make. Yes, ma'am. Maybe 17A? Yes, ma'am. And are we holding on a couple of items or... 26 and 7. We're holding on 26 and 27. All right. We're going to the next agenda. Yes, sir. Mayor, and also number 25. That's a resolution. That's the resolution. Okay. 25, 26 and 27. All right. 25, 26 and 27. Sorry. As long as the information is... All information is submitted. I've been assured that you would have it maybe by midnight. But, so those are the amendments. All right. With those amendments, is there a motion to approve the adopted agenda? So move. Any discussion? With the previous question, clerk Colorado. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Mr. DuVall. Hi. Mr. Stein. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. All right. Thank you, Mayor. At this time, we would ask for any public input related to the agenda items as outlined. All right. All right. Madam City Manager. Yes, sir. Seeing no public input, we would ask Council to approve the October 16, 2018 and November 6, 2018 City Council meeting. The motion. Move approval. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? With the previous question, clerk Colorado. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. DuVall. Hi. Mr. Stein. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended? So move. All right. Moving second. Any discussion? All right. With the previous question, clerk Colorado. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. DuVall. Hi. Mr. Stein. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. And item 13, Mr. Mayor, is the ordinance number 2018-063, authorizing the City Manager to execute a signed location lease between the City of Columbia and the Lamar companies for lease of 207 Durbay Street at Canal Street in Richmond County. Can we hold that until Mr. Madura gets back? I have his amendment. Oh, you've got. Yeah. So I have his amendment. All the other issues have been resolved from the last meeting that we discussed. Okay. In a bilateral conversation. It was a bilateral conversation. All right. For number 13, he's old. Yeah, I'm going to make a quick amendment. There's an issue Mr. Madura raised. He was concerned about it and we had the amendment drafted up. I'm going to make this as a motion to amend the contract as follows and what y'all second it if you agree. But we know that we always had issues with fish migration, particularly short-nosed sturgeon there. Mr. Madura asked that we amend the agreement with Lamar, section 2A, the state that if determination notice is issued at a time that causes the removal period to fall within the fish migration season and the removal is determined. Do you want to read this? So you want me to read it? I don't matter. Go for it. How far did you go? I just started. Yeah, it's 180. So the addition to the contract, pick up. If the term if determination notice is issued at a time that causes the removal period of fall within the fish migration season and the removal is determined to have a possible impact on the migration pattern, the physical removal should be delayed until the end of fish migration season. However, the planning and any permitting requiring to facilitate the removal shall continue forward in order that actual removal can be implemented as soon as the fish migration season ends. Second, Mr. Madura's motion. Any discussion? Mr. Duvall. Mayor and council, it seems to me that if the billboard is in the fish migration path and that we need to put an amendment into the contract to take care of the fish migration of the sturgeon, that the billboard's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Council Duvall. And so we should we should move forward with requiring the billboard to be removed. Is there any further discussion? I swear the eggs actually, they nest right there. The billboard will be coming down. We should know better than that. We're the fishermen. We've better move previous questions. Are these the sturgeon with feet that walk up to the billboard? Mr. McDowell has moved the previous question. Clerk, please call the roll. Yes, sir. Mr. Rickerman. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. No. Mr. Madura. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. The short nerds actually have a little feet. The transition fish. Okay. Okay. Amphibian to the walkers. Aye. If I didn't vote, I apologize. You have to love the fish, man. Aye. It's a very quick point of personal privilege. We had an opportunity just in September for one of our leaders here to be recognized in Washington, DC. She was unable to attend because we were in the middle of another serious storm and doing a fantastic job as a city manager. Teresa, why is that up there? Oh, really? Okay. All right. Teresa Wilson was not able to go and receive her incredible award from Walker's Legacy recognizing her achievement in economic development and leadership in the years of economic policy, business development, and entrepreneurship advocacy as a city manager. So we got the plaque anyway. Teresa, I just wanted to recognize you and thank you for your leadership and your service. Thank you. Mr. Mayor and Mr. Vine. So this is definitely a day to recognize our amazing leaders. So last week, November 14th, Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin was featured in Ebony magazines as one of the 2018 Power 100 lists for the most influential and inspiring African Americans. And so we just wanted to congratulate him and recognize him. This is, he said Mr. Ebony. But this, I just wanted to highlight, you know, this is an amazing, tremendous honor for him and our city because he continues to elevate the profile of Columbia and show, highlight Columbia everywhere he goes. He speaks on international stages. And so a lot of times it's about Columbia, Columbia, Columbia, but we wanted to recognize him for this personal recognition and achievement. So congratulations, Mayor Benjamin. Thank you. All right. It has been my life's honor to serve as mayor of this great city. We got great things to do together. So thank you all. Please continue to keep me and our family in this great city in your prayers. We're going to keep on moving. We are going to keep on moving, Madam City Manager. Yes, sir. We have the recognition also of the 2018 Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Award recipients. And I'm going to ask Miss Jacqueline Rich Bird to come forward and do these recognitions. As she comes forward, I will name our National Emergency Number Association Telecommunicator of the Year, Ms. Kizzy Dunlap and our National Emergency Number Association Palmetto Award winner, Ms. Regina Goodwin. And these folks, Mr. Mayor and Council, as you know, work under tremendous pressure when they are working to take calls in our 911 Communication Center. It's a job that probably goes unnoticed, but it is the call that people make and the answer that they get that can save lives. So I would like Jacqueline Rich Bird, our director of 911, to make the presentations. Thank you all. Good evening. I would like to first brag about two young ladies that's done an outstanding job. And so we too brought home the gold for the state of South Carolina, the APCO, NINA Awards. So I would like to now present the first award to Ms. Kizzy Dunlap. She was the telecommunicator of the year at Myrtle Beach at the conference. And then the second award, it goes to Ms. Regina Goodwin. She brought home the Palmetto Award for the state of South Carolina at the conference as well. Ms. Regina Goodwin. Obviously all the roles that all of our 2,000-plus employees play, it's very important in quality life here, but obviously when we call 911, we need to make sure we have good quality people answering the phone. We really need our public servants then, and it's good to have folks who are recognized by their peers as being incredibly good at their jobs. So thank you all for your service. I just wanted to add to that. I think we're very fortunate. And I know most of you listen to the news on whatever device you use, and you hear about a lot of mishaps, mistakes, mistaken identities and bad directions and that sort of thing. And so that tells you just how valuable these employees are to us. You know, we don't experience such things. It's only because they take their job seriously, and we see that they get the best professional training that's available. And so those awards are justly reserved, and I really appreciate that. And I know we congratulate y'all most definitely. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Davis. And we're so fortunate. This is a red light of day. We have Senator John Scott who's going to make a presentation to us briefly, but we're fortunate today to have a significant number of our elected officials here today. So we have Representative Chris Hart, Representative, thank you for being here and the great work you're doing at the State House. We have C. School Commissioner Beatrice King from Richland One. I know that Commissioner Devine is also on the way here. We're working closely with the school district and all of our friends here from the Drear family on wrapping up Drear and so excited about getting that done tonight. And we got the Money Man. I saw David Adams there somewhere. We got the Treasurer here. Did you bring a check from the county or something with you? But we got our county treasurer here as well. And I think they call all the elected officials here, but so fantastic to have all of our neighborhood leaders, our parents, our community leaders, everyone here working together on one accord tonight. Senator Scott, the microphone is yours, a special presentation on the Harlem Heights project. And we got our fantastic leaders from the community here with them. Please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and other members of council. With me is the President, Vice President, Arjun Kim-Quals from the Harlem Heights community, also Ms. Little, which is also the treasure. Also with me is Representative Chris Hart, who on the other side of the aisle also helped to make sure the presentation we're going to do tonight is able to happen. I also want to thank very well, I want to say thank Councilman Sam Davis for since 2012. We've been able to bring quite a large sum of funds within Senate District 19 and also in the House District and also in the City Council. We're going to start at 2012. I think we bought some $7 million that came into the North Main Street of Streetscape. We also began to plan early on, early 2012, 13, working on the, it was called Elita Street, but it's a Harlem Heights farewell project. With that, we were able to bring approximately $525,000 in planning grant money that came to it and engineering work. And that work has now been completed. Some of between 2016 and 2017, we took a look at the Beth and Bishop project that belonged to Councilman McDowell. With that, we were able to bring to you 341,000. Now in order to complete the Elita Street project, and we'll wait on the city with this matching dollars in 2018, we want to present to you the first check on the Elita Street project in 2018, an sum of $100,000. The $100,000 has not even come close to where we needed to be, but I simply said the investment of $625,000. And so tonight, we give you the last check and one of the community leaders to pass that check on to you, the sum of $500,000. That should be enough money to be able to complete the project. This is a project I've watched for over 60-some odd years since community continued to be flooded. And we hope now this community can begin to move forward. I want to thank law enforcement for the city of Columbia has worked with us in terms of cleaning up the drugs and other issues that we've had in the community. I can't think enough, the president, the vice president and the treasure, and that community basically has a lot of seniors, senior citizens who work together, and have kept this community together as we move forward and trying to do and began to look at redevelopment of the Harlem High Community. But looking adjacent to us, I want to say to Councilman Ed McDowell, we're still looking to try to help you with your project. We made an early commitment, although it's not in my district, to continue to try to make sure those those families and Beth and Bishop or Collin apartment, whichever name they decide to do it, Mr. Mayor. And because of your leadership, we're going to continue to work through that process to make sure those families receive the best quality of life they can. Thank you so much for allowing us to come forward. I just want to, excuse me, length Senator Scott and Representative Hart for their partnership. And they've been working with with with me and the neighborhood step by step. And in addition to working with city staff to make sure that we address the flooding problem in that particular neighborhood, it is very substantial. And it's really going to make a difference in that neighborhood. And we would not be at this point, if it was not for their leadership. And so we really appreciate that. I know the neighborhood has already expressed their appreciation to you. So we thank you. And I'm on one thing. Senator Scott, Representative Hart is incredible community leaders for all the work they do every single day. This, all of us we've been watching these incredible wet weather events just continue to grow over time. The frequency and the severity in this particular community has been dealing with for an even longer period of time than other parts of Colombia have. Many of you know that just after the incredible storm in 2015 and 16, we move forward with a very first stormwater bond, we will be issuing our very first green bond, the state's first certified green bond in December of this year. I think we were told we had a fairly highly rated debt issuance. But we're talking about a $2 million project that the other 1.4 million has been approved. So so we're so we're there together. But it shows what you do when you what you can do when you work together. So we still got to get through some easements, you know, whenever you're talking about making improvements, everybody's got to give a little to make sure we get some things done. So as of today, we have 13 easements completed another 15 ago. We're going to get there. Let's make sure we we get there together. But appreciate you appreciate you so much. All right, I bless you. Sorry, Mr. Mr. McDowell apologize. Mr. Scott, Representative Hart, let me just say a word of thanks to this to this gentleman, these gentlemen who have blessed this, that part of our city. And of course, a part of my district with a tremendous gift that sort of took away the hopelessness and and given bright weight wave raise of hope. Thank you so much for what you've done. And of course, thank you for the gift. And of course, we look for another gift. And we're gonna send it we're gonna send Scott taking a seat but one thing he referenced earlier again that unless you're in constant conversations on these issues, you would know, obviously Harlem Heights sits squarely in the heart of Senator Scott's district, he advocates from North Columbia every single day. Some of the other efforts that he's worked on, one in particular, in Mr. McDowell's district he referenced is not in Senate Scott's district. So so he continues to work on behalf of people all across the region just want to say thank you for that. All right. All right. I'm city manager. Yes, Mr. Mayor and I from the staff's perspective, we wanted to also say how appreciative we are it does truly assist us with all of the different things we try to accomplish from an infrastructure perspective. And I really want to say thank you to Dana Dana Higgins, our city engineer for always trying to move the ball forward with Clint Shealy and others. So thank you for that. The next presentation is the National Apprenticeship week proclamation, the honorable Stephen K Benjamin. All right. Recognizing the fact that South Carolina is actually an international leader in the space of apprenticeships. Whereas apprenticeships offer employees the opportunity to develop a skilled and productive workforce while growing their businesses and whereas South Carolina is dedicated to providing education and training to ensure that our workforce is qualified for the high demand jobs in the state. And whereas since its establishment in 2007, Apprenticeship Carolina program of the South Carolina technical college system has grown apprenticeships in the state at a phenomenal rate, broadening the scope to include non traditional industry sectors such as healthcare, information technology, tourism and advanced manufacturing, as well as the traditional trades like construction, electrical and plumbing and military with the South Carolina National Guard. And whereas the expansion of programs such as the increasingly popular youth apprenticeship component has resulted in the growth and diversity of apprentices in our state, including higher numbers of female and minority apprentices. And whereas the City of Columbia is delighted to recognize the importance of apprenticeships in the city and across the state. Now therefore, I, Stephen K. Benjamin, the other City of Columbia, along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council, do here by proclaim November 12th through 16th to be National Apprenticeship Week in Columbia and urge our fellow citizens to recognize and its observance. Who's going to set this on behalf of Apprenticeship Carolina? State Director, North and South Carolina for D.O. U.S. Department of Labor. And Cleveland Williams is my apprenticeship representative. And it's really been a great pleasure to participate in the city. We have about 100 city workers who are involved in apprenticeship, about 400 city wide. And then we just passed a 20,000 mark for the first time for active apprentices in South Carolina. And this is a great city. And we're glad you're participating with us. Robert can talk to you a little bit about the program that we have with the city. I've had some direct workings with the water systems divisions that being the water treatment plant wastewater treatment plant and the water maintenance division. And I'm really proud to say that the that from the very beginning, it was awesome collaboration with their focus on upskilling their employees and bringing them to top notch performance full proficiency with apprenticeships has really been a catalyst and is a model for others to follow. So really want to say that, you know, what's been done is really improving the workforce and the quality of water and the city. And we're looking forward to expand. Well, I will tell you get around the country, indeed around the world, people talk about the importance of apprenticeships, particularly as we deal with this really tight economy and the workforce needs we have. And everyone asked me about the successes of your program here in South Carolina. It's a real model and I wish you continued success. We certainly need you to be successful. So Mr. Benjamin, at this time, I know you are excited to recognize the Columbia Ways and Challenge winners. Absolutely. We we all want to have longer, healthier lives. And just want to, many of you remember, I asked you the challenge in which we were trying to lose weight together, trying to understand the importance of eating better and staying active. So I wanted to want to take some time today to recognize the folks who follow us online, stayed engaged through social media, reported their weight loss and have a chance to recognize some of them. I know everyone's not able to be here with us this evening, but if you are here and I call your name, I'd like you just to come up and grab your certificate of achievement in the Columbia Ways and Challenge. John Green is John here. I didn't see John. So, all right, John Green is ranked in the top 10 of the Columbia Ways and Challenge. Wanda Cannon. All right. Glenn Sawyer, Helen Lee, Kim Griffin, Lucinda Statler, and the top three finalists. We have Margaret Floyd, Scott Robinson, and Kelly Sims, who all were top three finalists. And our number one weight loss winner, how many pounds was it? 31 pounds loss was Benji Barfield. Benji Barfield. Benji. 31 pounds. It can be done, y'all. It can be done. Thank y'all. Mayor, you weren't in the top 10. You know, I would tell you, the mayor still down 20 pounds. I was down 30. All right, still down 20 pounds. We're still waiting for you to do the 5K shirtless. You said it on TV. Well, it was the parliamentarian when you need them. You're going to rule her out of order or something, man? Just a personal privilege right quick. Can we do that? Yes, sir. And we've actually got some time. We're going to have to make up. We have a couple items. Okay. One more presentation. Mr. Let me do a recognition. I was just told I didn't see her, but I do want to recognize my mother and my wife brought my mama here today to see what I do on Tuesday. And I didn't know she was there. She has been sick and she's better. And this is my mama right there. I hear about that all night tonight. Thank you for that recognition. Thank you. And I'm also want to make sure we we thank Blue Cross Blue Shield for providing the book bags to our winners and finalists. We'll make sure we all everyone gets their gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield. We have another presentation. Mayor, we would ask Ms. Miriam Atria, the president and CEO of Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board to come forward for a marketing update. Good evening, Mayor Benjamin, members of City Council, City Manager Wilson. Thank you. I know I've got to talk fast and quickly. We have left some of our marketing materials on your desk to kind of show you some success stories we've had. We've got so many now that I can't even get them all in print. We have just returned from the Country Music Awards. Lake Murray, this tourism region was chosen as the go to destination for the Country Music Awards this year. So we've just returned from the CMA Awards and now we'll be heading out to the Grammy Awards for another announcement. And then we're going to be moving on to Duck Dynasty. We're working on a special promotion with them. And then of course we receive in the mail clothing to help promote one of our largest endeavors. The USA Bass Fishing Team just brought home the gold and we are going to turn Bass Fishing into an Olympic sport. And so they head along with, I believe right now, we're at 14 foreign countries to Canada in 2019 for that event. But in 2020, they will be coming to Lake Murray for that tournament event. Fishing has taken our organization and this region into so many outlets. We never really thought possible. And now we've just had a television show filmed in Columbia and across our region and on our lake, which also highlights fishing, but also highlights some of our restaurants and eating establishments in the region. So we brought you a preview, but I printed out for you your own personal television schedule as to when the show will air. Anglers and appetites will be airing all across the United States. And I have brought a short video clip number one to share with you from pole bending large mouth. There you go. I didn't take long to a boat full of strike bass right at the head. Anglers and appetites returns to the jewel of South Carolina to wet our hook in Lake Murray and the appetite himself prepares a massive Epicurean arsenal from Italian to Creole. Get a little Creole if you're feeling it. It's a show case of... Featuring merman. ...watering hangouts and fine dining hot spots from Lexington and Irmo to the capital city of Columbia. Get your hooks and knives ready as anglers and appetites returns to Lake Murray country for a two part journey premiering this November on Fox Sports South and nationally on Discovery's Destination America and Amazon Prime. Oh man this is beautiful. And the bigger news is CBS Sports just picked up this television show as well. Awesome. Today we were just notified that we have received another award from our efforts and the economic impact of the 2017 Forest Wood Cup. We received from the Destination Sports Management Company the champion of economic impact for 2018 in the mid markets of Destination Sports. That was awarded to our organization today. Awesome. Awesome. And finally talking about movies and television and stars. We'd like to unveil our new television ad which this is the longer version which is played through the internet on every time we run an ad in a magazine it is followed through with a digital ad on a website somewhere out there. So this is the video clip that helps to lure no pun on words visitors into Columbia and Lake Murray. You're going worldwide now. The international tube all across the United States and into the international market. Last year we had a billion media impressions. We are more shocked than anyone from all of the television that we've received through USA Bass Fishing Team all across the world from the Forest Wood Cup from the Big Bass Tour I can stand here and name you about 25 different outlets where we were on television. It is mind-boggling. Absolutely. We are still in shock as to our successes with with a little bit of money that we're getting from in marketing. We're spending eight hundred thousand dollars roughly on marketing. That's small money to promote a four-county region but the results we're getting are unbelievable. Well we we uh we had some comments about you earlier. Me and Ma the great work that you do and the um and with this one of our regional partnerships we're very proud of. We don't recognize our borders Richland County, Lexington County, City of Columbia. We get great RRI from your team and we appreciate you always keeping us posted on the successes and they continue to be additive. So so so thank you. We'll be back in the spring with the newest one, Staycation Week and thanks to Janie Baker and Vicki Davis and the audience that helped make this happen. Well thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Miriam you gave us but just so the audience knows the episode looks like the first one ran this past Saturday. Yes but this next set but this Saturday coming at 9 30 a.m. it will air on Fox Sports. Yes and we have those air times listed at LakeMurrayCountry.com as well. Awesome. Great. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Mayor Benjamin you're going to be in that show as well the commercial. You would bring that one clip on the day we do Waze In and everything else that was a photo I did not eat the food. That's a great day. So the city the great day. Thank you. All right. So we're gonna have some items we have to wait until seven to take out right public. As we transition, Mr. Mayor, I wanted to also let everyone know as we're speaking about attractions. Our ice skating rink opens on Thanksgiving Day at five o'clock p.m. holiday ice out at Columbiana Center. I was on site yesterday. It's gonna be amazing so we hope everyone can go out and enjoy that. Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you. We have some resolutions, Mr. Mayor, would you like to continue? Yeah, so we have just so you all know everyone's waiting. We noticed our public hearing for 7 p.m. So we can't take up items before 7 p.m. In case a member of the public wants to come and be heard on it. So we've got a few minutes so we're going to take up a few other items very quickly. Yes, our resolution number R 2018 105 release an abandonment of a portion of the city's existing 10 foot waterline easement along a portion of Richland County as outlined like for at the lakes that bear any place. That motion. Move approval second. Moving second discussion with the previous question. Clark Colorado. Mr. Rickman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Badura. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. Resolution number R 2018 106 ratifying and authorizing the city manager to execute a letter of intent between the city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina and the city manager's execution of a purchase and sale agreement documents to consummate the purchase of 2221 Divine Street. So move. Move. Mr. Badura. Second. Ms. Divine. Discussion. With the previous question. Clark Colorado. Mr. Rickman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Badura. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. We'll move into ordinances first reading Mr. Mayor. Item 28 ordinance number 2018 066 acknowledging the amended and restated master agreement governing the I-77 corridor regional industrial park. The motion. To move. Just moving second. Discussion. With the previous question. Clark Colorado. Mr. Rickman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Badura. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. Mr. Mayor. Item 29 complements. Item 24 as you all have approved it. Ordinance number 2018 070 authorizing the city manager to execute a lease between the city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina department of administration. Real property services for the lease of 2221 Divine Street. We purchased the property. The motion. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Second. Second. Moving to second discussion. Move the previous question. Clark Colorado. Mr. Rickman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Badura. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. Appointments. Item 30 council is asked to approve the appointment of one individual to the Midlands Authority for Convention Sports and Tourism. I move the appointment of John Hardy to a final term. Second. Moving second in recognition in our policy. Let me just say this real quick. I recognize you in our policy. This is Mr. Hardy's last term and appointment to this term would require a supermajority of Mr. Duvall. I'd like to nominate Mr. Rick Rowe. Okay. Fantastic. Okay. Well, thank you. There's motion on the floor of Mr. Hardy's appointment and I do believe we'll have a number of opportunities. Rick is I think acknowledged a fantastic appointee and I think we'll have an opportunity to appoint him out of this or some other boards as he has served us well in the past. Move the nomination. One other absolutely. Just I too agree. I think Rick would do an amazing job and certainly would love to see him in this capacity or others. I do want to say that, you know, this appointment, although it goes outside of our policy with some of our regional boards, it's important that we recognize that when leadership rotates, sometimes when a person is not reappointed, it does affect our ability to have leadership position. And so although I would love to see people like Rick and others on the board, I do think that Mr. Hardy's service on the board and his leadership position and the fact that if he were no longer on the board, potentially put us in situation where we wouldn't have leadership, I think warrants going outside of our policy. All right. I'm sorry, Mr. I've had a conversation. I've had a conversation with Rick and what he'd like to do. Of course, he would love to serve in that position but is open to other opportunities of service and would love to and would be pleasure to participate in something else. We've got something planned for him, I think. All right. Fantastic. Fantastic. Move the nomination of John Hardy. Second. Move the previous question about that. I apologize. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Badura. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. Thank you. All right. Mr. Mayor, would you like to approve the meeting schedule at this time for 2019? Is there a motion? Is there a motion? So move. Second. Second. Second. Any discussion? Move the previous question. Clerk, call the roll. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Mr. Badura. Hi. Mr. Vine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. All right. So we just we still got a couple minutes of any items for committee referral or reports from committees. I will say this. I just happened to see the notes from Lauren on the Columbia Ways In Challenge. Mr. Barfield lost 32 pounds. The second place went to Ms. Floyd, 31 pounds. And the tie for third were Mr. Robinson and Ms. Sims both lost 30 pounds each. So some folks, sir, getting skinny in Columbia. Getting skinny. All good stuff. Madam Chair Harris, thank you for being here this evening. Mr. Superintendent. Mr. Devine, Commissioner Devine, thank you all for being here. Christa. Are we still? Are we living? Are we living? I went with seven. Yes, sir. Just reading for the record, Mr. Mayor, the major amendment to a PUD 3319 Mill Wood Drive. All right, please. Good evening. Yes, this is your only item, remarkably, for your zoning public hearing this month. It is a major amendment to a PUD at 3319 Mill Wood Drive. This will allow for changes to the playing fields, to relocate the tennis courts, as well as a number of other details that have been written into the amendment. I'll be brief here because I know there's a lot of other people who want to speak, but I'll be available for any questions you may have. All right. The public's first. Yeah. Any public input? We've had a whole lot of dialogue, y'all, and I think it's about time we get this done. Do y'all agree? So I know we've got a little more, a few more amendments, but nothing that's substantive enough to affect the delivery of a high quality field that also meets the needs of the neighborhood and enjoying peaceable enjoyment of their homes. This last week, and then Mr. Rickerman and Mr. Badura spent some quality time working through some other issues. And we're at a point right now where we're going to have to, of course, have to do two readings. We'll get a second reading in December, and we'll all get through this together and continue to make sure that the young people who attend Drear, which I believe is one of the finest high schools in this entire country, have a chance to have a complete education, not just the academic, but also all the extracurricular and co-curricular needs that they have. How do we have to formally do this on these amendments? Just want to read them into the record or go ahead. Let's clarify, they're not amendments, they're clarification on the existing application. So I think with the proper step would be to, I'm going to make the motion to approve the amendment to the PUD with the clarifications on these documents that I'm going to give to Ms. Hampton. And then between now and second reading, which is December 4th, we're going to get these things clarified and incorporated in there so that it'll be complete. They include things like the map that is submitted is not correct. Adding the landscape additions that have been asked for, which is tree and buffer that the landscape architect needs to meet with us on site so we can get those things clarified. It's clarifying things like a pick one, the arboretum fence, elevation. And the real piece in this that is the document that allows the notice to go to the neighbors and the joining property owners for the future to call for meeting 30 days in advance of any type of application so there can be true discussion. And it's very clarified along with having a liaison with the district. It seems like a lot of little points. It's just a lot of clarification, but very important so that we move forward having everything completed and we all can move on to another day. So with that, Mr. Mayor, I make the motion to move forward for first reading of the major Pudge. I apologize to interrupt, but I would suggest you might want to have the public hearing. Oh, yeah, I forgot. Anyone want to speak? Or I thought he had to ask if anyone wanted to speak. I didn't. We don't get through quick. Oh, I think anyone want to speak in favor of or again, so we are we ready to rock and roll? Yes, sir. Before we open it up. Before we open it up. Daniel, let me just ask this. The original document remains the same with the clarifying issues that you are going to give tonight. It's actually three parts to be true. There was the original PUD. We amended that PUD and that amendment which was incorporated from the mediation that we did, which then gave us the post. This is the detail. This is like the final pieces. There's just some things that fell through the crack that need to be clarified. And I've spoken with the chairwoman, the vice chair, and folks at the district. We're all on the same page. So this is just to give us time because the one thing we didn't want to do is make these clarifications in haste and rather do it in between first and second so that's clarified. We can make sure the map and everything so that everybody has the same same document. And let's make sure that that those clarifications are broadly shared. So whoever wants them or needs them, I'll share them with some of our friends here tonight. Let's make sure we have them and we'll work through that between first and second. Okay, just make sure. And we would want to make sure that that is aired in the public but just to hear from you. Absolutely. And two clarifications on that. One is that, I guess, Mr. Quack and Bush will get with you and Mr. Rimball. We have the microphone. Daniel, the microphone. Is it not working? No, it is. Then then the second is, is that I think it'd be great if Dr. Witherspoon, if we could have Mr. Webb work with Ms. Hampton to make sure that the language is what we all had agreed to, if that's acceptable. There's a motion for approval. Seeing no public input. Is there a second? Public input, of course. No, I think everyone's declined to change something. Yeah, I think we're good. I think everybody's tired of talking. They could all talk. Seconded by Mr. Badura. All right, with the previous question, call her on. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Badura. Aye. Mr. Vine. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. unanimous vote, y'all. Let's get this done. All right, we got to give So our commitment is to make sure that we give the students at Drear and the fantastic neighborhoods that surround Drear a fantastic Christmas gift. We're going to get this done in December, y'all, when we're going to be off to the races. So thank y'all. Go do some homework, y'all. Thank y'all. You keep doing great things, okay? All right. All right. Thank you, Mr. Superintendent. Thank you, Manchu. Hey, Toby. How are you? Good. Good to see you. How are you? Good, man. Good luck to you. Watch this here. Watch this here. Hey, sir. Good work. Good work. You're doing all right. That's how it is. Thanks. Good job. Hey, sir. Hey, Scott. Hey, how are you? Where's Manchu? Is he here? He's still out there, man. Did I know Howard even knew how to do the flat? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Man, you can do the Chaltes or someone. Yes, sir. Before we take comments from the public, can I make an introduction? Mr. Badura. We have a very special two guests, extremely special guests today in the audience. My two special boys, Zeke and Eli. Mo, they're telling me they're 18 and 16 years old, they told me. How old are they now? They're getting there. They're getting there. They're big, big fishermen. So that's right. We're working on your brother anyway. Awesome. Good to see you, boys. So good to see you. Absolutely. So we have two citizens who've signed up to speak, Mr. Allen Browning and Mr. Red Solis. Again, I know y'all say here he goes again, but I'm not going to come to complain at all. Again, I'm Allen Browning from Hearts for the Homeless. Reverend Browning. I'm sorry, Reverend Browning. Minister Browning. Yes. From Living Waters International Church, and again, I'm going to reiterate this just to be short. Me and my wife several months ago started a charitable organization, Hearts for the Homeless, Homeless Veterans. I was homeless at one point. Eight years I made a rise from that position. I just want to reiterate that. I came to a two-city council meetings expressing the situation of the homeless in the park and Valley Park. Last night, we were featured on WIS News. We fed over 150 people somewhere in the range of 150, 200 people Thanksgiving dinner there last night. We had S.K. Browning construction to come out of Orangeburg, South Carolina, which is a relative of mine, who wanted to make a donation. And we partnered up and we had a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner with the homeless last night. So I wanted to say that. And you guys can go on WIS News website and catch the full interview. But anyway, I come back to present this to you guys to the council, city council and the mayor. I want to read this to you before I present it to you guys. I'm not a good public reader, so please bear with me. And I had a young lady to type this up because I'm not technical. I'm more of a combat military soldier. So I'm not technical, so it might be a couple of typos. Y'all please forgive me for that. Okay, I'm gonna try to read this and y'all bear with me. To Columbia mayor and city council members from Living Water Church International and Hearts for the Homeless and Homeless Veterans Outreach Ministry, we have been informed of grants being released in December 2018 by the city council. Here we are requesting our ministry to be a recipient of one or more of grants that are being available to help fund our community outreach projects. We have for months been targeting the homeless and family park. We have been providing meals, clothing, spiritual encouragement downtown every Monday. That's where we're permitted by the United Way in the city to do that every Monday. So we've been doing that. On Sundays we have expanded ministry to where we use our church bus. We go down there on Sunday morning as we pick them up. We take them for worship, for worship service. We feed them. We use that time and opportunity to interact with them to find out the needs of the homeless. Me and my pastor and my wife, she's the CEO. And our objective is to use these grants. This grant program to assist those homeless people that have SSI disabilities or temporary labor incomes. They're actually people who go to work and sleep in that park in their cars at night. So I'm going to be done. I heard the buzzer so guys give me a few more seconds. Again, our objective is to use this grant program to assist the homeless that have the SSI disability and temporary labor incomes to obtain stable residency by helping with deposits for apartments, boarding housing facilities and SNG deposits to reduce the number of the wondering homeless in the downtown area. We strongly believe in doing this, we can eventually eradicate the situation by cutting down on the numbers of wondering homeless and helping them obtain stable residency. We have other effective ideas for example, a day shelter where we would provide a shower, clothing and recreation, haircuts and have job fairs and employees come in and make them employable and once we do that we tap back once some of them are employed we'll tap back into those grants help them with the deposit and first much rent and let it be and push them on we want this to you know be a continuing our door to success. Okay. Okay Lord God we are going forward we're requesting funding for on the both on the state and federal level in the future but we know that it must start with us our local elected along with our community making changes needed in our community again we humbly ask and form the request in this document to receive grant or grants that are being dispersed in December together we can change the face of the city because there's a lot of homeless, wondering homeless and we want to take them to that next level guys. I'm asking you guys humbly I'm new at this this is my formal request I have a copy for each one of them the mayor and each city council I don't know if I have to present our 511C3 now or our more cam and now I got copies of that for you guys also if necessary should I present them? Yeah give me the city manager okay and I don't know I didn't put a number I neglected to put an address a number but hot if we are granted by you guys again I humbly ask we got contact we still got a process as I mentioned to you notice the funds available we're going to be doing the process so you're going to be here next meeting anyway you know you're going to be here if you have to be I'm learning as I go along yeah so no so there's a process this is a start so you're in the QE but there's still a good bit to do we'll talk like I'll tell you thank you for responding as I requested getting us a written request and we'll talk some more about ways how would I without disturbing meetings every week how would I you know you're not you're not disturbing me so what's the next process this is my chance Mr. Mayor would you please yeah get minister browning the process to make sure when the no for comes out that he had he has it's out so so just going on city's website look up process for applying for grants right it'll be obvious to you it'll say a notice of money okay now I'm about to do this again on the website but are y'all accepting this as a you know my request formally no she's telling you she's telling you the process she's telling you have to go to the website basically you've already done your homework so you just need to submit it go through the website from learning guys again and y'all guys will read this if I'm asking please you know go over this if y'all yeah okay thank you guys all right thank you Mr. Solis Mr. good evening again oh I'm sorry you had a question for Mr. Browning I just wanted to suggest to the the reverend that Mr. Browning Mr. Browning Councilman Rickerman I just wanted to suggest I don't know if you've gone to the mock but the mock is the Midlands group that oversees all the funding for a lot of the homeless services and that's probably the proper place for you to to put in an application the easiest and what else and the easiest the mock since you've already submitted under the United Way to get the permission to feed it would be the same folks that's just a different group so if you ask the folks but again City Council I'm asking you guys to help because I noticed on y'all website we that that is the organization they get where all the federal funding and everything that flies through which pays for a lot of the homeless services and that's where you need to really you really need to go I understand that but you guys do fund situations that I was told by the City Council meeting that y'all give millions and I might not know it's a great bigger but y'all give money to organizations that's already established here I assume that's what I was told you don't give money to the church to the church okay I'm well I'm actually a chair to but I have a Mark Hamman I have 511c3 and I have a Mark Hamman I am a chair to the organization Hawkins for the Homeless and Homeless Veterans that's who's asking Minister so so um again let's let's meet as as I suggested we do before let's meet I'll make sure you have the information from mock I'll make sure you have the information to when does the NOFA do when does the application so that's all pretty soon so so if not by the Mar then if you want to go through that process but I'll make sure you have all the information that that you need okay but but but they can't but they can't but they can't but it can't be at the council meeting every meeting so call me in between like I asked you to call me in between and we'll spend some time going through the the the process that you that you need to be to apply if you go that route and also I'll make sure you have the information about the the coalition the the mock coalition so but we're not going to do it right here at the microphone okay you guys give um doing um um grants through charitable organization that's what I'm asking to non-profit organizations that's what I yes non-profit organizations and and the 501c3 is not something that secretary of state Hammond can give you he can he can you can establish a non-profit corporation I have actually a non-profit okay you can you can establish a a a non-profit through the secretary of state but of course the 501c3 designation has to be given by the rs so we we can talk about that but yes but not but not it's not this is not helpful helpful a helpful dialogue yeah I know I know we we're gonna get it done and you got you got a heart your heart and your and your deeds are all in the right place so we want to make sure and I would ask you guys but please go on the um WIS website and look at what we do go on my on my facebook it's the ministry facebook Alan Browning A.L.E.N and watch what we have done in the city just me and my wife along got our own pockets absolutely we just asking for assistance thank Mr. Brown thank you have a passion for what you want to do yes no question about it all of us sort of hear what you're saying the other piece of that is the process piece yes sir and I wish we could just on the whim of a moment to say here's some money do what you need to do because there is a tremendous need for homelessness within the city of Colombia my point is allow the process to work yes sir and I know I know you got a passion for it because you you've been here the last two times oh the lower absolutely so if you'd allow the process to work I think Mr. Rickerman has given you an idea of where that funding or where some possible help could come you've gotten you've gotten all your 5013C and the application in city manager's hands allow the process to work okay all right I think that would be up Mr. Solis let's let's man all right yes sir thank you Mr. Browning thank you so much we'll make sure you have the information about Mark Mr. Solis do you have the information y'all don't y'all don't talk I know I know sir that's divine intervention oh no they were together the last two times let's do so so let's make sure we're talking to you talking to you Mr. Solis please thank you young people where are y'all from students wait yeah y'all yeah back road you guys see J school or what what's what's good are y'all having fun yet or bored yet or what it's been interesting kind of certain you're at you're at you're at to be somewhere you're at to be somewhere in Turkey right now I bet all right it's coming soon it's coming soon it's coming soon Mr. Solis she had to find the word Dear members of the city council as a reminder I am Reggie director of needle things Columbia, Lexington, South Carolina I provide informational services to the homeless I'm also a board member of the homeless helping homeless a steering committee member of the meal share program at United Way a member of the Midlands area consortium for the homeless as well as recently being asked to be on the review committee to help decide who gets funding forward from the United Way next time I want to thank personally the mayor for his time last time after the last city council meeting it was my honor and to have an opportunity to talk in person to somebody I voted for in support I appreciate the council's time and I'm here again and will continue to return until we can find some solutions to what I see are some relatively easy problems to resolve last time I was here I asked the mayor for the possibility of proclamation joining in the nationwide recognition of national persons homeless national homeless persons Memorial Day December 21st is traditionally celebrated in other cities of national homeless persons Memorial Day since last time I was here progress has been made with the help of Kathy Hood Hettinger from United Way as well as my own church with Father Tom at Church of the Apostles and if I may just briefly summarize the letter I got from United Way is that Father Tom at Church of the Apostles has agreed to do a memorial service on Monday December 17th at five o'clock just prior to the 530 meal in recognition of all the people all the homeless people that we know died on the street the last few years both Charleston and Spartanburg as well as Atlanta and many many other major and capital cities have celebrated this day and I just I'm hoping that some progress is coming so that we can have a proclamation for that day also previously I asked for a solution to three items the question of why the inclement center was not open was answered by our mayor due to the floodline rising it is not considered a safe place to be has anyone been looking into an alternative site the last few weeks the rain has caused flood watches and warnings thereby eliminating the use of the center there where are our folks to go how do how do we protect those who desperately need the shelter and protection previously I brought two copies of the two news articles that were ruled in the ninth circuit court the first one being about sleeping outside in public areas when there is no viable place for them to go and they have you know certain regulations as far as the viable option options and I gave all all of you copies of that information I'm hoping that we're coming to some sort of decision on what we can do to comply with that ninth court circuit decision as well as the having people's property seized which is becoming a problem as I stated before when you go homeless the things you carry the most are the things that you value the most and when you lose those things some people lose their mental stability because of that because they've lost the last precious things from their life please let Columbia South Carolina be a leader in accepting these policies instead of one of the last which is our reputation I'd like to tell the world that the state in which I live is a leader in these topics and an example to others that we care about our fellow human beings I have just one additional thing I would to say to the mayor I have a challenge for you the Salt Lake County mayor Ben McNatins had kept the secret for four months after he went homeless for three days with no money or ID and walked to Salt Lake cities most troubled neighborhood dressed in jeans sneakers and a hoodie the county mayor spent three days and two nights walking and sleeping among the homeless and drug addicted in Salt Lake cities real grand neighborhood I brought a copy of the news article for you to read as well as a copy of the email from United Way about the homeless memorial day I want to thank you for your time for listening to me and I'd like to request getting my picture taken with you after let's take a picture my man but a few quick answers or responses to things you raise we'll definitely get the memorial resolution done that's important and we'll make sure it gets done at one of our two meetings next month all right certainly if Mr. Solis could just make sure that our staff knows when it is if our schedules allow some of us would love to attend I would love that the um we will obviously a discussion around the inclement weather center being challenged was of course we have these wet weather events certainly when as the temperature dips and it has and it will continue to we will continue to file a protocol and the center will be open for folks when it as as it gets colder so so we will make sure that it is open you're so engaged in other organizations doing work around the community I would also actually take a look at some of the work that the United Way is doing regarding resilient Richland you know the the challenges some of you reference that so many people in our community are dealing with trauma and that either leads to homelessness but also is compounded by homelessness and some of the work that they're doing I think in that space that we will be supporting it's going to be groundbreaking and I think it's going to help us deal with some of the larger challenges that that we're dealing with but that resilient Richard program I think Howard you sent something to us about that as well it's something exciting let's continue to engage with our law enforcement as we try to strike the balance on the issue of personal belongings I can only imagine how some of the most intimate important belongings some of our citizens carry with them every single day and losing those can be devastating and we have to make sure we balance that with the with the with the same modern challenges we have of having having items placed outside and being left unattended and some of the 2018 public safety concerns and risks around that so we might just have to keep discussing how best we can do that but but we appreciate you and Minister Browning we appreciate your continued advocacy and look forward to continue the dialogue not just on the on the specific issues that we referenced but how we can continue to work make sure we we meet the needs of our unsheltered citizens there's a lot of work to do I know Bimmick Adams knowing well we we've spent some quality time together citizens know him as well as ours know me I'm not sure if I could pull that off like I think Craig Melvin did about a decade have you ever seen the show Undercover Boss I have I could tell you I could tell you some stories about Undercover Boss too but but we'll wrap about that last challenge later all right let me let me get let me get past my my shortlist 5k challenge first so if if there's no other citizens who sent to speak let's have a motion to adjourn Mr. Solis let's get a picture I might want to get a picture with the Afro on the back too I'm not convinced it's a real Afro is that real Afro Mr. Davis used to have the same Afro he said he really did he really did had the same Afro back in the day you've seen the pictures haven't you hey so young J school students you all are the cream of the crop you are competing at a very high level at a fantastic school we want you to go on and keep doing great things and hopefully if not immediately after you graduate at some point we'll be able to get you back here to colombia and the midlands to help make this place an even better place to live Lauren raise your hand Lauren's a J school graduate and works for me and some of you may know her she looks like she's still in college but she's doing some incredible work prepared in the same programs that you guys are studying right now non-debatable motion to adjourn so move is there a second move the previous question Kurt Carrol Mr. Rickerman hi Mr. McDowell yes Mr. Duval hi Mr.Badura Mr. Devine Mr. Davis Mayor Benjamin happy Thanksgiving everyone