 But we're still not my way to keep up with them to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Let us pray. Father God, we ask that you be with this council this afternoon as we deliberate for the City of Columbia and the Midlands. Give us wisdom to make the right decisions, patience to understand each other's positions, and we ask it in your name. Amen. We have the adoption of our agenda for today. I move we adopt the agenda as presented. All right. Is there a second? Second. We moved in seconded that we adopt the agenda for today. Yes, sir. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McAllen. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. We also have our approval adoption of the minutes for October 5th. Do you have those before you? I move we approve the minutes for October the 5th. Is there a second? Second. We moved in seconded that we approve the minutes for October 5th. Madam Clerk, if you would call the roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Madam. Yes, sir. Thank you. Mayor Pro Tim McDowell. We were moved into a period of presentations. Our first being item two, resolution number R-2021-117, approving the honorary naming of the intersection of Oak Street and Gervais Street, Simon P. Bowie Square. Thank you. I'm going to ask Dr. Bobby Donaldson, if you would, come and say a word to us as we honor Reverend Bowie. Good afternoon, everyone. Councilman McDowell, members of City Council. Today, I'm very pleased to recognize an American hero. On March 14th of 1960, a young student at Alling University named Simon Bowie joins a movement of young men and women in downtown Columbia. He goes into the Eckers Drug Store on Main Street. He requests to be served. He is denied service because of his race, and he is arrested. He and his close friend named Talmadge Neil. That arrest leads to a landmark United States Supreme Court case called Bowie versus the city of Columbia, which is taught in nearly every law school in this country. The young man who's named in that lawsuit was born in Waverly in a home that still stands on the corner of Oak and Gervais Street. He is a proud graduate of the historic Booker T. Washington High School and Alling University. He had no idea that day that he would ever be in a law school textbook. And I imagine, Councilman McDowell, that Mr. Bowie had no idea that the work he did in the spring of 1960 would lead to a city and a city council that looks as it does today. So I am very pleased to join the city of Columbia in recognizing this young man, Simon Bowie, and encouraging the adoption of a proposal to rename the intersection where he once lived, Simon P. Bowie Square. Reverend Simon Bowie. Thank you so very much, Dr. Donison, to the honor of the mayor and to the distinguished city council. You know, I'm just so honored to be here. I never thought this day would come. My saintly grandmother said one day sitting on the porch, boy, you'll never know what you will become. They may even name that street after you, you don't know. And I never believed that would have ever happened. But by you doing it, it brings to reality the dreams and hopes of so many people. I didn't do this for myself. I did it for our beloved city. That it would grow and that it would be the kind of city that we all would be pleased to live in and to live together as neighbors and friends and loved ones. So today I'm so pleased to accept this beautiful, beautiful plaque going up on the corner of Oak and Jabez Street. I shall go and look at it almost every day. You guys don't take it down for me. God bless you and thank you so very much. Mayor Pro Tem, we definitely want to get a formal motion too for the resolution of the Simon P. Bowie Square. We need you all to, yes, second. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. Rickerman. Hi, Mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Davis. Thank you. Thank you all. And now item three, sir, is the Columbia Navy Week, October 18th through the 23rd of 2021 proclamation, the honorable Mayor Pro Tem, Ed McDowell. Thank you very much. Let me just, before I say anything, let me just say a word of thanks to these men and women dressed, dressed immaculately in your uniforms today. You serve us well and we are appreciative of what you're doing and what you are going to do and what you continue to do. I am so happy to have with me today Rear Admiral Jeffrey S. Smith here with us today. Admiral Smith is the Senior Military Advisor for Cyber Policy to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. Admiral, we are just happy and delighted to have you with us today. Anytime I see a uniform, especially a military uniform, I've never been in the military, but I have this compulsion to give you a salute. And I would always say to myself, I better not do that because I may do it wrong. And if I do it wrong, I do not want any hazing. So thank you so very, very much for being here today and observing Columbia Navy Week. I'd just like to read a proclamation whereas the city of Columbia is honored to have the presence of the United States Navy in our community and whereas the state of South Carolina is home for more than 5,000, 5,800, I'm sorry, active duty enlisted sailors and naval officers, 776 Navy reservists and 13,000 active duty and reserve retirees and whereas the United States Navy is instrumental in ensuing the safety and security of 41 plus 41.4 billion in annual exports from the state of South Carolina and whereas the city of Columbia takes great pride in supporting our namesake vessels, USS Columbia and whereas the Columbia Navy Week hosts special events and programs for the state to increase the community's knowledge and understanding of the Navy and its global mission and whereas the Columbia Navy Week includes publicly available events throughout the city, now therefore be it resolved. I, Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin, along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council, do hereby proclaim this occasion of the aforementioned events to be Columbia Navy Week in the city of Columbia. Thank you, Council Members. Thank you, everyone in attendance today for for helping us feel a very warm welcome to Columbia, really appreciated. Everything we've seen and been able to participate in today, I have the honor of enlisting 18 of your sons and daughters on the Capitol Steps just moments ago. A very, very powerful image for your city and state and hopefully a very meaningful day for those individuals and their families. So that was an extreme honor for me. I have with me today members of the James E. Williams crew. James E. Williams is a a Aegis missile destroyer. Obviously we couldn't bring the whole crew but we have a representative group here of outstanding sailors and officers, Chief Petty Officer that are representing the entire crew and their direct connection to the James E. Williams family and everything he stood for. So fantastic to have him have them with us here today. As was mentioned, there are many, many events going on across the city this week. Hopefully you all will be able to see some of them participate in some of them and really enjoy learning a little bit more about our modern Navy and how we're how we're doing our mission globally to really help advance the freedoms and opportunities and prosperity of the city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina. So thank you for everything. Thank you very much. Well, I know I know you guys would like to stay with us to remain in part of this meeting today. It would be real joyous to have you. But if you need to leave, you can do that now. Thank you very much. Thank you. Madam City Manager? City Council discussion action period where we would normally do a COVID-19 update with any comments from Mayor Benjamin and you all and a situational report from Emergency Management Director Harry Tinsley. Harry is away today at a funeral of his deputy's father. So we're all in thought with Mike Cochran and his family. And of course, Mayor Benjamin is out of town. But in lieu of the normal situational report, I thought I would address and give you a little bit of an update myself regarding our mandatory vaccination policy that you all directed back in early September, moving towards that policy, which is due to be implemented on November the first. And so we are making steady progress in the city with getting our employees vaccinated. I'm actually very pleased from the point that we were when we first started talking about this, trending like the community probably lower than 50% or right right around that percentage point. We're now at 74% of our employees who are vaccinated and for an additional 4% or partially vaccinated. So assuming those 4% will finish and get that last shot to be fully vaccinated, we'll be hovering around 78% here very soon. And so I really want to thank our city employees, the public servants that they are for being willing to listen to me during some very hard conversations we've been having over the last several weeks, in person me going out talking with them trying to encourage and explain why it is not about discounting at all their personal beliefs. This is about the continuity of services that we must provide for municipality, like many others across this country to provide the services that we have to deliver as public servants. And so we are trying to honor your directive. I have explained to the employees that I do feel like 80% is a good aspirational goal to achieve in our city population of employees to show that we are at a level to sustain, hopefully, a healthy workforce, while also balancing as many others are labor shortages. And so I'm very in tune to where we are the percentage still trying to get to 80% in hopes that we will continue to expect an honor when we push the policy out on November 1st that the expectation is that everyone get vaccinated. However, I think at 80%, I will also be sharing with you all some additional protocols, continued testing procedures, but also some consequences for those unvaccinated employees who may remain still, you know, in a quandary about whether they want to get the vaccine or not, once the policy is pushed out. My thought process, as I have explained, because this question has come up a lot with the media in the last few days, is that these consequences which we are working through with Ms. Benjamin, Ms. Javis, Ms. Knott, the entire legal team will be things that I think are meaningful to some of our staff if they choose to still work for the city, because I certainly want them to. But I think that they, because it will now be a policy, you know, there have to be some consequences if you choose to still work with the city. There will still be some things that you have to adhere to. And so those are the things that I will be bringing forward by November the 1st. I have not, I don't recommend that we terminate anyone on November the 1st. I think we're building in some deadlines in that policy that I'll present to the staff and to you all. But that that is the update that we have for today on that. And if, you know, I'm here to answer any questions about that. I know, you know, it's being widely discussed. Yes, ma'am. Ms. Wilson, I just, can you explain to us the testing protocols that have been put in place and how is that going? Yes, ma'am. So, Director Tinsley, Ms. Benjamin, Ms. Javis have been very active in standing up available sites for our city employees to go to weekly. So we have a schedule, whether it's public safety folks are going on certain days and then other unvaccinated city employees are going on certain days. But they must present their test results to their supervisors in a timely manner during that week period. And if they are negative, which we hope that they are many have been by goodness, then they, you know, we it's documented and they have to do it again the following week. If they're positive, then we're handling each of those cases on an individual basis and adhering to the same protocols we always had been, whether it's quarantine situations, etc. But making sure that those employees get the care that they need and that any exposures have been addressed as well. So it's a it's a weekly testing process. So that so that the November, as reported in the paper, the November protocol, whatever it was, is going to continue and you coming back to us with something that is perhaps can be concretized. Yes, sir. So prior to November 1st, I will definitely share the final draft of the policy with you all and push that out as well to our employees. You know, I'll share it with you if you have any questions, concerns, it'll be enough time for you to let me know. But that protocol that policy will mandate vaccinations. It will also go into any additional consequences for those who may choose not to have gotten vaccinated by that point in time. My recommendation is going to be to follow some of those consequences in lieu of any automatic terminations of employment. Because I do think I feel like we'll get to 80% of our entire population vaccinated by then we're at seven almost 78% right now. And every day I'm still talking to employees and we're still pushing forward. So I do feel in order to balance our continuity of services from a health perspective, but also from the ability to maintain the workforce that we need. That is the balance that I've tried to strike. And I think that some of these, you know, consequences that we're talking about for unvaccinated employees will factor in possibly things like just to give you a little bit of flavor of things we're talking about. You know, obviously we have colas that are on the horizon cost of living increases. We have merit increases in the years to come, hopefully. So that evaluation process, if you are not agreeing to adhere to a city policy, then that is a mechanism for documenting that in that way. And therefore, as an unvaccinated employee, then you may not be able to benefit from some of those things. These are just some of the possibilities of what we're thinking about. Also still trying to incentivize for the employees that are vaccinated. You know, the federal government did away with COVID leave time. We possibly could reinstitute some of that for those that are vaccinated so that individuals wouldn't have to use their personal leave. If it's a situation where they're having a quarantine due to their children being exposed or they've been exposed. But if you're unvaccinated, that potentially would not be a benefit that you get. So we're looking at various things to incorporate in the policy, as well as working with legal to make sure all exemptions that any employees may qualify for, they know right now we've already submitted that information to them in the forms to fill out, whether it's for medical reasons, religious reasons, and there's also a pregnancy deferral that they can also that might apply to some of our employees who may be pregnant. So we're pushing that information out to them so they can definitely fill out those forms. It's not an automatic thing, but it's something that we certainly are taking very seriously and we'll review with them and let them know if those exemptions are they qualify and would be accepted to, you know, so they wouldn't have to get the vaccine. So that will be all laid out again in the policy. Any other OSHA, FLSA compliance regulatory things will be in the policy that we have to follow. I mentioned how we may handle leave or any additional leave or leave that may not apply to unvaccinated employees, as well as some additional things that may, you know, be more department specific. I mean, there are some things that police and fire may have that apply more to them. And so if those are those may be some things that we'll look at as far as, you know, a carrot and a stick kind of thing if you choose to be unvaccinated. So we're really trying or I'm trying to recommend to you opportunities for our employees to keep their jobs. But if you choose not to be to be vaccinated, and you and you are given the opportunity to still maintain your employment, there will have to be other consequences also that are in place and protocols to include continue testing. You know, as this wears on, you know, there's been discussions of antibody testing. And I know many of our first responders are very in tune to that. I'm not a doctor, as I've told them. And I don't know some of the questions I've gotten. I can't give direct answers to until we continue to work with DHEC and CDC regulations on what is appropriate. Maybe one day soon, that might be something that we can look at as far as your natural immunity if it truly is of a certain level. We're not there yet. The goal is to push vaccination. And so that is the directive you've given. And that's the direction we're trying to follow. Ms Wilson, are there time parameters attached to that? So the policy Mayor Pro Tem will give all of this in great detail. Obviously the policy will come out on November 1st. We've already started taking in exemption forms. I would anticipate there will be a date something that that is what we've talked about. Unless something glaring changes between my discussions with HR and legal, that's kind of the date I'm looking at December 31st, start the new calendar year where employees can also still benefit from the vaccination incentive that you all also approved for employees. If you get vaccinated, you get $500. We originally said November 1st, but obviously I've had employees who really responded to what we're saying and they've chosen to get vaccinated. So I certainly want them. I certainly want them to get the incentive up till December 31st. Thank you. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Yes, sir. Mr. Duvall. City Manager, I think you're doing exactly the right thing to have a continuum of steps to encourage those that are not vaccinated to get the vaccination. I think December 31st is too late. I would I would prefer it be moved up to maybe the last of November rather than the last of December. These people that are refusing to get the vaccination are putting themselves at risk. They're putting their families at risk, they're putting their fellow co workers at risk, and they're putting the people they serve in the city of Columbia at risk. Beyond that, they are a tremendous risk to the city of Columbia for our health plan. It's $75,000 plus to treat a COVID patient these days. And if we allow them to stay on our payroll, we're going to occur more of those expenses. And now that we're on the state health plan, I think we'll be in self evaluated each year now. We've been there long enough to maintain our own rating system. So it's going to hurt us. But I think it's your right to give them some options to push them in the right direction. I wish they would go ahead and accept the vaccine. But they got to be terminated at some point, whether it's the last of November or the first of January, if they have not gotten vaccinated, in my opinion. Great, Mrs. Oh, I'm, I don't have anything further, unless y'all questions. Any other comments? Sam? I, I'm supportive of doing whatever we can to retain employees. I'm supportive of doing whatever we can to make sure that the, the necessary information is provided to employees in terms of the impact individually as well as within the workplace. And also that we do the ancillary things that you're making, you're discussing as far as options within the process and reaching the goal. So I don't have a problem with that. I think we owe it to the employees, the people who serve this city, to make sure that they have every opportunity to take advantage of the state-of-the-art's approach to make sure that we have a safe workplace. I'm not, I don't have a staunch position on termination yet, but I don't know that you've fully reached that point of determining whether or not it's in fact necessary or the policy is going to so state, am I correct? Yes, sir. Okay, so I can appreciate what you're trying to do. I think we should have conversations and dialogues with the employees. I don't, I don't have a problem with that. We owe them that. And I'm hoping that we can reach a level of appreciation on both sides. So I would suggest that you continue to do that. I am and have always been a staunch supporter of our first responders. I don't know of anybody in this city that can question that. And I want to make sure that if decisions are made to not comply, then I hope that decision would be made with the full understanding of the impact of non-compliance, as well as full appreciation of what you've been trying to do to ensure that we maintain a safe environment and we give them every opportunity to have the best information, the right information, so that they can make their individual choices. Yes, sir. All right. Are there other comments? This was just let me say, I think, I think the flexibility of what you, what you just, what you just said gives us an opportunity to sort of look at, forensically, what the policy is and how it's, how it impacts persons. I don't think we've, we haven't mentioned that terrible word of termination. We don't want anybody to be terminated, but at least given the opportunity to make this policy work gives us a flexibility with all considered an opportunity to make this thing work. So I agree with your, your, your, your, the parameters of your timeline. I'm sure it would be helpful for a lot of folks to say, well, let's, let's do it at the end of the month. Let's, instead of December, well, it gives us an opportunity to fully, to fully put this plan together so that folk aren't, aren't hit with severity of this virus and of course, protecting our city, the 2,300 city employees. So yes, ma'am. And we, and also that during in, you know, I know we have been talking about it for a while now and really still trying to, you know, still give that opportunity. It takes about 45 days for someone to get fully vaccinated. So again, some of the, the dates that we come up with, they're not arbitrary. You know, we are just trying to push people to get fully vaccinated. So again, you know, that also has something to do with thinking about December 31st from now, giving more than enough time for individuals who may have, you know, still be thinking about it to go ahead and make that decision and get it fully done. Yes, sir. Mayor Sprotem. Yes, sir. Point of personal privilege. I believe we've been joined by Representative Leon Howard. I can't tell if that is Leon over there with his mask on, but I believe it is. I recognize it. Great hair. Delighted to have you with us. It's getting great. Representative Howard. Thank you. Representative Howard, glad to have you in our midst today. Gray hair and all. Thank you, sir. Gray beard too. Gray eyelashes too. Yeah, you're going to hold nine yards. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. DeVall, for raising that personal recognition. Is there any other questions of Ms. Wilson? If not, Madam City Manager. Yes, sir. Thank you all very much. At this point, we can take up the consent agenda items five through 18. So moved. Second. They moved and seconded it five to 18. I have a question on Mr. Rick. Item 16. Yes, sir. Mr. Rick, say it again. Then I have a question for item 16. I'm just curious where we have we've created this program so that we can make sure we take care of minority businesses in our community. But we're constantly seeing more and more minority businesses outside of our our state outside of our city. Are we taking away businesses business from local people as we do that? And because the question keeps coming up is that we're not doing enough for minority business in our community, but yet we're doing things for people outside of our community. Is that hurting us internally or is this because there's no one who can provide this service in town? It's just it's been brought up several times by folks in the community. And I just saw this one today and it reminded me to ask the question if you could shed some light on that. Yes, sir. Yeah, it is the continuous effort of the programs, which I do feel have grown in the city to address small minority women on business enterprises. The reality is for certain type work, some of that growth and development of the capacity of our local minority business owners to do the type work for some of these really large water sewer projects is something that I mean we just have to do better to help build capacity. I think our programs are in place to do that. Mr. Rickman, we've done lots of presentations through committee and also to the full council. We have the Office of Business Opportunities with Melissa Lindler, her efforts are she's passionate and she's always pushing our procurement director, Sandra Middleton and her team are always pushing asking the right questions. And of course, Assistant City Manager Shealy and his team are working right in tandem with them. The reality is some of this work, which were particularly under the consent decree to be done, no, we have to follow certain guidelines about that. And we've got to stay on course to get it done. What I'm always asking before these items come to the agenda is, are we at the right percentages? We are. Are they local necessarily? Maybe not in some instances. And so whatever we can do, I'll let Clint come up and address anything more to help move that needle. Then we've got to start being even more creative. The disparity study is underway. I'm very hopeful for some other feedback and guidance from those professionals on this particular question you asked. But the reality is, if we're asking about this specific item and the consent decree program management and the sub consultants who follow under that, the capacity does have to be there and sometimes it may not be local. Well, I just want to make sure I mean the program was set and we put it there for a reason and we've been trying to grow protégés and we're trying to do more and more outreach. I don't take that away from the city at all. But at the same time, I don't want to make sure that we're reaching out to hit a goal based on having minority participation that's not from here, but we're taking that business away from another local business that's here. We have to be, we have to have a nice balance to make sure that we're still growing all businesses here because collectively together they make up our community. And we have, yes, that's a great point. If the business isn't local minority who has the capacity to do it and then it goes outside of the Midlands region, are we taking that from another local business? We're taking local dollars and putting it in another state. That's my concern. In our efforts and maybe an unintentional consequence that we need to look at, I do want to always bring to your attention when we have items on here that may be one on this agenda to where they're protégé led projects. So I really commend Clint and his team for putting those kind of projects together where it is going to go to minority contractors. That was the end goal of the program. So I mean, every time we do that, then we've made another mark on success, which is great. But I just wanted to make sure that we weren't sending dollars out just to hit a percentage that didn't that didn't help either team in Columbia. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yes, sir. So just for a little bit of context, and I'm sorry. That's all right. Just for a little bit of context for Councilman Rickman's question there, about 25% of this contract is going to MWBE enterprises. About 20% of those are local. We did select many years ago, the base provider of the services that the main contract with CDM Smith based on their qualifications to be able to deliver a program and a consent decree compliance of this magnitude. So this is a continuation of that. I'm sorry, if that's self, I didn't mean to catch you off, Councilman Davis. Thank you. I'm glad that I'm not the only one at this point that still take notice of this type of contract. CDM has been in this city even before they changed up since the ground was dirt. They know what we've been trying to do as far as local businesses. I don't know what they're trying to do to help us meet those goals. And that's a lot of money again that's leaving the state. And the hard burn I have on this is they, I don't know what their policy is, our policy is that we're trying to grow local small minority businesses. It doesn't seem as though that's their goal, because that should be one of their concerns before they put something like this on the street, in my opinion. So again, we're still not, it's still not convincing me that we're really working to develop the talent in town. Somebody has got to do more to find these small businesses and help them get into the arena where they can develop those skills. Once they develop those skills, we're doing what we can to find the dollars to us, the financial part of it, to help the businesses grow. But somebody has got to play a major role in helping them develop the kinds of skills that's needed for the type of contract we're putting on the street. Now, I'm not pushing it at you, Clint. I think everybody knows my position on all this. And this is an example again of us saying, well, we don't have anybody that can do it. If that's always the point that's being made, then I think collectively we've got to show that we've got tech across town. We've got the University of South Carolina. We've got these large businesses in the city that are recipients of... Are we looking at the same contract? I'm not sure who wears this outrage. There's one sub, that's a minority sub, 3% is going to Georgia. Everybody else is in South Carolina. And when we did our local business ordinance now, if we want to change that, but we went around and around about what local meant. And it included some of the surrounding counties. But you've got DEESA on here. You've got ELL. You've got comprehensive business consultants that's in Columbia. And I know that CDM has done a really good job at not just trying to make sure that we have subs, but that we're building capacity. So I'm just not sure if we're talking about the same contract here. We're talking about the same thing. So what's your issue with it? It always comes up. Now, I'm just asking clearly because I can tell you the only two or three that always comes up. DEESA and CHOW. They lead the pack. I'm going beyond DEESA and CHOW. Okay, so I'm just asking. Your question was about local and there are local. There's 3% that's going outside. So if you have a suggestion on that 3% or your problem with the other subs, I'm asking clarity on what your issue is. Say that again. I'm just asking your clarity. You were talking about the amount of money that's going outside the state. So I was asking clarity when we talked about the same contract because what I'm looking at is 3% is going outside the state. And so is this the contract that you have an issue with or are we talking about something else? Maybe I say it too often that I don't make myself clear. It's not only the percentage that's leaving the state. It's who's getting the dollars, it's who's participating, and it's where the contracts are going. Do you know how much money leaves the state every month when we look at it? Yeah, I read my agenda every week. So that says what? But what, I'm asking for clarity because you are making an allegation that I'm not making an allegation. I'm saying it. Okay. Mr. Davis, I'm not going to argue with you. I was just asking for clarity. We're not going to argue. I was just asking clarity when we walked in. It's a clear point. Brothers, brothers, sisters. I was just asking clarity when we talked about the same contract. He's the answer to that. So that's fine. You're talking about this 3% that's going out there. I moved to previous question. All right. We moved to previous question. Yes, sir. If you would consider in items five through 18. Yes, sir. All right. Would you call the roll please? Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. Rickman. I Mr. McAllen. Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Davis. Reluctantly. Yes. Thank you. All right. 19. Yes, sir. We're moving into the ordinance's first reading item 19 is ordinance number 2021 082 amending the 1998 code of ordinances of the city of Columbia, South Carolina to repeal and replace chapter 11. The licenses permits and miscellaneous business regulations. Second. All right. We're moving to seconded. Madam clerk. Would you call the roll? Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. Rickman. Hi, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mr. Vine. Hi, Mr. Davis. All right. Item 20 ordinance number 2021 086 authorizing the city manager to execute a 16th amendment to purchase agreement between the city of Columbia and Bright Myers 2001 LLC. I'm moving approval. Second. Second. I was just going to ask could just for the public because I know people call us ask the questions. Can we just give a brief synopsis on where we are on this and why there's another extension? That was going to be my comment. Thank you. Yes. She's coming with the answer. Thank you, ma'am. I mean, it is at the request of the developer. So thank you as much as she can say publicly statewide. Right. The developers made a lot of progress on the site. They do not have their core 404 permit yet. So they're working on securing that permit. Their investors need that permit in hand before they can complete the transaction. Thank you. Did that get at your question? Yeah, I knew that. I just wanted to publicly on the record because I think people look at our minutes and they want to know why we keep extending it. Thank you ma'am. Thank you. All right. Okay. Madam clerk. Yes, sir. You would call the roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. Ms. Wilson. Yes, sir. Resolution. Okay. Resolutions, item 21 resolution number R through 2021 107 adopting the bylaws of the South Carolina Park Commission. The moved. Second. Second. The moved and seconded. Clerk. Mr. Clerk. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. The next few resolutions, you all had memorandums from the Columbia Housing Authority in regards to these projects. And I can certainly read each of them, Mr. Vine. I was just going to make a motion for 22, 23, 24, and 25. Yes ma'am. Could somebody explain to the public why we're doing this? Because some people think that we were issuing the bonds. We are not issuing the bonds. This is not, it's just a pass through. It's a requirement, but I just, I think for the record, somebody needs to state that. I think you said it very well. Just then, Mr. Rickerman, it is a formality and it's really a pass through type provision. We've done this several times for the Housing Authority. I think they're doing a wonderful job working on, you know, really changing their performer and how they handle properties. And this is a part of that process for them. I do think that we ought to also comment that these projects are a lot of projects. And it shows that the Housing Authority is really beginning to put out the projects that we've been seeing for the last two or three years be developed. So we're getting ready to refinance or they knew projects. That was a question that came up as well, because some of these are the new projects that she's been working on. All right. So I made a motion. Has it been seconded? No, second. 23, 24, 25, 22, 23, 24, 25. We're going to blanket all four of them into one motion. Is that correct? Yes, sir. All right, Madam Clerk. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. Item 26, Resolution Number R-2021, 113, adopting the All-Natural Hazards Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan for the Central Midlands Region of South Carolina. Is there a second? I mean second. Mr. Duvall seconded. All right. Clerk, call the roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. Ms. Wilson. Event Resolutions. Item 27, Resolution Number R-2021, 105, CMA Gala, Authorizing Consumption of Beer and Wine, only within White Plaza. Jason, too. So moved. Second. We're moved and seconded. Clerk, call the roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. And Resolution Number R-2021, 116, Authorizing Consumption of Beer and Wine, only within White Plaza. Adjacent to the Columbia Museum of Art for the Live on White Plaza on Sunday, November 7th, 2021. Mr. Perpreval. Is there a second? Second. Mr. Duvall. Yeah. Madam Clerk, would you call the roll? Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Moving into a period of appointment, Mayor Pro Tem, we can ask Ms. Jenkins Wood to come forward to assist. You have the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee, the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development, Climate Protection Action Committee, and the Richland County Board of Assessment Appeals. Mayor Pro Tem, can I ask that the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee be carried over to the next meeting? Why is that? I second that. Because it's going to take some study, I think, to there's no hurry on them. They don't have any money to another few months. Mr. Duvall, is that a motion? I would second it. Yes. All right. It's been moved and seconded. And that is to defer the next meeting. Say that again. Is that to defer it? What did you say? Just defer it a month. Until what? To the next meeting in November. All right. November 9th. Yes, sir. All right. Question. Mr. Davis. For clarity, what are we saying at our vacancies? So the Accommodations Tax is much like hospitality, where they've reached out to individuals and some that were previously appointed have said they would like to be reported. Others have not. It's kind of, so just like you all reappointed, extend the term for hospitality tax for a year, a tax is in a similar position where they really haven't been serving. The applications are, the people that are applied are new, but the actual board updates haven't been updated since 2018 when it was last active. So that's why when your membo, it points out that it's not updated because that's the last update or a time when people were appointed or rolling off on that board. Okay. So the actual number of vacancies of seven? Seven. Yes, sir. And I was looking for it. Everybody that's serving now, how many of them, whose time is up? All of them, their time is up. And then some are eligible to be reappointed. Others are not, which is, so once hospitality tax from last week was extended, we've been reaching out to the individuals to see if they would continue or want to continue to serve because some of them had already set, so it's H tax and A tax kind of need to be updated all the way around. And since they haven't been updated for the past few years that are placed for, you know, kind of move it forward. So it's an open slate now. And so many words it is. Yes, sir. The 8th tax is. H tax is now extended for a year and gives them time to kind of regroup, so neither board has been used for the past few years. Thank you, ma'am. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yes, sir. All right. Did we, um, did we vote on deferring that? All right. Oh, no, sir. No, sir. Did we, did we go on that? Yes, sir. Okay. You ready? All right. We did. No. No. You have not voted on the most. Okay. Thank you. Is that Mr. Brennan? Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. Ms. Wood. Next up, we have the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development, and we need a District 2 appointee. Uh, I nominate Tiara Dunge. Okay. Yes, sir. Only Dunge is a dollar. Second. There's only one appointee in this District 2, so we can vote on this. All right. It's in second. Third call of roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Thank you. Next, we have the climate, oh, sorry. Go ahead and hit Ms. Wood. Next, we have the Climate Protection Action Committee. Councils ask to appoint up to four non-voting appointees, and there are currently four non-voting positions available. We have three applicants. And we have three applicants, yes. I would move the appointment of Mary Nesfield, Lisa, Ms. Kari, and Daniel Alplacati. All right. That's two. Is that one more? That's three. There's still one more, but there's one more. There's one more. I'd like to do that next time. Yes, ma'am. You need to get some representation. There's nobody from one. Right. Also, we've got the three, there's four vacancies and three, we've nominated three, is that correct? Yes, sir. And only three applications. All right. Yes, sir. And Sam, I think you're holding that until the next meeting. No, I've moved these three. We only have these three applications, so if Davis has somebody, he can make sure they get application in for next time, because we have four positions. Okay. Yes, ma'am. All right. Is there a second? There was. Second. All right. Correct call and roll. Mr. Burnett. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. MacGowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Vine. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you. Next, we have the Richland County Board of Assessment Appeals. We have one appointee for the city of, one person we can appoint from the city of Columbia to that board. And the stipulation, the primary stipulation is that they reside within the corporate city limits. We have two applicants. Is that your wheel? Is that you? So the premise of this is that all board members should have a background in one of the following fields, appraisal, real estate development, condemnation experience, experience with real estate litigation matters. So that's why both applicants are in the real estate field. Ms. Wood, could we defer that until our next meeting? Yes, sir. That's like. Are there other, are there nominees? There was one that was recommended out of the two, but we can definitely re-advertise it. What's the pleasure of the council? I just would want to know what's our time frame, because I guess text bills will be coming out. So this is, these are assessment appeals. Or do we know, TK, if there's a, I don't know when those appeals happen, I just want to make sure we're not holding up anything. Because we don't meet, but we meet the second Tuesday in November. I think I believe so. Does anyone, well, do you know when appeals happen? I'm fine with deferring it. I just want to make sure we don't hold anything up. I can reach out to Katie Maher who was our contact and, and double check and make sure, but. I mean, at least between now and the next meeting, if we, if we want out of the applicants in the pool, we can try and recruit. Yes, ma'am. All right. Okay. Yes, sir. That's it. We're done. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you, Ms. Wood, for the work you do. And how thorough you are in getting us ready for our council. Thank you for being thorough in that, getting us ready. All right. Are there committee referrals? Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor Pertin, when I was taking my afternoon to read the administrative code of the city of Columbia, I noticed two things that I'd like to refer to the Administrative Policy Committee that might need to be amended. One of them is Section 2-7, which deals with the Mayor Pro Tem. It calls for a one-year term and since I've been on council, we've been using two-year terms and I'd like to see if we just need to change that one to two so that every time we have a reorganization of a council after an election, we elect the mayor to pro tem for the same two-year term to the next reorganizational meeting after a new election. The second thing is in Section 2-127 on Municipal Court, we need to look at that to see if the language in that is actually what we're following in the city of Columbia and with the advice of the Municipal Association and maybe want to modify the language in that. And while we're looking at the administrative section, I would like the committee just to have the opportunity to look at the whole section there to see if there are any cleanups that we need to do at the time. All right, both of those, both of the concerns that Mr. DeVault has raised, both comes, it goes to the Administrative Policy Committee. Is that correct? Yes. Is that correct? Yes, sir. All right, thank you, ma'am. An exciting meeting. All right. Is there anything else other than we have? No, we got item 33. Reverend Dell, I wanted to make sure I was clear regarding the Municipal Court and any additional cleanup. The question is about the wording of the court administrator maybe and the chief administrator. There's a paragraph in there about how the court is set up and that's not the system that we're following right now. And I think we just need to look at it to see if it needs to be modified. But it's the intention to continue the setup that we have right now. So going into the committee discussion, I just wanted to make sure I was clear that we have a court administrator and a chief administrative judge. Okay. That's not the way it's set up in the ordinance right now. Okay. All right. And have we referred item 33 to the... We do need to do that. And we need to vote on your referrals. Okay. I'd like to refer item 33 to the economic and community development committee for the purpose of scheduling an appeal here and requested by the legal department. Second. All right. Howard, you got that? Yes. All right. So those three referrals, of course, two will go to administrative committee and one to the economic development committee. Is that right? That's correct. All right. Is that... Let me just ask the question. Do we vote on referrals? Yes, sir. All right. Clerk call the roll. Mr. Brennan? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. Vine? Aye. Mr. Davis? Aye. Thank you. All right. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem? Yes, sir. Before we go into executive session, I have one thing of personal privilege. This is the last meeting for one of our lawyers, Patrick Wright. And I got the memo, as you all did during the week, that Patrick is going over to the dark side. He is going to accept the position of Richland County attorney beginning, I believe it's November 1st. I sent him a note saying that I was very disappointed to see that he was leaving the city staff, but I was delighted that the council was sending a competent attorney over to Richland County. And we look forward to working with him while he represents the county with the same vigor and integrity that he's represented us for a number of years. We're sad to see you go, but wish you well. Thank you. Patrick, please know that you're going to be missing our city. And of course, I'm sure Mr. Duvall will continue to use you and ask questions. Thank you very much for giving to us your time, your talent, your gifts and service for the city. We will miss you, but I'm sure Howard will keep you in touch with you. Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Davis? Yeah. On that same note, I sent Patrick a note also. It's always good when you're part of a team and you stop and take note that everybody else wants one of your team. That's right. And I think for some reason this year I was kind of focusing on Patrick and the department that they've had some challenges this year, real challenges. And we got to see them in action depending on the issue. And I was convinced that our legal department is a tight team that they're good. And if they weren't that good, folks wouldn't be trying to pick them off every chance they get. But it does show that one of my favorite terms is that they notice that we don't collect no junk. Okay. So I wish you well also. And I know you're going to do well with the county. And just keep us a step ahead of them. Thank you. Good luck to you, ma'am. Thank you. For Patrick, any time you want to come back, just click your heels. We just make sure that they're not scuffed when you come back. Thank you. Madam Clerk? We have a motion for executive session, sir. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, let's do that first. We're getting out on record time. That's good. Yeah, right. Madam Clerk, we have anyone on the line? We do have an individual on the line, but they have not joined the Speaker Queue. However, Lady has given you a sign-in sheet with two names on it. I have two persons. One. Let me get these glasses here. The first person, of course, is Dan Lombarte. Filibonte. I'm sorry, sir. Come on. I'm sorry. Sir, if I may, Mayor Pro Temp. Yes, sir. I understand we've only got, I believe, myself and a friend of mine that are speaking. What I've got to say is on the COVID mandate, and I would respectfully request additional time just so I can get my side out as an unvaccinated person. I'd love for y'all to hear what I've got to say. I find it very, very important and near and dear to my heart. So I would request, sincerely request, some extra time over the three minutes. Well, the three minutes is, of course, the time that we've allotted for each person. And we understand the issues involved. We're going to have to adhere to the three minutes. And if there is additional conversation you'd like to have with us individually, we'd like to do that afterwards before executive session. And can you make sure you speak a little bit closer? I'm having a little problem. You might want to pull it. Yeah, pull it. Yeah, perfect. Is that better, ma'am? Yes, sir. Okay. Go right ahead. Thank you. Good afternoon, Council members, City Manager Wilson and Pro Temp, Mayor. Yes, sir. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you on a matter of vaccine mandate. My name is Dan Labonte. I'm a 15-year employee with the City of Columbia. Been retired after serving 20 years in the Navy. First of all, I'm going to say I'm not going to get the shot. I'll be very honest with you. I understand mandates are coming. I fear them as well as my fellow employees. However, I'm not going to get it. As per the dictionary, the definition of vaccine, it's not covered by this COVID shot. A vaccine is something that makes you immune from getting a virus. And this vaccine has been proven, does not do that. So I refer to it as a shot. It's not a vaccine. In addition to that, once you do get to COVID-19, you can still get COVID-19 and you can still transmit it. We know that. It's a known fact out there. So I can't see me getting it and still having the same side effects. And that's known side effects. We're still looking out in the future. We don't know what the unknown side effects are going to be. So why would you even consider mandating a shot when it's been proven to be ineffective? In 2002, 2003, China had an outbreak of SARS-1 with a fatality rate of 9.6 percent. In 2012, Saudi Arabia had outbreaks of MERS with a fatality rate of 34.4 percent. Yet no one mandated a vaccine or mandated you get a COVID shot. COVID in comparison has a 0.1 percent fatality rate, 0.1 as opposed to 34.4 and a 9.6. The majority of these deaths happen within the 0.62 percent of the population that lives in nursing homes, which are elderly. They have more ailments, more side effects, or more conditions that would lead them to death in addition to the COVID. What we have out there is prophylaxis regimens, which utilize in hydrochloroquine. HCQ is what I'll say now because it's a difficult word. I'm not a doctor. But HCQ, hydrochloroquine has been used in many countries. It's been proven to be effective in combating COVID. In India, they did a prophylaxis, gave it to every citizen, and they got COVID down to less than 85 percent within the country. With this utilizing hydrochloroquine for prophylaxis or preventive maintenance, you can go ahead and give every employee out by my own one pill a week is all it takes to help them prevent from getting COVID. And it works. It's works. We've done it in different countries. We've done it here in the U.S. Doctors have had their health care providers on HCQ and they don't get it. They don't get COVID. There's 38 percent, a study they did, 38 percent people taking hydroxylchloroquine did not get COVID, as opposed to, I'm sorry, 7 percent and 38 percent that weren't taking the preventive and didn't get COVID. Would you like me to stop, Pro Tem? Yes, yes. Okay. Yes. I apologize, sir. There's a lot of information. And if I may, sir, I've actually done some handouts and I'd like y'all to read those. And it's a couple of things. One is my actual 10 minutes. And the other is, it's right here. It's called a guide to home-based COVID treatment. So this is a treatment for it, as well as explains the actual going and getting your, Mr. Lady is going to pass out copies. I'm glad you've printed those out. We certainly thank you for, thank you for your giving us some of that information verbally and you're giving some of that to us. Is this the only one of the speech and then you're giving us this? Yes, ma'am. So we need to make copies of this. I'm sorry? We need to make copies of this. No, ma'am. I've got some extra copies you're sending out for me. Okay. Yes. I just asked that to read that. It's another alternative as opposed to putting your employees, the city of Columbia's employees on the line, and put us in cutting edge as far as trying to get this taken care and trying to get ahead of COVID without drastic measures. Well, we certainly thank you for your passion in this, particularly this subject matter. We're glad that you're able to give us some information for us to read. And of course, if there's a contact number we need to talk to you, is that included in this? It is not, sir, but I will be more than willing to provide that. I appreciate that. And I appreciate the time you gave me to speak today, sir. Thank you, Mr. Vonte. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Did you give what you needed to me? Did you give what you needed? Uh-huh. All right. All right. There's an Anthony Mitnall. Mitnall. I'm sorry, sir. Come on. Good afternoon, everyone. Yes, sir. First off, city manager, I appreciate you, everything that you presented, all the ideas in order for us to keep our jobs, or hopefully our careers, as far as the testing and everything, just speaking for myself, I don't mind doing that. I'd test every day if you guys needed me to. I just really don't want to put this vaccine in my bears. The organization that's keeping up with the adverse reactions as of October 6, 2021, 8,638 deaths have occurred from people taking the COVID-19 vaccinations. In my opinion, that's 8,638 people, too many dying from putting something that they thought was going to help them into their bodies, and they ended up dying from something that was promised to help them. I've got four kids. I'm taking care of my little brother. I've got a grand kid already. I've been doing this job again for 10 years, 15 years away from retirement. I know it sounds like a long time from now, but I was looking forward to making it there and taking care of my family instead of having to start over somewhere else or what have you. I mean, I don't even know. At this point, I'm just hoping for the best. I don't have much else to say, but I appreciate you guys hearing me. Thank you. Yes. Yes, sir. Thank you. Just from my own information, what is your source for the 8,000-plus deaths as a result of COVID? CDC official website, www.cdc.gov. There's a, okay, slash coronavirus slash 2019-ncov slash vaccine slash safety slash adverse dash events.html. That's the entire site there, but again, it's the official CDC website and VAERS, which is there's the organization that's in charge of keeping up with the adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines. All right. Thank you all. Mr. Davis. That's your, you're done? Yeah, that's right. Minteno. Is that right? Minteno. Thank you, sir. For your, for your willingness to come and see a word to us. Thank you very, very much. Madam, I think there's one called in the queue. Madam Clare. Not at this time, sir. Sir, ma'am. No, sir. Okay. Madam City Manager. Does Chairman Howard want to say anything? Does Chairman Howard want to say anything? Howard, Howard, this is, this is my representative. Stand up. Great. I mean, Leon. Thank you for what you do, Mr. Chairman. Glad you're here today with us, Representative Howard. You are, you are a very, very valuable asset to our city and, of course, to our community. Thank you for being here today. Yes, ma'am. Madam City Manager. Mr. DeVall. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, to pretend I make a notion, we go into exactly a session for receipt of legal advice related to matters covered by Attorney Clarence Privilege pursuant to SC Code 30-4S78-2 COVID-19 SC Pride Festival Security Legislative Priorities. Discussion of negotiations and interest proposed, contractual arrangements pursuant to SC Code 30-4S78-2 Riverfront Park Naming Rights Agreement Convention Center and Municipal Complex. All right. Let's replace you with that motion. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Madam Clerk, would you call the roll? Mr. Vernon. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. DeVall. Aye. Mr. Vines. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Thank you.