 Good afternoon madam madam clerk. Could you read the roll, please? Yes, sir. Mr. Taylor here. Ms. Herbert here Dr. Vossels here mr. Brennan present mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall present mayor recommend Here, thank you. Can you please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance? Reverend McDowell would you please give the invocation? Kind and merciful creator For your blessings for your grace For your spirit that surrounds us for friendships for conversation We simply say thank you For this day and for the opportunity to gather in this place We ask your blessings upon each person assembled Bless us individually and yet collectively Allowing your will and your promise to invade and Stir us action we asked it in your name Do we have a motion to adopt the agenda? Mr. Mayor, I'd like them I'd like to move that we amend the agenda to add a Consideration of items discussed during the work session to include the physical fiscal year 2022-23 hospitality tax committee recommendation in the fiscal year 22-23 Accommodation tax committee recommendation and you want to tell me a number. Yes, sir. I was wanting to recommend item 46.5 under other matters. Is that okay with you, sir? 46.5 I'm making up a number just to stick it under other matters. I think that's probably the best place for it 46 a Thank you. Can we is there second? Second Madam clerk, could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor Mr. Herbert Dr. Bussells I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Devall. Hi, mayor recommend. Hi Mr. Mayor one agenda note. I will be recusing myself from item 40 the resolution for the abandoned building for 1527 Jervais Street the historic Whaley house Thank You mr. Brennan With that we have an opportunity for those who would like to speak on any agenda item They may come if you've Do you have a sign-up sheet or you just Yes, sir, but no one had Signed up outside of the zoning public hearing items. Okay I'm here to speak on an item if I may One of oral mr. Mayor members of city council. I'm Jim Daniel I was out at one rice court in Wheeler Hill right above five points. I sent y'all an email late last night I Would like to move forward to firm it of items 29 and 30 for the following reasons I was 29 and 30 have the incorrect ordinance date cited and if pass would be inapplicable The ordinance cited is dated September 20th 2018. The ordinance was adopted August 20th 2019 and There was a draft in September, but that was only a draft the audience should be dated the year It was adopted to Proposed revisions of the protective yard requirement has the wrong section cited in the audience and if pass would be invalid three The boat know that revisions dealing with the Hickler service areas were incorrectly cited in the planning commission Application as it did not specify the correct section of the ordinance Thus the planning commission approval was in popper and should be returned to the planning commission for the proper approval For the revision dealing because service areas has the incorrect citation for the applicable subsection if approved by council It would be invalid five those revisions to the protective yard requirements would make drastic changes To the protective yard parking requirements affecting surface water runoff shade itself Six revisions to table 17 6.6 would greatly reduce landscape requirements for any buildings addition Up to 75% of the gross building size I would argue this would eliminate landscape requirements for most buildings additions Which would result in surface water runoff shades, etc. In summary We've had two matters move very quickly through planning commission without a great deal of Notice to the public Other than a just a highlight in a newspaper this where it is But when you look at the actual substance of these changes, they're various They're vast and they they changed considerably what was adopted and affected just last August I would suggest that council needs to have a separate session involving neighborhoods business communities interested citizens Let's go through the details of each of these things that have been proposed the planning the Greenspace stuff and the new traffic issue y'all are working on so we know the details All we know now is the highlights and we're reading it and trying to understand what we think it says Some of y'all don't agree with our understanding. It's time to let's slow down Let's have a meeting. Let's have a chance to see why you came up with your conclusions Who did you look for for your conclusions? We're looking at other cities to see what they've done We'd like to bring that into the picture so we can have a rounded discussion that deals with all the issues Not just trying to cram something through in a very fast fast motion. So Mr. Mayor and members of council I would ask that items 29 and 30 be deferred and that we try to set up a timing when we can have a meeting Involving all interested parties to go through the details not just the highlights of what y'all are working on Thank you mayor Mr. Mayor, I'm not sure if the items that the individuals are coming forward or all in relation to what was just Reference, but this these this is the public input for any items on the agenda But the zoning public hearing will also still have the opportunity for public input I mean, it's up to you mayor, but these items aren't you know, it'll you'll have that opportunity during that period of time When it opens it's not open yet the technical mayor I'm fine with with with hearing folks at this stage if they would like to go ahead and express Taking that point of clarification for you Yes, ma'am only thing I would say is if if here at getting an explanation from city staff Will help with the understanding with Folks who have issues then I would prefer that they make their comments after they've gotten Our planning departments your preference is to wait till the public hearing If you're if they're here for the public so you want to wait until the public hearing section. That's fine. That's fine Does anybody here to speak on any other issue than what's coming for us The black council I'm here to speak on item number 47 it's on page 22 As many know several months ago the Columbia Council neighborhood's held a community neighborhood summit and One of the key things that we discussed at this summit was this very thing about there being no Accountability responsibility, whatever for lost or solo fire arms over the weekend and yesterday I received numerous Messages text phone calls And I would ask that I know this is being referred to the public safety committee But I would respectfully ask that a draft be Distributed to us because I know our membership is this is something they're really interested in Thank You mr. Black We have anybody else for any other agenda item Seeing none and hearing now we're gonna move forward to For approval of the minutes. Is there a motion to move? Is there a second? Second We have a motion a second any discussion hearing non-seeing now madam clerk. Could you read the role, please? Mr. Taylor Ms. Herbert dr. Bustle hi mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. Hi recommend I Moving into a period of presentations item 2 is the Columbia Richland fire department Appreciation day proclamation the honorable Daniel J Rickham in mayor you know we should be celebrating our heroes every day and Today we have an opportunity for the Columbia Richland fire department appreciation day and every day our public safety goes out and They take care of our community And we try to thank them as much as we can and we try to work with them the best we can We always don't always agree But one thing we all know is that every day that they go to work They're doing it for them betterment of our community to protect us First responders you're usually the first ones on the scene Doesn't matter if it's an accident if it's a fire or another tragedy in our community. So it gives me great honor Chief Jenkins The rest of the staff is here to thank y'all and as we proclaim today the Columbia Richland fire department appreciation day and We have the proclamation as we want I do want to share it with you if you give if you'll bear with me just for a minute as I read Whereas the city of Columbia, South Carolina is committed to ensuring safety and security of all those living and visiting in Columbia Whereas the Columbia Richland fire department has roughly 600 career and volunteer members committed to protecting the public from the dangers of fire and prior related injuries and Whereas the department's fire prevention division has worked tirelessly to promote Education on fire safety in our communities schools and throughout our county Whereas the fire department uses both virtual and in person in person means to engage with the citizens of the fire prevention and fire safety Whereas CRFD members conducted more than 4,000 fire inspections 62 fire safety surveys and 23 fire education presentations of the course of and installed 157 free smoke fire alarms and 126 carbon monoxide alarms for the citizens in need of those devices Whereas these activities and more earn the department a recognition of a fire safe South Carolina community for the third year in a row congratulations That designation comes from fire safety South Carolina which promotes Reduction programs in fire departments to prevent fire related injuries So whereas is we city council of the city of Columbia declare today? July 26th of 2022 Columbia fire Richland department appreciation day Mr. Mayor city council miss Wilson Thank you all for this designation. Let me put us put us proclamation I would say it's it's a great collaborative effort between a lot of people You got some very dedicated folks But not only respond to fires But we want to do everything we can to prevent those fires and that is what this designation really says all ever to prevent fires So we really appreciate it. We had a good time at the at the conference receiving this designation And again since it's inception. We have received it Every year since it's inception So again, thank you all And we can't do it without your support So we want to thank you all for your support all city management support and even from the county their support We can't do it without you all and we really certainly appreciate Everything every effort that you have put into this fire service. Thank you all Madam manager. Yes, sir. Thank you, mayor Our next presentation is item three the food policy committee update the food access map presentation. Ms. Shawna Kato the committee chair Can you speak into the mic just so everybody can hear you? Thank you So food policy committee Our committee is our vision for our committee is a strong sustainable and equitable food system for all columbia The mission is to build understanding relationships and a collective action to strengthen and support an equitable local food system Who are we a coalition of food leaders City council appointees stakeholders and volunteers driven to ensure a healthy fair and sustainable food distribution System for all columbia resident We currently have 19 members Who are appointed and then we also have community members that have gotten involved based off of some of the activities We've done in the community. They care about our sustainable food system Our 2022 community committee highlights include the GIS map Community food gathering follow-ups that we've had in the last couple of months and our college food share South Carolina pilot program that we've launched GIS map I think everyone has heard about it. We've been in the newspaper. We've done a video in this last couple weeks That you're going to see We have a QR code for it and we will play it for you at this time. We work. Excuse me We work with city GIS department to create this GIS map for our local citizens to go on and navigate to find local Food establishment so that they could get access to good food Are you tired of having to go to multiple websites to look up critical information about food resources near you? Well, the columbia food policy committee and the city's GIS department work together to create an innovative Solution to that issue the food access GIS map provides you and your family with a list of various sites To access healthy affordable food. It includes farmers markets food pantries food share sites Free summer meals for youth and grocery stores The cool thing about this map is that it shows you sites not just located within the city limits of columbia But also resources within richland county The food distribution and grocery store map created by our city's GIS department provides our residents with multiple tools to help them Locate where there is access to food throughout our city On the left side of the screen on the layers tab the public can pinpoint where there are certain types of food centers Including food distribution locations, which are highlighted in purple Grocery stores, which are highlighted by an orange grocery cart and free summer meal sites for youth ages 18 and under Which are highlighted by green the public can toggle each one of these categories on and off As well as click on any dot on the map to obtain more information about that site You can even click on the address and it will take you to the individual site on a separated map On the right side of the map you'll find food distribution search tools This allows the public to search for popular inquiries like where free summer food sites are for our youth Depending on what time of the day it is Or what type of meal it is or if you wanted to search by food provider names food provider types or certain grocery stores There's even a pre-selected list you can choose from Another important tool that you can use is searching for what is within one mile of a certain address Just click on the big magnifying glass on the right side of the map and enter the address you want You can also use the near me button to find out what is within one mile where you are currently are Or you can use the pinpoint button to select any place on the map Once selected you can see all the sites located within one mile of that location And get more information about those locations like address phone number and when they are open You go to the slide it says community food gathering follow-up Perfect as you can see we had a lot of fun making that Commercial with staff and so we're excited for the community to be able to listen to it Maybe clear up any questions anyone has about the map. So we're very excited to share that with the community Um, we also wanted to share about some of them as Shauna said Some of our 2022 different activities we've done and as some of you might have been on council in 2019 We basically had this policy report that the food the food policy committee put out And what we wanted to do after covid happened is go back to the community and see if those priorities were the same as they were in 2019 And so what we did was we held two different Two different meetings one virtual And the other one in person at gable oaks And we had a decent number of community members that were able to attend about 20 in each one We were able to provide gift cards To a grocery store for those Virtually and a food share box for those that came in person And basically what we wanted to see is to ask them their current Food access concerns and then kind of reflect that to what we were seeing in 2019 So what we found was there's actually a little bit of a change in the recommendations and We sent an email if you need the actual recommendations from 2019 We have that in a very succinct report We currently are working on updating that so you'll have that information in the next couple weeks We basically in the past month We're we're putting all the data together And so what we noticed that number one and number two actually flipped So in 2019 number two, which was healthy food options are affordable or high quality and available locally to food insecure communities Actually became number two and number one. This is locally owned healthy food Entrepreneurships and community based efforts that support local food systems to grow and thrive And so what we noticed as we were talking to communities is there is actually a big focus on getting certain businesses into the communities That could take care of their food access concerns We also noticed that transportation also moved up to four So there is there was some changes that Some of the things that covet has showed us is that their their priorities did change a little bit In the in the past year Good afternoon mayor council So one of the highlights wanted to share also is what we've been doing with our various colleges around the city We've been doing a lot of work with allen university Benedict college columbia college as well as university of south carolina Both the law school as well as the undergraduate school and we worked with with food share As as you all may not know oftentimes we talk about youth hunger. We talk about senior hunger But oftentimes college students experience hunger at a at the highest rate out of any age group So we really wanted to work to address that So we partnered on a grant from sisters of charity were awarded $20,000 to help bring food share Which is a produce box program to these various college campuses So in the fall all of these institutions will soon have food share Rolling out on their institutions and what we're doing is reducing the price of boxes So boxes typically cost $15. So this is a fund that's going to help reduce that down to from 15 All the way down to five dollars for students at these institutions And last but not least what are some next steps? And how do we hope to continue to work with you all and do what you all have tasked us to do through this committee Work to encourage arp and general funds to be applied to initiatives that address those food policy recommendations So we know all of us in this room want to see more grocery stores We want to see more healthy food assets across the city So definitely we know there are funds that are coming both federally But also some other opportunities within the budget that we can work to help allocate resources to help solve that issue Also provide future support for future grant opportunities to bring more funding to the city to address these issues And then also we want to make sure that on a quarterly basis. We're providing you all updates So not necessarily we're coming up here every quarter to speak to you But at least providing you some kind of written update to let you know about the work of this committee So at this time if y'all have any questions, we'll be happy to entertain them counsel Well, I just want to thank you all for for your hard work. How long y'all were started 2017 2017 um, and I'm not technology savvy even though i'm the chair of the technology committee And so someone called me and asked me how to use the map. I said, oh, no, we got a problem. So I'm glad that you all were able to to do the video and thanks to our pr folks For assisting with that and i'm looking forward to hearing about your future Recommendations and that you have And I don't know if mayor rickerman has anything to add but I did want to At the appropriate time do want to hear about other initiatives that you all have that we're considering Is there anybody else who wanted to comment first of all i owe you A commitment for a liaison to the committee which we will get done for next week's agenda So let's put that on our list And also I think we have some follow-up items that we need to talk about Between the truck and the trailer, which I know there's a lot of discussion to go ahead And and for they threw and then some follow-up with some of the other groups that we discussed to help Provide a third-party service that may alleviate Some of that so we'll try to follow up next week on those items. Probably Wednesday or Thursday If we can make that happen But I really appreciate all y'all done. I know it's been ups and downs. COVID played a lot into it But the map is a great success The opportunity and the commitment that this committee has made to our city is is unbelievable. Thank y'all. Thank you very much Ma'am, yes, sir. I just wanted to tell ashley. She is exactly right I have a 19 year old grandson who's a college student and he is always hungry Yes, sir Someone yes, sorry about that Thank you for taking the time to make this um this app You know transportation holds people back from access to food and What what councilwoman herbert hadn't told you is that she's on the comet board So any layering that we could bring forward with this wonderful technology you created to pinpoint The uh bus lines transportation lines and how that overlaps with what you've created for food access How the transportation and food access can work together would be great and she'll be happy to get you in touch With the comet staff for that Thank y'all so much. Thank you Thank you ladies Well, mayor rickamon and council the first Meeting of the new fiscal year is always full of Contracts and consent agent item agenda items. And so I really want to first thank you for your patience As I know you all take particular effort in reviewing these items before You for your consideration and um, I really want to thank the staff Our procurement staff in particular in all the departments for really working with me because I have lots of questions of them and we try to get down to Um answering as much as we can with that said, I know you may still have a few Questions, I hope we answer the majority because there are a lot here But for the benefit of our citizens the first fiscal first agenda of a fiscal year We're pushing out all kinds of items that really do the work of the city for our citizens and our customers from You know additional contractors filling those buckets as y'all like to say to get additional work done Um for our backlog of work orders to make sure that we have a force multiplier of our own internal resources You'll see uniforms on this agenda. You'll see dropping more meters a mi meters All kinds of good work that gets done But we have to have those approvals so we can work for the rest of the fiscal year with that said We would ask for your consideration of consent agenda items 4 through 24 And if there are any that you'd like me to pull so we can explain for you. I'm happy to do that Some moves, mr. Mayor. Is there a second so I could um discussion Any items that still have open questions? Council anything here Any discussion hearing non-seeing none madame clerk, would you please call the roll? Mr. Taylor Miss herbert. I'm dr. Vosles. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. Mcdowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. All right, may I recommend? I I do want to note that we We're spending a lot of funding right now obviously as contracts renew But they're they're also small contracts in here that deal with Demolition as you know, we've invested heavily this year in and taking down condemned housings And and trying to clean up neighborhoods and as we continue to do that. We're going to be pushing forth Plans to increase home ownership Through the various sources we're applying for multiple grants through HUD and other agencies so that we can leverage the opportunities that the federal government are are sending our way I'm very excited about the opportunities that we have in the future But it's tough to spend this much money in one swoop Today, but this is for the the the betterment of our community and and I want to thank Staff and council for working together through. I know there were a lot of questions on the consent agenda Which is always a tough one, but thank you Um, mr. Taylor Increases it reasonable amounts and those that haven't And for those that that haven't I think have taken advantage of some situations that we're facing as a country Um, I hope we'll look for some competing bids between now and next year. Yes, sir. I couldn't agree more. Yes, sir Thank you. We much appreciate it mayor and council Moving into our public hearing and first reading for the zoning and planning matters item 25 And I know miss Hampton will come forward to take us through these and as she does item 25 is an annexation of future land Use map amendment and zoning map amendment for 34 28 park street. Thank you, miss wilson afternoon council this first item Is associated also with the corresponding text amendment This annexation will apply a land use classification Of rmh pardon me of ucr1 and a zoning classification of rm2. This is a small parcel In the urwood community Is there anybody here to speak in favor of or against this item? Do we have anybody anything? Is there a motion Second I have a motion and a second is any further discussion Seeing none hearing on madame clerk. Could you read the roll on item 25? Mr. Taylor? Miss herbert dr. Bussells. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall mayor rickamon. I Associated with this annexation the next item will be a text amendment to add this property Into the urwood protection area as this is Covered by it. It is adjacent to it and you will find in here a letter from the property owners consenting Is there anybody here to speak against or in favor of this? Hearing none seeing none. Can we get a motion? So moved Second Any discussion Hearing none seeing them madame clerk. Could you read the roll on item 26? Please mr. Taylor Miss herbert dr. Bussells. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall mayor rickamon. I Think 27 is an annexation of future future land use map amendment and a zoning map amendment for 0.10 acre portion on the back side of jacob's mill pond road This annexation is in the wood creek farms area It will assign a zoning of pd plan development and a land use classification of uer 2 Is there anybody here to speak in favor of or against? I have a motion. Is there a second? Second I have a motion and a second any further discussion hearing none seeing none madame clerk Could you read the roll for item 27? Please mr. Taylor? Miss herbert. I dr. Bussells. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell Mr. Duvall mayor rickamon I thank you 28 annexation and future land use map and zoning map amendment for 79.05 acres on the north side of Perceval road 4407 Perceval road in 0.775 acres on the east side of newland road It's a request to annex the property assign a land use classification of urban edge residential small lot an urban edge community center and assign a zoning of rm1 and light industrial that's li at the time of annexation Is there anybody here to speak in favor of or against this annexation? I have a motion. Is there a second? So I could Motion in a second any discussion Hearing none seeing none madame clerk. Could you read the roll for item 28? Please mr. Taylor Miss herbert dr. Bussells. I mr. Brennan. Yes mr. McDowell mr. Duvall Mayor rickamon I Your next case number 29 is amendment to the unified development ordinance for drive-through facilities this amendment will add personal service and bank And retail sales as a permitted accessory use for drive-throughs in specified zoning districts Could you Because 29 and 30 are two things that we receive feedback. Could you maybe just give an example? Of of this for us, please Certainly currently bank drive-through facilities are not permitted as an accessory use in certain zoning districts in our in our core For instance on bull street or not bull street zone the PUD but in other areas This will allow them it still will be a conditional use So there are conditions associated with each of these drive-throughs with regard to stacking where they may be located The building being up towards the front and so Where they are currently not permitted they will be permitted in certain districts It is for again a specified amount of uses banks and retail uses and it's not uniform It's still conditional correct. It's still a conditional use Is everybody here to speak for or against? Mayor we have several individuals signed up. Mr. Jim Daniel. He spoke during the earlier public comment I'm following him. We have miss elizabeth marx kathryn fennner and denise wellman State again by request of this matter be deferred Again, there are numerous deficiencies in particular in this particular one They're citing the incorrect section or the date of the city code It was passed in 2019 it wasn't passed in 2018 if this gets passed by you guys It's an invalid Approval was the wrong code or it's been cited. That's the same issue on 21 I don't have any other objections to 29 other than it's a procedural issue that they didn't catch um I because mr. Daniel has sent us that I'd like staff either Our attorney or christa to to respond and correct any Misinformation or confusion just so that we're all on the the same page about what the the code says and how it was worded The ordinance referenced is referencing the 1998 code of ordinances And all of our ordinances adopting land use or other type matters Refer to the entire code of ordinances that data is not referring to chapter 17 It's the 1998 columbia code of ordinances It is so it what it states is that it is amending the 1998 columbia code of ordinances And then it says chapter 17 of the columbia code of ordinances, which was adopted in 1998 Anytime you amend the code you're amending your 1998 code Is the only thing that this ordinance number 29 does is the drive-through facility Amendment that's in red on the table. Yes, sir. I heard their page document. It was the columbia compass That was approved in 2019 How can it be referring to a 2018 document that wasn't passed at that time? I'll have to listen to my lawyer Why why do we go back to a 2018? We're not referencing 2019 or 2018. We're amending the 1998 code So I don't know what he's referencing The ordinance before you today is to amend the 1998 code Well, this is our unified code the unified code wouldn't pass until 2019 And it amended the 1998 code. We're building on a code You always amend the 1998 Anytime you anytime you amend your ordinance you're amending the 1998 code everything solid waste traffic the entire Columbia code of ordinances not just 17 And this is the only thing that number 29 changes is the drive-through conditionally You'll look back through your ordinance. So it's saying the columbia code of ordinances you're amending that chapter 17 Of all of those because you have many chapters in your column in your code of ordinances But this is says it's 1998 code of ordinances chapter 17 if If this turns out to be that we may have made a technical mistake on the reference here Would this be a scribbler's error that could be corrected? If we find out that Mr. Daniels theory is right that we made a technical area in the reference to the code If he's right every time we pass the ordinance, we would be incorrect It will be 1998 And what mr. Debal is saying and would that be Treated as a scrivener's error. Yes, definitely it would Mr. Debal is using all the legal terms over here They always used in the legislation There any other questions for staff? Y'all y'all want to speak on 30 or 29 Just on 30 So is there a motion? Making sure there was no no more public comment. There's there's a motion on the floor Since I was talking to the clerk, can you repeat the motion? second We have a motion And a second any more discussion Hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll, please? Mr. Taylor? Ms. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Vossels. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. May I recommend? Aye Number 30 is also a text amendment to the unified development ordinance for non-conforming sites Amending article 5 the development standards for landscaping and section of non-conforming site features um the the provisions of this Exempt a reuse or a rehabilitation of an existing building from the transitional buffer yard And the street protective yard requirements Only where it results in the loss of parking in an existing lot So somewhat of a narrow circumstance here Transitional buffer yard street protective yard it will exempt That specific portion Of the development from those requirements if it results in the loss of parking So it doesn't exempt the entire development from all of these buffer requirements It would exempt it in that location where that parking spot may be lost It increases the threshold for which the expansion of existing buildings Are required to comply with vehicular surface standards areas and that's a fancy way of saying parking lot requirements It removes references to non-conforming signs In the non-conforming site features in the end. So what we've we've gotten the end are some provisions that take Existing lots that currently do not comply with our code And tries to incrementally bring them up. It removes the sign portion from that because we actually already have Regulations concerning non-conforming signs in our sign code about display area and structures that after 12 months Non-conforming they have to be removed. So that kind of eliminates that that conflict Finally for existing sites Also sites that do not currently conform to our landscape standards It increases the threshold at which that site has to be brought up to standards So if you are investing in a building It it increases the threshold of that investment at which point you have to make those those were those improvements to the to the landscape It's for the investment It's 75 percent more of the build value of the building. And so this isn't the lot. It's the building And expansions it bumps up the requirements for Anywhere from 25 to 75 percent you have certain standards and then 75 percent more you come into compliance Would you be willing to give like a For those of us that don't know a lot of the zoning terminology Like a real world example of what what this would look like or or why this change would be beneficial for us certainly For instance, you might have a new business redeveloping a long vacant storefront That has a parking lot in the back The threshold would have been met to say that you have to meet our vehicular our buffer standards, which would mean In a case removing parking spaces to install either a tree or some sort of buffer In many of these cases The the site may be tight It may not be Easy to redevelop an existing parking lot. So what you would have to do is go in and remove the asphalt install the tree Put in put in the necessary infrastructure for that tree What this would do is say you've got an existing lot. It currently does not meet the standards Because of that parking space We are going to allow you just to keep it as it is Instead of of removing that parking space You you just keep it as it is however If along that same line, you know, you you do have room It doesn't remove a parking space You still have to put that tree in you will still have to put those shrubs in For that buffer and just also for people to understand a buffer is required Generally speaking between two different uses so one that is more intense Than the adjacent use. So if you're having a commercial Structure that's going into uh next to a residential or something something like that It would not remove the requirement to put in a fence if that was a requirement and in most cases I can see very few instances Or you would not at least have room to install that fence Maybe because obviously that doesn't take up very very much room. It's it's not impossible, but it is improbable Um street protective yards What that is is the strip that goes along before the street between the parking lot in the street Again, sometimes these sites are so tight that you're unable to get the landscaping in In addition to the the parking that's already there So to repeat it back to you this this ordinance is really focused on some of those historic revitalization properties or things that would build urban density And in some cases there are instances where Essentially, we're creating more obstacles with our current ordinance that that essentially Makes people have to get more parking on top of planting trees because it got rid of their parking. Am I saying that correctly? It it could happen in that that instance certainly and to go back to some of our policy documents, you know It's we heard loud and clear and it's in columbia compass and we've heard from council That we want to encourage redevelopment in infill And so this Is prioritizing the redevelopment of the building certainly It does not mean that we don't value the landscaping and what it provides to the development But without if if you if you have a fallow derelict building You're still not going to get that landscaping. So what we're trying to do is prioritize Getting those buildings redeveloped and then hopefully Through future amendments, um, maybe get a building in that parking lot instead Thank you. I appreciate that Mr. Duvall Remember the council this this has been a very hard community decision to make because The community does not feel like we have given them enough information That we have not communicated well on this We've got a letter from the river keeper About this particular ordinance too And I don't I don't completely understand All the changes that you have proposed In a document that we just adopted last year after about four or five years of public hearings I want to understand better. Why are we doing that? So I would like to suggest to the council that we give this ordinance first reading And stipulate that it come back at the same Council meeting where we discussed the 7500 rule was that september the 26th? Yes, that's correct. September the 26th Give us time to get some information out to the public And this has to do with parking And the ordinance that we're going to talk about the 7500 rule also deals with parking So I think we we could consolidate the second reading of this ordinance with the first reading of the one in september And that'll give us a month to get out to the public and explain What these differences do what this ordinance does Ms. Herbert did you want to say something? I didn't but I will Personally I understand it I have gotten so many calls that and I'm under and people are confused by it From but I do want to make sure before we do anything that we hear from the public to we'll get there. Okay So everybody will have their opportunity. I would prefer to what to hold my comments until after public comment if that's okay Do you want to say something then mr. McDowell, please direct the questions? Yes, sir Approved staff recommends this correct. Yes, sir planning commission approved unanimously correct Discussed in the economic community development committee back in may so it's been out there for a while And it's really not so much a parking question. It's a question On do we want to inspire? The redevelopment and and new investment in our buildings do we want small businesses in these food deserts? Because what we've done here and the main focus of this is if you if you and you correct me Well, if I would go off base is if you buy building today And you want to reinvest it we'll take the modest building on jervay street as a perfect example Two empty buildings on jervay street attracted homeless Occupants was bought by a family to reinvest in the business Well to meet the landscaping requirements. They had to plow up. They had a perfectly good existing parking lot To meet the landscaping requirements. They had to plow up parking places and put trees in and because The existing parking lot which had probably been there 80 years perhaps There wasn't space to put you there was no room to build a buffer So you're required to build a wall And the wall went down 15 parking places And I believed for them to make the investment They had to give up three or four spaces To dig up i'm talking about take them up the plant trees and then lose 14 more spaces there about On the property line to build a wall which then didn't allow them to meet the parking requirement Which forced them to go off site and rent parking spaces All we're saying here primarily is if you buy a building and this has a parking lot you get to keep the parking lot Isn't that pretty much what it is? This is not difficult It's been And it's been out there for a couple of three months now Again the planning commission vetted it voted unanimously. This is about encouraging people to invest in our city We got higher than usual property taxes We can't make it more difficult. We have to make it easier And again, and this is for the small business people in columbia They can't afford To buy a building to put that corner store in And then have to tear up the parking lot and redo it It just doesn't it doesn't make sense. I think this is our most logical Very easy not difficult process that we can do to make it more affordable for people to invest in our city I don't think it's a threat to any neighborhood And um, and I I think we need to move forward with this expedition Well, mr. Mayor, um one of the things that um that it's sort of running through my head Is sort of twofold Question and a comment that both mr. Deval and miss herbert mentioned I think it would be to our advantage to and i'm curious to hear Some of the some of the input at the very Close of what we're doing It seems to me That if we're going to if we're going to move in a direction where there is quote unquote Transparency and folk are able to see or to peer through the blinds I think it becomes more helpful for each one of us and for this city of ours Any more clarifying questions from christa because if not, I would like Opportunity to allow those who signed up to speak Before we move forward and then I will say some words after that. Mr. Big. Mr. Daniel. Can you y'all are missing the point Mr. Daniel there The other three ladies were our next so can we let them speak and then you're welcome to speak again I'm trying to say this is a procedural issue. They have they have improperly cited stuff in y'all's Motion legally legally uh our staff does not believe that's the case And I appreciate your you're saying miss marx. I believe you had the floor So good afternoon. My name is elizabeth marx I uh live at 1908 hinderson street in the robert mills historic district and After listening to mr. Taylor's presentation, I think i'm going to change what I was going to say which Really related to an email that I sent each of you Regarding a very simple change To the ordinance As opposed to all of these piecemeal tiny Repetitive changes that have been put in it. Um, it's a very simple process and I hope that you will Go back and read my email, which I I don't want to go over now because I feel as though, um What you as city council should know is that this has not been a transparent process Um the compass process and the udo That was a transparent process. We all spent three years on that We went to public hearings. We had to answer questionnaires. We went to meetings. We looked at charts We talked for three years this item on the Parking and landscaping and buffers showed up at planning last week We went to planning All of a sudden it's on the city council agenda We have not had time to study it in depth. We would like to bring in our own experts We do feel that planning has significantly led us down by not including us in this process whatsoever And that we have not had a chance to speak to this and no Um, we have yes, we do have many bad parking lots out there And we also have significant runoff and flooding And the buffers and the green spaces and the trees will make a different difference in that and I Suggest that y'all go back and look at the 2013 Uh consent degree with the epa which requires you by 2025 to complete a storm water I guess you would call it storm water repair process for all of the watersheds in columbia And there is a storm water component in that so not only is this about neighborhoods And buffers and privacy and livability It's also about storm water. It's also about the beautification of the city And I don't think you can make an argument that the that the That the beat up parking lots in old buildings are more important than trees and oxygen And doing something about rainwater and wastewater. So Thank you for your time. I hope that this process going forward is going to be transparent We do ask you to defer this Thank you I just do want to clarify that this was on the planning commission in june not july. This has been out there since june night I just want to make sure that the public knows right this didn't just appear a week later from a meeting Well, we just in transparency say Fine, uh accepted. Thank you. Thank you all Hello, i'm catherine fener. I'm here on behalf of university hill neighborhood association Um, I believe there's been some questions raised about whether or not we are we have adequately gotten the approval of our various associations and I assure you that as an attorney who read the bylaws quite thoroughly Yes, indeed. I got the approval of my fellow executive council people pursuant to said bylaws In any event I am concerned because parking in space parking spaces are extremely important here apparently but not according to the provisions passed in the Planning commission meeting to you just a few weeks ago Um university hill, however suffers a terrifically from stormwater runoff problems It is impossible to get out of our neighborhood during a flash flood Except through one route and there's literally no way to get east of town We are completely surrounded by Slittle holes where there's stormwater runoff there if in fact what you're trying to do is protect parking spaces Required parking spaces and not just all parking spaces I think the idea that somehow or another you're going to renovate the old piggly wiggly lot And oh my gosh, you might lose a parking space by having to put in landscaping suddenly all of a All of a sudden according to my reading of this You don't have to do any landscaping I think that we need to say instead That we would modify section 17 55.35 a one So that it would which provides for alternative relief And it would you would modify it so that it would It would only apply if it would result in the loss of a required parking space You might lose parking spaces because you have to put landscaping in that just comes to comes to go I will say that the mitis is a very lovely facility It's directly across from the brand new law school. It looks very nice I think that they will get a lot better business because of it much as the n at usc Has done extremely well since they were required to meet design standards But thank you very much Good afternoon. My name is denise wellman. I'm the president of cotton town And I want to first affirm as you heard in an email earlier today that I do have the vote Of the entire board of cotton town In as it is written not being in We oppose this proposal About this proposal the mayor recently said if we want to be more connected We want to be pedestrian friendly We want to do the right things to make our city more livable downtown Cotton town could not agree with you more We moved from the suburbs to come downtown Because we wanted to enjoy the lovely treeline streets that are down here And we enjoy the opportunity to walk and if necessary drive to small businesses and large But the way this proposal is written Raises far too many questions than answers, which is what my colleagues have said I'm going to ask a question because you did too dr. Bussells I'm going to ask a scenario In cotton town We have been blessed with redevelopment of small businesses truly blessed But we have only been blessed because we have benefited from the protection of alternative landscape plans like fences And walls that were put up to protect The property that abuts to it As the the current ordinance is written it mitigates the effect of those contiguous differing land uses The way this is written Does not make that clear that is our point and It's hard to hear everything in here when you're sitting back here So We would love to have more information about this proposal Because we really don't want to be difficult We too Want to develop cotton town, especially along the main street corridor But this has been very confusing and hard to understand And I can tell you we have spent the last two weeks tirelessly Trying to figure this out and we get different answers every time we turn around So we are not the only people that are confused here And we would like to sit down learn more about this so that we can understand it But my job is to help protect cotton town We are very different than some properties you have mentioned today We have residential and commercial that are right next to each other And there is no protection for the value and the privacy of our land If we don't see clearly That this change has something in place to protect our property It says it's going to eliminate everything That is why we oppose it. It's unclear, sir And we're just asking for clarity for time to understand Anybody else signed up Jim? Did you want to come back? Yes, ma'am My name is Elizabeth Birkins. I've uh, I'm the vice president of the old community citizens organization and I've basically been asked to Read a letter that we submitted earlier today or summarize that. I did receive it. Thank you. Okay essentially We also agree that there are too many Questions up in the air and we would like a delayed vote Basically want to explore alternative solutions that address the need for flexibility and redevelopment in the surrounding communities We want changes that can encourage and incentivize redevelopment of properties around the city that still address canopy cover Stormwater localized flooding parking and neighboring property buffer concerns We'd like to see short and long-term planning that moves us toward a more walkable and accessible city The amendment is drafted eliminates protections we feel without finding a middle ground incentives or alternative solutions So again, we ask for a delayed vote Um, if that can occur, we don't support the amendment is drafted Um We're really concerned about the stormwater management and canopy cover So I appreciate you letting me speak. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Thank you Mr. Devald and Reverend McDowell Mr. Mayor I I go back to my request. I think there is confusion in the neighborhood Uh, I I would like for the council to have first reading tonight on this ordinance and hold it until we got the 7500 rule ordinance in front of us because I think they are linked some of the some of the restrictions are Lesson restrictions in this also may be impacted by what we do with the 7500 Ordinance just going to come forward So I would like to give this first reading tonight and schedule it for the same meeting that You report back on the 7500 Mr. Mayor, is that a motion or is this just a statement? This is a statement at this point. All right Crystal, let me ask you. Let me ask you a question. I've heard the word eliminate several times What are we eliminated? Just to be crystal clear about this. What are we eliminated? If It's a buffer requirement If a buffer requirement such as planting a tree or landscaping Would result in the loss of a parking space that Part of the buffer requirement would be eliminated It would not be eliminated that's I want her to clarify that because there has been a lot of confusion and people Sending information out and it not having it does not eliminate all the buffer It eliminates only that portion that is affected by that. Correct Correct I just want to make sure that was that's why I wanted I wanted to make sure I heard and read So thank you Thank you If I might mayor and mr. Count and mr. Reverend McDowell A lot of what the staff and I do everything That we do is meant to be in direct alignment with the policy direction of the council And the policy direction of the council as you set it forth in committees That's the structure that you're working under now these ideas regarding business friendly initiatives and other ideas that the staff and I have been directed to move forward in an efficient manner Is not And I take some issue with statements being made that the the planning staff has Gone a file of of anything that is just not true and it's not the case And so I feel compelled to also put out there. This isn't going to be the first item as the Columbia compass plan was yes very transparently done There's also a new council in place with new ideas that you're putting forward through committees And so I would certainly encourage that We're we're open about what it is We're doing holistically from a policy perspective I think chris has said it very well earlier that this is in alignment directly with press conferences we've had where we put out ideas about This policy direction of the council If we are not going in those directions Then the staff and I won't move in that direction But if you ask us to move things forward in an efficient and timely manner as was directed Then that is what we've been doing Um I think I have an opportunity to speak at this point. Um I support moving forward and I'm also going to Personally commit to sit down with everybody and have conversations so that everybody can understand it I will take the time and effort to do that in a productive conversation where we're talking about Exactly what's on the table not what's somewhere else something else, but Sitting down with with the appropriate groups I'll take my time out of my schedule to do that But I do I agree with mr. Um Deval moving forward now and having that conversation and if we need to tweak something and see something I read mrs. Marx's is proposal It's got something but it's not it's not predictable and that's part of one of the issues and once again It makes it subjective and so we need we need to have that balance So my suggestion to the council is is that we give it first reading We take the time to sit down and meet with folks between the readings and see where we are And we we have business community We have neighborhood and anybody else who wants to join And we have staff join us and we'll have that discussion. I'm glad to have that discussion I don't want anybody to feel like they don't Understand something but I do believe we need to move forward on the first reading We've we've we've had several discussions throughout this this didn't just creep up yesterday or the day before It's very important for people to understand that That we're listening and we're moving forward and moving the city forward that it benefits All of those folks and so I would like to move forward with a motion And we take first reading And in between we will set up appropriate meeting with staff myself anybody else who wants to join And we'll have we'll have a dialogue about details I I had my hand up. Yes, ma'am. You're you're welcome to speak I just Okay, so I just need some clarity because I want to make sure that I heard What miss wilson said Because what I thought I heard you say was that counts you this is the direction that council asks you to go in Or and I don't remember us asking I thought This is something that miss hampton who's been doing this forever even when I was here That this Because what happens is whenever you do a code or change when you start implementing it you say You know in the implementation of it. You see that there are problems So I guess my question that I need to understand is Miss hampton is this a recommendation That you have made or your department has made as a result of What you believe needs to be Done as we're implementing this collect. That's what I assumed I assumed it as that you as you've been implementing that you have had these problems and So that's one question and I'm gonna give you a minute to think about it while I also address I mean, so I call missy gentry over here because missy's been here forever and she knows everything No, really and I asked her is that practical to plant and do real landscaping Where concrete has been for 20 30 years Because we it may be much to do about nothing because it may not grow um, and I think And of course I have a green thumb But I think it actually would be very difficult to have to put in greenery Where we've had concrete. That's just a whole another issue. Is that correct? It's okay. It's costly very costly But I do think it's important because I don't remember sending this I don't remember and we made maybe we did discuss it. I don't remember discussing it But I need clarity. Is this your recommendation coming from you? I'm gonna take that if you don't mind councilwoman because the staff Ultimately, am I putting christen at position? I think christen can speak to her professional Recommendation about and I will certainly allow her to do that. Right, but the issue that I'm raising Is that from discussions at council retreats? discussions at The structure as I said that this council has established in which you're gonna Provide policy recommendations to ultimately come out of committee and then be acted upon and You know from a communication standpoint, I've tried to as I see different ideas and things happening and you all know I don't have any problems saying it publicly. I'm constantly saying I'm trying to create opportunities to make sure everybody has the same Information. Okay, I can't do that by myself and I'm going to try my best When you're in a committee, which this was in the economic and community development committee There was a list of things that Were to encourage which I think is inherently Going on with this particular item It's not which is why I said I'm I am too trying to get clarity on what we're doing going forward because there are other items That will come forward with action That is necessary if in fact the council is taking An approach now to not Exacerbate other protections, but to make it a business friendly environment To encourage development or redevelopment Enfield development whatever it might be and so I will now defer to christa to also Answer if she thinks that this Does that and I think the discussion amongst the staff is yes We think it does that and yes We think it does that in the context of this council through the committee process And a press conference and other things Directed us to move forward with these individual items This did I don't think necessarily to your I think what you're asking through the columbia compass plan and so on and so Was this an item that christa is now bringing forward on her own to clean up items from that No, ma'am. I don't think that is what this is Is it in line with her professional opinion that it should be done and it does encourage The intent of what I've heard the policy makers say collectively Y'all may have different iterations of what you think I think yes, we are in line with what you asked us to do So what I'm going to say is I'm on the economic the community economic and community development committee We had a list We had So I think we have to get back to the basics and follow the process So if it was coming from the committee, then I would have preferred to see See it during committee And so Because I don't remember us having a real discussion Okay And so based on that Again, even if it comes from committee, then it needs to have we have the committee members need to have the full discussion with council I think we're putting the now that i'm hearing more information Then I think we're Putting the cart before the horse and moving a little bit too fast I understand how words motion. I mean i'm not Um, but I would also entertain any other motion because This I think should have been fully discussed in committee and then discussed In a work session that all other council members knew Point of reference. Yes. These are the minutes from the economic development and community development committee From may 17th attending joe taylor will brun and tina herbert There was consensus of the committee to move forward with the changes to the landscape requirements by eliminating buffer and street protective requirements For parking lots associated with the development of redevelopment of existing buildings. That's just one paragraph It was that's over two and a half months ago. It's been very transparent. We followed the proper process I think this was done the right way After our committee meeting me we asked this we asked the planning group to go back and look at how to do it And it's I think I think this has worked Absolutely the way it's supposed to work procedurally. It's it's not because once it goes from the committee The committee then needs to present it and discuss it with council because that's why we had so many people Who didn't know about the business initiatives like folks didn't know because we didn't take that process And it only takes a few minutes, but again i'm willing to work with howards motion Um, but we don't go from committee to agenda I just have a problem. I I don't know that I agree with your assessment, but that's okay I mean that's that's the democratic process and that's what we all were voted in to make decisions We have a motion on the floor. Did you have something to add? I don't want to get a point of personal privilege after we vote There's a motion. There's a second Madam clerk, could you read the roll and i'm sorry clarify what the the motion is That we're gonna have first reading I To approve in the first reading And my stipulation is that I will I will bring everybody together For meeting in between the motions before the second reading to discuss and if there's any changes or anything we can do We will we'll deal with it that but we will have an opportunity and if we have to to move it out Because we can't that they're then we'll deal with that at the time, but right now We're going to move forward Do you want to have some additional time? You know, you have a meeting tuesday So are you looking to do this would not be on tuesday's agenda? Yes. Yes, sir. It could be It can't be on tuesday's agenda. Okay. That's why we're asking supportive Of the path we're taking that the the wonderful staff Input that we got through economic development. I would as you move forward with continued conversations with our business leaders our community leaders, I would I would like to get the input of our columbia water team on on the the storm water impacts of this Our public works our forestry division is under Clint shealy so getting the impact of that as well on Exactly how many properties in general you think this might affect so Look forward to having that layer of conversation Included with what you do sir. Thank you. Krista. Do you have an idea of how many properties would be eligible for this? based on some of your research it's it's really any any redevelopment with the parking lot so and and Quite honestly again, it is somewhat tied to our our Proposal that's coming up in september Because we are hopeful that these parking lots will not always be parking lots that we will redevelop them into buildings because they will no longer be required Move a preach question Madam clerk, could you read the roll, please sir? Can you all state who made the second please? I'm sorry. Who seconded the motion? Joe, thank you Just for clarification. So have we designated when the file the second meeting will be or Is kind of It's not the next it's not the next meeting Sounds like there really is today by the way our next meeting is Tuesday Yeah, be the 17th Okay, mr. Taylor. All right, mr. Herbert. I dr. Bussell. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall America man. Hi. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir on a personal privilege All the four years the city manager was talking about the dilemma that she is in with Comments made at the retreat And the staff working to implement what they thought was the direction of council I think there's a danger when it when the committee takes up a That has not been brought to the to the council table and referred to that committee As far as I know that that has not happened in this case I think that when we talked at our retreat about being business friendly, I'm business friendly I want to be business friendly and I'll probably end up voting for this ordinance in the end But I'm also neighborhood friendly and I think that we need to do everything we can to balance the needs of being open for business and being A quality of life in our neighborhoods And so while when the staff gets together to weigh the The options of doing these business friendly things. I think in the back of your mind you need to be weighing What impact is this going to have on neighborhoods and buffers and and stormwater and everything else? I know you do that I do what you all ask me to do Yes, mr. Taylor And if I'm incorrect, please tell me, you know these things come up in committee especially on land planning things That we send them that go to the planning commission I thought or the ddrc and they're that's where they're vetted and then they come to us with their advisement to reject or pass. I I never understood that I'm just asking You know, I I think that's the proper course of action I didn't know you had to come and vet these things at a public council meeting before it went down to the planning commission Mr. Taylor, it's my understanding And I think the madame clerk is correcting me a couple of times on it That you can't take a subject to your committee until it's come across this table here saying I'm gonna refer that As we're gonna have a couple of those done tonight Well, and I just wanted to add I don't think it has to come To a vote, but I do think that if we're bringing something that hasn't been discussed with the whole body A 10 minute 20 minute discussion and work session Just so folks just so that all of council is on the same page. It's just very helpful So that someone said that they get different answers from different people Some of the things are just taking a process that's more helpful to everyone So but I would I mean and some things are so simple because everybody wanted it We don't need to vote, but I just think that this could have been easily resolved with a 20 minute Inclusion or work session to make sure we all understood it. So what we'll do from now on We will have a work session that I will call a special meeting for all subjects and that includes everybody because Traditionally, that's not how this is operated. So I just want to be clear So no, but we but we will have a special call meeting every month at a work session To go discuss any open items that come out of committee before they move forward So there's no confusion About what we're doing and it doesn't put staff or anybody else in a bad position So from now on from now on we'll make sure that that we do that so that we can get a clarifying I think that's a great idea actually But we don't need a special call meeting it can just go on the whenever the next work session agenda agenda I mean You don't have to do anything special It can be on the agenda with a whole bunch of we don't have work session all the time So it would probably have to be a special call meeting I appreciate whatever you all want to do to bring clarification to it You know, we're going to be at any and every meeting you want to call What I would encourage you to do as well is think about what We've always done as a matter of course and it has been that when you Put something in committee Now there's another change this councilmate too about the call of the chair of the committee I don't know if you remember that little piece But you all also said that you're going to allow each other the chairs to call committee meetings And do not refer At matters From the dais in a council meeting you would refer you would allow the chair to bring up items in committee Okay, you did do that And that's okay What i'm saying is because you did that And because you're not always which I still encourage you to do mr. Taylor And I had a conversation about an item on this agenda about the groko He was thinking that that item we hit because it was in committee We had taken it we had gone ahead and and done the contract and what what what have you and I said No, sir I think it'd be better if you bring it back to council Which he had technically because the minutes of the economic and community development committee reflected Which I put those on your agenda today on the summary So everybody could see that it was discussed in committee But what I was saying to mr. Taylor what has been the practice that I think I've encouraged and Teresa has encouraged Teresa Noz Is that even if you have an item in committee? And this is probably getting that what miss herbert is saying you then when you like your items today you're going to refer Things from your committee discussion back to the full council you're going to kind of report back out To the full council what the committee talked about the direction of the committee And I think maybe with these items with business friendly I think that happened technically because there is a minutes to reflect it and all that whether we got into Now staff is being asked to draft the ordinance and now it's going to go to planning commission and all that I don't know that that happened In that detail at the council meeting But it did come out of committee and there was a press conference and there's all kinds of discussions. Okay So Mr. Mayor if you want us to have a special call work session to talk about things that have come out of any committee That's fine But I think the spirit of what you've always done if you would kind of adhere to that You'd probably be okay, and I think you got to Kind of patrol your step patrol yourselves as chairpersons of your committees On what you're just going to bring up in the committee versus what we used to do Was the council members had to refer from this body items into committee I would just Encourage you think about those things One change that we've been doing and this new council that we didn't do previously You might correct me, but I don't think we ever voted on sending things to the committee Councilman Duvall could say I would like the public safety committee to talk about xyz And no, you just see you'd call tk and get her to do an ordinance and Slide it in after five on Friday, but that's okay. We we have my experience. You can get away with that We're happy to do it. However, you all would like you to do it. I just want to want any confusion If it makes sense and it makes people feel more comfortable and we need to make sure that we're getting If it's coming from the committee and it doesn't come on the council agenda. We want to have a work session We don't have a lot of those scheduled out. I'm glad to do that I just want to make sure that there's no confusion because there There has been a lot of discussion around this and we will continue to discuss it Um, but I do I do think that that as we we redefine things that we see areas that we can do better on We're going to do that. Well, I I felt compelled because you know, I may have some staff members that sometimes will take liberties Christie ain't one of them. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Proceeding on with our zoning public hearing I'd like to make a note from this one that I would like to defer first reading but go forward with the public hearing We have we have to do the public hearing and then we'll entertain your motion. Mr. Herbert to defer, okay So now you're moving into a zoning map amendment also known as rezonings. This is at 5609 ferro road This is a request to rezone the property from community activity center corridor that cac to general commercial district Is there anybody here to speak in favor or against? hearing none seeing them Ms. Herbert I would like to defer first reading. Um, not to the next meeting but the first No second meeting in august We have a motion on the floor There's a second any discussion This is yeah Yes, sir No, but we could you could um, you'll have the public hearing and then we'll close it and the actual reading can happen Madam clerk, could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor? I miss herber server I Dr. Bustle's I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yeah, mr. Duvall. All right, mayor recommend. I Also a zoning map amendment for 4 9 2 1 broad river world a portion of that This is a request to rezone the property from residential mixed use. That's rm 2 to community activity center that cac Is there anybody here to speak for or against this item? Is there a motion so moved? Is there a second? Any discussion Hearing none seeing them. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Uh, miss herber. I dr. Bustle. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yeah, mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I Items 33 and 34 are for previously annexed land It's confirming the land use in the zoning map So it pleases if it pleases council you can take them both together The first is to confirm the future land use a map amendment For the property as urban edge community activity center and then you are being asked to confirm the zoning of this annex land For light industrial Is there anybody here to speak in favor or against this item? Move for approval. There's a motion. Is there a second? Second Any discussion hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Uh, miss herber. I dr. Bustle. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Good mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I 35 and 36 similarly these are this is a previously piece of annexed land that you are confirming the future land use map amendment as urban edge residential large lot and you are confirming the zoning for a planned development district At east side of riding grove road. That's 28.24 acres and 0.07 acres on the southeast side of riding grove road That's number 35 and 36 if you care to take them together Is there anybody here to speak in favor of or against? Move for approval. I have a motion. Is there a second? second Any discussion Hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor? Miss herbert. I dr. Bustle. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I That concludes your zoning public hearing. Thank you Thank you. Nice job. Thank you Ordinance's first reading item 37 is ordinance number 2020 to 048 Amending the 1998 code of ordinances of the city of columbia, south carolina chapter 23 Utilities and engineering article 7 stormwater management section 23205 the stormwater service charge rates They're a motion so moved We're just for clarification. This says no charge. No note. I want to make it clear everybody No price increase. That's correct For this year That's correct So we have a motion Say in a second Madam clerk. Could you read the roll, please? Mr. Taylor? I miss herbert. I dr. Bustle. I mr. Brennan Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I Item 38 is ordinance number 2020 to 061 granting an encroachment to wood creek farms homeowners association for the use of the right-of-way area Of the 100 block of beaver late drive for the installation and maintenance of a community sign adjacent to 100 and 101 beaver late drive There's a first and a second any discussion Hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor? I miss herbert. I dr. Bustle I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I mayor recommend I Item 39 is ordinance number 2020 to 074 granting an encroachment to the University of South Carolina for the use of the right-of-way area of the 700 block of Sumter street for the installation and maintenance of six concrete blooms with solid steel plate covers adjacent to 1,300 green street Second There's a second Motion's on the floor in a second Is there any discussion? No, madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. I miss herbert. I dr. Bustle. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall I mayor recommend I Moving into a period of resolutions item 40 is resolution number r 2022 056 certifying building site as an abandoned buildings Pursuant to the South Carolina abandoned buildings revitalization act title 12 chapter 67 Session 12 67 100 of the South Carolina code of laws I have a motion Duly noted that mr. Brennan It has it has a conflict and has so far filled out the necessary paper for that That's why he's not here just for the record to reflect Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. I miss harbert. I dr. Bustle. I mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I item 41 resolution number r 2022 057 authorizing construction and improvements by the south carolina department of transportation approval A motion and a second Is there any discussion? Council hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. I miss harbert. I dr. Bustle. I Mr. Brennan they're voting on item 41. Yes Mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I Mayor recommend I thank you Item 42 resolution number r 2022 058 authorizing construction and improvements by the south carolina department of transportation of interstate 26 and ocean 2 ramps There's a motion. Is there a second second? I have a second madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Quick discussion. We'll go ahead and call the roll then. I'll go ahead, mr. No, I was just gonna say we go through these so fast. We don't read them These are this one and the previous one are huge for the city of clummy This is this is the malfunction junction piece and just before it was the south main street extension and I mean I was with the mayor the other day in a meeting where he was He was bragging on the new infrastructure and the beautification and the things coming to our city to some potential investors And I just think it's important to note for the record that these are Really phenomenal game changers. I think for our city Mr. Herbert I Dr. Vussals I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I thank you Item 43 resolution number r2022 0 6 0 supporting the housing authority of the city of columbia Engaging in the disposition of a portion of pick and street is outlined To move Is there a second Second and this is just procedural because somebody called me about it and I just wanted to make The housing authority is a separate unit and this is just procedural for us to go through the process supporting them And sir Mr. Taylor Hi, mr. Herbert. I'm dr. Bustle. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. All right, mayor recommend mayor Sorry, mr. McDowell is in my ear Item 44 is resolution number r2022 0 6 1 Authorizing the city manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement between the housing authority of the city of columbia south carolina And the city of columbia for review of environmental Second We have a Motion in a second. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll mr. Taylor? Ms. Herbert. I dr. Bustle's. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. All right, mayor recommend I One event resolution item 45 resolution number r2022 0 5 2 Authorizing consumption of beer and wine only within boy Plaza adjacent to the columbia museum of art for family fun night on Friday, august 12 2022 Move approval Is there a second? There's a second Any discussion hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll mr. Taylor? Mr. Herbert. I dr. Bustle. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I Other matters the first being item 46 out Council is asked to approve a contract for high tech high growth entrepreneurship and business creation support As requested by the economic development department award to grow co in the amount of 60 000 dollars Is there a motion? Second Motion in a second any discussion hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Hi, mr. Herbert. Hi dr. Bustle. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor recommend I Item 46 a Is um the additional items from your work session today for the h tax I'm not sure if there'll be any a I guess a tax as well funding recommendations Wouldn't miss it. Yeah Missy will come Forward, I hope She disappeared we can I cough. We'll we'll come back to this item. I mean I I mean we can I can show you we we're Accepting the committee's recommendation um that they brought forth with with three maybe four additions here and I'll make sure I count them all one is to move the vista guild to add 115 000 to Yeah, that's what I um So we we accept the committee's recommendation with the following changes the first one will be adding 115 000 to the vista guild for the Clean and safe program We'll also be adding 55 000 to five points merchants association 20 000 to the divine street merchants association and ten thousand dollars to black pages Um that will leave us a surplus of 284 582 I believe is the exact amount. I might be off by 50 cents or something, but I think that's close Um So that that would be my motion that we we accept that with the following changes as discussed Mayor did you include the columbia classical ballet in that no, ma'am you remember we removed that We're waiting on some um supporting documentation there So that was an added 200 000 for quick math I have a motion second No, there's a reserve already there Yes, ma'am It's about 284 500 and something No, this is this is a hospitality tax committee It's not a tax Out of the 284 000 that's still in the count You want to you want to go ahead and incorporate that? I think you should put on the right and and to incorporate into that motion. We're going to add 10 000 um 10 percent for reserve account for non-profits Training program to help them look at other opportunities besides just uh government funding, but how to Leverage community support Is that clear enough and you want me to read it as restated? Just during the work session we thought that the 10 percent the 28 000 was coming from the accommodations tax fund No, ma'am. It's hospitality hospitality. Yes, ma'am. Okay. That was hospitality. Thank you That would come off the top of that 284 All right, and just for clarity that whole 10 percent is not just for training But training can come we're going to budget it for that and then we'll get a proposal and then we we can allocate it from there I have a motion in a second Madam clerk, could you read the roll? I got the motion, but not the second. I apologize second. Thank you Mr. Taylor. Uh, miss herbert. Hi dr. Bussell. Hi mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor rickamon. Hi. Thank you um the second Motion I put forth is that we take the line item agencies and And we're going to provide them with the funding at the level that they had last year But with museum bart we're going to include the 300 000 that is to finish the five-year commitment for capital And then as we move forward we will look After we get some more information over the next several weeks If we want to take the balance of that and then redistribute it as they've had requested But we want to make sure that they have a funding at this point so that they can move forward as they're waiting on their budgets That's my motion their second second any discussion Madam clerk, could you read the roll? Yes, sir. Mr. Taylor. Uh, miss herbert. Hi dr. Bussell. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor rickamon. Hi. Thank you And then I think the last one that that comes out of Was our a tax accommodations tax The committee We are going to fund lake murray. Um I can't remember the law. I know the first three hundred seventy five four hundred four hundred eighty seven and fifty cents Is the amount recommended by the committee suggested by the committee And then 16, I mean 1.6 million to the the visitor's bureau With the balance being left in account for us to have further discussion As we continue to move forward. That's my motion. Let the record show that state Yeah state a tax second Do we have a a motion to second any discussion Howard, did you want to say something where you just heard? I'll just point it for a second. Oh, okay Madam clerk, could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Hi, miss herbert. Hi dr. Bussell. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall Mayor rickamon. Hi. Thank you. I think we covered it all Till the next meeting I'm gonna pass up our my city manager's report. Mr. Mayor and council and I'll get started As you know, I do Try to provide this once a month or thereabouts. And so this Report includes some great Hatch up items on some things that have occurred throughout the city Um, wonderful programmatic type things of our staff and some accomplishments As well as some updates that you may have asked for And so the first is the city of columbia community development all access home ownership workshop There's been lots of great community development activities over the last few months for our citizens And they all access columbia event took place on june 23rd Um at the busby street community center over 60 people attended It was very informative with networking opportunities But I think what is always great for me to see is that we still continue to have good Participation with some of our stakeholder organizations Who can also supplement the information of our staff? So we have vendors such as state farm and first citizens bank and other community banks and Associations or corporations to help provide informative information to our citizens about home ownership and home maintenance and do it yourself ideas They had some fun sessions on decluttering your home and home maintenance tips as well as important information on credit and budgeting Mortgage lending and the home loan process. So that was a great effort by our community development staff Um, you've heard already today and i'm really excited that the mayor and council recognize our columbia richland fire department As they noted there were three awards received at the awards banquet for their fire rescue conference The state fire rescue conference on june 11th And three of the two of those three awards were meritorious awards given our firefighters for the work. They perform rescuing citizens of note one of one of our Crews rescued a woman and her child from a house fire in february of 2021 that they were both found unconscious inside the home But taken to safety by our firefighters And they administered cpr until ems could take the patients To safety So we're we're very thankful for the sacrifice that our firefighters often make including an additional Rescue that i know got a lot of public attention back on the columbia canal in august of 2020 When a young boy fell on the low-head dam and his foot became trapped By the rocks and our firefighters worked for several hours to get him free As the water level was rising all around all of them. So after two hours they got him free And he was taken to safety and didn't suffer many major injuries We also were excited that our firefighters Were we're in receipt of a meritorious Award not a meritorious award But an induction into the hall of fame for the south crown of firefighters association and that was retired CR fd training captain jack veal He received this honor after serving in the state's fire service for 42 years And finally um as chief jinkens mentioned earlier and you all recognize them as again for the third straight year of fire safe south carolina community So that's all wonderful Um as I share the wonderful news I still encourage chief jinkens and command staff to keep us updated on staffing I know mera rickham and i had a great update from uh chief jinkens and assistant chief fulsome yesterday And wanted to share some of that information that they gave us that our fire department department is constantly working diligently to streamline Their hiring process to bring in qualified persons more quickly And so on august 18th 11 firefighter recruits are scheduled to graduate This is significant as we're trying to keep them as close to fully staff at all times as possible And chief jinkens has conditioned additionally Make conditional offers to 11 more direct hire candidates, which is a new process that they're using to On board our candidates more quickly And this will begin on september the 19th when those direct hire recruits will start That class is expected to graduate on november the 10th In addition to that the chief mentioned to us that he plans to hire a full recruit class in january of 2023 And so we're looking forward to that future recruit class being expedited and Continuing again to streamline our hiring processes. Yes, sir. I hope we can ask questions during this portion of the To stay on this subject wonderful news about our recruitment reticent efforts with our columbia richland fire department We mentioned the desire to get a workshop session with chief jinkens Um Just a summary of of where we're going with the upcoming negotiation for the continuation of the service contract Yes, sir. Um, is that do we have that scheduled yet? Yes, sir I think in some of the information I put out to you all recently it listed the different work session dates Um, I want to say erica. I'm not sure what where we plucked that one in but it is either august or september Yes, well, I know that's important with with the the negotiation date coming Well, the the summary agreement date coming very soon. Absolutely look forward to that. Thank you very much So thank you for your service on the fire committee We are moving on to some updates with our columbia police department Again, I've provided you all probably some more extensive updates and some recent spreadsheets That was shared. Um, I wanted to pull from that just some highlights. Um, obviously We are still experiencing Um, a lot of activity with our unsheltered community members Um, and what I think Is significant with that and what the chief and I know the work that this council again from a policy perspective is moving towards Is some very specific recommendations through The task force that's working with dr. Bussell's leadership and so with that said I thought what is very much so in line with these efforts is the transit transit citizen criminal activities um report, um Because that is a very specific operation that chief holbrook has, um implemented so from march 1st 2022 to july 14th 2022 there have been 426 contacts made to address criminal activity by transit citizens within our operational zones of focus um of that number 167 of those actions were actually corrective actions through arrests and field bookings 163 were field interviews and informational reports in 96 where services offered or rendered The data tells me that we are taking enforcement a majority of the time Even though it's only slightly higher than field interviews and incident reports I experienced that um myself personally This morning and some other mornings when i'm coming into our city and stop this morning The staff knows sometimes I just ride around in the corridor downtown and I stopped and got out this morning And had some engagement with lieutenant hicks and and um captain blare and it's very enlightening um what they experience and what they deal with in an effort not to um Make arrests but to have these field interviews and these conversations that I again You know, we'll hope we'll have some real conversations some hard conversations about The assistance we need from our providers um again, we are You know Moving for it with documenting these encounters when there's no probable cause for an arrest So that we have the information And maybe can utilize some of this to help us as a council and staff come up with some ideas on um Ordinances for trespassing and urban camping and and different ideas that I know this council has taken very seriously And we appreciate you putting that focus on that The pathways unit update in addition um, the council had put a real focus on us standing up the pathways unit and we did that And the current number of clients is 219 The actions taken on behalf of those clients has been 629 to date with a total cause for service um Of over 256 now as i'm reading this today So the onboarding process to add to those teams has continued since we first stood up the pathways unit I've listed for you here and share it with you in a spreadsheet of information previously The um individuals that are being onboarded for the pathways unit As these individuals come on board It remains the goal of chief holbrook and and he's always said this that we have to increase our capacity and our coverage But we've got to wait as we're onboarding these department of mental health um specialists working with our officers But as that happens we'll expand and continue to Use these additional team members to maximize The utilization of the teams. I know dr. Bussell said ask some questions about the service hours And so that will begin to happen We're going to expand the service hours into the evenings and on the weekends as that staffing level is fulfilled And I just want to share that I had the opportunity to walk main street with um One of our yellow shirts and she shared a wonderful example of where she was able to take advantage of the pathways unit during the day on the 1600 block where they were able to build trust with the mental health clinician Although the person that was experiencing homelessness in a mental health crisis did not want to talk to the police So we're starting to see some of those You know small wins as we're expanding this program And I appreciate that you and chief are looking at ways in which that we can provide these services after 5 p.m Because that really is a deficit in terms of our services. Yes ma'am So some happy um news and to share regarding You know, I try to use this time to talk about some of our wonderful employees and this is An employee he's not here because he's actually already separated employment due to retirement But I didn't want to take I wanted all of you to Because you've seen ray a lot at your council meetings and doing different things for events And so there he is Mr. Raymond ray williams We honored him recently for 29 and a half years of service Ray was our recreation events coordinator But he set his sights back to the sunshine state to be reunited with his close family His mother in particular to enjoy his new position called retirement And so you can read again about ray started with us in 1993 as a maintenance technician And then after looking for new employee opportunities, we saw Raise abilities and he we promoted him to buildings and grounds. He worked at owens field for numerous years But he has been our event coordinator for 10 years Um and has done a phenomenal job. I mean anyone who knows ray knows how much he took to heart His passion for service and leadership and having a smooth function He wanted always to be smooth the press conferences the ribbon cuttings and all And so I appreciated him for his dedication to quality service In the next chapter of retirement ray plans to move back to florida as I said He likes to fish and spend time with his family that he was missing But what he said and I think this is very meaningful particularly for The young man that ray has mentored who took his position and I we need to do more of this in the city Ray um his replacement is fred kit Much younger than ray, but he's learned so much for him And I think you're going to see that he's going to exhibit the same quality In what he does, but ray did leave us with what made it easy for me was pride I took pride in what I did and I knew what I was doing was for the betterment of the city of colombia not just myself And the parts of recreation I always take pride in your work and think of the bigger picture And so I'm glad he shared that and has mentored another city staff person to do a good job And I I know this miss Wilson. Yes, sir. I I hate that ray's not here um Because we owe him a great deal of gratitude For his always a positive foot forward Always greeting everybody always setting us up for success wherever we were and never complained never did anything but just Really enjoyed his job, but I think his greatest legacy is that young man that he has trained who has truly Stepped in some big shoes and done a wonderful job and I agree with you. This is the type of relationship We need to foster in the city more. Yes, sir. And I've marriage has been talking to me about that and establishing some training programs and um, some of our, you know Mid-level and below managers, you know building people up to step into these roles. It's really really important And so another employee spotlight And this is a little bit of a surprise because I kept asking I said miss harris I just don't know what we're going to do today ladies out and america needs some help So miss darris harris Is our lead I want her to So miss darris harris began her career with the city of colombia in september of 1979 As a senior secretary Mrs. Harris has nobly served multiple city managers and their administrative teams over the years most importantly Mrs. Harris serves our citizens and our customers always with a smile and face and a kind word And you pride yourself on customer care and helping others and for these reasons Mrs. Darris harris is the employee is the employee for whom I wish to shine a spotlight For all of your efforts. Thank you, mrs. Harris. Thank y'all Everyone Thank you. Love me and I enjoy what I do with city of colombia. I don't expect anything But I do what's in my heart and I do what it is to have this And that's what we're here. Yes, and I think that each person No matter what Give them their roses, but I really Know Hey our council, thank you all for that And so with that we do have a few more items we've got your committee referrals reports and new business item 47 is Uh council is asked to refer a proposed lost stolen firearm reporting ordinance to the public safety committee as requested by the honorable oddity bustles So as you all may know through some of our communications We have been exploring an ordinance that would require private citizens within 24 hours to report a lost or stolen firearm This is something that is data driven in the sense that our colombia police department has Shared with us that we have some of the highest rates of crime associated with a lost or stolen firearm And we believe that this is something that would really be another tool in the toolbox That would allow us to Prevent some of the gun violence that has been plaguing our communities for the sake of Understanding the ordinance and ensuring that we're all on the same page given some of our discussions About the process I'd like to formally refer this ordinance and the draft as it's currently written To the public safety committee and ask that the public safety committee review and Provide their feedback in the form of an email or during a work session No later than august 23rd, which would then allow us based on their feedback to hopefully um have our first reading in september Do I make a motion? You don't need the motion Do you don't make it or you just refer it you refer me to committee Yeah, we need to do a motion. It's on the agenda for a vote Okay, I'd like to make a motion to refer this ordinance to the public safety committee and um Have feedback from them by the end of august august 23rd Question second come we've got a second now discussion. Yes, reverend me now Dr. Bussells is this is this ordinance? Uh inclusive of actions that were taken Six months ago that would include ghost guns and As currently written this focuses on lost and stolen firearms Only we have submitted it to the attorney general's office and draft form And uh based on our discussions there does not seem to be an issue about keeping this on the books well The thing that I take issue with is that six months ago we We had something on the books for gun control Was the bumper stocks and of course Ghost guns It seems to me and I'm glad we carried it to committee because there is obviously some feedback We could inject in this conversation Because it does not mention ghost guns And it does not mention bumper stops All right Yeah, all right very good. Well ghost guns is not And ghost guns of course represent Uh a volumous number of acts of violence that has taken place using those guns I would only suggest that we include ghost guns In the conversation when this is referred to Um To our committee That's fine Absolutely, so I'd like to make a motion to refer this lost and stolen firearm reporting ordinance to the public safety committee And receive feedback no later than august 23rd and have some discussions about Some of the other pieces that we're interested in including ghost guns I need a second All right We have a second I just want to make I just want to make sure that it's just not a piece that it becomes a critical piece of this discussion Ghost guns 70 percent of the guns recovered from From our police department are stolen guns out of crimes. And so I you know, obviously We're looking at every angle and discussing everything we can to improve the safety of our community And I look forward to hearing the recommendation from the public safety committee Well, that's a motion In a second. Yeah, it's been seconded. We discuss any more discussion. Yes, just yes, sir I am not against this. I just want to make sure That all of our bases are covered as it relates to gun violence Thank you. Thank you With that madame clerk, could you read the roll? Yes, sir. Mr. Taylor Ms. Herbert. Hi dr. Bussells. Hi, mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. All right, mayor recommend. Bye. Thank you At this time, uh, reverend McDowell, we have the administrative policy committee meeting report from june 28th 2022 the honorable edward mcdowell jr. Yes, ma'am. Let me um How would do you want to do that? You got the floor. Why don't you do it? I don't have okay. I'll I'll do it. All right. You you do you administrative report. All right. Let me do this Anybody seen the muppets? Our administrative our administrative policy committee has met several times and of course for particular items that were uh, that has been discussed And just want to bring this to councils Bring this to council As you know, we've been talking about health initiatives We initially talked about a larger group of persons That would look at health issues within our city comparatively as compared with The national the national numbers Columbia sort of uh We don't do that. Well So of course instead of a large health Initiative board of directors One of the things we talked about in our committees of in our committee was to focus on the biggest and The biggest emphasis health issue within our city and of course that was diabetes Diabetes of course is running the gambit in our city And of course one of the things that we talked about in committee and Was of course a walk to life for life To be initiated in partnering with uh, dehec and south carolina diabetes council To help folk understand the importance of health issues Particularly within our city We are sort of Looking at november as being a launch date because it is A national diabetes month a part of that initiative of course would be to uh To do a walk And to make sure resources And those sort of things are available for persons Who are in those particular crisis situations? That's related to our first the first emphasis and of course that was the health initiatives anything else members Not about that. No, okay. Thank you The other thing and we had so many things with the administrative policy committee I need a whole notebook to sort of read through these things Uh, it was very important for us to look at columbia clean initiative I think will and I have talked a little bit about that. We were able to bring in, uh, clint shealy Uh, and uh, robert anderson To talk about how we can best approach This emphasis within the confines of our city Um, we sort of think and sort of feel like this is something we want to do and have to do For the sake of our city So of course, mr. Mayor Because of the importance Ongoing conversations will ensue themselves, but right now we're on target to go forward Thank you That's correct. I got two more. Oh, you got a full slate. Well, you all did that. I didn't do it um The third emphasis of course was with the boards and commissions We recognize that we could not particularly Understand and do what we need to do for boards and commissions in one hour or an hour and a half This is an ongoing Committee what we want to look at we wanted to make sure that a lot of our work Still we still need to do a lot of work There needs to be some understanding of clarity of functions from our boards And commissions we need to look at term limits We needed we talked about the process Of putting together an excel sheet to understand when folk Come on the board or commission and of course when they rotate off a time limit Making sure that all Things Working together So we're going to be looking at this and continuing to talk about this mr. Mayor the last thing of course As you know last year We had we developed Ace equity index study And of course a part of that equity index index study was referred to the administrative policy committee As a result of that We talked a little with and I think our mayor had some conversation And I did too with the community relations council One of the things we suggested to our committee and our committee, I think approved it And that was to allow the Equity index study to be given to Community relations council. They analyze it and of course bring it back to us for recommendations And to build on that part of that is that that study was done Incorporating richland county the city of crombia and in lexington county, and it's not separated So we we need it's an all community group to help bring in and much like other cities In the upstate they they went through and picked three things to go target this year And then three things at the year after and after so that they could achieve instead of trying to take on everything And not being able to achieve anything committee Anything what you think? No, that's correct. Yeah, okay That ends by report If I may borrow councilman mcdowell's time Yes, sir Councilman mcdowell has given me a program that I suggested program that he wants the public safety committee to look at that would Work with cpd to come up with a program of assistance for people that want to put up The no firearms allowed signs, but the state law is very specific about how large the sign is how high it is off the ground Where it is put in the window the size of the lettering on the sign and His suggestion includes Having some of these signs pre-printed and that we train somebody at cpd. I you got plenty of people over there Help with this. I'm sure that would Assist citizens that want these signs in their businesses particularly With proper placement just like we do when we go out to do a security service Can can I make a Small adjustment of that as we all work through that process? Can we see how we can use a business liaison or something? I don't think we want to take an officer out to help with signage Let's let's utilize our business liaisons to help with that if you would We can do that. What kind of signage what what kind of sign? No concealed weapons. No, okay. I'm sorry No concealed weapons. Do you want a motion on that? I think it would be if you're going to refer to committee. Yes, I move we refer that to the public safety committee second There's a motion on the floor. It's been seconded madam clerk. Could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor Ms. Herbert aye. Dr. Bussells aye. Mr. Vernon Yes, mr. Mcdowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. Uh-huh. Mayor rickamon. Aye. Thank you reference in our report mr. Mayor Administrative puddle I refer this just as information Thank you very much for your report and your hard work. Ms. Herbert I believe you are next up on the affordable task Of course I will be much quicker than rev But no, I'm actually very excited about the affordable housing task force In our first meeting we took the time to kind of go over some priorities. We had a lot from last year We narrowed them down And then we've changed the committee structure. We had probably five or six committees Zoning legal and a whole bunch of other things I've changed the committee structure. So that is now all things development Which is all things physically building And then all things advocacy Because we have folks who are advocating for different needs and different groups And the committee has really liked that We have had one committee meeting for each In our Development committee says number one issue is money Financing and The advocacy committee along with the development committee Said the number one issue is not in my backyard And so looking at how we define affordable housing Is very critical. So we want to look at actually doing a campaign for Just educating the public on all types of a public housing not public Affordable housing paintable. Yeah a work in a workforce Because there's certain Thoughts about it But what we mean and so what we mean is I mean it needs to be affordable For me as a percentage of my income. It needs to be affordable For my child percentage of income. So We're looking forward to helping launch a campaign To just kind of educate and have discussions with all of our communities about the need How much housing we need and why we need affordable housing Thank you. Ms. Herbert for that report and and as y'all continue to develop as we're working With hud applications and all the opportunities for funding Let's continue to make sure that we're connecting all the dots. So everybody knows Our commitment to affordable attainable and home ownership is a priority of this council That brings us to dr. Bussells again For a task force and prevent a homeless meeting report Thank you, mayor So I want to share with everyone that although the task force, you know meets once once a month roughly There's been a lot of work that's been going on behind the scenes whether it's meeting with providers meeting with our staff meeting with The main street district the five points association There because we want to really understand how we can address this problem that has been On top of mine for so many of our constituents And so I want to talk a little bit about the key themes that emerged from the task force meeting on june 29th Uh, it was a great conversation We had um a good representation of folks in the business community the neighborhoods As well as some of our public defenders and those that work with those experiencing homelessness And after you know talking through some of the scope of our work, right? So this task force is Focused on who we call the chronically homeless or the chronically unsheltered that is the definition used by HUD homelessness Obviously expands beyond that But we know that we can't solve everything what we can do is focus on what we can control And that is the chronic homeless population that we've consistently seen an increased presence of throughout our city And so we some of the themes that really arose was number one There are no services really in the city After 5 p.m. Most services that are provided They end at five and that's for a multitude of reasons, but oftentimes that leads to Everyone calling law enforcement and law enforcement remains The first line of defense against a problem that law enforcement should not be the first line of defense And so we talked a lot about what it would look like to have a system in which the police were not the first folks that we called And so it is you know Certainly helpful to hear that some of our investment with the pathways initiative As well as some of the other Approaches that we're taking to address this problem is starting to have some promising results But we talked a lot about how we cannot and should not always be calling the police and that we really need to make Sure that we have options after 5 p.m We also talked about feeding and how there are many groups that feed that often don't talk to each other Which has made it very difficult for us to understand the best ways in which we can Streamline some of those services and in the past there was a permit process As well as a schedule of these feedings, but since covet that is no longer the case And so perhaps there's a duplication and we could really work together to understand the ways in which we can Provide services to those experiencing homelessness, but not in a way that it's you know, really all over the place And then finally I think uh one of the most eye-opening things that happened at this meeting is we had a presentation from our research consultant Inspiring real change who provided us a catalog of services in greater richland county There are over a hundred programs dedicated to the preventing and ending homelessness in richland county a hundred programs There are also four pages worth of faith faith faith based community groups whether it's churches or other types of organizations That feed the homeless in our city So the story that that really tells us is that it's not that columbia doesn't care It's that we're not talking to each other in a way that is able to really address the root cause of the problem And so as we move forward with the task force We're really looking at ways in which we can ensure that our dollars are being used in a way That have measurable outcomes for the different populations that are affected by homelessness And really considering ways in which we can work better with some of the providers that have traditionally worked with the city And most importantly, you know looking at what's not working You know, there's been several small successes along the way and there's certainly great organizations out there But as currently, um, you know the way things are structured We're starting to see this problem get worse and no one deserves to live on the street And so i'm looking forward to our next meeting in which we will continue our discussion and talk about some of our solutions With the goal really being that we have some concrete recommendations Over the next two months to then report back to mayor as requested because this task force was created for A short term to allow us to develop that report and share with council so that we can hopefully move forward Thank you, dr. Bussells I'm gonna for go by report. Um until the next meeting Um, I want to have a couple more conversations with my colleagues As we move forward That be the second meeting in august ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Okay. I was gonna suggest that because I know you all have National night out activities next week and we've been trying to keep um tuesday's meeting pretty tight. So Let's put that down. Thank you We're at the point for uh, public input. Uh, is there anybody who would like to speak to council? Mayor, I do have a referral. Okay. I'm sorry miss. Um, I want to refer um, the state accommodations tax allocation To the economic and community development committee Uh, can I have a second? Madam clerk, could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor Miss harbert. I dr. Bussells. Mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. Mcdowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I may recommend. I Thank you. Sorry about that. I didn't see you Is there anybody who would like to speak on any subject? The floor is yours Ms. Wiley, you're not even gonna say hello today Hey, we got the guest to honor with us today as well Any Seeing none or hearing none, uh Mr. Duvall, would you like to make a motion? Yeah, mr. Mr. Mayor, I make a motion we go into executive session for receipt of legal advice relating to a pending Threatened or potential claim seco 30 dash 4078 to Linda harrelson versus city of columbian dominion energy Discussion of employment of employee pursuant seco 30 dash 4071 municipal court Discussion of negotiations as proposed contractual arrangement pursuant to seco 30 dash 4078 to Busted plug Gatston street property homeless services Is there a second second? Yeah, downstairs Madam clerk, could you read the roll mr. Taylor? Mr. Herbert Dr. Bustle mr. Brennan mr. Mcdowell Yes, mr. Duvall. I may recommend. I thank you