 Good evening, Madam Clark. How are you this evening? Well, and you sir. I'm doing well Would you mind calling the roll this evening? Absolutely, mr. Taylor here, mr. Herbert dr. Bustle here Mr. Brennan present mr. McDowell mr. Duvall Here can we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance Reverend McDowell would you mind giving us a word of prayer before we start Thank You, sir merciful and kind God All of the rich and manifold blessings you've already bestowed upon us For the simplicity of life health and strength We simply say thank you For this gathering today In the midst of all of the things that we will discuss today, we simply ask That the winds of your spirit might blow through this chamber And that your will be done not ours, but your will Allow those who are and have been overtaken with COVID We pray for healing and restoration Restoration Restoration in such a way that they may regain full strength and Be removed of this virus Touch us individually and collectively And allow this city as it continues to grow and expand But it might feel since your presence. We ask it in your name Amen, ma'am. Madam Benjamin. How are you this evening? Well, mayor, how are you good before we adopt the agenda? We're gonna remove item 8 and out of the consent agenda and discuss it separately So we'll be approving items 5 through 7 9 through 15 on the consent agenda we're deferring item 22 and We're also we will not be adding the legislative team to the discussion. Is that correct mr. With that, can I have a motion to approve the agenda with these changes motion to approve? Is there second second? Second madam clerk. Do you mind reading the role, please mr. Taylor? Mr. Herbert Yes, dr. Bussell's I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I may recommend I with that we have Public input on agenda items only any other public input will be taken for any thing that's not on the agenda At the end of the meeting. So is there anybody who wanted to speak now on an item that is before us? Take that as a no, so we'll move forward Have approval for the minutes May 10th 2022 but budget workshop and May 17th 2022 council meeting And a second madam clerk. Could you read the role mr. Taylor miss herbert? Dr. Bussell's I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I recommend I Next we will have our agenda the second reading for the budget ordinance Ordinance number 2022-052 to raise revenue and adopt the budget for the city of Columbia, South Carolina for the fiscal year ending June 30th 2023 They're a motion we'll move there a second second any discussion I just want to say that you know as we continue to move through the year. We'll continue to to make this budget very open Very friendly to our community, but also I think you'll see us making Some significant changes over the year by investing in our city making sure that we provide the best service possible to our community and Investing in technology training and our employees. So with that madam clerk, could you read the role? Miss harbert I'm dr. Bussell's I Mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. All right, mayor recommend. Aye. Thank you Next on the agenda our city council discussions item number three fiscal year 2022-2023 Accommodations tax committee recommendations and we have mr. Howe Stevenson who is the committee chair here to answer any questions? They recommend members of council is my pleasure report for the accommodations tax advisory committee Who is myself and miss Edna Langley who represents the hospitality industry? My colleagues are here if they are hopefully they'll stand up mr. Jesse Bullard representing the hospitality industry Mr.. Justin Deo also with the hospitality industry miss Shelly nut also with the hospitality industry Miss Sandra Sims who is at large and also miss Joel Ryan Cultural I'd like to also thank missy Kauffman and Tina Saxon for making our job as volunteers and doing this very easy And we're extremely helpful in putting all this together for us we met on June 2nd And discussed the matters before us. We had presentations from capital city Lake Murray country regional tourism board Become Columbia Metropolitan Convention and visitors bureau Benedict College for the third Carolina's football cap classic black pages international the Columbia black expo Feed the city LLC for the feed the city annual festival in the South Carolina high school league for football and basketball state championships we are we are charged with Conducting our our ATACs recommendations by the guidelines of the Turk Commission the tourism expenditure review committee there's a state law bill H 2186 and part of that I'll just read briefly is Where a lot of our decisions come out of this particular sentence Purpose of this act is not to provide services normally provided by county or municipality But to promote tourism and enlarge its economic benefits through advertising promotion and Providing those facilities and services that enhance the ability of the county or municipality to attract and provide for tourists I've been on the committee now for a number of years and Recently the chairman of that committee when I came on to that committee there. We had been in agreement by previous counsel that ATACs funds would would be allocated to tourism related agencies capital city Lake Murray country and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and visitors Bureau Primarily Because the Turk Commission does review these awards and sometimes that can hold things up And these are clearly marketing organizations for our community and their marketing Covers the entire area the whole city County and also in Lexington County through Lake Murray and they work very closely together and It had been determined some years ago that we would provide funds 85% to the local CVB and 15% of those funds to the capital city Lake Murray country May seem a little out of you'll remember a lot of ATACs produced out in the Harveston area and a lot of activity that comes From Lake Murray for that area of the city We did listen. This is the first year since I've been on that we actually invited these other Groups that applied that we have had other groups apply in the past and while they have very Compelling events that they're putting on and things that they're doing We felt as a committee that we should stick with the tradition of what we've done These two groups do not apply for H tax funds. And again, this is this is a long-standing Tradition that councils that have upheld and One time that we went counter to that council changed it back to what it was So we didn't figure it was our duty to try to change anything for you guys But we have awarded 85% of the funds to the Columbia CVB experienced Columbia and 15% to capital city Lake Murray. I think you have something in your packets with those exact numbers Traditionally, there's been more money Collected at the end of the year is what we call overage and we voted to have that overage split by the same 85 15 And I'll be glad to answer any questions you have about the committee's work Are there any questions from council as you know, this is we're in a discussion only period there will be no action taken today Mr. Mayor, I'm speaking On behalf of the Lake Murray country application they have a very important contract coming up that they need a nod from the council that they will get some money to Do their share if they don't if they're not able to make this application through the state They will lose an opportunity to get some matching funds so I would like for the council to Have a recorded motion that that if we They will get a distribution this year at least What they had from last year and then any new new monies The council will will decide At the appropriate meeting I think procedurally Would look to the city attorney we can Voice and an intent at that level, but we cannot have any type of motion or recording because we're in discussion on Is that what the attorney said Well, do my colleagues join me in that it is the intent to give at least the same amount from last year to These two organizations so that one of those organizations can make an application For some matching funds Now won't yeah I'm sorry. I was out of order We ought to ask is why Was Tina were you gonna say something I think you got interrupted I'm sorry. Yeah, I was gonna say I Agree with Howard on that and then I also want to make sure that we do set some kind of timeline for when we're gonna make these decisions because the fiscal year is ending and we have the one meeting in July, but You know organizations are trying to make plans and we they need to have Assurances or some kind of commitment so that they can know what they can do and I don't want them to risk any funding Miss miss Herbert as you remember council decided not to take this to make full Recommendations on any of these until the July meeting, which is July 26 I believe that is the Tuesday meeting that we were making these decisions and council voted on that. I Don't think we voted on that I don't I don't think that was the vote I think that was the request but all I'm saying is that I am in Agreeance with Howard Due to the timeliness of it because at the time I didn't know the deadline that they had But we I would every way that we can give them assurances that they will get at least what they got That what they received last year. I would be in full support of that Anybody else? There's no action here. Mr. Mayor can only discuss just one observation hell You're too soon Just one observation And I'm very very I understand that we're not we just talking of course that conversation will engender itself into Kinds of conversation as it relates to this And I guess the biggest question for me is will be I see the appropriation Understand the timeline is not what we want it to be But the biggest question for me is I need a real clear clear understanding Why there's some who's going to be getting 85 percent of that Or less or even zero So it's a question of why I'm not asking you to answer that Yeah, just an observation I would just comment it. It's okay to say that that Had been an agreement by a previous council and so the committee Has not heard from a council saying Dig into these others. We want those to be an H tax and these to be an H tax So we thought that the Organizations that presented may compelling reasons for it We felt like it was outside the purview of what we should be deciding as an advisory committee Any other questions I think as we continue to move forward, you know Obviously we want to be supportive of agencies But we also want to understand that with the amount of money that we have here There are maybe some other Resources and sources that we need to put that money to and traditionally Council has looked at it this way, but I think today. We're at a different juncture At the city of Columbia and I think we want to make sure that we have some options on the table We'll be discussing those as we continue to move forward I know that we will support our agencies that we've supported And with the appropriate time we can make those those announcements We appreciate the committee, you know putting forth, but I think we're gonna have to dig in a little bit deeper To from where we were last year to where we are today So thank you with that move to hospitality Yes, sir next on the agenda is item number for fiscal year 2022 2023 hospitality tax committee recommendations. I'm Miss Terry Davis is the committee chair She's here to give a presentation and answer any questions you may have We had an unusual year this year, of course, we haven't met for two years You know, there was this thing called coven that happened Got a lot of people confused got a lot of people doing double duty So as a result When we usually have 90 applications approximately, we actually had 49 that we could make a decision on There were originally 57 applications with eight of those We're eliminated before we made any determination So the 49 who were eligible to be considered 47% of those we recommended full funding everything they asked for we gave them 35% We gave them funding not as much as they asked for but in many cases more money that they had than they had had previous years We had two organizations that were brand new that we recommended seed money We had six applications that we did not recommend for funding because they didn't fit within the guidelines of hospitality tax You know a lot of people say don't give money back to counsel will lose it But we are recommending a second round of funding. I can tell you there are 20 Organizations that most have been regular applicants who did not apply this year I know some just didn't realize the applications were out this year some were just so embroiled and Cova and getting Business back together or they had new volunteers and didn't realize so we've got a good many application of folks We think are out there wanting funding and just need to be aware that we have a little more money left So we recommended about four hundred and sixty thousand dollars With a second round for anybody not anybody who applied in this first go round Before anybody who has an event January 1 through June 30th Any questions from counsel Yes, we do and as a matter of fact if anybody would like this I have a document that we wrote up the committee wrote up a few years ago That gives point by point how we follow the guidelines and what we use in our evaluations And I'm more than happy to supply anybody with a copy of that. Would you like to see it? I'll just give you mine when I Is it possible to make that available to all of us sure if you would sure thank you ma'am. Yep nine items this Yeah part of that question, okay Did you recommend the council take a look at those guidelines and update them or change them or do anything with them? Well, sure, I mean we the committee came up with those because we wanted everybody to be on board We none of unanimously agreed. This is how we were going to proceed And we wanted it in writing We are more than happy for you to look at them and if you think we missed the mark or slipped on anything just let us know That's great, and she's making copies for y'all Anybody else have the question Miss Davis, I just want thank you for the committee's work and you know It was nice to be able to Appropriate a nice sum of money for the committee to put out there I'm still kind of shocked though with the number of Applicants considering how many requests and phone calls we get At the council level that people didn't know that we had this moving forward We've been doling out money for right every year since it's been in so I was a little surprised But I do appreciate having the back Background and the information you shared with us on the percentages and how you put it together and that y'all decided to Hold some money back because we know there'll be some more applicants I didn't know if there was a suggestion From the committee what we could do to make sure that we're getting this information out Better because clearly somewhere Something is different than it has been in years past well And let me give you just a I'm not gonna read these all all of these But let me give you an idea of people who have typically applied and Been funded the city shag club the stormwater studios Congeree River Keepers River Rocks Festival Ensemble at Eclectica friends of taps of course taps is gone Rosewood Art and music festival used to be a separate application Houpology Palmetta capital city classic Concert band Palmetto master singers sand leper singers the southern Guitar Festival tasty tomato festival some of these have gone on and they've just figured out They've been downsized and figured out a way to do it Some may have because they're volunteer organizations With all the disruption just may not have gotten it together, but I'd sure Love for the city to go on record is funding more than then you know 40 Groups because the h-tex program is excellent. I think the city needs more a Acknowledgement of what y'all do to bring all these activities to the city and Anything we can figure out whether it's phone calls whether it's a combination of emails mailings public Service comments to get more applications. That'd be great We want more events to put more seats in restaurants to create more H-tex and it doesn't help us if we're not getting more people into the restaurants and coming downtown and participating I mean that was the whole intent By that and I think the the dining has always been the key element to that So obviously we want to make sure that if we need to do something differently But it would be you know it almost be worthwhile for us to have maybe one of the interns look into the groups And see who actually is still viable because like you said some folks have taken the course and said well We're just done. It's too much in three years of no events is more than we can handle So you talk I appreciate the guidelines and Some of the things that you've suggested over the years and you talk about seed money Right and how some have become self-sustaining and how you know We've seen some of the larger festivals become more self-sustaining But on the other end there are a lot of organizations that year after year are applying for H-tex Is there a threshold or a metric that you use for when you decide that they are now self-sustaining? I'm brutally honest. I think most of these groups would try to do what they do without the H-tex money But it wouldn't be the quality. It wouldn't be at the scale And we feel like what they're doing is bringing people into town and fill in those restaurant seats But they're worthy of money and Yeah, they they Give the spirit of the city I think it's a great investment Mr. McDowell I just want to piggyback on something you just wrote up Because the concern of mine is simply this When I look at the organizations and I look at the amount of dollars we Contribute in and the amount of money is that we are expending I Guess the question for me Is there is there a barometer to kind of tap into the The whole notion of having some skin in the game And I say that primarily because of this each organization traditionally Get the same amount of money from my experience Traditionally is there a parameter where we set some skin in the game from for organizations And I think it's getting that what you sort of sort of talked about Where's the level of having some skin in the game with the larger amount of H-tex dollars that's given to organizations and you look at the number of Smaller organizations that is either getting a smaller and lesser amount and doing a yeoman's task And getting something done It was certainly it was certainly helped me a lot and of course the H-tex committee Differensively Ask the question What are you putting in the game? What are you putting on the table? Are you putting some skin in the game and that helps us? I think to either move it up Move it down or flatten it out and traditionally that's We haven't done that Well, I can tell you they do have skin in the game Okay, and one of the things that and I can calculate this out for you and send it We don't fund You know we fund 25 30 percent of their budget They have to come up with the rest of the money by themselves And yes, there are large groups for example the The State Museum comes in it's for out market advertising You know well we could say no to that group, but they bring 90,000 people into the city They're meeting the qualifications. There is no need component in the hospitality tax program if there were And we make very different decisions I think but You know you have the the Convention the sports authority how many out market Advertising they bring tens of thousands of people into the city and they're putting a lot more money into it We are the smaller groups Ask for less money Some of them with seed money We want to give them an impetus to get it organized and then see where they can go in the next year We have a chance to give them more money Just the fact that we've even the ones who we didn't give their full funding to or their full request We gave most of those groups more that they than they had had in the past. So they're smaller groups but I Stand here to tell you I think what we do is right There are a couple of groups that we used to Grumble about and they did not apply this year and I don't mind telling you the South Carolina State Fair and the USC Game Cup Club We always grumbled Because talk about bad cats, but no, I think what we've done is done is appropriate But I thank you for your question. Thank you and I guess what I want to say you raised two organizations that I am Look the convention center and museum, of course brings in tons and tons of folk These understand I am not asking that we cut that funding Right, right, but I am asking is that there be a realistic forensic look At even if we have to do more or do less We have not had that kind of conversation and we need that kind of conversation Particularly with the two groups that Sort of brings in a yeoman's task of folk coming into our city. Thank you. Thank you And to tell you I would be happy to work with Tina if we wanted to punch numbers and kind of give you an evaluation We can certainly do that I just took two quick comments Maybe number one I think we're going to vote on a permit for an alumni of the h-tax Later on which is the tasty tomato festival and I think seeing these groups grow beyond this is fantastic But they haven't grown beyond it. They're make this they didn't apply this year in their event smaller Yeah, but but my point still is I mean we shouldn't begrudge people when they decide to go do it Oh sure And the second thing I would just and again, it's just a question for general information for me being a newer council member Do we ever sit down with a with the h-tax committee chairman from the county and forest acres and other places I mean when you look at Last time I looked most everything in Columbia was in the county and Sometimes I see where we carry the load on lots of things and other places may have more reserves And I was just if we don't I would encourage you to Kind of see if you could do that I would encourage you to kind of see if you couldn't convene a meeting and see if there's just any possibility of Looking at certain things even more cooperatively I think it can help us when I look at when I look at athletic events where there's it's Benedict College event or the high school the high school championships and stuff what we can do together as a whole lot Sure, and I will tell you that For the first time I am a member of the county h-tax committee Which is not met But I will be able to talk closely with them with what they're doing in comparison to what the city is doing Thank you back on Mr. Taylor, you know, there's opportunity there for collaboration And we need that seems to be the word wherever we're going today is more things need to be done Regionally and together and and so I think it'd be a great opportunity and any insight you can bring us to be greatly appreciate Mr. Herbert you're after mr. Brennan Terry. Thank you so much I know the the committee volunteer time is that it's a lot So thank you to the volunteers for pulling this all together just to double back on Councilman McDowell's question these these applications that come in front of you are pretty thorough Lots of volunteers. Yes. Yes, but there's always a budget included And we can always look track three five seven years back for these groups that have gotten h-tax to see The growth so that it that is always available Councilmember wants to take a look at a specific group to see how they're growing have you have you Thought about more detail in the budget The oversight to make sure that they're hitting those budget numbers comes from the process of sending in receipts And everything according to the committee organization. Is that correct? Well, yes, and that's the team of the city office then you can't get your money if you don't provide the appropriate receipts So it doesn't matter if you say you're doing something unless you have verification that you do You're not gonna get reimbursement for it But that percentage of h-tax money coming from the committee you look specifically at that total budget that they prepare to make sure It's right not over half. I think it's a 25% 35 You know, I'm just thinking off the top of my head because I haven't reviewed it But I recall a lot of people help pull them out. Yeah, essentially. Yeah, perfect. All right. Thank you miss Harvard I Think I was probably echoing something similar to that that I think it would be pretty easy for us to show the skin in the game But based on their full budget However, we also know that people present budgets that they don't always meet so those numbers may change By the time they actually have the event, but I did just want to mention I was speaking with some Richland County folks And they do theirs totally differently And each County Council person is allocated a dollar amount I don't know if that if that's a fair process or not, but They kind of team up among themselves, but I think this year everyone gets 80 plus thousand dollars every council person and Sometimes multiple of them Contribute towards the project and that that collaboration is still going on because I think that was there was some collaboration with one of the events this weekend So there is some collaboration because typically We don't fund 100% you know of that hospitality expense. I think they get funds from other organizations as well. Thank you Councilman This may be your missy question There she missy we had one long-term commitment that we had not made during the COVID years that was to Columbia Museum of art and I think we had one pavement left Of around three hundred thousand dollars that I don't see it on this list is that gonna be brought to council when the council starts talking about it Yes, so that would be a line on an agency and those allocations are to be determined by city council That's the only commitment that we have not made My long-term commitments, right? That was the only one pending Correct their allocation or their request is for 1.1 million which includes both their operating allocation plus the final year of their Five-year Okay, so so that moment that million dollars includes the 300. Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you It was it was done actually longer than that because the two years Was skipped with COVID it was over five years. So right. Yes, sir. It's been well over five years is more. Yes Anybody have any more questions, miss Davis? Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it really do Mayor, let me just say miss Davis Yes, Davis Hey Let me just say a word of this has been A drooling process. I know it have your committee. Let me see your committee again. Would you please stand the committee? I see hands. Let me see you stand Thank you. Thank you very much A total of 11 committee members two weren't Two weren't able to because of other commitments weren't able to participate this year. So we did have nine Many members just some couldn't come today and then we have the perpetual John Whitehead who's an ex officio member That's the ex officio, right? Yes. Yes. Well, look we are we are delighted. This is a an awesome task We have we had less money But we got some surplus in that right you got we got more money now that Hey Sounds good to me. Yeah, it's great. Your committee has did a good good job and making sure There's still some weeds we got to get into But you all that you and this committee has done an excellent job and sort of helping us Push forward Thank you so much and just wanted to personally say thank you. Thank you very much and we've had a great time doing it That's Benjamin Next we'll have The consent agenda items five through seven and then nine through 15 Is there a motion approval? Mr. Mayor, is there a second second Any discussion or comments on items five six seven or nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen or fifteen Okay, mr. Taylor that's a that was a fairly significant Which item you tell me about items number number five Item number five is on our city-wide video camera services As requested by the police department 125 bucks correct So chief Holbrook, do you have any information you can provide to us? This takes us to the end of the year and then we'll switch over to our Motorola contract We'll let chief Talk to us about that this contract terminates at the end of Yes, sir, we're talking about item five correct. Yes. Yes, sir So that is the the cost three July for the current through the end of the current fiscal year Initially we were expecting for the motor roll to transfer the motor all motor roll contract to start Earlier because of the supply issues We were not able to stay in that up on the original time frame and this is a stop cap continuing with So January one we switched to Well, we think actually sooner than that sooner than that Yes, sir Did you have a question on item six Okay So we've got a motion in a second madam clerk, could you read the role, please? Mr. Taylor miss Herbert Hi, dr. Bussells mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. All right mayor recommend. Hi. Thank you So at this time you want to take up item number eight. Yes, please, okay So item number eight has several components to it part of these are renewals for the Columbia Police Department and Another three items are for Columbia water So just starting that first one security management of South Carolina LLC That is Some information is provided to you all. I think you all should have a briefing note That we have that chief Holbrook has provided just to give you a little background There's really three things or a couple things going on with this item The increase really is based on the fact that we've added an additional facility to the Seven facilities we already had This is going to take us to the end of the fiscal year So this is just to take us to that end of the fiscal year is the funding that's being requested and a big chunk of the increase is based on The increase in the cost for personnel It was running us $14 an hour for Security officers now it's going to be 19 again. You'll see this in the briefing notes So that's attributes to the cost the increase in the cost for this particular item and For the record this contract It ends at the end of this fiscal year and starting July 1 we'll be putting out an RFP process For this contract, correct. Yes, sir. We do plan on looking at rebidding this to see if there's Something that we can get that's You know more cost-effective So we're going to see thank part Yes, sir. It says the item is a contractor for an existing contract contract requested an increased bill rate for the renewal to continue services for six months Right this one is kind of I say fiscal. I'm sorry This is this is for the end of the year Apologize into the calendar That's what I wanted. Yes, sir. Sorry. This is a six month. Yes. Yes is into the calendar year Part of that as we go through that process down the road Let's let's also take a look at what we are putting out in the RFP So we can evaluate our current needs and make sure that that what we have now is what we need moving forward We can do that. Absolutely. Thank you Anybody else have any other comments or questions on this item? Lynn is here for any discussions about Columbia water items if anybody has anything about that But she Lee our assistant city manager Joe, do you have any other questions or you want to vote on the whole thing? Well, we're that's what we're doing number eight is all That's what We've already had a consent with the exception of item eight Yeah, we've already done the consent we're doing I had him made I just want to make sure nobody had any other questions before we move No, I'm just going to you know state for the record It does concern me a great deal that we see these at the you know at the 23rd hour You have to approve these things in order to continue the service I mean it also concerns me that when we get these these consent items that we don't get the details on price increases And I just got to say for the record I mean my mom taught me to take better care of other people's things and she taught me to take care of my own and that includes taxpayer When I see a price increase like this, I just think we got it We need to discover these things sooner and just be more more diligent and finding Alternatives and I'll leave it at that on this because I understand that if we don't we don't renew this today Service Proper way for us to have to have to do business on these things we've got a motion in a second correct No, not yet. Can I have a motion? I move approval item eight. Is there a second? Discussion has been had so with that madam Clark. Can you read the roll? Mr. Taylor No, it's Herbert Yes, dr. Bussell's I Mr. Burnett. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I may recommend I thank you Next we'll move to item 17 zoning planning matters second reading number 17 annexation comprehensive plan map amendment and zoning map amendment for 2905 too much road Yeah, is there any discussion? Hearing non-seeing madam Clark. We have did you read the roll, please? Mr. Taylor. Hi, mr. Herbert I'm dr. Bussell. Hi, mr. Burnett. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I may recommend I We have ordinance first readings number 17 ordinance number 2022-053 granting an encroachment for the use of the right-of-way area of the 1800 block of Catawba Street Second So we have a motion a second any discussion? I Do want to make sure that as we continue to move these encroachments that we remind people their responsibility for maintenance goes all the Way to the street I think we're you're gonna see probably some campaigning from us out in communications about reminding folks of their responsibilities in the right-of-way to make sure that we have a beautiful city So as we grant these we need to remind folks of what their responsibility is as they take these encroachments on with that madam Clark, could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor are miss Herbert I Dr. Bussell's I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. Hey, may I recommend I? Mr.. Mayor point of personal personal prayer. Yes, sir. Mr. Taylor you I just want to echo what you mentioned a second ago Mr.. Brennan got an email from a constituent not too terribly long ago Complaining about the overgrowth in the sidewalk on the route that they walked on he forwarded to me since It was in my district, but and I asked our City attorney in our public works It who's responsible for that and I bring it up because we're looking at a wall here going next to sidewalking And I think it's important that we remind the general public and us that it's the property owner is Responsible to the street curve So when you see overgrown sidewalks in your neighborhood and things like that Share with your neighbor Let's take pride in the way the city looks and let's let's clean the sidewalks up and down up and down our streets I I hope that at some point time we'll be able to run a some type of PR campaign So so we know because honest engine I didn't have a clue that that that it was my responsibility I've always done it. I just didn't know and I think when you bring that up and we talk about the appearance of our city I think making sure all of our residents know that While you don't own the sidewalk in front of your house you own the sidewalk in front So let's keep things clean and make it safe for all our citizens when they're out walking Thank You, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, sir at M18 ordinance number 2022-055 granting an encroachment to South Carolina State Credit Union for the use of the right-of-way Areas of the 1,800 block of Hughes Street the 500 block I have a motion. Is there a second? Okay? Any discussion? One question. Yes, sir. Um Usually and I just didn't see it in my package I may have missed it usually there's a drawing that shows where the parking spaces are going to be on these type of thing Is there anything that is unusual about this just curious? No, sir, nothing unusual. It's right off of Pulaski on college is where those will be so they'll Actually, it'll be on college Madam Clark, could you read the roll? Yes, sir. Mr. Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert Hi, Dr. Bussles. Hi, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mayor Rickman. Hi Item number 19 ordinance number 2022-056 granting an encroachment to Gustco LLC for the use of the right-of-way of the 2,100 block of Senate Street for the installation and maintenance of landscaping and irrigation adjacent to 1030 Hardin Street, Richland County Some move. Okay Any discussion? Seeing none hearing none Madam Clark, could you read the roll, please? Mr. Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert Hi, Dr. Bussles. Hi, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mayor Rickman. Hi Item 20 ordinance number 2022-057 granting an encroachment to Lady Street redevelopment LLC for the use of the right-of-way area of the 1,300 block of Lady Street for the installation and maintenance of landscaping and irrigation Adjacent to 1310 Lady Street, Richland County Motion to approve Got a motion. Is there a second second? Any discussion any questions concerns hearing non-seeing none Madam Clark, please read the roll Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert Hi, Dr. Bussles. Hi, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mayor Rickman. Hi Next we'll move to approvals of resolutions Item number 21 resolution number R 2022-050 amending resolution number R 20 2022-005 They have a motion to approve. Is there a second? Okay. I have a second. Any discussions? Hearing non-seeing none. Madam Clark. Do you mind reading the roll, please? Mr. Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert Dr. Bussles. Hi, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mayor Rickman. Item 22 we have deferred so let's get to item 23 Item 23 resolution number R 2022-047 authorizing consumption of beer and wine only at NOMA warehouse 2222 Sumpter Street India Coffee 2222 38 Sumpter Street and the portion of Sumpter Street between Jefferson Street and Franklin Street for the 11th annual palmetto tasty tomato festival a fundraising benefiting Sustainable Mittlands on Saturday January 23rd 2022 move to approve second Motion any discussion Hearing none seeing none other than I really looking forward to the tasty tomato festival. I'm glad it's back With that madam clerk, could you read the roll? I asked for a judgeship here Miss Herbert I'm Dr. Bussles. Hi, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall Mayor Rickman. I Item number 24 resolution number R 20 2022-055 authorizing consumption of beer and wine only at the 2022 second artistic showcase festival vendor event at Maxi Greg Park 1651 Park Circle on Saturday, January Saturday, July 23rd 2022 with a rain contingency date of Saturday, July 30 Motion in a second any discussion Just want to make note once again even in the hottest of July There are lots of things to do in the capital city so get out there and enjoy it Madam clerk. Mr. Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert Dr. Bussles. Hi, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Hi, Mayor Rickman. Hi Next we'll have city council committee referrals reports and new business Item number 25 gun lock safety campaign the honorable Dr. Adé Bussles Well, first I'd like to take a moment of personal privilege and recognize somebody in the audience today We have Sam Grant who is going to be interning with us this summer Sam is 18 years old and a student at Charleston Southern He was also the youngest ever to testify about redistricting at the State House So he's very engaged and we are just so thankful that young people like you are stepping up and really getting involved in local politics Sam, will you please stand? As I shared with you all two meetings ago We have been working on different initiatives to promote youth engagement and prevent gun violence And today I'm very pleased to introduce the city of colombia's lock it up campaign. This project is really focused on ensuring safety in our communities by safely storing firearms As you all may know guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in south carolina and in south carolina An average of 92 children and teens die by unintentional Firearm violence and this is just one way that we can continue to promote prevention and safety and ensure that our children and youth are protected As a part of this project, um, we will be working with the colombia police department parks and rec community leaders and my colleague councilman mcdowell to Spread the word about how important it is for you to store your firearms safely How to have conversations about gun violence with your family and most of all Ways in which we can continue to be good neighbors and ensure that we have safe communities and safe neighborhoods We will be passing out a free gun locks Which will be in boxes like this this will also include what we call a gun cheat sheet Which will allow you to store information about your firearm And so if for some reason your firearm firearm is stolen you can provide the proper information To cpd in order for them to register that gun as a as a stolen firearm Should that happen Along with that we'll be continuing to engage with a lot of our neighborhood our neighborhood groups as well as our non-profit groups such as serve and connect and building better communities to continue to build Conversations and build initiatives around the prevention of gun violence We know that this is just one aspect of preventing gun violence But we know that this is an important one the statistics, you know really tell the story And so I hope that you will join me in participating in this campaign Our first stop will actually be on june 25th at colonial heights Followed by june 23rd the belmont community. So please stay tuned To our city news and our city website where we will share the different stops on our tour to pass out the These resources information and free gun locks Thank you, dr. Bussells Now we'll have a period of public input Is there anybody who has signed up madam clerk? Is there anybody who would would like to speak? You're what? Chief albree jinkins is here this evening Make sure you only gets three minutes Two and a half Chief always great to see you and I did sign up Thank you chief. So uh mayor council Mr. Benjamin Thank you for this opportunity. I'll be I'll be very brief. I guess you wonder why the fire chief stand up and talking I'll tell you why he's up and talking. I'm in a different road. Okay. I may be the fire chief I'm a scheme. I'm also a citizen of the city. I don't make bad in street My church is on 22 22 24 bottom field road Which is right across the street from city johnson So I wanted to bring to you all today just let you all know that There's a property that is rather adjacent to the church is on Gordon street And over the course of last year We actually purchased this property And we've done some great things there property over there was drug infested All kind of stuff going on there when people started moving out the house of being used for different things We tore down about I think about six or seven houses off Both sides of the street So we actually got the whole 2400 block Gordon street that we own there on both sides from Bonneville road To wavy street So my purpose is just let you know that we're going to be doing a community Cookout on this coming Saturday Where we're inviting community out to come out to kind of celebrate with us As we speak now, we got a bulldozer on that street smooth nothing land And we hope to have some I know the grass won't be done grow about it But at least it's going to be a smooth area out there. We don't have fun. We have games Uh who had activities both young and old And if you all are better by no short notice, so if you're all available It's going to be this Saturday from 10 until three But also there are some great things going on up at the church. We also doing a Every third Saturday we do a food bank And we give out Good food We have we also even during the weekdays Sometimes five six days a week We're giving out fresh fruits fresh vegetables pastries Bread and fresh meats. We've partnered with sam's club and they have been providing us with a lot of stuff So so I just want to kind of bring it to you and at some point We may be coming before you talk about that street because again We own the whole block on both sides of the street So it may be coming before you to talk about the possibility of shutting that street down Because we're making that green space We want to make and you know just talking about Making the city look good and and that's but that's just yellow and and um So we're trying to make the we're trying to make the neighborhood look good by doing those things And mayor we are open for business. We church is open. Okay. Thank you for coming there when you did We appreciate y'all pastor Jenkins. I appreciate him and and thank you for all that he's doing in that community Barnable road has been there's some long-time residents there who have have really thought about leaving And and what y'all did with buying up those drug houses and some of those other things really made a difference And it actually kept some of the neighbors further down the street to stay Um, we had we had an opportunity to build our church any place we wanted to we chose to build a red way we did which is red across from sage's on high school But with a church that sits on the hill And we appreciate appreciate that comment uh Dr. Jenkins, he is to he is to presiding bishop of our whole movement Which we got churches in we got several in South Carolina two of right in russian county one in city columbia also in uh, georgia and Florida as well and got a mission in in new york So I've been coming for you as the power chief. I come before you ask the deacon at the church. Okay I should have took my badge off. I'm sorry Thank thank you. Yes, sir. Mr. Reverend chief deacon The progressive church on barnabale road has been um a bright and shining star on barnabale road The genesis of our conversation started Maybe prior to cobit when the late bishop smith Sort of pushed this whole notion of cleaning up barnabale road. Yes, sir uh That whole trail if you've ever if you didn't see it prior to cleaning up it was lack of a better word terrible and of course you and Of course bishop jinkens now And of course the late bishop smith The instigator in cleaning up barnabale road And we are certainly appreciative for members of the barnabale road of the progressive church For doing what you did prior to his death as you know, we We uh indicated Bishop smith as a designee on one of our signs. Yes, sir on one of our Street signs barnabale road and he was very very appreciative Prior to his death Look, thank you all continue to do what you do and the mayor will be there on saturday at 10 o'clock Well, I know he can't be there Me him I read that discussion I prefer to go there on sundays because I get a whole lot when i'm there Actually on next week on july 1st, 2nd, 3rd We're going to have our annual convocation, which we're going to be bringing churches in from out of state And I would tell you we're going to write this The the safety caution and everything so but we'd be having our convocation that week. So I mean certainly You're invited Is there anyone else who wanted to speak this evening? Seeing none and hearing none. We'll close out that section. Mr. DeVall take a motion Mr. Mayor, I make a motion we go into executive session for receipt of legal advice related to a pending or threatened potential claim Pursuant to scco 30-4 that's 78 to Carol Plug over versus city of columbia Receive legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to scco 30-4 that's 78 to Water bill late fees Is there a motion motion? Is there a second? Second any discussion questions Hearing none seeing none. Madam clerk. Can you read the roll? Mr. Taylor? Ms. Herbert I'm dr. Bussells. I mr. Brennan. Yes, mr. McDowell. Yes, mr. Duvall. I may recommend I thank you