City Council Meeting Highlights | September 6, 2022

Before the City Council meeting this afternoon, the City of Columbia made a big announcement regarding providing new services to our chronically unsheltered homeless population in the City of Columbia.  Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann, City Council members, City Manager Teresa Wilson and City staff unveiled shelter units that will be installed outside of the City of Columbia’s Inclement Weather Center, 191 Calhoun St.

City Council discussed this new project to assist our homeless population during first reading of Ordinance 2022-089 (Item #23), which is amending Ordinance 2022-052 to adopt the City of Columbia’s budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. In this discussion for the first reading of the City’s budget amendment, the City Council also discussed additional projects to help enhance our City, including millions of dollars from Capital Projects and Hospitality Tax Budget funds for the Finlay Park Rehabilitation Project.

In addition, City Council continues to support funding for our City of Columbia Police Department and the Columbia-Richland Fire Department. The City of Columbia has set aside funds for the lease or purchase of the Police Department’s West Region facility, a purchase of police package patrol vehicles, facility renovations for Police and Fire Department facilities and additional funding to renovate the Fire Department’s Burn Building.

The City of Columbia has also allocated funding for the beautification of our City, including road rebuilding/repairs, sidewalk installations, park improvements, gateway signage and funds for the Columbia Beautification Program.

Another ordinance that City Council had first reading for was Ordinance 2022-080 (Item #24), which is amending the 1998 Code of Ordinances of the City of Columbia for the reporting of lost/stolen fire arms, relating to firearms recovered from crimes of criminal activity. This ordinance will encourage firearm owners to notify law enforcement about the loss or theft of their firearm, which will help deter gun trafficking and help law enforcement return firearms to their rightful owners.

City Council also had a few special presentations during the September 6, 2022 City Council meeting including approving the honorary naming of the intersection of Adams Grove Road and Colonial Drive as “Willie A. Tompkins, Sr. Drive.” In addition, Mayor Rickenmann presented a proclamation to highlight Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month and presented a key to the city to representatives working to increase awareness of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month.