City Council highlights | October 1, 2024

Before the evening’s City Council meeting, City Council held a work session, in which several projects and plans were discussed including:

• Replacement of the Olympia Fire Station
• Parks & Recreation Master Plan
• Parks & Recreation Foundation Strategic Plan
• Designs of City of Columbia Gateway Signage
• Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant Biogas to Renewable Gas Update

At the start of the City Council meeting, Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann presented several proclamations.

The first proclamation was the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation presented to Sistercare. Every year, the City of Columbia holds the Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence, which brings awareness to domestic violence, supports victims and provides resources to the community. This year’s walk takes place this Saturday morning, October 5, 2024 at Page Ellington Park, 2220 Gregg St. In the months leading up to the walk, the City’s Public Relations, Media & Marketing department hold several initiatives to benefit Sistercare including a toiletry drive and “Sistercare Saturdays” fundraising events.

The second proclamation was the National Community Planning Month Proclamation presented to our City’s Planning & Development department. Our City’s planning division engages citizens in conversations about Columbia’s future and plays a central role in guiding the long-term development of the built and natural environment.  The Division’s staff members evaluate, monitor, and develop the City’s comprehensive plan, and land use policy; facilitate annexation; and work with neighborhood, historic preservation, and urban design projects.

After the proclamation presentations, City Council received an update from Latasha Tate, Senior Director of Statewide Partnerships at “Communities in Schools.” The mission of “Communities in Schools” is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

During the consent agenda portion of the meeting, City Council approved several items to enhance our Columbia-Richland Fire Department including the purchase of new bunker gear for our firefighters (Item #5) and the approval of a design contract for the replacement of the Olympia Fire Station (Item #6), which was discussed in the earlier City Council Work Session.

City Council also approved a professional services contract for the program management services for the City’s Home Assistance Program (Item #7). This program assists the City of Columbia to develop affordable housing projects that have not been served due to the funding limitations and/or criteria of federal dollars. The funding for this program is being provided by the State of South Carolina through a direct allocation to the City and is broken out into the following categories: Belvedere and Greenview Housing Assistance Program, City of Columbia Housing Assistance Program and Fairwold Housing Assistance Program.

City Council also approved a professional services contract that will assist with the Columbia Canal Embankment Repair project (Item #13). This contract covers actionable duties for the pre-construction and construction phases of the embankment repair project, as well as the bidding and construction services for the Resilient Water Supply intake and pump station located in the Congaree River.

Columbia Water will be holding a press conference this Friday, October 4, 2024 to provide a briefing on the recovery of the Columbia Canal and the highlight the objectives of the planned improvement including:

• Restoring the reliability and improving the resiliency of the City’s water supply
• Repairing the Columbia Canal and returning it to normal operation
• Returning the Hydroelectric Generation Station back to operation
• Modernizing the existing Headgate equipment to allow for improved responsiveness
• Honoring the history and natural beauty of the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park

Here is a link to watch the full City Council meeting: https://youtube.com/live/p-Szb1xs12I?feature=share

To view all City Council agendas, please visit https://columbiacitysc.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx.

For more information about upcoming City Council meetings or general information about the City of Columbia, please visit www.ColumbiaSC.gov.