City Council Highlights | November 1, 2022

The City Council Meeting on November 1, 2022 started off with approving the consent agenda (Items 2-11), which consisted of various contract approvals that improve the efficiencies of our City’s fleet services, public safety and Columbia water infrastructure. Another important item passed during the consent agenda, was Ordinance 2022-083, which amends the 1998 Code of Ordinances of the City of Columbia that relates to the manner and times of lawful use of fireworks and providing certain civil penalties for violations.

For more information on this ordinance, please visit http://columbiacitysc.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1493&MediaPosition=&ID=8004&CssClass=.

Later in the City Council meeting, during the discussion of “Other Matters,” City Council approved the establishment of a new office in the City of Columbia, the Office of Violent Crime Prevention (Item 16 & 17). Requested by Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann, this new office aims to address the reasons and solutions for violent crimes in the City’s most vulnerable communities. To fund the creation of this new office, the City is appropriating funds from the City’s American Rescue Plan Act in a total of $150,000 for Fiscal Year 2022/2023. The City has allocated $652,800 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds for funding of the Office of Violent Crime Prevention for Fiscal Years 2023/2024 & 2024/2025.

Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott both addressed their support of the creation of this office with letters they have submitted to City Council. To read their letters of support, please visit http://columbiacitysc.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1493&MediaPosition=&ID=8028&CssClass=.

Also during “Other Matters,” City Council approved the appropriation of $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Food Insecurity Initiative (Item 18). Requested by District I Councilwoman Tina N. Herbert, the allocation of funds will go to set-up a mobile market concept or a similar creative solution to the communities in Columbia that are dealing with food insecurity. The City of Columbia has been working with the Food Policy Council, which helps the City to evaluate food systems and make policy and programmatic recommendations.

Mayor Rickenmann gave a brief video recap of some of the topics discussed at the meeting. Please view it here:

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