City Council highlights | Tuesday, April 1, 2025

To begin the City Council meeting this evening (Tuesday, April 1, 2025), City Council presented several proclamations, from honoring a local hometown hero to celebrating some national weeks and months of recognition.

Mayor Rickenmann was proud to read off a proclamation and proclaim today, April 1, 2025 as “A’ja Wilson A’One Day” in the City of Columbia. This day highlights A’ja Wilson’s accomplishments on and off the basketball court, and recognizing her committed effort to give back to the City she grew up in. On March 16, 2025, Wilson made a special appearance at Hyatt Park, 950 Jackson Ave., to celebrate her signature A’One basketball shoe, and to uplift and motivate young athletes in our community. Wilson’s generosity, vision, and commitment to the next generation are further demonstrated through her A’ja Wilson Foundation, which addresses bullying prevention, education, and equal opportunities for youth across communities nationwide.

Secondly, the Mayor read off proclamations honoring two national weeks of recognition including National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and National Community Development Week. During National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week (Week of April 13, 2025), we honor and celebrate the dedicated employees of Columbia-Richland 911 Communications, whose unwavering commitment keeps our community safe with every call answered. In addition, National Community Development Week (April 21-25, 2025), celebrates the impactful work of our City’s Community Development Department, whose dedication fosters stronger neighborhoods, creates lasting opportunities, and helps build a brighter future for all members of our community.

Lastly, the Mayor and City Council proclaimed April 2025 as National Fair Housing Month and National Financial Literacy Month. National Fair Housing Month recognizes and highlights the ongoing commitment to ensuring equal access to housing opportunities for all individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. In recognition of National Financial Literacy Month, the City of Columbia encourages all citizens to take steps toward improving their financial knowledge and skills. Understanding key financial concepts empowers individuals to make informed decisions, build financial security, and create a brighter future for themselves and their families.

During the consent agenda portion of the City Council meeting, Council approved various items relating to infrastructure projects on our roadways and in our Columbia Water system.

City Council has approved a new professional services contract for design and construction administration services related to the Assembly Street Phase II improvements (Item #15). This project aims to enhance safety, ensure ADA compliance, incorporate utility undergrounding, and implement other improvements along the Assembly Street corridor between Pendleton and Lady Streets. The goal is to create a pedestrian-friendly environment and strengthen the connection between Main Street, the South Carolina Statehouse, and the Vista District. Design work is set to begin this spring, with construction expected to start in the summer of 2026. *See attached tear sheet*

City Council also approved two contracts correlating to Columbia Water’s continued commitment to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for water customers (Items 13 & 14). AMI provides customers with greater assurance and empowerment through more accurate meter readings, fewer estimated bills, real-time leak alerts, and the ability to manage water usage through online and smartphone visibility. For more information about AMI, please visit https://columbiascwater.net/meterupgrade.

In addition, Council has approved the ongoing use of private contractors to help repair leaks and replace aging water system infrastructure (Item #16). Following several hard freezes this past winter, the backlog of water leaks and restoration projects has grown. These services will support staff in completing essential repairs and improving response times for customers.

Here is a link to watch the full City Council meeting: https://youtube.com/live/pk6-XlMewU0.

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.