City Manager’s Spotlight – March 2020
March 3, 2020
By Teresa Wilson, City Manager, City of Columbia
The City Manager’s Spotlight provides details about what is happening in the City of Columbia in an effort to keep citizens informed about City operations. The City Manager’s Spotlight on March 2020 reflects important initiatives that will highlight major projects in the City of Columbia as well as events and upcoming meetings. Here is a snapshot of the March Spotlight.
March 2020
5 March, 2020
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will host a Pitch Perfect Lunch & Learn on Thursday, March 5, at Earlewood Community Center, 1113 Recreation Drive, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
This training session will provide small business owners practical instructions on the best way to introduce their products and services to potential customers/clients.
Harry and Darlene Preston of Bisnet, LLC will serve as presenters during the event.
The training session is free but registration is required. To register for the Lunch & Learn training session, please
visit https://obopitchperfect.eventbrite.com or contact the Office of Business Opportunities at 803-545-3950.
5 March, 2020
The City of Columbia Community Development Department will be hosting public forums and public meetings, and your input is vital as we plan for the future. Community Development is required, per HUD regulation, to create a Consolidated Action Plan every 5-years.
This plan guides the City’s Community Development strategy, by identifying priority needs, through a thorough assessment of the City’s demographics, impediments to fair housing, market analysis and citizen input. As part of the citizen input process, the City of Columbia Community Development Department will hold one input meeting in each City Council District. For more information, please contact City of Columbia Community Development at 803-545-3373.
The public meeting dates, locations and times are as follows:
- March 5, 2020 — District 2 Input Meeting — Booker Washington Heights/Kathryn Bellfield Cultural Arts Center (2611 Grant Street, Columbia, SC 29203) — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The online survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Columbia_Community2020. The survey is available in both English and Español.
5 March, 2020
Columbia Art Center’s Worlds of Creativity Series Presents Sun Rise Over Olive Land
WHAT: Join us for next installment of Worlds of Creativity as we journey through Palestine. Enjoy Dabka performances, music, art and even have a taste of Palestine. This is a family friendly event and is open to the community. This event also will provide opportunities for community to learn more about Palestine through their art.
WHERE: Columbia Art Center, 1227 Taylor St., Ste. C, Columbia, SC
WHEN: Thursday, March 5 from 6-8 p.m.
WHO: General public
COST: Free admission
For more information, call the Columbia Art Center at 803-545-3093.
6 March, 2020
The City of Columbia is now accepting applications for Hospitality and Accommodations Tax Grants for the 2021 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2020– June 30, 2021.) Applications are due by 12:00 pm on the dates listed below.
Accommodations Tax Grant (Due March 6, 2020 by 12:00 pm) The Accommodations Tax Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting overnight accommodations in the City of Columbia. To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia. It is the intent of the Accommodations Tax Grant Committee to fund the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Visitors Bureau and Capital City Lake Murray for fiscal year 2021.
For complete A-Tax and H-Tax grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application links go to: https://www.columbiasc.net/grants/offered
For specific questions or information on our Accommodations and Hospitality Fund Grants, please contact Ms. Dee Dee Fanning via email at [email protected] or via phone at (803) 545-3048.
11 March, 2020
The City of Columbia is moving forward with the new zoning map to correspond with the adopted Unified Development Ordinance. Planning and Development Services Department staff will host a public meeting in March to give citizens the opportunity to review the map and learn about the new zoning districts.
A general public meeting will be Wednesday, March 11th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor Ave, Columbia, SC. Following the March 11th meeting, staff will offer one-on-one appointments in 15-minute increments at various locations throughout the City to answer property-specific questions.
For information on how to sign-up for an appointment and to view the draft map, please visit https://www.columbiasc.gov/zoning or call 803-545-3222. Please note that a second round of public meetings will be offered during the month of May prior to the map going before Planning Commission and City Council.
The new Unified Development Ordinance creates a user-friendly code that streamlines and modernizes procedures, creates a more efficient and predictable process, and provides for more flexibility in appropriate contexts. For information on the project to include the text of the new ordinance, please visit www.weplantogether.org.
12 March, 2020
Community Development Public Meetings
- March 12, 2020 — District 3 Input Meeting — Edisto Discovery Park (1914 Wiley Street, Columbia, SC 29205) — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*See information and details from March 5th.
12 March, 2020
Office of Business Opportunities Lunch and Learn – See flyer below
13 March, 2020
The City of Columbia is now accepting applications for Hospitality and Accommodations Tax Grants for the 2021 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2020– June 30, 2021.) Applications are due by 12:00 pm on the dates listed below.
Hospitality Tax Grant (Due March 13, 2020 by 12:00 pm) The Hospitality Tax Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting dining in the City of Columbia. To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia.
For complete A-Tax and H-Tax grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application links go to: https://www.columbiasc.net/grants/offered
For specific questions or information on our Accommodations and Hospitality Fund Grants, please contact Ms. Dee Dee Fanning via email at [email protected] or via phone at (803) 545-3048.
17 March, 2020
Saint Patrick’s Day Pet Adoption Special
WHAT: Columbia Animal Services will be having reduced adoption rates to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. All dogs and cats will be $17 on March 17th.
WHO: Columbia Animal Services
WHEN: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
WHERE: 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
Note: Visit other pets available for adoption at the Columbia Animal Shelter, 127 Humane Lane. Visit www.columbiasc.net/animal-services or call 803-776-PETS for more information. All of our pets need loving homes! To view other animals available for adoption, visit Petfinder.com Please refer to the ID number listed above when visiting the website.
For more information, contact Columbia Animal Services at 803-776-7387
19 March, 2020
Community Development Public Meetings
- March 19, 2020 — District 4 Input Meeting — Hampton Park (1117 Brandon Avenue, Columbia, SC 29209) — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*See information and details from March 5th.
Continuing throughout March
Volunteers needed for City of Columbia Public Space Public Life Survey. Volunteers are asked to sign up before April. To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/37zgDKp.
WHAT: City of Columbia Public Space Public Life Survey
WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2020 from 7:30am – 7:30pm and Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 9:00am – 9:00pm
WHERE: Select locations in downtown Columbia
WHO: Open to the public
If you have questions regarding the Public Space Public Life Survey, contact Planning and Development Services Department at 803-545-3222.
For information on the City’s Public Space Public Life Action Plan, visit http://www.columbiasc.gov/depts/planningpreservation/docs/columbia_pspl_final_spreads.pdf.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
City Council Meeting
On March 10, 2020 and March 17, 2020 City Council will hold a City Council Work Session at 2 p.m. and a City Council Meeting at 6 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals meeting will take place on March 5, 2020, at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
Design and Development Review Commission
The Design and Development Review Commission meeting will take place on March 12, 2020, at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
