The City Manager’s Spotlight
June 8, 2018
By Teresa Wilson
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 June 2018 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 June Spotlight.
City of Columbia Announced as 2018 All-America City Finalist
The City of Columbia has been named one of 20 finalists nationwide for the 2018 All-America City Awards. The finalists will compete June 22-24 in Denver to be recognized among the 10 annual All-America City winners.
The All-America City Awards is the flagship program of the National Civic League. Its spotlight this year was “Promoting Equity through Inclusive Civic Engagement.”
“These finalist communities are building local capacity to solve problems and improve their quality of life,” said National Civic League President Doug Linkhart in announcing the finalists. “The National Civic League is honored to recognize these communities, and views their efforts as critical in addressing the challenge to communities issued by the 1968 Kerner Commission ‘To make good the promises of American democracy to all citizens — urban and rural, white, black, Spanish surname, American Indians, and every minority group.’ ”
The All-America City Awards were established in 1949. Columbia was a winner in 1951 and 1964. Other South Carolina communities named as finalists this year include Kershaw County and Mount Pleasant. No other state has as many finalists as South Carolina.
“All-America City Finalist status speaks volumes about the charming, cosmopolitan, entrepreneurial and community focus of our beautiful city,” said City Manager Teresa Wilson. “Columbia epitomizes the character and spirit that any American holds dear for the community in which he or she lives. We are honored to be recognized!”
1-30 June, 2018
City Hosts June as National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
June is National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month and you can celebrate by adopting a cat from the Columbia Animal Shelter. Columbia Animal Services is offering a special adoption fee of just $10 for all cats over one year of age or older during the month of June. All cats have already been spayed/neutered, micro-chipped; FELV/FIV tested and are current on their vaccines.
For more information, visit www.columbiasc.net/animal-services or call (803)-776-PETS (7387).
Note: All of our pets need loving homes! To view other animals available for adoption, visit Columbia Animal Services at 127 Humane Lane, our Facebook page or Petfinder.com. Please refer to the ID number listed above when visiting the website.
6 June, 2018
Access to Capital Symposium
Are you looking for capital to start or expand your business? Are you trying to determine which bank has the best package for you? Have you already been to the bank, and need another option for financing? If so, plan to attend a lender-borrower face-to-face workshop on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 that will discuss financing options available for your small business.
The Access to Capital Symposium is a lender matchmaker speed-networking event between lending organizations and small business owners. It provides small business owners with the opportunity to network and connect one-to-one with lenders. This is a unique opportunity designed to help small businesses assess their lending options in the most efficient way.
This year, the Symposium will consist of matchmaking sessions with up to 20 lenders. This event is a true collaboration between municipal, state and federal government along with several private partner organizations.
The event will take place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, S.C. from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Interested small businesses and lender participants can register online at https://access-to-capital-symposium-3.eventbrite.com. The cost of registration is $20.
For more information, please contact Angelo McBride at 803-545-3960.
June 2018
Columbia Water leads the way in Midlands’s water quality program
Columbia Water is excited to partner with the Midlands Rivers Coalition to monitor water quality in both the Lower Saluda River and a portion of the Broad River this summer. We will be working with local partners to monitor water quality in the river weekly to ensure a safe environment for area river users.
Columbia Water is providing funding to aid in the costs of sampling and testing water from eight (8) monitoring locations. Weekly testing started Wednesday May 2nd and will run through September. Water quality information gathered will be kept current online at www.HowsMySCRiver.org. The site will be updated weekly after sampling is completed. This is the first program of its type for inland waters and will allow recreational river users an opportunity to check conditions before they hit the water.
Clint Shealy, Columbia Water’s Assistant City Manager, is looking forward to the City’s involvement in the program. “Columbia Water is pleased to be a part of this river water quality monitoring initiative,” said Shealy. “We hope this information is helpful to our community as we use these precious river resources for recreational purposes.”
The Midlands Rivers Coalition is made up of river related businesses, environmental groups, local and state government, property owners, industry and other users of the river. Its main purpose is to ensure the safety of individuals recreating on the rivers and to educate the public on issues related to natural waters.
Columbia Water is the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility owned and operated by the City of Columbia, SC. For more information, visit www.columbiasc.net/columbia-water.
Upcoming Meetings
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals meeting will take place on June 12, 2018, at 10 a.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 June 14, 2018, at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall
City Council Meeting
On June 5, 2018 City Council will hold work session starting at 2:00 p.m. and a City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.
On June 19, 2018 City Council will hold work session starting at 2:00 p.m. and a City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.
BPAC
On June 11, 2018 the monthly Bike Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Main Richland Public Library, 1431 Assembly St., in Room 213.
