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Columbia City Council meets November 28, 2007
City's favorite Sigr id Judice was introduced as the city's Employee of the Month. Judice is a computer operator for the city's fire department, where she has worked for 15 years. Recycle Robert Anderson, the city's deputy director for public works, presented a short video of young Andrew Talkish and city recycling driver Vincent Gallman. Talkish was recently on the Ellen DeGeneres television show for his efforts in recycling. Talkish's kindergarten class and his parents accompanied him at City Hall. Both Talkish and Gallman received awards. Follow the money Bud Addison, an audit senior manager for Webster Rogers LLP, distributed copies of his city financial audit draft to city council. He concluded by identifying the city's $13 million operations deficit. Changes from the last draft were not highlighted, so council voted to approve the audit with the agreement for a full discussion in December.
Dr. Lonnie Randolph, president of the NAACP in S.C., congratulated council on its progressive moves forward, particularly the work accomplished with the city's Office of Business Opportunities. Randolph asked council to keep it up, but he also asked council to "take it out of first gear and put it in fifth." Office of Business Opportunities Tony Lawton, the city's director for the Office of Business Opportunities, singled out Imara Communications Group Inc. as the Business Spotlight Program Honoree for November 2007. Imara began in Columbia in November 2001. Lawton also brought council up to date on the Mentor- Protege Program and its guidelines. Fast Forward Dee Albr itton, the executive director at Fast Forward, reported to council her quarterly update. She was particularly pleased to cite AT&T's contribution of $18,000 and USAir's $4,000. On one day recently, Fast Forward signed up 50 veterans for computer education. For every $1 the city contributes, Fast Forward can find another $2.50.
William Durham, real estate developer, presented council with his proposal for a 300- space parking garage at the railroad tracks behind Claussen's Inn. His appeal was similar to what he presented Monday night, November 26, at Martin Luther King Park (covered on the Business Page). Sinclair said she saw two opportunities for public parking in Five Points, (1) 200 spaces on the Kenny's site at the corner of Blossom and Saluda, and (2) 300 spaces behind Claussen's next to College Street. Sinclair's attention was taken by the College Street site because she inferred the parking spaces there would cost about half of those over the Kenny's property. Durham later discussed the advantages of inviting Five Points employees to park on College Street during their work shifts, allowing their customers to park on the curbside spaces in front of their restaurant/retail destinations.
Stan Harp and Ron Swinson presented council with their proposed project on Blossom Street between Saluda and Santee on the old Kenny's Auto site. They were asking for a zoning change from C- 3 to PUD- C, which would allow for mixed- use occupancy and their five- and- a- half stories, including two levels for 200 spaces of city-owned public parking. Sinclair offered two motions: (1) Issue another request for proposals for public parking in Five Points, and (2) grant the zoning change on the Kenny's site. Council approved both. Public comments on the Five Points garage debate: Andrew Mar ion objected to the five- six stories proposed for the Kenny's site. Joe Azar asked council to wait until the Five Points design guidelines were complete. Susan James complained city staff was instructed by council not to look at any new proposals for public parking in Five Points. Caroline Watson, who lives five houses up the hill from the Kenny's site, asked for another request for proposals. Doug Quackenbush thought the Harp/Swinson concept fit the site and fit Five Points fine. (Full disclosure: Quackenbush worked on the architecture with the Harp/Swinson team.) Judy Roberts of Portfolio Gallery said Five Points didn't need additional parking during the day, only at night. She observed the center of activity at Five Points was probably moving north near the College Street site.
Tommy Preston, last year's student president at USC, and this year's president, Nick Payne, thanked council for its positive relationship with USC. Jon Wall Court A somewhat seedy site setup is the target for new development, but the density falls into question. Where there are 12 duplexes, the developer wants to build 24 houses. Dave Aiken supported the new development, as did a half- dozen others. There was objection, though, to the density, but the proposed layout of 24 $350,000- $500,000 houses was approved.
A joint council meeting is scheduled for December 10 at 9 am in the Clarion Townhouse on Gervais Street. Another regular council meeting will be on December 12, also at 9 am.
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