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Columbia City Council meets March 19, 2008
Lawyers City Attorney Ken Gaines introduced his assistant city attorneys and discussed other items of office overhead, to include paralegals. GET SET Marshell Johnson, training administrator, introduced Kenneth Liverman, a truck driver in the Public Works/Solid Waste Division, as a successful graduate of the city's GET SET program and as a recipient of the S.C. High School Equivalency Diploma. Affordable homes Beverly Barnes, executive director for Homes for Working Families in Washington, presented the Pioneer Award to the City of Columbia. The Pioneer Award is given to only 14 employers around the country in recognition of employer-assisted housing initiatives. Best business practice Television station CW47 was recognized by Tony Lawton, executive director of the Office of Business Opportunities, as the March 2008 Business Spotlight Honoree.
Gail Baker, president of the Hyatt Park Neighborhood Association, and council member Sam Davis recognized supporters of the Three Oaks Housing Community following its fire: Officer Beatrice Fields, Lillie Pearson, Bill Manley, Willie Washington, Hank Chardos, Kimberly Mahle, Rev. Ray Hoskins, Steve Taylor, Marion Spires, and Denise Holland. City manager's report City Manager Charles Austin reported the books closed on city fiscal year 2006- 2007, and he said to expect the final accounting by the end of June. The books of fiscal year 2007-2008 will close in a more timely fashion, and the accounting will be final by December 2008. Save the Wales Coles Lawton, president of Wales Garden, thanked council for designating Wales Garden as an architectural conservation district. Zoning At 10 am, council shifted to a zoning public hearing which focused on Five Points. MX- 1 (mixed- use) zoning district
There were, however, considerable discussion and marked opposition to the 5P Zoning Overlay District and the application of MX- 1 to Five Points. Business and property owner Frank Barco hated to lose any more freedom to manage his property. Joe Mac Bates echoed Barco. William Durham suggested the purchase price for the Kenny's site, $80 per square foot, a record, went up due to the city's involvement and financial support of the six-story project to be built there. Kathryn Fenner praised the Planning Commission and the City of Columbia, as did Yesterday's Duncan McRae and Merritt McHaffie, executive director of the Five Points Merchants' Association. Next meeting
Council meets again on May 2. Time and place to be announced.
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