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Columbia City Council meets April 2, 2008
Transit Dr. Caroline Whitson, president of Columbia College and chair of the County Transportation Commission, brought council up to date on the progress in her commission. She didn't issue anything in writing, but she covered the transportation bases, particularly the Columbia bus system. Cromartie diverted attention to the Portland, Or., light- rail system, suggesting thoughts on light-rail matters should occur now to be prepared for future development of such a system. But the issue at hand was the bus system, where Columbia has less than half the national average in service per capita. Sinclair is stepping down from council after 20 years. Coble has been mayor since 1990. Cromartie has been on council longer than either. The number of buses at 8 a.m., peak-demand time, is about the same as it was when Cromartie came on council. There is no weekend service to Lexington County. Maybe forgetting about the bus service and discussing Portland's light rail instead is a positive step.
Mark Cox of the Affordable Housing Task Force reviewed his group's conclusions to date. He said that rental housing serving the 50% and below median income households is a need with a crisis existing for those in the 30% and below median income category. Recommendations: (1) Continue to fully fund the CityLiving loan program. (2) Continue to support the activities of the city's affiliated development corporations. (3) The City of Columbia should provide quality multifamily rental units that are affordable for households with incomes that are 80% of the area median income or less. (4) The City of Columbia should create and fund a local housing trust fund. (5) The City of Columbia should draft and adopt an ordinance allowing for voluntary inclusionary zoning. (6) The City of Columbia should implement specific requirements for the sale of City of Columbia owned property to help meet the need for affordable housing.
April is Fair Housing Month, and Preston Winkler, executive director of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, and Eric Cassell, housing and loan administrator for the city's Community Development Department, reminded council it was 40 years ago when the Fair Housing Act passed. Winkler was invited to come forward to be presented with a framed proclamation. There is commemorative art on display at Dutch Square Mall. Sexual trauma Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands is in its 25th year, and Devine introduced its director, Dr. Alexanderia Smith- Glenn, to commemorate the occasion. Smith-Glenn was invited to come forward to accept a framed proclamation. City Manager's Report Charles Austin, city manager, was pleased to report on the selection of a new police chief for the city. He acknowledged interim Chief Caldwell for his fine accomplishments. The city is composing a new Website to further disclose city business, to include a listing of every employee's salary above the $50,000/year threshold. The decision on the selection of the new director of Community Development is expected by April 16. A request for qualifications is soon to go out seeking firms that can handle the city's past- due accounts such as large collections of old parking tickets. A new management study might be commissioned to see if the city needs to hire more people or reduce its work force.
A bill is under debate in the Statehouse that espouses the elimination of out- of- town Realtors' Columbia business licenses. The city could lose about $20,000 a year. Finlay, on the other hand, suggested that Columbia is already over taxed and that businesses are slowly pulling out of town for more business and lower taxes in Charleston, Greenville, and Charlotte. Sewer service Council approved the installation of sewer service in Lower Richland with a vote as requested by Richland County Council.
Tina Forsthoefel asked council to reconsider its inclination to move ahead with a $5.8 million payment for elevated parking spaces at the corner of Blossom and Saluda. The site is polluted with benzene, said Forsthoefel. What degree needs to be determined. Steve Gantt, assistant city manager, said the site is at the bottom of the hill, and benzene is expected in such situations where a development site is down hill from several former service stations. Council voted to get to the absolute bottom of the benzene matter before proceeding with its development support. Next meeting
Council will meet Wednesday, April 16 at 6 pm in Hampton Park, 117 Brandon Avenue,
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