REVISED: City News | January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Upcoming Events

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

City Council 2020 Meeting Schedule

January 21, 2020 — City Council Work Session 2 PM
January 21, 2020 — City Council Meeting at 6 PM
January 21, 2020 — Zoning Public Hearing

To view all agendas for upcoming city council meetings and work sessions, please visit www.columbiasc.net

Columbia Compass Public Meetings: Envision 2036

The City of Columbia will be hosting four public meetings to present the draft of Columbia Compass, the 10-year update to the City’s comprehensive plan. Brief presentations will be giving by the project team during each meeting at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. These meetings will also provide an opportunity for members of the public to engage with the plan and provide feedback. Four identical public meetings will be held as follows:

Wednesday, January 8, 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC
Thursday, January 9, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Richland Library St. Andrews, 2916 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC
Tuesday, January 14, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Richland Library Southeast, 7421 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC
Thursday, January 16, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC

The planning process has resulted in a vision and draft document which can help guide City Council as they Envision 2036 – when Columbia will celebrate its 250 ^th anniversary. Elements of the plan research and analysis include Columbia’s population, natural resources, land use, transportation, housing, community facilities, cultural resources and economic development.

For continued updates about Columbia Compass: Envision 2036, visit www.columbiacompass.org and follow us @ColaCompass on Facebook or Twitter.

You can also contact the Planning and Development Services Department at 803-545-3222. Please visit our website to sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates about the plan.

10th Annual Columbia Lifesavers Blood Drive

Public Education Forum on Utility Line Tree Trimming

The City of Columbia will hold a public education forum for interested parties to discuss upcoming tree trimming activities near utility distribution lines.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 6;00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Eau Claire Print Facility located at 3907 Ensor Avenue .

For more information, contact the Forestry and Beautification Division at 803-545-3860.

State of the City Address

City Offices close in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The City of Columbia offices will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, 2020. Emergency police, fire and rescue services may be reached by calling 9-1-1.

NEWS IN REVIEW

City of Columbia Council members sworn into office

Councilman Edward McDowell, Jr., Councilman Will Brennan and Councilman Howard Duvall celebrating in Council Chambers their swearing-in ceremony after being sworn into office.

The City of Columbia hosted a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, for two re-elected City Council members and one newly elected City Council member.

Councilman Howard Duvall, Councilman Edward McDowell and Councilman Will Brennan were the following council members who were sworn into office in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

City Manager Teresa Wilson began the ceremony by welcoming the nearly 200 attendees into the swearing-in ceremony and extending congratulations to the re-elected and newly elected City Council members. The large crowd of supporters included City Council members, neighborhood presidents, community advocates, business leaders and city staff.

Mayor Stephen Benjamin also spoke and gave remarks on behalf of Columbia City Council. He emphasized the point that all the Council members who were being sworn in should be commended for answering the call to public service.

During the oath of office, Assistant City Attorney Patrick Wright swore in At-Large Councilman Howard Duvall, Jr. for his second term in office, Solicitor Ernest A. Finney, III, swore in Councilman District 2 Edward H. McDowell, Jr. for his second term in office and Mr. James J. Brennan swore in Councilman Will Brennan, who will be serving District 3 in the City of Columbia. Each council member was surrounded by family members while they were sworn in for their new terms on Columbia City Council.

The ceremony ended with a benediction led by Rev. Julius L. McDowell, brother of Councilman Edward McDowell, Jr. and the pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

To view all the photos from the ceremony, click this link . Also to view video from the ceremony, visit www.youtube.com/ColumbiaSCGovernment .

District 2 Councilman Edward McDowell , Jr. sworn into office by Solicitor Ernest A. Finney, III for his second term.

Newly-elected District 3 Councilman Will Brennan sworn into office by his father, Mr. James J. Brennan.

At-Large Councilman Howard Duvall sworn into office by Assistant City Attorney, Patrick Wright for his second term.

40th Annual Leadership in South Carolina

On Thursday, December 5th the current class of Leadership South Carolina visited the City of Columbia!

“The Leadership South Carolina Class of 2019 assembles in the Council Chambers of City Hall for a presentation that showcases the City of Columbia’s leaders in industry, government, and healthcare.”

Leadership South Carolina’s main goal and purpose is to educate and enlighten motivated individuals who have demonstrated their commitment and service to the Columbia community. It also gives the City of Columbia the incredible opportunity to showcase its’ City to leaders in industry, government, healthcare and other fields throughout the state of South Carolina. As stated on the Leadership South Carolina’s website:

“Leadership South Carolina believes the best way to positively impact the state is through education and awareness of the most pressing challenges facing South Carolina today, and instilling enthusiasm about tackling these challenges so that beneficial outcomes will be part of our state's future.

LSC believes that South Carolina must have inspiring leadership if it is to remain competitive and seeks to create motivated community leaders to resolve issues, build positive relationships, and foster healthy development of all parts of the state.”

This year was the 40 ^th year for Leadership South Carolina, making it an honor for the City of Columbia to have had the opportunity to participate. Various City officials and staff members represented Columbia during multiple presentations throughout the day. The group was welcomed by Mayor Pro Tem Tameika Isaac Devine and City Manager Teresa Wilson gave the first presentation titled “A Look at the City of Columbia – A Capital City.” She shared an overview and inside look at municipal government. Throughout the day, city staff members covered topics like public safety, business and development, municipal budgets and other related topics. The class was also taken on a tour to visit city facilities, like the Canal Water Plant, and other sites.

The event was a success and it accomplished the goal of showcasing our City for leaders from across the state of South Carolina. The City of Columbia was able to display its’ best practices in creating a strong, motivated and thriving community.

City Manager Teresa Wilson shares an overview with Leadership South Carolina that gives attendees an inside look at municipal government.

City Council December 17 Meeting

Mayor Steve Benjamin and City Council recognized Councilman Moe Baddourah for serving the citizens of the City of Columbia especially in District 3. “It has been an honor to serve the people of the City of Columbia,” said Councilman Moe Baddourah.

Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council, Melissa Lindler Office of Business Opportunities Director and Dana Higgins, Director of Engineering recognized City of Columbia Waterline Contractors' Training Series participants.

Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council, and Melissa Lindler, Office of Business Opportunities Director recognized the National Association of Minority Contractors' (NAMC) 2019 8(a) Contract Readiness Program participants.

Columbia Fire Department donates over 500 canned goods at Burton-Pack Elementary School

Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, Principal Smith, Columbia-Richland firefighters and students gather with books and smiles to show their gratitude for Columbia-Richland Fire Department donation.

On December 11, 2019, Fire Chief Aubrey D . Jenkins, along with staff of the Columbia-Richland Fire Department dropped off over 500 canned goods at Burton-Pack Elementary School. This was part of a challenge that for every 5 canned goods collected by the department over the last week, 1 book would be read by Burton-Pack Elementary school students.

The fire department was met with chants such as “I love reading books” and “I like reading books” from the kids, who were jumping up and down with “Thank You” signs and big smiles showing their appreciation for the donated items. “It was really special to see all the student lined up cheering for the firefighters. It makes us feel good to be able to see the importance of what we’re doing,” Fire Chief Jenkins said.

It is truly heart-warming to watch community efforts such as these resonate with young children, especially during the holiday season. The book challenge was made possible by the school superintendent, and partnered with the MLK Food Drive through the City of Columbia, which led up to this event. “I would like to thank the fire department for taking the time to recognize the need for the students to become readers and giving back to the community to people in need. There is nothing like holding a book in your hand.” said Burton-Pack Elementary School Principal, Dr. Sarah Smith.

Principal Smith also spoke about the impact that this challenge has had and will continue to have on the students. Smith said, “We are excited, here celebrating the 100 book reading challenge (..) Our student’s love for reading has grown, since they took a pledge to continue to read beyond this event. Moving forward, we want our students to take books everywhere they go.” Smith also spoke about how other students are giving back to the community as well by going to the Ronald McDonald House and working at area food banks.

In addition to helping the community at large, the items that were collected will also help promote reading with students at the school. The kids will be reading one book for every five items that were donated.

Students of Burton-Pack and Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins enjoy the books that will help encourage more reading for the students in years to come.

North Columbia Business Tour

Mayor Steve Benjamin, Councilman Sam Davis, Sabrina Odom and citizens enjoy the delicious cakes made at Cakes La Mor in North Columbia.

On Wednesday, December 11, 2019 City of Columbia Mayor Steven K. Benjamin and City Councilman Sam Davis took a tour of several new businesses in the North Columbia area.

Stops on the tour included: A Taste of the South, Printing and Graphic, Cakes La Mor, Matties, The House of Hathor's and Red Rooster.

Red Rooster

The City of Columbia Announces #LoveColumbiaSC Photo and Video Challenge Winners

The City of Columbia would like to send a heartfelt thank you to those who participated in the #LoveColumbiaSC Photo and Video Challenge that was held during 2019.

The #LoveColumbiaSC Challenge is a City initiative that encourages citizens of Columbia to submit photos via social media of the places they love in the city. This year, we added a new video element to the challenge. Therefore, citizens were tasked with submitting photos and/or videos of their favorite places within City limits.

The City of Columbia Photo Challenge, #LoveColumbiaSC, began in 2014 as a way to increase community engagement, expand public knowledge of the City’s social media sites and increase the use of technology to interact with citizens. To enter the contest, you must have tagged the City of Columbia in your photo or video on the social media platform and use hashtag #LoveColumbiaSC to identify a contest entry.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Darren Gantt, Facebook Photo Entry

Steven Rubin, Instagram Photo Entry

Sarah Jaynes, Twitter Photo Entry

#LOVECOLUMBIASC Photo and Video Challenge 2019 Winners

Stevens & Wilkinson, Instagram Video Entry

New requirements to be enforced for food trucks operating in the City of Columbia beginning January 1, 2020

Starting next year food trucks conducting business within the capital city will be required to meet new guidelines set by the latest edition of the International Fire Code.

“This initiative by our department will help ensure that all food vendors operating a food truck within the city will be safe while serving their customers,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “Many people love to visit food trucks to grab a quick bite during the work week or at weekend events. Our goal is to make sure that these vehicles have all the necessary equipment onboard to prevent or mitigate fires and other hazards.”

Mobile food trucks have become fixtures for many downtowns, business districts and events. While they offer convenient dining options and unique eating experiences, these ‘virtual restaurants’ also create safety challenges. I recent years increased fire incidents and gas explosions have led to a closer review of safety regulations and inspections.

As a result, the International Code Council developed a section for the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) to address mounting fire safety concerns.

Requirements include a wide range of fire safety features --- from fire suppression to safeguarding of LP (liquefied gas) and CNG (compressed natural gas) systems.

The Columbia Fire Marshal’s Office will start enforcing these new requirements beginning on January 1, 2020 when the regulations will go into effect in South Carolina. All new and existing food preparation vehicles containing cooking equipment that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors are subject to the new rules. These vehicles include food trucks, concession trailers and similar vehicles used for cooking,

preparing and serving food to the public.

Here are a few excerpts from the new guidelines:

FIRE PROTECTION

• Cooking equipment that produces grease-laden vapors requires a Type I kitchen exhaust hood.

• Type I kitchen exhaust hoods require an automatic fire-extinguishing system.

At least one 2A:10BC fire extinguisher and one 1.5-gallon Class ‘K’ fire extinguisher are required for up to four fryers with a medium capacity of 80 pounds.

• Gas cooking appliances must be secured and connected to the fuel supply piping with an appliance connector complying with ANSI Z21.69/CSA 6.16

• For appliance son casters, restraining devices are required.

• Cooking oil storage containers must not exceed 120 gallons and must be properly secured against spills.

• Cooking oil storage tanks must be listed for their use (e.g., UL 80, UL 142).

• Individual-capacity, nonmetallic tanks must not exceed 200 gallons.

• Cooking oil tanks must have normal and emergency venting capabilities.

MAINTENANCE

• Exhaust systems --- including hood, grease removal, fans, ducts and other accessories --- must be inspected and cleaned regularly.

• Fire extinguishers must be recertified annually.

• Automatic fire-extinguishing systems must be serviced every six months.

• LP gas containers and fuel-gas piping systems must be inspected annually and labeled by an approved U.S. Department of Transportation inspection agency

• CNG containers must be inspected every three years. Containers must not be used past the expiration date on their label.

• The inspection agency must label the fuel gas system or another part of the food truck with a tag indicating name of agency and date of inspection.

• All electrical devices must be properly maintained.

LP & NATURAL GAS

• The maximum aggregate capacity of LP gas containers used in food trucks is 200 pounds.

• LP gas containers must be securely mounted and restrained.

• LP gas containers must meet NFPA 58 requirements for design compliance.

• The maximum aggregate capacity of CNG containers transported by the vehicle is 1,300 pounds of water capacity.

• Containers must be properly secured.

• CNG containers must be NGV-2.

• When CNG containers and system are used to supply fuel for cooking as well as transportation, they must be installed in accordance with NFPA 52.

• Piping for LP gas systems, including valves and fittings --- must be protected from tampering, impact damage and damage from vibration.

• The vehicle must have a listed LP gas alarm in the vicinity of the LP gas components, in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

• All CNG components and system piping must be safe from tampering, damage and impact during transportation and use.

• Vehicles using CNG must have a methane alarm.

INSPECTION

All mobile food trucks are subject to fire inspections.

• Inspections for business and peddler’s licenses must be done by appointment at the commissary site indicated on the application within the City of Columbia.

• Food trucks that do not comply will have 30 days after an inspection to do so.

• Compliant food trucks will be issued a sticker (to be displayed in a prominent location at or near the service window) and recommended for business or peddler’s license approval.

• Copies of inspection orders and reports must be kept in a safe place inside the food truck for review.

Other codes and standards not listed above may also apply. All licensed food trucks must be registered through the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and meet S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control requirements.

You can find more information on these new requirements by visiting the National Fire Protection Association’s website.

Questions? Contact Columbia Fire Marshal George Adams at (803)545-3701 or email to george.adams@columbiasc.gov

City of Columbia Receives Certificate of Achieve for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Juan Sims, Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina (GFOASC) President presents a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association to the City of Columbia.

The Certificate of Achieve for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to City of Columbia by Government Finance Officers Association of the United State and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

An award of Financial Reporting Achievement has been awarded to the individual(s) or department designated by the government as primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

“Our Assistant City Manager/CFO and the entire Finance Team make me and the City proud. They are committed to the principles established by GFOA. These principles are displayed every day in the management of City funding and the transparency in reporting our finances to the citizens of Columbia.” said Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson.

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 20,500 members and the communities they serve.