City of Columbia Announces New Equity & Inclusion (E&I) Survey to Assess Important Experiential Feedback & Concerns From Citizens to Provide to Columbia’s Community Leaders
The City of Columbia is seeking input from residents regarding their insights on equity and their experiences in local communities. The Equity & Inclusion (E&I) Survey will provide important feedback and allow Columbia’s community leaders to hear first-hand from a diverse array of residents. The data received from the survey will assist with continuing to make policy decisions to improve the quality of life for all.
With a desire to ensure meaningful change, Columbia City Council expressed support for conducting an assessment examining key issues facing the City of Columbia, and convened the Commission on the Future of Columbia. This workgroup, comprised of individuals from varied sectors and communities, will coordinate efforts to engage residents in an open dialogue. Findings will be presented to help the City take future actions toward enhancing social equity and working to ensure that all Columbians have equal access to quality of life and equal access to opportunity.
Columbia City Council and the Commission on the Future of Columbia ask residents to share their thoughts and concerns by accessing the online E&I survey through December 31, 2020. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is designed to gather information that will help identify strengths and challenges related to equity and inclusion in our community.
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Board of Zoning Appeals | Thursday, December 3, 2020
In the interest of public health and authorized by City Council Ordinance 2020-032, the City of Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a virtual meeting on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
Members of the public and/or media who want to observe the meetings may do so remotely, by
b) E-Mail: Submit letters and statements to [email protected] leading up to and/or during the meeting.
c) Phone: Call 855-925-2801. When prompted, please enter the meeting code: 7631.
1) (star one) *1 will allow you to listen
2) (star two) *2 will allow you to record a voice mail message that will be read into the record.
3) (star three) *3 will allow a participant to be placed in a queue, so they may speak live when prompted
As this is an ever-evolving situation, please continue to monitor www.columbiasc.gov for additional information.
*Please see attached agenda.
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Advertisement of Vacancies on Various Boards and Commissions
The City of Columbia is accepting applications to fill several vacancies on the following boards and commissions.
Food Policy Committee
Seeking 2 (two) Applicants for Appointment.
The purpose of this committee is gather and address problems found within food production, consumption, processing, distribution, and waste disposal with the primary focus on finding solutions to problems that promote sustainability, economic development, and social justice in the food system of the Columbia and surrounding areas by educating government officials about issues of the food system, making policy recommendations, research, fostering of cooperation among private, public, and non-profit interests. City Council has the final vote on approval or disapproval of recommendations. Term – 2 years.
Deadline – Applications are due no later than December 11, 2020
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The City of Columbia Congratulates the 2020 #LoveColumbiaSC Photo Challenge Winners
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. Therefore, citizens were tasked with submitting photos of their favorite places within City limits.
“Each year this contest gives us the opportunity to allow citizens to show us what they love about our great city. This year‘s contest was even more significant, because this year has posed many challenges. However, even during the pandemic, our community is still able to celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of Columbia,” said Leshia Utsey, Director of Public Relations, Media and Marketing.
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 on our social media platforms and use hashtag #LoveColumbiaSC to identify a contest entry.
Congratulations to the following winners:
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Brian Ward, Facebook Photo Entry |
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Jeffery O’Shields, Twitter Photo Entry |
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Sylvie Smith, Instagram Photo Entry |
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William Brown, Instagram Photo Entry |
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The winners were also featured on a billboard on the corner of Main and Elmwood in downtown Columbia with the help of our sponsor, Grace Outdoor, to showcase their entries. |
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The City of Columbia and Local Partners Present A Four Part Community Conversation on The Color of Law
The City of Columbia and local partners have worked together to host four virtual sessions on the book The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. The purpose of these sessions is to explore the concepts presented in the book to understand their role in shaping Columbia and explore ways we can address the effects of past policies to create a more equitable community.
The first session will take place on December 10, 2020 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, where the discussion will be centered around gentrification and other urban renewal efforts and how Columbia’s neighborhoods changed because of it.
Panelists for the first session, to be moderated by Warren Bolton, include:
- Franchot Brown, Former Waverly Resident, Civil Rights Lawyer
- Joe Darby, Former Wheeler Hill Resident, Civil Rights Activist
- Rebecca Liebson, Reporter, The State
- Stuart Andrews, Attorney, Civil Rights Activist
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Session 2 will be held on January 7, 2021, where the topic will be the effects of redlining on today’s disparities.
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Session 3 will be held on January 21, 2021, featuring a discussion with The Color of Law author Richard Rothstein (This program is made possible thanks to funding from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and SC Humanities.).
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Session 4 will be held on February 4, 2021, where the topic is Where Do We Go from Here: Innovative Solutions from Today’s Mayors.
Additional details for these sessions will be provided closer to their dates.
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America recovers a forgotten history of how federal, state, and local policy explicitly segregated metropolitan areas nationwide, creating racially homogenous neighborhoods in patterns that violate the Constitution and require remediation. It’s author, Richard Rothstein, is a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow (emeritus) at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
The Color of Law public forum initiative was developed by City of Columbia Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine.
"We are at a pivotal time in our nation's history,” said Councilwoman Devine. “With the national discussions about systemic racism, racial inequities and economic challenges that face our communities, I think it is important to understand the role government has played in where we are today and what steps can be taken to ensure a more equitable city where all residents can thrive."
Partners for the four part discussion include Richland Library, Historic Columbia, Columbia SC 63, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, SC Humanities, Center for Civil Rights History and Research, African American Studies Program at The University of South Carolina, and the Institute for African American Research at the University of South Carolina.
“As Richland Library embarks on its yearlong Let's Talk Race community initiative, we are grateful for our partnership with the City of Columbia,” said Executive Director Melanie Huggins. “Elevating the stories of local residents and engaging in authentic conversations with our neighbors are the ways we will create an inclusive community and meaningful change.”
"This critically important initiative provides all of us an opportunity to explore the rich histories of neighborhoods in Columbia and the often unjust circumstances that led to their demise. These stories matter, and now we have an opportunity to learn from them as we battle persistent inequities in our community." Bobby Donaldson (Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters & Center for Civil Rights History and Research)
“The issues addressed by Richard Rothstein in the Color of Law are key to understanding the systems that undermine equal access to housing, education, and resources in our community, state, and country. By using this book as a lens to view SC’s capital city, we have the opportunity to understand and subsequently address inherently unequal systems,” said Robin Waites, Executive Director of Historic Columbia.
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The City of Columbia reaches 75,000 water meter installations with new AMI Project.
Columbia Water is excited to announce that it has installed its 75,000th new meter in November 2020, a huge milestone in the much anticipated automated meter infrastructure (AMI) project. Columbia Water customers with newly installed meters have access to the free digital EYE ON WATER app which provides real time updates on water usage and potential leaks. The app can be found at https://columbiascwater.eyeonwater.com/signin.
“The 75,000-meter benchmark is a great indicator that our project is working to serve the needs of our customers,” noted Assistant City Manager Clint Shealy. “We strongly encourage our customers to download the app and learn about their water usage. It is an amazing tool to help manage water usage.”
“AMI aligns with the City’s goals to provide high quality municipal services,” continued Shealy. “Our customers come first, and through this project we continue to strive to offer best in class services.”
AMI began to address customer concerns about effective billing practices with municipal water services. The technology utilizes cell towers to transmit information from a digital water meter to billing centers. New meter installations for all 150,000 metered accounts are expected to be complete in March 2022.
Columbia Water customers can find out when AMI meters will be available in their neighborhood and learn more about AMI project at www.columbiascwater.net/meterupgrade. For general Columbia Water updates, be sure to follow @ColumbiaSCWater on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Columbia Water is the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility owned and operated by the City of Columbia, SC. For more than one hundred years, the City’s award winning water system has been maintained by a team of qualified professionals that work year round to deliver safe and dependable water to its customers.
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Arbor Day 2020: Celebrating Trees in a Time of Social Distancing
Arbor Day (the first Friday in December) is the beginning of tree planting season in South Carolina, and due to the pandemic, things look a little different.
The City of Columbia Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) and Forestry and Beautification Division, in conjunction with Richland Library, encourage citizens to celebrate safely by finding moments to walk among the trees and appreciate their quiet majesty.
Reading can also deepen our knowledge of even every day subjects. Richland Library has curated a selection of books, offering titles for all ages - stories about the importance of trees, the science and even hands-on activities. Please visit this link to Richland Library’s website, which features the Arbor Day reading list: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/lists/arbor-day-celebration.
Contacts for additional information or questions:
About City of Columbia Climate Protection Action Committee: The Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) is a volunteer group established by the City of Columbia to identify ways the City can reduce greenhouse gases. CPAC addresses four areas which impact climate change and quality of life: air quality, energy conservation, water conservation, and recycling and waste reduction.
About Richland Library: Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
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City of Columbia Accepting Nominations for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards (Deadline Extension)
The City of Columbia is accepting nominations for the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards.
The Dream Keeper Scholarship Awards program recognizes exemplary displays of committed service to the tenets of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The ideals of social responsibility, political empowerment, diversity, racial harmony, nonviolence, and unselfish service must be demonstrated voluntarily by the nominee in support of his or her community and fellow citizens.
The nominee must be age 18 or younger and enrolled in an elementary, middle or high school with a minimum 2.0 grade point average.
Applications are available online for download or at the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, 1111 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC 29201.
Applications must be returned by the following methods:
1. By mail to the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Attn: Kevin Crawford II, 1111 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC 29201. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
*see the attached application
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Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption
WHAT: City of Columbia Animal Services Home for the Holiday Pet Adoption. All adoptions are $25
WHO: The City of Columbia Animal Services
WHEN: November 23rd – December 31st
WHERE: 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
Note: Due to COVID-19, Columbia Animal Services is operating at a maximum capacity of three people at once; if you are planning on attending this event, be prepared to wait in a line. Face masks or face coverings are required for entry. To view pets available for adoption, visit https://https://www.columbiasc.net/animal-services/adoption
See the attached flyer for more details.
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CRFD Department Promotions!
CRFD officially celebrated the accomplishments of 58 members of their staff who all earned promotions within the department over the course of the last year. Due to the ongoing COVID-19, the traditional promotional ceremony could not take place – but the pride in these firefighters and their achievements remains. There were 26 new Senior Firefighters, 19 new Engineers, 8 new Fire Captains, 3 New Battalion Chiefs, 1 new Divisional Chief and 1 new Chief of Operations. Chief Jenkins badged each honoree during smaller recognition events at department headquarters. Only few family members were allowed to attend so that everyone could adhere to COVID-19 Safety guidelines.
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Winners of the #LoveColumbiaSC Photo Challenge |
The City of Columbia and Local Partners Present A Four Part Community Conversation on The Color of Law
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Mayor Steve Benjamin encouraging everyone to take their flu shots |
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State Health Leaders Encourage South Carolinians to Stay Vigilant to Reduce Spread of COVID-19 this Holiday Season
As we approach the holiday season and COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spike across South Carolina and the nation, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) and Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) urge all South Carolinians to rededicate themselves to individual actions to protect public health amid this pandemic. These actions include:
- properly wearing face masks,
- staying physically distanced from others, and
- routinely getting tested.
To help protect themselves and their loved ones, we encourage all college and university students to get tested and know their results before going home for holiday breaks and also before returning back to campus. Additionally, we recommend getting tested before attending any family gatherings. Asymptomatic individuals can unknowingly carry the virus and pass it along to friends and family who could experience severe illness, hospitalization, or worse.
We recognize that the holiday season is a sacred time, and we encourage South Carolinians to avoid indoor gatherings and maintain their commitment to activities that reduce the spread of COVID-19.
We applaud the sacrifices our residents have made over the past many months, and at the same time we appeal to all South Carolinians to remain committed to our fight against this deadly disease. Your daily commitment to wearing a mask, socially distancing, and getting tested can help save lives.
If we remain resilient and #StaySCStrong, we can defeat this global pandemic together.
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FOR ALL MASK ORDINANCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PLEASE VISIT: Resilient.Columbiasc.gov
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Stephen K. Benjamin
Mayor
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Sam Davis
Councilman District I
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Tameika Isaac Devine
Councilwoman At-Large
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Howard E. Duvall, Jr.
Councilman At-Large
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Edward H. McDowell, Jr.
Councilman District II
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Daniel J. Rickenmann
Councilman District IV
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Will Brennan
Councilman District III
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Teresa Wilson
City Manager
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