Mayor Benjamin and City of Columbia representatives Plant Flowering Plant Seeds at Corner of Main and Elmwood Streets as Symbol of Joy during COVID-19 Pandemic
Mayor Steve Benjamin, Councilman Howard Duvall and other City of Columbia representatives planted wildflower seeds at the intersection of Main Street and Elmwood Avenue this afternoon during a kickoff press conference.
The planting of wildflowers began during the 2020 pandemic as a way to instill hope, happiness and renewal, during a time that was difficult for us all and still is. Due to its popularity and the overwhelming reaction from the community, additional wildflowers will be planted on River Drive across from the NOMA gardens, Farrow road at Tarragon, Devine and Crowson Road, and Bull Street.
"Last year, the abundance of beauty and sensational natural splendor of the wildflower field right at the entrance of the City brought joy and hope to not only Columbia citizens, but also visitors from around the state," said Mayor Steve Benjamin. "We are pleased to add several new vibrant sites to not only bring back, but increase the natural splendor that comes from these colorful and majestic fields."
The seeds will be for dwarf sunflowers and zinnias and can be seen throughout these locations in the upcoming months.
|
|
Administrative Policy Committee
Council Committee Meeting
Thursday, April 15, 2021 10:00 AM
Please see attached agenda
|
|
Affordable Housing Task Force
Advisory Committee Meeting
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 11:00 AM
Please see attached agenda for more information
|
|
Lorick Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Who: Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council Members and the Parks and Recreation Department
What: Please join Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council members, and the Parks & Recreation Department as they announce and celebrate new playground improvements as a part of the City of Columbia Master Plan. The new improvements will accommodate more use of the park over time and will provide a positive impact for citizens of Columbia.
When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 3 p.m.
Where: 1600 Lorick Ave, Columbia, SC 29203
|
|
EB Sessions Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Who: Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council Members and the Parks and Recreation Department
What: Please join Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council members, and the Parks & Recreation Department as they announce and celebrate new playground improvements as a part of the City of Columbia Master Plan. The new improvements will accommodate more use of the park over time and will provide a positive impact for citizens of Columbia.
When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Where: 3304 Beaumont Avenue Columbia, SC 29203
|
|
City of Columbia Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts:
volunteer to help make the City of Columbia a safer place to walk and ride!
The City of Columbia is seeking volunteers to help conduct our routine Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts throughout Columbia. By counting pedestrians and bicyclists, volunteers help to ensure that all of the City’s residents count: transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists are often not accounted for in traffic studies – the same traffic studies used to make important decisions about our City’s landscape. In counting, volunteers are also taking part in a national effort: the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.
The City targets key intersections and crossings for pedestrian and bicyclist counts; these are locations which are heavily used, and at many of these locations pedestrians and/or bicyclists have been injured or killed. By collecting data routinely, on weekdays and weekends, we are able to provide valuable and robust feedback to the many agencies that plan for our roadways. The survey will help us better understand who uses the City’s roadways – streets and sidewalks included – and how they use them. A greater understanding of people’s behavior, as well as new data, will help to influence people-oriented planning and policy that inspires walkable, bikeable, and livable transportation design.
Volunteer to count as many times as you please! Eight time slots are available, and each of the locations must be counted once on a weekday and once on a Saturday. Surveyors can select from a list of count locations, and will count pedestrians and cyclists at one location for two hours.
|
|
Community Development Celebrates National Financial Literacy Month and
National Fair Housing Month
The City of Columbia's Community Development Department celebrates April as National Financial Literacy Month to raise the awareness, highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach individuals how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. Financial Literacy helps Columbia’s residents understand the importance of managing their personal finances in terms of budgeting, credit building and affordable banking products.
Also April is National Fair Housing Month to recognize and celebrate the 1968 passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act into law, which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and handicap continuing to help countless thousands of Americans achieve the American dream of obtaining safe, decent and affordable housing.
|
|
New PR Graphic for CityTV
The City of Columbia's Public Relations, Media and Marketing Department will showcase a new graphic at the end of videos on our YouTube Channel. The graphic will give our viewers information on how to contact the City's Public Relations, Media and Marketing Department, as well as providing additional content that may be interesting our viewers.
In addition to the end of video graphic, in the description of our YouTube videos, the public will also find the department's contact information, as well as direct links to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms.
All of this information will be displayed on all future videos produced by the City's Public Relations, Media and Marketing Department, so our viewers can stay informed with the latest news and information in our City.
The public can find our YouTube channel by vivisiting www.YouTube.com/ColumbiaSCGovernment or by searching “City of Columbia” on the YouTube home page. In addition to the YouTube channel, the public can watch City of Columbia videos on Roku, Amazon FireTV and on Spectrum.
To access our streaming channels on Roku and Amazon FireTV, simply search for “City of Columbia SC” and select our channel highlighted by our City of Columbia seal. If you are a Spectrum customer within the City of Columbia limits, you are able to watch our public access channel (CityTV) on channel 1301.
#WeAreColumbia
|
|
Dominion Energy to Perform Tree Trimming Activities as Scheduled for 2021
Dominion Energy will perform tree trimming activities along overhead utility lines in the following neighborhoods for the next two weeks:
Distribution Line Tree Trimming:
Forest Hills Neighborhood
Forest Hills North
Midland Terrace Neighborhood
Pinehurst Community Council
Rochelle Heights/ Victory Gardens
Citizens with specific questions or concerns should contact Forestry and Beautification at 803-545-3860 or Dominion Energy at 1-800-562-9308 to meet and discuss in advance of the work being completed.
|
|
City Video Hub
Find in-depth perspectives from news, updates, and recent events in the City of Columbia.
|
|
City Updates | April 11-17, 2021 |
|
Annual Wildflower Planting Press Conference
The planting of wildflowers began during the 2020 pandemic as a way to instill hope, happiness and renewal, during a time that was difficult for us all and still is. Due to its popularity and the overwhelming reaction from the community, not only will the same location we planted again, but additional wildflower locations throughout the city will be added this year.
|
|
Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts
The City of Columbia is seeking volunteers to help conduct our routine Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts throughout Columbia. By counting pedestrians and bicyclists, volunteers help to ensure that all of the City’s residents count: transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists are often not accounted for in traffic studies – the same traffic studies used to make important decisions about our City’s landscape.
|
|
Columbia Water Resiliency Update
Columbia Water provides an update to all of its customers about some recent national events, as well as what they are doing to ensure the protection of the City's water supply and infrastructure.
Customer Care | (803) 545-3300
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
Color
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
Sex/Gender
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
Religion
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
Race
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
National Origin
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
Familial Status
|
|
The Fair Housing Act Protected Classes:
Disability
|
|
2021 Impact of COVID-19 on Small Business Survey
Small business community, how is COVID-19 impacting your business?
Our business community continues to be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and our local leaders want to hear from you. The City of Columbia Office of Business Opportunities has created a survey to determine the current needs of our local businesses. City staff will use the information gathered from this survey to establish future funding priorities based on the needs of our business community. Columbia is a strong and resilient community and we will grow our economy together.
Click the link below and complete the survey by Monday, April 26, 2021
|
|
FEMA and South Carolina to Open Community Vaccination Center at Columbia Place Mall April 14
The White House Coronavirus Task Force recently announced a federally-supported Community Vaccination Center will open April 14 at Columbia Place Mall in Richland County. The site, coordinated by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and Richland County Emergency Services, will be supported by FEMA with vaccine supplies along with logistics and planning staff.
Beginning April 14, this site is expected to deliver up to 7,000 doses of vaccine per week for eight weeks in addition to the regular vaccine allocations to providers in the state. These additional vaccine doses, supplied by FEMA, are possible due to an increase in production and availability.
“Getting vaccinated is the best step anyone can take to getting past this pandemic,” said Kim Stenson, SCEMD Director. “By choosing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, people are not only safeguarding their own health, they’re also being their own emergency managers and protecting the well-being of their families and communities.”
“Today, more than 2.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered right here in South Carolina,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director. “Thanks to the support of our federal and local partners, efforts like the Columbia Place Mall vaccine center are helping us strengthen our efforts as we work to ensure every South Carolinian has an opportunity to receive the vaccine.”
The state’s vaccine task force will continue outreach to underserved communities throughout South Carolina to inform and build trust about the benefits of getting vaccinated.
Anyone aged 16 and older will be able to get vaccinated at the Columbia Place Mall site. Additional details and information for this site will be available in the coming days.
|
|
Have questions about COVID-19 vaccines or need help finding vaccine providers?
Call the COVID-19 Vaccine Information Line at
|
|
Follow these easy steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
1. Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
2. If soap and warm water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
3. Clean surfaces frequently with disinfecting supplies (telephones, keyboards, copiers, printers, desks, etc.)
4. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other individuals
5. Do no gather in crowds and groups.
6. Maximize social distancing among co-workers and the public.
Remember, Safety Starts with an “S” but it begins with “YOU”.
Let’s continue to unite and fight the spread of the Coronavirus.
|
|
For more information please visit
|
|
|
|
Stephen K. Benjamin
Mayor
|
Sam Davis
Councilman District I
|
Tameika Isaac Devine
Councilwoman At-Large
|
Howard E. Duvall, Jr.
Councilman At-Large
|
Edward H. McDowell, Jr.
Councilman District II
|
Daniel J. Rickenmann
Councilman District IV
|
Will Brennan
Councilman District III
|
Teresa Wilson
City Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
