The Columbia City Council met on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber to conduct a regular meeting. The meeting included special recognition of police officers, appointments to boards and commissions, scheduled public comments, three public hearings, approval of a consent agenda, introduction of new legislation, and reports on community violence, communication strategies, and annual reports. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 PM.
No microphones working. 2026 uh Columbia City Council meeting to order. I invite all those who are able to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for what we should say. One nation under liberty and justice for we please call roll. Miss Elwood. Here. Ms. Sample? Here. Mr. Foster. Here. Mr. Waterman. Here. Miss Peters. Here. Miss Buffalo. Here. Miss Carroll. Here. All right. Well, good evening. Just a quick introduction to Columbia City Council meetings. Our council agendas, items that are currently listed under consent agenda. There's not normally a presentation on those items, and there's not opportunity for public comment. For items that are listed under introduction and first read, if they have an asterisk, they would be on consent agenda at the next one unless they are polled. Items that do not have a consent or an asterisk on them under intro and first read would be on old business at the next council meeting. I ask that because sometimes we've had people sit in the audience until the very end, not knowing that they weren't going to talk on an issue. So pay attention to that point now. Now the public have multiple opportunities to speak at Columbia City Council meetings. You can speak under public hearing, old business, new business portions of the agenda. I do remind people to keep their remarks to the legislation being discussed, because at the end of the council meeting, you can talk about whatever you want to talk about within decencies for three minutes. So three minutes if you're an individual in the legislation, you can request five minutes if you're a business or organization affected by the legislation. I do ask for you to make contact with me so that I can make sure that Lacey and Peyton set the right timer for you to know how long you're left. I do ask people that we respect this. We respect we ah, sorry, we would do these rules so that as many people can speak that want to speak. I ask that people avoid demonstrations that can intimidate your neighbors from speaking at council meetings. We can address issues, not individuals, and that includes no attacks on staff or each other. Disruptions would be addressed with a warning and if necessary, removal. Now, up next on our agenda, we have our minutes. So I'll make a motion for um the January 20th, 26 regular meeting minutes to be approved. Do I have a second? Second. I'm gonna say Vera on that one. Uh all those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed? All right.