The Columbia City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included public hearings on the FY2027 budget, sewer rates, an annexation, and community improvement district; old business items on taxi stands, parking permits, special event permits, and a fourth-quarter budget amendment; and new business resolutions for downtown events. Council also heard scheduled public comments on policing, urban camping, and public safety, and debated future actions on social media moderation, street barriers, and the Flock camera system.
The parch now. A mother, somebody has has a bag, can't go enjoy the parch. Just because you know they're deemed homeless by individuals that are saying that by just driving by looking at us saying that we're homeless. I'm not homeless. I have a home. I have a place where I can go. This is ridiculous. This is tying up the court system and making criminals out of good citizens and leaving them to stay on your streets out here. Matter of fact, I was hit by a vehicle at 30 miles an hour when normally I would have been in a park. I'm not the only one. By pushing people out of these parks like this when they are told to leave the shelter at 6 o'clock in the morning and forced to go out here or not allowed into the day room because they're not new clients accepted. And then they can't go to the parks. I've counted numerous homeless people without homes that have been hit, struck by vehicles because they don't have anywhere else to go, and they're being put into danger. Not only kick it, but danger. Thank you. Thank you, Thomas. Uh now I'd like to ask Russell Boyd to come forward to speak. Good evening. I'm Russell Boyd. And spoke before you guys a few times. Let me put my glasses on because I got old this year. Columbia has made a significant commitment to addressing homelessness with a comp with compassion and resources. Recently, the new Opportunity Campus opened this summer with over 150 shelter beds with access to meals, showers, laundry, case management, and other services. At the same time, compassion and reasonable standards for public spaces are not competing ideas. These are two halves of a responsible policy. Columbia already recognizes this principle. We just heard Section 17-95 prohibits overnight camping and sleeping in the city parks outside of designated areas. The city states that this policy is to legally and compassionately prevent and disband unsanctioned encampments when they interfere with public use and property. The pop problem downtown is that the rules affecting sidewalks, alleys, right of way, building and business entrances, and other public spaces remain scattered and unclear. That uncertainty creates extreme frustration frustration from businesses, residents, law enforcement, outreach outreach workers, and the people experiencing unhoused situations themselves. Over 70 businesses and organizations downtown to the CID recently supported and signed a petition addressing this. There are more businesses but are fearful to speak and sign on. Specifically, businesses had employees resign and quit over their participation by simply asking for a more concise ordinance. Downtown businesses and residents are encountering individuals sleeping on public sidewalks between dumpsters and in the downtown alleys, in their entryways during the day and and night hours. The answer should not be to criminalize homelessness. The answer should be a clear, narrow, written public space camping ordinance that defines what constitutes camping, establishes where temporary living arrangements may or may not be maintained, protects protects the ADA standards, access entrances, and creates a compassionate tiered enforcement process. That process should begin with outreach, a warning, and other available services that can be provided through the opportunity campus. Citations and other law enforcement options should be reserved for only repeated violations that refuse to comply. Columbia has invested in providing people with a safer place to go. We should now establish a clear, consistent rule about public spaces where people can and cannot establish a campsite. This is not about choosing compassion or accountability. A well-run city should be able to do both. Thank you. Thank you, Russell. Our last uh public comment this evening for scheduled public comment is Susan Mace. Sorry. Well, here. I have handouts. Hi there. I don't see the clock.