Columbia City Council Regular Meeting – February 3, 2026

The Columbia City Council met Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC. The meeting was called to order at 4:25 p.m. (the agenda had listed 4:00 p.m.) and adjourned at 5:05 p.m., with all seven council members present. The Council adopted an amended agenda, approved every public action unanimously, and then entered executive session on a legal matter.

Agenda Adoption and Minutes

• Council adopted the agenda as amended, adding Ordinance 2026-007 (an encroachment for Larry Rowe in the 3200 block of Amherst Avenue) to the consent agenda for second reading. As a result, item numbers shifted from the printed agenda: the consent agenda covered items 3 through 8 and the Old Leesburg Road zoning matter was considered as item 9.
• Council unanimously approved the January 20, 2026 Work Session and Regular Meeting Minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Lynn Bare, 4307 Old Leesburg Road, expressed concern about the Old Leesburg Road annexation, saying the developer had not directly explained how the undocumented cemetery would be protected. She noted that Union and Confederate soldiers are buried there and urged the City to obtain clear written commitments.
• Gerald Waller, 4308 Old Leesburg Road, said he had been told the developer would provide a 20-foot buffer on both sides of his home and considered their concerns addressed.
• Hank Mabry, representing Canary Woods, stated the developer agreed to a 20-foot natural buffer around two sides of the residence, with existing buffering on the third side. He said the cemetery would be protected with a chain-link fence, paved access, and two designated parking spaces, and that any later development issues would go through the normal Planning and Development approval process. He agreed to provide the buffer commitment in writing and said a survey and engineer would identify the cemetery boundaries using old stones and ground indentations.
• Council members asked follow-up questions. Councilor Herbert asked about DHEC buffer guidelines; Councilor McDowell asked whether graves were marked; Councilor Brown asked how cemetery boundary lines would be identified.
• Bob Petrulis, Chair of the Climate Protection Action Committee, during later public input, invited Council and attendees to view a City Hall lobby showcase of youth climate projects funded by a Bloomberg grant connected to Mayor Rickenmann's participation in an international climate conference.

Presentations

• Mayor Rickenmann and Council proclaimed February 12, 2026, as Celebrando Black Business Day. The Mayor cited statistics that African Americans make up 17 percent of the U.S. population and are the second-largest minority population, and that Afro-Latinos account for 2.5 percent; he highlighted the contributions of African Americans, Africans, and Afro-Latinos to Columbia.
• Ulyses Chavez, Public Relations Manager at Mota Enterprises, LLC, thanked Council on behalf of the Mota Business Academy, recognized Michael Canty of Namu Drum Circle as Creative Business of the Year, and praised Ayesha Driggers and the Office of Business Opportunities.
• Ayesha Driggers, Director of the Office of Business Opportunities, thanked the Mayor and Council for their continued support.
• Michael Canty, Namu Drum Company, thanked the city for supporting local businesses and said he was proud to be honored in his hometown.
• Police Chief Skip Holbrook presented Officer Jonathan Hicks, who graduated first in a class of 42 from the criminal justice academy and received the JP Strom Award, given for a minimum average score of 96 percent with no demerits or proficiency failures.

Consent Agenda

Council unanimously approved consent agenda items 3 through 8:

• A Professional Services Contract with Goodwin Mills Cawood, LLC, for Water Main Reconnections at I-20/Monticello Road and Broad River Road/Lucius Road, in an amount not to exceed $209,000, with an 18-month term and two one-year renewal options. Under the Mentor Protégé Program, Goodwin Mills Cawood will provide 78.47 percent ($164,000) of the work and Civil Engineering of Columbia will provide 21.53 percent ($45,000).
• A Construction Contract with Shady Grove Construction, LLC, for Mill Creek Pump Station Miscellaneous Improvements, not to exceed $7,554,003.60 including contingency, with a 730-day term. Subcontractor shares: Xtreme Grading 2.57 percent ($176,871); Fortiline Waterworks 9.88 percent ($678,868); Gregory Electric Company 22.65 percent ($1,555,631); Creative Information Technology, Inc. 3.55 percent ($243,879); R & R Specialties, LLC 5.26 percent ($361,174); and Dun-Right Services, Inc. 8.34 percent ($572,526).
• Second-reading approval of Ordinance 2025-084, annexing property on SW/S Holloway Road (TMS# 19201-01-04) and assigning Urban Edge Residential Small Lot (UER-1) land use and Residential Single Family – Small Lot (RSF-3) zoning.
• Second-reading approval of Ordinance 2026-006, rezoning 3329 River Drive (TMS# 09107-11-08) from Residential Mixed District (RM-2) to Mixed Use District (MU-1), both within the Earlewood Historic Preservation Overlay District.
• Second-reading approval of Ordinance 2026-005, rezoning 4120 N Main Street (TMS# R09214-14-08) within the North Main Corridor Design Overlay District and amending the UDO to designate the property as a Type 3 Individual Landmark.
• Second-reading approval of Ordinance 2026-007, granting Larry Rowe an encroachment in the 3200 block of Amherst Avenue for brick pavers, landscaping, and irrigation.

Zoning / Planning Matters – Second Reading

• Council unanimously approved on second reading Ordinance 2026-004, the annexation, Future Land Use Map Amendment, and Zoning Map Amendment for 4316 and 4340 Old Leesburg Road (TMS# 22113-01-02). The property will be assigned Urban Edge Residential Small Lot (UER-1) land use and Residential Single Family – Small Lot (RSF-3) zoning; it had been Neighborhood (Medium Density) and Residential 4 (R4) under Richland County. The vote followed the public discussion of the cemetery protections and buffer.

Ordinances – First Reading

• Council unanimously approved first reading of Ordinance 2026-008, granting Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union an encroachment in the 1300 blocks of Sumter and Lady Streets for sidewalks, concrete stairs with handrails, bike racks, an accessible ramp, landscaping, and irrigation.
• Council unanimously approved first reading of Ordinance 2026-010, granting 604 Huger LLC an encroachment in the 500 block of Blossom Street and the 600 blocks of Huger and Pulaski Streets for sidewalks, seat walls, landscaping, and irrigation.

Resolutions

• Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-016, accepting a 0.13-acre parcel and the Kingsley Subdivision sanitary sewer pump station from North Pines Development, LLC.
• Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-018, amending Resolution 2025-077 to authorize the City Manager to execute a 911 Communications Center Consolidation Agreement restatement and extension between the City of Columbia and Richland County. Councilor Brennan said he looked forward to working with the county, and Mayor Rickenmann said 'collaboration is key' and that the city wanted to complete the agreement.
• Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-015, authorizing consumption of beer and wine only at Artista Vista in the 1200 block of Lincoln Street on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Other Council Business

• One council member said they had a referral but would hold it until the next meeting.
• Council unanimously voted to enter executive session at 4:52 p.m. to receive legal advice regarding a pending, threatened, or potential claim involving Constan Carwash, pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2). The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• All motions and resolutions passed unanimously with all seven members present.
• The City approved two water/sewer construction contracts totaling $209,000 for professional services and $7,554,003.60 for the Mill Creek pump station improvements.
• Canary Woods committed to provide in writing the 20-foot buffer around the Old Leesburg Road residence and to protect the on-site cemetery with fencing, paved access, and two parking spaces.
• Council approved first reading of two encroachments and second reading of the Old Leesburg Road annexation/zoning, plus three consent zoning/annexation items and an added encroachment.
• The next steps include finalizing the 911 consolidation agreement, continuing the Old Leesburg Road cemetery survey, and holding the referred item at a later meeting.