Columbia City Council Regular Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Columbia City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 4:03 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann, with all seven council members present (two participating remotely). The council voted unanimously on all agenda items, including consent items, zoning and annexation proposals, ordinances, and appointments. A public hearing was held for planning and zoning matters, and a public comment period allowed for presentation of a community proposal.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3–10 were approved unanimously in a single motion by Councilman McDowell, seconded by Councilman Johnson. These routine approvals included:
  • Annual renewal of Polaris software for police in-car internet and GPS tracking ($93,204.00 to Utility Associates, Inc., Decatur, GA).
  • Annual renewal of Trend Micro cybersecurity software ($103,314.28 to SHI International Corporation, Piscataway, NJ).
  • Sole source contracts totaling $108,850.72 for NearMap GIS subscription renewal ($53,892.22) and Charles R. Underwood, Inc. pump station repair ($54,958.50).
  • Purchase of 23 vehicles and heavy equipment for multiple departments ($2,629,775.65) including dump trucks, a wheel loader, a sewer vac truck, police and fire department vehicles.
  • Construction contract for Lady, Sumter, Taylor, and Arsenal Hill parking decks capital improvements ($1,741,208.70 to Carolina Restoration and Waterproofing, Inc., Creedmoor, NC).
  • Contract Amendment #2 for Flygt pumps parts and maintenance ($80,000.00 to Xylem Water Solutions USA, Inc., Charlotte, NC).
  • Ordinance No. 2026-015 consenting to inclusion of property in a multi-county industrial/business park (Olympus Development Company).
  • Ordinance No. 2026-016 amending Parks and Recreation user fees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public speakers appeared for the initial public input period on agenda items at 4:03 PM.
• Ann Dawson (1136 Statler Road) addressed the council on item 11. She expressed concern that some neighbors were not notified about the annexation and rezoning, noting the area has been single-family large-lot residential since the 1950s. She asked whether her property was included. Mayor Rickenmann clarified her home was not affected; only properties owned by Word of God Church were included, with commercial zoning on the front parcel and residential large-lot zoning on the rear parcels.
• Talfourd Wharton (Stoa Group) and attorney Tushar Chikhliker (Maynard Nexsen) spoke in favor of items 13 and 14, describing a proposed mixed-use development with approximately 300 workforce housing units and up to 35,000 square feet of commercial space along Lake Murray Boulevard. They stated the project would support employment centers like Prisma Health Parkridge Hospital and that the workforce housing designation aligns with a city-county incentive program.
• Kay Moore (Moore Charity Group) presented a proposal during the non-agenda public input period at the end of the meeting. She advocated for “Columbia Care Capsules,” a tiered housing concept for homeless residents that includes a city-owned transportation logistics system, hay production from city grass clippings, and food waste reuse. She asked for a feasibility study, noting it could be implemented without new taxes. Mayor Rickenmann responded that the city is reviewing the housing capsule concept and will follow up.

Discussion Items

• Items 11 & 12 (Land Use and Zoning Map Confirmations): Planning staff explained that these confirmations for properties at Bakersfield Road, Diamond Lane, and Statler Road (annexed January 6, 2026) align interim county designations with city zoning—Urban Core Community Activity Center (UCAC-2) and Urban Edge Residential Large Lot (UER-2) for land use, and Community Activity Center/Corridor (CAC) and Residential Single-Family Large Lot (RSF-1) for zoning. Councilor Brennan asked about public notice. Staff stated that annexations are not required to be posted by state law or city ordinance, but amendments to zoning and land use maps were posted. Council affirmed no zoning change for the residential lots.
• Items 13 & 14 (Zoning Map Amendment and Annexation): The proposals would rezone properties from Light Industrial/Planned Development to Mixed-Use District (MU-2) at 150 Dutchman Boulevard and annex 450/460 Lake Murray Boulevard with MU-2 zoning. The applicant described a 300-unit, three-story workforce housing development with 40% one-bedroom, 50% two-bedroom, and 10% three-bedroom units. Councilors discussed whether the project meets the city’s workforce housing definition (based on HUD AMI standards and a county incentive program) and whether a 40%, 10-year tax abatement had been agreed (not yet granted). Council voted unanimously for first reading.
• Mayor Rickenmann proclaimed March 2026 as Social Work Month and presented the proclamation to Kameisha Heppard, Director of Homeless Services, who thanked the council for recognizing the profession.
• ESGR Presentation: Jennifer Harding, state chair of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presented the Pro Patria Award to the Columbia Fire Department for outstanding support of service members, nominated by Specialist Daniel Carter.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous: Council approved all consent items, first readings of ordinances and zoning/planning matters, resolutions, and appointments.
• Ordinances given first reading (unanimous): Ordinance No. 2026-017 (lease amendment with Old Boy Properties, LLC), Ordinance No. 2026-022 (Project Cardinal multi-county industrial park inclusion), and all zoning-related ordinances (Nos. 2026-018, 2026-021, 2026-020, 2026-019).
• Resolutions adopted: R-2026-024 (public hearing for Vista BID improvement plan on April 14, 2026), R-2026-014 (beer/wine at SC Juneteenth Freedom Fest, June 19-20, 2026), R-2026-022 (beer/wine at 9/11 Remembrance 5K, September 4, 2026).
• Appointments approved: Central Midlands COG Board (Robin Harriford, Mike McCauley), City Center Partnership Board (Todd Avant, Lenza Jolley), and Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission (reappointments: Johnston Cox, Patrick McLean; new: Meredith Blackwell, Ralph Hillsman, Christopher Neuman).
• Public hearing closed at 4:38 PM; meeting adjourned at 4:48 PM.