By John Temple LigonRoll call

Libby Gober

City council convened Wednesday morning, July 27, at 10 for a public hearing and a regular session. Mayor Bob Coble was absent, as was council member Daniel Rickenmann. Council members present were Tameika Isaac Devine, E. W. Cromartie, Mayor Pro Tempore Hamilton Osborne, Anne Sinclair, and Sam Davis.

Sidewalk vending public hearing

• Ordinance #2005–069, granting a franchise to LaPapa Caliente to operate a stationary sidewalk vending cart at the southeast corner of Main Street and Lady Street. Approved.

• Ordinance #2005–070, granting a franchise to Robert Spencer for operation of a stationary sidewalk vending cart on the west side of the 1700 block of Main Street. Approved.

Joseph Robert DeLuca

Community Promotions funding

Libby Gober, city ombudsman, explained her committee’s current spreadsheet itemizing groups and grants under the title “Accommodation Tax/Community Promotions/Hospitality Tax 2005–2006.” She asked for council’s consent, and she got it. Her committee meets again on August 17, and she will report back to council after that.

Shirley Fields Martin Street closings

• Sumter Street between Blossom Street and Greene Street, Saturday, July 30, from 7 am until 7 pm.

Considerations of bids and

agreements

• $17,105 for the purchase of 3300 9–volt lithium batteries for the city’s parking meters.

• $17,762 for the purchase of an aluminum trailer.

• $18,194 for the purchase of one lot of vinyl traffic signs and stands.

William Hatten • $12,508 for the replacement of the HVAC unit at Woodland Park.

Ordinances – first reading

• Ordinance #2005–087, authorizing transfer of .55 acre, Heyward Street at Lincoln Street to UM–Small, LLC.

• Ordinance #2005–088, authorizing transfer Parcel B–2, Columbia Industrial Park, 1.29 acre portion of Richland County to Blue Rock Investments, LLC.

• Ordinance #2005–089, authorizing transfer Parcel B–1A, Columbia Industrial Park, 1.68 acre portion of Richland County to Superior Mailing Service, Inc.

• Ordinance #2005–090, authorizing transfer of CanalSide to Beach Equity Investments, LLC.

• Ordinance #2005–091, authorizing execution of a sub–lease between the City of Columbia and Beyond Better, Inc. dba The Athlete Factory and Joseph Robert DeLuca for the first floor and basement of the former Tapp’s Building located at 1644 Main Street. DeLuca is moving his Athlete Factory near Publix on Huger to Tapp’s. He plans to expand into maybe 500 members besides keeping his existing 100 personal training clientele. DeLuca will restore the basement lunch room and install internet machines for the diners. He is paying the city monthly rent of $6,500 for both floors, and he is charging $45-$50 monthly for memberships. Operating hours will be 5 am until 10 pm, giving a shot in the arm for the surrounding area downtown.

Resolutions

#R–2005–034, authorizing condemnation for acquisition for the Busby Street development project: 1705, 1721, 1722, 1734, 1736, 1738 1745 Busby Street; and N/S 5206 and 5212 Busby Street aka 6212 Farrow Road.

Bicycles

Council approved the disposition of 73 bicycles in the Police Dept. evidence unit to charity.

Greening the Arts Festival, May 21–28, 2006

Director Shirley Fields Martin asked council for a timely decision in response to her request to borrow funds for her festival, which is known as Seven Days of Cultural Literacy Programs.

Columbia Basketball

William Hatten, coach and director, asked council to help more than the $600 contributed this year by the city for his youth basketball program. Hatten is trying to take his Columbia Basketball players to Orlando for a tournament next week, and they could use something like the $1,500 council contributed last year. Council plead poverty and asked Hatten for a population count, which could tell council how many players were from Columbia and from what neighborhoods. For the past decade council poured over $9 million into CanalSide, and council recently agreed to take $6 million for the sale, thereby losing $3 million and denying a lot of requests like basketball programs.

Next meeting

Council meets for its work session Wednesday afternoon (August 3) at 4 in the SLED auditorium, 4400 Broad River Road. At 6 is the District 1 evening meeting, also in the auditorium at SLED.