Roll call

City council met for its work session in the auditorium of SLED Headquarters, 4400 Broad River Road, Wednesday afternoon, August 3, at 4. Council member E. W. Cromartie was absent. Council members present were Tameika Isaac Devine, Hamilton Osborne, Mayor Bob Coble, Anne Sinclair, Sam Davis, and Daniel Rickenmann.

Community Promotions

Chris Brownlee of NAIAvant was introduced as the new chairman of the Community Promotions committee, the group previously led by Judge Mildred McDuffie.

Riverwalk

Allison Baker, assistant city manager for parks, and landscape architect Ken Simmons joined Mike Dawson to present the latest designs for the Congaree Riverwalk. The walk had to take a temporary course change in honor of continuing negotiations with the Guignards, owners of the park on the east bank of the Congaree, south of Gervais Street.

Mobile advertising

Steve Griggs , SDG Enterprises, explained his advertising concept. His vehicles are rolling billboards and part of a national network. Council was asked to compose an ordinance, taking Griggs and his mobile advertising vehicles out of the same category as the prohibited portable signs.

The rains came

John Dooley , the city’s director of utilities, and Melissa Gentry , director of public works, told council how Five Points managed to flood the previous Saturday. With all the landscaping and its loose ground cover materials, debris dammed the storm drains. Dooley warned council not to expect much improvement in flood drainage once the $32 million is spent on the Five Points improvements. “The work really won’t have much impact,” he said.

Executive session

Council adjourned for its closed–doors session to discuss contractual arrangements, returning at six for a regular session.

Consideration of bids and agreements

• $13,862 for repairs to a Hansen P4 gear reducer.

• $21,110 for the renewal of a service contract for the mainframe at City Hall.

• $49,980 for a ground maintenance contract.

• $50,745 for the purchase of one SCBA cylinder recharging station.

• $62,736 for the renewal of the support services agreement for Oracle Software used to run IFAS and Banner programs.

Ordinances – second reading

• #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.

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

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

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

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

• #2005–091, authorizing execution of a sub–lease between the City of Columbia and Beyond Better, Inc. d/b/a The Athlete Factory and Joseph Robert DeLuca for the first floor and basement of the former Tapp’s Building located at 1644 Main Street.

Considerations of bids, agreements and change orders

• $32,151 for Change Order #1 to agreement for engineering services for design and construction of a water line extension to the Hopkins area.

• $297,045 for the renewal of excess tort liability insurance for August 16, 2005 through August 16, 2006.

• $332,309 for Change Order #2 to WM604E remaining, Columbia Canal Water Treatment Plant improvements project.

• $14,295 for Change Order #1 for the Southeast Park.

• $235,920, $281,649, $119,820 for the extension of three existing water tank maintenance contracts.

Resolutions

• #R–2005–031, authorizing consumption of alcoholic beverages at Columbia Regional Sports Council Gamecock pep rallies.

• #R–2005–033, authorizing consumption of alcoholic beverages at Contemporaries Concerts.

• #R–2005–035, authorizing sidewalk sales for Granger Owings at 1333 Main Street.

• #R–2005–038, authorizing city manager to execute an agreement of sale and purchase.

• #R–2005–039, authorizing a public hearing for the improvement plan for the Congaree Vista Improvement District.