Judy Stringer and Anthony Morgan; second row, Dooley and Sparky Roll call

City council convened Wednesday morning at 9, March 22, for its work session. All council members were present: Tameika Isaac Devine, E. W. Cromartie, Mayor Bob Coble, Anne Sinclair, Sam Davis, and Daniel Rickenmann.

Fish ladders on the Broad

John Dooley , director of city utilities and engineering, and Harold Moxley , SCE&G, explained the Broad River diversion dam and its impact on fish migration. The canal turbines at the Gervais Street Bridge are another problem for the fish. Two fish ladders, one at each end of the canal, are under construction and should be working by May. Both will improve the fish movement, particularly during the spring spawning season.

Fuel cells

Jim Gambrell , director of economic development, introduced Neil McLean , executive director at EngenuitySC. McLean reported on his successful presentation of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge Announcement at the National Hydrogen Association 2006 Annual Conference in Long Beach, CA. Columbia is positioned to take a national leadership role with all the economic gains, but Columbia must stay focused and stay the course, as McLean put it.

Jeanne McIntosh-Lirola and Robin Waites

Youth violence prevention

Michael Myers , master police officer, and Kim Mitchell , special events coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, chimed in with council member Devine in describing the progress in curtailing youth violence in Columbia. National Youth Violence Prevention Week is scheduled for April 2-7, and a memory walk with a kick-off program is at 4:30, April 2, beginning at Mt. Zion Church, corner of Washington and Gadsden.

Neil McLean

Kids Day

Earl Brown , chairman of the Columbia Action Council, alerted council for Kids Day, April 1. Anthony Morgan and Judy Stringer walked council through the Kids Day schedule with the help of Dooley and Sparky the Fire Dog.

Save the fire station

In 1988, during the Adams administration, the convention center issue was hot, and the convention center team (even then, Stevens & Wilkinson with Edens & Avant), claimed their engineering study found the Senate Street city fire station structurally unsound. They wanted the site, and there was no need to get a demo permit because the building was about to fall in on itself, as the engineers and architects at Stevens & Wilkinson agreed. Now, 18 years later, what we have here is an historically significant and structurally sound building worthy not only of preservation but also considerable investment. This is coming out of the same city in charge of the same issue 18 years ago. Robin Waites , executive director of the Historic Columbia Foundation, and Jeanne McIntosh-Lirola , president of the Vista Guild, begged council to help save the building and to direct it to good and permanent use. Council referred the matter to staff.

Larry Gates

Community development

Rick Semon , director of community development, reviewed funding for the CANDO neighborhood program. He also fielded questions on the application process.

Accommodations taxes

Libby Gober , city ombudsman, discussed the rules and restrictions in the city guidelines for accommodations tax fund distribution as understood by the Tourism Expenditure Review Committee, or TERC. Bottom line: the events that draw from the farthest points the most visitors who spend the most money get the most accommodations tax support.

Olympia

Larry Gates, Jim Jaco , and Bob Guild were present representing the Olympia neighborhood's request for $2 million, having already gained a $2 million match from county council. The city's $2 million has to come across a third at a time for each of three years, beginning now. Council voted to give the money to Olympia, even though they didn't have the money in hand. It's about two weeks till Election Day.

Three rivers

The 3 Rivers Music Festival was authorized under Resolution #R-2006-012.

Next meeting

Council meets for a planning session Wednesday, March 29, at 9 am in City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main.