Roll call

John Lanzone, employee of the month Columbia City Council met in the Eau Claire Print Building on Wednesday, August 20, at 9 am. All members of city council were present: Kirkman Finlay, Tameika Isaac Devine, E.W. Cromartie, Mayor Bob Coble, Sam Davis, Daniel Rickenmann, and Belinda Gergel.

City favorite

Vincent Simonwicz, the city's director of information technology, introduced John Lanzone as the August 2008 Employee of the Month. Lanzone is the lead software trainer for Columbia's Information Technology Department

Firefighters

Mayor Coble declared August 2008 as Columbia Firefighter Appreciation Month. In particular, the firefighters help with the Muscular Dystrophy Association through their "Fill the Boot" campaign was highlighted.

Good design

The Charles R. Drew Wellness Center earned a Merit Award from the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Heather Mitchell, president of the Boudreaux Group, was recognized and thanked by council.

Good business

Elizabeth Whitener, Creative Management, Inc. Columbia- based Cox and Dinkins Inc., civil engineers and land surveyors, was recognized by the city's Office of Business Opportunities as the July 2008 Monthly Business Spotlight Program Honoree. Cox and Dinkins won the Governor's 2004 Pollution Prevention Award and was also runner

up for the 2004 Environmental

Design + Construction

Magazine's Excellence in Design Award.

Secure apartments

Elizabeth Whitener, representing Creative Management Inc., manages 104 units. She discussed with council security strategies for large apartment complexes in the city that have many financially challenged tenants. Apartments are taxed at an assessment of 6% since they are commercial properties as opposed to the owner- occupied homes that are assessed at 4%. In other words, unpropertied people get hit with property taxes 50% higher than those paid by the propertied classes. Finlay reminded the room that statewide, S.C. is #4 in the country in property crimes and #2 in violent crimes, 766 per 100,000, which is second to the District of Columbia, the nation's worst violent crime rate. Mayor Coble proposed a Safety & Security Advisory Committee where each city council member appoints two members.

Football

The Palmetto Capital City Classic, an annual football game played at Benedict's Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, is set for Saturday, August 30, at 4 pm. City staff recommended support of $75,000 from the Hospitality Tax Surplus Fund. Council concurred.

Audit Committee

Rickenmann asked council to approve regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings on Wednesdays when council does not meet. Council meets typically at 9 am on the first and the third Wednesday of each month for its regular meetings, and the Audit Committee can plan on the other Wednesdays at 2 pm. Council agreed.

Rezonings

The neighborhoods of Cottontown, Shandon, Hollywood, and Rose Hill, were rezoned. Each is to add a - CC overlay district to all parcels to implement Interim Measures for Community Character Protection.

Next regular meeting

Council meets at 9 am in City Hall on Wednesday, September 3.