Roll call

Wim Roefs 701 Center for Contemporary Art Columbia City Council convened at the Columbia Convention Center for its regular meeting on Wednesday night, October 15, at 6:30 pm. There was a nationally televised live debate between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama scheduled that night for 9 pm, so the political junkies on council, the majority, planned to adjourn before 9, regardless. All members were present: Kirkman Finlay III, Tameika Isaac Devine, E. W. Cromartie, Mayor Bob Coble, Sam Davis, Daniel Rickenmann, and Belinda Gergel.

Welcome

Since the occasion was a quarterly district meeting, and this meeting was in Cromartie's District II, Cromartie took the stage to welcome the crowd and to introduce all around.

Welcome, again

Cliff Spann, president of the Arsenal Hill Neighborhood Association and something of an adjunct host, told the room he was happy to see them.

And again, welcome

Ric Luber, president of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism, walked council through a presentation of some of the ideas getting kicked around the city's new slogan, "Famously Hot."

John Durst Midlands Authority for Conventions Sports and Tourism China card

Cromartie, Fred Monk of the Export Consortium, Judge Dana Turner, and Norma Jackson, director of international programs for Benedict College, all pushed for Resolution No. R- 2008- 058, to establish a Sister City relationship with Yibin City in Sichuan Province, China. The resolution passed council's vote.

World affairs

Haneez Zattam, director of the Columbia World Affairs Council, ran a slide presentation of a Cromartie- led task force trip to Yibin, China, and she presented two exchange students from China enrolled at Benedict College.

Went swimmingly

Stanley McIntosh, coach of the swim team at Greenview Park, reviewed several success stories among the members of his swim team, many of whom become life guards to finance higher education.

701

Wim Roefs, board chairman for the 701 Center for Contemporary Art, announced his gala art opening for the next night. Art on exhibition is by Ellen Kochanksy, Beth Melton, Philo Moody, and Scotty Peck.

Ric Luber, president of Midlands Authority for Conventions Sports and Tourism Cultural Council

Andy Witt, executive director of the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, presented his case for additional hospitality tax funding for $60,000. Council almost agreed, but voted to fund just the first $20,000.

Rope jumping

Cromartie introduced Joy Holman, who directed her children in a Double Dutch Force Performance demonstration. Next meeting

Council meets again on November 5 at 9 am. The meeting takes place on the third floor of City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main.

Cliff Spann, president of Arsenal Hill Neighborhood Association Fred Monk, founder of Columbia World Affairs Council Norma Jackson, director of international programs, Benedict College Andy Witt, executive director, Cultural Council of Richland/Lexington Counties Benedict College exchange students from China with Haneez Zattam of the Columbia World Affairs Council