Roll call

Vincent Simonowicz Columbia City Council convened Wednesday morning, November 5, at 9 in City Hall. All council members were present: Kirkman Finlay III, Tameika Isaac Devine, E.W. Cromartie, Mayor Bob Coble, Sam Davis, Daniel Rickenmann, and Beverly Gergel.

City favorite

The city's October 2008 Employee of the Month was introduced by Captain Rick Hines of the Police Department. She is Christina Dunn, administrative secretary of the Columbia Police Department Fiscal Management Division. She has held her current position since April 2002.

Business spotlight

The October 2008 Monthly Business Spotlight Program Honoree is Eric's San José, as recognized by Angelo McBride, administrator of the Office of Business Opportunities. Eric's San Jose is located at 6118 Garners Ferry Road, where it has operated since 1994. The restaurant has 12 employees and annual sales rise above $1,500,000.

More awards

Fred Delk, executive director of the Columbia Development Corporation, announced the Diversity Award from the International Downtown Association for the Townhomes at Arsenal Hill, which the CDC developed with Tomlin and Company and the S.C. Department of Commerce. Tomlin and Company led the development team at no cost and with no developer's fees. Even though they were appraised for $165,000, all the homes were sold for $95,000 each. Also, the CDC received the Woodrow Wilson Award from the Historic Columbia Foundation at their annual meeting in October. The Woodrow Wilson award is given annually to an organization or individual "For taking bold and meaningful action to further the cause of historic preservation through meaningful protection, rehabilitation and/or financial support."

Artay Williams Community promotions

Judge Mildred McDuffie announced funding for the Alston Wilkes Society in the amount of $4,000.

Spay/Neuter

Jim "Soni" Sonefield appeared to update council on the spay/neuter efforts in the Midlands.

Farms and cities

Mary Jane Henderson, education coordinator for the Richland Conversation District, told council about Farm- City Week, the seven days leading up to and including Thanksgiving, as sponsored by Richland County Farm- City Committee. The National Farm- City Council was established in 1955 to encourage understanding between rural and urban residents. More than 15,000 communities nationwide are involved in Farm- City programs of all kinds.

Incubator

Joel Stevenson, executive director of the USC/ Columbia Technology Incubator, reported to council his incubator has created 605 jobs since its beginning of just a few years ago. Of the 20 companies that have graduated, one is out of business, two have been sold, four are in Lexington County, and 13 are located in Richland County. Currently, 42 companies are participating in the incubator program. The average salary for the 42 companies in the incubator, and the average salary for the 20 companies that have graduated is $63,450.

New Website

Vincent Simonowicz, the city's director of Information Technology, reviewed the city's new Website, which should be operating by Nov. 19. With the new Website, citizens can pay parking tickets and water bills online. Devine asked to see a list of all the new features of the city's Website. Rickenmann wondered what happened to the city's request for proposals from last February, which attracted five companies prepared to do everything the in- house city techies were doing. Also, all members of council had to know why the city just released a new Website only six weeks ago and now is announcing another new Website. How much is being spent? Finlay asked to see the numbers, the costs associated with the new Website. Working with Simonowicz were Seth Daley (Web services), Mark Johnson (group leader for major applications), Artay Williams (Web developer), and Carmen Fleming (payment systems for water, garbage services and the like).

Trees

Coble advocated an ad hoc committee to meet on the matter of trees on Main Street. Rickenmann objected to the additional committee on top of the existing Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission. Davis observed the city had opened a "can of worms" in that every neighborhood could be looking for its own ad hoc trees committee, confusing the purpose and power of the Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission.

Next meeting

Council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning, November 19, at 9 am in the third- floor council chambers of City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main.