Columbia City Council meets November 19, 2008

Roll call

Columbia City Council convened about 9 am, Wednesday, Nov. 19, on the third floor of City Hall. All members of city council were present: Kirkman Finlay III, Tameika Isaac Devine, E.W. Cromartie, Mayor Bob Coble, Sam Davis,Daniel Rickenmann, and Belinda Gergel.

Business highlight

Angelo McBride, administrator for the Office of Business Opportunities, announced The Acupuncture Clinic as the November 2008 Monthly Business Spotlight Program Honoree.

Family shelter

As part of the 4th Annual Project Homeless Connect, Jonathan Artz, executive director of Family Shelter, said with a tight annual budget of just $400,000, Artz accommodates 100 families, while another 500 applicants have to go elsewhere. Richland District One sees about 1,200 homeless children every day. Family Shelter is the only facility taking care of the full family, even in an emergency. Hanna House takes in women with children. Sistercare shelters female victims of domestic violence. St. Lawrence Place doesn't handle emergencies. The other shelters care for homeless men. The city's Housing First program is looking into helping the full family, which can eventually reduce the need for emergency shelters.

Film fund raiser

To support Family Shelter, seats for $75 are offered at the Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St., for showings of "Where God left his shoes" at 3 pm and 6 pm, November 23, this Sunday. To order by phone: 1.800.838.3006.

CMA

Karen Brosius, executive director of the Columbia Museum of Art, reported 128,000 visitors to the CMA for fiscal year 2007- 8. Of that total, 38% are from beyond Richland County. The last economic impact study was for FY 2005- 6, which came to a $10 million impact on Columbia from that year's 75,000 visitors. Now with a much larger visitor count, the CMA has called for another economic impact study. Members of the CMA's education staff, Darion McCloud and Powell Coleman, showed an "Ancient Wall of Fame" put together by their students sponsored by the Columbia Housing Authority. Brosius said education is the CMA's main mission. Gergel congratulated the CMA staff and board members present on their successes in cultural tourism. Brosius thanked the Blanchard family for their support in underwriting the "Turner to Cezanne" exhibition coming this spring at the CMA.

Convention sales boosted by art exhibitions

Ric Luber and Kelly Barbray of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism sang from the same sheet of music Brosius held when they told council of the grand opportunities for cultural tourism connected with the "Turner to Cezanne" exhibition opening this March at the CMA. Barbray showed the advertisement included on Air Tran flights in the region. More are coming on Continental.

Security and safety

Mayor Coble emceed a discussion on the city's Safety and Security Advisory Committee. HUD was asked if the security requirements for HUD- funded housing could be tightened. Elizabeth Whitener of Creative Management reported on the improved security at her residential compounds, Riverside and Ames Manor. Cromartie announced even the notorious Colony was getting better. Shootings are reported directly to Cromartie's cell phone.

Sign of the times

The requirement every business in Columbia hang a conspicuous sign saying "No Smoking" will be repealed. Even Devine objected to the alteration of her law office decor.

Next meeting

City council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning, Dec. 3, at 9 on the third floor of City Hall, corner of Laurel and Main.