The March 10 Forest Acres City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Frank Brunson. Those assembled were led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Star Scouts Austin Smith, Hamp Alfred, and James Abney from Troop 8 of Incarnation Lutheran Church.

Mayor's issues

• Plans for renovation of Citadel and Idalia Parks are underway.

• An agreement has been reached with First Citizens for placement of a city clock at the corner of Forest and Trenholm. A search for detailed engineering plans for a similar clock project is underway.

• The Gills Creek Walking Trail is undergoing redesign to limit the trail to the creek side and remove large inland loops. The city has applied for a special Transportation Grant for funding this project.

• The dead trees at 128 Ila Lane have been removed with permission of the home owner by the neighbor whose house was endangered by the trees. New business

• The Forest Acres Rotary Club's request for $26,500 in hospitality tax funds for the Forest Acres Festival was approved. The festival is planned for May 16 at A.C. Flora High School. Council approved an additional amount not to exceed $20,000 for tenting and stage rental/purchase.

• The Columbia Museum of Art's request for $ 150,000 in hospitality tax funds for reestablishment of a permanent exhibition or naming of a gallery was deferred pending further review.

• FARMA's request for $49,239 in hospitality tax funds for Rooftop Rhythms was approved. The next Rooftop Rhythms event is planned for April 16 from 5- 9 pm.

• Proposed fees and charges for wrecker service were unanimously approved.

• Permission for the Fill- A- Boot Drive was granted. Fire Fighters will collect donations at major city intersections March 25-27.

Old business

• Second Reading approval was given to an amendment to redefine the minimum area required for creation of a new zoning district in order to allow certain exceptions for adjoining areas.

• The ordinance concerning digital signs and billboards was deferred pending further clarification.

• Second Reading approval was given to a change to the nuisance ordinance requiring removal of dead trees by property owners.

City administrator's report

• Subscription to eCivis at a cost of $1,500 was approved. This grant finding service should improve the City's ability for apply for grant funding for Municipal Projects.

• Lor i Tumlin and Shaun Greenwood attended a community crime watch meeting of about 75 citizens and were pleased to report positive feedback was received.

•Williams announced that financial reports have been distributed to Council.

Police chief 's report

• Overall crime is down from same time last year.

• The city will be receiving approximately $37,000 from a stimulus recovery program.

Community forum

• Tree were removed from 128 Ila Lane by adjacent homeowner with permission from the property owner. Council received a report from the complainant and assured him that steps are underway to encourage solution of future difficulties by the homeowner responsible for the problem.

• Dottie Reynolds of Casual Living made suggestions for web page improvements and use of hospitality funds.

Council items

• Mayor Pro Tempore Cur tis Rye asked Council to consider going to a quarterly special meeting format for distribution of hospitality tax monies and requiring future requests for those funds to be submitted by a quarterly deadline in order to allow appropriate study and consideration of funding requests.

• Forest Acres City Council will meet again at 5:15 pm April 14.