Chair Paul Livingston, Vice Chair Damon Jeter, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Bill Malinowski, Jim Manning, Greg Pearce, Kit Smith and Kelvin Washington were present. Val Hutchinson and Gwendolyn Kennedy were absent.

Presentations

Tommy Windsor , Regional Transit Authority vice Chair, gave the council an overview of the recent CMRTA audit that also offered short and long term solutions to Richland County’s transportation woes. Currently, the area transit system operates 36 buses and runs 24 routes. The proposal is designed to grow to 75 buses and 36 buses offering a 71% increase in bus service. This will give 91% of the county’s residents access to bus service.

CMRTA head Mitzi Javers told the council that long term proposal also incorporates options like ride sharing, Park and Ride to outlying communities, and programs designed to save money and reduce pollution and congestion by organized carpooling.

Projected costs for the program are estimated to be around $32.3 million with additional funds of $18.1 million needed after CMRTA revenues, state monies, and matching Federal funds are added. The extent to which the service can grow will be determined by how much funding is made available by Richland County and Columbia. Sounds familiar.

Administrator’s Report

Ric Luber from the Midlands Authority for Convention, Sports and Tourism introduced a commercial being aired in Asheville and Charlotte designed to increase awareness in those cities about Columbia’s hotness as a travel destination. With the economy reducing the number of week long vacations being taken by area families, more people are choosing to take weekend trips to destinations that are close by.

The CST folks also talked about how new fangled media advertising like Twitter and Facebook are boosting Columbia’s presence and increasing the Hospitality Tax coffers.

Mi l ton Pope also showed the council members how easy it is to find specific financial information on the Richland County website to help with state mandated transparency issues.

The Rules and Appointments Committee was unable to meet. Chairman Bill Malinowski was the only member present for the meeting and no business could be conducted without a quorum.

A resolution in support of transportation options for the Midlands offered a show of support and no financial responsibility from the county yet Malinowski had problems with the wording of the proposal. “It has too many whereas’s in it and doesn’t have any information to support the claims.” After the third Whereas was removed in a substitute motion, the proposal passed.

No citizen came forward to express concern during the meeting and the executive session was a small one.

A complete Richland County Agenda can be accessed from the Richland County website before each council meeting. Minutes from past meetings are also available for anyone who has questions or needs more detail about a specific issue.