[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6101636,"mediaKeyId","2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017","parentId",2807429,"title","Council adopts amended agenda and moves to executive session; roll-call votes recorded","audioSeconds",4385,"startMs",59000,"endMs",4444000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017&start=59&end=4444","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017/thumbnail_59000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6101636/Columbia-City/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Council-adopts-amended-agenda-and-moves-to-executive-session-roll-call-votes-recorded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101636-ccf98c3061a0ba8251d01cabacb599b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183998&Signature=lMYXyzY5OZeFkNHPfkz7vNe2nCABORD7m-e~H-AGCYSbetEEoGzSCD8Dath6ny3ysBxrN~kp0FKzSCtXc5rKfDJL5~rbPEt95jjRSsPtjayZoNCJ1R8fMjUIaRhtsvYLjmFnnKrVRNZJeVIKYxGmGFQWbe0Yd-OspvimU58C37rLv5HgRs8fUgQ~rupmqHvQjEeungW72~ZpF1xBcLK9I67kyPWvKIhXhPXKSLsh-PuubqhAd5CM4BEqQe-5igkTDGxjXaaJ3h1HgCJXN-Cc1k6gn-aoFb5FvLWbJXq-J~i-VUIl44eb4uGCRZ908k12T4BqSshY0d3uH7YEnPc6Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Columbia","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","At the start of the work session council members moved to adopt the meeting agenda with one amendment to add a “core campus estoppel agreement” to the executive session. The motion to adopt the agenda was seconded and passed on roll call. Later the council voted to enter executive session to discuss: the proposed location and provision of services in connection with a redevelopment project (Capital City Stadium) and negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements regarding the Vista bid and the core campus estoppel agreement. The executive-session motion was seconded and passed on roll call.

Motion and roll call for agenda adoption: The motion as read was to “adopt the agenda as listed with 1 amendment” (adding the core campus estoppel agreement to executive session). The motion was seconded and the clerk conducted a roll call. Council members recorded votes for the motion (transcript roll call names and responses appear below).

Motion and roll call to enter executive session: The council then made and seconded a motion to enter executive session under state statutory authority cited on the record. The clerk read the roll; members recorded affirmative votes and the council cleared the chamber for closed session.

Legal citations: Council cited South Carolina statutes when announcing the reason for closed session: SC Code §30-4-70(a)(2) (negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements) and SC Code §34-78-5 (discussion related to location or expansion of business/development matters) as read into the record.

Ending: No formal public actions (ordinance adoptions or contract awards) were taken in open session on these items; the matters were moved to executive session for confidential discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session | March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council adopted the work-session agenda with an amendment to add a core campus estoppel agreement to executive session, then voted to enter executive session to discuss redevelopment of Capital City Stadium and contractual negotiations (Vista bid and core campus). Roll-call votes were recorded for both motions.","taxTitle","Columbia City, Richland County, South Carolina","taxId",3706,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6101642,"Columbia’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement details grants, outreach and new ‘Peacekeepers Academy’",1688,2493000,4181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017&start=2493&end=4181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017/thumbnail_2493000.jpg","/articles/6101642/Columbia-City/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Columbias-Office-of-Neighborhood-Safety-and-Engagement-details-grants-outreach-and-new-Peacekeepers-Academy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101642-022b574c2058c5be86fb6edf6449416d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183998&Signature=TtGK2Ux5x0vachdbIdltjlL5U86g3T4wIe6xAMtWx-tVE1662em~aUfy6w7w~DnGolTW-ZeobexiJP3tFpRk0GzsGzWTIwLHnGue2Z~xRQoXlNUIgLD60sREksgOjtOFQUsN1QdXyd50hn3gUxsOsIvPEtwSxItcdKD1Cjni0QYrE-9aMIC5hb38r2dwfANMQcWXk8n7h91wJ8gokhsqeM28V9dFogfT~RCd9CssPZi2dLDFItZytu5PBMelhQKY91fpgbxgrWXUUnRxQ55wCp~LZ~c24byCxCQYVYlWxeRzJqc3Ld-Hqwq5VdjK~UXPo~4IlI4iRiUKteXGEb~img__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Trevon Fordham, director of the City of Columbia’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, presented a quarterly update describing a rebrand, grant awards and a set of outreach and training initiatives the office is launching.

Fordham said the office’s name changed from the Office of Violent Crime Prevention to the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement to emphasize community partnership and to avoid confusion with law-enforcement functions. He said the office’s work rests on three pillars: research and strategic planning; training and development; and community engagement and outreach.

Fordham summarized funding the office has secured. He said the office received “just a little over $509,000” from the South Carolina opioid recovery fund for outreach work and that it has two Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grants — one in fiscal year 2023 focused on prevention and education and another in FY 2024 focused on training and evaluation. He also said parts of the office budget are currently funded from ARPA dollars that expire Dec. 30, 2026, and that other awards have later expiration dates tied to their grant terms.

The office has produced a short public-service campaign titled Together We Can Stop the Violence (two videos, together about four minutes) and Fordham said the office shows the videos at schools, churches and community events and pairs screenings with discussions and onsite service providers. He said the FY23 grant funded the PSA work and that the FY24 award will support development of a training “academy” — the Peacekeepers Academy — that will deliver certifications and national training brought into the city for local partners.

Fordham highlighted recent and upcoming events and partnerships: a mobile community outreach day planned for April 26 with Eau Claire Baptist Church, resource fairs and workforce development events, Narcan trainings and giveaways, Choose Peace Create Change youth programming tied to school partnerships, and events for Mental Health Awareness Month. He said the office has worked with community organizations to help them secure funding (he cited the South Carolina Philharmonic and Girl Get Up Society as examples) and that staff are compiling a digital resource bank and a weekly events “local link” for the public.

On the role of the office in prevention work, Fordham told the council that “some folks don't even feel safe leaving their own apartment,” and said that reframing the office’s name was driven in part by resident feedback that “neighborhood safety and engagement” is less intimidating and more inviting than previous terminology. He also said the office is coordinating with places of worship through a “4 Block Promise” initiative and that staff are working with faith leaders in priority neighborhoods to organize outreach and services.

Fordham said one benefit of the FY24 training funding is capacity-building: “we'll be doing training courses. We'll have national folks come in... we're working on a training academy that will be established,” he told the council. The Peacekeepers Academy is intended to create a roster of trained local organizations and individuals who can be partners in violence-intervention and prevention activities.

Ending: Fordham said the office will publish a monthly newsletter, continue to expand the digital resource bank and provide the council with follow-up materials on programs and grant timelines. Council and staff asked for a short one- or two-sentence summary of major programs so members can describe them to constituents; Fordham said staff will provide that.","Director Trevon Fordham reported quarterly on a rebranded violence-prevention office, new grants and community programs including PSAs, church partnerships, outreach days and a planned Peacekeepers Academy to train local partners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6101645,"Columbia unveils 10-year parks and recreation master plan; council to vote next month",2068,126000,2194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017&start=126&end=2194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2807429-46292a1fafb6c9ad192285a64f049017/thumbnail_126000.jpg","/articles/6101645/Columbia-City/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Columbia-unveils-10-year-parks-and-recreation-master-plan-council-to-vote-next-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101645-b105d82cdaeebc066bd6c68ad2891bb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183998&Signature=XUFWOocj~pTCSw88PR-9iLKzffkegpbY6JWjFkqtlaQdI-KvGL8p8d2LOFmc2wo--tvPivjyLuRbVdG3xdn~ubNHdWqu1LNsny2y1SBoKreqbDsvPJlTHQPqftNTZVb-GE7ZKJiq28MPajeo1r1LEc892a6umKPOUOk4aCuDaMUqqJZdLzQ8zPphCEf4-xYFWAghesIZcOfmMMpgnf~tqC4uiGf8g3ev7VwoNLpLBnWswdcgc4vKD1it8viQiRaIQz0gh-~RxioeOTs1To7zf9GtKHZfZFjP8hB9-3-q0wP1kzRKzgaRnHG7Qanap3LykpSxS~qZB9kGTg4U4kKSSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Daniel Biggs of consulting firm Weston & Sampson presented a final, community-driven 10-year parks and recreation master plan to the City of Columbia Council, and staff asked the council to review the binder of materials before a resolution to adopt the plan is scheduled for a council vote on the 15th of next month.

The plan, Biggs said, is “our GPS for our vision for the next decade,” and was built from more than a year of public engagement including an online survey, teen and youth outreach and multiple public meetings. Assistant City Manager Henry Simons told the council the plan highlights what is working now while identifying priorities and tools for implementation.

At a high level, the plan reports more than 1,000 online survey respondents, added youth input (an initial ~50 students then roughly another 50), and widespread interest in upgrades that would increase park usage. Biggs said nearly three-quarters of survey respondents indicated they would visit parks more often if conditions improved, and more than half pointed to safety and security improvements as a driver of increased use. Restrooms were identified as the single most prominent need.

Recommendations in the final report are organized into four categories: administrative changes (staffing, operations), programming, parks and facilities (maintenance, upgrades, acquisitions) and a phased action plan that separates short-term (0–2 years), midterm (3–6 years) and long-term (7–10 years) steps. Examples staff and consultants highlighted include a midterm administrative study on increasing parking at Heathwood Park, a near-term recommendation and cost estimate for a splash pad at Rose Hill (noted as a higher capital item because modern splash pads use recirculation systems), and safety upgrades such as adding emergency call boxes, cameras and park ranger coverage at Findlay Park.

The plan sets seven goals to guide implementation: 1) support community health and wellness; 2) engage the community; 3) program community events; 4) maintain and improve parks and facilities; 5) expand and grow facilities; 6) improve community connectivity (greenways/trails); and 7) improve organizational operations and efficiency. Each goal includes strategies and specific actions; for example, the engagement goal recommends organizing “friends of” volunteer groups, supporting fundraising through a Parks and Recreation Foundation, and creating a Parks and Recreation advisory commission with district representation.

Council discussion focused on language and emphasis for safety recommendations and on amenities requested by residents. One council member asked whether references to “upgrading safety and security” would imply the parks are unsafe; Biggs and staff clarified the recommendation targets specific parks identified in public input (Districts 1 and 4 were mentioned) and called the improvements largely perceptual and deterrent measures rather than a wholesale change such as stationing security guards. Simons noted recent targeted lighting improvements at MLK Park, Ben Arnold and South Eddystone as examples of small, effective interventions implemented this fiscal year.

Council members also discussed active-recreation trends raised in public input. Biggs said pickleball is a high-demand paddle sport locally and nationally and described how courts can be retrofitted on existing tennis courts; he noted active programs at Southeast Park, Willen Park, Greenview and the Charles R. Drew Center.

The plan also highlights a greenway/connectivity strategy with specific references to the Vista Greenway and Loomis Street extension as areas where the city has already acquired property or identified routes that could be developed incrementally. Staff emphasized the plan is intended as a practical, implementable tool for department staff and recommended annual tracking and a scorecard so council and the public can monitor progress.

Simons told the council the full master plan binder is at their seats and staff will bring a formal adoption resolution to the council on the 15th of next month. No final vote on the plan occurred during the work session.

Ending: Staff said they will share digital and paper copies of the plan with council and bring the formal adoption resolution to the next council meeting for action.","Consultants and staff presented a community-driven 10-year master plan for Columbia parks, highlighting priorities such as restrooms, trails, safety improvements, greenways and phased costed actions; council was asked to review the plan ahead of a formal vote next month.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts amended agenda and moves to executive session; roll-call votes recorded

Columbia’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement details grants, outreach and new ‘Peacekeepers Academy’

Columbia unveils 10-year parks and recreation master plan; council to vote next month