[{"_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",6541026,"mediaKeyId","3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f","parentId",3804862,"title","Columbia council approves contract awards, conveyances and several ordinances and resolutions in consent and regular business","audioSeconds",97,"startMs",4053000,"endMs",4150000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f&start=4053&end=4150","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f/thumbnail_4053000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541026/Columbia-City/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Columbia-council-approves-contract-awards-conveyances-and-several-ordinances-and-resolutions-in-consent-and-regular-business","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541026-a9c17ff3bd8b09856768251b5f0af9ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187238&Signature=LJJJOr3hJSHeRHg7Sjul2m2YkJuTNSbAs5KAfiiG2IFxqe94PArV7zTcst1zVvCMCS44~lR7spO-Kz8N3MWgMXOKWvAY~l473o4JG3nWxdh2dE~ThU2RIoO3bnfrIG90ZfG4hMdRFKp~zLHoBtgJDRm5umMjS0jPJI0LztvF6a-ivwb5eym-JlELFrIDffvBQpN~mVe6Hh5kQUUf-WVeeIhHIqzNQjVq0WST~k95F5yIuRnLlA2e1VyYa0Ljh9SFoHkoiYcN7MELz0yVDq4f2bj6~KNyHk7SVv5M8xpoM1mpfL2pnix7yPRFFsHjQQquN-ygrDJaccuTghoNghAVeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Columbia","date","2025-06-11T10:56:18Z","article","Columbia City Council approved multiple bids, contracts, conveyances, ordinances and resolutions during its June meeting. Most items were handled on the consent agenda or with brief presentation; the following items were recorded by motion and roll call.

Crane Creek sanitary‑sewer contract: Council approved a construction contract for project SS‑7463 (Crane Creek 1 Basin sanitary sewer evaluation surveys and gravity sewer) with North American Pipeline Management LLC in an amount not to exceed $19,666,678.90, including contingency.

Conveyances and road transfers: Council approved an ordinance conveying 0.24 acre on Gordon Street to Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. (Ordinance 2025‑044), and authorized conveyance of several portions of right‑of‑way at Harbison Boulevard and related city property to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for the Interstate 26 widening and road improvements (Ordinance 2025‑046).

Economic development and park matters: Council consented to inclusion of property in a multi‑county industrial business park (Ordinance 2025‑052) and approved another ordinance consenting to property inclusion connected to a Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union project (Ordinance 2025‑028), matters previously considered by the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee.

Resolutions and events: The council approved resolutions including a small conveyance off Bluff Road (Resolution R‑2025‑020), a funding resolution to CEZ Inc. for Station at Concrete Point (Resolution R‑2025‑034), and ratified several event permits including Juneteenth Freedom Fest, Outfest South Carolina, Arts & Draughts, and a 9/11 remembrance 5K.

Roll calls recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous support on the listed consent and ordinance items; where recorded the clerk read the roll and recorded Aye votes from Councilman Tyler D. Bailey, Councilmembers Herbert and Bustles, Councilman Brennan, Councilman McDowell and Mayor Daniel J. Rickerman. Council took no additional committee referrals on these items at the time they were approved.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting | June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Columbia City Council approved a suite of contracts, conveyances and routine ordinances and resolutions at its June meeting, including a $19.7 million sewer construction contract and multiple property transfers to a church, SCDOT and economic development partners.","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},6541031,"Columbia opens public hearing on $474 million budget; council hears staffing, capital and hospitality tax tradeoffs",1215,1922000,3137000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f&start=1922&end=3137","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f/thumbnail_1922000.jpg","/articles/6541031/Columbia-City/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Columbia-opens-public-hearing-on-474-million-budget-council-hears-staffing-capital-and-hospitality-tax-tradeoffs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541031-27e8426d805e063b491b12af82791dd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187238&Signature=ajJMcBQ7tWCrOunQMOLWAs-OeufmRzM4fT28c50gB2Bu2RfVYCPBVZZKKrh8QJC4EqkiFVOTgGgDIqlNypMgHLUh8TPVS0Emc58NbDkA0~uRcHSLeSH0vY9hSwSI4EJNUxAwGt155hMULrlHlpZMZtu45yonOcz8YqzjRCaDMjdcQZyWV~h-qQ0NiwFZ1tQckYYAcXIN55TDsF17HSsz6vucYkD3VZtd~asVmvV3LTWKGdqx055tM4dLkD1e1YffttA9vq4k6Q1TN3-dwtmPRcYJs11bITqUrsvRxJWFpU2QgeJSbHkn8o1lwW~nxMGVx2Ky8CK0sW791ZTG35MfGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia City Council opened a public hearing and read an ordinance to adopt the fiscal 2026 budget, a $474 million combined operating plan that city staff said does not include a property‑tax increase.

Assistant City Manager Missy Kaufman summarized the proposal during a presentation to council and the public. She said the budget package includes a general fund of about $183.9 million and an enterprise water and sewer budget of roughly $217 million. The combined operating budget total cited by staff was $474,000,000. Missy Kaufman said the general fund is presented as a 2.6 percent decrease from the current approved year and relies on one‑time measures — including a proposed use of fund balance of $5 million — to reach balance.

Kaufman and council described several drivers shaping the proposal: the addition of operations for Findlay Park funded in part with American Rescue Plan funds, increased debt service tied to prior capital leases, scaled‑back vehicle and capital replacement (from $15 million used previously to a $4 million proposal), and constrained surplus. Kaufman noted water and sewer revenues and capital spending drive that enterprise fund: utilities account for the largest share of those operating dollars and the water and sewer capital improvement program is the city’s largest CIP component.

Staff also told council that a state budget proviso late in the process threatened the city’s share of the state local government fund, roughly $3.7 million. To maintain a balanced advertised budget and meet public‑notice requirements, the city manager recommended increasing a transfer from the hospitality tax to the general fund to cover that shortfall. Kaufman said the hospitality tax transfer would rise in the proposal from about $4.8 million to $8.5 million; committees and council would still determine final hospitality allocations.

Council opened but did not receive public speakers on the budget at that hearing. The council approved the ordinance reading for ordinance number 2025‑045 to raise revenue and adopt the FY2026 budget; roll call showed unanimous support for the reading. Councilmembers said the item will return as required for final action after the public‑hearing period and committee reviews.

","City staff presented the FY2026 budget proposal totaling $474 million; the plan includes no general‑fund tax increase, a proposed hospitality‑tax transfer to cover a $3.7 million state local‑government fund shortfall, and uses of fund balance to balance the budget. Council opened the public hearing and approved the ordinance reading.",{"_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},6541035,"Columbia council enacts moratorium on new short‑term rental permits in residential areas after Elmwood Park shooting",4260,4260000,8520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f&start=4260&end=8520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3804862-911d87fecc328eafbc528bc3db9d2f4f/thumbnail_4260000.jpg","/articles/6541035/Columbia-City/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Columbia-council-enacts-moratorium-on-new-shortterm-rental-permits-in-residential-areas-after-Elmwood-Park-shooting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541035-4358036c4f92cbd45d729f26b4631af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187238&Signature=g2XZQNrTr4soGp0iC4NqtY5m3NPTC1co6C7p737QnLvUYi6f-vbsNBDiE2jmBdA1pYK8aTkbsgE5s8-n4HlT5pffAvunIHGobDmf2QvsdXlCTO4w3FSrVv~he0G8aBYmYUiIZ-a4V7vguaZhFqxT7FrM9d4kF6I1BIJ2agPgHtOJ1jpbb4ldvTrmfYIFCczrTd-Q-0IE20Ny2lo1OzC3APF6BrCg4cXFXZcK2YSJ5fOv0ahKtwGxvo7qrbua4RP27Y5pXo-RAAXk74rTsrguAkmSDUY2mY1D9qUwY~XLNv~Kjf9BRLjUvWWua6bJPjJpGpsVOGQvST7U9~5fp3FtVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia City Council on a unanimous vote approved an amendment imposing a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new short‑term rental (STR) permits in areas zoned residential, citing a recent fatal shooting in Elmwood Park and widespread neighborhood complaints about noise, parking and enforcement.

The moratorium as amended was adopted during the council’s June meeting as ordinance number 2025‑054; members voted to refer the ordinance and the development of any necessary implementing legislation to the Community Development Committee for further work. Mayor Daniel J. Rickerman told the packed chamber, “I’m pissed. I’m just gonna be honest. I’m mad about these young people shooting each other, and that's the root of why I'm mad.”

Council members and city staff said the pause will allow city officials, neighborhood leaders and STR operators to review the data gathered since the council passed the city’s 2023 STR ordinance and to identify enforcement gaps. Assistant City Manager Missy Kaufman and other staff briefed council on enforcement mechanics and revenue tradeoffs; the City Clerk said the pending ordinance had an earlier technical effective time under the pending‑ordinance doctrine and noted the city would treat the issue urgently.

The meeting drew lengthy public comment both for and against restrictions. Hosts and property managers who said they rely on STR income urged a measured, data‑driven response and offered to assist. David Bergman, who identified himself as a local host, asked council “to use a spotlight to explore the root causes that led to this tragedy,” saying the incident involved local high‑school students and broader community issues. Several Elmwood Park residents described repeated neighborhood incidents they attributed to STRs — blocked driveways, noise, trash and alleged failures by operators to respond to complaints. Resident Yvonne Twilley described seeing “a bullet hole in the window” of the adjacent rental after the shooting and said the house was “less than 14 feet” from her home.

Neighborhood leaders said enforcement of the point system created by the 2023 ordinance has been inadequate. John Wilkinson, president of the Elmwood Park Neighborhood Association, told council that none of the STRs operating in his area had been issued point penalties despite multiple complaints. Multiple residents and speakers urged immediate enforcement of existing rules and for a cap or prohibition of STRs in strictly residential neighborhoods.

Councilmembers emphasized the moratorium is a pause on new permits, not an immediate removal of existing, registered STRs. Mayor Rickerman said there are 446 registered STRs citywide and warned that unregistered operators will face enforcement. The council voted unanimously to adopt the moratorium and to send the matter to the Community Development Committee for recommended permanent policy changes and for development of enforcement measures.

Next steps: the Community Development Committee will schedule meetings to review data, receive additional public input and draft legislation. Councilmembers asked residents and STR operators to submit specific enforcement examples and suggested changes in writing so the committee can incorporate them into its work.

","Following a fatal shooting at a short‑term rental in Elmwood Park, Columbia City Council voted to suspend new short‑term rental permits in residential zones and referred development of follow‑up legislation to the Community Development Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Columbia council approves contract awards, conveyances and several ordinances and resolutions in consent and regular business

Columbia opens public hearing on $474 million budget; council hears staffing, capital and hospitality tax tradeoffs

Columbia council enacts moratorium on new short‑term rental permits in residential areas after Elmwood Park shooting