Columbia City Council approves bond authorization, encroachment and festival alcohol permit; refers hotel and student-housing tax-abatement policy to committee

Columbia City Council on Feb. 12 approved several measures including first reading of a bond authorization package for downtown projects, a right-of-way encroachment for the University of South Carolina and a permit allowing alcohol at St. Pat’s and 5 Points events.

The council also voted to refer a policy conversation on tax abatements for student housing and limited-service hotels to the Economic Development Committee and voted to enter executive session to discuss personnel, convention center negotiations and a development project called Project Catalyst.

The bond item advanced on first reading. The ordinance authorizes Columbia Facilities Corporation to issue up to $54,000,000 in installment-purchase revenue bonds, permits tax-exempt or taxable series, and delegates authority to the mayor, the city manager and the assistant city manager for development and finance (or any two of them) to finalize sale documents and related agreements. The council took a roll-call vote on the first reading and the item advanced on a recorded vote.

The council approved an encroachment for the University of South Carolina to use the right-of-way in the 1200 block of Green Street for brick pavers, a brick seat wall, furnishings, landscaping and irrigation adjacent to 1212 Green Street. The item passed by roll-call vote.

The council also approved Resolution R2025004 authorizing consumption of beer, wine and liquor at the Saint Pat’s and 5 Points Festival and authorized the city manager and parks and recreation director to sign related park rules. That resolution passed by roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (01/21/2025 regular meeting): Passed by roll call (affirmative votes recorded from the council roster at the meeting). - Consent agenda items 3–5 (including equipment purchases and project funding referenced in the meeting): Passed by roll call. - Ordinance (first reading) authorizing installment-purchase revenue bonds not to exceed $54,000,000: Advanced on first reading by roll-call vote. - Ordinance 2025006 granting a right-of-way encroachment to the University of South Carolina at 1200 block of Green Street (adjacent to 1212 Green Street): Approved by roll-call vote. - Resolution R2025004 authorizing alcohol sales at Saint Pat’s and 5 Points Festival: Approved by roll-call vote. - Referral: Tax-abatement policy discussion for student housing and limited-service hotels to the Economic Development Committee: Referred by motion and approved by roll-call vote. - Motion to enter executive session to discuss municipal court judges’ employment, convention center negotiations (contractual) and Project Catalyst (economic development): Approved by roll-call vote.

No final sale or bond-closing documents were presented at the meeting; the ordinance on the bonds was advanced for the authorization and delegation described above. The encroachment and the festival alcohol permit are authorized as recorded. The council did not take open-session votes to finalize bond sale terms at this meeting.

Members recorded on roll calls included Councilmembers Bailey, Brown, Herbert, Dr. Bussell, Brennan, McDowell and Mayor Daniel J. Rickerman. The clerk read roll for each recorded vote.

Council took the votes in open session and then moved to an executive session on personnel and negotiations as listed on the agenda.

(Reporting note: formal motion text, mover/second names and full roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes and as read aloud by the clerk during the meeting.)