Columbia City Council approves zoning and administrative items, lease with Oliver Gospel Mission and committee appointments

Columbia City Council voted unanimously on several zoning, administrative and operational items during its meeting.

Rezoning: The council approved a rezoning for 3329 River Drive, changing the property from Residential Mixed District RM2 to Mixed Use District MU1 within the Historic Preservation Overlay (Earlwood Protection Area A). The council also approved a request to amend designations and designate 4120 North Main Street as a City of Columbia Type 3 landmark and add the Historic Preservation Overlay District to the property.

Ordinance: Council introduced Ordinance No. 2026007 on first reading, granting an encroachment to Larry Rowe for installation and maintenance of brick pavers, landscaping and irrigation adjacent to 3208 Amherst Avenue. The ordinance passed first reading with recorded affirmative votes.

Lease and downtown restrooms: Council approved Resolution R2026-012 authorizing the city manager to execute a lease agreement with the Oliver Gospel Mission to allow a monitored public restroom in the downtown corridor. Councilmembers discussed necessary upfits and agreed staff and partners would prepare marketing and operational steps before opening.

Appointments and committees: The council recommended Tina Hermer as mayor pro tem and approved standing committee assignments, along with special committees and task force appointments. The council amended a motion to sunset the Columbia–Fort Jackson Joint Committee on Cooperation, citing duplication of services with chamber and military affairs partners.

All items were approved on roll-call votes recorded by the clerk; most passed without extended public testimony.