Columbia Council approves Project Olympus inclusion, park fee changes and a package of permits and appointments
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Summary
The City Council approved first readings and resolutions including consent for property to join a multi‑county industrial park (Project Olympus), Parks & Recreation user‑fee amendments for Finney/Finley parks, a memorandum with Need No More Inc. on food‑pantry coordination, event alcohol permits, several board appointments, and a speed‑hump installation. Votes were carried by roll call.
Columbia’s City Council on March 1 approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and appointments, including a motion consenting to the inclusion of property in a multi‑county industrial business park, changes to parks user fees and a memorandum of understanding to improve food‑pantry coordination.
The council moved to approve Ordinance 2026‑015, consenting to inclusion of property in a multi‑county industrial business park (identified in the meeting as the Olympus Development Company / Project Olympus in Richland County). The motion for approval was made and seconded and passed on roll call.
Parks and Recreation Director Kenya Bryant presented two requested amendments to the city’s code of ordinances (chapter 15, user fees) under Ordinance 2026‑016. Bryant said staff identified a previously omitted Finney Park rental fee and sought authority to add event vendor fees for Finley Park to provide flexible pricing for small businesses. With no speakers signed up for the public hearing, council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance on first reading.
The council also approved Resolution R2026023, authorizing the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with Need No More Inc. to support data sharing, coordination and visibility across the city’s food‑pantry services. Council members expressed enthusiasm for the program after its Community Development Committee endorsement on Feb. 17.
Event alcohol resolutions were approved for two city events: authorization for beer, wine and liquor at the Columbia Food and Wine Festival (1600 block of Blanding Street, April 26) and on the small lawn in Findlay Park (April 25), and a separate authorization for the Contemporaries Ball at 1515 Main Street (March 7). All three event permits passed on roll call.
Council confirmed several appointments to boards and commissions: Douglas Thomas (urban design review commission), Cleve Walker and Tia Savage (historic preservation and design review commission), and Latoya Grey Adams and Latrell Hart to the urban design review commission. Council noted that Latoya Grey Adams does not live in the city; members said the appointment was permitted to fill a planner slot with needed expertise.
In other business, council approved installation of speed humps on Heatherwood Road (between Linwood Road and Trenum Road) after Public Works, Fire and Police reviewed and cleared the proposal. Council also referred the federally funded Safe Streets and Roads for All action planning process to the Public Safety Committee and discussed a proposed City of Columbia ambassador program to be examined by the Economic Development Committee.
Most items were moved, seconded and approved by roll call without extended debate. The meeting concluded after the public‑input period and an adjournment vote.
Votes and outcomes (at a glance): • Ordinance 2026‑015 (Project Olympus inclusion) — motion approved on first reading (roll call). • Ordinance 2026‑016 (parks user‑fees — Finney/Finley) — approved on first reading (roll call). • Resolution R2026023 (MOU with Need No More Inc.) — approved (roll call). • Event alcohol permits (R2026019, R2026020, R2026021) — approved (roll call). • Appointments to boards and commissions (multiple nominees) — approved (roll call). • Speed humps on Heatherwood Road — approved (roll call).
Next steps: ordinances recorded as first readings unless noted; staff will proceed with memoranda, implementation details, and scheduling of subsequent readings or follow‑up reports where required.
