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Columbia council approves budget amendments, strategic plan and multiple zoning items; mayor recuses on one vote
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Summary
The Columbia City Council approved FY25–26 budget amendments, adopted the 'Columbia 2026' strategic plan and approved several zoning matters and governance policies during its March 2026 meeting; the mayor recused himself from a downtown overlay vote and two public hearings drew no speakers.
The Columbia City Council on a routine March evening approved a package of budget amendments, policy resolutions and zoning actions while adopting the city's annual strategic plan.
Mayor Mulder opened two public hearings on budget and zoning items and said no members of the public wished to be heard; both hearings were closed without public comment. The council then moved into its regular meeting and conducted roll call, an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.
On a series of motions the council approved amendments to the FY25–26 budget (listed as ordinances 4581 and 4587), authorizing revisions to general, state street aid, capital projects, grant and wastewater funds. The council also approved first and second readings on several zoning matters, including the Morning Point preliminary planned-unit development (Ordinance 4582) and the Beechcroft Plaza PUD first reading (Ordinance 4583).
Mayor Mulder announced he would recuse himself from a second-reading vote on Ordinance 4578, which would add property at 810 Woodland Street to the commercial downtown historic district overlay in Ward 3; the motion proceeded and passed with the vice mayor and remaining council members voting. The mayor's recusal was noted in the record.
Councilors approved administrative and governance items that included a cash management policy (Resolution 26-17), a capital asset management policy (Resolution 26-18) and a budget monitoring policy (Resolution 26-19). The council also adopted the city's annual strategic plan, "Columbia 2026." Mayor Mulder said of the plan, "this is something that I think is the most important thing that we can do as a community," and thanked staff and council for their work.
The consent agenda passed as a block and included January disbursements of $10,967,212.19, authorization to dispose of surplus equipment, and contracts and marketing agreements including a pavement management contract not to exceed $145,680 and CityLogix software not to exceed $18,900. The consent slate also approved the purchase of three license-plate readers with multi-year subscriptions and a reallocation of $50,000 in the Healthy Built Environment grant. The council ratified $19,000 in sponsorship donations for the 2026 Mid State Classic softball games at Ridley Sports Complex; Mayor Mulder praised the event, saying, "Our community shined" during the tournament.
The council accepted a $60,000 GM on Main Street grant and authorized the mayor to sign related documents. It also approved the appointment of Andrew Pearson to the City of Columbia Arts Council for a three-year term beginning March 12, 2026.
There were no contested votes recorded in the transcript; motions were moved, seconded and approved by roll call throughout the agenda. The meeting concluded with brief closing remarks and a motion to adjourn; the council will reconvene for its next regular meeting next month.
