Happy
New
Year
Columbia!
1st
City
Briefing
of the
New
Year!
Mayor Steve Benjamin, The US Conference of Mayors & American Management Services Offer Free Small Business Webinar on Tuesday, January 12
 
Midlands area small business owners are welcome to attend a free small business webinar presented by Mayor Steve Benjamin, The United States Conference of Mayors and American Management Services on Tuesday, January 12 at 12 PM.
 
Louis Mosca, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of American Management Services will share business survival tips for the pandemic, and discuss proven strategies with the potential to help boost revenue, increase profit, and grow business. 
The 60-minute webinar will be free of charge. To attend this webinar, please register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_66kORhsaSRKNkukQwXzhsw
City of Columbia City Council to Hold Public Hearing for Adoption of New Zoning Map

The City of Columbia, SC City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption of a new city-wide zoning map to correspond with the recently adopted Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO), formerly known as the Planning, Land Development, and Zoning Ordinance. The hearing will be conducted using Video Conferencing Technology on January 19, 2021 with the Council meeting beginning at 2:00 PM. The Virtual Meeting will be streamed online at https://www.columbiasc.gov and the public will have the ability to listen to audio and participate in the meeting via telephone. For additional meeting portal information visit www.columbiacitysc.iqm2.com or call 803-545-3333. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing to the Zoning Administrator at P.O. Box 147, Columbia, SC 29217 or by email at [email protected] and oral comments may be presented during the public hearing through the meeting portal.

The zoning map and the adopted UDO apply to all parcels and areas of land within the municipal boundaries of the City of Columbia. The zoning map may be reviewed in an electronic format by visiting www.weplantogether.org/columbiareview/.
 
An appointment to view a hard copy of the map may be made by contacting the Zoning Division at 803-545-3333. Columbia City Council will host a Public Hearing to provide citizens the opportunity to comment on the new map. 

The new Unified Development Ordinance creates a user-friendly code that streamlines and modernizes procedures, creates a more efficient and predictable process, and provides for more flexibility in appropriate contexts. For information on the project to include the text of the new ordinance, please visit www.weplantogether.org.

**please see FAQ attachment here.
CRFD Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins
Receives COVID-19 Vaccination

On Monday January 4, 2021 Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins received his vaccination for the COVID-19 virus. The vaccine was administered to Chief Jenkins by staff at Prisma Health Richland Hospital.
 
“I am grateful to be able to receive this crucial vaccination as we begin 2021,” stated Chief Jenkins, “My hope is that as the vaccine becomes more widely available that more people will pursue opportunities to receive it. Vaccines are going to be one of our most effective tools in fighting this deadly virus and ultimately reducing its threat. Only by working together can we reach that goal.”
 
Administrative Policy Committee
Council Committee Meeting
Thursday, January 14, 2021 2:00 PM
https://www.columbiasc.gov | Columbia, SC 29201
City to Hold Drive-Thru Food Drive as a Community Service Project/ National Day of Service
 
Who: Join District Two Councilman Edward McDowell, Jr., City of Columbia Officials, Richland School District One and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation January 18, 2021 as a community service project as a part of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honor the Dream Drive-Thru Food Drive benefiting Harvest Hope Food Bank. Partners, community organizations, churches and are encouraged to join this effort by contacting [email protected] or [email protected]. Please also join us and the National League of Cities as we host a National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Organizations across the country will host service events that focus on COVID-19 relief and address challenges that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, such as poverty, hunger, racial injustice, homelessness, mental health, and educational disparities.
Councilman McDowell said, "as the challenges of the pandemic continue to have an impact on our community, it is a pivotal time for us to work together to help those who need it most. Let's serve our community and honor Dr. King's legacy of service by supporting this food drive."
What: City of Columbia to hold Drive-Thru Food Drive as community service project. Due to the pandemic, this year's food drive will use a drive thru format and observe all COVID-19 safety precautions. 
When: Monday, January 18, 2020 at 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park located at 2300 Greene Street.
Municipal Court In-Person Appearances Suspended 
 
By Order of Chief Justice Beatty of the South Carolina Supreme Court, in-person Court appearances have been suspended until further notice starting Monday, January 11, 2021. If you miss your court date due to the court closure, your case will be rescheduled and a new court date notification will be sent to you by mail. Please make sure the court has your correct address. If your address has changed, we must receive the new address in writing. Please mail it to Post Office Box 644 Columbia, SC 29202 or Fax to 803-545-3193. Fine payments can be made online from this web page under the Court Payments tab or mail your check or money order payment to Post Office Box 644 Columbia, SC 29202.  Preliminary Hearings will continue to be conducted virtually (via invitation) through Web-Ex.
Please see attached document for details here.
City Kicks Off Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Honor the Dream Virtual Food Drive
 
The City of Columbia, Richland School District One and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation has kicked off the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honor the Dream Virtual Food Drive benefiting Harvest Hope Food Bank. The food drive ends January 18, 2021.
Please join the City of Columbia as we help fight hunger in the Greater Columbia area. The food drive is held each year to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of community service. To donate, please click
For more information, contact the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department at 803-545-3100.
City Video Hub
Find in-depth perspectives from news, updates, and recent events in the City of Columbia.
City Council
Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 2:00 PM
https://www.columbiasc.gov, Columbia, SC 29201
Mayor Benjamin "Mask Up Columbia!"
Follow these easy steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

 1.      Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

2.      If soap and warm water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

3.      Clean surfaces frequently with disinfecting supplies (telephones, keyboards, copiers, printers, desks, etc.)

4.      Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other individuals

5.      Do no gather in crowds and groups.
6.      Maximize social distancing among co-workers and the public.

Remember, Safety Starts with an “S” but it begins with “YOU”.
Let’s continue to unite and fight the spread of the Coronavirus. 
City Leaders

Stephen K. Benjamin
Mayor
Sam Davis
Councilman District I
Tameika Isaac Devine
Councilwoman At-Large
Howard E. Duvall, Jr.
Councilman At-Large
Edward H. McDowell, Jr.
Councilman District II
Daniel J. Rickenmann
Councilman District IV
Will Brennan
Councilman District III
Teresa Wilson
City Manager