AG 08182026

Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 4:00 PM
1737 Main Street – Third Floor, Columbia, SC 29201

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*Please see attached agenda

Twice a year, the City of Columbia seeks out volunteers to help conduct our routine Pedestrian & Bicyclist Counts within the City’s limits. By counting pedestrians and people riding bicycles, volunteers help to ensure that all of the City’s residents count. Transit riders, pedestrians, and people riding bicycles are often not accounted for in traffic studies – the same traffic studies used to make important decisions about our City’s landscape and streetscape.

The City’s Planning Division selects key locations that are heavily utilized by pedestrians and those riding bicycles, have been the sites where vulnerable users have experienced serious injuries and fatalities, or are locations where changes to the streetscape or surrounding land use are likely to result in changes to modes of travel. By collecting data routinely, on both weekdays and weekends, we are able to provide valuable and robust feedback to the many agencies that plan for our roadways. This count process helps planners and transportation agencies better understand who uses the City’s roadways, streets and sidewalks included, and how they use them. With a greater understanding of people’s behavior through each count, this data allows for better planning and policy efforts that inspire people-oriented places, safer walkable and bikeable streetscape designs, and safe and accessible means to various modes of transportation.

Volunteer to count as many times as you please! Nine time slots are available, and each of the 35 locations must be counted once on a weekday and once on a Saturday, which means 70 slots must be filled to complete the count in full! Volunteers can select from a list of count locations and will count pedestrians and cyclists at one location for two hours.

WHAT:        City of Columbia Pedestrian & Bicyclist Counts

WHEN:        Volunteer to count as many times as you please! Nine time slots are available, and each of the 35 locations must be counted once on a weekday and once on a Saturday:

• Saturday, September 12, 10:00AM-12:00PM (noon)
• Tuesday, September 15, 7:30-9:30AM
• Wednesday, September 16, 7:30-9:30AM
• Thursday, September 17, 7:30-9:30AM
• Saturday, September 19, 10:00AM-12:00PM (noon)
• Tuesday, September 22, 7:30-9:30AM
• Wednesday, September 23, 7:30-9:30AM
• Thursday, September 24, 7:30-9:30AM
• Saturday, September 26, 10:00AM-12:00PM (noon)

WHERE:       Please visit City of Columbia’s Pedestrian, Bicyclist, & Transit Resources page for more information and to sign up.

WHO:             Open to the public

To sign up, please visit City of Columbia’s Pedestrian, Bicyclist, & Transit Resources page. If you have questions regarding the routine Pedestrian and Bicyclist Count effort, contact the Planning Division at 803-545-3222. Reporting and analysis for past counting efforts can be found on our resources page as well.

For information on the City’s Planning efforts, including the Walk Bike Columbia Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan and the Walkable 29203 Pedestrian Master Plan, visit https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/city-plans/.

AHPP AG 081826

Standing Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 3:00 PM
1737 Main Street – Second Floor, Columbia, SC 29201

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*Please see attached agenda

CD AG 081826

Standing Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 10:00 AM
1737 Main Street – Second Floor, Columbia, SC 29201

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*Please see attached agenda

HPDRC_Agenda_August2026_FINAL

On Thursday, August 20 2026, Historic Preservation Design Review Commission meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Members of the public and/or media who want to observe the meeting may do so in person or remotely by accessing the live stream at www.ColumbiaSC.gov or www.YouTube.com/CityOfColumbiaGovernment.

The public may submit letters and statements via e-mail to CoCDDRC@ColumbiaSC.gov prior to the meeting. Please be sure to include your name and the case information, such as the address and topic of the request.

Questions can be directed to the Planning Division (803) 545-3222. For additional information, please visit our website at https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/ddrc.

*Please see attached agenda

UDRC_Agenda_August2026_FINAL_

On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Urban Design Review Commission meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Members of the public and/or media who want to observe the meeting may do so in person or remotely by accessing the live stream at www.ColumbiaSC.gov or www.YouTube.com/CityOfColumbiaGovernment.

The public may submit letters and statements via e-mail to CoCDDRC@ColumbiaSC.gov prior to the meeting. Please be sure to include your name and the case information, such as the address and topic of the request.

Questions can be directed to the Planning Division (803) 545-3222. For additional information, please visit our website at https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/ddrc.

*Please see attached agenda

Who: City of Columbia Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE), Columbia Police Department, Be SMART, community organizations, educators, healthcare professionals, public safety partners, and local leaders.

What: The City of Columbia Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, in partnership with Be SMART, will recognize National SMART Week through a community press conference and panel discussion focused on promoting responsible firearm storage and preventing gun violence.

Held as students return to school, the event will bring together community leaders, educators, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and violence prevention advocates to discuss the importance of secure firearm storage and the role the community plays in preventing unintentional shootings, youth suicide, school shootings, and firearm theft.

SMART stands for:

• Secure all guns in homes and vehicles.
• Model responsible behavior around firearms.
• Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in homes your child visits.
• Recognize the role of firearms in suicide.
• Tell your peers to Be SMART.

The event will feature remarks from community leaders followed by a panel discussion highlighting local efforts, resources, and strategies to create safer communities through education, awareness, and responsible firearm ownership.

When: Monday, August 24, 2026

Press Conference: 10:00 a.m.

Panel Discussion: Immediately following the press conference

Where: Columbia City Hall, City Council Chambers (3rd Floor), 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Members of the public and media are encouraged to attend.

For more information about Be SMART, visit BeSMARTforKids.org. The City of Columbia remains committed to working alongside community partners to reduce gun violence through education, prevention, and collaboration.

For additional information about this event, please contact the City of Columbia Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement at (803) 545-3373.”

Who: Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, Columbia City Councilwoman Tina N. Herbert, City of Columbia representatives, Tribe Slam urban poets, North Columbia community members.

What: The City of Columbia’s public art program Columbia Streams Art is thrilled to present North Columbia’s Tribe Slam poetry ensemble reading selections from poems they created for new urban canvas tapestries. Following the poetry presentation, the urban canvas movable mural tapestries will debut on the exterior walls of the historic Eau Claire Print Building. The presentation will be held at 12:30 pm Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at the Eau Claire print building at 3907 Ensor Avenue.

North Columbia’s Tribe Slam Team is a competitive poetry ensemble who has represented the Midlands at major regional and national poetry slam competitions.

The Urban Canvas movable mural tapestries are a signature creative form unique to Columbia. Stormwater Studios artist Stephen Chesley describes the large-scale, movable tapestries as “anti-murals”, as they do not occupy fixed spaces. Urban Canvas tapestries have been exhibited across Columbia’s exterior public spaces, maximizing viewing opportunities for the widest cross section of citizens.

When: Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.

Where:: Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203

Dominion Energy will begin performing tree trimming activities along overhead utility lines in the following neighborhoods on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Distribution Line Tree Trimming:

• Central Rosewood Neighborhood
• South Kilbourne Neighborhood
• Chestnut Hill Plantation
• Brandon Acres/Cedar Terrace Neighborhood
• Northwood Hills Organization
• Eau Claire Community Council

Citizens with specific questions or concerns should contact Forestry & Beautification at 803-545-3860 or Dominion Energy at 1-800-562-9308 to meet and discuss in advance of the work being completed.

Customers can also access Dominion Energy’s new website to follow the tree trimmers in real time at https://treetrimming.dominionenergyse.com/

The trimming will be completed by Dominion Energy’s contractors and work will be closely monitored by the City’s Certified Arborists from the Forestry & Beautification Division.

The purpose of the trimming activities is to increase safety and reliability of the electric service. The trimming guidelines include removing vegetation within 8-12 feet below, beside the power lines and up to 20 feet above the power lines.

Dominion Energy and their contractors trim in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture guidelines, using ANSI A300 pruning methods leaving good cuts that will generate new growth.

Dominion Energy’s re-conductor work includes pole replacements and new wire in select locations. The goal of re-conductor work is to improve reliability.

For more information about Dominion Energy’s tree trimming efforts, including helpful tips and suggestions regarding the planting of trees and other vegetation, visit www.dominionenergysc.com/treetrimming.

You can also contact Dominion Energy’s 24-hour Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-562-9308.

For continued updates from the City of Columbia follow us on X @cityofcolumbia or “like” the City of Columbia on Facebook.

Who: City of Columbia At-Large Councilman Sam P. Johnson, Richland County District 9 Chair Jesica Mackey, The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities ,and  Owner Shirine Arzu.

What: The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities and Richland County will be hosting the ribbon cutting of Lavender Café, Wednesday, August 19th at 11:00AM.  Richland County District 9 Chair Jesica Mackey and City of Columbia At-Large Councilman Sam P. Johnson will be in attendance. Lavender Café is inspired by the timeless beauty, charm, and hospitality of the South of France.  Their vision is to create more than a place to purchase coffee or tea; Lavender Café is designed to be a warm and welcoming space where people can slow down, gather with family and friends, enjoy exceptional handcrafted beverages, and experience genuine hospitality.  Their menu consists of handcrafted espresso beverages, ceremonial grade matcha prepared traditionally and served in classic and flavored varieties, loose-leaf teas, blooming teas, Vietnamese coffee, fresh pastries and light café offerings.  In addition to this, they proudly serve black and green teas grown at the Charleston Tea Garden, one of the most distinctive agricultural treasures in South Carolina.

When: Wednesday, August 19th at 11:00AM.

Where:: 101 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, Suite 3, Columbia, SC 29229