Richland County

This document provides a first look at the renovation of Finlay Park, focused on creating a sustainable new park for years to come. The plan emphasizes thoughtful design for ease of maintenance, the development of dynamic spaces like the 'oval' for play and exploration to foster community memories, and the meticulous preservation of the park's iconic fountain. The overarching vision is to establish a vibrant, enduring public space that serves as a focal point for the community.

The agenda for the Regular Session included several key items for discussion and action. Executive session discussions were planned for personnel matters, specifically grievance reviews and recommendations, and an update/action regarding the Opioid Case. Reports from the County Administrator covered general updates, the Richland Soil & Water Conservation District Local Work Group Meeting, the Comprehensive Plan update, and nominations regarding Conservation - Mitigation Credit Sales for XPO Logistics and a HUD Urban County Cooperative Agreement with the Town of Blythewood. The agenda also featured public hearings and approval/reading stages for ordinances concerning General Obligation Bonds issuance, the expansion of the I-77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park, and the sale of a deed for 120 Clemson Road. Committee reports addressed appointments to the Accommodations Tax Committee and the Board of Assessment Appeals, and updates on the Saluda Riverwalk Greenway Phase 2 funding and construction award, as well as traffic signal awards and contingency increases for other road projects.

The agenda for the Regular Session includes discussions following an Executive Session regarding several legal matters, including Butler v. Richland County, a billboard removal/replacement project, a contract regarding 1221 Gregg Street, and contractual/personnel matters for the 911 Call Center. The County Administrator's report covers general updates and nominations for action, specifically approval to negotiate with D. Williams Consulting LLC for Human Resources Consultant services. Public hearings are scheduled for ordinances authorizing a deed conveyance for 401 Powell Road and a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement with Amarok, LLC. The consent agenda features multiple zoning map amendments (Cases #25-045 MA, #26-001 MA, #26-002 MA) and the first readings of several easement ordinances to the City of Columbia. The agenda also addresses contract awards for the Upper Ballentine Fire Station 21 and the Design-Build of the ASGDC Housing Building, along with the award of a Records Management & Storage Contract to Iron Mountain. Furthermore, committee reports cover contract negotiations for specialized aviation services at the Airport and the expansion of the I-77 Corridor Regional Industrial Park boundaries for 'Project Olympus' and 'Project Cardinal'. The agenda concludes with Hospitality Tax Allocations for various districts and motions regarding allocating funds for the High School League State Basketball Championships, exploring updates to smoking/vaping ordinances, and setting parameters for the disposal of tenant belongings post-eviction.

The Zoning Public Hearing agenda focused primarily on Map Amendments (MA) involving rezoning requests for several properties within the County. Key agenda items included Case # 25-032 MA (AG to R3, deemed Non-Compliant with Comprehensive Plan), Case # 25-039 MA (RT to GC, deemed Compliant), Case # 25-040 MA (AG/HM to R3, deemed Non-Compliant), Case # 25-041 MA (HM to RC), Case # 25-042 MA (AG to HM), and Case # 25-043 MA (AG to R4). The meeting also included initial proceedings such as staff introductions, call to order, and agenda adoption, followed by a first reading of the items and concluding with adjournment.

The Special Called Meeting agenda included several critical items requiring Council action. Discussions involved potential collaboration opportunities regarding Riverfront and Convention Center Development and personnel matters concerning grievance reviews during the Executive Session. For public input, citizens addressed general items and matters not on the agenda. The County Administrator provided updates, including the presentation of the Draft Historical Preservation Plan, which was ultimately deferred to the February 10th meeting. Action items included approving the purchase of wetland mitigation credits for Calhoun County, increasing the contract amount for the Comprehensive Plan Update with Nealon Planning, and approving various Fiscal Year 2026 Hospitality Tax Allocations. Council also addressed multiple readings of ordinances, including establishing a Board of Architectural Review, changes to zoning designations (RT to GC, HM to RC), authorizing a deed conveyance for a portion of 401 Powell Road, and authorizing the sale of property in the Carolina Pines Industrial Park to Collett Properties, Inc. Furthermore, the Transportation Ad Hoc Committee agenda included recommending approval to award the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant work to Kimley-Horn for Paving Condition Index and Safety Action Plan development.