City Council - Regular Meeting

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Mr. Brown, do you mind saying a few words since you are associating invitations? I would love to.

I almost forgot how, but I'm back on track. Please bow your heads. Heavenly Father, please bless this city and our community that we represent. Help us to make decisions today in all ways, being mindful of our responsibilities to our citizens. Let us lean in to the needs of our community and and let us always value our role in helping Columbia become the best city in South Carolina. Let us feel your presence as we meet, discuss, and decide the path forward for our great city. In your name we pray and ask for your guidance today and always. Amen. I couldn't fit it in there.

I tried. I did everything I could not to bust out laughing.

We caught the leaning in. We will lean into the budget process as we are wrapping it up. Thank you so much for your attention thus far. This is always an important time of the year. I really appreciate that this council really tries to give our community CLARITY AS WE'RE WRAPPING UP OUR BUDGET AND DOING IT SOONER THAN LATER. SO THE FIRST ITEM IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 SPECIAL REVENUES. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. I'M READY.

She's ready.

She's ready. And we actually have an amendment, don't we? Yes, we do.

Please note that the mayor pro tem was ahead of the curve. Yes.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tem.

June 16th. June 16th. Mark this date down.

Thank you. So I would like to... MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA, BUT ADDING TWO ITEMS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ONE IS TO ADD A DISCUSSION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO 3470 MUNICIPAL JUDGES. AND THE OTHER IS TO DISCUSS ITEMS INCIDENT TO A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, 911 DISCUSSIONS SLASH CONTRACT. Second. That is my motion.

We've got a motion and a second.

FEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.

I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE.

YES, SIR. SO WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR FINAL DISCUSSIONS OF FY26-27 SPECIAL REVENUES. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND INNOVATION, MS. HOFFMAN, IS PRESENT TO HELP WALK THROUGH THE HOSPITALITY TAX FUND, ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND, PRISON DEVELOPMENT FEE, LIBERAL COMMIT REBATE. AND AFTER THAT, WE'LL GO INTO OUR compile the external funding request list and update that for y'all since we talked last week. But we're happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Thank you, City Council. It's good to be with you all again today. I really, for discussion points, as Ms. Wilson mentioned, nothing new material-wise with regards to the budget presentations other than just remindings of what the budgets that have been presented to you with regards to the total allocations for each of the different special revenue sources include hospitality tax, state accommodations tax, local accommodations tax or tourism development fee as we call it here, and the liquor permit rebate. And then, of course, the external request and special projects allocations that are pending City Council discussion. I know that there has been discussions with regards to allocations for both the line item agencies as well as H-TAC's committee allocations. I don't know if you want to review them now or if the intention is just to plan to approve them at your evening meeting. I don't know if you want to go through them in any discussions, if there's any other conversations or discussions with regards to what was presented.

Well, there was some changes by council adding some funding to that and increasing some of the allotments that will be reflected tonight. Is that something, Madam Clerk, you want us to go through in this session or just take it up tonight at our meeting? I mean, we're ready. It's printed. It's in our materials.

So if you want to talk through a lot in the line item agency allocations.

I don't know if you want us to go through each one of those or just go through the line. I mean, agencies, I mean, I'm glad to do however y'all seem fit.

I mean, this version. For me, I just needed an emotion. but they may need it here.

Not with regards to the hospitality tax or any of the special revenues. The only thing that we really have for discussion would be the external projects.

So there are changes, though, to the list?

Yes, if you go to the line, anything, well, I think the only one that wasn't reflected here, color-coded, was on your line item. There was one increase. And under Historic Columbia for SC 63.

If you don't mind, Mayor, I would prefer that we go through it now, Missy, so that, I mean, tonight when it's done, I think it makes it a little bit cleaner and easier for all.

We'll start with the line items and then we'll go to the hospitality committee since the line item is the first one in our book. I think everybody got it here. So we went. We've gone through and since the city council was gonna approve 1.1 million for the Columbia Museum of Art, 285 for the Columbia Music Festival Association, for adventure. Historic Columbia as the agent for SC 63, our story is approved for 275. Historic Columbia is 800 and one Columbia for arts and history at 225. So all of those are the same? Well, we changed SC 63 from 250 to 275. Yep. So it should be all correct on here now. It should be correct on here.

Okay.

Thank you. And if we go to the committee, we can go through all 58, or you just prefer us to tell you what we've increased?

So, Missy, you were involved already with putting these on here. There's no changes from what is showing in green.

Right. So, nothing. So, on the items for city council, those are the allocations. The green are the ones that indicated a change from what the committee recommendations. Those would be the only ones that have changed. Okay.

Would you like me to go through those? Maybe just the changes. So, the first change was for Benedict College. And the Hanbury Festival, we went, the committee recommended 80, we recommended 100. This was a Carolinian holiday or Christmas parade. We upped that to 25, so an additional 15,000 for it. The next one was Cola Jazz Foundation. We gave them 25, so they'd be at 100,000. The Columbia Township, we changed that from 135 to 150. So that would be number 20, item 20. Number 13. Oh, I'm sorry. Let's skip that. International Festival is 175. We have an additional 25,000. 175 to 150. There's three on here. I'm sorry. I missed the 13, classical ballet. And then Columbia International, the committee recommended 150. We took it to 175. When the township was recommended at 135, we moved it to 150. Then item 26, which was first Thursdays, we added 5,000 to make it 35,000 instead of 30. Gemini Arts, we added an additional 25 to make it 30,000. GREATER WOODSWOOD MERCHANTS, WE ADDED 20,000 TO MAKE IT 80,000. GROWTH COLLECTIVE INC., A.K.A. THE BLACK EXPO, IS AT 210. WITH NO INCREASES TO IT. AND THEN NEXT WAS THE SOUTH CAROLINA BREWERS ASSOCIATION. We added 7,500 to that to bring it up. That's item 52 to bring it up to its original allotment from last year of 12,500. The high school league, we added 25 to make that 50. South Carolina Research Foundation, which is the Cogar Center, we added 10,000 to make it 20 for the music festival in May. Juneteenth was 60,000. And the last was the Barnes International Music, the Sister City Choral Project. We gave them 25,000.

And those items have been incorporated into the proposed budget.

And these are all, those are the only changes on that.

And of course, all of these allocations, all of these awards are still all subject to the same rules. Nothing changes with regards to expectations about the reversible eligible expenses. So all the awards are then subject to. Any other questions about the hospitality tax groups? Thank you all very much. The next committee that you all have received recommendations from is the State Accommodations Tax Committee. Those proposals have also been provided to you. Those allocations, the committee has two different applications, and then the recommendations from the committee is the distribution of 85 percent to THE METROPOLITAN CONVENTION CENTER AND THEN THE 15% OF THE BUDGET TO CAPITOL CITY LAKE MURRAY, WHICH IS THE ALLOCATIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE IN PRIOR YEARS FOR TOTAL ALLOCATION 2.8 MILLION. Mayor, did you also want to note on the hospitality tax, the corn ferry? Did you mention the corn ferry?

I did not. So, originally, the hospitality committee had recommended the corn ferry for $250. We have taken that out of that allocation. and going to use a tax for that instead, since it qualifies for that, leaving us some more flexibility around the age tax.

And that's what was also used to then fund the adjustments that you made to the other limitations.

All right.

The other item is the, and this will be also on your, those are all that we have with regards to the grant programs and committee recommendations. If you all are ready, we can move on to the other external requests that you have before you today. Those were provided to you grouped by possible eligible funding sources, meaning those requests that have come through may have come in either requesting a specific allocation from a specific funding source or may not have indicated. So we have, as in years past, grouped them according to the possible funding sources available to you. The first ones we have are requests that would only really be eligible from our general fund or general purpose type of funding. They're not eligible for any of the special revenues of hospitality accommodations or tourism development fee. Those requests total a little over $1 million, and funding available is $280,000. the letters of request or different materials that's been provided. Some of these requests are a little bit of internal, but they are programmatic funding for external groups, such as the Office of Business Opportunities, Commercial Retention and Redevelopment. Funding, you all have funded this. When you have funded it from general fund, this is where some of the funding has come from. In the past, the current year funding or up until recent funding has come from ARPA and was discussed during the budget discussions. ARPA funding is now depleted or has been allocated. We will true up those funds here this summer.

Everybody had a chance to go through these. I mean, there are three different sections that they provided us.

Can you take up any section, any order? The ones before you on the screen now are just those that are eligible, what we refer to as general fund or community promotion type of activities. And then also, too, then the next slide, just to break it out for So our eyes don't try to adjust to this very small font up here are those that are more the special revenue type of activities. So whichever ones City Council would like to take up or consider, we can go with the direction you suggested.

Council of Neighborhoods, we gave them funding last year at 28.5. Urban League, traditionally, we've given supplemental-based awful. The difference, they also get money from the water and sewer fund to help that summer program, and this is an additional request. Last year, or I guess this current fiscal year, you saw what we gave. The Community Relations Council has a... request in as well. We put in a request for the Beyond the Bridge documentary showing. This is a movie around the success of hunting Foundation. It comes along with the folks from Milwaukee who have probably got the most successful program we've seen out there with their director coming here and engaging with our folks to see how you come together. I've had the great honor to have a preview of the movie. It's something that we would do at the NIC, but probably something we should consider, but there's limited funding, so that's why it's in for Last year, they were 25. The After School Alliance, that's a new request. Obviously, we don't have that type of funding.

You have funded them a year or two ago, but it was from hospitality tax?

It was a STEM program that really was very impactful over at Stecker Park.

I believe that was the event, but it was hospitality. And it was for their advertisement and promotions, and it was like a $5,000 because it was bringing in people from around the state.

And then the Lurie Center, they requested $75,000. Last year it was $150,000, which was some transitional money, but their need is $75,000. In transitions, I wasn't clear exactly and this is what that was for because we are already committed to our annual funding on the other outreach in the security service.

We weren't sure if that was something that they were aware that it was proceeding with the normal allocations that are on your agenda tonight for approval for July 1st.

And then the last was a group came to us if there was funding available to look at funding program, helping people lower their debt program. One of those things, if we had extra money, probably a great thing to provide for our employees. I don't know that it fits. I know that Denise and her crew looked at it. HR, they don't, obviously they don't have funding for it either. So these are all the things that are before us. And as you can tell, we have $280,000 to put towards all of this.

Two ideas just for these items.

Okay.

Just for the things that are before us. I think the only thing that comes to mind to me is do we need to make a determination on whether we want to fund those that were previously funded?

Well, I mean, that'd be $168,500, right, if you funded the previous four. That would leave you $113,000, right?

Of course, senior resources. I mean, you can look at that year by year because he's asking for $75,000. Yeah, I added that in there. No, to the 75, not the 150.

Because his 168 is eligible. Yeah, I mean, I just went and took what previously and knowing that they're only asking for 75. Right, 168.

168.5, right.

So that gives you 112,500, right? Yeah. Yeah.

Do we know how much the water fund produces for the ?

It produces around 33,000 a year. We did meet with them this year and public relations, along with public relations, to help do some additional promotions of those programs. And so I think that's something we'll be able to do a little more consistently. And I know that occurred at the beginning of the summer. So, of course, that's something they can do throughout the year as well, something to help remind our customer base about the opportunity for the checkoff in the program.

Is that a water bill?

Yes.

So how does that work as we start switching to more electronic?

That's part of the issue is it used to be done through like a flyer. It was promoted through a flyer and a lot of our customers and hopefully more of our customers will go to e-bill programs. And so being able to do that promotion helps remind folks that that's a possibility. It's been consistently about the same amount every year. So in the neighborhood of 30,000.

Missy, what is previous funding levels for the CCN? Didn't we have a three-year run of that?

28,500 is what we gave them this past year.

And that was 28,500 previously, too, because we committed.

The first year we did it.

Now, 21,000 of that is for a person to do social media and maintain the website per the budget. 21,000. I don't think they've had before.

So, Missy, I mean, I'm not ready to decide on $280,000 when there's 1.6 out there. Is that something that has to be done?

Well, I mean, $400,000 of it is not something that's, I think, that's outside. I think there's some confusion there. Yeah. And $572,000, I mean, we don't have that.

No, I suggest. and maybe get to a point where you can figure out what you could fund. So that's what I would do, is say, okay, so no, and then no, and then no, and that took care of 1.2 million of it.

Well, to continue on with priorities that we have set in place as a council, we want to connect our neighborhoods. CCN, I think, is a priority. We want to lift up our seniors in the city.

So that's two, you know, urbanly we have done consistently, so that's three, right? Yeah. I'd like the mayor's documentary.

I like the mayor's documentary.

The problem is, I mean, there's really not that much money. I think they had a few in the pipeline that just, they're ready to go, but they don't have the gap funding that they had applied.

It depends on how much we allocate to the businesses. I think we've done as little as $10,000, as much as $20,000.

And none of these can fall into other posts on the page there.

So I'm sure OBO would be appreciative of any amount. Right.

We need to have a decision when.

No, sir.

I mean, you can fund it until July, but it's going to be July 21.

And you don't have to fund all of it. As the mayor's mentioned, you can fund some now and come back and reconsider the others, those that you're clear on.

We know for sure. Yeah, it's a great idea.

We're just trying to be transparent. I mean, when you all... THERE MAY BE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE GOING TO ASK FOR FUNDING, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN WRITING, AND SO WE WANT TO ALWAYS BRING TO YOU WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN WRITING. THERE'S ALSO, YEAH, WE'RE JUST FOCUSING ON THE SCREEN, THE H TAX AND THE A TAX.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET. All right. Well, let's go to the next page.

So the next is going to be, again, these are special revenues. So we've grouped them according to some discussion, you know, based on some funding source opportunities. With the items in blue, the accelerator for the America Spring Meeting, that would be an allocation to Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, as well as Midlands Regional Sports Council, both of which we've proposed as funding from the surplus, which means After July, we'd come back and once you'd allocate these funds, you would amend the budget with accommodations tax surplus. If you want to decide.

That would be the ones in the purple qualify for the A-tax.

Yes, the ones at the top of your page.

Where do you see purple? Well, it looks purple. It looks purple from the top. The top? Okay.

These items up here.

Lavender, excuse me. I got my color palette wrong.

The faint color at the top. I've actually done a number of the sections.

Yeah.

The A-TAC surplus. So are you saying we can make that decision?

Now, as we go through that, yeah, we can go ahead and vote, and then it's just subject to the... to the funding. We already removed the corn ferry from hospitality tax to put an A tax. So we know that those two should be fine based on what we have, right? The next is the Parks and Rec Foundation for the parades, our Veterans Parade, New Year's Eve. They've asked for 75. The Stream Arts Program that we've been doing for the last several years, last year we got 150. We've asked for 50,000 this year because we have some money still left over. Main Street District, that is for us to expand up North Main and Elmwood to handle the cleanup and the yellow shirts. Y'all, they've asked for an increase. The Bethel AME Restoration Project, that's a million-dollar ask, but over three or four years, so not all in this segment. And between the tax credits and... what we believe will come from the others they can actually get that project done which and the suggestion is is that it's 250 or more however we decide years three or four years and that SC 63, because that's housed at Historic Columbia, and that gives us that separation to get that project done. There's an ask for 85 from our public relations in our office for cookbook initiatives, city culture and history, tourism marketing, our culinary scene, and for some of the marketing tools that they're using. Obviously, the River Alliance, their allotment, WOW Studios, them through this last year, 25,000. I can ask a question, Mr. Mayor.

Yes. How's that different than 5% general purpose aid tax?

So the way the accommodations tax budget works is it's broken out by percentages. 60% is for tourism, 30% is for marketing, 25,000 straight to the general fund, and then 5% is general purpose, which you all have utilized as sort of a, as we have, as the funding source has grown, you all have used it as kind of a community promotions general fund allocation. So it's a general, so it's not subject to the same rules as the other allocations.

So by putting Corn Ferry into a tax, we're taking away the opportunity to fund $250,000 of these

It'd be two different sources, the accommodation tax.

Not the same source. Same source, but not the same allotment. You're only allowed 5% for those things that are outside of that. Right. To use, it's almost like general fund money. So that's where the 180, so the...

So you're saying none of this, the green A-tax request from general fund or 5% of general purpose could fit into the marketing percentage?

They're mostly operational things or...

It's pretty strict. And since we already spent out of that a lot last year, the 5% for those funding groups.

You fully funded the 5% every year? Or you've utilized the 5% funding every year?

So is the $350,000 of the amount requested for the A tax surplus for those two items available?

Yes.

Is the $1.425 million requested in the H tax available? Yes. So how about the next one?

I would suggest, Will, that we disperse the Bethel AME thing over a three-year period, or four-year period, which means $250,000 a year, so it's really not a million at this point.

So you're taking $750,000 out of that $140,000? Correct.

That would be my suggestion.

So how do we throw that back to our list of important needs in the ATACs, general fund surplus?

So the general fund surplus, it would be completely separate and distinct from these other allocations. Those items on the green are all eligible out of general fund funding. The other items are eligible out of those other special revenues.

And what is it that you want to fund out of ATEX?

Anything else? Anything and everything else? So for the liquor rebate, where's the $225,000? You're showing there's a $445,000 available? Correct. What is the balance of those funds going towards?

So at this point, the liquor rebate, you all have been, the request came through from liquor rebate. That's where you have funded those two requests from in the past. We also had discussions last time about funding them out of a hospitality tax as opposed to the liquor rebate. Some of those funds have been utilized for plans for renovations or some adjustments. Renovations to City Hall, and I know you have also requested consideration for some park funding, so we have not. Those we will need to bring back with regards to eligibility. So we're not proposing using liquor rebate for those. Our recommendation would be to use H-tax for those two requests that you have today.

So you're saying take the 225 out?

Out of a hospitality?

Mr. The hospitality?

Yes.

So take that out. So it's not liquor rebate, it's actually hospitality?

Yes.

So you want us to tell you to do that is what I'm hearing.

I think that would... And that leaves the liquor rebate funds available for some other initiatives that you all have discussed. It is a very small source of funding. The process and the procedures would be the same. Those allocations, like you said, those groups have been funded from liquor rebate in the past because they've requested capital funding and renovations to their facilities. Hospitality tax, you've also funded the same for groups out of hospitality tax for both elements.

I think she's looking for us to tell her since she gave us two options there.

And we also try to mirror, I mean, we got the groups when after, well, before and after having these discussions with you all, but this is literally the way they asked for it in their request. So we try to be true to what they asked.

Understood.

Thank you.

And they were funded there from the past.

I just wanted to, because I don't know where we are.

I'm sorry. We're just going through that list. I mean, I just wanted to. Obviously, the tourism development fee money, it goes to the convention center and the three rivers. I mean, there is no, that money's.

They're on here. Those are on here as well, just so that we have on record approval from city council for these allocations. They're actually reflected in the budget.

That's the question we have to answer. is going through this, we have two choices. We can make decisions today or we can wait on these decisions. The numbers are the numbers.

But there's always surplus that could come in down the road to chip away at some of

I think we need to decide what do you want to put in that category. We can't fund it all, right?

Oh, yeah, obviously. I mean, from current fiscal funding, what is that position at 1-7?

Can you step back on page 1, Will?

Yeah.

I just want to make sure we're all on the same page.

Yeah, sorry, yeah.

What we have not brought forward to you that we mentioned was we haven't brought general capital projects to you. Those, of course, would well exceed your... city facilities, city assets. There are general fund activities. We usually, if we haven't brought them to you during the budget process, we'll bring them to you with some type of discussion with regards to surplus once there's a determination that surplus is available. So that could be later summer, end of the fall, perhaps at a retreat or another workshop discussion. I would like to go back to. The only other item I would say is that some of these groups, their fiscal year two begins July 1st, so they're looking for some kind of direction from city council or from the city. here or July, I would think, at least, just so there's some finality about their allegations.

Let me ask you a question, sis. Let's hold. We'll come back to page one. Page two here. Everything that is on the board is covered and eligible if we choose.

With the exception of the two at the bottom, those are the ones that are not yet determined. Okay. And may not be eligible.

The WSO Theater and Film Festival normally, well, they've only done it once, but it normally goes through the committee. At the beginning of the year, they could not find a location within the city limits, and they thought they were not going to be able to use it. But then they found a location. They used SEGRA and the, what's the name of the place? The CMFA. CMFA. So they didn't get their application in time because they didn't think they were going to be able to use it. fund that one again. They got $25,000 last year. I know they're asking for $70,000 this year, but they didn't get the application in on time. So I think... They're on there for $25,000. They're requesting the amount, right? It was a great event.

I have a suggestion. and came up with maybe some suggested allocations and that sort of thing. I guess my question to my colleagues would be, is there on this list one that we feel strongly about? We'll do it by categories because it's the easiest way to do it. So let me just share this.

Okay.

So OBO, $50,000. CCN, 28.5. Urban League, 40. CRC, 45. The Documentary, 10. RCPEP, 25. Senior Resources, 75. What's that add up to? That adds up to $273,500.

Someone double check his name. $273,500. And I'm sorry, after the documentary. $6,500 to spare. Can you repeat those after the documentary at $10,000?

We have a documentary that was RCPEP at 25 and then senior resources at 75.

I could live with that until we see what surplus. I agree. I think that makes a lot of sense. I think it makes a lot. I'm good with that. And if we have surplus, we can go revisit and do these groups again.

Right. And maybe get, you know, I think sometimes the groups, too, just send. They don't know to make their requests reasonable enough for consideration. Some don't have the context of how limited the funds are.

I'd love to get a little bit more clarity and transparency on my former chair. THEY DO AMAZING WORK.

THEY REALLY DO. I WAS PROBABLY JUST LIKE GOING ALL IN THE KITCHEN SEAT KIND OF APPROACH AND SEE WHATEVER. I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL WOULD PROVIDE.

BETWEEN THAT AND THEN MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED THE STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM. I don't think you could argue any merit for that type of program.

If we had the funding available, we just don't. You know, at this point, I think all of these, what you've mentioned, I mean, it gives some money to go to the programmatic that's needed in the retention. Obviously, CCN, we made a commitment, want to stay with that. Obviously, Urban League, what they're doing in the summer program with the youth is important. You know, Community relations, I wish we had more, but that's what we have to offer at this point. You know, obviously the documentary, I think, could be very important for our community. You know, understanding that the literacy program has done, you know, that's what we funded them last year. And then obviously senior resources, we're committed. I mean, to me, that would have been the first and foremost one we got was senior resources because that is a commitment we need to stay with. Page two is we need to decide. As Missy said, the suggestion is everything. So we need to decide. It looks like the last two items we need to add on. Is that what you're saying, Missy? You said everything else is covered.

So they're covered if the question is regards to them not requested. And if you're wanting to fund at the level they requested.

Do we have formal action to.

We're going to vote in work session. No, no, no. Oh, yes. No, well. We'll do tonight. So she's going to, that will be what we present. Will we do that? Yes, sir.

225? No, no.

The hospitality goes, that leaves the liquor rebate back into the liquor rebate to cover those others. Is there anything on here that you're seeing? And then we need to take up the Brasley Foundation request of 30 and the Global Commons request.

Liquor rebate was 450. 450.

On the hospitality ones, right. So there's some of those just making sure the expectation is to fund at the level that they've requested.

Well, are you going to adjust the Bethel to go over? Is that the preference to do it over four years or three years?

Oh, yes. However, yes. You want to do the 250 now if something comes in there at a faster pace.

Look, you can manage it if we know. We just need to decide what it is, and if it's $250 a year for four years, then... Is that fine with you?

Yeah. That's fine with me. Yeah, of course it's a lump sum.

I didn't know we discussed them. The only other one on here would be the Main Street District.

I'M SORRY, ARE THE REST STAYING THE SAME AS WHAT'S LISTED FOR AMOUNT REQUESTED? BESIDES THAT ONE.

RIGHT, THAT'S THE ONE I'M CLARIFYING.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER ONES? I'M SORRY, I WAS DISTRACTED FOR A MINUTE.

YES, THE PARKS AND REC AND THE STREETS ARE ALL GOOD WITH THE OTHER ALLOCATIONS OR REQUESTED AMOUNTS.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

YES, MA'AM.

I THOUGHT THAT WE ALREADY

um under main street district this says north main elmwood i'm assuming that's different from what was yes this is the extension this is the extension when we committed to um was that two summers ago yeah we started this program but it takes it further down well now if this maintains what the same district yeah it was extended two years ago is that same extension

Okay, so I think we might need to name it the same only because I thought it said under hospitality it referred to Cotton Town and like specifics.

No, I think what you were looking on Main Street was the normal Main Street, the city center partnership allotment.

No, this is.

But this one is specific to the North Main Elmwood corridor. North Main from Elmwood to the trestle.

Are you all going with the amount requested for that one? Well, that's what I'm trying to get. Oh, I'm sorry. Some feel.

I mean, that's $20,000 increase. The feedback from the folks in that business district are happy with the extra help and the yellow shirt being there. I'll go with it.

Yeah, well, you know, they have issues.

And then you're going to merge Columbia Music and Gemini Arts into the hospitality, correct?

Correct.

So that'll be a thing. And then Three Rivers branding, that's obviously tourist development fees, that. So I guess the last line on here, I guess what is the request from, I guess, Brasley, the $30,000 was from last year. What's the request here?

That request was for events, so it's two different things. One is the allocation that had been set aside for the three rivers, but then now the request is to reallocate it to these events. Only one of those events is eligible for hospitality tax, and the committee, there's not an application this year from H-TACS, But the prior, the current year that we're in now, there was funding of $30,000 for NovaFest. So is that $30,000 carried forward? Is it still there? No. So $30,000 is what they have in the current year. So that's prior year, current year funding, like what they have right now is $30,000 for NovaFest.

Which won't be spent this year?

They've spent it. Oh, they've already asked. It's been drawn down, so a request came in yesterday to fund.

I mean, three rivers music money, you can't switch it over. I mean, that doesn't work that way. So what are we trying to fund now that we know that, you know, we're able to, that there's some funding there? What are we trying to fund here? And obviously, you know, the request from, Catherine Bruce changed from housing to this medical office, which I think we're just going to have to punt that one down the road until we have some time to dig into all of that. I'm not sure that we're in a position to fund that at this point.

The request from the Sally Brasley Foundation was for funding for South Carolina Excellence Gala NovaFest Save the Pumpkins and Community Boys. Only NovaFest is an eligible expense in prior years.

So the other ones aren't eligible? They're not.

for the other funding sources that were originally allocated?

Some of them could be, yes. Subject to just still, again, general. At that point, it's just then general government or general purpose, public purpose.

Well, could we then allocate $30,000 for the eligible and then, I mean, we're going to have to have some type of application and understanding of and what could qualify, we can't just broad brush that, right? So would it make sense to allocate what was given last year and then if they're eligible for others, then bring that back in a form like everybody else has done in an application so we can see what qualifies and what done, then we can make a determination. I don't think we can just broad brush and say, yes, we can fund that.

Mr. Bradley's here and is clarifying which events, I think. I can't read.

Well, I mean, we still have to have the information. I'm not sure that we can just take a letter. Is it yours?

Yeah, but it's in here.

Just for clarity, Ms. Marin, so I'm hearing the 30 was for NovaFest last year?

I think that what it was, 30,000 was for the NovaFest. Is that correct?

Never, but I'm also hearing maybe the gala.

Those were the two that, that's what the 30 went towards. We have some clarification. That is.

Yeah, the email, we have the email, we have the request in your packet. Right. It came yesterday. Was it?

I'm stealing out of Ed's book. He's probably looking online.

Let's see, which one did you say was eligible?

Mr. Brasley is also saying the Excellence Gala.

I have reserved, and then...

Honestly, all of them, every one of them on this list, almost every one of them on your list, they're all subject to being, you can allocate them, but they're still all subject to approval once they submit eligible receipts and expenses. Got it. So, yeah. So, all funding is conditional.

Okay. All right.

So, you can allocate it, and then it's still subject to those conditions. Okay.

A couple things since I'm just now reading this letter. A couple things. We need to get lined out exactly what goes where so that we can appropriate what's appropriate. There's language in here. Once again, I'm a little confused because I think the last time we had this discussion about reimbursements, we asked for all the documentation and that we would reimburse if those things, and I don't know that we've ever received anything. So what are we actually proposing here? Because I mean, I want to try to figure this thing out here. If there's some things that are eligible, We believe that those, I mean, I know there was 30 last year eligible. Is that it? What are we doing here? Because it's a little, there's, this is all clouded up. This is not, this is not how this works. You can't just transfer money over to whatever. It doesn't work that way. So can we get.

I think it is outside of the normal way it probably works, Mayor, due to the nature of what the original situation was with Three Rivers. Yes, you're exactly right when the council made the decision that we were no longer moving forward. with funding Three Rivers as it was proposed and that Mr. Brasley could ask for reimbursement for things that had already been, you know, whether it was contractual things or all of the different items that were in the works he referenced. I think based on what I read in his letter that he sent to you all, It's saying instead of going down the path of reimbursement, and he did not apply for funding through the hospitality grant process this year because the funds that were allocated, and at one point they were carried forward until when all of this was being discussed. I think his thought process is, or request, is that instead of going through reimbursing him for things that... the event wasn't moving forward, could there be consideration instead for the events that he is moving forward? So it is outside of the norm, and it would have to be for eligible expenses for those other events that would apply, whether it's H-tax or TDF or liquor rebate, the funds that were in play prior to.

But what's the number? I mean, it's not $600,000, right? So what's, I guess I'm trying to get to the root of the number. There's no number here, right? So if we're looking at that, I would prefer to reimburse if something was spent and then you can justify that out of that holding and then you reapply. I'm willing to take an application late because I think everybody should fill it out. Even if you don't get funded from the other group, it should be here. We should know what it is, no matter what. Same, I think we've been trying to reiterate that with all groups is we got to have it, even if you don't, that gives us the ability to reconsider it. So how do we get there is my question. Right now, the only thing I know to do is approve this until we can figure out the rest and then see what in supplemental. But right now, I don't think we can commit anything but what we know is eligible, which if that was already dispersed, then we know those were eligible costs last year. They'll almost probably be eligible this year as well.

I think, you know, you can do it two ways. Like you said, you can have an application submitted with a number.

Or I think... Well, I think it's going to be important to see what's eligible, right? I mean, we don't know that in this. You can't just transfer and say, well, I had this number. We need to know. We really should get that clarified. If those expenses were spent and they were lost, there should be a loss. We should cover that, right? And so we need to have the documentation, everything there. That means banking documents, all the things that are needed, and then reimburse the foundation for For those expenses, that would be a legitimate business way to do it. Any new funding requests? Do we know what last year's application was, the 30 covered? Because I'd like to at least, if we could get this part done, we can go look at the others as we know what's going on.

There is two things. One is we cannot mix different events. I think we close out one. and deal with the other, not mixing the two. But there is a request on here for 90,000.

The 90,000 is from Community Relations Council.

That's not... This page right here doesn't go with this.

Never mind. That's what I was saying. I was trying to figure it out here so that we can at least start with step one, right?

Okay, so there is no...

with the NOVAFAS. Well, I'm not sure. It sounds like it goes with two of them.

So I would say perhaps what we could do is the same as what has been done in the past. If you want to allocate funding and then it's still subject to those eligible expenses, whatever those amounts may be, if there's four different events, those four events occur and they stay within the funding allocation that you all are submitting, much like how others have requested funds beyond what you requested a certain amount, but you funded an amount less than what was done or the full.

I don't disagree with you. I guess we're Based on what I read in this letter that this this is a request for more than $30,000 But we don't know what that number is.

So the 30,000 is what was funded prior for the only number the letter the letter didn't have it right the letter didn't explain having an amount Also, don't I don't know what the timing is of stuff is is is folks I mean is this something we come back after we get all the information and

for that line item, or do y'all want to commit to at least what you know is eligible today? Yeah. I guess my thought would be... You can answer it.

I can't answer time, and so I don't know.

My thought would be, it's reimbursement focus anyway. So let's meet, let's have staff work with Mr. Brasley, get applications, budget down. We're going to have to come back in do an additional allocation of hospitality tax.

Do we want to at least allocate at least this amount for now is my question. I'm going back to and then go look at everything else as it's brought forth.

If that's helpful. It doesn't look like that's wanted. So I think we just move forward with working together on that. But unless, Mr. Brasley, you can correct me. Me, if I'm wrong, you'd rather no allocation now.

You'd have to .

Good afternoon, everybody. I think that what I was explaining to Ms. Wilson and Councilman Herbert is that I was interested in taking the six and spreading it over the next five or six years towards all the events that we do. I just spoke to Ms. Saxon and she explained to me that the gala was not eligible for hospitality and I don't understand why. I thought that hospitality, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought if it's bringing tourists into the city to support the local businesses, the vendors and things like that, then it's hospitality eligible. That's what I thought. I don't know if I'm wrong or right. Who is it marketed to? Everywhere. When we did the gala, we did it at USC Alumni Center. The place was packed. Hilton sold 30, 40 rooms. They went to Soda City that Saturday when I did the gala two years ago. So, see, last year when I went back before the committee to ask for money for the gala, NovaFest, and the giveaways again, they only approved NovaFest. They did not approve the gala. I don't know why. I didn't ask, but I think that something was going on that day. I'm not sure. And maybe Ms. Saxon can tell me why they did not approve it, but they did give us 30 for NovaFest, but that doesn't even cover the security. And I think every time I put in for the NovaFest, it's usually at about 125 or 150. I think that she can say what it was, but... I think for NovaFest, I need like 150, to be honest with you, because the staging is 40 grand, the talent is 40, security is 10, and advertising is 25 at least. So that's why whenever I come and request what I request, I always put in for 100 or 125, and I come back with 25,000 or 30,000, and I'm grateful for whatever I get. I'm not being, but I am very grateful for what I get, but I need more is the process, which is why I wanted to take the 600 and just spread it over the years But that doesn't work. Well, I didn't know because we never had any closure about the six. I've never been told anything about what happened to it, and I've been waiting, and I've got no correspondence. I knew we were getting down to the next fiscal year starting on July 1, so I wanted to come in and discuss this. So if I could be allowed to take what was awarded to us in 2024 and push it over the next few years into all of the events that we do, then I would do that if I would be allowed to do that, which is what that letter states.

I think, Mr. Mayor, that there probably needs to be a conversation with staff on that.

Also, I want to get it clarified, though, because the last time we had this discussion, we asked to get all the information and everything so that we could reimburse, and as of today, I'm not sure that's happened, so I'm a little confused why that hasn't happened. Secondly, this is why it's so important to have applications. Because, you know, depending on NovaFest, how many people are there? What's the economic impact? Because this is, I think, what, your fifth year to do it? Yes. Something like that.

Five or six.

Yeah, something like that. So understanding that. So for me, I think it's very important that we get all of this information. cleared up and thing before we moved forward. I was trying to get something going here because I knew this was going to take time. But, you know, when we reserved that money, we didn't award it, we reserved it because there was a lot of unknowns at the time. And that's exactly what happened. We are at this point, that money for Three Rivers is not, that's not, it's not reserved for the foundation. It was for a specific organization So what we need to do is get, we need to get this, whatever the costs were that were incurred, that we need to get that documentation and get that straightened out. That needs to be done first and foremost. Because we know there's funding there, we need to get some applications and information for these other events, and we need to have staff go through it and understand what SC elect, you know, the gala, does it qualify or doesn't it? NovaFest, what does it qualify? What are the budgets? Who are the partners? And look at funding those events. So we could do it two ways. We can reserve. We can do that now, or we can wait, get all that information, and then make a determination then.

I just, I would like to add that the packet that you guys got, the last conversation we had had all the invoices, the contracts that were signed, the deposits I paid you, you got, you had it when I left it the last time.

We didn't get any of the financial information that showed that the checks, the expenses got paid, nothing. They were in your, they were in your packets. The contracts and stuff that came, some of them were even outdated. That's why we asked you at that meeting to bring all that stuff back, show us the exact expense from the bank account so we could get it just like you would have to do for any reimbursables, and we haven't seen that. We told you we were willing to do that. That's got to be done so we can get that clear. So let's separate that piece. Got it. Let's get the information so that we can figure out what can be funded and what can't. And I don't have that ability right now. Yes, ma'am.

Two things. I did want to suggest, even if you have submitted it, need a deadline for when documentation needs to be in to close out the prior request whether it's 30 days and and if you've submitted it it just it needs to be submitted again because we don't have it you would have gotten your money if we had it so i would like to put a time limit on it so that We don't have to revisit it, you know, next year this time. I don't know, 60 days is enough time.

So I think that before we start discussing the reimbursement. I asked you a question. And I'm giving you an answer.

60 days is enough time.

That's totally fine. But I think before we start discussing the reimbursement, we still have a lot of other items to discuss with that whole packet, including those contracts that I'm still liable for that were signed. So that's why another reason when I spoke to Ms. Saxon about it, because she did mention it to me the last time we talked, like I said, but it still needs to be another meeting because it's a lot of things that I'm liable for at this point, which is stated in that letter.

Submit the documentation.

No issues. I got it.

Submit the documentation so we can close it out.

Okay, no issues.

We can't close it out with this, though.

I figured that that's why we, that letter was to ask for a discussion about, if you read it, it would tell you I wanted to sit and discuss this because it needs to be discussed.

I do not think, I think we need documentation to review ahead of time so that we understand what we have so that the meeting goes, if there is, because if we get the documentation, there is no need for a meeting. We can just give you what you need.

No, there's a need for a meeting, Ms. Herbert. And it needs to be a meeting. And that's fine. So we're going on that.

I'm going to recommend to council is that we do set some time frame that this needs to be resolved with respect to any reimbursements. And I don't know. I'm guessing 60 days. I don't know. The other thing is I just checked with Ms. Kaufman. And the prior request went through the committee and the committee approved the $30,000. So if that's any guidance.

Actually, we ended up doing that because I don't think they funded him last year. I think we did that afterwards.

Yes, because you looked at the previous year that I got $30,000 from them and you just did it.

Just because I want to separate because the festival is one thing. We got to get that clarified. Can you get us... the information and the applications for those events so that we can get that and then we can sit down and determine with staff what's eligible or not and then give a funding suggestion to this council to vote on.

Can I ask a question, though, again about the hospitality, just so that I'm clear, so I'm not filling out an application in vain. If the project or the event is bringing people tourism in and they're spending money with local businesses and things of that nature, is that not hospitality?

Well, hospitality is for the marketing and some of the operations, whatever. So that's why the budget's important.

So to that point, every time we've ever done this has been on security, the artists, and staging and things like that, which I thought were in advertising. So I think that those things are the expense.

Tina, what's all eligible, just so we have it all on record? I was going to add something to Mr. Russell.

point with the committee has always received those applications in the past. Councils funded them, come back and added the funding for it. The gala is because the committee doesn't fund any galas. Usually it's a restricted, very limited audience, so there's not the same. And the fact that there's various categories of events that the committee criteria, right, they typically don't apply. And GALA is one of them. So it could be that there's some expenses that may be eligible, but because of the fact that usually committees... The application process this year was like $7 million. The funding for that was $4 million. So they had to sort of be able to have some, and that was based on some guidance that had been given, I think, prior to council. And there were some conversations about revisiting some of those things. We tried to tighten some of those things so that there was more clarity around that. But galas are one of those things that the committees has typically not approved.

That makes sense. But previous years, they did, and we used all that. I think we did.

You added money every year. If it qualifies, it qualifies, right? Yes. That's the way it should be, and that's why we have the ability, and that's why I want to separate those out so that we can address these, but we need the information. So the sooner you can get that to us, the better off we are.

I can fill them out today. Again, I'm sorry for not having them, but as Ms. Wilson stated, because of all the... The uncertainty with what was going on with the Three Rivers, that's why we did not fill out an application to go before the committee or come to y'all because I was still trying to figure this out.

Well, I mean, I would suggest that if there were questions like that coming, if you don't wait until June 15th before we're voting on it, then bring it up, right? Yeah. It would have made a lot. We could have dealt with this a month ago or two months ago.

And, Council, you know, we've already taken out the consideration. You all had already reallocated the money.

And we sent. Oh, I didn't know that.

The mayor was talking about those applications for the other. Yeah.

When did I get that?

I think what he was saying. Yeah. Yeah.

Got it. Give him a copy of that letter.

That's it.

Thank you.

So we'll follow up, Mr. Risely, on information.

You think y'all will be able to have this for the July meeting? Of course. I just don't want one of these just to linger on. This seems to be... Of course.

May I? I'M CLEAR. THE LIST THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY WITH THE ALL OF THE ALLOCATIONS STAYED THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THIS. So Parks and Recreation Foundation, Columbia Streams Art, Main Street District. I don't think I ever heard with clarity that all of the amounts requested as they're listed are staying the same. And then the Bethel is $250,000. and then the 70. Okay. Yes, ma'am.

And I'm sorry, at the requested amount or at the current year funding?

The requested amount there because we had the funding for that.

And then the WOW studio.

And then the WOW. For what amount? WOW was 25 is what the requested amount is.

Out of H-10?

Yes, ma'am. And then... the Columbia Music Festival and the Gemini Arts was added to that. So those really, because those are no longer going to be liquors. So that adds to that list.

Did you already talk about Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center?

Because that's tourism. I mean, that's where it goes.

And just for clarity, we would be allocating for the cookbook? Yes. Okay. I was looking at the wrong column. I was looking at current.

And then what is your direction for, I know you're not taking it up today, but just so we don't, you know, the staff and I, we, May not seem like it when you get in here, but we spend a lot of time with the groups asking and going back and forth. And I don't like for them or us to have circular conversations. So for the renovation of historic Cyril Spann Medical Office, I know you're not taking that up, but are we taking, I mean, I guess what I'm trying to understand.

I mean, for me, this was a last minute request, right? Because the original request that came from this group was, for historic Waverly for personal homes, which don't qualify. And then this came after it. I think if there is some type of surplus and we want to bring it up down the road, we can look at it. But right now, it's not an expense that we have a funding source for.

When this was brought up in prior years and denied, it was determination of whether there was ownership or permission from owners to do the work.

And has that been resolved or we don't know?

I don't know. Not from the last time. I don't know if it's been resolved since then.

Well, I think we should come back to it. I mean, if there's some surplus later on, get some more information, because I was focused on the housing part for a while. So I think that we couldn't get as much information as possible before making a decision. Tina, did you hear that?

I'm sorry. I was talking, sir. About getting more information? Well, and that's what I was discussing with Ms. Hoffman. Whenever it comes, we need to know what is eligible. any of it is eligible.

Just a general question. Yes. When we fund historic Columbia to make renovations and do work on some of the historic properties, that typically comes out of a rebate?

Or either one.

Okay.

We have funded, in years past, most of the historic Columbia funding for capital repairs. It has to be capital repairs to the historic homes that the city owns. It's been from liquor rebate, but we have not received a request for any capital repairs. Everything else falls under the contract for maintenance and support. It's subject to the historic Columbia's responsibility.

I think we'll just have to revisit that as we get some clarity and see what's left.

We'll put the process of eligibility.

All right.

Next. Executive session, Mr. Lee.

Tina, you were ahead of it. Where are you now?

I need that. Okay. Are there any motions needed for tonight?

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS RECEIVING LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO MATTERS COVERED BY ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO S.D. CODE 3470, FOREST ACRES FRANCHISE FEE, DISCUSSION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE, MUNICIPAL JUDGES, AS WELL AS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS NOT

Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, seeing none, Madam Clerk, could you read the roll?