Administrative Policy Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2024-10-15
Time: 11:00

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024

The Administrative Policy Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, October
15, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street,
Second Floor, Columbia, SC 29201. The meeting can be viewed online at
www.columbiasc.gov. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (803)545-3045 or
cityclerk@columbiasc.gov if you have questions regarding the meeting.

 The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr., Chair
The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large  The Honorable Peter M. Brown, District IV

Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent, vibrate or off position. All presenters should speak
 directly into the microphone for recording purposes.

CALL TO ORDER

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of the June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting
 Minutes

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

2. Boards and Commissions - Ms. Pamela Benjamin, CPM, Assistant City
 Manager for Administrative Services and Ms. Ashley Jenkins, MPA, Special
 Projects Coordinator

3. Plurality Voting System - Ms. Erika Hammond, CMC, City Clerk

4. Vehicles for Hire - Mr. William "Skip" Holbrook, Columbia Police Chief




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ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024

The Administrative Policy Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, October
15, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street,
Second Floor, Columbia, SC 29201. The meeting can be viewed online at
www.columbiasc.gov. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (803)545-3045 or
cityclerk@columbiasc.gov if you have questions regarding the meeting.

 The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr., Chair
The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large  The Honorable Peter M. Brown, District IV

Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent, vibrate or off position. All presenters should speak
 directly into the microphone for recording purposes.

CALL TO ORDER

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of the June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting
 Minutes

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

2. Boards and Commissions - Ms. Pamela Benjamin, CPM, Assistant City
 Manager for Administrative Services and Ms. Ashley Jenkins, MPA, Special
 Projects Coordinator

3. Plurality Voting System - Ms. Erika Hammond, CMC, City Clerk

4. Vehicles for Hire - Mr. William "Skip" Holbrook, Columbia Police Chief




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MEETING DATE: October 15, 2024

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Approval of the June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy
 Committee Meeting Minutes
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:


ATTACHMENTS:
  APC_MN_06182024 (PDF)




Updated: 9/26/2024 1:49 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 2
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 ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024




 Attachment: APC_MN_06182024 (9668 : June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting Minutes)
CALL TO ORDER

The Administrative Policy Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the
Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC 29203. The Honorable
Edward McDowell, Jr. called the meeting to order at 11:24 a.m.

 Attendee Name Title Status
 Edward H. McDowell Chair Present
 Aditi Bussells Member Present
 Peter M. Brown Member Present

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. May 21, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting Minutes – Approved

Upon a motion made by Dr. Bussells and seconded by Mr. Brown, the committee voted
unanimously to approve the May 21, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting Minutes.

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

2. Vape and CBD Signage Ordinance Update - Ms. Jessica Kinard, Esq., Senior Assistant
 City Attorney – Endorse for City Council Consideration

Ms. Jessica Kinard, Esq., Senior Assistant City Attorney shared the mayor’s concerns about
signage that could be misleading by resembling medical establishments. The update to the
ordinance aims to prohibit any depiction of cannabis on exterior signage and to ensure clarity and
compliance with existing ordinances.

There was discussion about existing policies and regulations, particularly on LED string lighting
and decorative lighting; uniform compliance within a reasonable timeframe; challenges from
affected businesses; concerns specific to businesses near churches; and potential operational
restrictions on Sundays.

There was consensus of the committee to endorse the ordinance for City Council’s consideration
subject to including a 90-day compliance period and a provision for extensions.




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 ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024




 Attachment: APC_MN_06182024 (9668 : June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting Minutes)
3. Proposed Policy Related to the Issuance of Proclamations and Keys to the City - Ms.
 Pamela Benjamin, Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services – Endorse for City
 Council Consideration

Ms. Pamela Benjamin, Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services said we were able to
complete the suggested edits from the discussion at our last meeting. This is closer to the final
version of the policy.

There was consensus of the committee to endorse the draft policy and procedures related to the
issuance of proclamations and keys to the city for City Council’s consideration.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 a.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC
City Clerk




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 Packet Pg. 4
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MEETING DATE: October 15, 2024

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Boards and Commissions - Ms. Pamela Benjamin,
 CPM, Assistant City Manager for Administrative
 Services and Ms. Ashley Jenkins, MPA, Special
 Projects Coordinator
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:




Updated: 10/2/2024 12:42 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 5
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MEETING DATE: October 15, 2024

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Plurality Voting System - Ms. Erika Hammond, CMC,
 City Clerk
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:


ATTACHMENTS:
  Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (PDF)




Updated: 10/2/2024 1:22 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 6
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
A Comparative Approach for
  More Efficient Elections
  Administrative Policy Committee
 October 15, 2024




 Packet Pg. 7
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
 Current Voting System
 Sec. 6-4. Elections to be nonpartisan; notice of candidacy; runoff
 elections.

 (c) A second election shall be conducted two weeks after the first election,
 between one more than the number of candidates necessary to fill offices for
 which no candidates received a majority of the votes cast. The second election
 shall be between the candidates receiving the largest number of votes in the
 first election. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast in the
 second election in number equal to the number of offices to be filled shall be
 declared elected.

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 Packet Pg. 8
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
 Overview of Voting System Options
 What is majority voting?
 A system where a candidate
 must secure more than 50%
 of the votes to win.
 What is plurality voting?
 A system where the candidate
 with the most votes wins, even
 if they receive less than 50%.

3




 Packet Pg. 9
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
 Comparison of Voting Systems
 Majority Plurality
  Candidate receiving over 50% of  Candidate receiving the most votes
 the votes wins. wins.
  If no candidate receives a majority,  No need for run off election.
 a runoff election is necessary.
 Advantages:
 Challenges:  Quicker resolution
  Only municipality in Richland  Lower election costs
 County using majority voting  Encourages broader participation and a
  Cost simplified process
  Prolonged electoral process
  Voter fatigue

4




 Packet Pg. 10
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
 Recommended Voting System - Plurality
  Single round elections eliminate the
 need for a runoff election thereby
 saving time and resources
  Streamlines the election process
  Reduces voter fatigue
5




 Packet Pg. 11
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
 Next Steps
  The Administrative Policy Committee is asked to review
 a draft ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances,
 Chapter 6 Elections, §6-4 at its next meeting.
  Once endorsed for City Council’s consideration, the
 ordinance will require two readings by Columbia City
 Council.
  No further action is required.
6




 Packet Pg. 12
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 Attachment: Voting_Systems_Presentation_101524 (9692 : Plurality Voting System)
 Questions?
 Erika Hammond, City Clerk
 (803)545.3045
 CityClerk@Columbiasc.gov

 Thank you!
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 Packet Pg. 13
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MEETING DATE: October 15, 2024

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Vehicles for Hire - Mr. William "Skip" Holbrook,
 Columbia Police Chief
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:




Updated: 10/2/2024 1:24 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 14

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024


CALL TO ORDER

The Administrative Policy Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, October 15,
2024 at City Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room), second floor, 1737 Main Street,
Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr., Chair
called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.

Attendee Name Title Status
Edward H. McDowell Chair Present
Aditi Bussells Member Present
Peter M. Brown Member Present

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of the June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy Committee Meeting
 Minutes

Upon a motion made by Dr. Bussells and seconded by Mr. Brown, committee
members voted unanimously to approve the June 18, 2024 Administrative Policy
Committee Meeting Minutes.

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

2. Boards and Commissions - Ms. Pamela Benjamin, CPM, Assistant City
 Manager for Administrative Services and Ms. Ashley Jenkins, MPA, Special
 Projects Coordinator

Ms. Pamela Benjamin, CPM, Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services
provided an update on the current status of boards and commissions. She noted
challenges with a lack of applicants. She suggested a work session to review the
handbook and emphasized the need for internal staff discussions to increase
awareness and broaden outreach to citizens.

Dr. Bussells asked that additional reminders be sent to Council for appointments to
boards and commissions.

There was discussion about the transition to online applications; committee
nomination process; vetting procedures; and the internal approval queue.




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 ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024


3. Plurality Voting System - Ms. Erika Hammond, CMC, City Clerk

Ms. Erika Hammond, CMC, City Clerk reviewed the current voting system and the
benefits and challenges of potentially changing it. The City of Columbia currently
uses the majority voting system which requires candidates to secure over 50% of
the vote, leading to runoff elections when no candidate achieves a majority vote.
This system has resulted in additional costs and can cause voter fatigue. South
Carolina law also allows for a plurality voting system where the candidate with the
most votes win, thereby eliminating the need for runoff elections.

There was discussion about the price differential for runoff elections; voter
participation; citizen benefits; voter commitment and engagement; and a citizen
survey.

There was consensus of the committee to consider a survey for citizen feedback on
changing the city’s voting system in the future.

4. Vehicles for Hire - Mr. William "Skip" Holbrook, Columbia Police Chief

Mr. William "Skip" Holbrook, Columbia Police Chief briefly addressed concerns from
a longtime taxi driver about the differences between taxicabs and ride-sharing
programs. The current taxicab regulations and requirements are outdated and some
fees are deemed unnecessary. He emphasized the need to maintain a registry for
individuals authorized to operate a taxicab within the city.

Sergeant Robert Uhall, Traffic Unit/Columbia Police Department shared the current
rideshare rules. In South Carolina, rideshares are considered Transportation
Network Companies and the regulations are similar to the city's existing rules. To
drive for a rideshare company in Columbia, drivers need to get a chauffeur's license
from the Columbia Police Department. Requirements include a South Carolina
driver's license, 10-year driving record, criminal background check, notarized
application, physical exam, negative Tuberculosis test and drug test, and a
hospitality class certificate. All chauffeur’s permits must be renewed every three
years and vehicles must be inspected annually. He recommended extending the
renewal period from three years to 10 years.

There was discussion about the regulations for rideshare drivers; next steps for
incorporating changes in the ordinance; and a timeline for implementing changes.




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 ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024


ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC
City Clerk




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