Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2025-10-28
Time: 18:00

HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025


The Health, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee will conduct a
Standing Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at
City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Second Floor,
Columbia, SC 29201. Members of the public may view the meeting 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 this
meeting.

 The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large, Chair
The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr., District II ▪ The Honorable Tyler D. Bailey, At-Large

CALL TO ORDER

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. September 30, 2025 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee
 Meeting Minutes

PRESENTATIONS

2. Animal Services Update - Ms. Victoria Clary, Animal Services Superintendent

3. Columbia Gateway Signage Update - Mr. Robert Anderson, Director of Public
 Works

4. MyColaSC Application Update – Ms. Tiffany Latimer, Director of Customer
 Services and Ms. Carmen Flemming, Project Manager

ADJOURNMENT




 Page 1 of 1

HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025


The Health, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee will conduct a
Standing Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at
City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Second Floor,
Columbia, SC 29201. Members of the public may view the meeting 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 this
meeting.

 The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large, Chair
The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr., District II ▪ The Honorable Tyler D. Bailey, At-Large

CALL TO ORDER

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. September 30, 2025 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee
 Meeting Minutes

PRESENTATIONS

2. Animal Services Update - Ms. Victoria Clary, Animal Services Superintendent

3. Columbia Gateway Signage Update - Mr. Robert Anderson, Director of Public
 Works

4. MyColaSC Application Update – Ms. Tiffany Latimer, Director of Customer
 Services and Ms. Carmen Flemming, Project Manager

ADJOURNMENT




 Page 1 of 1
 1




MEETING DATE: October 28, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: September 30, 2025 Health, Social, and
 Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:


ATTACHMENTS:
 • #a: HSEAC_MN_093025 (DOCX)




Updated: 10/22/2025 1:17 PM Page 1
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 HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025


CALL TO ORDER

The Health, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee conducted a meeting on
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main
Street, Second Floor, Columbia, SC 29201. The Honorable Aditi Bussells, Chair called
the meeting order at 1:07 p.m. and the following members were present:

 Attendee Name Title Status
 Aditi Bussells Chair Present
 Edward H. McDowell Member Present
 Tyler D. Bailey Member Present

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of July 15, 2025 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee
 Meeting Minutes – Approved

Upon a motion made by Mr. Bailey and seconded by Mr. McDowell, the Committee
voted unanimously to approve the July 15, 2025 Health, Social, and Environmental
Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes.

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

2. Animal Services Update: Enforcement Staffing - Mr. Robert Anderson, Director
 of Public Works – Received as information.

Mr. Robert Anderson, Director of Public Works provided an update on Animal Services
staffing and operations. The division currently has five enforcement positions, with
four filled and one supervisory vacancy. Recruitment has improved following salary
adjustments to match regional levels. A part-time veterinarian and kennel supervisor
positions remain open due to statewide shortages. The department’s live release rate
stands at 82%, with a goal to reach 85% next year. He also noted the successful
launch of the redesigned Animal Services webpage and announced that Dr. Bonovich
was recently recognized as the State’s Best Veterinarian.

There was consensus of the committee to receive a compressive update in October.




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 HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025


3. City of Columbia Gateway Signage Update - Mr. Robert Anderson, Director of
 Public Works – Received as information.

Mr. Robert Anderson, Director of Public Works presented visuals of the new gateway
and tertiary signage to be installed throughout the City. The presentation included
renderings of signs for North Main, Bull Street, Harbison, I-126, and Huger Street,
as well as new city logo signs to be mounted on light poles along Main Street. He
announced that the North Main sign near I-20 is scheduled for installation on October
30, 2025 with additional sign installations at Bull Street, Harbison, and I-126 planned
for November 17–19, 2025.

There was discussion about the press conference; placement of light pole signs;
lighting signs; and plans for maintenance.

4. Midlands Business Leadership Group Gateway Beautification Project – Mr.
 Robert Anderson, Director of Public Works – Received as information.

Mr. Robert Anderson, Director of Public Works provided an update on the Midlands
Business Leadership Group (MBLG) beautification initiative. Formed under former
Mayor Benjamin, the group identified eight sites. The first project, along Highway
302 in Cayce, received about $1.2 million in funding, including $500,000 from
Lexington County. Regional partners include Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce,
Lexington, Richland County, and Forest Acres. He noted that the Forest Drive/I-77
project is next, with maintenance costs to be shared among participating
jurisdictions.

There was discussion about meeting with Council of Governments and overlapping of
signage.

5. Canal Recovery: Resilient Water Supply Project - Mr. Clint E. Shealy, P.E.,
 Assistant City Manager for Columbia Water – Received as information.

Mr. Clint Shealy, P.E., Assistant City Manager for Columbia Water provided an update
on the City’s Resilient Water Supply and recovery projects. Three major efforts are
underway to improve infrastructure following the 2015 flood: replacement of the
canal head gates, repair of the embankment and hydroelectric station, and
construction of an independent resilient water supply. The $12 million head gate
project, partially funded by a federal mitigation grant, is set to move forward by
year’s end following recent federal approval.


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 HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025


The embankment repair, estimated at $60–80 million, will be fully funded by FEMA
and state matching funds with construction anticipated to begin in early 2026. The
$62 million resilient water supply project began construction in January 2025 and is
expected to reach substantial completion by spring 2027.

There was discussion about both alternative and supplemental funding.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 1:46 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, MMC, CPM
City Clerk




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MEETING DATE: October 28, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Animal Services Update - Ms. Victoria Clary, Animal
 Services Superintendent
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:




Updated: 10/22/2025 1:32 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 6
 3




MEETING DATE: October 28, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Columbia Gateway Signage Update - Mr. Robert
 Anderson, Director of Public Works
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:




Updated: 10/22/2025 2:49 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 7
 4




MEETING DATE: October 28, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: MyColaSC Application Update – Ms. Tiffany Latimer,
 Director of Customer Services and Ms. Carmen
 Flemming, Project Manager
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:




Updated: 10/22/2025 2:49 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 8