Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee

COLUMBIA HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023 The Columbia Health, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, 2nd 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 the meeting. The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large The Honorable Howard E. Duvall, Jr., At-Large  The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr., District II Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent, vibrate or off position. All presenters are asked to speak directly into the microphone for recording purposes. CALL TO ORDER PRESENTATION 1. Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Update - Ms. Mary Pat Baldauf, Sustainability Facilitator COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 2. Animal Shelter Ordinance Update - Ms. Victoria Riles, Animal Services Superintendent ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 1  1 MEETING DATE: December 12, 2023 DEPARTMENT: City Clerk FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk SUBJECT: Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Update - Ms. Mary Pat Baldauf, Sustainability Facilitator FUNDING SOURCE & ORIGINAL BUDGET: ATTACHMENTS:  #a: CPRG UPDATE (PDF) Updated: 12/8/2023 11:50 AM Page 1 Packet Pg. 2  1.a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Update Health, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee December 12, 2023 Packet Pg. 3  1.a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Refresher • $1 million EPA grant to fund reduction of greenhouse gasses. • Grant lead: Central Midlands Council of Governments. • Regional grant consisting of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Kershaw, Richland and Saluda counties. The City of Columbia is the largest city in the MSA, and is the reason the MSA was chosen for this grant opportunity. • Full-time program coordinator started December 1. Part-time intern will soon be hired to assist the coordinator. • Robert Anderson and I are representing the City on the Advisory Committee and will be actively involved. • The Regional Committee met last week; each of the six counties and four municipalities were represented. This group will meet on a monthly basis. Packet Pg. 4  1.a Dates of Interest March 1, 2024: Simplified version of the Priority Climate Action Plan due • Identified near-term action items to prepare for implementation grants • Can focus on specific sectors or greenhouse gas sources • Limited set of requirements that set foundation for informed decisions • May build on previous climate planning efforts April 1, 2024: Regional Implementation Grant application due Mid-2025: Comprehensive Climate Action Plan due • Includes GHG inventory, projections and reduction targets, and a larger list of measures that reduce GHG and reach targets. Packet Pg. 5  1.a Possible Grant Project Ideas • Regional waste-to-energy plant • Regional solar farm • Local government energy audits • EV chargers • EV fleet conversion study • Conversion of fleets to natural gas • Non-reimbursable weatherization grants for existing building stock • Regional reduction of food waste and adoption of local composting programs OTHER IDEAS? Packet Pg. 6  2 MEETING DATE: December 12, 2023 DEPARTMENT: City Clerk FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk SUBJECT: Animal Shelter Ordinance Update - Ms. Victoria Riles, Animal Services Superintendent FUNDING SOURCE & ORIGINAL BUDGET: ATTACHMENTS:  #a: Animal Services Update 121223 (PDF) Updated: 12/8/2023 11:55 AM Page 1 Packet Pg. 7  2.a Columbia Animal Services Ordinance Change Status Update Packet Pg. 8  2.a Spay and Neuter Mandate Discussion All Pets • Legalities pertaining to professional and responsible breeding • Not supported on a national level Bully Breeds • 75% of dog breeds are inaccurately guessed without DNA testing • Significant resistance on legislative level (HSUS, ASPCA, Best Friends) Reasons this is not supported • Unfunded mandate on citizens • Criminalizes poverty • Will contradict positive community engagement efforts • Possible intake increase Recommendations National groups recommend municipalities support an infrastructure that incentivizes the procedure and provides all community members access to spay/neuter services. Packet Pg. 9  2.a Numbers and Re-Cap of Proposed Ordinance Changes • City of Columbia will offer a $25.00 one-time lifetime pet license if pet is spayed/neutered, vaccinated for “Any owner of a dog in which is trained and certified to be rabies, and an assistance dogmicrochipped for its owner.” • $5 pet annual license still in place for altered, un-microchipped pets PAALS (Palmetto • $100 annualAnimal fee ifAssisted the petLife) is not spayed/neutered • Language changes to spay/neuter exemptions to make this area more clear and concise. • Ordinance draft has been reviewed by City Council • Online licensing option • Request to defer out to council for enactment July 1, 2024 • Meeting with Richland County • Richland County is in support of licensing changes and will explore similar changes of their own with their council during budget review, early 2024. • Discussed meeting options for City, Richland, and Lexington to explore ordinance review, spay and neuter mandates. Packet Pg. 10  2.a Preparation for Implementation 1. Met with Chameleon Team • Discuss online licensing options and capabilities 2. Met with City’s IT, payment, accounting, and database administrator departments • Determine which payment service will be used • Determine security aspects and labilities to ensure online licensing is in line with the City’s security parameters. 3. Legal Review & Quote – Currently Underway • Legal review will determine if there is a contract and what it’s terms and conditions are • Budgetary review for purchase 4. Launch • Once all parties clear the project, Chameleon and IT will work together to install and launch the software. 5. Proposed start date of ordinance change July 1, 2024 = complete Packet Pg. 11