Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee

Regular Meeting

Columbia, SC · March 24, 2026

Minutes

Columbia Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Call to Order The Columbia Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee conducted a meeting on March 24, 2026 at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Honorable Sam Johnson, Chair called the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr. and The Honorable Tyler D. Bailey were present. Approval of Minutes 1. February 24, 2026 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes Upon a motion made by Mr. McDowell and seconded by Mr. Bailey, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the February 24, 2026 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes. Presentations 2. Riparian Buffer Zone Considerations – Mr. Bill Stangler, Congaree Riverkeeper Mr. Bill Stangler, Congaree Riverkeeper explained the role of riparian buffer zones in protecting aquatic resources by filtering pollutants before they reach waterways. They noted that buffer widths vary depending on purpose, with 50 to 100 feet on both sides of a stream supporting water quality, and 100 to300 feet benefiting wildlife habitats. For designated scenic rivers, such as the Saluda River, a minimum buffer of 100 feet is recommended. Within the City of Columbia, there are approximately 14 miles of river frontage, including 9 miles along the Broad River, 3 miles along the Lower Saluda River, and 2 miles along the Congaree River. He recommended increasing the City’s buffer requirement from 50 to 100 feet, noting that the change would impact a limited number of properties. There was discussion about the scenic river designation; rivers selected for buffer increase; example of lower quality buffers; the surrounding municipalities' buffers; and conversations with stakeholders. 3. Tree and Appearance Commission Update – Ms. Viola Hendley, Chair Ms. Viola Hendley, Chair / Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission outlined priorities for 2026–2027, including participation in year one of the three-year Trees for SC grant and efforts to separate the Columbia Landscape and Tree Fund from the General Fund. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the value of trees in development, promoting utility undergrounding as a best practice, and exploring programs such as Line City USA in Page 1 of 3 partnership with Dominion. She also highlighted the need to hire additional arborists to train crews and address community concerns about tree removal through better communication. She noted the City’s responsibility for tree maintenance and discussed environmental initiatives such International Dark Sky lighting to reduce the impacts of artificial light. Mr. Gray Taylor, Chair-Elect / Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission provided an overview of the Trees for SC grant, describing it as a high-level assessment of the City’s tree canopy. He noted that the analysis evaluates overall canopy coverage, currently estimated at approximately 42 percent, and identifies potential areas for future planting. He explained that this broader assessment will help guide the next phase, which is the development of a comprehensive tree inventory. This inventory will involve evaluating individual trees for health, hazards and maintenance needs and supporting more proactive management. He emphasized that the grant provides a strategic foundation for long-term planning and informed decision-making regarding the City’s urban forest. There was discussion about including tree canopy date including Fort Jackson; tree pruning; Line City USA locations; potential canopy assessment; and the financial component of tree mapping. 4. Animal Services Ordinance Revisions - Ms. Victoria Clary, Superintendent / Animal Services Ms. Victoria Clary, Superintendent / Animal Services provided a recap of proposed amendments to the City’s animal ordinances, focusing on modernization and alignment with Richland County. Changes include revising breeding regulations by removing outdated provisions and requiring a City business license, as well as strengthening language around the sale of animals to address irresponsible breeding practices. She noted updates to tethering standards, including clearer definitions and a proposed reduction to a two-hour limit. Additional revisions address general animal care, refine medical exemptions for neutering to prevent misuse; and removal of the trained service animal exception. She also outlined updates to the licensing program to include increasing the annual fee for unaltered pets to $100 and introducing a one-time lifetime license option to improve resource allocation and generate revenue. There was consensus of the committee to endorse the revisions for City Council consideration. 5. City Beautification Update – Mr. Robert Anderson, Director / Public Works Mr. Robert Anderson, Director / Public Works shared details from a recent multi-department meeting focused on strengthening neighborhood support initiatives. Discussions included coordination with the Community Development Department on grants, establishing grant guidelines, and exploring recurring annual funding opportunities for neighborhoods. He also noted the potential inclusion of a Council of Neighborhoods representative on a committee to support these efforts. Additional topics included developing standardized, durable signage with consistent materials and design; expanding landscaping and planting education, and enhancing litter control through main corridor maintenance, pet waste stations, and annual neighborhood cleanups. Hehighlighted the importance of community engagement through initiatives such as cleanup luncheons to foster neighborhood pride and shared that proposed signage would align with existing the City of Columbia parks designs. Page 2 of 3 There was discussion about keeping young people at the core of beautification efforts and school involvement. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2:29 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Erika D. Moore Hammond, MMC, CPM City Clerk Page 3 of 3

Agenda

Packet

Columbia Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Agenda Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM City Hall • Mayor's Conference Room 1737 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29201 City Clerk’s Office: (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov The Honorable Sam P. Johnson, 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. February 24, 2026 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes Presentations 2. Riparian Buffer Zone Considerations – Mr. Bill Stangler, Congaree Riverkeeper 3. Tree and Appearance Commission Update – Ms. Viola Hendley, Chair 4. Animal Services Ordinance Revisions - Ms. Victoria Clary, Superintendent / Animal Services 5. City Beautification Update – Mr. Robert Anderson, Director / Public Works Adjournment Page 1 of 1 Page 1 of 28 Columbia Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Call to Order The Columbia Health Social and Environmental Affairs Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Honorable Sam P. Johnson, Chair called the meeting to order at 1:07 p.m. The Honorable Edward H. McDowell, Jr was present. The Honorable Tyler D. Bailey was absent. Approval of Minutes 1. Approval of October 28, 2025 Health, Social, and Environmental Afffairs Committee Meeting Minutes Upon a motion made by Mr. McDowell and seconded by Mr. Johnson, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the October 28, 2025 Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes. Presentations 2. City Beautification Update – Mr. Robert Anderson, Director / Public Works and Mr. Brian Neiger, Superintendent / Forestry & Beautification Mr. Clint Shealy, P.E., Assistant City Manager of Columbia Water welcomed Mr. Eric Jensen, Richland County Assistant Administrator and Ms. Sandra Haynes, Director of Animal Services for Richland County. Mr. Brian Neiger, Superintendent / Forestry & Beautification provided an update on the City’s beautification efforts. He highlighted corridor mowing; downtown self-watering planters; fence and median upgrades; enhanced sidewalk maintenance; new equipment to improve median cleaning efficiency; and the new "Welcome to Columbia" signage. He also discussed the “Beat the Heat, Plant a Tree” partnership with Columbia Green, which has distributed approximately 2,000 trees over two years. Mr. Robert Anderson, Director / Public Works shared that the City has implemented an Adopt-a-Street program, which focuses on major thoroughfares with organized cleanups held several times a year. He also noted that the City is in the early stages of additional beautification efforts, including evaluating flood-prone lots for potential pollinator gardens and enhanced plantings. He stated that the City will continue partnering with community groups to support these initiatives. Page 2 of 28 There was discussion about group crossover with regard to beautification efforts; designated areas for gateway projects; use of the street sweeper; a grant program to standardize signs at neighborhood entrances; the employment of youth for beautification efforts; a road safety audit performed by the Department of Transportation; and a map of neighborhoods that have or have not submitted tree planting requests. 3. Animal Services Update – Ms. Victoria Clary, Superintendent / Animal Services Ms. Victoria Clary, Superintendent / Animal Services presented proposed updates to the City’s animal services ordinances, including reorganizing sections, adding definitions, and aligning regulations with Richland County. Key changes include replacing the outdated kennel model with a breeder permit requiring inspections and humane standards, and strengthening the tethering ordinance. She noted that most revisions focus on necessary animal welfare improvements. She shared the need for facility upgrades. There was discussion about addressing current ordinance language; penalty enforcement; timeline for implementing proposed changes; building demolition; tethering in bad weather; ear cropping; differential licensing exemption for service/show dogs; levels of enforcement; and flawed building functionality. There was consensus of the committee to review the proposed changes and continue this discussion at the next meeting. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC, CPM City Clerk Page 3 of 28 Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission Health, Social & Environmental Affairs Committee Board of Commissioners March 2026 Page 4 of 28 The Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission’s (CTAC) Mission To enhance and improve the visual quality and aesthetic characteristics of the city of Columbia, supporting City Forestry & Beautification in preserving & enhancing our tree canopy for future generations. Our Commissioners Vi Hendley, Chair Gray Taylor, Chair-elect, Arborist/Horticulturist Johnston Cox, Secretary Ian Hamilton, Columbia Green Laine Ligon, Realtor/Developer Patrick McLean Susan Hitchcock Meredith Blackwell Ralph Hilsman Christopher Neuman, Architect Page 5 of 28 CTAC 2026-27 Focus ● Year 1 of 3 of our Trees4SC Grant from SC Forestry Commission canopy mapping and code audit ● Separate The Columbia Landscape & Tree Fund from general fund ● Bring awareness of utility undergrounding as best practice ● International Dark Sky Lighting standards along our greenways Page 6 of 28 Page 7 of 28 Page 8 of 28 Page 9 of 28 Page 10 of 28 Why adopt International Dark Sky lighting standards Along our Parks & Greenways? Page 11 of 28 Page 12 of 28 Page 13 of 28 Underground Utilities Superior Reliability & Resilience Enhanced Safety Reduced Maintenance Costs Improved Aesthetics & Property Value Protection from Damage ● Camden, SC 90% of utilities are underground. Per Utilities Director reports * Rarely receive calls regarding trees * neighborhoods & businesses have undergrounded * Tree canopy quickly recovered * Significant reduction of power loss due to cars downing power lines. “It looks really good. Seems like we don’t lose power as often, so we have been really pleased. The more that you do it, the better. I think that it is good for the city. It looks good, it’s attractive and I think it’s a good use of money.” Duncan Macintosh, citizen of Camden, SD ● Other SC cities applying best practices Hilton Head, Greenville, Mount Pleasant, Forest Acres, Aiken, Myrtle Beach Page 14 of 28 Collaborations ● Midlands Business Leadership Group ● Columbia Green ● Stakeholder in the Riverfront Park development ● University of South Carolina ● City Council, the Mayor, Assistant City Manager Columbia Water Page 15 of 28 Columbia Animal Services Shelter Update Page 16 of 28 Animal Ordinances • Reorganized articles for a more concise flow • Added necessary definitions for stronger clarification • Most notable changes are: Ø Kennels and breeding (modified) Ø Tethering (modified) Ø Animal care generally (modified) Ø Sale of animals (added) Ø License for cats and dogs; rabies vaccine (modified) • All modifications result in alignment with Richland County's ordinances 2 Page 17 of 28 Kennels and Breeding Ø Commercial pet breeders must now obtain a pet breeder permit from Animal Services Ø Pet owner must pass inspection for breeder permit which requires: o Obtaining a City of Columbia business license o Vaccinating and licensing all pets over four months of age o On-site inspection by animal services to ensure environment is in accordance with ordinance Tethering Ø Changes include: o Shortening time frame to no more than 2 hours in a 24-hour period. o Specifying appropriate age for tethering o Specifying appropriate type of tether o Specifying appropriate condition of the animal for tether (not sick/injured) o Specifying appropriate temperature/weather for tethering (between 40° and 90°) 3 Page 18 of 28 Animal Care Generally Ø Defines proper shelter Ø Added stipulations for temperatures less that 40° Ø Prohibits ear cropping by anyone other than a licensed veterinarian Ø Addresses animal abandonment Sale of Animals Ø Not permitted in public properties, rights-of-way, roadsides, and flea markets Ø Addresses appropriate age for separation from mother dogs Ø Prohibits retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores 4 Page 19 of 28 Differential licensing program • Sec 4.62 – License for dogs and cats; rabies vaccination: Ø Currently, pet licensing is required annually with options of a $25 fee for unaltered pets or a $5 fee for altered pets • Proposed changes: Ø No change to annual $5 fee for altered pets Ø Increased annual fee for unaltered pets to $100 Ø Provide a one-time life-time pet license to altered pets who are also microchipped. • Benefits: Ø Improved license compliance Ø Faster pet-owner retention Ø Intake and cost reduction of shelter pets over time Ø Increased revenue for unaltered pets and stronger community return on investment Ø Spay/neuter incentive accompanied with low-cost spay and neuter programs • Per a recent meeting with Richland County, they would like to discuss with their Council and possibly align their ordinance with these proposed changes. • 5 Advertise with this years budget with date for implementation to be determined based on discussion with Richland County. Page 20 of 28 Differential licensing program Ø Exemptions from differential licensing - Sec. 4-3 (c) o Elaboration of medical exemption from a licensed veterinarian o Specification of type of show for show exempt animals o Removal of trained service animal • Difficult to verify with blends between emotional support vurses true service animals 6 Page 21 of 28 City of Columbia Neighborhood Beautification Page 22 of 28 Neighborhood Beautification Ø Grants Ø Signage Ø Landscaping Ø Litter Control Ø Neighborhood Cleanups Ø Neighborhood Engagements Ø Youth Engagement 2 Page 23 of 28 Grants Ø Community Development Department Involvement Ø Grant Development/Guidelines Ø Committee Approach Ø Grants Ø Sign Design Ø Cap on Funding Amount Ø Recurring Funding Ø City Wide Grant Opportunity Signage Ø Standard Template Ø Public Relations has Engaged a Company for Preliminary Designs Ø Easy to Maintain Ø Color Standard Ø Material 3 Page 24 of 28 Landscaping Ø Designs from Public Works Forestry and Beautification Division Ø Designs will be Specific to the Neighborhood Ø Space Ø Neighborhoods will Plant and Maintain Ø Possible Planting Educational Component Litter Control Ø Neighborhoods to Provide Litter Collection Ø Number of Times per Year Ø Adopt a Street is Four per Year Ø Litter Collection Supplies Ø Bags Ø Pick-up Sticks Ø Safety Vests Ø Buckets Ø Pet Waste Stations 4 Page 25 of 28 Neighborhood Cleanups Ø One per Year on Request Ø Police Ø Code Enforcement Ø Solid Waste Ø Animal Ø Forestry and Beautification Ø Volunteers Neighborhood Engagement Ø Columbia Council of Neighborhoods Ø Cleanup Luncheons Ø Community Pride Ø Ownership of Program Ø Commitment 5 Page 26 of 28 Youth Engagement Ø Developing Partnerships Ø Neighborhood Youth Ø Churches Ø Colleges Ø Local School Groups Ø Police Engagement Programs Ø “4” Block Promise Ø Possible Compensation (Model Available from ONSE) Partners Ø Community Development Ø Police Ø Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Ø Public Relations Ø Forestry & Beautification Ø Solid Waste 6 Page 27 of 28 Proposed Signs Ø Navy Signs w/ White Lettering Ø Resembling Signs Produced in COC Parks Ø Crawford Designing new Signs that would better reflect Neighborhoods (In-Progress) Ø Signs are Displayed at 72” x 46” Ø Secured 24” in Ground (see images) Estimate Ø Proposed Project Funding: $200,000.00 Ø Signs: $8,100 Ø Installation: $1,500 Ø Total (tax): $10,100.00 Estimated Number of Signs That Can be Funded: 20 7 Page 28 of 28