Hello everyone, welcome to KubeCon and Cloud NativeCon North America 2023. Thank you for spending time and attending this talk. This session is pre-recorded and I welcome you very shortly. And I am honored to present to you a journey of building our Kubernetes platform, successes, failures, and valuable lessons left. But maybe first I can tell a bit about myself. Who am I? I'm Marianne Falakoli. I am a cloud engineer at Relics Solutions. Relics is a supply chain and retail planning platform that helps retailers unify their planning from demand and merchandise to supply chain and operations. Also in my free time, I sometimes write some technical articles on my medium account, so feel free to find it there or on my LinkedIn. And I'd be more than happy to get to know you and get connected. So today's agenda are the following items. I'll first give you a timeline history about our project. Then we will take a look at some technical details and project structure. After that, we can take a look at some statistics of usage of platform within Relics. Then I'll explain about advantages that we think our platform has brought within the company. And after that, we can dive into the lessons that we learned during journey of building this platform. And at the end, I'll shortly mention some of our future plans. So first is projects and timeline history. Let's start from 2019 when the project was born. Project was initially created for a specific internal development team that was willing to migrate their workload to Kubernetes at the time. As for cloud providers, Azure was chosen already by management and due to other reasons, which was not related to Kubernetes service. So it was an obvious choice for the team at the time to go with Azure Kubernetes service. So if you can self-answer higher to create the project and project was born at the end of October 2019. 2020, the project was changed to be a unified Kubernetes platform within the company. In January, I joined the company initially as a site-reliable engineer in one of the development teams within Relics. In March, there were already five different teams that started using the platform and my team was one of those. In April, there was one internal employee who joined the team to work alongside the consultants on the project. And in October, a massive merge request related to the migration of service principles to Azure managed identities was merged and unfortunately it became a major incident and a reverse of the change was applied within two days. Also, the second internal employee was recruited and joined the team and one of the development teams and decided to leave the project as the result of the major incident. Let's get a pause and take a look at failure scenarios in the major incident, what was not working. Well, the first item was that rights were missing. The developer had the required permissions while they were testing, but users didn't have the required access permissions and rights to delete the service principles when they were rolling in the change. Second point was about service manager. The service manager wasn't working properly alongside Log Analytics because Log Analytics was creating its own managed identity and service manager couldn't handle multiple managed identities at the time. Then the third problem was about an Ingress NGINX. Ingress was not having time out because it wasn't able to get an IP address from the internal network due to insufficient service principle rights. And the last problem was about authentication after a clean install of the migration change, authentication was not working properly except when an admin login was used. So our view of 2020 is that it was decided to change the scope of the project from a team-based infra-platform to a company-wide Kubernetes platform. There were so many repeated configuration quotes among different environments of different teams that it was decided that let's use Tricorat, which is a Tricorat wrapper, and it helps for keeping your quote dry when working with multiple short form modules. 2021, the team grows. In February, there were five different teams enforcing different environments that were using the platform. In March, I was also joined to the team that was working on the platform and tests were developed further and robot framework tests were added to the project. In April, semantic versioning was in place. Before that, there was no versioning and teams were required to deploy their changes based on the master branch and imagine that they needed to do that, all of them approximately at the same time. So the master branch of that is released and development team of platform can continue their development. Also, resource tags became mandatory at that time and a start-to-stop automation was created for our development clusters because there was no reason having those tests and development clusters running 24 hours. And it helped us to decrease our costs. In October, second try to manage the changes for managed identity happened and it was successful. Fortunately, this time, in November, security patching is standardized. It included hand-chart upgrades, provider upgrades and short-run upgrades and also full access privileges for platform developers were dropped and instead we used access packages and rights were segregated to those access packages and users could activate the packages and have the needed rights for a specific time. So 2021 overview is that project grew and more teams were willing to use the platform. So a special team started forming around the platform project and at the end of 2021, we had a team of three internal members that were working on this project. 2022, the project gets more mature. In January, we started having release blog posts mentioning the features, bugs and the instructions that were needed for our users. In February, we started migrating environment configurations to a separate health repository because until then the code of the platform and environments codes were all at the same repo, but it was a hassle. There was problem with access rights among us and the users, so we decided to make it a separate repository. In March, the employer service principle, the service principles that we were using in our deployment pipelines for deployment of changes of the platform to users environments, those service principles had two high rights and overall environments, subscriptions and resources, so we thought it's not quite secure this way and we did some segregation on service principles and their rights. In July, three new permanent team members joined the team, which was a nice thing. In August, we had a change of our release strategy. Until then, we had two weeks release cycle, but it wasn't enough time for our users to keep up with the change. So based on the feedback that we got from our users, we changed it to be a one-month release cycle, two weeks for them to deploy the changes of platform under their own test environments and do their acceptance testings, and then they had two more weeks to deploy the changes on their productions. In September, we had sort of a major incident, but only for one test environment in one of the team's environments and it was because one of Azure Created Resource Groups was built manually in Azure Portal by a user. So in response to that, we figured that we did have to add resource logs to all the resources that are created by platform. In November, a start-to-stop module was developed to decrease cost and our users could use of it to turn off their development clusters during non-working hours. So 2022 of our view is that project became more mature and more people joined the team and it became a team of six permanent internal members by the end of that year. 2023, time for supporting features. In April, a feature testing process was changed until that moment we had only continuous deployment testing based on each merge to master branch. But we figured that we also have to test changes that are coming in latest version compared to the previous version. So that was also added to our automated tests. In May, we had some future requests from user about service mesh. So we had our investigation and we came up with link early at the solution. So that's a feature that started and is under development. Also fully automated deployments were added, meaning that until then some manual operations were needed to be run by our users before each actual platform deployments. For example, a Helm uninstall command might be needed or track run import or a DLS resource. And all of these moved to be a automated script that can be run before the actual deployment pipeline. Then in June, we had another feature request by our users to have a shared cluster like a shared cluster that can be used by different development teams, but it would be maintained by us as the platform team and development teams can deploy their applications and the different workloads can be isolated based on the name space. So this was also a feature that was added in June and it's still under progress. And in September, we migrated from AKB to Kubernetes, the project that can be used for syncing secrets between Azure Key Vault to Kubernetes resources, like Kubernetes secrets. And that upstream project was poorly maintained and there weren't many contributors recently didn't have much releases. So we decided to change the project to external secret operator. So the review of 2023 is that there was enough time for us to add supporting features based on teams requirements. Now we can take a look at the project structure and more technical details. Here we have a high level architecture of the platform, you see AKS in the middle of an Azure subscription. Then we have other Azure resources such as container registry, Key Vault, Postgres databases. And then for deployment of different components within each cluster, we use a home charts. We, for example, have engineering ingress, which is responsible for exposing services from Kubernetes clusters to the public or private internet. And then the ingress controller is linked to an Azure load balancer, which either gets a public IP address or a private one. Then we have cert manager, which is certificate management controller for Kubernetes, it automatically carries and manages TLS certificates and TLS certificates for the ingress objects. And it uses let's encrypt for issuing certificates. In the platform set up, each cluster gets its own DNS zone. So external DNS monitors the creation of new ingress objects and it automatically creates DNS reports for new ingress ingresses within the cluster of zone. Also, we have other components such as data talk for collecting logs of the applications and primitives for collecting metrics from clusters itself and applications workloads. And then these metrics are visualized in our centralized observe solution that we have within the company using Graphana dashboards. Then I already mentioned about AKV to Kubernetes. And finally we have cured, which is a Kubernetes name on set that performs safe automatic note report, reboots when it's required. Here we can also take a look at our shared responsibility model between our team and development teams or our users. In the very top, very down level, we have Microsoft, which provides us the infra. Our team provides infrastructure as code, productizing features, security of the platform and maintenance of it. Then you can see that we have optional modules shared among us and development teams. The reason is that in case development teams have capacity and they are willing to, they are welcome to collaborate and make some of these optional modules based on their requirements. Then the development teams are mostly responsible for their content, their application, containerizing the application and deployment and maintenance of their clusters, application security and operating application service. Now we can take a look at the statistics of usage of this platform within Relax. Well, at the moment we have 13 user teams from which 133 are non-production and 47 are productions environments or clusters. Then we have 22 mandatory Terraform service modules, which provides the main core of the platform and it's necessary for all the clusters. And then we have 42 optional service modules which provides different services for different user teams, according to their requirements. Now I can talk a bit about advantages that this platform has brought to the company, of course from our point of view. And first item is a standardization and unification of the project creates reusable components, tools and documentations that makes it quite easier for development teams to work together and follow the consistent practices. And this results in improved code quality, reduced development time and enhanced knowledge shading among teams. Then the second benefit is security and compliance. Project implements the best practices for access control, encryption and vulnerability management. Also all platform changes are tested for security before deployment and security patching and upgrades are also taken care of. Then the third benefit is about cost optimization. Platform project takes care of identifying and implementing strategies to make efficient use of resources. This could be about right sizing in for leveraging cost-effective cloud resources or automating resource provisioning and deep provisioning. And last but not the least is faster development cycles. Project can be used to create and maintain a standardized development environment so that development teams do not need to make their own info and they can start coding immediately. Now we can dive into the lessons that we learned during this process. And first I want to emphasize on the major incident that we had and mention some of the lessons that we learned during that incident. And the first one is that it was a big change. The marriage request itself included the changes for migrating from service principles to managed identity as well as some other changes for service manager and engineers ingress. So it was a really massive MR. The second point is that there weren't enough testing at that time. Unfortunately, we didn't have. We didn't have much in automated testing and also the manual testing scenarios were not extensive enough. Then the third point is that there wasn't any rollback plan. The plan was overconfident and no one thought of a failure scenario. The fourth point is that the employment procession procedure had limitations and there was no versioning in the project at that point. As I mentioned at some time later we added semantic versioning. So the deployments were happening from master branch. There was a dependency between different environments for their deployments. However, deployments to the development clusters was happening automatically while production runs very manually. And the last item is that we think it was a major change in a mature state of the project. So the project that state was not ready for having such a massive change. Now we can take a look at other lessons learned from other aspects and the first item is having an internal team. Just having consultants to build such a big project which can be unified within a company is not enough because knowledge sharing doesn't happen properly. Having an internal team is really important. Having constant members who can share the knowledge and be around at least for a while until the project gets more mature. Then the second point is about the standard standardization. Well, not all the development teams have some DevOps person or DevOps knowledge. So it is really important that we as the platform team provide standard procedures and this would help them to understand what's happening and how they can operate within their environments. Then the third option is about documentation. Again, knowledge sharing can happen really good with documentation. So we try to provide best practices, blog posts and release blog posts and all of these helped a lot for our users to understand everything better, how platform works, how they should follow the instructions to deploy the changes to their clusters and so on. Another lesson was about cost optimization. You should think of different possible approaches for this. For example, resource tags and this sort of a start-stop automation for the clusters that are not needed to be running 24 hours. Another point is feedback. Development teams are our users. So it was really important for us to hear what they think about the platform, how easy hard is it to use it. And having a product owner helped us a lot for this understanding. Because of that, we find out that our release cycles are not suitable for our users and we changed the procedure that we had for our releases. Then next point is prevent incidents. You should use any possible way to prevent incidents. For example, having resource logs when it's possible or soft to let policies and backup options for any kind of resource that is available. And last but not the least important is security. For example, the employer service principles should be segregated and not one service principle should not have access to everything, all the resources. And the second point is about access packages, having those whenever possible to segregate access for different users. And finally, our future plans for the project. I mentioned previously that we started having service mesh and a shared cluster and we just added these features. However, we are just waiting for our users to get those into use. Then we can see what's working but not and we can improve on those features, of course. Then we would like to have global load balancing for stateful applications, web application firewall and it would be nice for us to enhance our secure testing strategies as well. Yeah, so these are some of our plans for the future. And that was it. Thanks a lot for being here and joining this talk. I hope it's been helpful and informative and I'd be happy to answer any question if you have in the chat.


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And now, with Howard Dove starring as Spade, wild root brings to the air the greatest private detective of them all, in the adventures of Sam Spade.  Got a pencil? We gotta hurry if we're gonna make the fight, you know. Well, I've got one of the new retractor kind of pencil. Well, get the lead out. Are you really going off the post, Sam? It's Mam Mam McShelly versus Clark Face Duffy in the main event. Ready? McShelly, what? You've been out with somebody else, a military man. Well, how did you ever know? Date, August 2, 8, 1, 9, 4, 9. I don't know whether we'll go out or not. You're clairvoyant. To Dr. Albert Kensington from Samuel Spade. I only had a coke with him, Sam. He was on frill-o and we... License number 137-596, subject... And he was from Elkhart, Indiana. And I used to live in Pleasant Lake and... Down! Subject Helen Scully of the prodigal daughter. A coke yet. Dear doctor. Everyone in San Francisco knows the castle-type hillhouse that Casper Scully lived in, even if they didn't know him. When I got there, there was an all-black 49 convertible in the driveway and, slightly smaller, same color, a Russian wolfhound wearing a spiked collar and an expression of magic. He broke his chain when he saw me and ran in the back of the house. That should have told me something, but I plunged the doorbell and was admitted by a butler named Stanley who left me standing in a draft in the library looking at a cold television set. I pulled up my coat collar.  Pretty soon, things started. A blonde girl in a yellow suit was having a one-sided argument with a gray-haired man in a gray suit. Nobody paid any attention to me.  Well, let me tell you it can go on. Just as long as I want it to. And there's nothing you can do about it, so don't whatever you do try to interfere. Oh, stop. He didn't say anything. I saw them walk around the garden once, shake fists at each other and finally part. He disappeared up a narrow stairway and she came storming back through the library. Who are you? How do you do? Who are you? Sam Spade. What are you doing here? Waiting to talk to Mr. Scully. Well, I just talked to him and he isn't very nice. Let me tell you that. Yes, but I... He's a nasty, stubborn, bullheaded old man and you won't like him. Oh, yes, but... Nobody likes him. Go back where you came from, whatever your name is. I'm the nicest person. You'll meet around this place. Yes, but... Don't wait around. Oh, goodbye. But I did wait around, Dr. Kensington, and I did talk to Mr. Scully when you came in the room with him. Only Mr. Scully did not talk to me. He glared at me through black smoldering eyes, sniffed the air, frowned at my cigarette. I frowned back. Mr. Spade, I'm Dr. Kensington. I wrote you the letter. This is Mr. Scully. Oh, please, the cigarette. Mr. Scully suffered a severe accident many years ago that affected his throat and his respiratory tract. He smoked. Of course, I understand, Dr. Sorry, Mr. Scully, I... Yes, thank you, Spade. This is not generally known, but the unfortunate accident in the chemical plant also robbed Mr. Scully of his vocal power. I see. Yes, the modern doctor, the position of today is a far cry from the general practitioner of yesteryear. Today, we must know the mind, the psychological quirks, the, uh... Well, he must follow through completely on the case. Sometimes, as I am today, a carthadon, an executive officer for his patients. He is, uh... Well, a friend, to say the least, eh? Oh, yes, yes, to say the least. Eh? Oh, of course, Mr. Scully, to the point, of course. Uh, sit down, Spade. Oh, thank you. Now then, Mr. Scully, as you well know, the world knows, has made several fortunes in his lifetime. And he didn't accomplish this by allowing people to run rough shadows. But, Mr. Scully, I'm just backgrounding Mr. Spade. Please be patient. Uh, Mr. Scully intends leaving his daughter Helen his entire fortune, a great deal of money, to say the least. Say the least, but Helen doesn't care about the money. She's foolish, young, headstrong, and impetuous. Eh? I heard her arguing with Mr. Scully a bit out of there. Now, now, now, Mr. Scully, we'll straighten all this out. Mr. Spade will help us. Well, then, Spade, you have half the problem right there. She is a headstrong, impetuous girl. And, uh, lately, she's done several things to displease her father. Right, Mr. Scully? Well, you see, Mr. Spade? Well, I gather that much, but what kind of thing? Helen's been singing in a cheap nightclub called the Blue Goose. What? Oh, it's very embarrassing. Low-class, eh? Yes. There's a man named Torpy. He owns the club. A man named Chick Torpy? Ah, you know of him? I've heard of him. Contrary to all her father's wishes, Helen insists on seeing this man Torpy. How old is she? Well, that's beside the point, Mr. Spade. But a sordid affair now might rob her of a future of wealth and security. Mr. Scully's at the point of exasperation. He might well change his will over this matter. Uh, correct, Mr. Scully? At best, this is an embarrassing situation, and most indiscreet of Helen do have brought it about. So, uh, I'm supposed to go talk to Chick Torpy, is that it? In a word, yes. Mm-hmm. Well, you sound rather reluctant, Mr. Spade. Chick Torpy's a little too old for the boy scout. Well, I... We want you to see him. Find out how much you'll take to stop seeing Helen. Tell me, what happens if Torpy isn't for sale? Oh, everyone has a price, Mr. Spade, matter of character. You get paid for work like this, that's your price. Yeah, that reminds me, 50 a day, and expenses five days' guarantee to say the least. Of course, say the least. And, uh, Mr. Scully, I happen to have a standard clients contract with me here. If you'll just sign on both pages, I'm... Uh, never mind, Spade, not now. Mr. Scully will mail it to you later on today. Ah, dear, Mr. Scully's fatigued. Well, you contact me as soon as you have any information for us. I said I would. Mr.  It was interesting, meeting this voiceless tycoon who must have made and broken many a man with a knot of his head or a shrug of his shoulders. The same black dog with the same spiked collar was still outside the house doing the same thing. Ah, Spade! Mr. Spade? But, uh, something new had been added. A pair of well-tailored shoulders, diamond-sticked pen, and a gray-felt hat with a snap trim. Hello, Spade. You, uh, don't know me. Uh, now, now, wait a minute. There's something about a guy in a line-up.  When did you get out of Folsom, Danny? Oh, a while back. They gave me a kind of, uh, rain check. Mm-hmm. Wasn't that 38 make you a parole breaker? Oh, uh, is that showing? Unless your ribs grow in different directions. Sam, I'm here to save you a lot of trouble. Uh, what trouble are you here to save me? You want to see Chick Torpy, don't you? You've got business to talk with him, no? No one gets around fast, Danny. No. No, it's just that Chick had been expecting somebody like you from the old man, and, well, I'm here to see that you see him. So, uh, why don't you kind of get in the car? And I, uh, kind of did. Danny smiled, lit a cigarette, shifted his shoulder holster so he could shift gears better, and drove me back across town to an apartment house on the south, the metropolitan. A good-looking guy who stood about six feet four, black hair, and answered the knock. Hello, Chick. May I present Sam Spade? Sam Spade, meet Chick Torpy. That'll do it, Danny. Thanks. Hello, Spade. Come on in. See you, gentlemen. Hello, Chick. Your taxi service always free? Just when I'm in a hurry to get things settled, soldier. You saw the old man today, huh? I, uh, saw him and talked to his doctor, Kensington. All right. You're here to tell me how worried the old man is, right? If you're talking about Helen and you, yes.  Yeah. What else? He wants you to stop seeing her. Well, suppose I don't want to stop seeing her. Suppose I told you I love her. Let's see. She comes in a $3 million box when he kicks. You love her. I'd be crazy if I didn't. I wonder what she'd say if she heard you say that. Why don't you ask her, Spade? Helen. Hello, Mr. Spade. Told you to leave my house today, but you didn't listen. Then Spade? Well, I'm wondering, anyway. When you get back to my father, tell him I think chick would be a fool to brush me off. Tell him that someday I expect to inherit all of that wonderful money he's spent a lifetime making. Tell him that chick's tired of working. Got all that? Yep. How do you feel, Spade? Like I'm earning my fee. Oh, you've already earned it, Spade. There's no use crying. I've told him myself, now you can tell him. She's not for sale and I'm not for sale. Got it? You got it. All right, then you're finished here. Well, I'm not sure I want to talk to him. Give him a pill. And it was on that happy note, Doctor, that I went downstairs, found a drugstore and tried to phone you and tell you what Torpy had said. Your line was busy and while I was waiting for it to get un-busy, I spotted Chick Torpy out in front. He looked madder than when I'd left him and there was a bulge in his coat that hadn't been there before. He got into a black sedan near the curb and I hailed a cab and followed him across town up the Knob Hill. A half a block from the Scully residence, I left my taxi and took the rest on foot. He was still a couple of hundred feet ahead of me as he disappeared into the garden entrance. I heard a cry for help and then... Chick was standing over something on the ground. When he saw me, he streaked for a break in the hedge. I stopped long enough to have a look at the body he'd left. My client, he still had gray hair and he was still wearing the gray suit. A half a space has been shot away. The makers of Wild Root Cream Oil are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of Dashel Hammett's famous private detective, Sam Spade. Remember, non-alcoholic Wild Root Cream Oil contains lanolin.  So if you want your hair to be more attractive than ever before, get the generous new 25-cent size of Wild Root Cream Oil. America's leading hair tonic, on sale at all drug and toilet goods counters. It's also available in larger economy bottles and the handy new tube. By the way, smart girls use Wild Root Cream Oil too when others say it's grand for training children's hair. Get Wild Root Cream Oil again and again the choice of men and women and children too. Go back to the prodigal daughter caper, tonight's adventure with Sam Spade. Today's contract arrived in the morning mail signed by Casper Scully. The headlines were no surprise. Chick Torpy sought in shooting of multi-millionaire. Item. Ballistics matched up slugs taken from body with weapon owned and licensed to one chick Torpy. And item. Because of a city ordinance regarding dispossession, the body of Casper Scully, found off the immediate premises of his home, had been removed to the city morgue and would remain there until claimed by nearest of kin. Hi, boys. Good to look on you. Hello, Maxi. What brings you, Sam? Scully stiff. Oh, yeah, yeah, checked him back in. Autopsy. Were you in with this, Sam? Do you know Scully? I just met him yesterday.  Oh, such a mess. Whoo-hoo! Such a mess. Yeah, I know. I found him. They tell me he has to be claimed. City ordinance, Sam, nearest of kin. Don't be his daughter, Helen. She called, or anything? No, not yet. But to get back to him, a real queer one, maybe the tops this season. How so? Barbarianism, Sam. That's what it is. The world is moving backwards. You can get deader than dead. Huh? You'd think the slugs in his chest would be enough, but no. Four also in the head, too. Kill him twice. Say it again, Maxi. You mean the... Twice, twice, Sam. In the chest, maybe 20 to 30 hours ago. In the head, maybe 12 hours later. You see what I mean? I didn't like what I saw, but things did begin to make some sense. When the morgue I found the chronicle of us confirmed that Scully did suffer from a throat ailment, was publicity shy, was never interviewed or photographed for that reason. I asked them if they had a specimen of his handwriting by any chance. And they did. I had it sent to me by a special messenger and a signature compared to the one of my five-day contract with Mr. Scully, made interesting reading. But what was even more interesting was the DOA. Maxi was ushering in. As I was saying, Sam, it's awful the way these homicides are turning up nowadays. In gray suits, it's fashionable now. Hey. What's the matter, Sam? You know him? Yeah, I know him. What's it say? Cotek says unidentified accidental drowning. Found off Pier 14, time 8.15 this a.m. Accidental drowning. You don't think so? Why do you think he's dead? I think he's dead because he didn't cough when the doctor asked him to. I left Maxi to his newest customer and looked up the police officer who had found the unidentified man. All I had on him was New York clothing labels and a silver identification bracelet with name Julio engraved on it between two small indentations of the comedy tragedy drama masks. It wasn't much, but it took me to a theater on Post Street featuring a special company of Spanish actors on tour. I am the manager of the company. What is it, Clint? I'm sorry to trouble you. I'm trying to locate a certain man. I have a good reason to believe he's with your company.  His name, please? One name might be Julio. Oh, Julio Cedevaca, please. Gray-haired, medium-built. You are from the police? No. If you are looking for Julio Cedevaca, why are you not from the police? Two days ago, Julio, who does not speak any English, is asked of all things to appear on the television... Television? Television program. Here is his line. I'm proud. But yesterday morning, a man on the telephone, they speak, and Julio goes out with no words. I too am looking for him. He meets his performance the afternoon. I see. He drinks too much sometimes. I know, and he misses the evening. Where he is, this I do not know. But if you find him... I, uh, I have found him. You have found him? Does he have a wife? I am Mr. Cedevaca. What is it, senor? What has happened to my husband? You'd better get your coat, Mrs. Cedevaca. I went back to the morgue with Mrs. Cedevaca, doctor, and after that, I went over to the blue goose club. Tired, Danny Boyd? Tired. Well, come on in and relax. Nice place. You run it for Chick? When he's away. Seen Chick lately? Two sets of cops, three reporters have been here asking the same question already this morning. What are you trying to prove? Chick's in trouble. You're his partner. Now, he got himself into this one spade. Look, we make a nice dollar running this place. It's legitimate. And no cop's gonna raid us or close us up. Chick started fooling around with that Scully woman. And I told him just once. It's dynamite, I said. You know how the old man is? Let bygones be bygones. But Chick didn't listen. Tell me about the bygones. It should be bygones and why Chick should know how the old man is. Well, Scully sent him up five years ago. Didn't you know? No, I didn't. Chick owned some property south of Brasito and Scully wanted it for oil drilling or something. Chick asked too much and Scully figured a way to get it from him in court. Had it condemned or something. Well, Chick got kind of sorry. He met the old man on the street one day and, well, they convicted Chick of attempted murder. Two and a half years. And Chick looked up Scully's daughter when he got out of prison and started making love to her to get in. Well, yes, spade. That's just the way it started. Only Chick was the sucker after all. He really went for the creature. He married her three weeks ago in Reno, the poor sap. Anybody else know about that part of it? Only me. I was best man.  Who's Julio, whatever it is? An actor who happened to look something like old man Scully. Enough like him to keep his mouth closed when I was there but who might want to open it later. I, uh... I don't know what you're talking about, spade. I didn't think you would. But, uh, I don't like it. Yeah, boy. Timmy? Joe? Yeah. Throw this bomb out. I'm sick of looking at it. And they did. It was two against one. And I'd been up late the night before. I was doing very well, though, until somebody stooped to a form of subterfuge I have long since grown to hate. I was born on two swathe shoulders out of a club and into the open air. I was on a balcony and a good stiff sea breeze was blowing. I didn't enjoy it long. One, two... Water was cold but refreshing. And I managed to swim the five feet the shore. And that was my limit. I hung onto a slippery piling which supported the blue goose above me and partially hid the antechamber in front of me. It had been a wine cellar once and a loading dock, I suspected, during prohibition. This time it was a hideout. Keep your hands up, spade. Close the door. Six, please. Keep out of this, Helen. Man, you're crazy, Torpy. You got this all wrong. Mr. Spade, right here. There's probably a five grand reward out for me right now. They want me dead or alive, and you're here to tell me how wrong I am. Well, it'll be dead, spade. They'll never take me and you aren't going to. Listen to reason. That's all the reason I'm going to listen to. You know, when I'm doing things my way, I got nothing to lose now. I'm getting out of here. So long, baby.  As you know, doctor, I turned Chick Torpy over to the police along with Danny Covello and took Helen Scully home. She ran upstairs with many tears and I met you in the library. You seemed relieved when you heard the Torpy had been apprehended. However, I had some other questions to ask. You answered. All right, spade, all right. I suppose it'll all come out anyway. Two nights ago, Chick Torpy came to the house to have it out with Mr. Scully. He told him about their marriage. There was an argument. I was the only one in the house. I heard shots, ran in the room, and found Mr. Scully dead. The marriage certificate was in his hand. I knew this would involve Helen and so I did what I did. Well, it was a nightmare. I hid the body hoping to find a way, perhaps, a death certificate on accidental shooting or something. In other words, you were helping Torpy get away with murder. Yes, but I was thinking only of Helen. Her father did love her. But you'd already sent a letter to me. You knew I'd be here the next morning. You'd seen an actor on a television program. He resembled Scully. You hired him for a job.  Oh, it was crude, perhaps, but I didn't want you to become suspicious when a death report did show up. I intended to hire you and fire you. Only it didn't work out. I followed Torpy here and found the body. Oh, I've been such a fool, Spade. Helping a man get away with murder, I... I want to confess it all. I suppose this will make me an accessory to a murder. Not exactly. You mean there's a way out? There's a way out and you were going to take it. What? I was over to your apartment before I came here. You're all moved out. The doorman tells me your luggage has been at the station all morning. What'd you do? Can we get a rifle to save? No, I'll see you here, Spade. Stop it. You were waiting around to see if they took Torpy dead or alive. Dead, he couldn't talk, and you'd be okay.  You bumped Scully. No. Get back there. Then you did your best to hang it on a chick. Helen thought he really did it and played along with you. You're not an accessory to murder.  That actor was knocked on the head before he drowned. Oh, just a minute, Spade. This could be fixed if you...  I don't understand. What, Angel? I don't understand, Spade. What, what, what, what? I thought you turned Chick Torpy over to the police. Yes, Dr. Kensington was a murderer. A formality, F. He will be released and cleared in short order. Anything else? Well, yes, yes. What about Danny Covellio? An innocent bystander.  And he has already made amends with those tickets for the fights. No more questions, F. Type this up and I'll give you the happy ending. And now, listen to this. School days will soon be here, mothers. To make sure a junior's hair is always neat and well-groomed, get after those cowlicks and stray strands with Wild Root Cream Oil, the famous hair tonic that grooms the hair neatly and naturally, relieves dryness and removes loose, ugly dandruff, and remind Dad to ask his barber for a professional application of Wild Root Cream Oil Hair Tonic. Again and again, the choice of men and women and children too. I shall rephrase the question. What? Oh, I see. You mean the magazine like, huh? I had an advance copy. It's not even out till next Tuesday. What's it doing here? Oh, sweetie. Who? Who are these people here? That's Sam Spade. What? On the radio, you know, Howard Duff. He plays you on the radio. Howard Duff? Why don't I play it on the radio? You're not the type, I guess. Man, look here. Sam Spade dictating to Effie. Hey, she's not bad, you know, not bad. Oh, really? That's the accuracy I thought. Why is that? The name is so accuracy. As Bill Spear, Spade Podosa, gives final instructions. Look at him. He has nine o'clock shadow. Well, come on. Let's get out of here. Go to the fights. Oh, Sam. Hmm? Then I can't say it. Say what? Well, if you're taking me to the fights, I... I can't very well leave and say good night, Sam. Well, you can try. It's expected, you know. All right. Good night, Sam. Grins, good night, sweetheart. The Adventures of Sam Spade, Dashel Hammett's famous private detective, are produced and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade is played by Howard Dove. Lorraine Tuttle is Effie. Tonight's Adventure with Sam Spade was written for radio by E. Jack Newman. Musical direction by Lud Gluskin, with score composed by Pierre and Renee Gerrigank. Join us again next Sunday when author Dashel Hammett and producer William Spear join forces for another adventure with Sam Spade. Brought to you by Wild Root Cream Oil. Again and again, the choice of men and women and children, too.  Get Wild Root Cream Oil, Charlie. It keeps her hair in trim. You see, it's not... That's the Columbia Broadcasting System. Stay tuned for Life with Louis Jeon. W-C-B-S-A-M-S-M, New York.


At least 233 people were killed and 900 were injured when two passenger trains collided in India's Odisha state, a government official said on June 3, marking the country's deadliest rail accident in more than a decade. The death toll from June 2 crash is expected to rise, the state's chief secretary Pradeep Jena said on Twitter. White body bags were seen scattered along the side of the crash while rescue operations were underway as onlookers watched. The collision occurred at about 1900 hours local time on Friday when the Hara Superfast Express, running from Bangalore to Hara, West Bengal, collided with the Coromandel Express, which runs from Kolkata to Chennai.


Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the last meeting of 2022 in the beginning of hopefully a safe and blessed holiday season. Madam Clark could you read the role please? Absolutely good evening. Mr. Taylor. Here. Ms. Herbert. Here. Dr. Bussles. Here. Mr. Brennan. Present. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Present. Mayor Rickman. Here. We stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the Republic of Texas, one nation under God, individual liberty and justice. At this time, we'll ask Reverend Ed McDowell to give us the Methodist version, not the Baptist version of the invocation. Well, let me give you the ecumenical version. Let us buy our heads together. In this season of giving, in this season of sharing, we come to this place to feel and to sense your power. There are so many things in this city of ours and in this nation of ours. Sometimes it seems overwhelming, but in so feeling that sense of overwhelming, we understand that the newborn child, the advent of him coming into our lives graciously and spiritually gives us the power to move beyond hopelessness into hope. Bless us as we gather here today. Allow your presence, the joy of the Christmas season, to fall afresh upon us. Bless us. Ignite us with new promise and yet give to us a sense of wonderment as we almost leave this season into the new year. We ask it in your name. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Reverend McDowell. Thank you, sir. We're at the point of adoption of the agenda. Mr. DeVall has some amendments to add to the agenda. Mr. Mayor, I move we adopt the agenda with the exception of deferring item for second reading item 14 and adding Dr. Prince, Executive Director of Schools for Richland One on item 26. So we have a motion. Is there a second? Any discussion, questions, concerns, add-ons? Hearing none, seeing none. Madam Clerk, could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Mr. Herbert. Dr. Bustles. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. DeVall. Aye. Mayor Reconmen. Aye. Thank you. At this time, we have public input on agenda items. I have several people signed up. The first speaker will be Stephen Cook. Mr. Mayor, City Council members, my name's Stephen Cook. I was pointed at the homeless task force by the City Council and I just want to applaud your actions that you've taken over the last year to address this problem, the immense amount of time and energy that you devoted, but also the significant financial resources you've allocated. But as we move forward with this, these problems are not going to be fixed with the stroke of a pen or the hiring of a few employees and they certainly aren't going to be fixed Monday to Friday from nine to five from behind a desk. Last week, Starbucks and Five Points permanently removed all its outside tables and chairs and closed its interior seating in the morning and evening because of the ongoing homeless issues they were facing. Once vibrant and bustling corner in our neighborhood is now dead, a place where hundreds of people a day mad, talked and shared has effectively been killed and turned into a walk up to go kiosk because the homeless problem overwhelmed them. And this is how businesses are forced to deal with problems like this. When they aren't addressed, they have to close their doors. Small business owners and Five Points have effectively been deputized as first responders in dealing with the homeless problem. In most case, it's us that have to deal with the chronically homeless to triage the needs, what, why is necessary and call seek beauty for help. It's a job we didn't ask for and don't want. But in this situation, we've been drafted as a first line of protection for our stores, employees, customers and communities. Um, and what would you do if somebody came to your home and destroyed your property and your neighbor's property? Police did their job and arrested them. And then two weeks later, they were sitting at the end of your driveway. That's the kind of reality. Small business owners face and Five Points. The police do their jobs and the same troubled folks are soon back on the streets repeating the cycle. These aren't single mothers. They're laid off and evicted. These are chronically homeless, almost exclusively with severe mental illness and drug addiction. And where does that cycle end until we are honest enough to admit that non traditional methods need to be taken to address the problem. It's not going to get better. Never will get worse. And what about the chronically homeless themselves? It's not absolutely not compassionate to continue to enable these folks to live on the streets. When I left work on Sunday night at 11 p.m. I counted at least three visibly troubled men just sitting on the street alone and cast aside. It was 35 degrees. How's it okay to leave these folks on the street in this condition? If they are not considered a danger to themselves, then I don't know who could be with weather dropping below freezing this week. We need to we need to not lack the will or ability to force them off the street. So in closing, some people might say that hey, this happens in every city, it's the federal government's fault, the state's fault. But I feel confident that each and every one of you elected the city office and every city employee that works so hard every day did not choose the path they took because they were willing to accept that some problems just don't have solutions. I appreciate y'all's time and thank you very much. Merry Christmas. Thank you, Steve. Miss Diane Wiley. How you doing? To Mr. Risa, the government and city council. I can't see you nor hear you. Can you see me now? I can see you now. Okay, I just want to do I like to see you smile. Yeah. On item 20. I want to thank everybody for working and helping us getting everything done for Belvedere. We really need this. I want to thank everybody here, especially Mr. McDowell, Revin, Mr. McDowell, Councilman and Leon Howard, because we really need this item for number 20. We really need it. And I want to make sure that y'all know that we need DOT, Richland County and the city to work together because we got a lot of issues in our neighborhood with the streets, with the ditches, one area is DOT, one city and one the county. And we need y'all to write these letters so that they can all be city because when we got annex in, they didn't do that. The other council didn't do that. So we want to make sure that we get this done because it's a long time we've been waiting. One of our neighbors, wrapped by Ms. Jones House, she died. She didn't get a chance to see what was going on. Only thing she's seen was a street to be paved. And it's a lot of people. They're getting sick because it's a lot of things that's going on out there that we need fixed. We are in the city and we want everything else what the city got. We want our neighborhood to look beautiful. That's all I want to say. I'm not going to come up here first, but I just want to make sure y'all know what's going on.  I'll be up here. Well, those are two things we know about you very well, Ms. Wiley. Yes. Yes. And thank you for your continued support. Seven years going on eight is a long time. My husband getting tired. But I want to make sure that y'all know that he, you know, he said, is it worth it? Yes, it's worth it. It's our house. I want to make sure that I know that Mr. McDowell, you city council and Leon Howard has really worked hard for us. And we thank you. Thank you, Ms. Wiley. Thank you. Representative Howard, it's a pleasure to have you here. Congratulations on your new post. We're excited to work with you. Next on the agenda. I mean, next up is Robert duket. Is that say that correctly? Sorry, I had a hard time reading you. You write like I do. Wasn't smart enough to go to med school, but me either. Okay. Mr. Mayor, members of council, I spoke last time about item now item 15, which is 3800 overbrook. It's a proposal to put 31 townhouses there. Like I say, I've lived in overbrook since 1986, moved there just after law school, lived there with my wife, our child grew up there. This project on an overbrook drive, we've done more than our share for for housing multifamily housing. The problem with this project is it's right at the corner of South Kilburn, a major intersection and where super has a little turn off where it meets with overbrook. And I hope I know we have a couple steps left, but I hope that members of council will do a walkthrough of your own. I go to work every morning at, you know, about 7am. I'm leaving out in the traffic's absolutely bad now. It's dangerous at that corner of South Kilburn in Rosewood. And this would put in 31 more townhouses on a major corner there of South Kilburn, super in overbrook. And it's going to be dangerous. And it already is. You have little children waiting along that street for buses. Also, we talked last time about the water problems that are there that are existing and 31 more. Thank you for the one on Kilburn getting fixed shortly after this last meeting. But right in front of this project at 38 overbrook are still cones where this water project is still a problem water that goes down overbrook. So still a major problem. There's a church right across the Baptist Church right across from what is now this residential property. And I think in times very soon you're going to hear from the minister who certainly does not want for himself or his congregation, a major project there with townhouses. It's just does not fit in the nature of the community right there on the corner. So we just want to be here and let you know there's door to door being done on this and you know, it's difficult at times to get people here at four o'clock. But there's a lot of concern. We want to have more of our concerned neighbors appear before you and tell you our real concerns about this project. I'm not just wanting to reiterate those and I hope you don't get sick of seeing us, but we're very, very concerned about this. And I thank you for listening to me. Thank you, sir. Miss Whitney Denton. Thank you again for allowing us to speak. And as he stated, you're probably going to get tired of hearing us. But to reiterate, we do have concerns with our infrastructure. We do have concerns regarding the traffic in the neighborhood. DOT has not agreed to any additional traffic calming measures on South Kilbourne, because it is the main thoroughfare. And if they do additional there, it will push it further into the side roads of the neighborhood. I know my concern is the spring when the DOT is actually going to do something with the bridges on 77. When that backs up, they're going to come up and down Beltline. So we have obvious concerns with that. And I want to speak again about the water lines. And I brought this with me today. And here's an orange tic-tac to show you size. This is a pebble that came out of my cold water supply line in my kitchen when I couldn't get out myself and I had to call the plumber once again. My PSI went up at my house to 133 weeks ago. I had to go ahead and put another pressure reducing valve on, even though I haven't put one back on because I burn them out so often because of the debris that comes in my water lines. I am not on any phase of water line replacement. And I have new pipes in my house. So yes, I have a valid concern. I'm tired of picking pebbles out of my kitchen faucet. This is when I couldn't get out, not even with YouTube. But I take my faucet apart about every three weeks to get the dirt and sand out or otherwise I don't have enough water to wash dishes. Thank you for your time. This Kathy Kittle, is that I say that correctly? Thank you. One out of five is not bad today, right? Very good. Well, again, you know, the annexation is being brought before you for the benefit of this builder. And really the only reason and when we had a neighborhood meeting recently, his representative was there and did it was this is a done deal. The wheels have been greased. I guess the handshakes have been made. And it really has concerned us all because we we feel we need to bring the red flags and you know, it's the city of Columbia in the neighborhood that are going to be left to deal with the consequences that really at this point, we can't fully understand because when asked about a traffic study, an environmental study because Gills Creek is at the bottom and a infrastructure study, you know, would that be done? It was stated that they weren't required and no, they wouldn't be done because they cost money. Well, who's gonna who's gonna have to pay and come up with the money when we do realize that we have problems and that they need to be fixed. And even environmentally you figure this property is at the top of the hill. It's almost two acres that has been soaking up all the water that's not going down the road. Now it's going to be filled with parking lot, which does not include any visitor parking and then all the car residual oil and everything else. So all that water and all those chemicals are now going to be going down the street into Gills Creek. But apparently, that's not a concern. And you know, just looking at it, it's obvious that this builder is more interested in extracting all the value that he cannot of our community, not adding to it. And from listening to you all, you know, last week, it sounds like all the money that you're talking about investing into the community is to bring value. And this will not. So really, you know, what can we do? I think by drastically reducing the density that they're talking about at that corner is, you know, at minimal what we can do. I know this is annexation. It doesn't have anything to do with the next steps. But maybe alerting the people that come forward, you know, those studies need to be done. Thank you. Thank you for being here, Miss Kittle. Now that is the final person who signed up for is this for an agenda item. Please come forward. How are y'all doing tonight? Sorry, I'm late. I got here as soon as I as soon as I could. My name is JT Thayer. And I live at 3845 Overbrook. This is I am a first time homeowner. This is the first time I've been able to purchase a place. I lived in Massachusetts prior to here. And one of the reasons I moved to South Carolina so that I could own a home and build a community here. And I'm very concerned for a lot of the reasons that that these folks here have been talking about. I don't know if you all have any of you seen the intersection in person or driven down it? So you've noticed that the quality of the roads in that area are pretty pretty dire. If you drive down Overbrook, you'll literally hit a huge bump and then kind of coast down into a lower area. And I've been told that that was a sinkhole in 2015 when we got all the flooding. And that was before before I lived there. But if you just think about the increased traffic, there's already I think 150 people that's a conservative estimate living in about a two block area on Overbrook. And if we are looking at 31 units, conservatively, let's say that 60 people. And so that's a huge increase in an already very densely populated area. And that and just about a couple of months ago, they started doing some construction on Kilbourne.  And just that area being redone rerouted the whole traffic for the whole neighborhood because Kilbourne runs into it.  It's a very weird intersection. There's the way that Super Street kind of runs up with Kilbourne there. And as I try to make a right on over from Overbrook onto Kilbourne every day, it's even without construction there, the visibility and making that turn is really dangerous. You can barely see if cars are coming, coming down super. And so if you have a huge construction there, like just the the incident of traffic jams, I'm really concerned about pedestrians as well. I'm a disabled person. I recently just in the last couple of months have been healthy enough to start walking my dogs again for the first time since before the pandemic. And that's something that brings me a lot of joy. And I don't know with all the increased congestion, if it's even going to be safe to to walk on this on these streets with more traffic with, you know, there's going to be more dumpsters and or roller carts and like really just just havoc in in that area. I don't know how else to express to express our concerns, but it's, you know, I speak for almost everyone in my apartment at my condo complex as well. So there's a lot of people and we will keep showing up because this is this is our home. So thank you for listening. Thank you. Is there anybody else on this issue? So make sure we we had an opportunity to hear hearing on and seeing we'll move Madam City Yes, sir. Thank you. Mayor recommend at this time, we would ask Council to consider the consent agenda items one through 13 and numbers 15 and 16. Is there a motion? I move approval. Is there a second? Any discussions, questions, concerns, hearing on seeing Madam clerk? Could you read the role, please? Mr. Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert. Hi, Dr. Bussles. Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Mayor recommend. I consideration of bids and agreements item 17 Council is asked to approve the fiscal year 2022 2023 contract renewal for services related to the retention of military personnel services and operations located at Fort Jackson during the upcoming rounds of the base realignment enclosure, BRAC and secret secretion as requested by the economic development department award to the greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the amount of $53,500, which is not included in the second motion in a second. Any comments, questions, hearing none, seeing none, Madam clerk. Mr. Taylor. Hi, Ms. Herbert. Hi, Dr. Bussles. Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Duvall. Mayor recommend. Item 18 Council is asked to approve the fiscal year 2022 2023 contract renewal for professional services for improvement and operational services within the downtown business improvement district as requested by the economic development department award to the city center partnership and the amount of $70,000 move. There's a motion. Is there a second? Second discussion. I'd like to propose an amendment to move the funding source to each tax funds given the role of the downtown business improvement district as well as other funds that the city center partnership receives from us. I'd like to move table that motion. I'm opposed to taking it out of each tax. I think we should clarify, Mr. Mayor, that it was proposed to come from from the special contracts, which is which is which is where general fund general fund. So we're asking all the citizens of Columbia to participate in this when technically, I think a more appropriate place I have to agree would be from each tax and let funds that are generated from that area be spent in that area. Well, they've already had a bite at the age tax. I think it's $125,000. The message. Can you tell us how much they've gotten out of each tax? Let me clarify. I don't think I don't want to speak for Dr. Bussells, but I don't think we're talking about cutting anybody's money. We're just talking about changing the payment source from general fund revenue to age tax. I don't want to take it out of each tax. I think the age tax needs to be used for other purposes than then double dipping by the city center partnership. And I do have a question regarding the balance because I know we have some other issues with some other recommendations coming from hospitality. So I just want to make sure we're all clear on what the numbers are that we're dealing with. I support the age tax, by the way, I just want to make that clearer because I do think that's the appropriate source for what they're what they're doing. In the past, this has not come out of general fund. It's come out of water sewer fund. Under you can I'm right? Is that not true? Not most recent. Not most recent. You're saying in past years, has it ever come out of water and sewer? Yes, we did it come out of last year. General fund. Yes, sir. City center partnership ship gets 300,000 from age tax currently 300,000. Can you table this? Did you move the table? Yes, he didn't get a second. There's no second on the table, correct? Or what? Yeah, there was no second to the tabling. No, it was. So I second Dr. Russell's motion. Any further discussion? Would this not put so there's a second round of age tax requests coming that money was separate. That was separate. So this is not remember they took them. We gave them more money this year. They took that and set segregated out some for a second round. Brother, brother, correct on that. Is the balance there to support the 70,000? Yes, correct. Mr. Did I understand you say that the balance in eights taxes and to separate and to pull money from there? What's the balance? There's 800,000 fund balance about 790. Fundings are there. It's appropriate source. We have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? Hearing unseen, Madam Clark, could you read the role? Mr. Taylor? Do you confirm the motion that we're voting on? The motion is to approve the contract or the funding for the city center partnership as amended for the funding to come from the Hospitality Tax Fund. Votes on the amendment. Votes on the amendment. Correct. So a yes vote means it comes from age tax. Yes. I is Herbert. I Dr. Bustles. Mr. Brennan. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. No. Mayor recommend. Thank you. Now we're voting on the amendment on the amended motion. No, no. You tabled it. I didn't get motion. I'm the motion. What didn't care that motion didn't care. So we've been brought it back to the motion. It wasn't a second. It never got seconded. The main amendment. We can name her mission. Her her motion is the main motion and we amended and we did not know you did not amend it. There was a motion made by Mr. McDowell seconded by Mr. Brennan to approve the contract as is Dr. Bustles amended it so that the funding would come from age tax. You made a motion but it was not seconded the table. Dr. Bustles amended motion. Okay. Congratulations. It's not a contest. Item 19. Yes ma'am. Thank you. Yes sir. Item 19 council is asked to approve the fiscal year 2022 2023 contract renewal for assistance with recruitment project management promotions marketing and research as requested by the economic development department award to the Central SC Alliance and the amount of $72,000 which does not include an increase. Is there a motion? Is there a second? Second. Discussion. Mr. Mayor. I do think as we go through the budget process next year, it's important for us to engage with this group. I know that partially I've worked with them before but we need to make sure that urban economic development and urban recruiting is included in their mission. I know in the past it hasn't been a priority for really showed no interest whatsoever. I do think it's important that we play some role because people in Colombia will work to it manufacturing jobs and things like that around but we need again when it comes to looking at lead list who we might recruit but capital developers we might call on they've got they've got to they've got to join together with us on that or we go we need to re evaluate the situation next year. And I'm my understanding this this did go through the economic development. I'm not going to support it. I didn't think it it was something I talked about early on in advance of the budget that I didn't think I think if we needed to take some time off and figure out what really worked for the city because it it really is focused on more manufacturing and and counties and it is the city. I would support a much lesser amount but I'm not going to support for this at this time. I mean, I think to to equal what some other community partners are doing their 25,000 I'd mend the emotion to prove it at $25,000. I think to Councilman Taylor at your point to mayors, what is their role? I mean, we're here. We are trying to paint the picture of who we are telling our story, especially in the economic development, local job growth. I don't I don't think tagging a lower number gets to that. So is it if it's a function of tabling and working with our economic development department to find out what that scope is and how they fit in and then come into a number, I suggest that would probably be a better path for I will remove my motion. I'm gonna move to table it. And second. Let me finish move to the far move to the table it and defer it to the committee. We got a proper. We have a motion. We have a second. There's a second. Yes. Madam clerk. Mr. Taylor. Mr. Herbert. Dr. Bussles. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Mayor Rickman. I thank you. Item 20 council is asked to approve a new contract for program management and construction services for the Belvedere home assistance program have a work to the CBA group LLC and the amount of $450,000 for program management services and $2,550,000 for rehabilitation activities for a total contract. A motion. Is there a second second. Representative Howard, I want to thank you for procuring the money and helping us improve all parts of our community. Thank you very much and thank you for being here this evening. Is there any discussion questions? Mr. Mayor, I'm going to vote in favor of this because I think it will certainly help the Belvedere community. I do have some concerns about it, but my concerns were assuayed by the contract that the staff has come up with for implementing this program. This is not going to be a city of Columbia program. This will be a special program with the funds that Representative Howard has brought forward to help the Belvedere community. One of my concerns is that they're putting a cap of $40,000 on a restoration and I'm worried that when the cost of that restoration gets to be $50,000 they're going to blame the city of Columbia for not finishing the project. So I want the public to understand that this is not a city of Columbia program. Representative Howard has used the city to get this money to a contractor and I applaud them for helping that community, but this is not going to be a community development program from the city of Columbia. Any other discussion? I am happy to support this project, and I think it's really wonderful for the Belvedere community. One thing I'd like the staff to consider as we finalize our contract and given some of the insurance requirements that are included is that at no one time should the current construction exceed 70% of what the contractor is insured for. I think that'll address some of Councilman Duvall's concerns and we'll set up this project for success. Any other comments? Move to previous question. Madam Clark. Mr. Taylor. Hi. Ms. Herbert. Dr. Bussells. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. I. I recommend. I thank you. Thank you all and we will factor in Dr. Bussells recommendation. Mr. Mayor. May have just a moment of personal privilege. You mean, sir? Thank you, sir. I remember 20 represents a Renaissance for the Belvedere community. A year ago, Representative Leon Howard and I talked about this project and it was because of his energy and his resourcefulness to secure these funds. Belvedere is going to be a new and different community. With the help of our president over there, Ms. Wiley. Stand where is Ms. Wiley? Okay. Ms. Wiley. She's undercover. Thank you so much for your energy and what you do for the Belvedere community. Amen to that. Thank you, Leon. You've allowed us to shift gears and to move us into a newer direction and for that we are grateful. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Reverend McDowell. Madam City Manager. Item 21. Mr. City Manager, I would ask that we defer that. I apologize for missing at the beginning. There's some additional information we were requesting and I would like to have that brought up in January if possible. I will make a motion that we defer it. Second. There's a motion and a second. Any discussion? I just have a question. Is it time sensitive or is it going to impact? Is it deferral going to impact anything? We have been experiencing some bleeds. I'll let Mr. Shealy speak to that. If we could get it in January resolved, I think we will have the questions answered. We do have a bid, but we do have the time to to extend that bid and be able to address that and answer your questions Councilman in January. So I think we'll be okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Shealy. Madam Clerk. Mr. Taylor I. Ms. Herbert. I. Dr. Bussells. I. Mr. Brennan. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. I. Mayor Rickamon. I. Item 22. Council is asked to approve a new contract for project SS 7564, the West Columbia Pump Station Improvements as requested by Columbia Water. On September 27th, 2022, the award to MBECON Construction Company Inc. in an amount not to exceed $4,319,513, which includes contingency. This contractor is located in Columbia, South Carolina. The funding source is listed. The original budget amount is noted. MBECON being the prime contractor providing second. We got a motion in second discussion. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mayor, I would ask that Mr. Shealy come up and just I think this is a good example of cooperation and explain what this while this is a a larger contract with the city's portion of and and what West Columbia's portion of. So technically we would be approving a contract for for the full amount with the city's portion a smaller amount. Yes, sir. That's exactly right. Through our sanitary sewer arrangement with West Columbia and our contractual arrangement with them. We contract for the the improvements to the assets and then at the the ending of the project they reimburse us. So out of the 4.3 million and change of investment that's made, West Columbia will then reimburse about 44% or almost 1.9 million of that investment. Other assets are in investments that are made down the road at the plant or wherever it might be in the collection system. Their portion of contribution is based on a flow proportionate share of responsibility. So I applaud you for for working through this and coming with a joint deal. That's that's the kind of corporation that really helps the whole millions grow together. Thank you, sir. Thank you. So we have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Seeing none. Madam clerk, could you read the role please? Mr. Taylor. Mr. Herbert. Dr. Bussell. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Mr. Duvall. May I recommend? Aye. Item 22, ordinance's first reading. I'm sorry, item 23. Apologies. Ordinance number 2022123, granting an encroachment to Fort Jackson, SAP LLC for the use of the right-of-way area of the 4300 block of Fort Jackson Boulevard for the installation and maintenance of one curb cut sidewalks landscaping and irrigation. Motion to approve. We have a motion. Is there a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Further questions? Clarifications? Hearing none. Seeing none. Madam clerk, could you read the role please? Mr. Taylor. Aye. Ms. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Bussell. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. May I recommend? Aye. Item 24, ordinance number 2022128, consenting to the inclusion of property in a multi-county industrial business part 2222 main LLC. I would note that comes with a recommendation for approval. So we have a motion. Second. Got a second. Any discussion? Questions? Clarifications? Hearing none. Seeing none. Madam clerk, could you read the role on item 24 please? Mr. Taylor. Aye. Ms. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Bussell. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. May I recommend? Aye. Item 25 is an annexation interim future land use map amendment and interim zoning map map amendment case summary for 1008 South I road in council district three. Mr. Brennan. Motion to approve. Second. No motion to second. Any discussion? Hearing none. Seeing none. Madam clerk, could you read the role please? Mr. Taylor. Aye. Ms. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Bussell. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. May I recommend? Aye. Moving into a period of resolutions, item 26 is resolution number r202102, authorizing the award of a grant in the amount of 80 up to 80 thousand dollars to richland county school district one for the jobs for america's graduates jack s c program and authorizing the city manager to execute a service contract agreement implementing that grant. I did insert the up to amount being that we're at this point in the school year and fiscal year and I'm sure dr meandre prince the executive director of schools for richland school district one who's here can help answer any questions you may have. Dr. Prince, thank you for being here this evening. We're very excited about this opportunity to partner with richland one and expand what we all think is an incredible program and the opportunity afforded us thanks to the technical schools the governor and our partnership in this. I know there were some questions about timing and I know we're trying to push to to to get this part started as quickly but uh open up the floor to council members. Do you have a question miss harbert? Yeah, I really just had a question about timelines and the ability to get all of the other ones open by january or february or what is your timeline? What do you think you can do? Right now we have already posted the positions so schools were given the um the agreements last week we've signed those and so right now they're on our website and so we're hoping to start that process as early as when we get back in january and I guess it'll just be based on responses. Yes, um first off let me just say thank you on behalf of the at-risk kids and our public schools here in the city and I want to commend the mayor and chairman bishop the governor and Dr. Tim Hardy for coming together and I would ask is that explain just quickly this will put a jobs for american graduate program in every high school in richland district one. Yes, sir. It'll let us address approximately 600 or so of the most at-risk young people that we have when they're going into the ninth grade and stay with them through through graduation and I believe you already have a program that's run for some 10 to 13 14 years at CE Johnson. We do and the other part of that Councilman Taylor is that the um JAG specialist who's in or at CE Johnson also does a one-year follow-up with those students once they leave. That's fantastic and to share with the share with the public the graduation rate at CE Johnson on on these young people has been in excess of 94 percent. Right it has always exceeded the JAG requirements. Fantastic. Very high. Yes. A lot of those. Thank you for doing this. I think it's a wonderful partnership and and either you or the mayor if you would just explain to the public why it's only costing the city 80 000 I think that's important because it's it's a program far beyond that cost and I'll do that I think Mr. McDowell had a comment and then I'll wrap it up. Let me ask this question. Marvelous program very enriching and very empowering. What does the data look like after the three years in terms of what happens to that student? All of those students and we just did a presentation at a board meeting thinking about maybe two board meetings ago where we had the instructor from CE Johnson. So since I've been in the district now those students have done extremely well. Some have actually started their own business summary in college right now. Some have already finished college. And I want to add to that because it's important because of what we learned as we continue to have going in that program is that you know they're getting a credit towards college. They're up for free tuition in our technical colleges to pursue that route if they don't want to go. But like you said we also follow up with an entire year to help place those and get those kids career ready that probably had they not been in that JAG program which over a 13-year period this JAG program at CA Johnson has a 92 success rate. It's one of the best programs in the country and the network that the JAG program brings to help kids find jobs and get them connected with businesses. It's unmatched and you know I just have to thank the governor president of the technical school associations for putting this all together because they're funding three quarters of this cost and the city and Richland One are splitting the the last 25 percent. It's a true partnership. We're going to have up to nine schools I believe in this program and there's only 25 of these schools in our state so we are making a major move to provide our future our kids a future that may not have had it if we weren't there and this JAG program folks are working with these students on a day-to-day book. Kids who don't come to school they go to the kids where they are at home and make sure that they're there participating but listening and learning and I think the real part that I think was really good for miss uh uh Lois to talk about today too was the fact that they're digging into the root problems and getting with the kids and really finding out what's kept them from exceeding and solving that problem and creating that mentorship that lasts like you said from a three to four year period. In this expansion it's certainly going to be a welcome addition to our the high schools because now we can grow and look at other students who may not have gotten the deeper attention that that we want to provide for them. And this is why it's so great we're seizing an opportunity to make a difference in leveraging true partnerships and and I'm really excited about what this is going to do. I know council lives and I know our community is with that we'll call. I would just add oh sorry that Dr. Prince we appreciate and hope that this is the start of a long-standing relationship on initiatives that help children in our community. Just if you could just keep us posted on any unexpected challenges or ways in which we can continue to support as we hire up some of these specialists for the schools that will be really helpful. We will thank you. A minimal investment for real future success of our students yeah it maximizes what happens to that student as he or she matriculates. A minimum I mean gee we is $80,000. We're talking about the investment of investment in the lives of kids and I think it's well worth the spent dollars. Thank you sir. Thank you. Madam clerk. So moved we had I don't think we had a motion yet. Second. Thank you for coming sir and aye. Mr. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Bussell. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. DeWall. Aye. I recommend. Gladly. Thank you. Moving into a period of other matters item 27 is the city council standing committee structure. The honorable Daniel J recommend mayor. As we we've been working very hard to continue to keep committees working and helping us progress things forward. We did make a few changes and we added a new committee health social environmental fairs focused on on homelessness community partnerships beautification environment but also in a health as we work forward with Richland Memorial and others on a plan for a blue zone which does an assessment of our overall community health and how we can make trajectory goals partnerships to improve the quality of health. We have taken economic development added infrastructure committee to it since there were very few meetings there and split community development out so that we could have a true focus. There's a lot of potential for us to leverage the dollars that we have to make better improvements in our communities in our neighborhoods and very excited that Ms. Herbert will be the chair of that. Dr. Bussells will be chairing our health social environmental and then our other standing committees will stay the same. We did take arts and historic preservation and added philanthropy because there is a growing trend of folks wanting to donate land and other things to the city and we want to give them an opportunity to do that so that we can use that to create housing opportunities as well or green space public art and others. With that I don't think we have to have an emotion for this. Would you like a motion? Yes sir. I make a motion for adoption of the structure. That was second? Second. Mr. Mayor and I would ask that you submit the memorandum on it to be recorded in the met. Absolutely. I have it right here for you Madam Clerk. With that Madam Clerk could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Aye. Ms. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Bussells. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Item 28 council is asked to approve the installation of a three-way stop control at Forest Ridge. Second. Any discussion? I will tell you that in years past that has tried to happen and we were denied and denied and so I know that there'll be some neighbors that'll be real happy that this finally got a got DOT approval. Thank you Mr. Anderson. With that Madam Clerk could you read the roll? Mr. Taylor. Aye. Ms. Herbert. Aye. Dr. Bussells. Aye. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Rickerman. Aye. City council referrals reports a new business Mr. Rickerman. We I know that there are several actually so I can help take you all through these. I know Mr. Taylor may have one regarding 1225 Laurel Street. Yes ma'am I would refer that economic development committee and I would also like to refer re-instituting community service as a is a is a penalty option for our judges to be considered by the Public Safety Public Safety Committee in January. Did you get did you get the second one Madam City Manager? I was just going one by one. Yes sir. The next one is the referral of the assembly street phase to project to the economic development and infrastructure committee. This is actually requested by the staff and I Mr. Clint Shealy assistant city manager for Columbia Water on that one. And then there was one there's the referral of an update on city works to the administrative policy committee as requested by the honorable honorable oddity bustles. Is there any other referrals? Yes sir. Okay. Any referral? Yes. I'd like to refer to the newly formed health social environmental affairs. I'll look into current senior health and wellness programs and opportunities for community partnerships. All right. Ms. Herbert did you have a referral? All right. Those are all referrals. I'd like to make a referral for the health social and environmental affairs committee to take a look at funding sources to support homelessness prevention including the opioid settlement funds. All right. Any others? I would like on the record may or possible the parking study to go to the economic development committee. I'll add that one. And the fire pay plan to the public safety committee. Take those two and add those to the six seven that we have referred. What was the last one I'm talking about? Public safety fire to the public safety committee. One more. You got all those? I'd like to refer the draft feeding ordinance to the health social and environmental affairs committee that came out of the task force to prevent and end homelessness. Okay. Any others while we're loading up the work? Loading up the first January meeting. Seeing none here now Madam Clerk let's get that on the record. Would you like to make one motion or? I don't think you need a motion. I have them all. She's got them. You got them? Yes, sir. Thank you. And Ms. Hurt how you had a report? Mr. Mayor I want to report out of the special committee on short term rentals of the ordinance that we've been working on for over a year. We have had two public hearings and two meetings of the council. We have narrowed the wide chasm that was there a year ago between the SDR industry and the neighborhoods. So it's now ready for the council to look at it. And I've asked that the city manager schedule a work session for the full council so that we can get you briefed on where this ordinance is. We have some perfecting ordinances that came out of our last meeting and we will look at the council to see if the council has any further ordinances, amendments they'd like to make to the ordinance and then it'll be ready to come to council for an agenda item. Can you send us an updated draft with all the information so that council can review it prior to? Yeah, you've got the last draft. I sent you the last draft, 12, 7, 20, 22. Yeah, but you just said you had some add-ons. Oh, we have not done them yet. We have not added anything to it. We'll bring that to the work session. So the 12, 7, 22 document is the latest version. That's the version that the industry and the neighborhoods are fairly close on and I think we can listen to the council's concern and make one amendment that will take place when we bring it to our agenda item. So the document is there. The document is and we're waiting for the other piece. We will make, we will do the other piece when we bring it to the council. All right. That will be the first work session or the second? First work session. First work session. I'm just kidding. We don't have a second work session. You've got some to make clear. I think that first work session is January the 10th. That's two weeks from now. You're going to have all these other amendments and everything, but we can look at them ahead of January the 10th. Yeah. I believe that you had said that we would probably try and vote on it sometime in February, right? So we have a little bit of flexibility between the, I just want to be conscious of the gazillion things that we're trying to get done. I want to get it done sooner rather than later. Okay. Been working for this over a year, but if we have to move it to the next work session, that's fine with me. Of course, I think that's a ham and she is a good, um, when she leaves the city, she's going to work at the airport as a air traffic controller. She's about the only person that can take seven planes and get them in the right direction. I just wanted to add that, that, um, James in the legal department is making those revisions. So that's why we think we should be able to get it to you in enough James Knox has been a great attorney for us on this and he's he's gone grown, uh, known by the SDR industry and by the neighborhoods and they both feel like they can give him good input till we pass it. Any other referrals, reports, new business sounds like we've covered the gamut for December 20th, 2022. With that, we have a spot for public input now. If anybody has anything that hasn't been previously covered or said at this point, I think the signup sheet is from the folks who were there earlier already. Um, this was the person who spoke earlier. Thank you. With that, I'll entertain a motion. So move. Um, no, Mr. Mayor, I make a motion with going to executive session for receipt of legal advice relating to pending threatened a potential claim pursuant to SC code 30 dash four days, 78 to marry an Adam versus the city receipt of legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to SC code 30 dash four days, 78 to homeless services discussion of the employment of an employee pursuant to SC code 30 dash four days, 70 a one communication plan community development department. Is there a second and discussions, questions, concerns, hearing, non-seeing. Madam Clark, could you read the role, please? Mr. Taylor, Ms. Herbert, Dr. Wussels, Mr. Brennan. Yes, Mr. McDowell. Yes, Mr. Ball. Mayor Rickman. I have a Merry Christmas. Y'all have a Merry Christmas. Thank you.