High lady. Oh, Mr. Brennan president. Mr. Liekeman here. Mr. McDowell yes. Mr. Duvall president. Mr. Vine here. Mr. Davis. I'm Sam. I'm here. You're Benjamin president, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. House. You're welcome. Reverend Dowell, you give us a word, please, brother. Yes, O Lord in silence and in reflection. We ask for your mercy to fall tenderly upon each one of us. Allow your grace to cover us with. The kinds of decisions we will make as we understand the fabric of our city. Touch us individually and yet touch us collectively. Give her give each of us a sense of purpose. A sense of integrity and a sense of loyalty to our city. Remind us that we can't do anything without your leadership. And without your divine presence in our lives. That's the city of ours and all who dwell therein. We ask it in your name. Amen. Thank you so much. There are motion to adopt the agenda. Mr. Mayor, I make a motion. We adopt the agenda is presented with the addition of item 37 of discussion of personnel salaries pursuant. Pursuant SC code 30-4-70-A1. Thank you so much. Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. In addition to that item, I would add the subheader for fire under the personnel matters. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Those amendments. Is there a second? Mr. Mayor, could I ask Mr. Dowell? Could I ask Mr. Dowell to clarify item number 37? It will be a discussion of the salaries proposed in the budget for 21-22 physical year. All right. All right. The, or we're missing anything. Second. All right. Moved and caught the second discussion. Say no to the previous question. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. Dowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Ms. Devine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Hi. Mayor Benjamin. There are motion to approve the minutes of the April 20, 2021 meeting. So moved. Moved. Moved and seconded discussion. Moved the previous question of protocol roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Rickerman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Hi. Ms. Devine. Hi. Mr. Davis. Mayor Benjamin. Hi. All right. I'll just mark comments after Director Tenza's report. Sure, Mayor Benjamin. I did have just a few brief items of personal privilege. It is National Public Service Recognition Week. And so I know we would all want to acknowledge all the wonderful men and women who work in the city of Columbia to provide wonderful service for our citizens. So I didn't want to make sure we acknowledge all of them. And then one in particular who is retiring. Ms. Marley Drum, our animal services superintendent for so many years, 25 years as a matter of fact. Marley has dedicated her career to helping each adoptable animal reach a forever home in the city of Columbia. Marley has many contacts with the animal enthusiast groups here in the city and across the state. And I hope she's listening in. I had out there is. Hey Marley. Hey Marley. But Marley has been our superstar to help us partner with Palmetto Lifeline Animal Mission, the South Carolina Animal Care and Control Association. She's took part in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Program. She worked with scout groups on projects around the shelter working nice concerts with Houdie and the Blowfish for the animal mission. I could go on and on one of the main things that I know many of you on this seated council remembers her work with the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee and other groups in getting our live release rates to an all time high of 78% last year. And we know it will be hired this year as well. And so one of the greatest memories I have and I'll continue to have about Marley is just her willingness to always share her knowledge with our new employees. She's going to stay on on a part-time basis with us to work with our new superintendent and continuing to connect our staff with her contacts in the Midlands and around the state so that our animal services department will continue to flourish. So we appreciate you Marley so much. It's been an honor. Thank you so much Marley. I mean as Wilson couldn't have said it better. You've done a whole lot of great work for the city for a very long time, but the work around no kill I think is a wonderful thoughtful and compassionate way that articulated our values as a city by using just using data and humanize to get in a way that made us all better. So thank you for leading and I'm glad you stand on some way. Thank God. I'm sure what we do without you. So all the best my friend. Thank you very much. It's been wonderful. Thanks Marley. Thank you as well. Well Mayor Benjamin and Council. It's also National Drinking Water Week and so you'll see lots of information that we're sharing with our citizens. Um speaking week I was like okay drinking water week. And so our Columbia water staff is doing a lot to help educate our citizens and making it fun this week. So I'm sure you'll see lots of information about that. And then I know Mr. DeVall had forgotten Tree City USA Award. Do our normal proclamation celebrating Arbor Day this year due to the pandemic but the city as you all know has been designated a Tree City USA recipient for 22 years and running the longest running streak in South Carolina I believe and Forestry our wonderful Forestry staff they plant at a minimum of 500 trees per year and we have to meet these criteria to maintain our designation hosting Arbor Day celebrations this year. The video that Forestry did was on how to plant a tree and so we continue to thank City Council for your intentional ways of making sure that we have tree care ordinances in place and a budget with at least $2 per capita for tree care and removal and plantings. So thank you City Council for providing the environment for us to be a Tree City USA Award recipient all these years. Awesome. So we do beat Chara now I thought we're in competition. Chara messed up and didn't file one year. So Columbia has a path but Chara was the first tree city in South Carolina. I noticed a last couple of days from the National League of Cities on an article about tree cities in the Tree Canopy and they say there is a Tree City World Award. These two cities spoke in and somebody else on Portland made a pressure. So we're going for the world next time. Okay. Oh, okay. Good deal. No, thank you so much to all our amazing staff for the work that you continue to do. We keep punching, punching, punching way, way above our weight class competing on a global level. So thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you all and Mayor Benjamin, I believe you said we will start with Mr. Tinsley's situation report for the COVID-19 update. Here. Hi, good afternoon. Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Council, Madam City Manager again. Thank you for your time. There's some additional information in the inbox on the dashboard report for today's data sets. So worldwide as of today's report out, there's over 153 million global cases of COVID-19 and over 3.2 million deaths due to the virus. Here in, according to the CDC here in the U.S., there was 32.2 million confirmed cases and over 574,000 deaths as of May 3rd report out. Here in South Carolina in our state, our case count stands, our confirmed case count stands at 483,611. To date, to date, there have been over 7.4 million tests completed. New case counts as reported out as of today is 294. You'll recall daily case counts peak back in January of this year at over 4,500. The today's positivity, percent positivity rate is 5.1 percent. And you recall that in July of last year, July 20th, it peaked at 21.3 percent. Of notable report, there are thankfully another new deaths, confirmed deaths, reported out as of today. Our state death total to COVID-19 stands at 8,383. And here in Richland County, there are over 38,000 cases. They reported 21 additional cases. Our death count stands at 484 for Richland County. And interesting over the last 14-day reporting period from April 18th to May 1st in Richland County, we had over, we had 861 new cases. So we're now averaging just a little bit over 61 new cases each day. So that continues to trend downward as those reporting cycles indicate. As far as that 14-day reporting period, there was only one zip code thankfully that had over 100 cases reported and that zip code was 29229 with 126 new cases. Also as of last Thursday, the 28th of April, Richland County's 14-day recent disease activity incidence rate was downgraded to low. So we are now at a considered a low with a 3.5 percent positivity rate. The state's recovery rate continues to be estimated at 97.4 percent and the case fatality rate is continued to be estimated at 1.73 percent. Daily case counts as you can see by the data that is reported out each day continues to roughly remain roughly stable and the act does not anticipate any large fluctuations in case counts or within the next few weeks. Also in our state, our hospitalizations continue to trend downward. Our bed utilization rate is 73 percent. I see you bed utilization rate is 66 percent as of today. There are 386 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in our state and you'll know that January back in January, the bed count peaked at 2,417. So we're trending in a positive direction. Also worth noting, VAG data as posted on their website shows that the 17 indicators continue to trend downward or have stabilized and VAG also continues to see the distributions of vaccines. Right now, there's over 4.5 million doses that have been received in our state with over 3.1 million people having received doses in South Carolina. The last report out Richmond County over 140,000 143,000 residents have received at least one vaccine and 808 or 808,000 of those have completed their vaccination process. And the federally supported community vaccine site at Columbia Place Mall has today administered 4,758 Pfizer vaccines over that two week initial two week period averaging 339 shots per day. Also as of May 1st, approximately 32.2 percent of South Carolina's population greater than 15 years or older have received vaccinations. And the CDC is latest reporting as of May 3rd on COVID-19 vaccination show over 105 million people have been fully vaccinated or 31.8 percent of the U.S. population and 147 million or 44.4 and have received at least one dose. Also those over 65 that have been fully vaccinated is 69.7 percent with 82.8 percent have been received at least one vaccine. Lastly, as of April 27th, we actually reported out 91 cases of the South African variant and 235 cases of the UK variant have been identified in our state. Currently eight counties and 48 municipalities have mask ordinances in place currently. And that concludes my report. Thank you for your time. So, so Harry, that means so again, that means we're are we low, medium, low? I'm trying to remember which is laid out. So our. I'm sorry to interrupt. As far as those three metrics, the incident rate per 100,000 Richland County is medium. As far as the trend and incident rate over those each 14 day cycle or the past 14 day cycle, it was down raised low and our percent positive continues to be low at 3.5 percent. It wasn't 3.8 percent. The last report out for a 14 day report. That's that's a that's a wonderful improvement just over the last week. And a lot of last week, I pulled the other just a phone call. I asked city manager and the county administrator and chairman Livingston to when I call just want to get some sense as exactly where the where the county was on a mask ordinance. They asked councilman Baron who chairs at ad hoc committee big hoping to find some degree of synchronicity as I how we with address it. And while I think we shared all the same concerns, I'm not sure that we're we're going to be able to to to get on the same page necessarily as relates to timing of our ordinance. You know, we've been we've been very clear that I have and with with a few exceptions. We've been we've been we've been fairly together on on on this from the very beginning. And I think we're going to have to do some really serious dialogue between now and the expiration of our ordinance, which which as we all know is it's coming up fairly fairly soon just over the next couple of weeks. I've been I've been somewhat concerned and I've articulated this some of you and I've heard it from others a lack of adherence to the to the to the to the ordinance. I do believe that COVID fatigue is is is real. The obviously the inability to to identify who has or who has not taken the vaccine is something that just eludes us and will continue to elude us. And am I this as we as we go forward that that we will shift from a mandatory mask policy to a deep dive into a very aggressive vaccination strategy. And Sam and Sylvia have been very much in the in the weeds in the in the community. Recognizing the fact that universal access, which we do have now is not necessarily the same as equitable access and making sure that people who need who need access to the vaccine get it literally sent a note off and I haven't checked my my email reply to recent apologize asking about about some different tools we might be able to use to not only obviously offer rides to the to the vaccine clinics, but maybe even take it door to door. Literally if I use it using some partnership with some of our health care institutions from the health care cooperative to the Joseph H. Nielsen and the Prisma and getting out into some places where some folks still are eligible, but but either haven't been able to access the vaccines or or still just getting off of their hesitancy. We're watching more and more people who are just on different personal timelines than than the ones that that we enjoy. I am so I just want to make it clear that I'm I'm I'm leaning towards the expiration of of the of the of the of the ordinance. I think I think it's prudent. We're either going to have an ordinance that is strictly enforced and and I believe we're all very much so indebted to our our city staff fire marshals and firefighters for the great and hard work that they've done. But we're the different phase here and I'm so excited to hear this data. We want we got to make sure that it keeps trending in the right direction, however. So I'll just be clear. I've been vaccinated. My wife has been vaccinated or 16 year old has been vaccinated. My 14 year old almost 14 year old is chomping at the bit to be vaccinated. I'll be following CDC guidelines as how we go forward if I'm in and out and about in a group of people while that I know someone has not been vaccinated or I don't know that they have been vaccinated. I'll continue wearing my mask that that's a personal decision. We're going to have to really step up and really push people to be personally responsible for for the way forward and realizing that that we've come way too far and lost too many lives and to be sold to fall backward. But I would recommend a shift in our strategy from a mandatory mask policy to a very, very aggressive deep dive in ensuring that the vaccine gets to every one possible that we that we lead and partner with a very aggressive campaign because we're seeing interest begin to wane. So we're going to start seeing sites begin to shut down as a result of that, but it is going to give us a chance to do some some some really very clear data-driven micro targeting strategies to help take the vaccine to people. And I think that's where our energies and our resources should be targeted. So just want to make that clear that that's my my thoughts as to where we are that we're going to go and I'll say this again and I'll be quiet. Some of you may also want to chime in on this. I couldn't be more proud of this council. Again, I think our approach to public health during the most significant pandemic we've seen in over 100 years has been thoughtful. It's been data-driven. It's been compassionate. It is it has been focused on making sure our businesses and our critical nonprofits are stood up and we've been focused in our one true north, which is a preservation of human life. Our folks have stepped up and led by example. Teresa and her team at the city have been wonderful example for others to mirror and the way in which this ought to be weathered. So I'm proud of all six of you and your collective leadership because even again, we have very stark divisions as to how we've seen this thing. We've been able to come out with thoughtful policy going forward and I hope we can continue to maintain that spirit of compassionate collaboration as we work our way through. Hopefully we'll be the winging days of the pandemic. So I'll stop. Are you Mr. Devall? Mr. Mayor, I was interested in your comment about you in the county have taught their ordinance expires on June the 5th and hours expires on May the 16th. Are you talking about extending hours to June the 5th or moving theirs back to the 16th? No, no, no, I what I said, Mr. Devall is I didn't I didn't see synchronicity on that piece that I'm not inclined in the ordinance and we didn't ask them to shorten their ordinance that they they had a meeting and you may have gotten a report back as Wilson. But the other fish report I got back is that is that they're just they're going to continue kind of going forward and seeing how they how they're going to deal with this county. I was hoping Howard that we'd have some some joint strategy, but it was not clear that would be any other thoughts or sentiments that may want to be shared. Ms. Ms. Divine. So there's a hope that we would have something joint. Why would we not extend ours to June, whatever just to keep consistency and not confuse the public? There's no there's no there's no I'm at a point right now where I don't think the public's confused at all. The public more than enough information and they know where they are and whether or not they're wearing a mask. It's at a point now where is a personal decision as to whether or not someone's going to do what's necessary to protect themselves and buying their families and our job needs to be focused on the on the pandemic. I but the goal going into that meeting was to see exactly kind of what the what the sense of the body was to make a but I there's is there's because we are in Richmond County this is there's very specific to the unincorporated areas or would it cover the city if there's continues through June. I'll defer to Theresa Knox on what I have not reviewed their their ordinance and in this entirety and I'm not sure I'm not sure I'll check on it. Yeah, if we can just check and then because if there's continues to June and people in the city think ours and not not that they're I don't know what kind of enforcement they have but and I don't know what you know the majority of us would do but I'm a little concerned about allowing it expire. I don't be honest. I do agree that there's fatigue. But I also know that the news caught the last night about a woman who moved to South Carolina because we had less rules than where she live. So I know you can't mandate a lot of stuff but it's just it's concerning and we do know that even though people are vaccinated we know that some folks are still getting it. We know that will happen but I think that until we have more people vaccinated just concerned. I don't know what you know about 100% feeling but I just think that at least if we could be in line with the county our area it would it would probably be helpful. Yeah, I might and I mean I would love that as well. I'm not sure if that's a reality. I just shared my concerns. You know we've been very clear from the very beginning. I know I have and several you have as well that we're going to be driven by data and the data as Harry just articulated is shown that we're in someone enviable position. I know everybody on this call wants to see that trend continue and that gives you the hesitancy of want to take our foot off the gas. But at the very same time I just think if we're going to follow the data we got to follow the data data is always been there to try and give us intelligence we need to create policy and I think it's I think it's a fair approach. So Mr. Davis. I I I don't know how many hot aches about our deadline and targeted date. I did notice I'm noticing as I move around and as I listen to media there seem to be more attention on the city's ordinance versus the county for whatever reason and I think you have to make his point about you know the hand and glove relationship we have to some extent of that's that is a factor and then in some other cases some people don't seem to think about it when we're together. I would hope that that once we reach our target date make that decision unless things change that we sort of still stay in the game in terms of retaining our posture of encouraging citizens to be vigilant whether you have the vaccines or not. I'm my household is fully vaccinated but although we may say goodbye to the ordinance. I think we still have a responsibility to encourage everyone to do the right thing that is be vaccinated. I think the data has served its purpose and it's not disappointing and that's been our guide and I have no problems following that and keeping an eye out on where we stand and I don't think that the numbers are going to change that much in terms of moving up with I think we will hold where we are and and at that point just continue to watch the numbers decline. Mr. Mr. McDowell. Well one of the interesting things about mass worrying I think we've all almost according to the events that are already scheduled and the continuing events that will come up. It's it's sort of surprising to me that we have not reached normal normal still yet and of course the events continue. They continue to be there we've got 6 events this coming week this coming on the agenda for today. I'm certainly going to support continuing to wear that mask and one of the questions that I will continue to answer to ask of those persons who are sponsoring the events whether or not CDC guidelines are being adhered to how many folk are going to be present. I think we've got a false sense of normalcy because the events are going to continue to amount and they're going to become volumes at some point. Thank you Mr. Dowell. Thank you sir other other comments. One of the note I did want to make a point I wanted to make is I events that the deceleration in the number of cases and the reduction in spread. It's directly attributed to the work done at the local level but like the one Charleston in Greenville in all the towns and counties that director tinsley mentioned earlier. I think the local government should be very proud of the leadership role that we've taken here in South Carolina. Amen. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. Right. So in the absence of of of some affirmative steps in another direction. I don't expect that the renewal would be on the agenda. Not so manager. The I would like to have a deep discussion whenever on on this and I sent I sent an email about reverse 911 and some other tools that might be used identified who wants the vaccine and how we can utilize some of these partnerships to take it directly to them. I think we should very strategic, creative and aggressive and making it happen. So with my pulling together a meeting of interested parties in a governmental sector, let's figure out how we can make that happen. And obviously we have the benefit of everyone on the data between now and expiration of the ordinance and obviously was reconsidering position. I All right, Mr. Davis. Now, I agree with that. That's my thinking at least let's have a let's have a discussion and see where we all are. We can review the numbers. The processes that are in place and we're our personal thinking might be before we Well, thank you. If there's nothing else we're good of the body we got. We got more time. We can we can keep it keep it moving. Absolutely. Thank you, Mayor. At this time we'll continue with City Council discussion action items and the Honorable Tamika Isaac Devine will bring us an affordable housing task force report. Thank you, Miss Wilson, the mayor members of City Council just wanted to bring you a brief interim report from the affordable housing task force. We convene the task force as you guys may recall. Actually, it was the intent to do in March when everything slowed down. So we were not able to actually have our first meeting until the summer. We've been meeting monthly and the task force has done a lot of great work so far. But we are at a point where we wanted to make a presentation to City Council and County Council get some collective agreement as to some of our action items so that we can move forward through the rest of this summer aggressively pursuing some of the goals. I just wanted to quickly. I know we've got a long agenda so I want to be real quick and Miss Hammond will make sure that you all have this if it's not already in your packets. But first wanted to just recognize the members of the task force. I know we appointed them at different times. I want you all to be aware of the talent that we have currently serving on affordable housing task force. We currently have a representative of comment. John Ando was serving up until he left last month. And so now Pam Bina read from the comment will be representing in his place on the task force. We also have Jeff Armstrong from Family Promise, Julianne Avan from Mercy, Reggie Bonner from the Bonner Group, Sue Berkowitz from S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Brenna Bernadine from Fast Forward, Dr. Brian Grady from S.C. State Housing, Dylan Gunnels, Tanya Isaac who is a resident of North Columbia, Ivory Matthews from Columbia Housing Authority, Mary Louise Reich from Habitat for Humanity, Jeff Lairmore from Midlands Housing Trust Fund, Jennifer Moore from the United Way, Shayla Raleigh who is an appointee of the Chamber and she is with Caldwell Banker, Lala Anasals from Homeless No More, Gregory Sprouse from Central Midlands Cog, a councilwoman Allison's ratio from Richland County Council, Regina Williams from Book of Washington Heights Neighborhood, Lester Young from Just Leadership, Jim Zeke from More Justice and Chris Zimmer from Truist Bank. So you can see that we've got a diversity of fields but all very committed to the goal of affordable housing. And so the task force unanimously adopted this definition that we're asking city council to consider today and endorse. One of the things that we do believe and we've had this discussion among our council for many years part of the issue is that there are different definitions of affordable housing. Of course there's the technical definitions for federal funding or for state housing. There's also the perception that people have of affordable housing. People only think public housing or lower wealth communities but they don't look at the gamut of affordable housing. So we're asking council to consider the endorsement of the definition of affordable housing as a continuing of equitable, inclusive and quality rental and home ownership opportunities for people at every income level which is critical to creating safe, complete and thriving communities. We believe that that is inclusive and it runs the gamut from home ownership to rental. And again people at all income levels so people understand that affordable housing is for people who might have low income, folks who might be living in poverty is certainly addresses of seniors as well as students or in people making minimum wage. So we want to make sure that people understand the depth of the problem but also the how big the solutions have to be. So that is the at the end of the report. I'm going to ask if I can get a motion to approve that definition. County council will be meeting as well and that we're asking them to do the same so that we can operate under that definition as we go out with a public awareness campaign. A couple of things I just wanted to make sure that you guys knew as well, we did some research. Dr. Brian Grady has done an excellent job at giving us some statistics. So just wanted to elevate two facts for for you guys. Number one, there is a statewide shortage of over 87,000 affordable homes that are and that are available to extremely low income households. And that is those earning no more than 30% of the area median income. And that statistic is according to the national old housing income, low income housing coalition, nearly 70,000 low income renter households in Columbia are experiencing particularly unaffordable and substandard housing conditions and they're representing 30% of all renters citywide. So this number is actually pre COVID. We do know that that number is larger now. So we do we would like council on this will be not today, but we are going to be looking at the affordable housing that's going to be added into the market this year. And at the end of this year, we would like council to look at establishing citywide affordable housing goals on an annual basis. That way we can understand how we're adequately addressing the needs within our community. And if we set realistic goals that we can monitor and measure, then we know where we're going to go over the next couple of years. We have divided our task force into several committees and have priorities. One is the accessibility committee, which will look at solutions for making accessible housing for people within special populations that includes people experiencing mental illness, people who are formerly incarcerated and returning to our community, people with disabilities, seniors and other special populations. We also have a subcommittee on financing and we'll be looking at presenting recommendations to this council and county council to consider for financing affordable housing projects. This will include the consideration of affordable housing tax abatement program, which actually our council has already passed. It stalled on the committee level at county council, but I do know that council woman's ratio is going to attempt to revive that. So hopefully we will have a tax abatement program that is approved by both city and county council that we can make available to affordable housing developers. We also would like to look at social impact funds for private investors, affordable housing bond. One state has unclaimed state funds that they set aside for affordable housing. So we'd like to look at the possibility of that land banks in affordable housing impact fee and a trust fund. And so those are some things that are being researched right now. And so we'd like, of course, to be able to bring back some more information on that. We've got our legal and zoning committee who is looking at legal zoning issues that may help promote the development of more affordable housing citywide and of course make a recommendation to the county as well. We've got our partnerships committee who will be looking at other profits other nonprofits and community based organizations that can help affordable housing is not just a city issue, but we do know if we have partners who can help us that will help us move forward. And then lastly, and probably the biggest committee that we have and will be starting immediately with some public education and awareness. That committee is looking at how do we promote affordable housing and make people understand the need of it within our community and what it is. So that's why we're asking for a city council and county council to adopt the universal definition. So as we're going out in the community and talking about what affordable housing is and what the needs are in our community, people understand it in a bigger way. And so when we do this outreach, we're looking at bringing in business and community partners, housing developers, our state and local agencies, funding entities, real estate partners, neighborhood associations, the general public potential home buyers and renters, community coalitions and the local media. So with that, Mr. Mayor, that is the report. So I am asking if council would adopt this definition for affordable housing. And in and I'll answer any questions if you may have, but and then endorse the work of the committee so that now these committee, these subcommittees can actually move forward under the subcommittee definitions that I have mentioned to you guys. Is any, what's the rationale behind the all income levels definition? I mean, I mean, if we know obviously according to the local housing coalition, you mentioned look at the 30% AMI. I mean, I know traditionally our focus has been 80% below and look at workforce housing. Some of our products even go up to 120% AMI all income levels. I mean, so that means we're talking about everybody regardless of how much people people earn. So what we talked about was and we kind of toyed with whether or not we would talk about it as affordable housing or attainable housing. Nationally, a lot of folks are going to the term attainable housing. And what we talked about is the fact that you have folks who within the area, they may not be able to live within the area that they work, even if they make some people might hear, I make 45,000 and that's a good salary. But if I make $45,000, but there's nothing within the Columbia area that will allow me to make sure that's not more than my income, too much of my income, then it's not it's not attainable for me. So all income level we left it at that because we wanted people to understand. We believe that people feel like the extremely low income and they think folks who are making minimum wage and they don't consider students graduating who might get a job that's 35,000. They still need affordable housing. So that's why that was the part of the definition. Okay, well, that's just kind of curious. So I think it'd be worth taking a look at that definition because obviously if you're going to focus on workforce housing and like my guess is a family of X amount even earning $45,000 a year would would would easily as squarely fall into that 120% AMI number. And if we're going to focus on 20% AMI or lower then we might need to articulate that because I think part of that of that policy, if you're going to try to attract ESG dollars or national dollars here, I think just saying it's open to all incomes I think might might be a bit of a distraction. So we're going to train on fire. Let's let's I think we should I think we should think about that. The other thing I read something that said we hadn't I'm glad you made the clarification that we did pass attack the tax abatement policy, which I think is a multi-county industrial part statute as well. I'm not sure what what format we use. Am I right on that or or not? You you're you're correct and it got referred to the committee level at County Council and then with their election and then new members, they've not taken it back up. Yeah. So did you look at what we passed before you mentioned we're also looking at the multi-county industrial part. This is a multi-county industrial part. The same tool we've used for student housing and and and and others. I just read some of this that we hadn't done anything in this space and we passed that years ago. So we've got I guess get that consensus from the county. And I would also say let's let's look at a deep dive into getting reliable data. I know that Charles and use community data platforms. We had a meeting with them last week to try and do a real deep dive into exactly as opposed to the to the narrative driving the data using the data to drive the narrative. Let's get a really good sense of what our challenges are that 30 percent AMI, 80 percent AMI, 120 percent AMI. So we know what the what the long term goal is. I would be curious to see what what the what data folks relied on on the get the the the eighty seven thousand that's a statewide number you said with the deficit is is is there. But community data platforms and Taylor can circulate that information around was really good. The data they produced with Charleston just just very recently but I'm I'm fine moving forward but I think if we're going to be able to track the dollars that we're talking about, I think we're going to have to really clarify that we're focusing on the 30 percent AMI, 80 percent AMI, 120 percent AMI below. I think we just say all income levels then then then you're really not just talking about affordable even attainable housing. I think we're just talking about something for folks who are who are middle class or even upper middle class from the outside. So that's just that's just a piece of advice. But thank you all for your for your work on this. And I would say for the data Dr. Grady is awesome with data and he has I mean he actually has and I can I know I think Mr. Rickman had asked for it. I'll make sure that the report that he gave us has in Columbia the different levels and so I'll make sure that everybody has a copy of that. But if we are interested as a council, Brian would be a great person to give us the data from the city specific and then how it relates to the county as well. And he's got he's got that data. He can spout it off in his sleep. Okay. All right. Question from Daniel. Yeah, I think that's great. If you could share that with us, that'd be the incredible. It's interesting. If you look at Charles to made a big announcement. I think today I saw in the post incurrier where they partnered with all private developers in the redoing all the public housing through tax credits, historic credits and other things, but all done privately with developers. So, you know, I hope we're looking at that as well as possibilities and for the future to make any of the information you can share that you should. You said today was all great information. It'd be good for us to have as we move forward so that we make sure that we're cohesively working together to support the opportunities that may arise because, you know, it is an issue in Charleston. It's affecting their labor market as well. And I think they're realizing that their restaurants who are closing and other businesses downtown closing because they don't have the ability to have workforce housing or affordable housing downtown anymore. And it's just impossible for people to commute. So, you know, we don't want to end up in that same boat. So I appreciate what you've done so far. Thank you. We have we had a presentation from our staff as well to make our community development people, particularly obviously I go around the country bragging about our products in particular, the way in which they were developed and sustained. Have we have the task force? Have they talked about that yet? Yes, that was our first or second meeting and our staff actually staffed all of these committees. So we've got Lee, Krista, Gloria and probably somebody else. But at least Gloria Lee and Krista staffed the subcommittees and they're at every meeting as well as Ms. Wilson comes to the majority of the meetings. No, Shaq.  So we've got staff that they are, they're part of the discussion. So, yeah. What I will say to that, Mr. Mayor, we know that we are doing a really good job right now with home ownership. I think Columbia is certainly a model. I think we've actually even been recognized nationally where we are at home ownership. One of the things that we wanted to do is not take our foot off the gas when it comes to home ownership, but recognize that we are not doing what we need to do in rental products. And so that's why we kind of, we've talked to staff, but we've also brought in Reggie Bonner is on our task force as well as, you know, like I mentioned, Chris Zimmer from Truist Bank. So we're trying to talk about how the private developers can be partnered with us to help provide the rental products and multifamily projects throughout the city. All right. Mr. I recommend if I could just add, I did want to say you mentioned about the housing authority part of the information that we gave last week and the housing authorities given. I think that is what Ms. Matthews is doing right now and the project they're doing is partnering with private developers because they know that they can't do it all themselves. I know there are a lot of developers who are working with them right this second. We got that written from the housing authority requested last meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Any other questions for me? Okay. I'll take what you just said. We meet next Tuesday. So I'll just take this definition back and put that back on the table. And then, so I won't be asking for a motion today. We'll bring that to the committee and then I'll bring something back to you guys at our next meeting after that. And I don't, I don't, I mean, if it, if it, I mean, there's a sense of urgency around the resources coming from the ARP coming through a potential infrastructure plan, even leveraging some of the COVID dollars and state housing and financial authority. I think they got 271 million about to hit the street. Maybe today at a mart with another trunche coming very soon. It has, he spent very clearly. We don't want to slow it down. I mean, but, but, but maybe potentially looking at revising the definition. If in fact slows down the delivery of capital. I think this we don't want to slow down. I have. Negotiating over a couple of words. Just, it's just something we might want to consider. So Teresa wasn't, we have gotten the written update from housing authority as requested. Yes, sir. I believe Ms. Matthews emailed you all after the last meeting, as well as I believe she is available to you today. If you need her to answer, need her to answer any questions. Regarding the item that's on your agenda. I think she's in our waiting room. Okay. Super missing. It used some information last night to from ivory and her team. Thank you. Mr. I just want to back up just a little bit. Mr. As we understand and define. What affordable. I think it's affordable housing is. I think I want to echo what you said a few minutes ago, Mr. I think it's very, very important that as we define that. That am I. Becomes a part of that definition. And, um, however, whatever that am I years was, it's 30. I think that needs to be, I think that needs to be clear. In terms of, uh, Hipping us to define what that is. Yeah. Yes, sir. I'll take that back. I think one of the things the mayor mentioned, and I would, I would stress that I think if we did, you know, 120 or below might be reasonable. Part of the issue is we know that there are, there are a lot of folks in the middle class that are being, being stretched, crunched out. And there are programs for folks at different ends of the spectrum, but there are like I mentioned, you know, folks who, who might be making, you know, $35,000 right out of school, but not even that much.  And it's like at 40, 40,000 for Richland County. So we wanted to, and we know that Richland County, that number will change. So we wanted to get something that covered that gap of folks who, you know, might be students newly graduated.  And so we want to make sure we're covering folks who might have a job, might have what most people would consider a good paying job, but still does not allow them to afford to live in the city. So I think if we did that 120 or below, we probably are covering that group that is extreme need that doesn't really get the public resources or the other programs don't qualify for other programs, but we'll look at that. And I'll talk to Dr. Grady as well and the committee and while bringing that back to you guys. Thank you. I'm fine with whatever motion on the definition to make it, but I think take it back to the group and see if we can, if we might, if it might be important to revise it, we're willing to slow it down a definition.  Okay. We won't slow us down. Like I said, we've got to go to the county as well. And we want to, we want a universal definition. So since we're meeting one week from today, that's fine. I can take that, that back and we can certainly get that back to the city and the county before the end of this month. All right. Yeah, the questions have not let's keep it. Let's keep it moving. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. At this time, we will begin a series of presentations by our community development team to include the work of our new program manager and construction management teams with the community development block grant disaster recovery grant program update to begin these series of presentations. And Ms. Gloria Syed, our community development director is going to lead us in these with the help of members of her team. And I will tell council as we talked about last council meeting, I know Mr. Davis has been, you know, very diligent as well as all of you about asking questions on behalf of the applicants for the program that, you know, has been ongoing since the flood of 2015. And so I just want to reassure council that I'm extremely, extremely dedicated to our staff seeing this through. And we're doing that. Obviously along the way we've had the most recent thing, a pandemic, but that has certainly not stopped us from keeping our eye on the prize of helping our citizens that were so impacted by the flood. And what I hope to do today is to show you a little bit the evolution of the program, some changes that we've been most recently to really, in my opinion, you know, put us on the fast track to completion and getting homes rebuilt and rehabilitated. And so this is in a very intentional public update so that anyone can understand all that has occurred, the money spent, the money's left, and hopefully a recommendation to allocate additional funds towards this effort. We have been in contact with the applicants also making sure that they understand the changes in the program and what they can now expect. And so with that I'll turn it over to Ms. Sayeed to get us started. Thank you, Ms. Wilson. And good afternoon to Mayor Benjamin and members of City Council. We're very excited that we have an opportunity to come before you all today to give you an update on the community development block grant disaster recovery program, often simply referred to as DR. So we could go to the first slide. As Ms. Wilson already mentioned, you know, the city experienced a national natural disaster back in October of 2015, resulting from huge amounts of rain and also floods. So as a result, there are people in the area who experienced loss of personal property, housing, and also damages to their businesses. So as a result, the City of Columbia did receive two allocations, totaling $26,155,000. So the first allocation in the amount of $19,989 was received in 2016, and the second allocation of $6,166 was received in 2017. The City had to put together a risk analysis and implementation plan as well as an action plan, and that was submitted in September of 2016. And then that action plan was approved by HUD on January 24th, 2017. Next slide, please. So on this slide, we want to give you an update on the budget. So again, I mentioned that the City received a total of $26,155,000. And as of April 29th, 2021, the total funds expended are $14,202,919.47. Of that, $6,789,180 has been expended for activity delivery. And as you can see, some of the things that are charged to activity delivery include program management, policy development, case management services, and also environmental reviews, just to mention a few. And we also have expended $7,213,000 in program funds. The remaining funds totaled $12,152,80. And based on the remaining funds, we have programmed to pay for activity delivery, $4,271,107,75, and then program funds of $7,889,972. So this slide does show the expenditures of funds, as mentioned, and the $7,880,000 is designated for repairs and replacement of homes. Next slide, thank you. So I want to take a minute to go over the program descriptions. These are the programs that were included in the original application annual action plan to HUD. And we want to talk a little bit about what those are and which ones have been closed. So we're going to start with the City of Columbia Homeowner Assistance Program, also referred to as CHAT. The design of that program is to provide up to $150,000 for rehabilitation, repair, or reconstruction of owner occupied households with major damages directly related to the October 2015 disaster and with unmet needs exceeding $25,000. We also have the minor repair program, known as MRP, which provides up to $25,000 to low to moderate income owner occupied households that sustain minor damage with unmet needs. In addition, there's the Elevation Repair Program, which is also referred to as ERP. That particular program is closed, and that program provided up to $20,000 for elevation reimbursement to owner occupied households. The following two slides provide a brief description of our beneficiary programs that provide direct assistance to households and small businesses. Next frame, please. Oh, you get, you're there. All right. So here we have the FEMA hazard mitigation grant program also referred to as HMGP and HMGP match. That program is also closed. And with that particular program, there were 22 homeowner served property owners, owners served who sold their storm damaged homes to the city of Columbia to create permanent green space. One of our programs also included multi-family affordable housing fund. That program is also closed. The city partnered with sub recipients and developers to finance the new construction of affordable rental housing or reconstruction of damaged units. Next, we also have in the action plan, a small repair, small rental repair program. That program is also closed. That program was designed to provide funding to repair storm damaged rental properties of one to four units. And the assistant caps were $100,000 for single unit rental properties, $125,000 for duplexes, $150,000 for triplexes and $175,000 for quadplexes. The small business disaster recovery program is also closed. And that program provided financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans up to $20,000 to impacted businesses. Next, now this slide shows the awards that were made under the prior program manager, which is landmark consulting. And they were the program manager from December 2015 through December 7, 2020. So as you can see under the chat program, there were seven awards made totaling $406,428. Under ERP, there were three awards made totaling $61,955. Under HMGP, there were 22 awards made. Awards made totaling $874,041. Under an RP, there were 12 awards made totaling $535,157. And under SRRP, there were five awards made totaling $132,534, with a total of 49 awards totaling $2,010,115. For the small business disaster recovery program, those accomplishments are there were four awards made totaling $80,000, which gives a total of 53 awards made up by the prior program manager. Next, please. We also funded two multifamily affordable housing projects. And those include large place, which consists of 87 units. And the point of Elmwood, which consists of 58 units. The Office of Community Development Health has sold responsibility for the programs that our staff saw to the completion, these two projects that are now fully leased, and they provide 145 new units of affordable housing for low to moderate income households. And I know that's only a drop in the bucket in terms of, you know, what the needs are, but we are excited about the fact that we were able to use the funds to have impact, impact, although small. That's a significant accomplishment. Yeah, I think we, I think, and I'm not sure we did a strategic media around either one of those. And it's 100, almost 150 units in some creative public private partnerships, including, you know, wonderful. I'm sorry, Ed, if I cut you off a wonderful leadership, a second that urgent community leaders in the Edgewood community. So no, no, no, it's, it's, we need a lot more, but that's, those are significant successes. We got to make sure we, we chew the horn a little bit more when we, when we ring the bell like that. Ed. Yes. If you would go back one slide, please. Okay. Here. Yeah, that's fine. Let me ask you this girl from 2015 through 20. A raging concern for me and I guess for others is that there has been, there are rather houses that are still poking knots, poking not living in their homes after the flood. Tell me a little bit about how we move forward. There are persons who are still homeless because of the 2015. Have we created a priority list of those persons who have not. We have who still not in their home. Is there a priority list. So councilman McDowell, that's a very good question. And I think those questions would be answered as we go through the presentation. Sorry. We'll see how we've set the priorities and the prioritizing methodology moving forward. Okay, that's fine. Because I'm, I'm, I know some years ago there was a situation where we just literally bought that piece of property. And I think one of the acronyms. And I don't know, I don't remember which one where house was ball. I'm sorry. Sorry. Where a house was bald and was turned into green space. What I'm saying is that if this is going to be presented later on in this presentation, I think we need to look at that. I think we need to look at that. I think we need to look at that. And particularly. Those persons who have been out of their homes for five to six years. Yes, sir. Yes. We'll certainly go through the presentation and can answer some of those questions. And I'm sorry. Yes, ma'am. No problem. Reverend McDowell and, and all the council. I really asked. I think we need to look at the. I think as I said at the beginning, kind of the evolution and why, really, there's a demarcation to be made in the sand so to speak at the point of where we are now. With the new program manager and the structure manager, I think it's going to become a little bit more clear to you as we go through these slides, Reverend McDowell, but I didn't think it was important to show the past Certainly, but obviously a lot more work to be done and how we're going to go about getting that done for the individuals you're speaking on. You're absolutely right in the book very of course, I think you can move the slide over now. I just want to say. The point that am with the point that am is one of those projects where I think we did an absolutely wonderful job. I've had a chance to visit. Several of us have looked at am with the point that and would and those dollars were well spent. Thank you all very much. Yes, sir. It's a lovely project and so is large place if you haven't seen that I encourage you all to take time to visit that site as well. So the next slide. Just to piggyback on what miss Wilson said this is a great segue on to introduce the new one of our new teams. As you all know this decision was made back in July of last year to look at a new program manager to complete the program and close it out. And so I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce the new program management team, which is ICF. Our two project managers were subject matter experts on this one, and we have the lawyers of her so who's the principal in charge and Sue salvin the project manager. There's candy Anderson who's the applicant and constituent services and the Robert Soto who handles data analysis quality control and recording lead. We have two of our subject matter experts who's Jane Wyndham and our mind at McNally who specializes in a very complicated but important process when you're dealing with older homes. As it relates to lead based paint, we're happy to have them on the team as well to assist with that piece in terms of making sure we adhere to policies and procedures in that regard. Next slide please. We'll go over some of the roles and responsibilities for ICF the program manager, their roles include review of CDBG program policies and procedures, respond to HUD monitoring letter update the CDBG DR website review all active housing applicant contact and communication with applicants inbound and outbound calls, emails, letters and postcards and also to develop and implement scanning implement I'm sorry an applicant system of record which they've done that as well. I'm very excited very easy to use and all the scanning of files and documents have been completed and the SharePoint has been developed under their leadership. Next. We also did something a little different this time taking a two pronged approach, where not only did we have a program manager, but we also recognize the importance of having a strong construction team on board. So, the city engaged SPP as a sub recipient who specializes in construction rehab and new construction. And on that team is Rick McDermott, the project project manager. Maria Gonzalez, case case management manager, can lean heart the construction manager and Paul for arena support ops it and compliance manager, some of their SPPs roles and responsibilities. Again, as I stated earlier includes construction case management. They assist applicants to each step of the construction process. They perform damage assessments. Construction contractor procurement asbestos and lead based paint abatement. They manage the construction management piece of the project and also perform weekly inspections of all work in progress and provide a one year warranty on any work. That's completed so that the homeowner can have some recourse if things don't work out within that time period. Next place. So to your question Councilman McDowell, you know we talked about priorities and people who have needs. But in regards to the priorities. One of the things we set in the beginning in the program is that we wanted to look at and do our best to serve as many people as we could. So in addition to being low to moderate income for other characteristics characteristics you see here were used to define the most in me. And what that is is if you're elderly, that means not if you're elderly but elderly people 62 and older receive priority. And that 62 plus any household member, if you're disabled, and there's any household member in the home you're considered a priority. If you're female head of household with children under the age of 18, and if they're health and safety items as defined by city ordinance. Next. So we also came up with a prioritization methodology. So in consideration consideration for the elderly with more with more than one priority, we certainly want to take that into account, and then consideration for applicants with more than one priority. All applicants in a cohort will be no notified and will be told what documentation is required to move forward. And once documentation is provided, the application is processed and moved to damage assessment. And so let me say this at, as the program moves forward, our methodology to prioritize applicants is aligned with the action plan and the program policies and procedures with the understanding that the program does not have sufficient funding to serve everyone who is in need. So I just want to say that, and you'll see what our proposals are toward the end of the presentation. So we will be moving the applicants to damage assessments individually as cost information for each has been confirmed. And this will ensure that we have sufficient funding to serve all those moving forward and we do not set expectations for you know, that perhaps we cannot help. Next. So, here we're talking about the basis of our average estimated costs. So we did have to look at the estimated cost of repairs, and we came up with $190,000 per applicant to determine the funding need. So the cost is based on increased costs of building materials, environmental remediation costs, like the lead and asbestos, and the need for voluntary relocation assistance. It should also be noted that the program assignment chat versus MRP will not necessarily determine the level of repairs, but the current damage assessment will. So the increased costs of building materials have gone on, gone up. In fact, CNBC reported just last Friday that level prices for eight house has gone up $36,000 per household. And so that's a huge amount of money. That's one of the things that we have to take into consideration with the cost. Also the remediation of environmental hazards, which is required by HUD and the EPA for the safety of both homeowners and workers. And as you all are aware, a lot of the houses in the city of Columbia were built before 1978. So there is a lot of environmental remediation that will have to be performed. Also, there's a need for financial support for those households that will need to vacate their homes while the repairs are being done, or their house is being rebuilt. And so as SVP is securing the estimate for the work, we feel it's prudent to include them in the average cost, which is the $190,000. And at this time, what I'm going to do is ask if Rick McDermott, he is the program manager for SVP could just join in really briefly to give you a little more information on how we came up with the $190,000 estimate. I think that's important. Yes, I available. I'm sorry, Councilman McDowell. Yes, let me ask your question. Yes, sir. When we do the, as we look over the prioritization of the different levels. Let me ask you this. I guess there are persons who have been out of their homes for five to six years. How does that figure into the prioritization where the prioritization is is not based on whether they're out of their homes Councilman McDowell what we're looking at is whether they're elderly. Whether they're disabled, whether they are a female and head of household, and also whether they're safety and safety issues so if they're out of their homes it apparently it must be because the house isn't isn't livable correct. That's great. Okay, so based on the methodology. Once you see in the frames that we have ahead, those could be some of the people that you're speaking up potentially I don't know specifically because I don't know who you're talking about and I don't think we want to mention that on a public farm. But, but if it's, if it's safety issues, those are some of the people who, who are a high priority, but we'll show you how that methodology works, whether they're four priorities, three, two or one so we'll talk about that. Okay, so I'm doing ahead there a little bit sir but that's okay we appreciate the question because I know you all were were really looking forward to an update so. Well, and I don't, and I don't know that I'm Reverend McDowell is necessarily jumping ahead I think he's bad during in another issue that is probably weaved into these various priority levels. I would venture to say Reverend McDowell is Gloria did as well that the individuals or applicants you're talking about fit in one of the category categories I mean the vast majority we have found to be elderly, or definitely the safety issues are there. So, as she stated, I mean we can get with you later to kind of cross reference certain applicants or individuals you're referring to, but once you see how the prioritization in different rounds that they're about to discuss of these cohorts of applicants have been determined with the new program manager and construction management teams. I think it'll probably make more sense to you that these people are covered through these various prioritizations that Gloria mentioned. It's not just, it's not just how long they've been out of the home or if they've been out of the home at all, but you're probably capturing some of the same applicants you're talking about with the way we were doing it now. The way we prioritize that the prioritization of course. I think in some of those instances one or two of those priority will sort of fit into that conversation that I could possibly have with Gloria or with yourself. Yes, sir. Okay. Miss Wilson I have a quick question before we move on from side. So if I'm looking at slide to there's roughly remaining funds of $12 million left and you break it down active activity delivery is tagged at 4.2 million and program funds at 7.8. So we have a wonderful team on board now to deliver ICF livable and SBP. Yeah, are those management services the program management everything which which pool of money is that coming out of. The, for the remaining funds, the 12 million 152 80 out of that activity delivery the 4 million 271 that's, that's what's going to be used to pay for your sub recipient and your program manager, as well as environmental assessments that we're still going to need to pay. Okay, so all our all our consultants and program management team is coming out of that roughly third of the 12 million. That is correct. Okay, wonderful. Thank you so much. Yes, sir.  Just really quickly to talk about the $190,000 estimate that that we're using for our projections. Certainly, Gloria, be happy to do that. Again, thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm Rick McDermott, I represent the people who work as SPP a nonprofit trying to shrink the time between disaster recovery. We're really excited to get things rolling. We've been out to 20 homes assessing the damage and figuring out what it's going to take to bring these people back to a safe sanitary and secure housing situation. And the numbers that I'm going to present to you and how we got to that number are based on the conditions we've observed during the visit. I'd like you to note that I've actually personally been on the first 18 inspections, climbing on roofs and addicts, crawl spaces to get a feel for the condition and what it's going to take to move forward, move the citizens forward under our watch. One of the goals of rebuilding is to rebuild the lost trust with the citizen. We do that through frequent transparent and personal communications. So our construction case managers are talking with these citizens each week, usually multiple times during the week and I personally have met with each citizen, or we'll meet with them if I haven't already to help reinforce the message and help kind of build trust in our communications and process. So as we take a look at this accurate assessment and updated projections to make sure we don't put the city in a position of promising the citizen that they can help them and then having to say, oh, gee, we were wrong, we didn't have enough we're going through the cost estimate. If you take a look at the previous contractor, they did about 49 families for $2.1 million and that comes out to $41,000 per completed project. Now these were all of the easy homes. They were under 40 years of age, they had no asbestos, no head based pain, kind of some minimal damage, and they were very close to the actual event itself. So as we've gone out and taken a look at the estimates, our result of our inspection, there's a basically a difference of about 250% between what was there and the easy homes and what are now the homes that were built in the 1920s, who have a tremendous amount of asbestos lead based pain, as well as additional damage. Also part of the cost comes from the fact that not only is it a change in scope, but there's an increased cost of materials. If you look at like OSB board prices, they're three times higher than last year. Two by fours are up by 158% from just last year, and studs are up 168, 164%. If you go back further and take a look at January of 2017, a thousand board feet of wood was $220.05. The spot price as of noon today for that same wood is $1,609.04. So it's only almost seven and a half times more than when the previous contractors started their inspections. I say all that to say that that takes us to $113,000 for what we believe is going to be the repairs, not including abatement. Now from the homes that we've seen so far, our abatement costs are at an average about $25,000 per file. Given the nature of the abatement and the fact that there are extensive repairs, there's probably going to be a need for about $9,000 worth of temporary housing. And that takes us to basically $147,000, and that doesn't even factor in any of the replacements. Now our initial assessment is that we're going to need to replace about 30 of these homes. I was in a home two weeks ago where the floor was a trampoline. It's an old slat and plaster lath home. It's got a lot of termite damage. There's no good foundation for this home, so it's going to have to be replaced. And that's kind of some of the things we're seeing. If you factor in that one third of a replacement value or a replacement volume, then it takes you to about $195,000. Now we've been in conversation with the city about some things that we can do to institute some cost savings. We believe we can take at least $5,000 out of that by focusing on the home itself by ensuring that we're meeting construction code compliance standards, but not repairing non-essential items and non-housing items like fences and other property related code items that do not affect the safety, the sanitation, the security of the home. And that gets us to our planning factor of about $190,000. Once we've got 10 homes complete and our first five replacements on the contract, we'll be able to revise the figures, give you a tighter analysis and a tighter projection on that. Gloria, subject to questions. I relinquish the floor back to you. Rick, thank you for that update on how we treated the home. This is Howard DeVall. I've got a question for Rick. Rick, are any of the houses you're working on valued at $190,000 now? So that's not the value of the house. That's an all-in cost because you've got factors in there. Probably not in terms of that. On the other hand, as you look at the cost of money, if it costs me $190,000 to replace, but I couldn't read, I can repair it and give you a good 30-year home for $100,000. So we believe that this is going to be an average cost. You've got some historical homes. I know that we worked in, I worked for the state program. We worked on one historical home between the asbestos and bringing it up to code and the fact that you couldn't replace things. You had to repair things. It was almost $300,000. But we've got a home that we're looking at right now that's probably only going to cost about $65,000 in terms of construction costs. But there's probably going to be another $10,000 to $12,000 in terms of probably putting this family up outside while we take care of the abatement and things like that. So that's going to be a lower cost pile. I personally believe that we're going to come in significantly under this number. But to make sure that we don't put the city in a position of promising something to somebody that they then can't deliver, we've used this as an initial planning factor. This is our best guess and being almost pathologically pessimistic, as opposed to pathologically optimistic of it will not cost more than that. We believe that we'll be able to service everybody and there's no way it costs more than this. I think it will come in a lot less. I don't know, sir. Did that kind of answer your question? Well, yes and no. Some of those houses, I would hate to put $175,000 in. Well, we don't intend to do that. So if the home has a decent structure and we can salvage it, you know, they go from very small homes to very large homes. So there's one we're going to put probably 110, 120 in it's a 2700 square foot home. Very nice home. A lot of our cost is going to be the fact that the left side facade brick has pulled away. Now there's nothing structurally wrong with that home. It would be a shame to knock that one down and spend 160 or 170,000 rebuilding and give them maybe a 1400 square foot home when he's got that and we can actually save a little bit of money. You're absolutely right.  Those homes will end up obviously replacing. But it is a it's always a cost thing of, can I repair, is there enough structure left that I can repair it for significantly less money and still give a 3040 year life to that home than building new. Okay, thank you. Great. Let me ask this question to two questions actually. Of course when I read that, and it says that an average cost of $190,000 to give. And I think how it is right on target. It gives the, it gives the gives a view that you're going to spend $190,000 per African for applicant. I think that needs to be that in itself needs to be clarified because what you said we can spend up to $190,000 if that is the actual cost that will take to repair that home. Is that right. It's actually an average cost across all files. And as I said, you know, there may be a home that because of abatement and other things. You know structurally reinforcing the lot and things like that it might be 250,000 and the next home might be 75,000 so we could spend up to $190,000. So and this is Gloria saw I'll answer this way when we had we had we had to come up with a worst case scenario in terms of costs. So the best way to look at how many we could serve, based on that amount and move forward, and based on what we know about the the maximum construction cost. The environmental costs and the fact that we may have to have relocation, we estimated it to be the $190,000. Now, clearly, what we are hoping will happen is that's not going to be the case. So, but I think it's best to, you know, use a higher number and we have money left over to help more people, as opposed to using a lower number, you know, and then we got to figure out, okay, we're not going to be able to help as much people as we estimate it. Okay, that's fine. It is just an average cost so that we can move the program for and start serving individuals. I just wanted to know whether or not the way it reads or the way I read it is that we got $190,000 per after second. I'm sorry. No sir we will be providing them with the service that is appropriate for that particular property. Alright, that sounds good. Rick, let me ask you this. I understand that you've surveyed several homes looking at damages and that sort of thing. Yes sir. How much of that surveying is flood related. Well, okay, let me separate it between flood related and storm related. Okay, most of the homes that we have were not directly flooded in terms of rising water. What the vast majority of them had was wind driven rain. And it is it becomes a little bit difficult to say how much was specifically for this storm versus how much is as a result of the fact that the storm was almost six years ago now. So, there is there is, and the challenge becomes also when you're talking specifically about the LMI community. You know, FEMA, historically kind of underpays in terms of that. And so, you know, if they had a blue tarp on in 2015, you know, in December 2015 and it's still there three years later. And you've got, you know, maybe it was $2,000 for a roof repair initially and now it's a roof and you've got, you know, Joyce and rafters and you've got mold and insulation and now you've got some vertical wall damage. So, it's really a compounding factor for that. In terms of that, I've been to the first 18 inspections and I have a Medicare card and great grandchildren but I get up in the rafters. I get up in the crawl spaces and in everything else like that for two reasons. First of all, I want to make sure that my folks understand that that's my expectation when they go out and inspect. And number two, I want the citizen to feel confident that they're getting a good, a good assessment of their actual home. In terms of that, so in, in answer to your question, I couldn't give you a percentage of it, I can just tell you that that there's an absolute need for these folks. All right. Thank you. That 190 number. I agree that that, that's not a, I don't know that that is a good base figure. I'm hearing what you're saying with the conversation going about what needs to be done what was done what has not been done. Based on all the conversations I had and one is latest Sunday night from a constituent can't call her name but I'm sure Miss. I'm hearing about some things that are being planned in terms of what's going to be done what's going to be looked at, but it was my understanding that a lot of this was already done. And so it's still that I'm, I'm anticipating another delay where there are people who are constantly asking me about when are we going to do. And that we've looked at files and we've gathered information on a lot of these and I'm kind of scared, honestly, honestly, about how long it's going to take again, if I'm hearing a lot of the same preliminary things that were supposed to have been done or was done. Councilman if I could address that blurry if you don't mind. I'm responsible for construction and I put a lot of pressure on my folks to get stuff out the door. Right now, right. We're working through some preliminary designs and things like that so that we can, once we hit the ground running, we don't run into any problems with, with codes or design districts or anything else like that. The citizens absolutely told me personally look I've been inspected to death and I said, I, I, you're preaching to the choir and then you're absolutely right. But I want to just give you one example.  I'm not going to tell you that that roof was bad in 2015 that roof probably hadn't been good since about 2010. There's obvious storm damage, there's all sorts of things wrong with that roof I almost fell through that roof, and that doesn't happen overnight. You know, and so, and it was right by where there's a leak that you could see that that had been there from from actual an impact damage. So, so to have a damage assessment that says we're not going to do your roof, but then we're going to give you upper cabinets which are completely perfectly fine there's nothing wrong with them. That tells me that there wasn't the level of detail that was proper for the citizens on that particular home and so I'm not going to trust somebody else's work I'm going to go out there now we got files on the 13th of March, I'm sorry the 17th of March and we've got to 22 homes as of as of today. And I intend to put my first bid package out within the next two weeks. That starts the process for the first time. My goal is to get the first 35 to 40 homes. And, and I'm overstepping what Gloria has in terms of the number but I'm counting on some cost savings, but I put I put hard marks on the wall. But I want those under construction and the first series of them done before fall. So that's, that's what I'm working towards. I haven't failed at anything in my life and I don't intend to start now. Thank you. I clearly understand you and what you've got to go through. But you want to look at the numbers and go back to from once we've come up to this point. And the kinds of complaints and bequests I've been getting since since the store. A number of those damages did not go that high. If you, you be talking about some windows that may have been damaged and so forth. The footing. I'm not the only person the footings of a of a ramp and small porch area. And we just haven't gotten there yet, but also on the scale. We've purchased houses that have been where the area was flooded and we purchased those houses. And I've gone through areas where we were paying to elevate houses, so they don't flood anymore. I would venture to say that when we look at the average cost of this list. I would also say in the edge area also the costs are not as high as it were elsewhere but we haven't gotten to them yet and that is a frustration. So, I'm, I'm just, I don't want to show my frustration but but what I'm hearing. I've heard before. All honesty to people that have been really pleading. And sounds like we're going to go down that court again. I don't know how many baskets we're going to make but it's. I just, I'm just not comfortable with what I'm hearing. Mr Davis. We're not, we're not going down the same. We're not even playing in the same court anymore. So I totally understand your frustration, but I just have to say that, you know, this is my decision, ultimately to go down the path or going down now. And it is for the reasons of frustration that you just said, so we're not even playing ball in the same court anymore. I know that SVP's reputation and we kind of breezed over their roles and what they're doing for you today. But I can give you a lot more information about their level of expertise and what they've done as working on construction management from the flood for the state, and then all across the country. And I'm very, I feel very comfortable and confident that Rick and his team will get us there. And I feel even more comfortable and confident that he is putting his word and his work on the line, publicly expressing to our citizens, his own personal review of these problems to the point of acknowledging where things that may not have been identified before being identified now. So, you know, I know that it makes you still question it as you should for your constituents but but this is where we are and this is this is the right direction to go now. Moving forward. There's a lot of effort into this, but I just could not. I would not be honest with about the process and how we've gotten to this point and why other areas. The damage the investments and all that were done. And here we are. It's, it's like we're still starting over, starting from point one. That's not. Well, I'm not sure about which other areas or how other entities have done their programs, but I, you know, I'm responsible for this one. And so, when I have it, you know, when I see that we need to go in a different direction. That's what I'm doing. I understand but just, I just, it's, it's, this was an aching, it's aching to me to hear that we have where where there was flood damage and so forth. We've gone in. We've purchased properties. And turn them into green space. We've, I know we've, I've seen houses where we've whatever the negotiations were and folks were reimbursed but they having to jack, you know, elevate the houses above the level that they were prior to the flood. We've done all of that. We, some of this clear to Mr. Davis about what was done by home, you know, there were private homeowners who made to do some of what you're just. I understand that. I'm just saying that there's a storm at my house so I hope I don't lose power. Okay, I don't want to belabor this why don't we just get together I'd like to talk with the team and maybe kind of just review some of today's presentations I think that may help shed some light on where I need to place my focus moving forward and work with staff to see that we we accomplished to go. This Wilson. She may have lost. Yeah, maybe. I'm sorry. Yes, sir, I can hear you. This Wilson. Let me just say a word of appreciation. I think we're on the right path. We're on the right path. This has been. I'm sorry. Yeah. You're there. Maybe the stone and I'll go ahead I'm having some problems with power just you can keep talking now. Dory and Rick, can you hear me. Yes, I can hear you can you hear me. Let me just say a word of appreciation. I think we've. We've jumped another hurdle because the hurdle for me, of course, has been a compassion and a passion for those persons who are still homeless and not in their homes from what I gather from the new configuration. What I see is a plan to get at the heart of the issue and that's to get both back either back in their homes or repairing their homes. So I think we're on the right track. And if we stay on that track, I think we are probably headed towards a sense of accomplishment. I'm appreciative and I don't want to sound contentious. In any way, but I do want to say that they're again, persons who are lack of a better word suffering, because there's still a lot of their homes. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you so much. So I do appreciate that. So we will talk about some of those folk that we're looking to help if we could go to the next frame. So what we've done is we, we have come up with 23 applications so far we call that our round one that have already gone to damage assessment. Most of them were identified by the program manager and then some were added by staff. But there's a total of 23 and 17 out of the 23 of those have elderly priority. And so the total to fund the 23 and elderly. The 23 in the round one is $4,370,000. That's at the estimated 190. And so, but to your point, if it doesn't cost 190, which everything won't, but we're setting that as the bar, just so that we can make sure we can serve the folk that we say that we've done the damage assessments far thus far. So let's go to the next frame, please. So let us give you an example of the round one applications. And you know, we've already talked about how we're prioritizing applicants in the methodology that we're using. As you can see from this chart out of the 23 that have gone to damage assessments. It shows that five of those applicants have three priorities. So if you look at chat, you see that there's two apple applications under chat. They have three priorities. One is that they're elderly. They have a disability, and they still help and have to help and safety issues in the home. Another, there's one that's in chat. That is elderly. Has a disability, but is head a female head of household. There's another where you see that there are two in MRP, and there are three priorities for them. They're elderly is able and have safe health and safety items issues in the home. So you see how it's being broken down by priorities based on who we are serving. Do you all have any questions about this. We can certainly come back to it. Because I do want to go through the next round. So most, just so you know, most of the applicants in this cohort were already in the pre construction with the prior program managers. And those that were not again, as I mentioned earlier were added based on health and safety issues. Next. So we also have a round two. That's, that's been reviewed. And so in the round two. There are 18 applications that are ready to move to damage assessment. And 16 out of the 18 also have a elderly priority. And so we're to serve the 18 in this in round two. That total is $3,420,000. Next. So here's a breakdown of what the applicants look like in round two. As I mentioned, they're 18 applicants. And you can see how it's broken down in terms of priority. And you can see where there's two in this round that meet all four categories of the priorities. They're elderly, they're disabled, they're female head of household, and they also have health and safety issues. Again, this speaks to the methodology on that we're trying to make sure we serve those most in need first based on the funds that we have remaining. Next. So in terms of the program summary. As I mentioned in round one, the 23 applications that have already gone to damage assessment with this estimating the cost that $190,000 each. And again, 17 of those applications are in the elderly priority group that total comes to $4,370,000. In round two, there are 18 applications estimated at $190,000 each, that total comes to $3,420,000. So if you look, if you recall from the earlier frame, we talked about the remaining funding of the 7.8 million. If you deduct what applicants are in round one and round two and the estimated cost, once they're all served that will leave a remaining amount of $90,972,000. Next. Gloria, before you move on, or I'm sorry, you might, well, you might be getting to it, but I guess from the folks that are have applications in. Do we know how many we're not going to be able to fund. Yes, we do. I'm sure we do and I may have to defer to Sue with ICF for that number because we've had so many numbers because there are quite a few people in in the eligibility stage. So Gloria, what we did with the methodology is again, as you, and I'm sure that's why you're asking Councilwoman divine is based on the method methodology, we know who we're going to be able to serve. You wanted to know the total number of those that we're not going to be able to serve, correct. Correct. Okay. And if I may jump in, this is the Laura so curso. Yeah, so there is a group of folks. There are about 55 applicants who only have one priority. And those folks most likely we will not get to and then there, and there's about 54 folks in that group and then another 16 to 17 folks who have no priority at all. And for that being said, remember that these numbers are based on 190,000. So, if the cost is actually less, less, we will continue to move folks up and through the process as funding becomes available. Okay, so we can't really say, Hey, there's 70 some folks that may not get help those folks may get help because we don't spend the 190 and we end up spending. What we've done and done, and Rick does his calculation the average is maybe 90,000 then we're looking at being able to increase the total number of folks that we're helping and we're we'll we're tracking the funding as well as what's left and continue to move folks forward we work together as a team so that we can get folks through the process as quickly as possible. Does that answer your question. It does. Thank you Dolores. Okay. Thank you Dolores. Gloria. Yes, sir. Let me ask this question. And I know it may be a question that we may not just want to do that. How doable it is for us to be provided with a list of those persons in round one and two. Meaning you want to know where they live and that's the names and where they live. I mean it could be an address or a name or whatever. I think in order to, in order to disseminate the information in a very accurate way, finding out and knowing who those persons are we could possibly hit with some PR in terms of their own frustration. Miss Wilson, I'll defer to you on that in terms of providing that detailed information. But when you can defer to me I think that's ultimately going to be a legal question Reverend McDowell as to how much information we can provide. Yes, ma'am. I've seen a list I've never I've seen the list with applicant numbers and I think Dolores, they're the list that we utilize you all had scrubbed it originally on the tables and it may have shown, as much as you could show publicly so I don't, you know, I, we can talk to you Reverend McDowell about that and try to work with you with your particular questions and constituents I don't know that we need to just, I'm not going to sit here and say that we can just blanketly give out all the information about every applicant. Yeah, I would not. I would not want that perhaps there are other persons in one or two of the other districts and other folks who have situations, sort of similar to what I'm experiencing and with the client with the constituents. So if there's an individual conversation. I'd certainly welcome that. Yeah, I'm not in that pop launch we take a list and put all that no I'm not asking for that just specifically in those areas that affect the constituents where I serve. Yes, sir. Dolores did you want to add to that. So just a couple things with federal dollars come baggage, as we all know and there are certain rules and regulations so personal identifiable information is protected. We, we can't just, we cannot give out information unless you are the applicant we can we could speak in general terms but not specific information, unless you are the applicant or the applicants designated contact person. So, I think, and I don't know and I know Gloria is going to get to it in the last slide, but we, I see if we do receive phone calls every day. And Anderson who is our person in charge of applicant and constituent services does a wonderful job of walking and working through the applicants that call and have concerns of where they are in the process and we'll sit there and spend whatever time, however much time we have to talking to them, we have in place that we will return their calls in, in within the 24 hours, and we give them as much information as we can as to what their status is. So, I would encourage you all to make sure you have that number and that you share that with your constituents and if any of you would like to call candy directly and kind of have a general conversation with her about some something an individual you have concerns about then we can reach out to the individual. That's what is part of our job and that's what we do on a regular basis.  That's, that's a given. So, to have that kind of conversation individually, and I understand, I understand fed rates and all of that sort of thing. But I also understand when folk are hurting and they can't get the information that they need and won't, they're going to reach out to one voice. Yes sir, well I'll work, we'll work with you Reverend down on that of course. Thank you. Thank you ma'am. Yes, sir. Okay. Next. So, next steps moving forward. So as we've talked about we've shown you how we prioritize the the entire the application pool. And we've shown you the applications that have been moved or will be moved to damage assessments as funded funding becomes available. So in slides will present the next grouping to consider as funding becomes available. And so we are ready to move forward and excited about what's ahead. So in the next frame, here we have. So we've already talked about round one and two. So, in this particular group, we're looking at 35 applicants. In this group, 31 of the applicants are elderly and for have either have four priorities. So what we're doing here is we're showing you out of those that in order to serve the 35 in this group at $190,000. It will cost an additional $6,650,000. So we can go to the next frame. Here, because we know what it will cost to serve 35, we want to go over with you some of the recommendation that through the leadership of Miss Wilson that staff has looked at that could be could potentially be used to assist additional applications. And so we are are proposing potential additional fundings funding and community development block grant, revolving long fund dollars in the amount of $570,771. We're proposing $1 million from the home investment partnership grant fund. And also, we're proposing from the ARP fund of million dollars, but I will point out as a point of reference that with ARP, the funds are subject to Treasury guidance. This is a proposal of how we can come up with additional dollars to assist additional applicants. And so based on that amount, you're looking at potentially 14 additional applicants that could be served. And that would allow for a surplus of $1,743 leftover, which can't do a whole lot with that, but at the end of the day, we want to spend as much money as we can so you don't want a lot left over. So the next frame please. So we're summarizing everything here. We talked about the 90,772,000 that will be left over from the first two cohorts of line of round one and round two. Plus the proposed funding from CDBG RLF from home and from ARP that gives a total of $2,661,743 less the round three applications where we say we can serve 14 additional applications if we're able to, you know, solidify those funds. And that total again is $2,660,000, which again would need the $1,743 in surplus funds. So next. All right, so that's the end. I hope that information was useful to you and then you know again we're available. If you have any other questions at this time to answer to answer your questions as best we can. Can we go back one slide please, Gloria. Yes, ma'am. Okay, so the funding summary here again, these are just recommended potential funding sources. Obviously, you all are barely familiar familiar with our involvement loan funds through CDBG and the home program. We, we tried not to deplete the home program funds correct Gloria with the recommendation here. Yes ma'am. And then with the RLF, I think that probably is the majority of it. Correct. Correct. Okay. But I do think to be able to potentially assist 14 more applicants out of the 35 remaining would be a good use of the funds and obviously assuming that the criteria would be met through the ARP funding. That that would also be a wise use of those funds. So those are the recommendations as we continue to move forward, and we can bring those back to you to confirm. If you want us to move in that direction as we first and foremost get through rounds one and two as they were explained to me questions. Any additional questions. All right. Thanks. And thanks Teresa for reflecting the constant feedback and frustrations of council and acting on appreciate the leisure. Yes, sir mayor. So I know, Gloria and the team have some additional presentations as well today, Gloria. Um, so this is, I finished my part and our Dolly Bristow, our CD administrator has two additional presentations that she will be going. Thank you all. Thank you. And thank you to the SPP and ICF team members as well. Hi. Good afternoon to mayor and city council and to miss Wilson. While they're uploading the presentation here, just want to take this time to say it's very good to see all of you. A lot of times we don't get the opportunity to to see you on a regular basis. It's good to know that you're all still participating in and doing well. And that is a blessing. So I'm here this afternoon just to give you a brief presentation. On the cares act round three substantial amendment to the consolidated plan, the 2024 consolidated plan and the 2020 annual action plan on September 11, 2020, had made available some remaining dollars of the CDBG CV allocations to the entitlements. And they named this round three. And this allocation really is is is for fighting the spread of COVID-19 by providing assistance to renters and homeowners. The city of Columbia was awarded in round three was 976,268 dollars. And of course, we also received round one funding at to 611,921 for a total in community development block grant funding of one point a little over 1.5 million. And in addition, in round one, the city also received 200 and 220,838 in hopua funding. And these funds are to be used to address the coronavirus to prevent, prepare or respond to the pandemic. Next slide. So under CDBG CV, it does suspend the 15% public service cap. It also has a five day public comment period. Normally our comment period is 30 days so this is a provision that has shortened that comment period. This is spends in person public meetings and gives us the option to hold them virtually as we're doing today. In addition to that, these funds, CD funds are not included in the timeliness requirement that HUD has at 24 CFR 570.902. These funds do not count toward our timeliness test. Also, there are other waivers that HUD has but these waivers. There are waivers that are not included, which are fair housing, non discrimination, labor standards, and environmental reviews. These are the priority goals and that were established in our five year action plan, or five years, excuse me, consolidated plan. These CV funds directly impact the public service and quality of life improvements. Specifically, the goal 3B, the vital services for LMI households. And so all of our priorities are listed here but the CV funds specifically for the round three will impact the goal 3B 3B. Next slide. So our proposed projects for the CDBG CD funding. The projects are administration at 195,000 little over 195,000 and public services, which includes the activities that will address LMI individuals households or neighborhoods. And that activity being rental or mortgage assistance that will assist up to six months in rental or mortgage that are in arrears, and also utility assistance up to two months, but it does not include water as the utility. The total cost of the total 976,268. We've come to this conclusion that using these federal dollars for public services that will address rental and mortgage. There was a survey we did do a survey that was available between April 13 and April 19 that really targeted the nonprofit agencies and the community based organizations. And I remember when CV funds first were available. We did a survey at that time to see what the needs will work to for the community, but because needs have changed and we are at a different point, we wanted to be inclusive to those agencies that serve our, our citizens and what they found was the greatest need for their clients being housing assistance. And of course that's we all know that, you know, that is a major priority right now at 41. And of course there were some other needs but housing assistance being the greatest. And then when we asked what the clients immediate needs were said 76.47% said housing assistance. And what does your organization deemed the greatest need for your clients due to the impacts of COVID-19 82% was rental assistance with 17% being utility assistance and so with that information we were able to proceed with ensuring that these funds would be used for housing assistance. So the substantial amendment time timeline and like I said this is very brief presentation. So the public comment period for CV three was April 13 through the 19 city council presentation which we are doing today. So this information will be submitted the substantial amendment will be submitted to HUD by mace 27 and then had may take up to 45 days to review and approve, which means these funds would be available around July 13. So that's just a brief timeline just to give you an indication of of the process that we need to do any questions we will still the community citizens are still able to provide comments if they'd like and we will make sure that they are included in in our submission for the substantial amendment and they can do that. Online or can do it via post mail to community development at 1401 Main Street, or they can send any additional comments directly to community development at community development at Columbia SC. In addition to that, we want to make sure that we get comments by May 13. May I ask a question Ed McDowell. And I know this may be far fetched as we talk about the substantial amendment. But look, and I'm almost like a scratch record, because I'm very interested and concerned about our fire fighters and the equipment there. And I know that there are some specificity in terms of what what's outlined in the substantial amendment. But is there any way, anyway, we could possibly look at some options in terms of keeping out firefighters with equipment. And when I say equipment, I'm talking about a change. I mean, again, the cancer rate for firefighters. It's not decreasing but increasing. Is there a possibility, or there's some, is there another way, either to the left or to the right, where some of our firefighters could be given another change of equipment. We're using the CARES Act money for that. We can. That's what I'm asking. Yeah, but this is different. All right, I know that. Got some stanchor substantial amendment moneys out there and we don't know what to do with it. We got a place for it to fall. I can say that for the project that we have this money classified under as public service. Now I'm not sure what type of equipment that you are referring. Is it personal personal equipment or is it equipment for a fire station or it's it's equipment for fire fight is there. A second set of gear and Reverend down. I'm sorry. A second set of gear. Yeah, second set of gear. I'm sorry. Yes. So yes, it's put it could very well be classified public service because these firefighters need a second set. Yeah. So whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever pot it falls in. And make sure we keep this at the forefront of these guys who are given service to the city and to this to every event that takes place that they are risking their lives. Well, it's certainly something, you know, we, we can look into more clearly. I can't say that it will be eligible today but will certainly look into the possibility of that. And again, it would need to be classified under public service, which is is what this pot of money is for. And so that that's certainly something we can look into prior to this mission. As I really appreciate that I have not talked to chief about this recently, but it's a concern of mine, because of the attention that was given when I visited a fire station. So yes, if you look into that, and of course see whether or not there's some available monies under the substantial amendment that we could possibly use for a second set of gear for these guys and women. There's $6 million airs act money that the city has from the stimulus that we could we could designate if we make it a priority. All right, whatever pot it, whatever pot it falls in, I think these guys are deserving to get it. So understatement, thank you. Any other questions for Dolly right now. So dolly so people who are who are looking forward to this, the best way to move by comments is by email. And they got to do it before midnight on on on the 13th right. That is correct sir. Okay. Any other questions. I'm sorry I can't see everyone with the screen of the hands up. Okay. All right. Thank you. I'm sorry I'm doing a little bit of multitasking. Just because I know some of you all are concerned about the recent shooting we're hearing not confirmed in five points. So I'm trying to get a special information for you so chief and deputy chief are sending that as soon as three texts is about it so anything you can let us know the yes sir. I'm trying right right now. The officers are on the scene in between Andy's deli and apartments, the possible suspect and victim fled together canines are tracking down there. That's all I've got right now. I think they do have some other information that can't get into but they're working on it. I'm noting that it's contemporaneous with some married the special of our three ordinance lawsuit by the attorney general. The reality is that we need to do everything we can to keep guns out of the hands of folks who want to do harm to each other. And as I didn't share my comment with all of you, I think I did send to the city manager. And I find it wholly offensive that the people of Columbia didn't have the opportunity to make its arguments before the judges some important enough that even soon like Ram is spoken on red flag laws and that the president of the states has spoken quite often just in the last couple of weeks about red flag laws and ghost guns in particular. These laws, these ordinances passed by this council are consistent with the Second Amendment consistent with state laws and the opportunity to just argue those on behalf of the people of the city has been denied to us. We will follow a motion for reconsideration. If in fact, that is not offered the will appeal the decision. But if this council is on the work pressure United States will in the works and the grams will work, and I just need to work to. Yeah, and, you know, Mr. Mayor, thank you for continuing to push that fight it is important. It is kind of, you know, disappointing once again that, you know, the judicial system is really affecting our citizens to protect our citizens and I think police officers are tired of repeat offenders and and folks continuing to be let off and and now we don't have the ability to work with and I agree with you 100% we were in the right and we should have that. Thank you. We got one more presentation. You're muted Theresa. Apologies. Yes, sir. Dolly, are you taking through us through the final presentation. I certainly am. Yes, ma'am. Thank you and this is our fiscal year 2021 annual action plan for community development and mayor and council. Yes. So this. I'm presenting the 2021 annual action plan, which represents the second year of the city's consolidated plan for the fiscal years 20 through 2024. This was ratified by city council and approved by and that was the the five year plan. The annual action plan really is submitted every year, and it addresses the priorities that have been identified through the con plan, and it also describes specific uses or planned uses for HUD dollars for activities, and it helps us determine what we are going to utilize to reach our program priorities and goals. And this information is managed through HUD's integrated disbursement information system or it is and so that's where we house all of the program and recorded information. So the 21 2021 funding allocation, the three entitlements that we represent under this plan are CDBG community development block grant home and papa housing opportunities for persons with AIDS for our allocation for 2021 we received a little over a million dollars in CDBG, along with other program income and the revolving loan fund as well as some prior year funding. We would have a total revenue of a little over $1.8 million for our budget for 2021 for CDBG for the home investment partnership, our allocation is 690,000 added with the program income to a total revenue that would be available at $940,000. And for HAPWA, our allocation a little over $1.5 million coupled with some prior year funding for a total revenue of $1.6 million or $1,609, $215. Total revenue estimated for the 2021 excuse me for the 21 fiscal year is $4,417 and $813. Of course, other funding sources that community development administers you've heard about the disaster recovery dollars. There's also the CDBG mitigation program dollars. And I just presented on the CARES Act funding dollars, which total altogether for CARES Act is a little over $1.8 million for the CARES Act. All of these are managed under community development. And again, our priority goals and needs which we addressed in the last presentation. And so all of the activities that we recommend for funding go through a vetting process through the Citizens Advisory Committee. And one of their goals and their focuses is making sure that the activities that are selected will help us meet these priorities, our priorities and the goals that we have set for the five year strategic plan. The focused redevelopment areas. City Council did determine the four prioritized redevelopment areas, which are Book of Washington Heights, King Lion Street, Farrell Road Business Corridor, which is a part of the Eau Claire redevelopment area, and that is still court redevelopment area. And we are continuing to utilize these as the prioritized areas. However, there are a total of seven redevelopment areas, which also include Belvedere redevelopment area, Brandon Acre, Cedar Terrace, and the NRSA redevelopment. So 95% of our projected expenditures for the 2021 fiscal year will be utilized for those that will those that are low modern income or neighborhoods or areas. And then this will meet our public benefit requirement of 70%. So we have to have at least 70% of our expenditures in our program year must be for those that are LMI. And just to reiterate what LMI is, of course, it's 80% or less of the area median income. And as of the 2021 income hood income limits, a family of four at 80% is $57 $700. And we talked about in some of the other presentations about what is extremely low, the 30% the extreme low. So this you see a household of four would be 26,500. So that's extremely low. So just wanted to highlight for you on that. Next slide. So the planned activities that we have, these are being recommended and again these have gone through the NOPA process or our notification of funds available process which ultimately gets vetted through our citizens advisory committee, and we are providing the activities under CDBG. The three project areas are administration, public services, and non public service or public facilities infrastructure and demolition. So for public services. There is a total of 177,150 through various activities, including those applicants awarded through the vetting process, the comment for their comment to the market pilot program. The United Way of the Midlands homeless no more fast forward and community development of the bank on financial literacy program under the public facilities infrastructure and demolition projects. Departments were awarded these dollars for public works for the book of Washington street replacement and improvement. The police department demolition project parks and recreation. The TS Martin renovation phase two, and the office of business opportunity to continue the good work they do with the commercial revitalization and retention program. That total for the public facilities and non public service activities is $872,767. And then last are our housing programs, which community development administers through our department. So that's the administration and operations of our housing portfolio. The housing maintenance assistance program or map and then city lender one loan program or uplift. So that total is 560,000 total of the budget is 101,868,590 for the CDBG budget. Moving on to home home has an allocation for administration for the total set aside which is the community housing development organization. It's required that we set aside 15% of our entitlement to assist those organizations that promote and move forward affordable housing, and also the majority of our budget is being set aside or used for residential affordable loans, acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction. And so those are the three categories or project areas for the home dollars for a total of 940,008 dollars. And then action plan activities for hapwa program are sponsors. The Columbia housing authority, the Midlands Housing Alliance for transitions, Palmetto AIDS life support services, the cooperative ministry, upper Savannah care services, and the University of South Carolina. They are our sponsors who provide direct benefits or direct services to the individuals that are HIV or AIDS positive and our LMI, the total budget for our sponsors. $1,609 $215. So our next steps. Of course, we have had, we are currently in our public comment period. The public comment period began April 10 and will end May 11. We have had our first public hearing. The hearing today is our second public hearing. And also, we are requesting approval to move our draft annual action plan to be able to submit it to HUD no later than May 13. And our program year then will begin July 1 2021. Are there any questions. I review all the annual reports and really appreciate the work that you all do and that our citizens committees committee does as well. We have a produce in the in the aggregate that just may be drawing over the last 10 years, or 15 or 20 years. All the investments and quarter by housing whether it be rental, low income, for sale fee simple ownership, or even the projects like Lauren plays and the point at Elmwood that we've helped leverage dollars to get done. Is that something we could produce Teresa and Dolly. I think it'd be worth showing exactly how much we devoted in that space. I think it might might actually be not just insightful, but we're warning to all the discussions around affordable housing. Shall we call it the Benjamin legacy report. I said, I said 20 years. Okay, well beyond me but but it will be important to know. To make a mention earlier the, I worked particularly around the home ownership piece is something that people still amazing me it's still not a novel idea. But when I share with colleagues across the country, but but but those two projects alone. I mean, and obviously we talk about the point at Elmwood, and the partnership with second Nazareth and what it was meant to the, that's the, that entire community we've had ongoing discussions about, about that particular area and just over the over the course of time looking at Daniel and, and, and Sam and then to make, we've invested significant resources to go back to EW and Luther and Bob and and everybody else. But but unless you've actually seen what was what was there before. I want to kind of understand that, but Laura, Laura places jumps out to me because I remember us leaving city council me late one night, heading, heading over there, because of the of the of the cheese, raising the red flag on the on the fire conditions and a number of people, number of whom were were non English speaking residents there who were being quite frankly taken advantage of, and then you think about the way in which we methodically leverage these partnerships to produce high quality housing in that in that space here tore down was old and built up was new in district to I just think you got to do a better job telling the story that has been there's been a significant amount done. And unless unless you tell the story and then realize how much more we can do. Recognizing the need is still great engraved, but I would I'd like to see a report of what we've been able to do in that quite frankly make me very well be looking at the various reports and told them up. I mean guys we stepped up with the map programs, the peer program, the gap program, specifically designed spending millions of dollars on on on weather rising homes, and not only focusing on homeowners but also focusing on on landlords and making sure they have the resources for those who might be focusing on on rental a rental situation as opposed to a home ownership situation. We don't lie. I mean, our team has done a lot of multiple administrations, and through several staff leads, Gloria and Deborah and Tony and everyone else. So, you know, I mean, it's just, it's worth being able to tell the story I'd like to see that in aggregate and go well beyond me coming to the city of talking about looking over 20 year horizon and just being able to tell what we've done and be able to clearly articulate and talk about what the county or the state of this might do because, yeah, just, it'd be, it'd be worth seeing these numbers because these numbers are good numbers. We've leveraged dollars very well, we've leveraged private sector dollars fairly well as a new opportunity obviously with the new state loan from housing tax credit complimentary in the federal dollars. We would, but it's very difficult to kind of know where you're going unless you can clearly articulate where you come from, and, you know, this this process is got to be innovative, you got to ideate but you but but but it's it's iterative, you know, we've learned some things along the way that it worked and some have it worked. And I think it's worth putting all that in one place in one document. So that's a that's the request to reach in Dali and Gloria, let's pull that together. Absolutely. Thank you. Any other questions for from council before I think this is a public hearing. And I'd ask. If we have any citizens who signed up to speak, who may want to have a voice heard on the FY 2021 annual action plan for community development. No, nobody has indicated that they wish to speak. Anybody that's clearly hearing, if you would like to speak on this item, you can first start to raise your hand. We will connect to the meeting buffer right now. Nobody appears to be on the line to speak on this item. And for those clearly monitoring my, my, my speech. Mr. Khalid's first name is lady. So, so that's why I said anything else lady, but thank you, thank you lady any any other questions from council for for Ms. Brista. Good deal. And, and Mayor Benjamin I do think that Dali or Gloria can correct me if I'm wrong that they would like a vote in order to go ahead and submit to HUD, notwithstanding any additional public input they receive. That is correct Teresa. Thank you. I'll move Mr. Mayor. Just a second. Part of the discussion. Move the previous one. Yes. Mr. Rickman. Hi. Mr. McDowell. Mr. McDowell. Hey, you got your wrong. Hi. Mr. Ryan. Mr. Davis. Hi. Thank you Mayor Benjamin. I am let the record play Mr. McDowell for the stomach. Yes. Yes. Good deal. Hi. Mr. Mayor, we can move into the consent agenda items seven through 13. All right. Second. Is there a second? Second. Is there any discussion. previous question. Mr. Brennan? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Ms. Devine? Aye. Mr. Davis? Aye. Mayor Benjamin? Aye. Thank you ma'am. Event resolutions items 14 through 20. Item 14 is a resolution number R-20201022 authorizing consumption of beer and wine only at Alpes, Colombia in the 1200 block of Park Street between Dervais Street and Lady Street on Saturday, June 5th, 2021. And Mayor Benjamin and Council I would add that we are still adhering to COVID-19 protocols, encouraging event planners to do that when we review those prior to putting these resolutions on your agenda. That's also a wonderful opportunity. Teresa, as we look at the potential expiration of the mask ordinance, what those protocols will look like going forward, maybe a feedback from y'all at the appropriate time as to how that might modify these in terms of spacing and attendance and in all ways. So, I just can't keep that in mind. But thank you. Ms. Wilson? Yes. Is there a projected number? Attendance wise? I don't, let me look in your backup materials. I don't know if Sherry Artists or anyone is online. Teresa, that can find it maybe quicker than I can. I don't know that we have those numbers for each of them.  So it's, I mean, it would be a guesstimate at best. Is that a part of the protocol when they fill out the application for an event? I think that our staff, you know, public safety staff tries to get some indication whether or not it's a hard and fast number, probably not. But I don't have any problems with the event. My only problem, of course, is they're open to the public. We will renew our MASH ordinance at some point. Do they have the necessary CDC guidelines attached to the protocols? Yes, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Move for approval. Thank you. Any discussion? All right. Any discussion with the previous question? Mr. Vernon? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Yes. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. Davis? Mr. Benjamin? Aye. Thank you. Item 15 is resolution number R-2020108. Only at the Juneteenth Best on Saturday, June 19th, 2021. Is there a motion? Move for approval. Just a second. Second. Discussion? Move for approval. All right. Any discussion with the previous question? All right. Call the roll. Mr. Vernon? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. DeVine? Mr. Davis? Aye. Mayor Benjamin? Aye. Thank you. Item 16, resolution number R-20201030, authorizing consumption of urine wine only at Ladies Who Lunge on Saturday, May 22nd, 2021. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move the previous question. Call the roll. Mr. Vernon? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. DeVine? Mr. Davis? Aye. Mayor Benjamin? Aye. Item 17, resolution number R-20201031, authorizing consumption of urine wine only at the Columbia Food and Wine Festival in the 1600 block of Blanding Street on Sunday, May 23rd, 2021. Motion? Motion to approve. Second. Second. Mr. McDowell? Same question. Same question. How many people are we following CDC protocols? Yes. Yes, sir. Well, for me, I will not ask the question again. Are all the events CDC protocol? Yes, sir. I mean, we ask them to do that. Yes, sir. Okay. I hope we can be sober with all these drinking events taking place. Different days, yeah. Yeah, well, you get drunk on different days. We can move the previous question. Mr. Vernon? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. Vine? Aye. Mr. Davis? Aye. Mayor Benjamin? Aye. This weather knows right now, y'all. Yep. Well, all right. Please, please, sir. Yes, sir. Item 18, resolution number R-20201032, authorizing consumption of beer and wine beverages only at the Main Street Latin Festival in the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Main Street, the western half block of the 1200 block of Lady Street, the eastern half block of the 1100 block of Lady Street, and the eastern half block of the 1100 block of Washington Street on Saturday, August 28, 2021, with a rain date contingency of Saturday, September 4, 2021. All right. Is that motion? I don't have a question. Move approval. This is a public event, right? Yes, sir. Okay. This will move in probably a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move the previous question. Mr. Brennan? Yes. Mr. Rickerman? Aye. Mr. McDowell? Yes. We'd love to. Okay. Mr. Duvall? Aye. Mr. Vine? Aye. Mr. Davis? Aye. Just a minute, because they don't sell tickets ahead of time. Your volume's on Theresa Knox. The mic's on. Aye, ma'am. Thank you. Item 19, I'll speak to this one after I read it. Mayor Benjamin, into the record, resolution number R-20201035, authorizing consumption of beer and wine only within Boyd Plaza, adjacent to the Columbia Museum of Art for First Thursdays on May, on Thursdays June, or 2021, July 1, 2021, August 5, 2021, September 2, October 7, November 4, and December 2, 2021. And with this event, Mayor and Council, I did speak with the event organizer and just for your information. If you recall, First Thursdays have been going on since probably around 2014. Obviously, our Main Street has grown and changed from now to then, and the event organizer certainly were requesting to be able to partake in beer and wine up and down Main Street during the event. This year, we did not approve that, but did approve for them to be in Boyd Plaza, very similar to how we handle the beer and wine on the time, the opportunities that that's allowed during Soda City or other events. And so I spoke with them, they were very understanding about not just really because of the mask ordinance and the COVID protocols, but this was more about public safety's concerns that PD, CPD has now with that movement up and down the street and intersections not being blocked and people crossing. So I just wanted to make that clarification for you that this change was more about public safety. We did entertain that we would review it again and with the potential of the 1500 block of Main Street being utilized for that purpose, but they were fine with us beginning the event in June, as you are approving it. Combine Boyd Plaza. Our motion? I move. Approval. Approval. Second. Any further discussion? Yeah, first Thursdays was one of the very first things we could do. It was before 2013-2014 in a more informal way. So yeah, continue to work with them and obviously, you know, we can get kind of footloose and fancy free sometimes. It helps to have Chief Holbrook and folks like Derek Thornton and others kind of keep an eye on the movement of people, particularly when alcohol is involved. So thank you for staying on top of that. We'll move to the previous question. Card call roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Liekeman. Mr. McDowell. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Dowell. Aye. Mr. Wein. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye, thank you. And our final event resolution is over 2020-1036, authorizing consumption of beer and wine beverages only at the South Carolina Park on the 1800 block of Main Street between Laurel Street and Richland Street on Saturday, June 12th, 2021 with a rain contingency date of Sunday, July 18th, 2021. No motion. Don't move. Second. Second. Question. Seeing none, we'll move the previous question on card call roll. Mr. Brennan. Yes. Mr. Liekeman. Aye. Mr. McDowell. Yes. Mr. Duvall. Aye. Mr. Wein. Aye. Mr. Davis. Aye. Mayor Benjamin. Aye. And thank you so much. Lady Theresa Mayer. That's right, Mr. McDowell. Just for the record, I'd just like to state upon a personal privilege, I hope the approving of all these events that give anyone the notion of false normacy. As you know, this thing and the numbers could very well change rather quickly. I exercise and of course, I continue to exercise an extreme amount of cautiousness. I did that, I voted yes on all of them today. But I think we don't want to give anyone because the events are numerous and they're going to get, they're probably going to become more voluminous in their requested events. I think we need to ho