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2009: A Year Of Challenges and Opportunities

January 6, 2009

Dear Friends,

Without question 2009 presents unprecedented challenges for Columbia. Please know that in this uncertain financial climate, I am ever mindful of the dramatic impact of the declining economy on residents, local businesses, and every facet of life in our city. I know that we will weather this storm, confront our challenges, and create dynamic opportunities that will enable Columbia to reach her full potential.

My 2009 New Year's Goals for the City of Columbia

Like many of you I have formulated New Year's goals and resolutions and want to share with you some of those I have for our city government in 2009:

Make the Columbia Police Department the best local law enforcement agency in South Carolina. To this end I am closely following the special report of Chief Tandy Carter, which calls for new incentives to retain and recruit new officers. Chief Carter will be unveiling the second part of this plan at Council's meeting on Wednesday, January 7.

Provide "Best Practices" in the City's financial operations. As you know our city's past financial practices have troubled me deeply, and I am pleased to report that we appear to be making significant progress in addressing them. Over the last several months the FY 05/06 and FY 06/07 books have been closed and audited and the FY 07/08 books closed on schedule and now are at the Auditor. We have hired credentialed staff and expect to secure a top notch Chief Financial Officer in the near future. I have been assured that comprehensive financial reports will begin this month and will request that they be posted on the City website. We must never again find ourselves in a position where our citizens harbor serious questions about the management of public money by their city administration.

Continue our bus system and develop transit plans for the future. Quite simply put, we must keep our buses running. Our city and county leaders must work together to ensure the future of our bus system, which will lose over half of its funding this coming October. Eighty-five percent of the present riders depend on bus service to get to work, and the loss or reduction of service will dramatically effect our city and its residents. We must find a revenue source to address the immediate need of continuing the system and formulate a vision to address the compelling transit needs of our future.

Establish a comprehensive strategic plan for our city. I will advocate for planning that involves all of our city stakeholders in charting a bold vision for our city that positions us as a "city of choice, not chance." It is my hope that our Council will move to embrace the type of planning that provides measurable goals and objectives and becomes a blueprint for our actions for the next five to ten years.

Address the issue of homelessness. Over the holidays I re-read the 2005 City commissioned "Blueprint to Address Homeless in the Midlands" which considered the enormous direct and indirect costs of homelessness on our city and provided a 10-step action plan to move forward. (Read more at www.yeswecan.org/.) At a recent presentation at City Council, Dr. David Parker pointed out that Columbia is the only city of our size without a full-time operating homeless center. It is time for our city to assume a leadership role and work closely with others, including the Midlands Housing Alliance and numerous service providers, to enact a comprehensive action plan for the homeless in our midst. I believe that our city must take a leadership role in this area and have suggested that we host a "Homeless Summit" to marshal the great talent in this area in a focused approach that will provide the homeless with the services they need to help re-build their lives and move them off our streets, business corridors, neighborhoods, parks, libraries and emergency rooms.

Come Join me at City Council this Wednesday, January 7th at 6:00 PM! 

I am hosting the District 3 City Council Meeting in Rosewood at South Kilbourne Elementary School this Wednesday at 6:00pm and welcome your attendance. This will be one of the four evening meetings that Council holds each year. We have a full agenda that includes presentations by Chief Carter and others.

As we begin this New Year, I am reminded of the great honor of representing you on Columbia City Council. Over the past six months since I have assumed office as your District 3 City Councilwoman, I have heard from many of you about a host of issues. Please know how much your interest and support have meant. I ask now for your thoughts about my 2009 New Year's Goals for the City and on any other concerns you feel that we must address.

Sincerely,
Belinda Gergel
Belinda Gergel
Columbia City Council, District 3 Representative