939 the Eagle’s Fred Parry, who hosts the “CEO Roundtable” program, describes Comobuz.com as the best journalism coverage of the city of Columbia. Comobuz.com publisher Mike Murphy joined Fred in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on the popular program. They tackled a number of topics, including the April recall election involving first ward city councilman Nick Knoth, the April second ward race between Lisa Meyer and Robert Schreiber III and the contentious issue involving short-term rentals. You’ll soon have to pay the same five percent lodging tax that hotels pay, when you stay at a Columbia Airbnb or other short-term rental property. Columbia’s city council voted 5-1 last week to approve the new regulations, which will take effect in June. The council has been working to develop land use regulations to govern short-term rentals since 2018. Fifth ward councilman Don Waterman cast the lone “no” vote. Sixth ward councilwoman Betsy Peters, who owns an Airbnd, abstained from voting. They will require short-term rentals to be licensed, inspected, restricted to a maximum number of days of operation and pay the same five percent lodging tax that hotels pay:
(AUDIO): Columbia city manager’s proposed pay increase plan is popular with council members
While he’s still studying it, Columbia fourth ward councilman Nick Foster feels very positive about the city manager’s proposed $533-million budget.
“I think we’re in a good position financially and I’m especially pleased that we can do what we want to do with compensating our employees,” Foster says.
He tells 939 the Eagle that he supports city manager De’Carlon Seewood’s $10-million pay raise plan for Columbia’s approximately 1,500 city employees.
“I feel confident in saying the general tenor is that we want to be sure that this happens. And so I’m grateful for the city manager’s leadership on all of this and for the Finance Department’s work on it. And I look forward to hearing more from what the public thinks,” says Foster.
Columbia city employees received a seven percent pay increase in 2022. Mr. Seewood has also emphasized the importance of benefits in his budget. The proposed budget has Columbia paying the entire 11 percent cost for city employee health insurance premium increases.
First ward councilman Nick Knoth also supports Mr. Seewood’s proposed pay increase for city employees. Knoth says city staff have been neglected historically in terms of their pay.
The council will hold three public hearings on the budget: they’re set for August 7, August 21 and September 5. Columbia’s fiscal year begins October 1.
(AUDIO): Columbia’s state of city will be delivered in late May or early June
Columbia’s city manager is working on his upcoming state of the city address. This will be De’Carlon Seewood’s second state of the city.
“So hopefully sometime either the last week in May or the first week in June we’ll do that. And so it will be a highlight of the things that we were able to accomplish this year and our plans for what we’re going to go into the future,” Mr. Seewood says.
One of Mr. Seewood’s top priorities has been compensation and retention of city staff. He’s expected to address that. Other topics that will likely come up are public safety and trash collection.
City manager Seewood is also looking forward to working with new Council members Nick Knoth and Donald Waterman.
“When people dedicate their time to join a board like this, it’s a lot of work and I think they’re up to the challenge so … it’s exciting,” says Seewood.
Councilmen Knoth and Waterman were sworn-in on Friday afternoon. Their first meeting was last night.