District Offers Free WiFi to Visitors

Beginning today, The District will be providing free public WiFi as part of a six-month pilot project. This project is funded through the CID sales tax and is part of a larger effort to enhance the experience of people visiting The District.

Free WiFi will be available in the public areas of Broadway, Ninth Street, and Flat Branch Park. WiFi will also soon be available in the newly revamped Courthouse Plaza so people using the new picnic tables or watching a performance on the new stage will have access to the Internet.

Visitors to The District will be able to use Google maps to find their way around, check out the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website, live tweet concerts, post photos to Instagram, and check out Yelp for recommendations on where to eat in The District. And if it’s a nice day, they can bring their laptop or tablet down to the park along with their lunch so they’re never out of touch.

According to www.gigaom.com, WiFi use has increased tremendously as the popularity of smart phones has increased. Nearly 98% of Wi-Fi consumers log onto WiFi networks once daily and 84% want citywide WiFi. They also found that 91% of users expect WiFi when traveling and 90% of users make hotel and travel decisions based on WiFi availability. Access to free WiFi is the top question visitors to Columbia have, according to both local hoteliers and the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Annenberg School for Communications found that free WiFi increases the use of public space.  They found that 25% of the people in a typical public space would not have visited before WiFi was available and 70% said they came more often because of wireless access. The average laptop user makes two, one-hour visits to a public space per week if WiFi is an option

Full Stream Wireless was selected as the provider for this project and they’ve been placing small transmitters on the roofs of selected buildings within the target area, delayed only slightly by unseasonable weather. Thanks to Boone County, Boone County National Bank, the City of Columbia, Commerce Bank, the Missouri Theatre (MU), and Van Matre, Harrison, Hollis, Taylor and Bacon for use of their facilities.

Free WiFi will be provided for a six-month period to determine the extent of use and whether or not investment in a permanent program is warranted. After the test period, the CID Board will evaluate its popularity and assess options.

The Downtown Community Improvement District (CID) is an independent organization with the
goal of enhancing the vitality of The District, Columbia’s central city. With the help of business and property owners, CID Board members are working to increase the vibrancy and attractiveness of The District, making it a great place to live, work and play. Find us at www.discoverthedistrict.com.

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Two of the projects the CID sales tax vote outlined were sidewalk cafes and curbside vendors. Both are ways to increase The District's reputation as a dining mecca and both serve to create a lively sidewalk culture downtown. 

We are working with the city to explore specific policies for sidewalk cafes and food trucks. Specifically, we'd like to expand t he hours in which sidewalk cafes are allowed to serve alcohol and we'd like to consider possible ways food trucks could be allowed while still offering support and protection for bricks and mortar restaurants. 

The CID Economic Development Committee has been considering these topics and we've also surveyed members and customers about them as well. It should be noted that no specific policies have been approved by the CID--this is all part of a discovery process. 

The CID Economic Development Committee will be meeting on Thursday, May 23 at 4 pm in our offices at 11 S. Tenth St. to continue discussion on these issues. All are invited to attend.

Putting the Jobless in Touch with Jobs

The Columbia Police Department and Columbia Fire Department will be facilitating a job fair with local businesses Saturday, May 18 from 10:00am until 3:00pm at Jefferson Junior High School located at 713 Rogers Street.  

Columbia Police Department Lieutenant Geoff Jones stated "Our Police Officers interact with the community on a daily basis and come in contact with many citizens who are out of work and looking for gainful employment."

Fire Fighters and Police Officers will be on-hand at the job fair to help candidates who are interested, write resumes and prepare for interviews that will be conducted with employers the same day.  Jones stated "Job candidates have an opportunity for an on-the-spot interview."  Columbia Fire Department Battalion Chief Brad Fraizer stated "We're excited about working with the Police Department to host a 'one-stop-shop' for people needing work and employers looking for help." 

Those interested in attending the job fair are encouraged to bring a resume or information that can be included in a resume.  They should also be prepared to fill out employment applications and participate in a job interview.

Businesses interested in participating can contact Officer James Dowler atjrdowler@gocolumbiamo.com or Officer James Meyer at jameyer@gocolumbiamo.com.

Contact: 

Columbia Police Lieutenant Geoff Jones

573-874-7403

Walking Public Art Tour

Join GetAbout Columbia and the Office of Cultural Affairs in celebration of Bike, Walk and Wheel Week and public art. 
 
Chris Stevens from the Office of Cultural Affairs will lead a 60-minute walking tour of public art, highlighting Percent for Art projects as well as select locations where participants can view "knit bombing" and graffiti art. The walk will take place starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 13. Participants should meet at the Marathoners sculpture at Flat Branch Park, 101 S. 4th St.

Additional information on the City of Columbia's Percent for Art program can be found on the City's website at www.gocolumbiamo.com.  Art projects were initiated by a range of businesses, individuals, organizations and agencies, each with a different mission but all sharing the common view that art enriches our city.  By highlighting these important cultural resources, participants can learn about our city and our history - all while enjoying a walk around the "block".

For more information, call Parks and Recreation at 874-7460.  A detailed schedule of all Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week events is located online at www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/.  

Funding for GetAbout Columbia is provided by the Federal Highway Administration's Non-Motorized Transportation Program.

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Two of the projects the CID sales tax vote outlined were sidewalk cafes and curbside vendors. Both are ways to increase The District's reputation as a dining mecca and both serve to create a lively sidewalk culture downtown.

We are working with the city to explore specific policies for sidewalk cafes and food trucks. Specifically, we'd like to expand the hours in which sidewalk cafes are allowed to serve alcohol and we'd like to consider allowing food trucks to set up in selected metered spaces.

The CID Economic Development Committee will be considering these topics and we've also surveyed members about them as well. It should be noted that no specific policies have been approved by the CID--this is all part of a discovery process. 

Based on our initial interest in food trucks, the city has decided to work on developing city-wide policies for these businesses. As such, we are pooling our efforts and hosting a joint meeting with the city and inviting interested parties.  This is being done with the understanding that rules within the CID may be different than those outside the CID.

This meeting will be Friday, May 10 from 3 - 5 pm in City Hall, rooms 1A/1B.  Invited will be members of the Economic Development Committee, food trucks, restaurant owners and others interested in attending. Both CID and city staff will be there as well to begin the discussion of this issue.

It's Bike, Walk and Wheel Week!

We know, every year you say you're going to do it--why not make this year a reality?
Columbia's 12th Annual Mayor’s Challenge: Bike, Walk and Wheel Week is May 11-18 and it's the perfect time to try out biking or walking into work.
A full week of activities are planned to celebrate this year’s Bike, Walk and Wheel Week.  A partial list of activities includes:

·         Family and Women’s Only Trail Rides,
·         ABC’s of On-Road Cycling
·         Bicycle Maintenance Workshop
·         Try Transit Free Day and Your Bike is Your Ticket on Transit
·         Breakfast Station Day, Friday, May 17.


Enjoy free Kaldi's coffee and pick up lots of great trail and on-road riding tips at the GetAbout Columbia Open House on Monday, May 13, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm at Columbia Parks and Recreation, 1 S. 7th St.  The first 100 people in the door get a free flashy red light - great for walking or biking.

Register at all events to win one of two bicycles or bike shop gift certificates.  Prize drawing will be occur on Monday, May 20.

Find out about breakfast station locations and a full schedule of events at www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec or call the Parks and Recreation Office at 874-7460. For event updates, like Parks and Recreation on Facebook - CoMoParksandRecreation.

Road closure on Walnut, four buses will re-route

Walnut will be closed to all through traffic between College and Orr  from May 6 through May 12  for construction and utility work  associated with the apartment complex at Walnut and College. Four Columbia Transit bus routes will reroute due to this closure. The routes affected are the 107 FastCAT Express, 102 East, 103 North East, and 104 South East. The detours will be in effect from beginning of service on May 6 through the end of service on May 12.

Bus stops within the detoured areas will not be in service during this time. Passengers should catch the desired bus at the nearest active bus stop. For detailed route and bus stop information, passengers can call the Columbia Transit customer service line at 573-874-7282 or visit www.gocolumbiamo.com and search "rider alert".  To find the nearest FastCAT stop and track the bus, visit RideFastCAT.com.

Contact: Columbia Transit
(573) 874-7282

Columbia Public Works
(573) 874-7250