OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Columbus City Council Meeting: Rezoning, Golf Cart Ordinance, and Stormwater Update - April 21, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyColumbus, Indiana
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:16:56

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I did get his email.

0:06

Did you get Larry Corporation's emails?

0:09

How did I not?

0:10

Records.

0:10

How could I not open?

0:12

Just curious.

0:13

You brought copies in case you didn't want to read my copy.

0:18

Sure.

0:24

Really, really weird.

0:24

And oh, that's nice, actually.

0:28

Yeah.

0:28

Thank you.

0:28

Otherwise, I was gonna be squinting.

0:31

Yeah, can't send you a little bit.

0:32

We'll just see if anybody else needs them if they didn't get his emails, then get the screen plan.

0:46

Oh, I mean, I'll take printed one out.

0:55

Okay.

1:11

So okay, we'll go ahead and uh start and call this April 201st City Council meeting to order.

1:20

First item on the agenda is invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:24

I think Josh.

1:26

No.

1:27

Okay.

1:28

Jay has J names.

1:30

Someone here.

1:30

Yes.

1:31

I do.

1:31

Luke Magart is the uh pastor at Columbus Free Methodist Church.

1:35

So please rise as you're able.

1:36

We'll have the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:41

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we come in this moment.

1:44

We thank you for bringing us here.

1:46

I thank you for the leaders present in this room, both the ones elected and the ones sitting that want to have their voice heard that want to help our city be the best it can be.

1:57

Lord, I pray that you would continue to guide and lead us to follow your will.

2:03

It's not always easy, and there are moments where we mess up where we have to confess the ways that we have fallen short.

2:10

And Lord, if that's necessary, I pray that you'd give us the strength to do that.

2:15

Lord, tonight help us walk in your ways.

2:18

Help us be your people.

2:20

In your son's name we pray.

2:22

Amen.

2:39

Thank you.

2:41

Mr.

2:41

President, can I just say something about Luke real quick?

2:43

He's getting ready to Luke.

2:45

Luke, before you before you head out, I just wanted to say thank you to your service to our community.

2:50

He's moving back to uh his home area to be closer to family, and he's added a lot to this community through his ministry, and so want to say thank you for your service.

3:00

Good job.

3:08

Roll call, please.

3:09

Chris Cartel.

3:11

Elaine Hilbert.

3:12

Here, Jerome Wood, Kent Anderson.

3:16

Here Frank Miller.

3:18

Here, Jay Poise.

3:19

Here, Josh Burnett.

3:20

Here Tom Dell.

3:21

Here, Grace Kessler.

3:23

Here.

3:23

We have eight.

3:25

Uh seven in person, one online, so we have to follow the electronic policy for the evening.

3:33

I have the minutes from our April 7th meeting for your approval.

3:37

So move.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Signage Regulation███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Miscellaneous██████████████████18%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Safety███████7%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Housing and Development█████5%
Active Transportation█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Environmental Protection█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Columbus City Council Meeting: Rezoning, Golf Cart Ordinance, and Stormwater Update - April 21, 2026

The Columbus City Council met on April 21, 2026, with seven members present in person and one online. The meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call and unanimous approval of the minutes from the April 7 meeting. The council addressed a rezoning proposal, a golf cart and UTV ordinance, and a stormwater management ordinance, and received an annual report from the Solid Waste Management District.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rezoning (Volunteers of America Hutchins Crossing): Paul Hoffman (2214 Chandler Lane) expressed strong support, noting the project began in 2022 as a Matthew 25 project with First Presbyterian Church and partnered with Volunteers of America in June 2024. He thanked the council for positive comments at first reading.

  • Golf Cart & UTV Ordinance:

    • Larry Warford (5104 Sanibel Drive) opposed the ordinance in its current form, arguing that without registration, permits, or inspections, it would be unenforceable. He cited research showing comparable cities require registration.
    • Jim Schalski (5113 Delray Drive) recommended requiring registration, inspection, proof of insurance, and an operator’s guide.
    • Carrie Sinavaldi (524 10th Street) stated golf carts do not belong on streets, but UTVs are different; she suggested not passing the ordinance.
    • Scott Adams (2643 31st Street) supported the ordinance, stating he already drives his golf cart safely with required equipment.
    • Larry Thomas (5028 Imperial Drive) supported allowing golf carts on the People Trail, citing ADA rights; he also objected to the slow-moving vehicle sign requirement and questioned enforcement statistics.

Discussion Items

  • Rezoning (Second Reading): Jeff Bergman presented the request to rezone roughly half an acre from PUD (planned unit development) to RMC (residential multifamily) for a multifamily development at 14th and Hutchins. The site is a former parking lot of the United Way Center, and the project includes a sidewalk commitment. The Planning Commission recommended approval unanimously. The council voted 8-0 to pass the ordinance on second reading.

  • Golf Cart & UTV Ordinance (Second Reading): City Attorney Austin Whited and Deputy Police Chief Matt Martindale presented four amendments: adding a definition for low-speed vehicles, clarifying the ordinance applies only to golf carts and UTVs (not LSVs), requiring seat belt use at all times, and setting the effective date to June 1, 2026. A lengthy discussion followed on registration, enforcement, and People Trail use. Martindale explained registration is not required and that police can enforce based on observed violations. Council members emphasized education efforts, including infographics and a booth at the farmers market. A motion to amend the ordinance passed 8-0, followed by a motion to pass the amended ordinance on second reading, which also passed 8-0.

  • Stormwater Management Ordinance (First Reading): Andrew Becker introduced the ordinance repeal and replacement to comply with House Enrolled Act 1037, which restricts local regulation of construction sites under one acre and eliminates performance bond requirements. The ordinance also clarifies liability and updates code references. The council passed the ordinance on first reading 8-0, with a second reading scheduled for May 6.

  • Solid Waste Management District Annual Report: Heather Cecil presented the 2025 report, highlighting a 25.4% diversion rate (28,370 tons diverted) and 113,919 tons accepted at the landfill. The landfill has an estimated 57–80 years of remaining life. Other statistics: 1,788 tons recycled at the recycling center, 26,005 tons composted through yard waste, 43.62 tons of electronics recycled, and 171 tons of reuse materials. The district eliminated its commercial cardboard/office paper program due to financial losses. Cecil also promoted Earth Day events and tire grants.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    • Rezoning ordinance passed 8-0 on second reading.
    • Golf Cart/UTV ordinance amendments passed 8-0; amended ordinance passed 8-0 on second reading (effective June 1, 2026).
    • Stormwater management ordinance (repeal and replacement) passed 8-0 on first reading.
  • Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

I did get his email. Did you get Larry Corporation's emails? How did I not? Records. How could I not open? Just curious. You brought copies in case you didn't want to read my copy. Sure. Really, really weird. And oh, that's nice, actually. Yeah. Thank you. Otherwise, I was gonna be squinting. Yeah, can't send you a little bit. We'll just see if anybody else needs them if they didn't get his emails, then get the screen plan. Oh, I mean, I'll take printed one out. Okay. So okay, we'll go ahead and uh start and call this April 201st City Council meeting to order. First item on the agenda is invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. I think Josh. No. Okay. Jay has J names. Someone here. Yes. I do. Luke Magart is the uh pastor at Columbus Free Methodist Church. So please rise as you're able. We'll have the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we come in this moment. We thank you for bringing us here. I thank you for the leaders present in this room, both the ones elected and the ones sitting that want to have their voice heard that want to help our city be the best it can be. Lord, I pray that you would continue to guide and lead us to follow your will. It's not always easy, and there are moments where we mess up where we have to confess the ways that we have fallen short. And Lord, if that's necessary, I pray that you'd give us the strength to do that. Lord, tonight help us walk in your ways. Help us be your people. In your son's name we pray. Amen. Thank you. Mr. President, can I just say something about Luke real quick? He's getting ready to Luke. Luke, before you before you head out, I just wanted to say thank you to your service to our community. He's moving back to uh his home area to be closer to family, and he's added a lot to this community through his ministry, and so want to say thank you for your service. Good job. Roll call, please. Chris Cartel. Elaine Hilbert. Here, Jerome Wood, Kent Anderson.

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