Regular meeting number two will now come to order.

Please stand for the playing of the national anthem.

Councilmember Ross, would you lead us in the pledge?

Is applied of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands when a nation under God.

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

This evening, Council is grateful to have Pastor Dale Tucker from Tri Stone Missionary Baptist Church here to lead us in prayer.

Welcome back to Council, sir.

Spower heads, God, we are so grateful and thankful for this day, a day we've never seen and a day we won't see again.

We have so much to be thankful for.

And we are grateful that you have given us a reasonable portion of health, life, and strength.

We pray now, God, as we prepare for city business, that you will bless not only the residents of the city of Columbus, but you will bless the city council as they move us forward and continue to uh seek ways for justice, support, and freedom for all that make up this great city.

You told us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask for it.

And you said in all our ways to acknowledge you, and you will direct our path.

So lead us on tonight.

Guide the conversation.

Allow us to find decisions and solutions that will not only honor you but make this city what you have called it to be.

We are grateful again for all that you've done in our place to make an impact.

And the Lord, we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Pastor.

Clerk, please call the role.

Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, De Akawa Dorne screen, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Any person who takes any action to obstruct or interfere with the conduct of tonight's meeting may be charged with disturbing a lawful meeting pursuant to Columbus City Code 2317.12.

Any person who enters those areas of city council chambers reserved for city officials or invited guests may be charged with criminal trespass pursuance of Columbus City Code 2311.21.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Can I get a motion to spend the reading of the journal?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Tim Barosa de Padilla, De Akawer Dorn screen, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Are there any additions or corrections to the journal?

Hearing none, the journal is approved.

This week's communications perceived by the city clerk's office are listed on the agenda and we published in the city bulletin.

Are there any other communications we read into the record?

Not at this time.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

We'll go around the dais for updates and resolutions from uh my colleagues, starting with Councilmember Bankston.

Thank you, uh President Hard and just a couple of announcements uh regarding um the upcoming budget and the hearing schedule.

Uh this month council will hold eight separate hearings uh to hear presentations and deliberate and deliberate on the city's 2026 operating budget.

Each hearing will take place here, uh right in council chambers and will touch on the individual budgets of the city's many departments, divisions, and offices.

The hearing dates and themes uh and council office leads for each hearing are as follows.

Uh the housing homelessness and building budget hearing will be co-chaired by Council President Harden and Councilmember Ross, and that will take place this Wednesday, January 14th at 5 30 p.m.

The Health Human Services and Equity Budget Hearing chaired by Councilmember Green will take place this Thursday, January 15th at 4 p.m.

The economic development and small and minority business uh budget hearing chaired by myself will take place this Friday, January 16th at 1 p.m.

The public service and transportation budget hearing chaired by Councilmember Barroso de Padilla will take place on January 21st at 4 p.m.

The workforce education and labor budget hearing chaired by President Pro Tim Dorns will take place on January 22nd at 1 p.m.

Uh the public safety and criminal justice budget hearing chaired by council member Remy will take place on January 27th at 3 p.m.

The public utilities and sustainability budget hearing chaired by councilmember Weich will take place on January 28th at 3 30 p.m.

And last but certainly not least the neighborhoods recreation and parks budget hearing chaired by councilmember Daygauer will take place on January 29th at 1 p.m.

I know that was a lot, uh, but all of that can be found on our different council social pages as well as council website.

So be on the lookout for those.

Again, all of those will also be streamed uh virtually.

So if you can't attend, we encourage you to uh go back and watch those, also reach out to the individual offices for uh additional details and if you have input uh for more details on each of those hearings again, please reach out to those appropriate chairpersons uh of each of the committees.

Uh the economic development and small minority business budget hearing taking place this Friday.

We'll delve into the individual budgets of the Department of Development's economic development and small business divisions, as well as the budget for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Uh in person and written testimony must be emailed to Jonathan Brown at JB Brown at Columbus.gov by 10 a.m.

on Friday with the subject line January 16th operating budget hearing.

Each speaker will be limited to remarks lasting no longer than three minutes.

And again, the meetings will be streamed live on the city's YouTube channel and Facebook pages.

Again, looking forward to engaging with uh both uh my colleagues as well as the public as we go through the 2026 uh operating budget.

Council President Sohead.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, our councilmember.

Uh uh Councilmember Rosa de Badia.

Nothing for me this evening, thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember De Akaur.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Chris Potem.

Uh thank you, Council President.

No resolutions tonight, but did want to pause and acknowledge.

Uh tonight is the last meeting for uh the our director of human resources, Chris Moses, who is uh leaving us for bigger and better things over at the Columbus Zoo.

So very excited uh to recognize his last meeting, his service to Columbus.

Most folks don't know that actually Chris and I went to law school together, so I never thought the two of us sitting in very boring civil procedure or whatever it was at one point would find us here in City Hall together.

Uh but it's been a pleasure being able to work with Director Moses uh during his not only tenure as director, but certainly previously with the city, and just wanted to pause it in knowledge and say thank you certainly for the service to the residents of Columbus, uh to our employees uh across the city.

I know your efforts uh to really bring your department forward um to make sure that we're doing the best we can for all of our employees across Columbus.

I know I've appreciated and so many other members of council have it.

Really enjoyed your professionalism in this role.

So just want to say thank you and certainly uh wish you the best.

Uh although he's trading uh us as co-workers for like penguins and elephants.

So uh I don't know.

I I think he may be getting the better part of it, depending on uh you know what year it is.

So uh but congratulations, director councilmember Green.

Uh yeah, just to reiterate what uh Councilmember Bingston said, we will be holding our Health Human Services and Equity Committee hearing this Thursday on January 15th from 4 to 6 p.m.

here in council chambers.

Uh we welcome folks uh from the community or any interested parties to sign up to testify.

You can sign up to testify in person or submit written testimony to my teammate and our fearless leader over here, Haley Gherkin at HE Gherkin at Columbus.gov.

Um, and again, that deadline to sign up to testimony to sign up to testify or submit written testimony is noon on the day of the committee hearing, Thursday, the 15th.

Thank you.

That's all for me.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember uh Reemy.

Councilmember Ross.

Certainly a pleasure to join council in my first official business meeting of the 2026 year.

I'm thankful to Council President Harding for your vote of confidence in allowing me to chair and to lead the housing homelessness and building committee to reiterate Councilmember Bankston.

We will be having our budget overview hearing on this Wednesday, January the 14th.

It'll be from 5 30 to 7 30 p.m.

here in council chambers.

I will also be the special guest uh for this week's grounds for connection event hosted by council's community engagement committee as well as the Department of Neighborhoods.

Super excited to sit with residents, hear from residents and listen to concerns.

So if you are interested in coming out, you can meet us at El Carajio.

Did I do that right?

Councilmember Lourdes.

She doesn't know.

Doesn't matter.

Mexican Cafe and Bar at 8 5 1, North Fourth Street from 10 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

Thank you.

El Arapaso.

There you go.

Gracias.

Well, welcome.

Uh on behalf of the colleagues, we're just excited that you are have stepped up and are gonna lead us in in so many different ways, but we're so grateful to have you.

Welcome, Councilmember.

Councilmember Weish.

Well, um, as you were coming into council, if you heard the background noise, our music that is usually sound like your own hold was actually uh happy birthday by Stevie Wonder.

Uh today is Councilmember Weiss's uh birthday.

So happy birthday, Councilmember Wise.

I seriously thought he was younger than me.

He's older than me, if anybody was wondering, but umly announcement that I have is that uh next week is MOK day, so we will not have our uh our our regular scheduled meeting.

Our next meeting will be Monday, January 26.

Um, are there any uh comments from our elected officials offices?

Happy new year.

And to you, thank you.

Sorry, Laura, I have to get real close to you for a second.

Microphone's not moving.

Um, this just uh an acknowledgement that of course we closed out the year.

So 1231.

Um, Council President Harden and members of council is really a key part of where we began now, a next couple 45 days of a lot of work.

So we're underway right now with you know the year end audit and so forth.

But um, right as we crusted into 26, we released our official you know year end memo.

And so as council looks at the revenue performance, if you have any questions, please let us know.

What's a little bit different this year is that in the absence of a lot of federal data with the government shutdown that happened in you know December, we really found ourselves partnering with a lot of our major employers to backfill for what we were not getting.

We of course have real-time data from our tax system, which is super granular, but we like to be extra diligent and and really kind of vet with federal data with Bureau of Labor Statistics with job data here in the state of Ohio, as well as calling up local employers in the absence of that data, just an acknowledgement that there was a lot of employers who were super super helpful to us.

What begins now is and we say a lot, we we really do quantify the quality of our jobs.

The economic performance of our income tax is not a direct reflection as to how every day folks here in Columbus are actually feeling, how they're working, what their you know upward mobility opportunities are.

But I do have to give some acknowledgement.

The performance that we did see, which was from an income tax perspective, a spectacular year, spectacular year, has to be acknowledged that there were some very intentional gains.

And just because uh director Stevens is here, I do have to just give an acknowledgement that there were some really good outputs of city council from an economic policy standpoint that we could absolutely tangibly see we're working in helping to grow and the stable stabilize our our tax base.

So um we look forward, especially if we can get some access to that data, releasing some updated information.

But as always, if there are questions that any um council members have, you're looking to better inform yourselves, your teams, just ask because we do have a great deal of information downstairs.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Auditor.

Are there any uh requests by members of council for the removal of an ordinance uh or resolution from the consent action portion of the agenda?

Hearing none, may we now have a motion to waive the reading of titles of third day legislation by the city clerk.

Clerk please call the role.

Thank you, madam clerk.

Will the clerk now reading to the regular ordinance number of 30 legislation on tonight's agenda for first reading?

In finance and governance committee, we have ordinance 3258, 3496, 3503, and uh 2025, economic development and small and minority business, ordinances 3305 and 3306-2025, Public Service and Transportation Committee, ordinance 3133 and 3373-2025, neighborhoods recreation and parks committee, ordinance 3337 and 3338-2025, Workforce Education and Labor Committee, ordinance 3453-2025, Housing, Homelessness and Building Committee, Ordinance 0008, 0009, 0010, and 0011-2026.

Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee, ordinance 3504-2025, rules and policy committee.

We have ordinance 134-2026, uh, ordinance 64-2026.

That will be the last one.

Sorry about that, the way I read that.

Oh no, you're fine.

Part of our agenda.

They are specific to the Columbus Growth Package.

So the first speaker to come before Council is Mr.

Nate Wilkins uh speaking for ordinance 0134-2026.

Mr.

Wilkins, welcome back to council and happy new year, sir.

Speaking as a resident, first of all, let me say thank you, Robert.

And other your colleagues.

Now is the time to grow this city in a massive way.

What I want to tell you as I come down here on the bus line.

Um Cleveland Avenue, all on Cleveland, my LaGrogan, North London.

I would just tell you, I would like to see the future of Columbus, Ohio neighborhoods.

When I first bought my house, this is what I had to deal with.

A lot of vacant and boarded up property several years as in rough condition, important condition.

As I walked down Cleveland Avenue of vacant land and all this other stuff.

Let me just say this again.

The Columbus Growth Strategy.

Columbus Growth Strategy needs to be all types of things.

Retail, restaurants, housing, apartment complexes.

I brought three notebooks, and I have spent a lot of time in my library at the uh Cleveland, uh Northern Lights Library, and uh put up a lot of zoning and process.

What I come to find out, all the stuff draped in blue here in red, different business, different institutional things, and uh mind you, I don't want to leave out the multiple disability, visually impaired, and multi-handicap.

Those are our next people to for the future of this Columbus High neighborhood.

And again, I would suggest not lowering the density of apartments and high-rise in certain neighborhoods.

I as I have begun to dove into this with Alex at the time.

And here, all in Linden, I see five to seven-story buildings.

This neighborhood is going to constantly grow.

I went to FedEx downtown this afternoon, this evening, and talked to a young lady that lives in London.

She did not know nothing about this.

And what she asked me today, we need a grocery store.

Really bad in that area.

And if I can emphasize, like bringing Target, Walmart on Cleveland Avenue, and also a what you call it, job and family services.

And here again, I work at Morris Road, and the job and family service is not accessibility off the bus line.

And that what we need there is on Cleveland Avenue, so people can have access to it.

And also, I want to say in closing here, there cannot be no parking due to the bus rapid transit authority after I've been taken for all over 51 years.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Wilkins.

And uh, I will say this as the other speakers come up too.

As this is a first read, we'll have a more robust conversation around the Columbus Growth Package when this comes back before council.

Um and I would offer if uh council member uh Dorans or the director would want to say anything tonight, but um, we want to hear from the other two speakers.

Uh next speaker to come before council is Ben Keith, speaking of ordinance 0134-2026 as well.

Welcome to council and happy new year.

Uh good evening, and uh thank you all for being here tonight.

My name is Ben Keith.

I'm the zoning committee chair and a commissioner for the North London area commission, just like Mr.

Wilkins is.

And my comment tonight has two parts.

The first is in my role as the zoning committee chair for North London with the approval of our commission chair, Carl Perkins.

The second part is my own personal remarks.

And speaking as a commissioner, when the city announced the comment opportunity for the Columbus Growth Strategy on October 15th, with a deadline of November 9th, we requested additional time to file comments since our meeting schedule would have prevented us from providing a thorough comment.

The city did extend this deadline to November 30th.

On November 13th, our zoning committee met, and in two hours we read through the entire draft Columbus Growth Strategy.

On November 20th, the full North London Area Commission adopted a comment which expressed our general support for the growth strategy.

We praised its many good parts, and we made many requests for clarifications and changes.

Most of our requested changes were not incorporated or even responded to.

I highlight three requested changes.

First, a commitment for a time-limited review and comment period of 60 days for all significant development proposals.

This is the same way that the city handles demolition permit applications and would preserve an opportunity for neighborhood expertise and feedback on new developments where changes to the zoning code might remove any need for variances.

Second, we requested an increase in density from mixed use two to mixed use three for the area located at the southern end of the Ohio State Fairgrounds between 11th Avenue, the railroad tracks, and 71.

This area is located on a bus line and is ideally situated for high-intensity hotels, serving events at OSU, the Ohio Experts and State Fairgrounds, and the Historical Cruise Stadium.

Excuse me.

Encouraging that development would provide a key job center for London and the University District.

And third, we requested a tightening of guidelines for reducing impacts of light and noise pollution from higher intensity developments on residential uses.

None of those items were included.

I can't speak for other area commissions, but there are so few changes between the draft and this final proposal that I suspect their requests were similarly ignored.

This proposal was a good first draft.

It can be made better with only minor changes, and we encourage City Council to amend the proposed Columbus Growth Strategy before adopting it.

And now, speaking personally, for all of the public comment and outreach surrounding the draft Columbus Growth Strategy, I am surprised at how little the draft changed in response to that feedback.

And I'm concerned by some of the changes.

The one change that worries me the most is the removal of a supporting principle from the higher quality design and neighborhood vitality section.

Quote.

Higher intensity uses should incorporate design elements to minimize impacts on adjacent lower intensity uses.

And quote.

This growth strategy is a once-in-a-generation change to make Columbus better by setting good rules right from the beginning.

Why did the City of Columbus decide that it wasn't a priority to reduce the impact of new developments on adjacent uses?

I would like to see that fixed before this draft is adopted.

And that's my comment.

Thank you so much, Commissioner, uh, for your for your comments, like I said, uh any responsible wait until we hear our last speaker, but thank you so much for being here this evening and for your your feedback and engagement throughout the process.

Our last speaker on ordinance 0134-2026 is Mr.

Michael Weinman, Michael S.

Wyman, um, speaking uh on this ordinance.

Welcome back to Council, sir, and happy new year.

Good evening, President Harden, Vice Chair Dorns, and members of City Council.

My name is Mike Wyman.

I am here testifying on behalf of the Clintonville Area Commission.

I am the Commissioner for District 7.

The Commission opposes ordinance 134-2026.

Why?

Section 3 states that the Columbus Growth Strategy will supersede the affected portions of all adopted land and use recommendations, including maps for any affected adopted area and neighborhood plans.

Our planning and development committee carefully and deliberatively developed the Clintonville area plan, and a special subcommittee was formed for this specific task.

Numerous meetings were held, and input was received from dozens of our neighbors, both in person and in writing.

The commission accepted this plan after multiple discussions with additional input.

During my seven-plus years on the commission, I have not heard any of any negative feedback from businesses, developers, or city officials regarding our plan.

Graceland Flats was built in 2020 with 180 units.

The AV was constructed in 2019 with 301 units, and the DECO was completed in 2017 with 114 units.

In nine years, just these three projects added 595 housing units to our small neighborhood.

Other businesses and developments have gone forward in Clintonville over those nine years, and all of them have been under our current neighborhood plan.

At our most recent meeting last week, we signed off on two variances for a business that at our at the time of our plan was approved, had never even been imagined in our neighborhood, a marijuana dispensary.

Clintonville will have now have two dispensaries.

This speaks to the flexibility and forward thinking of our neighborhood plan.

Our plan was created by Clintonville for Clintonville.

In contrast, the Columbus Growth Strategy is a cookie-cutter approach that fails to account for the nuances of our small but mighty community.

Clintonville is not an IMBY, but we fiercely want to protect what makes us the off-voted number one neighborhood in Columbus, if not Central Ohio.

Our neighborhood plans are rooted in extensive community input, ensuring they reflect residents' priorities and concerns.

Clintonville wants to be informed, to give feedback, to be heard, and to have changes made if necessary.

The Columbus Growth Strategy doesn't offer any of those things.

Frankly, this plan was dropped on our lap, and we are given very little time to review it.

We received our copy of the plan on October 30th, and at that time we were given an ultimatum to respond by November 30th.

The lack of response would be considered support.

That email was that email also informed us that the council would be voting on this in December.

We generally meet on the first Thursday of the month unless there's a holiday, in which case we meet on the second Thursday.

No one on the commission had seen the plan or heard of it.

We asked for more time to respond, but it wasn't granted.

So we held an emergency meeting the week of Thanksgiving.

It was attended by half a dozen or so of our members who all opposed the plan, several of whom were disappointed by the absence of tree green space conservation policy.

We submitted a letter in opposition at that meeting.

Later, we were asked to reconsider by an email received mere hours before December meeting.

Again, we discussed the strategy at a meeting with public input.

Our position is not changed.

If anything, our opposition has deepened with the additional information we received, including a dispatch article that said area plans would will be scrapped except for three.

We have sent two letters of opposition, which I couldn't find in the mayor's packet, demonstrating our ongoing engagement and concern for community-driven planning.

The commission respectfully asks that the council vote against the Columbus Growth Strategy and not unilaterally eliminate 37 area plans, replacing them with a cookie cutter approach that uses ambiguous language on community engagement.

I'll be happy to stand for any questions you may have.

Thank you so much, Commissioner Wyman.

Uh, if it's okay, I'm gonna invite up Louis Teba, who is leading the Columbus Growth Strategy to respond not just to your comments but to all of the uh uh comments we've heard on the growth strategy, and just to remind folks again that this is uh just a step in the process that tonight we won't be taking a vote on the actual uh plan.

Uh and so we appreciate uh and in heart wholeheartedly mean that we appreciate the engagement uh with council now as we consider it.

So thank you so much, sir.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank thank you for having uh me here today and for considering this legislation.

Um, you know, all the comments that we've heard today, uh, we are open to consider to continue engaging with these individuals and continue the dialogue that we've had.

I will say that a benefit of the Columbus Growth Strategy that is very important is that this allows for a plan that can be amended uh maybe on an annual or biannual basis.

So it'll we are working to have a plan in place so that we can continue to get neighborhood feedback and we can adjust as necessary.

It's a big benefit over the existing area plans, which are updated once maybe every you know 12, 15 years.

But the Columbus Growth Strategy was uh created based off of a lot of community input and engagement.

We have met with area commissions uh starting this all began back in June when we had the mayor's um we had the mayor's announcement uh about zone in and we had a resolution of support from uh city council.

Since that time, if you go to the uh engagement summary in your packets, you will see that we have engaged with over, you know, we've engaged with all the area commissions and major civics.

We've had more than 80 presentations at area commissions and local community groups.

We've had 28 pop-up events across the neighborhoods.

We've had four community workshops where we invited and we engaged all the area commissions to participate, participate.

We had two walking tours, we had one open house for all the area commissions where they were invited uh to participate.

We've had 11 stakeholder meetings.

We met individually back in May and June with all of the zoning chairs from all of the area commissions.

Uh we've had 11 stakeholder meetings, we had four meetings of the zone in advisory committee, which is a volunteer group that provides feedback for us.

We had an information station at 11 North Front Street where individuals could come and reserve time to speak with us individually.

I don't know that the planning division or the department of development has ever done that before.

And we took the time to meet with zoning chairs, residents of the community who wanted to discuss the proposal with us.

We've been posting on social media.

We did two public hearings uh here at City Council, and we have had uh many area recommendations that we have taken into account.

I will say that the feedback from the area commissions has been important to us.

We recognize their importance in this process.

And you know, we asked for a recommendation.

I mean, if we go back, we began to engage with them as I indicated back in May.

We started talking to the area commissions.

Uh, we spoke to them, we let them know what the process was and uh and that we were gonna be looking to adopt a citywide land use plan.

We met with them four times throughout the year.

We invited them to participate in this uh proposal.

On October 2nd, the Columbus Growth Strategy went public.

The public review period began.

And starting in October, we went out to all the area commissions and we asked them to please review the document to provide feedback and to take our survey.

The Clintonville Area Commission was one of those commissions.

We went out on October 2nd.

The we received feedback in late November that the area commissions would like more time to provide feedback, and we gave them an extra month.

So they've had the plan now for about three months to review the plan.

Uh since we've, you know, since we received some additional feedback, we've met with area commissions individually, we've spoken to them, and we've made substantial changes uh to this proposal based off of their feedback.

Uh in December, we met with about seven area commission chairs and zoning chairs where we talked to them and we had received um feedback from some of the area commissions, we responded to it and they became supportive of the plan.

So, with that being said, we are you know looking forward to continue this engagement.

We're looking forward to speaking to any of the area commissioners.

And for Clintonville, we met with their zoning chair and their area commission chair on Friday.

We spoke with them, we had a very productive meeting that went for over an hour.

Uh, and we are going to be having a special meeting with them uh on the 21st uh to discuss any further questions and concerns they may have about the plan and to take any of their feedback into account.

Um so with that, if you have any other questions, um I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you, Commissioner Tebu.

Turn up to the chair.

Yeah, thank you, Council President.

Mr.

David, just uh some centering comments uh again for everyone.

This is on first read, so again, we're not taking legislative action here tonight.

But I think it's important for us to talk a little bit about uh I think some of the concerns that have come up prior uh in prior months, but certainly leading up to this being put on council's agenda.

So, you know, we've heard from a couple of folks from two different area commissions here tonight just about the the feedback that was provided that they have felt like have not been taken into account uh with regard to the current draft.

So if you could speak a little more substantively, uh, either how you know your office has provided sort of direct commentary back to the commissions on how they provided feedback.

One of the things if we're asking community groups to review and provide feedback, we want that actually to be meaningful, right?

We don't want to say, hey, you know, tell us what you think, and then we just ignore what they have had to say.

And I want to make sure that substantively um you know your team is actually not only receiving the comments but also substantially one reviewing them, but also providing feedback whether or not we're adopting these things or not adopting those comments.

Absolutely.

So, yeah, we want to make sure that the feedback is meaningful and that we can address it appropriately and let them know if we have.

When we began the workshops um in July, we received requests from certain area commissions to have their own private workshops, their own one-on-one workshops.

So we went out to a couple area commissions where we printed out maps in addition to the original workshops, so they could provide further feedback to us.

Uh we took all of the feedback we received from the survey.

Uh, we've received feedback with one-on-one conversations, we've had feedback from commissioners at the information station, uh, and we looked at all of our survey responses.

And I can say there's, you know, area commission feedback is one part of this conversation.

The other one is just the public at large and the community at large.

I will say that you know, we had over 3,000 survey responses, which is a very robust number for a survey of this type, especially when you look at other cities and the feedback they've received.

Uh, we took that feedback into account.

When we went out and we did workshops, when we did um any kind of mini workshop, we looked at the map activities and we made changes to our proposal based off of that area commission feedback.

Uh and one thing I will say is that we we honestly looked at the survey responses in general, and we made substantial changes.

If we had a peak of support or not support in the survey, we would make changes based off that.

Um, and in general, I would say that we made fairly substantive changes to the Near East.

Um we made changes to the Far East, we made changes to Franklin, we received uh we made changes to the Greater Hilltop, to the Near East, uh, to the Northwest Civic Association, to South Linden, to Southwest Area Commission, to the University Area Commission, uh boundaries to the West Soyota Area Commission.

And in some cases, these were, you know, they were sometimes they were very specific changes that they requested and we made them.

And in other areas, they were very large, broad requests that we changed.

We made significant changes on the far west side, for example.

And so our changes were always either changing intensity.

If someone had mixed use two and they wanted mixed use one, we would discuss that and determine whether or not to make that change.

The other change was in land use.

A lot of our changes went from being, you know, if someone didn't want institutional and warehouse, we would make that change, let's say to business and institutional campus, or to mixed use.

So intensity and land use is how we made the changes.

And we have tracked all the changes we have, and we'd be happy to share that with the area commission or with the uh council members if they'd like.

So when we talk about the change from how the current land use planning has unfolded for, you know, the oldest area plan that we have in place is 19 goes back to 1994, right?

The newest one we have uh goes back to 2018.

So even in our newest one, it's fairly out of date when we consider the amount of activity and growth Columbus's experience.

Yes.

You know, Commissioner Wyman's talking about, I think, the the different approach that has been taken historically when these individual plants have been created, where they've been focused on one particular area and then sort of go on the shelf and we don't address them for another five, 10, 15, 20 years in in some instances.

This is a different approach.

And that may strike folks as maybe approach they don't like, but could you talk a little bit about why there's a different approach here to maybe to have a larger holistic view of land use planning versus just individual one-off neighborhood plans that folks have been used to in Columbus for you know a couple generations.

Yeah, I mean, I think right now the the system we have in place, uh we're trying to make it more equitable.

So, for example, right now, like you indicated, we have some area plans that are very old, uh, 20, almost 30 years old.

Those area plans, they don't give the residents of those communities the proper tools to review a modern development.

Uh, even a 2018 plan is fairly old, right?

Area plans, land use plans that are over eight years old are considered fairly old.

So, what we're trying to do is get away from the idea of having 40 individual um area plans that have different standards, different guidelines, um, and they're just not equitable across the city.

Uh we have over 200 land use classifications in this city.

200.

That's a lot of land use classifications.

Um, and so when we talk to the community and we're talking about what is predictability in a community, what is predictability in the city, what is guiding our growth.

We need to have, we need to think about the city holistically so that we are able to create predictability, so that you can look at one map for the first time in the history of Columbus, and you'll see where the city supports mixed use development, where the city supports industrial and warehouse development, where they support business and institutional campuses, as opposed to right now, you have to look at 40 different maps, and then you have to figure out what those land use categories mean because they all mean different things in different places and different wording.

So when we're trying to think about what is the future that Columbus wants to be, right, and how we view that the vision the city can modernize, how we do create economic and housing opportunity for all Columbus residents, how we can create housing affordability and housing vitality, it's critical that we think about the city holistically, that we think about creating a vision for the city on that we can look at and that this residents have some sort of predictability about what can happen in their community and that developers can as well.

Um and this all translates to zoning.

We're just talking about policy at this point.

This conversation will continue with the adoption of the Columbus Growth Strategy.

We will begin to engage the communities at this point and then say, okay, we have certain land uses in these areas.

What is the appropriate zoning?

Right?

This is a whole process that we didn't have to do in the first phase of zoning.

So what we're doing here is really digging down and trying to engage the community, figure out what are appropriate land uses uh in their community, and then moving forward.

I will say with the survey we had, I think it is important to keep that in mind that we had over 3,000 survey responses, and we had over 65, we have between 65 and 75% support.

In Clintonville, we had 87% support in the survey in those areas for the land use we were proposing.

So it's one element.

It's an important element, the area commissions, but it is one element.

Additionally, you know, we're gonna continue to have conversations of how we move this forward, of what the zoning looks like, what the what the uh zoning parameters stand for, uh, and what they can what they can do to help move the city forward.

But it is very important that we start thinking holistically about this city uh and creating expectations.

Uh thank you.

And uh this is both a question and a comment.

I don't want to turn this into a mini public hearing, so we'll continue to move on because again, this is on first read here.

But again, we're talking about shifting from again sort of the individual neighborhood plans to much more holistic, comprehensive plan.

Right.

And one of the main drivers behind that is to your point, from an equal equitable standpoint, that is a framework that can be regularly updated.

Correct, and it doesn't matter what zip code you're in within within the city, that there's a framework to allow a more active updating of that.

So when we hear when I hear folks say, hey, I'm frustrated with some of the process that has gone on here, I hear that.

Yeah.

Um when folks are used to a lot of deliberate dialogue for sometimes years over an update to a land use plan, and they're saying, hey, I only had months here to react to this.

You know, that's fair when we're saying, hey, maybe we had a different expectation how this uh was positioned previously.

Um but again, we're talking about general land use categories.

We're not talking about zoning districts that put into place very detailed rules about what can be built, how can how it can be built, uh, you know, green space standards, all those kinds of things.

So just you know, the thing I want to leave on here tonight, um, and feel free to respond to this is that we're talking about moving away again from individual plans that have individual uh criteria to much more one that is more comprehensive, yeah, that is fair to everyone, more fair to everyone across the city of Columbus, the way that that is developed, but also moving towards you know, this is you know what we're talking about here is again sort of normalizing the planning here to get us towards the next conversation, which is about zoning districts of what can be built there, how big can it be, what is it, and again those design standards and other standards that we were really proud about for the first time ever putting in our zoning code in the first phase of zone in.

So I know there's a lot, there's a lot going on here when we're talking about land use in the city of Columbus, and I I understand why sometimes there can be it can be a little bit difficult to follow.

And again, from a process standpoint, um, I I acknowledge I think we've had some bumps in the road with how we've gotten here today.

Um, but I think it's really important for us to focus on sort of what this leads to next as well.

So if you want to speak to just the difference, and I think you touched on this a moment ago, the difference between land use planning and the difference of zoning districts.

Yeah, I mean, land use is policy, right?

It sets the vision for how we see the city growing.

Um it's if you look at the Columbus Growth Strategy, it's a lot of should the developers should do this, or you know, development should do that.

Um code, as we all know, those are the rules and regulations that people have to follow when they're doing the development.

So when we're talking about land use policy, we're talking big buckets.

On our land use map, we just have industrial and warehouse.

We're gonna start engaging with the community here in with your support uh in 2026, where we start saying, okay, we might have three industrial zoning districts.

There might be a heavy industrial, a light industrial, there might be an urban industrial.

Each of those different districts will have different setbacks that have to be met, right?

They'll have different criteria for what the design of the building should look like.

That's where the rubber hits the road, and that's where those details come into place.

So right now we're talking about general ideas and general thoughts about how the city should grow, and it will help guide the development of our zoning code, which is where those very detailed um elements of development will occur.

And we are just gonna start doing that here in in February with your support of the Columbus Growth Strategy to create zoning code that just like the the Columbus land use uh plan will set expectations.

You know, like zone in in phase one.

Um first project I did as zone in project manager was the 161 corridor.

There was a 2.3 mile stretch of corridor that had 21 zoning districts on it.

So if you talk to the community and you say, what is your expectation for development on this quarter, they don't know.

And if you talk to developers, they don't know.

It's always a propose and then get feedback.

It's always a response to a proposal.

So we're trying to set a vision with the land use, create large buckets, and then we're gonna begin the process of creating the zoning code that will create the regulations.

There will still be variances and rezonings in the city of Columbus.

Uh the area commissions will still have a role at the table for variances and rezonings.

And in fact, I would say by having a plan that can be amended fairly frequently, they'll have a larger role at the table to get updated land use plan as opposed to now where we present a proposal and we don't get back to them for 20 years.

Um, if I can one other thing if I can add, the plan the area plans aren't going away.

So when we originally were proposing this, we were thinking about removing the area plans, but based off of area commission feedback, we decided area commission plans can stay in place.

But where they can help provide robust and additional guidelines, they can still take, they can still be brought into account.

So for example, if the Columbus Growth Strategy talks about garages being to the rear of the structure, this is just an example.

And the Clintonville design guidelines say, well, the roof line of a garage should match that of the principal structure.

That's still valid, and they can still rely on that kind of guidance to move forward.

Only when they contradict each other.

The major change is the land use map, and that will change.

So uh last question and comment here, and we're gonna stop this public hearing at the beginning of the meeting.

Um so is it fair to say so folks that are frustrated about not having additional time or or engagement regarding the really nitty-gree nitty-gritty details of what this means for their community?

That is more applicable towards the actual zoning aspect of this, right?

So when we're talking about it's your point, the language you used about the land use about the general buckets of is it industrial, is it commercial, is it mixed use?

We're putting things into buckets with some sort of general guidance around maybe the level of uh density that may be there.

The actual nitty-gritty is what comes after this.

Is that a fair assessment of where we're at in the process?

Absolutely, and we're gonna start having conversations just like they had in phase one of zone in.

There will be a gallery, we will do outreach, there will be additional surveys, there will be map surveys, there will be document surveys, we'll have a 60-day public comment period, we'll be going back out to the area commissions, we're gonna do webinars, we're gonna do we're gonna continue to do uh area commission chair and zoning chair uh interviews.

We're gonna allow them half an hour to talk to us maybe once a month to discuss things.

So this process is just beginning.

Um, and those kinds of details, you know, when we meet with an area commissioner and they're like, well, you know, we're worried about the height of garages, that's zoning, right?

And that's not something that we're gonna address at this point in time.

The other things that were brought up today, we will we'll reach out to Ben Keith and have that conversation with them.

And like I said, we're gonna talk to Clinton Building, continue those conversations.

Thank you.

Mr.

Tabut, just uh the last thing to make it very, very clear.

The one thing that I think this council appreciated so much when we went through the first phase of zoning was the expectation of real back and forth between the zoning team and when uh there was community feedback, and not just one way, it went both ways.

And just speaking for my colleagues, that is our expectation, not only today, but as we see you know, the growth strategy potentially coming before this body for a vote, um, but then also for future phases of zone in.

So I appreciate being here and I absolutely thank you.

Council member.

Uh thank you, President Hart.

There's one thing I just wanted to point out, and then you can go, it's just more of a comment.

I know it was referenced uh the three plans I think that were covered in the news.

I do just want to point out to folks uh, because I worked on two of those plans, so I wanted to say this.

Uh the one Linden plan, the envisioned hilltop plan, as well as now the Eastland plan are not traditional neighborhood plans in the sense of where focuses on land use and the built environment.

Those are comprehensive transformation plans which are more visionary uh for those communities in particular uh that have not seen the level of investment, say as a Clintonville and other parts of the city.

So those are really focused on neighbors' aspirations.

They're holistic in a way, they really focus more on uh the resident, they more focus on uh social determinants of health, uh, and they are more uh concentrated there rather than land use.

In fact, the one Linden Hilltop and now the Eastland plan do not supersede even those neighborhoods plans from a land use standpoint because there's not even a land use map in those plans.

They're really focused on the economic development and community development of those neighborhoods.

I just wanted to make that distinction that those three neighborhoods in general uh deserve that level of attention uh because they have not seen the level of investment they have shared in the city's prosperity.

Uh but two, it is a guiding book for those residents as folks are coming into the neighborhood of how to vision for not just the built environment but also education, health, uh, and well-being of those neighborhoods.

So I just wanted to make that clear distinction.

Thank you for pointing that out.

And you know, to be clear, that those communities plans won't be affected, and um they will continue and and communities can continue to uh create those kinds of plans with the Department of Neighborhood is my understanding if they would so choose.

So thank you, Lewis.

Can I and actually I think it was really important that we did slow down to have this conversation as Columbus continues to grow, there probably is no more important conversation than what that looks like, what those visions look like and how we use land and um just a point of pride that uh the substantive nature of this uh conversation around land planning that the council is having is one that we want to continue to have with uh the community and with the department.

So thank you, Lewis, for your leadership.

Thank you for your time.

The following ordinance appear on our agenda as consent actions for the clerk now read those into the record.

Finance and finance and governance committee.

We have ordinance 140.

I'm sorry, let's go back.

Apologize.

Resolutions of expression.

Resolution 4x-2026, Finance and Governance Committee.

We have ordinance 140-2026, workforce education and labor committee.

We have ordinance 3304 and 3361.

3378-2025, Health Human Services and Equity Committee, Ordinance 3399-2025.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee Ordinance 3197 and 3437-2025.

Housing Homelessists and Building Committee Ordinance 48, 49, 62, and 65-2026.

Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Ordinance 2897 and 3303-2025.

Rules and Policy Committee appointments A08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 180, um 2026, and then 182, 183, 184-2025.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Are there any questions or comments on the consent portion of the agenda?

Oh god.

Uh seeing none may I have a motion of the approval of these items and then's consent.

Clerk, please call the row by voice.

Thanks, Tim.

Yes.

Day Akaur?

Yes.

Dorns?

Yes.

Green.

Yes.

Remy.

Yes.

Ross?

Yes.

Weish?

Yes.

President Harden.

Yes, with the exception of 3304-2025, on which I am abstaining.

Uh the consent agenda passed, with that noted exception.

We will now proceed with the second reading of 30-day postponed and emergency legislation.

The first committee to come before council is the finance and governance committee chaired by Councilman Banks and Councilman Bankson.

The floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President Harden.

Tonight in the Finance and Governance Committee, we have first have ordinance 2938-2025 to make appropriations for the 12 months ending December 31, 2026 for each of the several object classes for which the City of Columbus has to provide from the monies known to be in the Treasury of said City of Columbus in the fund known as the general fund during the said 12 months from the collection of all taxes and from other sources of revenue and the to the amount of 1,526 million 877,066 and to declare an emergency.

Just as a reminder for folks, legislatively, the city's operating budget is divided between three ordinances.

Tonight, all three ordinances are on the agenda to fulfill various legislative and administrative functions.

Full consideration of the budget will occur once all the hearings have been completed, along with the adoption of all relevant and necessary amendments.

This ordinance, 2938-2025, contains the city's general fund budget and is the primary vehicle for budget deliberation.

Tonight, at the request of the council president, the ordinance will be amended prior to its referral back to committee.

The following two ordinances, uh 2939-2025 and 2940-2025, the companion ordinances represent the city's other funds and select other funds appropriations.

Uh is passed and ready for final consideration.

That said, this year, due to their content and uh in the interest of efficiencies, these ordinances will be placed on an accelerated timeline for approval.

Uh these two ordinances typically only contain pass-through dollars uh and unique funds that council historically has not touched or cannot touch due to statute.

I plan to postpone these two ordinances uh to the January 26th agenda for consideration at that time.

I now want to pass the floor over uh to Council President Hardin to speak to the amendment of the general fund ordinance 2938-2025, for which we are considering tonight, and that he is the sponsor of council president.

Thank you, uh Mr.

Chairman.

I'm grateful for your stewardship of this budgeting process.

Today we are amending the mayor's operating uh budget proposal to add two million dollars for the Columbus promise.

Tonight's budget amendment is essential to reassuring families, our students, and our partners that the Columbus that the City of Columbus will keep the Columbus promise.

Just last Friday, I was with Columbus Promise Scholars.

They had questions about the future of the program.

And so tonight this amendment is for them.

A promise means certainty, and certainty matters deeply to the families who are right now making decisions about their futures.

They need to know that the city takes its word seriously.

That is why we move quickly to advance this amendment as soon as we identify carryover dollars from the prior year's income tax revenue.

We know the college application process operates within a very real and limited window of time.

Once families begin making plans, those plans set critical steps into motion.

So I'm grateful to our partners that I know I can at Columbus State and Columbus City Schools that they would open the application process today in anticipation of this action this evening.

So students can begin to prepare to attend Columbus State.

So for students and families out there looking to apply, we encourage you to head to Columbus Promise.org to apply by May 15th and to make sure you apply to both Columbus State and that you complete the FAFA.

We know that the promise is working.

And so I would just I want to thank my colleagues for standing with us as we uh move this forward.

We understand how transformative this program has been for our city, for Columbus City schools, and for families across Columbus.

There are currently a nearly 1,300 promise scholars enrolled at Columbus State across multiple cohorts.

We are quite literally building the workforce of the future.

And tonight, we are reaffirming that our promise to them will continue.

So again, I'm really grateful for the leadership of Chair Bankston.

Um this and other uh conversations about the budget are tough ones, but I'm really grateful for the the partnership with you, the colleagues and the administration uh to make sure that there is certainty this evening um that uh the city of Columbus is keeping its promise.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh thank you, um Council uh President.

Um before I move for past any questions or comments from my colleagues, Councilmember Rosa deputy.

Um I just wanted to say thank you both for your leadership.

I think um, you know, as a uh first person in my family to go to college, and I didn't finish, and my daughter now is going to be the first person in our family to go to college.

Uh, this is the number one factor.

I mean, this is the thing that keeps us up at night as parents.

And so I think um the and this is the time frame, right?

FAFSA, for all of you college parents out there, this is the time.

And so I think for us to move quickly, I think shows the commitment of this council to ensuring that the Columbus promise really is a promise to our students and ensuring that more of them can access college in a time where the the price of higher education is astronomical.

And so, whatever you want to, if you want to get that certificate, if you want to get whatever, I mean, this is a way, and especially with the work that Columbus State has been doing with Ohio State to ensure that the bridge program that you can go from Columbus State to Ohio State and to get that degree is so critical right now.

And so I just wanted to underscore that.

I think um, you know, we have lots of littles on this council, but I think myself and council member reamy have that we are hitting right at the most expensive time except for birth of a of a child's life cycle.

And so um I just think this was so critical for parents and for us to be able to do this right now, because if not, this promise could have gone away for so many young people and for so many families.

And so I just can't underscore um how important this was, and just again want to also just thank um all of my colleagues for us coming together to ensure this and to make uh you know make good on our promise.

Thank you.

Any other comments from my colleagues?

Um I do just want to again want to underscore that we will be referring this back to committee.

Uh we are not passing the general fund tonight.

We will continue to go through that uh process is very critical to us and important, particularly when it comes around the budget.

I think that this unusual move though does uh allow us to provide that certainty to our residents and to parents that are our planning.

And so that is what will be happening tonight.

So I just wanted to underscore that.

Um seeing no comments or questions from my colleagues.

I do want to uh first move to amend ordinance twenty-nine thirty-eight-2025 as submitted to the clerk.

Banks Tim, Barosa de Padilla, De Akawa Dorne screen, Remy Ross, Weish, President Harding.

Amend it.

I now move to refer this ordinance back to committee as amended.

So please call the role.

Banks Tim Barosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorne screen, Remy Ross Weiss President Harding.

Refer back to committee.

This is a good meeting.

This is like a sausage being made up here between zoning and budget changes, all kinds of stuff.

Uh next, the two companion uh ordinances to the budget as I expressed.

Uh those will be referred, uh, those will be postponed to the 26th meeting for some administrative things, but we look to pass those uh ahead of the general fund budget.

Uh that ordinance next ordinance is 2939-2025 to make appropriations and transfers for the 12 months ending December 31, 2026 for other funds for various divisions to authorize the city auditor to make transfers as may be necessary and to declare an emergency.

Seeing no questions or comments from my colleagues, I move to postpone this ordinance to the January 26th council meeting.

Second.

Bangston Barosa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weissh, President Hartin.

Postpone.

Next is ordinance 2940-2025 to make appropriations for the 12 months ending December 31, 2026 for the for selected other funds for various divisions to authorize the city auditor to make transfers as may be necessary and to declare an emergency.

See no questions or comments from my colleagues.

I'd move to postpone this ordinance to the January 2026 council meeting.

Bangston, Barosa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weissh, President Hartin.

Postpone.

Thank you.

And lastly, in the Finance and Governance Committee, we have ordinance 3410-2025 to authorize the Director of Finance and Management on behalf of the Office of Construction Management to enter into a contract construction contract with Proline Electric Inc.

for the North Market Fire Alarm Upgrade Project to authorize a transfer of 477,300 and an expenditure up to 477,300 within the construction management taxable bond fund to authorize an expenditure for prevailing wage services provided by the Department of Public Service to amend the 2025 capital improvements budget and to declare an emergency.

This ordinance approves a 477,000 contract to install a new fire alarm system in the North Market.

Ohio Building Code requires that connected buildings have interconnected fire alarm systems.

The merchant tower project will connect to the North Market via the second floor.

So upgrading the fire alarm system to the same system at the Merchant Tower is necessary.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Councilmember President, sorry, President Pro Jump Dorans.

Thank you, Chair.

I think this question is for Director Stevens or our Director Long.

So when the city entered into a series of different agreements with regard to the North Market and Merchant Tower, you know, one of the benefits that was, I think, asserted by the city was that the long-term maintenance cost of North Market would no longer be an obligation to the city.

I.e.

we would not have to continue to pay for additional upgrades or maintenance at the North Market building, that that would be something that would be subsidized by merchant tower moving forward.

Obviously, here tonight we have legislation that is um talking about again additional funding for building improvements there.

I think it's just helpful for the public to understand maybe what why potentially we're picking up the tab on this considering the assertion, you know, number of years ago that that would no longer be the case.

Uh thank you, President Hardin.

Um, Councilmember Dorns, members of council.

Um, I appreciate you asking that question.

As part of the original 2019 economic development agreement uh with this redevelopment, um we committed to a commitment was made to create a capital maintenance fund of approximately 70 percent of the bed tax revenue generated from the new hotel.

Um I say approximately because the first hundred thousand generated from that bed tax is going to a housing fund and then seventy percent of the remaining dollars is used for this capital maintenance fund over a 30-year period.

Um the critical language of that is um following completion of the project.

Um right now the project is in its final stages.

We hope to see completion by the end of 26.

So I would anticipate that that capital maintenance fund uh will start uh receiving dollars in 27 and will be able to uh cover future projects and investments in the actual market itself.

So, director, if I can dumb it down for for myself anyways, some because they again merchant tower isn't open, the hotel that's there that would generate the hotel motel tax that would go into the fund doesn't exist yet, therefore that's why this legislation is coming force.

That correct.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, President Pro Tim Dorns.

Any other questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing that I'll move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role.

Bangston, Barossa DePadilla, De Hakkawa, Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss, President Hart.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

So I'll have my committees this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Next committee to come before council is the public service and transportation committee chaired by Councilman Barossa De Padilla.

Council member, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh today we have three ordinances on second read.

Uh the first is ordinance 3308-2025 to authorize the appropriation of funds within the county auto licensed tax fund to authorize the director of public service to expand said monies or so much thereof as may be needed for Franklin County engineer approved roadway construction and maintenance projects undertaken by the division of traffic management and to declare an emergency.

The city receives an annual allocation from Franklin County's five dollar auto license tax based on vehicle registrations within Columbus.

So when you go get your vehicle registered, you pay that $5 tax.

That money goes into a fund that's uh reimbursed to the city for traffic signals, signage, pavement markings, and work that county owned arterial roads approved by the Franklin County engineer.

Funds are deposited into the Franklin County or into the county auto license tax fund and transferred internally to the streets construction maintenance and repair fund once work is complete.

This ordinance authorizes this internal transfer and allows traffic management to invoice for time and materials.

The appropriation is limited to cash, actually received from the county in 2026 and does not create new spending.

So I wanted to just share.

Um director, is there anything that I missed within this?

Because I think a lot of times, many times we'll see on our utilities or in other times we're paying for taxes and we don't know where that money goes.

And so I just wanted to use this opportunity as folks understanding when you pay that $5 tax, it goes into this fund and it goes right back into streets and repairs, etc.

Good evening, Council President Harden, uh Chair Bruce and Apanya, other members of council.

That is correct.

This $5 fee helps pay for our traffic operations, including striping traffic signals, um bollards that you see in the middle of the road, all of those things that help contribute to the safety of our traveling public.

And this is for county roads, correct?

That we then maintenance or is this go into our general fund for everything or it goes into our general fund.

Great.

Um, so again, I wanted to just share that because I think as we talk about uh at this time of the year, especially as we talk about our budget, we have many tools in the toolkit for how we pair for how we pay for uh our road improvements and projects, et cetera.

And so I just wanted to use this as another way to show folks where your tax dollars go when we talk about them going into a fund or when you're paying for it, you know where that money is going.

So do my colleagues have any additional questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Banks Timberwolves depadilla de Aka or Dorn Screen, Remy Ross Weiss, President Hard.

Thank you.

Next we have ordinance 3455 2025 to authorize the city attorney to file complaints in order to immediately appropriate and accept the remaining fees, simple and lesser real estate necessary to timely complete the roadway multimodal Mount Vernon Avenue phase one project to authorize an expenditure of $10,751 and to declare an emergency.

The city's Department of Public Service is engaged in the roadway multimodal uh Mount Vernon Avenue phase one project.

So phase one of the of this project uh includes improvements, multimodal bikeway improvements to Martin Luther King Jr.

Boulevard and Mount Vernon Avenue with the King Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood.

The proposed project will add on street separated bike lanes, incorporate bus islands, sidewalk bump outs, and sidewalk and curb repair.

The city must acquire a certain fee, simple title, and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of MLK Junior Boulevard and Mount Vernon Avenue from Hamilton Avenue to North Champion collectively, the real estate in order for DPS to timely complete the public project.

The city's acquisition of the real estate will help make improve or repair certain portions of the public right-of-way located in the vicinity of MLK Junior Boulevard and Mount Vernon Avenue, which will be open to the public without charge.

So I'm really excited.

I think we showed parts of this project before.

This is a streetscape project that will uh address both safety and that we'll also add uh those needed bike lanes along this corridor for the improvement of the entire corridor.

There's some other parts of the project that we'll continue to share, but this is just phase one acquiring a piece of that land to move forward with the project.

So do my colleagues have any questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Bangstin, Barosa de Padilla de Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hart.

Thank you.

Next we have uh ordinance 3497-2025 to authorize the city attorney to file complaints in order to immediately appropriate and accept the remaining fees, simple and lesser real estate necessary to timely complete the arterial uh state route 161 I-71 to Cleveland Avenue phase two, known as the 2025 Ample Side Maple Canyon Project to authorize an expenditure of 325,335 and to declare an emergency.

The arterial state route 161 I-71 to Cleveland Avenue's phase two project will be constructing various roundabouts.

We have a mix of businesses and residential properties.

Most of the property impacts are near the roundabouts in addition to temporary right-of-way to give some space to construct near the frontage of on Beechcroft, Tamarack, and Sharon Woods.

The city must acquire certain fees, simple title and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of 161 from Ample Side to Maple Creek.

In order for DPS to timely complete the public project, the city's acquisition of the real estate will help make improve or repair certain portions of the public right away on 161 from Ambleside to Maple Canyon, which will be open to the public without charge.

So essentially, this is around 20 to 21 properties that we are acquiring part of the property to create.

I think it's three roundabouts, Director.

Three to four roundabouts in the corridor.

And again, this is to address safety concerns along the corridor and to um allow for um a safer passage through an area that we know has become challenging because of the uh influx of traffic and also I'm not sure if this is on our on our uh radar in terms of uh crashes, but good evening again, uh council president, chair Bros IP member members of council.

It is on our high entry network.

Uh when this area was constructed in the 1970s, the service areas or service roads were all the rage, but now they are known to be very safe or uh unsafe and hazardous, and a lot of crashes occurring along those service areas.

So we are re constructing that whole area between Cleveland Avenue all the way across to 71 to Amblesite on the other side of 71.

Well, actually, it's over beyond the Amble side.

We've got three phases of that project.

This is phase two, and it's really looking at those service roads that were constructed the 1970s, put some many roundabouts that we know will make it a safer condition and to add a shared use path along 161 as well.

Thank you.

And I wanted to highlight this because I know when we often talk about uh acquiring properties, it gets folks a little nervous about what we might be doing.

And in this particular instance, I think it's just important that um we're highlighting uh the safety strategies that we're putting into place in a place that is in our high injury network, making it safer, including that shared use path that now, if you're on a uh mobility device, if you're walking, it's it's creating a safer path for those folks as well.

So in a much needed high density area.

So thank you.

Do my qu do my colleagues have any questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Banks Tim, Barbosa de Podia, De Aka or Dorrance Green, Remy Ross, Weissh, President Hard.

Great, and that's all I have in my committee's seat.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The next committee to come before council is the housing homelessness and building committee.

That committee is shared by council member.

Council member, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

This evening we have one ordinance up for a second read.

Um, this ordinance refers to or is in support of implementation of the resilient housing initiative, which encompasses a number of plans designed by the Department of Development to support our renters and housing stabilization.

And so I'm going to read off the ordinance and then I will pass it over to Director Stevens to give a little bit more context around what this money will do to support resilient housing initiative, and then we'll move for passage after that.

This ordinance number 0066-2026 to authorize the director of development of the department of development to enter into a service contract with Benovate LLC in an amount up to $19,000 to configure the financial assistance application software for the resilient housing initiative to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Codes, Chapter 329 to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $19,000 to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution and to declare an emergency.

With that, Director Stevens, could you give us a little bit more about the resilient housing initiative and the plans for the department to support our residents?

Thank you.

Thank you, President Hard and Chair Ross, members of council.

Um, as as we've talked uh earlier or towards the end of 25, we have set up a resilient housing initiative to really continue the work that we are doing through the uh emergency rental assistance uh and the federal dollars we got through uh the COVID response.

What this does tonight is it helps us uh improve our processes and aligns with some of the internal uh functions we have already using the neighborly software, and we're asking to waive competitive bidding this evening because with the window of the emergency rental emergency rental assistance, we are able to streamline our intake process, establish a new and so instead of establishing a new contract with another software company.

We're you utilizing the existing infrastructure of neighborly.

Thank you, Director.

Questions from my colleagues.

Seeing that, I'll move for passage.

Clark, please call the role.

Thanks, Dan Barosa De Padilla, De Akawa Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weish President Hart.

Passed.

That's all, Council President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The final committee to come before council is the public utilities and sustainability committee chaired by Casper Weiss.

Councilman, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

Tonight I have five ordinances and public utilities and sustainability committee.

Uh first, I have 3196-2025 to authorize the director of public utilities department to enter into a contract modification to add funding for professional construction management 2023 project with Hill International to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the water bond fund and to authorize an expenditure of up to six million one hundred and fifty-four thousand nine hundred dollars from the water bond fund for the contract modification.

This contract assists the city with managing multiple improvement projects within the division of water's capital program.

These uh projects will maintain an upgrade treatment facilities and drinking water supply with the goal of providing a safe and reliable water supply for the Central Ohio residents.

Let me stop there, seeing any questions or comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clark, please call the role.

Thanks, Tim Barbosa De Padilla, De Akawar Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weich, President Hart.

Pass.

Thank you.

Next I have ordinance 3242-2025 to authorize the director of finance and management to enter into a contract with best equipment company incorporated for the purchase of one food waste satellite collection truck, non-CDL for the Department of Public Service to authorize the waiver of competitive bidding requirements of Clemson Code to authorize the transfer of appropriation within the general government grants fund to authorize the expenditure of up to $132,008 from the general government grants and refuse uh GO bond fund to repay any unused grant funds at the end of the grant period and to declare an emergency.

The division of refuse collection will use the truck to collect food waste and transport it to a composting facility.

This will divert organic and recyclable materials from the landfill, which will support the city's recycling goals.

Emergency designation is requested to prevent interruption to the city's food recycling program and to make use of grant funds from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that has time limitations.

Let me stop there.

See if any questions or comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thanks.

Damper Rosa DePadilla, De Akawar Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weich, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next I have ordinance 3291-2025 to authorize the director of the public utilities department to enter into a contract modification with resource international for the construction administration construction inspection services 2023-2025 contract to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital approvement budget to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to 1,127,937 and 58 cents from the water supply revolving loan account fund for the contract and to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for the project.

This contract will enable Resource International to perform construction administration and inspection services for the Germaine Drive Area Water Line Improvements Project.

This project will rehabilitate or replace existing water lines in the North Central and Northeast communities that have a high break frequency.

This will improve water service, decrease burden on water maintenance operations, and reduce water loss.

Let me stop there.

See if any questions or comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thanks, Tim Barosa De Padilla, De Akawa Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weich, President Hart.

Passed.

Thank you.

The final two ordinances I have up for consideration this evening involve contracts needed for the Athens Avenue and Rumsey Road Area Water Line Improvements Project.

This project consists of the installation of approximately 90 uh 9,900 linear feet of new water mains and the replacement of privately owned lead and galvanized water service lines in the Greater Hilltop and far south communities.

These projects will improve water service, reduce burden on water maintenance operations, and minimize water loss.

First, I have ordinance 3334-2025 to authorize the director of the public utilities department to enter into a construction contract with Underground Utilities Incorporated for the Athens Avenue and Rumsey Road Area Water Line Improvements Project to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the appropriation expenditure of up to 5,122,279.85 cents from the water supply revolving loan account fund for the contract to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project and to authorize expenditure of up to $2,000 from the water bond fund to pay for prevailing wage services.

Let me stop there.

See if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk please call the roll.

Thanks, Tim Barosa DePadilla, De Akawa Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weish President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

And finally, I have ordinance 3352-2025 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with DLZ Ohio Incorporated for the Construction Administration Construction Inspection Services 2023 2025 contract to amend the 2025 capital approvement budget to authorize the appropriation expenditure up to $1,080,372.79 cents from the water supply revolving loan account fund for the contract modification and to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for the project.

Specifically, this contract will enable DLZ Ohio Incorporated to perform construction administrative construction administration and inspection services on the aft and Av and Rumsey Road Water.

I'm sorry, Rumsey Road Area Water Line Improvement Project.

Let me stop there.

See if any questions or comments from my colleagues.

Seeing that I move for passes.

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hart.

Ordinance is passed.

Thank you.

That is it for my committee this evening, but I will take a point of privilege as I still have the mic and say thank you to everyone who has given me a lot of birthday love, both in this room and online.

I do that so I don't have to respond to people online.

So thank you, thank you, thank you.

With that, that's all I have this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Birthday Boy.

Um both uh the chair of the Department of Neighborhoods and the director reached out to me to remind us that we spoke about um not having council meeting next Monday, but we will be active and working.

Um to tell us about the MOK day march and program.

Director, you would you like to uh encourage folks to come out?

We will all be there.

I am happy to do so.

Thank you, Council President Hardin and uh chair uh of my committee, Councilmember Dayak Hour.

Um we are looking forward to the loudness of the mic.

We are looking forward to hosting the city next week.

Um at it will the march will start a pre-march program at the historic St.

Paul AME Church, and we will march across the Long Street Bridge to the Historic King the historic Lincoln Theater, where we will have a program that we hope will be inspirational as well as motivational as we continue into our 2026 year.

And the time for kickoff is kickoff is 3 p.m.

And at for the pre-march program, 4 30 for the program inside the Lincoln Theater.

So we encourage folks to join us next Monday at the Jess Warm.

I'm being told please do because we intend to march no matter the weather, unless it is active.

We need that type of resilience as we move through 2026.

We're setting you up for success.

If there are no further uh no further business coming for our council, is there a motion to adjourn?

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss, President Harding.

We have two nine.