The Columbus City Council convened its second regular meeting of 2026 to address critical budgeting matters regarding the Columbus Promise, review the Columbus Growth Strategy (Ordinance 134-2026) for first reading, and process multiple ordinances related to infrastructure, public safety, and sustainability. The meeting featured significant deliberation on land use planning, with area commissions expressing varied levels of concern regarding community engagement and the shift from neighborhood-specific plans to a holistic citywide strategy.
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.