Regular meeting number three will now come to order.

May we have the playing of the national anthem?

Councilmember Weiss, would you uh come off mute and lead us in the pledge?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and divisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Councilmember.

This evening we were gonna have Imam Horset Noah from Abakar A Sadiq Islamic Center join us, and he is on now.

And so with that, I'm gonna turn it over to Imam.

Imam, thank you so much for being with us this evening.

Um thank you.

Uh let's pray.

We gather today with gratitude for the opportunity to serve this community, all God, the source of our wisdom, justice, and mercy.

We ask you to guide the leaders before us.

Grant them clarity in decision making, fairness, in judgment, and compassion in leadership.

Help them protect the dignity and the rights of every resident, especially those who feel unheard or vulnerable.

Dear Lord bless this city in all its diversity and strengthen the bonds that unite us as neighbors and partners in the common good.

May our actions be guided by concise, our words by respect, and our work by sincere desire to serve Amy.

Amen.

Thank you so much, Imam.

Clerk, please call the role.

Bankston, Barosa de Padilla, de Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hardin.

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.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

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

So move.

Please call the role.

Thanks, Tim Barosa de Padilla, de Akaward Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Are there any additions or corrections to the journal?

Hearing none, the journal is approved.

This week's communication received by a city clerk's office are listed on the agenda and will be published in the city bulletin.

Are there any other uh communications we ran to the record?

Not at this time.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh, before we go around the dais, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank our snow warriors and our frontline public service staff.

They've been working long hours over time to keep our roads clear and our community safe.

I'm sure uh our chair of public service who has been keeping the council members abreast of uh uh the situation over the last 48 hours will have more to say, but we're just grateful as a community for all those who have been stepping up, not just our staff, um, but also uh doctors and nurses, pharmacists and grocery store workers, uh, and the list truly goes on.

Um we know right now from our city and county departments that uh we are now under a level two emergency, and many schools and offices remain closed, but our partners are stepping up.

Coda remains free through tomorrow.

Warming centers have been set up throughout the city, and shelter bids are open.

Uh, so just thank you all.

And thank the residents.

Uh I want to thank you uh for um adhering and staying home yesterday, even driving down to City Hall today for this virtual meeting.

Uh uh Arsenal warriors have done uh an amazing job, and I think that's because you were off the streets and gave them the space to do their work.

So thank you so much.

Uh and then it counts for our virtual meeting tonight.

With that, I'm gonna uh go around the dias, the virtual dais, starting with Council Member Bankston.

Thank you, uh Council President.

Just a couple of announcements uh this evening.

Uh as of today, council has three uh remaining hearings to hear presentations and deliberate on the city's 2026 operating budget.

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

The public safety and criminal justice budget hearing chaired by council member Remy will take place tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Please note that this hearing uh has moved to be fully virtual.

Uh the public utilities and sustainability budget hearing chaired by council member weight will take place on Wednesday, January 28th at 3 30 p.m.

And last but not least, the neighborhood recreation and parks budget hearing chaired by Councilmember Day Akaur will take place on Thursday, January 29th at 1 p.m.

Due to the ongoing snow emergency.

Uh the uh respective chairpersons for each hearing will decide on whether virtual accommodations will be made for their hearing.

And I'm sure as we go around the dice tonight, my colleagues can probably comment further on your particular hearings.

Uh for more details on each of the hearings again, please reach out to the appropriate chairpersons as we just mentioned.

Also, one looking ahead into February, uh, want to announce uh another hearing on Thursday, February 19th at 4 p.m.

Uh I will be chairing the third hearing to discuss the proposed creation of a rental registry.

The hearing will share updates to the framework of the proposal along with draft language for the ordinance.

All persons wishing to speak during the hearing in person must fill out the speaker request form by Wednesday, February 18th at 5 p.m.

The form can be accessed via my and also council's social media pages, council's webpage, or by contacting Jonathan Brown in my office at JB Brown at Columbus.gov.

Written testimony must be emailed to Jonathan Brown at JD Brown at Columbus.gov with the subject February 19th hearing testimony with your name and address by 5 p.m.

on February 18th.

A document highlighting the changes between the last version and the newest version will be live on the council webpage by next Friday, uh February 6th.

So please be on the lookout for that.

Again, the meeting will be live streamed on the city's YouTube channel and as also the Facebook pages, and each speaker will be limited to remarks lasting no lower than three minutes.

Um again, we want to just thank all those that have engaged thus far with the rental registry.

We really are taking our time to make sure we get this right and uh appreciate all stakeholders that have stepped up to this point to provide feedback both in person and online.

So we look forward to that third hearing uh on the 19th as we continue to move forward with uh the creation of a rental registry for the city of Columbus.

With that, Council President, that's all I have this evening for announcements.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Council Member Padilla.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, and I want to echo your sentiments of how you started our meeting.

Um, first and foremost, I I said this on Saturday at a press conference that we had.

I am so incredibly proud of our community.

I think this is when we show up the best in Columbus over.

Um we have been showing up for our our residents in so many different ways, and this snowstorm was no exception.

We've had stories of how even some of our council members, I'm looking at you, uh, pro tem Rob Dorns, who is outside um clearing his streets and sidewalks uh uh for his neighbors, but thinking about how we are all reaching out to each other over the last 48 hours.

We've had uh a historic snowstorm.

We haven't seen anything like this.

Um, really in the past 20 years, I believe.

Um we've got between 10 to 14 inches, depending on where you were.

We have hit we hit a level three emergency, which was lifted earlier today.

Um, at the height of the storm on Saturday, we had a hundred and thirtects that were out.

This is what we call a full call out.

So that included all of our entire fleet.

We even pulled um not just our auxiliary drivers, our contractors, but we also had the department of wreck and parks who was also helping us during the storm as well.

I want to just pause for a second and I want to give the uh floor over to our deputy director of um the department of public service, James Young, to give us uh just an update on where we are currently and also unfortunately, y'all.

It does not look good for the rest of the week.

I'm here to deliver that unfortunate news.

Unfortunate for us, maybe good for our kiddos.

But uh Director Young, I'd like to give you the floor.

Thank you, Council Chair.

Uh, thank you, Council President, Council.

Uh right now we are servicing our P1s, P2s, and P3s.

So we're about a 98% serviced on our priority one streets.

These are our arterials.

And we're still going out.

We have a lot of them actually running clear.

If you're out on a lot of the major arteries today, Morse Road, Hamilton Road, um, uh Gender Road, they're they're all starting to look clear.

Uh, some of our collector streets are at 92%.

So this is a as of four o'clock today.

So we're still out there.

We're doing touch-ups.

Uh priority three streets, we're at about 20%.

And these are the streets we're trying to get into.

This is half of our mileage in the city.

So we're about 20, 22%.

Uh, I'm sorry, 24% on those.

Uh, I'd like to extend thanks again to building and zoning uh for supplying us drivers, wreck and parks for drivers and trucks.

And I'd also like to point out that we have a lot of other uh divisions in our department that are participating in the event.

So we have the refuse drivers that are out, and they're actually plowing uh some alleys tonight to go sure that make sure they can actually pick up uh for their for their service because we didn't change our collection.

Uh they made about 36,000 collection stops today.

Uh they didn't get some households, which is going to be first on their list tomorrow.

Normally we have about uh 15 to 20% of containers not set set out on a given day.

Today it was about 34% by stats.

So we're gonna go out and pick those up.

We've been talking with 311.

Um as the council member said, it's gonna get cold tonight.

So we're trying to go out and get as much into the residentials as we can.

Uh, we have about a hundred trucks in service as of four o'clock today.

So with shift change coming at seven, I know that number is gonna update.

But we're moving, we're moving pretty quick.

The contractors are helping us out.

We actually had a call from Franklin County.

They're coming to help us out because in the downtown, uh, this is one of the, I say first time in about 20 years, we're gonna have to haul snow out of the downtown.

So if you're down there, you're gonna see a lot of snow in the uh turn lanes or uh on the side of the street.

And we're trying to get that picked up.

It's gonna be a long process.

The cold weather is not gonna be uh helpful.

We were thankful today to get some sunshine and um bear with us, pack your patience.

It's gonna take time to get around the city, uh, especially through the residential areas.

And once you get on the arterials, you should have uh a little better drive.

But uh I would recommend that you remind residents to plan extra time in their commute so they can get to where they need to go and get there safely.

So thank you.

And director, I just have two quick questions.

Um, one, you mentioned about refuse.

I know we're gonna be a little bit behind for either folks who for whatever reason they might be missed or because we're behind and things shift or they couldn't get outside.

Do you recommend for folks to put in a 311 request?

Will we just go back around those streets?

What would you recommend for residents?

I would recommend if they're able to get their cans out and they have their area cleared to do that and then call 311.

If they did not, we will come pick them up the next week.

We we've had uh we have get we get mixed results with that after talking with our refuse administrator.

So they can call 311 if they have a lot, just clean out the area and we'll we'll try and pick it up.

And the alleys, just to be clear, we don't usually plow the alleys, but alleys that might need to be um serviced because that's where folks take out their trash.

Those are the alleys that you reference when you talk about clearing those out, correct?

That is correct.

So I just I wanted to give maybe some knock so good news to some folks who I know don't have street parking and might have parked in alleys.

I know we have some some of our staff who was asking that same question.

So again, I just want to first do my colleagues have any questions for the department?

Any additional questions on Metamist?

Well, thank you for that update.

Um, I want to echo what council president said.

I think our snow warriors is have done um, you know, really God's work, working around the clock, making sure that we're out there.

Um again, you said pack your patience, and that is um I know gonna be difficult for some folks, but um, especially as folks might head back out to work now that it's a level two uh on Saturday.

Um, both the mayor, myself, and I know we already have leaders in the community that have been um providing people work from home options if that is an option for folks to stay safe, especially since school um has been called off for tomorrow.

So as we continue to look at those cold temps, um, that flexibility for uh our community, you know, council help to practice what we're asking folks to do uh by making this uh meeting virtual and helping folks to stay safe during this time.

Um, council president also mentioned this that CODA is always free during a level two emergency.

Uh Kodak will also always run during a level three emergency because that's the way that we can get essential workers to work um in a safe way uh so that they don't have to drive, especially when we're asking other folks not to be on the roads.

Uh, I want to also give folks two other quick um uh uh resources.

First is the community shelter boards hotline 61472747000.

During this time, I had a friend whose heater went out.

This is the most unfortunate time.

You never know what's gonna happen.

Um, if folks are facing an emergency, or if you know people who are facing that emergency, you can call that hotline.

They will actually have an outreach team that will come out and um pick folks up if they need to be picked up.

They're also offering rides to shelters and to places to warming centers.

So please, please, please use that hotline.

The Franklin County Dog Shelter is also sheltering dogs.

If you find yourself in a place where you have to seek shelter and you cannot take your pets, they will take your pets in.

So you can reach out to the Franklin County Dog Shelter.

Um, as always, you can check out Warrior Watch online and you can see when your street has been plowed.

Please remember we do not plow to the ground, especially when there's this much of a weather event.

We will make it safe enough so that we can pack the snow and you can drive over the snow.

And hopefully, with cars moving and when Mother Nature decides to cooperate, you will see a little bit more of that gravel that your feel probably a little safer riding on.

But lastly, just remember to please, please, please check on your neighbors.

Our sidewalks are our responsibilities.

Uh, our responsibility is residents.

So please clear those off to make sure that people can safely move about the street, especially if you have those.

I know what is a very coveted snowblower during this season.

Um, if you could snowblow a little bit more down the street um to make sure that it's safe for everyone, that would be great.

But also just check on folks who might have mobility issues, your neighbors.

If you can fill out if you can get prescriptions filled for them or groceries or whatever they may need, um, all the things that you are already great at.

So uh thank you so much, Council President.

That's all for me this evening.

Um stay safe and same form, everybody.

Thank you to our fearless leader, uh public service.

Uh and that was a lot of good information.

And again, we just echo our appreciation to the public service department.

Very proud of uh their work over the last 48 hours.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Dayakauer.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, first for our budget hearing on Thursday for neighborhoods, recreation and parks at 1 p.m.

Currently, we are planning on doing that in the city hall chambers, but if the road conditions still can sit continue to be a problem, um, we'll call it on Wednesday if we decide to change to virtual.

So everybody keep track of the city council social medias, and that's where it would be announced.

Uh secondly, I'd like to remind folks that applications for the city's summer youth program grant are now open.

City of Columbus is committed to serving vulnerable at-risk and underserved youth, particularly those disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and related challenges.

And to support this commitment, the summer youth program grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that deliver summer programming to youth ages five to 18 who live within the city's corporate boundaries.

Organizations must offer programming during the summer months and demonstrate outcomes that support youth development, including improved academic performance, improved health and well-being, and or enhanced career readiness and workplace skills.

Funding priority is given to summer programs that take place in or serve youth who live in the city's opportunity neighborhoods, including the Hilltop, Linden, Franklin, South Side, Near East, Southeast, Northeast, Northland neighborhoods, as well as the Far East Side and the Far West Side.

For more information and to submit your application, you can visit Columbusreckparks.com slash summer youth program grant.

Any questions about the application can be emailed to SummerYouth at Columbus.gov.

And the application deadline is Friday, February 13th.

I also want to take a moment to congratulate assistant city forester Chad Hoff for being recognized by the Friends of Schiller Park recently with the Village Light Award in recognition of his outstanding stewardship of Schiller Park.

As the group says, his expertise, careful judgment, and deep respect for the park's trees have made him a trusted and valued partner in its ongoing care.

Chad's ability to recall individual trees, their stories, vulnerabilities, and long-term needs is both remarkable and touching.

So on behalf of this council, I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Chad for continuously providing residents with a positive experience in the realm of urban forestry.

And finally, a quick shout out to all of our Columbus residents who have stepped up to help their neighbors in this extreme weather.

Some of them are shuffling driveways, others are checking on the well-being of their neighbors.

If you haven't already done so, please consider reaching out and seeing how you can help your neighbors, especially our neighbors who are older adults who have special needs.

So that's all for me, Council President.

Um and everyone, please stay safe.

Thank you so much, Councilmember.

Press Pro Tim.

Thank you, Council President.

Had a couple of resolutions planned for this evening, but we're gonna go ahead and postpone both of those.

Uh, just given that uh we're meeting virtually here tonight to allow those uh resolutions to proceed at Council Chambers as normal.

Uh so first, uh first resolution was to recognize and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Columbus Underground.

So I'm moving to postpone uh that resolution to February 9th.

Second Clerk, please call the role.

Thanks, Tim Borosa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Hardin.

Postponed.

Thank you.

And uh the second is to recognize and honor and celebrate Duane Casares on his retirement from direction for youth and family after 33 years of service and leadership to that organization.

Uh so again, I moved to postpone that resolution to February 9th.

Clark, please call the role.

Banks Tim, Barbosa de Fadia, Day Akaur, Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

Postpone.

Thank you.

That's all I have at this time.

Thank you.

Uh, Councilmember.

Councilmember Ross.

Thank you, Council President.

I just had one resolution that I am also going to move uh to postpone to the February 9th meeting.

It is to recognize and honor and celebrate Judge James Edward Green on his retirement from the Franklin County Municipal Court due to inclement whether we are going to move or I would motion to move postpone this resolution so that it can be given in person at the February 9th meeting.

Second.

Clerk, please call the role.

Thanks, Tim, Barosa De Padilla, De Akaur, Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

Postpone.

Is that all council?

Councilmember?

Yes.

And I apologize.

I went out of order.

But it's okay.

Thank you.

Councilmember Green.

Is that nothing for Council Member Green?

I think we can hear her.

She does have something, but can you hear me?

Now we can.

Oh, we lost you again, Councilmember.

Yeah.

Yeah?

We can hear you.

Wonderful.

Um, thank you so much for bearing with me here.

WebEx is not always my great friend.

Um, but tonight I do have one resolution on the agenda this evening.

It is resolution 0164X-2025 to recognize cardiovascular disease as the world's leading cause of death and to support the recognition of Friday, February 6th, 2026 as National Wear Red Day, and as February as American Heart Month.

Um, we talk about this every year around this time of year.

Cardiovascular disease, it remains uh the world's leading cause of death and claims the lives of one in three women every single year with many, many different um types of disparities um interwoven in there as well.

We uh, which is why we it is so important for us every every year to recognize February as American Heart Month and Friday, February 6th, 2026 as National Wear Red Day here in Columbus.

I'm grateful to my colleagues tonight for joining us in wearing red um to raise awareness about American Heart Month.

Congratulating myself on remembering to remind everyone that you're wearing red.

But the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Movement, they've been working for so so many years since 2004 to close awareness and clinical gaps in care uh by empowering women through education, through prevention strategies and reach and making sure that research fact information is making it out into our communities.

So before I turn it over to the floor to our partners, um we just want to encourage residents, businesses, and community institutions to join us in wearing red on February 6th and spread awareness and support in the fight against heart disease and stroke in women.

And so now I'd like to invite our partners and our friends uh from the American Heart Association, Sarah Luz and Max Dylan, uh to our virtual podium uh to speak here tonight.

Thank you.

Can you hear me all right?

Perfect.

Well, uh, my name is Sarah Lewis, and I want to thank you all on behalf of the American Heart Association.

Of course, thank you, Councilmember Green, President Harden, and all of our members of the council for recognizing Friday, February 6, 2026 as National Wear Red Day in the City of Columbus.

Also I want to echo how great you all look in your red today.

So thank you so much for for wearing.

And I know we all have red dress pins down there for you to support throughout the month of February as well.

Um, I won't um I won't repeat many of the wonderful things that Councilmember Green shared, but um cardiovascular disease does continue to be the number one killer of women claiming more women's lives and all forms of cancer combined.

And despite that statistic, we continue to be um unaware of the fact that it is our number one killer and unaware of the signs and symptoms that um it can present in women.

And so I encourage you all to um just uh share those signs and symptoms with your loved ones and to always be a listening ear when a woman in your life tells you that they don't feel well or that something is wrong.

Um we continue to be um under-researched and underrepresented in um the clinical setting, um, but we are here for each other, and that is our greatest gift.

Um we have the support of each other as women um to connect to share information, support, motivation, and of course, inspiration.

So through efforts like Go Red for Women, we're closing those gaps and making sure that more women could live live longer, healthier lives.

So with that, it's my honor to turn it over to our survivor um representing us today, Miss Max Dixon.

Hello, thank you so much.

Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

I'm Max.

I'm the board president of the Columbus Fashion Council.

I'm an entrepreneur, I'm a wife and a mother.

And women's heart health month is deeply personal for me.

On January 1st of 2024, I woke up with what I thought was anxiety, a racing heart, and I assumed it would pass.

And like many women, I pushed through.

I had a family to care for, I had work to do, and I did not have time to slow down.

But my body kept sending signals that something was wrong.

And within days, those signals turned into blackout episodes and an emergency hospitalization.

And thanks to one doctor who paused and asked for more testing before they did the emergency ablasions.

We learned that I had a rare heart condition called left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

And by the time I received the correct diagnosis and the care, I was not yet 40 years old and already in congestive heart failure.

Advocating for myself and getting a second opinion, then changed everything.

Thank you to Dr.

Randall Starlings of the Cleveland Clinic with proper treatment.

And by 2025, I am no longer in congestive heart failure.

And with genetic testing, I'm also able to give my family clarity and protection, allowing my children to be tested early and monitored appropriately.

I share this because heart disease doesn't always look like the way we expect in women.

Our symptoms are often dismissed, minimized, or ignored, even by ourselves.

Women's Heart Health Month is a reminder to listen to your body, ask the questions, and never be afraid to advocate for yourself, for your health, because it'll save your life.

Thank you so much for having me to share my story this evening.

Thank you both again so much for being here.

Um, Max, we are so glad that you're especially able to be here to share your testimony.

You know, it is so important, I think to note that, you know, in men, we often think about you know, really intense crushing chest pain.

That's just not what women experience, right?

And I feel you're busy.

You've got you know, a job or two jobs, kids to take care of, you know, you you often um move quickly past uh things just because there isn't time, but um, I am telling you it is so important just to take those couple of minutes, and I think that your um your story um is so important for people to hear.

And so we're just so grateful.

Um, Sarah, where can somebody, if someone is um, you know, wants to just get like a checkup or uh, you know, has starts realizing, man, my heart's been feeling kind of racy or I've been short of breath lately and really tired.

You know, what could they talk to their regular doctor?

Is there a place where they should go here in Columbus?

Yeah, I'd absolutely um not a medical professional.

I will preface that, but absolutely encourage you to speak with your um primary care physician.

And um, you know, if that isn't getting you the answer that you're looking for, to reach out to your um your network, whatever that is, if that's a family member, a colleague, a friend, a neighbor, um, and and just see how you can seek help next.

Okay, wonderful.

Well, um thank you so much again for being here.

Are there any other comments or questions for my colleagues?

Yeah, um, council member, I just wanted to um also echo Max uh and I have known each other.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Um, and February, it'll be the one year anniversary that my mother passed away from what we know we knew after she passed was a heart attack, but at the time they were treating her for something else.

And um, what's interesting is at the time um in the clinic where they were seeing her, and this wasn't here, it was in Cuba, but it's where renowned medicine um after my mother passed.

We told another doctor her symptoms, and they knew immediately, it was a female doctor knew immediately that it was uh it was a heart attack that took her life.

And so that story um could be a story here in Ohio and rule in a rural place in urban Ohio, anywhere.

It could have been any of our stories.

And so I think women really understanding women's health, women continue to have to advocate for themselves, advocate to be heard, especially women of color, especially if you're younger, because heart uh issues don't always present in younger women.

We know that can be true.

So um to the urgence that uh or to the um helping women understand what is happening.

There's a uh I can't remember what the acronym is, but there's things that you can look at that if you're starting to have those symptoms, you can then advocate for yourself, seek that medical treatment, don't ignore it.

Um, because it could be the thing that quite frankly saves your life.

And so I think all of us know and love a woman in our lives.

Uh so for the women that you love and for yourself and for the families that you care for.

Uh, this month is just this next month is just critical for women understanding.

This is just another thing, unfortunately, on top of a long list of things that we have to worry about.

Um, another way for us to advocate and take care of ourselves and people that we uh love and care for.

So thank you for sharing your story.

And council member green, thank you for um yet again bringing this to our attention.

I know we make it cute because it's a woman thing and we wear red and do all those things, but um there is uh again so many women that are affected by this on a day-to-day basis, and it really is the difference between life or death.

So thank you.

Absolutely.

Um okay.

Well, seeing um no other comments or questions for my colleagues, I move for adoption.

Second.

Clark, please call a role and resolution 19 X-2026.

Thank you.

Bankson, Barossa de Padilla, De Aka or Dornscreen, Remy Ross Weiss, President Hart.

Adopt it.

Um, thank you so much.

That is all for me tonight.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember Remy.

Thank you, Council President.

Good evening, everyone.

Having some COVID flashbacks here.

Um, I'd like to uh remind everybody as Chair Bankson said earlier that tomorrow we'll be having a public safety criminal justice committee budget hearing, and that will take place virtually.

That is the 27th at 3 p.m.

It can be viewed at the city's YouTube channel.

And if you'd like to submit any written testimony, please contact my aide Pedro Mejia at PDME, J I A at Columbus.gov.

That's P D M-E-J-I-A at Columbus.gov.

Thank you very much.

And that's all I have this evening.

Stay safe and stay warm.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Finally, Councilmember White.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, one quick announcement and one resolution this evening.

First, as uh Councilmember Bangston mentioned, I'll be hosting the public utilities and sustainability committee operating budget hearing on Wednesday, January 28th.

We'll hear presentations from Columbus Water and Power, the Department of Public Service Division of Refuse, and Sustainable Columbus.

If you're interested in providing testimony, please email my legislative analyst and Miliana at EMORA LES at Columbus.gov by noon tomorrow.

We are still watching the weather, so there is the potential for us to uh switch to a virtual meeting.

So just please keep an eye out on social media for any updates.

Next, I would like to introduce resolution 0018 X-2026 to encourage the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to take measures to protect Ohio residents, including residents of Columbus from rising electricity bills.

In recent years, Columbus residents have seen an increase in both energy distribution and generation rates.

Due to capacity constraints in the wholesale electricity market, energy costs will continue to inflate.

It is clear that we are facing not only a rising cost of living crisis, but also an urgent energy affordability crisis that will have serious impacts on Ohio residents.

Despite this, AEP has requested that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approve yet another rate increase.

This comes after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has already approved or is in the process of reviewing multiple rate increase requests over the past three years.

While AEP Ohio claims that rate payers will be saving approximately a dollar and 22 cents a month, Ohio Consumers Council estimates that consumers will be paying an additional $30.51 cents per month under the current proposed rate increase.

Right now, Columbus residents and families are relying on AEP to stay safe and warm during this extreme winter weather emergency.

Ensuring that consumers are protected from unfair rate hikes should be a priority for everyone.

This council urges the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to protect Columbus residents as well as AEP Ohio's over 1.5 million customers and implement no rate increases in 2026 for AEP Ohio.

Now we have two uh speakers signed up.

Uh we have two invited speakers want to invite up to speak.

Uh first from the Ohio Environmental Action Fund.

Annalisa, are you on the line?

I am.

Thank you so much.

Um, Council President Hardin and members of Columbus City Council, thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Annalise Raka, and I serve as a Central Ohio Regional Director at the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, which works towards a clean, healthy Ohio where our democracy empowers our communities to thrive in harmony with the environment.

I'm here today speaking in support of the resolution to encourage the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to take measures to protect Columbus residents from rising electricity bills.

Columbus residents have already seen significant increases in both distribution and generation rates over the past few years, and costs are expected to continue rising due to capacity constraints in the PJM marketplace.

For many households, these costs are becoming unaffordable.

While the PUCO can't control costs due to supply constraints across the country, they do control the rates we pay to maintain and build our infrastructure.

Council's concern is compounded by the fact that the PUCO has recently approved multiple AEP Ohio rate increases and is currently reviewing an additional request as part of a rate case.

The OEC and the Ohio Consumers Council have raised concerns that even with a proposed settlement in the most recent AEP case, residential customers could see increases to their monthly bills once additional riders are added.

The proposed settlement includes a credit already due to customers that is being used to incorrectly claim a rate decrease.

That reality makes it especially important to pause further increases in 2026 or at least delay additional costs until 2027.

At the same time, residents are being asked to pay more for an energy system that still has continued to face reliability concerns.

Rate increases have not eliminated outages or eased concerns from community members.

It is unfair to ask people to pay more for energy that remains unreliable.

This resolution also raises an important focus on the growing impact of data centers and other large low developments.

While we appreciate the efforts of the PUCO and AEP Ohio to implement new data center tariff policies, council is right to urge a study on how these projects may affect residential rates.

So everyday customers are not left subsidizing massive new energy users.

Finally, extending disconnection protections, expanding summer assistance programs, and maintaining special reconnect orders are critical steps, especially during the hottest months when energy costs are highest and families are just trying to keep their homes safe.

I urge council to support this resolution and stand up for affordability, reliability, and fairness for Columbus residents.

Thank you.

And Alisa, thank you for being here and thank you for your continued advocacy.

Next, I'm going to turn the virtual floor over to Quasi Lowe, the co-founder, deputy director of Columbus Stand Up.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for joining us.

Yes, thank you for having me.

My name is Quasi Lowe.

Members of Council, thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I want to begin by acknowledging this resolution and the leadership it represents.

Council's decision to formally urge the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to protect residents from rising electricity bills matters.

It matters because it recognizes what people across Ohio already know.

Energy costs are rising faster than household incomes.

And those increases are not abstract.

They show up as shut off notice and shut-off notices and impossible bottom line choices.

They exacerbate the dilemma of growing instability for Ohio families who are already struggling the most.

It calls for stronger disconnection protection in winter months and cooling assistance in summer months, as well as a serious examination of how data centers and large low developments are impacting residential ratepayers.

These are real concerns of Ohio residents who are unsure if they will be able to meet their daily needs and provide for the people who are depending on them.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge Councilmember Chris Weish for bringing this resolution forward.

This is a meaningful step.

I would describe it as a moratorium in spirit, a pause that says the status quo cannot continue.

At the same time, a moratorium only works if it is followed by consistent and increasingly bold demands for accountability.

That accountability must be directly squared at both the PUCO and AAP Ohio.

Through the lights out on AAP campaign, we have been organizing residents across Columbus and Central Ohio to speak for themselves.

We have collected over 2,500 signatures opposing AAP's proposed rate increase.

We have encouraged and supported dozens of residents to testify directly to the PUCO, many for the first time in their lives.

These are not professional advocates.

These are working people, parents, seniors, renters, and homeowners who are already stretched in and cannot absorb another increase, no matter how it's packaged.

What we are seeing from AAP is not an isolated request.

It is an ongoing pattern.

Repeated writers, incremental changes, attempts to recover cost the legislature explicitly removed.

Effort to reduce compensation to residents who generate power through solar.

All of this adds up to an extraction model that prioritizes shareholder returns while shifting risk and cost onto Ohio consumers.

At some point, we have to be honest about what this is.

AAP operates as an exploitive monopoly, and without firm intervention, it will continue to extract resources from households, schools, and public institutions across the state.

Higher electricity bills for schools means fewer dollars for classrooms and student services.

That is not theoretical.

It is an unfolding reality.

This resolution continues that line of leadership and should be understood as part of a growing public record of resistance.

I also want to be clear about one thing.

Council cannot stand with both AAP and Columbus residents when their interests are in direct conflict.

Neutral language and balance statements are not enough in the face of an affordability crisis.

If protecting the quality of life and promoting long-term stability in the city is the priority, then council must continue to choose the residents explicitly and repeatedly.

So I thank you, Councilmember Weish and your team for taking this step.

I encourage the rest of council to echo these sentiments publicly and often.

And I urge you to view this not as a one-time resolution, but a long-term commitment to holding the PCO and AAP accountable on behalf of the people you represent.

Thank you again for the invitation to speak.

I appreciate your time and attention.

I wish everyone a good evening.

Thank you for being here for your advocacy and for working to mobilize the grassroots effort.

I think the more people know about these issues, the more we can educate ourselves and more questions that we can ask, and hopefully get a resolution that's for the benefit of the residents of Columbus.

So I appreciate you being here and for the work that you all are doing.

Before I move for adoption, I'd like to see if any of my colleagues have questions or comments.

Councilmember, I will jump in.

One, uh, thank you for your leadership uh on this resolution.

I also echo your um appreciation and support for Quasi and the work that they have done.

Uh what he is talking about is what we are all hearing when we're standing in line at grocery stores or uh just out amongst our family and friends that um uh folks are being strained and pushed uh and that costs are going up in many different places.

And one of those places that is hitting them extremely hard is their utility bills.

And so this is not an abstract, abstract conversation, it's not spreadsheets is how people are actually making very tough decisions um between you know medication or electricity or groceries or heat.

Uh, and so um I think council is speaking loudly and clearly this evening, uh, and encouraging uh the PUCO to use its authority to uh uh speak out and protect uh our residents.

And so uh I am uh again appreciative of your leadership uh on this effort and um would uh just continue to um uh encourage uh community members to continue to speak up as council was adding our voices as well.

So just thank you for your leadership.

Thank you, Council President.

And I know it's an issue that we hear from residents all the time.

Affordability, not just in housing, but in utility rates at the same time.

So it is our job as representatives of people in in districts across the city of Columbus to um make our voices be heard all for our residents so that they know that we're fighting for them at the same time too.

Um I just I I also just wanted to add, um, and and thank Quasi for his work and the work of um Stand Up Columbus because I do think I mean we're seeing this across the country.

I think folks can come and advocate to us, right?

But I think especially when it comes to utilities, there's not always a voice.

It's like you're yelling into the void, at least it feels like that, right?

And so I think giving folks a way that they giving them the opportunity to make their voices heard, giving them a path for them to advocate.

You know, I say this often is it is only before the people, right?

And so, yes, the nine voices on this council matter, but the million voices in Columbus matter even more.

And so I just want to say thank you for that work and council member.

Also, thank you for making things that um, and I and I say this with love because and maybe I'm the only one that feels like it's complex.

Like I feel like, you know, if you gave me a test on my utility bill, I am not passing it.

So I think that when we take these things that sometimes, and sometimes we take it for granted.

We don't know what it means.

Again, we don't know how to advocate.

We don't know where what buttons to push.

So thank you for um continuing to keep these issues at the top of uh certainly at the forefront for all of us, both as residents and leaders in this community, but also ensuring that um the folks who we represent understand what the issues are and the best way for them to advocate.

So um echoing both your sentiments and the sentiments of council president, and then uh thank you for both Annalisa and Clacy.

Again, uh, Councilmember Weich, I I also just want to echo Lord S's statements and thank you for your work on this, and also thank you to our partners across the community for your advocacy.

There is such a big difference between um, you know, raising a uh publicly funded utility cost um for necessary upgrades and remediation and increasing costs on everyday families so that you can continue to pass on millions or billions of dollars in profit to your shareholders.

Those two things are very different things.

Um, and we find ourselves at a moment where we know um broadly across the country the threat that data centers are posing on our utilities on our electric red on our water.

So taking some time to collect that data and information, but we also are seeing across the country ways in which some of these facilities are helping lower energy costs, are helping to adopt green practices and could ultimately be a benefit in doing both of those things if we were to look at and explore those options.

And so I just want to thank you for taking a measured approach to this and figuring out how we can better understand and unpack these issues and deliver, you know, hopefully some policy down the road that is going to both you know protect the economic security of our families here in uh central Ohio while also um you know practic protecting our um our environment here and and the earth around us and um and so thank you thank you thank you I appreciate that um council member green and your your point around data centers on how they're built is real right we could require them in the state to be built more sustainably we just not have leadership at the state level to do that and that is the problem that is creating all of these unintended consequences of rising costs for everyday residents who are just having to fit the bill for that infrastructure and those built out um seeing no other comments or questions, I now move for adoption second clerk please call the role thanks Denverosa de Padilla Day Akaur Dorns Green Remy Ross Weiss President Harding Adopted Thank you Council President Thank you, Councilmember.

Uh are there any comments by the other elected officials that are joining us?

The city attorney's office, the city auditor's office, anyone else?

Well, at this time, I request the following ordinance be removed from the consent action portion of the agenda and the finance and governors committee ordinance zero two three four-2026.

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

Hearing none, may we now have a motion to waive the readings of title of the 38 legislation on tonight's agenda.

So move.

Second clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Timberwolves depadilla, de accourns, green reamy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

Thank you.

Will the clerk now read into the records the ordinance numbers of 30 day legislation on tonight's agenda as first reading?

In finance and governance committee, we have ordinance 29 90, 129, and 163-2026, public service and transportation committee, ordinances 3502-2025, 54 and 89-2026, and neighborhoods, recreation and parks committee.

We have ordinance 3335 and 3336-2025, Health Human Services and Equity Committee, Ordinance 102-2026, Public Service.

I'm sorry, Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, Ordinance 19-2026, and 3412-2025.

Housing, homelessness, and building committee, ordinance 74, 81, 82, 83, 109, 110, 115, 116, 157, 224, and 245-2026.

Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee, Ordinance 3418, 3441, 3450, 3458-2025, ordinance one six, 32, 33, 35, 38, 39, 44, 47, 51, 57, 58, 59, 91, 100, 117, and 130-2026.

Rules and Policy Committee, we have ordinance 12 dash 2026, and ordinance 237-2026.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

See no speakers on the first reading portion of the agenda.

Would the clerk now read those into the record?

Resolutions of expression, resolution 8x 24x, 9x, and 11x dash 2026.

Governance Committee Ordinance 3258 3496 3503 dash 2025 ordinance 67 2026 uh public service and transportation committee we have resolution 6x dash 2026 ordinances 3373 3505 dash 2025 ordinance 46 and ordinance 71 ordinance 88 dash 2026 neighborhoods recreation and parts committee ordinance 3337 3338 3391 2025 ordinance 20 and and ordinance 22 20 I'm sorry ordinance 22 um I read that wrong again ordinance 222 2026 um and workforce education and labor committee we have ordinance 3453 dash 2025 health human services and equity committee ordinance 3231 dash 2025 ordinance two ordinance eighty five ninety-nine one fourteen and one forty seven dash twenty twenty-six housing homelessness and building committee ordinance eight nine ten eleven twenty five one eighty three and one eighty-eight dash twenty twenty-six public utilities and sustainability committee resolution twelve x thirteen x fourteen x fifteen x sixteen x seventeen x dash twenty twenty six ordinance thirty-four oh five dash twenty twenty-five ordinance sixteen seventeen eighteen and twenty-one dash twenty twenty-six rules and policy committee appointments we have appointment three five six seven fourteen and fifteen dash twenty twenty-six thank you madam clerk there are no speakers on the uh consent portion of the agenda uh either so maybe a motion of approval of these items as designated as consent second clerk please call the role banks Timber Rosa De Padia Day Akaur Dorns Green Remy Ross Weiss President Hardin.

The consent agenda uh items are passed.

We'll now proceed with the second reading of 30 day postponed and tabled legislation and emergency legislation.

The first committee coming for council is the finance and governance committee.

That committee is chaired by councilmember banks and council members.

The floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

Tonight in Finance and Governance Committee, we have ordinance 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.

As I mentioned during our last council meeting on January 12th, uh ordinance 2939-2025 and its companion ordinance 2940-2025 represents the city's other funds and select other funds appropriations.

This particular ordinance establishes the budget appropriations for divisions and departments of the city of Columbus for fiscal year 2026 for funds other than the general fund, such as the Mobility Enterprise Fund, Development Services Fund, and other special revenue funds.

The following ordinance 2940-2025 establishes the budget appropriations for divisions and departments of the city of Columbus for fiscal year 2026 for selected other uh funds uh than the general fund uh for the operating funds, such as the debt services fund, uh tax incentive funds, and hotel motel tax funds, just to name a few.

Uh, for the most part, council historically has not uh touched or cannot touch the aforementioned funds due to statute.

Uh, these are typically either passed through dollars uh or dollars that are collected from some other revenue source other than the income tax.

Uh that said, instead of waiting to pass these two ordinances alongside the general fund budget ordinances, once it is ready for final consideration this year in the interest of efficiency, these ordinances will be considered tonight for approval.

Approval of these ordinances does not represent consideration of the full budget.

The final budget ordinance, uh which covers the city's general fund and uh general fund and is not on the agenda tonight, is still being deliberated on uh on and will be amended prior to the final consideration.

We anticipate that the remaining budget ordinance will come before this body in late February.

Uh so again, ordinance 29 uh 39-2025, which we are considering is the other funds budget.

Uh, and I will uh pause now to see if there's any questions or comments from my colleagues.

I'll switch between screens, seeing none, uh, I move for passage on ordinance twenty-nine thirty-nine-2025.

Second clerk, please call the role.

Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, Day Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Passed.

Thank you.

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

Again, as I mentioned, this is just the companion ordinance to 2939-2025 for the selected other funds.

Seeing no comments or questions from my colleagues, I move for passage now for ordinance 2940-2025.

Second.

Clerk, please call the row.

Thanks, Timber Ross De Padilla, De Akaur Dorn Screen, Remy Ross, Weiss President Harden.

Passed.

Next we have ordinance 0028-2026 to authorize.

I'm sorry, to appropriate and authorize the city auditor to transfer 10 million nine hundred eighty-eight thousand one hundred sixty-six dollars within the debt retirement fund to authorize the city auditor on behalf of the Department of Public Service to appropriate $1,400,000 in the mobility debt retirement city parking meters contribution subfund to authorize the expenditure for the purpose of providing secondary funding in the event that the Franklin County Convention Facility Authority cannot meet its debt obligation and to declare an emergency.

This ordinance is a routine annual accounting measure that establishes a fiscal backstop for the Franklin County Convention Facility Authority in the event they are unable to meet their debt obligations.

We share this obligation with the county.

And that again, that is a fund that sits there in the event that they are not able to meet their debt obligation.

That fund has not had to not have been touched since the establishment of the facilities authority as they have other revenue sources to pay for their bonding and pay for that debt.

But this is a backstop since it is a organization that is a creation of both the county and the city.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the role.

Thanks, Tim.

Rosa de Padilla, Day Achower, Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Harding.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

May I jump back to page 13 to read an ordinance that was removed from consent agenda?

Please.

Thank you.

Now that ordinance is 0234-2026 to authorize the finance and management director to enter into uh contract with the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitor Bureau doing business as Experienced Columbus for destination marketing services to promote and publicize the city of Columbus as a desirable location for conventions, trade shows, and similar events to authorize the expenditure of $4736,000 from the hotel motel excise tax fund to authorize the expenditure of funds for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses and to declare an emergency.

The hotel motel tax proceeds are collected by the City of Columbus for the purpose of promoting the city as a destination site for tourism and convention activities and for fostering and sustaining a broad array of programming, including concerts, festivals, art exhibits, and vocational opportunities.

At the top of each calendar year, we ordain the distribution of some of these proceeds to Experience Columbus so that they can continue to invest in the promotion of the city as a tourism destination as well as some community-based programming.

Experienced Columbus is our city's promoter, marketer, and seller of Columbus as a destination, both regionally and nationally.

Again, just want to speak to this uh ordinance that uh we pass those select other funds.

This is an example of one of those uh organizations that received those select other funds as a pass through of that hotel motel uh tax.

Uh again, experienced Columbus continues uh to outperform and punch above its weight in our competitive set, and proud to say that last year hit all of their metrics um and actually exceeded them for marketing the city and bringing more investment into our community.

Uh so really proud of the work that they continue to do uh to promote Columbus, uh, not just around uh the country but also around the globe.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second clerk, please call the role.

Thanks, Tim Barosa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorn screen, Remy Ross Weiss President Harding.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

I move to the economic development small minority business committee.

Please.

Thank you.

First, we have ordinance 3305-2025 to authorize the director of the department of development to enter into an enterprise zone agreement with C5 Columbus SW Building One, LLC, uh, for a tax abatement of 75% for a period of 10 consecutive years in consideration of the enterprise investing approximately 31,260,600 in real property improvements and the creation of 48 net new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of approximately 2,112,000 dollars.

This ordinance along with the following companion ordinance are a pair of enterprise zone agreements with core five industrial partners.

Core five industrial partners is a full-service real estate property company with expertise in development and acquisition of class A inventory and build to suit industrial facilities.

They have established two single purpose entities, C5 Columbus SW Building 1 LLC, and C5 Columbus SW building number two, uh, LLC that will cover the construction of two Class A proactive industrial facilities.

This ordinance contains the proposal for building one, and the next ordinance contains the proposal for building two.

For building one, the entity is proposing to invest a total project cost of approximately 31,260,600 in real property improvements to construct a new class A proactive development industrial facility consisting of approximately 469,200 square feet of a vacate on a vacant greenfield site located at 5192 Al Qaeda Road here in Columbus.

For building two, the entity is proposing to invest a total project cost of approximately $15,724,800 in real property improvements for the development of a vacant greenfield site and the construction of a new Class A proactive industrial facility consisting of approximately 249,600 square feet located at the same address.

For building one, they anticipate the creation of 48 new full-time permanent positions, the estimated annual payroll of 2,120 112,000 dollars.

For building two, they anticipate 25 new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of approximately one mil 1.1 million dollars.

Please note that again, these are proactive industrial buildings.

So these salaries and job numbers are just estimates until an operator is found for these spaces.

The new entity uh that will uh uh that will be leased or will lease the space will uh be uh subject to the city's requirement for counts of the job as well as the twenty dollar per hour wage threshold.

Uh, typically for proactive industrial projects, we've seen the actual job and salary numbers far exceed the estimate that are given at the proactive uh phase.

Uh, in sum with uh with these two build both buildings, the Southwestern City School District is estimated to receive an additional one million seven hundred and eighty-six thousand six hundred and seventy dollars over the term of the abatement.

Again, the way the abatements work, they will continue to receive uh the amount of property tax that they are receiving today that does not go away.

Uh, but a court over the course of that abatement period that 25% uh that is still on the table, they will receive an additional estimated $1.7 million.

And they will receive approximately $8,933,343 over a 20-year period as a result of this project.

Again, making that investment here on the front end and seeing those long-term gains uh in the future.

I'll pause there to see if there's any questions or comments from my colleagues.

Uh seeing none, I move for passage on ordinance on ordinance 35305-2025.

Second.

Clark, please call the role.

Thanks, Dem Barosa de Padilla, de Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Wise President Harden.

Passed.

Uh, thank you.

And uh last but certainly not least is ordinance 3306-2025.

Again, this is that companion piece uh to the project that we just discussed.

Uh so 3306-2025 is to authorize the director of the department of development to enter into an enterprise zone agreement with C5 Columbus Southwest Building 2 LLC for a tax abatement of 75% for a period of 10 consecutive years, in consideration of the enterprise investing approximately $15,724,800 in real property improvements and the creation of $25 net new full-time permanent positions with an and with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $1,100,000.

And again, as I mentioned, uh the details above.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, uh move for passage.

Second clerk, please call the role.

Thanks, Tim, Burosa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy White, Remy Ross White, President Hard.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

That's all I have in my committees this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Next committee come before council is the uh public service and transportation committee chaired by council member Bros.

Dampadia.

Councilmember, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

I have three items on the second read for public service and transportation this evening.

The first is ordinance 3133 2025 to authorize and direct the city auditor to appropriate funds within the federal transportation grant fund in connection with the quick build toolkit to authorize the director of finance and management to associate all general budget reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate universal term contract purchase agreements for the purchase of water bearer, water barriers, cones, and traffic barrels by the Department of Public Service, Division of Mobility and Parking Services to authorize the expenditure of $357,038 from the Federal Transportation Grant Fund and to authorize the Director of Public Service to establish a purchase order for various materials to be used for the quick build toolkit from the existing universal term contracts with Bain Enterprises and all in safety corp for the purchase of water barrels, cones, and traffic barrels.

Um, I'm really excited about this ordinance.

So when I came into office, uh, we had lots of conversation with the Department of Public Service about ways that we could um really begin to strategize on getting quicker fixes to some of those problematic uh traffic intersections and um really looking at our high injury network and how do we begin to tackle some of the issues that we saw there.

And so tactical urbanism, which I'm sure many of you heard me talk about many times, or quick build uh refers to low cost interventions that improve street safety using temporary materials while allowing the city to respond faster to community needs.

We're excited to receive this grant from ODOT for the purchase of the materials for the quick build toolkit.

The toolkit is designed to accelerate the planning and implementation of pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements by utilizing these temporary um low-cost materials.

Transportation projects often take years to design and complete projects that will utilize the toolkit will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the short term, while the longer term infrastructure improvements are evaluated, planned, and designed for permanent construction.

So we've done a number of these over by Ohio Avenue, over on the south side.

Um temporarily when we before we actually striped the bike lanes on East Broad Street.

You saw those water barrel or water barriers that were on East Broad Street.

Director, I don't know if there's anything that you would like to add about our strategy around uh the quick build toolkit.

No, you you covered everything very well.

Um, so I'm very excited that this will give us the opportunity both to test some things, both to put strategies out there faster.

I also um we've had conversations about even expanding the toolkit further uh for the department of public service.

So uh do my colleagues have any additional questions or comments.

Seeing none, I move the passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the row.

Bang, Stan Burassa Depodia, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weissh, President Harding.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next, we have ordinance 0036 2026, the transfer cash and appropriation between the Lucent Incentive District TIFF Fund and the Lucent Incentive District TIFF Capital Fund, as well as between the East Broad Dominion TIFF Fund and the East Broad Dominion TIFF Capital Fund to appropriate funds within the Lucent Incentive Districtive Capital Fund and the East Bros Dominion TIF Capital Fund to authorize the director of public service service to enter into contract with Shelley and Sands Incorporated for the Roadway Blossom Field Boulevard, broad to West Bourne project to authorize the expenditure of 3,312,787 and 59 cents with from the Lucent Incentive District TIFF Capital Fund and the East Broad Dominion Tip Capital Fund for the project and to declare an emergency.

I would think that someone was um hazing me if I didn't know better with uh the wording on this particular um ordinance.

Uh the location, this location for this project is on the Vision Zero uh high injury network due to the number of serious or fatal crashes involving vulnerable road users like people walking, biking, or on motorcycles or mobility devices.

This project aims to help divert traffic volume and create safer conditions on uh the westbound portion of East Broad Street and the southbound portion of Taylor Station traffic.

Blossom Field Boulevard will be upgraded to a public street with new street lights, curb, and pavement improvements.

The placement of a roundabout at the intersection of Blossom Field Boulevard, Granite Point Drive, and West Bourne Avenue will help to slow driver speeds and decrease crash severity.

Uh, additionally, a shared use path will also be constructed along the east side of Blossom Field and a sidewalk.

We all love sidewalks along the west side to fill in the gaps.

So very excited about the safety project coming to this area of the city and everything that it will bring to ensure the safety of our residents.

Do my colleagues have any questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks, Tim, Barbosa DePodia, De Aka or Dorns, Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hard.

Passed.

Thank you.

And lastly, we have ordinance 0097 2026 to appropriate $8,250,000 from the unappropriated balance of the municipal motor vehicle license tax fund for anticipated 2026 expenditures for the Department of Public Service Divisions of Infrastructure Management and Traffic Management and to declare an emergency.

So this permissive tax has been levied by the City of Columbus since 1987.

This money is used for materials, supplies, and equipment expenses consistent with the 2026 budget.

So this is another one of the user funded funds.

So you pay a motor vehicle license tax when you go in.

It's a little tax that you pay.

It goes into a larger fund that then gets reinvested back into our city streets.

So do my colleagues have any questions or comments.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bangs then, Barbosa DePadilla, De Aka or Dorans, Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hart.

Passed.

Thank you.

And that's all for me this evening, Council President.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The next committee to come before council is the public safety and criminal justice committee.

That committee is chaired by Councilman Remy.

Councilman Floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Council President.

Tonight I have two pieces of legislation, the first being 3467 2025 to authorize and direct the city attorney to settle the lawsuit captioned Ryan Pitts versus Emily Geyer et al.

United States District Court case number 225 CB 875 to authorize the expenditure of the sum of $30,000 and no cents in settlement of the lawsuit to authorize the transfer of $30,000 within the general fund and to declare an emergency.

Tonight we have uh criminal division chief Melanie Tobias Hunter here.

Um, I'd like to turn the floor over to you, Chief, and have you walk us through this settlement and why your office believes this is the best solution.

Sorry, can you thank you?

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you now.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Remy, Council President Harden, members of council.

Um, this lawsuit, uh, the plaintiff uh sued three officers with the Columbus Division of Police, alleging civil rights violations that stemmed from a traffic stop and criminal citation out of that traffic stop.

Um the traffic ticket and criminal citations were dismissed in court, and the plaintiff filed a complaint with the Department of Inspector General, which conducted an investigation into the traffic stop.

Uh, the Department of Inspector General determined that the officers um they did commit policy violations, uh violating division policy.

And after reviewing the uh plaintiff's um lawsuit, the city attorney's office believes that um had if this would go forward to trial, there's a high likelihood that some of the defendant officers would be found liable on some of the claims raised in this case.

So, in order to, this is a civil rights violation.

Attorney's fees would be granted to the plaintiff were he to win on any of his counts.

Uh attorney's fees were already clocking in at almost $15,000 at this point uh to mitigate those losses.

So the city attorney's office recommended the settlement in this case.

Thank you very much.

Um now I'd like to turn it over to Director Pashadi and just hear what has been done to help ensure things like this don't happen again within the division.

Director Pashadi.

Okay.

Councilmember Remy, I can speak to that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see that you were here.

Thank you very much.

Um, Deputy Director Trisha Winsel.

Um, the officers were disciplined in this case and they were counseled um so that they'll handle things differently in the future now that they have more knowledge and experience about what happened.

All right, thank you very much.

Um can I see if any of my colleagues have any questions about this particular case this evening?

All right, seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks in Barbosa De Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Harding.

Passed.

Thank you very much.

Next have 0020 to 1826 to authorize the appropriation of 4,921,832.27 from the 2026 unappropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Special funds to the Franklin County Municipal Court for all anticipated expenses and to declare an emergency.

This legislation reflects an annual requirement to appropriate the court's special funds so that they can be used for anticipated expenses.

The ordinance authorizes appropriation and to funds, including but not limited to the security fund, the dispute resolution fund, and the specialized dockets fund, among others.

Emergency declaration is requested so that the departments that operate under these funds continue their services uninterrupted.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the row.

Bangs then, Barbosa De Padilla, De Aka or Dorns, Green, Remy Ross, Weich, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you very much.

That's all I have in public safety and criminal justice this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Next committee to come before council is the Housing Homelessness and Building Committee.

That committee is chaired by Councilmember Ross.

Councilmember, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

Just one ordinance for a second read on the agenda.

It is ordinance number 0056-2026 to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the transfer of funds within the affordable housing taxable bond fund to authorize the director of development to enter into a service contract with man roofing and construction LLC for the division of housing's roof replacement program in an amount up to 350,000 using affordable housing taxable bond funds to waive the provisions of Columbus City Codes, Section 11.14 and 329.09 for the roof replacement program to authorize the transfer and expenditure of 350,000 to authorize the director of the department of development to enter into grant agreements, including modifications if necessary with homeowner participants in the roof replacement program if the total grant amount is greater than $5,000, all without having to return to city council for each project under the roof replacement program to authorize reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior to the creation of a purchase order to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code and to declare an emergency.

With that, I am going to ask Director Stevens just to give a little background on the roof replacement program and tell us why we're waiving competitive bidding.

Thank you.

Um Council President Hardin, Chair Ross, members of council.

This is part of our housing strategy where we're working to preserve as much affordable housing as possible by supporting those projects where naturally occurring affordability or home ownership already exists.

By approving this grant, we will expedite our ability to get the dollars out to make those roof replay repairs in a timely fashion.

And that is the reason also why we are waiving competitive bidding.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Have any questions for my colleagues?

Council member, I have a quick question.

Because I know that with some of the other programs that we have, and maybe it's not uh I know with some of the other programs that we have.

Sometimes we're just it's such an arduous process that it makes it difficult.

So can you just talk a little bit about how um folks can access you know a roof replacement program and who we fund and how that works?

Yeah, thank you, council member.

We have our roof repair uh program not only through our emergency uh homeowner repair, but also just through our homeowner services that's run through our division of housing.

Uh we run through the housing division, it's kind of a one-stop entry into there, and we determine based on their eligibility of income level.

Uh obviously, residency is important, and then we try to um we send our text out there to understand the the problem, get a quote from our vendor and and work to get that uh repair roof repaired uh in an expeditious manner.

Well, I'm especially thinking just now, especially after this kind of a storm and sustained um you know uh elements on those roofs, especially as they're older.

I suspect uh we're we're gonna see probably a little bit of an uptick of folks that are going to either they might have something detrimental that happens or they're going to need those repairs.

And so um, I just wanted to be sure that we touched on um this is another resource for our residents or as people are are are watching that they can reach out to the city, that this is another investment that we're making in our community, um, and just ensuring that as with anything that we're as much as we can keep at low barrier for folks because the more difficult it becomes, the less people want to do it, especially when we start to ask them a lot of questions or they have to collect a lot of information.

It just doesn't feel comfortable for a lot of folks, and sometimes that's a cultural thing.

Sometimes there's other factors that are involved.

So thank you for that information.

Thank you, Councilmember Buttersade Padilla.

Any other questions for my colleagues?

And just to reiterate, I am very familiar with the roofing program and understand the very high demand that we have in our community for fixes to roots.

And so part of this legislation is to make sure that the department can be as efficient as possible, as quick as possible in processing those applications for roof replacement.

So appreciate you, Director.

Um, and I am going to move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the role.

Bangston, Barossa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns, Green, Remy, Ross, Weich, President Hard.

Passed.

Is that all on your committee, Madam Chair?

Yes, but I think you might have been on mute.

Council President for the vote.

Oh, my bad.

We didn't hear it.

Clark, please call it.

I'm sorry.

Okay.

Bangston, Barossa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorns, Green, Remy, Ross, Weish, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

That's it from my committee.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The next committee to come before council is a public utilities and sustainability committee.

That committee is chaired by Councilmore Weiss.

Councilmember, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

I have one ordinance in public utilities and sustainability committee this evening, and that is 31-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Finance and Management to associate all general budget reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate universal term contract purchase agreements for the purchase of water treatment chemicals for the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the expenditure of 30 million four hundred thousand from the water operating fund and to declare an emergency.

This ordinance provides the funding necessary for the purchase of water treatment chemicals for the division of water.

Emergency designation is requested in order to avoid any delay in purchasing of necessary chemicals and to allow the division of water to continue to provide safe and reliable drinking water to Columbus residents and surrounding communities.

We stop there to see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bangston Barossa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

That is all I have for my committee this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Next committee to come before council is the um rules and policy committee.

I chair that committee.

I have uh one ordinance, and I know President Potem has one as well.

Uh we have ordinance 0064-2026 as to amend section 111.01 of the Columbus City Codes pertaining to council meetings and hearings to allow council flexibility to determine summer recess.

This code change will give city council the flexibility to move our recess period so we can pilot a change to our annual calendar by shifting recess from August to July for the 2026 legislative year.

This idea has bounced around for years, but over the uh past year, city council survey, council staff and department staff to get thoughtful feedback on how this shift uh could affect city operations.

Moving Act recess to July provides greater flexibility for summer vacations and children need child care needs, particularly for families with young children uh who uh often return to school in early to mid-August.

It also helps reduce recurring legislative and administrative challenges that arise with city staff and partners are inevitably out of at different points throughout July.

Finally, aligning recess immediately after the close of the second fiscal quarter creates a cleaner fiscal and accounting transition.

If adopted, then the city clerk will notice a calendar for the year where we meet through June, recess in July, and return to regular meeting in mid to late August.

Uh, we view this as a pilot in 2026.

Throughout the year, we will evaluate this and use that feedback to determine where we should uh take recess next year.

I appreciate the input we've received and remain committed to maintaining a council calendar that is transparent, predictable, and responsible to the needs of our workforce and our community.

If there are no questions or comments, I move for passage.

Second.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bangston, Barossa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hardin.

Pass.

Next, I'll give the committee over to Prespotent.

Thank you, Council President.

And rules and reference, I have ordinance number 01 through 4-2026.

Uh, to adopt the Columbus Growth Strategy as an amendment to the Columbus citywide planning policies that would continue to guide the next generational growth and development in Columbus.

Um folks have been paying attention to a lot of our discussions around our modernizer of zoning code.

Uh, you've heard me say this before.

You one of our the growth of Columbus is one of our biggest opportunities, uh, but it's also one of our biggest challenges.

Uh that's why it's so important for our city to have a plan for this growth.

Because we don't.

This will only result in more congestion and sprawl, uh, which leave us in a much more difficult position uh to be able to serve our residents and create more housing, more job opportunities for folks across Columbus.

That is why planning for this growth is so incredibly important.

For too long, our our city's been forced to navigate these modern day challenges of the 14th largest city in the country that is continuing to grow with a zoning code that was written in the 1950s.

We cannot build a modern uh equitable city on a 70-year-old land use foundation.

Tonight we've taken the next step in modernizing our land use policies to be ready to be focused on the quality of life for residents today, but also plan for the future growth of our city.

We're moving away from the restricted policies of the past and towards a framework that reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of Columbus that we know we are and should become.

This isn't our first step in this process, and it won't be our last.

Our last big step in this process occurred on July 29th of 2024 when this council took a historic action by rezoning 140 miles of our primary corridors in the first phase of zone in.

That move alone unlocked the potential for 88,000 new housing units to be built on those parcels over the next decade.

This legislation here tonight will formally adopt the Columbus Growth Strategy, a policy that will guide the next phase of that uh zoning modernization efforts.

It establishes our first citywide land use policy and map.

And while this does not change our zoning code uh overnight, it does provide for a guide for our future decisions, ensuring that our capital planning, budgeting, and future zoning updates are transparent and predictable to our residents.

The goals of the strategy are clear and intentional.

The first, affordability and housing.

We're identifying exactly where we can create more housing near jobs and transit to lower the cost of living for our residents.

Sustainability.

We're prioritizing growth that supports environmental and economic sustainability through better connect transit and job centers.

Equity and inclusion.

This is perhaps the most critical point.

We're using this framework to encourage the thoughtful investment in our neighborhoods that historically suffered from racial and economic segregation caused by outdated land use policies.

We are intentionally correcting that course in our city's history.

And finally, community-led design.

This strategy was not drafted behind closed doors.

It is the result of thousands of interactions, over 3,000 survey responses, dozens of workshops, 75 presentations to our area commissions and the civic civic groups.

This level of outreach ensures that we can modernize our main streets while also celebrating uniqueness and character and sets a place that makes every neighborhood in Columbus special.

Together, we're building a foundation for growth that is equitable, intentional, and uniquely Columbus.

This strategy ensures our code is no longer a barrier to progress, but a bridge to build a more affordable and connected Columbus.

I'm proud to introduce this leg this legislation here tonight and continue to work in securing Columbus future for generations to come as we enter into the next phase of zone in, uh, which again is our effort to modernize our land use and zoning policies to put guardrails around growth, but also to encourage again new housing opportunities across Columbus.

I know we have uh a number of public speakers signed up in support of this ordinance, and we speak uh we've received many more letters of support and written testimonies from organizations and individuals across the city.

Uh, before we get to those here tonight, I do want to ask uh appreciate my council colleagues' indulgence here as we take some extra time to really talk about where we're at in this process.

When we get into sort of land use discussions, uh it can very easily get down to the weeds, and I want to just make sure that we take uh a little bit more time than we would otherwise with just one piece of legislation here to really uh get into the the needy gritty and talk about what this legislation is and what it isn't and what it's more importantly going to lead us to next.

Uh so with that, I'd like to turn the floor over to uh Mr.

Lewis Taba for a presentation um on this piece of legislation before I ask for uh a vote here tonight and allow our public speakers to weigh in.

Mr.

Tabet, the floor is yours.

I apologize for that.

I wasn't I wasn't unmuted.

Um let me share my screen here with you today.

I just wanted to say I'm excited to be here uh to present legislation that will allow the city to continue the work of zone in.

As we have noted before, uh the city needs citywide policy recommendations to provide the foundation for zone in.

And that is what this legislation does.

So based off of community our zone in project timeline, with support of this legislation, we can stay on schedule to comprehensively update our zoning districts by 2027.

The Columbus Growth Strategy will not only provide a policy basis for zone in, but this is a generational opportunity to modernize the way we do planning in the city of Columbus.

It will provide a single citywide strategy that sets clear priorities for where and how Columbus grows.

Now a couple key points on the growth strategy are that it creates a more flexible approach focused on design.

It encourages mixed-use areas.

It supports more housing options in more areas of the city.

It provides guidance for when older employment areas may evolve into modern job centers.

And it will be subject to regular review.

As part of our background work on this project, we did research to see how other peer cities handle land use maps.

Our research shows that all of them have citywide land use plans.

One thing we want to stress is that the Columbus Grove Strategy is an amendment to the citywide planning policies, also known as C2P2.

Most of the plan remains unchanged.

The primary difference is the map, which was based off of months of public engagement.

Our process began with uh Mayor Ginther's June press conference and council's resolution of support.

For the past seven months, we have conducted extensive community engagement.

We have had thousands of conversations with residents, received thousands of comments, and we used an array of engagement methods and held engagement events in a variety of different locations across the city.

This robust public engagement led to over 19,000 changes to the proposal.

And overall, public input has been largely supportive with between 65 and 75% support.

So I'd like to take a minute to show how that input affected our maps and how we changed our proposal.

Um right here we have the initial land use map, which was part of our uh July workshops and was open for community input all the way through October.

We presented this map, and based off of community input that lasted from July to October, 8,408 parcels were changed, totaling 4,131 acres.

So quite a bit of changes to the map.

Uh, that is some parcels were added, some were removed, some were changed from one use land use type to another, and some just changed in intensity.

We took all those changes and we then created our public review draft.

This map was released on October 4th for additional community input.

So in fall 2025, we began that additional second round of community input.

And from October until the present, we've changed based off of community input 11,455 parcels, totaling 2,915 acres.

So some of these parcels were added, some were removed.

Once again, some were changed in their classification and in their intensity.

And after that second round of change, that's how we have the Columbus Growth Strategy Land Use Plan that is part of this legislation.

So there have been a few amendments to the proposal since the first reading.

We have responded to North Linden's comments, and by and we reinstated letter H into guiding principle number three.

And we have also changed the land use recommendations along Clara Street from mixed use two to mixed use three per their request.

Additionally, we added TR Ross to the council member list, and we included the downtown commission development and development commission letters of a recommendation of support for the legislation.

We have also received letters of support from various community members, nonprofits, and development groups, and we received two formal recommendations of support from both the downtown commission and the development commission.

So with council adoption of the Columbus Growth Strategy, we can continue the work of zone in.

Community engagement will continue to be the focus of our effort as we begin having conversations with residents about which zoning districts best achieve the goals of our newly established land use policy.

And with that, I'm available for any questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Taba.

I want to pause and see if any of my council colleagues have any questions.

I can't currently see the full screen, so if you've got a question, please just uh jump on in.

See none.

Uh, I will go ahead and move us to our uh public testimony portion.

Uh as I mentioned, we've have uh four public speakers time to speak on this ordinance here this evening.

Um, I ask that those speakers limit the remarks to three minutes.

Uh, we'll try to be Midwestern polite with that, so we'll try not to cut people off mid-sentence, but uh, we do ask that you try to be mindful of that three-minute uh limit.

Uh, also, if any of our speakers represent a specific organization here, uh, if you wouldn't mind letting us know, but the first speaker to come for council is Ms.

Carly Booz.

Good evening, and thank you.

Uh, President Pro Tem Dorns, President Harden, and members of council.

I am Carly Boos.

I'm proud to speak tonight on behalf of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio and our 40 members this evening in support of the Columbus Growth Strategy.

I did have the privilege of commenting on this topic before in November when it was presented for feedback.

At that time, I'd expressed our thanks for the document's reflection of Columbus's shared values of being publicly developed, inclusive, responsive, data-driven, modern, and unified.

Those traits remain in this final draft, and I think are further complemented by increased clarity and incorporation of valuable community feedback.

With this policy foundation, that the Columbus Growth Strategy lies.

We are optimistic that zoning policies, investment decisions, and resident protections will all be aligned to welcome economic growth without sacrificing our quality of life.

In fact, we believe that this concrete strategy linking housing access to our future prosperity not only protects the affordability that we have today, but expands safe and sustainable housing to more of our residents, both new and old.

The Columbus Growth Strategy allows us to look ahead to the kind of impactful programs that are not currently supported in our community, but which we desperately need.

For instance, this policy allows us to more thoroughly investigate and advance strip mall revitalization, converting dated commercial corridors into vibrant mixed-use, mixed income spaces that have plentiful jobs, amenities, and homes.

Seizing this opportunity in particular is important as Link Us invites new investment and new interest in our transportation corridors.

As the Link Us ETOD action plan shows, these new prospects must be balanced by anti-displacement zoning and housing tools.

The Columbus Growth Strategy also continues an important conversation around the role of grassroots stewardship in our growth, often referred to as the Yigaby movement.

With the kind of zoning that this policy would enable, we have an opportunity to empower educators, nonprofit leaders, and faith groups to incorporate affordable housing in their capital planning.

Finally, as we look to the needs of the broader city, we see in this document support for so-called missing middle policies, which allow duplexes and other kinds of small-scale residential housing that open pathways for traditional home ownership and long-term sustainability.

I want to thank Mayor Ginther and his team for leading this effort.

And I want to thank you all for allowing us to have a moment to share our views.

I'm happy to answer any questions that may be helpful.

Thank you, Carly.

Appreciate being here and your continued advocacy on this topic to uplift uh all aspects of how do we build a more equitable Columbus through increased ability bring housing of all types across neighborhoods in Columbus.

Uh, any uh do any of my colleagues have any questions for Ms.

Boos?

Seeing none, I will move on to our next public speaker, which is Ms.

Kathy Green.

Screen, welcome back to council.

Council President Pro Tem Dorans, Council President Harden, members of Council and City staff.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening.

My name is Kathy Green.

I live on the South Side of Columbus and serve as vice chair and zoning chair of the Columbus Southside Area Commission, holding the business at large seat.

Tonight, however, I'm speaking simply as a resident of our city.

At the November public hearing, I shared an overview of the two South Side plans, the adoption of the Columbus Citywide Planning Policies, and the engagement we have had with South Side stakeholders.

I also highlighted the changes introduced through zone in phase one along our primary corridors.

The proposed Columbus Growth Strategy introduces new land use maps that would affect the South Side in two major ways.

First, the strategy proposes additional density through the mixed-use one category along our secondary corridors at 24 dwelling units per acre.

The existing Southside plans do not differentiate uses along these corridors and generally default to the adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Current densities range from four to six units per acre in the southeast, six to ten units per acre in the northeast, and 10 to 16 units per acre elsewhere on the south side.

And some individual commercial businesses already exist along these routes.

Increasing density on secondary corridors is a smart and necessary step.

These streets are often transit routes, have walkable sidewalks, are targeted for bike and shared use path improvements, and as we've all been reminded recently, are typically priority one snow removal routes.

Allowing mixed use along these corridors supports walkability, expands transit options, adds needed housing, and creates opportunities for new job centers.

Secondly, the updated strategy proposes changing a number of parcels currently zoned for manufacturing to mixed use two.

Mixed use two allows taller buildings and higher densities, supporting the evolution of older employment areas into places that can accommodate housing, commercial activity, and community serving uses.

Many of these manufacturing parcels currently host uses that are incompatible with nearby residences, and the jobs they provide no longer match the employment needs of local residents.

We have been in conversation with the Department of Planning about repurposing these parcels since at least January 2021.

I am grateful that the city is now able to advance these changes through the Columbus Growth Strategy.

Thank you again for the opportunity to speak.

I strongly support adoption of this strategy as an important step toward improving land use on the South Side and across Columbus.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kathy.

Appreciate you being here with us virtually tonight.

And a reminder that a walkable neighborhood is not only healthy in the summertime, but also in the wintertime when we're talking about clearing that snow, being able to walk to a grocery store or being able to walk to help uh folks around your neighborhood.

So I appreciate being here again tonight.

Our next public speaker on this piece of legislation is a great advocate for the Northland uh community, Ms.

Pat Hamill.

Council President Harden, President Pro Tem Dorans, and Council members, thank you for this opportunity to speak in support of the Columbus Growth Strategy.

My name is Pat Hamill.

I'm the vice president of the Northland Community Council, Chair of NCC's Zone In Committee, and a 19-year resident of the Salem neighborhood in Northland.

Tonight I speak as a 50-year resident of the City of Columbus.

The Columbus Growth Strategy will provide citywide land use policy to guide responsible and sustainable development to meet not just our current needs, but also the job growth, housing, and infrastructure needs that will develop in the future.

Comprehensive land use policy cannot dictate what specific projects will be built where.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Happy to answer any questions you may have.

Pat, thank you so much.

I really appreciate that point when we talk about modernizing these policies.

Folks uh were adding some of the events from the first phase of zone in.

One of the common things I mentioned was, you know, this is not about just letting people build whatever they want, wherever they want, whenever they want.

Um and I think it's so important to have uh folks recognize that give and take back and forth, um, not only in this part of the process, but what ultimately comes next, uh, which is that that next phase of zone in really to apply zoning districts to this area that really is a big, big community conversation to come where we really do focus on all that front-end work rather than the day-to-day sort of ground and pound that many community groups uh have to do, uh, given the how outdated our policies are uh at this point.

So thank you for being here and appreciate your comments.

Uh our final speaker on this ordinance is Miss Deborah Link.

Ms.

Link, uh, the floor is yours.

City Council and staff.

I am from Columbus Northwest area and represent about over a thousand petitions in this area in our particular zoning area.

I will get through this as quickly as possible.

My name is Deborah Link.

I live at 7616 Sedden Drive.

I'm here to speak firmly against the proposed Columbus Growth Statutine in the Columbus Northwest area.

I respectfully urge you to vote no and to submit any proposed changes to a fully informed citywide vote.

For 70 years, Columbus Zoning Framework has protected citizens, apartment communities, homeowners, and local businesses.

I understand that the mayor is pushing to change planning tools, but age alone does not invalidate a system.

Removing longstanding protections without community-driven replacement places residents at real and intimate risk.

The proposed bucket zoning approach in the zone in maps are fragmented and poorly planned.

Large viable areas suitable for development are ignored, while stable community neighborhoods are swept into unwanted rezoning in Northwest Columbus nor near Billingsleigh and Farmers Road.

On both sides of I 270, there are more than 30 acres appropriate for mixed use development that would not disrupt existing communities.

Yet these opportunities are being overlooked.

Discarding 70 years of zoning protections is like disregarding a 238-year-old US Constitution.

These protections exist to safeguard people's homes, apartment communities, and businesses.

Developers already have numerous approved and pending projects.

Yes, developments in areas as Westland, Eastland, and Morris Road continue to stall while approvals in higher rent areas move forward.

Target approvals could grow the city without displacing residents.

And displacement is happening.

Columbus has the highest eviction rate in the nation.

In 2025 alone, there was 22,781 eviction pollies more than New York City.

Large-scale redevelopment can skyrocket land values overnight, forcing people from their homes, affordable apartments, jobs, and stability.

Where are they supposed to go?

Affordable housing is often cited as justification for these changes.

Yet there is no evidence that dismantling zoning protections delivers affordability.

In fact, evidence shows the opposite.

The primary beneficiaries are the developers, while residents lose their voice.

We're not bucket areas, we are neighborhoods.

Critical questions remain unanswered.

Traffic, infrastructure, schools, service capacity, and displacement.

These costs fall on taxpayers while tax abatements continues.

When Northwest Columbus Area Commission and the Columbus Development Commission both vote no, yeah, project can still advance.

Public trust is broken.

Our community has gathered over a thousand signatures from Columbus Northwest residents opposing these changes.

We were told that 3,000 residents completed surveys and that meetings in zoning Columbus were poor, less than 0.003% of the population of a city of over 900,000 residents.

This is not a mandate.

People do not know.

Please vote no and submit any zoning overhaul to a vote of the people.

Residents deserve transportation, transparency, education, and real voice.

I'm happy to help.

Thank you so much for hearing me tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Link.

Uh, for your testament here tonight.

Uh, you know, many of these issues are complicated and reasonable minds can certainly disagree about those.

Um, and yeah, I would certainly encourage you and others within uh your community to stay engaged.

Uh you know, the next phase of zone in will be starting here soon, and that is primarily where those kind of decisions will be made about what are the um guardrails around uh development policies that'll look like in the future.

But you know, I I you know just disagree about the idea that we should continue to have a broken system in place when we need to build more housing across Columbus to help stabilize housing costs.

This is not more complicated than supply and demand.

Uh we have an overwhelming demand for housing in Columbus, and we don't have enough supply, which makes everything more expensive.

And this is beyond just housing.

This certainly this phase of zone in, uh, which is going to be imparted by the growth strategy here is really looking at um you know retail and commercial centers of Columbus that uh have fallen on hard times where we want to be more thoughtful around what does commercial and residential industrial development look like in Columbus uh before we have something like Eastland Mall.

Um you fall into disrepair that drags down a community.

Uh, this is about being proactive and not reactive.

And I think that's fundamentally what this body uh is interested in working in partnership with the administration and the community in moving forward.

Doesn't mean we're gonna agree on everything.

Um, but I think it's time for us to again look at how these policies need to reflect what the reality of the city is today and what the reality of the city is going to be decades in the future.

So appreciate folks uh testifying here tonight.

Uh in addition, we've received uh additional written testimonies uh in favor of the legislation and uh many other calls from residents.

Um those all have been provided to uh the offices as well.

Uh before I call for a vote on this, I want to thank uh members of the zoning team, certainly from the Department of Development and Billing Zoning Services.

Uh Council staff that's worked really hard to get us to this point this evening.

Uh want to thank uh Louis Taba, our project manager, who's helping to shepherd this portion of the legislation through the process.

Uh Director Stevens and Messer from uh development and building zoning services uh for helping to make sure that both their departments are collaborating on this very, very important work.

Uh, want to thank them as well and also just the thousands of members of the public who took time to engage uh at this part of the initiative.

It's gonna help shape.

You saw there were thousands and thousands of changes that have been made to this uh piece of legislation, this proposal based upon that feedback.

Uh, I understand folks are always eager for more, uh, but I think the stats that Mr.

Tabus uh showed earlier about the amount of changes that have been made uh is clearly demonstrates that we are interested and interested in finding uh ways to operationalize that feedback.

Uh I also want to thank our air commissioners and specific associations that uh have taken time to provide their feedback as well that has been critical throughout this whole process and will be as we head into the future.

Uh finally, I also want to thank Council President Harden, who's the co-sponsor of this legislation, and who's been you know my partner and this council's partner uh from day one as we've uh started down this path to modernize our land use policies and zoning code.

Uh again to focus on you know not only the quality of life for residents today, but again to plan for that growth for us in the future.

Um I've said this before about zone in and many initiatives that we've worked on together here at council.

Uh our final legislation and policies are better uh when more people engage with us, and whether or not folks are in support or against this, uh, I think the demonstration of those changes that have been made uh allow this product to be better and something that I personally take very, very seriously.

Uh I want to encourage folks to stay involved in this after tonight.

We'll be transitioning from the Columbus growth phase strategy uh to the next full phase of zone in, which again, where we will have zoning districts get applied to these areas, and that's really where the rubber meets the road as we think about what is modernizing our land use policies for Columbus in the future really looks like.

Um so again, want to pause and see if there's any uh comments or questions from my colleagues.

Seeing none, uh, would like to move to amend as submitted to the clerk.

Clerk, please call the role.

Banks Timber Rosa de Podilla, de Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weiss President Harden.

Amended.

Thank you.

And finally a move for passage as amended.

Second clerk, please call the row.

Banks Timberwolves deputy, de accountorns green, reamy Ross Weiss President Harden.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

I'll have this time.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, and thank you all to my colleagues.

Uh, that's the final piece of legislation to come before this body.

Uh again, uh Columbus Day safe.

We're gonna move over to zoning, uh, go directly into zoning.

But uh before we do that, uh, is there a motion to adjourn?

Second clerk, please call the role.

Bank Sem Bursa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hard.

Meeting is adjourned.

Share, are we good to go right into zoning?

Let's roll.

Regular meeting number four will now come to order.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Timber Bosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

Can I get a motion to dispense with the reading of the journal?

So move.

Clerk please call it Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns, Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

Thank you.

Are there any additions or corrections to the journal?

Hearing none of the journal is approved.

We'll now go to the zoning committee.

Councilman Redorance shares that committee and all members serve one and councilman.

The floor is yours.

Hey, Council President.

Before we get in tonight's uh agenda, first little bit of housekeeping on the clerk, please read the numbers of legislation in the zoning committee that require a waiver of second reading.

Zero for zero zero four one, zero zero four two, and one forty-two-2026.

Thank you, Clerk.

I now move to wave uh second reading on those items.

Anyway, I move.

Yeah, thanks.

Clerk please call the roll.

Bank Zimbabweosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hardin.

Thank you.

As always, I'll uh briefly explain our rules pertaining to speaker for council rezoning and variances.

We'll hear staff presentation of ordinance have a disapproval from a recommended body, or if we have a public speaker sign to speak against an ordinance.

We permit three speakers on each side of an ordinance.

Uh three proponents, three opponents.

We ask those speakers limit the remarks of three minutes for the standard rules city council.

All speakers and council variants, including staff, area commissioners, applicants, and members of public will be sworn in before the testimony.

Representative air commission are always able to speak on an ordinance.

You do not need to fill out a speaker slip.

But we do ask you alert city staff of your intention to speak at this hearing.

Uh this evening we do not have any public speakers slips on any of our legislation.

On the advice of the city attorney's office, I will now swear in city staff.

Please stand and raise your right hand and be sworn in.

Do you swear affirm the advice we've got to give shall be the truth, not that the truth is usually answered under pain's appealing of perjury?

So please say I do.

I do.

Please let the break reflect that Tim Dietrich and the Department of Buildings Owning Services have been sworn in.

First, we have ordinance number 0041-2026 to rezone 4716th Avenue, being 2.49 plus acres located in the southeast corner of 16th Avenue and North Pearl Street from CPD Commercial Plan Development District to UCR Urban Core District.

Site consists of one undeveloped parcel and the applicant requesting breed zone in the urban core district, a 2024 zoning code or zone in district, allowing for a high intensity mixed use development.

Because the property is contiguous to an existing urban core district because the property's parcel boundaries have remained unchanged in the effective date of 2024 zoning code.

Additionally, final building design will be subject to a certificate of approval by the University Impact District Review Board.

This is also I think the first rezoning we've had where it's been one of the opt-in from a uh adjacent zone in district.

So this is uh nice to see that these are um making a uh change as applicants are looking to bring projects online.

So uh unless there's any questions or comments, I move for passage.

Okay, clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Tim Barosa de Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next we have ordinance 0042-2026 to re zone 4901 Central College Road, being 1.45 plus located on the south side of Central College Road, 275 plus feet of share and drive from our rural district to C2 commercial district.

Site consists of one parcel developed with an office building as a result of an annexation of the city in 2007.

Uh the requested rezoning allows office uses which will conform the existing office commercial use and does not allow a more intensive or inappropriate commercial uses.

Proposal approval some city staff development commission, the Rocky Fork Black Lake Accord panel.

Any questions or comments?

Seeing on a move for passage.

Okay.

Clerk please call the roll.

Bank Sen Barossa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorans Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Harding.

Passed.

Thank you.

We move into the Council Variances portion of the agenda.

First, we have ordinance 0142-2026 regarded variance provisions, section 333 2.037, R2 residential district, and 3312.49 require parking to Clemens City Code for property located at 657 Mohawk Street to allow limited department uh neighborhood scale commercial use to reduce parking the R2F residential district and repeal ordinance number 0084-02 passed February 4th, 2002.

Site consists of one parcel devoted with the mixed use building as approved with the ordinance number 0084-02 passed back in 2002.

Question Council variants will allow a new neighborhood scale commercial use in uh already approved uses.

Ordinance includes a condition that commercial uses will continue to be limited to the ground floor of the building.

A variance to reduce require parking from uh three spaces zero is also included.

Uh proposal is proved from the city staff and the German village commission.

I first move to accept the entire staff report into evidence as exhibit.

Clerk please call the roll.

Bang Semborosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns, Green, Remy, Ross, Weich, President Hardin.

Accept it.

Thank you.

And next move to adopt the five staff, the finance of council.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bang Sen Barosa De Padilla, De Aka or Dorns, Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Hardin.

Adopted.

Thank you.

If I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bang Sen Barosa De Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

That's all we have in tonight's zoning agenda.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

See no further business coming from the zoning committee.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

Second.

Clerk is called the role.

Bang Semborosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss President Hardin.

Yeah, have a good evening, everyone.

Thanks.