This virtual meeting of the Columbus City Council convened amidst a historic snow emergency, featuring a prayer from Imam Horsat Noah, public safety updates, and the adoption of significant legislation regarding the city's budget, utility rates, and future growth strategy. The council acknowledged the city-wide level two emergency status, thanked emergency responders, and postponed several resolutions to the February 9th in-person meeting to allow for public participation and safety.
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.