Meeting number five will now come to order.

Please stand for the playing of the national anthem.

Councilman Banks, can we lead us in the pledge?

I pledge your speeches to the flag.

And to the republic for which it is one nation.

This evening, Council is grateful to have the Reverend John Edgar, the founding pastor of United Methodist Church for all people here to pray with us.

Pastor, welcome to council.

Back to Council.

President Harden and members of City Council, I appreciate the opportunity to be with you this evening.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, as we assemble for the proceedings of the City Council meeting, we humbly ask that each of us may feel your presence and be guided by your righteousness.

Tonight, pour forth, O Lord, your whispered words of wisdom into the waiting ears of our council members and their president.

Continue to weave them together as an effective force for positive change.

Guide them in their deliberations, ensuring that they make decisions that provide and promote the unfolding of your kingdom here in the city of Columbus, even as it is in heaven.

May your amazing grace flow outward, washing over all who have gathered in these chambers, be especially close to those who make presentations or speak about various matters.

Temper their words with civility and shape their requests to be in harmony with your desires.

Awaken us a fresh, dear God, to the truth that we are stewards of the manifold resources you have entrusted to us.

Guided by your grace, may we share forward the best we have received, trusting that you, O Lord, will take whatever we offer and use it to further build an opportunity-rich community where all may thrive.

Direct each of us, council members, and individual citizens to do everything we can to care for those who are vulnerable and most at risk.

All this we pray, trusting that your Holy Spirit is already at work within each of our hearts and souls.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Pastor.

Clerk, please call the row.

Thanks, Tim Barosa de Padilla, de Akaward Dorans 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 pursuance of Columbus City Code 2317.

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.

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

Clark, please call the row.

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

Are there any additions or corrections to the journal?

Hearing none of the journals approved.

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

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

Madam Clerk.

No, not at this time.

Um to take a moment to uh reflect on the life of and celebrate the service of longtime city auditor.

Uh and uh person of service, Mr.

Hugh Dorian.

Uh Mr.

Dorian served our city for more than 50 years.

Um and they they truly don't make them like that anymore.

Um Mr.

Dorian would be someone who would not want a lot of fanfare, but because of the person he was, how much humility he had, how he served without wanting um the focus on him.

I think it's important that we actually do put the focus on him, not just to celebrate his service, but to remind us who currently serve and those who will serve after us what true service, um, humble service.

Um first service is really like, and that was Mr.

Dorian.

Um we will over the next week as we celebrate Mr.

Dorian, um, have many different opportunities, but I wanted to turn the floor over to Tom from uh Mr.

Dorian's office or from this the auditor's office.

Yeah, it was Mr.

Dorian's office.

Uh to say a few words.

Tom.

Thank you, President Harden, uh, Pro Tim Dorians, members of the council and city colleagues.

On behalf of Auditor Kilgore and the staff at the Columbus City Auditor's Office, we would just like to express our condolences to the Dorian family, but also celebrate the life of former auditor Hugh Dorian.

Mr.

Dorian was a shining example of a public servant whose career was defined by service, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the people of Columbus.

For more than five decades, Mr.

Dorian dedicated his life to this city.

Until his retirement, he was the only auditor, most of us in the city had he ever even known.

It was a constant stabilizing presence.

Mr.

Dorian served with six mayors, ten council presidents, fifty-one council members, and four city clerks.

His steady leadership helped Columbus maintain the strongest financial standing, including the highest possible credit ratings through disciplined and careful management of public resources.

It is said that we stand in the shade because someone before us had the foresight to plant a tree.

Well, to extend that metaphor, we are living in a forest due to Mr.

Dorian's far-sightedness and watchfulness.

The city of Columbus is a better place from his sage advice and guidance, and has been shaped by his devotion and passion for making Columbus a fantastic place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

Mr.

Dorian had his hand in nearly everything related to the city's infrastructure and finances, overseeing the issuance of billions of dollars in bonds and ensuring that the borrowed funds were used to build and sustain the essential systems our community depends on.

Much of what Columbus residents see today, the growth of our neighborhoods, the strength of our utilities, and the stability of our services exist because of his careful financial stewardship and long-range vision.

Those who worked with him knew a man guided not by politics, by a simple principle.

Always consider what is best for the community.

Mr.

Dorian was the wise and steady leader that helped steer Columbus through crisis and prosperity.

He is a role model and the truest example I know as to what the public service can be when exercised with honesty, purpose, vision, and passion.

His legacy is not only found in balanced ledgers and strong credit ratings, but in a city that was built, protected, and sustained through decades of his faithful service.

Columbus is stronger because Hugh Dorian chose to serve and to serve the city he loved dearly with integrity.

To the Dorian family, please accept not only our heartfelt sympathy for your grief, but also the gratitude of an entire city for his influence on our lives.

May you find peace and comfort in knowing he lived an impactful and perfect soul life.

To Hugh Dorian, we simply say thank you from a grateful city.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Yeah.

Someone who's worked with Mr.

Dorian for almost two and a half decades.

I'd like to thank council for the opportunity to make these remarks.

Well, thank you.

This council just gives a big hug to uh the auditor's office.

A lot of folks who grew up under auditor was mentored by Mr.

Dorian and so many else, so many others in that office.

And so we are thinking about your office.

We are praying for you and supporting the Dorian family as well.

May we please uh have a moment of silence for the life and legacy of Mr.

Hugh Dorian.

Thank you.

Like I said, we will be celebrating Mr.

Dorian, and I know uh uh proclamation day is coming up.

He was a true Irishman, so uh council will be full with a lot of Dorians, I believe, uh in a week, a couple weeks or so, uh, as we also celebrate him then.

Um with that, we'll go around the dais.

Councilman Bankston.

Uh thank you, uh Council President.

And again, as you said, uh truly lost the icon and a giant.

Um I had the pleasure of knowing Mr.

Dorian and working with him directly.

I ran the 2016 bond package campaign.

I was just reminiscing with some of those times with my team of how uh when you know you wanted to call uh record a robocall.

You did not just send Mr.

Dorian a script and ask him to do it.

You had to go to his office, dial the number for him and help uh him through it because he was just you know uh classic in that way.

Uh and he had a way with uh people uh that I think that uh is just lost in today's politics.

And so uh definitely praying for him and his family, but he definitely served this community well, and so many of us are thankful for it.

I know that I am and I learned a tremendous amount uh in 2016 working with him.

Um just uh a couple of announcements.

Uh the rental uh registry hearing uh as a reminder next Thursday on February 19th at 4 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Written testimony must be emailed to Jonathan Brown at JB Brown at Columbus.gov with the subject February 19 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 is live on uh the uh council webpage uh under um uh my council web page specifically.

Uh the meeting will be live streamed on the city's YouTube channel and uh council Facebook pages.

And again, each speaker will be limited to their remarks lasting no longer than three minutes.

Uh really want to thank all folks that have engaged and lean in on this rental registry again, the third hearing, and we will continue uh to engage with the the community.

So reach out to my office if you have any questions or have difficulties uh accessing um that document.

Uh and with that, Council President, that's all I have.

Uh thank you, Council President.

Uh we were going to do this during my piece of legislation, but I thought we'd do it at the top of the meeting uh when we have the most folks here in attendance.

So uh winter has come.

It is here.

It feels like it's not gonna go anywhere, but the temperature, Mother Nature is going to turn a corner and work in our favor.

So um first I want to say thank you again to our snow warriors and just a reminder to folks that I think it's very easy when um it is snowing outside for us to lose the joy that we once had as children when there is a snow day because of the inconveniences that it provides to us.

But um our snow warriors, our friends and neighbors who um first some of you may have seen on uh line.

I took a uh uh went out with one of our snow warriors, and she was sharing about how she had done 12 hour shifts from the time that the snow started.

And so um, because uh we have gotten the winter we have not gotten for the past almost 20 years.

Uh we got it all at one time.

So I wanted to hand it over to the director to just give us a bit of an update on where we are, um, what has happened since our last council meeting and what folks can expect.

So, director, the floor is yours.

All right, President Harden, Chair Barosa De Padilla, other members of council.

Uh we have had uh quite a few, you know, um quite a week or two with uh the snow and ice.

Um we are working through, you know, we had um gone through the entire snow plan, all 4600 miles.

Um we had hit all of our priority threes, you know.

We we aimed to hit them twice.

So we went through all the streets twice.

Um some of the priority ones, priority twos got hit multiple times.

I mean, this was an unprecedented storm for us.

Uh wanted to thank publicly all of the other departments and divisions that helped uh uh with the auxiliary staff.

We had contractor help.

We had help from the Franklin County Engineers Office uh to help haul out the snow from downtown.

So that was a huge help.

We had folks um from other departments and within my department um dispatching all night, you know, and then working their day shift.

I mean, it's it was quite an effort just uh to get it all done.

Uh we are working through all the bike lanes right now and also helping to assist our friends at Columbus Water and Power with any of the water main.

So um first I want to see if my colleagues have any additional questions or other thoughts.

Um again, I just wanted to say thank you for um I saw the bike lanes on Broad Street, especially that were cleared out.

I know that um folks have been asking about the bike lanes in particular, and because of the unprecedented amount of snow.

Um, I mean, I saw the operation on uh even down Broad Street of us literally packing snow into trucks and moving it into another location, which has not happened um in two decades.

And so um do I have that right?

That's that.

So uh again, I just want to thank everyone for their patience.

I want to thank everyone for looking out for your neighbors.

Uh, just a reminder to everyone that your sidewalk in front of your house is your responsibility.

And so we've gotten, I know that a lot of the snow has gone to that berm area, but if folks can clear that path, especially for folks so that they can get to school, get to the bus stop, get around the neighborhood, walk your dog safely, that is imperative.

And if your neighbor has not, uh, this might be the time to ask them.

Maybe they need a shovel, maybe they need some assistance um from uh neighbors or entrepreneurial young people who might be in the community um looking for an opportunity.

But I just want to remind folks that these sidewalks are our responsibility, and this is how we can ensure that we're creating safe passages for people.

So thank you again, Director.

Thank you to everyone who reached out.

Thank you for clearing your sidewalks.

Thank you for continuing to pack your patience.

Um I know that it is no fun at this point.

Snow was cute the first couple days, now it's not as cute.

So uh, but um the temperature is gonna go up, so that will give us a bit of a reprieve, and folks will have safer streets and hopefully safer sidewalks to walk down.

So thank you.

That's all for me.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Thank you for your leadership during that time as well.

Councilmember Dayakauer.

Thank you, Council President.

I have two quick announcements.

First, I want to congratulate the Department of Neighborhoods for putting on another successful Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Youth Oratorical Contest.

It was the 25th year.

Um had a great group of kids going from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.

Very excited to see our winners move on to the next stage of the contest.

So job well done to the department for that.

And next, I'd like to take a moment to congratulate Director Reese and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for receiving five awards of excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association this past week.

The department received awards for the Souter Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, the Fran Ryan Center, the SIBA Soul Fest.

Additionally, they were recognized for their work in expanding equity and opportunity through golf.

And Millard Morgan was named Youth Sports Coach of the Year, which is super exciting.

So I think I speak for all my colleagues when I say we are so proud of the hard work of our recreation and parks department.

You guys just keep doing a great job, and um you continue to be competitive on a state and national level, and so we're all very proud of you.

And that's all for me today.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Congratulations.

Pressbo Tim.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, I don't do uh a ton of resolutions at council, but I do have two tonight because there's two uh anniversaries and and recognitions that I want to make sure that we had an opportunity to celebrate.

Uh so I want to call up Walker and Ann Evans as I read resolution 0021-2026 to recognize and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Columbus Underground.

Um, I remember moving to Columbus uh nearly 20 years ago and stumbling on to Columbus Underground, and it really helped me navigate a new city, arts and culture and the civic affairs of Columbus.

And it's been so cool to watch uh Columbus Art growing change with the city during that time.

I think it's become such an integral uh part of Columbus as we think about as we continue to change, what does that mean?

And uh, you all have done such an interesting job and helping to reinvent yourself over and over again in the changing media landscape that we have here in Columbus and having the independent journalism that uh has the ability to cover everything, all the fun things in Columbus, but also at the same time asking really, really tough questions around uh affordable housing and safety in Columbus and what are we gonna do with uh you know the amount of development and changes that neighborhoods are experiencing now and into the future.

Um, so as this anniversary uh came and arrived, wanted to make sure we were recognized such an um important part of independent journalism here in Columbus because I know it's touched a lot of different lives.

Uh, and certainly uh for a kid that moved here from Athens after college, uh, you all were interested for me figuring out how this city worked.

Um, and I know I'm not alone in that.

So wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to recognize you all for for this accomplishment.

So, with that, I want to turn the floor over to you all.

Okay.

Yeah, we want to say thanks to council and for this recognition, and we're very grateful the community has embraced Columbus Underground the way it has over the past 25 years.

And it we're just excited, it allows us to create opportunities and jobs and cultural experiences for people in our city, and we look forward to continuing to get to do this work.

Yeah, I just wanted to say that we we are celebrating uh all year long, so we have plenty of events and parties and things uh to look forward to.

But um just to add that you know, with with our jobs, we are you know, our role is to shine a spotlight on the people and the the places, the businesses, the entrepreneurs, the artists, the the events that that make the city you know a great place to live.

Um and so we don't always talk about ourselves a whole lot.

We don't we don't shine the spotlight on ourselves.

So I just want to say thanks for for doing this because uh you know we we don't we're not in the spotlight a lot.

So this this means a lot to us on a personal level.

So thanks.

Uh want to pause the mic, Constable Bros.

De Pedia.

Uh so fun fact, Walker Evans and I were on the very first ever YP commission for the city of Columbus.

We're not gonna talk about how old the YP commission is today, because the people who are real good at math that might give a little bit more information than we're willing to share with the community, Walker.

But I just want to say um, I think to the point that you were making pro tem.

Thank you for always being a good partner.

I think at any time, community-based things that we've reached out to to say, hey, can you do a story?

Can you shine a light on this?

Or can we talk about this?

You found ways to do that and ways to really uplift everything from stories about fashion, about regular people or their homes or art collections or things that are happening in the city.

You're always my first stop to see like what's going on in the city this weekend or what fun thing can we do.

And so um thank you for always evolving and changing and bringing fun stories and people stories to life.

And also one thing that folks also don't know is that you've been involved in many efforts around the city when I think about Independence Day and festival and other things in the city, because you are that quiet, quiet, humble person that moves around that um I think creates the kind of Columbus that we want to live in, and you have been a part of that and a fabric of that.

So thank you both.

Thank you for all the contributions that you have made together.

You're the true definition of a power couple.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Certainly a family business.

Uh any of my other colleagues.

Uh seeing none, I move for Pat.

All right, adoption.

Clerk, please call the role.

Bangston, Barrosa Depodia, De Akaur Dorns, Green, Remy Ross, White's President Harden.

Adopt it.

Thank you.

Um, next, I want to invite Mr.

Dwayne Casares as I read resolution 002X-2026 of the podium uh to recognize and honor him for his retirement from Directions for Youth and Family after 33 years of service and leadership.

Um, it is not hyperbole to suggest that Dwayne has touched tens of thousands of kids and most importantly their entire families uh through his work uh with young people in Columbus.

Uh the ability for Duane and his team of everything that you've done for young people in our community really to address the the root causes of trauma that so many unfortunately young people in Columbus have experienced in their lives uh with such a broad and intentional work to uplift them and to expand those services.

Um again, we were just talking about this before uh before the meeting uh to other parts of Columbus.

And um your leadership with Directions for Youth and Family has been something I know I've appreciated, and I think every member of this council has deeply deeply appreciated.

Um then you know you decided to do the the bigger thing and um not only just stay in the the one place on Ohio Avenue that you knew you were welcomed and supported and had that incredible impact, but you looked what else could the organization do.

And in the craziest of times, raised a boatload of money to uh build a new uh center and invite even more families in our community to receive the incredibly needed resources that you and your team uh provided.

So this is really just an opportunity for council to say thank you for all of this work for so so many years.

Uh to your wife who's here tonight.

Thank you for sharing him with the community for all these years because I know this work has certainly uh takes a toll on the on not only the person doing it but also their family.

It's hard not to bring that home at the end of the day, uh considering all of the things that you were uh involved in with with our young people and in our community.

Um so a well-deserved retirement and uh a month in, and sounds like you already have some things figured out, although that sounds like the gym is still the first thing starts today, so good for you.

Um but again, this is just a moment for for myself and council just to say thank you uh to you for for all the work that you've done over the years.

Um I don't know if any of my colleagues have anything that they want to add before we turn the mic over to you.

I've I just want to um second the the commemoration of your service.

I remember when we first met and I was introducing to you this new concept about um community immersion and making sure our officers had um intentional connection with young people so they can understand um how to be trauma informed in that work.

And I remember how visionary you were in creating simulations for the officers and the kids to engage with together.

Um and I will tell you that has been some very transformative work both in our division and with the community.

So thank you so so much for believing in an idea that I had for being one of our first partners to do it.

Um, and certainly look forward to continuing working with directions for youth and families as we continue to support our young people in the community.

So thank you, thank you so much.

Thank you, thank you, Ruby Part.

Thank you for this recognition too, and thank you.

I have to tell you from the beginning Rob and I were talking about this seven years ago is when I had first talked to him about building the Crittenden Center, and uh um he was so encouraging through that whole thing, and and COVID hit that set everything back.

But um, City Council has just been so supportive throughout the process.

This is uh uh it's kind of funny to stand up.

Toyos on my board, Lordis, you were on the board for a little while.

You know, I've I've worked with so many of you in the nonprofit world all along the way, and I'm just really grateful for it.

Uh um so thank you.

It's an honor to be able to serve Columbus uh um like all of you and with all our fellow nonprofit partners who really every day um go out there to lift and and and uh put smiles on the faces and try to keep people safe and keep them in homes and keep them fed and um just the whole group of them.

I'm honored to be a part of it, and I was honored to be able to to really live out what I really think was my purpose um and to find it and be able to do that and to do it with all of you.

So thank you.

Thank you very, very much.

Any other comments for my colleagues?

See now to move for adoption.

Please call the role.

Banks Temperosa De Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hard.

Adopt it Council President, I have thank you, Press Protean.

Councilmember Green.

Councilmember Remy.

Councilmember Ross.

I just have one resolution this evening.

If I could invite the honorable Judge James Edward Green to the front, and as you are walking, I would like to introduce resolution 0020x-2026 to recognize, honor, and celebrate Judge James Edward Green on his retirement from the Franklin County Municipal Court.

The honorable Judge Green was the most senior judge on the Franklin County Municipal Court when retiring in December of 2025.

Judge Green was appointed by Governor Voinovich to the Franklin County Municipal Court in 1994, where he served for more than 31 years, making him the longest serving African American judge on the bench and earning him a place in history as the second longest serving judge on the Franklin County Municipal Court.

While on the bench, Judge Green presided over more than 480,000 cases.

Green's service to the Columbus community and to Franklin County also includes serving as an assistant Franklin County prosecutor, teaching at the Columbus Police Academy, teaching at the Columbus State Community College for more than 20 years, pouring into countless K through 12th graders with scholarships, speaking engagements, supporting sports teams, and celebrating them at graduation.

He has served as the mock trial coordinator for decades.

Prior to serving on city council, I had the great honor of serving as an assistant city attorney for nearly 10 years.

And I truly, truly am thankful for all of the wisdom, whether I asked for it or not, that Judge Green has given to me.

And even before then, remember seeing him as a young kid at Corinthian Baptist Church with his bow tie ushering in the back of the sanctuary.

Truly has always been a lifelong servant of this community, and it is my great honor to recognize you today.

Do any of my colleagues have comments?

With that, I'll move for adoption.

Oh, oh, I'm sorry.

Councilmember Bankson.

You got to watch the subtle cues with me.

I don't I don't just speak out of time.

I wait to be recognized by the chair.

Um Judge Green, I just wanted to say, you know, congratulations.

Uh, you know, we go back a ways.

Uh and what I will say that I hope folks take away from your service is that a civility.

I think that we are increasingly in a time that uh partisan politics has weaved its way through everything, and the theater of it all sometimes uh can block out the work.

But you are someone who did the work uh with uh no fanfare, we're always a straight shooter.

Uh and I will say that one of the things that stood out to me the most uh when I had a chance to come uh visit you in your chambers.

Uh you were someone who nominated me for a recognition that and of and with an organization that I had no connection to uh with the Simon Kenton Council um uh Boy Scouts of America as the uh Whitney M.

Young uh awardee for that year.

And what you said to me was that folks are always watching, even folks that you don't know.

And that stuck with me because I think sometimes uh in this work, folks want to be out there and be out front.

But sometimes the work will speak for itself.

Uh and so you always remind me, and that sticks with me to this day, that it's not about the fanfare and recognition, but it's about rolling up our sleeves and doing work.

That's why we raise our hand uh for public service.

And so just want to say to you, job well done, uh my friend.

Looking forward to what you're gonna do in your next because I know we just talked and you only been retired for a couple of days, but you're already on to something else, uh, and looking forward uh to seeing how you will continue to impact the community.

But congratulations, congratulations, uh, and thank you uh for pouring into me for pouring into so many other uh folks in this community and for serving us so well.

Congratulations.

Any other comments from my colleagues?

Well, I'd be remiss if I didn't give the good judge an opportunity to speak um before council before I move for adoption.

You know, not to give me a microphone.

I want to thank you for the recognition.

Um I've had a heart for service, I'd say my entire life.

And what oftentimes now is being referred to as retirement, I'm calling it retooling.

Okay.

I'm not going anywhere.

Of course, you can't.

I'll continue to serve as a visiting judge at a courtroom near you.

And I've started a business where I'm going into life coaching, so I can continue to try to pour into those in the community that are going through various transitions.

So I'm excited about the next chapter.

Uh my wife is in the back refa, and we are being uh called into service as a team to hopefully do some neat things yet in the community.

So again, thank you.

I appreciate what you do, and uh it's been a good run.

It's been a good run.

With that, I move for adoption.

Clerk, please call the role.

Bangston Barossa de Padilla, de Achower Dorns, Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Hardin.

Adopted That's it for me.

That's awesome.

Council member White.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, I just want to piggyback off of my colleagues' comments related to the weather.

As we know, the challenge at first was moving it out the way, and we have still been dealing with the impacts of just the cold temperatures over the last two weeks.

And I know residents have expressed concerns just related to water main breaks and leaks that have occurred, and so wanted to give the department a chance to provide an update on where things stand at this moment.

So, Deputy Director.

Thank you.

President Harden and Councilmember Weiss, members of council.

Yeah, the last two weeks have been very strenuous on our water maintenance distribution crews.

Our seven crews have been working 12-hour days, seven days a week.

Um, thankfully, due to the mayor's um authorization of emergency um spending, we were able to add five more crews to that.

So we have 12 crews out working now uh to repair those lines.

The staff is in trenches with wet gloves, and it just slows the process down.

But with our 12 crews, we're getting ahead of it.

Luckily, we've got some temperatures rising here.

We had completed uh 70 main line breaks, uh, about the same service line breaks too.

And we're down to six ones we have to investigate.

So we're glad to see that single digit finally appearing on future breaks to um to investigate.

Uh big thanks to public service.

Not only do they remove snow, then we now know they can remove ice and lots of it.

So thank you.

Thank you for that.

And a big thank you to everyone at Columbus Water Empower and DPS for all the work that has been put in over the last two weeks.

We as a city truly appreciate the time and attention that folks have dedicated to make sure that we can safely move about the city, safely drink the water that we bring in.

So thank you for all the work that you all are doing as well.

And glad to hear we're below single digits and every day getting better.

So we're all praying for the deluge of water from snow melting on Wednesday when we hit hopefully 39 degrees.

But uh, we'll see if the snow is still around by the end of the week.

So thank you.

That's it for me, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Well, I get the honor of bringing up uh all these athletes in the back of the room.

Uh so as I start to um uh read, uh, could the young men of the uh 8U and 9U level uh legacy come forward.

These are champions, and I'll explain what they are champions of and when they get up here.

That's impressive.

Want to sit that on the dais?

Yeah, sit up there so folks can see it.

You hear that clink cling?

That's that's sounds like winners in here.

Oh, we got two trophies.

We might need to do two rows, actually.

So, as our young men are assembling, and parents, you can come up and get a better picture of our young champions.

Yep.

So these young men were the 2025 American Youth Football Division II national champions and national champions.

National champions, right from Columbus, Ohio.

And they went down and they won this honor uh down in Naples, Florida last fall.

Um, these young men are from the 8U and the 9U level, and they're the gators.

Uh, this achievement reflects months of discipline working with their coaches, working with their community.

Um, they represented us so well.

Um, we could not let this pass without bringing all of them down to celebrate them, to celebrate their coaches.

Dominic, uh, the work that you've done with not just these young men, but uh all the young boys that you work with, and then all the parents that we have in the back.

Um, it is uh enriching our community uh and and really pouring into our future.

And so we are so so proud of each and every one of you uh for your your accomplishment.

I'm gonna turn it over to uh Dominic, and then I'm sure a couple of my council members want to say some few words.

Yes.

Um first off, man.

I just want to give can we get these young men a round of applause more closely?

Thank you, appreciate it.

Yes.

Um foremost, um, I want to say thank you to all of our city council members for allowing us to be here today, you know, taking time to recognize us, um, our student athletes and our organization is truly um you know, truly means truly means more than you know.

Um I want to start off by also giving a special thank you to uh Councilman Nick Bangston, you know, for his continued support of Legacy U from day one.

I feel like you know, picking your brain and just um actually following through.

So I appreciate the support from day one and helping getting these young men year after year uh there.

Also wanna uh congratulate uh newly elected um you know councilwoman uh Tierra Ross.

Um thank you for your years of support and partnership um and collaboration.

Um Tierra first uh introduced Legacy U to the community immersion program.

Um so we were champions of that um and still work with the community emerging program today, bridging the gap between officers and our boys that's here uh today.

Uh Councilman Remy, thank you for uh for always showing up, answering the phone, coming on the South Side, you know, to the buildings, etc.

Uh, we really appreciate you and every everything that you contributed to us as well.

Um and lastly, uh but certainly not least, uh Council President Harden.

Um, you know, thank you for just believing in the vision from day one.

Um as we stood before you uh you always answered our phone.

Um you've always shown up.

Um you've never just talked to talk, but you've actually walked the walk.

Um I think that we can appreciate that.

Um, you know, and our families can as well.

We're gonna do push-ups.

Relax, catch a bubble.

We're gonna do push-ups.

Um but we thought it was important to get our kids down here, to be quite honest.

Um, you know, for many of our kids, this is their first time, and our family members, this is the first time in this building.

Um many of them have probably joven past here multiple times without really knowing what happens here or feeling like this space wasn't for them.

Um, but today that changes.

Today they get a chance to see that this building actually belongs to them as well.

Um we thought uh obviously, too, that you know, not only are we just celebrating championship, but it goes beyond the field.

Um, you know, they're just eight and nine years old, but they're very impressionable, right?

They're developing who they are and what they want to be.

And so being able to get them here again, it it extends beyond just the uh sports um because it's bigger than that.

Um there are a ton of data that also supports that and show that young people who are engaged in extracurricular activities, uh specifically sports, um, teachers discipline, accountability, teamwork, resilience.

Um, there's also strong data points that shows that um in sports specifically decreases young men's chances of being in uh incarcerated.

You know, so the work that a lot of our coaches are doing, and they're not all here right now.

Um, our team moms, our team admins, um, you know, this is the work that goes into making sure that they're able to be champions in life in general, right?

Um, so I'm gonna make sure I show them the love for that.

Um we've been attentional about keeping kids in uh um engaged and creating structure, um, you know, just holding up a standard.

Um, and we want to make sure we continue that uh, you know, so we appreciate the collaboration.

And I want I couldn't go by without thinking that department of neighborhoods, uh, director Douglas, um Mr.

Derek, I think he's here right here as well.

Uh Karim Um for trusting us, uh Nick Jones.

I don't know if he had a chance to show up.

He was busy, but Nick Jones from Children's.

Um he he he him and his team overseas and make sure we get over 300 wellness exams during the summertime, make sure our families don't have to get appointments, they can get shots to go back to school, whatever they need.

So um, you know, it's truly taking a village, you know, to get these boys here.

Could could all my parents stand up in the back?

They already recorded.

If you don't stand in, let's get over round applause.

Fellas, be a parents around the applause.

Um last thing I'll say about that.

I think that um, you know, in in this day and age where I think parent support um is premium, something that we we push.

And I think sometimes um, you know, our young black and brown boys uh, you know, not only do they don't get the recognition that they deserve, but I think it's a picture that's paying that they don't have support.

You know, so I want to make sure that we are uh celebrating um the adults that are putting in the time and energy and volunteering their time uh to make sure they're celebrating.

So thanks for having us here today.

We appreciate it.

Thank you, man.

Uh thank you, Coach DJ, um, for what you do and all the coaches who have been pouring into these young men.

You you started off right, and that's why it is important to have the the young men here today.

We we say that this is the people's house, if this is the people's house, and it's literally is the people's living room.

And uh it's where we come to have tough conversations, but it's also where we come to celebrate.

Uh, and so it's so fitting, young men that you know that this is yours.

Um, that uh this space, this community space, this building literally is here to make sure that you succeed and that you have everything you need to thrive in our community.

And uh I hope you are feeling like you are taking up this space because it is yours.

It is yours.

And so we um are so excited uh to have you here uh and so excited and so grateful um that this was more than just a sport, but this was um development uh that you have been given.

And uh we're just really grateful.

Um and my colleagues have Councilman Bankster.

I just I'm gonna be really quick.

I just want to thank y'all uh because we got another team that didn't bring home a national championship, but y'all did it.

So y'all the redemption.

So we appreciate y'all for bringing national championship back to Columbus.

Thank you.

There's no shade to Ohio State, they're gonna get there next year.

But y'all delivered a national champ, two national championships too.

So we appreciate it.

But no, congratulations, guys.

And know this.

Uh I think uh DJ said it well.

You have all of those folks in the back rooting for you, but you have all of these folks up here.

We are rooting for you uh as well.

Um we have your back.

Uh, just as long just to know that when you go out and you do this, why we recognize it is because you're not just out there playing football, you're representing Columbus.

You are ambassadors uh to uh the rest of this country.

That's what you did.

So you put your city on your back and know that we're gonna have continue to have your back as you guys matriculate through life.

So make sure you listen to mom and dad, make sure you listen to Coach DJ and make sure you're doing those push-ups so we can continue to bring home these championships.

All right, congratulations, guys.

Thank you.

That's that's how we make sure they listen to them is doing those push-ups.

What are you talking about?

Um, so first of all, I just wanted to say um echo what my colleagues said.

I love whenever young people come here.

This is my absolute favorite because these are core memories that you're building, and I think that for the parents for DJ for your coaches.

I think um I'm the mom of two athletes, and first to our parents, I see y'all.

I know it's a lot to drive them to practices and fundraising that you have to do and travel that you have to do, especially with teams like this.

And so I just want to say thank you to the parents for pouring into your young people and making that investment and making those sacrifices.

Um, and to all of the leaders of the program.

I mean, this is you know, sports give our young people an opportunity to be part of a community, and it teaches them such a valuable life lessons, how to work with different kinds of people, how to push yourself, how to overcome obstacles, how to believe in yourself, how to continue to be inspired, how to like move your bodies and understand the power that you have, um, both you by yourself and then also collectively.

And then to our young people are here.

I know y'all are antsy because this was a long meeting and all of it's not fun, but I just want to say thank you for blessing us today because I think any time that we have the opportunity to enjoy your success, right?

That you guys, y'all went out to that field every day.

You got to travel, you got to bring home this championship, but understand that all the people in this community are behind you and that we are rooting for you, and that this is one of many opportunities that I hope that you continue to take because there's many opportunities that this community will offer to you that are yours for the taking, so that we um continue to invest and pour into your success.

So thank you and congratulations.

Thank you, appreciate it.

Sure.

Sure.

So I I just want to echo all the comments that my colleagues uh mention, and this shout out to the entire village that made this happen.

I just want to see the bling.

I see the rings, I ain't see them.

If you can put them up, like we gotta see that.

Yeah, I'm doing a big mind.

I'm echoing and concurring with all of my colleagues' comments, but I do just to the parents and to DJ and to all of the facilitators who helped to make this happen.

Thank you for providing safety.

That's what you are doing for our young people.

Um you are providing safety to children.

So thank you for standing in the gap.

I know that the work is difficult.

I've talked to you about the difficulty of the work.

Thank you for staying strong for our young people.

Thank you, parents.

Thank you, facilitators.

Thank you to all of you for everything you do for our community.

And council members, we are giving uh each one of these young men a resolution.

Uh so signed by all of us uh uh to celebrate them as national champions uh and for 2025.

Uh could everybody stand and celebrate these young men.

Hold on, wait, you need some we are the champion music.

Thank you.

Thank you, appreciate it.

Miss Linda has everybody's uh certificates, right?

There we go.

What do you say?

You can sing.

Y'all can't let us hold on to those.

No.

Ours are a little more exciting.

We need like a hall of fame where we can put that on display here.

Give them a few minutes to transition out.

All right.

Are there any uh other comments by our elected official offices from city attorney's office, auditor, and treasurer's office?

Seeing none at this time, may we have uh may we remove uh ordinance number 0074-2026 from the housing homeless and building committee.

Are there any other uh requests by members of council uh for removal?

Seeing none, may we now have a motion to waive the reading of title of 30 day legislation by the clerk.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Temple Rosa de Padilla, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hardin.

Thank you.

Will the clerk now reading to the record their ordinance numbers of 30 day legislation on tonight's agenda for first reading?

In finance and governance committee, we have ordinance one eleven one fifty nine one sixty-four one ninety-two, two nineteen, two twenty-one, and two twenty-three-2026, and public service and transportation committee.

We have ordinance one forty-six and two ninety-four-2026.

Neighborhoods recreation and parts committee, ordinance one eighteen-2026, health, human services and equity committee, ordinance three twelve dash 2026, public safety and criminal justice, ordinance two thirteen-2026, housing, homelessness and building committee, ordinance 364-2026, public utilities and sustainability committee.

We have ordinance 34, 40, 53, 60, 104, 120, 139, 141, 158, 162, 169, 174, 179, 186, 191, 194, 196, 215, 238, 244, 249, and 279-2026.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

We don't have any speakers on the first reading portion of the agenda.

The following ordinance appear on our agenda as consent action.

Will the clerk be please read those into the record?

Resolutions of expression 30x 31x and 29x-2026.

In finance and governance committee, we have ordinance 90, 129, 151, 163, 171, 181, 182, 200, 220, 233, 239, 282, 303, 306, and 386-2026.

Sorry, economic development and small and minority business.

We have ordinance 225-2026.

And public service and transportation committee, we have ordinance 3502-2025, ordinance 45, 113, and uh 190 and 302-2026.

Neighborhoods recreation and parks committee.

We have ordinance 335, 336, and 389-2025.

We have ordinance 72 and 78, 79, 80, 119, 124, 125, 127, and 273-2026.

In workforce education and labor committee, we have ordinance 150-2026.

In Health, Human Services and Equity Committee, we have ordinances 102, 176, 2 and 201-2026.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee.

We have ordinance 19, 15, and 289-2026.

In Housing, Homelessness and Building Committee, we have ordinance 83, 109, 115, 157, 224, and 284-2026.

Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee.

We have ordinance 3458-2025 and ordinances 38 39 44 47 51 59 91 100 117 130 and 333-2026.

And rules and policy committee, we have appointments 16, 17, and 18-2026.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

There are no questions or comments on uh the consent agenda.

Is there a motion to approve?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thanks, Timber Rosa de Padilla, Day Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Harton.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

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

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

Councilman the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

Tonight in the Finance and Governance Committee, we have ordinance uh 29 2026 to authorize the city auditor to appropriate and expend up to $4,598,972 and 20 cents within the debt retirement fund for reimbursement to the River South Authority to make lease payments to authorize the city auditor on behalf of the Department of Public Service to expect expend up to 1,841,000 within the Mobility Enterprise Fund to the River South Authority to make lease payments.

This ordinance is a routine annual appropriation that funds lease payments for several properties via the River South Authority, who manages several downtown properties slated for redevelopment that the city has a stake in.

Uh it's really more of a financing mechanism uh to repay back uh debt service uh for redevelopment efforts that the River South Authority is doing in conjunction with the city.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Uh seeing that I move for passage.

Clearly closed Bangston, Barosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Hart.

Passed.

Uh thank you.

Next we have ordinance 274-2026 to authorize the finance management director to associate all general budget reservations resulting from the ordinance and to establish various purchase orders for automotive parts for the fleet management division per the terms and conditions of various previously established universal term contracts to authorize the expenditure of $2,800,000 from the fleet management operating fund and to declare an emergency.

This ordinance authorizes the establishment of purchase orders related to automotive parts for use by the fleet management division.

The fleet management division fuels, maintains, and services City of Columbus Vehicles.

These parts are included in the terms and conditions of previously established universal term contracts and will be used to service and repair city vehicles.

Seeing no questions or comments from my colleagues, I move for passage.

Quick, please call the role.

Bankstin, Barroso de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hart.

Passed.

And lastly, in the Finance and Governance Committee, we have ordinance 323-2026 to authorize the director of finance and management on behalf of the Office of Construction Management to modify and increase the professional con the professional construction manager at risk service agreement with Gilbane Smoot for the new municipal court building project to authorize an expenditure up to 10 million 988,461 dollars within the construction management taxable fund and the construction management capital improvements bond fund to provide for payment of prevailing wage services to the Department of Public Service to amend the 2025 capital improvements budget and to declare an emergency.

This ordinance authorizes a modification for an existing uh CMAR contract with Gilbane Smoot for demolition services related to the new municipal court building project.

This represents the initial construction phase whereby the existing James A.

Carnes Building located at 410 South High Street will be demolished.

This demolition as well as certain modifications to the existing Franklin County Park and Garage are necessary prior to construction of the new municipal court building.

Future legislation will be advanced later in 2026 for site excavation and foundations.

Construction of the new municipal court building will commence in 2026 and anticipated completion in early 2030.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the row.

Bangs temperosa de pudilla, de acca orns green, reamy Ross Weiss, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

So I'll have my committees this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh the next committee to come before council is the public service and transportation committee chaired by councilman Rosa A.

Bidia.

Councilman, the floor is yours.

Uh thank you, Council President.

And I have four items on second read this evening in public service and transportation.

I'm very excited about these because the majority of these are meeting what people love the most, which is sidewalks, which meets all of our goals around uh around vision zero and ensuring that folks can move um safely through their neighborhoods.

So first is uh ordinance zero zero five for twenty twenty-six to authorize the city attorney to file complaints in order to immediately appropriate and accept the remaining fees, simple and lesser real estate necessarily to come to timely complete the UIRF South Linden Sidewalks 2017 project and to authorize an expenditure of $3,973 from existing ACDI 002495-10.

The urban infrastructure recovery fund or URIF will support sidewalk installations in the South Linden area, requiring city acquisition of property to allow DPS to timely complete the project.

The city's acquisition of the real estate will help make improve or repair certain portions of the public right away located in the vicinity of South Linden Avenue, which will open to the public without charge.

So my colleagues uh know this you are UIRF grants usually take a while.

You can see this one's from 2017, but we are finally here creating these sidewalks on portions of South Linden.

There'll be more information to come.

This is just so that we can obtain some of the uh uh public right-of-way so that we can build those sidewalks.

Director, is there anything that you want to add to this particular ordinance?

Uh council president, Chair Burrosa Deputia, nothing to add.

Great.

Thank you.

So do my colleagues have additional questions or comments?

Very excited about sidewalks in South London.

Uh seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Clark, please call the row.

Bank stamp, Rosa Depot Dia, De Akaur Dorrance Green, Remy Ross White, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next, we have ordinance 0063 2026 to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the transfer of funds within the streets and highways bond fund to appropriate funds within the streets and highways bond fund to authorize the director of public service to enter the contract with complete general construction company for the pedestrian safety, Wafford Street, Sharbot Drive, and Northtown Boulevard Sidewalks project to authorize the expenditure of up to 1,887,506 uh dollars and eighty-five cents from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund for the project and to declare an emergency.

This project will install sidewalks on sections of Wafford Street, Sharbot Drive, and Northtown Boulevard using funds from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund.

Installation of sidewalk will include curb ramps and drive approaches.

So these sidewalks will begin near the Morse uh near Moore Center and run across Morse Road to new uh nearby grocery stores and other businesses.

Director, is there something you would like to add to this ordinance?

I would just add that this is a really important project that connects a lot of multifamily housing.

Um it fills in some really important gaps to allow uh that housing to be you know get supported by the businesses along Morse Road.

Yeah, especially when we see the density along Morse Road and giving folks a safe passage, especially if they're on, you know, scooters, bikes, mobility devices, walking, even though we want them to be in the street.

But I'm just thinking about kids and other folks.

This just gives them a safe passage across Morse Road to get to those critical businesses to meet the needs of their families.

Do my colleagues have additional questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second.

Go ahead, please follow the role.

Bang Stand Barosa DePodia, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hardin.

Thank you.

Next we have 0073 2026 to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the director of public service to enter into contract with Strasser Construction Incorporated for the resurfacing 2025 slurry seal crack seal project to authorize the expenditure of up to 1,832,804 and 38 cents from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund for the project and to declare an emergency.

So this project will repair over 100 city streets, including crack ceiling, asphalt repair using funds from the streets and highways bond fund.

This contract also includes the cracked ceiling of 86 city streets and slurry micro sealing sealing of 27 streets and asphalt rejuvenation of 12 streets.

Director, there's there's a lot of crack ceiling, slurrying, asphalt.

What is what do all those things mean in simple terms and what can our residents expect?

Good evening again.

All of those terms mean that we're doing preventative maintenance to make sure that our resurfacing lasts as long as we possibly can.

Uh, all those little black lines that you might see drawn all over uh pavement.

It's to keep the the cracks from happening and water from getting into that pavement and you know, cracking apart.

It just helps make our resurfacing last longer.

So it's preventative maintenance.

Thank you.

Um, also I I want to remind folks we talked about this before, but especially now because of the salt, because of the beaches, because of other things that we use to treat the roads.

You might see more potholes, you might see more things, use three one one to report all of those.

This is part of our previous resurfacing project, but we will address those um those bigger issues that we see after the winter kind of sweeps past us, we head into the spring so that we can then go back and make our roads safer for everyone.

So, do my colleagues have additional questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role.

Bangstamp, Barbosa DePodia, De Akaur Dorrance Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Fast.

Great.

And this one I'm very, very excited about.

Any Southsider who is here or who travels along one of our main arterials on the Southside will be very excited as well.

This is ordinance 0089 2026 to authorize the director of public service to request that the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation establish a reasonable and safe permafassy speed on Parsons Avenue from East Whittier Street to East Broad Street to repeal any and all speed limit ordinances and resolutions on said roadway.

So this is about decreasing the speed limit from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour on Parsons Avenue from East Whittier to East Broad Street.

This authorizes our director to go back to uh ODOT.

So, director, can you talk a little bit about why this portion of the street and how we came to lowering the speed to uh those 10 miles?

Yep.

Good evening again.

So this legislation is to reduce the speed limit, as you said, on Parsons Avenue to 25 miles per hour.

Um, this is a part is part of our vision zero Columbus action uh to prioritize safety for everyone who travels along Parsons Avenue, whether you are walking on a bike, driving, or taking the bus.

We know that speed is recognized as the fundamental factor in crash severity.

It's especially true for vulnerable road users like people walking and biking.

This reduced speed limit on this section of Parsons will enhance safety and it will align with the existing 25 mile per hour speed limit in place south of East Whittier Street.

The city's lowering of the speed limit to 25 miles per hour along other corridors is reducing crashes.

So I wanted to spend just a minute talking about where this is actually worked in other parts.

Approximately a year ago, the speed limit on North High Street from Goodale Street to King Avenue through the short north was reduced to 25 miles per hour.

Data collected for the same time frame before and after indicates the number of crashes dropped from 62 to 47 along that section of high streets.

Similarly, when the city implemented a lower speed limit through of 25 miles per hour through the downtown business district in March of 2023, we saw a drop from serious and fatal crashes that fell from 19 down to nine.

So we've seen that this is working in other places.

So our current vision zero action plan includes an important strategy to transform the built environment of our transportation system by reducing vehicle speeds.

We continue to work with our vision zero partner, the Ohio Department of Transportation, to refine the speed study process so that more factors in urban environments are considered when this request is made to reduce a street speed limit.

For example, the presence of people walking and biking along a street are potential factors to weigh when studying a street for the recommendation to lower its speed limit.

In coordination with ODOT, communities must perform engineering studies to reduce the speed limit as part of the process.

Ohio revised code sets statutory speed limits for all roads.

Our partnership with continues to be with ODOT to create a safe speeds and prevent serious crashes on Columbus streets.

The lower speed limit on Parsons Avenue from Broad to Whittier will be implemented 30 days from this passage.

Thank you, Director.

First, I want to pause.

My colleagues have questions, comments.

I just want to say again, I want to thank you for your leadership, Director.

I want to thank the department.

Um this was a lot of advocacy from the folks who live along that Parsons Ave Corridor, the businesses that live along there or that are along that, well, they do live around there.

But um, but also I know that we implemented some um flashing beacon uh crosswalks along that area because of the density that that is there and the density that is coming, and we see the increased traffic.

And so this is going to be a change for folks.

Um, but I know that there's been lots of advocacy.

I mean, this is certainly a stretch that we have received lots of calls about and that folks have been concerned.

And so um I want to thank uh everyone for ensuring that this happens.

I think what as we talk about reducing speeds, it's not always easy, but we have done several speed reductions.

Um, even during my time as chair, um in areas where we know that it won't make a difference, right?

In those part of the high injury network.

So again, I want to thank you for your leadership.

Uh, in 30 days, we will let folks know about the changes that are coming to Parsons, about reducing that speed, um, so that they know as they're coming along that stretch of the road to slow down and to watch for that increased traffic of folks who are moving um in a multitude of ways.

So um, with that, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bangstan, Barossa de Podia, De Akaur Dorrance Green, Remy Ross Weiss President Hardin.

Fast.

Thank you.

That's all for me this evening.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Next committee to come before council is the neighborhoods recreation and parks committee.

That committee is chaired by Councilmember De Akar.

Councilmember Floor Azores.

Thank you, Council President.

We have two exciting projects in our committee this evening, both having to do with connectivity and mobility in the city.

Our first ordinance is 103-2026 to authorize the director of recreation parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Central Ohio Transit Authority for design of the East Side Rail Trail Project and accept a grant in the amount of 100,000 to authorize the appropriation of 100,000 in the Recreation Parks Grant Fund and to declare an emergency.

The East Moore Rail Trail will create a 17.5-acre linear park on the city's east side, spanning three miles through the Eastmoor and Linwood communities along an abandoned rail corridor.

Over 17,000 residents live within a few minutes of the abandoned corridor.

Four neighborhoods, eight schools, and six parks are nearby.

The rail corridor runs from East Broad Street to south of East Livingston Avenue, ending at I-70.

After several years of negotiation with the owner, Recreation and Parks acquired the corridor in 2024 with Clean Ohio funds.

The department has been working with the Mid East Area Commission, Whitehall, and Regional Transportation Planners at CODA to integrate the East Moore Rail Trail into the larger transit and Central Ohio Greenway Trail Network.

This grant agreement legislation tonight includes important CODA link us grant program assistance of 100,000 for design of the trail in linear park.

During the next few months, public engagement will be done as well as coordination with rapid transit and new affordable housing developments occurring along the line.

This legislation will provide 100,000 of Lincas Transit supportive infrastructure grant money to be in detailed design of the trail and the linear park.

Construction of the first phase of the Eastmoor Rail Trail is set to begin in late 2027.

The first phase will be a 1.5 mile section from East Main Street near Barnett Road to East Broad Street.

The East Main section will tie into a Coda Rapid Transit Station.

In 2027, the Lincoln TSI grant fund will be for providing an additional 1.1 million dollars towards this construction.

Construction of the entire East Moore Rail Trail is expected to be completed by 2029.

I'm extremely excited about this project.

Not only does this project mean the city gets another linear part connecting neighborhoods, but it also demonstrates how the linkus dollars that residents voted on in 2024 is going to more than just bus rapid transit.

This project proves how committed we are as a city to investing in transit supportive infrastructure, building these networks of connectivity to ensure residents always have options to get around our city, be it by bus, bike, or greenway.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Bangs Demperosa de Bodia, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weiss President Hardin.

Thank you.

Next we have ordinance 0126-2026 to authorize the director of recreation and parks department to enter into contract with Access Civil Construction LLC for the Alum Creek Trail Mock Road Connector Project to authorize the transfer of 711,459.16 cents within the Recreation Parks voted bond fund to authorize the amendment of the 2025 capital improvements budget to authorize expenditure of 3,917,709.

Keeping with the theme of connectivity, this project aims to complete a 3.5 mile east-west pathway that would connect the Alum Creek Trail to I-71.

The new eight-foot-wide paved path will stretch 1.2 miles starting at Allenke Creek Trail at Sunbury and Mock Road heading west and feeding into the new Hudson Street Greenway.

This new connecting trail will link over 6,000 residents in Northeast Columbus to our ever-growing trail system, putting them within 10 minutes of walking and biking connectivity to parks, schools, retail, and jobs.

This project will be partially funded by a 485,000 dollar grant from ODNR Clean Ohio Trails Fund construction is anticipated to be complete by summer 2027.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Bangs down, Barosa De Bodia, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weiss President Hardin.

Thank you, Council President.

That's all on my committee this evening.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The next committee to come before Council is the Workforce Education and Labor Committee.

That committee is chair by Press Proto and President Tim, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

I have ordinance number 0032-2026 to authorize human resources interim directory internet uh contract with August 20 LLC in support of professional services for the city's strategic roadmap and central service department's modernization efforts, including the support of modernization standard of our citywide employee onboarding to weigh committed bidding provisions of Columbus City Codes to authorize a transfer from the general fund to the employee benefits fund of 280,500 to authorize the appropriation of 208,500 with the employee benefits fund to authorize the expenditure of 258,500 from the employee benefits fund to author expenditure of 200,000 from the information services operating fund, or so much there it may be necessary to pay the cost of said contract and declared emergency.

This ordinance makes certain appropriations uh for a contract with August 20 as the city begins modernizations for Department of Human Resources and other central services departments.

Uh interim Director Martin is here to share with us a little bit more about this ordinance as well.

Interim Director, floor is yours.

Good evening, President Hardin, Council President Pro Tim Dorns, and other city council.

Um so we are requesting this legislation so that um we can continue to implement the citywide strategic roadmap and improve coordination across the departments of finance and management, human resources, technology, civil service, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Um essentially, this contract will replace the numerous contracts that we already have with one single contract that will support the city's central services departments, specifically in the areas of city strategy and operating system deployment, central HR and culture, enterprise change management, and department of technology talent and IT portfolio.

Um additionally, um we've had to pause some of the work that we've already started in 2025 that's been supported by August 20, and a new contract is necessary for us to start that again.

So we don't want to miss important um deadlines and dates that are critical to the success of citywide departments.

Lastly, um the waiving of a competitive bid will also ensure that the continuity of August 20's work in areas including the design and rollout of a central services support model and modernization of the city's employee experience can continue.

Thank you.

Thank you, Interim Director.

Any questions, my colleagues?

Seeing none to move for passage.

Second.

Banks Tim Barosa DePodia.

I'm sorry, you have to uh amend us submitted to the clerk.

Oh, I apologize.

Um, I'd like to admit this made of the clerk.

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

Amend it.

Thank you.

Now move for passage as amended.

Second.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bangs Tim, Barbosa Depodia, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy White Ross Weiss, President Hardin.

Pass.

Thank you, Council President.

All I have at this time.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The next committee coming for council is the Health and Human Service and Equity Committee.

That committee is chaired by Councilmember Green.

Councilmember Floor is yours.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Tonight in our Health Human Services and Equity Committee, we have three ordinances on second reading.

The first is ordinance 0005-2026 to authorize the Board of Health to enter into a contract with the Crosby Drugs, DBA, CDI, long-term care LLC for pharmaceutical for pharmaceutical distribution services for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st of 2026, to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Codes to authorize the expenditure of $110,000 from the Health Department Grants Fund to pay the cost thereof and to declare an emergency.

Columbus Public Office need to provide tuberculosis medication distribution for clients receiving treatment from the Ben Franklin Tuberculosis Grant Program.

These services are provided at CPH at 240 Parsons Avenue, and the contract runs from January 1st of this year through December 31st.

Emergency designations needed as pharmacy services are currently ongoing with Crosby Drugs for patients that are currently in treatment and a discrap a disruption to those services would be harmful to patients who are receiving care through the clinic.

Are there any comments or questions from my colleagues?

Seeing that I move for passage.

Banks Tiburosa DePodia, De Aqua or Dorance Green, Remy Ross, Weitch, President Harden.

Our second ordinance tonight is ordinance 0052-2025 to authorize the Board of Health to enter into initial contracts with the following qualified vendors AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Equitas Health, Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, the Resource Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, DBA Primary One Health, and the Ohio State University to authorize the Board of Health to modify those contracts if portions of previously appropriated and encumbered funds are unused and reallocate unused funds amongst the initial vendors without the need for additional legislation for the Ryan White Part A HIV care grant program for the provision of services allowable under the grant for persons with HIV or AIDS in Central Ohio to authorize the expenditure of up to 3,149,139 from the Health Department Grant Fund to pay the cost thereof to waive the competitive bidding and contract modification provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes and to declare an emergency.

Ryan White Part A pro uh providers service low-income individuals living with HIV who reside in Franklin, Madison, Union, Delaware, Morrow, Licking, Fairfield, and Pickaway Counties.

These providers deliver comprehensive HIV outpatient ambulatory care for treatment and viral suppression of HIV infection.

Additionally, mental health and substance use services are accessible to help individuals navigate potential barriers that can lead to adverse health outcomes if left unsupported.

As a network, these service providers also offer case management to help care coordination uh with clients and link them with identify uh identified social determinant of health needs, assistance with medical transportation and wraparound support services, including emergency housing, utility, and food pantry assistance.

Ordinance is submitted um as an emergency, much like um our last ordinance to ensure quality Medicare, uh medical care continues to be available with people without disruption and timely payment to providers.

Are there any other comments or questions, my colleagues?

Seeing none and move for passage.

Bangston, Barosa De Podia, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hart.

Passed.

Oh Madam Chair, you're you're aware we had a speaker on the first uh ordinance.

Um Mr.

Wilkins, uh well, madam chair, is it all right if we yeah, yeah, please go yeah, please let's return back.

I apologize about that, Mr.

Wilkins.

Um, so we will return back in time um to uh ordinance 00505-2026.

Um, accepting a uh contract into Crosby Drugs for support for pharmaceutical services.

Um, I'll turn the floor to you.

1612, other than Avenue, Mr.

George Wilkins, a 20-year resident of North London.

Um I would be in support of this.

I'd just like to see this for the term to start uh January 1st, 2026, all the way to December 31st of 2027 or 2028.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much, uh, Mr.

Wilkins.

Um okay.

Our last ordinance is ordinance 0106-2026 to authorize the Board of Health and to enter into a contract with Improvada Inc.

for software services for the period of February 1st, 2026 through January 31st of 2029 in an amount not to exceed 165,903 to authorize the expenditure of 165,903 from the health department grant fund to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code and to declare an emergency.

Um Columbus Public Health has a need for a single sign-on solution for user access for enhanced security to access the new Epic Electronic Medical Record system.

Um essentially this funding in layman's terms to deviate from my uh from my notes here.

So we've had a slew of legislation related to the new transition to the EPIC medical record system that is being adopted at Columbus Public Health by a wide variety of their providers.

This um this uh request is to help us assist through that transition so that CPH employees are able to access records through cloud-based systems because the service is traditionally being provided through OSU, so there needs to be ability to integrate our side of uh providing care with their new system through Epic.

Um, and I don't know, Dr.

Roberts, if you would want to say anything else about that.

If anyone has any questions, we'll direct them to Dr.

Roberts, and if not, um I move for adoption.

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks Timberwolves deputy, day a coward door screen, reamy Ross Weiss, President Hard.

Passed.

Thank you so much, Council President.

That's all for me tonight.

Thank you, madam chair.

I think we will uh go ahead and break for zoning.

Is there a motion to uh recess?

Clerk, please call the role.

Bangstam, Barroso de Podia, de Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross, Weiss, President Hard.

We are in recess.

We'll reconvene uh after the director's rearrange.

Banks Tim Barosa de Podilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss, President Hard.

Can I get a motion to uh dismiss with the journal?

Clerk please call the row.

Banks Tim, Barosa de Podia, De Akaur Dorran screen, Remy Ross, Weitch, President Hardin.

Are there any additions or corrections to the journal hearing?

None of the journals approved.

We'll now go to the zoning committee.

Councilmember Dorans chairs that committee and all members served.

Councilmember, the floor is yours.

Uh thank you, Council President.

Uh, before we begin tonight's agenda, first a little bit of housekeeping with the clerk, please read the numbers of legislation in the zoning committee this evening that require waiver of second reading.

Under rezoners, we have ordinance 3,000 dash 2025, ordinance 242, 243, 276, 287-2026.

Under variances, we have ordinance 3001-2025 and ordinances 275, 277, 283, 285, and 288-2026.

Thank you, Clerk.

I now move to waive second reading on those items.

Clerk, please call the row.

Thanks, Tim.

Waived.

Thank you.

Um now allow me to briefly explain our rules speaking before council on rezoning variances.

We only hear a stamp presentation for ordinances that have a disapproval from a recommending body, or if we have a public speaker assigned to speak against an ordinance.

We permit three speakers on each side of an ordinance, uh, three proponents, three opponents.

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

All speakers in the council variants, including city staff, area commissioners' applicants, a member of the public will be sworn in before they give testimony.

Representatives in the area commission are always able to speak in an ordinance.

You do not need to fill out a speaker slip, but you we do ask you alert city staff of your intentions to speak at this committee hearing.

Uh I will now uh we do have two public speakers uh signed up to speak on legislation here this evening on the advice of the city attorney's office and will now swear in to the staff.

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

Do you swear affirm the testimony we have to give shall be the truth, nothing but the truth that you shall answer under pain to penalty perjury?

If so, please say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Um please let the record reflect that Tim Dietrich and Alyssa Saltzman from the Department of Building and Zoning Services, Christopher Lorra from the Division of Planning, Dan Bleshmant from the Division of Traffic Management in the Department of Public Service, and Deputy Director for Housing Strategies, Aaron Prosser from the Department of Development have been sworn in.

First, we have ordinance 300-2025 to rezone 1100 Georgesville Green, being 1.8 uh 7 plus acres located in the northeast corner of Georgeville Green Drive and Hall Road from LC3, limited commercial district, to AR1, Apartment Residential District.

Site consists of one undeveloped parcel, and the applicant request a rezoning willow for a multi-unit residential development of up to 48 units.

A concurrent council variance is included with this project and be considered uh later on our agenda.

Proposal has approved some city staff and development commission, but a disapproval from the Hill Greater Hilltop Area Commission.

Due to that disapproval, we'll now hear a staff presentation.

Uh starting with Miss Ms.

Saltman.

Floor is yours.

Good evening, Chair Dorans, President Harden, members of council.

The 1.87 acre site consists of one undeveloped parcel in the LC3 limited commercial district.

The applicant requests the AR1 apartment residential district to allow for a multi-unit residential development.

North and west west of the site are single unit dwellings in the R2 residential district.

East of the site are undeveloped parcels in the LC3 limited commercial district.

South of the site are condominiums in the L ARLD limited apartment residential district.

Companion CV 25-054 has been filed to vary the minimum building line along Hall Road to allow water vaults and hot boxes within the building setback and commits to a site plan with up to 48 dwelling units.

The requested AR1 district will allow multi-unit residential development that is compatible with the density and development standards of adjacent residential developments west and south of the site of the subject site and is aligned with the city's objective to provide more housing in all neighborhoods.

Staff note that the existing LC3 district allows multi-unit residential units above first floor commercial uses with no density limitation.

And therefore city department's recommendation is for approval.

Thank you, Ms.

Saltzman.

And it just a couple clarifying questions to make sure uh everyone's following.

Um so when we're talking about the the change of designations here, so uh the current zoning district would could potentially allow a project with uh with residential built into it again if there was that first floor commercial space included.

Is that is that fair?

Yes.

And there's existing parcels that are either adjacent or very nearby that are also zoned for commercial purposes as well.

Is that correct?

Yes.

Thank you.

Um and you mentioned there's uh sort of the adjoining areas.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um any questions from uh council colleagues at this time?

CNN, we'll move on.

Uh next we have uh Mr.

Christopher Laura from the division of planning.

Floor is yours, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Dorns.

President Harden, members of the council.

Planning is supportive of the proposal.

Although the request exceeds the density of the hilltop land use plan, recommendation of low medium density, residential staff recognize the proposal's consistency with the plan's recommendation for residential, as well as existing multi-unit zoning to the west and south as mitigating factors.

The site also currently is zoned for commercial uses, which is another factor in staff support.

Additionally, Columbus Citywide Planning Policies recommends that projects that are proposed at a density higher than the recommended land use may be supported if they include a high level of site and architectural design.

The proposed site plan and elevations are consistent with C2P2 guidelines, therefore planning is supportive of the proposed use.

I'll also note that this site is part of the Columbus Growth Strategy that recently passed, which recommended mixed use one, which would have been uh consistent as well once uh once that's in effect.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Mr.

Laura, when we there's uh when we talk about mixed use, uh just generally, and I think this is as we head into the next phase of zone, and I think it's gonna be something important for us to talk more about.

You know, mixed use may mean residential and commercial or retail existing on the same property, but it also may mean only residential or only commercial retail at those properties as well, right?

Correct.

It can mean uh mix of uses within a given site.

It can mean a mix of uses typically along a corridor.

It allows for the flexibility for the market to decide what's appropriate for a given location.

And I sort of sold my next question for you.

So when you talk about that flexibility, it's built in, it's more along the lines of again what is sort of market driven at that point.

So uh again, rather than having sort of a bunch of regulatory red tape to say you would only do this or we only can do that, it's really allowing sort of that market to really drive what is viable on that site.

Is that sort of a fair assessment?

Correct.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um our next speaker will be Mr.

Dan Bleshmid from the division of traffic management.

Thank you, Chair Dorns, President Hardin, members of council.

With regards to our review of this application, please be advised that this proposed development site is anticipated to generate 19 automobile trips, five entering and 14 exiting in the AM peak hour, and 24 automobile trips, 15 entering and nine exiting during the PM peak hour.

These traffic volumes are significantly below the threshold to require the preparation of a traffic impact study.

Additionally, in consideration that access to this site will only be from Georgesville Green Drive, and in consideration that the intersection of Hall Road and Georgesville Green Drive already contains an eastbound left turn lane and a westbound right turn line to service vehicles turning from Hall Road onto Georgeville Green Drive.

There is not a need for a traffic access study to be performed for this proposed development site.

Also, upon reviewing the anticipated traffic generation from this site, it is unlikely that this site would generate necessary traffic volumes to cause a traffic signal warrant to be met at the intersection of Hall Road and Georgesville Green Drive.

With these comments noted, the Department of Public Service has no further concerns regarding this application.

I would be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Bleshmott.

Uh question for colleagues?

Conserver Green.

I do just have a quick question.

Um if you so if there's going to be 40 units of housing on the site, how do you arrive that there's only like 14 cars entering or exiting in the morning and nine arriving in the morning?

That just seems like kind of interesting math to the way that I would think about this.

Right.

So sorry.

That's based on empirical data from um you know nationwide data from trip generation, which is our our uh manual of collected data.

And so I mean, basically it reflects that not everyone leaves and comes home at the same time.

There's there's a window, even you know, during you know, typical peak times.

Um, you know, not all 48 units are gonna have people leaving at the same time.

And so that reflects the the general average of of sites uh of multifamily sites.

What would you consider what are what are peak times then?

Those are the peak times that that I was.

Oh, sorry.

Bushman um Mr.

Blesha could uh talk a little bit about so again um we have both two different kinds of uh traffic uh studies that are done we have an access study which is the the lower bar uh based upon the size of development and then we have an impact study of what much larger developments look beyond sort of the individual sites sort of more um sort of more neighborhood wise in this case there's not a traffic you know access or impact study could you just uh mention again why that's the case here uh I mean generally we when we have a traffic study performed we either are looking for uh quantifying those impacts or determining what types of improvements will be necessary to mitigate uh in for example site access point whether there's turn lanes whether there's uh elements such as traffic signals so this is is below that and it and you know we have done our own internal just in evaluations of you know looking at um the volumes and that where we have a comfort level with with that without requiring the applicant to go through a step to you know hire a consultant you know go collect traffic counts to send prepare a report which would likely give us the information we already know thank you uh any other questions from colleagues for traffic seeing that I will move on to deputy director for housing strategy Ms.

Prosser floor is yours thank you Chair Dorans Council President Harden members of council the proposed rezoning of 1100 Georgesville Green in the Hilltop neighborhood supports the Columbus housing strategy by expanding housing options in a high demand area where current housing infrastructure is not meeting the demand which is increasing housing costs and destabilizing existing residents.

The new units will relieve the pressure on the overall market and allow for more options for residents in the area slowing growth in rents and home prices.

Median home values in the zip code rose 10% faster than homes in the city of Columbus since 2020 and the rents are 9% higher in this zip code than in the city of Columbus indicating a high demand area in need of additional housing to slow that growth in housing cost.

The bulk of the units in both the census track and the zip code were either built between 1970 and 1979 or 1990 and 1999 with only 1.9% of the zip code uh homes in the zip code were built since 2020 despite the fact that the population has grown more than 7% since 2020 further constraining the existing housing infrastructure the current vacancy rate in the census track is just 1.7 percent compared to 5.8 percent in the zip code nearly half the renters 47 percent in the zip code pay more than 30 percent of their income on their household expenses up from 43 percent in 2020 and nearly a quarter of homeowners with a mortgage exceed that affordability metric this indicates a high desire for families to live in and remain in this area resulting in cost burden families which are at high risk for housing instability neighborhoods in high demand can either change the built environment or they can change their people and families this neighborhood saw a 10 percent loss since just 2020 of families staying longer than one year in this census tract the increasing mobility indicates a constrained market and the result is the loss of existing residents in which which would be relieved by the addition of housing units especially rental units new jobs are coming to central ohio and a significant of those are along that 70 east corridor and along the two along 270 in key job centers where employees will need a place to call home overburdened traffic excuse me overburdened transportation networks are not the result of localized trip generation from an individual use but instead are the result of employees facing ever longer commutes to access jobs this adds to the economic and environmental and health costs to a community not to mention the ensuing gridlock resulting from adding significant vehicle miles travel to the transportation network we see the negative negative outcome on city transportation networks when there's a significant spatial mismatch between where employees live and where they work adding housing near job opportunities is critical to managing the overall transportation system so the roadways are safe and functional excuse me while housing scarcity will drive up housing prices throughout the region in these locations of high demand the expand with expanding access to jobs education services and amenities we expect to see accelerated housing pressure as the market responds.

Therefore adding new housing in this neighborhood will be critical to ensuring housing stability for the current residents as well as continued access for new families happy to answer any questions.

Thank you Ms.

Prosser any questions from my colleagues for deputy director Cena thank you.

I will now invite the applicant's representative for Mr.

David Hodge welcome back to council sir.

Thank you, Chair Dorns.

Good evening, uh, Council President Harden.

Uh Council members appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight.

Um, I think that if I um so much of what your what your staff just said is is so spot on.

I don't want to be overly redundant to to really some of the great things that they just said.

Uh a few things though that I will add.

Um the site plan that is that is a part of this uh companion council variance that's on the agenda later, commits to the northern 25 feet of this property being uh either tree preservation or augmentation of landscaping to provide a really nice perimeter there between this apartment residential opportunity and the single family residential to the north.

Along that northern property line will also be a six-foot uh board on board fence uh for additional buffering.

Uh this uh is also part of the city CRA, and uh 30 percent of these units uh will be offered at 80 percent of the area median income, so there is an element of affordability uh that comes with this legislation.

Um I think you you heard Mr.

Lohr talk a little bit about um zone in phase two and this being in a mixed use one category.

So uh as that process continues to play out here through the summer and and potentially early fall, the um apartment residential use that is proposed here will be by right under under this phase two, at least that's what the expectation is.

Um traffic is certainly uh an issue here that uh that we heard from some of the neighbors on.

And uh you heard from Mr.

Bleck Schmidt that there's uh adequate facilities here at Hall, turn lanes into Georgesville Green, and access to this site, whether it's commercial or or apartment residential, is gonna come uh from this uh from Georgesville Green uh here north of Hall Road.

Um I can't remember which which of the city staff made mention of the fact that it's currently zoned in an LC3 category.

That LC3 allows a kind of a broad swath of commercial uses.

Uh it's always been my instinct, and and I I think I'm right about this, that those commercial uses that are allowed here by right, no process, no rezoning, no area commission, no development commission, no council, are uh uh more intense than the apartment residential that's proposed uh with this rezoning, and therefore uh uh potentially uh uh detrimental to the adjacent single family residential, whereas this apartment residential developer has done everything they can shifting the buildings to the south, making a commitment to a site plan, making commitments to buffering, uh committing to the the building type consistent with the C2P2 guidance here.

That um I'm hopeful that uh a majority of council will uh see fit to uh approve this legislation.

Um certainly here with city staff support, um, does not have the Greater Hilltop Area Commission support, but did get uh a majority at the at the development commission.

Uh so we're here with with two of the three.

Uh I'll stop talking and uh close my mouth and open in my ears if anybody's got any questions for me.

Thank you, Mr.

Hodge.

Uh question, my colleagues.

See none.

Uh I'll call you back if there's uh any rebuttal.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, as I mentioned, we did have a speaker's time to speak on this ordinance.

We have Mr.

Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner Rick Kitchens from the Greater Hilltop Area Commission.

Welcome to Council, sir.

Good evening, President Harden, Council members.

Uh, thank you for allowing me to speak.

Uh Chair Dorns.

Um my name is Rick Kitchen.

I am speaking to you from three different roles.

One, a neighborhood resident of Georgesville Green community.

Uh I am also an HOA volunteer trustee, and uh of recent uh City of Columbus Creator Hilltop Area Commission Area Commissioner, uh serving also on the zoning committee, as well as public safety and human services and education.

I was born and raised here as a citizen of Columbus and have lived over 50 years in it.

I've been an over 15-year single family homeowner of the Georgesville Green community, located off of Hall Road and Georgesville Green Road.

We are a diverse community with 105 single family homes on 32 acres in a mature established neighborhood for over 24 years.

Currently, we have one entrance and exit substreet that has over 200 to 250 resident vehicles that commute in and out of the community 24-7 uh on Georgesville Green Drive, running north and south, located in our community in order to egress out to Hall Road, which is a major thoroughfare which runs west to east for commuting uh purposes.

Hall Road is used also by Columbus City as well as Southwest City school buses, various other small businesses, and warehouse deliveries.

A rising opposition uh to the rezoning application uh from C3 to AR1 for the parcel that is uh 1.3 acres off of Hall Road and Georgesville Green Drive.

The same application was declined uh unanimously before I became an area commissioner by the Greater Hilltop Area Commission zoning committee and declined unanimously by the full GHC uh commission on a vote shortly after after dozens of residents came before the committee and commission.

Our biggest concern as a neighborhood community is safety due to the high density already existing on Hall Road.

This new entity will create up to some backup on Georgesville Green Road going into and from Hall Road.

It will endanger those that are walking on the sidewalk in the community as cars will go in and out of the apartment exits.

The minimum amounts of parking stated would not hold up to the 75 to possibly 100 cars that possibly could be aligned for those 48 apartments.

This would cause overflow on the street.

We have many families with children in our community that 24-7 enter and exit, and which you know that that happening will cause our children to have to watch very carefully while near this area, being 100 to 150 feet close to the hall road entrance and exit.

There are also between eight to 14 daily bus routes going in and out of our community and nearby drop-off points for students of Columbus City Schools as well as Southwestern City Schools.

The applicant has stated that the impact of the uh neighborhood character and adjacent properties and the essential character of the neighborhood will not be altered by this building edition code change and the variances, nor will adjacent properties suffer any detriment.

I must vigorously disagree with the statement.

The hilltop land use, which is adopted in 2019 says that this parcel should be developed for about four to six dwelling units per acre.

This proposal was over 25 dwelling units per acre.

This rezoning will adopt a 20th century zoning approach that segregates uh apartments to one area of town instead of developing neighborhoods with diverse housing stock.

Along Hall Road and Georgesville Road to Norton Road, which is approximately 105.5 minutes.

Commissioner, you may finish.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Uh there are currently nine apartment complexes in three residential areas off of Hall Road and two small business strip malls uh near Norton Road and Hall Road and two other businesses in a warehouse district nearby.

Also in the current uh apartment entrances that exit onto Hall Road, we would be the only substreet and only residential area that would have uh an apartment complex that's actually entering and exiting off of a substreet.

Attempts have been made by fellow residents for new traffic studies to no avail.

Uh the last traffic study was actually in 2002.

We also have a lack of parks, crosswalks, sidewalks on Hall Road, which is not very wide to some areas, and the over uh overpassed bridge over 270s and somewhat disrepair.

During the school year, the traffic is exasperated by the amount of school buses that travel daily through our Georgesville Green community as well as the surrounding area.

Every day is a challenge to enter or leave our community with a left turn on Hall Road.

It is often dangerous, which is concerned to the safety and security of our community.

It is worse in the winter time, especially of late.

There have been two fatalities over the last 10 years in this area, along with an assortment of traffic accidents, two in the last five months alone on the corner of Georgesville Green and Hall Road.

In place of the rezoning application of AR1, we asked the land to stay zoned C3 and R2 for commercial use.

With commercial usage, we may be able to entice small businesses that could possibly impact and enrich ours and our surrounding communities' lives, barring that perhaps a park for the many families with children who live in the area.

There is already a ravine and several types of wildlife where we could be able to preserve.

This would be a positive ecological win as our city's canopies are disappearing at an alarming rate.

It was stated that one of our Columbus initiatives is to increase housing.

However, each and every apartment community near us shows vacancy.

We feel this parcel would be a great stepping stone opportunity by the Greater Hilltop Initiative for potential small businesses, local entrepreneurs, and community-based organizations.

There are enough residents in our community that would be able to enable these businesses to thrive.

So I say, in closing, council members, it comes down to the role of the uh area neighborhood commissions, uh, which are residents that know and live in the community and who voice their opinion and by following the process laid out by the City of Columbus and then forward those recommendations to City Council to take into account and how they are viewed by City Council when a vote must be made.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Any questions from my colleagues for the commissioner?

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Seeing that I will invite the applicants to represent if there's any uh additional comments you'd like to make after the uh commission speak.

Thank you, Chair Dorans.

Just uh briefly to to reit to reiterate uh a few of the of the points that we we we previously made, which are uh I think contrary to the points we just heard from Mr.

Kitchen.

Um certainly um we have the Greater Hilltop Plan, which is important, no doubt.

But uh we also have a site that's zoned LC3 today that that gives a certain uh uh family of use rights and um lends to a certain intensity here on the property, and that is that is the law.

Um the plan is a plan, the plan is a guideline.

Um there was reference to diversity of housing stock, and I think what I heard was that this is not contributing to a diversity of housing stock, but it is absolutely contributing to a diversity of housing stock when you introduced this apartment residential opportunity here uh with the single family residential to the north with the single family residential to the west, uh also some attached product condo and apartments on the south side of Hall Road in this location.

One additional item that came up was uh pedestrian infrastructure, and uh I failed to note previously that a shared use path is being installed on the southern side of this property at the north side of uh along the north side of Hall Road to increase the pedestrian uh infrastructure here uh in the immediate vicinity to this development.

Thank you, Mr.

Hajj.

Any questions from council members?

Just one question.

Um I have the map put up here.

In this project, Mr.

Hodge, is there also going to be other improvements made to the roadway, any additional left turns or anything like that was there will not be.

And traffic is certainly something that we paid close attention to.

Um we paid uh we doubled down on the attention that we were paying to it when we got feedback that we got from from residents and from the Greater Hilltop Area Commission.

Uh worked hard with with Mr.

Bleck Schmidt and his colleague uh Daniel Moorhead, and um the analysis from the professionals, I think, hinged on two separate things.

Number one, that LC3 zoning uh sh says where the access point to the property is going to be here off of Georgesville Green, and that uh it is to serve a wide variety of commercial uses.

Number two, the existing infrastructure here with the turn lanes, uh both westbound and eastbound here at Georgesville Green is adequate to serve the the uh development proposed here, 48 units, which 48 units next to the commercial uses that are allowed by right is a is a decrease in the intensity that would go on this than would otherwise go on this property.

No, I I appreciate that.

I would just wonder because I see that there's looks like there's been recent uh upgrades to that intersection.

Uh and I think Mr.

Chair, maybe it's a quite Mr.

Hodge, you kind of hit on it, but also my question was for our air commissioner around commercial usage, uh, or maybe our traffic engineers could tell me uh in my mind of commercial use would probably have more transient traffic than a residential use.

Is that correct or am I off the base there?

I'll I'll I'm just a zoning attorney, but I think the answer to that question is yes, but I'll defer to Mr.

And I don't show you a traffic engineer either.

That's why we have traffic engineers here.

Okay.

Um Mr.

Bushman, could you talk about that concept between again generally the amount of traffic that is generated by residential versus commercial developments?

Um, you know, and I think in particular, we've heard from folks within this this community about the desire for more retail, so not necessarily office, but sort of I think for comparison's sake, talking about the difference between uh an apartment uh residential development as far as the trips generated generally as compared to a say retail center of some sort.

Sure.

Uh I would generally say um that a commercial site on the whole would generate more traffic.

There's there's lots of uses that are permitted, and there's definitely lots of uses that would be more intense than apartment residential.

There could be some that are permitted that are that are lower, but the definitely the opportunity for a higher intensity use from a traffic perspective um would be there under the current zoning.

Thank you.

Any other questions for my colleagues either for the applicants representative or the departments?

Thank you.

Um appreciate um the Greater Hilltop Area Commission being here with us tonight.

I don't think this body um ever enjoys disagreeing with our area commissions.

We have a long track record of working very collaboratively and generally being an agreement on these projects that they move forward.

Um here in this instance, again, the question is sort of what is before the body.

We have an existing zoning designation in which you could have commercial and uh residential happen on that property, which would exacerbate, I think, the concern around traffic.

Um in a perfect world.

I think there's lots of different ways to be able to approach this, but ultimately it's the question of uh what is the current zoning designation and what is being requested of us here tonight.

This essentially is a downzoning.

Um this would create, again, from those that are concerned around traffic, in my opinion, based on the experts here.

Certainly I am no traffic engineer, but I like to trust those that are, and certainly the data that comes along with them.

Um this is an instance in which um if we are to believe the the science here, there's actually less chance of more additional traffic compared to what could be developed under the current zoning designation.

Um because of that, um, the really question for us is are we going to allow um a small modest increase in housing in the area that again again, according to Ms.

Frosser, uh needs it, considering what's uh the current vacancy rate is within that that census rack right now and the affordability that would come with this project.

Uh so for those reasons, I believe that this um piece of legislation merits consideration by myself and my colleagues.

Therefore, I move for passage by voice.

Clerk, please call the roll by voice.

Bankston.

Yes.

Barbosa de Padilla?

Yes.

De Akawer.

Yes.

Dorans.

Yes.

Green.

Remy.

Yes.

Ross.

Yes.

Weish.

Yes.

President Hardin.

Yes.

The ordinance is passed.

Thank you.

Next we have ordinance 0242-2026 to rezone 5357 Cleveland Avenue, being point three zero plus acres located in the southwest corner of Cleveland Avenue and Two Teakwood Drive from I Institutional District to CPD Commercial Plan Development District.

Site consists of one parcel developed a dwelling unit converted into office with the requested rezoning to allow office uses consistent with the Northland 1 area plan, land use recommendation.

Proposal is approved from City Staff Development Commission and the Northland Community Council.

Do my colleagues have questions or comments?

Seeing on a move for passage.

Thanks, Tim Proposal De Podia, de Akaur Dorans Green.

Remy Ross Weissh, President Hardin.

Thank you.

Next we have ordinance 0243-2026 to rezone 7825 Flint Road, being 1.12 plus acres located in the west side of Flint Road, 359 plus feet uh north of North High Street from our Rill District to CPD commercial plan development district.

Site consists of two parcels, each developed with a single unit dwelling with the applicant's request to rezone to allow commercial development, including a private parking lot on the eastern parcel, approvals that was approved from city staff, the development commission, and the far north uh co Columbus Communities Coalition.

Um let the record reflect we did have a speaker that signed up to speak on this ordinance, but that speakership has been withdrawn.

Uh any of my colleagues from questions or comments?

Seeing on a move for passage.

Thanks.

Tim Rebosa de Padilla, De Akaur Dorans Green.

Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Thank you.

Next we have a words 0276-2026 to rezone 2575 West Dublin Grandville Road, being 27.27 acres plus located on the south side of West Dublin Grant Grandville Road, uh at the terminus of McVay Boulevard from N2 Manufacturing District to LAR1 limited uh apartment residential district and L AR-12 limited apartment residential district.

Site consists of one undeveloped parcel with an applicant requested rezoning to allow this development of an apartment complex with a maximum of 336 dwelling units on eastern parcel and a townhouse development with a maximum of 138 dwellings on the western parcel for a total of 474 new dwelling units.

A concurrent council variance will be considered later on agenda for this legislation as well.

Proposal approved from City Staff Development Commission and the Northwest Civic Association.

Do my colleagues have your questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move to a minute.

Yep.

Councilmember Weich?

Just on this project traffic.

Can are we able to speak to the traffic study and what was done, what is being proposed?

I know that many of the residents in the area do not live in the City of Columbus but have expressed concern, which is why they're not here today.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Um Mr.

Bleshmett.

Um thank you, Chair Dorns.

President Hardin, Members of Council.

Uh, in regards to our review of this application, please be advised that this proposed development site triggered the preparation of a traffic impact study that was reviewed and approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction of the study area.

Resulting from this traffic impact study, developer commitments to mitigate additional traffic volumes generated by this proposed development site have been established to perform turn lane widening along West Dublin Grandville Road and to install traffic signal at the intersection of West Dublin Grandville Road and McVay Boulevard.

These commitments are included in the limitation text with this proposed ordinance.

With these comments noted, be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Ms.

Bushman.

Customer Weich, does that answer your question?

It does.

So it sounds like a light will be at that intersection to kind of deal with the traffic issues related to getting on and off McVay and going through uh 161.

Correct.

The developer will be required to install traffic signal at that intersection.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

Any other questions by Council colleagues?

Seeing on a move to amend estimated clerk.

Banks Timperosa de Podia, Day Akaur Dorns Green, Remy, Ross, Weich, President Harden.

Thank you.

I move for passage as amended.

Banks Temp Barosa de Podia, Day Achar Dorans Green, Remy, Ross, Weissh, President Harden.

Thank you.

Next we have ordinance 0287-2026 to re zone 1981 South High Street, being 16.41 acres plus acres located on the west side of South High Street, 565 plus feet south of Hosek Street, from M manufacturing district to ARO apartment office district.

Site consists of five parcels developed a variety of industrial uses, and the applicant requested rezoning to allow for a multi-unit resident development of approximately 455 units.

A concurrent council variance request will be considered later in tonight's agenda.

The approvals approved in the city staff development commission and the Columbus South Side Area Commission.

Any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing on move for passage.

Banks Temple Rosa de Podia, de Akaur Dorrance Green, Remy Ross Weiss President Harden.

Thank you.

Next we move into the Council Variances portion of our agenda.

First, we have ordinance 3001-2025 to grant a variance provisions of section 3333.18.

Building lines, the Columbus City Codes for the property located at uh 1100 Georgesville Green to allow reduced building setback line for apartment complex in the Area 1 department residential district.

Um this is the concurrent council variance request.

The rezoning we're heard earlier in our agenda.

Uh the requested council variants proposes a again a 48 uh apartment complex reduced building setback line along Hall Road and commitment to develop the site with submitted site plan.

Uh again, proposals approved from staff, but it is approval from the Hilltop Area Commission.

Again, these are just individual variances regarding that site.

Uh it's my understanding that Commissioner Kitchens um is not interested uh in testifying in this portion of the uh variances.

Uh we'll pause to see if any of my colleagues have any questions about the specific variances.

So again, we passed the rezoning earlier in the agenda.

This again is just uh regarding the variances to the site plan.

So any questions for my council colleagues on the variances.

Uh I will offer the applicant's representative would like to testify.

Thank you.

Uh seeing none, I first move to accept the entire staff report into evidence as an exhibit by voice.

Bankstem.

Yes.

Baroso de Podia.

De Akaur.

Yes.

Dorns.

Yes.

Grain.

Yes.

Remy.

Yes.

Ross.

Yes.

We president Hard.

Thank you.

And next move to adopt the finance of staff is the findings of council by voice.

Bankstin, Barossa de Padilla, De Akauer Dorns, Green.

You're not gonna have to.

Okay.

All right.

So Bankstem.

Yes.

Barossa de Padilla.

Yes.

De Akaur.

Yes.

Dorns.

Yes.

Green.

Did you say something?

Did you?

I think he okay.

Uh Remy.

Yes.

Ross.

White.

President Harton.

Thank you.

And finally move for passage by voice.

Bankstin.

Barossa de Podia.

Yes.

De Akauer.

Yes.

Dorns.

Yes.

Green.

No.

Remy.

Yes.

Ross.

Whitech.

Yes.

President Hardin.

Yes.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, next we have ordinance 0275-2026, the granted variance provisions of section 333 2.035, R3 residential district, 331 2.21 landscape and screening, and 331 2.27 parking setback line, 3312.49 C required parking.

Uh 333 21.05 B12 Vision Clearance and 333 2.05 uh area districts width requirements 3332.13 R3 area district requirements, 3332.21 building lines, 3332 point 25AB required side yard, 333 2.27 rear yard, and 333 2.28 obstruction in a required side yard.

The Columbus City Close property located at 506 Miller Avenue to allow a mixed use development with reduced development standards in the R3 residential district.

Line 3312.49 C required parking 33321.05 B12 Vision Clearance and 3332.05 uh area districts lot width requirements 3332.13 R3 area district requirements 3332.21 building lines 3332 point 25AB required side yard 332.27 rear yard and three three three two point two eight obstruction in a required side yard the Columbus City Close property located at 506 Miller Avenue to allow a mixed use development with reduced development standards in the R3 residential district site consists of one undeveloped parcel a future lot split has been proposed that will result in three new lots with a council uh variance allowing two new dwellings on lot one and lot two and a mixed use building containing two dwelling lots and approximately one thousand square feet of office and retail on on lot three additionally two parking space for lot two will be provided on lot one a council variance is required because the current zoning district only allows single unit dwellings as a primary res residential land use and does not allow office retail or accessory parking uses variance to landscaping screening parking setbacks required parking vision clearance lot width lot area building lines side yard rear yard and site obstruction are also included in this request proposal to approved from city staff and the near east area commission any question or comments my colleagues seeing none I move to accept the staff report and new evidence as an exhibit banks dengue rosa depodilla de acauer dorans green reamy rosh president harden accept it thank you and next move to adopt the five staff the finance of council clerk please call the row banks then rosa de pudia de acauer dorms green reamy Ross Weich President Hardin adopted thank you finally move for passage clerk please call the row banks temper rosa de pudilla de acauer dorance green reamy reamy Ross Weich President Hardin passed thank you next we have ordinance 2077-2026 grant advanced provisions of section 3309.14a height district 3333.18 building lines 3333.255 permanent yard and 3333.41H standards the Columbus City codes for the property located at 2575 West Dublin Grand Rule Road to provide reduced development standards for a multi-unit resident development in the LAR1 limited department residential district and L AR12 limited department residential district this concurrent variance for a rezoning we considered earlier for a multi-unit resident development totaling 474 units the request includes variances in building height building lines per yard and private streets proposals approved some city staff and the Northwest Civic Association I first move to accept the tire staff for into evidence as an exhibit clerk please call the row banks then Borosa depodia de acaur dorms green reamy Ross Weich President Harden accept it thank you next move to adopt the five staffs the finance of council clerk please call the row banks depodia de acauer dorms green reamy Ross Weich President Harden.

Adopt it thank you I next move to a man is made of the clerk clerk please call the row Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de Akaur Dorans Green Remy Ross Weich President Harden.

Amended finally move for passage as amended Clerk please call the row Banks Tim Barosa de Padilla de Akaur Dorans green reamy Ross Weich President Hardin's passed.

Thank you next we have ordinance 0283-2026 for grant advice provisions of section 3361.02 permitted use of the Columbus City codes for the property located at 711 uh park road to allow exercise and gym uses in a CPD commercial plan development district this site is developed with a former pharmacy and drug store and the request council variants will allow the existing building to be repurposed into an exercise and gym facility a council variance is required because the current zoning district only allows pharmacy and drugstore uses in addition to accessory uses proposals approved some city staff and the far north columbus coalition communities coalition any question comments my colleagues seeing none I first move to accept the entire staff report into evidence as an exhibit clerk please call the row banks timber rosa depodia de acao dorns green reamy Ross Weich President Hardin accepted thank you and expand to adopt five staffs finance council second please call the row banks depodia de acauer dorans green reamy Ross Weich President Harden.

Adopted thank you and finally move for passage.

Banks Timber Rosa de Podia de Akaur Dorans Green Remy Ross Weich President Hardin passed thank you next we have ordinance 0285-2026 to grant advance provisions of section three through three two point oh two our rural district three through three two point oh six our rural area district requirements and three through three two point two two building lines on corner lots exceptions and three three three two point two five A1 required side yards Columbus for the property located 2210 Juba drive to allow two unit dwelling on six lots reduced development standards in the R Rural district site consists of six undeveloped parcels a council variance is required because the current zoning district only allows single unit dwellings while the applicant proposes to construct a two unit dwelling on each lot variances to lot size minimum side yard are also included in this request proposal to approve some city staff and the Northland community council my colleagues have any questions or comments seeing none I move for uh move to accept the task staff report into into evidence as an exhibit clerk please call the row banks timber rosa depodia de acauer dorance green reamy Ross Weich President Hardin accept it thank you and next move to adopt the five staff the finance of council clerk please call the row banks deputia de acauer dorans green reamy Ross Weich President Hardin adopt it.

Thank you finally move for passage Clerk please call the row Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de Aka Dorans green reamy Ross Weich President Harden passed.

331 2.27 Park and Sebac Line 312.49 requirement parking and 3321.01 dumpster area and 333.18 building lines and 3333.255 per year of the Columbus City Coast for Property Locate 1981 South High Street to allow reduced development standards and multi-unit residential development ARO department office district.

This is a concurrent variance for the rezoning we heard earlier tonight's agenda to allow for a multi-unit residue development approximately 455 units.

This council variance request includes variances to parking lot screening, parking setback, require parking dumpster area, building lines of perimeter yard.

Proposal is approved from city staff and the Columbus South Side Area Commission.

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

Clerk is called the role.

Bangs Timberosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorance Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Adopted.

Thank you.

And finally move for passage.

Clerk is called the row.

Is there a second?

Yeah, there's a second.

Okay.

Clerk Ms.

Calderau.

Banks Tim Barosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weitch, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you, Council President.

All we have in tonight's zoning agenda.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Is there motion to adjourn?

Clerk Chief Scotler Row.

Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Hard.

Meeting is a journal where we convene regular meeting in five minutes.

Bangs Timber Rosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weitch, President Hard.

We are back in meeting number five.

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

Committee's chair by Councilman Remy.

Councilman Floor is yours.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Tonight in public safety and criminal justice.

We have four ordinances.

The first ordinance is 3412, 2025 to authorize the director of public safety to enter into contract with Crosswalk Inc.

for the crosswalk to care program.

So tonight I'm excited to introduce this legislation that I believe is a significant win for the city of Columbus and our residents.

This is something I've been working on with along with the mayor and Director Pashadi, our Division of Fire, and our public safety partners, and I want to thank them for the collaboration to get us all here tonight.

It's rooted in the simple idea that when someone calls 911 for a medical issue, they're not asking for a specific response, they're asking for help.

So this ordinance authorizes Crosswalk to create a nurse health care navigation line within our 911 system.

What I often describe as a concierge approach to health care.

So we can answer every medical call the right way every single time.

Last year, the division of fire responded to nearly, well, in 2024, nearly 145,000 EMS calls.

That's roughly 400 medical calls every single day.

And many of those calls didn't require emergency treatment, but they did require care, guidance, and support.

Under this program, when a call meets clear clinical criteria, callers can be connected to a registered nurse who will help guide them to the most appropriate next step, whether that's urgent care, primary health, primary care, telehealth, pharmacy support, behavioral health services, transportation assistance, or safe self-care at home.

And if at any point it is determined to be an emergency, the call is immediately routed back to EMS.

That means better outcomes for our residents and ensures our ambulances and paramedics are available when seconds truly matter.

Importantly, this contract with Crosswalk comes at no cost to the city.

And residents will be served regardless of their insurance status.

The division of fire to anticipates the service being up running later this summer.

And so I'm excited about what this means for how Columbus shows up for our residents.

Are there any questions or comments regarding this legislation this evening?

If none I'd love no council member green.

Sure.

That's why I asked.

I I just want to take a moment.

I like I feel like this is a really important piece of legislation.

I feel like this is really important work.

Um it's a way that we can really step up and serve our residents in the way that they need it in the way that they're asking to be served.

So I think it's responsive to community need.

Um so I just really want to take a minute to shout you out, um, Chair, for your work on getting this across the finish line to the Department of Public Safety.

And then I especially wanted to call out, you know, this wouldn't have been possible without our um recently retired uh fire chief, Chief Happ and his leadership and the and the team at the Columbus Division of Fire, who I know have been dreaming about this for a really long time.

You know, I've been thinking about how can we innovate in the way that we are um the way that we are caring for people, you know.

How can we prevent people from needing to call us by being able to provide them the right service when when they contact us?

How can we mitigate um you know social determinants of health that influence um people's physical health care and so um I just wanted to take a moment to make that comment and um commend the division of fire specifically for um always answering the call uh no matter who it is and working really hard to be innovative and providing the right type of assistance for every call.

Thank you very much, Councilman Brunny.

Uh Councilmember Barossa Dee.

Chair, I just also wanted to recognize um that there was significant resident advocacy towards us as well, ensuring that I think that you know, one of the principles of I was a community organizer for many many years.

And one thing I learned very easy on early on is um to ask people what they need, right?

To first ask people what they need.

And I think that um ensuring uh that folks get what they need when they need it and they're getting that right response is about their safety, it's about the safety of our first responders, it's about ensuring that all of the needs are met for all of the community.

And I just want to acknowledge all of the hard work from everyone who has put this effort forward just because I think that it shows that as a community, I mean, people grow, evolve, and change, and so does the community.

And so ensuring that we are doing our jobs to meet community needs means that we need to grow and evolve as well and think about our resources and think about how we are best serving the community.

So I think I feel like um I say this often, but I think when we get to the this side of the dais, especially when we have lots of uh pieces of legislation that sometimes we have big things that happen that we need to pause on, even if the meeting is going longer or it's later into the evening, just because this is incredibly important work that is responsive to what our community needs now and they've needed for a really long time.

And so I don't want that to fall through the crack.

So I want to say thank you, thank you for to the department, but also thank you to all of our um community advocates that have been asking for this for a really long time.

So thanks for your leadership.

Thank you so much.

And this is you know, this is happening in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Indianapolis.

I mean, these these are the next level of care.

It's about it's about meeting our residents, uh, where they are and making sure that the help they're actually getting it helps.

And so excited to uh move for passage.

Second.

Congratulations, uh, Councilman Brandon.

You've uh advocated for this for a long time, and it's good to see you push this over because at the end of the day, um, our residents are our clients and they should get the best service when they call.

And this is will make it better.

So thank you.

Bang Sten Barosa De Padilla, Day Akaward, Norris Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hard.

Thank you very much.

Um, next we have 1492 on E26 to authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into contracts with KS Services Inc.

for maintenance services for neighborhood safety cameras, waive competitive bidding, authorizes 285,000 from the general fund and to declare an emergency.

So, as part of our comprehensive approach to preventing and fighting crime in Columbus neighborhoods, the Department of Public Safety utilizes safety cameras in various neighborhoods.

The original contract for this was signed in 2011 to design and install safety cameras in just five original neighborhoods.

The program has since evolved to over 300 cameras at a hundred locations throughout Columbus neighborhoods.

So this authorization is to enter into contract to perform full service preventative maintenance repairs and upgrades on these cameras as well as any new systems that may be installed during the life of the contract.

Competitive bidding is requested to be waived due to KNS's specialized knowledge within this camera network and experience needed to provide the services.

Um this is the current vendor that they're using, so they're therefore that was the request.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Bang Stimberosa de Padilla, De Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weitch President Hard.

Next I have 269, 2026 to authorize 1 million 515,071.61 cents from the unappropriated balance of the police continuing professional training fund for division of police continuing um professional training declare and to declare an emergency.

In 2007, the state of Ohio enacted mandatory continuing professional training for all Ohio Peace Officers.

The Columbus Division of Police has fulfilled this mandate every year, and as a result, the city of Columb the city receives funds from the state of Ohio in 2025 for their mandated training in 2025.

This legislation appropriates those fund funds into the police continuing professional training fund.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Bang Standard also depadilla, day Achow or Doran Screen, Remy Ross, White's President Hard.

And finally, tonight I have 299 2026 to authorize the city attorney on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into contract with Edelson PC for specialized legal counsel services regarding legal action pertaining to the lead water service lines that are or were within the city's drinking water infrastructure and to declare an emergency.

Through this legislation, the City of Columbus is exploring various legal options that may be available to investigate and assess potential claims of harm caused by the lead water service lines.

The vendor who would be contracted at no cost is a plaintiff's law firm that has expertise in environmental litigation.

Any potential litigation resulting from the legislation would be directed towards water service line manufacturers.

Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues?

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Bangs then, Barbosa de Padilla de Aka or Dorans Green, Remy Ross, White's President Hard.

Thank you, Council President.

That is all I have this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

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

Councilmember Ross chairs that committee.

Councilmember Floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

We have several pieces of legislation coming out of the housing homelessness and building committee.

The first four ordinances are really important.

So I'm gonna talk a little bit about them and then turn it over to Director Prosser to give some more information.

But they constitute nearly $7 million in debt forgiveness that we are authorizing the Department of Development to forgive.

This was debt incurred through the deployment of federal home entitlement funds.

This is a tool that has been used to really deliver on the promise of home ownership, affordable home ownership for residents in our community.

And so sometimes these lease to purchase debt forgiveness deals are hard to understand by the layperson.

And so I am going to ask Director Prosser to really explain kind of the mechanics of the home loans, how they have been deployed by the Department of Development, and how the department has used those loans as a tool to create opportunity for affordable home ownership to residents in our community.

Certainly.

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

This is one of those great opportunities to talk about how long the city's been investing in affordable housing.

These are projects that were included in our city some some 20 years ago.

They were making those investments around the rental and affordable homeownership.

The ordinances tonight represent the important transition for these projects and for these families.

By forgiving the loans originally made to the properties, we're able to unlock that affordable homeownership opportunity for families who've been renting the homes.

These homes were the loans were issued decades ago through the Federal Home Investment Partnerships program to help build affordable homes.

And at the time, the projects were intentionally designed to operate first as affordable rental housing and then later give residents a chance to buy the homes they'd been renting once affordability requirements were met.

We're now at that moment, and by forgiving the loans, the city is allowing the families to begin the process to move from renter to homeowner.

The affordability criteria remains, and the homes will be sold to families earning below 80% of the AMI.

And if the family is not yet ready for home ownership, they can remain in the affordable rental unit.

These properties are among the first of these types of investments to reach this milestone, and we're excited about the opportunity to build on the impact of the affordable rental and place-based neighborhood revitalization the program initially delivered, and now to realize the full impact of the investment by giving families access to affordable homeownership.

I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Thank you, Director.

And each ordinance is actually related to a particular housing development that was offered these home loans, correct?

Yes, that is correct.

And if the city did not authorize the department to forgive these loans, what would that mean for the resident?

And these were dollars that were put into the project initially.

It makes it extremely difficult to deliver the affordability when these kinds of dollars are still attached to the project.

And so the ability for the city to forgive those dollars really opens up that opportunity for those below 80% AMI current residents to be able to purchase the homes and move out of renters, renting and into homeownership.

And do you think that same result would occur if the city decided to require the housing provider to incur the debt rather than the city?

No, I think it's it is a significant amount of investment we made on the front end.

And again, the intention being that it delivered that affordable rental project for the first period of affordability, but also was a pretty big investment in these neighborhoods and really bringing folks back into these communities.

It really served that purpose.

The impact of those dollars is very meaningful, but in order to move forward and allow these folks to enter affordable homeownership.

And again, that's where the mortgage payment they're paying will be affordable to them at their income below that 80% AMI level.

It's extremely difficult to deliver that today given our housing market.

And so this is one of those unique opportunities that we'll see over the next couple of years as a lot of these projects mature that we're invested in in the early 2000s and 2010s.

Um we'll start to see that conversion and it will be that opportunity to really return those to those families.

Thank you, Director.

Any other questions for my colleagues?

That's good work.

All right, with that, I'm going to read.

Clerk, can I do this?

Can I read off four read each one and then move for passage on each one?

All right, here we go.

First ordinance is 0081-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Development to forgive the principal and accrued interest on a unit by unit basis for Fairview Homes limited partnership on a home loan due to the City of Columbus more than $1,982,895.03 as homes are sold to existing tenants or low-income home buyers to reduce the interest rate on the current balance of the loan to zero.

Move for passage.

Clerk Pscall the Row.

Bank's Demperosa de Pudilla, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross, Weich President Harden.

Passed.

We have 0082-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Development to forgive the principal and accrued interest on a unit by unit basis for level green homes LLC on a home loan due to the City of Columbus, totaling approximately $1,300,620 85 cent as homes are sold to existing tenants for low-income homebuyers to reduce the interest rate on the current balance of the loan to zero.

Move for passage.

Clark Peace Call the Row.

Bank's Dembarosa de Padilla de Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross Weich President Harden.

Passed.

Next we have 0110-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Development to forgive the principal and accrued interest on a unit by unit basis for Kingsford Homes limited partnership on a home loan due to the City of Columbus in excess of $1,462,000 13 cents as homes are sold to existing tenants or low-income home buyers to reduce the interest rate on the current balance of the loan to zero.

Move for passage.

Clerk Please call the roll.

Bang Sten Barosa de Pudilla de Aka or Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weitch President Harden.

And finally, 0116-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Development to forgive the principal and accrued interest on a unit by unit basis for South Side Homes Limited Partnership on a home loan due to the City of Columbus, totaling approximately $2,134,432.21 cents as homes are sold to existing tenants or low-income home buyers to reduce the interest rate on the current balance of the loan to zero move for passage.

Bangs Temperosa de Pudia de Achar Dorns Green, Remy Ross Ross Weitch President Harden.

Pass.

Thank you.

And the next ordinance coming out of the committee is really related to an ordinance we passed during the Snow Mageddon meeting.

It is to fund the contract for a roof replacement contractor that is helping our residents get roof repair when they need it.

So this is ordinance number 0161-2026 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 Revere Roofing Company Incorporated for the Division of Housing's Roof Replacement Program in an amount up to 150,000 using affordable housing taxable bond funds to waive the provisions of Columbus City Codes Section 11.14 and 329.09 to authorize the transfer and expenditure of 150,000 to authorize the director 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 from and after January 1st, 2026 to waive the competit competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code and to declare an emergency.

Move for passage.

Clerk Miss Call the Row.

Bang Stimba Rosa de Podia, de Aka or Dorance Green, Remy Ross Weitch President Harden.

Pass.

And finally, we have ordinance number 0245-2026.

And I'm certainly proud and honored to work alongside Council President Harden, and I wanted to acknowledge his leadership and commitment to thinking creatively about the future of our housing landscape and the holistic needs of our residents.

I am going to read the ordinance and then I will pass it to Council President for comments.

It is to create a yes in God's Backyard Pilot Program and to authorize the directors of the Departments of Development, Building, and Zoning Services, public utilities, and public service to promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement and administer that program.

With that, I'll turn it to Council President.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and it has already been a pleasure to be your vice chair of this committee and uh work even on this piece of legislation as we advance it and certainly to the Department Building and Zoning Services, Department of Development, and all those who have had a part to play in 0245-2026.

Tonight I'm proud to bring forward this ordinance which establishes the Yes in God's Backyard Pilot Program within the city's housing division.

This legislation starts from a simple premise.

We have a responsibility to use the resources that we already have wisely and intentionally to meet the needs of our growing city, especially when it comes to affordable housing.

There's a passage in scripture that feels especially relevant this evening.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us that for where your treasure is, there also is your heart.

For many of our faith-based partners, that verse speaks directly to their mission, to the idea that the resources that they steward, including land, should reflect their deepest commitments to service, to compassion, and to care for their neighbors.

The Yig B program creates a pathway for churches and faith institutions whose hearts are already in community to use their assets in ways that live out those values.

This is stewardship not just in belief but in action.

Across Columbus, faith-based organizations across uh schools and nonprofit institutions own land that has long served their communities.

In many cases, that land is underutilized or could be thoughtfully repurposed to meet today's housing need.

At the same time, complex and lengthy approval processes can make it difficult for those institutions to bring affordable housing projects to life.

This ordinance creates a city administered pilot program designed to remove unnecessary barriers and streamline processes without lowering standards or accountability.

Under Yigby, qualifying faith-based educational and nonprofit organizations may propose CRA eligible affordable housing on land they have already owned as of January 1st, 2025.

These organizations must retain a controlling ownership interest throughout the required affordability period, ensuring long-term commitment to both the project and the community that it serves.

Every project approved through this program must meet the city's community reinvestment area affordability standards, including income targeting and duration requirements or any successor program adopted by our council.

What YIGBE offers participants is time.

Projects in the program receive expedited site engineering and building reviews, along with predictable area commission uh review period, all at no additional cost.

By saving time, this will produce uh project cost this will reduce project project cost, improve feasibility, and help get affordable homes built sooner.

As we consider upcoming upcoming zoning, uh zone in phases and zoning reform, this pilot gives us a practical data-driven tool to meet today's housing needs while remaining flexible for tomorrow.

Yigby is about aligning our values with our actions.

It recognizes trusted community institutions as partners.

It respects neighborhood processes, and it reflects our shared belief that when we use our resources wisely, we can create opportunity, stability, and dignity for more Columbus residents.

So I look forward to uh the implementation of this and working with the departments and our faith in educational and nonprofit uh partners as we move this forward, as well as next steps.

We see this as a part one, but we know that technical assistance is critically important, uh, and we look forward to working with those uh organizations and some of our community partners that we have here tonight.

We have uh an invited guest, Mr.

Adam Troy, and we have several folks who have signed up, not folks, advocates, leaders uh in the faith in housing space who are here to speak on this ordinance.

First, I'd bring up uh Mr.

Adam Troy uh to speak uh on ordinance CR245-2026.

And thank you to everyone for hanging out with us this evening.

I want to record to reflect that Johnny Pitts just threatened me not to take much of his time back there.

So Chair Ross and to certainly Council President Harding and all of the esteemed members of Council, thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening and certainly for your leadership in addressing one of the most important challenges facing Columbus.

Safe, affordable housing for everybody.

As director of New Salem Baptist Church's Economic and Community Engagement Nonprofit Foundation, I stand in strong support of advancing the Yes in God's Backyard initiative and any related policy proposals that open the door for faith institutions to leverage their land as a tool for equitable development.

Across our city, churches, and faith-based organizations sit at the heart of neighborhoods.

They are trusted anchors not just for worship, but also for food, distribution, child care, youth programs, health outreach, and countless other services that strengthen community well-being.

As you know, many of these institutions also steward land that can and should be repurposed for more pressing housing needs.

Some may ask, is this practical?

Councilman Rimmer, you know me for a long time, and I love the way council asks questions.

In fact, unlocking the potential of faith on land is both practical and visionary.

It is practical because faith communities already own and maintain these properties, often in areas where land cost and barriers to development are otherwise prohibitive.

It is visionary because it aligns with our values of human dignity, social justice, and equal opportunity, making sure that families of all incomes can live and thrive in every neighborhood.

Specifically in Linden and throughout Northeast Columbus, where I've had the pleasure of working alongside of my friend Johnny Pitts, who you'll hear from in a minute, we have seen firsthand how faith-based partners can serve as conveners, collaborators, and catalysts for holistic change.

Policy lower policy that lowers barriers, provides technical assistance, and encourages innovative partnerships, will allow congregations to, in fact, reimagine their underutilized spaces as homes, hubs, and hope for future generations.

This is not simply about building units of housing.

It's about dignity, equity, and building stronger, more connected communities.

For the faith-based community specifically, yes in God's backyard reflects a moral imperative to ensure that land stewarded for the public good continues to serve the public good, especially when it comes to sheltering our neighbors and strengthening families.

I urge council to continue advancing this conversation into concrete policy action.

Together, we can ensure Columbus leads the way in showing how commerce and community, how sacred and the secular, how faith and city partnerships can transform vacant lots and underutilized properties in the pathways of stability, equity, and belonging.

Thank you for your time and your commit and your continued commitment to this vital work.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Troy.

Are there any questions or comments from Mr.

Troy?

I mean, you and and uh Mr.

Pitts, uh Pastor Pitts uh are examples of this is not new to the faith community.

Um this is the city catching up to be as good of support uh and partner as possible as we have this shared goal.

Absolutely.

And so just thank you for your your leadership.

You know, one of the hearings that we had was at Corbin Uh Cormann Commons, um, a project that was done 25 years ago, 20.

Correct.

Um Johnny Pitts organization, uh Day Spring CDC led that um for us, and it still stands as a unique partnership throughout the Midwest, maybe in the United States, where three faith-based institutions came together across denominational lines in partnership with one of the largest nonprofit entities that being home for and carried that project for literally two decades.

That's amazing.

Yeah.

Well, we want to continue to be good partners as we uh meet this moral imperative.

Absolutely.

We appreciate next up.

We will have Pastor Johnny Pitts of Day Springs Christian CDC come to probably speak a little bit more on the work that he has been leading for over two decades and saying yield me a couple minutes of his time for over three minutes.

But he is correct.

Uh uh Council President Hard, members of council, thank you for the opportunity to come before you tonight.

I am president of Day Spring Christian Community Development Corporation.

Day Spring has been in existence for over 30 years and has provided more than 1,500 units of affordable housing during this period.

We currently are co-owners of 300 affordable housing units in three different developments, one in the partnership that Mr.

Troy just spoke of.

I am here to speak in support of the ordinance, yes, in God's backyard, that is being presented tonight by President Hardin.

With Day Spring having been in the affordable housing industry for over 25 years, we certainly know the importance of the passage of this ordinance.

What it means to us as a faith-based group is a greater capacity to produce affordable housing through increased funding opportunities that this ordinance makes available to faith-based groups.

It means over seven million dollars of debt forgiveness.

And just as important it streamlines and provides for more favorable zoning experience with land owned by faith-based entities like ours.

This indeed is groundbreaking and should benefit affordable housing in Columbus.

And I will say this, not like some developing that we see being done by out-of-state predators who mask market rate housing with two or three units being called affordable in an effort to take advantage of these tax dollars.

That's all I'm going to say about that subject.

I'll conclude by saying thank you, President Hardin.

Thank you for taking the initiative.

Thank you for your insight.

Thank you for your determination in seeing this initiative to fruition.

And that it has been our privilege to assist and support you from the beginning.

Day Spring strongly encourages the passes the passage of this ordinance by this city council.

Thank you for the opportunity to address the council and God bless each of you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Pastor Fitz.

Councilmember.

Um thank you, uh, Council President.

I just wanted to say um thank you for your work.

You know, the if folks do not understand the history of CDCs, they started after the civil rights movement, and it was rooted in community, so that community could make a reinvestment in areas that weren't invested in.

And because it was grounded in community, I think when people first think about um where they find community is certainly within our faith-based communities, right?

So you have really been the example as we talk about expanding housing and as we talk about land use and as we talk about ensuring that we are making housing accessible for all.

I think our CDCs, our faith-based communities have led that way.

You have been the example.

So to the point that council president is talking about us catching up as a community.

We really are playing that catch-up game.

And so as we legislate this, right, and as we resource this, I just wanted to acknowledge the role that you have played.

You talked about Day Spring being 30 some years old.

I mean, the CDCs really started in the 60s, and so we've seen this around the country where we are giving voice and power back to the community to say these are the things we want in our backyard.

Right?

This is what we want to see.

So I just um again want to thank you both because as I think about leaders that um have been doing this work and have been empowering communities and have been thinking about how do we reinvest in communities that often feel forgotten, communities that quite literally were cut off because of redlining and other practices that you have been what has buoyed up the community while the rest of us catch up.

And so um, so thank you.

So thank you for being here.

Thank you for being supportive, and thank you for leading the way.

You're welcome.

Thank you so much, uh Pastor Fitz.

I as you said you were very helpful throughout the process being an advisor, looking at the legislation, advising us, hosting us.

Uh so just thank you so much uh for your partnership on this.

You're welcome, President Hart.

Everyone wants to make me a pastor, but I'm just the minister.

And so I just want to make sure you get the title right and uh so thank you very much.

Councilmember Day Acker knows the difference.

Council President Harden, Committee Chairperson Ross, and other members of City Council.

I'm pleased to express my strong support for the Yes in God's Backyard legislation.

I'd like to begin by affirming that all of us dwell inside a divine economy of abundance, not scarcity.

There is enough of every good gift for every good purpose as long as we share forward the best that God has entrusted to us.

This legislation provides a fresh opportunity for churches along with other nonprofits to do just that by using portions of our properties as sites for building affordable housing.

The Yig B initiative will make it easier for our organizations to redevelop underutilized into homes for people who are seeking a roof over their head and a key to their own front door.

The program also will provide technical assistance to churches so that congregations and other nonprofits can make wise informed decisions as they embark on housing ministries.

Now I've been involved in faith-based efforts to develop housing going all the way back to 1987 when Reverend Phil Burr Phil, excuse me, Bill Philburn, uh Kim Stans from the City of Columbus and myself established the Greater Columbus Habitat for Humanity Affiliate.

And that organization has thrived in all the time since then, largely because of hundreds of churches that have invested their financial resources and their volunteer labor.

Furthermore, from its inception in 2003 until my retirement 20 years later, I served as the executive director of community development for all people, a united Methodist organization.

Much of our ministry on the South Side has focused on developing housing.

We began by rehabbing one vacant played duplex and gradually expanded our work to the point that we have developed more than 150 million dollars of affordable housing on the South Side.

The City of Columbus has been an essential partner in all of these endeavors.

And I'm delighted that City Council is now taking yet another bold step forward with the Yes and God's Backyard Initiative.

This program promises to open the way for many more faith-based organizations to use portions of our properties as the site for building housing.

One of these groups with whom I'm now working is Bethel International United Methodist Church.

This congregation is exploring the feasibility of taking two acres of their land on Bethel Road and using it as a site for constructing dozens of four-bedroom apartments to serve larger families, especially their immigrant neighbors.

This legislation is a source of hope and encouragement for all of us in the faith community who yearn to serve our neighbors by offering forward the best that God has entrusted to us.

Thank you for your leadership.

Well, thank you, Reverend Edgar.

You uh set the example what you what City for All People has done on the South Side is as really is God's work and brought thousands of units to uh fruition and we just appreciate your leadership and your advisement along the way as well.

And uh I think we we've already spoken about this.

The project we're working with on Bethel is uh a glowing example of what we can do uh when we work together.

So really excited.

Any questions or comments for Pastor?

Thank you very much.

Thank you again for sticking around.

And our last speaker uh on this is uh Anate Ocasango uh from the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.

Anna, welcome to council.

Well, good evening, Council, and happy early uh Valentine's Day.

Hence the pink.

Uh President Hardin, President Pro Tem Dorans, and Chair Ross, as well as members of council.

I'm Anna Tekasongo.

I'm the assistant executive director at the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.

We begin by thanking you for proposing this yes in God's backyard pilots.

Removing unnecessary and outdated bureaucratic barriers that prevents faith-based nonprofit and colleges from building affordable housing on land they own is a meaningful step to addressing our housing needs and serves public interests.

Ahaco and 85% of Central Ohio residents wish to allow nonprofits like churches or colleges to more easily build affordable housing with a simplified permitting process.

By supporting these trusted community centered organizations through complex and lengthy building approval processes, council is uplifting mission driven groups and ensuring that the housing problem is solved from the ground up, under the stewardship of local leaders like you heard tonight.

We also thank you for keeping this program narrowly focused on affordability and creating rents restricted housing.

Tying these mandates to CRA guidelines sets clear expectations and accountability, echoing Yigbee legislation from pure cities like California, Virginia, Maryland, and even Florida.

While being mission driven can relieve a profit motive, these entities will face the same operational challenges as other builders, rising material costs, labor costs, and lending risks.

For this reason, we are hopeful that this Yigby pilot is the first resource on what will become a broad toolkit to support mission centered housing.

As we look ahead to solutions that further support deep affordability, we are excited for our community to invest in training and mentorship programs that teach the fundamentals of affordable construction, pre-development loans, and grants that allow nonprofits to seize these opportunities, initiatives that broaden access to legal counsel, so nonprofits are supported in this work, and proven affordability programs like grants, low cost loans, and credit enhancements that bring down rents.

Acknowledging the important work to come, we thank council for supporting the free yes and God backyard academy.

We are co-hosting with PACT on March 4th, called From Pro From Prayers to Proform Us, a housing crash course for Central Ohio's faith leaders.

This is an educational space to build fellowship and skills that will advance faith-based and nonprofit affordable housing projects.

And tickets are running out.

So for those who want to register, uh please make sure to check our website.

So the need for affordable housing is crucial.

52,000 of our families spend more than half of every paycheck on housing alone.

And over three quarters of our residents say that they know a loved one who's been impacted by our housing shortages.

So we are grateful for council for thinking creatively about these solutions and for listening to the overwhelming majority of our neighbors who agreed that a simplified process is necessary for mission-driven housing.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Anna.

We're so excited about uh the training next month.

How do folks find out about it?

So you go to Ahaco.org, so that's AHACO.org slash from prayers to perform us.

Um so the registration link is there.

You can see the whole um run of show, all the speakers who will be there, conversations about land use, light tech, really navigating CDCs, everything you can think of in one location, because we want to make sure that our faith base and our nonprofits are equipped with what they need to take the next step.

That's awesome.

And I think our own Aaron Professor is speaking at the conference.

Yes, yes, she is.

Yeah, we're very excited.

Thank you so much, Anna.

Are there any questions or comments for Anna?

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Well, with that, I'm gonna turn it back over to the chair, but I also want to thank my uh team, Jessica Klinger, for all the hard work in shepherding this through, as well as Dr.

Katie Fallon, uh, who has uh worked so hard on this legislation.

I am very proud that you guys are allowing me to check off my Columbus Ford initiative tonight.

So thank you so much, and I'll turn it back over to Councilmember Ross.

There are no additional questions or comments.

I'll move for passage.

Clerk, please call the row.

Thanks, d banks, Barosa de Padilla, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross White's President Harden.

Passed.

All right.

I need to move back to page 15, if you don't mind, Council President.

Um to remove uh ordinance number 0074-2026 is removed from the consent consent agenda.

So I'm going to read it and move to be amended as submitted to authorize the director of the Department of Development to forgive the principal and accrued interest on a unit by unit basis for Joyce Avenue Homes Limited Partnership on a home loan due to the City of Columbus, more than 1,359,770 and 66 cents as homes are sold to existing tenants or low income homebuyers to reduce the interest rate on the current balance of the loan to zero.

I will motion to amend as submitted.

So I get Banks Timborosa de Padilla de Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weich President Hardin.

And I will move to pass as amended.

Second, Miss Calderau.

Banks Timborosa de Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weich President Harden.

Thank you, Council President.

That is it from the committee.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Next committee to come before council is the public utilities and sustainability committee chaired by Councilmember Weiss.

Councilmember, the floor is yours.

Thank you, cousin.

Thank you, Council President.

First in public utilities and sustainability.

I have ordinance 3418-2025 to authorize the director of public utilities to enter into a construction contract with Danbert Incorporated for the Blueprint Miller Kelton Newton Bedford Permeable Pavement and Newton Bedford Waterline Improvements Project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvements budget to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $8,176,756 and 60 cents from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund for the contract to make this ordinance contingent upon an Ohio Water Development Authority approving loans for the project and to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,000 from the sanitary bond fund to pay for prevailing wage services.

This project will construct 7,174 square yards of permeable pavers in the Livingston Avenue area.

Additionally, this project includes the construction of new storm sewers, drainage modifications to existing storm sewers, curb and sidewalk replacement, and the installation of 14 1,424 linear feet of water lines.

Let me stop there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Banks Timberwolves deputy, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross, Weich President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next I have ordinance 3441-2025 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify and increase the contract with Jacobs Engineering Group for the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant Digester Improvements Project to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to appropriate funds within the water pollution control loan fund and to authorize an expenditure of up to 11,446,186 from the water pollution control loan fund to pay for the project.

This improvement project will equip Jackson Pike with the necessary infrastructure to continue digesting sludge solids and therefore reduce the need for further treatment or disposal.

Additionally, the digestion process rid sludge of contaminants, enabling it to be converted into agricultural fertilizer or mulch for residence usage.

Let me stop there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks Temperosa De Padilla, De Akaur Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weich President Hard.

Pass.

Thank you.

Next I have ordinance 3450-2025 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional engineering services contract modification with Arcadus U.S.

Incorporated for the Sutherly Wastewater Treatment Plant Variable Frequency Drivers and Harmonic Filter Upgrade Project to authorize the appropriation of funds in the water pollution control loan fund to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project and to authorize an expenditure of up to 1,415,543 and 62 cents from the water pollution control loan fund.

This project includes the evaluation and replacement of equipment at the southerly plant that has been deemed to be nearing the end of its useful service life.

This project is part of the city's continuing effort to upgrade its treatment facilities.

Let me stop there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Tim Barosa de Padilla, De Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich President Harden.

Pass.

Thank you.

Next I have uh 0001-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with Resource International for the Construction Administration Construction Inspection Services 2023-2025 contract for the blueprint Miller Kelton Newton Bedford Permeable Pavement and Newton Bedford Waterline Improvements Project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement uh budget uh to authorize the appropriation expenditure of up to 1,222,060 and 49 cents from the water pollution control loan fund and the water supply revolving loan account fund for the contract and to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving loans for the project.

This project is part of the ongoing blueprint project, which includes the rehabilitation and repair of existing sewers as well as the construction of new sewers and green infrastructure.

This will help mitigate sanitary sewer sewer overflows into basements and waterways as well as other drainage and flooding issues.

Let me stop there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the row.

Banks Den Barosa De Padilla, De Achar Dorn screen, Remy Ross Weich, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next I have uh 0006-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify an existing contract with Burmax Incorporated to add additional funding to provide water meter reading services for the Division of Water and to authorize the expenditure of 2,200,000 from the water operating fund.

This ordinance provides the funding necessary for Burmax Incorporated to continue collecting data through manual and radio reads of the department's water meters within the City of Columbus and other contracted communities.

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

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Bank Stan Barosa De Padilla, De Akaur Doors Green, Remy Ross Weitch, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next, I have ordinance 32-2026 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 sewer treatment chemicals for the Department of Public Utilities and to authorize the expenditure of $4,467,500 from the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund.

The purchase of sewer treatment chemicals is necessary for the treatment of waste and to provide reduced backups and overflows to residents of Columbus and surrounding communities.

Let me stop there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Timborosa de Padilla, De Akawa Door Screen, Remy Ross Weitch President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next I have ordinance 33-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify and increase the contract with Ascension Construction Solutions LLC for the Wastewater Treatment Facilities Professional Construction Management Services Project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the transfer of funds and appropriations between projects in the sanitary bond fund and to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,989,574 from the Sanitary Bond Fund to pay for the contract modifications.

Ascension Construction Solutions LLC will provide professional construction management services on the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrade Project.

These services will help to prevent or reduce the number of construction claims and provide quality control for construction, therefore ensuring that the project runs smoothly and the city can continue to provide efficient and cost-effective wastewater treatment services.

Let me stop there.

See if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Timberwolves depadilla, Day Akawa Doors Green, Remy Ross Weich President Harden.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next, I have ordinance 35-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Sterling Building Company for the elevator improvements project and to authorize an expenditure of up to $4 million for the project.

This project involves the renovation of numerous freight elevators at water plants and utility complexes throughout the city.

The necessary renovations and improvements will bring the elevators up to new code compliance, effectively increasing reliability and safety for city employees and visitors.

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

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role.

Banks Temperosa De Padilla, De Akaur Door Screen, Remy Ross Weich President Harden.

Passed.

Thank you.

Next I have ordinance 57-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Finance and Management to associate all general budget uh all general budget reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate universal term contract purchase agreements for the purchase of Centrex and Data Services for the Department of Public Utilities and to authorize an expenditure of one one million thirty thousand split among the water, electricity, and sanitary sewer operating funds.

The purchase of Centrex and Data Services will provide the uh department with the digital and technology cape capacity, sorry, to continue providing utility services to residents of Columbus and surrounding communities.

Let me stop there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk Please call the roll.

Banks Den Barosa DePadilla, De Akaur Door screen, Remy Ross Weich President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you.

And finally, I have ordinance 58-2026 to authorize the director of the department of public utilities to enter into a professional engineering services contract modification with Hatch Associates Consultants Incorporated for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements Project to authorize the appropriation of funds in the water pollution control loan fund to make this ordinance contingent upon Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project and to authorize an expenditure of up to 1,596,426 and 44 cents within the water pollution control loan fund to pay for the contract modifications.

This project will replace equipment that is past its useful life or that no longer meets the electrical loads required by Southerly.

Replacing this equipment will reduce the amount of maintenance needed to keep the plant operational as well as the number of electrical safety issues.

Let me stop there.

See if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

See none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla, Day Achar Don Screen, Remy Ross, Weich, President Hardin.

Passed.

Thank you, Council Presidents.

All I have in my committee this evening.

However, I do have a uh ordinance and rules and policy.

May I continue?

Please.

Uh okay.

We're gonna keep it moving.

All right, tonight, uh rules and policy app ordinance uh 237-2026 to enact chapter 181 recycling services regulation uh city facilities.

This ordinance will amend Columbus City Code effectively requiring recycling within most city facilities.

This is part of an initiative that I announced uh last year for the Columbus Forward project to expand the scope of city recycling beyond the current weekly residential recycling program.

As part of this initiative, it is important that our city government does its part to conduct its operations sustainably and divert recyclable waste from landfills.

With that being said, this code change will ensure that all city owned and operated facilities open to the public will utilize proper recycling services, all third party uh custodial contractors will be required to accommodate the city's recycling needs, and all city employees receive annual training and education on recycling.

Uh, that is a lot to do in a short amount of time in a city as big as we are, so to allow for sufficient time for the implementation of these new requirements.

This chapter will not take effect until January 1 of 2027.

Let me pause there, see if any questions are comments from my colleagues.

Seeing none, I'm just let's just start by the fact that it is important for us to set the example, right?

If we say that we want to reduce waste going to our landfill, then we should uh put that in action ourselves.

And so I'm excited to have the support of various departments as well as the administration to move forward on this because we need to be that example for our residents to see in order for us all to have a more sustainable future.

Um, with that being said, I move for passage.

Thank you.

And thank you for your leadership on this.

As you said, we are uh just getting started as we try to continue to move our city forward uh in a more sustainable way.

So thank you for your leadership.

Thank you.

Please call the role.

Thanks, Timber Rosa De Padilla, De Achar Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich, President Hart.

Passed.

Thank you.

That is all I have this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Well, while we are in the rules and uh policy committee, I will do the last uh ordinance for the evening.

It is ordinance zero zero one two-2026 is to amend existing sections 362-03 362-053, 362-091, 362-096, 36362.14 and 362.19 of chapter 362 of the Columbus City Codes to include amendments and enactments required by HB 96, 136 General Assembly concerning municipal income taxation.

With the passage of the state's biannual budget bill, House Bill 96.

This ordinance makes updates to matters of municipal income tax.

This brings the city into alignment with the changes made through the state's budget bills, such as new codified statutes concerning municipal income tax and timelines to file requests for tax refunds and assessments.

This will bring the city in line with the ORC as a result of the state budget.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Thanks, Denver Rosa de Padilla, de Akaur Dorans Green, Remy Ross, Weich President Hard.

Passed.

Seeing no further bits to come for council.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

Thanks, Demborosa de Padilla, De Akawa Dorans Green, Remy Ross Weich President Hard.

Meeting is adjourned.

We have two not a