Columbus City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026: Rental Registry Passes, NWSL Deal Approved with Controversy
Columbus City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026
The Columbus City Council met on April 14, 2026, to consider a range of legislation. The most notable items were the passage of a rental property registry (Ordinance 0923-2026) and approval of a development agreement to support a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchise (Ordinance 1112-2026) after significant public debate and an amendment addressing community park commitments. The meeting also included routine consent items, several committee reports, and the announcement of Auditor Megan Kilgore’s resignation.
Consent Calendar
- Resolutions of Expression (Items 102X-2026, 92X-2026, 97X-2026, 98X-2026, 106X-2026, 107X-2026, 94X-2026, 101X-2026) and numerous ordinances from Finance & Governance, Health & Human Services, Public Safety, Housing, Public Utilities, and Appointments (A32-2026, A80-2026) were approved unanimously by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rental Registry (Ordinance 0923-2026): Jeff Covell, a landlord, expressed full support, calling the $15/unit fee “laughable” and stating any resisting owner “is not responsible.” Julianne Johnson, representing a Haitian immigrant family and member of BREAD, spoke in favor, describing unsafe conditions and exploitation of vulnerable tenants. Michael Edwards from Legal Aid of South Central Ohio offered detailed support, noting the registry will shift enforcement from reactive to proactive and provide leverage for tenants, while also highlighting remaining concerns (retaliation fears, small-owner loophole, enforcement pressure).
- NWSL Deal (Ordinance 1112-2026): Liz Reed (Southwest Area Commission to Save McCoy Park) spoke against, arguing the amendment does not fix the broken promise and that building a replacement park on new land will take years, disadvantaging children with disabilities. DJ Burns (Brewster) opposed, criticizing the deal as rewarding billionaires and comparing the process to actions of the Republican statehouse. Kelsey Gray, a teacher, read letters from nine students who opposed giving away public park land. In favor: Gaia Kisatley (attorney) supported the amendment, citing representation for young girls; Mark Wise (Columbus Eagles FC) supported, emphasizing 23 years of effort to bring professional women’s soccer; Doug Wolf (Adaptive Sports Connection) supported, stating the NWSL investment can expand adaptive sports access if done right.
Discussion Items
- Rental Registry (Ordinance 0923-2026): Councilmember Bankston presented the ordinance, noting a nine-month community engagement process. The registry requires annual registration ($15/unit, capped at $1,500), free triennial preventive education inspections of exteriors/common areas, and conditional registration for repeat violators triggering mandatory inspections and daily fines. Director Messer (Building & Zoning) clarified the registry is not duplicative of the county registry and data will be shared. Director Stevens (Development) said the data will help identify exploitative landlords. Legal Aid’s Edwards highlighted strengths and weaknesses. Councilmember Remy opposed due to administrative burden on responsible owners. The fee is currently set but future adjustments for fee schedule will require council action. Passed 8-1 (Remy no).
- NWSL Deal (Ordinance 1112-2026): The original deal involved a $25 million city front for a training facility at McCoy Park, repaid via a 2% surcharge on stadium tickets. Council President Harden introduced an amendment after learning the administration had promised an adaptive recreation park at McCoy Park to the Southwest community, with designs completed in November 2025, but offered the site to the ownership group without notifying council or the community. The amendment: (1) within 15 days of securing a franchise, the city must form a working group including the Southwest Area Commission to identify an alternative park site; (2) within 60 days, submit a plan to council; (3) the ownership group will donate $3 million to the Recreation & Parks Foundation for the new park; (4) ensure public access to training facility fields; (5) no funds released until park plan is approved. Director Stevens stated urgency because the NWSL is considering only one more expansion team for the 2028 season, and the bid deadline is imminent. Director Reese confirmed park design was stopped in late 2025 but said work on specifications can be reused and land acquisition is underway. Councilmembers Green, Dorans, and DeYaucor voted no, citing broken trust and the unfair burden on the underserved Southwest community. Councilmember Weiss, Bankston, Remy, Ross, and Harden voted yes, emphasizing the park will be built with new resources and accountability. Passed 6-3-1 (Bankston yes, Rosa DePadia abstain, DeYaucor no, Dorans no, Green no, Remy yes, Ross yes, Weiss yes, Harden yes).
- Public Safety Settlements: Two settlements were debated. Brooke Wilson case ($750,000) – a former police sergeant used a racial slur toward a cadet; the city disciplined him based on a polygraph, but a federal judge indicated the polygraph would be inadmissible, increasing risk of a $3 million verdict. Councilmember Rosa DePadia voted no, arguing the settlement rewards bad behavior and the judge’s stance was an abuse of power. The rest voted yes, citing risk management. Hana Hassan case ($36,000) – pre-suit settlement involving a retaliation claim from a polygraph applicant; no probable cause found by OCRC but litigation risk loomed. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance 0923-2026 (Rental Registry): Passed 8-1. Creates a city rental registry with annual registration, preventive inspections, and conditional registration for problem properties. First reading of fee schedule deferred.
- Ordinance 1112-2026 (NWSL Development Agreement): Passed 6-3-1. Authorizes city participation in securing an NWSL franchise, including contributions for training facility and stadium upgrades, with a 2% user fee on tickets to repay city. Amendment adds $3 million private donation for a new adaptive park in Southwest Columbus, community working group, and progress milestones.
- Settlements: Brooke Wilson case approved 8-1; Hana Hassan case approved unanimously.
- Other Legislation: All consent items, Finance & Governance (waste disposal contract, Oracle software), Zoning variances (three items), Economic Development (Gravity Project Phase 3), Public Service (Avery Road improvements), and Public Utilities (multiple water/sewer infrastructure contracts) passed unanimously.
- Auditor Vacancy: Council announced acceptance of applications to fill Auditor Megan Kilgore’s upcoming vacancy, due May 4, 2026, deadline April 23 at 12 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Please stand for the playing of the national anthem. This evening we're going to do something a little different. We have a live version of the national anthem that will be sang by Rose and Ketche. Rose, welcome. Oh say can you see the light? Who are suppridly at the twilight light last gleaming? Whose broad slight um bright stars through the parts we're sucking streaming. And the cat's the bombs ting through the night that our flight was steel there's the land of the free and the breath. Rose, I hope you are free every Monday at five PM now going forward. Councilmember wise would you lead us in the pledge? And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. This evening I am so grateful to have one of my dear friends, Rabbi Alex Braver from Congregation's Toper Israel here to lead us in prayer. Rabbi, welcome back to council. Thank you. In my tradition, in the Jewish tradition, we hope and pray that the work of our lawmakers and our leaders is in furtherance of Tsedek, which means justice in Hebrew. In Hebrew, Tsedek can mean many things. Sedaka, for example, from the same root commonly means charity, whether that's giving spare change or millions of dollars. And it means that we give not only because we are moved to, or because it's a nice thing, but because it is tzedek, it is an obligation and part of what makes for a just and righteous society. Justice is also something that we are commanded to pursue, as in the book of Deuteronomy, which says Tedek Tsedek Terdov, justice, justice shall you pursue. It is emphatic. We must actively pursue it and seek it out, not just hope that we stumble on to it. It can feel like justice is always a few steps ahead of us. And if we're not sprinting after it, and if we're not constantly in pursuit of it, and if it's not our relentless focus, then it will elude us. At the same time, justice is also something that flows from God, something whose progress is inevitable. It is God's vision for our world, a vision that we believe will eventually come to pass, no matter what obstacles stand in its way. As the prophet almost declared in a verse that is famously quoted by Dr. King. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who marched with Dr. King and Selma spoke about this same verse saying righteousness is not a trickle. It is God's power in the world, a torrent, an impetuous drive full of grandeur and majesty. And so we pray Baruch Ohev Tedaka Mishpat. Blessed is the source of blessing, and blessed is the one who loves righteousness and justice. May you bless this gathering with your sense of tsetec of righteousness and justice. Help those gathered here not just to seek out justice, but to pursue it and to chase after it and to not let it slip away as it so often does. And at the same time, bless all those gathered here with the vision and the faith to see that God's justice is also a mighty stream and an inevitable force that will with time sweep away all obstacles. Give those gathered here the strength to chase justice with all their strength and with all their heart and all their might, and to know that in the end, with your help and with our efforts, justice will always well up as a torrent of grandeur and majesty. May it be God's will. Amen. Thank you so much, Rabbi. Clerk, please call the role. Banks Temperosa de Podia, de Akaur Dorns, Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss President Harden. Any person who takes any action to obstruct or interfere with the conduct of tonight's meeting may be charged with disturbing a lawful meeting pursuant to Columbus City Code 2317.12. Any person who enters those areas of city council chambers reserved for city officials or invited guests may be charged with criminal trespass pursuant to Columbus City Code 2311.21. Can I get a motion dispense with the reading of the journal? Clerk, please call the role. Banks Denver Rosa de Podia, de Aka or Dorns Green, Remy Ross, Weiss President Hard. Are there any additions or corrections to the journal? Hearing none of the journals approved. This week's communications received by the city clerk's office are listed on the agenda and we published in City Bulletin. Are there any other messages to be communicated?
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