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.
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?