Columbus City Council met on June 2, 2026, beginning at approximately 4:00 PM. The meeting opened with a color guard presentation, the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Ross, and an invocation by intern Joshua Gaucher. The council then proceeded through roll call, approval of the journal, and adoption of a resolution honoring the life and service of Caitlin Sparr, a prosecutor in the City Attorney's Office who passed away. Following a brief recess, the council took up regular legislative business, including consent agenda passage, multiple ordinance readings and votes, and a lengthy zoning committee session featuring public testimony on a controversial rezoning on Hard Road.
Council meeting. We wanted to, we're going to go a bit out of order. Columbus City Council is joining with the city attorney's office to make sure that we are highlighting the life legacy of Caitlin Sparr. And to start us off, we have the color guard uh here to present uh the colors. Mark. Please. Play the national anthem. Councilmember Ross, would you lead us in a pledge? To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Order all. Minister, we've come forward. Good afternoon, Council. Let us have a word of prayer. Oh, most gracious and all-wise God, creator of heaven and of earth, we first come before you to say thank you. We thank you for this day. We thank you for the meeting that is getting ready to transpire. We pray and ask that you be with us during this time and all others. May we lead with integrity, may we lead with a shaped purpose and mission, and may we lead in a way that would be acceptable unto thy sight. We ask that you bless this council, be with those who are forming and making policies, ordinances, and resolutions. Grant them with wisdom, discernment, and a heart for the people whom they have been called to serve. May the decisions made in this chamber promote justice, fairness, and the common good. May you touch the hearts of all those whom council seeks to help, support, protect, and serve. As the lily of the valley and the bright and morning star, we ask that you lift up every head, encourage the discouraged, strengthen the weary, for you are a rock in the weary land, and provide hope to those who may feel hopeless. We pray and acts that your joy shall abound in this place and within us, that we may be able to go forth and carry out righteous legislation. For we know that the plans of the diligent lead to profit, surely as haste leads to poverty. Meaning that when we take the time to think things through, to plan carefully, and to move with wisdom and discernment, we're more likely to produce good fruit and lasting results. But when we act too quickly and without proper consideration, we risk missing the mark and falling short of what can truly benefit the people we serve. As the word declares, give justice to the weak and the fearless, maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. May that charge remain before us as we seek to serve this great city and its people. In your name we pray, and let all of those who are also in agreement say Amen. Amen. Clerk, please call the row. This is when after you give the resolution. Any person who takes any action to obstruct or interfere with the conduct of tonight's meeting may be charged with disturbing a lawful meeting pursuant to Columbus City Code 2317.12. Any person who enters those areas of city council chambers reserved for city officials or invited guests may be charged with criminal trespass pursuance of Columbus City Code 2311.21. Clerk, please call the role. Banks Timberosa de Podia, De Aka or Dorans Green, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Are there any additions or corrections to the journal? Hear none of the journal is approved. This week's communications received by a city clerk's office are listed on the agenda and will be published in the city bulletin. Are there any other communications to be read into the record? Not at this time. We're going to go around the dais, but again, um, because of this day, uh that we we slow down to honor uh one of our own. I'm going to go out of order and um turn the podium over to Councilmember Ross. Thank you, Council President Harden. And today we have resolution number 0137x-2026 to recognize and honor the life, service, and legacy of Caitlin Svar. Thank you. Um we have several speakers that have come tonight to honor and recognize the service of our fallen colleague at the Columbus City Attorney's Office. And so at this time, I would like to call to the podium for remarks on behalf of the courts, Judge Zach Gwynn, on behalf of the Columbus City Attorney's Office, Melanie Tobias, and on behalf of the Division of Police, Deputy Chief Convice. As they are coming forward, I would like to introduce Resolution 0137X-2026 to recognize and honor the life, service, and legacy of Caitlin Sfarr tonight as we gather to recognize Caitlin's life and commitment to service.