Transcript

Hey,

hey, hey.

Heat. Heat.

Council

member Day Akar, would you lead us in

the pledge?

I pledge algiance 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.

>> This evening, council is grateful to

have pastor Apostle Alfred Tego of Oasis

Oasis of Love Community Church to pray

with us. Pastor, welcome to council.

Thank you.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Our most gracious heavenly father, we

thank you for this day that this is the

day you have made and we choose to

rejoice and be glad in it. It is you who

said to us in Micah 6 verse 8 that you

have told us, oh man, what is good? What

does the Lord require of us but to do

justice to love mercy and to walk humbly

with our God? So humbly God we come on

behalf of Father God of this wonderful

leaders and the wonderful work they have

to set policy to lead and to guide. We

ask the Father you will grant them

wisdom, understanding even of the fear

of the Lord to do that which is just as

they pursue loving our neighbor as we

love ourselves. So, Father God, provide

your presence here today. Let your peace

that surpass all understanding guide and

guard our hearts, their hearts as they

collectively

do what is right for your people. We

thank you and we ask this in Jesus name.

Amen.

>> Amen. Thank you so much pastor clerk

please call the role. Bangstar roa de

padia de a dors green reie ros vice

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

21.

>> Thank you, madam clerk. Can I get a

motion to the reading of the journal?

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bankston Barosa de Padia de Akawa

Dorncreen Remy Ross Weiss President

Harden.

>> Are there any additions or corrections

to the journal? Hearing none, the

journal's approved. This week's

communications received by city clerk's

office are listed on the agenda and will

be published in the city bulletin. Are

there any other records to be read to

the record?

>> Not at this time.

>> Thank you, madam clerk. We'll go around

the dis for announcements and

resolutions from my colleague. Starting

with council member Bangston.

Thank you, council member. Council

member um Rosa Padilla.

>> Thank you, Council President. Um so I

think the fourth wave of winter has been

among us.

Um not sure when it's going to end, but

um I just wanted to first acknowledge

all of our snow warriors because this

has been a very, very long, very, very

busy winter. And I just want to thank

them for all of the work they've been

doing. I just wanted to kick it over to

our director. Director, is there any

updates you want to give us? any ins you

have might have to a weather person

anywhere that could maybe make spring

come faster. So the floor is yours.

>> Good evening, President Harden, chair

bro, members of council. Um we are in

the midst of storm number 14 this year.

>> Um so that's uh that's quite a number

for us to have battled this summer or

this winter. I'm dreaming of summer

here.

>> So we're all of us. Uh, I think we're

going to be feeling summer towards the

end of the week and I'm looking forward

to it. Um, this morning snow, it hit at

a real challenging time during the

commute. Came down fast and furious. Um,

I think mother nature worked with us

this afternoon and we're in pretty good

shape for this evening's commute. That's

all I have. Thank you. And so I just

want to remind everyone that after after

the 14th wave uh 14th uh snowstorm of

the season, it is pothole season. So, as

you see those potholes in your streets,

I feel like every time I see say this, I

like curse us with the next snowfall,

but um please call 311. We will be out.

I believe director, it's 48 to 72 hours

after we try to get in within that time

frame when we get the reports on 311.

So, please um make sure that you are

calling in. if at any time you are

seeing things because I know that 311

for folks it looks like things are

closed out so you're wondering like I

put this in things haven't been

addressed please feel free to reach out

to any of our council offices we're

happy to look at things on the back end

for you um but make sure that you get

those uh all those reports in and then

on the last note I do have a very

personal uh little shout out today my

daughter Eva is turning 18

>> so I want to send her Thanks guys I want

to send her a I'm not there with her. We

had a celebration this weekend, but I

want to send her a very, very happy

birthday. And to all the parents who

have a graduating senior, I'm here in

solidarity for you. We're not okay. So,

check on your strong friends. That's all

for me this evening. Thanks.

>> Happy birthday. Uh, Council Member

Dakau.

>> Just one quick one for me. As the city

of Columbus prepares for St. Patrick's

Day. The lesserk known branch of the

Celtic family of the Cornish. We're

celebrating our holiday on Thursday. So,

go Perin loan to my fellow Cornish

cousin Jax and cousin Jenny's.

>> Presto,

>> Council Member Green.

>> Um,

yes. Thank you so much, Council

President. Uh tonight uh we have one

resolution on uh the agenda. Um it is to

recognize

Oh, sorry, my bad.

Okay. To recognize March 2026 as

developmental disabilities awareness

month. Um

so at this time as I introduce this uh

resolution I'd like to invite um our

friends Christine Brown and dot Joerger

to the podium.

Um so March is nationally recognized as

disability awareness month and uh unites

communities across our country to

empower people with developmental

disabilities, their families and allies

to build welcoming and supportive

communities. And there's no one that

does it better in our community than

these two advocates that are here uh

with us today. Um they understand the

way in which it is absolutely imperative

to ensure that people who are living in

our community with developmental

disabilities can live self-directed

lives uh here in Columbus and across the

state of Ohio. Um

and recognize that living independently

is not a privilege, but it's a

fundamental right. uh and individuals

with developmental disabilities deserve

equitable opportunities to make choices

about their lives, pursue their dreams,

and contribute uh their unique talent to

our city. I uh I was just talking with

them ahead in advance of this meeting.

And um you know, we we recognize this

this a year every year, but I don't

think I've ever shared here. You know, I

grew up in a household where both of my

parents uh worked in special education.

And so I got to see firsthand how

impactful this work is and how important

this advocacy work is um that the two of

you do every year. Um you know it was a

real honor and privilege I know uh and

thanks to uh the leadership of Council

Member White to stand up here at

Columbus City Council, the um the

commission that is exploring um how to

bring um more equitable policy work in

the space of developmental disabilities.

And that would not have happened without

your advocacy and leadership. And so,

um, at this point in time, I would love

to turn the floor over to you, um, just

to talk a little bit about that work and

what what we can be doing better to

support, uh, people living in our

community, our neighbors, our friends,

our loved ones with developmental

disabilities.

>> Thank you, Council Member Green, and

everyone. Um,

uh, Dot Joerger and I are here to say

thanks for recognizing the developmental

disabilities awareness month. Um we know

that it is uh very important to

recognize our folks who are working hard

being contributing members of society

working in the community trying to

um be give showing skill out there. Um,

we are thankful that we also have

numbers of doctors that are working with

individuals with intellectual and

developmental disabilities because

that's one thing that still lacks.

Um but the thing is that uh we are

fortunate and thank you for recognizing

this because everyone can achieve at

their own success that

>> Thank you Christine. I'm the

superintendent for the Franklin County

Board of Developmental Disabilities. So

here's in support of uh those we serve.

Um, I know one of the things that

council is working on is housing and as

housing projects are coming about, uh, I

think we would encourage,

um, accessibility at the forefront of

those decisions. Um, and, uh, just

wanted to highlight a couple of

opportunities for the community, uh,

this March 2026 for DD awareness month.

So this coming Saturday from 10 until

1:00 at the Black Lick Woods Metro Parks

Golf Course, there will be a disability

resource fair. Would also like to invite

uh folks to uh Franklin County Dus

Museum of Art, which will be next

Thursday, March 12th, from 10:00 a.m. to

9:00 p.m. And thank you all uh for your

support here.

And like Dot said, we have a task force

in Ohio that's working in housing

because I know you all finally hired a

housing I mean ADA coordinator, but it's

still in the works that when housing is

getting built, they're not meeting the

10% rule. So, we're doing research and

how we can make sure that people can be

getting to be in the biggest integrated

setting and not have to wait till they

win the lottery to get assistance.

>> That's awesome.

>> Absolutely. Um well, we could we could

not agree more. Um with with all of

those sentiments, you know, I think

we've come a really long way and we have

a long way to go and um you know, again,

I just want to thank you for keeping us

accountable um and keeping this at the

front of all of our minds and um and we

will continue to walk lock step with you

to figure out how we can continue to go

further. Uh before I move for adoption,

any of my colleagues have comments or

questions? Um, seeing none, I move to

adopt uh resolution 0051X-2026

to recognize March is 2026. March 2026

is developmental disabilities awareness

month.

>> Cler, please call the role.

>> Banks Barrosa de Podia de Akaw

Dornscreen Remy Ross Swiss. President

Hard

>> adopted.

Thank you, council member.

Council member

>> council member Ross.

>> Thank you, council president. I just

have one announcement this evening.

Tomorrow at my office, we'll launch

community working hours in celebration

of women's history month. We will be

doing work out in the community at FEMA,

which is a women-owned and minorityowned

business that supports women and young

girls by reducing critical barriers and

creating safe spaces and programming.

Community working hours is a chance for

you to come hang out with me, do some

work, ask a couple questions, learn

about your local government. We are

going to do this multiple times

throughout the course of the remainder

of this year. But if you have some time

to come and visit with us tomorrow, we

will be at FERG from 1 to 3 p.m. That is

all. Thank you.

>> Thank you, Council Member Council W.

>> Thank you, Council President. Uh, in in

alignment with council's stance to stand

with and protect our immigrant

neighbors, my office worked to draft a

letter urging Congress to work

bipartisanly to reinstate the temporary

protected status for all vulnerable

immigrant populations that have had this

designation arbitrarily revoked uh by

the current federal administration.

Despite the continued danger for

individuals here legally under TPS, the

current administration has revoked TPS

for 12 countries to date and six more

countries set to lose these protections

throughout 2026. Uh many of these

terminations made in 2025 are being

challenged in court. Unfortunately,

regardless of the final outcome of these

challenges, the trauma to families in

our community are already being um

inflicted. Um, and as we can see from

this current unconstitutional war going

on, destabilizing efforts are the

reasons we have TPS orders to begin

with. It is the opportunity for folks to

safe safely live their lives out. And so

the idea that we would rip this away

from folks arbitrarily um knowing that

the circumstances are not any better in

the in their home countries does not

make a lot of sense. Now I know my

colleagues all just received this letter

when they came to the dis. So, I do want

to stop and see if there are any

questions or comments uh related to what

was drafted.

Councilman.

>> Um, thank you, council member. I just

want to say um thank you for taking the

lead on this. I think that it's

critically important. temporary

protected status is a protected status

for individuals and um without giving

them some sort of runway or notice um

you can see the disruption that it

causes the fear that it causes in

communities and so um while we do not

have the power um we certainly do have a

platform that we represent folks in our

community that we can take it to members

of Congress to say can you please

advocate for these things and we have

heard loud and clear from the Columbus

community that this is something that

they want that they need that they've

been advocating for. And so I just want

to thank you for your leadership on

this. Um I think it's also important

that folks note while you you said 20 or

12 were already um provoked that we have

many more that are coming down the pike

and so it's important for us to act now.

So I also urge residents for you to also

contact um our congressional folks for

you to also advocate. I always say this

but for the people change happens. And

so those letters and those calls are

meaningful. So the more that we can

elevate our voices collectively, then we

can really urge our leaders to do the

right thing and um advocate for our

friends and neighbors.

>> Thank you, council member. Yeah, that is

the thinking and you know, obviously we

will share our letter assuming this is

passed um and hopefully encourage more

folks to do the same thing. Any anyone

else questions or comments?

Just council member Green

>> just a quick question um because I know

this is the first time we're looking at

the letter which um thank you thank you

council member for um for for being

proactive about this and certainly um

agree with everything that it said but

is the the goal to send it to the Ohio

congressional deleg de delegation or do

you have we

>> is yes

>> yes that is the goal

>> thank you

>> all seeing Seeing no other questions or

comments uh for these reasons, I motion

to send this letter as a body and

request a voice vote.

>> Second.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bangston,

>> yes.

>> Barosa de Padilla,

>> yes.

>> De Akawa,

>> yes.

>> Dorne,

>> yes.

>> Green,

>> yes.

>> Remy,

>> yes.

>> Ross,

>> yes.

>> Wa,

>> yes.

>> President Harden,

>> yes. We agreed to send the letter.

>> Thank you, Councilman. That's all I

have.

>> Thank you, sir. Thank you for your

leadership. Uh and lastly, the only

announcement I have is that um council

uh has its annual ifar dinner tomorrow

night as we break fast with our brothers

and sisters in the uh Muslim faith right

here in council chambers. It's starting

at around 5:45 p.m. And as uh council

member deer hour said, we will have our

Irish proclamation day on Friday at

10:45. So we call this the people's

house. It definitely is the people's

house this week and um it's perfectly

perfectly made for this. So, I'm really

excited to celebrate um with everyone.

Are there any uh comments from our

elected officials?

Are there any requests by members of

council for the removal of an ordinance

or resolution from the consent action of

the portion of the agenda? Seeing none,

may we now have a motion to wave the

reading of titles of 30-day legislation.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Thanks. Senosa de Padilla de Akawa,

Dors, Green, Remy, Ross, Swiss,

President Harden.

>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will the clerk

now read to the record the ordinance

number of 38 legislation on tonight's

agenda for first reading?

>> Um public safety and criminal justice.

We have ordinance 477-2026.

Housing homelessness and building

committee. We have ordinance 434-2026.

Public Utilities and Sustainability

Committee. We have ordinance 172, 278,

354, 391, 422, 429, 441, and 471-2026.

Zonings, we have ordinance 537-2026,

variances, ordinance 538 and 562-2026.

>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We have one

speaker on the first reading portion of

the agenda. Will that speaker come

forward?

Yeah.

>> Welcome back to council.

>> My name is DJ Burns. I run a little

operation called Brewster. Uh first of

all, Doc Holiday for Doc Holiday. Uh I'm

a bit of a a chemical sniffing hound

myself and I caught my interest today.

Uh, our friends at NBC4 had some

hard-hitting journalism that showed that

uh, Eastston has a bit of an Epstein

problem and that Epstein Island took

inspiration from I know who could have

bought it, not me. Um, that he actually

drew inspiration from Eastston. New

Albany Company had architects down

there. They visited him and if you read

the article it basically all roads come

back to a little company called the New

Albany Company that Jeff Epstein ran and

he was the president until he wasn't but

then it turned out these guys were going

down and they had business dealings with

him all the way through 2017

and that continues today when Intel was

running the scam on the geniuses at Jobs

Ohio. They wouldn't purchase land from

the New Albany Company. They had to the

New Albony Company had to sell the land

to a little entity called MCVGM

and then that was sold to Intel. And so

I just want to read put some names on

notice in the coming weeks. We've got a

gentle

>> DJ. Is this is this uh Germaine too?

>> Yes. No, it's very Germaine. Doc Holiday

over sniffing chemicals. Bill Ebing,

president of the New Albany Company.

Alex Fiser, partner in the New Albany

Company. Now, why doesn't Mayor suburbs

Zack Klein Kevin Boyce want to get off

Epstein Island? Why are they going down

on the ship?

It starts with the New Albany Company.

These guys

are on the list. Mayor of Suburbs

fundraisers. And I'll also draw you to

another name, Bruce Soul, S O L, Chief

of Staff of Wexner.

>> Sir, would you again

>> be referred? Yeah.

>> To the point.

>> The point is this

that

the problem isn't Wexner. The Wexner is

a problem. He's never going to serve a

day in jail. The problem is this company

has its tentacles all over this city.

All over this city. You say, you say the

Columbus Partnership, the New Albony

Company. It's like I'm talking about the

boogeyman

and these people have something to

answer for and everybody's off the

island here, but some of our leaders

aren't. And I would recommend they

change their tune pretty quick cuz this

isn't going away. Thank you and God

bless.

>> The following orders appear on our

agenda as consent action. Will the clerk

now read those into the record?

Resolution

of expression 50x-2026.

In finance and governance committee, we

have ordinance 370, 438, and 499-2026.

Economic development and small and

minority business committee. We have

ordinance 209 and 301,

328,

405, and 462-2026.

Public Service and Transportation

Committee, we have ordinances 339, 432,

and 486-2026.

Neighborhoods, Recreation, and Parks

Committee, we have ordinances 75,76,

135, 392, 3, and 397-2026.

Workforce, Education, and Labor

Committee, we have ordinance 513-2026.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Committee Ordinance 398, 423, and

433-2026.

Housing, Homelessness, and Building

Committee, ordinances 383, 424, and

428-2026.

Public Utilities and Sustainability

Committee. We have ordinances 112, 207,

210, 246, 304, 309, 341, 385, 408, 456,

and 470-2026.

Under rules and policies, we have

appointments 22,23,

and 24-2026.

>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We have one

speaker on the consent portion of the

agenda. Kelly Arnold is here to speak on

um ordinance 0383.

Welcome to council.

Good evening, Council President Harden

and members of uh council. My name is

Kelly Arnold and I currently serve as

the zoning chair for the Far West Side

Area Commission. Before you tonight is

ordinance 0383-2026,

consent agenda item 22 for a vote on the

acceptance of the annexation request of

150 acres in Norwich Township known as

Anderson Farms. I am here to reiterate

the Far West Side Area Commission's

request for council to reject this

annexation petition.

In our previous communication to this

body, we have noted our significant

concerns with the city's continued

sprawl. As a result of a history of

growth patterns without sufficient

planning, our area does not have

adequate fire service fire service

coverage and is over reliant on mutual

aid to provide fire and emergency

medical services.

The current budget proposals are lacking

the means to address this growing

problem. Yet here we are about to add

even more land that cannot be properly

serviced. Additionally, there are

logistical complexities creating longer

response times and insufficient police

respon resources to respond to the

community needs as well. This does not

equal an appropriate level of safety

related services to the proposed

annexation area as stipulated in the

legislation.

Further, our suburban area of Columbus

is deficient in its planning for

transportation and traffic as evidenced

by long-standing issues along Robert's

Road,

the site of three fatalities in recent

months. This annexation will only

further exacerbate those traffic issues

along that corridor. While residents

pleas for communication and conversation

regarding the problems have gone

unanswered,

our area is also lacking in access to

social services, community spaces,

parklands, and our Columbus resident

students are denied the Columbus

promise.

So we need to ask why does the city

continue to spread itself thin and add

additional land that does not truly have

the it does not truly have the capacity

to serve. This is not nimiism. Our

commission has a history of working with

developers to create housing and

commercial projects in the area. As the

local residents, we know our area and

its challenges and concerns. We are

advising you to step back and take a

harder look at the direction our city is

heading with respect to growth patterns,

especially in this environmentally

sensitive area in the Big Derby

watershed.

Columbus is obligated to live up to its

promises to residents to care for them

once it incorporates them within its

boundaries, not pass that obligation to

others, and it has failed to do so. For

these reasons, we respectfully ask once

again for council to take these

considerations into account and to

reject this petition for annexation.

Thank you for your time.

>> Thank you, Madam Commissioner, and uh we

appreciate you being here. We also

appreciate the area commission uh and

the work that you do every day to help

us build uh housing in the far west. I

think council member and I who did a bus

tour uh with members of the area

commission and we talked about these

things. As we grow, we have to think

about all types of infrastructure when

we grow. I'm going to ask director

Messer to speak to this. Is that okay,

director proer? I I apologize. Wrong

director. Uh to speak uh to this

annexation

um piece of legislation about what why

we're doing this and what we're thinking

as we move this forward.

>> Yes, council president. Thank you. Um

this particular annexation is not

related to an exact development

proposal. Um those two processes are

completely bifurcated. So the annexation

is coming in. The outcome will simply be

the redrawing of the city boundaries to

include this land. Um it will come in as

a rural zoned parcel. So anything that

would be proposed that would exceed that

rural zoning would need to go through

the standard resoning process which

would include the neighborhood

commission review process um as well as

through the city council. Um all of

those things through that development

review process would also be um looked

at and considered as those types of uh

impacts to the area would be part of

that process. Um the annexation simply

expands the city's boundaries. It's not

related to a specific development and

doesn't specify what that development

is.

>> Thank you. So, so in short, we're if we

will have more conversations uh about

this as we if if one were to move

forward with anything and we would be in

close collaboration and contact with

with the the area commission. So

>> again, thank you for your time.

>> Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much for being

here.

Are there any other questions or

comments on the consent portion of the

agenda?

If so, um is there a motion for passage?

>> Cler, please call the role by voice.

Bankston,

>> yes.

>> Barosa, deodia,

>> yes.

>> Deakau,

>> yes.

>> Dorren,

>> yes.

>> Green,

>> yes.

>> Remy,

>> yes.

>> Ross,

>> yes.

>> W.

>> Yes.

>> President Harden,

>> yes. With the exception of 0328-2026,

in which I am abstaining. The consent

agenda passes.

Uh we will now proceed with uh the

second reading of 30-day postponed

emergency legislation. However, we will

go out of order and start with ordinance

0649-2026

in rules and policy. I chair that

committee and I I am really excited to

um bring this legislation forward today.

We're going to um

as I said uh at our press conference

just about an hour ago, public safety

has never been static. It is always

evolved with every generation to meet

the realities of the times in which we

live. Before modern policing, cities had

night watches and constables. Before

professional fire departments, we had

citizen volunteers and bucket brigades.

Public safety is always changing to meet

the needs of the community. In fact, 50

years ago, if you had a heart attack or

an injury, you would have to rely on a

police car or a taxi or a hearse to get

to the hospital. So, cities created the

modern EMS system where trained

paramedics could stabilize you. The

basic idea was that a medical emergency

is not law enforcement problem. It's a

healthc care problem. And now this idea

is mainstream. And no one argues that

police alone should respond to cardiac

arrest or traumatic injuries. But today,

we continue to ask police to be on the

front lines of all of our societal

problems, from mental illnesses to

substance abuse and more. You dial 911

and no matter what your issue is, you

will get a cruiser with flashing lights.

So, as we are continue to confront

rising mental health issues,

homelessness, and substance abuse

crisis, we take another step forward in

our evolving understanding of public

safety. This charter amendment is the

latest chapter in that long arc that

bends towards justice and progress.

I appreciate the advocacy and leadership

of the Columbus Safety Collective, which

has been working to bring this vision to

reality for years and years. For the

last year, city council members and my

team have been working with the Columbus

Safety Collective to see if we could

collaborate and unite around a charter

amendment to ask voters to take this

step with us.

Our commitment to that doubled after we

got our results from the external

consultant mission critical partners

that we commissioned to review our own

internal programs.

That review found that the city could be

diverting five to 10 times more calls to

our mobile crisis response unit if they

were scaled up. It also found that uh up

to a third of all incoming 911 calls

could be answered by another kind of

nonuniform specialized response. It

found that we could free up our police

to do what their 1,000 hours and police

academy uniquely equips them to do, get

guns off the streets and go after

violent crimes. and our commitment

doubled again when the collective turned

in more than 30,000 signatures of

citizens in support of this idea. We

know this is what the people want. So

tonight, city council has two votes

ahead of us. First, we will vote to

advance the collective's original

proposal, which we are legally obliged

obligated to do. Second, we will vote to

advance the collaborative proposal we

worked on with the safety collaborative

collective. This proposal achieves the

goals of the original, but it also has a

proposal that gives the city more

flexibility in funding and program. And

as a show of good faith, this ordinance

will also commit to the city to early

implementation deadlines than their

original charter compl contemplated for

these teams to be fully operational in

2028 and available as needed 24 hours a

day, 7 days a week by 2030.

Should we pass both the collective plans

uh then to withdraw their original

proposal and to campaign for this uh one

together? Um again an hour ago we had

members from organized labor from the

FOP to the fire department to our folks

in health to all the city council

members standing with uh the collective

who did amazing work. Uh, and Chana,

would you come forward um as I continue

speaking just um speaking with and

advocating for

this charter amendment. Chana is

literally I would see her out at every

community event. And what I said earlier

is what I'll say today. Thank you for

turning your pain into purpose. You

worked extremely hard to get us here. Uh

and we are so excited to be able to join

you to now join your growing growing um

group and momentum to codify that this

is how we serve our residents best when

in their time of need. I'm going to turn

the floor over to Chana Wy.

>> Thank you, President Harden, and thank

you to all of council. I'm Chana Wy and

the co-chair of Columbus Safety

Campaign, and I am so thrilled to be

here today. Um, the campaign is very

personal to me. I started this work

because of the loss of my brother, Geron

Thomas, experiencing a mental health

crisis and calling for help. Called 911

and officers were dispatched. Excessive

force was used and my brother lost his

life. And Geron was incredibly

incredibly intelligent young man,

smartest of all of my brothers and also

smarter than me. He uh had a pool ride

to Ohio State University in the sixth

grade on the Young Scholars program and

he was just a joy to have in our family.

He was our youngest brother and my love

for him turned into a commitment to make

sure that what happened to him does not

happen to another family. So in 2020,

Columbus Safety Collective was formed by

residents across Columbus who believe

that public safety had to look a little

bit different. We came together to

reimagine how city responds when someone

is in a mental health or behavioral

health crisis. We held town halls and

listened to residents and we heard over

and over again that message was clear

that people in Columbus wanted to have

an alternative crisis response system

and wanted that for quite some time. The

Columbus Safety Collective campaign is

for the people and by the people. And

this campaign's field program was ran by

volunteer canvasers and community

members who showed up, knocked doors,

and collected nearly 30,000 signatures

because they believe our city can do

better. And this is what residents are

asking for. We're so grateful for the

support of our mayor, Andrew Gther, and

our city council president, Shannon

Harden. Um, we know that collectively we

can come to that we have came to a

compromise ballot language and that is

moving forward this evening.

Today, we're here because city council

has that opportunity to move the issue

forward and place it on the May 2026

primary ballot and so the people of

Columbus can decide. We're looking

forward to hearing and we're grateful to

Columbus City Council President, the

mayor for listening to the voices of the

community. Thanks for being here and

thank you for listening.

>> Thank you so much, Shana. you and

everyone else who did this work uh for a

long time should be so so so proud. Um

and like I said, we're excited to join

the coalition. I'm going to open it up

for my colleagues if anybody have any

remarks or questions.

>> I feel like everyone's looking at me to

to give remarks. Um and I'll just repeat

what what I said in the press conference

and really that is um you know true true

public safety means that when anyone

calls for help that they are responded

to with competence and I think that what

we have learned over time is that the

way that we respond to crisises to

nonviolent crisises has no foundation in

competence and we need to be empowering

the people who do the work every day

mental health professionals who do the

work every day to be on the front end of

responding to what they are most

competent to respond to. I think that is

not only um going to be of economic

benefit to our community, but it is

really going to provide the foundation

for true safety in our community. And so

I am super proud of the work that you

have done. I was with you uh a ton of

days and hours and nights where we were

the last people at a at a voting poll

location and you were continuing to

collect signatures for what you knew was

something that the community had been

asking for and truly is in need of. So,

um, I commend all of you for all of the

hard work that you have done, and I am

super excited to join in partnership

with you as we build a truly sustainable

and integrated non-p police response to

non-violent mental health crisises in

our community. Thank you.

>> Thank you,

>> Council Member.

>> Um, I just wanted to also echo my

congratulations and just say, um, you

know, this there's there's, um, this is

like a relay race, right? And we got we

we are getting to one hurdle and then

the next hurdle is talking to folks

about what this is. And you and I were

talking about this before. I think we

evolve as people, right? We change and

the needs of our community and the needs

of who we are as people changes. And so

I think you know for a long time people

have been advocating for us to do

something different. And I think you

said it best and most simply when you

said we can do better. And this is us

doing better. And this is us showing up

better. And this is us giving people the

things that they need. Right? I think

one of the things I first learned when I

started working as a community organizer

was for me not to question what people

wanted, but to actually ask the people

what they needed, right? And so I think

that's what this work is really about.

And so I think that the fact that we

have all of the members of council, that

we also had labor, that we had folks

showing up and understanding that the

community wants better, they want us to

be better, and that it is our

responsibility to show up different for

people to ensure that they're getting

the things that they want and the things

that they need um is just imperative.

So, um, I'm excited about the next leg

of this, uh, relay race and, um, excited

to go out and have these conversations

with folks because I think for people

who might not be most proximate to the

problem, they might ask why, right? And

so, I think bringing stories to folks

and bringing them more proximate and

having them understand, then it's a

no-brainer. So, um, thank you for

leading this. I want to acknowledge all

the other folks who are out here who

have been part of this work, who have

been part of making today happen. And I

think you always see the leaders, but

behind every good leader, there's a ton

more folks who get us to this place. So,

congratulations to everyone. Thank you.

>> Thank you everyone.

>> Thank you.

>> All I can think about is that that Dr.

King quote, the moral arc of the

universe is long, but it bends towards

justice. And I think because of the work

of the safety collective, it is bending,

bending tonight. Uh, I also want to just

shout out Stephen David. He was one of

the people that first brought this idea

to me several years ago, six, seven,

eight years ago. Thank you, brother.

It's good to see you. Um, and then I I

want to shout out actually my chief of

staff, John Tenuse, who spent hours and

hours and hours on the phone and in

meetings with the collective and our

organized labor to make this deal

happen. Thank you.

Okay. So, first in rules and policy

committee and it's going to be technical

like I said. We're going to pass both uh

tonight and then we will um and send

both to the board of elections and uh

then the collective will will work with

the board to pull one of them back. So,

uh first in rules and policy committee

is 0649-2026.

is to submit to the electors of the city

of Columbus at a special election to be

held concurrently with the regularly

primary election on May 5th, 2026 the

question of amending the charter of the

city of Columbus such question to be

known as proposed charter amendment

number one community crisis response. Do

I have a second?

>> Clerk, please call the row.

>> Banks temper roa de podia de a dors

green reie ros president Harden. Next in

my committee is 0657-2026

to submit to the electors of the city of

Columbus a special election to be held

concurrently with the regular primary

election on May 5th, 2026. The question

of amending the charter of the city of

Columbus such question to be known as

proposed charter amendment number two

community crisis response service. Do I

have a second?

>> Clerk, please call the role. Bankston

Barroso de Podia de Akawa Dorncreen Remy

Ross Weiss President Hart.

>> Now it's in the people's hands. Thank

you so much.

>> The next committee to come before

council, the finance and government.

They're Nick. They're count they're

clapping for you because we're passing a

budget tonight.

I'll turn the floor over to Chair Nick

Mason. Uh thank you uh council president

and um I didn't give remarks why uh the

folks were up here but I just wanted to

echo uh thanks to you and your team and

I think that what we saw on display here

today is this is when we work with city

hall how we can all work together. I've

said many times before the best ideas

don't come from this place alone. It

comes from our residents and their

shared and lived experiences. And so

working together with community, I think

that this is a true example of that. So

again, just want to echo my thanks to

you and your team uh for getting us to

this point and for the coalition for all

the work that they've done. Um and uh

next I uh uh I'm proud to present uh um

our budget for this evening. Uh and it's

been a long time to get us to this

point. Uh but really excited to u move

for passage of the 2026 operating

budget. Uh so first in the finance and

governance committee uh for second read

we have ordinance 2938-2025

that's to make appropriations for the 12

months ending December 31 2026 for each

of the several object classes for which

the city of Columbus has to provide from

the monies known to be in the treasury

of said city of Columbus in the fund

known as the general fund during the

said 12 months from the collection of

all taxes and from other sources of

revenue.

uh the amount of 1 bill256,877,66.

Um

and to declare an emergency um

we have on there twice. I'm sorry. Um

I'll read it again because I think that

there's a discrepancy here. So the

amount of1 bill256,8776061

bill258,877

uh66

um uh this ordinance establishes general

fund uh budget appropriations for

departments uh commissions and offices

of the city of Columbus for fiscal year

2026. Uh to say that this year's budget

process was difficult uh is an

understatement. At a time when our city

is being asked to do more than we ever

have, uh inflation, reckless cuts from

the state and federal government, and

the general increase in the cost of

operations has placed us in an

uncomfortable budgetary position. Uh

though I do not have answers for all of

the challenges on the horizon, I am

thankful that we have the capacity to

address some of our most immediate

needs. Uh as mentioned at last week's

hearing, uh tonight I will move to amend

this ordinance uh to include the

following changes. $7.2 million addition

in addition for the community shelter

board. $3 million uh to be set aside for

the city's 27th day pay period. $1

million added back to the budget to

restore the city's elevate grant

program. $1.8 million for our federal

federal healthc care I'm sorry FQC's. Uh

$1.2 million restoration to the

municipal court of clerk's budget,

$700,000 restoration to the municipal

court uh judges budget, a

reappropriating of $850,000 to support

the city's summer camps, and $5.4 $4

million in additional ongoing joint

council and administration programming

in the areas such as workforce

development, public safety, housing, and

other essential needs. Uh I would like

to uh thank Council President Harden as

well as our chief of staff John Tenuse,

all of my council colleagues and their

teams for leaning in during this process

as well as director Matt Ericson uh and

his team in the legislative research

office. I do also want to thank um our

mayor, Mayor Ginther, and his chief of

staff, Elon Sims, our finance and

management director, Chris Long, auditor

Kilgore, and the other department

directors and their staffs for working

collaboratively with my office to get to

this point. Uh before I continue with my

remarks, uh Council President, and move

uh for passage, we do have a couple

speakers that I want to bring up uh at

this point uh on this ordinance. Uh

first, we have uh Mr. Nathaniel Wilkins.

Mr. W back to council. You have three

minutes.

>> 1612 Arlington Avenue. Mr. Lange George

Wilkins, a resident of the North London

area. Um, I'm in favor of all this and I

would say um, is this this for a

one-year term? I would like to know

where is this money being broken down

to. I know some very important key

answers to this is the uh the shelter

board and other entities of this um and

more housing and more other things. So

again, I do thank you for your time.

Again, I'm all in favor of this, but

again, we're still leaving out the

vulnerable people and the young youth.

Thank you for your time.

>> Thank you, Mr. Wilkins, for your

continuity. We'll make sure that we get

you the appropriate links where you can

find the final uh budget document. Uh

next, I want to bring up Shannon Ism,

our president and CEO of the Community

Shelter Board.

Uh, good afternoon or good evening, I'm

not sure which one, to President Harden.

um to councilwoman and chair of our

housing homelessness and building

committee Ross

to Councilman and finance governance

committee finance chairston

and councilwoman and chair of health

human services and equity committee

green

and to all the other members this of

this august city council

um I thank you for having me. I am

Shannon Eisen, president um and CEO of

the Community Shelter Board. So, I thank

you for this opportunity to address you

tonight regarding the 20 the city's 2026

budget and the critical investments in

homelessness services on behalf of the

community shelter board. And the 16

contract partners are five contracted

warming center partners and the

innumerable

non-contracted partners that ensure an

everyday dependable shelter and housing

safety net. We thank you for your bold

leadership and your continued commitment

in addressing homelessness in Columbus.

I also along with the council want to

express much appreciation to Mayor Gther

and the city administration for the

ongoing commitment to housing stability

for thinking and introducing resources

new resources for focusing on housing

answers um while also holding that we

must maintain shelter readiness. Um I

you are chartering this council, this

city is chartering

a course through a historic moment. It's

already been noted here, but I would not

fail to note that despite these very

tight budgets, uh these rising costs

that the city of Columbus, this council

has chosen to protect and even expand

the investment of homelessness services.

This comes at a time when the city faces

structural budget pressures,

shifting federal funding, and rising

personnel and material costs. So, it is

not lost on any of us that this decision

that you have made today would not only

determine the immediate shelter

capacity, but also the long-term health,

safety, and stability of our neighbors

who are experiencing homelessness.

Um there are just five reasons that

before I um take any questions that I

would like to address that this

unprecedented

investment matters.

And with Mr. Wilkins, I hope that this

community as well as this council in

this city holds us accountable. That

this investment sustains lifesaving

shelter and services for those who need

them the most. that this additional

funding recognizes that safe, that

stable shelter is not a luxury, but it

is a basic necessity that is part of our

community that protects lives. It stops

the cycle of homelessness and provides a

platform for individuals to access

housing, to access health care and case

management. Your increased support to

this network will maintain but in many

cases many cases expand it. It will

expand it to the access to immediate

beds, warm meals, hygiene, safety for

people who would otherwise be outdoors.

And we know this because we have had

successful housing through this warming

center. Over 50 people have moved

outside into housing. these these

increased investment will ensure that.

Number two, it strengthens pathways out

of homelessness through coordinated

care. We know that homelessness is not

about a shelter bed, but it is complex.

It is multiaceted.

and you've allowed us to ask for those

dimensionalities of things to support a

coordinated system that links the

shelter to health care that links our

shelter to behavioral health and to

housing programs. So this specific

funding

is will scale our interventions that is

based on evidence-based. It will connect

people to permanent solutions faster,

reduce costly emergency responses by

addressing root causes both in mental

health, substance abuse, and chronic

medical needs. And we're hoping that we

do this before the acute um phase um of

crisis rises. Number three, it promotes

citywide health and public safety

outcomes. When people lack shelter, the

burden falls on the emergency rooms, the

hospitals, police, other public systems.

I know you've heard from them. Investing

in stable housing and supportive

services lowers avoidable

hospitalizations. It reduces the demand

on law enforcement and court resources

by mitigating homelessness related

crisis. In short, even a modest

investment in prevention yields broad

broad savings across the entire health

care and public health system.

Number four, it supports a fair, a

human- centered and economically smart

approach. I have promised you about

three years ago when I came that I will

always uphold

that this dollar that we are investing

will give us output. And so as you're

facing tight budgets,

this council's decision to preserve and

expand homelessness funding reflects

that strategic prioritization of human

dignity and social resilience. It aligns

to our values

and with best practices shows that

stable housing is and will continue to

be the most effective long-term strategy

for improving outcomes for people

experiencing homelessness. And finally,

it preserves and enhances a crucial

community asset, the trust, the

stability that when families and

individuals know that we have built and

we will contain a reliable safety net,

they then can focus on the recovery.

They can focus on job training. They can

focus on their kids. They can focus on

education. So, this investment in people

stabilizes

our neighborhoods. It stabilizes our

partners. It stabilizes our community. I

don't want to leave here overstating

what this investment will do, but I

caution myself not to understate it

either.

This has been a system that has been

built on for this year and an

unprecedented

fusion of funds for homelessness

services. And I know that you've done

this amid a tightening fiscal

environment.

I want to thank you for your leadership

and for recognizing that when we invest

in people, when we invest in our

partners, when we invest in safer,

healthier, more prosperous community, it

benefits us all. Thank you. And I

certainly would take any questions.

>> Uh thank you, Madam President. Any

questions or comments for President

Isim? Again, want to thank you for uh

your continued work uh and advocacy. Uh

and you know you talked about the safety

net and the work that you do is catching

that is the very bottom of the the net.

>> Yes.

>> Uh and so we have to continue to invest

in that. Uh and I hope that folks see

that even in austeric times we can are

still making it a historic investment.

>> Yes.

>> In our shelter system and our

homelessness system. Uh we can do both

and we will get through this together

because there are still tough times

ahead given the climate that we have

coming out of Washington and the state

house. Uh but we have to make sure that

we shore up the least of these in our

community. And so I just want to thank

you for your continued work uh in that.

And uh I know you say hold us

accountable but you always here to

report back. Uh and so we look forward

to the report back on the impact that

this historic investment will make. So,

at the end, thank you for your work.

>> Thank you.

>> Um,

Council President, I I'll move for uh

passage here shortly, but I I just want

to in addition to what I just said, I

just want to reiterate that tonight's

vote is not an end uh to the budget

conversation, I think, as you pointed

out in our hearing, but it represents

the start of the next phase in our

oversight responsibilities. Uh over the

next few weeks, I will continue

conversations and planning and

partnership with the administration to

create a fiscal uh to create a fiscal

sustainability task force that will look

at opportunities for cost savings,

modernization, and efficiencies. And and

I want to underscore this and I say at

the hearing again, this is not an

indictment on the administration. Uh it

is not unique to Columbus. cities all

across this country, all across this

state, uh, find themselves in these same

predicaments. I think that we are at a

place that we have the ability to meet

this moment. We don't have to do some of

the drastic measures that some other

cities have done like layoff folks or

tap into our rainy day fund. But these

are tight times. And so I think that

calls for a conversation. It calls for

collaboration closer than it's ever been

before. And so I look forward to working

with my partners in good on the

administration to think about how we

re-imagine uh city government because

the expenses only continue to grow and

our revenue is not keeping pace with

those expenses. So in any time like that

we have to look at belt tightening and

take a look inside and see how can we uh

meet this moment but also prepare

ourselves for the future. Uh so again I

look forward to that work in partnership

with the administration.

difficult times call for more

conversation, more collaboration and

leaning in and that is our overall goal.

Uh with that, are there any questions or

comments from my colleagues before?

>> Yes. I just wanted to make sure I was I

wasn't sure if you were going to give us

opportunity. I just wanted to say before

you move for passage that we would I

would be remiss if I did not um also

thank you for um show my gratitude

certainly as a council member. I see

other council members shaking their

heads. This is not easy. It's not it

this is a constant negotiation and there

are things that and and this also is not

an indictment. We are sometimes going to

prioritize different things, right? And

I think it is our duty, it is our job to

be the voice of the people and when the

people are coming to us and telling us

that they need and want certain things,

for us to continue to push forward for

those needs, for those wants, for the

things that we also believe in, um that

is that is challenging. And so, um, over

the past several months, this is

something that you have been working on

very diligently, being creative,

thinking about the different ways that

we could get to a place where we are

continuing to serve our community, that

we are not um, we are continuing to live

our values, we are continuing to take

care of people, and we're continuing to

make sure that Columbus is a place that

can grow and grow responsibly. So, I

just also want to thank you for all the

work that you have done um to get us to

this place and um we we wouldn't be here

without your leadership and without your

vision. So, I just also wanted to say

thank you.

>> Thank you for that. Any other questions?

>> I I too uh want to echo that

appreciation. Uh Chair Bankston, um

I am very grateful for you and the work

that you did. Um used to crack me up

over the last eight weeks. Uh, I would

be leaving the building on at Friday at

5:00 and Council Bankston would be

coming in for his finance negotiations

and I was like, y'all picked a hell of a

time to negotiate the budget every week.

Um, but I I appreciate you. Um, as you

said, so I've worked in this building uh

since 2010 and this is the tightest

budget that I have seen uh in over, you

know, a decade and a half.

And the issue with that though is it's

the Titus budget when we also had over

6% growth.

So we received a budget that did not

fully fund shelter that did not keep our

promise to young people in education

that um did not fulfill the safety needs

of the courthouse and uh the clerk's

office. And because of your leadership

in this council, we were able to restore

a lot of those resources. But we also

have to be honest that we worked really

hard to support a human service sector

that is on um a lifeline right now that

is is just barely hanging on. Um but we

still fell short of keeping them whole

in a time where folks need it. And so as

we continue these conversation, that's

why I'm so grateful that you took up the

mantle to pull together um this fiscal

sustainability task force because we

can't be in this same situation next

year. We cannot be in the same situation

next year where if we see the kind of

growth growth that God blessed us with

this year and are still

scraping by and we still have to pray

that

um there are not huge big surprises that

come about throughout this year because

the budget is that tight

um that we're not we're not back here.

And so that's why I think that that

sustain sustainability commission, our

committee and task force is so

important. Um I really do appreciate

your leadership council member right we

would not be here without you. Um and we

also I was telling director along this

as well. Uh we appreciated your

partnership even though these were tough

conversations. I mean really tough. Uh

we never doubted that you were speaking

in good faith and working with us in

good faith and for that I am very very

grateful. uh into the public into the

community. I I say this all the time.

Just because we say that this is the

tight budget and we are working with

less resources than ever, it doesn't

mean that you don't still bring us your

issues. It is our responsibility to

figure out how we still meet our city's

needs even when the budget is this

tight. You saw that in action in these

council amendments. the council members

went to the the match for you to make

sure that we could squeeze out every

little bit that we we could to make you

whole. And like I said, we didn't get

there all the way and we won't be there

all the way, but that's the imperfection

of governing. Uh and it's the

imperfection of of negotiations, but uh

I am grateful. This is now a a better

budget. Uh and I I'm looking forward to

voting for it. Thank you.

Thank you, Council President. Uh,

Council Member Green.

>> Thank you so much, Chair. I I also,

again, I I want to make very clear I'm

so deeply grateful for your leadership

on helping us get to a much better

place. I also want to be honest, I'm

deeply likewise deeply troubled um that

we're at a point where we're having to

restore the things that we are restoring

here tonight. Um, you know, I think that

investments in um access to critical

life-saving health care services, access

to uh dignified housing for people that

are living with housing stability. Those

things are um our responsibilities

to ensure are available to people. The

funding that we contribute to them are

not discretionary. They're not optional.

Um, you know, I I look around the room.

I'm concerned right now I at the

questions that I still have, you know,

from our first budget hearing. Um, we

have contract um, you know,

discretionary contract uh, requirements

to cut across the board by 15%

everywhere. I've asked at every hearing

uh, for a list of what's going to be cut

so that I can understand what I'm going

to be voting on. And to date, I haven't

received that. you know, when we talk

about um we talk about workforce issues

right now, uh you know, Commissioner um

Clark, you know, I see our partners in

ASME um sitting in the back here, and I

know that we received a $1.7 million cut

to our CPH's program that funds uh

positions that serve 50% of Ohio's HIV

positive population. To date, I haven't

been uh told what the solution is going

to be to protect those workers. And

certainly if we end up having to reduce

our workforce, it cannot be those

workers that do such critical

life-saving work. So what does that mean

about looking around the city to ensure

that um that we are uh providing the

quality and um quantity of services to

our most vulnerable residents. I um

I guess since we don't have solutions

yet on all of the contracts that could

be up for um consideration as we're

looking at reducing some of that

external spending, I just want to make

it pretty clear. I'm going to be

reviewing those contracts um closely um

because when you look at the pattern of

what has been eliminated out of this

budget, you see funding for federally

qualified healthcare centers, you see

funding for emergency shelter, you see

funding for all of these critical

services. Um and it just, you know,

obviously gives me a hesitation. Um but

the work of the city must move on. And

again, I'm I'm grateful. I know that it

was not easy to arrive here. Um, but I'm

looking forward to um working

collaboratively to ensure that we remain

on budget across all of our departments

this year and that we're also looking at

how we're planning for next year. You

know, when you think about the alternate

crisis work that we just passed, that

work costs money. That that's additional

staff, that's additional dollars, that's

additional administrators, that's

additional um vehicles, that's

additional technology.

Um, and so we got to be thinking about

um how we're gonna how we're going to

keep the promises we've made and be good

stewards um of these public dollars. And

so I look forward to partnering with all

of you and the administration and with

uh all of my colleagues to be able to to

make sure that we do that.

>> Thank you, Council Member Green. And I

look forward to folks coming with

solutions. Um it is going to be

definitely difficult times and it calls

for uh solutiondriven

uh leadership and so thank you u for all

of your advocacy during this process. Uh

before I move for passage, council

president, I do want to make sure I make

clear the amount. I did butcher that uh

a little bit. I know the clerk was going

to probably get on me. Um clerk, do you

need me to read the whole thing again or

just the amount?

Just the amount. Okay. Uh

um and that amount is 1 bill258,877,66

uh for ordinance uh 22938

uh for which now I first move to amend

as submitted to the clerk.

>> Second

>> clerk please call the role.

>> Banks roa de podia de a dorren green

remy ros president Harden

>> amended

>> and now move for passage.

>> Second clerk please call the role. Banks

temporarosa de padia de aar dors green

screen reie ros white president Harden

>> pass

uh thank you next we have ordinance

0313-2026

to authorize director department of

technology to enter in a contract with

vertig corporation for heating

ventilation and air conditioning and

uninterrupted power supply maintenance

and repair services with the option to

renew for four additional one-year terms

or portions thereof to uh authorize the

waiver of the competitive bidding

provisions of Columbus City codes and to

authorize the expenditure of

$298,442.33.

This ordinance enters into a contract

with Bertie Corporation for HVAC and

uninterrupted power supply maintenance

and repair services. Bert has been the

only factory authorized, excuse me,

service provider to provide maintenance

for the city's uninterrupted power

supply system. Since maintenance of both

the city's uninterrupted power supply

system and data center HVAC are rolled

into one contract, a waiver of

competitive bidding is requested. The

term of this contract will be for one

year beginning on April 19, 2026 and

ending on April 18, 2027 with the option

to renew it for four additional one-year

terms. Seeing no questions or comments

from my colleagues, I move for passage.

>> Click, please call the role. Banks

Timber Rosa de Podia de AOA Doris Green

Remy Ross White President Harden

>> pass. Next we have ordinance 0368-2026

to authorize the department of the uh

technology to enter to renew a contract

with Excella Inc. from a state of Ohio

mastercloud service agreement for

software licensing maintenance support

and professional services with the

option to renew for three additional

one-year terms to wave the competitive

bidding provisions of chapter 329 of the

Columbus city codes to extend an

existing purchase order issued for the

Excella migration project and to

authorize an expenditure from the

department of technology information

services operating fund. Uh, this

ordinance authorizes year two of a

five-year agreement with Excella, Inc.

for software licensing, maintenance,

support, and professional services.

Excella is currently used by the

Department of Building and Zoning

Services, development, public utilities,

public service, recreation and parks,

and public health. Services provided

through this contract include technical

assistance, support upgrades, and

telephone support services for the

Excella automation system application

used to issue building permits, track

code enforcement activities, monitor the

performance of the one-stop shop, and

support the environmental health unit.

This contract renewal includes $30,000

in contingency funds for use when

unforeseen services are required. Due to

the receipt of only one quote from the

only vendor on the state of Ohio

mastercloud service contract, a waiver

of competitive bidding is requested. Uh

seeing no questions or comments from my

colleagues, I move for passage.

>> Second.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Tim Barrosa de Padilla de Akawa

Dors Green Remy Ross President Harden

>> passed. Next, we have ordinance

0505-2026

to authorize the city treasurer to

modify his contract for banking services

with JP Morgan Chase Bank to add

additional funding to authorize the

expenditure of 6,797,500

from various funds within the city and

to declare an emergency. This contract

modification pays for the increased

volume of fees associated with increased

citizen usage of credit cards to pay

their bills in lie of checks or cash

payments. These fee increases represent

the success of our banking modernization

effort led by our city treasurer and

will become routine in the short term as

we continue to modernize the city

services. Really, I mean, I know this is

an insider and wonky one, but we are

modernizing the city's uh uh um banking

efforts and this really shows that a lot

of our agencies are now coming to

centrally uh utilize one credit card

platform. So, that is what you see with

these fees. So, uh, I hate to be talking

about expenditures and fees, but this is

showing that our modernization efforts

are working. So, again, want to thank

our city treasurer for her, uh, efforts

in getting us to this point. Any

questions or comments from my

colleagues? Seeing none, I move for

passage.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bankston Barosa de Padilla de Akawa

Green Reie Ross W Pro Dorne.

>> Ordinance passed.

>> Uh, thank you. U president prom may I

move to the economic development and

small minority business committee?

>> You may.

>> Thank you. Tonight in the economic

development small minority business

committee we have ordinance 0363-2026

to authorize the department of uh

director excuse me the director of

department of development to establish

contracts with various contractors for

the maintenance of properties maintained

by the division of real estate and land

redevelopment to wave competitive bid

requirements of of Columbus city code to

allow expenditures prior to the

establishment of the purchase order to

authorize the expenditure of up to

$1,475,000

from the land uh management fund and to

declare an emergency. As stated in the

title, this ordinance establishes

contracts for property maintenance and

lawn mowing services for the properties

held by the division of real estate and

land redevelopment. Services in these

contracts include trash and debris

removal from structures, cleaning and

abatement of vacant lots, lawnmowing,

tree services, brush clearing, trash

pickup, and similar work. 10 contractors

were selected out of a group of 25 RFQ

respondents and current current property

maintenance contracts expire at the end

of February. So an emergency designation

is requested. Are there any questions or

comments from my colleagues? Seeing

none, I move for passage.

>> Second.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Tim Barros Padilla de Akawa Green

Reie Ross Weiss President Pro Tim

Dorren.

>> Ordinance passed.

>> Thank you, President Proim. That's all I

have in my committee this evening.

>> Thank you council member. Uh, next

committee come before council is the

public service and transportation

committee chaired by council member Rosa

depia. Floor is yours.

>> Thank you, President Prom. I have two

items today on second reading in public

service and transportation. And the

first one is a special one. I'm excited

about it. It's 029206

to rename the roadway currently known as

Washington Boulevard close to where COI

is to Granville T. Woods Boulevard.

Granville T. Woods was born in Columbus,

Ohio on April 23rd, 1856 and became one

of the most groundbreaking inventors of

the 19th and 20th centuries with nearly

60 patents for his inventions. He was

also an electrical engineer and

significantly impacted urban and rural

transportation. last week as we closed

out Black History Month. Um, and just

like Black History, it's an everyday

proposition, my friends. We are keeping

the celebration and acknowledgement of

the many contributions of black leaders,

activists, inventors, and more. So, we

do have three speakers. So, I would

invite them to come down to the podium.

Um, this request was made by the

Columbus or the Ohio Black Expo. The

Ohio Black Expo is a statewide nonprofit

organization committed to enhancing the

lives, success, and well-being of

communities in Ohio. Their signature

event, the Ohio Black Expo Riverfront

Culture Fest, takes place every Memorial

Day weekend to empower and unite Ohio's

1.7 million black residents and those

beyond. This annual gathering celebrates

thousands of guests from across the

state, the nation, and the globe to

enhance or to engage in solution focused

workshops, build connections and

networking events, and celebrate the

richness of black culture with amazing

food, the arts, and unforgettable

atmosphere. There's no other place to be

during Memorial Day weekend. So, I would

like to invite um our speakers from the

Black Expo, Butch and Sherry Hamilton

and Simeon. Did I get it right? Thank

you, Frasier, to the podium. Welcome to

council. Greetings to all council

members and everyone present. My name is

Butch Hamilton, resident of Columbus and

COO of the Ohio Black Expo. While some

people believe Black History Month has

ended, we continue to celebrate Black

History 365 days a year. And in that

ongoing celebration, we gather tonight

to lift up a person who deserves

recognition and honor. Granville T.

Woods. Granville T. Woods was born right

here in Columbus, Ohio. Rem renaming a

street in his honor is not symbolic.

It's a permanent declaration.

It etches his name into the daily life

of our city. And it ensures that

children and future generations will

know that a self-taught black genius

from Ohio became one of the greatest

inventors of our time. We hope to

reverse the fact that many people in

Columbus are not familiar with the story

of Granville T. Woods. and as a

scientist and an engineer, his work in

the field of transportation

revolutionized the industry. His

innovations are still felt today and

used throughout the world. Granville T.

Woods held close to 60 patents and it's

documented that Thomas Edison attempted

to claim some of his inventions, but

Edison fought back in court and won not

once, but twice.

Despite extreme racism and

discrimination, Granville T. Woods

persevered. Personally, as an educator

of nearly 30 years, I understand the

power of knowing history. The principle

of San Kofa teaches us to look back into

the past in order to move forward. When

children see someone from their city who

looks like them, who achieved greatness,

possibility becomes more real, more

attainable. Growing up in Pickle, Ohio,

my father instilled in me the importance

of ownership identity. I watched him

advocate for public spaces to be named

after local African-American legends

like Goodrich Giles, the Mills brothers,

and the Randolph Freed people, also

known as the Unbreakable 400.

Names matter, memory matters, public

recognition matters, Granville T. Woods

matters. And with that, I yield to my

queen, the CEO and president of the Ohio

Black Expo, Miss Sherry Hamilton.

Right. I set up.

>> Let it be stated on the record that I'm

a queen.

>> Uh thank you again for your time

tonight. Um we appreciate it. And uh

here in Columbus, we have the

opportunity and I would even argue the

responsibility to honor one of our

greatest sons. I also want to

acknowledge those who have tires

tirelessly uplifted his legacy. Mama

Carol Rivers who ran the Granville T.

Wood shoe. Um, and my mother was

actually a music teacher there. Um, also

Mike Erin of the Rickenbacker Woods

Foundation and the esteemed historian

David David L. Head who has traveled

this country pres preserving and sharing

his story. We actually had uh David Head

at the expo a couple of years ago doing

an reenactment and he'll be back this

year. uh that they have kept the flame

alive and tonight you have the power to

make that flame permanent. Renaming a

street after Granville T. Woods is more

than signage. It is a statement of

values. It tells our children that

Columbus recognizes genius that we honor

perseverance that we celebrate

excellence even when history tried to

overlook it. This initiative will

empower our youth to dream bigger and

reach higher. Council members, this is

an opportunity to do something that will

outlive all of us. Long after we are

gone, children will walk that street.

They will read that name and they will

know that greatness was born here. So,

we thank you in advance for this

opportunity to recognize Granville T.

Woods, a man truly worthy of honor,

remembrance, and permanent recognition

in the city he called home. And again,

thank you uh council members for helping

us to push this initiative forward.

Thank you for your continued support of

our work. And we want to thank our

founder Rhonda D. Robinson for her

leadership and sacrifice uh to build uh

what is uh now the Ohio Black Expo. And

so

uh executive board member Simeon

Frasier.

Apparently the title stop at at queen,

but but I can rock with that. Um,

interestingly, uh, March 2nd, it holds a

particular significance for me, uh, for

a number of reasons. 11 years ago on

this day in 2015, the Lord called home

one of my beloved mentees and the

personality of Ms. Jasmine Cosby. Uh,

she was an absolute angel.

Additionally, at 9:07 p.m. this evening,

it'll mark the 30th anniversary of my

initiation into the absolute best

fraternity seen by human eyes on God's

green earth in the Alpha Fa fraternity

incorporated. 9:07 p.m. again. And then

lastly, today I get the privilege of

seeing the city of Columbus putting the

right steps in motion to do the right

thing. an unnamed Jesuit PR priest

rather uh once made he once coined a

phrase uh which ironically has since

been attributed to President Truman

where it said it's amazing how much you

can get done if you're not worried about

who gets the credit.

Uh that said, I'm certainly proud to be

on this side of history and with us all

on the same side of the table. It's

certainly always a good time to do the

right thing and honoring one of

Columbus's native sons is certainly the

right thing. I'm proud of the continued

sponsorship and the support and the

support of efforts uh including uh from

the department of public works along

with madam and sir of the Columbus city

council over the last five years and I'm

thrilled with this initial step in

substantive growth

and happily yield the balance both

seconds of our time

>> for my colleagues If there's any com

comments, questions, council member.

>> No, I just wanted to say thank you and

commend you all. I know that we've had

conversations that, you know, I served

on the board of the U Rick and Becker

Woods Foundation and Mike Eron, the work

he's doing. Also, wonderful park that we

have invested in back there as well. And

so ongoing campaign that they're doing.

And also I just wanted to lift up uh the

uh uh documentary that is being filmed

or and talks are being filmed about uh

all of the work that Granville T. Woods

have done has done and so this street

being a marquee uh for our city and you

all taking the effort to rename it is

very thoughtful and so I just want to

thank you for uh your leadership and and

all that you've done to get us to this

point.

>> Thank you.

>> Any other comments? So, I just want to

say I I said this at the beginning. This

is very special for me because um you

know I'm a certified youth worker and we

always say our kids need to see us to be

us, right? And one of the coolest things

about a street name is that you know I

remember my girls were learning to read

and they would read and ask why is a

street name this right? It's that wonder

and that curiosity. I have a program

called 614 Beautiful for this reason

because I believe in giving people the

power back to um express and create

beautiful places in their neighborhoods.

And we did a really amazing mural on the

east side. U some would say it's a

southside. There's still an argument

about that, but um of some amazing

leaders. It was right by one of our

schools because every time those kids go

to that school, they walk by and they

can see the leaders who literally built

their community. you know, people who

were Tuskegee airmen and other people

who changed the course of history. And

at a time where it feels like people

want to erase our history, it is more

important for us to double down on what

we know to be true. And so, um, as chair

of this committee, I got the honor of

presenting this today, but I just want

to thank you for your advocacy because I

think it is a good model for us to look

at how do we change? I mean, people come

to us all the time about why a street

was named something or can we change it

to something. So, can we we can do it

something good, right? to your point to

be better and to also be for this to be

right next to our science center where

kids from all over all backgrounds come

and they can learn about the

contributions and they can see

themselves and say I can do that too um

is super special. So I just want to

thank you for all the work that you do

in our community. I want to thank you

for um how you elevate black culture and

black history and invite people in so

that they can partake in it and they

also can celebrate along with you. And

as you said, it is a 365 proposition.

Some of us are lucky enough. Happy

Women's History Month. You get two

months to celebrate your identities.

Some of us get three. Um, so I just want

to say again, thank you. Um, and with

that, I you get 12. I mean, correct,

council member. Um, with that, I move

for passage.

>> Second.

Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akawa,

Dorne Green, Remy Ross, Vice President

Harden.

>> Congratulations.

>> Thank you.

>> Happy anniversary too.

>> Great. And I also want to thank um our

public service department because this

would not have happened without them.

So, thank you. Uh, and lastly, in public

service and transportation, I have

ordinance 03826

to amend the 2025 capital improvement

budget to authorize the director of

financing management to enter into

contract with BEC Enterprises LLC

utilizing the ODOT cooperative purchase

contract to purchase equipment to clear

and maintain city right ofways to

authorize the waiver of the competiting

bidding provisions of Columbus City Code

to authorize the expenditure of up to

$298,93

from the streets and highways bond fund

and to declare an emergency. So, this

essentially authorizes us to buy a boon

mower. We should have a fun little

uh quiz on the names of all of these

equipment um which will be used to clear

the clear and maintain the cities right

away. Do my colleagues have any

questions or comments? Seeing none, I

move for passage.

>> Click please call the role.

>> Thanks. Timber Rosa de Padilla de Akar

Dors Green Reie Ross Vice President

Harden

>> passed.

>> Perfect. And that is all for me this

evening.

>> Thank you, madam chair. The next

committee to come before council is the

health and human services and equity

committee. That committee is chaired by

council member Green. Council member,

the floor is yours.

>> Thank you so much, Council President.

Tonight in our Health, Human Services,

and Equity Committee, we have one

ordinance on second reading. It's

ordinance 0347-2026

to authorize and direct uh to authorize

the director of finance and management

to establish purchase orders with Seni

Pasteure Inc., Fizer Inc. and Madna US

Inc. for the purchase of vaccinations

for the board of health to wave the

competitive bidding provisions of the

Columbus City Code and to authorize an

expenditure of $200,000 from the health

special

revenue fund. Each year um the

immunization program at Columbus Public

Health offers free flu shots, CO 19

shots and other back to school uh

vaccinations to residents of Columbus

and Franklin County. It is absolutely an

incredible program and such a great pro

public service that you provide to all

of our young people to make sure that

they are ready to go back to school um

and be healthy and safe as they are

around all of their kiddos with lots of

of germs. Um we um have learned

throughout the years that it is

important for us to um pre-book through

the manufacturers

um in order to have the most reliable um

access to receiving the inventory that

we need to be able to do that. And so

that is what this appropriation uh will

fund today. And pre-booking also

guarantees ontime delivery and heavily

discounted um 340B program pricing. Um,

another federal policy that everyone

should be on the lookout for, by the

way, that would in this case have a

direct impact to our budget. Um, so this

ordinance authorizes the director of

finer finance and management to

establish purchase orders with those

companies so that they can ensure they

have the vaccines that um, our residents

need. Um, and it is I don't need to read

that. Um, are there any other comments

or questions for my colleagues?

>> Seeing none, I move for passage. Second

call.

>> Thanks. Timber podia de a dors green

remy ros president Harden.

>> Thank you madam chair. The next

committee coming for council is the

housing homelessness and building

committee. That committee is shared by

council Ross. Council member please

floor is yours.

>> Thank you council president. We just

have one ordinance on second read

tonight. It is 0326-2026

to amend the 2025 capital improvement

budget to authorize the city auditor to

transfer funds within the affordable

housing bond fund. to authorize the

director of development to enter into a

grant agreement with Healthy Lynen Homes

7 LLC for development of a 23 unit

affordable housing development in an

amount up to $2.5 million with a total

commitment to the project of $5 million

and to authorize the expenditure of up

to $2.5 million from the affordable

housing fund. Healthy Lynen Homes is an

affordable housing initiative

coordinated through Healthy Homes, a

nonprofit housing organization in

collaboration between community

development for all people and

nationwide children's. Healthy homes is

committed to preserving affordable

housing through the provision of home

ownership, rental, and home repair

services in two Columbus communities,

the Southside and Lynon. The Healthy

Neighborhoods, Healthy Families

Initiative began in 2008 in Columbus's

Southside neighborhood. In 2021, the

efforts expanded on the bold vision of

the one Lyndon plan to the Lynen

community. Their work in these

neighborhoods focused on reducing the

social detriments of health and since

2008, Healthy Homes has impacted nearly

1,000 homes through full gut renovation,

new builds with energy efficient and

green features, grants to current

residents through the home repair

program, and is certainly uh completing

the critical work of housing

preservation in our community. And so

with that, if there are no questions or

comments from my colleagues, I will move

for passage.

>> Second cler,

>> please call the role.

>> Banks roa de padia de a dors green

screen reie ros. President Harden

>> passed.

>> That is all for me.

>> Thank you, madam chair. We're going to

push through and finish out the evening.

Last committee to come before council is

the public utility and sustainability

committee. That committee is chair by

council member Wise. Council member, the

floor is yours.

>> Very welcome, director.

>> Very shocked by that, but I'm excited

for it. Uh thank you, Council President.

I have five ordinances in public

utilities and sustainability committee

this evening. First, I have ordinance uh

122-2026 to authorize the director of

the Department of Public Utilities to

enter into a contract modification with

Stantech Consulting Services

Incorporated for the Construction

Administration Construction Inspection

Services 2023 2025 contract to

appropriate funds within the Water

Pollution Control Loan Fund and the

Water Water Fresh Market Rate Fund to

make this ordinance contingent upon the

Ohio Water Development Authority

approving both loans for this project

and to authorize the expenditure of up

to 1 million 204,59.90

from the water pollution control loan

fund in the water water fresh market

rate fund to pay for the project. This

ordinance supports the Highland Harris

integrated solutions in South Eureka

Avenue water line improvements project

in the greater hilltop neighborhood.

This project will install various types

of green infrastructure and replace

water manes on two streets, effectively

reducing storm water overflows in

basement and waterways. Let me stop

there, see if any questions or comments

from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move

for passage.

Banks Temper Rosa de Podia de Akawa

Doran Green Remy Ross President Harden

>> passed. Thank you. Next, I have

ordinance 160-2026 to authorize the

director of the Department of Finance

and Management to associate all general

budget reservations resulting from this

ordinance with the appropriate universal

appropriate current impending universal

term contract purchase agreements for

the purchase of distribution uh switch

gear reclosers and transformers for the

Department of Public Utilities and to

authorize an expenditure of $7 million

from the electricity operating fund. The

purchase of this equipment will enable

the division of power to replenish stock

for the maintenance of existing

infrastructure and continue to serve

both current and future customers. Let

me stop there. See if any questions or

comments from my colleagues. Seeing

none, I move for passage.

>> Thanks Timber Rosa Padilla de Aar Doran

Green Remy Ross President Harden.

>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance

247-20226

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 make this ordinance

contingent upon Ohio Water Development

Authority approving a loan for this

project to appropriate funds within the

Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and to

authorizing expenditure of up to

$1,429,878.3

from the Water Pollution Control Loan

Fund. to pay for the project. These

services will provide quality control

for the project and help reduce the

number of construction claims, therefore

ensuring that the projects run smoothly

and with this uh and the city can

continue to provide efficient and

cost-effective waste water treatment

services. Let me stop there see if any

questions or comments from my

colleagues. Seeing none, I move for

passage.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Barosa de Padilla de AOA Dorne

Green Reie Ross President Harden

>> pass. Thank you. Next, I have ordinance

293-2026

to authorize the director of public

utilities to renew the contract with New

River Electrical Corporation for

emergency and non-emergency services for

electric transmission, distribution, and

street lighting systems and to authorize

an expenditure of 2,100,000 from the

electricity operating fund. This work uh

the work to be completed under this

contract includes the installation and

maintenance of electric and street

lighting systems as well as an emergency

services during power outages, pulld

downs and extreme weather events. Uh

this work will ensure the division of

power is able to provide 24/7 service

365 days a year. Let me stop there. See

if any questions or comments from my

colleagues. Seeing none, I move for

passage.

>> Clerk, please call the role. Banks

timber rode padia de aar dors green reie

ros white president Harden

>> passed

>> thank you and finally I have ordinance

300-20226 to authorize the director of

public utilities to enter into a

construction contract with clay poolool

electric incorporated for the

southerntherly wastewater treatment

plant power systems upgrades and safety

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 fund to

transfer cash and appropriation between

projects within the sanitary bond fund

and to authorize expenditure of up to

$16,420,654

from the water pollution control loan

fund in the sanitary bond fund to pay

for the project. This ordinance supports

the improvement of electrical equipment

as well as a replacement of critical

aging gear at the um

sorry

uh at the southernly wastewater

treatment plant. Um,

this work will enhance the overall

efficiency and reliability of treatment

process, increasing the level of service

provided by the Southerntherly

Wastewater Treatment Plant. Let me stop

there. See if any questions or comments

from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move

for passage.

>> Please call the RO.

>> Banks Timber Akawa Dors Green Reie Ross

President Harden

>> passed. Thank you. That is all I have

for my committee this evening.

>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. See no further

business come for the council. Is there

a motion to adjurnn? Clerk, please call

the role.

>> Banks Temperos Padilla de Aar Dor screen

Remy Ross President Harden.

>> Meeting is adjourned. We'll reconvene

for zoning in 5 minutes.

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number

10. will now come to order. Clerk,

please call the role.

>> Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de Aawa

Dors Green. Remy Ross White, President

Harden.

>> Can I get a motion with the reading of

the journal?

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de AOA

Dorne Green. Remy Ross White, President

Harden.

>> Are there any additions or corrections

to the journal? Hearing none, the

journal is approved. We'll now go to the

zoning committee. Uh, council member

Dorren chairs that committee. All

members serve one. Council member, the

floor is yours.

>> Thank you, Council President. Uh, as

always before we begin tonight's zoning

agenda, I'll explain our rules

pertaining to speaking for council on

reszonings and variances. We will only

hear a staff presentation for ordinance

have a disapproval from recommending

body or if we have a public speaker to

sign to speak against an ordinance. We

permit three speakers on each side,

three proponents, three opponents. We

ask that those speakers limit the

remarks to three minutes per the

standing rules of city council. All

speakers on the council variance,

including city staff, air commissioners,

applicants, and me members of the public

will be sworn in before they give

testimony. Representative in the area

commission are always able to speak on

ordinance. You do not need to follow a

speaker slip, but we do ask you alert

city staff at your attention to speak at

this committee hearing. Uh this evening,

we do have one public speaker signed up

to speak against an ordinance on our

agenda. On the advice of the city

attorney's office, we'll now swear in

city staff. Please stand, raise your

right hand, be sworn in. Do you swear

affirm the testimony about to give the

truth nothing but the truth is shall

answer and pays a penalty of perjury. If

so, please say I do.

>> I do.

>> Thank you. Uh please let the record uh

reflect that Joseph Rose and Department

of Building Zoning Services. Christopher

Lure from the Division of Planning, Dan

Blushman from the Division of Traffic

Management in the Department of Public

Service, and Deputy Director for Housing

Strategies, Aaron Proer from the

Department of Development has been sworn

in. First, we have ordinance number

0485-2026

to reszone 2219 Holt Road being 20.02

plus acres located in the west side of

Holt Road at the terminus of Null Crest

Drive from Rural District to L1 Limited

Apartment Residential District. site

consists of four parcels each developed

with a single unit dwelling and

requested resoning will allow a 312 unit

apartment complex at this location.

Proposal is approved from city staff and

the development commission but a

disapproval from the Westland area

commission. Uh do want to note that the

development commission originally

recommended disapproval in September of

2025 but after the after the applicant

made changes to the proposal um the

development commission reversed their

original decision and now uh it

recommends approval. Uh however due to

the disapproval from the area commission

we will now hear a staff report from

city staff starting with uh Mr. Joseph

Rose from BCS floor is yours sir.

>> Thank you chair Dors President Horn

members of council.

As stated the 20.02 acre site consists

of four parcels each developed with a

single unit dwelling and zoned in our

rural district. The applicant is is

requesting the L1 limited apartment

residential district to allow a 312 unit

apartment complex. The limitation text

includes a maximum of 312 dwelling units

and includes to a commitment to develop

the site in accordance with the

submitted site plan and building

elevations. North of the site are

single-unit dwellings in the R rural

district. South of the site are single

unit dwellings in the R rural and LR2

limited residential districts. To the

west are single unit dwellings in the R

rural district and undeveloped land in

the M manufacturing district. East of

the site are single unit dwellings in

the LR2 limited residential district and

the PUD6 plan unit development district.

The site is in the planning boundaries

of the Westland plan which recommends 3

to five units per acre at this location

and is also subject to the early

adoption of citywide Columbus citywide

planning policies and design guidelines.

As stated, the previous proposal at

development commission had a proposed

384 dwelling units which did not get a

recommendation of approval. The

developer then revised the site plan to

drop down to a density of 312 units

which then received a recommendation of

approval as well as implementing a

central open open active area for open

space. Therefore C department's

recommendation is for approval and I'm

happy to answer any questions.

>> Uh thank you Mr. Rose. Any questions my

colleagues?

>> Seeing none we will move on to Mr.

Christopher Lur from the division

planning.

Thank you, Chair Dorren, President

Harden, members of council. Planning is

in full support of the proposal.

Although the request is at a higher

density than the Westland plan from 1994

recommendation of 3 to 5 units per acre,

C2P2 and its successor, the Columbus

growth strategy, note 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. Staff

note that the current site plan includes

revisions from what was originally

submitted that reduced the overall

density, fronted the building on Holt

Road, reducing the visual impact of

parking, and provided for activation and

expansion of the central open space. The

site plan also includes evergreen

screening along the southern property

line and the preservation of existing

trees along the western property line.

Staff also reviewed proposed elevations

which were found to be consistent with

adopted design guidelines. As such,

staff is in full support of the request

and I'm available to answer any

questions that you may have. Thank you.

>> Thank you, Mr. Lord. Um, just to

clarify, I just want to make sure my

colleagues are that right. So, the

land's recommendation for this area, uh,

the the plan is from 1994, correct?