>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: REGULAR MEETING NO. 3 WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLAYING OF
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. [ NATIONAL ANTHEM ] >> PRESIDENT HARDIN:
COUNCILMEMBER WYCHE, WOULD YOU COME OFF MUTE AND LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE 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.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THIS EVENING WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IMAM NOAH FROM
THE ISLAMIC CENTER JOIN US AND HE IS ON NOW. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO IMAM. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING. >>
THANK YOU. LET'S PRAY. WE GATHER TODAY WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS
COMMUNITY. OH GOD, THE SOURCE OF OUR WISDOM, JUSTICE, AND MERCY,
WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE THE LEADERS BEFORE US. GRANT THEM CLARITY IN DECISION-MAKING,
FAIRNESS IN JUDGMENT AND COMPASSION IN LEADERSHIP. HELP THEM PROTECT THE DIGNITY
AND THE RIGHTS OF EVERY RESIDENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FEEL UNHEARD OR VULNERABLE. DEAR LORD,
BLESS THIS CITY IN ALL ITS DIVERSITY AND STRENGTHEN THE BONDS THAT UNITE US AS NEIGHBORS
AND PARTNERS IN THE COMMON GOOD. MAY OUR ACTIONS BE GUIDED BY CONCISE, OUR WORDS BY RESPECT,
AND OUR WORK BY SINCERE DESIRE TO SERVE. AMEN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: AMEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
IMAM. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA,
DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. ANY PERSON WHO TAKES ANY ACTION
TO OBSTRUCT OR INTERFERE WITH THE CONDUCT OF TONIGHT'S MEETING MAY BE CHARGED WITH DISTURBING
A LAWFUL MEETING 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. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CAN I GET A MOTION
TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING OF THE JOURNAL? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE JOURNAL? HEARING NONE,
THE JOURNAL IS APPROVED. THIS WEEK S CITY COMMUNICATION RECEIVED BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
ARE LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE CITY BULLETIN. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD? >> CLERK: NOT AT THIS TIME.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. BEFORE WE GO AROUND THE DAIS,
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR SNOW WARRIORS, OUR FRONT LINES PUBLIC SERVICE STAFF.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING LONG HOURS OVERTIME TO KEEP OUR ROADS CLEAR AND COMMUNITY SAFE. I'M SURE
OUR CHAIR OF PUBLIC SERVICE WHO HAS BEEN KEEPING THE COUNCILMEMBERS ABREAST, THE SITUATION OVER
THE LAST 48 HOURS. WILL HAVE A SAY. WE ARE JUST GRATEFUL AS A COMMUNITY FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN STEPPING UP, NOT JUST OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO DOCTORS AND NURSES, PHARMACISTS AND GROCERY STORE
WORKERS, THE LIST TRULY GOES ON. WE KNOW RIGHT NOW FROM OUR CITY AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT
WE ARE NOW UNDER LEVEL 2 EMERGENCY, MANY SCHOOLS AND OFFICES REMAIN CLOSED BUT OUR PARTNERS ARE
STEPPING UP. COTA REMAINS FREE THROUGH TOMORROW. WARMING CENTERS HAVE BEEN SET UP THROUGHOUT THE
CITY AND SHELTER BEDS ARE OPEN. THANK YOU ALL AND THANK THE RESIDENTS. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR ADHERING AND STAYING HOME YESTERDAY. EVEN DRIVING DOWN TO CITY HALL TODAY FOR THIS VIRTUAL
MEETING. OUR SNOW WARRIORS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB; I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE YOU WERE OFF THE
STREETS AND GAVE THEM THE SPACE TO DO THEIR WORK SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL GO AROUND THE VIRTUAL
DAIS STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER BANKSTON. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING. AS OF TODAY COUNCIL HAS THREE REMAINING HEARINGS
TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS AND DELIBERATE ON THE CITY'S 2026 OPERATING BUDGET. THE REMAINING
HEARING DATES AND COUNCIL OFFICE FOR EACH HEARING ARE FOLLOWS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
BUDGET HEARING CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER REMY. IT HAS MOVED TO BE FULLY VIRTUAL. THE UTILITIES
CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYCHE WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY. NEIGHBORHOODS WILL TAKE PLACE THURSDAY
JANUARY 29TH AT 1:00 P.M. DUE TO THE ON GOING SNOW EMERGENCY, THE RESPECTIVE CHAIRPERSONS WILL DECIDE
WHETHER VIRTUAL ACCOMMODATIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THEIR HEARINGS. FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH PLEASE
REACH OUT TO THE APPROPRIATE CHAIRPERSONS AS WE JUST MENTIONED. ALSO LOOKING AHEAD INTO FEBRUARY,
I WANT TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER HEARING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH AT 4:00 P.M. I WILL BE CHAIRING
THE THIRD HEARING TO DISCUSS PROPOSED CREATION OF A RENTAL REGISTRY. THE HEARING WILL HAVE UPDATES
TO THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL ALONG WITH A DRAFT. ALL WISHING TO SPEAK MUST FILL OUT THE
SPEAKER REQUEST FORM BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH AT 5:00 P.M. THE FORM CAN BE ACCESSED VIA MY AND
ALSO COUNCIL'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, COUNCIL'S WEB PAGE OR BY CONTACTING JONATHAN BROWN IN
MY OFFICE AT JBBROWN@COLUMBUS.GOV. TESTIMONY MUST BE EMAILED WITH THE SUBJECT FEBRUARY 19TH HEARING
TESTIMONY WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BY 5:00 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 18TH. A DOCUMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHANGES
BETWEEN THE LAST VERSION AND THE NEWEST VERSION WILL BE LIVE ON THE COUNCIL WEB PAGE BY NEXT
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26TH. BE ON THE LOOK OUT. IT WILL BE LIVE STREAM ON THE CITY'S YOUTUBE AND COUNCIL
WEB PAGES. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE LIMITED TO REMARKS WRAPPING THEM UP AT THREE MINUTES. APPRECIATE ALL
STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO THIS POINT TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE,
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE THIRD HEARING ON THE 19TH AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD WITH THE
CREATION OF THE RENTAL REGISTRY FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. WITH THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT THAT'S
ALL I HAVE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT TZ. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER BARROSO DE PADILLA? >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS HOW YOU STARTED OUR MEETING. FIRST
AND FOREMOST, I SAID THIS ON SATURDAY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE HAD. I AM SO INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS IS WHEN WE SHOW UP THE BEST IN COLUMBUS. WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING
UP FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IN THE SNOWSTORM WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAVE HAD
STORIES EVEN HOW SOME OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M LOOKING AT YOU PRO TEM ROB DORANS WHO IS OUTSIDE
CLEARING HIS STREETS AND SIDEWALKS FOR HIS NEIGHBORS. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS
REALLY IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, I BELIEVE. WE HAVE BETWEEN 10-14 INCHES DEPENDING
ON WHERE YOU WERE. WE HIT A LEVEL 3 EMERGENCY WHICH WAS LIFTED EARLIER TODAY. AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE STORM ON SATURDAY WE HAD 113 TRUCKS THAT WERE OUT. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A FULL CALL-OUT.
SO THAT INCLUDED ALL OF OUR ENTIRE FLEET. WE EVEN PULLED NOT JUST OUR AUXILIARY DRIVERS,
CONTRACTORS BUT WE ALSO HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF REC AND PARKS ALSO HELPING US DURING THIS STORM AS
WELL. I WANT TO JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND I WANT TO GIVE THE FLOOR OVER TO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, JAMES YOUNG, TO GIVE US JUST AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY
AND ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY Y'ALL, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. I'M HERE
TO DELIVER THAT UNFORTUNATE NEWS, UNFORTUNATE FOR US, MAYBE GOOD FOR OUR KIDDOS. BUT DIRECTOR
YOUNG, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND COUNCIL. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SERVICING OUR P1'S, P2'S AND P3'S. WE ARE ABOUT 98 SERVICE
ON OUR PARTY ONE STREETS. THESE ARE ARTERIOLES. IF YOU ARE ON MORSE ROAD, HAMILTON ROAD,
THEY ARE ALL STARTING TO LOOK CLEAR. SOME OUR COLLECTOR STREETS ARE AT 92%. SO THIS IS AS OF
4:00 TODAY. WE ARE STILL OUT THERE. WE ARE DOING TOUCH-UPS. PRIORITY 3 STREETS WE ARE ABOUT 20%.
THESE ARE THE STREETS WE ARE TRYING TO GET INTO. THIS IS HALF OF OUR MILEAGE IN THE CITY. ABOUT
24% ON THOSE. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THANKS AGAIN TO BUILDING AND ZONING FOR SUPPLYING US DRIVERS,
REC AND PARKS FOR DRIVERS AND TRUCKS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT WE HAVE A LOT OF
DIVISIONS IN OUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT. SO WE HAVE THE REFUSE DRIVERS THAT
ARE OUT. AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY PLOWING SOME ALLEYS TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP
FOR THEIR SERVICE. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T CHANGE OUR CALL ACTION. THEY MADE ABOUT 36,000 COLLECTION
STOPS TODAY. THEY DIDN'T GET SOME HOUSEHOLDS WHICH IS GOING TO BE FIRST ON THEIR LIST
TOMORROW. NORMALLY WE HAVE ABOUT 15-20% OF THE CONTAINERS NOT SET OUT ON A GIVEN DAY.
TODAY WAS ABOUT 34% BY STATS. WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND PICK THOSE UP. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH
3-1-1. AS THE COUNCILMEMBER SAID IT'S GOING TO GET COLD TONIGHT 0 WE ARE TRYING TO GO OUT AND
GET AS MUCH INTO THE RESIDENTIALS AS WE CAN. WE HAVE ABOUT 100 TRUCKS IN SERVICE AS OF 4:00
TODAY. WITH THE SHIFT CHANGE COMING AT 7:00, I KNOW THAT NUMBER WILL UPDATE. WE ARE MOVING
PRETTY QUICK. THE CONTRACTORS ARE HELPING US OUT. WE ACTUALLY HAD A CALL FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY. THEY
ARE COMING TO HELP US OUT. BECAUSE IN THE DOWNTOWN THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIME IN
ABOUT 20 YEARS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SNOW IN THE DOWNTOWN, YOU WILL SEE SNOW ON THE TURN LANES
AND THE SIDE OF THE STREET. WE ARE TRYING TO GET THAT PICKED UP. IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS.
THE COLD WEATHER IS NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL. WE WERE THANKFUL TODAY TO GET SOME SUNSHINE.
BEAR WITH US. PACK YOUR PATIENCE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THROUGH THE CITY, ESPECIALLY
THROUGH THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS. ONCE YOU GET ON THE ARTERIOLES YOU SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE BETTER DRIVE.
BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU REMIND RESIDENTS TO PLAN EXTRA TIME IN THEIR COMMUTE SO THEY CAN GET WHERE
THEY NEED TO GO AND GET THERE SAFELY, THANK YOU. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: I JUST HAVE TWO QUICK
QUESTIONS. ONE, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT REFUSE. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND FOR
EITHER FOLKS, FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY MIGHT BE MISSED OR BECAUSE WE ARE BEHIND AND THINGS
SHIFT OR THEY COULDN'T GET OUTSIDE. COULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR FOLKS TO PUT IN A 3-1-1 REQUEST
WHERE WE JUST GO BACK AROUND THOSE STREETS? WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR RESIDENTS?
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND IF THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR CANS OUT AND THEY HAVE THEIR AREA CLEARED
TO DO THAT AND THEN CALL 3-1-1. IF THEY DID NOT, WE WILL COME PICK THEM UP THE NEXT WEEK.
WE GET MIXED RESULTS WITH THAT AFTER TALKING WITH OUR REFUSE ADMINISTRATOR. SO JUST CLEAN OUT THE
AREA AND WE WILL TRY TO PICK IT UP. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: THE ALLEYS,
JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T USUALLY PLOW THE ALLEYS BUT ALLEYS THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE SERVICED BECAUSE
THAT'S WHERE FOLKS TAKE OUT THEIR TRASH, THOSE ARE THE ALLEYS YOU REFERENCED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
CLEARING THOSE OUT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: I WANT TO GIVE MAYBE SOME NOT SO GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE
STREET PARKING AND MIGHT PARK IN ALLEYS. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF OUR STAFF WHO IS ASKING
THAT SAME QUESTION. FIRST, DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT? ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS I MIGHT HAVE MISSED? THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAID. SNOW WARRIORS HAVE DONE. REALLY GOD'S WORK, WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, MAKING SURE WE ARE OUT
THERE. YOU SAID PACK YOUR PATIENCE, THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR SOME FOLKS. BUT ESPECIALLY IF
FOLKS MIGHT HEAD BACK OUT TO WORK NOW THAT IT'S A LEVEL 2. ON SATURDAY, BOTH THE MAYOR, MYSELF AND I
KNOW WE ALREADY HAVE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDING PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME
OPTIONS, IF THAT IS AN OPTION FOR FOLKS TO STAY SAFE, ESPECIALLY SINCE SCHOOL HAS BEEN CALLED OFF
FOR TOMORROW. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE COLD TEMPS, THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY,
YOU KNOW, COUNCIL HELPED TO PRACTICE WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOLKS TO DO BY MAKING THIS MEETING VIRTUAL
AND HELPING FOLKS TO STAY SAFE DURING THIS TIME. COUNCIL PRESIDENT ALSO MENTIONED THIS. BUT COTA IS
ALWAYS FREE DURING A LEVEL 2 EMERGENCY. COTA WILL ALWAYS RUN DURING A LEVEL 3 EMERGENCY. THAT'S THE
WAY WE CAN GET ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO WORK IN A SAFEWAY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE ARE ASKING OTHER FOLKS NOT TO BE ON THE ROADS. I WANT TO ALSO GIVE FOLKS TWO OTHER QUICK
RESOURCES. FIRST IS THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD HOTLINE, 614-274-7000. DURING THIS TIME, I HAD
A FRIEND WHOSE HEATER WENT OUT. THIS IS THE MOST UNFORTUNATE TIME. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
IF FOLKS ARE FACING AN EMERGENCY OR YOU KNOW FOLKS FACING THAT EMERGENCY, CALL THAT HOTLINE.
THEY WILL HAVE AN OUTREACH TEAM THAT WILL COME OUT AND PICK FOLKS UP, IF THEY NEED TO BE PICKED
UP. THEY ARE ALSO OFFERING RIDES TO SHELTERS AND TO WARMING CENTERS. SO PLEASE, PLEASE,
PLEASE USE THAT HOTLINE. THE FRANKLIN COUNTY DOG SHELTER IS ALSO SHELTERING DOGS. IF FIND YOURSELF
IN A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO SEEK SHELTER AND YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR PETS, THEY WILL TAKE YOUR PETS
IN. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS RESIDENTS. SO PLEASE CLEAR THOSE OFF TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN
SAFELY MOVE ABOUT THE STREET, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE THOSE. I KNOW WHAT IS A VERY COVETED SNOW
BLOWER DURING THE SEASON. IF YOU CAN SNOW BLOW A LITTLE BIT MORE DOWN THE STREET TO MAKE SURE
IT'S SAFE FOR EVERYONE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT ALSO CHECK ON FOLK WHO'S HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES,
YOUR NEIGHBORS. IF YOU COULD GET PRESCRIPTIONS, GROCERIES OR WHATEVER THEY MAY NEED. ALL THE
THINGS YOU ARE ALREADY GREAT OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THAT'S ALL FOR ME THIS
EVENING. STAY SAFE AND STAY WARM EVERYBODY. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU TO OUR FEARLESS
LEADER, PUBLIC SERVICE AND THAT WAS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION. AGAIN, WE JUST ECHO OUR APPRECIATION
TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENT. VERY PROUD OF THEIR WORK OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS. THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER DAY-ACHAUER? >> N. DAY-ACHAUER: THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. FIRST, FOR OUR BUDGET HEARING ON THURSDAY FROM NEIGHBORHOODS,
RECREATION AND PARKS AT 1:00 P.M. CURRENTLY WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING
THAT IN CITY HALL CHAMBERS. BUT IF THE ROAD CONDITIONS STILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM,
WE WILL CALL IT ON WEDNESDAY, IF WE DECIDE TO CHANGE TO VIRTUAL. SO EVERYBODY KEEP TRACK OF
THE CITY COUNCIL SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT'S WHERE IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED. SECONDLY,
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT APPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT ARE NOW
OPEN. CITY OF COLUMBUS IS COMMITTED TO SERVING VULNERABLE, AT RISK AND UNDERSERVED YOUTH,
PARTICULARLY THOSE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY CRIME, VIOLENCE AND RELATED CHALLENGES. TO SUPPORT
THIS COMMITMENT, THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT PROVIDES FUNDING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT
DELIVERS SUMMER PROGRAMMING TO YOUTH AGES 5-18 WHO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY'S CORPORATE BOUNDARIES.
ORGANIZATIONS MUST OFFER PROGRAMMING DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND DEMONSTRATE
OUTCOMES THAT SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, IMPROVED HEALTH,
AND WELL-BEING AND OR ENHANCED CAREER READINESS AND WORKPLACE SKILLS. FUNDING PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO
SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN OR SERVE YOUTH WHO LIVE IN THE CITY'S OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
INCLUDING THE HILLTOP, LINDEN, FRANKLINTON, SOUTH SIDE, NEAR EAST, SOUTHEAST, NORTHEAST, NORTH LAND
NEIGHBORHOODS, AS FAR AS THE FAR EAST SIDE AND FAR WEST SIDE. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SUBMIT YOUR
APPLICATION VISIT COLUMBUSRECPARKS.COM, SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT. ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE EMAIL
TODAY: DEADLINE IS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13TH. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE ASSISTANT
CITY FORESTER CHAD HOFF FOR BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE FRIENDS OF SCHILLER PARK RECENTLY WITH
A VILLAGE LIGHT AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING STEWARDSHIP OF SCHILLER PARK.
THE GROUP SAYS HIS EXPERTISE, CAREFUL JUDGMENT AND DIEP RESPECT FOR THE PARK'S TREES HAVE MADE HIM A
TRUSTED AND VALUE PARTNER IN ITS ONGOING CARE. IT'S BOTH REMARKABLE AND TOUCHING. ON BEHALF OF
THIS COUNCIL I WOULD LIKE TO SEND A HEART FELT THANK YOU TO CHAD FOR CONTINUING TO PROVIDE
RESIDENTS WITH A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE REALM OF URBAN FORESTRY. AND FINALLY A QUICK SHOUT OUT
TO ALL COLUMBUS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS IN THIS EXTREME WEATHER. SOME
ARE SHOVELING DRIVEWAYS. OTHERS ARE CHECKING ON THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. IF YOU HAVEN'T
ALREADY DONE SO PLEASE CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS. ESPECIALLY
OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE OLDER ADULTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. SO THAT'S ALL FOR ME, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. AND EVERYONE, PLEASE STAY SAFE. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER. PRESIDENT PRO TEM? >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I HAD A COUPLE RESOLUTIONS PLANNED FOR THIS EVENING BUT WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND POSTPONE BOTH OF THOSE GIVEN THAT WE ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY TONIGHT TO ALLOW THE RESOLUTIONS
TO PROCEED IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS NORMAL. SO FIRST RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE 25TH
ANNIVERSARY OF COLUMBUS UNDERGROUND. I'M MOVING TO POSTPONE THAT RESOLUTION TO FEBRUARY 9TH.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: POSTPONED. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU. SECOND
IS TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR DUANE CASARES. I MOVE TO POSTPONE THAT RESOLUTION TO FEBRUARY 9TH.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: POSTPONED. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER ROSS? >> T. ROSS: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. JUST
HAD ONE RESOLUTION THAT I'M ALSO GOING TO MOVE TO POSTPONE TO THE FEBRUARY 9TH MEETING. IT IS
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR AND CELEBRATE JUDGE JAMES EDWARD GREEN ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE FRANKLIN
COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT. DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER I WILL MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS RESOLUTION SO IT COULD
BE GIVEN IN PERSON AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH MEETING. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,
GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: POSTPONED. IS THAT ALL,
COUNCILMEMBER? YES. I APOLOGIZE I WENT OUT OF ORDER. 1Y57 THAT'S IT. NO WORRIES. IT'S OKAY.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: COUNCILMEMBER GREEN? NOTHING, COUNCILMEMBER GREEN?
>> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: I DON'T THINK WE CAN HEAR HER. SHE DOES HAVE SOMETHING.
>> M. GREEN: CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: NOW WE CAN. WE
LOST YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER. >> M. GREEN: NOW?
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> M. GREEN: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEARING WITH ME HERE. WEBEX IS NOT ALWAYS MY GREAT FRIEND. I HAVE ONE RESOLUTION ON
THE AGENDA THIS EVENING, RESOLUTION 0164X-2025 TO RECOGNIZE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AS THE WORLD'S
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND SUPPORT THE RECOGNITION OF FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH 2026 AS NATIONAL WEAR RED
DAY AND FEBRUARY AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH. WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR AROUND THIS TIME OF
YEAR. CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE REMAINS THE WORLD'S LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND CLAIMS THE LIVES OF ONE
IN THREE WOMEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR WITH MANY, MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISPARITIES INTERWOVEN IN THAT
AS WELL. WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US EVERY YEAR TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY AS AMERICAN HEART
MONTH AND FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH 2026 AS NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY HERE IN COLUMBUS. I'M GRATEFUL TO
MY COLLEAGUES IN WEARING RED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT AMERICAN HEART MONTH. CONGRATULATING MYSELF
ON REMEMBERING TO REMIND EVERYONE THIS YEAR TO WEAR RED. BUT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S
GO RED FOR WOMEN MOVEMENT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SO MANY YEARS SINCE 2004 TO CLOSE AWARENESS
AND CLINICAL GAPS IN CARE BY EMPOWERING WOMEN TO EDUCATION THROUGH PREVENTION STRATEGIES
AND REACH AND MAKING SURE THAT RESEARCH-BACKED INFORMATION IS MAKING IT OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
BEFORE TURNING IT OVER TO OUR PARTNERS I WANT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND
COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS TO JOIN US IN WEARING RED ON FEBRUARY 6TH AND SPREAD AWARENESS AND SUPPORT
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS
TO OUR VIRTUAL PODIUM TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? PERFECT.
MY NAME IS SARAH LEWIS; I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION,
OF COURSE, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER GREEN, PRESIDENT HARDIN, AND ALL OF OUR MEMBERS
OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH 2026 AS NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY IN THE CITY OF
COLUMBUS. ALSO I WANT TO ECHO HOW GREAT YOU LOOK IN YOUR RED TODAY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WEARING
AND I KNOW WE ALL HAVE RED PINS. I WON'T REPEAT MANY OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
GREEN SHARED BUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE DOES CONTINUE TO BE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN,
CLAIMING MORE WOMEN'S LIVES THAN ALL FORMS OF CANCER COMBINED. DESPITE THAT STATISTIC WE
CONTINUE TO BE UNAWARE OF THE FACT IT'S OUR NUMBER ONE KILLER AND UNAWARE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
IT COULD PRESENT IN WOMEN. AND SO, ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO JUST SHARE THOSE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WITH
YOUR LOVED ONES AND ALWAYS BE A LISTENING EAR WHEN A WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE TELLS YOU THEY DON'T
FEEL WELL OR SOMETHING IS WRONG. WE CONTINUE TO BE UNDER RESEARCHED AND UNDERREPRESENTED IN
THE CLINICAL SETTING. BUT WE ARE HERE FOR EACH OTHER AND THAT IS OUR GREATEST GIFT. WE HAVE
THE SUPPORT OF EACH OTHER AS WOMEN TO CONNECT, TO SHARE INFORMATION, SUPPORT, MOTIVATION AND
OF COURSE INSPIRATION. SO THROUGH EFFORTS WE ARE CLOSING THOSE GAPS AND MAKING SURE THAT
MORE WOMEN COULD LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES. WITH THAT, IT'S MY HONOR TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR
SURVIVOR REPRESENTING US TODAY, MS. MAX DIXON. >> HELLO, THANK SO MUCH, GOOD EVENING AND THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M MAX. I'M THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE COLUMBUS FASHION
COUNCIL, I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR, WIFE AND MOTHER. WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH MONTH IS DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR
ME. JANUARY 1, 2024, I WOKE UP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ANXIETY, A RACING HEART. AND I ASSUMED IT
WOULD PASS. AND LIKE MANY WOMEN I PUSHED THROUGH. I HAD A FAMILY TO CARE FOR, I HAD WORK TO DO AND I
DID NOT HAVE TIME TO SLOW DOWN. BUT MY BODY KEPT SENDING SIGNALS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AND
WITHIN DAYS, THOSE SIGNALS TURNED INTO BLACKOUT EPISODES AND EMERGENCY HOSPITALIZATION. AND
THANKS TO ONE DOCTOR WHO PAUSED AND ASKED FOR MORE TESTING BEFORE THEY DID THE EMERGENCY ABLATION WE
LEARNED I HAD A RARE HEART CONDITION CALLED LEFT VENTRICULAR NON COMPASSION CARDIOMYOPATHY. BY THE
TIME I WAS NOT YET 40 YEARS OLD I WAS ALREADY IN CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE. ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF,
GETTING A SECOND OPINION CHANGED EVERYTHING. THANK YOU TO DR. RANDAL STARLING OF THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
WITH PROPER TREATMENT BY 2025 I AM NO LONGER IN CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND WITH GENETIC
TESTING I'M ABLE TO GIVE MY FAMILY CLARITY AND PROTECTION ALLOWING MY CHILDREN TO BE TESTED EARLY
AND MONITORED APPROPRIATELY. I SHARE THIS BECAUSE HEART DISEASE DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THE WAY WE
EXPECT IN WOMEN. OUR SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN DISMISSED, MINIMIZED, OR IGNORED, EVEN BY OURSELVES. WOMEN'S
HEART HEALTH MONTH IS A REMINDER TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, ASK THE QUESTIONS AND NEVER BE AFRAID TO
ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF, FOR YOUR HEALTH, BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME TO SHARE MY STORY THIS EVENING. >> M. GREEN: THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE. MAX, WE ARE SO GLAD YOU WERE ESPECIALLY GLAD TO BE HERE TO SHARE
YOUR TESTIMONY. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN MEN WE ALSO THINK ABOUT REALLY INTENSE CRUSHING
CHEST PAIN, JUST NOT WHAT WOMEN EXPERIENCE, RIGHT? I HEAR WE ARE BUSY, A JOB OR TWO JOBS,
KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU OFTEN MOVE QUICKLY PAST THINGS JUST BECAUSE THERE ISN'T TIME.
BUT I AM TELLING YOU IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TAKE THOSE COUPLE OF MINUTES AND I THINK YOUR STORY
IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR. WE ARE JUST SO GRATEFUL. SARAH, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET A
CHECKUP OR HAS THINKS THEIR HEART HAS BEEN RACING OR HAVE BEEN SHORT OF BREATH OR REALLY TIRED,
IS THERE A PLACE THEY CAN GO HERE IN COLUMBUS? >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. NON MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL,
I WILL PREFACE THAT BUT ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
IF THAT ISN'T GETTING YOU THE ANSWER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TO REACH OUT TO YOUR NETWORK,
WHOEVER THAT IS, IF THAT'S A FAMILY MEMBER, COLLEAGUE, A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR.
AND JUST SEE HOW YOU CAN SEEK HELP NEXT. >> M. GREEN: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH
AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: COUNCILMEMBER,
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO ECHO. MAX, AND I HAVE KNOWN IHSAA OTHER, I THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
FEBRUARY WILL BE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, AFTER SHE PASSED WE KNEW IT WAS A HEART ATTACK BUT AT THE
TIME THEY WERE TREATING HER FOR SOMETHING ELSE. AT THE TIME, IN THE CLINIC THEY WERE SEEING HER,
THIS WASN'T HERE, IT WAS IN CUBA BUT RENOWNED MEDICINE. AFTER MY MOTHER PASSED WE TOLD ANOTHER
DOCTOR HER SYMPTOMS AND KNEW IMMEDIATELY, A FEMALE DOCTOR KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS A
HEART ATTACK THAT TOOK HER LIFE. SO THAT STORY COULD BE A STORY HERE IN OHIO, IN A RURAL PLACE,
URBAN OHIO, ANYWHERE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY OF OUR STORIES. I THINK WOMEN REALLY UNDERSTANDING
WOMEN'S HEALTH, WOMEN CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, ADVOCATE TO BE HEARD. ESPECIALLY WOMEN
OF COLOR. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE YOUNGER. HEART ISSUES DON'T ALWAYS PRESENT IN YOUNGER WOMEN.
WE KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE. TO THE URGENCY, HELPING WOMEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. THERE'S A,
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE ACRONYM IS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN LOOK AT, IF YOU ARE STARTING
TO HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS YOU COULD ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF, SEEK THAT MEDICAL TREATMENT,
DON'T IGNORE IT, BECAUSE IT COULD BE THE THING THAT QUITE FRANKLY SAVES YOUR LIFE. I THINK ALL
OF US KNOW AND LOVE A WOMAN IN OUR LIVES. SO FOR THE WOMEN THAT YOU LOVE, AND FOR YOURSELF,
AND FOR THE FAMILIES YOU CARE FOR, THIS MONTH IS JUST CRITICAL FOR WOMEN UNDERSTANDING THIS IS JUST
ANOTHER THING, UNFORTUNATELY, ON TOP OF A LONG LIST OF THINGS WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. ANOTHER WAY
FOR US TO ADVOCATE AND TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND PEOPLE WE LOVE AND CARE FOR. THANK YOU FOR SHARING
YOUR STORY. AND COUNCILMEMBER GREEN, THANK YOU FOR YET AGAIN BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. I KNOW
WE MAKE IT CUTE BECAUSE IT'S A WOMAN THING, WE WEAR RED AND DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT
THERE IS, AGAIN, SO MANY WOMEN THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND IT'S REALLY THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE OR DEATH. SO THANK YOU. >> M. GREEN: ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, WELL, SEEING
NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES, I MOVE FOR ADOPTION.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. RESOLUTION 19X-2026. >> CLERK: THANK YOU. BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA,
DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: ADOPTED. >> M. GREEN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT IS ALL FOR ME TONIGHT. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER REMY? >> E. REMY: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. GOOD
EVENING, EVERYONE. HAVING SOME COVID FLASHBACKS HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY, AS CHAIR
BANKSTON SAID EARLIER, TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
BUDGET HEARING AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY, THE 27TH AT 3:00 P.M. IT COULD BE VIEWED AT THE
CITY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT ANY WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE CONTACT MY
AIDE, PEDRO MEJIA THAT'S PDMEJIA@COLUMBUS.GOV. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT S ALL I HAVE THIS
EVENING. STAY SAFE AND STAY WARM. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER WYCHE? >> C. WYCHE: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT AND ONE RESOLUTION THIS EVENING. AS COUNCILMEMBER BANKSTON MENTIONED,
I WILL BE HOSTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGET
HEARING ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28TH. WE WILL HEAR PRESENTATIONS FROM COLUMBUS WATER AND POWER, THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, DIVISION OF REFUSE AND SUSTAINABLE COLUMBUS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN PROVIDING TESTIMONY PLEASE EMAIL MY LEGISLATIVE ANALYST, ELIANA AT EMMORALES@COLUMBUS.GOV BY NOON
TOMORROW. WE ARE STILL WATCHING THE WEATHER SO THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR US TO SWITCH TO A VIRTUAL
MEETING. PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANY UPDATES. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
RESOLUTION 0018X-2026. TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO TO TAKE MEASURES
TO PROTECT OHIO RESIDENTS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS OF COLUMBUS, FROM RISING ELECTRICITY BILLS. IN RECENT
YEARS, COLUMBUS RESIDENTS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN BOTH ENERGY DISTRIBUTION AND GENERATION RATES.
DUE TO CAPACITY RATES IN THE WHOLESALE ENERGY MARKET ENERGY COSTS WILL CONTINUE TO INFLATE.
IT'S CLEAR WE ARE FACING NOT ONLY RISE IN COST OF LIVING CRISIS BUT ALSO URGENT ENERGY AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS THAT WILL HAVE SERIOUS IMPACTS ON COLUMBUS RESIDENTS. DESPITE THIS, AEP HAS REQUESTED THAT
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO APPROVE YET ANOTHER RATE INCREASE. THIS COMES AFTER THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO HAS ALREADY APPROVED OR IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING MULTIPLE
RATE INCREASES OVER THE COURSE THE LAST THREE YEARS. WHILE AEP OHIO CLAIMS THAT RATE PAYERS
WILL BE SAVING APPROXIMATELY $1.22 A MONTH, OHIO CONSUMERS COUNCIL ESTIMATES CONSUMERS
WILL BE PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $30.51 UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSED RATE INCREASE. RIGHT
NOW COLUMBUS RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE RELYING ON AEP TO STAY SAFE AND WARM DURING THIS EXTREME
WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY. ENSURING THAT CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED FROM UNFAIR RATE HIKES, SHOULD BE A
PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE. THIS COUNCIL URGES THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ON OHIO TO PROTECT
COLUMBUS RESIDENTS AS WELL AS AEP OHIO S OVER 1.5 MILLION CUSTOMERS AND IMPLEMENT NO RATE INCREASES
IN 2026. WE HAVE TWO INVITED SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. FIRST FROM THE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTION FUND ANNA LISA, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? >> I AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARDIN AND MEMBERS OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS ANNA LISA SORAKA. I SERVE AS ESSENTIAL OHIO REGIONAL DIRECTOR AT THE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL
COUNCIL ACTION FUND WHICH WORKS TOWARD A CLEAN HEALTHY OHIO WHERE OUR DEMOCRACY EMPOWERS OUR
COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. I M HERE TODAY SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION TO ESPECIALLY COURAGE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO TO TAKE
MEASURES TO PROTECT COLUMBUS RESIDENTS FROM RISING ELECTRICITY BILLS. COLUMBUS RESIDENTS
HAVE ALREADY SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN BOTH DISTRIBUTION AND GENERATION RATES OVER THE PAST
FEW YEARS AND COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE RISING, DUE TO CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS IN THE PGM
MARKETPLACE. FOR MANY HOUSEHOLDS, THESE COSTS ARE BECOMING UNAFFORDABLE. WHILE THE PUCO CAN
T CONTROL COSTS DUE TO SUPPLY CONSTRAINTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY DO CONTROL THE RATES WE PAY TO
MAINTAIN AND BUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. COUNCIL S CONCERN IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THE
PUCO HAS RECENTLY APPROVED MULTIPLE AEP OHIO RATE INCREASES, AND IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING AN
ADDITIONAL REQUEST AS PART OF A RATE CASE. THE OEC IN THE OHIO CONSUMER S COUNCIL HAVE
RAISED CONCERNS THAT EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT IN THE MOST RECENT AEP CASE,
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS COULD SEE INCREASES TO THEIR MONTHLY BILLS ONCE ADDITIONAL RIDERS ARE ADDED.
THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT INCLUDES A CREDIT ALREADY DUE TO CUSTOMERS THAT IS BEING USED TO INCORRECTLY
CLAIM A RATE DECREASE. THAT REALITY MAKES IT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO PAUSE FURTHER INCREASES
IN 2026 OR AT LEAST DELAY ADDITIONAL COSTS UNTIL 2027. AT THE SAME TIME, RESIDENTS ARE BEING ASKED
TO PAY MORE FOR AN ENERGY SYSTEM THAT STILL HAS CONTINUED TO FACE RELIABILITY CONCERNS.
RATE INCREASES HAVE NOT ELIMINATED OUTAGES OR EASED CONCERNS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT
IS UNFAIR TO ASK PEOPLE TO PAY MORE FOR ENERGY THAT REMAINS UNRELIABLE. THIS RESOLUTION ALSO
RAISES AN IMPORTANT FOCUS ON THE GROWING IMPACT OF DATA CENTERS AND OTHER LARGE LOAD DEVELOPMENTS.
WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE PUCO AND AEP OHIO, TO IMPLEMENT NEW DATA CENTER TARIFF
POLICIES, COUNCIL IS RIGHT TO URGE A STUDY ON HOW THESE PROJECTS MAY AFFECT RESIDENTIAL
RATES. SO EVERY DAY CUSTOMERS ARE NOT LEFT SUBSIDIZING MASSIVE NEW ENERGY USERS. FINALLY,
EXTENDING DISCONNECTION PROTECTIONS, EXPANDING SUMMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,
AND MAINTAINING SPECIAL RECONNECT ORDERS ARE CRITICAL STEPS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOTTEST
MONTHS WHEN ENERGY COSTS ARE HIGHEST AND FAMILIES ARE JUST TRYING TO KEEP THEIR HOMES
SAFE. I URGE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND STAND UP FOR AFFORDABILITY, RELIABILITY AND
FAIRNESS FOR COLUMBUS RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. >> C. WYCHE: ANNA LISA, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY. NEXT I M GOING TO TURN THE VIRTUAL FLOOR OVER
TO QUASEY LOWE, THE CO-FOUNDER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COLUMBUS STAND UP. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS
QUACY LOWE. I WANT TO SAY GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I WANT TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THIS RESOLUTION AND THE
LEADERSHIP IT REPRESENTS. COUNCIL S DECISION TO FORMALLY URGE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF
OHIO TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM RISING ELECTRICITY BILLS MATTERS. IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT RECOGNIZES
WHAT PEOPLE ACROSS OHIO ALREADY KNOW. ENERGY COSTS ARE RISING FASTER THAN HOUSEHOLD INCOMES.
AND THOSE INCREASES ARE NOT ABSTRACT. THEY SHOW UP AS SHUT-OFF NOTICES AND IMPOSSIBLE
BOTTOM-LINE CHOICES. THEY EXACERBATE THE DILEMMA OF GROWING INSTABILITY FOR OHIO FAMILIES WHO ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING THE MOST. THIS RESOLUTION SETS AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT. IT CLEARLY STATES
THAT CONTINUED RATE INCREASES ARE UNACCEPTABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ENERGY AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
IT CALLS FOR NO NEW INCREASES IN 2026 AND URGES THAT ANY FUTURE COST BE PUSHED TO 2027, AT THE
EARLIEST. IT CALLS FOR STRONGER DISCONNECTION PROTECTION IN WINTER MONTHS AND COOLING ASSISTANCE
IN SUMMER MONTHS, AS WELL AS A SERIOUS EXAMINATION OF HOW DATA CENTERS AND LARGE LOAD DEVELOPMENTS
ARE IMPACTING RESIDENTIAL RATE PAYERS. THESE ARE REAL CONCERNS OF THE OHIO RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNSURE
IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR DAILY NEEDS AND PROVIDE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPENDING ON THEM.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER CHRIS WYCHE FOR BRINGING THIS
RESOLUTION FORWARD. THIS IS A MEANINGFUL STEP. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS A MORATORIUM IN SPIRIT,
A PAUSE THAT SAYS THE STATUS QUO CANNOT CONTINUE. AT THE SAME TIME, A MORATORIUM ONLY WORKS IF IT IS
FOLLOWED BY CONSISTENT AND INCREASINGLY DEMANDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT ACCOUNTABILITY MUST
BE DIRECTLY SQUARED AT BOTH THE PUCO AND AEP OHIO. THROUGH THE LIGHTS-OUT ON AEP CAMPAIGN,
WE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING RESIDENTS ACROSS COLUMBUS AND CENTRAL OHIO TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WE HAVE
COLLECTED OVER 2500 SIGNATURES OPPOSING AEP S PROPOSED RATE INCREASE. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED
AND SUPPORTED DOZENS OF RESIDENTS TO TESTIFY DIRECTLY TO THE PUCO. MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN THEIR LIVES. THESE ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL ADVOCATE. THESE ARE WORKING PEOPLE, PARENTS,
SENIORS, RENTERS, AND HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN AND CANNOT ABSORB ANOTHER INCREASE,
NO MATTER HOW ITS PACKAGED. WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM AEP IS NOT AN ISOLATED REQUEST. IT IS AN
ONGOING PATTERN, REPEATED RIDERS, INCREMENTAL CHANGES THAT ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER COSTS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE EXPLICITLY REMOVED. EFFORT TO REDUCE COMPENSATION TO RESIDENTS WHO GENERATE
POWER THROUGH SOLAR. ALL OF THIS ADDS UP TO AN EXTRACTION MODEL THAT PRIORITIZES SHAREHOLDER
RETURNS WHILE SHIFTING RISK AND COSTS ONTO OHIO CONSUMERS. AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO
BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT THIS IS. AEP OPERATES AS AN EXPLOITIVE MONOPOLY AND WITHOUT FIRM INTERVENTION,
IT WILL CONTINUE TO EXTRACT RESOURCES FROM HOUSEHOLDS, SCHOOLS, AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
ACROSS THE STATE. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS BEGIN TO CONNECT THE DOTS. MEMBERS OF
COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOL BOARD SUBMITTED TESTIMONY EXPLAINING HOW THESE RATE INCREASES FUNCTION
AS HIDDEN COSTS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. HIGHER ELECTRICITY BILLS FOR SCHOOLS MEANS FEWER
DOLLARS FOR CLASSROOMS AND STUDENT SERVICES. THAT IS NOT THEORETICAL. IT IS AN UNFOLDING
REALITY. THIS RESOLUTION CONTINUES THAT LINE OF LEADERSHIP AND SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS PART
OF A GROWING PUBLIC RECORD OF RESISTANCE. I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING. COUNCIL CANNOT
STAND WITH BOTH AEP AND COLUMBUS RESIDENTS. WHEN THEIR INTERESTS ARE IN DIRECT CONFLICT.
NEUTRAL LANGUAGE AND BALANCED STATEMENTS ARE NOT ENOUGH IN THE FACE OF AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
IF PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROMOTING LONG-TERM STABILITY IN THE CITY IS THE PRIORITY,
THEN COUNCIL MUST CONTINUE TO CHOOSE THE RESIDENTS EXPLICITLY AND REPEATEDLY. SO I THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER WYCHE. AND YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING THIS STEP. I ENCOURAGE THE REST OF COUNCIL TO ECHO
THESE SENTIMENTS PUBLICLY AND OFTEN. AND I URGE YOU TO VIEW THIS NOT AS A ONE-TIME RESOLUTION,
BUT A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO HOLDING THE PUCO AND AEP ACCOUNTABLE ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INVITATION TO SPEAK. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
AND ATTENTION. I WISH EVERYONE A GOOD EVENING. >> C. WYCHE: QUASEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND FOR WORKING TO MOBILIZE A GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT.
I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THESE ISSUES, THE MORE WE CAN EDUCATE OURSELVES,
THE MORE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ASK. AND HOPEFULLY, GET A RESOLUTION THAT S FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
RESIDENTS OF COLUMBUS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
BEFORE I MOVE FOR ADOPTION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: COUNCILMEMBER, I WILL JUMP IN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THIS RESOLUTION. I ALSO ECHO YOUR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR QUASEY AND THE WORK THEY HAVE
DONE. WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT WE ARE ALL HEARING WHEN WE ARE STANDING IN LINE AT
GROCERY STORES, OR JUST OUT AMONGST OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THAT FOLKS ARE BEING STRAINED AND PUSHED.
AND THAT COSTS ARE GOING UP IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES. AND ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT IS HITTING
THEM EXTREMELY HARD IS THEIR UTILITY BILLS. SO THIS IS NOT AN ABSTRACT CONVERSATION. IT S NOT
SPREADSHEETS. THIS IS HOW PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY MAKING VERY TOUGH DECISIONS BETWEEN, YOU KNOW,
MEDICATION OR ELECTRICITY OR GROCERIES OR HEAT. AND SO, I THINK COUNCIL IS SPEAKING LOUDLY AND
CLEARLY THIS EVENING, AND ENCOURAGING THE PUCO TO USE ITS AUTHORITY TO SPEAK OUT AND PROTECT OUR
RESIDENTS. AND SO, I AM AGAIN APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS EFFORT AND WOULD JUST CONTINUE
TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP, AS COUNCIL IS ADDING OUR VOICES AS
WELL. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> C. WYCHE: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND
I KNOW IT S AN ISSUE WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME. AFFORDABILITY, NOT JUST IN HOUSING BUT
UTILITY RATES AT THE SAME TIME. SO IT IS OUR JOB AS REPRESENTATIVES OF PEOPLE IN DISTRICTS
ACROSS THE CITY OF COLUMBUS TO MAKE OUR VOICES BE HEARD FOR OUR RESIDENTS SO THEY KNOW WE ARE
FIGHTING FOR THEM AT THE SAME TIME, TOO. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: COUNCILMEMBER,
I JUST ALSO WANTED TO ADD AND THANK QUASEY FOR HIS WORK AND THE WORK OF STANDUP COLUMBUS, BECAUSE I
THINK WE ARE SEEING THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I THINK FOLKS CAN COME AND ADVOCATE TO US, RIGHT,
BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO UTILITIES THERE S NOT ALWAYS A VOICE, IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE YELLING
INTO THE VOID, RIGHT? AT LEAST IT FEELS LIKE THAT, RIGHT? I THINK GIVING FOLKS A WAY, GIVING THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. GIVING THEM A PATH FOR THEM TO ADVOCATE. I SAY THIS,
IT IS ONLY BUT FOR THE PEOPLE, RIGHT? AND SO YES, THE NINE VOICES ON THIS COUNCIL MATTER,
BUT THE MILLION VOICES IN COLUMBUS MATTER EVEN MORE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT
WORK AND COUNCILMEMBER, ALSO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THINGS -- AND I SAY THIS WITH LOVE,
BECAUSE MAYBE I M THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS LIKE IT S COMPLEX. I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GAVE ME
A TEST ON MY UTILITY BILL, I M NOT PASSING IT. SO I THINK WHEN WE TAKE THESE THINGS, AND SOMETIMES
WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, WE DON T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. AGAIN, WE DON T KNOW HOW TO ADVOCATE.
WE DON T KNOW WHAT BUTTONS TO PUSH. SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP THESE ISSUES AT THE TOP OF,
CERTAINLY AT THE FOREFRONT FOR ALL OF US, BOTH AS RESIDENTS AND LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT
ALSO ENSURING THAT THE FOLKS WHO WE REPRESENT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND THE BEST
WAY FOR THEM TO ADVOCATE, SO. ECHOING BOTH YOUR SENTIMENTS OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU
FOR BOTH ANNA LISA AND QUASEY. >> AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER WYCHE,
I ALSO JUST WANT TO ECHO LOURDES STATEMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND ALSO THANK
YOU TO OUR PARTNERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. THERE S SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN,
YOU KNOW, RAISING A PUBLICLY-FUNDED UTILITY COST FOR NECESSARY UPGRADES AND REMEDIATION
AND INCREASING COSTS ON EVERYDAY FAMILIES SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PASS ON MILLIONS OR
BILLIONS DOLLARS IN PROFIT TO YOUR SHAREHOLDERS. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT THINGS. AND WE
FIND OURSELVES AT A MOMENT WHERE WE KNOW BROADLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE THREAT THAT DATA CENTERS
ARE POSING ON OUR UTILITIES, ON OUR ELECTRIC GRID, ON OUR WATER. SO TAKING SOME TIME TO
COLLECT THAT DATA AND INFORMATION. BUT WE ARE ALSO SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WAYS IN WHICH SOME OF
THESE FACILITIES ARE HELPING LOWER ENERGY COSTS, ARE HELPING TO ADOPT GREEN PRACTICES AND COULD
ULTIMATELY BE A BENEFIT IN DOING BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT AND EXPLORE THOSE
OPTIONS. AND SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING A MEASURED APPROACH TO THIS AND FIGURING
OUT HOW WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND AND UNPACK THESE ISSUES AND DELIVER, YOU KNOW, SOME POLICY DOWN THE
ROAD THAT IS GOING TO BOTH, YOU KNOW, PROTECT THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF OUR FAMILIES HERE IN
CENTRAL OHIO, WHILE ALSO PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE AND THE EARTH AROUND
US. AND SO, THANK YOU, THANK, THANK YOU. >> C. WYCHE: I APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
GREEN. AND YOUR POINT AROUND DATA CENTERS AND HOW THEY ARE BUILT IS REAL. RIGHT? WE COULD REQUIRE
THEM IN THIS STATE TO BE BUILT MORE SUSTAINABLY. WE HAVE JUST NOT HAD LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE
LEVEL TO DO THAT. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT IS CREATING ALL OF THESE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
RISING COSTS FOR EVERYDAY RESIDENTS WHO ARE JUST HAVING TO FIT THE BILL FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND
THOSE BUILD OUTS. SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I NOW MOVE FOR ADOPTION.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: ADOPTED. >> C. WYCHE:
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS BY THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE JOINING US? THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE? ANYONE ELSE? AT THIS TIME, I REQUEST THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES
BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT ACTION PART OF THE AGENDA. THE FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE, 0234-2026.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS BY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR REMOVAL OF ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION FROM THE
CONSENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA? HEARING NONE, MAY WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF
TITLE OF 30-DAY LEGISLATION ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN,
REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU. WILL
THE CLERK NOW READ INTO THE RECORD THE ORDINANCE NUMBERS OF 30-DAY LEGISLATION
ON TONIGHT S AGENDA AS FIRST READING? >> CLERK: FINANCE & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
ORDINANCES 29, 90, 129, AND 163-2026. PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES
3502-2025, 54 AND 89-2026. NEIGHBORHOODS, RECREATION, & PARKS COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES
3335 AND 3336-2025. HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, & EQUITY COMMITTEE. ORDINANCE 102-2026.
PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 19-2026 AND 3412-2025. HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS, & BUILDING COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 74, 81, 82, 83, 109, 110, 115, 116, 157, 224,
AND 245-2026. PUBLIC UTILITIES & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 3418, 3441, 3450, 3458-2025,
AND 1, 6, 32, 33, 35, 38, 39, 44, 47, 51, 57, 58, 59, 91, 100, 117, AND 130-2026. RULES & POLICY
COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 12 AND 237-2026. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
MADAM CLERK. SEEING NO SPEAKERS ON THE FIRST READING PORTION OF THE AGENDA, THE FOLLOWING
ORDINANCES APPEAR ON OUR AGENDA AS CONSENT ACTION. WILL THE CLERK NOW READ THOSE INTO THE RECORD?
>> CLERK: RESOLUTION OF EXPRESSION, RESOLUTIONS 8X, 24X, 9X, AND 11X-2026. FINANCE & GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 3258, 3496, 3503-2025, AND 67-2026. PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.. RESOLUTION 6X-2026. ORDINANCES 3373 AND 3505-2025, AND 46, 71, AND 88-2026.
NEIGHBORHOODS, RECREATION, & PARKS COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 3337, 3338, AND 3391-2025, AND
222-2026. WORKFORCE, EDUCATION, & LABOR COMMITTEE. ORDINANCE 3453-2025. HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES,
& EQUITY COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 3231-2025, AND 2, 85, 99, 114, AND 147-2026. HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS, & BUILDING COMMITTEE. ORDINANCES 8, 9, 10, 11, 25, 183, AND 188-2026. PUBLIC UTILITIES
& SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. RESOLUTIONS 12X, 13X, 14X, 15X, 16X, 17X-2026. ORDINANCES 3504-2025,
AND 16, 17, 18, AND 21-2026. RULES & POLICY COMMITTEE. APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR S OFFICE A3,
A5, A6, A7, A14, AND A15-2026. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
MADAM CLERK. THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA EITHER. MAY I HAVE A MOTION
TO APPROVE THESE ITEMS AS DESIGNATED AS CONSENT? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ARE PASSED. WE WILL NOW PROCEED WITH THE SECOND
READING OF 30-DAY POSTPONED AND TABLED AND EMERGENCY LEGISLATION. THE FIRST COMMITTEE
TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL IS THE FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER
BANKSTON. COUNCILMEMBER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
TONIGHT IN FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2939-2025. TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS
AND TRANSFERS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2026, FOR OTHER FUNDS FOR VARIOUS DIVISIONS.
TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY AUDITOR TO MAKE TRANSFERS AS MAY BE NECESSARY. AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
AS I MENTIONED DURING THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING ORDINANCE 2939-2025 AND IT'S COMPANION ORDINANCE
2940-2025 REPRESENTS THE CITY'S OTHER FUNDS AND SELECT OTHER FUNDS APPROPRIATIONS. THIS
PARTICULAR ORDINANCE ESTABLISH DOLLARS THE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS OF
THE CITY OF COLUMBUS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, FOR FUNDS OTHER THE GENERAL FUND, SUCH AS MOBILITY
ENTERPRISE FUND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND AND OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS. THE FOLLOWING
ORDINANCE 2940-2025, ESTABLISHES THE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS
OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 FOR SELECTED OTHER FUNDS. FOR THE OPERATING FUNDS,
SUCH AS THE DEBT SERVICES FUND, TAX INCENTIVE FUNDS AND HOTEL/MOTEL TAX FUNDS JUST TO NAME A
FEW. FOR THE MOST PART COUNCIL HISTORICALLY CANNOT TOUCH THE AFOREMENTIONED FUNDS DUE TO STATUTE.
THESE ARE TYPICALLY EITHER PASS-THROUGH DOLLARS OR DOLLARS COLLECTED FROM SOME OTHER REVENUE SOURCE
OTHER THAN THE INCOME TAX. THAT SAID, INSTEAD OF WAITING TO PASS THESE ORDINANCES ALONGSIDE THE
GENERAL FUND BUDGET, ORDINANCES ONCE ITS READY FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION, THIS YEAR IN THE INTEREST OF
EFFICIENCY THESE WILL BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT FOR APPROVAL. APPROVAL OF THESE ORDINANCES DOES NOT
REPRESENT CONSIDERATION OF THE FULL BUDGET. THE FINAL BUDGET ORDINANCE WHICH COVERS THE CITY'S
GENERAL FUND AND IS NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS STILL BEING DELIBERATED ON AND WILL BE AMENDED
PRIOR TO THE FINAL CONSIDERATION. WE ANTICIPATE THE REMAINING BUDGET ORDINANCE WILL COME BEFORE
THIS BODY IN LATE FEBRUARY. SO AGAIN, ORDINANCE 2939-2025 WHICH WE ARE CONSIDERING IS THE OTHER
FUNDS BUDGET. AND I WOULD PAUSE NOW TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES? I WILL SWITCH BETWEEN SCREENS. SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE ON ORDINANCE 2939-2025.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> N. BANKSTON: NEXT 2940-2025.
TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2026, FOR SELECTED OTHER FUNDS
FOR VARIOUS DIVISIONS, TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY AUDITOR TO MAKE TRANSFERS AS MAY BE NECESSARY,
AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. AS YOU MENTIONED THIS IS THE COMPANION ORDINANCE TO 2939-2025 FOR
THE SELECTED OTHER FUNDS. SEEING NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE
NOW ON ORDINANCE 2940-2025. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,
GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> N. BANKSTON: I HAVE ORDINANCE 0028-2025. TO
APPROPRIATE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY AUDITOR TO TRANSFER $10,988,166.00 WITHIN THE DEBT
RETIREMENT FUND. TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY AUDITOR, ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE,
TO APPROPRIATE $1,400,000.00 IN THE MOBILITY DEBT RETIREMENT - CITY PARKING METER CONTRIBUTION
SUBFUND. TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SECONDARY FUNDING IN THE
EVENT THAT FRANKLIN COUNTY CONVENTION FACILITIES AUTHORITY CANNOT MEET ITS DEBT OBLIGATIONS. AND
TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. THIS ORDINANCE IS AN ACCOUNTING MEASURE THAT ESTABLISHES A FISCAL
BACKSTOP FOR THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSION FACILITY AUTHORITY IN THE EVENT THEY ARE UNABLE
TO MEET THEIR DEBT OBLIGATIONS. WE SHARE THIS OBLIGATION WITH THE COUNTY AND A FUND IN THE
EVENT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THEIR DEBT OBLIGATION. THAT FUND HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED
SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACILITIES AUTHORITY, AS THEY HAVE OTHER REVENUE
SOURCES BUT THIS IS A BACKSTOP SINCE IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS A CREATION OF BOTH THE
COUNTY AND CITY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU,
JUMP BACK TO PAGE 13 TO READ AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PLEASE. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU,
THAT IS 0234-2026. TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCING MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO
CONTRACT WITH THE GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU DOING BUSINESS AS EXPERIENCE
COLUMBUS FOR DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICE TO PROMOTE AND PUBLICIZE THE CITY OF COLUMBUS AS A
DESIRABLE LOCATION FOR CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS AND SIMILAR EVENTS, TO AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE OF
$236,000 TO FUND -- THE MOTEL/HOTEL TAX PROCEEDS ARE COLLECTED BY THE CITY OF COLUMBUS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE CITY AS A DESTINATION SITE FOR TOURISM AND CONVENTION ACTIVITIES AND
FOR FOSTERING AND SUSTAINING A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING CONCERTS, FESTIVALS,
ART EXHIBITS AND VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. AT THE TOP OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR WE ORDAIN
THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME OF THESE. EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS IS OUR CITY'S PROMOTER AND MARKETER
AND SELLER OF COLUMBUS AS A DESTINATION. I WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE; THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
OF ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED THE FUNDS PASS THROUGH FROM THE HOTEL/MOTEL
TAX. EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS CONTINUES TO OUT-PERFORM AND PUNCH ABOVE ITS WEIGHT IN OUR COMPETITIVE SET
AND PROUD TO SAY LAST YEAR EXCEEDED METRICS FOR MARKETING AND BRINGING MORE INVESTMENT TO OUR
COMMUNITY. REALLY PROUD OF WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO TO PROMOTE COLUMBUS NOT JUST AROUND THE
COUNTRY BUT AROUND THE GLOBE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS COMMITTEE.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PLEASE. >> N. BANKSTON: FIRST WE HAVE ORDINANCE 3305-2025.
TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT TO ENTER INTO AN ENTERPRISE
ZONE AGREEMENT WITH C5 COLUMBUS SW BUILDING 1, LLC (THE ENTERPRISE ) FOR A TAX ABATEMENT
OF SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT (75%) FOR A PERIOD OF TEN (10) CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE
ENTERPRISE INVESTING APPROXIMATELY $31,260,600.00 IN REAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS AND THE CREATION OF
FORTY-EIGHT (48) NET NEW FULL-TIME PERMANENT POSITIONS WITH AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL PAYROLL OF
APPROXIMATELY $2,112,000.00. THIS ORDINANCE ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING COMPANION ORDINANCE
ARE A PAIR OF ENTERPRISE ZONE AGREEMENTS WITH CORE I5 INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS FOR THE FULL SERVICE
REAL ESTATE OPERATING COMPANY WITH EXPERTISE IN DEVELOPMENT OF ACQUISITION OF CLASS A INVENTORY
AND BUILD-TO-SUIT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED TWO SINGLE PURPOSE ENTITIES
C5 COLUMBUS SW BUILDING 1, LLC AND C5 COLUMBUS SW BUILDING NUMBER 2, LLC THAT WILL COVER THE
CONSTRUCTION OF TWO CLASS-A PROACTIVE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THIS ORDINANCE CONTAINS PROPOSAL
FOR BUILDING ONE AND THE NEXT ORDINANCE CONTAINS THE PROPOSAL FOR BUILDING TWO. FOR BUILDING ONE,
NEW ENTITY IS PROPOSING TO INVEST A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $31,260,600 ON A VACANT GREENFIELD SITE
LOCATED AT 5192 ALKIRE ROAD IN COLUMBUS. FOR BUILDING TWO THE ENTITY IS PROPOSING TO
INVEST A TOTAL PROJECT COST FOR APPROXIMATELY $15,724,800 IN REAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VACANT GREENFIELD SITE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CLASS A PROACTIVE INDUSTRIAL
FACILITY CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 249,000 SQUARE FEET LOCATED AT THE SAME ADDRESS. FOR
BUILDING ONE THEY ANTICIPATE THE CREATION OF 48 NEW FULL-TIME PERMANENT POSITIONS WITH ESTIMATED
PAYROLL OF $2,120,112. FOR BUILDING TWO, ESTIMATED PAYROLL OF APPROXIMATELY $1.1 MILLION. THESE ARE
PROACTIVE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS SO THESE SALARIES AND JOB NUMBERS ARE ESTIMATES UNTIL AN OPERATOR
IS FOUND FOR THE SPACES. THE NEW ENTITY THAT WILL BE LEASED WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S REQUIRED
ACCOUNTS OF THE JOB AS WELL AS THE $20 PER HOUR WAGE THRESHOLD. TYPICALLY WE HAVE SEEN THE ACTUAL
JOB AND SALARY NUMBERS FAR EXCEED THE ESTIMATE THAT ARE GIVEN AT THE PROACTIVE PHASE. IN SUM,
WITH THE TWO BUILDINGS, THE SOUTHWESTERN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
$1,876,000, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX THEY ARE RECEIVING TODAY,
THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY. BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE ABATEMENT PERIOD, THE 25% THAT IS STILL ON
THE TABLE, THEY WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED 1.7 MILLION. THEY WILL RECEIVE
APPROXIMATELY 8,933,334 OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT. MAKING THE INVESTMENT
ON THE FRONT END AND SEEING THOSE LONG-TERM GAINS IN THE FUTURE. I WILL PAUSE THERE TO SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> N. BANKSTON: ON ORDINANCE 3305-2025.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU. AND
LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS ORDINANCE 3306-2025. AGAIN, THIS IS THE COMPANION PIECE TO THE PROJECT THAT
WE JUST DISCUSSED. TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT TO ENTER INTO AN
ENTERPRISE ZONE AGREEMENT WITH C5 COLUMBUS SW BUILDING 2, LLC (THE ENTERPRISE ) FOR A
TAX ABATEMENT OF SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT (75%) FOR A PERIOD OF TEN (10) CONSECUTIVE YEARS
IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTERPRISE INVESTING APPROXIMATELY $15,724,800.00 IN REAL PROPERTY
IMPROVEMENTS AND THE CREATION OF TWENTY-FIVE (25) NET NEW FULL-TIME PERMANENT POSITIONS WITH AN
ESTIMATED ANNUAL PAYROLL OF APPROXIMATELY $1,100,000.00. AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED,
THE DETAILS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL . >>> BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA,
DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> N. BANKSTON: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN MY COMMITTEES THIS EVENING. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. THE NEXT COMMITTEE TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL IS THE
PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER
BARROSO DE PADILLA. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I HAVE THREE ITEMS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION THIS EVENING. THE FIRST
IS ORDINANCE 3133-2025. TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE CITY AUDITOR TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS WITHIN THE
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION GRANT FUND IN CONNECTION WITH THE QUICK BUILD TOOLKIT. TO AUTHORIZE THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT TO ASSOCIATE ALL GENERAL BUDGET RESERVATIONS RESULTING FROM
THIS ORDINANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE UNIVERSAL TERM CONTRACT PURCHASE AGREEMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF
WATER BARRIERS, CONES, AND TRAFFIC BARRELS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, DIVISION OF
MOBILITY & PARKING SERVICES. TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF $357,038.00 FROM THE FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION GRANT FUND. AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ESTABLISH A PURCHASE
ORDER FOR VARIOUS MATERIALS TO BE USED FOR THE QUICK BUILD TOOLKIT FROM EXISTING UNIVERSAL
TERM CONTRACTS WITH BAIN ENTERPRISES AND ALL IN SAFETY CORP. FOR THE PURCHASE OF WATER BARRIERS,
CONES, AND TRAFFIC BARRELS. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE
WE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE ABOUT WAYS THAT WE COULD
REALLY BEGIN TO STRATEGIZE ON GETTING QUICKER FIXES TO SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMATIC
TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND REALLY LOOKING AT OUR HIGH-INJURY NETWORK AND HOW DO WE BEGIN TO TACKLE
SOME OF THE ISSUES WE SAW THERE. TACTICAL URBANISM WHICH I'M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT,
ALLOWS THE CITY TO RESPOND FASTER TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. WE ARE EXCITED TO RECEIVE THIS GRANT FROM
O-DOT FOR PURCHASE OF THE MATERIALS FOR THE QUICK BUILD TOOLKIT PLANNING TO ACCELERATE THE PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BY UTILIZING THESE MATERIALS.
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS OFTEN TAKE YEARS TO DESIGN FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS IN THE SHORT-TERM
WHILE LONGER TERM IS EVALUATED AND DESIGNED FOR PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER BY
OHIO AVENUE, BY THE SOUTH SIDE. TEMPORARILY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY STRIKE THE BIKE LANES ON
EAST BROAD STREET YOU SAW THE WATER BARRIERS THAT WERE ON FROST STREET. DIRECTOR, I DON'T
KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING WOULD LIKE TO ADD ABOUT OUR STRATEGY AROUND THE QUICK BUILD TOOLKIT?
>> YOU COVERED EVERYTHING VERY WELL. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: SO I'M VERY EXCITED
THAT THIS WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST THINGS AND PUT STRATEGIES OUT THERE FASTER. I ALSO
HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EVEN EXPANDING THE TOOLKIT FURTHER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE. DO
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> BANKSTON, BARROSO
DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE ORDINANCE 0036-2026. TO TRANSFER CASH AND APPROPRIATION BETWEEN THE LUCENT INCENTIVE
DISTRICT TIF FUND AND THE LUCENT INCENTIVE DISTRICT TIF CAPITAL FUND, AS WELL AS BETWEEN
THE E. BROAD DOMINION TIF FUND AND THE E. BROAD DOMINION TIF CAPITAL FUND. TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS
WITHIN THE LUCENT INCENTIVE DISTRICT TIF CAPITAL FUND AND THE E. BROAD DOMINION TIF CAPITAL FUND.
TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH SHELLY AND SANDS, INC.
FOR THE ROADWAY - BLOSSOM FIELD BLVD - BROAD TO WESTBOURNE PROJECT. TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE
OF UP TO $3,312,787.59 FROM THE LUCENT INCENTIVE DISTRICT TIF CAPITAL FUND AND E. BROAD DOMINION
TIF CAPITAL FUND FOR THE PROJECT. AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. I WOULD THINK THAT SOMEONE WAS
HAZING ME IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER WITH THE WORDING ON THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. THE LOCATION,
THIS LOCATION FOR THIS PROJECT IS ON THE VISION ZERO HIGH-INJURY NETWORK DUE TO THE NUMBER OF
SERIOUS OR FATAL CRASHES INVOLVING PEOPLE WALKING, BIKING OR MOTORCYCLE OR MOBILITY DEVICES. THIS
PROJECT AIMS TO HELP DIVERT VOLUME AND CREATE SAFER CONDITIONS ON THE WESTBOUND PORTION OF
EAST BROAD STREET AND SOUTHBOUND PORTION OF TAYLOR STATION. IT WILL BE UPGRADED WITH NEW
STREETLIGHTS, PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS. BLOSSOM FIELD BOULEVARD, GRANITE POINT DRIVE WILL HELP
SLOW DRIVER SPEED AND REDUCE CRASH SEVERITY. A SHARED USE PATH WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE EAST
SIDE OF BLOSSOM FIELD AND SIDEWALK ON THE WEST SIDE TO FILL IN THE GAPS. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
SAFETY PROJECT COMING TO THIS AREA OF THE CITY AND EVERYTHING THAT IT WILL BRING TO THE SAFETY OF OUR
RESIDENTS. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: THANK
YOU. LASTLY WE HAVE ORDINANCE 0097-2026. TO APPROPRIATE $8,250,000.00 FROM THE UNAPPROPRIATED
BALANCE OF THE MUNICIPAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAX FUND FOR ANTICIPATED 2026 EXPENDITURES FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE, DIVISIONS OF INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. THIS HAS BEEN LEVIED BY THE CITY OF COLUMBUS SINCE 1987.
THIS MONEY IS USED FOR MATERIAL, SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT EXPENSES,
CONSISTENT WITH THE 2026 BUDGET. SO THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE USER-FUNDED FUNDS, SO YOU PAY
A MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAX. IT GOES INTO A LARGER FUND THAT THEN GETS REINVESTED BACK INTO OUR CITY
STREETS. SO DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: THANK YOU. THAT'S
ALL FOR ME THIS EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THE NEXT COMMITTEE IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE, THAT IS CHAIRED
BY COUNCILMEMBER REMY. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> E. REMY: THANK YOU, I HAVE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION, THE FIRST BEING 3467-2026 TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE THE
LAWSUIT CAPTIONED BY RYAN PITS VERSUS EMILY GEYER, 225CV875. TO AUTHORIZE AND
DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SETTLE THE LAWSUIT CAPTIONED RYAN PITTS V. EMILY GEIER ET AL.,
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CASE NO. 2:25-CV-875. TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF THE SUM OF
THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($30,000.00) IN SETTLEMENT OF THE LAWSUIT. TO AUTHORIZE THE
TRANSFER OF $30,000.00 WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. TONIGHT WE HAVE
DIVISION CHIEF MELANIE TOBIAS. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO WALK US THROUGH THIS SETTLEMENT AND WHY YOUR
OFFICE BELIEVES THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION. >> SORRY, THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> E. REMY: YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR REMY, PRESIDENT HARDIN,
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THIS LAWSUIT THE PLAINTIFF'S SUED THREE OFFICERS ALLEGING CIVIL RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS THAT STEMMED FROM A TRAFFIC STOP AND CRIMINAL CITATION OUT OF THE TRAFFIC STOP. THE
TRAFFIC TICKET AND CRIMINAL CITATIONS WERE DISMISSED IN COURT AND THE PLAINTIFF FILED A
COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHICH CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION
INTO THE TRAFFIC STOP. THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL DETERMINED THAT THE OFFICERS
DID COMMIT POLICY VIOLATIONS, VIOLATING DIVISION POLICY AND AFTER REVIEWING THE
PLAINTIFF'S LAWSUIT, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BELIEVES THAT, IF THIS WOULD GO FORWARD TO TRIAL
THERE'S A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT SOME OF THE DEFENDANT OFFICERS WOULD BE FOUND LIABLE
ON SOME OF THE CLAIMS RAISED IN THIS CASE. THIS IS A CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION; ATTORNEY FEES WOULD BE
GRANTED TO THE PLAINTIFF WHERE HE COULD WIN ON ANY OF HIS COUNTS. ATTORNEY FEES ALREADY CACK CLOCKING
IN ALMOST $15,000 AT THIS POINT. TO MITIGATE THOSE LOSSES THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO SETTLE THIS CASE.
>> E. REMY: THANK YOU, AND DIRECTOR PISHOTTI? TO HEAR WHAT'S BEEN DONE TO
HELP ENSURE THINGS LIKE THIS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. DIVISION DIRECTOR PISHOTTI?
>> E. REMY: OKAY. >> COUNCILMEMBER REMY, I COULD SPEAK TO THAT.
>> E. REMY: OKAY. OH, I M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU WERE HERE. THANK YOU,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR TRICIA WINSELL. >> THE OFFICERS WERE DISCIPLINED IN THIS CASE,
AND THEY WERE COUNSELED SO THAT THEY WILL HANDLE THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN THE FUTURE,
NOW THAT THEY HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
>> E. REMY: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CASE THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> E. REMY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT I HAVE
0020-2026. TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF $4,921,832.27 FROM THE 2026 UNAPPROPRIATED
BALANCE OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT SPECIAL FUNDS TO THE FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL
COURT FOR ALL ANTICIPATED EXPENSES. AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. THIS LEGISLATION REFLECTS AN ANNUAL
REQUIREMENT TO APPROPRIATE THE COURT SPECIAL FUND SO THEY COULD BE USED FOR ANTICIPATED EXPENSES. IT
AUTHORIZES APPROPRIATION INTO FUNDS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE SECURITY FUND, DISPUTE
RESOLUTION FUND AND SPECIALIZED DOCKET FUND, AMONG OTHERS. EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS REQUESTED
THAT THEY CONTINUE SERVICES UNINTERRUPTED. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS,
WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED.
>> E. REMY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE THIS EVENING. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THE NEXT COMMITTEE IS HOUSING HOMELESSNESS CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROSS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> T. ROSS: THANK YOU, 0056-2026. TO AMEND THE 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET; TO AUTHORIZE THE
TRANSFER OF FUNDS WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAXABLE BOND FUND. TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF
DEVELOPMENT TO ENTER INTO A SERVICE CONTRACT WITH MANN ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR THE
DIVISION OF HOUSING S ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $350,000.00, USING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING TAXABLE BOND FUNDS; TO WAIVE THE PROVISIONS OF COLUMBUS CITY CODES SECTIONS 111.14
AND 329.09 FOR THE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER AND EXPENDITURE OF
$350,000.00. TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT TO ENTER INTO
GRANT AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING MODIFICATIONS IF NECESSARY, WITH HOMEOWNER PARTICIPANTS IN THE
ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IF THE TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT IS GREATER THAN $5,000.00, ALL WITHOUT
HAVING TO RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL FOR EACH PROJECT UNDER THE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. TO AUTHORIZE
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENDITURES INCURRED PRIOR TO THE CREATION OF A PURCHASE ORDER. TO WAIVE THE
COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROVISIONS OF COLUMBUS CITY CODE. AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. WITH THAT,
I'M GOING TO ASK DIRECTOR STEVENS TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND
TELL US WHY WE ARE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARDIN,
CHAIR ROSS, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THIS IS PART OF OUR HOUSING STRATEGY WHERE WE ARE WORKING TO
PRESERVE AS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS POSSIBLE. BY SUPPORTING THOSE PROJECTS NATURALLY OCCURRING
AFFORDABILITY OR HOMEOWNERSHIP ALREADY EXISTS. BY APPROVING THIS GRANT WE WILL EXPEDITE OUR
ABILITY TO GET THE DOLLARS OUT TO MAKE THOSE ROOF REPAIRS IN A TIMELY FASHION. THAT IS THE REASON
ALSO WHY WE ARE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> T. ROSS: ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
DIRECTOR STEVENS, COULD YOU TALK FOR JUST A SECOND ON HOW EASY IT IS FOR FOLKS TO ACCESS
THOSE PROGRAMS? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. MAYBE IT'S NOT, I
KNOW SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE, SOMETIMES IT'S AN ARDUOUS PROCESS IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT. CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT HOW FOLKS CAN ACCESS A ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND WHO WE FUND AND HOW THAT WORKS?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. WE HAVE OUR ROOF REPAIR PROGRAM,
NOT ONLY THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY HOMEOWNER REPAIR BUT ALSO JUST THROUGH OUR HOMEOWNER SERVICES
THROUGH OUR DIVISION OF HOUSING. WE RUN THROUGH THE HOUSING DIVISION AS KIND OF A ONE-STOP ENTRY
AND WE DETERMINE BASED ON THEIR ELIGIBILITY, INCOME LEVEL, RESIDENCY IS IMPORTANT AND
WE SEND OUR TECHS OUT THERE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, GET A QUOTE FROM OUR VENDOR AND WORK TO
GET THAT ROOF REPAIR IN AN EXPEDITIOUS MANNER. >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS
KIND OF A STORM AND SUSTAINED, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTS ON THOSE ROOFS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE OLDER,
I SUSPECT WE WILL HAVE AN UPTICK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TOUCHED ON THIS IS ANOTHER
RESOURCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS OR AS PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THE CITY,
THIS IS ANOTHER INVESTMENT WE ARE MAKING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST ENSURING AS WITH ANYTHING, AS
MUCH AS WE CAN KEEP IT LOW BARRIER FOR FOLKS. THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES, THE LESS PEOPLE WANT
TO DO IT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START TO ASK THEM A LOT OF QUESTIONS OR YOU HAVE TO COLLECT A LOT
OF INFORMATION, IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, SOMETIMES THAT'S A CULTURAL
THING AND SOMETIMES THERE'S OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE INVOLVED. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER BARROSO DE PADILLA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? I'M VERY
FAMILIAR WITH THE ROOFING PROGRAM AND UNDERSTAND THE VERY HIGH DEMAND WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PART OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE,
AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE IN PROCESSING THOSE APPLICATIONS FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT. APPRECIATE YOU,
DIRECTOR AND I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR PASSAGE. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY,
ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. IS
THAT ALL IN YOUR COMMITTEE, MADAM CHAIR? >> T. ROSS: YES, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN
ON MUTE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR THE VOTE. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: OH MY BAD.
>> E. REMY: WE DIDN'T HEAR IT. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: COUNCIL, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> T. ROSS: THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THAT'S IT FOR MY COMMITTEE. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. THE NEXT COMMITTEE TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL IS PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, THAT IS CHAIRED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYCHE. TT FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> C. WYCHE: THANK YOU, I HAVE ONE ORDINANCE THIS EVENING. THAT IS 31-2026. 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 TERM CONTRACT PURCHASE
AGREEMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.
TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF $30,400,000.00 FROM THE WATER OPERATING FUND. AND TO DECLARE AN
EMERGENCY. THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES THE FUNDING NECESSARY FOR THE PURCHASE OF WATER TREATMENT
CHEMICALS FOR THE DIVISION OF WATER, EMERGENCY DESIGNATION IS REQUESTED IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY
DELAY IN PURCHASING OF NECESSARY CHEMICALS AND ALLOW DIVISION OF WATER TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE DRINKING WATER TO COLUMBUS RESIDENTS AND THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE, I MOVE FOR PASSAGE.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN:
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA,
DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> C. WYCHE: THANK YOU, THAT IS ALL I
HAVE IN MY COMMITTEE THIS EVENING. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. THE NEXT COMMITTEE TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL IS THE RULES AND POLICY
COMMITTEE. I CHAIR THAT COMMITTEE. I HAVE ONE ORDINANCE; I KNOW PRESIDENT PRO TEM HAS ONE AS
WELL. WE HAVE ORDINANCE 0064-2026. TO AMEND SECTION 111.01 OF THE COLUMBUS CITY CODES,
PERTAINING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS AND HEARINGS. TO ALLOW COUNCIL FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE SUMMER
RECESS. THIS CODE CHANGE WILL GIVE CITY COUNCIL THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE OUR RECESS PERIOD TO
PILOT A CHANGE BY SHIFTING RECESS FROM AUGUST TO JULY FOR THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE YEAR. THIS IDEA HAS
BOUNCED AROUND FOR YEARS BUT THE PAST YEAR COUNCIL SURVEYED COUNCIL STAFF AND DEPARTMENT STAFF TO GET
THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK HOW THIS SHIFT COULD AFFECT THE OPERATIONS. MOVING RECESS TO JULY PROVIDES
GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR SUMMER VACATIONS AND CHILD CARE NEEDS PARTICULARLY FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN WHO OFTEN RETURN TO SCHOOL IN EARLY TO MID-AUGUST. IT ALSO HELPS REDUCE RECURRING
LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES THAT ARISE WITH STAFF AND PARTNERS THAT ARE INEVITABILITY
OUT AT DIFFERENT POINTS THROUGHOUT JULY. FINALLY ALIGNING RECESS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE
FISCAL -- WE WILL MEET IN JULY, RECESS JULY AND RETURN MID TO LATE AUGUST. WE VIEW THIS
AS A PILOT IN 2026. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE WILL EVALUATE THIS AND USE THAT FEEDBACK TO DETERMINE
WHERE WE SHOULD TAKE RECESS NEXT YEAR. I APPRECIATE THE INPUT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED
AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING A COUNCIL CALENDAR THAT IS TRANSPARENT, PREDICTABLE AND
RESPONSIBLE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR COMMUNITY. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
I MOVE FOR PASSAGE. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,
GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASS. NEXT I WILL GIVE THE
COMMITTEE OVER TO PRESIDENT PRO TEM. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IN RULES AND REFERENCE I HAVE 0134-2026. TO ADOPT THE COLUMBUS GROWTH
STRATEGY AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLUMBUS CITYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE THE
NEXT GENERATION OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN COLUMBUS. IF FOLKS HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION
TO OUR DISCUSSIONS AROUND MODERNIZING OUR ZONING CODE YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE. THE GROWTH
OF COLUMBUS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES BUT ALSO ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES. THAT'S
WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY TO HAVE A PLAN FOR THIS GROWTH. IF WE DON'T, IT WILL ONLY RESULT
IN MORE CONGESTION AND SPRAWL THAT WILL LEAVE US IN A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT POSITION TO SERVE
OUR RESIDENTS AND CREATE MORE HOUSING, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLK AS CROSS COLUMBUS. THAT'S
WHY PLANNING FOR THIS GROWTH IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. FOR TOO LONG OUR CITY HAS BEEN FORCED
TO NAVIGATE THESE MODERN DAY CHALLENGES OF THE 14TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS
CONTINUING TO GROW. WITH A ZONING CODE THAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE 1950'S. WE CANNOT BUILD A MODERN
EQUITABLE CITY ON 70-YEAR-OLD LAND USE FOUNDATION. TONIGHT WE TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN MODERNIZING OUR
LAND USE POLICIES TO BE READY TO BE FOCUSED ON THE RESIDENTS OF TODAY BUT ALSO PLAN FOR
THE FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR CITY. WE ARE MOVING AWAY PRESCRIPTIVE POLICIES OF THE PAST TO A FRAMEWORK
THAT REFLECTS THE NEEDS, VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS. OUR LAST BIG STEP IN THIS PROCESS OCCURRED JULY
29TH 2024 WHEN THIS COUNCIL TOOK HISTORIC ACTION. THAT MOVE ALONE UNLOCKED POTENTIAL FOR 88,000 NEW
HOUSING UNITS TO BE BUILT ON THOSE PARCELS OVER THE NEXT DECADE. THIS LEGISLATION TONIGHT WILL
FORMALLY ADOPT THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY. A POLICY THAT WILL GUIDE THE NEXT PHASE OF THAT
ZONING MODERNIZATION EFFORTS. IT ESTABLISHES OUR FIRST CITYWIDE LAND USE POLICY AND MAP. AND WHILE
THIS DOES NOT CHANGE OUR ZONING CODE OVERNIGHT, IT DOES PROVIDE FOR A GUIDE FOR FUTURE DECISIONS,
ENSURING THAT OUR CAPITAL PLANNING, BUDGETING AND FUTURE ZONING UPDATES ARE TRANSPARENT AND
PREDICTABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS. THE GOALS OF THE STRATEGY ARE CLEAR AND INTENTIONAL. THE FIRST,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IDENTIFYING EXACTLY WHERE WE CAN CREATE MORE HOUSING NEAR JOBS AND TRANSIT.
SUSTAINABILITY, PRIORITIZING GROWTH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
THROUGH BETTER TRANSIT AND JOB CENTERS. EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST CRITICAL
POINT; WE ARE USING THIS FRAMEWORK TO ENCOURAGE THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HISTORICALLY SUFFERED FROM RACIAL AND ECONOMIC SEGREGATION CAUSED BY OUTDATED LAND USE POLICIES.
WE ARE INTENTIONALLY CORRECTING THAT COURSE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. FINALLY COMMUNITY-LED DESIGN. IT'S
THE RESULT OF THOUSANDS OF INTERACTIONS, OVER 3,000 SURVEY RESPONSES, DOZENS OF WORKSHOPS,
75 PRESENTATIONS TO OUR AREA COMMISSIONS AND CIVIC GROUPS. THIS LEVEL OF OUTREACH ENSURES
WE CAN MODERNIZE OUR MAIN STREETS WHILE ALSO CELEBRATING THE UNIQUENESS AND CHARACTER OF
IN PLACE. THIS STRATEGY ENSURES OUR CODE IS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO PROGRESS BUT A BRIDGE TO
BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE AND CONNECTED COLUMBUS. I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION TONIGHT
AND CONTINUE WORK SECURING COLUMBUS'S FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME AS WE INTEGRATE INTO THE NEXT
PHASE OF ZONE-IN, WHICH AGAIN IS OUR EFFORT TO MODERNIZE OUR LAND USE AND ZONING POLICIES TO PUT
GUARDRAILS AROUND GROWTH BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS COLUMBUS.
I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS SIGNED UP IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. WE
RECEIVED MANY MORE LETTERS TO SUPPORT AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY FROM ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE TONIGHT, I WANT TO ASK AND APPRECIATE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES INDULGENCES TO
TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT IN THIS PROCESS. LAND USE DISCUSSIONS CAN VERY EASILY GET DOWN INTO THE
WEEDS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME THAN WE WOULD OTHERWISE WITH THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION TO GET INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS LEGISLATION IS AND ISN'T
AND WHAT IT WILL LEAD TO NEXT. I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MR. LEWIS AVA FOR A PRESENTATION
ON THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION BEFORE I ASK FOR A VOTE HERE TONIGHT AND ALLOW OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS
TO WEIGH IN. MR. AVA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> I M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO PRESENT LEGISLATION
THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO CONTINUE WORK OF ZONE-IN. AS NOTED BEFORE THE CITY NEEDS
CITY-WIDE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR ZONE-IN. THIS IS WHAT THIS
LEGISLATION DOES. WE CAN COMPREHENSIVELY UPDATE OUR ZONING DISTRICTS BY 2027. IT WILL NOT ONLY
PROVIDE A POLICY BASIS FOR ZONE-IN BUT THIS IS A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE THE WAY WE
DO PLANNING IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. IT WILL PROVIDE A SINGLE CITY-WIDE STRATEGY THAT SETS
CLEAR PRIORITIES FOR WHERE AND HOW COLUMBUS GROWS. NOW A COUPLE KEY POINTS ON THE GROWTH STRATEGY IT
CREATES A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH FOCUSED ON DESIGN. IT ENCOURAGES MIXED USE AREAS;
IT SUPPORTS MORE HOUSING OPTIONS IN MORE AREAS OF THE CITY. IT PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR
WHEN OLDER EMPLOYMENT AREAS MAY EVOLVE INTO MODERN JOB CENTERS AND IT WILL BE SUBJECT
TO REGULAR REVIEW. AS PART OF OUR BACKGROUND WORK ON THIS PROJECT, WE DID RESEARCH TO SEE HOW OTHER
PEER CITIES HANDLE LAND USE MAPS. OUR RESEARCH SHOWS ALL OF THEM HAVE CITYWIDE LAND USE PLANS.
ONE THING WE WANT TO STRESS IS THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITYWIDE PLANNING
POLICIES ALSO KNOWN AS C2P2. MOST REMAINS UNCHANGED, THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE IS THE MAP
BASED OFF MONTHS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. OUR PROCESS BEGAN WITH MAYOR GINTHER'S JUNE PRESS CONFERENCE
AND COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. FOR THE PAST 7 MONTHS WE HAVE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE HAD THOUSANDS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS. RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS
AND WE USED AN ARRAY OF ENGAGEMENT METHODS AND HELD ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY. THIS ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LED TO OVER 19,000 CHANGES TO THE
PROPOSAL. OVERALL PUBLIC INPUT HAS BEEN LARGELY SUPPORTIVE BETWEEN 65-75% SUPPORT. SO I WOULD LIKE
TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SHOW HOW THAT INPUT AFFECTED OUR MAPS AND HOW WE CHANGED OUR PROPOSAL. RIGHT
HERE WE HAVE THE INITIAL LAND USE MAP WHICH WAS PART OUR JULY WORKSHOPS AND WAS OPEN FOR COMMUNITY
INPUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH OCTOBER. WE PRESENTED THIS MAP AND BASED OFF COMMUNITY INPUT THAT LASTED
FROM JULY TO OCTOBER, 8,408 PARCELS WERE CHANGED TOTALING 4,131 ACRES SO QUITE A BIT OF CHANGES
TO THE MAP. SOME PARCELS WERE ADDED, SOME REMOVED, SOME CHANGED FROM ONE LAND USE TYPE TO ANOTHER AND
OTHERS CHANGED IN INTENSITY. WE TOOK ALL THOSE CHANGES AND WE THEN CREATED OUR PUBLIC REVIEW
DRAFT. THIS MAP WAS RELEASED ON OCTOBER 4TH FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT. SO IN FALL 2025, WE BEGAN
THAT ADDITIONAL SECOND ROUND OF COMMUNITY INPUT. AND FROM OCTOBER UNTIL THE PRESENT WE CHANGED OFF
COMMUNITY INPUT 11,455 PARCELS TOTALING 2,915 ACRES. SOME PARCELS WERE ADDED, SOME REMOVED,
ONCE AGAIN SOME WERE CHANGED IN THE CLASSIFICATION AND IN THEIR INTENSITY. AND AFTER THAT SECOND
ROUND OF CHANGE, THAT'S HOW WE HAVE THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY LAND USE PLAN THAT IS PART OF THIS
LEGISLATION. SO THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW AMENDMENTS IN THE PROPOSAL SINCE THE FIRST READING. WE
HAVE RESPONDED TO NORTH LINDEN'S COMMENTS AND REINSTATED LETTER H TO GUIDING PRINCIPLE #3. AND
WE HAVE ALSO CHANGED THE LAND USE RECOMMENDATION ALONG CLARA STREET FROM MIXED USE 2 TO MIXED USE
3 PER THEIR REQUEST. ADDITIONALLY, WE ADDED TIARA ROSS TO THE COUNCILMEMBER LIST AND INCLUDED THE
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION OF SUPPORT
FOR THE LEGISLATION. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
NONPROFITS AND DEVELOPMENT GROUPS AND WE RECEIVED TWO FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH
THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. SO WITH COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THE
COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY, WE CAN CONTINUE THE WORK OF ZONE-IN, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE THE FOCUS OF OUR EFFORT AS WE BEGIN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT WHICH
ZONING DISTRICTS BEST ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF OUR NEWLY-ESTABLISHED LAND USE POLICY. AND WITH THAT,
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU,
MR. AVA. I WANT TO PAUSE TO SEE IF ANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I CAN'T
CURRENTLY SEE THE FULL SCREEN SO IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION JUST JUMP ON IN. SEEING NONE,
I WILL AHEAD AND MOVE US TO THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY PORTION. AS I MENTIONED WE HAVE
FOUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE THIS EVENING. I ASK THOSE SPEAKERS
LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES. I WILL TRY NOT TO CUT OFF PEOPLE MID SENTENCE BUT WILL ASK
YOU TO BE MINDFUL OF THE THREE-MINUTE LIMIT. IF ANY SPEAKERS REPRESENT A SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION,
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LETTING US KNOW. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MS. CARLY BOOZE.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU PRESIDENT PRO TEM DORANS, PRESIDENT HARDIN AND MEMBERS
OF THE COUNCIL. I'M CARLY BOOTH, I'M PROUD TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLIANCE
OF CENTRAL OHIO AND OUR 40 MEMBERS THIS EVENING IN SUPPORT OF THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY. I DID
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF COMMENTING ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE IN NOVEMBER WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED FOR
FEEDBACK. AT THAT TIME I EXPRESSED OUR THANKS FOR DOCUMENTS REFLECTION OF COLUMBUS'S SHARED
VALUES OF BEING PUBLICLY DEVELOPED, INCLUSIVE, RESPONSIVE, DATA-DRIVEN MODERN AND UNIFIED. THOSE
TRAITS REMAIN IN THE FINAL DRAFT AND I THINK FURTHER COMPLEMENTED BY INCREASED CLARITY AND
INCORPORATION OF VALUE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT ZONING POLICIES,
INVESTMENT DECISIONS AND RESIDENT PROTECTIONS WILL ALL BE ALIGNED TO WELCOME ECONOMIC GROWTH
WITHOUT SACRIFICING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. IN FACT WE BELIEVE THIS CONCRETE STRATEGY LINKING HOUSING
ACCESS TO OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY NOT ONLY PROTECTS THE AFFORDABILITY THAT WE HAVE TODAY BUT EXPANDS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR RESIDENTS BOTH NEW AND OLD. THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY ALLOWS US TO
LOOK AHEAD TO THE KIND OF PROGRAMS NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORTED IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT WE DESPERATELY
NEED. FOR INSTANCE, THIS POLICY ALLOWS US TO MORE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE AND ADVANCE STRIP
MALL REVITALIZATION, CONVERTING DATED COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS TO VIBRANT MIXED USE, MIXED INCOME
SPACES THAT HAVE PLENTIFUL JOBS, AMENITIES AND HOMES. SEIZING THIS OPPORTUNITY IN PARTICULAR IS
IMPORTANT AS LINKUS INVITES NEW INVESTMENT AND NEW INTEREST IN OUR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS.
AS THE LINKUS ETOD ACTION PLAN SHOWS, THESE NEW PROSPECTS MUST BE BALANCED BY ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
ZONING AND HOUSING TOOLS. THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY ALSO CONTINUES AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
AROUND THE ROLE OF GRASSROOTS STEWARDSHIP IN OUR GROWTH, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE YIGABY MOVEMENT.
WE HAVE POWER TO EMPOWER EDUCATORS AND NONPROFIT LEADERS AND FAITH GROUPS TO INCORPORATE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THEIR CAPITAL PLANNING. FINALLY, AS WE LOOK TO THE NEEDS OF THE BROADER CITY,
WE SEE SUPPORT FOR MISSING MIDDLE POLICIES WHICH ALLOW DUPLEXES AND OTHER KINDS SMALL
SCALE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING THAT OPEN PATHWAYS FOR TRADITIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP AND LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CONSIDERING THIS POLICY AND MAYOR GINTHER AND
HIS TEAM FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US A MOMENT TO SHARE OUR VIEWS. I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU CARLY,
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND YOUR CONTINUING ADVOCACY ON THIS TOPIC TO UPLIFT
ALL ASPECT OF HOW WE BUILD EQUITABLE COLUMBUS THROUGH INCREASED ABILITY HOUSING ALL TIMES
ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS IN COLUMBUS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. BOOTH? SEEING NONE,
I WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER, MS. KATHY GREEN. MS. GREEN, WELCOME BACK TO COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS KATHY GREEN. I LIVE ON THE
SOUTH SIDE OF COLUMBUS AND SERVE AS VICE CHAIR AND ZONING CHAIR OF THE COLUMBUS SOUTH SIDE AREA
COMMISSION. HOLDING THE BUSINESS AT LARGE SEAT. TONIGHT HOWEVER I'M SPEAKING SIMPLY AS A RESIDENT
OF OUR CITY. AT THE NOVEMBER PUBLIC HEARING I SHARED AN OVERVIEW OF THE TWO SOUTH SIDE
PLANS. THE ADOPTION OF THE COLUMBUS CITYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES AND ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE HAD
WITH SOUTH SIDE STAKEHOLDERS. I ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE CHANGES INTRODUCED THROUGH ZONE-IN PHASE ONE
ALONG OUR PRIMARY CORRIDORS. THE PROPOSED COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY INTRODUCES NEW LAND USE MAP THAT'S
WOULD AFFECT THE SOUTH SIDE IN TWO MAJOR WAYS. FIRST THE STRATEGY PROPOSES ADDITIONAL DENSITY
THROUGH THE MIXED USE ONE CATEGORY ALONG OUR SECONDARY CORRIDORS, 24 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
THE EXISTING SOUTH SIDE PLANS DO NOT DIFFERENTIATE USES ALONG THESE CORRIDORS AND GENERALLY DEFAULT
TO THE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. CURRENT DENSITIES RANGE FROM 4-6 UNITS PER
ACRE IN THE SOUTHEAST. 6-10 IN THE NORTHEAST AND 10-16 UNITS PER ACRE ELSEWHERE ON THE SOUTH
SIDE AND SOME INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ALREADY EXIST ALONG THESE ROUTES. INCREASING
DENSITY OFF SECONDARY CORRIDORS IS A SMART AND NECESSARY STEP. THESE STREETS ARE OFTEN TRANSIT
ROUTES HAVE WALKABLE SIDEWALKS ARE TARGETED FOR BIKE AND SHARED USE PATH IMPROVEMENTS AND AS WE
HAVE BEEN REMINDED ARE TYPICALLY PRIORITY ONE SNOW REMOVAL ROUTES. ALLOWING MIXED USE ALONG
THE CORRIDORS EXPANDS TRANSIT OPTIONS. SECONDLY THE UPDATED STRATEGY PROPOSES
CHANGING A NUMBER OF PARCELS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR MANUFACTURING TO MIXED USE 2. MIXED USE 2
ALLOWS TALLER BUILDINGS AND HIGHER DENSITIES SUPPORTING THE EVOLUTION OF OLDER EMPLOYMENT
AREAS TO AREAS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE HOUSING, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY-SERVING USES.
MANY OF THESE MANUFACTURING PARCELS CURRENTLY HOST USES THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH NEARBY RESIDENTS
AND THE JOBS THEY PROVIDE NO LONGER MATCH THE EMPLOYMENT NEEDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. WE HAVE BEEN
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING ABOUT REPURPOSING THESE PARCELS SINCE AT LEAST
JANUARY 2021. I'M GRATEFUL THE CITY IS NOW ABLE TO ADVANCE THESE CHANGES THROUGH THE COLUMBUS GROWTH
STRATEGY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I STRONGLY SUPPORT ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGY
AS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD IMPROVING LAND USE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND ACROSS COLUMBUS. THANK YOU.
>> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU, KATHY. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE VIRTUALLY WITH US
TONIGHT. A REMINDER THAT A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ONLY A HEALTHY IN THE SUMMERTIME BUT ALSO
IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SNOW. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREAT ADVOCATE
FROM NORTHLAND COMMUNITY MS. PAT HAMELL. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARDIN, PRESIDENT
PRO TEM DORANS AND COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE
COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY. MY NAME IS PAT HAMELL. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTHLAND COMMUNITY
COUNCIL, CHAIR OF NCC'S ZONE-IN COMMITTEE AND 19-YEAR RESIDENT OF THE SALEM NEIGHBORHOOD IN
NORTHLAND. TONIGHT I SPEAK AS A 50-YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. THE COLUMBUS GROWTH
STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE CITYWIDE LAND USE POLICY TO GUIDE RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO
MEET NOT JUST OUR CURRENT NEEDS BUT ALSO THE JOB GROWTH, HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
THAT WILL DEVELOP IN THE FUTURE. COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE POLICY CANNOT DICTATE WHAT SPECIFIC
PROJECTS WILL BE BUILT WHERE. IT CAN PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR OUR CITY'S RESIDENT'S VISION
OF WHAT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT DIVERSE AREAS OF THE CITY. THE COLUMBUS
GROWTH STRATEGY REFLECTS A WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITH A FOUNDATIONAL FOCUS ON THE COMMON GOOD.
MY NORTHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEAGUE DAVE PAUL, CHAIR OF THE NCC'S DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAS
REMARKED THAT THE COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY AND ZONE-IN PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVOLUTIONARY,
RATHER THAN REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE TO ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF OUR CITY NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE. I, TOO, BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE. AND THE APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENACT COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTIVE
GIVE-AND-TAKE AS IT IS IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT POINT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MODERNIZING THESE POLICIES. FOLKS WERE AT SOME
OF THE EVENTS FROM THE FIRST PHASE ZONE-IN. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE BUILD WHATEVER
THEY WANT, WHEREVER THEY WANT, AND WHENEVER THEY WANT. THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A REASONABLE
DIALOGUE AS A COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO GROW? AND WHAT ARE THE POLICIES WE WILL HAVE
IN PLACE TO HELP GUIDE THAT GROWTH IN THE FUTURE? I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
FOLKS THAT RECOGNIZE THAT GIVE-AND-TAKE, BACK AND FORTH, NOT ONLY THIS PART OF THE PROCESS
BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT WE WILL COME TO NEXT, THE NEXT PHASE OF ZONE-IN TO APPLY ZONING DISTRICTS
TO THIS AREA. WE FOCUS ON THE FRONT-END WORK RATHER THAN THE DAY-TO-DAY GROUND AND POUND THAT
COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE TO DO, GIVEN HOW OUTDATED OUR POLICIES ARE AT THIS POINT. SO THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. OUR FINAL SPEAKER ON THIS ORDINANCE IS MS.
DEBRA LINK. MS. LINK, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL AND STAFF, I'M FROM
COLUMBUS NORTHWEST AREA. AND REPRESENT OVER A THOUSAND PETITIONS IN THIS AREA IN OUR PARTICULAR
ZONING AREA. I WILL GET THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MY NAME IS DEBRA LINK, I LIVE AT
76167 DRIVE, I M HERE TO SPEAK FIRMLY AGAINST THE PROPOSED COLUMBUS GROWTH STRATEGY IN THE COLUMBUS
NORTHWEST AREA. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE NO AND SUBMIT ANY PROPOSED CHANGES TO A FULLY
INFORMED CITY-WIDE VOTE. FOR 70 YEARS COLUMBUS ZONING FRAMEWORK HAS PROTECTED CITIZENS APARTMENT
COMMUNITIES, HOMEOWNERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR IS PUSHING TO CHANGE
PLANNING TOOLS, BUT AGE ALONE DOES NOT INVALIDATE A SYSTEM. REMOVING LONG-STANDING PROTECTIONS
WITHOUT COMMUNITY-DRIVEN REPLACEMENT PLACES RESIDENTS AT REAL AND EMINENT LIST. THE PROPOSED
BUCKET ZONING APPROACH IN THE ZONE-IN MAPS ARE FRAGMENTED AND POORLY PLANNED. LARGE VIABLE AREAS
SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT ARE IGNORED, WHILE STABLE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SWEPT INTO REZONING.
NORTHWEST COLUMBUS NEAR BILLINGSLEY AND FARMERS ROAD, ON BOTH SIDES OF I-270 THERE ARE MORE THAN
30 ACRES OF PERFECT FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD NOT DISRUPT EXISTING COMMUNITIES. YET THESE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING OVERLOOKED. DISCARDING 70 YEARS OF ZONING PROTECTIONS IS LIKE DISREGARDING A
238-YEAR-OLD U.S. CONSTITUTION. THESE PROTECTIONS EXIST TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE S HOMES, APARTMENT
COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES. DEVELOPERS ALREADY HAVE NUMEROUS APPROVED AND PENDING PROJECTS.
DEVELOPMENTS IN AREAS LIKE WESTLAND, EASTLAND AND MORRIS ROAD CONTINUE TO STALL WHILE APPROVALS IN
HIGHER RENT AREAS MOVE FORWARD. TARGET APPROVALS COULD GROW THE CITY WITHOUT DISPLACING RESIDENTS
AND DISPLACEMENT IS HAPPENING. COLUMBUS HAS THE HIGHEST EVICTION RATE IN THE NATION. IN 2025
ALONE, THERE WERE 22,781 EVICTION FILINGS, MORE THAN NEW YORK CITY. LARGE SCALE REDEVELOPMENT CAN
SKYROCKET LAND VALUES OVERNIGHT. FORCING PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES, AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS, JOBS,
AND STABILITY. WHERE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO? AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS OFTEN CITED AS JUSTIFICATION
FOR THE CHANGES YET NO EVIDENCE THAT DISMANTLING ZONING PROTECTIONS DELIVERS AFFORDABILITY. IN
FACT, EVIDENCE SHOWS THE OPPOSITE. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE THE DEVELOPERS WHILE RESIDENTS
LOSE THEIR VOICE. WE'RE NOT BUCKET AREAS, WE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS. CRITICAL QUESTIONS REMAIN
UNANSWERED, TRAFFIC, INFRASTRUCTURE, SCHOOLS, SERVICE CAPACITY AND DISPLACEMENT. THESE COSTS
FALL ON TAXPAYERS WHILE TAX ABATEMENTS CONTINUE. NORTHWEST COLUMBUS AREA COMMISSION AND COLUMBUS
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BOTH VOTE NO. YET THE PROJECT STILL ADVANCE, PUBLIC TRUST IS BROKEN. WE
HAVE GATHERED OVER 1,000 SIGNATURES FROM COLUMBUS NORTHWEST RESIDENTS OPPOSING THESE CHANGES.
WE WERE TOLD 3,000 RESIDENTS COMPLETED SURVEYS AND MEETINGS IN ZONE-IN COLUMBUS WERE POOR, LESS THAN
.003% OF A POPULATION OF CITY OF COLUMBUS. THIS IS NOT A MANDATE. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW. PLEASE
VOTE NO AND SUBMIT ANY ZONING OVERHAUL TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. RESIDENTS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY,
EDUCATION AND THEIR OWN VOICE. I M HAPPY TO HELP. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HEARING ME TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU,
MS. LINK FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TONIGHT. MANY ISSUES ARE COMPLICATED AND REASONABLE MINDS CAN CERTAINLY
DISAGREE ABOUT THOSE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND OTHERS WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY TO STAY ENGAGED.
THE NEXT PHASE OF ZONE-IN WILL BE STARTING SOON PRIMARILY WHERE THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS
WILL BE MADE ABOUT WHAT ARE THE GUARDRAILS AROUND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES THAT WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE
FUTURE. I DISAGREE ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE A BROKEN SYSTEM IN PLACE WHEN WE
NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, ACROSS COLUMBUS TO HELP STABILIZE HOUSING COSTS. THIS IS NOT MORE
COMPLICATED THAN SUPPLY AND DEMAND. WE HAVE AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR HOUSING IN COLUMBUS AND
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING MORE EXPENSIVE. AND THIS IS BEYOND JUST HOUSING.
CERTAINLY, THIS PHASE OF ZONE-IN, WHICH IS GOING TO BE IMPARTED BY THE GROWTH STRATEGY HERE IS
REALLY LOOKING AT RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL CENTERS OF COLUMBUS THAT HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. WE WANT
TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL AROUND WHAT DOES COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE
IN COLUMBUS BEFORE WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE EASTLAND MALL FALL INTO DISREPAIR THAT DRAGS
DOWN A COMMUNITY. THIS IS ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE. AND I THINK THAT S FUNDAMENTALLY
WHAT THIS BODY IS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE
COMMUNITY IN MOVING FORWARD. IT DOESN T MEAN WE ARE GOING TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING. BUT I THINK IT
S TIME FOR US TO AGAIN LOOK AT HOW THESE POLICIES NEED TO REFLECT WHAT THE REALITY OF THE CITY IS
TODAY AND WHAT THE REALITY OF THE CITY IS GOING TO BE DECADES INTO THE FUTURE. SO APPRECIATE FOLKS
TESTIFYING HERE TONIGHT. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN FAVOR
OF THE LEGISLATION AND MANY OTHER CALLS FROM RESIDENTS. THOSE ALL HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO
THE OFFICES AS WELL. BEFORE I CALL FOR A VOTE ON THIS, I WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE ZONE-IN TEAM,
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING AND ZONING SERVICES. COUNCIL STAFF HAS WORKED
REALLY HARD TO GET US TO THIS POINT THIS EVENING. I WANT TO THANK LEWIS TAYLOR, WHO HAS HELPED HELP
SHEPHERD THIS. DIRECTOR STEVENS. MAKING SURE THEY ARE COLLABORATING, I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL.
AND ALSO JUST THE THOUSANDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO TOOK TIME TO ENGAGE AT THIS PART OF
THE INITIATIVE. IT WILL HELP SHAPE, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THIS PROPOSAL BASED UPON THAT FEEDBACK. I UNDERSTAND FOLKS ARE ALWAYS
EAGER FOR MORE. BUT I THINK THE STAFF THAT WAS SHOWED EARLIER ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CHANGES MADE
IS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING WAYS TO OPERATIONALIZE THAT FEEDBACK.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR AREA COMMISSIONS FOR PROVIDING THEIR FEEDBACK. THAT HAS BEEN CRITICAL.
AND I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT HARDIN WHO IS THE CO-SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION AND HAS BEEN MY
PARTNER IN THIS COUNCIL'S PARTNER FROM DAY ONE AS WE STARTED DOWN THIS PATH TO MODERNIZE OUR HOUSING
POLICIES AND ZONING CODE. I SAID THIS BEFORE ABOUT THE ZONE-IN. OUR FINAL LEGISLATION POLICIES
ARE BETTER WHEN MORE PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH US. AND WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS ARE IN SUPPORT OR AGAINST
THIS. I THINK THE DEMONSTRATION OF THOSE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE ALLOW THIS PRODUCT TO BE BETTER AND
SOMETHING I TAKE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO STAY INVOLVED IN THIS AS WE ARE
TRANSITIONING TO THE NEXT FULL PHASE OF ZONE-IN. THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, AS WE
THINK WHAT IS MODERNIZING OUR HOUSING POLICIES FOR THE FUTURE OF COLUMBUS REALLY LOOKS LIKE. SO
I WANT TO PAUSE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE, I WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND AS SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY,
ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: AMENDED.
>> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU, FINALLY I MOVE FOR PASSAGE, AS AMENDED.
>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,
BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: PASSED. >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU. THAT'S THE
FINAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY. AGAIN, COLUMBUS STAY SAFE. WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE OVER TO ZONING. GO DIRECTLY INTO ZONING. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.
>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,
GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: MEETING IS ADJOURNED. CHAIR,
ARE WE GOOD TO GO RIGHT INTO ZONING? >> PRES. PRO TEM DORANS: LET'S ROLL.
[ ZONING ]
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