Transcript

>> CLERK T. JOHNSON: MAY I HAVE A MOTION  TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING 61 FROM

DECEMBER 15, 2025? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: CLERK,

CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON,

BARROSO DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,  GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, HARDIN.

>> CLERK T. JOHNSON: MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO  ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING 61 FROM DECEMBER 15,

2025? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: CLERK, CALL THE ROLL.

>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE  PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,

GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, HARDIN. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: REGULAR MEETING

#1 WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. PLEASE  STAND FOR THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL

ANTHEM. [ NATIONAL ANTHEM ] >> CLERK T. JOHNSON:

COUNCILMEMBER REMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE  LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?

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. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: MAY WE NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF

SILENCE FOR PRAYER? [ MOMENT OF SILENCE  ] AMEN, THANK YOU. OUR FIRST ORDER OF

BUSINESS THIS EVENING IS TO ELECT A TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT TO PRESIDE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING

A PERMANENT PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL. >> S. HARDIN: I MOVE THAT TOYA JOHNSON BE

NOMINATED TEMPORARY PRESIDENT FOR PURPOSES  OF NOMINATING A PERMANENT PRESIDENT FOR

CITY COUNCIL. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: CALL THE ROLL.

>> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO DE  PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS,

GREEN, REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, HARDIN. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: I NOW OPEN

THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE  PERMANENT PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL.

>> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: COUNCIL PRESIDENT,  I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCILMEMBER HARDIN

AS PRESIDENT OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL. >> CLERK T. JOHNSON: ARE THERE ANY OTHER

NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL? HEARING  NONE, THE FLOOR IS CLOSED FOR NOMINATION. CLERK,

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL BY VOICE ON THE NOMINATION  OF COUNCILMEMBER HARDIN AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

>> CLERK: BANKSTON? >> N. BANKSTON: YES.

>> CLERK: BARROSO DE PADILLA? >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: YES

>> CLERK: DAY-ACHAUER? >> N. DAY-ACHAUER: YES.

>> CLERK: DORANS? >> R. DORANS: YES.

>> CLERK: GREEN? >> M. GREEN: YES.

>> CLERK: REMY? >> E. REMY: YES.

>> CLERK: ROSS? >> T. ROSS: YES.

>> CLERK: WYCHE? >> C. WYCHE: YES.

>> CLERK: HARDIN? >> S. HARDIN: YES.

>> CLERK T. JOHNSON: COUNCILMEMBER  HARDIN IS ELECTED AS COLUMBUS CITY

COUNCIL PRESIDENT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU,

MADAM CLERK. I NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR  NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF COUNCIL.

>> C. WYCHE: COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I NOMINATE  COUNCILMEMBER ROB DORANS AS PRESIDENT PRO

TEM OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: ARE THERE

ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM  OF CITY COUNCIL? THE FLOOR IS NOW CLOSED FOR

NOMINATIONS. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL  BY VOICE FOR NOMINATION OF ROB DORANS.

>> CLERK: BANKSTON? >> N. BANKSTON: YES.

>> CLERK: BARROSO DE PADILLA? >> L. BARROSO DE PADILLA: YES.

>> CLERK: DAY-ACHAUER? >> N. DAY-ACHAUER: YES.

>> CLERK: DORANS? >> R. DORANS: YES.

>> CLERK: GREEN? >> M. GREEN: YES.

>> CLERK: REMY? >> E. REMY: YES.

>> CLERK: ROSS? >> T. ROSS: YES.

>> CLERK: WYCHE? >> C. WYCHE: YES.

>> CLERK: PRESIDENT HARDIN? >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: YES. CONGRATULATIONS,

PRESIDENT PRO TEM. [ APPLAUSE ] >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: I MOVE THAT

TOYA JOHNSON BE APPOINTED AS CITY  CLERK EFFECTIVE JANUARY 5, 2026.

>> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN:

CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CLERK: BANKSTON, BARROSO

DE PADILLA, DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN,  REMY, ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN.

>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CONGRATULATIONS,  MADAM CLERK. [ APPLAUSE ]

>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: I MOVE THAT TALIA BROWN BE  APPOINTED CITY TREASURER EFFECTIVE JANUARY 5,

2026. >> SECOND.

>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: CLERK,  PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> BANKSTON, BARROSO DE PADILLA,  DAY-ACHAUER, DORANS, GREEN, REMY,

ROSS, WYCHE, PRESIDENT HARDIN. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN:

CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: MAY I HAVE 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: PER SECTION 111.04

OF THE COLUMBUS CITY CODE STANDING COMMITTEES,  THE CLERK WILL NOW READ THE NEW COMMITTEE

ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2026 INTO THE RECORD. >> CLERK: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND

SMALL & MINORITY BUSINESS COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER  NICK BANKSTON CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER LOURDES BARROSO

DE PADILLA VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE.  FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER

NICK BANKSTON CHAIR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM ROB  DORANS VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE. HEALTH,

HUMAN SERVICES AND EQUITY COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER  MELISSA GREEN CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER LOURDES BARROSO

DE PADILLA VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE. HOUSING  HOMELESSNESS AND BUILDING COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER

TIARA ROSS CHAIR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHANNON HARDIN  VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE. NEIGHBORHOODS,

RECREATION AND PARKS COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER  NANCY DAY-ACHAUER CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER

CHRISTOPHER WYCHE VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE.  PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE,

COUNCILMEMBER EMMANUEL REMY CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER  TIARA ROSS VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE.

PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE,  COUNCILMEMBER LOURDES BARROSO DE PADILLA CHAIR,

COUNCILMEMBER NANCY DAY-ACHAUER VICE CHAIR, ALL  MEMBERS SERVE. PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER CHRISTOPHER WYCHE  CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER EMMANUEL REMY VICE CHAIR,

ALL MEMBERS SERVE. RULES AND POLICY COMMITTEE,  COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHANNON HARDIN CHAIR,

COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM ROB DORANS VICE CHAIR,  ALL MEMBERS SERVE. WORKFORCE, EDUCATION AND LABOR

COMMITTEE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM ROB DORANS  CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER MELISSA GREEN VICE CHAIR, ALL

MEMBERS SERVE. ZONING COMMITTEE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT  PRO TEM ROB DORANS CHAIRS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT

SHANNON HARDIN VICE CHAIR, ALL MEMBERS SERVE. >> PRESIDENT HARDIN: THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

WOULD YOU HELP ME WELCOME OUR NEW CHAIRS  OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL? [ APPLAUSE ]

>> PRESIDENT HARDIN: TONIGHT COUNCIL  WELCOMES OUR NEW MEMBERS WHO WILL FILL

THE SEAT LEFT VACANT WHEN SHAYLA FAVOR WAS  ELECTED COUNTY PROSECUTOR, FOLLOWING A YEAR

IN WHICH THE SEAT WAS TEMPORARILY FILLED BY  COUNCILMEMBER OTTO BEATTY. TIARA ROSS STEPS IN,

AND SHE CERTAINLY HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT WE  ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT SHE ANSWERED THE CALL TO

SERVE. WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME HER TO COUNCIL AND  HELP US WELCOME OUR NEW COLLEAGUE. [ APPLAUSE ]

WITH THIS NEW ELECTION AND PART OF OUR ANNUAL  REORGANIZATION, WE ARE MAKING A FEW MODEST

ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. OVER  THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS

COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHILE ALSO CHAIRING THE HOUSING,  HOMELESSNESS AND BUILDING COMMITTEE. THAT WORK

HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE I  FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY MUST REMAIN FOCUSED

ON HOUSING, HOUSING AND BUILDING MORE HOUSING. AS  PART OF TONIGHT'S CHANGES, WE ARE ENTRUSTING AND

ELEVATING COUNCILMEMBER ROSS WITH THE LEADERSHIP  OF THIS COMMITTEE, I WILL STEP INTO THE ROLE OF

VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR  I INTEND TO REMAIN HIGHLY ACTIVE AND SUPPORT HER

WORK. HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF MY STRONGEST  POLICY PRIORITIES, AND I WILL CONTINUE SHEPHERDING

SEVERAL KEY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING YES, IN GOD'S  BACKYARD. IN ADDITION TO COUNCILMEMBER ROSS,

SHE WILL ALSO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC  SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE. OVER

THE A LAST FEW MONTHS I MET WITH EACH MEMBER OF  COUNCIL. I EXAMINED THEIR WORK STRUCTURE, GOALS

AND COMPATIBILITY WITH THEIR ASSIGNED DEPARTMENTS  AND MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND RECEIVED FEEDBACK.

THROUGH THIS PROCESS I SAW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE  A STRONG SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THEIR ASSIGNED

COMMITTEES. I MUST SAY MANY OF THEM HAVE NOW HAVE  SIGNIFICANT LONGEVITY AND HAVE BECOME SUBJECT

MATTER EXPERTS ON THE POLICIES IN THE COMMITTEES  THAT THEY CHAIR. THE OTHER MINOR CHANGES THAT YOU

HEARD WERE COUNCILMEMBER BARROSO DE PADILLA, SHE  WILL BECOME THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICE AND EQUITY COMMITTEE. AND COUNCILMEMBER  MELISSA GREEN WILL SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF

THE WORKFORCE, EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE. WITH  THESE ADJUSTMENTS, ALL OTHER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

STAY THE SAME AS THE PRECEDING YEAR. I LOOK  FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES,

EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES, WILL DO OVER THE NEXT YEAR  IN LEADING THESE COMMITTEES AND THUS LEADING OUR

CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH THAT, IF THERE  IS NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL,

I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR AGAIN ENTRUSTING  ME WITH THIS AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THIS

CITY IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. MORE AND MORE, I  CALL THIS PERIOD OF TIME DEFEDERALIZATION OF THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT  IS STEPPING BACK AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO CITIES

MORE TO LEAD THEM TO SUPPORT THEM, TO MAKE SURE  THEY HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS. IT'S THE GREATEST

HONOR OF MY LIFE I GET TO, FOR TWO MORE YEARS  GET TO DO THAT WORK TO TAKE CARE OF THE LEAST

OF THESE, TO SUPPORTING THE AWESOME WORK OF  MOVING OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD, CREATING JOBS,

PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES WITH THE EIGHT OF YOU  AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FROM THE

BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO ALLOW ME TO SERVE AGAIN. IF  THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL,

MAY I HAVE 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: WE STAND ADJOURNED. [ END 5:16 P.M. ET ]