COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus City Council approved a sweeping modernization of the city’s juvenile curfew ordinance early Tuesday, capping a marathon meeting that stretched past midnight with debate over racial equity, police discretion and the availability of safe spaces for young people.
The measure, ordinance 2005-2026, passed unanimously but not without pointed concerns from Council Member White, who voted yes while warning that enforcement could produce “negative outcomes” for the very children the law aims to protect.
The new curfew sets a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. restriction for children under 12 and a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. window for those ages 13 to 17. A six-month education period will precede any citations, giving police and community groups time to inform families of the changes.
Council Member Green noted during discussion that the ordinance’s impact could “go left” depending on future police leadership, underscoring the council’s unease about how the law will be applied on the street.
The curfew vote was the most contentious item on a heavy agenda that marked the council’s final meeting before summer recess.
In other action, the council formally received the McCoy Park Working Group report, which outlines a plan to replace parkland lost to the construction of a National Women’s Soccer League training facility. The report, presented by the director of Recreation and Parks, calls for three new recreation sites in the southwest area. Council members said they will schedule a public meeting to discuss the proposal in greater detail.
The council also established a Mobility Innovation Sub Fund through ordinance 1486-2026, dedicating 5% of annual net revenue from the Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund to projects such as e-bike subsidies, tactical urbanism and bike parking. Lawmakers immediately appropriated $500,000 for programming.
Fire apparatus purchases totaling more than $7.5 million were approved, including four Pierce Enforcer pumpers at $5,110,976 and one Sutphen aerial ladder at $2,432,621. Bid waivers were granted due to sole-source requirements and delivery time constraints, as the city works to replace an aging fire fleet.
In a significant policy shift, the council authorized the transfer of the Early Start Columbus pre-K program to Franklin County over a three-year period. Three ordinances — 1786, 1879 and 1884-2026 — passed as amended, providing $6,215,825 in funding. The legislation requires annual public hearings to review the transition’s progress.
The meeting, which began with the national anthem and an invocation from Pastor Bismar Akamea of Jesus Power Assembly of God, also included announcements about the launch of the city’s first participatory budgeting process, called “Our Voice Our Choice,” which will allow residents to decide how to spend $1 million in capital improvements in their districts.
Council members also reminded residents that COTA would suspend fares systemwide June 30 through July 2 due to an extreme heat advisory in Franklin County.