Transcript

Regular meeting number 19 will now come

to order. Please stand for the playing

of the national anthem.

This evening we're going to do something

a little different. We have a live

version of the national anthem that will

be sang by Rose and Ketche. Rose,

welcome.

Oh, say

can you see

by the dawn

early

light,

what so proudly

we held

at the twilight

last gleaming

who sprouts stripes

and bright stars

through the perilous

fight.

Or the ramparts

we watched

were soently

streaming.

And the rockets

red glare.

The bombs bursting

in

gave proof

through the night.

That our flag

was still there.

Oh, say

does that star

spangled

that

yet

way

or the land

of the free

and the Home

of the

bra.

I hope you are free every Monday at 5:00

pm. Now going forward.

>> A thank you.

>> Council member Wise, would you lead us

in the pledge? 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.

>> This evening I am so grateful to have uh

one of my dear friends, Rabbi Alex

Braver from Congregation's Terth, Israel

here to lead us in prayer. Rabbi,

welcome back to council.

Thank you.

In my tradition, in the Jewish

tradition, we hope and pray that the

work of our lawmakers and our leaders is

in furtherance of tedek, which means

justice in Hebrew. In Hebrew, tedek can

mean many things. Sedaka, for example,

from the same root commonly means

charity, whether that's giving spare

change or millions of dollars. And it

means that we give not only because we

are moved to or because it's a nice

thing but because it is sedc. It is an

obligation and part of what makes for a

just and righteous society.

Justice is also something that we are

commanded to pursue as in the book of

Deuteronomy which says turd justice

justice shall you pursue. It is

emphatic.

We must actively pursue it and seek it

out. not just hope that we stumble onto

it. It can feel like justice is always a

few steps ahead of us. And if we're not

sprinting after it, and if we're not

constantly in pursuit of it, and if it's

not our relentless focus, then it will

elude us.

At the same time, justice is also

something

that flows from God, something whose

progress is inevitable. It is God's

vision for our world. A vision that we

believe will eventually come to pass no

matter what obstacles stand in its way.

As the prophet almost declared in a

verse that is famously quoted by Dr.

King,

let justice well up like water and

righteousness like a mighty stream.

Rabbi Ibraham Joshua Hesshel who marched

with Dr. King and Selma spoke about this

same verse saying righteousness is not a

trickle. It is God's power in the world,

a torrent, an impetuous drive full of

grandeur and majesty.

And so we pray

Ovid Mishbat. Blessed is the source of

blessing and blessed is the one who

loves righteousness and justice.

May you bless this gathering with your

sense of tedic of righteousness and

justice.

Help those gathered here not just to

seek out justice, but to pursue it and

to chase after it and to not let it slip

away as it so often does. And at the

same time, bless all those gathered here

with the vision and the faith to see

that God's justice is also a mighty

stream and an inevitable force that will

with time sweep away all obstacles.

Give those gathered here the strength to

chase justice with all their strength

and with all their heart and all their

might. and to know that in the end with

your help and with our efforts justice

will always well up as a torrent of

grandeur and majesty. May it be God's

will. Amen.

>> And thank you so much Rabbi.

Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bank Rosa de Podia de Akawa Dorn Green

Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Any

person who takes any action to obstruct

or interfere with the conduct of

tonight's meeting may be charged with

disturbing a lawful meeting pursuant to

Columbus City Code 2317.12.

Any person who enters those areas of

city council chambers reserved for city

officials or invited guests may be

charged with criminal trespass pursuant

to Columbus City Code 2311.21.

>> Can I get a motion to dispense with the

reading of the journal?

>> Cler please call the role. Banks Debor

Rossa de Podia de Akaw Dors Green Remy

Ross Weiss President Harden

>> are there any additions or corrections

to the journal I hear none the journal

is approved this week's communications

received by the city clerk's office are

listed on the agenda and will be

published in the city bulletin are there

any other messages communicated

>> not at this time

>> thank you madame clerk we'll go around

the dis with uh updates and resolutions

by my colleague starting with council

banks

>> uh thank you uh president Harden I do

have uh just one announcement this

evening just as a reminder on Wednesday

April April 29th, I will be holding a

hearing to unveil and discuss the

steering committee's recommendations on

the establishment of the city's first

participatory budgeting pilot. Uh I am

uh looking forward to sharing all the

progress made on this initiative to date

and how residents can engage in this

process moving forward. All speakers

wishing to speak during the hearing in

person must email uh Jonathan Brown in

my office at jb browncolus.gov by 10:00

a.m. the day of the hearing with the

subject line participatory budgeting

hearing. Written testimony must also be

received by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the

hearing and emailed to Jonathan Brown

again at jbbrc columbus.gov. Each

speaker will be limited to remarks

lasting no longer than 3 minutes and as

of course will be streamed on all of our

uh channels uh for folks as well. Really

proud of the work uh that we've done so

far around participatory budgeting. This

has been a residentled effort um behind

the scenes and uh the committee has done

so much work. So we will be revealing

that guide book on how it will help

shape and guide us through this

participatory budgeting process as we

move through the year. So again looking

forward to having that discussion on

Wednesday, April 29th. Uh again uh

that's all I have. Council President,

thank you.

>> Thank you sir. Council member Rosadia.

>> Thank you council president. First of

all good evening everyone. It's so good

to see this council chamber full. How

many folks is this your first time in

council chambers?

Amazing. Democracy is a beautiful thing.

I hope it's not your last and I hope you

continue to come back for the things

that you care about. So, uh, this week

is traffic safety awareness week and I

think we have a little show and tell of

a flyer maybe perhaps. Yes. So, uh,

traffic safety week uh, we partner with

Columbus City Schools and Vision Zero.

Vision Zero is the idea that one day we

will have zero fatalities or serious

injuries due to crashes on our roadways.

This week, we're engaging students and

staff in conversations about safe ways

to travel to and from school. Throughout

the week, students will participate in a

variety of activities and programs

focused on pedestrian safety, bicycle

safety, and traffic awareness. So this

morning we kicked off uh traffic safety

week at Hiltonia Middle School where we

put in a flashing beacon on West Mound

Street. This was part of a larger um

traffic uh improvement project along

West Mound Street where we went from

four lanes to three lanes. We added a

turn lane, some other things to curb uh

speeding and other things along um West

Mound Street. So it was amazing to start

off our week with um students at

Hiltonia. Um secondly, this week is also

National Work Zone Awareness Week. And

really, uh this is just a reminder that

there's lots of construction happening

along our roadways. I know it's

frustrating for us, but it's our friends

and our neighbors who are working on

those roadways. So, paying attention,

locking in when you're driving to ensure

that as folks are on the roads that

we're thinking about their safety as

well. There have been opport or there

have been unfortunate incidences where

some of our folks have been hit by cars

or have been injured while they're

working uh doing those really important

infrastructure improvement projects

along the roadways. And then last but

not least, uh this April is National

Safe Digging Month in the city of

Columbus. So it's just this is a quick

reminder to all residents. You're going

to see this everywhere. As the weather

gets better, we want to work outside in

our gardens. We want to make home

improvements. So, make sure that you're

calling Ohio811.

It's a simple free step that helps

prevent injuries, protect property, and

keep our families and neighborhoods

safe. Whether you're a contractor or a

homeowner planting a tree, working in

your garden, uh calling 811 helps to

keep our entire community safe. Um so,

call, wait for utilities to be marked,

and then dig with care. Uh Director

Scott, did is there anything I've missed

or is there anything that you would like

to add? Lots of lots of good safety

reminders.

>> Good evening, President Harden, Chair

Burio, um members of council. You you

summarized it very well. Traffic safety

week, very important. We need to be sure

to be out there driving the speed limit.

um looking out for those kids walking

home from school or to school or to

biking or rec going to the rec centers

or libraries and just really um going

out there and

overall be safe driving.

>> And I just wanted to commend the

department. We were talking this

morning, there's 18 of our schools that

are somewhere within the high injury

network. And so that crosswalk, while it

seems like a little thing in terms of

safety, it is a really big thing in

terms of making sure that our kids, our

families are able to safely cross the

road. So these flashing beacons are the

big um crosswalks that flash. I know

folks are not used to them, but please,

please, please make sure that you're

paying attention. It's going to be a

lesson for all of us to learn, and

that's why uh traffic awareness week is

so important. I have two teenage drivers

in my house now. Um so as we're thinking

about them being on the road, training

them early for the things that they need

to watch out for to keep everyone safe

is incredibly important. So thank you

for your work. Um this is more to come,

especially as we think about safe walks

to school and how we in uh continue to

keep our kids safe. So that's all for me

this evening. Thank you, Council

President.

>> Thank you, Council Member Council Member

Deakau.

>> Thank you, Council President. I'm happy

to announce that I will be hosting a

second community meeting to discuss deer

management in the city and provide

further updates on our work and upcoming

legislation. This meeting will be held

in Clintonville at Wetstone Library on

Tuesday, May 5th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This meeting will be open to all, but

attendees are encouraged to RSVP as

space is limited. Um, more information

on how to RSVP will be announced on

council's social media page soon. And

also the moving day walk in support of

Parkinson's Foundation is this Sunday,

10:00 a.m. at Wolf Park. It is free to

participate in the walk and event info

can be found on my socials. That's all

for me.

>> Thank you, President Pro Tim.

>> Thank you, Council President. I want to

invite uh I do have one resolution. I'm

sorry. I should should have said that

first. uh wanted to invite uh David

Babner uh to the podium as I introduce

uh resolution number 0099X-20226

to recognize the 23rd uh annual how

health capital city half marathon. Um

this half marathon was founded right

here in Columbus back in 2004 and become

a spring right of passage for many

runners here in Columbus. I'm excited to

join near 11,000 uh of my fellow

residents being out there this weekend

running this race. Uh this has grown

into one of the largest and most

recognized half marathons across the

country. Uh the this is the third

straight year that the cap city has been

recognized as the second best um half

marathon according to USA Today. Uh and

I don't know what's going to take to

move us up to one, but you know, we'll

we'll go for that next year. Um, but

it's been a really great race and if if

folks that participated in the past know

what a great atmosphere is created by uh

the folks that put on this event and

certainly it's also served as just a

great place for partnership. Uh,

national organizations like black black

girls run have used this event as a

national meetup um for their members and

this year they're they're doing that as

well. Uh, also it's very exciting. This

body uh is deeply invested in the

Columbus Promise um the city partnership

to help provide uh free Columbus State

tuition to uh Columbus City School

students. Uh the 5K is branded under

that Columbus part or the the Columbus

Promise program to help raise money for

that integral program. Uh so wanted to

again every year be able to acknowledge

this great event that happens downtown.

uh and want to turn the mic over to

David talk a little bit more about the

importance of this race and sort of

what's going on this year. David.

>> Well, thank you very much uh Council

President Harden, President Proemp

Dorans, members of city council. Thank

you so much for the recognition tonight.

My name is David Babner. I'm the founder

and race director of M3S Sports and the

23rd annual Ohio Health Capital City

Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and as

Council Member Doran said, the Columbus

Promise 5K taking place this Saturday.

So, we are we are in Cap City Week now.

We'll Saturday the 25th at 8 a.m. we'll

kick off 11,000 runners through our

streets. I wanted to take just a few

minutes tonight to thank you for your

continued and unending support of our

team and the event. When we founded the

event back in 2004, my hair was a lot

darker. And our mission was to create

the best celebration of the healthy,

active lifestyle and help make Columbus

one of the best running and walking

communities in the country. This year,

we can't wait to welcome the 11,000

participants to our remarkable city for

an amazing tour of Columbus. Everyone's

invited and everybody's included at Cap

City. Each year the event continues to

bring in million do millions of dollars

of economic impact but more importantly

changes lives by engaging our community

in the healthy active lifestyle. We know

we have the best city in the country and

for now the third straight year cap city

has been recognized as being one of the

best half marathons in the country.

We could not do what we do without the

tremendous city services in Columbus who

give us unwavering support.

the division of police and division of

fire and all public safety. I know

deputy director speak is here tonight.

Thank you so much. Uh department of

public service and director Scott and

recreation and parks uh director Ree,

thank you so much for all your support

and everything you do for us and our uh

citizens and the community to be able to

produce an event like this. We

understand the important programs you

have developed and continue to develop

and we strive to support them. Since CAP

City was funded or founded, we've

supported the Capitol Kids After School

Program, the City Leaders Program, the

Columbus Promise Program, and now

starting this year, the Columbus Recken

Park Foundation.

Now, we have running groups and

organizations coming to CAP City on an

annual basis from all over the country,

and this year, four other countries. Uh

we are proud that Black Girls Run, one

of the largest national running groups

in the entire country, has selected the

Capitol City Half Marathon for the

second straight year uh for their

national meetup, bringing hundreds of

women from 27 different states around

the country here to Columbus.

I hope many of you will join us on

Friday, this Friday night for the

National Black Girls Run Welcoming

Reception as we celebrate women in

endurance sports. Women represent over

60% of the participants in Cap City and

at M3S Sports, we're excited to

celebrate along with them. And you also,

I know many of you will. I know Council

Member Dors is actually going to

participate and run with us on Saturday

morning, but I hope many of you, if not

all of you, will join me Saturday

morning uh at the event to jump up on

the stage with me and welcome all of our

participants and see why Cap City is one

of the best half marathons in the entire

country. On behalf of Ohio Health, all

our other partners, the Greater Columbus

Sports Commission, the 800 volunteers,

and the 11,000 participants, thank you

so much for the recognition and time

tonight. And if you thought Rose and

Ketche sang an amazing national anthem

in city council chambers, wait till you

hear her voice echo down High Street

from the stage that we built there. Uh

we're so excited to have Rosen to be not

only our national anthem singer, but one

of our ambassadors. Her husband Chris

Glover is here as well tonight. I know

Mark from council is one of our

ambassadors as well. It's pretty amazing

to stand here after 23 years and know

that this has really become something

that the city's proud of and it's an

honor and humbling just to be part of

it. So, thank you for the recognition. I

look forward to seeing everybody this

weekend.

>> Thank you, David. And you buried the

lead there. Uh, Rose's husband is not

just going to be participating, but I

don't know what costume he'll be wearing

this year. I don't know if the Superman

or which Avenger I think not. Yes,

Superman. All right.

Man runs an entire half marathon in a

Superman costume. I barely finished

these events and let alone a man out

there dressed as a superhero. Uh, but I

think it it leans into this. This is

such a festive atmosphere and such a

great race and really a showcase of the

city. Uh it's really an opportunity for

a lot of folks to have a lot of fun

downtown and again as you said sort of

really promote a healthy lifestyle and

it's really accessible when you talk

about uh there being a 5K a quarter

marathon which is really unusual. That's

sort of a tough race to to find out

there and then have that that that

halfarathon option for folks as well. If

folks are interested in throwing on the

running shoes is there still spots

available?

>> Absolutely. Capital cityalfmarathon.com.

We'd love to have them. They can

volunteer, participate. We don't care

how they participate. Just participate.

Run, walk, volunteer. We'd love to see

them out or cheer. It's amazing on these

23 years how organic a lot of our cheer

groups get when you run and you've

participated in the event a number of

times. We'll from every one of the of

the communities that we run through.

It's amazing how many people come out

and cheer on the runners and runners and

walkers. So, yes, absolutely. Capital

cityalfmarathon.com with all the

information. Uh, council mayor,

>> I just also wanted to share I'm so

excited about um Black Girls Run being

part having such a big role this year in

the marathon. Um, quick fun fact, in

1967, the first woman snuck into the

Boston Marathon. She actually registered

under a name that could have been a

male's name and ran the marathon. That

was 59 years ago this year. So kind of

crazy that within our lifetimes uh we

did not believe that women could

physically run a marathon and now 60% of

the women or 60% of our runners are

women. So uh just a fun fact to

celebrate how far we have come and uh

what this marathon means. So

>> and thank you and and M3s sports

produces 15 different events in

Columbus. We touch about 55,000 race

registrations a year and those numbers

of 60% female hold true across all

platform of events.

Thank you, council member. And again,

last thing I'll say, I'm just really

excited about that partnership with the

recreation parks foundation again to

help raise money for, you know, our kids

across Columbus to make sure that

they're having access to youth sports

and all the things that are so near and

dear to the recreation park. So, just

really excited to see that partnership

come together. Uh, and if there's no

other comments, I would like to move for

adoption.

>> Bankston, Barrosa, Deodia, de a dors,

Remy Ross, Vice President Harden.

Thanks, Council President. That's all I

have.

>> Thank you, President Pro Tim. Council

member Green,

Council Member Remy.

Thank you very much,

>> Council President. There we go. Um, I

just got two quick announcements. I

have, um, where are my notes right now?

I have a short-term rental um hearing

tomorrow afternoon here in chambers that

will begin at 3:30. If anybody has any

um public testimony or would like to

speak, please get in touch with my aid

Pedro Mahia um at

um Columbus.gov. So pdmah

columbus.gov. That's PDMJ

at columbus.gov by noon tomorrow. and he

will make sure that you are signed up.

Also, I'd like to uh remind people that

um our annual cleanup for Cleaner

Columbus is um the fifth annual Cleaner

Columbus citywide cleanup will be on May

9th. We hope to see you and your

organizations there. They will be um you

can uh sign up at cleaner Columbus.org.

We will be working across the city on

May 9th. So, please go to

cleanercolus.org to sign up. Thank you

very much, Council President. That's all

I have.

>> Council member, council member Ross.

>> Thank you, Council President. We just

had one resolution on the agenda, but I

am going to request that we uh postpone

resolution 00958-2026

to recognize and celebrate April as fair

housing month in Columbus. We are still

celebrating it, but we are going to wait

to present said resolution until next

Monday on the agenda. So would like to

move to postpone.

>> Second.

>> Cler, please call the role. Banks Timber

Rosa deodia de a dors green remy ros

president Harden

>> postponed

>> thank you that's it from the

>> thank you council member w

>> thank you council president I have one

announcement and one resolution

resolution this evening uh first I'm

excited to share that our next act with

us volunteer opportunity will be taking

place this Saturday April 25th from 10

a.m. to 12 p.m. In honor of Earth Month,

in partnership with a step in the right

direction, we'll be meeting at the

corner of North Chase A and Steel A to

clean up litter in the North Hilltop

neighborhood. All are welcome to join.

You can learn more and RSVP at

columbus.govactwith

us. Uh next, I would like to invite John

McNamera, board president, and Colin

Simpson, uh board member of Green

Columbus, to the podium. Um, Green

Columbus, a local sustainably focused

nonprofit dedicated to increasing tree

canopy coverage in Columbus and central

Ohio. Um, as they come forward, I want

to introduce resolution 006 uh, I'm

sorry, 0096X-2026

to recognize and celebrate April as

Earth Month and Wednesday, April 22nd as

Earth Day in Columbus, Ohio. Earth Month

is an incredibly meaningful time for me.

It is an opportunity to advocate for our

environment, champion sustainable policy

and practices, and encourage individual

and collective action to protect our

planet. Given decision at the federal

level to roll back necessary climate

protections, the role of local

governments and communities to protect

and advocate for our environment has

become more important. I've been lucky

enough to spend a large part of this

month out in community participating in

litter cleanups, community garden

workdays, and tree plantings. And I'm

incredibly moved by the dozens of

community leaders and members that have

spent time um this month who are

actively standing up for our environment

and implementing sustainable practices

in their own neighborhoods. Uh John and

Colin, I I want to thank you both for

being here this evening to accept this

resolution. We are so grateful for the

incredible work of Green Columbus um and

what they do for our community and for

environmental advocacy um not only in

honor of Earth Day and Earth Month, but

all year long. Thank you for the work

you're doing to engage the community and

facilitating massive volunteer efforts

in increasing our city's tree canopy.

Before I move for adoption, would you

like to share a few words?

>> If you don't mind. Uh good evening, uh

Council President Harden, Council

members. My name is John McNamera and I

have the privilege of serving as the

board president for Green Columbus.

Thank you for this recognition and a

special thank you to you, Council Member

Christopher W, for your support and for

helping highlight this work. I'm truly

grateful to be here representing the

thousands of central Ohio residents who

are in our neighborhoods making a real

difference this month. Green Columbus is

powered by dedicated volunteers. And

together, this community that we have

grown shows up by planting thousands of

trees, leading neighborhood cleanups,

and creating healthier, more connected

spaces across our city. Since 2007,

Green has helped plant over 300,000

trees. And every fall, we give away

3,000 free trees so residents can

continue to that impact in their own

backyards. Trees that improve health,

reduce utility bills, and grow the

beauty of this city we love. Each April,

that community spirit comes to life

through our Earth Month Volunteer

Program, which has been recognized as

the nation's largest volunteer-driven

Earth Month effort. This past year, more

than 5,000 volunteers contributed over

22,000 hours, over 170 work sites. All

of that work culminates at our Green

Columbus Earth celebration where we

recognize and thank our volunteers while

bringing the broader community together.

I'd like to invite all council members

and staff to join us this Sunday, April

26th at Sciota Autobon Metrop Park from

11 to 7. This free community event will

feature over 80 local vendors, live

music, food trucks, educational

demonstrations, and plenty of

opportunities to get involved. If anyone

would like to get more involved, you can

find more information at green

seabus.org or follow us on our social

media. Thank you again for this

recognition and supporting the people

who are making Columbus a cleaner,

greener, and stronger community. Thank

you,

>> John. Thank you for being here for the

advocacy and for the work that Green

Columbus does. Um, I had the pleasure of

joining them for a tree planting on the

west side. Sadly, I was like 30 minutes

late and they had already planted how

many trees in that short amount?

>> 500 trees. The Hispanic Coalition works

fast. It was impressive and it was

impressive work to see all that done. I

got to get my photo up. I did plant one.

So, there is one tree that I have to go

back and look at 10 years from now. Um,

any uh council member deco,

>> thank you so much for doing real things.

Real things out there planting trees.

Some folks talk, you guys do. Year after

year, you deliver. And so, I appreciate

that. so much. So, thank you. Thank you

for all the work you do.

>> Thank you, council member.

>> All right. Anyone else thoughts? Uh,

with that, I move for adoption.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bankston Barosa Deodia de AOA Dorn Remy

Ross Weiss, President Harden.

>> Adopted.

Thank you, council member. Um, I think

it's my only announcement, but um, this

is the first council meeting that we

have had since uh, auditor Megan Kilgore

has announced that she's taken an

amazing amazing um, opportunity uh, for

her and her family. And um you know, I

told her told this to her privately uh

earlier this week or last week that she

had just about the largest of shoes to

step into uh following Mr. Dorian. And

not only did she fill those shoes out,

she um stewarded our city in such an

amazing and steady way for the last

eight years. Would you help me uh be the

first in a public way to celebrate her

and thank her for her leadership?

Now, this is not the day where we go

around the dis and cry and stuff that

will come. Um, but I I would um want to

offer the floor to uh Megan uh and then

talk just about the application process

uh after that. Thank you.

President Hart and members of council,

thank you. Um, you are right. My

predecessor had pretty much won every

single award available in this country,

but um, the big one was that he had

earned a medal from the Pope himself.

And so I knew going in was very, very

big shoes to fill. Um, but I uh, you

know, I believe very firmly that the

right time to transition is when an

office is at its peak. And that is, I'm

very proud to say really where it is

today. And because um, of the kind of

magnitude of of how few auditors we've

had, believe it or not, we've only had

eight.

I'd like to share, if you um will allow

me, just a few uh, reflections as you

consider this appointment, which is

which is of course yours. The city

auditor in many ways is the quiet

backbone of a lot of things. I say we

kind of keep the lights on of our of our

city. Our office is responsible for

managing billions of dollars, overseeing

some of the most complex financial

systems you can think of and also

maintaining the trust of external

partners from Wall Street to Mainstream.

And in many ways, our office because of

its scale, it really operates similar to

that of a Fortune 500, but with the

added twist of public accountability and

the relationships that we have to

maintain and the credibility, they're

not abstract, and they're certainly not

earned overnight. They've been built

upon years and years. And it affects

everything from our city's cost of

borrowing. Every single time we go out

and issue a, you know, a million-doll

project of bonds, every single 01% that

we can save means more dollars for

council and the mayor to make decisions

with that go directly to our

neighborhoods and our residents. And so

Columbus is in this really incredible

position that few cities in our country

have the opportunity to occupy and

frankly most envy. and that is we have

the highest credit ratings possible. We

have an incredibly strong set of

financial systems and we have a

nationally recognized modern

high-performant office infrastructure

and that really did not happen by

accident. It has taken a lot of

technical expertise, a lot of knowledge

as to the market and certainly the

broader geopolitical systems that every

single day can influence what we have to

do in our day's work. It also very

sincerely reflects the historical

importance that I think council and the

mayor and my colleagues across this city

have placed on this office. As I shared,

there have only been eight auditors, but

believe it or not, the three before me

were all appointed by council because of

their respective expertises. It's a

really, really interesting history. But

for those individuals who served for

almost I think 82 years, they all came

from positions of national and state

leadership. And so, you know, as I I I

really request your support and

participation as you think about who is

next and who is going to be best to live

lead the city, you know, forward. I must

also acknowledge that like my

predecessor, we probably didn't do a

really good job of always making our

work as visible as we could. We didn't

always show behind the scenes what all

is being done. I think it's sexy, but I

do respect deeply that not everyone else

does. Much of what we do happens behind

the scenes. It's complex. It's highly

technical, and it doesn't always

translate easily. So, I I just bet you

know how deeply consequential it is. So

as you consider this appointment, I I

took a step back and I thought about

what are the factors that I think have

historically mattered the most. And they

would be very quickly experience in

public finance, capital markets and debt

issuance. We are the face of Wall

Street. Established relationships with

rating agencies, bond holders, folks who

are going to be doing business and

trying to help us finance things like

our clean drinking water. And very very

importantly, because the city currently

holds the highest marks for management,

an absolutely perfect score in our

financial management, I would really ask

um your consideration as you look at the

candidates that will come before you.

Can this potential appointee

walk into the role on day one and add

credibility to this conversation? And I

really, really, really want to commit

anything that I can do to help you in

this transition, anything that I can do

to provide context to the role, what we

do, I will be your partner this week,

next week, whatever I can do to help.

Thank you so much for caring really.

There are a lot of people upstairs in

the balcony who are really, really on

pins and needles about the next steps

and um committed to doing what I can.

Council President, thank you.

I almost said don't leave.

Um, so council is accepting. Thank you,

Megan. Seriously, thank you for your

leadership. Thank you for your

friendship. Uh council is accepting

applications to fill the upcoming

vacancy in the office of the city

auditor following uh auditor Megan

Kilgore's announcement that she will

step down on May 4th, 2026. Uh

interested residents are encouraged to

apply using the form on council's

website. Applications will be accepted

through Thursday, April 23rd at 12:00

p.m. And just to be clear, and this

might even be a question for um Mr.

bias. One of the reasons why this might

seem like an extremely tight turnaround,

it is because it is our understanding

that charter says that uh we cannot be

without a auditor. And so when uh

Auditor Kilgore told us the date she

would like to to to leave, we are

working our very best to make uh sure

that in very short order, we run a open

and transparent process that will allow

us to have an auditor in place so that

you um as you certainly have the right

to do can um make your transition. And

so uh is that is that our understanding?

Okay. Well, thank you again, uh, Auditor

Kilgore. And like I said, there will be,

I'm sure, many, well, not I'm sure we

will be a part of the many, um,

recognitions and celebrations of your

service to, uh, our community over, um,

the last, um, really decade or so, uh,

more than decade if you've been in this

building. So, thank you. Uh, are there

any other comments by elected officials,

uh, treasure, city attorney's office?

Are there any requests by members of

council for the removal of an ordinance

or resolution from the consent portion

of the agenda? Hearing none, may we now

have a motion to wave readings of the

titles of 30-day legislation by the city

clerk.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Thanks, Temper Rosa Deodia de AOA, Dors

Green, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden.

>> Thank you. Will the clerk now read to

the record the ordinance numbers of

30-day legislation on tonight's agenda

for first reading? Public Service and

Transportation Committee, we have

ordinance 924 and 1032-2026.

Neighborhoods, Recreation, and Parks

Committee, we have ordinance 956-2026.

Housing, Homelessness, and Building

Committee, Ordinance 1059-2026.

Public Utilities, and Sustainability

Committee Resolution 82X-2026.

Ordinances 673, 689, and 996-2026.

Zonings we have ordinance 290 1035 and

1136-2026.

Variances we have ordinance 291 1036

1116 1137 1139 and 1143-2026.

>> Thank you uh madame clerk. Uh the

following ordinance appear on our agenda

as consent action. Will the clerk read

those into the record? Resolutions of

expression 102X,

92X, 97X, 98X, 106X, 107X, 94X, and

101X-2026.

And finance and governance committee, we

have ordinance 746, 1002, 1018, 1098,

1131-2026,

economic development and small and

minority business committee. We have

ordinances 961 and 952-2026.

Public service and transportation

committee. We have ordinance 937-2026.

Neighborhoods recreation and parks

committee. We have ordinance 679-2026.

Health I'm sorry, health, human

services, and equity committee. We have

ordinance 1007, 1011, and 1014-2026.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Committee, Ordinance 901, 977, and

978-2026.

Housing, Homelessness, and Building

Committee, Ordinance 926, 9990, 9993,

and 11:01-2026.

Public Utilities, and Sustainability

Committee, we have ordinance 878, 893,

9992, 942, 9992, 1013, and 1038-2026.

appointments we have A32 and A80-2026.

>> Thank you, Madame Clerk. Um, are there

any questions or comments on the consent

portion of the agenda? Hearing none, may

we have a motion of approval of these

items designated as consent.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Tim Barrosa Deodia de Aar Dors

Green Remy Ross Vice President Harden.

>> Consent agenda is passed. We'll now

proceed with the second reading of

30-day postponed emergency legislation.

However, we will go out of order this

evening and start with ordinance 0920

uh 23-226 and rules and policy. I chair

this committee, but I'll turn it over to

council member Bankston. Council member,

the floor is yours.

>> Uh thank you, uh council president. Yes,

on page 16 of our rules and policy

committee. Uh, I have tonight ordinance

0923-2026

to enact 4515

of the Columbus city codes to create

okay to create a rental uh to create a

registry of residential rental

properties. Uh, council members, uh, as

you all know, over the last nine months,

my office held a robust community

engagement process to discuss the

establishment of a city rental registry.

The purpose of this registry is to give

the city a proactive datadriven tool to

manage the health and safety of our

housing stock and protect our most

vulnerable. Tonight, I ask that you join

me in taking this monumental step in

ensuring that no matter your income or

zip code, that you can find and live in

safe, healthy housing in the city. The

structure of the registry is simple.

Every residential rental property in

Columbus must register annually and must

share information such as a named local

operator and emergency contact for

property uh number of dwelling units,

all partial IDs associated with the

property and information on shared

mechanical systems and shared spaces.

Every three years, our department of

building and zoning services will

conduct a free preventative education

inspection of exterior common exteriors

and common areas and shared systems if

they exist. Think of these again as

checkins meant to educate, identify

concerns, and refer serious life safety

issues to the appropriate agencies.

Properties with uh uh repeated code

violations, unresolved safety orders, or

public nuisance designations will be

given conditional registration status

that triggers mandatory common area

inspections. Inspections of up to 10% of

units required remediation plans and

daily occurring civil penalties until

violations are addressed. This is meant

to address the worst of the worst

problem properties uh and owners. Uh

there is a fee and the fee uh for the

registry will be $15 a unit capped at

$1,500 for a single property. And think

about this, that is the amount to a

$1.20 a month per unit over the course

of a year and even less if you have over

100 units thanks to the cap. And I

believe that that is a fair price for

accountability. Throughout our

stakeholder engagement process, we

received a lot of feedback both for for

and against this proposal. Opponents of

this uh proposal cited concerns about

costs over complications and

duplications. And let me be clear as

chair of the economic development small

business committee. I heard and

empathized with those concerns as our

housing providers are small businesses

in many cases. Uh they are part of the

small business ecosystem. And so

throughout that process, we made many

changes uh to the rental registry that

you see today and heard their feedback

in earnest. In addition to all of that,

we made sure to engage our partners in

the Franklin County auditor's office

throughout this process to ensure that

this registry also made sense to them

given their ownership of the

statemandated registry that is held at

the county. Uh before I go on and I know

we do have some speakers. I do want to

have some clarifying uh questions here

of both Director Messer and Director

Stevens because this was truly a

partnership between building and zoning

as well as our department of

development. Uh Director uh Messer, you

know, we've heard folks claim that this

registry is really duplicative and

unnecessary. Can you just speak to where

the county auditor is on this proposal?

Council member Council Member Banks and

uh President Harden, other members of

council, thank you um for your uh

partnership and first of all in creating

uh this legislation and bringing it to

where we are. Uh it's been a pleasure to

work with your office and the open and

transparent uh process was um very

wellreceived I think. Um let me just say

that in terms of the um county

registration, it is a little different.

The county registration is um uh does

not contain some of the same information

that we're going to be requiring in this

uh registry. There's no inspection

process and largely uh it's it's a

one-time uh voluntary registration. Um

but we heard the concerns of of folks

that there would be duplication and

registering with the county and with the

city. And we have uh engaged with um uh

auditor staniano's office and we have a

letter of intent that we've agreed to

where we will share information and work

to techn technology-wise to integrate

the registries so that folks who

register with one or the other that

information can be shared to try to cut

down on the uh I guess administrative uh

challenge or burden that applicants

might uh have. So, um, so for example,

if you've already registered with, um,

the county auditor's office, a lot of

that information may automatically

populate in your registry with the city

so that you wouldn't have to duplicate

those efforts and entering all that same

information and vice versa. Um, but to

be clear, you would still be required to

register with the city of Columbus under

the new registry. uh but that

partnership with the county auditor

would allow a lot of that data and

information to automatically flow

between the two entities.

>> Thank you for that, director. And then I

think the other thing I just want to

highlight um here in this space again

when costs are introduced I think

there's natural uh push back from folks

that there's costs I think uh increasing

uh everywhere around us but it does cost

to run this type of program. Can you

just talk about the philosophy around

the $15 uh and the max uh and how those

dollars will be utilized?

>> Sure, council member. Um, one thing that

I'm not sure I might have missed in your

remarks, but you know, the original

proposal uh actually uh thought about a

fee of $40 per unit. We have

significantly decreased that fee down to

$15 per unit uh in light of some of the

uh back and forth with uh various

stakeholders. Um but that $15 per unit

is going to go to uh several different

areas. One, um there is definitely

technology that's involved in this. Um

our intention is to make this uh as easy

as a process as possible, largely being

online with the use of technology, folks

being able to register uh very simply

and easily and pay their fees directly

online. Um we have um other registries

that this um uh registry will integrate

with so that data sharing and

information and mapping across the city

uh will be very helpful and advantageous

once we have the registry up and

running. So there is a cost to the

technology side of implementing this.

There's also going to need to be some

staffing both on the administrative side

as well as on the enforcement side and

the inspection piece that you mentioned

earlier um which will be free of charge

to the um customer um comes at a cost to

us um as well and so we will be

implementing um all three of those

areas.

>> Thank you for that. Uh and then I want

to go to our department of development

uh director Stevens I know that uh you

all are on the front lines of housing.

continue to speak to how this data that

we will now have, how will that help

inform uh the city's housing strategy?

>> Good evening, President Harden, Chair

Banks, members of council. As you know,

our housing strategy is to build more

units, invest in the market, invest

where the market does not, preserve the

naturally occurring affordability, as

well as include all residents. So, we

will use this data from the um rental

registry to help our h division of

housing stability who are serving our

residents every day and make sure that

they are not being exploited by

landlords and property owners.

>> Thank you, uh, director. Uh, and

speaking about front lines, we do also

have with us today Michael Edwards from

Legal Aid. I'm going to ask him to come

at this time.

There he is. I saw people moving in the

balcony. I thought you was in the

balcony. Michael, I was about to say

it's going have to fill a buster here

till you get down here.

>> Uh, council actually, can I just step

in? Um, we have room in 225 if anybody

would like to go to 225 and sit down. It

is being live streamed in uh there as

well. It's just right outside the door

if folks would like a seat.

>> Sorry, council member.

>> No, no problem. Thank you, Council

President, for that housekeeping. Um,

again, I want to invite Michael uh just

to give some remarks. I know you were

with legal aid and on the front lines

for us enforcing uh our housing um um

equity in the city. So, I'll turn it

over to you, Michael.

>> Thank you, Councilman, and thank you to

the C council a whole um thank you to

the members of the city council for your

leadership in advancing this rental

registry ordinance. Um this legislation

reflects an important truth. Columbus is

no longer a small and midsize rental

market. It functions like a major

metropolitan housing system and as such

it requires the appropriate tools to

ensure accountability, transparency and

basic habitability. To ground this in

real terms, I want to briefly describe

what this ordinance means on the ground.

Right now, my colleagues and I are

working with tenants in a large rental

property where conditions are simply

unacceptable.

non-working air conditioning and

furnaces, structural issues, and

deteriorating exterior conditions. These

are not isolated complaints.

They are widespread, repeated, and

ongoing. When we try to identify the

owner, we often find an only an LLC

listed on the auditor's website. There

is no there is no human point of

contact, no accountable decision maker.

So, what happens next? We gather tenant

letters requesting repairs. We represent

tenants in rent escro cases. And only

when rent stops flowing does the true

owner emerge, appearing in escro court.

And only then do serious repair

discussions begin. That is the current

system. It is reactive.

It is inefficient and it places the

burden on tenants, often low-income

tenants, to force accountability through

legal processes. This ordinance begins

to fix that by requiring clear ownership

information and creating a structured

registration system. It allows tenants,

advocates, and the city to engage

property owners earlier in the process

before conditions deteriorate into

crisis and before escort becomes the

only visible tool. The preventative

education inspection program, which is

part of this ordinance, is another

strong step forward. It shifts the

system from reactive enforcement to

proactive engagement, modeling other

major cities by identifying problems

earlier, informing owners of their

obligations, and generating data that

can reveal patterns of neglect that are

currently invisible.

And importantly, the conditional

registration status provision introduces

real leverage for tenants. When

properties accumulate repeated code

violations, they are flagged and

subjected to increased scrutiny. This is

critical. It means tenants by simply

using existing tools, calling 311,

requesting inspections can trigger

consequences that owners cannot ignore.

That is meaningful shift in power.

But I want to be very clear, the

effectiveness of this new ordinance will

depend on how these mechanisms function

in practice. First, retaliation remains

a serious barrier. The ordinance assumes

tenants will will contact code

enforcement about unressed housing

conditions. However, even with the

city's retaliation ordinance in place,

many will remain afraid to do so. They

fear eviction, lease non-renewal, or

other forms of retaliation. Continuing

to explore stronger tenant protections

and increasing enforcement of the city's

current retaliation ordinance will help

ensure that vulnerable and easy

intimidated tenants will request repairs

and call 311 if necessary instead of

call instead of silently enduring poor

housing conditions in a state of fear.

Second,

there is the question of enforcement

pressure and discretion. The conditional

registration threshold is powerful, but

it may also create unintended pressure

on code enforcement officers. When a

single addition when a single additional

violation can place a property on the

conditional registration list, there is

a risk whether real or perceived that

enforcement decisions become more

cautious. Ensuring that enforce that

officers are fully supported in making

objective consistent determinations will

reduce this risk.

Third, the small owner exemption opens

the possibility of a loophole. An owner

with 10 or fewer units is not required

to designate a local operator. In

practice, this could mean an out ofstate

owner with no meaningful local presence

or a developer placing multiple small

properties into separate LLC's can seek

to avoid accountability altogether.

This could leave tenants trying to

resolve serious conditions with someone

hundreds or thousands of miles away and

can undermine one of the core goals of

this ordinance, which is improving

visibility.

In closing, I want to emphasize this.

This ordinance is a major step in the

right direction. Columbus is a major

metropolitan city now, and we need

visibility into the condition of rental

housing to protect the safety of our

residents. This is not just about data

registration or compliance systems. It

is about whether tenants can live in a

safe habitable habitable housing without

having to initiate legal action just to

get basic repairs. It is about whether

accountability is proactive or only

triggered by crisis. And it is about

whether the city is willing to continue

building on this foundation to close the

gaps that experience will inevitably

reveal.

This is a strong and necessary step

forward that will help Columbus tenants.

On behalf of Lasco, we thank the council

for the hard work that went into this

legislation and we appreciate the

commitment to examining it and refining

it over the coming years.

>> Thank you.

>> Uh thank you, Michael.

Thank uh thank you Michael. Thank you

for legal aid and the work that you all

are doing every single day in our

communities down at the eviction court.

Uh it makes a a real difference and I

think you stole my thunder there at the

end which is in this legislation. we

have a review period where we will

review this uh and continue to make sure

uh that it evolves and works for our

city because our city is evolving and I

appreciate you all being at uh there

with us as we continue to look at this.

So, thank you again.

>> Thank you, sir.

>> We also do have um u public speakers in

support of this. So, I'm going to call

them at this time as well. First is Jeff

Coll and followed by Miss Julianne

Johnson if they can come in that order.

and Mr. Kovville, welcome back to

council. Your name, or any organization

you're representing, you have three

minutes.

>> President Harden, council members, my

name is Jeff Kovll. I'm a Columbus

resident and I am a landlord. I endorse

this proposed rental registry. I'd like

to tell you why. There are some

professions that arouse negative

feelings that may not generally be

justified, but there are enough bad

apples that negativity abounds. Think

you car salesman and yes, landlords.

I'd like to be proud when I say I am a

landlord. This proposal eliminates some

of the reasons why landlords are often

looked at poorly. The rental registry

proposal is more than reasonable.

The fee is so low as to be laughable.

The requirement to identify the owner,

to have local contact for emergencies

and repairs, any property owner who

resists this is not responsible and

deserves closer scrutiny by the city.

Knowing who to call locally for problems

and emergencies is just common sense.

a city inspector looking around the

exterior and common areas every 3 years.

Come on, other landlords. What are you

afraid of?

Does this registry duplicate the county?

No. The county registry is not enforced.

I had unregistered properties for years

before I even knew the county registry

existed. No one called. No one contacted

me. One more reason for my support, my

tenants. My tenants provide me with

income. They deserve to be treated

fairly on a business level. I deserve

timely payment. My tenants deserve

clean, safe housing and a local contact

in order to report problems. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, thank you, Jeff. And I

know that you've been outspoken and uh

been at this process every step of the

way. So, thank you for your continued

advocacy. Uh, next is Miss Julianne

Johnson.

>> Thank you, Councilman Bagston, President

Harden, and Council members. I'm here on

behalf of a Haitian uh immigrant family

who I've been working with who who um

doesn't can't take the risk of coming

forward. So, my name is Julianne

Johnson. I live in the east side of

Columbus. I'm a member of Redeemer

Lutheran Church on James Road and uh

near Scotwood um and an active member of

bread. I am here to speak in favor of

the registry. For the past year, our

church has been helping im Asian im

Haitian immigrants that are in our

community.

I have particularly been involved with a

family with a a couple with two

children, one six years old and the

other five months old. They live in

apartment complex that has four

buildings of about 35 apartments each in

on the east side of Columbus. Although

I'm retired now, my career was spent

advocating for people with disabilities.

I get how systems work and don't work

for people, especially those living on

the margins.

I have intervened for this family when

they got an eviction notice, which when

I researched it was based only on a late

fee they didn't know about because their

check didn't get to Cleveland when they

turned it in at the local office.

I intervened when they got had no heat

in early December when the baby was less

than two weeks old. I intervened one

month that their rent had been stolen by

an office staff person

and they were again charged.

The common areas of their building which

are not secured are filthy and in

illrepair. people gather there with

arguments, drinking, smoking, whatever.

Uh on very frequent occasions, they have

tried unsuccessfully

to to address their issues

themselves, which is what they'd prefer

to do.

It's not been successful without

somebody else intervening. So, I go to

the office now every two or three months

and frankly use my privilege to get

things they should be able to get for

themselves.

This family takes real risks living

daytoday in this city as immigrants. I

urge you to pass this rental registry.

Give them and others another tool to

handle the issues they face. Thank you

very much.

Miss Johnson,

Miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson, I know you probably

couldn't hear me over the thunderous

applause. I think council member Rosa

Depia had a comment or question for you.

>> I did. I just um I just wanted to say

thank you. I wanted to say thank you

because um you know I think when you

talk about people living on the margins,

I think um language attainment is still

a challenge. You know, my parents came

to this country in 1970 when there was

no ESL. my sisters went to school and

completely learn in English classrooms

where they spoke 100% Spanish and people

spoke 100% English you know um if it was

not but for community members like

yourself and other people who reached

out and who were the spokesperson who

could break down systems for them who

could translate things for them that

wouldn't have happened and that's the

work that you're doing that's the work

that Brett is doing and I think that

that is part of the goal with this

rental registry I I think when we think

about I think often times when we put

policies into place and sometimes when

it feels like the people most affected

are like wait a minute what is this

going to do for us they don't realize

we're not talking about them if you're

doing the right thing we are talking

about the people who aren't doing the

right thing and there's too many of them

that are not there's too many of them

that are taking advantage of our

families there's too many of them that

when people are scared scared and

vulnerable that they don't have someone

who's showing for them. And so I

appreciate you being that voice because

I think that this is what is driving the

growth in our city. And so continuous

continuing to be a voice for those

folks, continuing to be a voice for a

community that can't always show up for

themselves, can't always advocate for

themselves is incredibly um important,

especially at this time. So I think as

we talk about especially as we talk

about tenants rights these this

community and not just Haitian wherever

you come from in the world are some of

the folks who are getting most taken

advantage of and so I just want to thank

you for bringing that perspective into

the conversation because it is taking up

care of everyone and if we take care of

the people furthest from justice then

all boats will rise and we ensure that

everyone is just we ensure that a system

is is accessible to everyone. So, I just

wanted to just say thank you for for

being here tonight and thank you for

continuing to advocate for that family

and you um are my neighbor because I

live right off of James Road. So,

>> and every time I go I'm aware of how

many other people don't have somebody to

step in for them and how I can't do

that. But um but there are many people

who don't have the privilege of having

somebody that they've they've made a

contact with and can can do it.

>> 100 100%. And they're not always here.

Yeah.

>> And they don't know to come down here

and they don't know to be that voice.

And so

>> for them, too.

>> Yeah. So, thank you.

>> Thank you.

Thank you. Uh thank thank you again,

Miss Julian. And I also just want to

shout out and thank uh Bred uh as well,

the organization who has been working

tirelessly uh on this and partnering

with us. I especially want to thank them

because I said early on that uh

legislation is many times about

compromise and when there were things in

there that they uh didn't get they

advocated for, they still stayed at the

table, still leaned in, uh still helped

us get to this and strengthen this. And

so I want to thank Bred uh and all their

members for all the work they're doing.

I see some of the leadership here. So I

just wanted to call that out and thank

you. Um before I move on to my final

comments and passage, are there any

questions or comments from my colleagues

either for speakers or for uh the

administration? I know that I think some

of my colleague Council Ross.

>> Sure. Thank you. Um Chair Bankston, I do

have a question for the Department of

Development within the Division of

Housing Stability. What is your plan to

address I think what uh our partners at

legal aid very succinctly called uh the

inability to be proactive if folks are

not willing to engage code enforcement.

Um are you looking to do education? Are

you looking to um connect with

communities and connect with residents

and tenants in the community to let them

know about this resource build rapport

so they are feeling more comfortable

calling code enforcement?

>> Um thank you President Harden. Council

member Ross, members of council, yeah,

as we set up our division of housing

stability, how we go out and engage with

our residents is going to be critical to

the success of that work. So, with our

partners at legal aid, CSB, others, um,

the programs we develop in the in the

outreach is going to be an important

aspect of that.

>> Do you anticipate the new administrator

of the division to be kind of leading

that charge?

>> Yes.

Council Council member

>> just along those lines I think I don't I

I don't want to make any assumptions but

we are thinking about just what our next

speaker our last speaker talked about

how are they culturally competent how

are they bilingual how are we reaching

out in those specific instances so when

we can ensure that we can have those

conversations with because as we know um

and I think you said it best these are

small business owners and so they come

from many different backgrounds So

ensuring that's part of our thinking.

Yes.

>> Yes.

>> Any other questions or comments?

>> Council member Roomie.

>> Thank you very much, Chair. I appreciate

the work that you put into this. Um I

want to start by saying, you know, I

understand exactly what this legislation

is trying to do. We all want to hold bad

landlords accountable and I appreciate

the work that has gone into getting this

ordinance to a much better place. I

understand where my colleagues are

coming from, but I have made my concerns

known throughout that at the end of the

day, I do not believe this version gets

us all the way there. So for me, it

still places too much administrative

burden on the overwhelming majority of

responsible property owners who are

doing the right thing in an effort to

get at the small number who are not. So

I think we've made real progress. I

think this conversation has been

valuable and ongoing and I think the

goal is the right one, but I also think

good intentions do not automatically

make for good policy. So tonight, I'll

be voting no. Not because I oppose

accountability, but because I believe we

still need a more targeted approach that

better focuses on bad actors without

creating unnecessary burdens for

everyone else. Thank you, Chair.

>> Uh thank you, Council Member Reie. And I

think there was something said uh with

you both about this idea of

predictability. I just want to that

folks that this is the first piece.

there's going to be other pieces that

come um down the line particularly when

we talk about the fee schedule. Uh and

so I know one of the things that I am

going to be looking forward to and

working with the department uh is around

ensuring that that fee is frozen if at

least for the first three years as we go

through this pilot uh to ensure some

predictability. And so we will have

those conversations as we get to that uh

uh point because that fee is not here

today and some other pieces uh those are

other subsequent pieces of legislation

that will come down the line. So, thank

you for your comments, Council

President.

>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, as we were

going through this conversation, it it

dawned on me that um both Chair Ross of

the housing committee and myself as

former chair of the housing uh homeless

committee are also part of the uh

renters caucus. Uh we rent here in

Columbus. And as I was listening to Mr.

Coell, I was thinking that's the kind of

landlord that we all deserve. That's the

kind of landlord that we all deserve.

Um, just want to thank you. You know,

I'm big on process. Process matters. I

talk about it all the time. Being

inclusive. Make sure you're listening to

the folks who will support these things,

but also the folks who will disagree

with it. That we know what and and

deeply understand um where they will be

coming from in their disagreement. And

you led a very thorough process. I

believe um one that truthfully and what

is pretty cool about this piece of

legislation, this actually wraps up our

housing for all package that council

member Shayla Favor, our prosecutor

Shayla Faver started three years ago. Um

this is the very last piece that that

was announced and it was thoughtful. It

was thor it was this was hard because we

were we I think and I I've heard you say

this we see landlords essentially

especially the smaller ones as small

business owners and so we're not trying

to penalize more especially with the

rising cost of tax uh of property taxes

to to penalize but we are prioritizing

accountability

and I think that uh you've done a good

job of weaving those things together. So

just thank you for your leadership. Um

this is government action. I really do

appreciate um on this night when we do

have so many folks who are first time uh

in council chambers that that you are

seeing even disagreement you're seeing

um how this process um has gotten us

here. So thank you. Thank you to all the

community partners that weighed in those

who are supporting and those who may not

be. One of the things that council

member also I think put into the

legislation was this review period. So

we will have time to to to to

make any adjustments that um folks may

bring to us that we uh might may have

missed. So thank you for your

leadership.

>> Uh thank you uh Cath president and oh

sorry

council member.

>> Yeah. Thank you. Um, I come from a

family of realtors, so I have this

conflicted feeling. And so I concur with

my colleague, um, Council Member Reie,

but I trust in your judgment and your

commitment to the review and for making

things better. And so that is why I'll

vote yes because of my trust in you to

continue to make this um, this registry

better.

>> Well, thank you, council member. Um, and

to council president's point, this does

round out housing for all, but the word

says the last shall be first. So

therefore, I'm I'm gonna take it that

way. Uh, but I do think that, and I also

didn't realize when I raised my hand for

this one, this be the most complex one.

U, but again, we wanted to get to a

place where we were delivering something

that we think that could stand muster,

uh, that could have teeth, uh, and that

would be something that would work for,

uh, Columbus. And I think that is what

we have here today. So again, um, as I

wrap up, I want to, uh, thank everyone

that testified, everyone that's

participated through these three

hearings. Also, again, want to thank our

Department of Building and Zoning

Services as well as our Department of

Development for their partnership and

putting this framework and legislation

together. I also want to thank the team

uh, behind the scenes. I think that we

none of this happens without a great

team. And I think that effective

leadership is not simply about the

credentials or the person that is the

principle, but it's about how you

surround yourself with key folks who are

experts in certain areas. And so again,

I want to thank uh my aid JP Dorval, uh

Jonathan Brown on my team, as well as

Jessica Clinger and our council

president's offices and Katie Fallon on

our legislative research office for all

of the work that they have done uh

behind the scenes to get us here. Um and

I want to thank them, thank them, thank

them. Uh this proposal is not perfect um

and it is certainly not a silver bullet

uh to solve our housing issues but it is

the right thing to do and it is a right

step in the right direction for our

city. Our city is evolving and when I

hear these stories of what is happening

in so many properties that shows us that

as our city continues to grow we have to

check all of our systems and when

they're broken it's not that we continue

to allow that to happen. it is our job

uh to go and try to fix them to meet the

needs of our residents today and I will

continue to do that. Uh so with that uh

I will uh I see no other questions or

comments from my colleagues. I will move

for passage

>> second

>> by voice.

Bankston,

>> yes.

>> Barrosa de Padilla,

>> yes.

>> Deakau,

>> yes.

>> Dorren,

>> yes.

>> Green,

>> yes.

>> Remy,

>> no.

>> Ross,

>> yes.

>> White,

>> yes.

>> President Harden,

>> yes. What is this?

>> Thank you.

and

council president. May I move to the

finance and governance committee?

>> Please.

>> Uh, thank you. First up in finance and

governance, we have ordinance 0634-2026

to authorize the director of department

of finance and management to enter into

a contract for the option to purchase

waste identification disposal and

emergency spill response services with

Buckeye M contracting LLC to weigh the

competitive bidding requirements that

the evaluation committee for the best

value procurement be made up of an an

odd number of people and to authorize

this expenditure.

Uh, this ordinance establishes a

universal term contract with Buckeye M

cont Contracting LLC for the

identification and cleanup and disposal

of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

Three bids were received and Buckeye M

contracting received the highest score.

Are there any questions or comments from

my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for

passage.

>> Clarosa

de Podia de Aawa Doris Green Reie Ross

Swice President Harden

>> pass. My bad. And finally in the finance

and governance committee we have

ordinance 0983-2026

to uh this ordinance authorizes the

director of the department of technology

to enter into a contract with VAS

computer inc for Oracle software

licenses maintenance and support

services to authorize the expenditure of

1 million48,97265

from the department of technology

information services operating fund and

to declare an emergency. Oracle is the

database engine behind multiple

applications in the city of Columbus

such as Excella, the Columbus utilities

billing system, and the work and asset

management system. Two bids were

received for Oracle software licenses,

maintenance and support services in

March of this year. Vasque Computer,

Inc. was the lowest bidder. To ensure no

service interruption and the

establishment uh and to establish a

purchase order at the earliest possible

date, emergency designation is being

requested. Are there any comments or

questions from my colleagues? Seeing

none, I move for passage.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bangarosa deodia de a dors green remy

ros vice president Harden

>> pass. Thank you, council president. May

I move to the economic development

committee. Chair, if it's all right, I

think I'm going to uh call for recess.

And just to explain to folks who again

who are not here uh often, uh by code,

we have to uh recess and take the zoning

meeting uh uh at 6:30 p.m. Uh we only

have three ordinance on the um zoning in

the zoning committee. So, we uh

anticipate this being uh very quick and

I think that a lot of folks here are

part of a want to be part of the larger

conversation that we're going to have in

your committee uh coming up. self if you

don't mind. Is there a motion to recess

for zoning?

>> So move.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Rosa Podia de Aar Dors Green Remy

Ross, Vice President Hard.

>> We are in recess. We will uh start

zoning kind of promptly at 6:30ish.

Daddy.

Hey.

Just about to feel it.

You got to feel it.

Doctorilly

dilly dilly dilly dilly.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Hey. Hey. Hey.

Heat. Heat.

Heat up here.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Order. Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bank Simber Rosa Padilla de AOA Dors

Green Remy Ross Vice President Harden.

>> Can I get a motion with the reading of

the journal?

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Bank Simber Rosa Deodia de Aawa Dorren

Green Remy Ross Vice President Harden.

>> Are there any additions or corrections

to the journal hearing? None. The

journal is approved. We'll now go to the

zoning committee. Council member Dorren

chairs that committee and all members

serve on it. Council member, the floor

is yours.

>> Thank you, President Harden. As always,

before we begin tonight's zoning agenda,

I'll briefly explain a rule speaking

before council on reszoning and

variances. We will only hear a staff

presentation for ordinances that have a

disapproval from a recommending body or

if we have a public speaker to sign up

to speak against an ordinance. We permit

three speakers on each side, three

proponents, three opponents. Uh we ask

those speakers limit the remarks to

three minutes per the standard rules of

city council. All speakers and council

variance, including city staff, area

commission, applicants, and members of

the public will be sworn in before they

give testimony. Representatives and area

commission are always able to speak on

an ordinance and do not need to fill out

a speaker slip. Will you ask uh you

alert city staff of your intention to

speak at this committee hearing? Uh this

evening we do not have any public

speakers signed up to speak on any piece

of legislation this committee. On the

advice to city attorney's office will

now swear in city staff. Please stand

and raise your right hand and be sworn

in. Do you swear affirm the test you're

about to give shall be the truth nothing

but the truth as you shall answer under

pains of penalty of perjury. If so,

please say I do.

Thank you. Please let the record reflect

that Alyssa Saltzman from the Department

of Building and Zing Services has been

sworn in. Uh first, uh we only have

council variances on our agenda here

tonight. And first we have ordinance 0

or I'm sorry 10006-2026

to grant a variance provision section

34E2100A

use table of the Columbus City codes to

the property located at 3616 East Broad

Street to allow for accessory outdoor

storage in the CAC community activity

district. site consists of one parcel

developed with a big box retailer and

the applicant requested accessory

storage uses uh including a trailer in

conjunction with the retail business at

that property. A council variance

required because storage uses are not

allowed in that zoning district.

Additionally, the requested uh variance

will facilitate an updated final site

plan compliance to respond to an active

zoning code violation. U the proposal is

approved from city staff and the M East

area commission. Do my colleagues

questions comments? Seeing none, I first

move to accept the entire staff report

into evidence as an exhibit.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks timber Rosa de Podia de Aawower

Dors Green Remy Ross Vice President

Harden.

>> Accept it.

>> Thank you. Next move to adopt the

finance of staff, the finance of

council.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Rosa de Padilla de Aawower Dors

Green Remy Ross Vice President Harden.

>> Adopt it.

>> Thank you. Uh I move to amend this as

the clerk.

>> Clerk, please call the role. Banks Rosa

de Padilla de AWA Dors Green Remy Ross

Vice President Harden

>> amended.

>> Thank you. I now move for passage as

amended. Second clerk,

>> please call the role.

>> Bank Simber Rosa de Padilla de Akawa

Dors Green Remy Ross Vice President

Harden.

>> Pass.

>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance

1033-2026

grant variance provision of section

3353.03 permitted uses 33 uh61.02

permitted uses and 3361.03 development

plan and 3361.04

4B performance criteria. The Columbus

City codes are properly located at 7400

74 7400 Huntington Park Drive to allow a

residential treatment facility with

produced development standards in the

CPD commercial plan development

district. Site consists of one parcel

developed an existing residential

treatment facility. The request of

council variance will legitimize that

existing use. A council variance is

required for the impatient aspect of

this type of facility. A proposal has

approvals from city staff and the far

north Columbus communities coalition. Do

my colleagues and question comments.

Seeing none, I move to accept the entire

staff report and new evidence as an

exhibit.

>> Second.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks timber roa de podia de a doris

green reie ros president.

>> Accept it.

>> Thank you. And next move to adopt the

science of staff, the finance of

council. Second.

>> Cler, please call the role.

>> Banks roa de podia de a doris green remy

ros president Harden.

>> Adopt it.

>> Thank you. And finally, move for

passage. Clerk please call the role.

>> Banks Rosa de Padilla Deakau Dorne Green

Remy Ross vice president Harden

>> passed.

>> Thank you. And next we have ordinance

1034-2026

to grant advance provisions of section

333 2.037 R2F residential district

3312.49 C required parking 333.14 R2 F

area district requirements 3332.19

fronting 3332.21 building lines

3332.25AB

required side yards 3332.27 27 rear yard

and 3332.28

obstructions in required sideyard. The

Columbus City Coast for property located

at 358 East Desler Avenue to allow

residential development with reduced

development standards in the R2F

residential district. Site consists of

four parcels lots A, B, C, and D. Lots A

and C are undeveloped. Lot B is

developed with a two-unit dwelling

proposed to be demolished and lot D is

developed with a four-unit dwelling. The

requested council of variance will allow

two uh allow a new two-unit dwelling on

lots A, B, and C, and will conform the

existing four-unit dwelling on lot D. A

council of variance is required because

the current zoning district allows only

one single or or one two-unit dwelling

per lot, but does not allow for a

fourunit dwelling. Development standards

uh variances for for each lot are also

included in this request. Proposal is

approved from city staff and the

Columbus Southside Area Commission. Do

you want to make colleagues any question

or comments? Seeing none, I move to

accept the staff report into evidence as

an exhibit.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de AOA Dorn

Green, Remy Ross, Swice, President

Harden.

>> Accept it.

>> Thank you. And next move to adopt the

five steps, the finance of council.

Second.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de AWA Dors

Green. Remy Ross, Vice President Harden.

>> Adopt it.

>> Thank you. And finally move for passage.

Second. Clerk,

>> please call the role.

>> Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla de AOA Dors

Green Reie Ross Vice President Harden.

Passed

>> eight council president all we have

tonight zoning agenda.

>> Thank you Mr. Chair. Is there a motion

to adjourn?

>> Clerk please call the role.

>> Banks Rosa de Padilla de a Doris Green

Remy Ross vice president Harden

>> meeting is adjourned. I'm also going to

do a little bit more house cleaning or

clean up. Uh, now I'm going to get

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat

up

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey,

we are down.

Hey,

hey, hey.

Hey,

hey, hey.

hard. Um, first in the economic

development small minor business

committee, we have ordinance 0636-2026

to amend the 2025 capital improvement

budget to appropriate funds within the

AC Humpco 2 tiff fund, Harrison West

Recreation Park Fund, Wagner Road TIFF

fund, and Wagner Road TIFF capital fund

to transfer funds between the Wagner

Road TIFF fund and Wagner Road TIFF

Capital Fund to transfer funds

respectively within the development

taxable bond fund ACMCO2. to TIFF fund,

Harrison West Recreation Parks Fund,

Wagner Road TIFF Capital Fund, and Rocky

Fork TIFF Capital Fund to authorize the

director of the Department of

Development to enter into a contribution

agreement and restrictive covenant for

the public parking spaces, public

infrastructure improvements, and public

art and placemaking improvements

associated with the greenhouse gravity

project to authorize the expenditure of

$2 million from the development taxable

bond fund, AC Humm TIFF fund, Harrison

West recreation and park fund, Wagner

Road TIFF Capital Fund and Rocky Fork

TIFF Capital Fund to to the Gravity

Project 3 Holdings LLC for the cost of

public parking spaces, public

infrastructure improvements, and public

art and placemaking improvements,

including those incurred prior to the

purchase order pursuant to the four said

contribution agreement with the Gravity

Project 3 Holdings LLC.

Despite the incredibly long title, this

ordinance is quite simple. It is to

appropriate funds for the second of two

capital contributions in support of

phase three of the Gravity development

in Franklin. This third phase of the

Gravity project will provide 50 public

parking spaces, uh, public

infrastructure improvements, public art,

placemaking, and 32 affordable

residential units at or below 80% of the

area median income. This uh the city

approved uh the first of this capital

contribution on November 20th of 2023

and this is the second of those uh

payments uh per the agreement. Are there

any questions or comments from my

colleagues? Seeing none, I move for

passage.

>> Clerk, please call the role.

>> Thanks. Timber Rosa de Padilla Deakau

Doran Green Remy Ross Vice President

Harden

>> passed. And lastly, we have ordinance

1112-2026

to authorize the director of department

of development to enter into a

development agreement with the county of

Franklin, Ohio Confluence Community

Authority and the NWSL Columbus LLC

together with one or more to be

identified affiliates new to finance and

develop certain facilities required by

the National Women's Soccer League

necessary to secure a franchise for

Columbus and to deliver certain

community benefits commit benefits

commitments from new co all in the all

in furtherance of important improvements

to community assets and Columbus'

position as a national leader in women's

sports to authorize the director of

department of development and or

recreation and parks director to enter

into any leases with the confluence

community authority contemplated by the

development agreement for the NWSL teams

training facility to wave the provisions

of chapter 328 of Columbus City Codes to

authorize the director of department of

development to execute a contribution

agreement with the Confluence Community

Authority for the city's capital

contributions towards the training

facility and modifications to the

stadium as contemplated in development

agreement and to authorize the director

of the department of development andor

recreation and parks director to consent

and file such consent with the city

clerk and to add property of the

training facility to the new community

district of the confluence community

authority per Ohio revised code chapter

349. This ordinance uh is yet another

incredibly long title but relates to the

city's attempt to attract a national

women's soccer league team. Uh, as a

recap, the deal is built around a 2% sir

charge on ticketed games and events at

Scott's Miracle Grow Field to raise $25

million for the construction of a

training facility and improvements to

Scott's Miracle Grow Field Stadium. The

city will front the contribution, but it

will be repaid by user fees generated by

stadium activity, including future

women's soccer matches to fund the

expansion. After the debt is repaid, the

city can continue the 2% search charge

in per perpetuity as another revenue

source to fund priorities like human

services, housing, and youth

programming. Uh I know we have several

speakers on this and I do know that uh

led by council president Hardener is an

amendment, but council president, there

are comments before we get to our

speakers.

>> Sure. So, thank you uh Chair Bankston.

Um, and I want to thank the residents

and neighbors, community advocates and

families. Um, I was going to say from

Southwest Columbus, but the truth is,

um, well, I was going to say the entire

city of Columbus. There are some things

that actually break through some

conversations that we have in this

building that pierce into the psyche of

uh, all of our residents. So there I

really cannot I cannot remember a time

uh where another piece of legislation

that we were considering where I would

get stopped at the grocery store as much

as I have on this piece of legislation.

So I understand and appreciate everybody

weighing in. Um as you all know council

was first briefed on the mayor's

national women's soccer league proposal

in February. Essentially the mayor

provided financial and land commitments

to the ownership group that council had

not signed off on. And for the last

month, we've been having a very public

debate about this. A majority of my

colleagues, including myself, opposed

the idea of a $25 million handout to the

ownership. Instead, we renegotiated for

a user fee on tickets at Scott's Miracle

Grow Stadium to fund that commitment. We

made it work for taxpayers, but now we

have to make it work for neighbors. So,

now we're talking about the lease of

McCoy Park to build that site. Many

people in here know that I grew up on

the south side and this actual McCoy

Park is a park that my nephew plays at.

Just last season was playing at McCoy

Park and it's essentially a grassy field

uh right now. And when council members

first learned of this part of the deal,

we were not told that a different plan

from McCoy Park had been promised to the

neighborhood and set aside. I first

learned about that at our April 6

hearing when neighborhood leaders told

us that they were expecting a

groundbreaking on this site. And this is

what really

is crazy. It's not just a park, but

something that designed specifically for

children with differentlyabled

needs and families in an undeserved

underserved part of our city. And it

wasn't just an idea that by November the

city had been provided with technical

plans from a consultant for designs that

they were presented to the community as

a project that was moving forward.

So for months a public park was being

advanced while at the same time it was

being negotiated away and neither

council nor the community was given this

full picture.

That's a breakdown in process that has

resulted in a breakdown in trust. And I

want to be clear, I support bringing

professional women's soccer to the city

of Columbus. I think it is the right

thing to do and I don't want us to miss

out on it. But how you do things matter,

process matters. And honoring

commitments to neighborhoods, especially

underserved neighborhoods, it matters.

And that's why council is stepping in

again now to fix another part of the

deal that we did not create to make it

more responsible and more responsive to

the community. So I want to talk about

what the amendment would do. First, if

we get the team, then the administration

has to form a working group within 15

days and submit a plan to council within

60 days for where else and how we can

build the park that was promised and to

break ground on that same timeline that

the neighbors were expecting.

I have some ideas in mind. and I know my

colleagues do as well, but what we're

not going to do today is announce those

because we're not going to leave the

neighborhood out of this process again.

So, the Southwest Area Commission will

be at the table uh in the working group

to help make that decision. It will

include meaningful public engagement in

that process. So, residents are not in

just informed but actively are shaping

the outcome.

Secondly, I personally negotiated that

the ownership group will donate an

additional $3 million towards this new

park, this new and future park in the

southwest Columbus. This plus other

resources the city had been budgeting

should be enough to fully fund phase one

of the park that was planned.

Third, there will be some public and

community access to portions of the

training complex. recreation and parks

and our community will be able to

utilize some soccer fields and

facilities at the training facility.

And finally, we're going to link real

concrete plans for the park to the

funding for the team. Or other words, if

there are no plans for the park, if

there are no sites uh presented, then

there will be no money.

And this is spelled out in the

legislation. Our goal is to motivate the

administration to move as fast to

deliver for neighbors as they did for

these companies. And I want to be

honest. I'm looking at Miss Liz out

there. This is not the outcome that the

Southwest residents were originally

promised. And we have to be honest about

that.

But I feel a real responsibility now to

make sure that what comes next is done

right and that the community ultimately

receives the kind of park investment

they were led to expect.

Council is working to chart a path

forward in muddy waters. But real

leadership is about clarity,

accountability, and centering community

engagement

because none of this had to happen.

We've done the best that we can in the

past six weeks to fix what the mayor and

his administration should have been

working on for the last six months. The

mayor didn't have to offer up this site

or if he was going to, his team could

have been working since October on an

alternative plan with the neighborhood.

But this the but the first time the

mayor's team engaged the neighborhood

was last Thursday,

four days ago.

That's absurd.

This is what makes people cynical about

public private partnerships about the

Columbus way. Yes, it is good and

necessary for to for the business

community and government to work

together to solve problems to shoot for

the stars. Sure. But it is not

acceptable when the community gets cut

out of the deal. So, I'm proud that this

debate has taken place in public, at

hearings, and at council meetings, not

behind closed doors where only the

wealthy and the well-connected can have

a say. I'm frustrated that the mayor's

negligence put us all of us, council,

the league, the team ownership, and the

neighborhood in this position. And I

will also add

that this process has allowed for

us to be turned against each other.

It really pisses me off because it did

not have to happen this way. It did not

have to happen this way.

But this is the thing. I'm an elected

leader. It is our job to uh it is not

our job to call out problems. Not just

to call out problems, but it is our go

job to fix them. I'm offering these

amendments tonight to try and try to do

that. I believe this New Deal does that

and I will support its passage and so I

look forward to hearing from the

speakers, from my colleagues, from all

those as we are trying to consider this

path forward together. This is not the

original deal. This is not what the

community was promised, but this is what

council what I have brought before

council for consideration to make

to to allow us to still do the big thing

but still honor to the best of our

ability um what was promised to

neighbors. I understand that this is a

moment where no one trusts institutions,

no one trusts government. That's why we

move this process into the public.

That's why this frustration that I'm

sharing, I'm not feigning. This is not a

political stunt. The easiest political

thing for me to do would have been to

vote this thing down. My responsibility

though at the end of the Okay. Well, I'm

talking. My responsibility at the end of

the day is to make sure and to ensure

that the people of the southwest side of

Columbus have a park that is funded and

that folks who are going to advance this

will also pay for it. That is what this

amendment does. Mr. Chair, I'll turn it

back over to you.

>> Uh thank you, uh President Harden. Um we

like as you said, we have several

speakers on this and so we do want to

have more dialogue, I'm sure, to come.

Um it is council's rules that we take

the first three speakers uh both for or

against uh ordinance. I do want to we

take those in order. They came in. So

there I do want to acknowledge that

there were more speakers that signed up

than three and we will make sure that we

acknowledge them. Uh, first up uh to

speak is Miss Liz Reed, followed by DJ

Burns, and then followed by Kelsey Gray.

Chair Reed, welcome back to council. Uh,

you have three minutes.

Good evening, President Harden and

esteemed members of council.

I'm Liz Reed. I'm the voice of the

Southwest Area Commission to Save McCoy

Park.

Today, you are faced with a decision.

Voting yes gives away a public park to

billionaires. Voting no saves McCoy

Park. Your no vote supports families.

Families just like I'm sorry, families

just like Amanda and Iris.

>> ISIS.

>> ISIS. Thank you.

I just met them this evening.

The administration put you in this tough

place. They did not communicate with

anyone other than the owners group.

They before making this deal. They also

did not speak with the National Women's

Soccer League who announced in January

of 2025 they see no reason not to expand

to 30 teams.

The mayor's team was reckless.

This is not our last shot at a team.

Now that the mayor's now the mayor's

office is asking you to hastily sign off

on a bad deal.

They are exploiting your passion for

women's sport and your hope to grow

Columbus to support a package that is

harmful.

You have the power to stop this now.

Despite this amendment, the money

offered by the owners group won't cover

a fraction of the cost to purchase land,

and the money is not due until 2029.

No amendment can materialize land in the

right location for the park.

Ask designers. It is impossible to take

a city plan from McCoy Park and just

plop it somewhere else.

Even if this fast even if this is

fasttracked, the children who now have a

park who now have a park with promised

improvements will be adults before the

park is replaced.

The amendments

changes nothing. You can't vote. You

cannot fix broken legs with a bandage.

Vote yes means you take away from

children with disabilities and families

who are disenfranchised.

You take away an inclusive back

playground. You rob children of a splash

pad. There will be no exclusive pickle

ball or basketball courts. No community

buildings. No walking or rolling paths.

No shel shelters, no picnic tables. If

you vote yes, you support the mayor's

dealings to steal from the very people

you are here to protect. But you

you have the power to save this park.

Vote no.

Stand up for your most vulnerable

residents.

We'll get another chance at a team.

We can do it right next time.

>> The decision calls upon you to get past

the politics of this deal, to see the

real impact on our community.

With your no vote, you have the

opportunity to show Columbus who you

are, what you stand for, and to restore

public trust.

Vote no on ordinance 1112-2026.

Vote no. Save McCoy Park.

>> Can I ask a question?

>> Can I ask a question?

>> Chair Reed. Chair Reed. I think there's

a question for you. Chair Chair Reed, I

have a question.

I if the amendment is approved and the

process moves forward as it is laid out,

do you feel it is reasonable uh to have

the in code in the ordinance

uh uh that that mandates that this