Columbus City Council Honors Departing Officials, Approves Major Funding for Safety and Housing

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus City Council on Monday recognized the work of a resident-led steering committee that designed the city’s first participatory budgeting process, while also approving $10 million in grants for social service agencies and funding for safety improvements on roads where pedestrians have been killed.

Council members voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 0057X-2026, commending the 18-member Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee and coordinator Melissa Bila, who is leaving to attend graduate school. The committee developed recommendations and a guidebook for the pilot program, which was funded with $1 million per district from the 2025 capital budget.

Council Member Bangston, who introduced the resolution, called the process “historic” and “one of the most progressive things we’ve done from a budgeting standpoint.”

The council also honored Jason Jenkins, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, who is leaving to join Ohio State University. Council members praised Jenkins for increasing minority spending fourfold and for his collaborative leadership. The chamber applauded after remarks from multiple members.

In the evening’s largest financial action, the council passed three ordinances authorizing $10 million in grants to nonprofit social service agencies through the Elevate program. The funding, derived from hotel/motel tax revenue and cannabis host community fees, will be distributed using a new peer-review process designed to promote equity. Council Member Green presented the ordinances, which passed unanimously, with Council President Harden abstaining on the third.

Three Vision Zero infrastructure projects also received unanimous approval. Council Member Barroso de Padilla presented ordinances for a shared-use path and lighting on Livingston Avenue, a multimodal planning contract, and a shared-use path and sidewalks on McNaughton Road. The McNaughton project was prompted by the death of 11-year-old Lizzie Robertson Rutland.

“These are the kinds of investments that save lives,” Barroso de Padilla said.

The council approved $3.9 million for renovations to the Beatty Recreation Center, which was damaged by a fire in August 2024. Council Member Bankston said the center will be converted into a teen-oriented community center, with completion expected by Oct. 31, 2026.

In the final action of the evening, the council approved a $2.3 million grant agreement with National Church Residences for the construction of Clover Glen 2, a 95-unit senior housing community on Galloway Road. All units will be affordable to residents at or below 60% of the area median income. Construction is expected to begin this summer and finish in fall 2027.

One resident, Mr. Wilkins, spoke in support of the project but asked for more details about accessibility for people with disabilities. A city official said the development team would follow up with him.

All items passed with broad support and minimal public comment. The meeting adjourned after about two hours.

Key moments

Significant

Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee Recognition

Council Member Bangston: 'This resolution commends this group and our participatory budgeting coordinator, Miss Melissa Bila, on a successful process which culminated with a series of recommendations.'

Significant

Farewell to Director Jason Jenkins

Council President Harden: 'When I think about how this city has invested its money under your leadership, moving to a place where we spend four times more than when you started in minority spend in our community.'

Significant Columbus City Council Meeting (03/30/26) · 1:24:41

Elevate Program Funding and Peer Review Process

Council Member Green: 'Unlike other municipalities across the United States that are rolling back their investments in critical human infrastructure, we are not. We are maintaining our $10 million investment.'

Significant Columbus City Council Meeting (03/30/26) · 1:07:49

McNaughton Road Safety Project in Memory of Lizzie Robertson Rutland

Director of Public Service: 'One of the most compelling reasons for us to do this vision zero safety project is because there was a child killed. Her name was Elizabeth Lizzie Robertson Rutland. She was 11 years old.'

Public interest

Public Comment on Clover Glen 2 Senior Housing

Mr. Wilkins: 'This thing here is a great idea, but I think it needs to be more money. I know a lot of time we're leaving out the disability people, people in wheelchairs and stuff like that.'

Full analysis

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Meeting Analysis

City of Columbus — 2026-03-30

Meeting Information

Title: Columbus City Council Meeting (03/30/26)

Parish: City of Columbus

Date: 2026-03-30

Video: Recording

Transcript segments: 3222

Item	Description	Action	Vote Status
Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee Recognition	Council Member Bangston introduced Resolution 0057X-2026 to recognize the work of the participatory budgeting steering committee and coordinator Melissa Bila, who is leaving for graduate school. The committee developed recommendations and a guidebook for the pilot participatory budgeting process, which was funded with $1 million per district from the 2025 capital budget.	Resolution adopted unanimously.	Unanimous roll call (all present voted yes)
Farewell to Director Jason Jenkins	Council members gave remarks honoring Jason Jenkins, Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, who is leaving to join Ohio State University. He was praised for increasing minority spending fourfold and for his collaborative leadership.	No formal vote; remarks and applause.	No action taken
Elevate Program Funding	Council Member Green presented ordinances 0897-2026, 0898-2026, and 0899-2026 to authorize $10 million in grants to nonprofit social service agencies through the Elevate program, funded by hotel/motel tax and cannabis host community revenue. The program uses a new peer-review process for equity.	All three ordinances passed.	0897-2026: unanimous roll call; 0898-2026: unanimous voice vote; 0899-2026: unanimous voice vote with President Harden abstaining
Vision Zero Infrastructure Projects	Council Member Barroso de Padilla presented three ordinances for safety improvements on high-injury network roads: Livingston Avenue (shared-use path, lighting), multimodal planning contract, and McNaughton Road (shared-use path, sidewalks). The McNaughton project was prompted by the death of 11-year-old Lizzie Robertson Rutland.	All three ordinances passed.	Unanimous roll call for each
Beatty Community Center Renovations	Council Member Bankston presented Ordinance 0682-2026 to authorize $3.9 million for renovations to the Beatty Recreation Center after an August 2024 fire. The center will be converted into a teen-oriented community center, with completion expected by October 31, 2026.	Ordinance passed.	Unanimous roll call

Participatory budgeting pilot funded with $1 million per district from the 2025 capital budget.
Elevate program provides $10 million in grants to nonprofits, funded by hotel/motel tax and cannabis host community revenue.
Beatty Community Center renovations: $3.9 million from recreation parks permanent improvement fund and voted bond fund.
Summer youth program grants: nearly $7.5 million awarded to 105 nonprofits.
Clover Glen 2 senior housing: $2.3 million from affordable housing bond fund (total city commitment $4.3 million).

Need for more funding and accessibility for people with disabilities in senior housing projects.
Desire for more affordable housing and community investment across all parts of Columbus.

Contentious Discussions: none noted.

Department of Public Service

Livingston Avenue safety project: shared-use path, improved signals, lighting from Alum Creek Trail to James Road.
Multimodal engagement and planning contract for evaluating corridors and quick-build pilot projects.
McNaughton Road bikeway project: shared-use path, sidewalks, turn lanes, street lighting; construction expected in 2028.

Department of Recreation and Parks

Beatty Community Center renovations after fire; conversion to teen-oriented center; completion by October 31, 2026.
Summer Food Service Program: $2.5 million grant to serve over 80,000 breakfasts, 100,000 lunches, and 15,000 snacks at 100-130 sites.
Summer youth program grants: nearly $7.5 million to 105 nonprofits.

Department of Development

Elevate program: $10 million in grants to nonprofits using new peer-review process.
Clover Glen 2 senior housing: 95 units affordable at or below 60% AMI; construction to start summer 2026.

Department of Public Safety

Network connectivity maintenance contract with Cincinnati Bell for dispatch centers.
Police contraband seizure fund appropriation for travel, training, equipment.
LexisNexis investigative database contract.
Fire department maintenance contracts for Lucas devices, stair chairs, power load systems, and turnout gear.
Franklin County Emergency Management funding for sirens and mass notification.
EMS billing contract extension with Change Healthcare through May 31, 2026.

Council Member Bangston to share participatory budgeting recommendations at April 29th public hearing.
Council Member Barroso de Padilla to host public hearing on Big Darby Accord amendment on April 7th.
Council Member Remy to host juvenile safety hearing on April 2nd.
Council Member Ross to host senior listening session on April 7th.
Director of Development to follow up with Mr. Wilkins on Clover Glen 2 accessibility details.