Heat
up here.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey everybody.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Regular meeting number 33 will now come
to order. Please stand for the playing
of the national anthem.
Heat.
Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Council member White, will you lead us
in the pledge? I
>> aliance 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 council is grateful to have
pastor Bismar Akamea here to pray with
us. Pastor from Jesus power assembly of
God. Pastor, welcome.
>> Thank you very much, Mr. President. And
it's a privilege to invite me to be here
and I'm so happy. Go. Let's have a
prayer. Almighty God, our heavenly
father, we welcome you to in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the redeemer, the
one who died to save us. We come to you
as your believing people, your
representative on earth, the agent of
your government on earth. We lift up
this nation of yours, United States,
this state of yours, state of Ohio, and
the city of Columbus and many, many
people in this nation into your hands as
today we gather together for the a
sitting or a meeting for the city
council. Lord, we pray for your grace
and your hands to be upon our gathering.
Lord, we pray for wisdom for our
president and the members of the
Columbus City Councils that our
gathering shall be in peace. It shall be
very um presented. It shall be good and
understanding that whatever we gather to
discuss shall be a successful. Father,
we thank you for your blessing over this
city. We pray for protection of this
city and let your hand be upon this
city. We ask you in the name of our Lord
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
>> Amen. Thank you so much, pastor. Clerk,
please call the role.
>> Thanks. Tim Rosa de Padilla de Akaw
Lawrence 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 spend with the
reading of the journal?
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> Thanks. Temper roa de padilla de a dor
screen remy ros president Harden.
>> Are there any additions or corrections
to the journal? Hearing none other
journals approved. This week's
communications received by the city
clerk's office are listed on the agenda
and will be published in the agenda. Are
there any other uh communications be
read into the record?
>> Not at this time.
>> Thank you, madame clerk. We'll go around
the dis for updates and hopefully no
resolutions.
>> Starting with council mayor Banks.
>> Thank you uh council president. Just one
announcement and no resolution this
evening. Uh I am proud to announce that
next week the city uh in partnership
with several community partners are set
to launch the idea collection phase of
the our voice our choice budget. I am
really excited about this effort. Uh for
those who may be unfamiliar, the Our
Voice Our Choice budget is the city's
first participatory budgeting process
where community members will directly
decide how to spend $1 million uh of
capital improvements uh in their
individual districts. So, please keep an
eye out on council's social media pages
this week uh for additional details on
how to participate in getting involved.
This is really a historic moment for our
city and I want to thank again the
steering committee of residents who
really drove this process. This is
really a process for Columbus residents
by Columbus residents. Uh and so thank
you, thank you, thank you, thank you
again to all the residents that have
been involved at this point and really
looking forward to the ideas that will
come out of this next phase of this
participatory budgeting exercise. So
again, our voice, our choice budget is
going live next week and we are really
excited about it. Uh, council president.
>> Thank you, council member. Council
member Rosado.
>> Thank you, council president. So, I know
a number of my colleagues will also talk
about the uh extreme temperatures that
we were or we are going to be
experiencing in the coming weeks. So, I
just wanted to give everyone a reminder
from a transportation uh perspective
that Kota will suspend fairs systemwide.
So that is um fixed routes mainstream
and Kota plus for June 30th, July 1st
and July 2nd due to the heat advisory in
Franklin County, but Kota has issued a
policy that in extreme weather
situations, Kota will be fair free. So
they did this in the winter and they
will do this in the summer. So folks can
check the Kota website, they can set
social media channels um and the transit
app. If you don't have it, you should
get it um to see when Kota might be fair
free if you that is in question for you.
Um secondly, I do have a statement that
I would like to read um about the events
this past weekend. Uh over the weekend,
TPS was revoked for both our Syrian and
Haitian immigrants here in Columbus. The
Supreme Court ruled that federal
government is legally allowed to end
temporary protected status from people
from Haiti and Syria. The decision is
putting families, their livelihoods, and
our local economy here in Columbus at
risk. Refugees and immigrants have been
the backbone of essential industries
across our city and have fueled Ohio's
growth. And while we understand that
there was always a temporary part of
temporary protection status, when you
have had folks on temporary protection
status for more than a decade without
some sort of off-ramp or without giving
them appropriate time for them to make
decisions that are good for them or
their families and when you are
essentially sending them back to
conflict zones, this is not a policy
that is rooted in humanity. This
decision places thousands of people
nationwide and many families in Columbus
under immediate uncertainty. It
threatens to destabilize workplaces that
rely on TPS holders, threatens to tear
families apart, and sends a chilling
message to immigrant communities who
already navigate fear and vulnerability.
Columbus has long prided itself on being
a welcoming city and a place where
people from every corner of the world
can build a future. That commitment does
not waver because of a court ruling. We
will continue working with local
partners, legal advocates, community
organizations, and our own commission on
immigrant and refugee affairs to ensure
that affected families have access to
information, resources, and support. To
our Haitian and Syrian neighbors, you
are not alone. This council will
continue to advocate for humane and just
immigration policies that reflect the
dignity of every person who calls
Columbus home. This week, we will be
meeting with our resettlement
organizations and leaders in both
communities to discuss next steps and
how we can continue to support
communities and families. Um, I welcome
any additional comments, questions, or
concerns that community members may
have. They can direct them to my office.
I also just want to thank my colleagues
for your continued support of uh our
communities and families. Thank you,
Council President. That's all for me.
>> Thank you for your leadership. Um
Council Member Council Deakau, sorry.
>> Thank you, Council President. I would
like to start this evening by inviting
Columbus Recreation Parks Director
Bernita Ree up to the podium to present
a report from the M McCoy Park Work
Group. A couple months ago, council
passed legislation to fund construction
of an NWSL training facility at McCoy
Park. An ordinance that I voted against,
but which was significantly improved
thanks to the hard work of my council
colleagues. One such improvement was an
amendment requiring the director of
reckon parks to form a working group
aimed at replacing the land and
programming lost with McCoy Park. This
work group has been meeting weekly for
the past 60 days and they worked
diligently to meet the mandate and put
together a report on their work which
the director will now present to
council. It is my plan to hold a public
meeting to engage with this report
further as the finer details get worked
out and I look forward to diving deeper
into this report in the coming weeks
along with my council colleagues and
community members. With that, director,
the floor is yours.
>> Thank you. Good evening, President
Harden, Chair Deawkower, members of
council. On tonight, we will present the
final report from the Southwest Working
Group, which each of you have received a
copy. This report reinforces our
commitment to continue pursuing
additional parkland opportunities as we
continue building an even stronger park
system for the Southwest community. The
working group consists of ownership
partners, city council staff, city
administration,
city departments, and southwest area
commission leaders. I'd like to
personally thank Liz Reed, the president
of the South Southwest area commission,
and Leah Young, the fiscal officer. At
this time, I will ask Liz Reed to come
and speak as a community leader.
Thank you, Council Member Day Alire and
Director Ree, Council President Harden
and members of council.
Just over two months ago, the passage of
ordinance 11126,
I stood before you in disbelief.
I did not want I did not believe that a
working group could find solutions with
expedited timelines to fulfill what was
envisioned for McCoy Park. Leah Young
and I attended each working group. We
did so relying on the advisement of
dedicated community members, members
like Derek Bergman who detailed
everything envisioned for McCoy Park and
ensured that we addressed tree by tree,
acre by acre, amenity by amenity
everything that was envisioned at McCoy
Park.
Franklin members who continued to expect
new solutions for a storm water basin.
Inspiring stories from Leverne Dodson,
Jennifer Craraven, Amanda and Iris, and
CD Aiden help keep us charged to fulfill
the true needs of the community in the
Southwest area.
Due to the direct efforts of many city
staff, including Morgan Wade, Brad
Wesall, and Craig Murphy, we are pleased
to present the working group report.
During our first hearing on this topic,
I asked the attendees to picture a
therapeutic park with specially designed
pickle ball, softball,
soccer space to benefit community
members with physical disabilities,
mental health conditions, and chronic
illnesses. A park where children of all
abilities could take part of a splash
pad. a park with sheltered picnic tables
and restrooms so families can gather and
enjoy outdoor space. Then imagine the
same park that allows for fishing and
paths for rolling and strolling.
The park also that I asked you to
envision also included a community
center with accessible elevators and
restrooms.
Then I asked you to imagine this park
created in one of the lowest income
neighborhoods in Columbus with the
lowest life expectancy in the state of
Ohio.
Today, I'm excited to report the new
path, the new plan fulfills this vision
and more. It connects additional park
amenities to ne a nearby elementary,
intermediate, and middle school whose
students and families currently have no
accessible park. The report provides the
solutions, the framework, the timelines
that will allow the city to complete the
park projects along the same timelines
as the original plan. The solutions
provided are not a listing from which to
select,
but all are required to be completed to
make this community whole.
We have commitments from the NWSL
franchise ownership group to become
invested
neighbors in our community and to help
ensure that these solutions are
realized.
We have new commitments from the mayor
to follow through in whole.
60 days ago, we began a journey. The
submission of this thoughtful,
community-engaged
anddriven report represents a major
milestone on this journey.
Meeting this milestone required
representatives of the working group and
our supporting teams to see both the
details and the vision for what's
possible.
It took honest and frank communication,
building of trust, determination,
allocation of resources and resolve. In
the end, we landed at this milestone
successfully.
And with this, it is a celebratory
moment for us all.
Today is but one of many milestones.
We look forward to this continued
journey as the city and the ownership
group continues to fulfill the solutions
arrived at through the working group as
detailed in this report. Thank you so
much.
>> Thank you, Chair Reed. Your leadership
has just been so integral to the this
whole process and I really appreciate
your efforts and that of your colleague
Leah Young. And now back to the director
for more details.
>> Thank you. The solution in this report
received unanimous support from the
working group. Together we developed a
solution,
one that creates three recreation sites
across the Southwest community.
McCoy Park, a new neighborhood community
park featuring therapeutic recreation
amenities to include splash pad,
playground, pickle ball, and other
amenities.
Green Leaf Park, creating a new
neighborhood park for families and
residents, which consists of a shelter,
walking loop, multi-purpose field, and
other amenities.
Berliner Sports Park
with a new adaptive softball field that
expands opportunities for athletes for
all abilities.
Three recreation destinations allow us
to bring opportunities closer to
residents that improve access and make
an even greater investment in the
Southwest community than originally
envisioned. The working group didn't
simply look for a replacement, but we
looked for the best possible solution
for this community. And I believe that's
exactly what we found. As we continue to
engage the community, the first phase of
work is still on the original timeline,
preparing design and construction to
begin this year.
Thank you for your partnership
and your continued commitment to the
Southwest community. We're excited to
get started and bring these parks and
recreation spaces to life. I'd be happy
to answer any questions at this time. I
also want to make mention just one other
thing. For updates and current events
that will take place within that
community, visit
columbusparts.com/southwest
area. that's spelled out southwest
area.
>> Director, could you give us just um like
a light timeline of what can we should
be expecting as the next steps
>> within your reports? You do have a
timeline that is in there. What will
take place is we will start immediately
on our design um for the parks, all
three park sites, and then we'll start
construction. As you can look on screen,
you see the timelines that are
designated out. we will make sure if you
don't have this that you have this
information. So we had already started
design. We will continue with that
design to finalize design and move
forward.
Thank you director. I appreciate the
community's participation um recently at
the the meeting where they got to
provide their input on amenities that
they would like to see. Um, for the
public, those of you who have never
participated in the creation of park,
you have no idea how what an
accomplishment it is to in 60 days um
find a new location
start making those plans. This was a
huge heavy lift and it is to the credit
of you, Director Ree, and your amazing
staff that so much has been accomplished
in such a short period of time. And I
really I want to thank those who worked
on the workg group because you really
did work. and um members, we had members
from um representation from council,
from the mayor's administration,
um from the NWSL team owners group, and
of course your incredible staff who
worked really hard um to do that heavy
lift. And so, thank you very much. And
you'll mark your calendars for a hold
sometime um soon. we will be able to
provide a public meeting where you can
hear details about what more we will be
doing um as we have those finer details
um put together. And while you're up
here, director, um it's it's hot
and so could you provide us with
information on the cooling centers um
that people can expect um during this
heat wave?
>> Sure. Thank you, Chair Deokau. Um, today
was the first meeting countywide to
discuss cooling centers um and cooling
plan. And so, right away, recreation and
parks, we have always been able to serve
the community with pools that have been
free during this time. We will start
tomorrow with free pool admission um at
all of our pool sites. Uh our splash
pads are free. And then I want to make
sure that our cooling centers, Dodge,
Driving Park, Glennwood, Lynon, Marian,
and Franklin centers will open from 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. beginning tomorrow. Um
on Tuesday, uh once again, that's Dodge,
Driving Park, Glennwood, Lynon, and
Marian Franklin. uh Dodge and Dorian
Green will be closed due to the Red,
White, and Boom um event that will take
place on July 3rd and 4th. So, that's
our plan for our cooling centers, but we
wanted to make sure that we roll this
out and soon as possible.
>> Chair, I do have a quick question. Uh
director, I know uh pools are free, but
do folks still need a leisure card? And
if they do, can you just walk them
through the process if they don't
already have one? So the process for a
leisure card is $1 fee. Um we try to
make sure that we know who's in the pool
um just for instances that may take
place. And so um they just need to have
their leisure card. Please still bring
it. We will scan you in um for free
activity and provide you with a cool
down within that pool area. Um but if
you don't have a leisure card, please
just sign up for it when you come. But
that leisure card can be used at all of
our centers as well as pool any of our
facilities
>> and they can get them in any rec center,
right? Rec center. Before you could only
get it at some, but now you can get it
at any correct.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you so much.
>> And council president, I have um one
other announcement this evening. Um,
want to remind residents uh to come
celebrate Fourth of July downtown at the
America 250 Ohio Homecoming and Picnic.
Um, this day starts with a bang at 11:00
a.m. Literally a bang. It's going to be
with a cannon. Um, and there are free
events um and entertainment. The Ohio
Theater will have free film screenings
and performances at both of these
locations. There are events and
entertainment from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m. And then the day ends at the
Columbus Commons with a free Columbus
Symphony Celebrates America concert at
8:00 p.m. followed by fireworks. And
that's all for me this evening. Council
President,
>> thank you. Council member Preso Tim
>> Council member Green.
>> Council member Remy.
>> Nothing for me.
>> Council member Ross.
>> Nothing for me.
>> Council member White. Wow, that was
good. Um, my only announcement that
obviously this is our last meeting
before break and council will re
reconvene uh after recess starting
August 24th and although we will not
have council meetings during recess,
council members will continue to play an
active role in the community working
alongside community leaders,
constituents uh and uh to serve our
city. So, uh look forward to seeing you
out there just not in here for the next
six weeks. Uh are there any uh comments
from our elected officials offices? All
right.
The at this time I request the following
ordinance to be removed from the consent
action portion of the agenda. Uh in the
housing homelessness and building
committee we have ordinance 0813-2026.
Are there any other resolutions by
members of council for the removal of an
ordinance?
May we now have the motion to wave
readings of t titles of 30 legislation
tonight? Clerk, please call the role.
>> Banks timber roa de padia de aar dors
green remy ross vice president Harden.
>> Thank you madam clerk. Will the clerk
now read to the record the ordinance to
numbers of 30 legislation on tonight's
agenda for first reading. and economic
development and small and minority
business committee. We have ordinance
1957-2026
and ordinance 2058-2026.
Neighborhoods recreation and parks
committee ordinance 1738
1948 and 1959-2026.
In workforce education and labor
committee we have ordinance 2034-2026.
Public Safety and Criminal Justice
Committee, Ordinance uh 1859-2026.
Public Utilities and Sustainability
Committee, we have ordinance 1865-2026.
And policy, I'm sorry, rules and policy
committee, we have ordinances 1486
and 20 and ordinance 2020-2026.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh the following
ordinance appear on our agenda as
consent action with the clerk, and I'll
read those into the record. Resolutions
of expression resolution 152,
150, 151, and 154X-2026.
And finance and governance committee, we
have ordinances 16 uh 63, 1801, 1850,
1863, 1965,
and 2040-2026.
Economic development and small and
minority business. We have resolution
146x-2026
and ordinances 1648, 1651, 1652, 1694,
1761,
1766, 1815, 1831, 1886, and 2056-2026.
Public Service and Transportation
Committee. We have ordinance 1494, 1623,
1709, 1711,
1773, 1837, 1875, and 1985-2026.
Neighborhoods Recreation and Parks
Committee. Ordinances 1725, 1728, 1729,
1730, 1732, 1733, 1735, 1737, 1741,
1749, 1808, 1830, and 1891-2026.
Workforce Education and Labor Committee
Ordinances 1568, 1941, 1963, 1973,
1984, and 2035-2026.
Health, Human Services, and Equity
Committee ordinances 1633, 1848, 1901,
1967,
1979, 1980, and 1981-2026.
Public Safety and Criminal Justice
Committee Ordinances 1327, 1675, 1828,
1840, 1841, 1844, 1845, 1878, 1898,
1937, and 2009-2026.
Um, housing, homelessness, and building
committee. We have ordinances 1698,
1713, 1770, I'm sorry, 1760, 1888, 1934,
1936, 1964, and 2008-2026.
Public Utilities and Sustainability
Committee ordinances 1323, 1490, 15646,
1551, 1552, 1580, 1585,
1659, 1669, 1679, 1703, 1827, 1940,
1954, 1961, 1972, and 2006-2026.
and rules and policy committee. We have
appointments A132,
133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, and
139-2026.
>> Thank you, Madame Clerk. I actually
skipped over. I think we have a speaker
on the first reading uh portion of our
agenda, Sarah Lucas, speaking in support
of um ordinance 1486-2026.
I apologize for that. Welcome to
council.
Looks like you're representing
organization. If you just tell us and
you have three minutes.
>> Hello. Thank you city council members
for this opportunity to speak today. My
name is Sarah Lucas. I live in the Old
North neighborhood and I'm the
communications chair for Transit
Columbus. I am here today in support of
ordinance 1486. As a cyclist and
pedestrian, I strongly support the
mobility initiatives listed as eligible
for the fund.
Funding things like tactical urbanism
projects, trafficcoming measures,
pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
will literally save the lives of people
like me and contribute to vision zero, a
important goal. However, more
specifically, I'm testifying today as a
recipient of the city's ebike subsidy
program. I got my ebike in last year in
August of last year with the city's
help. And I initially thought that I
would be using it for simple short
errands around my neighborhood, library,
grocery store. However, I rapidly
expanded to visiting friends in German
Village, seeing a show downtown, or
attending events like Comfest. My bike
is not a cargo bike, but I've hauled
groceries, a whiteboard, and even a weed
whacker. I want to emphasize something.
I work from home. I don't have a
commute. But despite that, since getting
my bike last August, I have biked the
equivalent distance between Columbus and
Orlando, about 800 miles. That is all
from running errands, visiting friends,
and generally running around town. I am
experiencing Columbus in new ways,
whether stopping at local businesses
since parking is no longer an issue.
Shout out Buckeye Donuts. Submitting 311
tickets for issues that are more
noticeable when I'm on a bike than in a
car. And connecting with my community as
I ride through neighborhoods. Zooming
past standill traffic, which I did
today, uh while in the bike lane is a
new hobby, and it feels incredible.
Because of this subsidy, I have now been
able to go car light, a longtime goal of
mine. I'm only driving around three
times a week and at most and have saved
hundreds, if not thousands on gas, car
insurance, maintenance, savings that
only increase as the cost of living and
gas prices skyrocket. I'm positive I
have repaid the city my subsidy multiple
times over already. I am one less
vehicle in traffic. Each mile I bike
less in my car is not added to the
city's noise is not adding to the city's
noise pollution, wearing down our
already crowded roads, or further
choking the air with carbon emissions.
We all know that our region is growing
rapidly, and with more residents come
more cars. Ebikes are a fantastic
money-saving tool for both the residents
and the city by decreasing traffic and
wear on our roads while simultaneously
toing many health benefits and reducing
greenhouse emissions.
When I ride my ebike, I feel empowered,
joyous, and connected to the world
around me. It has been life-changing,
and I cannot even be begin to imagine
what a game changer it would be for
someone who has limited or no access to
public transit or a car. It is because
of this that I'm strongly favor in favor
of the ordinance. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much, uh, chair.
>> Good to see you again, Sarah. Thank you
for coming out. Thank you for writing
out here today. Um, we're very excited
about this fund. I We'll talk about it
in a little bit, so I'm not going to
spend a lot of time talking about it
now, but I think that as an investor in
the city, this is what your investment
means. You're getting that back and
three-fold. And so, I really appreciate
you coming out and talking about how you
use your ebike. We've heard this from
many of our ebike users that, you know,
they think it might be for recreation or
that they're going to use it sometimes
and it becomes their main mode of
transportation. So, I appreciate you
uplifting that and how you use that and
I'm glad that it has worked out for you
as it has for the over 600 people we've
been able to provide with subsidies. So,
thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you so much. Um
All right. Um now, um may I have a
motion for approval of these uh items
and we're talking about the consent
agenda. Uh designated consent by voice.
>> Please call the role by voice.
>> Bankston.
>> Yes. Barbosa Deodia,
>> yes.
>> Deakau,
>> yes.
>> Dorren,
>> yes.
>> Gra,
um, I vote yes on all ordinances except
for ordinance 1648-2026,
for which I'm voting no.
>> Remy,
>> yes.
>> Ross W,
>> yes.
>> President Hard,
>> yes. Consent agenda items are passed
with the noted exceptions. We'll now
proceed with the second reading of
30-day postponed and emergency
legislation. We will go out of order
this evening and start with ordinance
2005-2026
in the policy the rules and policy
committee and I chair that committee and
um I as I start to read this I would
like to welcome uh Assistant Chief
Pototts and Dr. Jones uh up to the
podium only if you'd like. Dr. Jones I
saw that look that said maybe Chief
Pototts got it.
Um, I have ordinance 20 2005-2026
to amend chapter 2319 of the Columbus
City Codes to repeal and replace
sections 2319-30
and 2319
uh 31 to provide technical corrections
to enact new sections to strengthen the
provisions and enforcement of minor
curfews laws and parental responsibility
and to provide for delayed enforcement
of certain penalty provisions until
January 1st, 2027.
Uh tonight we are considering
legislation to modernize Columbus'
juvenile curfew and parental
responsibility ordinances. And I want to
begin by saying that this conversation
was not about any recent or one-off
event that may have made headlines. This
work began more than a year ago when
leaders across our city and the juvenile
justice system came together to ask a
broader question, which is how do we
support young people while improving
public safety for everyone? Over the
past year, I've met with the city
attorney's office, Franklin County
Prosecutor Shayla Favor, juvenile court
judges, Columbus Division of Police
Officers, including Assistant Chief Pots
and Chief Bryant, Columbus City School
Superintendent Chapman, nonprofit
organizations working in youth violence
prevention and intervention, uh,
parents, and just as importantly, young
people themselves, uh, through several
roundt discussions, and one message came
through consistently. Our current curfew
ordinance is outdated and should be
updated to reflect today's realities.
The legislation before us makes a
straightforward change. It updates
curfew hours to 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
for children under 12 years old uh and
10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for a youth aged
13- 17. It also maintains common sense
exemptions for young people who are with
a parent or guardian who are traveling
to or from work, school, religious
service, community activities,
entertainment event, or responding to an
emergency. Just as important as curfew
hours themselves is how this ordinate
ordinance will be implemented. This is
designed to begin with education,
engagement, and warnings, not
punishment. officers first priority will
be connecting with young people and
connecting them with their parents and
guardians when appropriate and referring
them uh referring families to diversion
programs.
The goal is to establish expectations
and strengthen family engagement not to
criminalize.
That is why the citation provisions of
this ordinance will not take effect for
6 months until 2027. That gives us time
to pilot the approach, work with the
division of police, evaluate what is
working, listen to community feedback,
and make adjustments if necessary before
next summer. Finally, I want to
emphasize that this ordinance is only
one piece of a much larger effort to
improve youth safety. We are also
examining issues like truency, school
safety, and expanding positive
opportunities for young people,
including working with my colleagues,
Council Member Deakau, uh, and the work
that she is doing leading around youth
summer programming. There is no single
ordinance that will solve youth violence
or keep every child safe. If we are
serious about protecting our kids, our
babies, we have to be willing to look at
every tool available and work together.
That means partnering with parents,
schools, faith leaders, community
organizations, law enforcement, judges,
prosecutors, and youth themselves. This
legislation is just one step forward,
and I look forward to continuing that
work together. Um, I'm going to turn it
over to Chief Pots to discuss the need
for this legislation. Uh, I want to
thank you for the the partnership and
and leadership of you and Chief Bryant,
uh, in helping to craft this, uh,
legislation. But, uh, I want to turn the
floor over to you. Good evening. Thank
you, Council President Harden, um, and
all the distinguished, uh, council
members. Uh, I also want to acknowledge
the many conversations that the division
has had that taken place in a community
with advocates, parents, stakeholders
throughout this entire process. While
there may be differing opinions on the
ordinance itself, I believe we all share
the same goal, and that's to keep our
youth safe. I want to be very clear
about the intent of this ordinance. It
is about prevention and not punishment.
This ordinance is designed to create
opportunities for intervention before a
young person becomes involved in
violence or someone committing a crime.
It is another tool that allows our
officers to engage our youth and
families during the hours when our data
tells us the risk of victimization and
criminal activity is the greatest.
We also understand the concerns
expressed by community regarding how
this ordinance will be utilized. We have
taken a thoughtful approach to this.
We've had many conversations not just
with leadership but also with our police
officers and we understand that we don't
want to create a avenue where
criminalization occurs. That is why the
pilot program is so important. It will
allow us in real time to see how this
works. But what we cannot do is to
continue to do what we've always done.
We understand that looking at 26 major
cities, Columbus was dead at last in our
ordinance. We have to do something. We
have to hold our parents accountable,
but we also have to make sure that we
create policy and procedures that keep
our people safe. Additionally, what the
division will do to track is create a
field interview position in our P1. This
will accurately monitor how this
ordinance is being used, evaluate
trends, and make informed decisions
moving forward. That is precisely why we
were okay with the ordinance, the
citation taking effect six months later,
because we want time for our officers to
get familiar with the process, but also
to educate the community on what the new
laws that take effect will be. I believe
that this is just one tool in a tool
belt, one of many. as we continue to
look at how we eradicate juvenile
violence and implement this order in a
manner that builds trust, promotes
accountability, and most importantly, it
helps to keep our youth safe.
>> Thank you so uh much, Chief, and thank
you for your work, Dr. Jones. Thank you.
I know that this is I I keep saying that
if this were all we were doing to engage
youth violence and of course I would be
open to so much more criticism but this
is part of a much larger conversation
and initiatives um that we think that in
a whole can uh curb youth violence and I
a lot of folks think that this is about
protecting the community from young
people. It's as much about protecting
young people from the streets. Uh, and I
think that if if by if if
safety is our city's top priority, then
the safety of our young people has to be
at the top of that safety list. And so
that's why we're bringing this uh this
conversation forward, this legislation
forward. And I'll open it up for any
conversations or questions from my
colleagues.
>> I have a couple questions,
>> please. Um, Chief Pototts, you talked
about tracking um the officer's
experience during this pilot, the
six-month pilot phase, and you mentioned
adding a field interview to P1. Now, I
know what P1 is. Can you explain what P1
is to folks?
>> It's our reporting system that we
currently use. Um, we do field
interviews for adults. We're just simply
adding a column for juvenile. So when
that officer encounters a juvenile um as
going to be instructed by us that first
contact as long as there are no other
mitigating factors um the goal is to
educate not only the juvenile but also
the parents
within that six so the way I understand
the legislation six months until it's
imple until it will be enforced. If you
are going through the pilot process
between now and the 6 months and you
have a contact with a young person
between now and those six months, will
that contact be held against that young
person or are we talking clean slate at
6 months in post?
>> So for us um if we have multiple uh
violations for us the law would kick in
for citation. Okay. Um but we're hoping
that because the moratorum for the the
judges is 6 months that we use this for
time to education. But what we can't do
is continue to pick up our juveniles
over and over again even during the six
months period.
>> Sure.
>> And let me just explain. So the way the
the ordinance is written, the first
citation wouldn't count until like the
third or fourth contact with us. And so
I want to be clear that they get at
least three bites before we even issue a
citation, which we would normally do on
the first contact if they're a juvenile
curfew violator.
>> AC Pods, appreciate you being here and
walking through this. Obviously, I've
shared my concerns with the legislation.
One of the pieces that I was somewhat
concerned with is in order for us to
give multiple chances, we have to track
those youth. What happens to their data?
Is it in your system forever? Does it go
away at any point in time, assuming
nothing else ever occurs with that young
person?
>> That's a really great question. So, we
have policies that dictate when we get
rid of data. Um, and so we will follow
the same policies and procedures that we
normally do um when we collect data. Um,
in order for us to pilot it correctly
though, we would have to keep that
information at least for the duration of
the time that we're looking to evaluate
the data.
>> So, as we are trying to keep kids out of
the system, we're going to put them in
the system.
>> Well, they're in our system. They're not
in the juvenile system.
>> Correct.
>> Go ahead. Unless you're done.
>> No, I wasn't. Thank you.
>> Okay.
Um, we talked a lot about in in
conversations when you were presenting
potential pilots for this legislation,
uh, the importance of who is enforcing
curfew law and how they are trained to
engage with our young people. Can you
talk a little bit about the work that
you are currently doing, have been doing
with the officers to ensure that folks
who are engaging with our young people,
particularly as it relates to this
curfew law, are are trained to do it
appropriately.
>> Absolutely. So, our officers over the
last five years um have been really
involved in community engagement. It has
been led by Chief Bryant from the top
down. And so, I believe the agency that
you have now is not the same agency that
you have 5 years ago. And so, these
officers are committed to engagement. We
see it every day on social media. This
is just another tool for them. I can
assure you the officers of this division
will not abuse this.
and we have a tracking mechanism to
ensure in real time if we do see abuses,
we will handle them accordingly like we
do every other abuse.
>> Just to follow up, can you talk a little
bit about specific training as it
relates to engagement with young people?
>> So there really is no specific training
as it relates to juvenile curfew. What
it is is training on bystanderism. It's
training on professionalism. Um these
are the things that and interactions
with uh during traffic stops. These are
the training our officers receive during
police academy and then during inservice
training. And so when we talk about
training for curfew ordinance, it really
is just another it's almost like if an
ordinance came for writing a traffic
ticket. What our expectations are and
what we've said very openly and honestly
is that we want that first contact to be
educational. That is a mandate coming
down from Chief Bryant. Something that
we will uphold, something that our
officers don't seem to have a problem
with. I brought officer Lutz here who
has been instrumental um in building our
our juvenile database and he does it
with intentionality, professionalism and
he's very empathetic and so he's been
sitting at these roundts. We've had
conversations with him about input. This
is not something that we did in a
vacuum. We've talked to our community
stakeholders and we understand that the
reasons why there are concern. I get it.
I understand it. which is why that we
have these checks and balances in place
for us to look at it in real time.
>> One more question. I'm going to lead you
into this answer just a little bit. I do
understand and I know officers get
training a ton. There is specific
training as it relates to juveniles.
>> Correct.
>> Yes. For their brain. Yes. Absolutely.
>> Can we can we talk about that just a
little Thank you.
>> So there is training in how you interact
with juveniles as far as their brain
development. However, it's not
specifically geared towards curfew,
right? It is just how you interact with
a juvenile in any circumstances, right?
And we also our officers are well
trained in that as well.
>> Awesome. And then talk a little bit
about trauma-informed training. Is every
officer receiving trauma-informed
training that comes through the
division?
>> Yes. Okay. They also have received um
what we consider the bystander um that
if a officer is getting you know
overworked uh overwhelmed that officers
are mandated by policy to interact and
tell that officer take a breather let me
handle and so we've been intentional
with our trainings as well as our
policies to ensure um that we are
creating a well-rounded police agency
and I'm very confident standing here
that the policies and procedures that we
have in place will ensure that we don't
have the issues that I know community is
concerned about and if we do we will
address them like we've addressed every
other issue.
>> Um
AC pots, can you talk a little bit about
what the program evaluation looks like?
Like you know we've had questions around
the effectiveness of a curfew. We've had
also I just want to preface this by
saying as a kid who grew up in Columbus
I mean I remember when I was a kid we
talked about curfew. This is not new. We
have a curfew in place now. I think I'm
a little I think as a youth worker I'm a
little I I have some concerns about how
this program works and I think um
knowing that we have some trusted
sources that have been part of a
coalition of how we think about um I
mean at the curfew hearing we talked a
little bit about this and I know that
I've talked to some of our community
partners about what their concerns are
and I think their buyin has helped me
feel a little bit more comfortable about
about the direction that we're moving
in. Understanding that we have to take
some sort of action, but what that looks
like, but I want to understand a little
bit about how do we evaluate it? How do
we say is this working? Is it not
working? How do we make changes? And
what does that look like? Aside from
just the if someone is not doing what
they're supposed to be doing or not fit
to be part of this, we remove them. But
how do we know that this is even being
effective?
>> So, we'll look at our data. Um just to
give you an example of the crime that's
occurring for juveniles. Just looking um
from May of last year to this year, um
juvenile offensive remain heavily
concentrated between
uh 700 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. in the
morning. Um what we found is Tuesday
through Thursday continues to be the
highest offense volume and then Friday
remains the lowest. What it tells us is
that our youth more often than not are
getting in trouble on those late night
hours and not just in trouble but
becoming victims as well. And I want to
make this point, the juvenile curfew
ordinance is one piece of a larger
puzzle. We are actually building out a
juvenile violence reduction plan and
this is in not intended, the juvenile
curfew is not intended to solve every
challenge. nor have Chief Brian nor
myself have said that that it would um
what this will do is help us tie data to
what we're seeing in the streets. It'll
help us to tie parenting to having
parental responsibility. We cannot hold
parents accountable if we don't educate
them on what the law is and then be able
to say that we've spoken to you several
times before ordinance is issued. If you
look across the country, we are not the
only city facing this issue. Um, and I
will tell you, we've been very
intentional with making sure that even
on the punishment side of things, we
have been thoughtful as it relates to
the finances of our families. Um, the
fact that we had exemptions that other
cities don't have, and the fact that
we're looking at what ways can we
educate before we enforce. And so I
think that we've been intentional with
the leadership of this team to make sure
that this ordinance has been thoughtful,
that it's going to be proactive, and
that we'll save more lives and not it be
punitive.
>> No, and I appreciate that. And I think
the one thing that I want to um elevate
is
uh and we talked about this during the
hearing is just that family support
because I think that we're seeing that
more and more and hearing more and more
from you know parents who are tapped out
you know they're working second shift
there. I mean, you know, full
disclosure, I was a kid who broke
curfew, who snuck out of the house
because my mom was working second shift,
third shift, and I got driven home and
scared put into a scared straight
program from my parents. But, um,
calm down here. Calm down, uh, council
member. But um so I I I think that I
understand I I think it's important for
folks to understand what the all the
interventions are that we're really
helping a family unit and understanding
like how do we provide that support not
just for young people but also
especially when you look at what the
data is and we're talking about a
certain subset of young people.
Absolutely. I think you know and I know
that council member W and I have talked
about this around some of the concerns.
I think that we had some shared
concerns. I think, you know, the
continued evaluation of what we're doing
and how we're doing it and how we're
caring for people and intentionality
around that is what I'm most concerned
about because I do understand that we're
at a tipping point and we have to do
something. But ensuring that we are
thinking about this as a collective,
that we are providing support for young
people, that we are providing support
for families and for communities. um
just you know I think in continued work
with young people when they are given
options
good options and not so good choices
right we're putting them in a driver's
seat where they can really change the
trajectory of their lives and this is
every young person it doesn't matter
what family what community what income
you come from one bad decision can
change the course of your life and so um
so I appreciate that we're thinking of
the whole picture and look forward to
our continued conversations about how
this rolls out and and how we're
continuing that care for community.
>> Absolutely. I just want to say this
conversation started with council about
a year ago, but it actually started
within the the division about two and a
half years ago as we start really
looking at the trends of our juveniles.
And so we've been intentional with slow
rolling this and making sure that as a
division we're proactive in making sure
that our community feels first that we
have police legitimacy before we
introduce any new uh ordinance, but also
that our officers understand their role
in community is not just enforcement.
And I I believe over the last 5 years
we've proven that. Um there's no perfect
system. There's no perfect ordinance
that will solve everything that's going
on um in the country. This is one piece
of a puzzle. The bigger, larger picture
when it's unveiled, we'll talk about
holistically how we're trying to heal
families but also educate them on their
responsibilities because what I can tell
you is our officers cannot police
parenting. We cannot. And we're doing
our parts. We need parents to do their
parts and we need our children to
understand that sometimes we're saving
them from themselves. I would rather you
be mad at me about a curfew violation
than me knocking on your parents' door
to tell them you didn't make it. And so
that's where my heart posture is.
>> Thank you so much, Chief. And just
earlier today, someone uh said this I
think it's a stupid phrase soft on crime
and we were but I know this is smart on
safety. One of the the reasons why I
trust you, your leadership and the
division to manage this is because you
were so thoughtful. It was the division
who pushed back and said we should it
was the division and the the county
prosecutor that said we should have an
education period on this. Would you just
talk hit that one more time? Why this
six months? Why why not the citation
starting immediately like the
enforcement will? AB:
>> Absolutely. So what we wanted this
ordinance to do is to reduce
opportunity. Opportunity to be a victim
and opportunity to commit a crime that
you can't walk away from. We thought it
was important that our community has a
grace period. Um and so we want to do
PSAs. We want to make sure that every
family knows exactly what the ordinance
entails, what the ramifications if you
violate it, but also the responsibility
is still on parents to be parents. And I
take into account the multiple jobs. Um,
as a as a mother, my mom was a single
parent raising two young kids and we
violated curfew as well. But I will tell
you, we also had horror stories that we
would not have had our butts been in the
house at a reasonable time. And so I
understand the fear, but I also
understand what it's like to have to
tell a parent that their child was at a
party that they didn't know they were at
and they were shot unjustly. And so I
also know what it's like because I visit
prisons too on a regular and talk to
young men who tell me that they wish at
seventh grade, eighth grade, ninth grade
that they were held accountable and they
wouldn't be sitting in prison for the
rest of their lives. And so we took all
of that information into account. Um,
and I have to thank Dr. Jones and I
think Melissa Thomas St. Clair is here.
We've been spearheading this um in
prisons using data to affect how the
division crafts some of our messaging.
And I will tell you that young men,
especially young men of color,
wish they would have had some ordinances
and some ramifications for their
decision-m that they wouldn't be sitting
in prison now at 16 and 17 years old for
40 plus years. And so as a black woman
first, because I think people forget
that I'm a woman of color as well, I
don't ever want my name to attach to
something that disparangely treats
people of color, which is why we were so
intentional and methodical about how we
rolled this out.
>> Thank you so much, Chief. With that, I
want to bring up um uh we have three
speakers on this uh ordinance. Um the
first uh being someone who uh is um no
stranger to to all the issues uh keeping
our young people safe, Miss Melissa
Stlair. Miss Melissa, would you come
forward? Thank you so much, Chief.
>> Uh Officer Ludson, Dr.
Good evening.
Good evening, President Harden, members
of council, and members of our
community.
My name is Melissa Thomas Sinclair and
I'm the founder and CEO of Mothers of
Murdered Columbus Children,
a Columbus City School Educator for
nearly 30 years and a mother whose
22-year-old son um along with my husband
Michael Stlair. Anthony Stlair was
murdered after being stabbed. I stand
before you today with mothers who have
turned their pain to purpose every
single day. Together, we have chosen
advocacy over anger and prevention over
silence.
I also want to acknowledge my husband,
Michael Stlair, his lodge brothers, our
co-founder, Carla Harris, and the
dedicated leadership of Mothers of
Murder Columbus Children. We are here
because we are community that cares, a
community that shows up, and a community
that believes every child deserves to
come home safely.
Mothers of Murder Columbus Children are
publicly has publicly supported the
enforcement of Columbus's youth curfew
since May of 2021
following the tragic violence at
Bsentennial Park where Olivia Curts who
was 16 years old lost her life.
Our position hasn't changed. We have
consistently called
on our city to use every reasonable tool
available to prevent violence before
another family receives the phone call
that changes their life forever.
Today's proposal does not create a youth
curfew. It updates the one we already
have. I won't go through the ordinance
because it was already stated, but
clearly stating exact times provides
clear language that we all can speak. It
allows the community to speak the same
language across their households.
Now, you've heard and I concur. This
ordinance is not the fix. It is another
tool in our toolbox. That's our theme of
this ordinance. Across our country,
cities have updated their youth curfew
laws as community needs have changed.
Columbus should continue evaluating what
works, making improvements, and using
everyday available strategies to protect
our children, and which are your
children.
One thing this discussion has revealed
is that many residents didn't even know
Columbus has a curfew ordinance. That
tells us that awareness must improve. If
this ordinance passes, if the updates in
this ordinance passes, it should be
followed by citywide education campaign
so that parents, youth, schools,
recreation centers, faith communities,
and neighborhoods understand the law
before accountability is expected, which
you've heard so clearly stated. I've
heard concerns that the ordinance won't
be enforced by the community. Well, if
enforcement hasn't been if enforcement
has been inconsistent, the answer is not
to abandon the law. We enforce fairly
and consistently. But enforcement can't
just be law enforcement. The first line
of defense should be us, the community.
I've heard concerns that these
consequences won't stop young people.
Consequences alone rarely change
behavior. Trust me, I'm a seventh grade
teacher. I know this very well.
Relationships change behavior.
Mentorship changes behavior. Opportunity
changes behavior and accountability.
This ordinance creates another
opportunity to intervene before a young
person becomes the next victim or
another family becomes the lifelong
journey that we all face. Our first line
of defense will always be parents and
guardians. At the same time, we
recognize many families face real
challenges. Parents working second
shift, as we've heard, third shift,
grandparents raising grandchildren or
caregivers doing the best they can. Now,
those uh realities do exist, but it
doesn't mean abandon the law. I love the
fact that you said we are going to
modernize it. That's exactly what we're
doing. We're going to become innovative
parenting, innovative caregivers, and a
stronger community partnerships.
Before I close, I want to remind us that
we all have a role to play. City
officials cannot parent our children.
Parents and guardians must do that. Law
enforcement cannot determine guilt or
impose sentences. The jud the judicial
system does that. Elected officials
cannot personally enforce the ordinance.
Law enforcement, we the community and
parents do that. Schools cannot raise
children alone. Community organizations
cannot replace families. Churches cannot
reach every child by themselves.
If we want this city we all deserve, we
must move from complaining about
problems to creating solutions. Then
each of us must do our part to ensure
those solutions work. I will not give
you the countless ways Mothers of Murder
Columbus Children does that. You see for
yourself.
Last year, Columbus remained under 100
homicides. We should celebrate that
progress while continuing to strive to
become the safest big city in Ohio for
our children. The best part about this
ordinance is that it can continue to
evolve as our city evolves and as the
needs of our youth changes.
Good public policy grows with community
that it serves. 5 years ago, Mothers of
Murder Columbus Children asked Columbus
to enforce the youth curfew law that was
already on the books. Today, we
respectfully ask you to modernize them,
pass the ordinance. For those reasons,
we respectfully urge city council to
vote yes on the proposed changes. Thank
you.
>> Thank you, Miss Melissa, and thank you
to all the moms. Thank you for your
advocacy. Miss Melissa, you I think were
at almost all of our uh community
meetings on this ordinance and I think
helped to shape uh it as well. it and it
changed uh from what we started talking
about last year to what we are we'll be
voting on tonight. So, thank you so
much. Are there any questions or
comments, council member?
>> Yeah, I would just like to thank you for
coming down today and highlighting a lot
of the things that are so important to
your organization, of course, all
parents around the the city. Um, you
said something that I think is really
worth highlighting and that's the fact
that we all need to be speaking the same
language and I think we agreed on that
in the meetings that the importance of
making sure that our teachers, our faith
leaders, our neighborhood leaders, our
parents are all of us are saying the
right things and the same thing so that
it is a consistent message that this is
a value that this community has and
demands and this is what we're going to
do as part of the entire, you know,
toolkit to make sure that our our youth
stays safe. So, I I thank you for that.
And for the people that had no idea we
had a curfew, I didn't know we had a
curfew cuz 12:00 to 4:30 is not a cur
curfew. So, I'm excited to be able to
support this and thank you for coming.
>> Thank you so much, Mr. Mothers.
>> Thank you.
>> The next speaker to come before council
is Avis Skinner.
Welcome to Councilman Skinner.
Um,
first, uh, I want to say thank you to
the moms and acknowledge the work that
they do in the community. Um, and the
police representative,
like we appreciate what they do.
>> Sure. Um, I am a little bit concerned
about
extra police stops.
>> As Ohio celebrates America's 250th,
I'd like to remind the council of an
African proverb. A child who is not
embraced by the village will burn it
down to fill its warmth.
And can I tell you what that means to
me?
Communal care is non-negotiable.
We have to be diligent in protecting and
nurturing our youth. And I hear
everybody when we say the curfew
enforcement will be informative. And I
want to believe that.
But the reality is the collective black
experience is that police interactions
are not safe for our community. In
Donald Trump's America, the officers who
identify as white are hyper vigilant
when policing black communities.
At Kroger's, I work with kids from 16 to
22, and the ones that are over 18 still
look like teenagers to me.
I'm afraid that officers will be
actively looking for
hidden dangers even when no real threat
exists. I worry about the young people
in my family.
That's what hyper vigilance is. It's
Casey Goodson Jr., Tamir Rice and Tyreek
King. Its racial trauma
reminiscent of the black codes during
the reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.
Respectfully,
the curfew enforcement sounds like just
another reason to stop and search young
black people.
And now we're witnessing another
generation bearing the burden of being
constantly viewed as a threat thanks to
social engineering by unscrupulous tech
billionaires.
We will not lose another generation to
the prison industrial complex.
As the city prepares to set its budget
for 2027,
I urge the council to remember the young
people of Columbus. It is your
responsibility to invest in the future
of our city. And that means investing in
creative ways to engage, educate,
inspire, and uplift the next generation
of leaders and entrepreneurs. And to the
council member,
you're a prime example
and we're going to inspire those
leaders. One day, one of those
youngsters could be right here on
council. Thanks.
>> Thank you, Miss K. and and don't don't
walk away because I think that you hit
on a lot of the underlying um sentiments
of a lot of folks in this conversation.
I never uh wanted to rush this
conversation or afraid of any parts of
it. Um and so I I I appreciate you being
here. Uh I have friends and family and
and truthfully, if this was the division
of police of 2020, I would not be
bringing this ordinance forward. We have
different leadership. We've had
different changes that have happened
within this department over the last
five, six years that and that give me
trust that one u we can hold them
accountable that uh there is a built-in
uh evaluation period to track and see
how this is being implemented. Uh but
but those underlying historical um
concerns are not lost, I think, on on
anyone on in this and I appreciate you
giving voice to it as we still move
forward. And I would say this last,
Council Member Bro, Deputy and I were
talking about this. This is a yes and
if this was a yes and we need to invest
more in youth programming. Uh and so so
I do I I I see it in your face. this is
not you're not coming down here to
grandstand or to have a political
conversation. There are concerns
and I see that I hear that and that is
the expectation and and trust that we
the expectation that we have for this
division as they learn and enforce this
over the next six months.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much for being here.
The last speaker to come before council
was Aaron Hathaway, an inpic youth.
Good evening, Council President Harden
and Council members. Um, my name is
Aaron Hathway. I'm the executive
director and co-founder of Epic Youth.
Joining me this evening are the members
of the Epic Youth Council. Um, with me
as Linux, Chelsea, Claire, Sloan,
Jasmine, R.J., Anthony, Riley, and
Jayla. There are a few others who are
not with us this evening who are part of
council. Um their responsibility is to
serve our organization and be a youth
voice um for our organization to make
sure that we are in the right direction
as far as building our programs to make
sure that it it is directly impacting
them. Um and they are also representing
just the city and youth in general. I
will say I had some remarks, but I think
the conversations that's come before me
has kind of raising a emotion in me and
has kind of have changed what I've
wanted to say. Um, but on Friday,
Council Member Ross um got a chance to
visit our retreat. Um, and we got a
chance to share the proposed curfew
ordinance with the members of our Epic
Student Council. Um, and we sat together
with Council Member Ross and all of her
um, knowledge and of of law and she was
able to read we were able to read the
amendment line by line. Um, and what
follow was one of the most thoughtful
conversations I've had with young people
about public policy. Um, what I will say
is after hearing some of the sentiments
that's come before me, um, there were
concerns. Um, and this conversation that
we had, um, the questions that they
brought up about this ordinance, um, let
me know that there was a gap of
understanding and knowledge. And though
I support the curfew, they were
concerned about the policing. what does
this mean for their day-to-day life and
their activities and how do they live?
Um there was also concerns about their
interaction with law enforcement um and
how it determined whether um their
concerns weren't whether determined
whether they were in violation or not.
And their concerns weren't about
avoiding accountability. They just
wanted clarity, fairness, and
understanding. And so as a um founder
and or a leader in this community of
youth, I wear a lot of weight of what's
happening with our youth in our city.
And I will say that this ordinance I
feel is the responsibility of the
community and our village to have a
communication and message and a policy
so we can be unified. And I think that
this curfew will allow us to be on the
same page. And I've said this over and
over. We need to be like a two parent
household that has the same expectation
of our youth because when you have a two
parent household that is divided, the
children are divided and they can play
the card of where they want to go. And I
think that this gives us language to
withhold a standard so that our youth
can um can be safe in our community. So
it's our nonprofits, our our police
department, our schools, our community
leaders, if we all have the same tools
under our belts, we can have a safer
community. And so I do support this
ordinance and I do um with their
agreement um I told them that I was
supported, but they we we voted there as
well. And so they did not agree um on
the hours, but they all agreed that
there was a need for something to be
safe in place. And so I do I'm going to
go back to my notes cuz I had to had to
go off for a second. But um I we all
know that um with collective efforts um
this is not a loan. This is just one
tool. And so we must also continue to
invest in our nonprofits and the
organizations serving. Um we can have
policies, but it does require
relationships. Oh, is that for me?
>> You're good.
>> Okay.
I hadn't seen that. I've been here a
couple times. I hadn't seen that. But,
um, we know that, um, we know that we,
it's it's the commit, it's the
investment in our organizations and
prevention and programs along with tools
like the curfew that supports. And so I
hope that we can minimize interaction
with police by building this message and
this communication so that this policy
is ringing enough that the nonprofits
and the educators and the people who
work with youth can install what is
right in them before there is too many
interactions with the police. So I'm
hoping and I'm looking forward to
receiving communication on how this is
going to roll out and the strategy so
that I can install what the city expects
in them to them before the interaction.
And I'll say a lot of our youth, they
participate in these activities. They've
gone to Fontfest. They said it on
Friday. They were at Funfest and didn't
know it was a team take over, a teen
takeover. So, it's the awareness that
that needs to accompany this strategy.
And so, I'm glad to support this
ordinance and I know that the strategy
will come with it so we can unroll it
into our communities. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much, uh, Erin. And I will
say the advocacy that you gave at both
of the uh engagements uh that that we
sat down with you on this piece of
ordinance was very clear um around using
the city's engagement with youth serving
providers to educate. And so I would ask
the administration both Reck and Parks
and neighborhoods that's that fund uh
all the numerous youth service programs
to help us come up with a communication
that can be delivered to those providers
who are receiving city dollars to work
with our young people that we would give
them this information to share down that
uh pipeline so that we all all uh
working through the same information and
that was that was a clear clear advocacy
from you. So thank you. Sure.
>> I just wanted to say um in full
transparency, Erin is one of my partners
in good. We do uh the Day of the Girl
conference every year and one of the
reasons that um we chose Epic Youth was
because of the proximity that you have
to young people and because how you
uplift the voices of young people and
ensure that they are heard and that
they're brought in they're understanding
what's happening in their community. And
so I would be remiss if we did not
acknowledge all of you who are here
today and the work that you do with with
Epic Youth because it is so important. I
think in this council chambers
repeatedly, we make decisions for people
that don't always get to show up here.
Young, old, black, white, Haitian,
whatever you may be, right? We're making
those decisions on behalf of people
every day. And so it's important that
y'all feel like you're part of the
conversation always because we can't
just make decisions for you without you
being part of the decision. And so I
just want to applaud you for um for
being part of Epic Youth, for being here
today, for taking time out and standing
here today, for pushing back on us so we
do better for you um and create a better
city where you feel safe, you feel a
sense of belonging, and you feel seen,
and you feel heard. And I think um you
can judge the health of a community by
its young people. And so if we're not
doing right by you, if if if our young
people are hurting, we're not doing our
jobs. And so I just wanted to
acknowledge that. And thank you for
continuing to push. And this is what I
was talking about earlier, like having
you here, having your young people here,
having Melissa here. That's the thing
that makes me feel better about the work
that we're doing here because I can't
negate the voices that I'm hearing from
our community. And again, just wait to
see what this looks like because we're
talking about one small piece of a much
larger puzzle. And you are I mean, I
have teenagers at home. You know, they
don't have a place to go that they
always feel safe. And I feel like if we
do not as a community continue to invest
in safe places for our young people to
go and for them to feel like they can be
full citizens in their own city, then um
you know again I I think we're failing
them and I think that we're at a
critical time where we all need to take
a hard look and as we make tough choices
about resources and where and policies
and other things, it has to be rooted in
the young people that are here today.
>> Council member,
>> this is what happens when you talk after
council member Rosa Padilla. She takes
all your talking points and you don't
have nothing to say. Um, but I I just
just spent some time with each and every
one of you and certainly thank you and
you did not call me to speak to them
about the curfew law. We organically got
into talking about that. Um, but I thank
you for giving me things to consider.
And we talked a ton about making sure
that we are not creating policy and
creating laws about people without the
people that we are creating the laws
that Right. I see some period. Exactly.
Talked a ton about that. I want to make
sure that the top concerns that you all
brought to me are brought to this
council as a whole. So Erin, if we could
just go through kind of the specifics of
what were brought to um the forefront by
this group of young people just so that
the entire council can hear it. Um so
one, we were we were in agreement that
there should be a curfew. We were not
necessarily in agreement on the times,
right? Like there was like, can I get
one more hour? Right. Right. Right.
Okay. Right. Can I get one more hour?
What if this? What if that? And we
talked a little bit about the
exceptions. The other thing was where do
we go?
>> Right? So like in the event that we are
out after curfew and we do not fit
within any of these exceptions, where is
it that we can go? And right now I think
we were talking about very little
resources for young people particularly
available to the public that are free
and accessible for those times in which
the curfew hours are applicable. Is that
am I I got that right too?
>> Okay. And then also like I want to make
sure we're not missing anything else. If
we if we're talking about establishing a
curfew, we need to also clearly be
talking about programmatic efforts to
make sure there are places and spaces
for these young people to go that are
safe spaces that are open to the public
so that if I am an officer and I am
trying to enforce this law, I have a
place that is safe for this young person
to stay until we have contacted their
parent or their legal guardian. Is that
is that right? And I'm not looking at
your hitch. I'm going to look at you,
but I'm also going to look at you all.
Right. Okay. Is there anything else that
we are missing?
>> No,
>> I think I think you hit it. It was it
was the spaces to be because remember
the conversation was about um the my
life, my lifestyle, what do I do, my
activities I'm involved in, I need time
to do this, can I not be here, where can
I be? Um so it was about the spaces and
where they choose to hang out. Um and if
the curfew law had a certain time, can I
be in this safe space? That was their
concern.
>> Um was there any other concerns? It was
the interaction um with the police um
that was a concern and then the last one
was
>> do you all remember
>> how how it's communicated? They were
concerned with how um that information
will be communicated to their peers.
>> Mhm.
>> Well, we look forward actually to
probably using youth voices to help
communicate this. I think that you
probably are the most credible uh
messengers uh in this conversation. And
so as we work with the division uh and
our community partners to message uh
this over the next six months um I
really hope that we're able to to uh
center youth voices in this conversation
um as we go forward.
>> The Can I add one more thing? It was
also the marketing as well. They they
expressed how they um with our
communication and our conversations
being so public on social media, these
are conversations that they're privy to
as well um when adults are having
conversation online. And so that's a
concern for me as well is how these
things are communicated, the words that
are being used about youth and their
safety and then how it's communicated
online and the debates that are
happening online. They see that and they
have access to it. And so they're
they're forming their judgment and their
place in our community as well because
of how we are talking. And so I just
think the the the language is important
as well.
>> And and to that point, we talked a lot
about data like what data was being used
to determine what times these curfews
were being established. And I think it
was a young lady right directly behind
you that said, "I don't know like we're
not seeing and you also we are not
seeing that data on the platforms in the
spaces that we use to get our news."
Correct. And so when we talk about PSAs
and I know we mentioned um the division
mentioned wanting to do PSAs and wanting
to have this robust communication plan,
which we all agree with, but we want to
make sure that communication plan is in
spaces that you all are in. And you all
are getting your news from like Tik Tok.
And I told you Tik Tok stresses me out
and I don't so I'm not on it. But we
need to make sure it gets to Tik Tok.
Correct. Because that's how you figure
out your news.
>> Okay.
>> The last thing I was I just want to say
is something that you just said, Aaron.
And for those people who are watching,
we have a responsibility to use social
media responsibly as well. And so we are
not being ro role models for our
children. Like I think we need to think
about that because young people see
things and that's how they feel as a
whole. And so the way that we talk about
our young people is a responsibility we
all have. And so these are not just
words. So for all the folks who are
being keyboard warriors about whatever,
just know and understand that young
people feel like you were talking about
them. You were talking about every young
person. And if that's the what you're
putting down for the world to see, that
means that that's how you're going to
show up in the world. And so I just I
think when we talk about responsibility
and community responsibility, we have to
talk about that because we say one thing
to our kids and then we act totally
different and they do see that. And
that's what I mean by a sense of
belonging. They're not going to feel
like they belong at Red, White, and
Boom. They're not going to feel like
they belong at the arts festival. are
not going to feel like they belong
wherever they go because people are
literally telling them that. And so I I
I just want to say when we think about
responsibility for folks to think about
that as well.
>> Thank you so much. Thank you Aaron.
>> Thank you all.
>> Um with that uh if there is no further
conversation. Yes, please.
>> So
I agree with the concept, right? The
baby should be in the bed. My own kids,
they follow a similar nighttime routine
every day, regardless of if it is during
the school year or in the summertime.
This has the potential to go left almost
immediately.
And it does. I mean, I'm happy to hear
that they are going to be doing internal
tracking. They're going to be holding
folks accountable. If Chief Pototts and
Chief Bryant can be in leadership at CPD
for the next 20 to 40 years, okay, then
let's get on board. But the reality is
there may be new leadership and other
people will want to see this enforced
differently.
There's concerns here. We
It's hard for us to say yes, we're
adding a tool. It's hard for us to say
yes and when an easy circumstance could
be opening up safe third spaces for our
teens. It is absurd that our rec centers
close at 8:00 in the summertime. It's
not even dark outside. You're not giving
these kids a chance to even congregate
in a safe space to do something
productive. In DC, they hold late night
events for teens from 7 to 11:00. Come
have a pool party. Come to the local rec
center. These are things that we could
be doing. If it was a holistic approach,
I could see getting behind this, but
this is just a punitive approach only.
and it has the potential to go left.
>> So, I'm assuming that's enough. So,
we'll we'll call the Do you have final
comments?
>> Yeah. I just want to open the dialogue a
little bit and just say that I I agree
with you wholeheartedly. Leadership
matters and when that leadership
changes, that is that could potentially
be a problem. But on the other hand,
it's our responsibility, this body's
responsibility to be watching and making
sure that when those things change that
we're ready to act and the and the
further thing is you are spot on about
these rec centers. This city should be
investing in keeping those things open
late and that should be a top priority
for the administration and for us as a
city. The fact that they're not is a
problem. The fact that we don't use our
shelters for cooling centers and warming
centers is a problem. And until we get
that all taken care of, I couldn't agree
with you more
with that. Uh, is there a motion to
approve?
>> Cler, please call the role by voice.
>> Bankston.
>> Yes.
>> Fasa de Padilla.
>> Yes.
>> Deakau.
>> Yes.
>> Dorren,
>> yes. Grain. Um, I just want to say, u,
Council Member White, I I share your
concerns. I I'm going to vote in favor
of this. Um, but I'm I'm really going to
be focused on the next year when we come
back to sort of evaluate implementation
and just, you know, as we're putting
together the standard operating
procedures for how this is going to be,
you know, disseminated and trained
across the police force. um you know
interested in better understanding that
process and how we can um you know also
be in in tune and in step with with
putting good guard rails in place to
prevent some of those future issues.
Um but for now, yes, absolutely yes.
>> Remy,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> I will also say that I agree with your
sentiments, Council Member W. And I
think that, you know, any law has the
ability to go left and it is important
for us to remain in in this oversight
function to ensure that the laws that we
pass are laws that are actually working
and that if there isn't a need to repeal
and replace just as we are doing
tonight, we are going to do that. Um, I
think to your point, we create laws and
we create guardrails in laws to be able
to withstand leadership changes, right?
And so we will we have done I think we
have done that. Um, and I am supportive
of this law because of because of the
promises made with regard to an uplift
in programming, an uplift in
infrastructure, and ensuring that we
have better safe spaces and places for
our young people to be so that we don't
have to lean on a curfew law so that we
don't have to come out and and enforce
something that feels right that feels
hard to digest and to accept. And I will
say this too to the division. It is
important that we are training our
officers to be able to engage with young
people appropriately. Let me say this to
the department as well. It is important
that officer Lutz is not the only person
who understands how to build rapport
with young people and the relationship
appropriate to be able to make this
work. We will continue to have
oversight. we will continue to ensure
that this is a law that is actually
meeting the need of our young people in
this community. And if it is not, we
have that same ability that we have
today to change it. Um, and I'm
committed to working with all of our
safety partners and our community
partners and our department of
neighborhoods and our department of
wreck and parks, right? And in addition,
our department of development because
safety is comprehensive. people need to
have access to housing, to food, to all
of these things in order for this to
work out. Um, and so I am supportive of
this particular piece of of legislation.
Um, with the caveat that we will
continue to have oversight, um, ensuring
that it is working as we intend it to
do.
>> Yes.
>> W.
>> And honestly, I hope we do not lose any
young people in the process of figuring
out what this looks like. No,
>> that was a motion to amend.
>> No, this is this is Yes, we're still
Yes. from the first.
>> Yes. Uh, yes. Amended.
>> Okay.
>> Uh, is there a motion to approve?
>> Second.
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> My voice.
>> My voice.
>> Bankston,
>> yes.
>> Barrosa de Padilla,
>> yes.
>> Deakau,
>> Dorren,
>> yes.
>> Green,
>> Remy,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> yes. Weiss.
>> No.
>> President Harden.
>> Yes. Motion is approved.
>> We're going to do uh staying in rules
and reference ordinance 2020-2026 is to
enact the new chapter 20 236 of the
Columbus city codes defining the
membership organization and duties of
the community crisis response advisory
board and to request uh to wave second
reading. Just two months ago, nearly 77%
of Columbus voters approved issue five,
making clear that they support building
a community crisis response system that
ensures people experiencing a behavioral
health crisis, substance use emergency,
homelessness, or other non-violent
crisis receive the right response from
the right professional. That charter
amendment called for a community
advisory board to help guide and advise
the city in that work. This ordinance
sets up that board and fleshes out how
it will operate, who will serve on it,
how members will be appointed and how
and what responsibilities they will have
as they help guide the implementation of
this historic initiative. The board will
have a total of 15 members, nine
community members uh in their personal
capacities and six professional in their
official capacities. The next step is
that that council will work with the
administration to launch an open
application process. We'd like to have
this board meet for the first time by or
in October. I want to thank the Columbus
Safety Collective, the administration,
our community partners and advocates who
helped shaped this initiative. The
voters uh spoke and now it is our
responsibility to faithfully implement
what they have approved. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues?
Hearing none. I move to approve. I move
for approval. Is there a second? Second,
cler.
Oh, first I move to wave second reading.
Second.
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> Banks Rosa de Padilla de Aar Dors Green
Remy Ross Vice President Harden.
>> Waved and move for passage.
>> Cler, please call the row.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aower
Dorne Green Remy Ross Vice President
Harden.
>> Pass. Can I get a motion to uh recess
for uh Zony? Cler, please call the RO.
Banks Barosa Deia de A Dorne Screen.
Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Me in
recess.
Hey.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey,
hey,
hey.
down.
Down.
Heat. Heat.
down.
Down.
Hey everybody, data.
Yeah,
a a
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Come on.
Hey. Hey.
Heat. Heat.
up. Down.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey,
hey,
hey.
No, no, no.
Heat. Heat.
Yeah,
I feel
Heat. Heat. N.
Heat. Heat.
Check it out.
Hey, hey, hey.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat.
Heat.
Heat.
Hey, heat. Hey, heat.
Hey,
hey,
hey.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. N.
Heat. Heat. N.
Heat. Heat.
Heat.
Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat.
Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat.
Heat.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Woo. Heat.
Heat.
la.
Heat.
Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. N.
Heat. Heat.
Hat.
Bankston Barros Padilla De Akar Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Can I get a motion to assist with the
reading of the journal?
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deadia De Aar Dorren
Green Reie Ross White 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. Chair Dorance chairs
this committee and all member ser is
yours.
>> Thank you, council president. As always,
I'll briefly explain our rules speaking
before a council on reszonings and
variances. We only hear a staff
presentation for ordinances that have a
disapproval from a recommending body or
if we have a public speaker to sign to
speak against an ordinance. We permit
three speakers on each side, three
proponents, three opponents. We ask
those speakers limit their remarks to
three minutes for the standard rules
council. All speakers in the council
variance, including city staff, area
commissioners, applicants, and members
of the public will be sworn in before
they give testimony. A representative of
an area commission is always able to
speak on an ordinance who do not need to
fill out a speaker slip, but we do ask
you alert city staff of your intentions
to speak at this committee hearing.
Representatives of a civic association
do need to fill out a speaker slip
because civic associations are not
formally recognized under Columbus City
Code. Uh this evening we do have eight
public speakers signed up to speak on
legislation and I I'm aware of at least
two area commissioners that will be
representing their organizations here
this evening. On the advice of the city
attorney's office I will will now swear
in city staff. Please stand and raise
your right hand to be sworn in. Do you
swear or affirm the testimony 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 dude. I do.
>> Thank you. Please let the record reflect
that Tim Dietrich from the department of
building services. Mark Jervilis from
the division of planning. Daniel
Bleshman from the Division of Traffic
Management in the Department of Public
Service and Deputy Director for Housing
Strategies Aaron Proer of the Department
of Development have been sworn in. Uh
first we have ordinance number 1284-2026
to reszone 1695 Dwey Avenue being 2.29
plus acres located in the south side of
Dwey Avenue at the southern terminus of
Key West Avenue from M manufacturing
district and R1 residential district to
LM limited manufacturing district. Um
this ordinance was postponed last week.
Uh so I'm going to ask for staff
presentations again from city staff for
any updates u from them and we'll allow
the applicant to provide additional
updates and then again we will get to
our speakers who have sp sign signed up
to speak on this ordinance as well. Just
as a reminder this site consists of one
undeveloped parcel which is splitzoned.
A portion of it is zoned M manufacturing
district and another portion of it zoned
as R1 residential district. The
requested reszoning will allow the site
to be developed a limited office use and
less obje objectionable manufacturing
uses. The proposal has approved from
city staff, the development commission,
but a disapproval from the north central
area commission. Due to that
disapproval, we'll now hear staff
report. Uh starting with Mr. Tim
Dietrich. Mr. Dietrich, floor is yours.
>> Chair Dorans, President Harden, members
of council, the 2.29 acre site consists
of one undeveloped parcel splitzoned in
the M manufacturing district and R1
residential district. The requested LM
manu limited manufacturing district will
allow the site to be developed with
office type uses and limited less
objectionable manufacturing uses as
listed in the permitted uses section of
the submitted limitation text. North and
west of the site are single-unit
dwellings and undeveloped parcels in the
R3 residential district. South and east
of the site is a recycling center in the
M manufacturing district. The submitted
limitation text establishes appropriate
use restrictions limiting the subject
site to office uses and limited less
objectionable manufacturing uses.
Additionally, the limitation text
include supplemental development
standards addressing building and
parking setbacks, site access, mounding,
screening, graphics, and specific
landscaping commitments both regarding
the perimeter of the site and the
proposed parking area. with the limited
proposed uses and commitments to
increase landscaping, mounting, and
screening from adjacent residential
uses. City department's recommendation
is for approval.
>> Thank you, Mr. Dietrich. Uh, you
mentioned that there has been some
change to the plan since we heard this
last. So, there's an amendment that was
submitted in response to some of the
concerns we heard last week. Can you
just briefly again you I think you
touched on in your testimony, but just
again highlight those changes that have
been made based upon the the I think
discussion we had at council last week.
Yeah, they um did include specific
commitments regarding um the number of
new trees. I believe the number was more
than 40. Um they had some mounding uh
outlined on the site um to screen them
from residential uses. Um I think they
also had some maintenance commitment in
there to make sure that the landscaping
was all taken care of and healthy. Um so
they did submit about six items uh
today. And I know we had up on the
screen earlier. Um, so there's a limited
less objectionable usage from a
manufacturing standpoint. So we had on
the screen what is allowed within those
and I know that uh folks from our zoning
office here at council were able to
provide those to uh folks at the air
commission and and residents just to
make sure that everyone is very clear
about what is allowed at that site and
what is not allowed at the site. The
other question I have for you for Mr.
Dutri and this is similar one I asked
you last week. So again, this parcel in
particular split zone between a portion
of it is currently zoned for residential
use and another portion of it is zoned
for for manufacturing. So our M district
um generally what can go in that M
manufacturing district?
>> Correct. So the northern half of the
site is R1 which is a very restrictive
district allowing a single unit
dwelling. The southern half of the
parcel is M which allows pretty much
anything except residential. So any type
of commercial, any type of
manufacturing, industrial use is
currently allowed on that southern half
of the property.
>> And currently when you mention that
residential zoning, so that would
literally only allow for one dwelling
unit to be built on that property
>> on the on the front half. Correct. So,
if we're thinking about a map here,
we've got one portion of this parcel
that is zone M manufacturing that could
have all kinds of manufacturing,
commercial, industrial uses, many of
which um you know would have a heavy
impact on the neighborhood. And then
right next to it, the the residential
zoning is for literally basically one
house to be built on it. Like that's the
situation as we sort of, you know,
compare and contrast the two different
zoning districts in the same
>> Yeah, that's a fair assessment. Yeah.
>> Thank you. Uh any questions to my
council colleagues for Mr. Dietrich at
this time? Seeing none, uh we will move
on to Mr. Dillis uh in the division of
planning. Mr. Dis floor is yours. Chair
Dorren, President Harden, members of
council, uh Mark Derillis with the
planning division planning is supportive
of this request. Uh we note the proposed
use is consistent with the Columbus
growth strategies. Land's recommendation
of industrial and warehouse at this
site. This is pretty fresh land's
recommendation as you know the Columbus
growth strategy was adopted earlier this
year. Um and as noted the back end of
the site that this land use
recommendation is at least you know
partially if not primarily based in the
existing M zoning that exists in the
back of the site. It's also adjacent to
a rumpkey facility that sort of touches
the southwest corner of the site. So
it's sort of a transition from an
industrial area to the residential. And
what was really important for planning
was the commitments to uh the limitation
on the uses um as well as the
landscaping and screening. So that the
front you we we had asked for uh looks
at the building elevations and the
landscaping plan itself. Initially our
our ask was for more information. We saw
that information on our review is that
the building and the proposed
landscaping is consistent with the
design guidelines from the growth
strategy and will provide a a reasonable
phase to the development. Um, happy to
answer any questions.
>> Uh, any questions for Mr. Dillos?
So, uh, one question I have and I we
talked a little bit about this last
week. So, again, we're sort of in a
unique situation where again this
proposal is is, um, overlapping both an
M manufacturing district and an R1. So
two extremes. We've got one extreme on
the end manufacturing side that will
allow you to do everything a junkyard, a
dump, all basically all kinds of
different commercial or industrial
development within that. And then right
next to it, we have the most limited
residential district which which allows
you basically to build one house on it.
Um we've heard a lot from the neighbors
around wanting to see more residential
development within within American
edition. I think a lot of the opposition
that we've heard from folks to be fair
is to say, hey, we don't really want to
have additional sites be turned over to
things that aren't residential. Um, now
again, I think my view of this is is
similar to yours when you talk about
from the transitional standpoint of
there are existing manufacturing uses
that are that are nearby. So if we were
here um sort of saying we were actually
going to look at sort of expanding the
residential aspect of this, you know,
how how would sort of the folks that
look at this from a planning standpoint
sort of approach that kind of situation
considering you know we have a lot of
industrial uses that are right there and
you know the approach of adding more
residential up to them like from a you
know city planning standpoint, right?
>> How do you like how do you approach
that?
>> Yeah. uh Chair Dorren, I mean it's it's
a challenging situation and it's not
unique in the city is because there's um
you know legacy industrial in different
parts of the neighborhood and indeed
phase two of the the growth strategy and
zone in is to try to define um you know
what is appropriate for industrial, what
is appropriate for residential and kind
of draw the line and and differentiate.
As as noted, this is one property owner,
one piece of property that has both
zonings on it. there's not an alley in
be if there was an alley in between and
we could say you're here and you're here
that would be helpful I think in our
case Dwey becomes sort of the boundary
if you will dewy itself and again that
landscaping and screening of Dwey
becomes the important factor in saying
we're residential to the north and then
we're transition to the industrial and
again with the use limitations this is
not a heavy industrial proposal um it's
going to be it's new construction
production. It's not legacy industrial.
If it's mounded with the trees and so
forth and limitations on the uses, it it
allows us to uh define that transition,
if you will.
>> Thank you. And again, I want to go back
to Mr. Dietrich on this point as well.
So, I think something we heard from
residents, which is why we wanted to
make sure they had a full listing of the
allowable uses within this facility.
So let's say this would move forward and
I think a very valid question that I've
heard from folks well let's say they
start doing something at this um you
know facility that is not on that list.
Well what happens then?
>> Yeah. So these um commitments and
limitation texts are enforceable by our
city code officers and so it would be um
a zoning complaint and a violation of
their zoning and um they would have to
cease operations or you know deal with
that process
>> and if they didn't then the city would
take them to environmental court and
basically seek enforcement of the zoning
restriction within court.
>> Correct. because there is this the way
this is laid out in the limitation text
is very clear what's allowed and what's
not just like any other type of a
district um has allowable uses this does
as well
>> okay thank you any questions from my
council colleagues at this time seeing
none I'll invite the applicants
representative forward
and I think the applicants with uh him
as well
welcome back council gman
>> thank you Mr. Chairman and council on
Joe Clay's plan for land.
>> Ali Beah
Alli and I uh Oh, thank you. Appreciate
it. Alli and I uh spent some time uh
taking a look at net zero and what that
really means and we uh we really
appreciate the uh the dialogue with u
with the neighborhood uh area
commission. Um I'm going to zoom through
the presentation because you heard a lot
of that and I really appreciate staff
support and and their comments as well.
Um the notion is uh we looked at what we
could do on site to try to accomplish
net zero uh within the framework.
There's nothing within zoning code that
stipulates this is what you have to do.
Um but we tried to be very respective of
what it is uh nationwide uh and what the
efforts have been. Uh so to take a look
at that um the one thing that we could
do uh was we could plant trees. So um
the uh the coverage that we've
identified of 40 trees is an increase
from three. Uh we had originally
indicated three trees as a minimum for
the parking lot aisles. We had depicted
four on the drawing. Uh a minor
difference, but the the goal there was
to to try to work with the framework of
of what you uh you have in your code. Um
the goals and intent of net zero as we
understood them is to uh decrease the
hardcape uh effects of sun and and heat
and residual. Best thing we can do is
cover the site with a tree canopy. Uh so
we've got a combination of evergreens uh
out of respect for some of the privacy
comments as well as deciduous trees
within that 40 and that's in addition to
the shrubs that were already identified.
Um I also wanted to reiterate um we had
a continued commitment for a uh for a uh
seven board privacy fence on both the
eastern and western side of the site to
try to screen the site from neighboring
properties. Um I did want to indicate we
uh we added an aerial photograph just to
kind of give a little perspective some
of the discussion that we had last week.
U the uh the west side is Rumkey. This
red dot is the the property uh that's
identified. This side of Dwey also has
Mount Zion Church uh further west and uh
then there's a uh a larger uh recycling
facility that's located to the east as
well. Um we're uh we're talking about
screening for some of those mainly
because of the perspective off of Dwey,
not because of the immediate neighbors
to both sides, but to make sure that
that um there's there's also a screening
off of those roadways. So, um this helps
to identify at least the proximity and
the railroad tracks to the south um and
why a lot of the discussions been those
residents residential properties to the
north. Uh and as you can indicate on
here, um I know that there's plans to
build further homes within that
neighborhood. uh but there are a couple
existing ones and we tried to be
respectful with the setbacks that were
proposed uh in respect to them. So um
but the the other item that we could do
beyond trees, we talked about that last
time. Uh we wanted to dig a little bit
further and see what else we could do.
Uh there's a retention basin that's
proposed on site and did a lot of uh
research into what we could do with the
retention basin to help with net zero as
well. Um we're recommending a 10-foot uh
bank uh naturalization zone. uh and that
would allow for additional water
filtration and it also allows for uh um
a lightened impact of the of the
waterway. So uh we won't see mode
manicured uh space down to the the water
um as a residual that creates an
environmental positive for the
neighborhood as well. Um everything else
in net zero uh as was explained in the
plans within the building. I think those
frameworks, they're going to take it to
heart, but not knowing what building's
going on this site specifically yet, um,
we didn't feel comfortable that would be
be fitting in the zoning code itself or
the limitation text. So, um, we're happy
to bring those to you and we really
appreciate the, uh, the ongoing
dialogue. If, uh, there's any questions,
we're happy to address those. And I
don't know if you had something specific
for today, but, um, I figured I'd pass
it back.
>> Uh, yes. Um I just want to say that um
last week here um I tried to listen
again to to the members and and see what
they wanted. I think one of the members
uh mentioned um pollution. They
mentioned um um Joyce Avenue traffic.
They mentioned um uh security. They
mentioned um I think one of the
residents mentioned they would like to
see a park. um uh they like to see a
residential zone. Um we feel like even
though we can't give them a park and a
and a residential zone, but we can give
them a lot of trees to to combat some of
that pollution um and do what we can to
to try to blend in.
>> Uh any questions from my council
colleagues for the applicant or the
represent? Customer Ross,
>> I have a question. I've um met with some
representatives from the community that
talked a lot about concern with the type
of businesses that might end up leasing
from your
building. Are
there asurances that can be made with
regard to traffic and the times in which
there might be increased traffic? So,
when you're thinking about quality of
life, traffic in and out of Dewey after
1000 p.m., per se, um, seems like
something that could be built into lease
contracts that could be monitored by you
all. Is that something you're willing to
do?
>> Yeah, absolutely. Um, just like you
don't get a guarantee with residential
where you get a bad neighbor, that could
be terrible. You know, with the with the
commercial, same thing. you could get a
bad tenant. But but all that is written
into the lease saying that if you are
disrespectful, if you're doing making
too much noise, too much this, too much
that, you got to go.
>> And are you willing to define what too
much noise looks like? Are you willing
to define active hours in which there
can be traffic in and out just to assure
that there's peace in the in the
neighboring residential? Yeah, given
that these are individual offices,
individual renters, we can't restrict
them during hours just because, you
know, they they forgot their phone or
purse or whatever. We can't tell them
they can't go back in. Uh and and um we
don't know what type of businesses are
coming in. We we haven't gotten that far
yet, but um as far as hours, I don't see
how you could limit somebody just to 8
to 5, you know. Um,
so I would say more about the nature of
the uh the type of business that's
attracted to this. Um, this is a rental
space. It's not something that they own.
And in regards to that, um, they're
typically coming in because they're
trying to expand business. Uh, and
that's why it's not necessarily a
24-hour operation. It's not um, but uh,
a lot of times people are stopping in
after hours. It's it's not the type of
traffic flow that you would see from a
traditional workplace, though. uh the
this is one or two employees per per
unit in most situations. Uh and they're
coming and going very casually. So, as
we noted, the 10 units are kind of the
equivalent of maybe a couple single
family residences on a trip generation
basis on a daily basis. Usually get 12
trips per day from a single family home.
You're talking 10 tenants and it's
usually in and out a couple times. So if
I'm correct and and community members
can correct me if I'm wrong when they
when they have an opportunity to speak
if I am interpreting what you are saying
correctly is you don't anticipate so say
we are talking about real estate agents
who have materials in which they need to
drop off you are not anticipating that
that type of heavy drop off pickup
activity is going to happen after hours.
>> No that's correct. I I kind of think
about what I do and and I don't have
regular office hours. If I have a move
in on the first of the month, I might be
in my office till 10:00, but during the
week, I might leave at 3:00. So, there's
just no set hours that that uh I'm
committed to my office space. But the
the use limitations that were put in
place were heavily geared toward this
flex space and the idea that you're
we're not attracting somebody running a
landscaping business, bringing equipment
in and out. Okay. Um that's not the
geared toward the the use limitation
that's there. It's more office warehouse
use. uh somebody that's typically coming
in to sort or distribute uh goods or or
uh services, not uh somebody that's uh
coming in to uh to run a full-fledged
outfit where they have a secondary site
offsite.
>> Okay.
>> Uh any other questions, council members?
Thank you. I'll invite you all back up
for any additional comments after public
testimony. I did want to pause. I did
skip over uh Dan Pleshment from our
division of uh traffic management. Um
you guys are good to go. Um, just
speaking about the question of traffic.
Um, Mr. Bushman, if you could just speak
and summarize your report from last
week. I apologize for skipping over you
there.
>> Sure. Um, yes. Thank you, Chair Dors,
President Harden, and members of
council. Uh, in regards to our review of
this application, please be advised that
with regards to the size of the site and
the specific limitations of uses that
are present within the limitation text
of this proposed ordinance, there are no
specific current concerns with the
proposed traffic volumes to be generated
by this proposed development site. In
other words, uh, if this site were to be
developed with a residential uh, use, it
would be a comparable amount of traffic
as the proposed uh, office warehouse
use. Um, this proposed development site
will be required to be limited to one
access point to Dwey Avenue. That would
be anticipated to be in line with the
intersection of Key West Avenue. Um,
with these comments noted, uh, we have
no further concerns with the
application. I'd be happy to answer any
questions. Thank you. Any questions from
my colleagues for traffic?
Seeing none, we will move into public
testimony. Our first speaker is our
Commissioner Williams from North Central
Area Commission. Commissioner, welcome
back to council.
Good evening everyone.
>> Evening.
>> Um,
so as you know, this is near and dear to
our heart and our community. um had the
pleasure to speak with Council Member
Ross to kind of discuss this and work
through um what our community wants. Um
it was a resounding no to be honest from
both the civic as well as the area
commission for this particular project
as you know. Um and I believe did
everyone receive a handout
with what's around and surrounds our
community? Um,
as you see, American edition, we do have
Rumkey. However, they have been an
excellent community partner where they
worked with us throughout the process to
actually build this project. All of
their um work is done with inside their
facility. So, it's contained and it's on
the east side. So, it's not no it's not
on the side that is closest to the
residents on Dwey. We were able to work
and negotiate that out. Um, so I kind of
want to make sure that you look at this.
As you see across the street directly
from Dwey on Joyce, there are the two um
warehouses that are both over well over
200,000 square feet. And we have two
junkyards further down Joyce as well as
the smart truck transportation um smart
truck semi truck uh business. And
I'm asking that we give a little bit
more time if you're deciding on moving
forward with this so that we could go
through and work out a good neighbor
agreement because we tried in the past
to work with various businesses um
particularly the semi-truck business
smart truck to have a good neighbor
agreement and they have been in
environmental court and it has been very
very difficult over the last three years
to get things enforced.
So I do not to be honest want to go
forward without us having a solid good
neighbor agreement in place. Um but
ultimately the community does not want
this project. This is a neighborhood
that is four and five generations
strong. It was a neighborhood of just
families and we want to continue to keep
it that way. When we purchased our
homes,
we were I was sold on the fact that it
was going to be completely residential.
Homeport was building out this project.
We were going to have over 125 homes.
We're still working on that. We have
homes that are going to be built right
on Key West, like I reiterated last
week, as well as Puritan. Um the church
is also looking at building two
additional homes on Dewey for community
members. Um, in regards to the air
quality, the air quality right now at my
house, which is down the street, is
reading at a 59, which is increasing to
harmful. And as we spoke with the
members from Morpy, they told us as the
heat continues to go up and the the
particles fly around more, which is not
necessarily good for breathing. I mean,
today is bad across the board with the
heat, but that is also a concern. Um,
I had something pre prepared. However,
when you get up here and you want to
speak from the heart on what is going on
with our neighbors,
we're fighting for our community. We
bought our homes. We love our community.
We've done so much along with city
partnership to make American Edition a
better home for residents. And honestly,
with the increased traffic, I think
that's going to be an issue. Yes, we've
been able to try to we're talking about
working some things out, but I would
like if this is going to go forward to
be able to go a little further, dig a
little deeper um
and come up with a package that if it's
going to happen, that would be
acceptable to the community. We're not
anti-development. We want things to come
to our community and neighborhood and we
want it to grow. We want to be able to
work with people. However, again,
the traffic is definitely going to be an
issue. When I left the city council
meeting last week, there was a accident
with injuries on Joyce right in front of
Smart Truck where police officers had to
be on both sides of the street because
there were cars knocked out. And now
that we have that barrier on Joyce, it's
even more. If you even pull the stats,
I'm pretty sure there's at least an
accident every other week between Dewey
and 17th in Joyce. It's been consistent.
We've had area commissioners, I believe
the East area commissioner was in a
really bad accident on Joyce and
Woodford a couple months ago. Um Joyce
and 17th, another area commissioner was
in an accident on I mean and outside of
just regular residents. But it's the
traffic flow that I think is going to be
a problem. If we can hanker down some
business hours, if we can
really we want it to be residential.
That's what our community plan supports.
But as a community, we're not
anti-development, but this is not
residential. So, I mean, excuse me, this
is not for building housing. So, I do
not feel that a vote necessarily has to
take place today.
Um because as you say, we need housing.
We're trying to build housing, but most
people, even if it's affordable housing,
they're not going to want to live next
door to this. And that's just the honest
truth.
So, and just because you need affordable
housing, doesn't mean you don't want
quality or good housing. Everybody
deserves to have a good, safe community
to live in. And that's what we're trying
to build in American Edition. We're a
tight-knit community. We love our
neighbors. We try to take care of our
people. And ultimately, I'm thinking
about the health and well-being of all
of our residents and neighbors. We're
not saying anti- business. I just don't
think that this is necessarily the best
business that we can put in place for
our neighborhood.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Any questions
or comments from my colleagues? Councor
Dakar,
>> I would like to actually affirm your
concerns about traffic in district two
built pro places like this are common.
Almost 90% of my district is industrial,
manufacturing, warehouse, logistics, and
commercial.
Excuse me. I drive by properties like
this every day, and there's cars there.
It's not the oh occasionally one or two
people are going to drive in. There will
be traffic on on Dwey.
>> If this project were adjacent to this
community and could be accessed through
Joyce, I would find that acceptable. But
to put a development like this inside a
residential neighborhood and turning
that residential road into one for
commercial traffic. Um it does not serve
the residents. Quite frankly, I nobody
wants nobody suggests putting things
like this in Thornapple or Chesapeake
Farms.
Why would it be acceptable to put it in
this particular community?
Um,
I'm I was very disappointed when the
attorney for the client called me and
pretty much said, "This development is
next to Rumkey.
There's all this other stuff there. So,
what difference does it make?" Kind of
like, "If you're next to Rumkey, why
should you care if you now have like
manufacturing inside your residential
community?" The level of disrespect was
quite frankly disgusting.
And so I want you to know that I hear
your community.
>> Chair shar.
>> Um so it's interesting because anytime
there's a zoning issue that comes before
us,
>> anytime there's a zoning issue that
comes before us, I think about,
>> you know, I think about where I live. I
think about different parts of the city.
I think about the impact. And it's
interesting. I um live on the east side
along Fifth and Cassidy. Uh I don't
know, there's a chicken and an egg.
There's a large um uh business park
where there's a lot of semis. And
actually what it required us to do was
do a road widening project on Cassidy
Avenue because we were having so many
challenges with the semis that were
coming through there. Um which is
actually against a lot of our vision
zero principles. And so it's challenging
because as I think about the development
of that particular community, it's
really hard uh when you have something
that is in place that's difficult to
eradicate, right? You can't move things
that essentially become monuments like
once we build something then we don't
want to remove it. We want to think
about another use for it. We want to
think about what we do with it. And so,
um, this was a difficult one for me
because I think there are nuances in the
zoning decisions that we have to make
sometimes. And this was a nuance. I
think to your point, council member,
it's challenging because new edition,
new edition, American edition,
>> sorry, it's been a long day already.
American edition was already there and
then industrial built around it. So at
some point we had predecessors or other
folks who allowed this to happen. And
when I think about communities and when
I think about businesses around
communities and where folks want to
live, I also hear you right cuz again I
think about my neighbors on Fifth Avenue
and Cassidy who if they they had their
way, this is not what they would want to
live near, right? But it's just what
grew up around them. So there's a nuance
to this particular piece of zoning that
is challenging for me and I think you
know I applaud the applicant for at for
listening to the community for adding in
different things to make to beautify it
to whatever but it still makes it
challenging for me because every time
we're saying yes to it we're saying yes
to everything else that is coming around
which is obviously not what the
community wants nor is it a place that I
think feels like a community when you're
growing up near a bunch of warehouses
and other things that is not necessarily
additive to the community. So, um I just
wanted to acknowledge uh your concerns
and say that I hear you and that
definitely goes into my decision- making
tonight.
>> Thank you,
>> Coun Ross.
>> Two things. Um one, and I know we talked
extensively about um anxiety around
voting no for this and what that could
mean as a result. So, if we talk about
the parcel as is right now, we can put
one unit of residential and then
literally anything could go on that back
portion and it could go there by right,
meaning it doesn't come before council
at all. We have no oversight over what
that looks like. Um, and so, and I told
you I was like, I'm okay voting no for
this if the community is okay if
something goes there and it is 10 times
worse than what is being proposed. That
is what I'm really concerned about. And
I'm also concerned about it because we
are doing it in exchange for one unit.
One unit of residential that can go
there by right. Otherwise, we'd be back
here talking about what type of
residential can go there pursuant to a a
variance of some sort or a zoning change
of some sort. So, I I really want to sit
with that just for a little bit because
I I I I hear you. I hear you and I hear
um my colleague as well and and in and
understanding what American edition was
and used to be. And you know I my I have
people good good people that live in
that community and so I want to see
>> um something on that parcel that is
helpful and not hurtful further hurtful
to the folks that are there. So, I
really I want us to really consider what
it looks like to if we vote this down,
which I think you might have and and
then I also want to ask about Joyce. I
want to ask about what our opportunities
are there to control some traffic
because the reality is that there is a
traffic issue there.
>> It's horrible.
>> Um and and you got people and you're
going to have more residential people
trying to get out onto Joyce, right?
Because that's the main thoroughfare
that they can get out to. So, is is
there a traffic light? Is there
something that could help with this
traffic? Um, so just just my two things
and I and I know you you're you're
sitting with that and I know that's
heavy with you in particular. I want to
to have that conversation out loud
>> because manufacturing heavy
manufacturing is something very very
different than office space particularly
office space with the type of
limitations that we have seen added to
that will run with the land right so it
doesn't matter like they could leave to
to my colleagueu's point they could
leave they could sell this property to
someone else those that limitation text
will stay there and so whoever comes is
not going to be able to do anything that
that limitation text says that they
cannot do. Um I'm also okay like I I
think a good neighbor agreement and I
will encourage the applicant if if this
vote is successful to engage on a good
neighbor agreement and I will say this
and we talked about this the legality of
that and we cannot we cannot um enforce
the terms of a good neighbor agreement.
However, if by chance that use becomes a
code violation, right, and you get into
court, and I'm, you know, I've
prosecuted environmental court for
almost 10 years,
>> that good neighbor agreement can be used
as evidence to support the intent.
Right? So, I I I'm just want to take a
little bit of time to think about that
and give you time to respond to that,
but I I because I'm inclined
>> to vote with however the community wants
to go here, but I want to make sure we
understand what the what the
ramifications of that look like.
>> Yeah.
And that's honestly what's weighed on me
the heaviest is the what if. Um,
but I represent my community and my it
was a resounding no. But what I would
like if possible if we're going
to even maybe go to the table and hanger
down hours or what to see what we can do
because again
this is just very very difficult um
when you are trying to fight your best
for the community
and
you want to do what's right because the
decision that we make today is going to
be on that land when we're gone.
That's just the reality of it. I have to
think about our children. We plan on
passing land down to family members and
future generations. We have five
generations currently in American
edition. So, these families plan on
staying here and this is going to impact
them.
So, um,
I would respectfully, if it's possible,
to allow the rest of my community to
speak
and give them the opportunity cuz I just
don't want to make a decision without
you hearing their voices as well.
I think that's the right thing to do.
And then, you know, after they speak,
maybe I can come back up. that I just
really feel that their voices really
need to be heard, especially as we have
representation from numerous generations
who've
50 plus years in the community, as well
as some of us newer folks who've been in
the community within the last 7 to 10
years who were told that we were going
to get a complete community. And I'll be
very clear, if the development took
place when it was supposed to, this
honestly, I don't think would be a
discussion. That's just how I honestly
feel. But I do want to give the
opportunity to allow my residents speak
if that's possible.
Commissioner, I I it's difficult for me
to say no because I I know that folks
are uh have engaged on this and it is,
you know, I know when folks come down to
to city hall, but we do have a a like
rules that we have to adhere to because
if if we make an accommodation here
tonight, um our standard city council
will say three on one side, three on the
other. And again, um, obviously you all
as air commissioners are able to speak
on these things on behalf. And again,
it's difficult to speak on behalf of any
community. And again, I know that is
part of the, um, part of the
responsibility that you're entrusted
with as as an elected area commissioner.
Yes. And I appreciate you all doing that
both uh, not only here in council
chambers, but also out in the community
and certainly with individual council
members. So, I know we've got other
folks signed to speak. Um but again to
be very clear um we are unfortunately
are are unable based on just our rules
for these committee hearings to just
have anyone who has not signed up.
>> Oh no. I was going to ask for anyone
that hasn't spoken because they're
already registered to sign up. I'm going
to allow them to say their speech before
I give my response.
>> I will invite you back up if that's all
right.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> I'm gonna I'm gonna wipe the sweat from
my brow thinking about how late be here
tonight
>> and uh we will provide that
accommodation. So I will let I will let
we'll do this. We'll have the rest of
the public testimony and then
commissioner I will have you both back
up after that. Is that all right?
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Um so we do have five other public
speakers signed up to speak on the
ordinance. Do you want to
>> Are they right behind you?
>> Yeah.
>> I'm the chair for North Central. So all
the speakers I'm standing beside.
>> Okay. Um we actually So I actually we
can go chair. Why don't we do this? why
don't you stay and we'll actually let me
flip the script here a little bit with
folks that are coming up. So, first to
come up is uh Miss Lisa Brown.
Hello.
I'm uh the community advocate for the
American edition. I work part time for
impact. So I'm kind of here as a
resident and impact a little bit. So I'm
g go ahead and get started. In uh his
two 2022 state of the city address,
Mayor Gantham publicly confirmed the
city's commitment to allocate money in
the com capital capita budget to make an
American edition the first net zero
historically black neighborhood in the
country. Nid it's going to be 25
neighborhoods but we're the first
local nonprofits like Impact Community
Action and Homeport have committed to
supporting this project and ensuring
residents have a voice as decisions are
being made in the community
and this is something neighbors want
residents priorities mayor mayor
Gtherers we want affordable housing
equity climate resilience stronger
communities however we constantly feel
undeserved oberved and ignored.
On average, 35 households attend monthly
civic association meeting at the fourth
on the last Thursday of every month to
move forward on our community
driven plan, a communitydriven plan to
reach the net zero neighborhood goal.
Almost 20 homes have received an energy
audit and 10 homes has received an
energy efficient install like a heat
pump or rooftop solar. Our initiative
also has received deep investment from
the city which is nearly 20 million
being invested in the neighborhood
upgrades and infrastructures. Over 10
million in grants approved for
weatherization and energy efficiency
upgrades in the community. Our
neighborhood has been surrounded by
industrial since the 1920s, really
before that early 1900s.
We have experienced multiple environment
disasters over the past years such as
waste from Asco American zinc melting
smelting plant causing an acid ditch to
run through our neighborhood to 2011
explosion of Jackson plant facility
which they said it wasn't their fault. I
digress. To allow zoning proposal to
move forward would directly go against
the res what residents want, what our
neighborhood plan outlines and our goal
for net zero neighborhood and the funds
supporting that effort. Now, this part
I'm going to speak from my heart. My
grandfather told me my greatgrandfather
could only buy one lot in the early
1900s. So, he bought one lot, put in his
name, and the other one he put in his
wife name. They fought to get that land.
Here's a great granddaughter fighting to
keep it. It just shouldn't be. Early
1800s, they didn't have a choice of what
they could live nearby. They put up
junkyards,
you know, etc. We have a we have a
choice now
and we asking you to vote no. We're
trying to keep it residential.
Having a manufacturing in a residential
neighborhood shouldn't be anyway. Just
go back and write the wrong.
>> All right, that's
>> Thank you, Miss Brown. Any questions, my
colleagues?
>> Seeing none, we will have Mr. Jeffrey
Phillips next.
>> Mr. Phillips, welcome. Welcome to
council.
Good afternoon, President Harden. I am
uh uh Minister Elder Jeff Phillips. I am
the assistant pastor of the Mount Zion
Missionary Baptist Church. I've been a
member of Mount Zion for the last 23
years. I've also been in the community
for the last 20 years. So I sit on two
sides as a community leader and also as
the uh our church leader as well. And um
here up here the other to discuss more
of a sentimental side. My wife and I
walk in the morning and I sent the
picture there was a deer that was on the
actual lane where they were trying to
build. So I looked at my wife and said
that's a beautiful picture to see where
they're trying to build. At one
particular point we had deer. We have
families of deer. That was the first
deer I s I've seen in months because
even though they're it's not really just
them, it's all everything around them,
right? It's it's the it's the shrinking
of land for the animals as well as
shrinking of lands of people. So I told
my wife, I said, "That's such a
beautiful picture." And so I thought
about uh Leonardo the da Vinci and his
Mona Lisa, the last supper. Whenever you
add a watermark to something, you change
is it beauty, integrity, and
authenticity. So whenever you change,
you add something, you change the value
of it. So tonight, we just asking you
just to vote no so you don't change our
beauty, the integrity, and au
authenticity of our neighborhood. The
second point I want to make really
quickly is is the neighbors that live on
Dwey Avenue. Jay Lean, Deacon Jay Lean
Rhodess is a member of our church. He
has he's the member that owns the
extreme makeover home, right? And to the
other our other neighbor uh Craig
Ransom, another one of my friends who
comes out who helps me from time to time
do stuff in the neighborhood. And the
last point I wanted to make, I looked up
someone said last week they talked about
emissions, right? So I looked it up. It
says some emissions cause can increase
the risk of cancer. It didn't increase
my risk. I had cancer removed just last
year. I'm a year and seven days from
having cancer. So my thought when I walk
around the neighborhood, it may be just
a small little emissions that are making
this change, but with all the other
emissions that's going on out there,
just that percentage alone could affect
me, my children, and me and my walks on
my wife that walk every morning. So
think about uh so you said um we talked
about what's going to come up there if
we don't see guys vote no. We don't
know. But by faith, I believe we have to
trust in God that we they won't build
something that won't need to be there.
We'll handle that when we get there. But
this is the first fight we have to fight
to put this down. And what we respect
the fact what you're trying to do,
right? It's just the fact that we want
to say no because we want to protect
what's there. Not just for us, but for
the animals and for the people that's
there. Vote no. Any questions?
>> Council W.
Appreciate you being here and speaking
in support of this. Just curious,
obviously the changes that they're
recommending to their plan to naturalize
the water, have additional trees to help
mitigate some of the air quality issues
that they they did not create, but help
to reduce for the overall area. Do you
think that plays any role in making this
a better project for the community?
>> I think it plays a role and I appreciate
them for doing that. But once you open
the door, those who have children know
once you open the door to something, the
door continues to go get wider and
wider. So the best of what we say is you
know I just keep it like like I said
earlier about the the the paintings of
Leonardo da Vinci don't change the
integrity of it even though just leave
it as it is and then let the beauty let
it stand as it is. So I think I
appreciate them for doing that. It's
just the fact that once we let it in
like someone said earlier you can't
change it.
>> Any other questions?
>> Thank you Mr. Phillips. Our last speaker
against this legislation is Miss
Christina Harrison.
Harrison, welcome back to council.
Good evening, president, chair, and
members of council. My name is Christina
Harrison. I come tonight as a resident
and a community advocate for American
edition. I'm also a commissioner for
North Central. I was born here in
Columbus. Um, educated in the Columbus
City Schools, attending cause East
Academy, and I care deeply about the
future of our city and neighbors that
shaped me. Um, I come here I with
respect for the process. I come here
with concern for my community. And most
of all, I come with love for a
neighborhood that means something to the
people who call it home. I want to be
clear from the beginning. Um, I'm not
anti-growth. I'm not anti- business. I
am not against progress. I understand
Columbus is growing. Um, I understand
neighborhoods are changing. Many of us
want to see the vacant lots activated.
We want to see investment. We want to
see communities thriving. Um, I want
that for American edition, too. Growth
should have responsibility though.
American is not just a parcel on a
zoning map. It is home. It's where
families have lived, worked, worshiped,
raised children, cared for elders, and
continued to believe in this
neighborhood even when investment didn't
always come easily. The community has a
deep history. Like many historical
neighborhood, American edition has
carried the weight of decision made long
after before many of us was even invited
into the room. zoning, redlinining,
industrial use, disinvestment, and
infrastructure challenges have shaped
what what this neighborhood has had to
live for generations. So when residents
speak about the Dewey Avenue resoning,
we are not simply reacting to one piece
of property. We are speaking from live
experience. We're speaking from history
and we're speaking because we deeply
care about the future of our
neighborhood. I understand that part of
this property is already zone
manufacturing. I also understand the
argument that if this proposal does not
move forward, something else could come
later. But respectfully, um I ask counc
not to ask res for to choose between
today's concern and tomorrow's fear. No
community should be act to accept one
burden simply because a heavier burden
might come later. It should be a reason
to pause, a reason to listen. We do
appreciate the applicant um discussing
fencing and trees. Those things matter.
A fence can help, trees can help, visual
buffering is very important. Um,
but something I I cause I was taught
that excellence is the standards, not
the exception. And tonight, I ask
council to apply the same measures at
American edition. No minimum standards,
no verbal promises. Excellent. Excellent
in planning, excellent in transparency,
and excellent in accountability.
excellence in protecting the people who
live there with the impact of this
decision long after the vote is over. Um
at this we're asking um respectfully for
the council to vote no. Um but if the
council choose to move forward, we ask
that you at least table it for
additional discussion with the applicant
so we can further discuss a good
neighbor, good agreement. American
additions deserve more than just fear.
It deserves fairness. It deserves more
than compromise at dispense. It deserves
protection with purpose. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any questions? My council for
my council colleagues?
>> Seeing none, thank you all. I will uh we
have two other public speakers signed to
speak on the ordinance that are in
favor.
Any any other questions, comments? See
none.
>> Thank you all.
Um, our first speaker in favor is Miss
Laura ComicC. Welcome back to council.
Right. Good evening, President Harden,
Chairman Dorens, members of city
council.
Couple quick points. First, I am here
not in my normal capacity uh for an
applicant or a developer, but here on
behalf of the property owner. There was
some confusion after last meeting about
whether or not the property owner
supported this um application, and in
fact, he does, and I hope that you've
all had a chance to read Mr. McClean's
letter. Um for health concerns, he can't
be here this evening. He's a very
longtime resident of this neighborhood.
Um, so there's two points because I
really want you to hear from Miss Pace,
um, about, you know, just outside of our
normal back and forth. Um,
I'm actually encouraged by the
discussion that we're having here this
evening. I think that everybody needs to
be heard. I think that points need to be
raised and that we can all continue to
discuss these without ad homonym attacks
or sidebars that maybe aren't
productive. That doesn't mean a lot of
things that aren't being said here are
relevant. I think a lot of the points
that have been raised are relevant, but
they shouldn't be personal. Um, and I'm
sorry that uh Councilman Councilwoman
Daker that you had that experience. For
the record, that was not me.
>> No, it was not you. All right, that
cover that. Yeah. But um
actually one of the things that your
comment made me think about was
you want to start talking about how
things go and how this process actually
evolves. We could do that. These
gentlemen, I've only been involved in
this case in two weeks here at council
on behalf of Mr. McClean because of his
health concerns because he's a stalwart
of this community and you stand up for
him. But the other thing that you should
know from the letter that he wrote
actually has to do with this process.
These gentlemen applying for this today
want to bring private uh investment to
this community.
They're doing what exactly what your
system tells them to do. They look on a
map and they look for zoning that's
consistent with their use and they found
it at this site with the exception of
the sliver on the top. That's
consistent. The other thing is the
planning and the time that these
professionals have put into your city
plan suggests exactly this kind of use.
So that's how this process works from
the outside. When people come and they
want to build a building or they want to
do something, they check the plans.
Very, very few times do they say, "I
would like to put a McDonald's right
here." You know, no, it said
manufacturing. So they're doing
manufacturing. And why does that matter?
Because it's just what I said last week.
It's about context and it's about scope.
So the other thing you see on that map
is the very active trains that are
feeding the heavy industrial that's a
little bit further to the south. Mr.
McClean would not have accepted this
proposal if he didn't think that the
scope and the scale mattered. So I'm
happy to answer any questions that you
have. It's just a little bit of context
for you.
>> Any questions or comments for Miss Kick?
Uh, Mr. President, last week I thought I
heard someone yell from the audience
that Mr. McClean voted no on this or did
not support that.
>> He abained because
>> the uh member of the area commission
>> and abstained properly.
>> Thank you.
>> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Our final public speaker on this
ordinance is Miss Denise Pace. Miss
Pace, welcome to council.
Good evening.
Uh, good evening, President Harden and
member of Columbus City Council.
Uh, thank you for your time and your
thoughtful consideration of the zoning
request. My name is Denise Pace and I'm
the broker owner of Ankor Real Estate
Group and I happen to represent the
seller Mr. McClean and the buyer um JAS
Greenfield
and this is for the self of course
Dewey. So I want to talk a little bit
shortly about the seller. If you know
Mr. Mclean he is a pillar of the
community. I've worked with him for over
a decade on several of his real estate
projects and he thoroughly thought this
out before making a decision to even
enter into a contract for sale. Um, if
you know him, he's a he's a pillar. He
will go clean. He has helped people in
this community when they have fallen
short and he takes great pride in this
in this community. Um, the purchaser has
demonstrated a sincere commitment to
working with the community by attending
multiple area commission meetings, civic
association meetings, and listening to
the concerns of the community. Um, every
thing that they have mentioned that they
have bought to this the buyer, the buyer
went back and came back and made it
right. Once again, even to the point of
last week,
they wanted trees and fencing. I
attended the civic uh commission meeting
this this past week and my question to
the group was, "What do you want?" I got
two response. We want trees and we want
fencing.
This buyer was responsible. They went to
the drawing board and offering trees and
fencing. Exactly what they want. I also
said, "How many want to build their home
on this lot
with Rumkey in the back?"
No one wants to build a home with Rumkey
in their backyard. So, I'm going to go
into the land itself.
This land is compatible transition. And
when I say compatible transition,
this two plus a partial uh present, it's
unique. The planning opportunity is
located between residential and existing
waste recycling. Because it's located,
this property is ideal, it's ideal
situated for the use to serve compatible
transitioning between residential and
industrial.
Makes sense.
The proposed resoning to light
manufacturing will allow the
construction of approximately 10
professional design storage building and
a small office. This is low impact
business that will generate minimal
traffic, very little noise and provide a
clean, well-maintained development. Now,
I'm going to pause here because uh
council member mentioned the traffic.
Woodland Avenue does go back, but that's
one of the city roads. It's been shut
off. If you want to control traffic, it
doesn't all have to go to Joyce. That
land could also be going out to Woodland
Avenue. So, it could control the
traffic. More importantly, the project
represents positive reinvestment and the
property that remains underutilized. For
over 20 years, this property has not
been utilized. We've had to contend with
dumping
drugs activity that's unattractive. So,
it's unutilized. Um, if you do go with
this project, the storage unit will
serve um local contractors, electrical
plumbers, landscapers, flooring
companies. You talk about a time
constraint. If you're a person that's
doing flooring, the space is
transitional. You're building a home,
you do flooring. Contractors sometimes
start at 3:00 in the morning. To say you
can't get in until 8 to 12, it in it
enables them to do their job properly.
So, we don't want to put a time
restriction on what companies can do and
what they can't do. But the company but
the buyer is willing to adjust to the
needs of the community and what they're
asking for.
So approving this request returns to
underutilized property that produces um
strength to the city tax base because
you're helping a small business man by
allowing them to have a transitional
space. If you're an attorney and you
have archived files, this is a great
place to go put your files at to store.
So for various types of business, this
is a space that will allow them to help.
So um I'm going to my time is short.
Council members, this proposal is not to
ask you to choose between residential or
industrial use. It is asking you to
approve a compatible transition between
the the two projects between residential
and industrial.
So the project transform underutilized
parcel into a clean, professional and
maintained developed structure that uh
supports small businesses, strengthen
the tax base, discourage illegal dumping
through improved lighting, active
management, and encourages continue
investment along the corridor. That is
uh thoughtful planning, and that's what
we're looking for, thoughtful planning.
So we I respectfully ask for your
support for this project and ask you to
vote yes.
>> Thank you, Miss Pace. Any questions or
comments from my council colleagues?
>> Thank you, Miss Pace. I will invite the
applicant board again if there's any
additional comments they'd like to make.
If not, that's okay, too.
I uh just want to reiterate I the
comments about respect. I I feel like uh
this has been a very respectful process
and really appreciate the opportunity.
I'm also encouraged by a lot of the
conversations that have been uh going
on. I think part of the challenge about
being the the good neighbor uh
representation is we start the planning
process with the idea that we're working
toward a goal and we all can work
together on those comments.
Unfortunately, when there's opposition,
sometimes those comments aren't the
things that come forward is we're
considering this use. What can it be?
Um, but I just want to kind of recap the
scale is is really the uh the biggest
thing. Um, I heard uh the respect for
Rumkey that they're 100% contained. The
proposal here is 100% contained. Um,
when they brought the application
forward, we didn't know how many units
or anything were proposed. We didn't
know the scale. So, the the thought
process went into let's scale this
project to match the neighborhood. Um, a
lot of thought went behind the design
that you had in front of you. Um, the uh
the thought process of trying to uh
blend smaller units on the street,
something that's that's vis visual and
set back off the street. Uh, something
that residents would uh find as
appealing uh across the road from their
own residence. Um, but something that
really blends into the fabric of the
neighborhood. Uh there there's plenty of
opportunities for good neighbors. I I
want to say that I it's nice seeing 10
small businesses versus one large
business on the site. Um this property
has been on the market for three years,
my understanding and there's and I've
seen other proposals for this property
uh in addition to what's being proposed
to you tonight. Um this has gotten
through a lot of scrutinous review. Um
what we brought before you is something
that we think is a good transitional
use. Um we hope that these 10 small
business owners take a vested interest
in the community. uh and instead of one
n one business potentially turning it
its back at the neighborhood, this is an
opportunity for the neighborhood and the
the businesses to work together in the
future as well. Um as far as uh adding
to a good safe neighborhood. We tried to
do that through design. Uh what you see
before you is is a wellthoughtout design
where we have warehouse at the rear of
the building facing the industry. We
have the office facing the residential.
Uh something that would uh that would
blend well. uh any activity would be
toward the rear of the site, not toward
the front. Uh the uh we wish that it was
existing so we could give a tour. Um I
think that would have been the easiest
thing through the neighborhood process
is to have an existing building and say
this is what we're going to do with it.
It's hard to present an open field when
there's threats of what can come. So uh
we appreciate the process and we
definitely give uh credit to that. Um I
do know my clients under contract to
purchase and uh we'd love to take uh
years, months in the process to to go
through the planning process. Uh but we
uh we do realize that um a lot of their
investments hinged on whether this site
fits for the limited uses that they've
proposed. Um they have continuously
reigned in the design. Uh and I've I've
went through those transitions. I know
that's not easy because they're calling
me when they have to change things, but
we've went through those renditions and
we've tried to to mold this to fit the
neighborhood. I believe what's in front
of you is smart growth. I believe it's
conservation development at its best.
Those are things that uh we do at the
heart of our business. So I'm glad that
they called us. Um, as far as the uh the
pasture and uh and um Miss Brown, their
comments, we really definitely
appreciate where they're coming from. I
I heard the respect in their comments as
well. I think everything that we can do
as part of this planning process will
help to reiterate good neighbors and um
h happy to continue that dialogue with
the investment uh opportunity that they
can bring to the table. Unfortunately, I
know that uh time is kind of critical
for uh investment as well. So, um, we we
continue to go back and forth and we
appreciate that opportunity, but we're
happy to answer any questions you have.
Um, definitely don't want to leave you
thinking that we're trying to be
stubborn in the process. And I share
that I apologize for the experience that
you had with with whoever that was. And
I I uh I think what we try to bring is a
mediation process to the table uh to try
and find what's what happens in the best
interest of everybody. And I do think
that um this is a project that works
well for everyone, even if there is
opposition, that they'll grow to love
the design that's there.
Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any questions or comments for
the applicant or the representative this
time?
>> You might have someday.
>> I I just want to add that that you stole
my line. I wanted to apologize to you
about how you felt and I wanted to to
highlight maybe I I know there's been a
lot of talk about the negative possible
things that could go wrong. Um also I
think we could be optimistic about
possible good things that could go with
the community. Uh we would love to
embrace the community uh and create an
opportunity zone for some of the
members. We would love to have some of
the kids, some of the members come in
and have a picnic and take advantage of
the green space that's there. Um these
are the the positive things that it
could integrate us with the community.
Um I hope they see the good side that
could come with it versus all the bad
things that could come with it.
>> Thank you. Any questions for the
applicant or the representative? See
none. Thank you, gentlemen.
>> Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
>> Um, we have devoted a lot of time at two
different council meetings to this. I'm
sorry, council member. Oh,
>> you may.
Thank you everyone. And I do want to let
you know how much our community
appreciates our council taking the time
out to really listen to the residents.
Um,
you know, most of y'all know me
personally and know our community and
have come to American Edition whether
it's for National Night Out or other
community events. Um, so I do appreciate
you extending the time that you've had
to this particular zoning, but we also
feel that it's just due because it's
that important to our neighborhood. Um,
and to be honest, you've heard from the
residents, they do not want this
project.
Um,
and as I've been sitting here since I've
given my report, the air quality has
gone up to 68. So, it's increasing as
we're here right now because it uploads
every two minutes. Just to keep y'all in
mind of that. So, when they were talking
about exploring times, but then Miss
Pace indicated that they may need
materials at 3:00 in the morning, that
is simply not conducive for American
Edition. We've had the Flames, which is
a biker club that has been in our
community, serving our community for
decades, over 50 years. They shut down
at 10:00. You can drive through America
Edition at 10 p.m. If it's not a crazy
Saturday when I have to call the police
because people at the park, other than
that, you don't have any noise. You can
literally hear a pin drop in American
Edition. And I challenge anyone to come
through our neighborhood whether it's a
Saturday, a Sunday, during the week,
10:00, it's peaceful. So to have
potentially, now you're saying 10
different businesses that can be in this
facility, which all can make up their
own hours. Yes. They at one point said
that they would consider contractually
limiting the hours, but then the real
estate agent, which I believe represents
both parts or both sides, indicating
that that's not going to be conducive to
the businesses that's going to be in
there. And as we've known with our
previous Good Neighbor agreements that
we've had with other businesses, i.e.
smart truck that's been in environmental
court for over three years and they're
switching hands and businesses and still
doing terrible operations because we try
to give a business a chance and it has
been wrecking havoc on our community.
So, um, respectfully, the residents have
spoken. They do not want this and so I'm
going to stand with my residents.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. I I do want to
make sure we get to a vote here at some
point.
>> All right.
>> No, no, no. You're good. Chair,
>> ask the chair. May I speak? Thank you.
>> Good evening. My name is Melody Cook.
I'm the chair of North Central area
commission representing all 10
communities within North Central and
American Edition is one of them. I
became the chair January of this year
and I want to speak on behalf of all of
the communities, especially American
edition. This evening we are saturated
with toxic chemical buildings within
North Central area heavily in Devon
Triangle which there are 80 businesses
and there's more businesses coming.
There's 12,000 ft² 6,000 square ft
buildings that are being built. You hear
the thumping at 2 and 3:00 in the
morning where they're building
construction of warehouse building
that's on Joyce in between Windsor and
Rumkey. That's where they're going to
put people are going to go there to rent
space. They're going there to have
businesses at that's 12,000 square foot
buildings. There's two of them. They're
they're they have borders on Joyce
Avenue. We're having an accident almost
every other day. There's two or three
time there's accident every week. It's
heavily traveled with trucks just as you
spoke of with the trucks. We are food
desert. We do not have groceries. We do
not have a pharmacy. We barely have gas
stations and everything is being the
companies that are coming in. We have
dump truck companies. We have asphalt.
We have the salt bay. We have the water
tower. We have Pepsi. We have plasolite.
You can smell plasoly. We have the um
yinking majestic explosion. We're still
just restoring ourselves from that. And
limited manufacturing. Yes, that's going
to come in. They're going to improve
things, but we need housing. We're
getting 16 new housing building. Um
Habitat Humanity is coming in. Two of
those are private owners and 14 is
Habitat for Humanity. We are in need of
housing. We have a lot of manufacturing.
There's rental space everywhere else.
There's development for um housing
warehouse space that's on the west side
and the south side. They have land as
well. That's all. Thank you.
>> Thank you, chair.
>> Any questions, council members for the
air commission?
>> Seeing none. Thank you all.
>> Thank you.
>> Just one last question before I move for
a vote. Mr. Mr. Dillis, again for me
anyways, this comes down to a question
from the community around the desire for
housing at large within the community
and as it applies to this site.
Would the department be in support of a
zoning request that would add
significant amount or whatever amount of
housing? Obviously any additions because
currently the the zoning district there
only allows one one unit. So if someone
came with a proposal for adding housing
to the site, now obviously that's not
what's for us, but from a planning
perspective, considering you have run,
you have a rail line, what would if if a
housing proposal came to your desk for
specifically for this site, what would
be your view of that?
>> We we would have serious concern for
really exactly the reason that a lot of
the neighborhood is representing because
we would feel like that could exasperate
a situation. It's there's there's it's a
challenging site. Obviously, it's it's
difficult question that you have. Um but
the call that we made when we developed
the the Columbus growth strategy was
that a a light industrial use that was
appropriately buffered and provided a
face to the community was the
appropriate use. It may not be the
perfect solution, but that's the
solution that we we recommend.
>> Thank you, Mr. Bills. Any comments from
my colleagues before I ask for a vote?
>> Council Bankston.
>> Um I just wanted to get my comments
down, Mr. Chair, before the vote. Um
because this is a difficult one for um
for me cuz I hear both sides of um the
argument. I think for many folks uh in
this neighborhood know that I've been
there for community events. I'm happy to
always come and uh to Mount Zion and uh
and give my praise on there. And so I'm
very familiar with this uh community.
Also, my parents, they live in uh Devon
Triangle just over the bridge. Uh and so
I know what uh these types of
neighborhoods feel and uh function like
this idea of parts of our city where
there's this blend of housing and also
industrial and I think uh history of our
past. And so uh for me I think about my
parents who live on Gibert Avenue and at
the end of their street is uh commercial
use um actually a heavier use than this
is automotive but it's done very
tastefully. I mean it's behind the
building you can't really see it doesn't
impede. There's also a large uh geo eern
or fern or whatever the company is there
uh at Leonard. So I think that there's
ways to that both can coexist. Uh and
then I think for this particular project
because it is on the edge and because of
again and I said this last meeting
because of the area commission's work of
working with this developer uh to limit
the uses because I think in this
conversation right now we're conflating
uh just the simple word manufacturing
because I've heard things like toxic
waste and other types of things when
really again it was this community that
said to this developer these are the
limited uses that we want approved. D
and that developer agreed to them. I
went back to also make the site even
better. Um and so for me um I I just
wanted to make sure that I voiced where
I land on this for to this community
because I does not fall on deaf ears.
But this is one where we will have to
disagree and I will hope that we can
continue to have the dialogue when I'm
out in community uh speaking with you
all and know that um because of your
work we now have limitations to hold
them accountable to that and so I want
to thank you all for leaning in to make
this better. Um so that is why I will be
uh voting in the affirmative for that
for this this evening.
>> Thank you council member. Any other
comments from council members?
Council member Green.
>> Thank you. Um, Chair, I feel I feel very
similarly to the way that I think
Council Member Bangston feels and then I
also have like feelings similar to
Council Member Deokau's feelings. I
think um, one thing I think that is
frustrating and and I was not around
when the Rumkey plant was moved there
and I don't know, maybe the community
was very supportive of it. I'm not sure.
I remember thinking at that time that's
an interesting choice and I think it
established a little bit of a precedent
now where now I see the value of having
somewhat like of a step down industrial
use so that we can get back to I know
like what the goals of the neighborhood
are. But I just wanted to kind of make
that note because I think that these
decisions that we make and these plans
that we're setting and um you know the
vision that we're charting and every
time we deviate from that vision um you
know it it has it has these ripple
effect impacts and I know that we have
um you know there's another um a
composting facility that's being
proposed in in the center of a you know
of a neighborhood here that I think is
coming down the pipeline and and other
sorts of things where it's like I just I
just think we really have to be
listening and thoughtful and and
thinking about the future. Sometimes I
know it's like we have to look what at
what's in front of us right now today,
but um you know I believe that we're
here to work collectively with the
community and think about what comes
tomorrow, not just what's right in front
of us today. So thanks.
>> Thank you, council member. any anyone
else?
>> Thank you all. I mean, I think this is a
perfect case of reasonable minds can
certainly disagree. I think that there
are any number of ways to view this
situation to come to a reasonable
conclusion to either be for this project
or to be against it. And I think for me
anyway, it's just going back to the
advice that we're getting from our
planning folks is that this is not a
site that they would recommend housing
to be located on particularly because of
those adjacent uses. Um, I do think I
agree with Council Member Banks in the
sense of like whatever if this passes
and I'm not honestly I'm not sure it
will uh is that it is actually been made
better by the engagement from folks in
the community on um to limit the uses to
work towards frankly where I'm about to
ask to amend this based upon the
conversation that happened last week at
council. Um that is unusual that we have
that amount of dialogue and see
additional changes contemplated and made
but again and I know residents disagree
with me on this because you've said as
much on this floor is that folks have a
higher ambition for what they would want
on that location given the current
zoning on that site and given the sight
specific issues neighboring that site.
Um, I don't think we'd want to place
housing up against a rail line, up
against a recycling facility. Um, so if
so, what else could be there? Um,
there's not a perfect answer to that.
Um, this is a reasonable um, I think
proposal in my mind given the
restrictions that have been put in place
that folks have advocated for. Um, so on
that note, I first move to amend this to
the clerk by voice.
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston,
>> yes. Barros Padilla
>> no
>> de Aar
>> no
>> Dorren
>> yes
>> green
>> yes
>> reie
>> no
>> Ross
>> no
>> white
>> yes
>> president Harden
>> yes
>> amend it
>> I move for passage as amended by voice
>> second clerk please call the role by
voice
>> yes
>> barosa de padilla
>> no
>> de Aar
>> no
>> dorren
>> yes Green,
>> yes.
>> Remy,
>> no.
>> Ross,
>> no.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> President Harden,
>> yes. Ordinance is passed.
>> Thank you. Next, we have ordinance
number 1607-2026
to reszone 2345 Demeris Road being 11.49
plus acres located west side of Demer
Drive being 460 plus feet north of White
Spruce Lane from Ral District to L1
Limited apartment residential district.
At the request of the applicant, I move
to refer this ordinance back to
committee.
>> Second.
>> Second.
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> Is there a second?
>> Second.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston, Barrosa, Deia, de Akara,
Dorren, Green, Remy, Ross, White,
President Harden.
>> Referred to committee. Next we have
ordinance number 611-2026
uh zone 1753 uh North Hey Avenue being
15.9 uh plus acres located on the east
side of North H Avenue 879 ft south of
Tribby Road from Rural District to L1
limited apartment residential district
site consist of one undeveloped parcel
and four parcels developed with singular
dwellings recently annexed into the city
of Columbus. The requested resoning will
allow a multi-unit residential
development containing a maximum of 296
units proposal approved from city staff
and the development commission but a
disapproval from the west side of the
area commission. Due to that uh area
commission disapproval we'll now hear a
staff report starting with Mr. Tim
Dietrich from the department of building
zoning services. Mr. Dietrich floor is
yours.
>> Chair Doran
Chair Dorens, President Harden, members
of the council. Uh, north and west of
the site are single-unit dwellings in
the Rural District of Franklin County.
South of the site are single-unit
dwellings in the LR2 limited residential
district and Rural District of Franklin
Township. East of the site are
single-unit dwellings in the Rural
District and a pending reszoning to the
AR1 apartment residential district. The
requested L1 limited apartment
residential district will allow a
multi-unit residential development as
shown on the submitted site plan and
building elevations allowing for up to
296 total dwelling units. The
accompanying limitation text establishes
the maximum dwelling unit count and
includes supplemental development
standards addressing building setback,
perimeter yard, traffic improvements,
site access, shared use paths,
landscaping, and fencing. The text also
includes commitments to develop the site
in accordance with the submitted site
plan, landscape plan, and building
elevations. The requested L1 limited
apartment residential district is
compatible with the density and
development standards of adjacent
multi-unit residential developments
northwest, northeast, and south west of
the site. Additionally, the proposal
includes binding plans and building
elevations which which incorporate
design elements and features that are
consistent with planning division's
requests. Lastly, the proposal meets the
city's objective to provide more housing
in all neighborhoods and therefore city
departments recommend approval.
>> Thank you. Any question, my colleagues
for Mr. Dietrich CNN, we'll move on to
Mr. Derillis from the division of
planning. Floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Chair Dors, President,
Council, members of council. Uh,
planning supports this proposal.
Although the Treyview Roberts area plan,
which was adopted in 2011, recommends
very low density residential land uses
at the site, the plan also recommends
that future redevelopments of the area
should be at density levels compatible
with existing surrounding residential
density patterns. Staff recognizes
existing multi-unit residential
development to the north and east of the
site is demonstrating compatible
densities. Additionally, the Columbus
growth strategy highlights that
corridors like Hey Avenue should be
considered as opportunities for higher
density residential. Staff notes that
the total unit count was reduced to 300
from 324 units to 296 and a variety of
housing uh building types have been
incorporated into the site layout. Staff
uh reviewed conceptual building
elevations and found them to be
consistent with Columbus growth strategy
residential design guidelines. Uh
finally, the site design provides for
the protection of the stream flood plane
and stream corridor protection zone
along with associated trees in this area
along the southwest of the site. As
such, planning is in support and I'm
happy to answer any questions.
>> Thank you, Mr. Dillis. Any questions for
planning?
Seeing none, uh we'll move on to
traffic. Mr. Bushmitt, floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Chair Dors, President Harden,
members of council. In regards to our
review of this application, please be
advised that this site was required to
complete a traffic impact study that
evaluated the site access point to North
HG Avenue and the intersection of North
HG Avenue and Trey Road. Although this
site is anticipated to generate 118
trips in the AMP cower, which are 28
entering trips and 90 exiting trips, and
152 trips in the PMP,
94 trip entering trips and 58 exiting
trips. A traffic impact study was
required that would include analyses of
the intersection of North Hey Avenue and
Trey Road due to previous traffic
analyses that had indicated that future
roadway improvements would be necessary
at the intersection of North H Avenue
and Trey Road. This study was reviewed
and approved by the Franklin County
Engineers Office, which has jurisdiction
of North H Avenue along the frontage of
this site and the intersection of North
H Avenue and Trey Road.
Resulting from this traffic impact
study, the developer will be required to
make roadway widening improvements to
provide a northbound left turn lane at
the side access point to North H Avenue
and make a contribution to the Frank
County Engineers Office toward future
roadway improvements at the intersection
of North HG Avenue and Trey Road. These
requirements have been incorporated into
the limitation text associated within
this proposed ordinance.
Additionally, please be advised that the
Frank County Engineers Office has
initiated design efforts to implement
future roadway improvements at the
intersection of North Tag Avenue and
Trey Road. Based on the committed
contributions by this site and five
adjacent development sites, there will
be funds available in the amount of
approximately $863,000
to be applied toward future improvements
at the intersection of North Hey Avenue
and Trey Road.
With these comments and notes, the
Department of Public Service has no
further concerns regarding this
application. I would be happy to answer
any questions.
>> Thank you, Mr. Blushman. Can you talk us
through so um the engineers office has
started design on those improvements?
So, can you walk us through some what
those improvements on the table will
likely be?
>> So, uh the improvements will be
additional, uh lanes on the northbound
approach and the uh excuse me, uh
eastbound approach of the intersection.
and a new signal uh installation at the
intersection. Um and the county
engineers office is in the initial
stage. I understand they have uh
retained a consultant to move forward
with that, but they are in the early
stages of the design.
>> Okay. So essentially that again when we
talk about the difference between a
traffic access study and an impact
study, the impact again looks more
broadly around the area because the size
of the development. So we're not just
talking about additions to turn lanes so
it's easier for folks to get in and out.
It's that then zooming out a bit and
again looking at those intersections
nearby of what upgrades need to happen
in order to mitigate um some of that
increased traffic that comes with just
increased residential development.
>> Yes, that is correct.
>> Thank you,
>> chair. Just a quick uh question around
this. This was annexed in correct.
>> So in terms of the roadway um decisions
is I know the Franklin County engineer
is part of that. Are we maintaining
those roads as a Franklin County
engineer? And when we think about those
roadway decisions, where does that
decision- making fall?
>> So, that falls when when the annexation
happens, you know, prior to this uh
process, uh there's decisions made
between Columbus and Franklin County
where those lines are drawn. In this
case, the roadway along this frontage
will be retained, at least at this time,
within the jurisdiction of of the county
>> of the county. So any roadway decisions
would be theirs, not ours to make.
>> Yes. Currently, yes.
>> And when we talk about the um one last
question, when we talk about the
additional lanes, is that a road
widening or is it a redesation of what
the actual physical roadway looks like?
>> It is a roadway widening. Currently,
there are two lanes on H Avenue and
there will be a center turn lane to
provide left turning vehicles uh
opportunity additional lane to enter the
site. And does that um with this uh
project, do we also have sidewalks or
shared use path?
>> There will be a shared use path
requirement that's pro provided along
the front edge of the site. Yes. Which
will align with uh there's a future
county project uh that intends to
provide a shared use path along the um
west side of H Avenue. And just uh
residents may know this, but just so
that we're all on the same page, a
shared use path is essentially a larger,
wider width path that you can both be on
any sort of mobility device. So a a
bike, a scooter, a wheelchair, you could
be pushing a stroller, and you can walk.
So it's a wider width than what a
regular sidewalk might be. So thank you.
>> Thank you, council member. Councelor
Dakar.
So you said there's going to be a center
turn lane. So but there will not be a uh
turn lane for those people who are
traveling south.
>> So only those who cross traffic, not the
ones who are
>> So for for northbound vehicle uh there's
additional lane to to allow that uh that
northbound vehicle when they seek to
turn into this site they they would have
an additional lane. But the southbound
vehicles, there would not be there would
not be a right turn lane, a southbound
right turn lane.
>> Okay. I I drive that road frequently and
whenever somebody is going southbound
and turns right, it stops traffic.
So there should have been a southbound
turn lane. That's one of those engineers
have their reasons for why they do
things, but those of us who traverse
those roads know the reality of them.
There should have been a turn lane
there.
>> Mr. Blushman, there there are two turn
lanes, correct? Because we're adding the
the middle turn lane in order for folks
>> crossing and then an additional turn
lane for folks that are going directly
into the development. Correct.
>> No, I was told
>> there is not going to be a uh southbound
left or south, excuse me, southbound
right turn lane there. There will also
not be a southbound
um left turn lane at this time. There
there there was a uh proposal that has
not moved forward on the east side of
the road which then would provide uh a
companion southbound left train lane but
that that would not be happening at this
time.
>> Thank you. Other quil.
>> Thank you chair. Um, can you help me
understand when the traffic study was
completed for this uh application?
>> Uh, I I do not have the dates in front
of me, but it was within the last I
believe within the last year.
>> In the last year. Okay. Um, and then
when I was talking to some residents
about this project, I I drive the road
all the time, too. It's how I get to and
from picking my kid up from these
meetings. Um the um
when I was talking to some of the
neighbors um and the community leaders
about this project, they also mentioned
that um you know in addition to concerns
about the density and then the traffic
which I truly share those concerns um
this roadway is not built to withstand
this type of infrastructure and
recognizing that the cross the street
application this one would be about 20
units an acre. the across the street
application would be about 25 units an
acre as it's currently presented. Now
you're talking about something way
different way different. Um but through
the course of those conversations they
mentioned long-term planning projects
that were underway also related to Trey
Road which is of course like the feeder
road onto HG and then H is the feeder
that takes you to the highway even
though it's a tiny backcountry road.
It's the only way that all those
thousands of apartments we've all built
there on Trey get to and from um the
highway. Um something about a road diet
or the potential of a road diet on Trey.
right now that's a five lane road and
they you know what they're what they
were understanding is that that is being
reduced to threelane road which I'm not
sure if that is accurate or not but I
think in as it relates to this and as it
relates to all the development that's
happening in and around this
intersection and then along both the
trade view and then like proposed you
know hey corridor you know we have a lot
of conversations about the need for
proactive infrastructure investments
that would support that type of
development and So, I would be really
concerned if that ends up being accurate
and we could ask the commissioners when
they come up to testify as well.
>> I'm sorry, what was the qu your
question?
>> Is that is is there is is there a a
planned reduction in the number of lanes
on Trey Road that would that right now
you've got a east and a westbound lane,
two of them. Um and then I think their
understanding was that it would be
reduced to just one eastbound, one
westbound lane.
>> Yes. So between uh McKinley Avenue and
Hey Avenue. Yes, that is correct.
Currently there are it's two lanes in
each direction
>> and the uh
plan is to provide a three-lane section
there where there is a center turn lane
to allow left turning vehicles to turn
uh within that section. But yes, there
would be one through lane in each
direction. Yes.
>> So, so we would be reducing the amount
of lanes but like adding more traffic, I
guess. Does that in
>> uh I mean I would uh respectfully
disagree as far as it would be making it
safer as far as when you have it by
allowing a left turn lane. It allows a
place where vehicles can safely make
their turns where in a four-lane section
that often promotes higher speeds and
and people weaving in and out of as
people are making left turns. So that
was, you know, as part of a separate
application that was reviewed as part of
a traffic impact study to evaluate the
the appropriate access configuration
along that that section.
>> And Mr. Blushman, this is that portion
of Trey View is Columbus.
>> Yeah, it's it is mostly it it does also
we don't share it with the county
engineers office, but that is probably
80% in the city and 20% in the county.
>> Thank you. Yeah, I I mean again because
this development would be like right
almost at that intersection and then
again another one across the street
which I haven't seen yet but I can't
>> council member just to be very clear we
cannot this body should not be
considering other applications that have
not been submitted to this body at this
point. What I'm what I'm talking about
is the the planned change in that
intersection that is right there. As we
are also considering, you know, adding
hundreds of units right there that would
feed in and out of that intersection as
well as
>> council member, it is fair for to
consider this application as it relates
to that traffic improvement. I'm asking
you to limit I mean you can consider
whatever you want when you consider a
vote here tonight but the other
application that has been filed across
the street has not come to this body
yet.
>> I'm not referring to that. I'm referring
to the intersection at HG and Trey which
is referenced in the document as needing
future improvements but it sounds like
the future improvements in that are
referenced in the zoning briefing. I'm
trying to seek clarity on whether or not
those improvements include the road diet
reduction of changing it from currently
it has two eastbound and two westbound
lanes at Hagen Tribio referenced in the
current briefing document.
>> Yeah. So I I can speak to that. The the
roadway configuration in the the Franken
County Engineers project shows a
three-lane section for that that same
section. So, one lane in each direction
and a center turn lane for the section
east of H Avenue.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Um, chair, I just wanted to the reason
I'm asking back and forth is because I I
just want my colleagues to also
understand in certain in particular
areas, we do not have we we are not the
decision makers. So, if it's a Franklin
County engineer, then they're going off
of a certain basis of study. So
obviously we have someone from the
Department of Public Service here who is
representing this, but I I I just want
to let folks know as we think about our
advocacy as a body and when the
community thinks about their advocacy,
we're we are talking about two different
agencies. So while we do work in tandem,
when they're when we are near city
limits, there are decisions that they
will make similar further down on Trey,
there is an ODOT project over the
interstate that is an ODOT project. So,
I'm I'm just referencing that because we
are in a particularly tricky area where
there are three different
decision-making bodies as we talk about
the entire flow of the corridor. Um, I I
just want to mention that for good
measure. The other thing that I would
also mention for good measure is that um
again I said this in the last zoning uh
conversation we had Livingston Avenue
for anyone who lives there near Beexley
and the border of Beexley. We did a road
diet. We also built a large um I I think
it's like two or 300 units maybe. It's a
pretty large unit on Livingston Avenue.
There were lots of concerns. We also did
a road diet there. Road diets, I want to
make sure that we all understand. I'm
going to say something everyone doesn't
like. Road diets are not for
convenience. Road diets are for safety.
So, do you travel along peak hours along
Livingston and you are slowed down?
Absolutely. Is it frustrating? Sure, I
travel it all the time. Is it safer?
100%. And we saw that from the high
injury network. That's even with
developments along Livingston Avenue.
So, I just want to mention that for real
life examples as we think about our
decision-m and also understanding that
when we think about especially a road
diet, it's not for the convenience of
people, especially when there's already
traffic in areas, the traffic happens
because of density. And the answer to
that is using other methods of modes of
transportation that we are working on
largely as a city. So just I want to
mention that because I think often we
think of convenience and
in a city that's growing. The
unfortunate truth with transportation is
that it will no longer be convenient
because our infrastructure does not
match our growth. And even if it did,
you wouldn't want it to because you
actually don't want all of the cars that
a million or two million more people
would bring onto our roadways because
that would actually be more detrimental
to us than what we're experiencing now.
>> I think I think when I when I imagine it
and it would be helpful if I had like a
visual, I could probably better uh see
it. Um, but as someone who drives this
road on a very regular basis, what I
imagine is we're taking a five-lane
road. You're condensing it at the
intersection that feeds to a highway
that then enters onto a very narrow,
windy, hilly country road. Uh, with no
no, you know, like median, no. And, you
know, and so that seems
scary to me, I guess.
>> Absolutely. And and I know along this
path and Mr. Mr. Blushman, and I know
you want to continue, chair. I was just
going to say um I think the cons the
consideration of no median or a shared
use path is that's part of the reason
that it's being added because along this
corridor currently as I understand it
does not exist a median or or a sidewalk
which is what which is part of the
larger plan as I understand it.
>> Correct.
>> Thank you council members. I'm going to
move keep this moving forward unless
anyone has another burning desired
question for Mr. Blushment. I don't
think he's done with this one yet. So, I
will move on to our deputy director for
housing strategies, Miss Aaron Proer.
>> Thank you, Chair Dorren, Council
President Harden, members of council.
The proposed resoning of 1753 North Heg
supports the Columbus Housing Strategy
by adding key housing supply in an
environment where the cost of
construction is escalating faster than
affordable rents can accommodate. These
sites are feas that are feasible for new
housing development are increasingly
difficult to identify and secure. In
order to keep the residential housing
construction at the pace we need to
accommodate our growth, permitting
housing where it is feasible is
critical. The current housing
infrastructure is not meeting demand in
this census tract. Rents have increased
56% and home prices have riven risen 57%
just since 19 just since 2020.
Cost burdened renters, those paying more
than 30% of their income on their
housing expenses rose from 54% in 2020
to now nearly twothirds of the
households. This indicates an increasing
demand for new housing and in particular
more rental options. The current home
ownership rate in the census tract
remains stable, rising 1.7% between 2020
and 2024 and 80.1% of the housing units
are single family units, indicating an
overall lack of housing diversity in the
area. The rental vacancy rate for
existing options dropped from 7.1% to
just 3.9% in the zip code, indicating an
increasing demand for housing and in
particular more rental options.
Investment in the housing in this area
is critical to adding is critical adding
to places where that we are close to our
large job centers including Ohio State,
the Northwest Corridor and downtown.
Overburdened transportation networks are
not the result of localized trip
generation from an individual new
development, but instead are the result
of employees facing even longer commutes
to access jobs. This adds to the
economic, environmental, and health
costs to the community. Not to mention
the ensuing gridlock resulting from
adding significant vehicle miles
traveled to the transportation network.
We see the negative outcome on city
transportation networks and there's a
significant when there is a significant
spatial mismatch between where employees
live and where they work. Adding housing
near job opportunities is critical to
managing the overall transportation
system so roadways continue to be safe
and functional. In an area with
increasing home prices and rents,
already cost burdened households, and
access to significant job centers, it's
critical to add the needed new housing
to manage the impacts of our housing
scarcity on existing families as well as
those needing housing in our community.
I'm happy to answer any questions.
>> Thank you, Miss Proer. Any questions
from my colleagues from Miss Proer at
this point?
>> So, deputy director, I know there's been
a lot of rental construction on this
area. This is something that we've heard
from folks at the area commission just
sort of the amount of development that's
been happening out there. How does that
sort of square with you're mentioning
we're still seeing housing prices
increase within this area. So even
though we've seen development that's
occurred um obviously we have a proposal
in front of us here tonight. There's
others that are sort of working its way
through out there. So from your vantage
point of saying you know you would see
folks say hey there there's a lot
happening here. Isn't don't we already
have too much of this? uh how do you
sort of respond to that given when you
sort of review the data there about what
housing costs are looking like within
that area
>> and as we look broadly at the city but
also in the region obviously we know we
have a housing scarcity challenge right
we have a lot of folks moving into the
community we lost momentum on housing
construction largely following 2008 so
there is a deficit um that we're working
to overcome when we look at areas that
are close to our job opportunities close
to those high opportunity areas we see
an even increased demand demand, right?
As people often choose for housing, they
will pay more if they're able to get
that proximity to those job locations,
to that access to amenities and things
that are right near this particular
area. So, we see those acute spikes even
in the in the demand side around those
areas. If we do not allow for more
housing to happen in those locations, it
will exacerbate that in those areas in
particular. Um, and then we don't see
that feasibility of the housing
construction, right? Threading the
needle between the cost of the
construction to the manageable rents
that we can uh accommodate here in
central Ohio. And so when you look at
those sites, you you find them here, you
find them in some of the other locations
in the city where that demand is high
enough. If we don't allow for housing in
those locations, it's not likely that
there are other sites always that will
be able to accommodate that housing. And
so it it goes handinand and that
proximity to a tremendous amount of jobs
in our community is really the driving
source um for why that becomes an
extremely attractive area for folks.
Thank you. Yeah. Any questions for Miss
Proer, my colleagues? Seeing none, I
would like to invite the applicants
represented, Mr. David Hutchfor, for
presentation.
Uh, thank you, Chair Dorans, President
Harden, members of council. uh David
Hodgej with the law firm Under Hill and
Hodgej here this evening on behalf of
Metropolitan Holdings. Uh this process
like the vast majority of the uh
processes that my office is involved in
started with some direct engagement with
the city planning office. submission of
conceptual plans um as the annexation
was working its way through the process,
submission of conceptual architecture to
get feedback from uh the city planning
office as to whether or not a a proposal
such as the one before you uh is
consistent with city policy and um is
something that's worthy of moving
forward. Um we took that feedback in
made certain revisions to the planning
documents and um
uh as those documents were revised even
before an application was filed formally
with the city uh Metropolitan Holdings
went out and had a conceptual meeting
with the West Sciota Area Commission uh
to get some feedback uh from that group.
Um so there was some extensive
thoughtful engagement with West Sciota
Area Commission uh actually starting
before an application was formally
filed. There was also leading up to
tonight some direct engagement with um
immediate neighbors resulting in further
revisions to the to the planning
documents. This application um
uh uh is here with a recommendation of
approval from from the city staff uh
which is indicative of a proposal that's
consistent with city policy. The
proposal is here this evening with a
unanimous recommendation 6 to0 from the
development commission which is
indicative of a proposal that furthers
the city's housing policy, the Columbus
growth strategy and is appropriate at
this location and in this neighborhood.
The legislation before you
um provides in the body of the
legislation the following language
that the site includes high levels of
site and building design, significant
natural resource preservation, adequate
buffering and screening from adjacent
land uses and pedestrian connectivity
throughout the site which is you know
chief among the reasons that the city uh
planning office uh and then ultimately
the development commission saw fit to
recommendation to to recommend approval.
The area commission process directly uh
resulted in the following modifications
to the plan. A reduction in the unit
count by 28. This uh proposal originally
had a companion council variance to
address several site uh issues. Um the
the council variance the companion
council variance was withdrawn. And so
this is simply an Lzoning uh fully
compliant with the code. No variance is
necessary. Uh, Metropolitan Holdings
increased its setbacks at perimeters and
along the frontage at HG, incorporated a
15- ft tree preservation zone along the
north side of the site, um, expanded its
open space, internalized some of the
larger buildings, relocated the trash
compactor, created a green um, geo paver
uh, emergency access feature at the
southeast corner of the site. as opposed
to uh an asphalt entry drive which was
in response to some uh neighbor feedback
to the south. Um unit unit
reconfiguration to reduce building
heights, building redesign to reduce
heights and the uh neighbor to the south
the additional work there um uh uh we
were able to commit to some additional
landscaping and some fencing
specifications there at the southeast
corner of the site. some of the
additional attributes here which which
there was just somewhat of a lengthy
discussion on. Uh there are going to be
improvements to to HEG. Uh a northbound
left turn and a um widening to
accommodate uh southbound vehicles. I am
also not an uh a a traffic engineer.
I've I've been in a fair my share fair
share of wrestling matches with Mr.
Blechmitt and and Mr. Stargel and Mr.
Morehead in the in the traffic
management department through the years
and I don't always agree with the
outcome either, but I I do always find
them to be exceptionally professional.
Um I know that that Hey, and for that
matter trade has been studied about as
much as a a transportation network can
be studied. It's been studied by
Preferred Living. It's been studied by
Thrive. It's been studied by Upland.
It's been studied by LDG. It's been
studied by now Metropolitan Holdings.
It's been studied by Metro to the South.
and it was studied by Avenue Development
on a project on on north side of Hey.
So, this area is certainly not lacking
focus of really the traffic engineers
that that serve all of uh the city of
Columbus and for that matter Franklin
County.
Um, this this proposal observes the the
uh stream corridor protection zone at
the southwest corner of the site that as
Mr. uh Derilla said does add to tree
preservation. We also commit to the 15
foot tree preservation on the north.
There's some mature growth trees up
there uh between us and some single
family residential and as opposed to
get into a discussion about you know is
twothirds of the tree on this side of
the line or that side of the line let's
just say they're all going to stay. So
we created a 15t preservation area
there. Uh importantly as was as as was
previously discussed there's there is a
shared use path coming along the
frontage here. Apparently, there's going
to be more shared use path uh coming in
the near future, but it's not just a,
you know, a six foot or an eight foot
shared use path. It's an 11 foot shared
use path that's happening here um along
the frontage of the property being
installed by this applicant. The the
thing that uh one of the things that
that Mr. Drailla said and and I think
that resonated most with me when I first
saw this proposal and I certainly think
resonated with the development
commission resulting in their 6
recommendation of approval here tonight
uh is the building typology that's
proposed. As you know uh I've I've
represented my fair share of these
before council through the years and um
more often than not what we see are uh
threetory breezeway buildings. In this
instance, we have some three-story
breezeway buildings, but we also have
some twostory carriage house type units
along the northern property line, and
we've got a different building typology,
more single family residential in
appearance along the HG Avenue frontage.
So really to me a great proposal, meets
the city's um housing policy, meets the
Columbus growth strategy, uh was I think
I think it's here after responsible and
thoughtful engagement with the
neighborhood and um I think it's a great
proposal. I'll stop there and do my best
to answer questions that anyone has of
me.
>> Thank you, Mr. Hajj. Questions for the
applicants represented this time.
All of a sudden the group is quiet. Uh
thank you. I will invite you back up
after public testimony.
>> Uh our first public speaker on this
ordinance is from the West Saudi Area
Commission. Uh Commissioner Rita Cabraw.
Welcome back to council.
Council
members,
council member Harden and other members.
I am Rita Cabraw. I am a commissioner
with the West Sciota Area Commission. I
reside in the Sciota Woods neighborhood.
Um, I'm here to speak as a commissioner.
Our chair and vice chair are not
available this evening. So I will speak
of the standard and recognized form that
goes out from our commission.
The West iota Area Commission met March
19th and voted to disapprove the
application by a vote of 610.
The primary basis for the disapproval is
the project's density. Everybody here
knows that we have put in
nearly 8,000 beds. And I say beds, not
units, because a lot of these units have
multiple people living there. 8,000 in
our area over the past five years.
This project's density and lack of
conformity to the surrounding area, both
property and roadway. This application
is for 296 units on 15 acres.
The existing current plan which is
submitted with this form consists of one
unit per five acres or 15 units per um
per acre and is very low density
consisting of single family homes is the
surrounding area.
The project is not in conformity with
the adjacent residential properties.
The current plan that is in existence is
15 units per acre. The Trey View Robert
Road plan is the plan that the this
applicant is pointing to in support of
their application. However, the number
of units per acre for this application
does not align with the 15 units per
acre that is called for in the plan.
Additionally, this project will add 500
residents.
That means 500 vehicles
in and out
uh to a secondary road.
This is not the main corridor. Trey View
is the main corridor. This is a step
back area,
a roadway that cannot ex uh support
existing traffic, much less the traffic
that is currently being built and added
to the existing roadway from the
projects currently being built on Trey
View. Residents attending the meeting
expressed not only concern about the
density of this project but its impact
of the value of their homes. They also
voiced concerns about the number of fire
hydrants, the impact on safety services
and location of bus stops for kids.
Since there is no place for them to
stand to wait for the bus except for the
burm of the existing roadway which is
dark during the early morning pickups
uh and there was attached uh information
that went along uh with this. Overall,
both the area commissioners and the
public were vehemently opposed to this
application.
All residents that spoke indicated that
they believe the city is abandoning
their concerns and interest.
Now, to sum this up, the proposed
density far exceeds what the area's
infrastructure can safely support.
Inadequate roads, the lack of sidewalks,
and insufficient police, fire, and EMS
access create unacceptable public safety
risk.
Approving this level of development
within without first addressing these
deficiencies will increase emergency
response times and put lives and
property at greater risk.
Growth is not the problem. Smart growth
requires corresponding investments in
road, sidewalks, connectivity, and
public safety. Without those
investments, growth simply transfers its
costs to existing
uh residents while diminishing the
quality of life for everyone in the
area.
I am available for questions.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Questions for
my colleagues?
>> So, Commissioner, I did want to ask you,
I know a lot of your comments were
regarding sort of the infrastructure
associated with these developments. We
heard from Mr. Bushman about the traffic
impact study and sort of the
improvements that are coming to that
area based upon that, sort of the the
addition of the turn lanes. From from
your comments, sounds like those are not
that's not sufficient from from your
view.
the studies
uh are outdated really. Th this road
this road is limited to what can be
improved on it.
I hope everybody understands that. I
mean, it's a rural road to begin with,
and if we're if we're going to treat it
with high density,
th this is not appropriate.
>> What What do you mean the studies are
outdated?
Just want to make sure that we're clear
about that.
>> Are they including all of the projects
that have been added to the area?
>> Mr. ablesment. Does did that study
contemplate the other projects that have
been improved in the area?
>> Yes, this latest study included all
previous projects that have been
proposed in this area.
>> Thank you.
>> We feel more needs to be done. The areas
where residents live, it's almost
impossible to widen the road. It is not
the same. This has to be clear. Hey
Avenue is not the same as Trey View Road
and cannot be treated the same. It is a
step down area
and the recommendation from our
commission is for the what is existing
in the area.
It should be compatible
for what is on Hey Avenue.
>> Sure. One other question I have for you,
Commissioner, is that this is one of the
applications I've seen come through that
actually has different types of housing
typology within it. So oftent times we
get an application that's sort of the
the same building being built, you know,
three or four or five or six or seven
different times on the site. You know,
this is one in particular that, you
know, the applicant has a number of
different, you know, buildings. And
again, I I think from my standpoint,
being a little more thoughtful on how to
um have those different structures as it
comes up to the actual road itself. I'm
just curious, you know, your commission
has reviewed a lot of different multif
family developments over the years,
whether or not that was something that
was appreciated by you all, didn't
really matter in the process of this, or
um was something that you liked, but
again, the density is just too high. I'm
just sort of curious if that different
types of housing um sort of buildings,
you know, made any difference for you
all.
We definitely would like different type
of uh different types of housing in the
area. Um nobody has brought that to us.
>> Well, in this particular application
actually has different types of
buildings in it of itself.
>> It's all it's all the same apartment
type of dwelling. There's no there's no
duplexes that have been suggested to our
area. There's no condominiums
which are group homes that will uh take
care of larger populations
and of course no single projects have
been offered to us.
>> Sure. So again if I'm hearing you
correctly you know again open to other
types of buildings but from a
perspective of if these are rental units
that's a particular point of concern for
you all. the the project this particular
project is surrounded by residents.
>> So the impact of the size is impacting
our area is impacting that residential
area.
>> So so if we flip that though and say
right now 80% of the city is zone for
single family housing. So your point the
adjoining areas have other single family
nearby.
um you know, wouldn't this be the other
type of housing within that area in
which you've got ownership single family
nearby and this being the the rental
options that are nearby? And you heard
from Deputy Director Proer about the
need for more housing in this area at
large.
Um
rephrase the question would you please?
>> Sure. I I think you were mentioning
about the disappointment not seeing
other types of housing whether or not
that's condominiums or single family
development. You know there's mostly um
that type of housings from a single
family perspective. So 80% of the city
is zoned for single family right now. Um
so we are seeing multif family being
built in areas that is sort of the other
type of housing as compared to the
existing single family that that's there
currently. We have an abundance of uh
apartments in our area. That is the only
thing that is being built in our area.
And when a project comes to us that is
oversized,
that is of great concern to us.
>> Okay. I do want to mention we've
received the most disapprovals from any
area commission over the last 5 years
from West Sciota in every single time
that's been multif family development.
Now, wait a minute.
In the last year and a half, we approved
the San Margarita, the the San Reno
project. We repro, we approve the fourth
phase of preferred living. We approved
the Upland project and there is a
project on Trey View Road that hasn't
hit the development commission meeting
and I have not spoken or anybody hasn't
spoken in regards to any of those
projects and those are recent.
>> Yep. That that that is very fair. That's
very fair. Other questions or comments?
Customer
>> Commissioner, correct me if I'm wrong.
when you and I talked um when you and I
had talked about what it sounded like
the West iota Area Commission was
looking for in terms of changes, it
sounded very similar to the requests of
the com the community that we heard from
last Monday. Um so your requests were
wanting to keep the size compatible with
the surrounding neighborhood at around
like 15 units to acre or as close to
that as we could get. the first story or
the the front buildings. Correct me if
I'm wrong, that um that were um right
there like on the on one of the the east
side of the project. I think you wanted
them instead of three stories. Those are
the unique looking buildings. It's a
beautiful project. It's a really be and
you you acknowledged that as well when
you talked wanted those be dropped from
three stories to two stories, correct?
>> Um and then the concerns about the
traffic. um and the bus stops which
again you know it's a not lit street
it's a very skinny rural road and all of
that made sense to me and it also
sounded like um I think this was your
project last week you know it sounded
very similar to other advocacy so it
wasn't at least when we spoke the
conversation that we had was not at all
we don't want apartments it was very
much like you know is there anything we
can do to accommodate a trim down of the
scale of this and also we need to be
thoughtful of the roads is that an
accurate accounting of what I think the
commission was asking for.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Any other questions for my council
colleagues for commissioner cabal?
>> I just want to follow up on that. Was
there a number per acre uh in terms of
density? Because you you talked about
the upland project that
>> Okay. The Upland project which is on
Tribute Road and is going to be very
close to this project is two 280 units.
This project is 296
units
step down step down area.
>> So was there a number? I'm just trying
to understand if there if there was
conversation
>> the the uh metro development new project
that is close to being completed
uh is 15 units per acre.
didn't have a problem with that.
All right. All the other apartments
which are older, uh, Whispering Creek
and Abbott and all, they're in the 12
units per acre.
So, when we request 15,
we're not out of line for a stepdown
area.
Thank you, Commissioner. Any other
questions for Commissioner Harrell? See,
>> thank you for being here with us.
>> Thank you, everybody. I appreciate your
time.
>> Absolutely. Uh we have three public
speakers uh assigned to speak on this
ordinance. The first is Miss Anita
Mitchell. Miss Mitchell, welcome to
council.
I want to say good evening and thank you
President Harden and all council
members. Um my name is Anita Mitchell
and I have property at Hake Avenue. Um I
just listened to Rita speak and I think
uh she I touched on a lot of areas uh
she touched on a lot of areas that I
have. So, I'm going to speak from the
heart a little bit here rather than from
my uh paper and redundancy. Um, I think
what Rita was trying to say is um Charm
Dorance is that it's not necessarily the
single family housing that we're
concerned about, but as I'm sure you're
aware, I think you were charged with the
legacy and preserving the legacy that
seems to be gone. That San Margarita
legacy is gone. I'm 63 years old and I
grew up in San Margarita. I still live
on Trey View Road and I'm moving to Heg
Avenue. I had grape vines. I had
gardens. I had trees. I had all of that
in my backyard. It was mowed down for
these apartments. I'm trying to rebuild
now on HEG and I look four doors over
and um there's a development there
that's putting in 485
apartments. So, as I sit on my front
porch now, I get to watch all of these
people building and hammering and going
at it.
I'm working with this, okay? I really I
really believe that, you know, we need
different types of housing, but I don't
think three and fourstory apartment
buildings are what we need everywhere. I
think people like condos. I think people
like town houses. I think people want
their diversity also in their homes and
how they live. And the other part of
that is all of these are making people
isolated. So you have these huge
developments. They have pools, they have
um oh spas, all of that good thing, all
of those good things. And then once that
property is sold and the developer is
done and moves out, then whoever manages
that property has what's left.
They don't keep up with it. I I hear
continuously people that live at the
corner of um Trey and McKinley Avenue.
The crime is up there. They've had um
these crashings of the pool parties and
people coming onto the property that
don't live there. I actually listened to
somebody on a recording being physically
abused
while they waited for 10 different calls
of police to come to the area.
It rips my heart out. That is not where
I grew up. That is not the legacy that I
want for me, my family, my neighbors, my
community. And I don't care what your
studies say. I'm telling you, can I have
a show of hands? How many people have
been to the Trabby Road and H Avenue
area?
All of you have. You've all been through
there. Have you all been stuck in
traffic? Do you know what H Avenue looks
like?
I sent all of you a letter with a
picture of a family, a a husband and a
wife apparently, I assume, walking down
the road pulling a uh wagon full of
groceries that they catch the bus at
Trade View. There's no Kota service
there. They live at the south end of H
Avenue. There are no sidewalks there.
you know, this little community area is
great for this development that's there,
but unless every single development has
that extended area, what's it going to
link to?
I'm just asking you to be responsible,
thoughtful for the legacy for the people
that live there. Um, we're not saying
no. We're just saying meet us halfway
here. Honest to God, that's all we
really want.
That's all I have to say.
>> Thank you, Miss Mitchell. Any question,
my colleagues, for Miss Mitchell?
Thank you. Our next speaker come for
council is Mr. Alex Nichols or I'm sorry
miss. I apologize
because I didn't staple them. So sorry.
All
right. Hello commission members Bankston
Barrosa de Padilla Deawker uh Dorance
Green Remy Ross Wii and President
Harden. My name is Alex Nichols and I
live in the Cortona Woods development
across the street from this proposed
project. Thank you for the opportunity
to speak tonight on this zoning
application at 1753
Northh Avenue. Uh the city of Columbus
growth strategy is meant to be flexible
guidance uh to move us towards a
prosperous, connected, inclusive and
vibrant future. The first guiding
principle of the Columbus growth
strategy is healthy and complete
communities. It calls for the creation
and preservation of a variety of housing
types to support mixed income
communities.
Local residents are disappointed with a
single type of housing being built.
According to this morning's Zillow
listing, there are 312 apartments for
rent in a onem radius of this property.
In comparison, there are only 14 homes
that cost less than $500,000 for sale in
the same onem radius. If we are
protecting the ability for someone to
move out of home ownership and into a
rental without leaving their
neighborhood, we should also be
protecting the opposite movement as
well, a renter into home ownership.
The second guiding principle is quality
of life in our city. It calls for us to
conserve both economic and environmental
resources. Enhance the uniqueness of
each neighborhood and provide access to
natural areas and open spaces. The
Columbus growth strategy specifies that
neither required stepbacks nor storm
water detention basins can substitute
for recommended open space, but I
believe this pro proposal has included
them in their open space calculations.
The third guiding principle is
neighborhood vitality. Highquality
development enhances neighborhoods,
creates a sense of place for residents.
It makes thoughtful development.
Highquality development is subjective
and has different interpretations for
different people. There are no adjacent
properties that share the zoning
density. Currently, thoughtful
development means thinking about what
happens. Specifically, I'm concerned
about the neighbors on Britain Avenue.
What happens to their sense of space
when a line of mostly ranchstyle homes
on Britain Avenue gets sandwiched
between these two highdensity zones? And
I um have given you the map so you can
see um just how if it was pink on top
and pink on bottom with one row of
houses um how that might look. And I
know pink is mixed residential. It's
just a density um comment. And then um
in the past six months this council has
approved every zoning decision albeit
with amendments at times that has come
before them. These decisions agree with
area commissions 95% of the time. We're
hoping that you'll do that tonight. Um,
thank you so much for your time.
>> Thank you, Miss Nichols. Any questions
for my C colleagues? Miss Nichols?
See none. Thank you. Um, we do have one
final public speaker, uh, Mr. Anthony
Wrights. Um, Mr. Wright, before you come
up, I I do want to just ask a question
to Deputy Director Proer because I think
this has come up with Commissioner
Cabraw and Miss Nichols. So, we hear
this a lot from from residents and
again, council only can act on the
legislation that's before us. You know,
this is unfortunately a very
applicant-driven process where we have
an applicant that either buys property
or gets an option on property. They go
through the development process and and
bring it to us, right? Council is not
the one, you know, at this point under
our old zoning rules saying, "Hey,
here's what we think the density
requirement should be. This is the
housing typology we we'd want in this
area." It's very much driven by sort of
all those different processes that come
to us. There's a common, you know, ask
that comes to us of why not more
ownership, why not more single family,
why not condos to the like. And, you
know, I think that's a common thing that
we hear from a lot of area commissions.
I'm just curious as someone who studies
housing here in Columbus. You know, this
council has approved a number of very
large scale single family housing
developments, but they've been
particularly outside of 270. Um could
you talk a little bit about why we see
certain types of housing get proposed in
certain areas uh and why single families
like we see that less proposed in areas
like this at this point
>> as we think about um our partners in the
development community identifying sites
for housing and and what type of housing
they want to build there. A lot of that
is determined by the sites that are
available. Um, so as we think about some
of those outer edge bigger sites that
are what we would refer to as green
field developments, you've got the land
enough to make a development big enough
to sustain a single family investment.
Uh, when you have a lower density
product, you still have to capture the
number of units to balance out both the
land cost and the cost of construction.
When we look at some of the places where
we have the density that we're we're
bringing, one, it's it's bringing the
units that we need to help support just
the overall growth. Um, there is a
market demand for these units, for the
folks who are coming in, recent
graduates of Ohio State who are staying
with us here in Columbus, getting their
first jobs, all of that is something
they need um, housing for. But when you
look at when we have these higher land
costs, closer to opportunities, closer
to job centers, you're going to need
those additional units in order to make
the housing feasible. And so, it's
market demand. So, they know that they
are going to have tenants that want to
come and live in this community and and
be part of it. But it is also to under
to overcome the cost of construction and
the cost of the land in these extremely
high demand areas. And we know in this
particular part of the city those land
costs are going up. Um but it does allow
us to accommodate the permitting that we
need. And when we look at our trajectory
around overall housing permitting, we
are we are meeting the expectation we
have annually. Now we're starting to see
that slowing growth of rents and home
prices in a way that we haven't seen in
the last couple years. um that's
evidence of that pressure being relieved
and particularly when we think about
these high demand areas. If these
options aren't available for these
folks, they will move into other parts
of the city. We look at the pressures
around displacement and concerns for
around that when we don't have the
accommodating housing. The pressure does
not just stay here in this particular
community, but moves into those other
parts of the city as well. Um it's
complicated to build inside housing. it
is getting increasingly more complicated
um to find a site that you can make work
to add the housing we need and to
satisfy that market demand um in an area
that you know to date about 80% of the
units in this census track are single
family units um so as we think about
increasing that housing diversity this
multif family does serve that purpose
and meet that market relieving that
overall pressure and helps not just the
new residents that are going to come in
and move into this development but the
existing residents as well
>> thank you um I'm sorry is right. I
apologize. Thanks for indulging me for
just a moment. I wanted to make sure we
sort of got to that question if that's
all right. But floor is yours, sir.
No worries there. I'm pretty easy to
work with. Uh, good evening. My name is
uh Tony Wright. I am a father of two
with two on the way in September. I'm a
software QA automation engineer and I'm
an Eagle Scout and I am someone who's
concerned uh about the community and
whether their voices are truly being
heard. I want to bring up some concerns
regarding the presentation that was put
on by Metropolitan Holdings, how it was
presented, and question the transparency
of this process and whether residents
voices are truly being heard and
accounted for. I in the uh attached uh
packet we gave you, there is a graphic
there. It's a uh AI graphic. Refer to it
as you'd like. Um but during the April
9th commission or development commission
meeting developer presented this AI
generated graphic as a factual plan that
they have for developing the property.
This meeting was the first time the
graphic was shown to residents and to
any commission board. It was not
previously shown to the west commission
and so they did not have the chance to
challenge the inaccuracies of the
graphic and question the uh developer
regarding them. The AI generated graphic
majorly misrepresents the area to the
north of the site as being heavily
forested when in reality much of that
has already been removed to make way for
the highdensity upland development that
is already underway on Trey View. The
golf course is not accurate represented
nor does it show the existing buildings
that are already there along the road at
that intersection. It suffers from
several points where the perspective
does not work with the area. Adequate
parking is not appeared to be provided.
The buildings at the back are not
proportional and the sidewalks appear to
be overwriting the driveway. Presenting
this AI generated graphic as a factual
representation gives me great concern
about this project when their AI
generated graphic has such glaring
issues and I'm concerned the graphic was
not reviewed for accuracy by a human
especially since the upland project is
well underway and is not represented
here. Another concern is that the lack
of transparency and the lack of a
complete official record. The previous
meetings I have personally been to, the
voting board did their due diligence and
heavily discussed any projects that had
community uh opposition. But at this
latest meeting with the for the
development commission, the community's
main concerns regarding density were
only briefly considered and discussed
before a vote. It felt as if the AI
generated graphic painted an inaccurate
idyllic picture and that settled any
major concerns even being referenced as
a deciding factor in one of the comments
made by the committee. The recording of
the development commission uh meeting
does not show any of the presentation by
Metropolitan Holdings. All that is seen
is the open space plan site and so
residents who are unaware of what's
being presented in the recording uh have
no opportunity to see the presentation.
Not having a complete official record in
recording that includes the full
presentation does not give residents the
tool and information they need to make
informed decisions and understand the
project as presented by the developer.
We reached out to Alyssa Saltzman
regarding this official record being
incomplete and requested a response as
to how this could have happened and what
can be done in the future to prevent
this from happening. And at this point
in time, we have not received a response
on that point. This is concerning
because if the official record is not
accurate depicted here, what other
meetings are missing vital information
for residents to make informed decisions
for meetings they like myself have not
been able to attend in person? In
conclusion, the density concerns, the
perceived zoning code irregularities,
and the concern regarding the accuracy
of the project presentation and
perceived lack of transparency are our
main concerns in addition to the other
topics we as its community have provided
you on the sheets when we first started
speaking. We urge you to disprove this
application so a properly soothed
application may come forward, whether it
is an amended compromise from the
developer or from another developer.
Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr.
Wright. Any questions for my colleagues
for Mr. Wright?
See none. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Dietrich, I
did want to ask you just with regard to
uh the point that was made by the
speaker about renderings as they're
submitted to various bodies. Does the
city have requirements about, you know,
the accuracy of those or the the type of
uh image that is shared? And if so, um,
you know, what are they? Um, typically
developers like to come with their own
presentations to a meeting like the
development commission. They'll have
things like renderings, 3D models. Um,
one of the reasons we typically don't
include those to you guys is because
they're not always 100% accurate.
They're drawings. They're the developer
vision. It's not black and white like
the site plans and elevations that are
included in your ordinance that you're
looking at tonight. So again, just to be
very clear, and I certainly understand
the point from the speaker about what
was presented to the development
commission. Obviously, that image is not
something that's part of the packet that
arrives to council for for members to
review. The the same things you're
talking about the site plan, those other
um sort of the the height elevation,
those documents are also provided to the
development commission. Correct. So
while they may have something that um
again I I think it's a fair
>> question of hey if I'm submitting this
and it's not an accurate representation
of the project there's other information
that that actually is demonstrating what
is what is properly before that body.
>> Yeah and staff has their packet that
they're presenting to the development
commission that included all the things
that you guys see tonight. what the
developer chose chooses to show to the
development commission is up to them and
their integrity and what they're
providing to the development commission
for a recommendation. So whether or not
that rendering was 100% accurate. A lot
of times we don't even have access to
those um presentations until right
before the meeting. They're handing us
flash drives to plug in so they can go
through the development commission.
>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Dietrich. Uh at
this point, as customary, I'll invite
the applicants representative uh forward
for any rebuttal from the public
testimony.
Thank you, Chair Dorans.
Certainly, it goes without saying that
um the change is hard and um the growth
that is necessary in our city uh in
terms of housing and infrastructure
um is at times messy and is and is
painful. But we are um without a doubt
observing
um what has happened to other cities
nationally and have come to the
conclusion that the way we historically
created development the way we did
business historically wasn't working.
It just wasn't working. That's why we
don't have the housing in the community
that we need.
uh Miss Proser um mentioned 2007208
I was doing this kind of work in the
community at that time um nothing was
happening and not just in Columbus but
nationally um that created uh a a glut
in housing even in Washington DC they're
having this discussion I think uh maybe
there's a a national bill that's been
floating around to help um promote
housing um across the country including
here in Columbus.
Um, so it's a it's a challenge. It's a
it's a it's a tough process and it's a
and it's uh it's difficult, but it it's
also a necessity and it's and it's and
its leadership. And I think that this
council and this community has wisely
adopted a housing policy, has wisely
adopted a growth strategy, is wisely
revamping the zoning code that I've made
a living on for the last 25 years, but
widely revamping the zoning code to
create the kind of housing to move
Columbus to continue to to move Columbus
forward. The other thing that I think is
is worth mentioning is that um the
housing that we need
is it can't all it can't all be provided
by the government. The housing that we
need really at the end of the day is a
collaboration between the private sector
and the public sector. And that's what
that's what has to happen. The
government can't the government in the
business of building housing. So it does
take a partnership. I think someone used
the the word earlier partnership between
uh local government and uh the private
side development and that is certainly
what this is. Uh in terms of in terms of
bus stops in Kota uh we all know that um
the the link us um uh platform was
approved by the voters. Uh we know that
Kota is consistently evaluating its bus
routes and we know that that that Kota
is a responsible organization and
they're getting bus routes out to the uh
growth corridors of of the city and the
areas that need uh busing.
Uh in terms of whether or not this uh
density um is appropriate for the area,
um it is. The professional city planning
office concluded that it is the Avenue
project in the immediate vicinity is at
30 dwelling units an acre. The Alammyra
project is at 26 units an acre. Uh the
San Remo is at 18 and the Featherwood is
at 18. All densities that are uh
consistent uh in two cases uh uh
considerably more intense than the
proposal uh before you this evening. Uh
in terms of of of the the graphic that
was presented, there was never any
intention for any slight of hand or for
any misrepresentation
that there was a a a bird's eyee view
rendering uh prepared by the landscape
architectural team that sort of showed
the the the development looking from the
east side of Hey up towards Raymond
Memorial Golf Course. It's up to the
north. an original of that did not show
the Upland development. We we then had
uh that image updated so that we did s
actually superimpose the Upland
development into that uh into that
imagery, but there's never uh ever any
intention to um uh uh not be transparent
and not provide all of the relevant
information to the council, to the
development commission, to the
neighborhood, to the city, to anybody uh
involved in the process. So, um I think
I'll stop there. I'll certainly do my
best to answer questions of council, but
uh this is here with the with the city
staff recommendation with unanimous
recommendation from the development
commission and um I respectfully request
uh that city council follow suit from
those uh earlier bodies and and do the
same. Thank you all.
>> Thank you, Mr. Hajj. Any questions for
the applicants? Representative Cston.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. U Mr. Haj, could
you just run through again? Uh, you
know, I think this project had many
variances.
Uh, at the start that this body was
going to hear uh there was, I think,
some height reductions that have
happened. Looking at the site plan, my
understanding that there are town homes
and different typologies in the actual
site plan. If you could just tick
through very quickly cuz I think we've
been here a while.
>> Sure. uh what those changes were because
I heard and I'm only saying that because
I think when I hear things like meet us
halfway or we're not saying no when
there's a lot of work that's been done
to change it. I mean if we're talking
about if this was the same exact project
at 15 units per acre what I'm hearing
from the community they would be fine
with that. I don't know math off the top
of my head that's about probably 50 or
so units that we're talking about. Am I
getting that right? Um, so I just wonder
if you could just tick through kind of
what has changed because now we're not
talking about something as a reszoning
plus multiple different variants. This
is contained to the site once it's go
through this zoning. It can be built
right based off of just that zoning
change. So if you could just remind us
again really quickly.
>> Sure. So out along Hey with the original
proposal, those buildings out along the
front, they were moved way up to the to
the H Avenue rightway. I think I think
our setback at that point in time was 10
ft. So we did not meet the the city
building setback requirement for the
buildings that fronted HEG. So one of
the revisions that happened was those
those that building typology that has a
single family residential kind of
aesthetic to it. Those got shifted to
the west back deeper into the site. Uh
we originally had a height variance for
many of the buildings uh throughout the
site. I know with council relatively
recently, we've discussed the 35- ft um
the 35t height district. These all these
all fall within the 35t height district.
We originally had a variance for for for
some of the buildings here to exceed the
35 ft height district. We also were into
the perimeter yard at certain places uh
north and also southeast where we were
encroaching into the perimeter yard by
5t. we instead shifted the building's
interior to the site uh meet that 25 ft
25 foot uh perimeter yard requirement
and then also we mentioned earlier that
along the northern uh perimeter yard
within the within the northern 15 ft we
incorporated a tree preservation zone in
addition to to um meeting the underlying
requirements. So uh to my recollection
those were the variances that were
previously associated with the proposal.
We eliminated all of those in response
to feedback throughout the entirety of
the process leading us to the meeting
here tonight.
>> So yes, so it changed significantly. And
then again, you talk about the mix and
type. We're not talking about all flat
flats here. We're talking about some mix
of town homes. Also, I believe when we
met there was also a combination of
three bedrooms here, right, for larger
to accommodate larger families as well.
>> That's correct. That's correct. So up on
the screen now is you you can see the um
the different building typologies. So uh
up on the top of the screen are the the
buildings that front uh Hey Avenue and
those sort of have a single family
residential aesthetic. The middle column
there is along on the right hand side is
the uh carriage house two-story carriage
house style unit. Those are along the
north side of the property. And then on
the bottom of the screen are the
threestory breezeway buildings that that
council has seen so many of. So yes,
lots of different building typologies.
It's all apartment residential. They
have a a townhouse aesthetic, but it is
all apartment residential.
>> Gotcha. And then again from a roadway
improvement, there's going to be
sidewalks or I think a mixeduse path
that goes to nowhere for now, but I
think you know we fill in the teeth as
it goes. So that will be in the front of
Hey. So there will be a place for
children to stand safely. Is that my
>> Absolutely. An 11 ft shared use path.
That was one of the that was one of the
notes I wrote. An 11 foot shared use
path will be installed along the entire
frontage here here on the west side of
HEG, which which not only, you know,
accommodates the the biker, the
skateboarder, the walker, the jogger, uh
the scooter rider, um but also uh can
provide that place for kids to wait for
the bus.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank council member
Bosa. Um this is not for you but for um
director proer
can for just a second can you in in in
the most succinct way when we when we
talk about density right and we talk
about 15 units versus 12 units you know
when you look at other cities that might
be more dense right that they're like at
26 units or 20 units or whatever as we
look at the growth of Columbus it feels
like we're growing growing this way and
at some point that's going to end. So we
need to grow up, right? And as we think
about link us and we think about how
we're pushing our density towards those
corridors, but in these areas where we
have still have the land to grow. Can
you talk again just super succinctly,
how do we come up with that 15 number
and
for and is that different for different
areas of the city because they can
withstand more density or it looks
different or can you just give us a
refresher on that?
>> I can. Uh so as we think about the
growth that's coming into the city, we
know broadly in the region we need about
200,000 units. when we look at other
cities um in particular I I'll call on
Austin where the growth pattern was very
sprawling and what that outcome was was
large amounts of personal vehicles on
the roadways for very long many miles um
creating an overall gridlock in the
system right when you have that
incredible spatial mismatch and you're
separating from where people live to
where they work and without other
multimodal choices and when you're
sprawled out it's really hard for KOD to
figure out how to serve that level of
sprawl. And so when you can dense, you
can create those dense pockets where
there is that connectivity between a job
and and where you live, it's going to
reduce the amount of even if you drive
your personal vehicle, you're not on
that many roads. It is going to overall
alleviate the pressure on that system.
And so we have to figure out a way to
get that density close to where people
are working, going out, all of the
things that we know people are going to
do in order to to sustain the overall
transportation network. the development
community will find a way to accommodate
the housing we need. It will just happen
very very very far out from the city
into other jurisdictions where that
housing will go. If you've been out in
the ex urban parts of our city, you see
a lot of single family construction.
They will meet that need. They will meet
it in a way that is not sustainable for
all of us from an environmental from a
transportation network standpoint. So
adding density close to these job
centers is really critical.
>> Thank you. I just I I I I just sometimes
need that reminder because I think as
the city sprawls out, right, to your
point, we're moving uh people are living
further away. I mean, I think about like
I grew up in a five or six mile radius
of my house, right? Because I had a
mall, I had all the the amenities around
us and as those amenities start to go
out further, you know, like my kids
doctors now like Africa Road, right? And
I'm driving 30 minutes to go to the
doctor because it's in network, etc. But
we have to grow up which is why you're
seeing more two or three stories in
places where it has not traditionally
been because that is helping us address
our density. Correct.
Thank you. I just want I I just think
it's good for us as we continue to have
these conversations to have like
reminders of why things are changing the
way that they are. I mean, as a at at
some point, I look around I grew up
around lots of apartments in the East
Moore neighborhood and Fairmore
neighborhood and it was it had to have
been because of a population boom at
some point and you saw those grow
because you could see after after a
certain amount of time we needed to go
up further if people wanted to stay in
that area. So, thank you.
>> Any other questions by my colleagues or
the applicants representative? Any other
comments from my colleagues? because I'm
going to ask one last question, Mr.
Dillis, then I'm going to ask us for a
vote here. Mr. Dillis, so we've heard
from the area commission folks here
tonight. You know, around 15 units per
acre was what they would have found
acceptable here. Obviously, we are
higher than that. Mr. Hajj mentioned
other developments nearby that are sort
of in line with the developments been
proposed here, some above. Why is the
city departments or our planners in
support of this density level here
tonight?
>> Sure. Um, I I really think the diversity
of housing that they're providing on the
site is is a key factor. The the
preservation of the stream corridor
protection zone is an important factor.
The the sidewalk network within the
multi-use path that was mentioned on
HEG, all key elements, but but for us a
compelling factor is the three different
forms of housing types that are being
provided on this site. the is as is uh
the applicant represented the the sort
of lower slung if you will housing
that's facing Trey View to sort of
preserve that that view uh but the
variety the variety was compelling to
us.
>> Thank you Mr. Dills. Um any other
comments from my my colleagues? I think
we've talked a lot about this
application here tonight. Um I think
there's a lot going on here with regard
to traffic improvements and the type of
improvements that are coming with it. I
know those answers don't satisfy
everyone. I think to the point of the
department regarding the the increase in
density here. Density is the most
controversial thing that we talk about
with regard to housing development uh
where that should be. There's no perfect
answer. I think there are times in which
it can be higher based upon things like
having different types of housing
typologies being included. I think there
are also times that a site um because
the constraints on it, it may be lower.
Um, you know, I I think for this project
in particular, I'm going to trust our
folks from planning saying that this is
an appropriate density uh level. And
because of that, I'm going to move for
passage by voice at this time.
>> Bankston,
>> Bar Padilla,
>> yes.
>> De Akart,
>> no.
>> Dorren,
>> yes.
>> Green,
>> no.
>> Reie,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> yes.
>> President Harden,
>> yes.
Thank you. Next, we have ordinance
number 1 1923-2026 degree zone 1258 Oak
Street being.36 plus acres located in
the northeast corner of Oak Street and
Wilson Avenue from LP1 limited private
parking district to CPD commercial plan
development district. The site consists
of four parcel develop a parking lot
proposed reszoning will allow a mixeduse
development containing 15 apartment
units 11 townhouse style units
approximately 600 square feet of eating
and drinking establishment approves from
city staff development commission and
the near east side area commission. If
there are any question comments I move
for passage
>> bankstonia
de Aar Dorren Green Remy Ross White
President Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you. Next we have words 1927-226
to reszone 925 Hillyard Rome road beam
2.0 plus acres located in the southeast
corner of Hillyard and Rome road and
Fedner road from C4 commercial district
to CPD commercial plan development
district to CPD commercial plan
development district. Site consists of
two parcels one developed the fuel sales
facility and one developed the
commercial building. Requested resoning
will allow the site to be developed with
a new fuel sales facility across both
lots. ROS approved from city staff
development commission and the far west
area commission. I move for passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you. Next move the council
variances. We have uh ordinance number
1924-2026 grand varian provisions
section 3356.03 C4 permitted uses
3361.02 02 permitted use of the plast
prop property located at 1258 Oak Street
to allow a ground floor residential use
in the CPD compression plan development
district. This is a concurrent variance.
The reszoning we just considered this
evening for proposed mixeduse
development containing up to 26
apartments and 600 ft of eating and
drinking establishment. Propos the
request council various willow ground
for residential uses which is not
allowed in the current zoning district.
Proposal has approved from city staff
the near east area commission. I first
move to accept the entire staff report
into evidence as an exhibit. Second
clerk,
>> please call the role. Bankston Barrosa
de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Remy Ross
White President Harden
>> accepted it.
>> Thank you. And it's move to adopt the
fine staff the fines council.
>> Clangston
Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green
Remy Ross White President Harden
>> adopted.
>> Thank you. Finally move for passage.
>> Cler please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Padilla de Aar Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you. Next, you have ordinance
1928-226 to grant variance provisions of
section 34 EU uh 20100 A uses 34E20.030
030 C1 general requirements and 34E uh
20 uh 090
C building placement. 34E 20009D
building line from 34E 20009F
facade transparency 3 34E 20009G
parking on-site parking in 34G.20.030
030 landscaping screening the Columbus
city code for properly located at 35 uh
79 South High Street to allow South
storage facility with reduced
development standards in the RAC
regional activity center district. This
site consists of one parcel developed a
vacant big box retail store and the
requested council variance will allow
the existing building to be converted
into a self- storage facility and also
allow two singlestory self I'm sorry two
singlestory self- storage buildings
adjacent to an out parcel on South High
Street. A council variance is required
because the current zoning district does
not allow storage uses including self-
storage facilities. An amendment has
been submitted to the clerk regarding
the revised site map to include a flag
pole section of an adjacent parcel which
allows access to south high street.
Proposals approved in city staff in the
far south Columbus area commission. I
first move to accept the entire step for
evidence as an exhibit. Clerk,
>> please call the role.
>> Bankston, Barrosa Deadia de Akar Dorren
Green Reie Ross White, President Harden.
>> Accept it.
>> Thank you. All right. Next move to adopt
the five staff of the finance council.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Adopted.
>> Thank you. I move to amendment of the
clerk.
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Ara
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Amended.
>> Move for passes as amended.
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Padilla de Akyra Dorren
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Passed. And finally we have ordinance
1929-26 granted variance provision
section 3356.03 C4 commercials district
33 uh 32.039 R4 for residential district
3312.03D
administrative requirements 3312.21 ABD
landscaping and screening 3312.25
312.27 parking setback line and 3312.49
C required parking and 3321.052
vision clearance 3321.09B
9B screening 3332.11 screening of
mechanical systems 3332.25 required side
yard 333.27
rear yard in 3356.11
C4 district setback line for the
property located 887 North Nelson Road
to allow single single and multi-unit
residential development and a
non-acessory parking lot with reduced
development standards in the C4
commercial district and R4 residential
district respectively. The site consists
of 13 undeveloped parcels and the
requested council variance will allow
the site to be developed with a mix of
attached and detached single unit
dwellings and a 25 unit apartment
building a non-acessory parking lot
across the street. Requested council
variances to administrative requirements
landscaping and screening maneuvering
parking setback lines required parking
vision clearance screen mechanical
systems and building setback proposals
from city staff and the north central
area commission. I first move to accept
the entire entire staff report and
evidence as an exhibit.
>> Please call the role. Bankston Barrosa
de Padilla de Aar Dorans Green Remy Ross
White President Harden
>> accept it.
>> Next move to adopt the vine of staff
defiance of council. Cler please call
the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar
Dorans Green Remy Ross White President
Harden move passage.
>> Cler please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deia de Ara Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> passed.
>> And counc all we have today is only
agenda.
>> Is there a motion to adjurnn?
Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston dear, Dorren Green, Remy, Ross
White, President Harden.
>> Meeting is adjourned. We'll reconvene in
15 minutes.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat up
here.
about
hey
everybody.
Hey
Heat. Heat.
Heat.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Hey, Heat.
33.
>> Chris did.
>> Yes.
>> Please call the road. Reconvene. Meeting
number 33.
>> Bakesa de Padilla de Aar Doris Green
Remy Ross White. President Harden.
>> Meeting is reconvened. We'll now go to
the Health and Human Services and Equity
Committee. That committee is chair by
Council Member Green. Council member,
the floor is yours.
>> Thank you so much, Council President.
Tonight in our Health, Human Services,
and Equity Committee, we have three
ordinances on second reading. And as I
introduce this first ordinance, I'd like
to invite um Christy Hayes from Make a
Day um our last soldier standing back
there. Thank you so much for hanging in
with us, Christie, uh to the podium to
speak. um when um and introduced
ordinance 1952-2026
to authorize the city clerk to enter
into an advanced payment grant agreement
with the Columbus Coalition for the
Homeless in support of trash removal,
safe storage, and hygiene initiatives
for the city's unsheltered population to
authorize the appropriation of $17,500
and an expenditure of $125,000
um within the neighborhood initiative
sub fund. Um, you know, here at city
council and tonight, especially in this
long zoning meeting we just had, uh, we
talk about the housing crisis a lot. Um,
and I think that this body and, um, our
city as a whole have really planted a
flag, uh, planted a flag to make it
clear that one of our absolute top
priorities is addressing uh, this
current housing crisis. And we know the
solution to that problem, it's to build
more housing at every uh, income level.
Um, unfortunately here locally we face a
a severe shortage of deeply affordable
housing, especially for those house
households with no or very low income
with only 27 units available for every
100 families that need them. Our shelter
systems currently operating above
capacity, an average length of stay
stretching 90 days or more, leaving
those experiencing new and emerging
housing housing crises with nowhere to
go. So together, these realities
contributed to a 43% increase in
unsheltered homelessness just in the
last year alone. That's hundreds more
families um that don't have a roof over
their head, don't have a place to sleep
at night that uh did a year ago. And so
while these recent dramatic increases
are not ones that we accept, we and we
are going to work uh tirelessly and
urgently and intentionally um to reverse
course on these trends, they are in fact
our current reality. And so, um, you
know, while we frequently talk about
this issue simply as a housing crisis,
for those neighbors that are also caught
in that log jam with nowhere else to go,
um, it's also becoming a public health
crisis. And until enough housing exists,
uh, we must pursue a dual strategy.
Aggressively expanding housing while
also addressing the immediate public
health and safety needs of both our
neighbors who are currently without a
home or who might be living outside as
well as the broader community that's
impacted by these challenges. Equally,
growing national consensus and
evidence-based best practices have
affirmed that communities like ours can
achieve better public health and housing
outcomes when those communities pair
long-term investments in affordable
housing like the ones we're making
through our affordable housing bond
dollars, zone in, and other big picture
strategies. When we pair those long-term
affordable housing investments with
evidence-based person- centered public
health approaches that support the
immediate health and safety needs of our
neighbors experiencing unsheltered
homelessness and the broader community
in the immediate term. It improves
health and well-being. It allows our
neighbors experiencing housing crises to
stay better linked to uh health and
other social safety supports. Um and we
achieve better outcomes with
successfully connecting those in need to
long-term stable supported living. So,
this legislation uh takes and uh takes
those best best practices into
consideration um uh through three
practical steps to put those principles
into action. First, uh the largest most
substantial piece of this package will
dedicate $100,000 to partner with our
current outreach organizations, Make a
Day being one of those. um under the
direction and supervision of the
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless to
establish pilot programs on the
southside and the west side that will
provide regular trash collection at
known encampments um throughout those
communities. This service will help
address one of the most frequent
concerns that we hear both from
traditionally housed and unhoused
residents alike, concerns about
sanitation, environmental hazards
associated with encampments. And
truthfully, I think um all of us could
agree that if the trash stopped coming
at a regular cadence to all of our homes
uh in all of our neighborhoods, I
imagine that sanitation would probably
quickly devolve uh in any community. And
so these are the challenges that our
neighbors that are without a home are
having to try to navigate every single
day. So, with this pilot program, we'll
provide these essential health and
safety supports to proactively um
address these concerns and support our
neighbors rather than waiting until it's
become hazardous for uh sheltered and
unsheltered neighbors alike. Uh second,
it dedicates $10,000 to fund the
construction of a mobile shower unit
with uh our partner Tent City Showers so
that we can bring critical hygiene
services directly to our unsheltered
neighbors. Access to hygiene shouldn't
be a luxury, should be a right. And it's
fundamental to all of our health,
wellness, and dignity. And from a
practical perspective, access to uh
fresh water, hygiene, showers, haircuts,
clean clothes is also so critical in
helping folks who are on their journey
towards stability. Um by ensuring that
they have access to the basic essentials
that all of us need to achieve and
maintain employment. Um and you know,
reduce our barriers to both economic and
housing stability. And finally, the uh
last and third uh piece of this
legislative package dedicates $15,000 to
establish two secure storage storage
hubs so that our neighbors experiencing
homelessness have a safe place to keep
their documents and belongings that are
so essential in helping them rebuild
their lives. things like birth
certificates, marriage certificates,
identification cards, medical records,
um family photographs, things that make
it possible to apply uh for housing,
obtain employment, access benefits, or
simply to hold on to the memories of the
people you love. Uh these proposed
initiatives, I just want to be very
clear, they're not novel. Uh this isn't
new.
uh they reflect a growing national
consensus that communities can achieve
um better public health and housing
outcomes when they pair investments in
housing with these types of public
health strategies together. It's also
work that supports our current efforts
um around investments in housing and
expanded outreach and supporting the
community shelter board. It integrates
really nicely with our uh clean and safe
corridors initiatives that also are
along those same uh regions where we'll
be uh hosting these pilot projects and
builds on smaller pilots that we've done
here in this with uh in the city um in
the past
um you know I think importantly too to
note the last thing I'll say about this
because I know this is a long meeting um
is that you know this work is good for
the people that are experiencing these
hardships but it's also
just good governance. Uh these types of
interventions improve neighborhood
conditions for everyone. Um access to
hygiene for everyone, helps prevent
illness. Uh protecting someone's IDs and
legal documents makes it easier, not
harder, for them to access housing and
other types of services um instead of
having to start over from scratch if
something gets lost, stolen, or
destroyed. Uh these investments don't
just reduce harm, they help our entire
system work better. Um, and so I want to
be very clear that this legislation is
not about accepting homelessness as
inevitable. It's about refusing to
abandon people and our communities while
we likewise work as aggressively as we
can to end it. Uh, public health, public
safety, stability, our ability to
weather storms and hardships are all
strengthened, not weakened, when every
resident has access to the most basic
necessities. Um so at this point in time
I'd love to turn it over to one of our
partners um who has been engaged in
helping us plan and design this work
Christy Hayes from Make a Day. Um the
key part of this um that she will be
managing and overseeing is the um the
waste collection on the south side of
Columbus. Um, this is mirroring a pilot
uh with another one of our partners who
was here tonight but had to leave um
that was done really successfully on the
west side of Columbus back in 2023. Um,
and so we'll be learning from that
initial pilot um expanding it to the
southside and I know that Jennifer at
Jordan's Crossing on the west side um
and Christy are going to be working
together to make sure that we're
modeling this um you know similarly in
both communities and building on
strengths and evolving. So Chrissy, with
that I'll turn it over to you. Thank
you, council member. Good evening,
council. I am Chrissy Hayes, executive
director at Make It, a mobile outreach
and housing navigation organization here
and also a member of the Columbus
Coalition um for the homeless. I had
Jennifer from Jordan's Crossing and Al
from Tent City Showers with me and I
know they both wish they could have
stayed, but we will honor them with uh
other words. We are all here in support
of ordinance 1952-2026.
Um, close to 700 of our neighbors
currently live outside in Columbus right
now. Getting someone into housing
treatment and other supportive
environments takes time, often months to
years. I literally met a family last
June who I saw again today for the first
time and they're still unhoused and dad
has three kids. So, like that's a real
thing that happened today. Um, in the
meantime, they're living outside without
trash pickup, safe storage or access to
a shower. Waste accumulates, belongings
get scattered, including critical
documents that they need to attain
housing and employment. Those conditions
are hard on the people that are living
in them. They're hard on the neighbors
and the businesses nearby, and they're
hard on our city systems that respond to
the results. This investment that we're
talking about doesn't wait for housing
to solve that problem and addresses the
conditions that we're experiencing right
now. The designated resources will fund
trash removal, add encampments on the
city's west and south sides, save
storage for people to be able to keep
their belongings, and hygiene access
through showers. Cleaner, better
maintained encampment sites um are
better for the people living in them.
They're better for the neighborhoods
around them. And when people have access
to hygiene, safe storage, and maintained
sites, they will rely less on emergency
rooms, first responders, and city
cleanup crews.
The investment has the potential to
reduce pressure on those systems while
keeping people more stable and connected
to services as they navigate towards
housing. The organizations that are
carrying out this work are not new to
these communities. They're not new to
working with the folks that we're
speaking about. They are coalition
member organizations including myself at
Make a Day and Jordan's Crossing and
Tent City Showers who already have
trusted relationships in with the people
that this investment will reach. That
means cleaner sites and the people and
support systems already in place to help
them move towards stability. We've
designed this program to track outcomes
and demonstrate that the that the
investment produces results. This is
just a starting point. We recognize that
and we are committed to building on
that. The people living outside in
Columbus's west and south sides are our
neighbors. So the residents and so are
the residents and businesses around
them. All of us deserve to have cleaner,
safer environments. We need trash
pickup, a place to store belongings, and
access to a shower, which is the ba the
same basic conditions all of our
Columbus residents deserve. So, we
appreciate the opportunity for this
investment. And thank you.
>> It's like my first day on the job. Uh
here you go. Um yeah, I think I think
you know one thing that has been um
sticking with me is a conversation that
I had with um a person who was
experiencing housing crisis and had you
know absolutely nowhere to go. The you
know shelters had a 300 person waiting
list. It just was not working with them.
Um and something that she said to me was
about how literally how she does not
feel like we see her as a neighbor. Uh
those are her exact words what you just
said there. how she feels like she just
thinks that her her city wants her to go
away. Um, and you know, my hope is with
this initiative,
um, that, you know, number one, she
knows that the city does care. We're a
city that cares about people. Caring
about people means investing in things
and, um, you know, that that every
person needs. Um and number two that you
know I think this legislation is
responsive to needs across the spectrum.
Um you know concerns raised by business
owners about you know some of our
commercial corridors and you know I
think that um I think that you know
caring for people's basic needs and you
know supporting broader community um
those two things are not in conflict
with each other. They support one
another really well. Um, and so we'll be
looking forward to working with um with
you as we continue to sort of like
finalize the details of how this model
is going to operate um in both of the
communities and um get to work here in
the next in the next couple of months or
so. Do any of my colleagues have
comments or questions for Christie? I
just want to say thank you for your work
and thank you council member. I think
every member of our community deserves
dignity and respect, especially when
they're going through some of the
hardest challenges in their life. And,
you know, I think that um for whatever
the circumstances are that brought
someone to this place, they they deserve
that. And so, I appreciate this
approach. I appreciate this approach and
caring for people and being intentional
about showing them that dignity,
especially as they work on the longer
term solution of taking care of
themselves and the people that they care
about. Especially I think when we talk
about families that have children and
other folks who are not in control and
don't control their situations and
ensuring that they get the things that
they need as well. So thank you both and
thank you council member for bringing
this forward.
>> Absolutely.
>> Thank you council member. Appreciate the
work on this. Um particularly when we
talk about trash collection and Cam and
I've spent my entire career working on
cleaner Columbus, making sure that our
streets are are clean and so this is
obviously very complimentary to that and
making sure that you know we keep every
neighborhood clean including the
encampment. So appreciate your work on
this. Thanks.
>> Thank you.
>> This is not necessarily a question for
you Emily but also just uh thank you uh
chair. I think we are in a a an
environment where creative and different
ideas and solutions are needed
particularly in the housing space and I
think you hit the nail on the head on
the head when you said as we work toward
housing which is the solution to
homelessness we also have to grapple
with um the dignity of how folks are
treated in the right now and I think
part of that and which I what I will
encourage you and all of the partners
who are connected to this work to do is
to ensure that you're working together
particularly with the coordinated
response that we have in place already.
I think it is important that as you
engage with new folks who may not
already be engaged with the homeless
system that we get them connected to the
homelessness outreach system and that we
are always looking toward taking that
person one step further toward housing
which which is the ultimate goal. So
what I would ask and I think you've
already committed to doing and that was
part of my support uh of this ordinance
is ensuring that we are sitting at the
table with all stakeholders um including
the department of development, including
CSB, including all of those who are part
of that coordinated response to ensure
that whatever information we are
collecting, whoever we are engaging
with, we are still making sure that our
ultimate goal is to get them further
toward housing. So, thank you for being
willing to do this work. Um, I know that
it is thankless work. I know that oftent
times folks are not happy uh when they
are engaging with you and so I
appreciate the effort and the creativity
that went into thinking about creative
solutions toward harm mitigation for our
neighbors who are unhoused and would
certainly encourage that continued
coordination as we move forward.
>> Okay. Well, thank you.
>> Oh, thank you so much again for hanging
in here uh with us. Seeing no further
comments or questions, I move for
passage.
>> Amend.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Let me get to my
notes. My bad. My bad. It's a little
late. Uh,
okay. Seeing none, I move to amend as
submitted to the clerk.
>> Second.
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara,
Dorren Green, Remy Ross, White,
President Harden,
>> amended.
>> Thank you. Thank you. And now I move for
passage as amended.
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorans Green Remy Ross White President
Harden
>> passed.
>> Thank you so much. Our second ordinance
tonight is ordinance 1536-2026
to authorize the board of health to
accept a grant from the Ohio Department
of Health for the women, Infants, and
Children or Wick program in the amount
of $7,49,412
and any additional funds to authorize
the appropriation of 7,49,412
from the unappropriated balance of the
health department grants fund to
authorize the city auditor to transfer
appropriations between job classes.
Franklin County Wick safeguard guards
the health of approximately 26,000
low-income pregnant postpartum and
breastfeeding women, infants, and
children up to age five who are at
nutritional risk by providing nutritious
foods, um, healthy eating information
and healthcare referrals. Franklin
County Whip Wick serves clients through
clinics operated by Columbus Public
Health and Nationwide Children's
Hospital, which offer both scheduled and
walk-in appointments Monday through
Friday, including evening hours and are
located in high-risk neighborhoods,
community hubs, and primary care facil
facilities. Um, are there any questions
or comments for my colleagues?
>> Seeing none, I move for passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Baradia de Ahard, Dorren Green,
Remy, Ross, White, President Harden.
>> Passed.
>> Wonderful. And our last ordinance
tonight is ordinance 1938-2026
to authorize the executive director of
the office of celebrate 1 to transfer
cash and appropriations of $193,569.54
within the Ohio Department of Medicaid
enhanced maternal health program to
transfer the appropriation of $12,590.32
from within the Ohio Department of
Medicaid enhanced maternal health
program to reallocate $145,56.97
within the Ohio Department of Medicaid
enhanced maternal health program grant
within the government grant fund to
authorize notfor-profit contract with
the new subgrantee action for children
for the enhanced maternal health program
in Columbus and central Ohio to end
expenditure of up to $145,5687
from the government grant fund and to
declare an emergency. The Ohio
Department of Medicaid has awarded this
grant to the office of Celebrate 1 to
coordinate the enhanced maternal health
program in Franklin County. Celebrate 1
has been designated as the primary
grantee organization and administer uh
for this grant here um across the entire
county. The uh original ordinance um
ordinance 1723-2022
established 12 contracts with community
partners and the extensions added two
additional uh partnerships for a total
of 14 subgrantees. At the end there was
a remainder of funds that ODM has
approved to be reallocated to the action
for children uh organization to provide
um infant and maternal health programs.
Emergency action is requested at this
time in order to meet grant deliverable
deadlines and provide timesensit
sensitive infant maternal mental health
services to pregnant and parenting
families within Columbus. Are there any
questions or comments for my colleagues?
Seeing that I move for passage,
>> please call the role.
>> Thanks Darosa Deia de Aar Doris Green
Remy Ross White President Harden
>> passed.
>> Thank you council president. That's all
for me.
>> Thank you madam chair. Um, we're going
to continue to go out of order and I'm
going to throw uh it to uh the housing
chair. I know we have some special
guests in the audience. I want to make
sure that we respect uh their uh being
here. So, the next committee to come
before council is the housing committee
chair by council Ross. Councilman, the
floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Council President Harden. Uh
we have five pieces of legislation
coming out on second reading out of the
housing homelessness and building
committee. The first is ordinance number
1696-2026
to authorize the director of development
to enter into a grant agreement with My
Brother's Keeper in an amount up to $3
million for My Brother's Keeper to act
as a pass through entity with Mount
Herman Senior Phase 1 LLC in support of
the development of 54 units of new
affordable apartment homes with Mount
Herman Senior Phase 1 project to
authorize the appropriation of funds
within the income set aside sub fund and
the affordable housing bond fund to
authorize the transfer of cash between
the income tax set aside sub fund and
the affordable housing bond fund to
authorize the expenditure in an amount
up to $3 million within the affordable
housing bond fund and to declare an
emergency. This project, which is set to
conclude construction in the fall of
2027, will provide 54 residential rental
units in a single three-story elevator
building with a mix of one to twobedroom
style units. All units will be set aside
as lowincome housing tax credit units,
including six fully accessible units. 13
of the units will be for those at or
below 30% adjusted median income. 27
units will be for those at or below the
50% adjusted median income level. And 14
units will be at or below the 60%
adjusted median income level. The units
will range from 700 ft² to 900 ft with
an endunit washer and dryer set energy
star compliant appliances wired with
broadband infrastructure for digital
accessibility. My Brother's Keeper, a
nonprofit supportive services provider,
will be the minority general partner in
the development and will also provide
on-site services for senior residents.
That will include, but are not limited
to, assistance with daily living needs,
including housekeeping, meals and
transportation, financial literacy, job
search, job training, and placement
assistance. Other services that are
included will be the monitoring of life
safety alarms, health, nutrition, and
wellness support. Uh I would like to
take a moment to recognize the visionary
behind this project uh Bishop Donald J.
Washington, Pastor Emmeritus of the
Mount Herman Missionary Baptist Church,
who is present here with us today and
say thank you for your leadership and
ensuring that we are supporting one of
the most vulnerable sectors of our
demographic here in the city of
Columbus. As we know, seniors are the
fastest growing demographic into
homelessness and to have housing support
for our seniors is critical in meeting
the healthy housing continuum in which
we seek to meet in our community. So,
thank you to the great bishop. I
appreciate you for your visionary
leadership here and I will pass it to
any of my colleagues that have further
comment or questions with regard with
regard to this legislation before moving
for passage. Council member Bankston
also would like to thank you for your
wonderful visionary leadership. He would
also like to say that if it was not
almost 11 p.m. he would have so much
more to say with regard to how much he
loves and appreciates your service to
this community. Thank you also to Larry
Price who is here with us today in
support of this legislation. If there
are no further questions or comments
from my colleagues, I will move for
passage.
Bankston Padilla dear Dorance Green Remy
Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you.
Next is ordinance number 1812-2026
to authorize the director of development
to enter into a grant agreement with
Seat and South Columbus Incorporated in
an amount up to $1 million of a $3
million commitment for Seat and South
Columbus Incorporated to act as a pass
through entity with Seat and Square
South and West Limited Partnership in
support of the renovation of 108 units
of affordable apartment homes with the
Seat and Square South and West project
to authorize the amendment to the 2025
capital improvement budget to authorize
the appropriation of funds within in the
income set aside sub fund and affordable
housing bond fund to authorize the
transfer of cash between the income tax
set aside sub fund and the affordable
housing bond fund to authorize the
expenditure in an amount up to 1 million
within the affordable housing bond fund
and to declare an emergency. This
ordinance is for the second portion of
the commitment of this project that is a
small residential neighborhood in
northeast Columbus defined by its
triangular shape formed by rail lines
Fifth Avenue and I 670. This is a
growing residential community where
Habitat is actively investing in high
quality affordable housing. My apologies
that is a different uh project. Um the
Seatin project
is a multifamily affordable housing
renovation project that is aimed at
revitalizing a community through
substantial rehabilitation while
maintaining affordability for its
residents. This project is 100% project
rental assistant contract subsidized
ensuring that the housing remains
accessible to lowincome individuals
and families.
Okay,
it looks like I actually have a speaker
who is here to speak in support of
ordinance number 1696 2026. So, I
apologize. I'm going to stop and go back
to the previous ordinance and ask Mr.
Nathaniel Wilkins to come up to the
stand. Welcome back to council, Mr.
Nathaniel Wilkins. And my apology for
overlooking
>> like a champ
>> and thank you.
>> 1612 Argenton Avenue, Mr. Los Angeles.
Welcome. I'm not going to take all your
time here. Um I just need some backlog
records of this. How long is this the
first time that my brother's keeper has
doing something like this for the very
first time? Um, I like to really scale
this as a more bigger problem since we
have a housing a housing shortage. Okay.
To my knowledge, this don't indicate for
the multi disability visually impaired
population.
Even though we have a housing a housing
shortage here, there's a lot of times
y'all talk about housing, but we still
leaving out the entity of vacant
property that's not idolized or not
being paid in time. I'm not going to
take my any more your time here, but I
want to get going on the process I have
here.
1457 or 10 Avenue is old piece of
property. this 10 houses down from my
block and with my brother's keeper doing
something as a great opportunity for the
elderly population but that doesn't give
any indication for the um disability
visually impaired and blind folks. So
again I would like to see up to $975,000
for this and again I would yield my time
to a later time but I do want to thank
you for keeping me at this long time.
Shannon Harden, I just want to thank you
for your time, but I have to get going.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Wilkins.
>> All right, I'm going to start over. I'm
going to read this ordinance again.
It is ordinance number 1812-2026
to authorize the director of de
department of development to enter into
a grant agreement with seat and south
Columbus Incorporated in an amount up to
$1 million of a $3 million commitment
for seat and south Columbus Incorporated
to act as a pass through entity with
seat and square south and west limited
partnership in support of the renovation
of 108 units of affordable apartment
homes. I'm going to go back within the
seat and square south and west project
to authorize the amendment of the 2025
capital improvement budget to authorize
the appropriation of funds within the
income set aside sub fund and the
affordable housing bond fund to
authorize the transfer of cash between
the income tax set aside sub fund and
the affordable housing bond fund to
authorize the expenditure in an amount
up to $3 million with the affordable
housing bond fund and to declare an
emergency. This ordinance is for the
second portion of the commitment of this
project that is a small residential
neighborhood
Sorry. Aimed at revitalizing communities
through substantial rehabilitation while
maintaining affordability for its
resident. Project is 100% project rental
assistant contract subsidize ensuring
that the housing remains accessible to
low-income individuals and families. The
renovation is substantial in scope and
will focus on enhancing both interior
and exterior of the properties
to improve the quality of life for
residents. Renovation will substantially
improve the living conditions for
residents while preserving the
affordability. Renovations include, but
are not limited to, updating critical
systems, enhancing interior spaces, and
improving exterior amenities. Project
aims to create a safer, more
comfortable, and more vibrant community
for current and future residents. Any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I'll move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Banks Baros Padilla de Ara, Doris Green,
Remy, Ross, White, President Harden.
>> Pass.
>> Next is ordinance number 1897. Is that
an 18? I can't see. 16
>> 1697-2026
to authorize the director of the
department of development to enter into
a grant agreement with Habitat for
Humanity Mid Ohio in an amount up to $1
million
for the development of a 14 unit
affordable housing development for the
final commitment to the Devons Triangle
project for a total of 2 million to
authorize the amendment to the 2025
capital improvement budget to authorize
the appropriation of funds within the
income Income set aside sub fund and the
affordable housing bond fund to
authorize the transfer of cash between
the income tax set aside sub fund and
the affordable housing bond fund to
authorize the transfer of funds between
projects within the affordable housing
bond fund to authorize the expenditure
in an amount up to 1 million within the
affordable housing bond fund and to
declare an emergency. This ordinance is
for the second portion of the commitment
of this project that is a small
residential neighborhood in northeast
Columbus defined by its triangular shape
formed by rail lines Fifth Avenue and
I670. This is a growing residential
community where Habitat is actively
investing in highquality affordable home
ownership opportunities by developing
its first multi-family
project. Multi- dwelling units in Devon
Triangle neighborhood will address the
need for affordable housing in the city
of Columbus for low to moderate income
families that are at at or below 120% of
the area meeting income limits set by
HUD. Are there any questions or comments
from my colleagues?
>> Seeing none, I move for passage.
>> Second. Please call
>> Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Akara Doris
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Next is ordinance number 1899-2026
to authorize the director of the
department of development to enter into
a plan modification of a grant agreement
with the Tony R. Wells Foundation
increase funding in an amount up to
2,835,000
and to continue to act as fiscal manager
for the RHI resilient housing initiative
program in providing financial
assistance to eligible residents facing
eviction homelessness and helping them
find new housing to authorize the
expenditure in an amount up to $2,835
to authorize the modification of the
scope of service in an amount up to
$10,000 to allow fuel only cards to be
issued to participants to authorize
authorize the appropriation and
expenditure in an amount up to $10,000
within the neighborhood economic
development fund to authorize the
advancement of funding on a
predetermined schedule and to declare an
emergency. Any questions or comments
from my colleagues? Seeing none, I move
for passage
dear Dorren Green Remy Ross White
President Harden. Next, we have
ordinance number 1904-2026
to require the director of the
Department of Development to provide and
adhere to a transparent process on an
annual basis for the allocation of
affordable housing bond dollars,
including an overview of the
fourthcoming year's goals for the
affordable housing bonds, the details of
a fair, transparent, competitive process
for allocation of funds, participation
on an annual in an annual public hearing
on the affordable housing bonds, and an
annual publication reporting on the
allocation in the prior year. Um, I'm
going to pass it to Council President
Harden for comment.
>> Sure. Thank you, Madam Chair. This
legislation is part of a process
council's been undergoing over the past
year and a half to bring more
transparency around our housing
initiatives. In 2025, when Columbus
updated the community reinvestment area
policy and housing incentive program, we
included a requirement for a public-f
facing website showing where those
incentives are being used and the
outcomes that they are helping to
achieve. I'm pleased and uh appreciative
the Department of Development is now
moving forward with that website. Last
November, Columbus voters made a
historic investment in the future of our
city by approving this bond package. It
represents one of the largest
commitments to affordable housing in our
city's history. With an investment of
this magnitude comes a responsibility
not only to spend these dollars wisely,
but to ensure that the public can
clearly see how they're being used and
invested uh to make uh the noted change.
Earlier this year, the housing homeless
and building committee held a public
hearing and conducted a community survey
to hear directly from residents, housing
providers, advocates, and other
stakeholders. The message was clear and
consistent. People support this
investment, but also want a stronger
public process. They want regular
updates, accessible information about
where these dollars are going and
opportunities to stay engaged as the
work continues. This legislation is a
direct response to that feedback. So,
tonight, council is voting on
legislation that strengthens
transparency and public accountability
for Columbus's $500 million affordable
housing bond. It establishes regular uh
reporting, public reporting process.
council and public and the public
receive updates on bond funded projects.
Expenditures and the progress we're
making toward expanding housing
affordability.
Uh transparency isn't a barrier to
building housing. It builds public
trust. It strengthens accountability and
ultimately helps ensure that these
dollars have the greatest possible
impact. Um,
I thank you uh, chair for your
partnership on this and look forward to
working with the department as we
continue to uh, move forward in our
shared goal of building more affordable
housing in a transparent way in our
city.
>> Thank you, President Harden. And are
there any questions or comments from my
colleagues?
>> Seeing none, move for passage.
Cler, please call the role.
>> Thanks.
Deadia de Aar Dorren Green Remy Ross
White President Harden
>> passed.
>> Awesome. That is it for me. Council
President, thank you.
>> Do
all right. I'm sorry.
>> Council President, may I move to page
15?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> No.
>> All right.
We have lastly for real at this time
ordinance number 0813-2026
to authorize the director of theart
Department of Public Utilities to modify
and increase the contract with BBCO
Design LLC for the space planning study
project to appropriate funds in the
Department of Development Operating Fund
to authorize an expenditure of up to
$754,633
from the sanitary operating fund and the
Department of Development Operating Fund
to pay for the contract modification.
Any
questions or concerns from my
colleagues?
All right. Seeing none, I will move to
amend as submitted.
>> Second.
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston, Barrosa, Deadia, de Akara,
Dorren Green, Remy Ros, President
Harden.
>> Amended.
>> Thank you. I'll move to pass as amended.
>> Second.
>> Cler, please call the role. Bankston
Barrosa Deadia de Aara Dorren Green Remy
Ross White President Hard
>> pass.
>> Thank you. That is it for my committee.
>> Thank you madam chair. We're going to
attempt to go back in order now. So the
next committee to go uh to come for
council is the economic develop u is a
finance and governance committee chaired
by council member.
>> Thank you uh council president. First in
the finance and governance committee for
second read. We have or resolution
0128x-2026
to adopt the 2027 tax budget and
authorize and direct the city auditor to
submit said budget to the county and to
declare an emergency. As mentioned last
week, the county tax budget is a
statemandated process that we and our
city auditor follow to receive our city
portion of local government funds. as in
years past. During the second reading of
this piece of legislation, tonight
council will conduct a public hearing
this evening with a presentation given
by our city auditor, Jackie Lewis. So,
at this time, I will turn the floor over
to Auditor Lewis.
>> Thank you, Council President Harden and
members of council. I'm here before you
this evening with very brief remarks
concerning the 2027 tax budget. As you
know, the tax budget process is an
annual function provided for by Ohio
Revised Code Chapter 5705.
Pursuant to that chapter, the city
auditor is required to prepare a tax
budget, which council must approve by
resolution to establish the city's
estimate of resources for the upcoming
fiscal year. Upon your approval, my
office will submit the tax budget to the
county budget commission on or before
July 20th as statutoily required. The
county budget commission will then
review the tax budget and must provide
its approval to the city along with the
certified tax rate and expected property
tax revenue by September 1st. Council
will then be required to adopt a second
resolution accepting the rate and amount
by October 1st. In conclusion, as
Council Member Bangston just stated,
this is a statutoily required process
that informs the city's upcoming
operating budget cycle. With that, I
respectfully ask for council's approval
of the 2027 tax budget.
>> Uh, thank you, um, Auditor Lewis. Are
there any questions or comments from,
uh, for the auditor? Seeing none, um, I
move for adoption.
Cl
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden. Next, we have ordinance
1127-2026
to authorize the city auditor to make
payment to the Waterworks LLC for
services rendered prior to execution of
a purchase order in an amount not to
exceed $49,3749
to authorize the finance management
department to enter into a contract with
the Waterworks LLC to allow for the
reimbursement of of four expenses
incurred during the city's UTC lapse
period starting March 1, 2026 to
authorize the expenditure from the
general general fund to wave the
competitive bidding provisions of
Columbus City codes and to declare an
emergency. Uh the facilities management
division in our department of finance
manages over 89 city-owned facilities
with over 4 um I'm sorry 4 million
square ft of space. The division is
responsible for the repair, maintenance,
cleaning, and upkeep of these
facilities. The Waterworks LLC provided
plumbing services to the city pursuant
to the terms of the city's then
effective UTC for plumbing services
after and and after it expired uh said
UTC. This ordinance seeks to reimburse
the Waterworks LLC for expenses incurred
during the UTC lapse period and enters
into a new contract uh and a waiver of
competitive being is necessary for the
period when there was no universal term
contract available. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage. Second,
>> please call the role.
>> Bankston Barosa, de patia, de a dorren,
green, reie, Ross, white, president
Harden. Next, we have ordinance
1618-2026 to authorize the director of
department of technology on behalf of
the city attorney's office uh and the
department of the inspector general to
enter a contract with Matrix Point
Software LLC for software maintenance
and support services with the option to
renew for five additional one-year terms
to wave the competitive bidding
provisions of Columbus City codes and to
authorize an expenditure from the
Department of Technology Information
Services Operating Fund. This
legislation reflects a sound and
fiscally responsible approach to
maintaining critical software
infrastructure by continuing our
existing relationship with Matrix Point
Software LLC. The city avoids
substantial cost and operational
disruptions associated with onboarding a
new software platform. Given the
established working relationship with
the this contractor and the value of
continuity and services delivery service
delivery, it is in city's best interest
to proceed with the ordinance through a
competitive bidding waiver. Are there
any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston deia de Aar Dorren Green Reie
Ross White President Harden.
>> Uh passed.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1986-2026
to authorize the issuance of unlimited
tax bonds in an amount not to exceed
173,760,000
for health, safety and and
infrastructure related projects to
authorize the appropriation and
expenditure of $4 million from the debt
retirement fund for cost of issuance and
to declare an emergency. This ordinance
along with the following eight companion
ordinances grant authority for the city
to issue bonds in connection with the
2025 capital improvement budget. This
ordinance also includes funding for the
cost of issuance for ordinances
1986-2026
and through 1996-2026.
In total, these nine bond sale
ordinances seek authority for the
issuance of bonds not to exceed $514
million in municipal bonds. These bond
issuances maximize infrastructure
investments by the city and are paid by
the 25% set aside from the city's income
tax collections as well as from Columbus
Water and Power Rate Payers Fund. Uh at
all that being said, tonight I will be
moving to refer all of these ordinances
back to committee as we work with the
administration and the city auditor to
shore up a plan for the upcoming capital
improvements budget. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I'm sorry, C.
>> No, thank you, chair. Um, I I appreciate
your leadership and I appreciate you
working with the administration and our
auditor. After last week's hearing and
on ongoing conversations, I do think
it's prudent for us to uh send these uh
ordinances back to uh committee uh until
we get more answers on our operating
budget deficit and our capital budget
plans. And to be clear, this does not
reflect on the merits of any of the
city's current capital priorities. There
are a lot of important projects in the
pike and I believe that those will still
move forward, but I think we consider
the city's AAA credit rating to be our
city's crown jewel and it's something
that we need to defend and maintain. The
administration has said they're going to
prepare a report in late July on the
city's budget. I'm going to ask our
staff to send a memo to the
administration with specific questions
that we want to make sure that that plan
addresses and I look forward to
reviewing that plan. council can then
take up these ordinances when we return
in August and once we've had an
opportunity to review it and see that
plan go into effect. I did want to um
ask uh the auditor um is there anything
you want to comment on specifically uh
can you comment on if postponing this
legislation two months will negatively
impact whatever kind of bond sale that
you would uh plan to do this fall?
>> Uh thank you Council President Harden.
Um no. In terms of the timing, um, when
you when you go out to market for a bond
sale, there's a schedule associated with
the offering. And, uh, you basically
just want to have your authorizing
ordinances approved prior to your
conversation with the rating agencies.
Of course, you have to have it approved,
the bond ordinances approved prior to
the sale of the bonds. So, we can work
with our municipal advising firm, PFM,
to come up with a schedule. Um, our
initial plan was to price, excuse me,
sometime in September. um we can still
do that. A rating agency conversation
would have to be had sometime early
September, late August. Uh so I don't
see a a particular issue with waiting
until um sometime in August after recess
for the ordinances to be approved. We
can work with that schedule.
>> Thank you, Madam Auditor, and thank you
for continue to work with the chair and
with the administration as we uh work
through uh these issues together. Thank
you, Mr. Chair.
>> Thank you. Any other questions or
comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move to refer this ordinance
back to committee. Cler,
>> please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deia de Akar, Dorren
Green, Remy, Ross White, President
Harden.
>> Refer back to committee.
>> Next, we have ordinance 1987-2026 to
authorize the issuance of unlimited tax
bonds in an amount not to exceed
$45,955,000
for recreation and parks related
projects and to declare an emergency. Uh
we did have one speaker on uh this
ordinance this evening. So I did just
want the record to reflect that Mr.
Motiel did sign up to speak uh in favor
of this piece of legislation but I know
he is no longer with us. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none I move uh for uh
I move to refer this ordinance back to
committee.
>> Second please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aara
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1988-2026 to authorize the issuance of
unlimited tax bonds in an amount not to
exceed $87,435,000
from for the public service related
projects and to declare an emergency.
Seeing no questions or comments comments
from my colleagues I move to refer this
ordinance back to committee.
>> Cler please call the role.
>> Bankston Barosa de Padilla de a Doris
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> refer back to committee. Next, we have
ordinance 1989-2026
to authorize the issuance of unlimited
tax bonds in the amount not to exceed
$59,980,000
for neighborhood development related
projects and to declare an emergency.
Seeing no questions or comments from my
colleagues, I refer this ordinance back
to committee.
>> Clerk, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barros Padilla de Ara Green
Remy Ross White President Harden
>> refer back to committee. Next is
ordinance 1990-2026
to authorize the issuance of unlimited
tax bonds and amount not to exceed
$98,315,000
for public utility related projects and
to declare an emergency. Uh at this time
I move to refer this ordinance back to
committee.
>> Cler please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Avery
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Refer back to committee. Ordinance
1991-2026
to authorize the issuance of of limited
tax bonds in an amount not to exceed 11
million260,000
for construction management related
projects and to declare an emergency. At
this time I move to refer this ordinance
back to committee.
>> Clston
Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorance Green
Remy Ross White President Harden
>> refer back to committee. Ordinance
1992-2026
to authorize the issuance of limited tax
bonds in an amount not to exceed
$5,800,000
for fleet management related projects
and to declare an emergency. I move to
refer this ordinance back to committee.
Second
>> clerk please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Aver Dorance
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> refer back to committee. Next we have
ordinance 1993-2026
to authorize the issuance of limited tax
bonds in an amount not to exceed
$23,915,000
for economic and community development
related projects and to declare an
emergency. I move to refer this
ordinance back to committee.
>> We refer back to uh clerk please call
the role
>> banks de padilla de a dorren green reie
ros white president Harden
>> refer back to committee. Next we have
ordinance 1994-2026
to authorize the issuance of limited tax
bonds in the amount not to exceed
$8,250,000
for information services related
projects to and to declare an emergency.
I move to refer this ordinance back to
committee.
>> Click please call the role.
>> Banks Barosa de Padilla de Akar Dorren
Green Reie Ross White President Harden
>> refer back to committee. Next, we have
ordinance 1995-2026
to authorize the issuance of issuance of
unlimited tax general obligation bonds
in one or more series in an amount not
to exceed 682,9
$395,000
for the purpose of providing funds to
refund certain outstanding general
obligation bonds of the city and to
declare an emergency. This ordinance
seeks authority to issue unlimited uh
tax bonds in order to refund up to
$682,395,000
in previously issued unlimited tax
bonds. Uh from time to time, the city
city will seek a bond refunding to
capitalize on favorable market
conditions. By refunding previously
issued municipal debt, the city can
reduce interest costs and in some cases
reduce the time to maturity. uh this
does not represent new debt but rather
is a restructuring of existing debt to
terms more favorable to the city. That
said, similar to the previous
ordinances, I will be moving this
ordinance and the next ordinance back to
committee for the same purpose. Are
there any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move to refer
this ordinance back to committee.
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> Bangston Barrosa Deadia de Ayra Dorren
Green Reie Ross White President Harden
>> refer back to committee.
Next, we have ordinance 1996-2026
to authorize the issuance of limited tax
general obligation bonds in one or more
series and an amount not to exceed
$35,835,000
for the purpose of providing funds to
refund certain outstanding general
obligation bonds of the city and to
declare an emergency.
Um, similar to the previous ordinance,
this ordinance seeks authority to issue
limited tax bonds in order to refund
$35,835,000
in previously issued uh limited tax
bonds. Again, this does not represent
new debt, but rather is a restructuring
of existing debt to terms more favorable
to the city. Seeing no questions or
comments from my colleagues, I move to
refer this ordinance back to committee.
>> Clerk, please call the roll. Bankston
Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green
Remy Ross Whites President Harden
>> refer back to committee.
>> Thank you council member uh council
president. May I move to the economic
development small minority business
committee. First up in the economic
development small minority business
committee we have ordinance 1173-2026
to authorize the director of department
of development to enter into an
enterprise zone agreement with Dupon USA
LLC for a tax abatement of 75% for a
period of 10 consecutive years in
consideration of the enterprise
investing approximately $30 million
which includes 14 million in new
construction 15 million in machinery and
equipment and 500,000 in furniture and
fixtures and 500,000 in standalone
computers, the creation of 60 net new
full-time permanent positions with an
estimated annual payroll of
approximately 3,71,300,
and the retention of 28 full-time jobs
with an associated estimated annual
payroll of approximately 1,987,742
uh dollars. Uh tonight uh we have really
a package of economic development
incentives and there will be seven up
for consideration. These incentives
represent six projects across a variety
of neighborhoods, developers and
employers. These incentives range from
proactive development on the east side
and south sides uh to the expansion of
the largest manufacturing facility in
our region that has created generations
of jobs to an engineering firm in a
downtown office uh steps away from city
hall. In total, these incentives secure
a commitment uh to at least create 188
new jobs, but more importantly to also
retain 1,299
jobs here in the city. This also
represents at least $10.7 million in new
payroll and $99.4
million in retained payroll. These
incentives also secure nearly $350
million in real property investment
across the six projects. Uh, Director
Stevens, I'm going to ask you just to
speak broadly. I know we're going to
maybe have questions of some of these as
we go along. I know that the hour is
late, but if you could just talk about
this package in general, uh, the mix of
tools that we have here, how we came to
some of those assumptions. Um, and then
we will um, see if there's any questions
or comments from my colleagues.
>> Uh, good evening, President Harden,
Chair Bangston's, members of council. Uh
we have used through these different
ordinances pretty much all the economic
development tools that we have in place
to incentivize investment and job
creation. It's a mixture of both
property tax abatement through the
enterprise zone program where we're
abating 75% of the new value while the
levy agencies will continue to um
receive the current property tax they
have as well as growth by 25% on the
investment. We're also using our
performance incentives. So the downtown
office incentive which is based on uh
job creation and revenue created as well
as the job creation tax credit. Um all
of these require some level of
investment or job creation. Um you later
on you'll p you'll be asked to um
dispose of legislation with regards to
revenue sharing with the school
districts. So when we do our enterprise
zone agreements um once we um hit a
million dollars in payroll, we share
revenue with the school districts um and
that that revenue is not um
used against their or it's not factored
into their school funding formula. So
that is extra dollars on the top. Um all
of these will go through our tax
incentive review council to make sure
the commitments that are made around
investment and jobs are met. and I'd be
happy to answer any questions.
>> Uh, thank you, director. Actually, you
hit a lot of my questions around Turk
and I think a lot of the leverage that
we have in place to make sure that we're
holding folks accountable. You know, one
thing that sticks out to me and I think
it's something that we talk about often,
but I think sometimes folks don't hear
me get to talk about is not just simply
job creation, uh, but also retention.
Uh, it's not just simply about, I think,
attracting new jobs. Of course, we want
that. Uh, but it is about being
competitive to ensure that we're not
losing that strong income base. So, can
you talk a little bit about this
particular package and how a lot of it
is really focused on expansion of
current existing businesses and also
that retention number, not just the
creation number.
>> Yeah, we have two pretty significant
deals in this package that are really
focused on retention. It's two globally
internationally owned companies in Hikma
and I'm blanking on the other one. I
apologize. Um all I know is they make
ice cream cones. Um so uh two
international global companies that can
invest throughout the world and looked
at other sites not only here in the
United States but um across the world
and chose to invest here so continue to
maintain the jobs we have as well as add
new jobs.
>> Thank you for that. Any questions or
comments for Director Stevens at this
point about this package? Okay. All
right. We will not belabor the point and
get straight to it. So again, with this
ordinance 1173-2026
specifically authorizes an enterprise
zone agreement for Dupon, USA. They plan
to expand their manufacturing facility
in the North Central neighborhood,
investing $30 million and creating at
least 60 new jobs. The Columbus City
School District is estimated to receive
an additional $644,690
over the term of the abatement. And
again, just to clarify, they will
continue uh to receive their current uh
tax distribution through the abatement
period as well. Uh they will receive
approximately $3,223
and sorry, $3,223,450
over a 20-year period as a result of the
aforementioned project. So once the that
uh abatement which is a timestamped
uh period, this property because of that
investment will be rise in value and
will be beneficial to the district over
time. All 60 new full-time positions are
above the city's $20 an hour wage
threshold uh with full benefits and I do
want to point out that is up for review
this year and looking forward to that
discussion. Any questions or comments
from my colleagues? Seeing none, I move
for passage um by voice.
Oh no, sorry. I just move for passage
de a Dorren Green Remy Ross White
President Harden. Uh thank you. Next we
have ordinance 1174-2026
to authorize the director of department
of development to enter into an
enterprise zone agreement with TCG uh
Karina Owner 2 LLC um for an tax
abatement of 75% for a period of 10
consecutive years in consideration of
the enterprise investing approximately
21 million in real property improvements
and the creation of 23 net new full-time
permanent positions with an estimated
annual payroll of approximately 998,4
$400. This ordinance authorizes an
enterprise zone agreement in support of
a project on the far east side.
Developer proposes a $25 million
investment in a proactive industrial
development committing to creating at
least 23 new jobs. It's important to
point out here when we talk about
proactive, that means that there's not a
tenant that has been identified yet. Uh
typically when a tenant is identified,
it definitely goes above and beyond that
23 uh job number and whoever the tenant
is that's selected will have to assume
that job creation number as well as the
minimum wage that goes with it. Kahana
Jefferson public schools are estimated
to receive an additional $879,340
over the term of the abatement and
approximately $4,396,681,000
over a 20-year period as a result of the
aforementioned project. Eastland
Fairfield Career and Tech Schools are
estimated to receive an additional
$36,690
over the term of the abatement and
approximately $183,69
over a 20-year period because of that
investment. All 23 jobs again are well
above the $20 hour wage threshold with
full benefits. Uh seeing no questions or
say something real quick,
>> council president.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I I will say
that when we had our briefing uh on
these this package, one of the things
that I'm looking forward to is kind of
is is the review period that that we're
coming into uh I think one of the things
that we talked about and I had a
question about is could we look at
especially for these proactive uh uh uh
incentives
um make uh having the um the number uh
the the pay grow as uh in between the
time in which we uh make the the vote.
vote on it and we find a actual act
actual um uh tenant to go in there. And
so I just look forward to council being
a part of that conversation. I think
it's an important conversation as we see
what that um level of of uh wage that
works for our city to make such
investment. These should be tough and
conversations about what makes sense.
But uh I just appreciate your uh your
director your willingness to have that
conversation. Um, and I don't know if
you want to say anything like that.
We're open to these parts.
>> We're very articulate after 11 o'clock.
Also,
>> thank you, Council President. Clearly, I
have been too. Um, you know, couple
years back, uh, Council Member Remy
really pushed us to change the number of
jobs we put in these proactive
development deals to really reflect kind
of a historical trend, more so than what
the Ohio Code asked for. uh per our
discussion when we actually get a user
in there let's say it takes two years
before a user goes in there and our
minimum wage threshold has increased
whatever number we would make sure that
in that time period that that company
would be fall under that new minimum
wage and not come in under what
the $20 level we're at now. So
I'm just as inarticulate at 11 o'clock.
So, but we're committed to that.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Any other questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move to pass
by voice.
>> Second call.
>> Bankston,
>> yes.
>> Barrosa de Padilla,
>> yes.
>> De Akar,
>> yes.
>> Dorren,
>> yes.
>> Green,
>> no.
>> Remy,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> yes.
>> President Harden,
>> yes. Ordinance is pass. Thank you.
negative ordinance 1304-2026 to
authorize the director of department of
de development to enter into a community
reinvestment area agreement with TCG OCP
CPOZ owner LLC for a property tax
abatement of 75% for a period of 15
consecutive years on real property
improvements in consideration of the
proposed total investment of
approximately $60 million in real
property improvements and the creation
of 25 net new full-time permanent
positions with an estimated annual
payroll of approximately $1,40,000.
This authorizes a commercial community
reinvestment area agreement in support
of a proactive industrial project in the
Rick and Backer area. So, similar to the
last type of project we just talked
about, the developer proposes investing
at least $60 million to build a nearly 1
million square foot facility and to
create at least 25 new uh jobs. The
Columbus City School District is
estimated to receive during the
abatement period, again, what they
currently receive on that parcel, which
is a empty lot at the time. They will
continue to receive that. And also
during the abatement period will receive
an estimated $4,144,376
over the term of the abatement and
approximately 12,332,951
over a 30-year period as a result of the
aformentioned projects level of
investment at $60 million. Uh are there
any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing that, I move for
passage.
>> Please call the row.
>> Bankston,
>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry about that. Yes, I
uh
>> my you want to and I did want to also
point out again all of those jobs are at
the 25 uh at the $20 wage as well as
full-time benefits.
>> Um I will be um again moving for passage
by voice.
>> Cler, please call the road by voice.
>> Bankston,
>> yes.
>> Barrosa de Padilla,
>> yes.
>> De Akar,
>> yes.
>> Dorance,
>> yes.
>> Green,
>> no. Remy,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> President Harden,
>> yes. Ordinance is passed.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1858-2026 to authorize the director of
department of development to enter into
a downtown office incentive agreement
with ANS GO LLC for a term of up to five
consecutive years in consideration of
the company's proposed capital
investment of approximately $750,000 the
creation of 13 net new full-time
permanent positions with an estimated
associated payroll of approximately
$1,750,000
and the retention and relocation of 43
full-time permanent positions with an
estimated uh associated pay annual
payroll of approximately $3,664,800
as provided in Columbus City Council's
resolution number 0088x-2027
adopted June 4 20 uh 20 2007.
This ordinance authorizes a downtown
office incentive to an engineering firm
called ANS Geo. They are relocating to a
larger office downtown than their
current brewery district location and
bringing new employees to the region.
They commit to creating at least uh 13
new jobs and retaining at least 43
positions. All 13 new full-time
positions are above the city's $20 an
hour wage threshold with full benefits.
And do just want to point out this one
as well. One of those again
opportunities for us to retain uh an
current employer in downtown. Uh this is
really about protecting uh downtown and
the office vacancy there. This is a
company that could go anywhere else in
the region but we want to make sure that
we are also ensuring that downtown
remains vibrant and remains an
employment center. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none I move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deia de Aar Dorren
Green Reie Ross White President Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you. Next, we have ordinance
1870-2026 to authorize the director of
Department of Development to enter into
a job creation tax credit agreement of
45% for a term of up to six consecutive
years with Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA,
Inc. In consideration of the company's
proposed total capital investment of
$215,700,000,
the creation of 50 net new full-time
permanent positions with an estimated
annual payroll of approximately $3
million, and the retention of 1,224
full-time permanent positions with an
associated estimated annual payroll of
approximately 93,672,177.
$7. This ordinance and the next
ordinance authorizes incentives for a
large expansion project at Hikma in the
West Sciota area. Hikma is the largest
manufacturer in central Ohio and they
propose a $215 million investment to
renovate and expand their facility. They
also commit to retaining over,200 jobs
and creating at least 50 new jobs. All
50 new job positions are well above the
city's $20 an hour wage threshold with
full benefits. This ordinance authorizes
a job creation tax credit in support of
Hikma's job creation commitment. I do
want to highlight that the director said
Hikma is an international company and I
had a chance to go actually tour the
facility and it was really thanks to
their local leadership and working with
us that we were able to secure this
investment. They had plans uh to make
this investment. But their actual
international team told them to stop and
say we want to evaluate all of our
sites, not just here in the US or in
Ohio, but across the globe for this type
of expansion. Uh and thanks to working
with our team uh and working uh with
other economic development professionals
uh at the state level, we're able to
secure this expansion right here in
Columbus because they actually have
another facility just down the street in
Bedford, Ohio. Uh so when we talk about
that competitiveness, ensuring that this
type of opportunity and this type of
investment is here in Columbus uh in one
of our great neighborhoods to be able to
continue to employ folks is another
great win for our city. Are there any
questions or comments for our col from
my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akaro
Dorren Green Reie Ross White President
Harden
>> pass. Next, we have ordinance 1871-2026
to authorize director development uh
department of development to enter into
an enterprise zone agreement with West
Ward Columbus, Inc. and Hickma
Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. uh for a tax
abatement of 75% for a period of 10
consecutive years. In consideration of
the enterprise investing approximately
92 million in real property
improvements, the creation of 50 net new
full-time permanent positions with an
associated annual payroll of
approximately 3 million, and the
retention of 1,224
full-time permanent positions with an
associated estimated annual payroll of
approximately 93,2627,177.
Again, this ordinance is an enterprise
zone agreement incentive for Hikma
renovation and expansion project. Uh the
Hillyard uh local school district is
estimated to re to continue to generate
their current amount that they receive
off of this property. and they will also
receive an additional $4,55,660
over the term of the abatement and
approximately $22,528,312
over a 20-year period as a result of the
aforementioned project and its
investment. Tol's Career and Technical
Center is estimated to receive an
additional $143,130
over the term of the abatement and
approximately $724,730
over a 20-year period as a result of the
aforementioned project. Seeing no
questions or comments from my
colleagues, I move for passage.
>> Second.
>> Please call the row.
>> Bankston Barosa de Padilla de Akar
Dorren Green Reie Ross White President
Harden
>> asked. Thank you. Next, uh, we have
ordinance 1872-2026
to authorize the director of department
of development to enter into an
enterprise zone agreement with Westborne
Flex LLC uh, for a tax abatement of 75%
for a period of 10 consecutive years in
consideration of the enterprise
investing approximately 8,800,000
in real property improvements and the
creation of 10 net uh, new full-time
permanent positions with an estimated
annual payroll of approximately
$500,000.
at the afformentioned project. This is
the the last of the seven incentive
ordinances up for consideration tonight.
So, thank you all for bearing with me.
Uh the this authorizes an enterprise
zone agreement for a proactive
industrial development project on the
far east side. Pioneer Development
commits to nearly $9 million in real
property investments and to create at
least 10 new jobs. Again, this is a
proactive uh piece of uh development.
So, that job number should be well above
that once a actual uh lease uh leasey is
found. Ghana Jefferson Public Schools
are estimated to receive an additional
$419,821
over the term of the abatement in
addition to what they currently receive
for that property and approximately
$2,99,17
over a 20-year period as a result of the
aforementioned project and its
investment. Eastland Fairfield Career
and Technical Schools are estimated to
receive an additional $17,500
over the term of the abatement and
approximately $87,500
over a 20-year period as a result of the
investment. All of the jobs associated
with this are well above the $20 an hour
wage and also include full benefits. Any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Sure. Can I jump into this
one too?
>> I'm sorry. kind of say something too on
this one one other thing that I I wanted
to mention I as I was we were sitting
here this was a whole package and again
thank you for your leadership and
seriously thank you to director because
you took a lot of time with our office I
think council member Ross was with me we
had a lot of conversations one of the
things that got me here and I and I want
to make sure that we're not having these
conversations in silos um we look
forward to one um the larger
conversation this fall uh around um the
expecting ing more and asking more in
terms of wage growth for these
incentives, but we also should not be
afraid to connect these conversations
and be able to explain and and um have
questions answered about their impacts
on the schools. I keep thinking about
the committee that council member Dors
and I chair. Uh I told councilor Benson
I think that's an opportunity for
specifically council member Benson he's
really good at explaining this to come
before the committee to ask questions
but we we can't have these conversations
in silos any longer. Uh and that was
something we talked about uh in our um
meeting on these pieces of legislation.
But I do look forward to that combined
work uh this fall of um uh advocating
for higher wages but also understanding
the impacts they have on schools as we
continue. But thank you so much again
for your leadership.
>> Thank you, council president. Any other
questions or comments? Seeing that I
move for passage by voice
by
>> Bankston,
>> yes.
>> Bosadia,
>> de Aara,
>> yes.
>> Dorren,
>> yes.
>> Green,
>> no.
>> Reie,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> President Harden,
>> yes.
>> Uh, thank you. Next we have ordinance
1707-2026
to authorize the director of department
of development and the director of the
department of public service to enter
into an economic development agreement
with Pazuti MH LLC and Washington Oak
Realy LLC to outline the plans and
certain commitments of the parties as it
relates to the redevelopment of surface
parking lots in the vicinity of Oak
Street and Washington Avenue in the
Discovery District. This ordinance
authorizes a development agreement with
Pazuti, excuse me, and Enova in support
of a housing project they are
undertaking to redevelop the surface
parking lots surrounding Enco's offices.
Upon completion, the development will
include approximately 518 residential
units and up to 15,000 square ft of
retail space. This represents an
estimated investment of $96 million. Uh
the in support of the the project, the
Department of Development commits to
submitting future legislation that would
be authorized by council that includes
up to $1.6 $6 million to reimburse
design improvements as well as water and
sewer upgrades along Oak Street, a
request for additional Oak Street
funding costs to be offset through the
2027 capital uh budget process, and the
design and construction of a public
parking garage to serve the uh Discovery
District. This legislation commits the
department to submitting future
legislation, but does not yet authorize
either of the capital contributions. So,
there will be more legislation to come.
really excited about this one. I think
many folks on this dice have heard me
talk about how much I hate surface
parking lots. And so to see them put
into better productive use. And not only
that, I think the investment that we
continue to make particularly around
public parking facilities uh that is
revenue sharing that goes back to the
city but also as an amenity uh for that
entire uh region in that part of
downtown growing to have more residents
to meet that uh uh ambitious goal to
have 40,000 residents in downtown and
again to have uh these parcels put into
much productive use. Really looking
forward to it. Not to mention, I think
long overdue uh streetscape improvements
to Oak Street, which is a uh entryway
into our downtown. Any questions or
comments from my colleagues? I see uh
District 7 uh Council Member Ross is
glowing over there. Um so,
>> right behind
>> you. This is my street by the way.
>> All right, there you go. Um seeing uh
seeing no other questions or comments
from my colleagues, I move for passes by
voice.
>> Second call by
>> Bankston.
>> Yes.
>> Burla de Padilla.
>> Yes.
>> De Akar,
>> yes. Dorne,
>> yes.
>> Green,
>> no.
>> Remy,
>> yes.
>> Ross,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> President Harden,
>> yes.
>> Thank you. Next, we have ordinance
1804-2026 to authorize the city auditor
to appropriate the sum of $1,830,630.67
67 within the general fund income tax
set aside sub fund to authorize the city
auditor transfer 5,491,891.99
within the general fund to authorize the
payment of up to 7,322,522.66
66 cents in accordance with the public
school revenue sharing program for seven
uh different school districts to
authorize the expenditure not to exceed
uh not to exceed uh 7,332,522.66
from the general fund and to declare an
emergency. This ordinance is the city's
annual school revenue sharing
contribution. As director Stevens
mentioned earlier, revenue sharing with
school districts is required for
property tax abatements, including
enterprise zone and commercial CRA. When
the city's new income tax for an EZA
exceeds a million dollars uh or for a
CRA, 2 million, then the city must
distribute half of that new revenue to
the school district in which the project
resides. This requirement is in place
for the life of the abatement. Uh this
year the income tax distribution is the
largest ever with a total over $7.3
million across 60 contributing
agreements and eight school districts.
This is a $1.6 million increase from
last year with a million dollars of that
increase going towards Columbus City
Schools District uh for a total of
roughly $4.7 million to that district.
Uh this revenue sharing mechanism is an
important part of the city's partnership
with the schools and ensuring that
growth in Columbus is shared across our
public partners. I' also would like to
point out that this shows that what we
are doing is in fact working. It is
creating uh jobs and opportunities uh
not just simply dollars that we talk
about on a spreadsheet but opportunities
for families, opportunities for them uh
to in fact put a place over their heads
when we talk about Columbus City schools
and not just our students but their
parents opportunities for them to be
able to have a good paying job as well.
And so yeah, we will continue to have uh
the conversation, but just like we can't
divorce the conversation around I think
abatements and that piece of it, we also
can't divorce the conversation about
when our incentive package and portfolio
is working, the benefits that it brings
uh to our community. Uh so again, really
excited to see these numbers continue to
increase yearoveryear. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston perosia de Akara Dorance Green
Reie Ross rights. President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1816-2026
to authorize the city auditor to
appropriate the sum of $261,845.36
within the general fund income tax set
aside sub fund to authorize the city
auditor to transfer $785,536.7
within the general fund to authorize the
payment of $1,47,38143
in accordance with the downtown office
incentive.
uh program for the seven uh D uh DOI
agreements for which employers have met
the requirement of their DOI agreements
and thus are eligible to receive their
payments for tax year 2025 in 2026 to
authorize the expenditure not to exceed
1,47,38143
from the general fund and to declare an
emergency. Um, as you will remember that
earlier this evening we voted on an
ordinance creating a new downtown office
incentive. This ordinance pertains to
existing downtown office incentives
which are performed performance-based as
you heard in the language there. These
are um uh companies that met those
metrics and met those numbers. The
city's downtown office incentive program
is an economic development tool that
gives employers a cash payment of up to
50% of the local income tax withholdings
for eligible new employees for a
negotiated term for business locating or
expanding in the Columbus downtown area.
U the dis the dispersement is made
annually and this year the legislation
provides just over a million dollars in
DOI payments uh to seven total
employers. Seeing no questions or
comments from my colleagues, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Doran
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Next we have ordinance 1821-2026
to authorize the city auditor to
appropriate the sum of $1,218,75.80
80 cents within the general fund income
tax set aside fund to authorize the city
auditor transfer 3,640
uh 300 excuse me 3,654,227.38
within the general fund to authorize the
payment of up to 4,872,33.18
in accordance with the jobs growth
incentive program for the 13 active and
reporting JGI agreements for which
employers have met the requirement of
their JGI agreements and thus are
eligible to receive their payments for
tax year 2025 and 2026 to authorize the
expenditure not to exceed 4,872,33.18
from the general fund and to declare an
emergency. Similar to the previous
ordinance, this legislation pertains to
the city's job growth incentive uh
program. This is a similar economic
development tool to the downtown office
incentive granting employers a cash
payment for up to 25% of local income
tax withholdings for a negotiated term
for those eligible new employees. This
dis this this dispersement, excuse me,
is also made annually. And this year the
legislation provides $4.8 million in JGI
payments to 13 total employers. Again,
making sure that folks are hitting those
metrics. Any questions or comments from
my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Second call.
>> Bankston Buradia de Akra Dorren Green
Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have
ordinance 1862-2026
to authorize director of department of
development to enter into capital
contribution agreement with West
Granville Road Owner LLC for required
public infrastructure improvement
supporting the development of workforce
housing to amend the 2025 capital
improvements budget to authorize the
expenditure prior to issuance of the
purchase order beginning September 1,
2023 to authorize the transfer and
expenditure in an amount up to $2
million from the development taxable
bonds fund for the required public
infrastructure improvement benefiting
the community's broader infrastructure
goals and to declare an emergency. This
ordinance authorizes a capital
contribution in support of the 336 unit
workforce housing development near the
Ohio State University airport. The
development expands access to
highquality housing options across a
variety of price points. This capital
contribution will be used to complete
broader public infrastructure goals in
the area including sanitary sewer
improvements, roadway widening, traffic
signal and crosswalk installation and a
shared use path for pedestrians and
cyclists. Seeing no questions or
comments from my colleagues, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Ayra
Dorren Green Reie Ross White President
Harden.
Uh, next we have ordinance 2007-202626
to authorize director of de development
or his designate on behalf of the
department of public utilities to
exercise the purchase provision and
lease back scenario within the lease
authorized by ordinance 3285-2025
and to and enter into a purchase sales
agreement by and between the city CC
CDDC Holdings 37 LTD and to authorize
the appropriation and expens expenditure
of $14,1,748
from the water operating fund to
authorize the appropriation and
expenditure of $4,76,337
from the storm water operating fund and
to authorize the appropriation and
expenditure of $15,721,170
from the sanitary sewer operating fund
and to declare an emergency. This
ordinance authorizes the purchase of the
Huntington Plaza building for use by
Columbus Water and Power. It also
authorizes a lease back of the garage
and restaurant space from downtown
Columbus, Inc. Last year, council
authorized a lease agreement related to
this space and that agreement provided
for the city to purchase the building
which is what this ordinance authorizes.
Are there any questions or comments from
my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Thanks. Perosia de Akara Dorren Green
Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Next we have ordinance 2010-2026
to authorize the director of the
department of development to enter into
a contract with Quinn Evans Architects
Inc. in an amount up to $150,000 to
provide an assessment for the historic
preservation code policies, guidelines,
and processes to authorize the
expenditure of $150,000
from an existing auditor certificate and
to declare an emergency. For this piece
of legislation, I'm going to kick it
over uh to Council President Pro Tim
Dors, who's been leading us through our
zone in effort and is now going to be
leading us through our historic
preservation efforts as well.
>> Oh, thank you, Chair. Um the question of
historical preservation was one that I
think was posed to this body during the
first phase of zone in and one that we
didn't have a great answer to as we
embarked on that zoning modernization
effort. uh I felt like that was a a gap
that we needed to fill and this was one
of the initiatives we announced with the
Columbus forward uh platform with this
body and very excited with the
partnership with the department of
development and others uh with building
zoning services in order to really lean
into this really to take a look at what
our current policies are within the city
of Columbus really look at peer cities
uh really figure out what is working
what is not working as we think about uh
what do those policies look like in a
growing city that clearly needs to do
more, build more housing, have more
development, but at the same time uh be
respectful about um our history and in a
city that al all too often tore down our
history, uh I think this is the the
right time for us to embark in this
effort. So very excited about having
some national experts and folks who
we've already worked with uh here in
Columbus to be uh part of this effort.
So with that, happy to kick it back to
you, Chair.
>> And thank you, President Proen Dors. And
again, thank you for your leadership uh
in zoning and reszoning city. It is not
an easy feat. Uh but as we grow, we want
to grow smartly but also want to
preserve uh our history. So thank you
for your leadership. Any other questions
or comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Akra Doris
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you council president. May I move
to page two um to for first read of
Thank you. Um on page two we have
ordinance 1957-20226
to authorize the director of department
of development or his assigne to execute
any and all necessary agreements and
deeds for uh conveyance of title of one
parcel of real property held in the land
bank pursuant to the land reutilization
program to J& Drywall LLC. This
ordinance authorizes the transfer of a
land bank parcel to J& E drywall for the
con for the construction of a two family
home. The parcel is currently vacant and
this transfer is part of the land bank's
moderately priced housing initiative. Uh
seeing no questions or comments from my
colleagues, I first uh move to wave
second reading.
>> Please call the role.
>> Banksen Barosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorance Green Remy Ross Whites President
Harden.
>> Thank you. You now move for passage.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deia de Akaris Green
Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Next we have ordinance 2058-2026
to authorize the city clerk to enter
into an advanced payment grant agreement
with a seat at our table in support of
the workspace program and to authorize
an appropriation and expenditure within
the neighborhood initiative sub fund.
This ordinance authorizes a grant for a
seat at our table in support of your
workspace program which is a
professional development and leadership
accelerator program. I know that I am
co-sponsoring this with council member
Ross. Council member, is there anything
that you wanted to add to this?
>> Nothing to add.
>> Okay. Thank you for that. Uh are there
any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I first move to
wave second reading.
>> Second.
>> Cler, please call the role. Bankston
Barrosia de Akawa Dorren Green Remy Ross
White President Harden
>> waved.
>> And now move for passage.
>> Clangston
Barrosa Padilla de Akawa Dorance Green
Remy Ross White President Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you council president. And lastly
I do have one piece of legislation on
page 36 in rules and ref rules and
policy
>> please.
>> Thank you. Uh we have in rules and
policy this evening ordinance 2063-2026
to real repeal and replace ordinance
1953-2026
passed June 22nd 2026 to amend section
371.02
of the Columbus city codes to shift the
affordable housing trust hotel motel and
short-term rental excise tax
distribution to experience Columbus and
to declare an emergency. This ordinance
is just a a clean up. There was a
correction that we found in the
mathematical error um found in ordinance
1953-2026
which passed last Monday. This change is
necessary for the city's division of
income tax to implement the approved bed
tax change. Uh are there any questions
or comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Second.
>> Cler, please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar
Dorren Green Reie Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you, Council President. I have my
committee this evening.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Before we go to
the next committee, public service and
transportation committee, I'm going to
ask um if we could uh get a motion to
recess one very quickly. We have two
non-aggenda speakers here that um have
hung out uh and I I appreciate them
being here. I would like to let them uh
go. Uh so, and then we'll take a
restroom break and get back at it. Is
there a motion to uh recess?
>> So move, please call the RO. Bankston
Barrosa Deia de Akara Dorren Green Remy
Ross White President Harden
>> we are in recess. Thank you.
Hey, hey, hey.
It up.
It up.
Love
you.
Rolling
around
me, man.
I'm feel
purpose
God bless.
Get
that
get
that boy.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey,
Heat.
Heat.
Heat. Heat.
I want to you
I want to you
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
I
I'm you.
Heat. Heat. N.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. N.
Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat.
All
right.
Heat. Heat.
Heat.
Heat.
Heat. Heat.
Hey.
Hey. Hey.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Aar Dorren Reie Ross White President
Harden
>> meeting is uh reconveneed. Uh we are now
in the uh public service and
transportation committee. That committee
is chaired by council bro. Council
member the floor is yours.
>> Thank you uh council president. I'm
going to go a little out of order. Sure.
>> And start. I want to move back to page
three in rules and policy ordinance 1486
20226
uh to amend section 2155.01
to enact sections 2155.09
and 2155.10 10 to repeal the existing
version of section 215501
of the Columbus city codes to establish
the mobility innovation sub fund and the
debt service reserve sub fund within the
mobility enterprise operating fund to
authorize future transfers thereto
establish funding priorities and
permissible uses thereof to authorize a
transfer within the mobility enterprise
operating fund and to authorize an
appropriation from the mobility
enterprise operating fund. Uh when I
joined Columbus City Council in 2022,
one of my priorities was making it
easier for Columbus families to get to
where they need to go safely,
affordably, and reliably. Transportation
is one of the largest household expenses
for many families. Whether someone is
commuting to work, getting to a doctor's
appointment, or running errands, every
resident deserves transportation options
that fit their needs and their budget.
That's why I advocated for and
prioritized my budget earmarks and
provided investments in programs like
the resident ebike subsidy program, bike
lockers, tactical urban urbanism
projects, or quick build projects. These
are practical investments that help
remove barriers to mobility while making
our streets safer and more connected for
everyone. In 2023, council president and
I launched Columbus's first pilot
resident ebike subsidy program in
partnership with Smart Columbus. The
community response was incredible with
more than 3,700 applications submitted
during the initial rounds, showing just
how many residents were looking for a
more affordable way to get around. Since
the program began, over 600 ebikes have
been distributed to Columbus residents.
Even more importantly, 91% of residents
reported that they would not have been
able to purchase an ebike without the
subsidy, and 85% said their ebike uh
they use their ebike to replace car
trips. Those numbers tell us that this
program is helping people save money,
expand their transportation options
options, and access jobs, schools,
parks, businesses, and other everyday
destinations. Today's
ordinance takes the next step by
creating a sustainable source of funding
for these types of investments.
Ordinance 1486 20226 establishes the
Mobility Innovation Sub Fund, dedicating
5% of the annual net revenue from the
Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund
beginning in 2027 to projects that make
it easier and safer for people to move
around uh or to move throughout our
city. This ordinance also appropriates
$500,000
so that we can begin programming this
year. Um I'd like to make this clear,
the Enterprise Fund is actually funded
by users. So, those are people who
voluntarily are going to use our uh
parking structures or parking on the
streets. So, the funds can support
tactical urbanism projects that's a that
provide short-term safety solutions,
safety equipment for bicycles, scooters,
and other mobility devices, bike parking
facilities, and parkletits, transit
passes, and capital investments that
expand transportation options throughout
Columbus. As Columbus continues to grow,
we have a responsibility to ensure that
growth benefits everyone. I believe that
this is an avenue to do just that. I'd
like to thank the administration um in
particular uh the mayor, Chief Elon Sims
for their partnership on this. I'd like
to thank the Department of Public
Service for taking this leap with me to
ensure that there are dedicated funds
towards these efforts. Uh especially
parking and mobility services division
administrator Justin Goodwin. Thanks to
my staff, Jessica Namaris, uh and lastly
Sam Dueling from our legislative
research office for crafting this
legislation. Um, we had a public speaker
who spoke earlier about the impact of
this program. So now I'd like to open it
up to my colleagues if you have any
questions or comments.
>> Thank you. Uh, seeing none, I'd like to
move to wave second reading.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorins Green Reie Ross White President
Harden.
>> And now I'd like to move for passage.
Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorins Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you. So stay tuned for our ebike
program later on this year. Uh now may I
move to public service and
transportation. Council President.
>> Thanks. I'd like to move to page 26.
Tonight we have six items on the agenda
for second read. First is ordinance 1774
2026 to amend the 2025 capital
improvement budget to authorize the
transfer of funds within the streets and
highways bond fund to appropriate funds
within the streets and highways bond
fund and the federal transportation
grants fund to authorize the director of
public service to enter into contract
with ULTA planning and design
incorporated for the vision zero
vulnerable road user plan project to
authorize the expenditure of up
to$1,250,000
from the streets and highways bond fund
and the federal transportation grants
fund. to pay for the project and to
repay any unused grant funds at the end
of the grant period and to declare an
emergency. This project provides the
city of Columbus TPS with uh resources
to implement the vision zero project
includes an action plan from 2023 to
2028 and informs strategies for our next
safety action plan, a pedestrian
priority network, and a new 5-year safe
routes to school travel plan focusing on
vulnerable roadway users. I can't
express more the importance of this,
especially council president, as we're
working with CCS and we're thinking
about the potential of removing
transportation options for our students,
ensuring that they have a safe route to
school is going to be paramount. Do my
colleagues have any questions or
comments? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Banks Barosa Deia de Aar Dorren Green
Remy Ross White President Hart.
>> Thanks. Next, we have ordinance 18112026
to amend the 2025 capital improvement
budget to authorize funds within the
federal transportation grants fund to
authorize the director of public service
to enter into contract with Shelley and
Sans Incorporated for the FRA627.66
66 uh improvements of Nelson Road
project to authorize the expenditure of
1,675,4625
from the streets and highways bond fund
and the federal transportation grants
fund for the project and to repay any
unused grant funds at the end of the
grant period and to declare an
emergency. This project includes the
resurfacing of 1.32
miles of Nelson Road from East Broad
Street to Fifth Avenue in District 7.
and it's right on the border of our two
districts um and is greatly needed
because this portion of Nelson Road has
been under construction for quite a
while. It includes roadway pavement
repairs, spot replacement of curve and
sidewalk and construction of ADA curve
ramps. Do my colleagues have any
questions or comments? Seeing none, I
move for passage.
>> Banksboro
de Aar Dorance Green Reie Ross White
President Harden.
>> Thank you. Uh, next we have ordinance
1849 2026 to amend the 2025 capital
improvement budget to authorize the
transfer of funds within the refuge
collection bond fund to authorize the
director of public service to enter into
contract with Settling Building Company
for the facilities Marian Road refuge
warehouse renovation phase 1 project to
authorize the expenditure of 3,969,42
from the refuge collection bond fund for
the project and to declare an emergency.
This project is in district 8, my
district, and includes the demolition of
roof mounted HVAC equipment,
installation of new roofing system, and
installation of new ground mounted HVAC
equipment, the construction of new
office space, locker rooms, and
reconfiguration of storage areas. I
can't stress how important this is for
our folks who work in this facility for
these muchneeded upgrades and repairs uh
so that they can continue to work uh to
serve our residents. Do my colleagues
have any questions or comments? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Banks per day de a dorren green reie ros
white. President Harden
>> and I'm very excited about this uh next
ordinance 1874 2026 to amend the 2025
capital improvement by budget to
authorize the director of public service
to enter into contract with Strawer
Paving uh company incorporated for the
urban infrastructure recovery fund South
London Sidewalks project to authorize
the expenditure of 1,867,7043
from the streets highway bond fund for
the project and to declare an emergency.
This request originated from uh a
request from the South Lending community
in District 4. I think I've been hearing
about these sidewalks since I came on to
PR uh council. This will create a
sidewalk installation where gaps occur
in the existing sidewalks on six streets
in the South London area. These streets
include McGuffy Road, Dresden Street, uh
East 24th Avenue, East 23rd Avenue, East
22nd Avenue, and Grass Mirror Avenue.
These sidewalks include the replacement
of drive aprons and installing or
upgrading non-compliant curb ramps at
all public intersections. I'm very
excited about this. Advocacy from the
community does work. Sometimes it takes
longer than we all anticipate, but it is
coming to South London. So, do my
colleagues have any questions or
comments? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston, Barrosa, Deia, De Akar,
Dorren, Green, Remy, Ross, White,
President Harden.
>> Thank you. And I believe lastly, we have
ordinance 1982 2026 to amend ordinance
1560 2020. Just kidding, not lastly at
all. Um, counting is hard at midnight.
Okay, going back. Ordinance 1982 20226
to amend ordinance 1560 2026 for the
sole purpose of including the
authorization of waving competitive
bidding pro uh provisions of the
Columbus city code and to declare an
emergency ordinance number 1560 2026
passed on June 8th authorized the
director of finance and management to
enter into contract with BEC Enterprises
LLC for the purchase of a trailmounted
aggregate uh heater. This legislation
authorizes an amendment to this
ordinance to include bid waiver language
in order to accept and award BEC
Enterprises LLC. This was because the
quote submitted with the bid was not
valid for 180 days as required by
bidding terms and conditions. Do my
colleagues have any questions or
comments? Seeing none, I move for
passage. Second,
>> please call the role.
>> Bankston Perosa de Akar Dorren Green
Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thanks. Next, I have ordinance 2 uh
20042026 to amend the 2025 capital
improvement budget to authorize the
director of finance and management to
enter into contracts with Ohio machinery
for the purchase of one pattern truck to
authorize the waiver of the competitive
bidding provisions of Columbus City Code
to authorize the expenditure of up to
$239,956
from the streets and highways bond fund
to purchase the equipment and to declare
an emergency. This ordinance will use
the equipment to ensure worker safety
while crews maintain and repair the
streets and infrastructure throughout
the city of Columbus. Do my colleagues
have any questions or comments? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Banks and buria dear Dorren Green Rein.
>> Thank you. And that was my last
ordinance.
Thank you, Council President. First, we
have ordinance 1724-2026
to authorize the director of the
Recreation Parks Department to enter
into a notfor-profit service contract
with Greater Columbus Convention and
Visitors Bureau Incorporated, DBA,
Greater Columbus Sports Commission, in
support of the Women Win Hair Initiative
to authorize the transfer and
appropriation of $250,000 from the
general fund to the Recreation Parks
Operating Fund to authorize an interfund
transfer of $250,000 with Recreation
Parks Operating Fund to authorize
expenditure of 250,000 from the
recreation parks operating fund and to
declare an emergency. Given the serious
financial challenges we face as a city,
I believe further conversation and
information about this initiative is
warranted before this body appropriates
a quarter million. Before I make a
motion, we have one speaker signed up to
speak against this ordinance. I'd like
to invite Amanda Renan Lynch up to the
podium.
Uh she does not appear to be present.
She probably bailed out around the time
we all wish we had.
Let the record show that Miss Lynch is
not present. Um so now given the um are
there any questions before I make my
motion because we all want to go home.
Given the outstanding questions about
this ordinance, I would like to move to
refer this ordinance back to committee
pending a public hearing in July. Please
follow
>> banks emperor de padilla de aar dorren
green remy ros white president
>> Harden
>> thank you next we have ordinance
1595-2026
to authorize and direct the director of
neighborhoods to contract with Libby and
Associates LLC in support of getting
grant ready academy to wave the
competing bidding provisions of the
Columbus city codes and to authorize an
appropriation expenditure from the
neighborhood initiative sub fund. The
Getting Grant Ready Academy or GDRA is a
program that I created in 2024 in
partnership with Michael Corey from the
Human Service Chamber and Libby of Libby
and Associates. GG exists to serve the
organizations that hold our
neighborhoods together. Small grassroots
community rooted nonprofits. These are
the groups doing essential work in
neighborhoods often run by one or two
people stretch across a full-time job
while running a full-time mission. They
are also the organizations most often
left out of conversations where capital
investments occur. Too many of them
operate one lost grand away from crisis.
This program is not about teaching
nonprofits how to get money from the
city. It is the opposite. It's about
building organizations that can stand on
their own that have the financial
systems, the operating rhythms, the
proof of their impact in the diverse
funding pipelines to sustain themselves
for years independent of any one source
of support. The goal is not dependence.
The goal is durable self-sustaining
strength. This is what the participants
are building right now. They leave their
sessions with a real working asset, a
revenue plan that actually actually use,
a clear story of their impact they can
put in front of any funer, an operating
system that keeps their work from
falling through the cracks. This is
capacity that stays with them long after
the cohort ends. And this approach is
working. Across its first two cohorts,
the academy has served 42 community
organizations. During their time in the
program, these organizations have
together applied for more than $14.5
million in funding and has secured over
$2.4 million of it. Dollars now at work
in Columbus neighborhoods. That momentum
is continuing right now. The current
cohort is still underway and its
organizations have already applied for
more than $2.7 million and secured over
625,000.
While the program is still in progress,
this work is not finished and we're
committed to seeing it through. We are
extending the current cohort through the
end of this calendar year to deepen the
grant support these organizations
receive. And we will open applications
this fall for the next cohort. With
continued funding, the academy will keep
building exactly what our communities
need most. Not dependence, but durable
self- sustaining strength. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Banks Deborrosia de Aar Dorren Green
Remy Ross White President Harden.
Next, we have ordinance 1727-2026
to authorize the director of recreation
parks to enter into a nonfor-profit
service contract with Epic Youth for the
planning, coordination, execution of a
one-day youth programming summit
scheduled for fall 2026 to authorize
appropriation expenditure of $100,000
for the neighborhood initiative sub fund
and to declare an emergency. As part of
the Columbus Forward Policy Initiative
from C City Council, my office has been
exploring the state of the youth
programming ecosystem in Columbus. Youth
programming is a frequent topic of
conversation during the summer months as
it is a valuable tool in c curbing youth
violence when school is out of session.
But the scope of what we are looking
into goes beyond the summertime as we
look at programming available to youth
year round. Columbus does a lot of good
work supporting youth programming
through programs like the summer youth
grant, the ongoing program available
through recon parks and various
discretionary program support given by
council members. But the city lacks a
cohesive vision and strategic plan for
adequately providing quality yearbound
programming under the guidance of
trusted adults. Through our preliminary
research of program providers across the
city, we know that there are gaps in
redundancies that exist in Columbus
leading to inequitable access to youth
program, gaps in where programs take
place, what time of year they take
place, times that they are available,
types of activities they offer, and what
age range they serve. A city of our size
with approximately 200,000 youth needs a
lot of quality program providers to meet
that need. And that can best be achieved
by programmers across the city coming
together to collaborate to create a
vision and strategy for the city. And so
as part of this initiative, we will be
working with Epic Youth to plan and
execute a citywide youth programmer
summit this fall. The summit will gather
nonprofit youth program providers from
across the city to hear about our
findings and begin discussions on how to
collaborate on filling community needs.
The summit will also include training on
youth intervention best practices
including how to identify mental health
symptoms and youth incorporating
violence prevention techniques and
programming and workshops on
sustainability and board development.
The goal is for this summit to not only
inform but to be a catalyst for creating
a collaborative system that ensures that
every child has equal access to quality
youth program in Columbus. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move passage
de a doris green reie ros president
Harden.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1734-2026
to authorize the director of recreation
parks department to modify an existing
contract with marker incorporated dba
marker construction for the westcase
road park project to authorize a
transfer of $5,385,000
between the general fund income tax set
aside flood fund and the recreation
parks bond fund to authorize the
appropriation of $5,385,000
income tax set aside sub fund and
recreation parks voted bond fund to
authorize the expenditure of $5,385,000
for the recreation parks voted bun and
to declare an emergency. In 2018,
Recreation Parks acquired the former
Ohio State University Agricultural
Extension Sheep Farm at 2425 West Case
Road. For several years, the Columbus
Recreation Parks Department has
identified the 58acre site as a key
community park space as a parcel as one
of the largest remaining undeveloped
open spaces in the entire Northwest
community. At the same time, the
surrounding neighborhoods have played an
active role by providing support for the
city's investment to buy the site and
develop a signature green space for a
highly underserved area. The property is
surrounded by highdensity housing with
over 1,000 households within a 10-minute
walk. The Carriage Place Community
Center is also within 200 yards of the
parkland. This authorization will allow
for site construction to continue
through fall 2027, which is when the
project is scheduled to be complete. Are
there any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing
>> Seeing none, I move for passage.
Bankston Barosa de Padilla de Akar Doris
Green Reich President Harden.
>> Thank you. Nexus Ordinance 1736-2026
to authorize the director of the
recreation parks department to enter
into contract with Burn and Jones
Enterprises Incorporated DBA Burn and
Jones Construction for the Bush Ball
Diamond Turf Installation Project to
authorize the perfectation of 1,392,000
within the Recreation Parks Permanent
Improvement Fund to authorize a transfer
of $1,392,000
within the Recreation Parks permanent
improvement fund to authorize an
amendment of the 2025 capital
improvements budget to authorize
expenditure of 1,900 $52,24
from the recreation parks voted bond
fund and permanent improvements fund and
to declare an emergency. This project
will improve Bush Park and enhance its
long-term use as a community recreation
destination. Located on Northwest side
of Columbus, the park serves as a
popular location for both adult and
youth baseball and softball programs.
The park includes eight ball diamonds.
The proposed improvements will focus on
ball diamonds 1 2 3 and four, including
new artificial turf playing surfaces,
upgraded fencing, and improvements to
player areas. These upgrades will
increase field durability, reduce m
maintenance needs, and allow the fields
to remain playable for longer periods
throughout the year by reducing weather
related closures. The project will also
include improvements to the park's
drainage system to reduce standing water
and improve field conditions following
rain events. These improvements will
create a better experience for
residents, athletes, and visitors. The
improvements will also increase
opportunities for recreational community
events. The upgrades will support sports
programs for all ages, accommodate
increased use of facility, the position
of the park to host larger events.
Overall, the project will provide a
modernized recreational facility that
will serve the community for years to
come. Are there any questions or
comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Bangden Bos Barrosa Deia de Aar Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1739-2026
to authorize the director of recreation
parks to enter into construction
agreement with nationwide realy
investors limited to make public
improvements to sense and printer park
to weigh the competitive bidding
professions of city code and to declare
an emergency. Nationwide Realy Investors
Limited is improving their property at
280 North High Street adjacent to Sense
of Brener Park. They've requested access
to their site using an area of sense of
bread park to build along the property
line. The park and their property flow
together as one space and their project
will change the space and how it is
currently used. As part of their
project, they have requested demolition
of a portion of the park site and agreed
to restoring improving that area of the
park to ensure the park landscaping
still flows properly. Um, NRI has agreed
to restore make improvements at no cost
to the city. For this reason, a waiver
of competitive bidding is requested. Are
there any questions or comments for my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
Bangston Barrosa Deodia de Akawa Dorren
Green Remy Ross White to President
Harden.
>> Thank you. Next is ordinance 1740-2026
to authorize the director of recreation
parks department to enter into various
contracts for management of the urban
forestry master plan to authorize and
direct the city auditor to establish
auditor certificates in the amount of $2
million for various expenditures in
conjunction with the management of urban
forestry master plan to authorize and
direct the director of finance and
management to enter into various
contracts for the purchase of equipment
on behalf of recreation parks department
to authorize a transfer of $2 million
between the general fund income tax set
aside sub fund and the recreation parks
bond fund to authorize the appropriation
of $2 million in the income tax set
aside subund and recreation parks voted
bond fund to authorize expenditure of $2
million from the recreation parks voted
bond fund and to declare an emergency.
This ordinance will establish and
auditor certificates and authorize
expenditures for staffing service and
equipment needs in conjunction with the
management of the urban forestry master
plan. Equipment being purchased includes
log trucks, chippers, equipment,
trailers, and various other pieces of
equipment. $500,000 will be used for the
reimbursement of staff time in
accordance with the auditor's internal
labor capitalization policy. Are there
any questions or comments for my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston, Barrosa, Deodia, de a Dorren
Green, Remy, Ross, White, President
Harden.
Next, we have ordinance 1763-2026
to authorize and direct the city auditor
to establish an auditor certificate in
the amount of 1,500,000 for the
reimbursement of staff time related to
recreation parks capital improvement
projects to authorize a transfer of
$1,500,000 between the general fund
income tax set aside sub fund and the
recreation parks bond fund to authorize
the appropriation of $1,500,000
in the income tax set aside sub fund and
recreation parks voted bond fund to
authorize expenditure of $1,500,000 from
recreation parks voted bond fund. and to
declare an emergency. This ordinance
authorizes establishment of an auditor
certificate in the amount of $1,500,000
for the reimbursement of staff time
related to the recreation parks capital
improvement projects in accordance with
the city auditor's internal labor
capitalization policy certific
capacity of project manage or
construction are eligible to be
capitalized to an in identified capital
project. Are there any questions or
comments for my colleagues?
Seeing none, I move for passage.
>> Banks then Barrosa dea de Akara Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. And um for our final
ordinance in second reading this evening
we have ordinance 1793-2026
to authorize the director of the
department of neighborhoods to enter
into a service contract with Hart and
Hunter Incorporated DBA Hunter marketing
for marketing media consultation
communications and creative services to
authorize a waiver of competitive
bidding provisions of the Columbus city
codes to authorize expenditure of
$89,000 from the general fund to
authorize and direct the city auditor to
authorize payment to Hunter marketing
per invoice approved by the director
department neighborhoods in amount not
to exceed $89,000 from fund 1000 and to
declare an emergency. Hunter Marketing
will provide media and marketing
consultation services through a
dedicated marketing consultant, project
manager, and median consultant to assist
department increasing awareness and
engagement with programming and growing
event attendance. The Department of
Neighborhoods will celebrate both the
20th anniversary of 311 and the
department's 10th anniversary this year.
Hunter Marketing will develop and
execute the anniversary campaigns,
extension of related promotional and
communication efforts as needed, video
and photography capture of key
departmental and community moments,
production of an endofear 311 highlight
reel and printing and merchandise
support. In addition, Hunter Marketing
will support ongoing department
programming initiatives including the
rise up, Ubuntu and Nala and Nala with
services that include development of
marketing collateral, social media
campaigns, video production, strategic
communication and related marketing
support services. A waiver of
competitive bidding is requested because
Hunter marketing has extensive
institutional knowledge of the city and
department's programming, branding,
communication strategy, and anniversary
planning efforts and continuity of
services necessary to ensure effective
implementation ongoing programs and
public engagement initiatives. Are there
any questions or comments for my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Aar Dorren
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
Thank you, Council President. With your
permission, I would like to now go
through ordinances appearing on first
reading on page two of the agenda.
The first ordinance is ordinance
1738-2026
to authorize the recreation and parks to
enter into grant agreement with Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency for the
introduction of cavity nesting birds
project and accept a grant in the amount
of $2315
with a minimum local match of $8,736
to authorize the appro appropriation
$2315 in the recreation parks grant fund
through this grant project. Passive and
hands-on education on secondary capabate
nesting birds at Hoover Nature Preserve
will be made more accessible to park
users. We will be able to have better
education materials for hands-on
learning for our education program on
nest changes and counting and measuring
the young purple martins to age them.
The installation of educational signage
on purple martin birds will be a passive
education opportunity as well as having
seating at the park to create a more
accessible environment for those with
mobility challenges to watch cav cavity
nesting birds. Are there any questions
or comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I first move to wave second
reading.
>> Bankston, Barrosa Deadia de Aar Dorren
Green, Remy Ross White, President
Harden.
>> And now we move for passage.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deia de Aar Dorren
Green Reie Ross White. President Harden.
For our next ordinance, I would like to
turn the floor over to my colleague and
this ordinance's primary sponsor,
council member Barrosa Deedia.
>> Thank you, council member. Uh, this is
for ordinance 1948 2026 to authorize and
direct the city clerk to enter in a
grant agreement with our helpers to
provide upfront financial support for
the central Ohio rapid response network
and to authorize an expenditure from
neighborhood initiatives sub fund. The
mission of our helpers is to improve the
lives of immigrant and refugee families
in central Ohio by connecting and
providing resources in all aspects of
human services. Our helpers created a
central Ohio rapid response network
which provides trusted referrals and
navigation of immigration processes. The
network exists to unify stakeholders
across nonprofit, government, and
faith-based sectors to provide
comprehensive, timely, and compassionate
services for children and vulnerable
communities. Additionally, the
organization provides know your rights
workshops, safety and protection
strategies, volunteer mobilization, and
amplification of authentic voices to
counter harmful or false narratives.
With a changing immigration landscape,
it is important now more than ever to
have a network of support for our
residents. For example, this December,
our helpers was able to distribute over
600 boxes of food to families of our
vulnerable populations. This effort was
made possible with the help of 300
volunteers that were quickly organized.
Grant funding authorized under this
legislation will be used to defay
operating expenses incurred by our
helpers for the implementation of
programming, including the cost of the
program's full-time manager. I'd like to
thank my colleagues, Council Member
Deauer, Council Member Green, Council
Member W, and Council President Harden
for supporting this initiative. Do my
colleagues have any questions or
comments? I move to first wave second
reading. Second
>> call.
>> Bangston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar
Dorren Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> And next I move for passage.
>> Second.
>> Bangston Barros Padilla De Aar Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you for your support. Back to you
chair. And now for my last ordinance.
Ordinance 1959-2026
to authorize the city clerk to enter
into a grant agreement with the Greater
Columbus Irish Cultural Foundation
Incorporated in support of the 2027 St.
Patrick's Day parade and to authorize an
expenditure within the neighborhood
initiative sub fund. This funding is a
budget earmarked from our favorite Irish
council member President Prom Dorne to
support Proclamation Day and St.
Patrick's Day parade at city hall in
downtown Columbus. Are there any
questions or comments for my colleagues?
Um, seeing none, I move to wait second
reading.
>> Bankston Barrosia de Aarens Green Remy
Ross White, President Harden.
>> And now I move for passage.
>> Bankston Barrosia de Aarens Green. Remy
Ross White, President Harden.
>> Thank you. That is all in my committee
this evening.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee to
come before council is the workforce
education and labor committee. That
committee is chaired by council member
Dors. Council member floor is yours.
>> Thank you, council president. First, we
have ordinance number 1330-2026 amend
the management compensation plan
ordinance number 2713-2013
as amended by amending section 4 C,
section 5D, section 5E, and section 7E
and declared emergency. This legislation
amends the city's management
compensation plan by abolishing,
retitling, or modifying the pay grades
of several class titles in accordance
with recent actions by the Civil Service
Commission and the Department of Human
Resources. Additionally, this ordinance
updates the five-34
pay structure and repeals the city's
tuition reimbursement uh repayment
minimum time period requirement. Do I
colleagues have questions, comments?
Seeing none and move for passage.
>> Thanks. Barrosa de Padilla de Akar
Dorance Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, we have ordinance
number 1786-2026
to authorize the director of the mayor's
office of education to enter early start
Columbus contracts with high quality pre
pre kindergarten organizations selected
by a competitive competitive application
process to provide educational services
as part of the 2026 2027 early start
Columbus program to sign all of the
individual contracts to Franklin County
to weigh competitive bidding provisions
of the Columbus city codes and declare
an emergency. This ordinance and the
next several ordinances are enabling
ordinances for the transitioning the
city's high quality early start program
to the Franken County Board of
Commissioner's Office ahead of the 2026
2027 school year. Uh last week I held a
public hearing on this transition uh
which will fe feature a three-year
transition period where both the city
and county will work together to ensure
the stability of the program and
ultimately the expansion and growth of
the program in the future. Council will
be reviewing the success of the
transition on those priorities for the
public hearing each year during that
planned transition period. Our providers
currently provide excellent and
essential services to our families and
children who need the most. And I
believe today that this transition will
help us enable and develop and grow this
incredible program for years to come. Do
my colleagues have question comments?
Seeing none, I move for passage.
Welcome
>> Bankston Buros Padilla de Akar Dorance
Green Remy Ross White President Hard.
>> Thank you. Next we have ordinance
1879-2026 to authorize a director of
office of education to enter a contract
modification with learning uh circle
software LLC to allow Franken County
direct access to use the CHIV data
platform via the city 2026 2027 contract
with learning circle software LLC as
part of the transition the Columbus
early start program from the city of
Columbus to Franken County and declared
emergency. This legislation will allow
Franklin County to directly access and
use the Sehive data platform via the
city's 2026 20227 contract with Learning
Circle software LLC as part of this
transition uh from the Columbus Early
Start from the city of Columbus to
Franken County. See Hive is a
cloud-based web application that prek
providers use to assimilate enrollment
assessment and attendance data and
allows teachers to make real-time
decisions on instruction. Let's any
questions, comments? Seeing none, I move
passage.
Second.
>> Second call.
>> Banks Brosa de Padilla de Aver Doris
Green Remy Ross White President Hardy.
>> Thank you. And finally, we have
ordinance number 1884-2026
to authorize the director office of
education to enter intergovernmental
agreement with the Franken County Board
of Commissioners to the transition the
early start Columbus Program u from the
city of Columbus to Franken County to
authorize and transfer of cash between
objects within the office of education
general fund to authorize expansion of
$6,215,825
to be paid the Franken County Board of
Commissioners for purposes of this
ordinance and the office of education
general fund in declared emergency. Uh
before we vote on the last enabling
ordinance to transfer early start to the
county, I want to uh thank Commissioner
Era Crowley for her leadership regarding
this transfer and certainly her
leadership and really leaning into the
prek space uh here. Uh we've had a
really high performing quality program
in the city of Columbus for well over a
decade and Commissioner Crowley uh is
interested in expanding those efforts
beyond the city limits and this is
something that uh we've talked a lot
about both at public hearing and among
council uh and certainly are interested
in seeing those efforts bear fruit and
certainly with having that public
hearing built into the renewal process
over the next three years. Uh this body
can certainly uh review the success of
that transition. But again, appreciate
uh Commissioner Crowley's interest in
really leaning into the space. We've got
a lot of parents up here of kids in
pre-K right now, and it's uh nice to
have a partner at the county who is just
as interested in serving our our kids to
make sure they're ready for kindergarten
into the future. Uh I also want to make
sure I thank uh Director Matt Smita from
our office of education, uh executive
adviser Victoria Solomon and Action for
Children, and director uh Dr. Kate Glenn
Applegate uh who helped us providing a
survey to the providers within this
program that I think was pretty
invaluable for us really charting how we
work with our providers uh to make sure
that they're the ones um that don't see
interruption that they're the ones that
make sure it can keep providing the
services that our kids desperately need.
Uh so I appreciate everyone's work on
this moving forward. Um with that I
first request to amend as submitted to
the clerk.
Council Green,
>> sorry. Uh, thank you so much. I know
it's incredibly late, but um, you know,
I just want to I want to thank um I want
to thank you, director, and then I also
want to thank you, chair, for I think
being really responsive to a lot of the
feedback that we heard during the
hearing process and through the surveys.
I think one thing that for me was pretty
clear is that um you know people people
trust the work that we do here at the
city and they're not inherently opposed
to the idea of merging. I think you know
as we're looking for ways to like to be
more efficient and stretch every dollar
further. Eliminating two government
bureaucracies and streamlining those
processes makes a lot of sense. But I
think folks were very clear about, you
know, there's a lot happening to them as
an industry right now. A lot of
regulatory stuff that's coming down, a
lot of discussions about waste, fraud,
and abuse and the school year around the
corner. And so, you know, really digging
in to ensure that there's like clear and
transparent um review process after this
first year so we can pivot if needed, I
think, is really responsive to those
things. And so, um, I hope that their
providers know that they will continue
to have a good partner with the city,
uh, walking alongside them every step of
this way, um, to make sure that if
issues arise, we are here and responsive
and, um, you know, ready to continue
supporting this high quality work. So,
thank you.
>> Yep. Thank you, council member. Uh, any
other questions or comments? Seeing
none, I first move to amend the submit
to the clerk. Second
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar
Dorins Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you. And now I move for passage as
amended.
>> Second call.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar
Dorins Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you council president. If I may I
need to go back to page three for an
ordinance on first reading.
>> Thank you. Uh there I have ordinance
number 2034-2026
to authorize the director of office of
education in our contract of Columbus
State Community College for the purpose
of providing student support services
for those enrolled in Columbus promise
program to authorize and expenses prior
to the purchase order to authorized
expensure within the general within the
general fund. This ordinance enters the
city into partnership with Columbus
State Community College in support of
the Columbus promise and those students
enrolled. Uh this will fund a portion of
the staff needed to provide wraparound
holistic success coaching and career
preparation which is essential for the
Columbus Promise to meet its goals of
advancing both access and success for
Columbus City School graduates leading
to a completion of degrees or
certifications that allow those students
to move on to four-year college
experiences or enter the workforce. Do
my colleagues have questions or
comments? Seeing none, I first move to
wave second reading.
>> Second call. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla
de Akar Dorins Green Remy Ross Whites
President Harden.
>> Thank you. And uh I now move for
passage.
>> Second call.
>> Bankston Baria de Aka Dorren Green Remy
Ross Whites President Harden.
>> Thank you council president. All I have
my committees tonight
is the public safety committee.
>> Good morning council president. Tonight
in the public safety and criminal
justice committee, I have seven
ordinances for second read versus 1637
2026 to authorize and direct the city
auditor to transfer 5,10,576
within various projects of the safety
voted bond fund to amend the 2025
capital improvement budget to wave the
competitive bidding provisions of the
Columbus City Council chapter 329 to
authorize the finance management
director to enter into a contract with
and issue a purchase order to Atlantic
Emergency Solutions, Inc. for the
purchase of four Pierce Enforcer pumpers
to authorize the expenditure of
$5,10,976
from the safety voted bond fund and to
declare an emergency. Last Thursday, I
hosted a public hearing on the condition
of the city's fire apparatus fleet and
the work needed to strengthen our
readiness moving forward. Tonight's
purchase is one of two ordinances before
council that directly responds to that
need. These investments are about making
sure our firefighters have reliable,
modern equipment, and that our residents
can count on the level of service they
deserve when they call for help. This is
about more than buying trucks. It's
about rebuilding a replacement cycle,
strengthening accountability, and making
sure Columbus never allows essential
public safety equipment to fall behind
again. Tonight's purchase is a necessary
step, but the bigger issue is making
sure Columbus is a real sustainable
replacement plant. Fire apparatus cannot
be something we address only after
warning lights start flashing. Council
intends to be a responsible partner, but
also an active oversight body to make
sure our firefighters and residents have
what they need. A bid waiver is
requested because the city collected
quotes from vendors and only one was
submitted on time. The city has used
apparatus from Atlantic for years and is
satisfied with the quality and
durability of their product. Emergency
action is requested due to long build
times having the ability to place orders
immediately. Are there any questions or
comments from my colleagues?
Seeing none, I move for passage.
>> Bankston Buradia de Akaw Dorren Green
Remy Ross White President Harden.
Next step 1641 2026 to authorize and
direct the city auditor to transfer
$2,432,621
within various projects to the safety
voted bond fund to amend the 2025
capital improvement budget to wave the
competitive bidding provisions of the
Columbus city codes chapter 329 to
authorize the finance and management
director to enter into a contract with
and issue a purchase order to Sutfin
Corporation for the purchase of one
Sutfin heavy duty 100 ft mid-mount
aerial ladder to authorize the
expenditure of $2,432620
let me go back $2,432,621
from the safety voted bond fund and to
declare an emergency based on reports
from fire and public safety. This
purchase is also critical for ma meeting
fleet maintenance goals and ensuring
there are enough frontline vehicles
within their useful life available for
service. A bid waiver is requested while
public safety collected two quotes.
Suffins was both slightly lower in cost
and over three years faster on time
build time than Atlantics. The city has
contracted with Suffin on fire apparatus
for years and has satisfied the quality
of endurability. Emergency action is
requested because of long delivery times
on apparatus so as to place immediate
orders. Are there any questions or
comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
Bankston Roa Day Patilla Deakra Dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> Next have 1791 2026 to authorize the
public safety director to enter into a
5-year term contract with Larardell
Medical Corporation for a resuscitation
quality improvement program subscription
to the Division of Fire to authorize the
expenditure of $183,550
from the general fund for the year one
term of this contract and to wave
competitive bidding provisions of the
Columbus City Code. bid waiver is
requested because the city has
previously contracted with Laridell for
the services paramedic ser
certifications an option that reduce
reduced costs as compared to providing
certification service in house and
approve improved response times. Are
there any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing that I move for
passage
de a dorren green remy Ross white
president Harden. Next, I have 1833 2026
to authorize the municipal court clerk
to enter into contract with Tab Products
Company LLC for the purchase of case
file folders for the Municipal Court
Clerk's Office to wave the competitive
bidding provisions of Columbus City Code
to authorize the expenditure of
$85,700.40
from the Municipal Court Clerk general
fund and to declare an emergency. The
municipal court clerk utilizes case file
forers to store dockets for civil,
criminal, traffic expungement, and
environmental court. The clerk's office
is currently in contract with tab for
this service and can only obtain exact
match on files at a competitive price by
continuing that contract. Are there any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing that I move for
passage
de a dorren green reie Ross White
President Harden. Next have 18552026 to
amend ordinance number 1664 2025 passed
by Columbus City Council on June 30th,
2025 to correct the background of the
legislation to include the additional
funding for the license management
product and community health module
needed in the subsequent years per
ordinance 1664 2025 to weigh the
competitive bidding provisions of the
Columbus City Code to authorize the
expenditure of $661,41546
from the general fund for year two of
the contract term and to declare an
emergency gency. This contract expands
license management services for the
division of fires community health
module which provides data and analysis
for react the rapid and response
emergency addiction crisis team focused
on pre improving outcomes for at risk
groups. A bid waiver is requested
because the city has already implemented
this records management software and
does not currently seek an alternative.
Emergency action is requested to meet
the project timelines for issuing a
purchase order and contract prevent
preventing interruption of this vital
service. Are there any questions or
comments for my colleagues? Seeing none
that I move for passage
de a dorren green reie Ross white
president Harded
>> a guy next is 1958 to authorize the city
clerk I'm sorry 1958 2026 to authorize
the city clerk to enter into a grant
agreement with the short north alliance
in support of their short north public
safety programming to authorize an
expenditure within the neighborhood
initiatives fund and to declare an
emergency. I'd like to thank um sponsors
Tiara Ross, President Harden, and and I
also assisted in this um this
legislation. This grant aids the Short
North Alliance and implementing safety
programs and community well-being
programs. Emergency action is requested
because upfront funding is needed to
ensure the program can be successfully
implemented without financial
constraints for operations and supplies.
Are there any questions or comments from
my colleagues? Seeing that, I move for
passage.
Deadia de Aar Dorans Green Remy Ross
White President Harden. Next is 2057
2026 to authorize an appropriation of
50,000 within the neighborhood
initiatives sub fund to authorize the
expenditure of 80,000 within the general
fund to authorize the city attorney to
enter into contract with health impact
Ohio health access Columbus to provide
guided case management services for
Columbus residents enrolled in the
Buckeye diversion criminal deflection
program to wave the competitive bidding
provisions the Columbus city codes and
declare an emergency. I'd like to thank
my co-sponsor Tiara Ross with for this
legislation. This legislation extends a
program under which health impact and
health access assist justice involved
individuals in taking action to address
the issues at the root of criminal
behavior, including by providing support
with food, housing, and education.
Competitive bidding is requested because
these partners are the sole source for
continuing this program and because the
ability to build Medicaid reduces
overall program cost. Emergency action
is requested because the current
contract expired in April. So immediate
action is necessary to ensure ongoing
access to critical services. Are there
any questions or comments from my
colleagues? Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Thanks Bros. Deia de Aver Dorans Green
Remy Ross White President Harder.
>> Next um council president with your
permission go back to page three to
review a first read. Thank you. With
that, I have 1859 2026 to authorize and
direct the director department of public
safety to accept a grant from the
Columbus Police Foundation and to
authorize and direct the city auditor to
appropriate 250,000 within the
unallocated balance of the division of
police grant fund. This is a new private
grant award to establish and house a new
police facility crime gun intelligence
center at the 16th precinct patrol
substation and community response team
5. This grant-f funded initiative does
not generate any revenue nor require a
city match. I'd like to first move to
wave second reading.
Ross
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara
Dorins Green Remy Ross White President
Harden
>> and and now I'd like to move for
passage.
>> Bankston Barrosa Deia de Akara Dorins
Green Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. And that is all I have
tonight. Have a happy summer and stay
safe. Thank you. The last committee come
for council is the public utilities
committee.
>> Thank you council president. First and
public utilities and sustainability
committee. This morning we have
ordinance 1248-2026
to authorize the director of the
department of public utilities to modify
the contract for complete general
construction company for the 2021
general construction contract project to
amend the 2025 capital improvement
budget to transfer cash and
appropriation between projects within
the sanitary bond fund and the storm
bomb fund and to authorize an
expenditure of up to $2 million to pay
for the contract modification. This
contract provides funding for emergency
needs and unplanned structural repairs
as directed by the division of water
reclamation. Let me stop there. See if
any questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston Barosa de Padilla de a dorren
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1387-20226
to authorize the director of public
utilities to modify an existing contract
with K&M Cleaning Services Incorporated
to extend the contract term and add
additional funding for janitorial
services at various department of public
utilities, division of water
reclamation, and division of water
facilities and to authorize the
expenditure of $835,320
from the water operating fund and
$920,740
from.33 3 cents, sorry, from the
sanitary sewer operating fund. Uh we
discussed this ordinance back at our
June 8th council meeting. After
conversation with the department, we're
able to confirm the city's recycling
expansion compliance. So with that, I
move for passage.
>> Second call.
>> Banks Padilla Aar Dorren Green Reie Ross
White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1521-2026
to authorize the director of public
utilities to enter into a construction
contract with Leite Excavating Company
of Ohio Incorporated for the Wellington
Boulevard area and Chesterfield Road
Water Line Improvements Project to amend
the 2025 capital improvement budget to
appropriate funds within the Water
Freshwater Market Rate Fund to authorize
the appropriation expenditure of up to
5,983,216.80
80 cents from the waterfresh water
market rate fund for the contract and to
make this ordinance contingent upon the
Ohio water development authority
approving a loan for the project and to
authorize the expenditure of up to
$2,000 from the water bond fund to pay
for prevailing weight services. This
project consists of the installation of
approximately 9,896
linear feet of new water manes as well
as the replacement of privately owned
lead service lines. This project will
improve water service, reduce burden on
water maintenance operations, and
minimize water loss. We'll stop there.
See if any questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Call the role.
>> Bankston Padia de Akaw Dorne Green Remy
Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have 1529-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to modify
and increase the contract with GPD Group
for the circuit 7221 voltage conversion
phase 3 project to amend the 2025
capital improvement budget to authorize
the transfer of cash and appropriation
between projects within the electricity
bond fund and to authorize an
expenditure of up to $1,435,327
from the electricity bond fund to pay
for the contract modification. This
project involves the replacement of a
circuit within the division of powers
distribution system. This project will
contribute to a more resilient and
reliable power distribution system
resulting in fewer interruptions for
customers. May stop there any questions
or comments from my colleagues. Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Thanks Simosa de Aar Green Remy Ross
White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have 1539-2026
to authorize the director of Columbus
Water and Power to enter into a service
contract with Echosshore DX Leak
Detection Services to authorize the
expenditure of $74,500
from the 2026 Division of Water
Operating Fund and to wave the combat
bidding provisions of Columbus City
Code. This pilot project involves the
installation of 50 leak detection
sensors on fire hydrant nozzles enabling
the division of water to pinpoint the
location of water main leaks within its
distribution system. Stop there. See if
any questions and comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Bankston Barrosia de Aar Dorren Green
Remy Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have 1543-2026
to authorize the director of public
utilities to enter into a contract for
construction administration and
inspection services with CTL Engineering
Incorporated for the Wellington
Boulevard at Boulevard area and
Chesterfield Road Water Line
Improvements Project for the General
Water Construction Projects and for
General Sewer Construction Projects to
amend the 2025 capital improvement
budget to appropriate funds within the
water freshwater market rate fund to
authorize authorize a transfer of cash
and appropriation between projects
within the water bond fund. to authorize
a transfer of cash appropriation between
projects within the sanitary bond fund
to authorize the expenditure of up
to1,98,33121
from the water freshwater market rate
fund and an expenditure of up to 75,000
from the water bond fund and an
expenditure up to 50,000 from the
sanitary bond fund for the contract and
to make this ordinance contingent upon
the Ohio water development authority
approving a loan for the project. This
ordinance procures construction,
administration, and inspection services
for four specified Columbus water and
power projects. This these services will
ensure that the projects remain on track
and adhere to contract specifications.
Let me stop there. See if any questions
or comments from my colleagues. Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Thanks. Sosa de Padilla dear Dorance
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1554-2026
to authorize the director of public
utilities to modify and increase a
professional services contract with Mur
Murphy Epson for the Blueprint Columbus
public information outreach project to
authorize an amendment to the 2025
capital improvement budget to authorize
a transfer of cash and appropriation
within the sanitary bond fund and to
authorize an expenditure of up to
1,19,559
from the sanitary bond fund to pay for
the contract modification. This project
involves comprehensive community
outreach efforts in relation to
blueprint Columbus. This work will
ensure that community input is both
received and utilized to design the best
solutions for each unique neighborhood.
Let me stop there. Receive any questions
or comments from my colleagues. Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Thanks, Tim. Barrosia de Akar Dorins
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have 1569-2026
to authorize Columbus Water and Power to
enter into a construction contract with
Decker Construction Company for utility
cut and restoration services for the
division of water and to wave
competitive bidding provisions of
Columbus City Code and to authorize the
expenditure of 1,450,000
from the water operating fund. This uh
the work to be completed on this
contract involves pavement, sidewalk and
curb restoration follow util following
utility excavation performed by Columbus
Water and Power. The department
routinely outsources this restoration
work to a contract that is equipped and
trained to make these repairs. Let me
stop there. See if any questions or
comments from my colleagues. Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barosa de Padilla de Akaw
Dorren Green Reie Ross White President
Hard.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1570-2026
to authorize the appropriation of
$1,800,100
from the unappropriate balance of the
sustainable Columbus fund for the
operating expenditures related to the
sustainable Columbus program and to
declare an emergency. These funds will
be used to support a range of energy
management alternative energy and
sustainability initiatives that benefit
the greater Columbus community.
Emergency designation is requested in
order to appropriate the funds needed
and allow for financial transactions to
be posted to the city's accounting
system as soon as possible. Mr. Stop
there. See if any questions or comments
from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move
for passage.
>> Thanks Buros Padilla de Akaw Dorans
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have 1578-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to enter
into a professional services contract
modification with MS Consultants
Incorporated to add funding for the
fourth water plant transmission main
project, to authorize an amendment to
the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget, to
authorize the director of public
utilities to apply for a loan from the
water supply revolving loan account, and
to accept the loan to make this
ordinance contingent upon the loan being
approved, and to authorize the
appropriation an expenditure of up to
$14,773,63
$63.35
from the water supply revolving loan
account fund to pay for the contract
modification. This contract modification
will procure engineering consulting
services for the design of water
transmission mains that will extend from
the future home road water plant to
strategic connection points in the
city's existing water distribution
system. Let me stop there see if any
questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none I move for
passage
a car green reie Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1581-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to modify
the contract with Midstate Basement
Systems LLC for the blueprint volunteer
sump pump 2025 project to authorize an
amendment to the 2025 capital
improvement budget to transfer cash and
appropriation between projects within
the sanitary bond fund and to authorize
an expenditure of $1 million from the
sanitary bond fund to pay for the
contract modification as part of the
city's blueprint initiative. This
project consists of residents
volunteering for the installation of
sump pumps in their homes. This will
reduce excess storm water entering the
city's sanitary sewer system, thus min
struggling at 1:00 a.m. Thus minimizing
sewer overflows to basement and
waterways.
Let me stop there. See if any questions
or comments from my colleagues. Seeing
none, I move for passage.
Banks Brosa de Padilla de Akawa Doris
Green Remy Ross White President Harden
>> pass.
>> Thank you. Next I have ordinance
1598-2026
to authorize the director of the
department of public utilities to enter
into an agreement with AROS LLC for the
implementation and support services of
an overtime callout system to wave
competitive bidding provisions of
Columbus City Code and to authorize the
expenditure of $81,965.64
64 cents split among the electricity,
water, sanitary, sewer, and storm water
operating funds. This ordinance supports
the implementation of software that will
standardize and automate clumps water
and powers over time. Call out an
equalization process. Let me stop there.
See if any questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Thanks bro de a dorren green reie Ross
White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1628-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to modify
professional engineering services
contract with TNM Associates
Incorporated for the gener general
engineering services supply 2024A
project and with Wade Trim Incorporated
for the General Engineering Services
Supply 2024B project to authorize an
amendment to the 2025 capital
improvement budget to authorize a
transfer of cash appropriation between
projects within the water bond. bond
fund and to authorize an expenditure of
up to 1,50,000 from the water bond fund.
This ordinance authorized the
procurement of task orderbased
professional services to support
existing engineering personnel within
the division of water on an as needed
basis. Work will include engineering
services surveying hazardous waste
remediation and materials testing. Let
me stop there see if any questions or
comments from my colleagues. Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Bankston Padilla de a dorren green rece.
>> Thank you. Next, I have 1657-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to modify
and increase the contract with Black &
Beach Corporation for the lower tangi
tunnel phase 1 project to authorize the
director of public utilities to submit
the lower tangi tunnel phase 1 contract
modification for loan funding and to
execute any paperwork necessary to
accept loan funding for this project. to
make this ordinance contingent upon the
Ohio Water Development Authority
approving a loan for this project to
amend the 2025 capital improvement
budget to appropriate funds within the
water pollution control loan fund and to
authorize an expenditure of up to
1,84,736.71
from the water pollution control loan
fund to pay for the project uh as part
of the blueprint program. This uh
Yeah, I'm good. Uh as part of the
blueprint program, this project will
improve water quality in the ONG river
by substantially reducing wet weather
overflows from nine sewer overflow and
relief structures. Let me stop there.
See if any questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage. Please call
>> Bankston Bara de Padilla de Akaw Dorance
Green Reie Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1661-2026
to authorize the director of public
utilities to enter into a construction
contract with Proline Electric
Incorporated for the Scattera Radio
Improvements Project to authorize an
amendment to the 2025 capital
improvement budget to appropriate funds
within the water freshwater market rate
fund to make this ordinance contingent
upon city council approval to accept a
loan from the Ohio Water Development
Authority uh for this project and upon
the Ohio Water Development Authority
approving a loan for this project to
authorize the expenditure of up to
9,650,742.50
from the water freshwater market rate
fund to pay for the project and to
authorize a transfer of exp transfer and
expenditure of up to $2,000 from the
water bond fund to pay for prevailing
wage services. This project will upgrade
and improve supervisory control and data
uh data acquisition radio systems
utilized within the water distribution
system. Uh these upgrades to the
communication network will improve
security and prepare for future growth
in central Ohio. Let me stop there. See
if any questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bank Simberia de Aar Dorren Green Reie
Ross White President Harden.
>> Thank you. Next, I have ordinance
1686-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to modify
a professional engineering services
contract with CDM Smith Incorporated for
the water reuse project to authorize the
director of public utilities to apply
for and accept a loan from the water
pollution control loan fund for the
water reuse project to make this
ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water
Development Authority approving a loan
for this project to authorize an
amendment to the 2025 capital
improvement budget to appropriate funds
within in the water supply revolving
loan fund and to authorize an
expenditure of up to 1,456,848
from the water supply revolving loan
fund to pay for the project given an
expected future growth and demand for on
the water distribution system. This
ordinance enables Columbus water empower
to research and evaluate nonpotable
water reuse strategies. Let me stop
there see if any questions or comments
from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move
for passage.
Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akawa
Dorans Green Remy Ross White President
Harden.
>> Thank you. These last two ordinance
relate to the Columbus Water and Power's
transition to a singular platform for
meter management uh customer billing
services. This transition will reduce
system complexity and increase uh data
and billing accuracy. Additionally,
these projects will create a portal for
customers to obtain information, pay
bills, and utilize self-service options.
Uh so first I have ordinance 1880-2026
to author authorize the director of
public utilities to modify an existing
contract with Oracle America
Incorporated for licensing cloud service
fees for the department's customer
information systems and integrated
systems replacement project wave the
competitive bidding provisions of city
code to authorize the expenditure of
$288,24168
split among the public utilities
operating funds and to declare an
emergency Emergency designation is
requested in order to avoid delays and
provide employees with proper training
prior to the launch of the new customer
information system. Let me stop there.
See if any questions or comments from my
colleagues. Seeing none, I move for
passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston Barrosa deia de a dorren green
rei president Harden
>> passed.
>> Thank you. And last, in second reading,
I have ordinance 1887-2026
to authorize the director of the
Department of Public Utilities to modify
the contract with RCC Global LLC for the
customer information systems and
integrated systems upgrade project and
to authorize the expenditure of
8,57,5360
split between the electricity, water,
sanitary, sewer, and storm water
operating fund. Are there any questions
or comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Please call the role.
>> Bankston, Barrosa, Deia, de Ara, Dorren,
Green, Remy, Ross, White, President
Harden.
>> Thank you, Council President. I have a
code change in rules and policy. May I
move on? Thank you. Uh first in rules
and policy I have ordinance 1882-2026
to amend various sections in titles 2911
1733 4143 45 of the Columbus City codes
to indicate the department of public
utilities will be known as Columbus
Water and Power and to repeal existing
sections being amended. This code change
officially changes the Department of
Public Utilities name to Columbus Water
Power in code and hopefully all future
ordinances will only reference Columbus
Water and Power and not Department of
Public Utilities are director of public
utilities and just Columbus Water and
Power. Uh are there any questions or
comments from my colleagues? Seeing
none, I move for passage.
>> Bankston Barosa Deia de Aar Doris Green
Reie Ross White President Harden. Uh,
council president, may I go back to an
ordinance on first reading?
All right.
I have ordinance 1865-2026
to authorize the finance and management
director to enter into a contract for
the option to purchase YSI parts and
services with Bonderist Environmental
Incorporated and to authorize
expenditure of $1. This contract ensures
the division of water has the option to
purchase YSI parts and services which
are used for the repair and maintenance
of equipment used in remote water
quality monitoring networks and the
finished drinking water distribution
system. Emergency designation is
requested as the previous contract
expired on May 31st, 2026. Uh are any
questions or comments from my
colleagues? All right, seeing none,
first I move to wave second reading on
this ordinance.
>> Call the role. Bankston Barrosa Deia de
Aka Doris Green Reie Ross White
President Harden
>> and with that I move for passage
>> bankstonia dear Doris Green Remy Ross
White President Harden.
>> That is all I have for my committee this
evening. for the visit.
Bankston Barrosa Deia de Aarorn Green
Remy Ross White President Harden
114
No segments match your search.