City Council - Regular Meeting

Number 21 will now come to order. Please stand for the playing of the national anthem. Council member Benson, will you lead us in the pledge? I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

This evening council is grateful to have Minister Ayana Fulham from Hope City Church lead us in prayer. Mr. Welcome to council. Good evening. Thank you guys so much for having me. Heavenly Father God, we take the time to come before you, Lord, and we ask for your presence, God, to be in this meeting, God. We come um we come before you, God, with humility and gratitude, God, acknowledging that all wisdom, authority, and all power, God, belongs to you. And so, God, we ask, God, that you will have your way in this meeting, God, that you would guide the council members with your wisdom, God, with your peace and with clarity that only comes from above in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. And thank you so much pastor. Click please call the role. Banks timber roa de padia de aaw dors green reie ros 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. Thank you, madame clerk. Um, can I get a motion to switch to the reading of the journal? Clerk, please call the role.

Thanks. Timber Rosa de Podia de Akawa, Dorne Green, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Thank you. Uh, Madam Clerk, are there any additions or corrections to the uh journal? There's one, please. Uh there is one correction to the April 20th journal referenced by the city clerk. The city clerk read the number for ordinance 0922-26 as 0992 uh 2026. If there are no additions or corrections to the journal, the journal is approved. This week's communications received by the city clerk's office are listed on the agenda and be published in the city bulletin. Are there any other communications to be read to the record? Not at this time.

Thank you, madam clerk. Um before we move uh through the rest of the agenda, uh we just had a a very thoughtful um conversation for the last hour uh pre prior to this uh meeting around the appointment of uh uh auditor uh to replace Megan Kilgore who will resign effective May 4th. Uh as stated at the hearing, um our charter says that we have to have a auditor in place in time for her uh resignation. Uh we do not have a council meeting next week. So that vote must come today. Um this has been a truncated process, but it has been an open and transparent con uh uh process. Uh where we have had um five folks apply uh three that met the um requirements. uh they spoke uh uh before at the hearing and um as we said, we're very grateful for each and every one of them. Um they they really uh showed us uh the best of Columbus. Uh and and uh we're we're grateful that we have um great people to pick from. Uh I want to open Oh, I'll say this too before we go any further. Um, we will have to have auditor Kilgore back for making Kilgore day

here in the city of Columbus as a true expression of gratitude that we have for her stewardship of that office. Uh, I said last week, she inherited the the about the largest shoes that you could inherit um in um taking over after Mr. you, Dorian, and she walked in those shoes flawlessly uh without one misstep and we're just grateful for you and thank you so much for your service and we're so grateful. I also will acknowledge uh Miss Darlene Wilds who I think retires this week. Um may what are you going to do flying solo for three or four days?

Yes. Um but who has also served this city? Uh, and I say this often, um, folks see us, uh, and and and think that this is the city. The truth is it is you all who are the city, the folks who are really keeping this thing running. Uh, and uh, we're just so grateful for you, Mr. Darlene, and excited for your next as you go into retirement. So, would you help me uh, celebrate Mr. Darlene Wild as well? With that, we have some city business to do. We have to uh deliberate and pick an auditor. So, I would like to just open it up. Is there any more conversation that we'd like to have before uh uh I ask for a motion?

Sure.

Um so, first I want to just start off with um we said these thank yous before, but I just wanted to speak to each candidate for just one moment. So, I want to start with Kimberly. And I actually want to start with your sons. Um, it is a big deal to bring your babies with you and it is a big deal for them to see their mom doing this. And so I just want to say thank you for loving her and supporting her and making her the mom she is, the woman that she is. And um thank you for bringing them along because I think it shows so much um courage to our young people when they see us right in these spaces and they see us being courageous because it gives them the courage to follow their dreams. You are people centric. You are um you ran for office and now you're looking for another office and that takes a lot of courage and you have a mastery in people and so I want to thank you for continuing to raise your hand. I want to I looked through the the the letters of recommendation that you received and they were glowing. They were from people who I know and love as well. And so I want to say thank you for your service because you've been serving our community and you continue to do that. Um Garrett, I want to say uh thank you also to you. You have a level of I mean when I asked the question of like how do you make this make sense to everyone else? I was also talking about me Garrett. Um because Megan will tell you that sometimes I'm like tell me like I'm five. Um because to NY's point, this is a lot or council member's point, this is a lot of mathing. And so making these complex ideas make sense and you've been doing that and coming here to the city, especially at a time like this when we have lots of complex issues to work through is a lot. Um so thank you for raising your hand. And lastly, um to Jackie, thank you. Thank you for your continued service here. Thank you for bringing um fresh new ideas. Thank you for raising your hand to say, "Hey, I

want to step up my service." I would say whoever is going to be the auditor, you also have two amazing candidates here. We It looks like we might have some openings in the auditor's office. So, I think if you want to make some good choices, we already did the hard work for y'all. So, I think that there is different approaches here where you have people who have these different skill sets and who are ready and chomping at the bit to serve. So, that's a bit of um uh uh advice that you didn't ask for, but I'm just putting out there. But I just want to say thank you. Thank you all for raising your hands and for wanting to serve at a time like this because yes, it is being in the auditor seat, but after this, you also have to run and you have to raise funds and you have to be out there and you have to make people care about a role that they didn't even might not have even realized was an elected role. So that's a huge undertaking and I just wanted to acknowledge what that means for all of you and for bringing your loved ones here and thank you to your loved ones for even making the sacrifice of your person to be here because it does take a lot and these are long hours and sometimes thankless. So thank you for supporting them. Thank you for your service as potential service as well.

Sure. And thank you, council member, for breaking that down. Honestly, I feel like all three of you could play a role in the auditor's office in terms of community engagement, in-depth knowledge of debt servicing and what that looks like. And so, uh, it is not lost on any of us that you were willing to raise your hand and commit to doing something in the public eye. um and hope that this is just the first conversation we will have with you and that you do not go away because we still need your expertise and your support um as we do things for the city of Columbus. So, appreciate you.

If there are no other questions or comments, uh does someone have a nomination for auditor of the city of Columbus? Uh council president, I have a motion.

Okay. uh due to the resignation of senator or senator just give you this is sprite and not coffee. Sorry guys. All right, start over. Due to the resignation of city auditor Megan Kilgore effective May 4th, 2026 creating a vacancy in this office of city auditor. I move pursuant to city charter section 87-2 that Jacqueline Lewis be appointed to the position of city auditor effective May 4th, 2026. Is there you? Thank you so much for that uh nomination, that motion. Is there are there any other motions or nominations? Council

Bankston. Council President. Um again, I think it's been said here that we had a really good conversation. And I think that there are several qualified candidates and I do want to say that uh support for Miss Jackie Lewis and I think that she is extremely qualified, but I think there are other qualified candidates as well whose names I want to lift up. So I would like to nominate Garrett Patterson uh for the auditor position starting May 4th. Thank you so much. Are there any others? Hearing none, may I have a second on uh the nomination uh the motion uh for Jaclyn Lewis? Second. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston, yes. Barosa de Bodia, yes.

Deakawa, yes. Dorren, yes. Green, yes. Remy, yes. Ross, yes. White, yes. President Harden,

yes. Congratulations, Madam Auditor. Um, Auditor Lewis, uh, what would we call designate? Um, would you like to come forward, uh, and say a few words, uh, before council? Well, I would like to say first of all, thank you for this tremendous honor. I know this was not an easy decision. Uh you had some phenomenally qualified candidates. Um a very short window in which to do this. Um but I'm excited about the opportunity to continue to serve. I'm excited about the opportunity to serve alongside you, to be your partner at the city, and to continue to move the city forward. And so, thank you so much for your vote of support.

Thank you so much. Would you help me celebrate and thank all of the um now um we'll go around the diets um where for resolutions and um updates from my colleagues starting with Council Brastston.

Uh thank you, Council President. and um I no resolutions but one announcement this evening. Just a final reminder that this Wednesday I am holding a hearing to unveil and discuss the steering committee's recommendations on the establishment of the city's first participatory budgeting pilot. And I am looking forward to sharing all of the progress made on the initiative to date and how residents can engage in the process moving forward. All persons wishing to speak during the hearing in person must email jc columbus.gov gov by 10 a.m. on Wednesday with the subject line participatory budgeting hearing. Written testimony must also be received by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and emailed to Jonathan Brown atj Browncolomas.gov. Again, each speaker will be limited to their remarks lasting no longer than 3 minutes. And as always, it will be streamed on all of the city's streaming channels. Council President, that's all I have.

Thank you, Mr. uh Council Bankston. Council member Broadia.

Thank you, Council President. I just have two announcements. one and we should blame this on the head because we had a lot going on last week and not the heart but we missed volunteer appreciation week which was last week and so I just want to send a I made sure that we put it on the calendar for next year um because I work at a volunteer organization but I just wanted to say even today before this council meeting we had folks planting trees at park this weekend we had a number of cleanups I was on the southside I know my colleagues were on the hilltop um and we had a number of other events happening throughout the uh city. I just want to thank all of the folks who take their time out um to give a little bit more to our community to make our communities better. For the folks who stand in the gap, for the folks who offer their time, their talent, their treasure as a board member, as a volunteer, showing up for a cleanup day, if everyone gives just a little bit, we can inch closer and closer to the kind of community and the kind of city that we want. So, I just wanted to acknowledge volunteer appreciation week. And then secondly, if folks were out this weekend, it was a beautiful weekend. You probably saw it is prom season. Um, so just a reminder to folks who are out, I know my daughter went to prom this year, 2026, uh, senior parents. I'm in it with you. I feel all the feels. Um, I just wanted to send a reminder to all of our young drivers to lock in, especially as you're driving big groups of friends. um to remember to put your phones down, to remember to the best way that you can be the best friend is to make sure that your friends are driving safely and that you are taking care of the people that you love as you're transporting them to prom, to after prom, to your mama's best friend's house, to do whatever. Um, so make sure that you're out there, that you're safe, and that you're making good choices. So, happy prom season, and right around the corner is graduation season. So, to all of our 26 graduating seniors,

congratulations. I'm sure we'll be doing much more celebrations with all of them. But, um, also to all of our parents, just a reminder to our kids as we're giving them those keys to our cars or their cars to remember to lock in and be safe. Council member mom, make good choices. That was good. Good advice. Council member Dayauer.

Thank you, Council President. Um, on this evening's agenda, we have the first reading of ordinance 0944-2026, which is a code change that would prohibit the feeding of deer in the city of Columbus. My team along with the Department of Neighborhoods has been leading a year-long community focused discussion around deer and how the city can manage the population in our more densely populated areas such as Clintonville. We're happy to be hosting a second community meeting to continue this discussion next week as we provide information and answer questions on the A4 mentioned no feed ordinance before it comes for a vote. In addition to providing other updates on our dear policy discussions, this meeting will once again be held in Clintonville. This time at the Wetstone Library on Tuesday, May 5th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be open to all, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP as space is limited in the library. The RSVP form can be found at columbus.gov/deer survey. Um, another item on Wednesday, April 29th, uh, my colleague, Council Member Barosa Deidia, and I will be meeting with residents of Robert's Road um, to discuss um, road safety um, for information on that. It is available on the Far Westside Area Commission um, Facebook page. And finally, since I will be on vacation for part of May, um I wanted to alert everyone that the city of Columbus does now have a Memorial Day service. It is held on Memorial Day at 100 p.m. at the park adjacent to the Lynen Community Center. It is held in front of the Lynen War Memorial. And

this year, in addition to honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we will be giving a special tribute to Master Sergeant Thyman Simmons. So that's all for me. Thank you, Council Member uh Council Member Green. Nothing for me,

Council Member uh Reie. Thank you, Council President. I just want to remind everybody that we are less than two weeks away from the fifth annual Cleaner Columbus clean citywide cleanup. We hope to see you and or your organization there. And you can sign up by going to cleaner Columbus.org. We will be working across the city um that day on May 9th to ensure that our city is clean as possible. We'll be meeting at Wolf Park at 9:00 a.m. and look forward to seeing you out there. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member. Council member Ross.

Thank you, Council President. Just one announcement and and then two resolutions. We are having our fourth community listening session tomorrow at Franklin Library from 12:30 to 2:30. This discussion will be focused around re-entry. Um we are sharing the voices, lifting the voices of the folks who have served their time and are looking to contribute back to our community. We will have various resources. Um the League of Women Voters will be there, the Columbus Urban League, Alvis House, and some other employment and basic needs opportunities will be available. And so if you are interested in coming and listening and sharing, please meet us at Franklin Library from 12:30 to 2:30 on tomorrow. Two resolutions. I will start with resolution number 0095X-2026. And before reading the resolution, if I could have Vincent Coleman and the Columbus Realtors head to the podium. This resolution is to recognize and celebrate April as Fair Housing Month in Columbus. As they are coming forward, I'm going to give you a little information about the Fair Housing Act, which was enacted on April the 11th of 1968, enshrined into federal law the goal of eliminating racial segregation and ending housing discrimination in the United States. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability, and commits recipients of federal funding to affirmatively further fair housing in their communities. Columbus Realtors has long been committed to the mission and intent of the city of Columbus, which is to provide fair housing and equal housing opportunities for all. More than 50 years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act, discrimination persists and housing segregation remains a strong force in many communities. I want to thank Vincent Coleman and the Columbus Realtors for their commitment to

fairness and equity in the housing space. Housing is a human right and is fundamental to leading a productive life. Um certainly got to know you all very closely last year and know some of you personally, have known some of you for years. Um, and I think that as we passed this recent rental registry, we talked a lot about the importance of housing providers and those that take the provision of housing in our community seriously. And so, I want to thank the Columbus Realtors for always being a real partner, always raising your hand to be at the table when we're having discussions about equity in the housing space. I certainly look forward to hearing from you. And so, I will pass it on to you before I uh turn it over to my colleagues for further comment. Thank you for being here today. Thank you very much. Thank you, Council President Harden and Chair Ross and me members of Columbus City Council for this recognition tonight. My name is Gloria Alonzo Cannon and I am the 2026 president of Columbus Realtors. Columbus Realtors and our members understand that real estate professionals and consumers depend on strong, fair housing laws and practices for our communities and economy to thrive. Discrimination distorts the housing market and closes the door on the American dream of home ownership for qualified buyers. We advance our commitment to fair housing through policy, advocacy, innovative programming, and legal guidance. Article 10 of the Realtor Code of Ethics states, "Realtors shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender

identity. Realtors shall not be party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual or orientation or gender identity. Columbus Realtors holds this to the highest standard when conducting business. And in our advocacy, we promote public policies that advance broader home ownership availability, accessibility, and affordability in all communities. Additionally, we prioritize efforts to narrow homeownership gaps among demographic groups and promote strong enforcement of anti-discrimination laws within the housing market. Good evening, council. Uh, my name is Britney Eddie. I serve alongside my colleague Cindy Jacobs as the chair of Columbus Realtor's housing affordability um committee. Enacted in 1968, the Fair Housing Act is a landmark piece of legislation that protects these rights. Every April, Realtors Observe Fair Housing Month to reaffirm our commitment to providing fair, equitable, and professional service to all individuals searching for real estate. We must continue to work together in the field of real estate to ensure we are not only qualified but also equipped with the tools of addressing, articulating, and resolving the many challenges encountered by minority home seekers in their quest for adequate and affordable housing. We are proud to celebrate National Fair Housing Month and appreciate council's recognition tonight. We look forward to our continued partnership and collective

commitment to upholding fair housing policies through advocacy and community engagement. Thank you.

Do any of my colleagues have comments? Sure.

You see, I look directly at a certain council member. Well, you know, as a a council member and a realtor, you know, fair housing is about making sure everyone has access to opportunity and that and that decisions about where people live are based on fairness, not bias. It also means recognizing that we still have work to do. It never ends. And so, you know, I want to thank we want to make sure that we're always working to make to access housing and that it's equitable across our community. But I do want to thank the Columbus Realtors for being here today, for the role that this organization plays to uphold those standards and help people navigate one of the most important decisions in their lives. So, as Columbus continues to grow, we all have a responsibility to make sure that growth is inclusive and opportunity is available to everyone. So, thank you, Council Member Ross, for allowing me the moment.

Thank you, Council Member Remy. Any other comments from my colleagues? Yes, Council Member Bangston. Um, I just want to say congratulations to the Columbus Realtors and also a thank you. When we talk about fair housing, that is a policy. Uh, but policy in action without folks like you boots on the ground is what I call it. Uh, that policy and those actions don't get carried out. And so, I consider you all not just simply uh small business owners or folks that are buying and selling housing, but navigators, navigators of our communities. oftentimes when I hear about challenges in sometimes in neighborhoods, it comes from you all first. Uh when it's when I think about the hurdles that some of our residents are facing, you all are there on the front lines, not simply pushing and advocating for that the agenda of the realtors, but pushing and advocating for a better Columbus. And that is really how we move the city forward. So, I want to thank you all uh for your continued partnership and for the continued work that you do in our community to make our neighborhoods stronger uh and better. So, thank you again and congratulations.

Thank you, Council Member Bangston. Council member Lur.

Thank you. Um I just wanted to echo I think Council Member I was going to say the same thing. I one of my best friends is a is a uh realator and um specializing in people who are buying homes for the first time and you know the stories that she comes back and shares with me. I think being a navigator is the perfect um description. You know whether somebody's buying their first home or third home or fourth home, it is a big decision. It's the biggest investment that they're going to make. And so making that decision for their families, having someone who is a trusted source, but then also I think the partnership that we have built as we think about housing when you all are on the front lines, the things that you're seeing, the things that you're hearing, the things that our folks are experiencing, I think is incredibly important, especially as we think about policy and especially as we think about um the future of Columbus. And so I just want to thank you for continuing to push to make us better, continuing to push to make policy better, for being the navigators, for being the trusted sources for our folks, for ensuring that folks find a place that whether it's their forever home or on the road to their forever home, that they find a place that they can really uh make it not just a place to live, but a community and a house for them. So, thank you.

Thank you, Council Member. Council member Dakau. I've mentioned before, my father and grandfather were all realtors and um I grew up in rural California and um the work that the realtors did actually integrated my county. Um it was a big deal when people of color started to move to the county where I lived and it was the realtors that made that happen because there were a lot of community members who didn't want that. So, I think people forget what a critical role realtors play in um integration in our communities. So, thank you all for what you do.

Thank you, council member. Anyone else in a minute if you don't speak? Well, I just hear that it's uh my brother uh Justin Coleman's uh birthday tomorrow. Oh, happy birthday. So, that's what I'll add to the conversation. I love it. I love it. Vincent Coleman. Y

happy birthday and thank you again, Columbus Realtors. And I think I don't have to convince all of you of the the impeccable need that we have in our community. And so all of you continuing to stay in this work and do this work and do it as trusted partners is so ever important both now and in the future in our city. So thank you again and if I have no further comment from my colleague, I will move for adoption. Clerk please call the role. Bangston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara Dorne Green Reie Ross Weiss President Harden

adopted All right. It might be April might be National Everything Month, but I have one more resolution. Uh uh it is resolution number 0118X-2026 to commemorate the Central Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative Re-entry Week, April 20th through 24th of 2026. And so if Mr. Zach Ruple will head to the podium, welcome to council. Thank you so much for coming. Um, the city of Columbus recognizes the importance of supporting individuals who have been impacted by the justice system and are working to reintegrate into society with dignity and with purpose. The Century Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative has been a leading force in providing critical resources such as employment opportunities, housing assistance, education and training, entrepreneurship services, health care, recovery programs, and essential needs like food and clothing to ensure a successful transition from conviction to restoration. Re-entry week observed from April 20th to April 24th serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges faced by restored citizens to celebrate their resilience and to promote policies and programs that facilitate their full reintegration as valuable and active members of the community. The city of Columbus is committed to changing the narrative surrounding criminal justice by recognizing the efforts of restored citizens who seek to reclaim their

rightful place in society and by supporting organizations such as the COCCC in their mission to provide pathways to success. According to Franklin Countyy's re-entry task force, estimates that about 2,212 adult inmates and 1700 juvenile offenders are expected to leave Ohio's correctional and rehabilitative institutions annually and return to Columbus and the surrounding community in Franklin County. This makes Franklin County the third highest in the state for ex-offender releases. The task force emphasizes that housing, employment, health, and social services are critical to successful reintegration. The January 2024 point in time count by the community shelter board found that 2,380 individuals are experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is a major barrier to re-entry and stable housing is essential for employment, health, access, and reducing recidivism. I want to thank the CRCC for their commitment to reducing barriers and creating opportunities to build awareness and promote reintegration. And with that, Zach, I will turn it over to you all for comment. Thank you for being here.

Good evening everyone. Council President Harden, President Proim Dorans, and members of city council. My name is Zach Ruple. I use him pronouns. And on behalf of the Central Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative, thank you for this annual recognition. I've served as a volunteer administrator with this collaborative for the last seven years and I am deeply grateful for the partnership that we've been able to establish with this council. This recognition comes, as already shared, at a critical juncture for reintegration. We are facing a perfect storm that threatens our city's resilience and the wellness of those with a conviction history. While incarceration and re-entry rates remain high, the federal funding that once stabilized many local programs is drying up or already has disappeared. Essential re-entry on-ramps for housing and jobs are disappearing from the community map. Meanwhile, the rights and protections of our residents are being rewritten by the Fed as policymakers continue to create permanent punishments. The math is crystal clear. 98% of people currently behind bars are coming home. Last year, including local jail numbers, over 20,000 of our neighbors returned to Columbus. 20,000 parents, siblings, voters, and taxpayers who have served their time. They are returning to a landscape more precarious than I personally have seen in close to a decade. For 25 years, research and lived experience alike have proven that the promise of investing in re-entry with the same urgency that we do in corrections and diversion is critical. Tonight's agenda and forthcoming items offer clear choices in how this can council can respond to this disappearing safety net. Your considerations for courthouse infrastructure funding to scaffold affordable housing and improve community mediation each help ensure that re-entry is not shortcircuited before reintegration can take hold. But as federal funding support pulls back, our city's investments cannot merely indirectly benefit justice impacted

residents. They must be built on the expertise of and for the direct benefit of those who have and are re-entering. Earlier this year, CRCC provided many of your staff experts with a robust set of recommendations for innovation and for action, and we look forward to remaining in close communication with your teams this year. Justice involvement is not a mysterious phenomenon, nor is the basic idea of a fair chance. With onethird of our community holding a conviction, this is not a them problem. It is a Columbus reality. It is an all of us reality. Those closest to the problem must be closest to the solution. And by working together, we can ensure that every neighborhood in this city is a place where all individuals, regardless of their past, have the stability they need to truly call this a permanent home. Thank you for your time and I'd like to introduce my friend and colleague Shannon Bradshaw to share a bit more.

Thank you. Thank you, Zach. Council member Harden, President Prom Torren, and members of city council. Thank you for your time tonight and your continued service for the serving the members of Columbus. We are honored to remain in partnership with the council since 2019 and recognize your commitment to uplifting importance of re-entry and fair chances. My name is Shannon Bradshaw and I'm proud to speak as one of the volunteer administrators for the Central Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative. I also come to you today before as somebody who was personally impacted by the criminal legal system in my younger years and now I currently work for the county courts. I've lived both sides of this issue and I know that re-entry must be authentic.

Too often re-entry is treated like a checklist, but real re-entry is human. It is trust, dignity, and relationships built with people who understand trauma, setbacks, and what it takes to rebuild. As you heard Zach share, if we want safer communities, we must recognize re-entry as both a public safety and public health issue. That means integrating re-entry navigation into Columbus' behavioral health network and connecting people to trusted, effective resources. It also means expanding peer supporters in municipal court beyond specialized dockets into spaces like eviction court and arraignment court. A peer connection at the right moment can prevent deeper crisis. When people feel seen, supported, and connected, they are more likely to stay engaged in services and less likely to return to incarceration. Thank you for supporting communities like ours. And please continue investing in grassroot experience-driven communities led by impacted individuals. I have seen the lasting change happen when those who lived it are leaded or trusted to lead it. We would be happy to answer any questions at this time. Thank you again,

Shannon. Are there any comments for my colleagues? Yes, council member Lord.

Um uh thank you chair. Thank or council member and chair. Yes. Um I just wanted to say thank you. I think uh this is such important work. I think you said it best when you were um in your introductory remarks. I think that one bad decision does not define your whole existence. And I think unfortunately in our society too often that it does. And so I think that if we have had if we have asked someone to whatever the price they have paid for whatever bad decision that they made once they're brought back into society that they can have a job that they can have a place to live that they can have a future worthy of them right and everything that they give back to us. And so I think this week and continuing to advocate for people, I I think all of us would be hardressed not to find someone who has not been touched by um the justice system in some way for whatever reason. And so not giving them the kind of future that they deserve, letting that define them is is in itself unjust. And so I just want to thank you for your advocacy. Thank you for your continued work. I think this is one of the most important things that we commemorate is to just remind people of their own humanity and their own forgiveness and ensuring that we are giving access to folks so that uh we also don't miss out on the gifts that people have to give uh back to all of us and not to forget that they also have families and children and people who love them who also deserve to have a full person back in their lives. So, thank you again for um for your work and um for everything that your organizations will do this week uh to see people.

Council member Briggs. Yeah, I I won't belabor the moment, but I just wanted to say congratulations and thank you uh for the continued work that you all do. Uh you you you all said something that right this is about public health. This is about uh public safety, but I would also lift up as economic development chair. It's also about the economics. Uh we have thousands of folks returning to uh our community and simultaneously I hear from employers, I can't find people, right?

Well, there's an entire population that's being overlooked. And I really hope that this falls on someone that we need to really lean into. Not just say that you hire uh restored citizens or second chance citizens or justice involved citizens, but put it into action. What I know is that one of the highest reasons why people uh recidivize or go back into prison is because of the economics, right?

Because they have to resort to living right and all these barriers are in place, education, housing, everything else, and you can't even get a simple job. We are not setting people up for success. So, thank you all for continuing to beat uh that drum uh and continuing to call uh and bring this to light for us because it is a a thing that matters uh to the economic health uh of our region. So, again, thank you all. And to and lastly, I will say to folks that have been justice involved, you are not second chance citizens, you are not restored citizens, you are citizens of the city of Columbus. And it is imperative uh that we do everything we can to ensure uh that that thing that you did on the worst day of your life doesn't define the rest of your life.

Absolutely. Thank you, council member. Um again, thank you for all of the work that you do. I have the the honor of serving as vice chair of our public safety and criminal justice committee as well as chair of our housing committee. Um, and the way those worlds intersect is something that you all um are are championing and have brought to the forefront of our community so that folks understand that real safety in our community means more than just sending folks to jail. But it can only be achieved through systems that ensure that folks have their basic needs met. Um, that ensure that those folks that have served their time are not continuing to serve time because they have an inability um to be productive citizens in our community. And I, Shannon, I I share experiences with you as I worked in the bowels of the criminal justice system for nearly a decade in Franklin County um and saw what an injustice it was to perpetuate harms through our criminal justice system um by adding additional barriers to folks that were certainly unnecessary. And so I thank you again for the work that you do every day um to make sure that our community is educated. I thank you, Zach, for turning your pain into purpose and for continuing to advocate um on such an important issue uh for our community. So, thank you so much. I'm honored to present this resolution to you all today. And if there are no further comments from my colleagues, I will move for adoption.

Thanks. Darosa, de Padilla, de a Dorne Green Reie Ross Weiss, President Harden adopted. Thank you, council member. Council member W.

Thank you. Thank you, Council President. On this final Monday in April, I just want to say again, happy Earth Month to everyone. Uh thank you to all the volunteers who planted trees, planted uh native plants, who built community gardens. Um and if you did not have an opportunity to do so in May, you can do the same thing. So come on out, volunteer, get in the community, get in the dirt. Um I'd like to invite Ryan and Noah from the Clintonville Green Team up to the podium. While they're making their way to the front, I would like to introduce resolution 110X-2026 to recognize and celebrate Arbor Day in Columbus, Ohio. Arbor Day was first established in 1872 by the Nebraska Board of Agriculture as a special day to be set aside for the planting and care of trees. Arbor Day is now celebrated annually on the fourth Friday of April with the goal of highlighting the environmental importance of trees and encouraging community organizations and members to practice environmental stewardship by planting and caring for trees. Trees are a vital component of our community. They help combat climate change, reduce energy consumption and costs, filter the air, and provide necessary habitat for wildlife. Uh we must continue to prioritize increasing our community's tree canopy and ensuring that Columbus residents have adequate access to green spaces and tree cover. And additionally, trees are a social justice issue across our state and our community. We have seen the persistent impact of historic policy that has systematically undermined black and brown communities, including the removal of access to tree cover. It is vital that we continue to increase our city's tree canopy and champion policy and action that ensures a sustainable future for all, including minority populations and underserved communities here in Columbus. Uh Ryan and Noah, thank you both for the work that the Clintonville Green Team does to champion sustainability and increase our community's tree canopy. We are also

grateful for the meaningful work you do in the city uh to engage community members and to advocate for the environment. Uh before I move for adoption, uh would you like to share a few words? Yes, we would. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Ryan Foshi, co-chair of the Clintonville Green Team. That's the green committee of the Clintonville Area Commission. With me is Noah Faustst, project leader for Columbus Arborfest. Today, we're here to talk about trees. It feels a little funny to stand here without our partners today because we're accustomed to working with partners across the city very often. Working on trees in Columbus is always a group effort. Sure, we organize a community festival about trees, Columbus Arborfest, that comes up on August 22nd at Wetstone Park in Clintonville. But it's all the partners and the community that makes that festival so interesting and full of life. Organizations like Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, Columbus Reck and Parks, local volunteers and civic groups and nonprofits have been the key to protecting and restoring a highquality tree population in our city. Among many others, I'd like to name some groups and people that I consider local heroes. Green Columbus, Friends of the Lower Olan Tangi Wershed or Flow, Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries or Fact, neighborhood groups like the Adena Brook community in Clintonville, activists like Mort Schmidt who volunteers every week to do tree ID walks and educate anyone. Uh he also writes the tree of the month column for the simply living newsletter. Tony Stall who publishes her monthly nature scoop e newswsletter. Julie Smiley, who has done too much to recount to protect and grow more great trees, and Diane Katanaga, who runs Sunny Glenn Garden and the CCC for the PPP in Lynen. I've come to know many incredible volunteers and organizations, some of whom have worked for decades or longer, invested their own time and money, generous and seemingly tireless campaigners planting trees. Um, so trees support our local plants, animals, air, and waterways. And, uh,

they represent the opportunity to simply have a healthy life as a baseline in city of Columbus. Here's a few things about trees as well, just so people know, because it's pretty important. The city's urban forestry master plan details all kinds of things about trees, but also shares important info on our tree canopy. If you dig into the plan, the goal is to have 40% citywide coverage for trees and in any given neighborhood where possible. Uh that's only achievable with everyone's participation. A 2015 assessment showed that we're at about 22% canopy coverage. Most of the land within our city is privately owned. 70% of the trees in Columbus are on private land. The other 30% of the trees are public in parks and along the streets. H there's a lot to know about trees, but the best approach is to take your time, have fun, find quality learning opportunities, and learn as you go. Uh it's fun and empowering to know, hey, what's that tree?

First, focus on a few native trees that you like and are easy for you to remember. For example, oaks are a keystone species, meaning their presence is crucial for the health and biodiversity of many ecosystems. Oaks, you know, the ones with acorns, provide food in the form of acorns and leaves and offer habitat through their branches, canopies, and fallen leaves. They host more caterpillar species than any other plant genus in North America. Over 900 types of caterpillars, making them particularly important. Um, so yeah, oaks, a keystone species and a very important tree. But all native trees are important. Many are the specific host species for certain types of animals, meaning they're essential to their reproduction. Diversity of species is the key to a healthy ecosystem. Some trees do well by a streamside, others by the side of our streets. Um, each has a unique benefit and excels in certain conditions. Also, this is important in Columbus because there's some of it around. Non-native invasive trees and plants introduce problematic side effects such as potentially destructive foreign animal life or resource competition without much benefit going back into our local ecosystem. Example, the non-native Bradford or Calorie pear tree is beautiful, which is often kind of the case or why it made its way to North America in the first place, but um it's so particularly harmful to the environment that is now banned in Ohio with bounty programs appearing in some localities to encourage the swift removal of calorie pair and replacement with native trees. Uh there's also the non-native tree of heaven that you can see around Columbus uh that can outgrow and take over the habitat of native trees. It's also a refuge for the spotted lantern fly which is a u invasive species of concern. Learning how to spot both native and invasive trees is a very helpful skill that can

be shared with anyone. And a world of interesting facts about life and nature await as you dig deeper. Uh here's Noah with more.

Hi council. I just want to say thank you very much for having us here today and particularly to Councilman Wea for inviting us and recognizing the importance of Arbor Day. Um I'm just going to expand a little bit on what you talked about about getting involved with planting trees in Columbus. Um I'm going to talk about a couple different ways that you can do that. So first, just as you mentioned, there's so many volunteer opportunities happening right now. It's spring. There's a ton of different organizations that have almost daily programs where you can go maintain a pollinator garden or plant a tree or pull out invasive species. And I've seen the Instagram. I know that you've been doing a lot. You've been literally doing the work on the ground um to make that happen and we see that and we appreciate that. Um you know, we're we're Clintville Green Team, but in every neighborhood there's there's things going on uh so that you can make uh your particular neighborhood a little bit greener. Um, you can also go to so many wonderful places in Columbus where you can learn more about trees. We have Franklin Park Conservatory, which is probably the most wellknown, but we actually have uh arburetums all over the city. Um everything from the Chaduk Arboritum to actually right in front of my house is the lower Olan Tangi urban arboritum where you can just walk around the neighborhood and there are trees of a whole bunch of different species that are all native um that were planted uh there so that you can kind of just take a little walk around and see all sorts of different species. Um third, uh you can plant a tree yourself. It's not too hard. You can look up some information online. Make sure you don't put it under a power line or over a sewer line. Um, and you can have a tree of your own that is going to grow uh for decades. It's just become more and more valuable, provide beauty and shade um and make uh the neighborhood better for everybody who walks under the shade of that tree. Uh but last and certainly not least, my personal favorite is that you can come to Columbus Arborest on August 22nd. It's a celebration of trees here in Columbus. Uh we're going to have food trucks and live music just like you

would expect at any festival. But more importantly, we're going to have tree talks. We're going to have nature walks and we're going to have an opportunity to really bring the community together around not just celebrating trees, but learning about trees and getting involved to increase our urban canopy and try and hit that 40% goal by 2050. Um so thank you very much for for having us here today.

Ryan note, thank you both for being here and for your continued advocacy. I don't know. We'll have to just do a competition. I feel like I've planted the most trees on council. Maybe council member de a close second, I don't know, in my entire time. Um, but we're going to have to start the count to get more folks out to do this work. Um, because it's so important to the everyday life. Um, we sometimes take for granted the trees that are there. So, uh, let me stop see if any questions or comments. Of course, I called her out so she has something to say. Council member Deako,

thank you for doing real things, for actually being out there and engaged in planting trees. Lots of people like to talk and point out that other people should be planting trees, but you're doing the real work and I really appreciate that. This is how we get trees in our city. Go out and plant a tree. Thank you so much for your work.

Anyone else? I just I I think you know one thing that we hear often in public service is as we're thinking about you know the landscape of streets and other things. This is something that we've incorporated as we're thinking about our streetscape projects is how do we add to our urban canopy and I I just want to say thank you for your continued advoc advocacy. Thank you for planting trees. Also um council member Wise you're throwing down some gauntlets. I was a core member for two years and worked at a service organization for 30. So, I think as a lifetime tree planter, I might have y'all beat. But anyways, I just want to say um but but no, sincerely, thank you. I think y'all also might have started something. I think you should continue to advocate. Let's see who can plant the most trees by the end of the year. But, um seriously, as we think about safety, as we think about our future, I think this is what we're talking about right now in in a space where we don't want to talk about the environment, where we don't want to think about clean water, we don't want to think about clean air, these are the things that matter and are most important. And um we don't have enough conversations. And so every time we do a tree planting, every time we do something, we should we need to continue to push that to the top because we we can't live without it. And too many times it's not at the top of our conversation. It's many other things, right? And so none of this matters. Not infrastructure, not housing, not anything if we don't if we can't breathe, right? If we can't live. So, um, again, thank you and, um, thank you for, um, acknowledging and for continuing to push and make us all better and greener.

No worries, council member. And as a former city, I'll pull those records. Don't don't make me go back and pull them. We'll do that. Get those seats out. Council member Green. Yeah. Down here.

I can't get to work. Okay. I just have a question since we have our tree experts in the room and apparently up here as well. Um, can you just Yeah. So, through the programs that you're working on, are you able to just go and plant a tree anywhere? Like, can you, you know, what's the process of like if I want to put a tree in the right of way? Maybe this is a question for public service, you know, something I hear a lot a lot on the hilltop of people being like, we deserve, you know, beautifully uh shaded streets as well, which absolutely we do. Um, can I just walk up to the right of way and plant a tree in the street or?

No, please don't go right up to the right of way and plant a tree. You can request a tree via 311. So, please do that. That would be the preferred method. If you want to plant a tree on your property, yeah, have at that. So, front yard, backyard, we'd love to see more. Just call 811 before you dig, please. Thank you. Just do what? Call 811 before you dig. call 811 before you dig to make sure there's no utilities or you're not hitting anything in your tree in your yard. Okay. But we can request them for streets through the city. Correct. Yes. And there are videos to tell you and you guys will be there next week.

Just seriously, I know we're joking around, but seriously, one of the reasons is in the rightway. It is a public right away. And so when there's work to be done, that's why sometimes folks will get upset. Also, depending upon where you plant the trees, if the roots mess up your sidewalk, you're then responsible for it. So, there's lots of different reasons you don't want to do that, but I think you can ask the experts, which is why going to the city is really important. But on your property, certainly you can plant what you want. Making sure that they're the right species so you don't invite other friends that we don't want on your property or in our community. Yes. Look at all this debate on trees. That's what we love to see. Um with that I move for adoption. Second. Clerk please call the row.

Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Remy Ross Weiss. President Harden adopted.

Thank you Mr. uh Council Member W. That was the most thorough conversation on trees that this council has had. Um, uh, next up is Press Pro Tim Dorne.

Well, thank you, Council President. I may not be with you all in chambers, but, uh, learning about trees, uh, every which way, uh, with you all here virtually, but I did want to thank, uh, my colleagues and and certainly folks for accommodating me here this evening. I'm obviously not with you all in city hall. uh my family has a medical issue going on with with one of my parents and wanted to be with them uh as they're dealing with that issue. So, thanks for those who've reached out to me. I appreciate it. Um I did have an announcement regarding uh we had planned on having the uh public hearing tomorrow to discuss uh possible changes to council's uh district structure. um with the uncertainty about whether or not I will be back in town, we decided to go ahead and postpone that public hearing tomorrow uh to make sure that um we could fully devote our energies to that. So that hearing will now be taking place on Monday, May 4th at 5:30 here in council chambers. Uh my staff should have reached out to any individual that has requested a speaker slip um to let them know that those speakers certainly will be honored for that public hearing now scheduled for May 4th. If you have not signed up to speak uh at that hearing and would like to uh please reach out to my legislative aid and McDonald at abcdonaldus.gov with the subject line May 4th testimony with your name and address by May by 3 p.m. on May 4th. Uh again apologize for having to move that council uh public hearing, but wanted to make sure that we got that back on the calendar as quickly as possible. do want to acknowledge there was a little bit of confusion when we initial in initially changed that uh the initial release mentioned that that would be happening on May 5th. That is incorrect. That is primary election day and we did not want to um add to any confusion or take folks away from being able to participate in that election. So we rescheduled that date again for May 4th next Monday at 5:30 in council chambers. If any folks have any questions, you're welcome to reach out to my office um for that that hearing.

Um and with that, I will turn it back to you, Council President. Thank you. Thank you, Press Pro Tim. Uh, and thank you in our thoughts or are with you too as you're with your your parents. Um, it's 6:30. So, is there a motion to recess for zoning? Cler, please call the role. Bankston, bro, de Padilla de Aar Dorance Green Reie Ross Weiss, President Harden.

We are in recess. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

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Heat. Heat. Please call the row. You can call it Bankston Barrosa de Padilla De Aar Dorren Green Reie Ross Weiss President Harden.

Can I get a motion to spend with the reading of the journal? Cl Bankston Barrosa Day Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Reie Ross Weiss President Harden. Are there any additions or corrections to the journal here? None. The journal is approved. We'll now go to the zoning committee. Council member Dorne chairs that committee. All members serve on it. Council member, the floor is yours.

Uh thank you, Council President. Uh again, as I mentioned uh during the regular meeting, just appreciate folks flexibility uh with me being virtual tonight uh while I'm dealing with my family situation. Uh I do want to acknowledge that we had uh many members of the public planning to come down to testify tonight on two pieces of legislation within this committee. Uh appreciate those individuals understanding that we are going to be uh referring those uh postponing those pieces of legislation uh to later in May. Uh and I did confirm the city attorney's office that those who have speak signed up to speak on those ordinances uh will have their speaker transferred to that night that we consider those ordinances and will not need to sign up again. Uh again, if you have any questions about that, you're welcome to reach out to to my office or certainly Kevin McCain from our uh zoning folks uh in the legislative research office. Um as always uh I explained our current rules speaking before council on reszonings or variances. We only hear a staff presentation for ordinance that have a disapproval from a recommending body or if we have a public speaker to sign up to speak against an ordinance. We permit three speakers on each side of an ordinance, three proponents, three opponents. We ask that those speakers limit the remarks to three minutes per the standard rules of city council. All speakers in the council variance, including city staff, area commissioners and applicants and members of the public will be sworn in before they give testimony. Representatives of an area commission are always able to speak on the ordinance and do not need to fill out a speaker slip, but we do ask you alert city staff of your intention to speak at this hearing. Uh for our agenda here tonight, we did have 11 public speaker slips signed up to speak. Uh again though, due to postponing and pending legislation, uh again, those speakers were notified of the new dates that those ordinances will be considered in the month of May. On the advice of the city attorney's office, it will now swear in city staff. Please stand and raise your right hand to be sworn in. Do you swear affirm the testimony you're about to give shall be the truth? Nothing but the truth that you shall answer under painful penalty of perjury. If so, please say I do.

I do. Please let the record reflect that Joseph Rose and the Department of Million Zoning Services have been sworn in. First, we have ordinance number 0290-2026 to reszone 2110 Hard Road being 5.0 0 plus acres located in the north side of Harvard Road 150 plus feet west of Stone uh Stoneford Drive from LRR limited rural residential district to AR1 apartment residential district. I first move to postpone this ordinance to the May 18th zoning committee agenda. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akar Dorren Green Reie Ross W president Harden postpone.

Thank you. And again, please let the record reflect that Scott Friedrien, Lisa Kaiser, Deborah Link, and backup Aaron Newman have uh will have their speaker slips honored for the May 18th zoning committee hearing. Next we have ordinance number 1035-226 to roof zone 7801 and 7809 Tanganger River Road being 5.82 plus acres located in the west side river road 370 plus feet south of Club View Boulevard from R1 rural district to L12 limit apartment residential district. Again I move to postpone this ordinance to the May 18th zoning committee agenda. Cler please call the role. Bankston, Barrosa, De Padilla, de Akar, Dorren Green, Remy, Ross, W President Harden postponed.

Thank you. And again, let the record reflect that Russell Carneahan, Paul Peterson, and Brian Hunt, and backups Ryan Borchers and Aaron Newman have their will have their speaker slips again honored for the May 18th zoning committee agenda. Next, we have ordinance number 1136-2026 zone 6955-699. Harlem Road being 4.4 4 plus acres located in the west side of Harlem Road from 880 plus feet north of college uh central college road from LM Limited Manufacturing District to AR1 apartment residential district site consist of one parcel developed with a singular dwelling and undeveloped portion of another parcel in the requested bzzoning will allow an 84 unit apartment complex a concurrent council variance will be considered later on our tonight's agenda proposals approved by city staff development commission and the Rocky Fork Blacklick U accord panel I move for passage

please call the role Bankston Burls de Padilla de Akaw Dorren Green Remy Ross Weiss President Harden passed. Thank you. We now move in the council variances portion of our agenda. First we have ordinance number 0291-2026 grant bearance provisions section 3312.27 parking setback line 333.18 building lines and 3332.255 per yard Columbus city codes for the property located at 2110 Hard Road to allow reduced development standards for apartment complex in the AR1 apartment residential district. I move to postpone this ordinance to the May 18th zoning committee agenda. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston, Burough, Padilla, de Aar, Dorren, Green, Remy, Ross, W, President Harden, postpone.

Thank you. And again, let the record reflect that Jennifer Deblast will have her speakers honored for the May 18th zoning committee hearing. Next, we have ordinance number 1036-226 to grant a variance provisions of section 3333.025, 025 AR12 ARLD and AR1 apartment residential district use 3333.41H IG J standard of the Columbus Dakota property located at 7801 and 7809 Tanger River Road to allow reduced development standards for the town houses in the L12 limit department residential district. Again I move to postpone this ordinance in the May 18th zoning committee agenda. Cler please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Reie Ross W president Harden postponed.

Thank you again. Let the record reflex that Russell Carneahan will have the speakers of honor for the May 18th zoning committee agenda. Next we have ordinance number uh 11 I'm sorry 1116-206 again variance provisions section 3332.035 R3 resident district 3312.49 C required parking 3332.05 05 A4 area district lot with requirements and 3332.13 R3 area district requirements the Columbus the code for the property located at 1289-1291 East 17th Avenue to allow a two-unit dwelling reduced development standards in the R3 residential district site consists of one undeveloped parcel as formally developed a two-unit dwelling and the request accounts and variance will allow a construction of a two-unit dwelling which is not allowed in the current zoning district. Variances to reduce required parking, lot area, lot width are also included in the request. Proposal appro city staff and the south lynen area commission. I first move to accept the entire step into evidence as an exhibit.

Please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Reie Ross W president Harden it. Thank you. Next to adopt the five staffs to the fines of council. Cler please call the role. Bankston Perosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Rei Ross Weiss President Harden adopted. Thank you. And finally move for passage. Clerk please call the roll. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Reiss president Harden passed.

Thank you. Next we have ordinance 1137-226 agenda variance provisions of sections 3309.14A height districts 3312.21D landscaping and screening 3332.06 106 Rural area district requirements and 333.18 building lines and 3333.255 permit yard of the Columbus city codes for the property located at 6955-6999 Harlem Road to allow reduced development standards for apartment complex and AR1 apartment residential district and recuse loti lot sizes in the Rural District. This is a concurrent variance to reszone we considered earlier in tonight's agenda, which will allow a reduced development standard for an 84 apartment unit complex on the track one of the parcel and reduced lot size for track two and track three for a future lot split as shown in the submitted site plan. Track two currently developed with a pole barn structure is to remain under current ownership and track three proposed for a drainage basin expansion for existing proposed apartment complex properties to be combined with the existing apartment complex property to the west. Variances are required because the proposed development site and lot splits cannot meet all development standards in the current district. The proposal is approved from city staff and the Rocky Fork Black Lake Accord panel. I first move to accept the entire staff report and do evidence as an exhibit.

Clerk, please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Doris Green Reie Ross W president Harden accept it. Thank you. And next move to adopt the finance staffs the finance council. Please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akawa Dorans Green Remi Ross Weiss President Harden adopted. Thank you. Finally move for passage. Second. Clerk please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorren Green Rein passed.

Thank you. Next we have ordinance 1139-226 variance provisions of section 3332.037 R2F residential district 3332.18D basis of computing area and 3332.25AB 25AB required sidey yards the Columbus city codes for the property located at 427 Hanford Street to allow uh to conform a 7UNT apartment building with development standards in the R2F residential district. Uh this site consists of one parcel developed with a 7-unit townhouse style apartment building and the request of council variance will conform the existing development and update the on-site parking with a new detached garage. A council variance is required because while the current district allows one single or two unit dwellings in a lot, it does not allow a seven-unit apartment building. Variances for lot coverage and required sideyards are also included in the request. Proposal has approvals from city staff and the Columbus Southside area commission. I first move to accept the entire step and evidence as an exhibit.

CL call the role. Bangston, Barrosa de Padilla de Aar Dorne Green Reie Ross W president Harden. Accept it. Thank you. Okay, next move to adopt the bind of staff finds of councel. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston, Burl, Sed Padilla, de Akara, Dorren Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden. Adopted. Thank you. And finally, move for passage. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston Bur Padilla de Akara, Dorren Green, Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden. Passed.

Thank you. And finally, we have ordinance number 1143-2026 granted variance of provisions of section 3332.035 R3 residential district of the Columbus code. of the property located at 2930-2932 Madina Avenue to allow two dwelling in the R3 residential district. Site consists of one undeveloped parcel. The request council variance will allow it to be developed with a two-unit dwelling. A requested council variance is required because the current district prohibits two-unit dwellings. A the proposal is from city staff and the north lynen area commission. I first move to accept the entire staff report into evidence as an exhibit. Cler, please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara Dorren Green Remy Ross Weiss President Harden accept it.

Thank you. I next move to adopt the fiance of staffs the fiance of council. Clerk please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara Dorren Green Reie Ross Weiss President Harden adopted. And finally move for passage. Cler please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla de Akara Dorren Green Rei Ross W president Harden. Uh passed. Thank you, council president. This is all we have in tonight's zoning agenda. I wish you all a great rest of the meeting. We're thinking about your friend. If there's no uh further business come for council, is there a motion to adjourn? Please call the role.

Bankston, Brosa, Deadia, Day Aar, Dorren Green, Remy, Ross, W president Harden. meeting is a juror. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Hey. Hey. Hey.

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meeting number 21. Clerk, please call the row. Bankston Bur Padilla de Akara Dors Green Remy Ross I'm sorry Bangston Bur Padilla de Aar Green Remy Ross Weiss President Harden uh we are back in meeting number 21. At this time I request the following ordinance be removed from the excuse me consent action portion of the agenda. Neighborhoods recreation and parks committee ordinance 1288-2026. Is that good? Are there any other requests by members of council for the removal of an ordinance on the agenda? May we now have a motion to wave the readings of titles of 38 legislation on tonight's agenda.

Clerk, please call the role. Banks Baros Padilla de Akara Green Remy Ross Weiss, President Harden.

Thank you, madam clerk. Will the clerk now read to the record the ordinance numbers of 38 legislation on tonight's agenda for first reading? Finance and Governance Committee 986, 1062, and 1144-2026. Economic Development and Small Minority Business Committee Ordinances 985, 9999, 1170, and 1171-2026. Public Service and Transportation Committee Ordinances 1110, 1148, and 1183-2026. Neighborhoods Recreation and Parks Committee Ordinances 1070, 1071, 1072, and 1073-2026. Workforce Education and Labor Committee Ordinances 988 and 1120-2026. Health and Human Services and Equity Committee Ordinance 1050-2026. Housing, Homelessness, and Building Committee, Ordinances 1189, 1191, and 1191-2026. Public Utilities and Sustainability Committees, Ordinance 872, 989, 950, 1023, 1039, 1093, 1134, and 1156-2026. Rules and Policy Committee um 1,2026, 944-2026. That's all.

Thank you, Madame Clerk. We don't have any speakers on the um first reading portion of the agenda. The following orders appear on our agenda as consent with the clerk now read those into the record.

Sure. Um resolutions of expression 113X 11 or 111X 112X 108X and 109X-2026 Finance and Governance Committee 0 I'm sorry 970 1019 1054 and 1283-2026 Economic Development and Small Minority Business Committee 763 997 9998 10003 3 1064 1135 and 1280-2026 Public Service and Transportation Committee Resolution 0083X ordinances 1029 1032 1095-2026 Neighborhood Recreation and Parks Committee ordinances 956 1090 and 1186-2026 Workforce Education and Labor Committee 1047 and 114 45-2026. Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, Ordinances 1045, 1187, and 1288-2026. Housing, Homelessness, and Building Committee, Ordinances 1037, 1059, 1065, 1089-2026. Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee resolution 0082X ordinances 601 673 689 957 and 1097-2026 rules and policy appointments A0081 0082 and 0083-2026. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We have one speaker on the consent portion of the agenda, uh Sher Smith. Miss Smith, welcome to council. Yes, ma'am.

Sorry, I'm a little slow. No, take your time. You're fine. This is your first time speaking before us. Uh if you're representing anybody, you can tell us who that is. And you have about three minutes to speak. Pardon me. Uh President Harden, but I'm hard of hearing. Yes, ma'am. And so what you just said, I did not hear a word and I apologize. No, no, no. It's my apologies. I was just saying if you represent if you're representing someone, you can just tell us if you're representing someone. Okay. But that you have about three minutes to speak. Okay. I um I am representing uh senior citizens in Columbus. That's right. Um, not like on a group thing. I got it. Um, but tell me, do I get like a bail or something to start or just start? You're good.

Okay, cuz I want Oh, there's the timer. Okay. Um, well, uh, my name is Sher Smith. I've lived in Columbus all my life. I'm 68. I'll soon be 69 in a few months. I'm very blessed to be in this city and I'm grateful to all of you uh, for allowing me this time. I am here because I am very concerned. I'm glad that you have decided to allocate some money to help people who have apartments and they can't pay their rent. I remember those times when I had an apartment and it was such a struggle and if I had had something like what you're offering now, it would have been oh just so much help at that time. So I'm grateful to you for doing that. I also would like to add that as a senior um I know that I don't have an apartment, I have a home and I'm really concerned because a lot of us who have homes who cannot pay these high property taxes, we're kind of getting left out. And a while ago, the um Catholic Social Services and the Auditor's Office put something together to help people who uh were in my type of situation. That funding is no longer available. So, I'm just saying that we also need help, but it's with property taxes, mortgages paid off, but I don't want to lose my home either. So, I don't know if this would even fall under that, but I'm hoping that it does. Um, the other thing is, and I'm sorry I'm a little nervous. Uh, the other thing is, um, I'm looking at the clock. Bear with me. But um a lot of times uh those of us who even when we were trying to get the funding for from Catholic social

services, one of the things they said was if you had a life estate and I I don't know if you all understand a life estate is when say for example my mother passed away, left the house to four siblings. She left me with the life estate. I live in the home. I'm responsible for everything. Nothing is given to me by my siblings. In fact, many times siblings are fighting over the property. But with the life estate, you have it. It's under your name until you move or die. And so in that situation, the your programming a lot of times says if you are in a situation where the house is owned by multiple people, then you have to get permission from those other people in order to get assistance. And it doesn't work for everybody because sometimes the siblings want you out anyway. So if I were to send some of that paperwork to them to get that help, they would never have signed it. Never. So I'm hoping and praying that y'all will consider what I'm saying. Help those senior citizens that need help.

Am I done before you leave? Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Uh, you do not have to apologize. I certainly thank you for coming and for advocating on behalf of your neighbors. We um here at council are very keenly trying to understand the needs of our seniors in the community. And as we think about housing and supporting housing and preventing displacement and promoting aging in place, we are talking about all of those things to include property taxes. And while property taxes is not within the full jurisdiction of the city, uh making sure that we are advocating to our state partners as well as thinking creatively about what we could do to support seniors in that space. So I thank you for coming and for advocating. Um I've also been able to help work through some of those probate issues. We used to do it um at the city attorney's office through our owner occupied initiative when seniors would come in and need support and need home repair resources but had probate issues to work through. And so if you are coming up against those issues, I would encourage you to reach out to our office and I'm sure that we can be able to help you navigate through those so that you still have access, particularly if you are responsible for taking care of that piece of property and if you are living in that piece of property. And so um even if there seem to be barriers before you, please please reach out to us so that we can try to help you navigate through some of those things. All right. Just just to let you know, the city did change some rules on helping people with that program where you help them fix up the house.

Well, they changed it so that it used to be if you're a life estate, then they would help you. But now they changed it so that everybody's got to sign the documentation to get the help and everybody's not going to sign it. So, I'll certainly look into that and and see what we can do. Yeah. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you, Miss Smith. If there are not any other questions or comments on the consent portion of agenda, is there a motion for approval? Please call the row. Thanks. Sim Padilla Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden.

The uh consent uh portion of our agenda is passed. We'll now proceed with uh second reading. First committee to come before council is the public service and transportation committee chaired by council member Rosa Padilla. Council member Laura is yours.

Thank you council president. I have two items today on second read for public service and transportation. The first is 09242026 to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to appropriate funds within the street and highway improvement fund to authorize the director of public service to enter into a contract modification with Kimley Horn and Associates Incorporated in connection with the intersection Hillyard Rome road at Reneer Road. Those are lots of ours project and to authorize the expenditure of up to $1 million from the streets and highway improvement fund to pay for the project. This project in district two uh involves improvements to the intersection of Hilliard Rome Road and Reneer Road. Uh this intersection is listed on the high injury network. The project includes improvements to Reneer Road both west and east of Hillyard Rome Road. Improvements include intersection uh capacity, mobility, pedestrian and bikeway facility additions, asset management, lighting additions, and updated infrastructure. All intersection approaches in the project will also be widened. So, deputy director, we talked about this before. This is just the design phase of this project. Um, usually, can you just talk a little bit about how long that takes and when residents might start to see shovels or not shovels, big actual machinery and orange cones, but in the ground when they will start to see movement on the project.

Thank you, Chair. Uh, good evening, President Hard and Council. I'll talk as best as I can here. Uh I did not do that. So right now this do I need to sit back further? Yeah.

Okay. Do my best. Uh this project is slated for construction in 2028. We just got through preliminary engineering and this this con uh construction or I'm sorry design cost is literally for the plans uh for creating a set of plans for contractors to bid on. Um the one thing I'd like to add on it that we are going through, we're improving the intersection. So think wide nodes, thin roads. We're going through and we're actually widening out the intersection to process all the traffic from the interchange and it does include improvements on Rener Road. Uh the one thing I'd like to add on it just in the theme of tonight, this project will have street trees. So new lighting and street trees along with all the other pedestrian improvements and vehicular improvements. Uh this dollar amount that's being added is actually from a developer contribution. Uh we purs uh pursued Morpsy funds on this. So federal funds and the the developers actually paying for all the design costs. So we were able to leverage a lot of money here to actually go secure federal funding for this project that should be shovel in the ground hopefully late 28 if not early 29.

Perfect. And thank you for highlighting that. I think as we talk about um all of the infrastructure dollars and how we have different tools in the toolkit that we can use to leverage dollars to ensure that we are addressing especially um those problematic intersections that are on the high injury network. It's always important um to show again I've tried to um for my colleagues we've had conversations about this highlight when things are happening in your particular district what those improvements look like. So, as you go back and you talk to residents, you can highlight some of the good things that are coming. I know that it's not always on the timeline in which we would want it, but I think that um the time and care uh to ensure that we are addressing all of the concerns, especially on this stretch, and I know council member vice, my vice chair, I know this is something that you often talk about and something that we're going to talk about this week with residents, um that this is one of those problematic intersections. So, thank you for highlighting that. Do my colleagues have any additional questions or comments? Seeing none, um I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role. Bankston, Barrosa, de Padilla, de Akara, Green, Remy, Ross, W, President Harden, passed.

Great. Next, I have Thank you. I have um ordinance 1048 20226 to authorize the transfer of appropriation within the municipal motor vehicle license tax fund to authorize the transfer of appropriation cash from the street construction maintenance and repair fund to the motor the municipal motor vehicle license tax fund to authorize the director of the department of finance and management to enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation or ODOT and yet to be named vendors for the purchase of rock salt uh based on the terms of a cooperative purchase this contract to be established by the Ohio Department of Transportation to authorize the director of finance and management to establish purchase orders for Roxot to authorize the expenditure of up to 2,688,125 from the municipal motor vehicle tax license tax fund up to $7,313 from the water systems operating fund up to $32,258 from the sewage uh system operating fund and up to 7,000 38 from the electricity systems operating fund for the purchase of Rocksaw to authorize the director of finance and management to associate all general budget reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate contract purchase agreement for Rocksaw and to declare an emergency. So, as we all know, the Department of Public Service and the Department of Public Utilities are now responsible for snow and ice removal or control and removal on the city's roadway system and removing snow and ice. The departments use rock salt extensively in these operations. This ordinance authorizes the purchase for the winter season. Y'all know we got hit very hard this season and so we depleted a good um amount of our stored rock salt. So this is to ensure that especially as we have changing climate, we don't know what to expect uh that we have everything that we need once winter. So sad to talk about it right now. I feel like we just came out of the seven rooms of winter.

um but that we have it all uh for when that season comes. Do my colleagues have any additional questions? Yes. Um I'm not sure who this would be directed to, but um just kind of trying to think through budgeting and thinking about inflation and the cost of things going up. I'm wondering if as we are looking at um this item if this is something that we feel like has fluctuated in price or that we're concerned about in terms of like resources supply chain issues. We can go to I think deputy director you can answer that.

I'll I'll do my best. Um the cost of rock salt over the years has been relatively stayed. It does fluctuate up and down but we're buying on a contract price along with ODOT. So, we're group purchasing this and we are securing the best price we can. Awesome. Thank you.

And the other thing that I would also note is that we buy and I'm going to give the simple version of this so check my work. So, we buy enough quantity and because we don't know what is to come yet for winter. Last year, LA last winter, right, we had more in our reserves because we had a lighter winter. So, we had more. This winter we dipped into those reserves and what we purchased. So now we're going to purchase more. So going into next winter, depending upon what winter looks like, we could have some leftover or we could have to, you know, put more in. So we're always buying more, but we also sometimes might have that reserve. Is that That's correct. I got an A+.

Yes. Gold stars. Thanks. Um, does that answer your question? Thank you. Uh, any additional questions? Seeing none, I move for passage. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Akara Green Remy Ross Weiss President Harden passed. That's all for me this evening. Thank you. Thank you madam chair. Uh next committee come for council is the neighborhoods recreation and parks committee. That committee is chaired by council member Deakar. Council member the floor is yours.

Thank you council president. Uh, tonight I have ordinance 1066-2026 to authorize the director of recreational parks department to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the regional council of governments for the central Ohio area agency on aging to authorize a transfer of cash between objects within the recreation and parks grant fund to authorize the appropriation expenditure of 3,776,86844 from the recreational parks grant. grant fund and to declare an emergency. This ordinance authorizes the third and final intergovernmental agreement with the new COA regional council of governments referred to as the COG. As with previous transfers, these dollars are not general revenue dollars. They are passed through grant dollars from the state that a city previously held on behalf of COA when it operated as a division of city government. This ordinance will officially close out and finalize the city- held COA grant accounts for the new independent COG. These dollars will allow the COG to continue new operations for 2026 and thus prevent any delay in meeting obligations made as part of the transition out of city government. Emergency action is requested to allow the funding transfer to be completed as soon as possible in order to continue senior services uninterrupted. Are there any questions or comments from my colleagues? Seeing none, then I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role. Bangston, Barrosa, De Padilla, de Akara, Green, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden, passed. Thank you. That's all for me this evening. Thank you, Madam Chair. The next committee, you have um extra. Yeah. Go back to page 11. Go back to page 11. Is she tableabling it? Yes, you're referring to committee. Oh, referring to committing to committee. Okay. So, go to page 11 ordinance 1126.

Um, 28-206 authorize the director of the department neighborhoods to extend an existing service contract with the Don Lee Tyler Lee DBA for street consulting through August 31st, 2026. and to um declare an emergency. Um I'd like to request that this be um removed from the Senate calendar and referred to committee Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Akara Green Remy Ross Weiss President Harden. Okay, that's it. The next committee to come before council is the public safety and criminal justice committee chair by counci council. The floor is yours.

Thank you council president. Tonight in public safety and criminal justice, we have one ordinance for second read, and that is 860 2026 to authorize and direct the director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and expend funds for use of the Franklin County Correction Centers for the housing of City of Columbus prisoners to authorize the expenditure of $2 million from the general fund and to declare an emergency. So, before we take a vote, I do want to make some a few clarifying comments about this legislation. Two weeks ago, I moved to refer this ordinance back to committee. I did that because members of this council and members of our community had questions about policies at the Franklin County Correctional Facilities involving notification to federal immigration authorities. I want to be clear about what that pause was and what it was not. It was not a refusal to honor an obligation. It was not an attempt to interfere with the sheriff's day-to-day operation of his facilities. It was responsible oversight. This council does not move forward when there are unanswered questions that affect public trust. We pause, we ask, and then we act. Since then, there has been meaningful dialogue with the county and with Sheriff Baldman's office. I appreciate the sheriff sharing that the policy in question is under legal review with the county prosecutor's office and I look forward to the outcome being communicated clearly to the public. Comprehensive change does not happen overnight, but this council has been clear where we stand on public safety policies involving ICE. We passed a comprehensive package reflecting those values and we will continue to push for policies that are both safe and fair. The sheriff's indication that this policy remains under review along with this council clearly reiterating its expectations is why I'm prepared to move

forward with a vote tonight. I also want to be clear about something broader. Public safety and community trust are not competing priorities. They are connected. When residents are afraid to report crimes, cooperate with investigations, or engage with local systems because of where they were born, that is a public safety issue. As it relates to invoice timing and payment processing that is a separate administrative matter from the policy concerns that prompted the pause, council authorizes funding. Council does not process invoices or issue checks. Any administrative issues around payment should be resolved by the city administration in the county. Tonight, our responsibility is to ensure the city has the authority in place to meet its obligations and keep public safety operations stable. The sheriff and the county have responsibilities that are distinct from ours. They operate the facilities and make decisions within their legal authority. Our role is to authorize public dollars, ask questions on behalf of residents, and ensure our public safety obligations are carried out in a way that reflects our values. That is the balance tonight. We can approve approve this contract, maintain public safety, and continue in continue insisting on answers. This vote does not end the conversation. It allows the city to function while that conversation continues. I stand by the pops. It created space for questions, for dialogue, and for council to do the work residents expect of us. For those reasons, I'm bringing forward this legislation tonight. I will pass the floor over to my colleagues and I see council member Bario.

Council member, can you and maybe this is also a question for the city attorney's office. Can you just give more insight into what this money is for and how this is accounted for and what all of why we give it and what our contractual obligation is? Go ahead.

Thank you, council member. Um, so the city of Columbus has had a long-standing contract with Franklin County Sheriff's Office to operate a communitywide jail for a municipal jail um for also housing of of individuals who have been charged with felony level offenses as well. Under the Ohio Revised Code, because we have city ordinances that carry the possibility and potential for jail time, a municipality is obligated to provide services for housing those inmates during a period of time where they are incarcerated, either pending trial or because they've been sentenced to jail on those misdemeanor crimes. As you know, we have a Columbus City Codes. We do have a number of criminal violations under those codes, and we do have individuals who are charged and convicted under Columbus City codes. So under the Ohio Revised Code, we are obligated to provide services so those individuals can be detained. In uh City of Columbus, we do not have our own municipal jail. Um instead, the decision was made many, many decades ago that we would instead have a local county jail. And under the Ohio Revised Code, county jails are run by the sheriff's department. So we have a contract with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. that contract, the most recent iteration of it is at least back to 94 or 95. Um, and we've had a number of addendums since then that deal mostly with the rate that we charge. It's a per inmate rate based upon the number of days, number of inmates who are being held on primarily city of Columbus charges. uh we executed that contract and that contract does have a termination clause, but that termination clause because it is of course a service that both we rely upon and the sheriff's office relies upon, it's a three-year termination clause, 36 months, we would have to give them notice if we decided we didn't want to use their services anymore. We would then also need to provide for alternative means for housing those individuals um when they're being held on city cases. So, the ordinance that's before the council tonight is for a payment of services that have already

been rendered by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office that we are contractually obligated to pay them um pursuant to the terms of that contract. And I have two other questions, follow-up questions. So, can they at any time terminate the contract? Yes, it's a mutual termination clause and for each party it's 36 months or three years. Got it. And then um I just also understanding when the the sheriff had made a comment in the media around if if it wasn't paid by a certain day that essentially they might move inmates to another jail or to another facility. That is within the contract for them to be able to do or

the contract doesn't specifically discuss what their remedies might be in the event of breach. Um those are things that they would then discuss with the county prosecutor's office what remedies they might have in the event that we owe funds that we are refusing to pay. Um I mean at that point it would at that point I would be advising you as your attorney as to what our response might be. Sure.

I just I I'm I'm asking because this since this was in the dispatch and it was quoted in the dispatch and we've gotten questions. I want to make sure that the public also understands and advocates also understand what we are contracted to do and then you know when the sheriff is giving us a specific response what what that then means and we have a venue here. I mean, I think what is disappointing to me, and I had a conversation with the chair about this, is that part of the reason that we referred this back to committee was so that we could have the sheriff who could be here and we could have questions because I think um first of all, I mean, this is already for services rendered. I think one of the concerns that I have especially is that knowing that there are other counties that deal especially with ICE differently, my concern is that we could be causing more harm than not by sending them to Franklin County um just because we know that the severity of how some of our folks who are detained or how they work with ICE is is even different. Um I appreciate that, you know, the sheriff said they were looking into things. That's also the response they gave us months ago and still had not gotten back to us around a conversation we had with them. And I think it's just frustrating to say it's continued to be under review. Something could be under review for two years, for three years, whatever. That doesn't tell me if you're still reviewing it doesn't tell me what the outcome is. And so I think that's frustrating for me. I think in this particular I was very conflicted in this particular vote just because um you know I think it's going to cause more harm than it is good. I don't think it's going to get to what we want. But what I will say is I know we have a number of advocates that are here and what I would say is that I appreciate you continuing continuously coming down here but I would say that this is a county issue and the same sort of advocacy should go to the county commissioners. the same sort of advocacy should go to the sheriff's office

because they are duly elected. They are elected separately and this is under their jurisdiction. So we can try with our we can put it together all of our policies. We can have conversations with all of our partners. We can put pressure on them to do good, but it is always but for the people that change happens. And so I think this is a place where you can continue to voice those concerns. But I also implore folks to take that advocacy there because they're directly they can make those decisions in a way that we cannot. And so I just wanted to because we have already rendered these services. This is why tonight I'm a yes vote because it's difficult to say no to give them something and we're going to cause this issue and I'm concerned about our people and where they go. Um but I again we have the dispatch here. We are on TV. I the same questions that we had however many months ago that was since September of last year are still the same questions. I mean this has been under review for many many months. At some point I would like some sort of outcome to come out of it because we can be reviewing things forever.

I have a question. Vice Chair Ross um to the city attorney's office. You mentioned that we don't necessarily have specific terms as to breach of contract and what that means if we were not to pay the $2 million that are owed for services already rendered. Um that that is correct. There's not a specific provision within the contract for what the remedy would be in the event that there is breach. So you would then go to um the general common law breach of contract and consideration that imagine and again it's probably inappropriate to speculate on what all that would be here in a in a public forum um but there's not a specific uh remedy within the contract.

Okay. I I wonder if that's a conversation that we could have so that we have a little bit more clarity on what our contractual obligations are with the county particularly for this so that when we are receiving letters that threaten to do a thing we understand what our response can be um particularly when we are trying to support our residents here. So I would ask that of the city attorney's office if we could work together um to figure that out. I think that would be a healthy a very healthy exercise because the proposition that you are going to let violent offenders out on the street because you are refusing to have a conversation about how we are helping our residents is quite crazy. Um uh so I obviously the to no fault of the city attorney's office at all, but I do want to um at least have this conversation.

That's not in the interest of the public. Like that is it. It's it's it's a bananas threat. Like I I don't even have the words. I cannot properly articulate myself to how outrageous of a comment that even is. I'm sorry. Totally agree.

Okay, Council Member Green. I I also just want to clarify and I think what is so frustrating about this experience has been like I can't tell you how many phone calls like the ring around the rosie just in the last week that I've had to have to try to piece together like what is actually happening here and then it's just today you know we're talking about how like this is already services rendered but then I spoke with the sheriff personally and then was conf confirmed by the department of public safety that actually what we're talking about is the month of March and then the rest of the So, it's not like we owe them $2 million for services that have already been rendered. $2 million worth of services. Correct me if I'm wrong. We're what we're talking about is the month of March and every other invoice has been paid per the sheriff's office conversation I had today. So it just is I think like it's frustrating trying to to piece together information and hearing different things from different people as we're also in the midst of trying to understand you know and and from my standpoint I I just had a very simple question of what are the policies why are the policies how are the policies being implemented and and then that has sort of led to this I I have a couple of other questions too unrelated to that but if you want to respond to that statement I was Just going to say I think very simply and I want to be very open about this. The question at hand is what is the legal policy not what is there is a current policy that you choose to enforce and there's what you can legally do and that is the question that we have asked that we have not gotten clarity on.

Yes. And I think that that is a very simple question that I'm not sure took has taken like six months of review.

I Yes. And Laura and I had conversations. So, it's my understanding based on looking at the contract today that that you and thank you for sending that over um that this current contract would expire at the end of this year that because they're three-year terms. So, this is the third year of that 2026 contract year. And so, that gives us I think in my mind or what you and I discussed, eight months to really like review the policy and prepare for, you know, any potential changes or additions. and we could, it sounds like based on my conversation with the sheriff's office that they're, you know, open to those reviews. I know that's what they told us in September as well. Um, and so my expectation is we can do that together or not. Hopefully together. Um, I do have a couple of questions though for the department or maybe for the finance department. Um, on page 130 of our budget document, it says in this budget document, jail contract expenses are budgeted at $1 million in 2026. We are, of course, appropriating $2 million today for 2026. Um, any C can you provide some clarification into that discrepancy?

Yeah, it's our understanding it was a typo. We looked into it. Uh it was supposed to be 2 million. It's my understanding that when it was brought before the council, it was addressed in talking points and we confirmed with finance and management that it's 2 million. That's what was budgeted.

Okay. Um I know also I think um you know we had a lot of conversations during the budget process just generally about the public safety budget about um concerns related to that um especially related to overtime. So I have you know I' I've asked for some feedback. I know your department sent over some information earlier um that that I need some need someone else smarter than me to help me make sense of just to confirm that I'm doing my math right on that. Um however, I thought this would be a good opportunity to also talk about, you know, during the budget process related to public safety's budget, police and fire overtime was the number one thing that was driving up um a lot of unexpected costs. And so con with consideration to this when I found this I was like oh we're underbudgeted by a million dollars about to appropriate a million dollars it reminded me of that conversation we had with director long about uh where he said that it was a very optimistic uh estimate for police and overtime. Can you now that we're a full quarter in um provide any sense of an update on whether or not we're hitting those optimistic numbers?

I'll have to get back with you. I didn't come with that information, but we're happy to give that information to your office. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments by my colleagues? Okay. We do have two speakers tonight on this particular ordinance. And uh the first one is Mr. Isaiah St. John. Mr. St. John, welcome back to council. Um or is that You have three minutes. Please state your name and any organization that you may represent.

Yeah, I have uh my name is Isaiah St. John. Uh, and I speak today as an organizer of KOMO Icew Watch, as a participant in the 614 Icew Watch Network, and as a resident council member Remy of the district you represent. Uh, I have some written remarks, but first of all, eight months, Council Member Green, you're going to wait eight months before you do anything to change this. How many people are going to get delivered up into ISIS concentration camps in eight months? about 160 people. What are you gonna tell their families? It's not our policies.

It is your policy. And this is a city issue. These are city prisoners being arrested, being taken off the streets by Columbus police and delivered into a jail contracted by this city council. As you know, our community continues to be under siege by President Donald Trump's white nationalist secret police. This body has made noises and taken largely symbolic action against this assault. But on issues of substance, like the city's flock cameras that allow ICE to stalk us and our neighbors, like this racist conveyor belt from the back of Columbus police patrol cars to filthy, overcrowded ICE prisons. This body is MIA. I will say that so-called comprehensive package you all passed a while back was better than nothing, but on the ground it changed nothing. Council member Remy, addressing Sheriff Baldwin's cooperation with ICE, you told the dispatch Thursday, quote, I have greater clarity and confidence about how these concerns are being addressed. End quote. I'm glad you have the peace of mind, council member Remy, but do you mind sharing why you're so blasé with the rest of us? How are these concerns being addressed? I'll be honest. From where I stand, it appears we have another example of what happens when you all don't need to earn votes from your districts. Council member Ross didn't even pretend to have an iod of regret as she voted last week to take the only green space in Columbus's poorest neighborhood from the children in her district and give it to out of town billionaires. Why would she? As an atlarge council member, she's accountable to money, not her neighbors. That's why this our city our say amendment is urgently needed. Council member Remy, your constituents are hurting.

One Latino business owner in your district told me 25% of his employees have been abducted or have had a family member abducted by ICE since December. In that same time frame, one Northland strip mall has been the site of five separate abductions. Businesses are faltering in your district as their customers are afraid to visit commercial districts that have become ice hunting grounds. We are hurting. We need a champion. We need a fighter. We need someone who will face stiff opposition headon and persist. Council member Reie, you were that warrior for the Hasslams. Be that warrior for us. Let's take a step back. Right now, at the time of release, Columbus prisoners are sorted into two groups based on the language they speak and their place of birth. And one group goes home, and the other group is disappeared into concentration camps. And everyone in this equation is a Democrat. nine Democratic members of council, a Democratic mayor, three Democratic county commissioners, and a Democratic sheriff. You are politicians. You are dealmakers. You are negotiators. If you do not end this unjust practice, it is not because you cannot. It is because you do not want to.

Thank you for your testimony, Mr. St. John.

Isa Isaiah. Isaiah Isaiah. Hi. Can you come back for just a second? Um, first of all, I want to thank you for Welcome back to council. I want to thank you for your testimony. I know you came the first time this was around. Um, and I appreciate all of the work that IceWatch does. I would also I'd be happy to meet with you if there's additional things that we can be doing. We've been working to try to do everything which within our jurisdiction to continue to put pressure. First of all, the ICE package was everything that we felt like we modeled it after other cities. We modeled it after what we knew we could do which was within our purview first. And then second of all, I think that the other work that we've done, you know, working helping to put pressure together with our other partners, the common police court, the municipal court, etc. I would I would welcome, it doesn't have to be right now, but I would welcome a conversation where we can talk if there's additional ideas, additional thoughts, additional things that you think that we're not doing that we could be doing, and let's have that conversation. So, I appreciate you coming down here today. I appreciate your continued advocacy. I feel that we have been working on this long before. Um we've had this increase from ICE and so I appreciate uh any sort of conversation or any sort of dialogue that we can continue to have together.

Please vote no then. Thank you.

All right. Next speaker is Miss Ricky Asher. Welcome to council. Please state your name and any organization that you may represent. And you have three minutes. I appreciate your call outs. Um, I also applaud your mental gymnastics and ability to pass the ball of blame and then vote in favor of something you are claiming to be critical of and skeptical of. Uh, my name is Ricky. I was born and raised in Columbus. My friends and family are dedicated and educated voters. There is no new information I can offer when it comes to how the Franklin County Sheriff's Department directly hands off undocumented people in Columbus, Ohio to the Department of Homeland Security when they are detained where they are detained and trafficked to a prison that operates as an ICE detention facility. Something as simple as a foyer request can tell you that. So I am merely here to be a voice for my community, my family and friends who hold systemic privilege and who vehemently denounce this procedure even though that community primarily consists of people who know that they don't personally have to worry about a militarized government sanctioned kidnapping organization for now. We are not dumb. We completely and fully understand the implications of a procedure like this, a system of human trafficking. And we understand that an injustice to anyone in the city of Columbus is a direct injustice to us as well. As a council, as political figures in this growing city, you are each very

exposed. Your social medias of progressivism don't distract us from issues like this, from issues like divesting from Israel, which this council continues to fail miserably at. All of this said, the absolute bare minimum bottom of the barrel service you can do to protect the actual lives of your constituents is to block money to the Franklin County Sheriff's Department until this human trafficking procedure has been discontinued. And thank you for letting me speak today. Thank you for Thank you for your testimony. Um, are there any other comments before I call for a vote? With that, I move for passage by voice.

Cler, please call the role by voice. Bankston, yes. Barrosa de Padilla, no. De Aar. Who's that? I'm sorry. I didn't hear Deaka. I'm sorry. Uh Green, yes. Remy, yes. Ross, President Harden, yes. Ordinance is passed. And that is all I have in criminal justice and public safety and criminal justice this evening. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The next committee come before council is the housing, homelessness, and building committee chaired by council member Ross. Council member floor is yours.

Thank you, council president. Just one ordinance on second read from the housing homelessness and building committee. It is uh ordinance number 1051-2026 to authorize the director of the department of development to enter into a grant agreement with legal aid of southeast and central Ohio in an amount up to $ 1.5 million to enable the legal aid of southeast and central Ohio to be designated to be the designated organization as defined in the Columbus city codes and to make available free full legal representation to unrepresented tenants facing eviction from their homes at Franklin County Municipal Court to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $ 1.5 million, to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order beginning March 1st, 2026, and to declare an emergency. This is the fourth piece of legislation in a package of legislation amounting to approximately $2.8 8 million to support the work of the Division of Housing Stability, including $90,000 toward vacated tenant services, $300,000 toward mediation services in eviction court, and $965,250 toward res the resilient housing initiative. Evictions are at the highest in the past 20 years. In Franklin County, eviction filings hit a record of 25,000 last year, with this year's total on pace to reach a similar level. According to the Ohio Finance Agency, over 1.2 million Ohioans, which is 11%, live in a household spending at least half of its income on housing, putting them at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure or eviction. This includes over 496,000 people living in households that are severely mortgage burdened and over 761,000 Ohio's living Ohioans living in severely rent burdened households. I am certainly encouraged by the continued growth and expansion of the resilient housing initiative and other vital nonprofit partners to administer these services. This expansion will better position the city to meet the increasing needs of

individuals experiencing crisis while ensuring services are delivered effectively and with dignity. Uh as chair of this committee, it is my responsibility to advocate for our residents, highlight the progress being made, and maintain transparency regarding both existing gaps and ongoing processes. I look forward to the meaningful work that will continue to emerge from this committee and thank the department of development for your work in ensuring that we have enough resources to support folks in the prevention and diversion of homelessness in our community. Do I have any comments from my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for passage. Second. Please call

Bankston Barrosa Deadia de Akara Green Reie Ross W. President Harden. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Final committee coming for council is the public utilities and sustainability committee chair by council member W. Council Glor.

Thank you, council president. Uh tonight in public utilities and sustainability, I have ordinance 996-2026 to authorize the director of the department of public utilities to enter into a plan renewal and modification with Ohio Mulch Supply Incorporated and Quaazar Energy Group LLC, North Tree Farm for the Deep Row Hybrid Popppler Tree Farm number two program to authorize the expenditure of 3,200,000 from the sanitary sewer operating fund. Uh, this ordinance enables the division of water reclamation to properly dispose of bioolids produced at the Jackson Pike Southerntherly wastewater treatment plants in accordance with the city's commitment to 100% beneficial reuse of its bioolids. These bioolids will be disposed of via an Ohio EPA approved hybrid popler tree farm and other rapid growth tree farm. If only all of our ordinances were tree farm tree related, we'd be in a much better circumstance. Um, but let me stop there. Receive any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role. Bankston Baradia de Akara Green, Remy, Ross, Swiss, President Harden. Pass. Thank you, Council President. That's all I have this evening. Thank you, Mr. Chair. See no further business come before council. Is there a motion to adjourn? Clston Bar de Akara Green Remy Ros President Harden. We have two non-aggenda speak.