City Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. Hello. Wow. Hello. Wow. Down. Wow.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Black. Yeah. Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey.

Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey.

Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here.

number 25 will now come to order. Please stand for the playing of the national anthem. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. First of all, would you lead us in the pledge?

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This evening, council is grateful to have minister Jordan uh Peaks of Garden City Church here to pray with us. Jordan, welcome back to council. Praise the Lord, everybody.

Matthew 6:33 says, "To seek first the kingdom of God, and all of his righteousness, and all of these things shall be added unto us." And so, God, I just thank you for this day. God, I thank you for waking us up in our right minds and for choosing to renew right spirits within us. God, I thank you for every individual under the sound of my voice. For every bloodline, every storyline, every testimony that's represented here in this room. I pray, Lord God, that these leaders would truly be those who seek your face above every other thing, Lord. And that they would truly lead from the posture of intimacy and overflow with you. I pray specifically on this day, Lord God, that this meeting would go well. I pray Lord God that your grace would abound here, that your mercy would abound here in the name of Jesus. I pray Lord God that your peace would permeate God the streets of Columbus. And I pray Lord God that as these leaders continue to lead this city well that they would look to you Jesus for all wisdom, all strategy, all guidance in the name of Jesus. I pray Lord God that it would be their joy to serve your people. That it would be their joy to serve you. And I just pray, Holy Spirit, that you would allow a a boldness to come about these leaders. Lord God, I pray for President Harden, God, and all of their team. That you would guard their hearts and their minds. That you would allow it to truly be their delight to serve. And I thank you, Lord Jesus, that beyond any title that they hold or anything that you do, that they would first be sons and daughters of the one true living God. And so Jesus, we just thank you not just for what you've done or what you will do, but here on this Monday evening, we just take a moment to say, Jesus, we thank you for who you are. We thank you that you're patient, that you're kind, that you're loving toward us, that you're gracious, and that you're merciful. And we just pray, Jesus, have your way in this meeting. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, pastor. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston, Bar Roa, De Padilla, Dors, Remy, Ross, Weiss, 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 231.21. Can I get a motion to dispense with the reading of the journal? Clerk, please call the row. Thanks. Timber Rosa Deadia Dorne, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden.

There is one correction to the May 11th journal referenced by the city clerk. Zoning ordinances 0290-2026, Ordinance 0291-2026, Ordinance 1035-2026, and Ordinance 1036-20 2026 inadvertently appeared as first read items on the May 11, 20206 agenda. However, they had a first reading on April 20th, 2020 2026. If there are no other additions or corrections to the journal, the journal is approved. This week's communication received by the city clerk's office are listed on the agenda and will be published in city bulletin. Are there any other communications related to the record? Not at this time.

We'll go around the dis for uh resolutions and updates from my colleagues starting with council bankster. Council member Rosa de Padilla.

Thank you council president. Um so first I would like to start off by saying happy bike month everyone. I want to thank folks who took the opportunity last week to bike to work. Um, and this is first of all, every month should be bike month, but especially this month, we encourage residents to get out, to get on our biking trails, to get in our protected bike lanes with your friends, with your family, bike to that restaurant, bike to work, bike to all the places that you enjoy going. But this month is really a celebration about all things biking. So, happy bike month, everyone. Um, I also wanted to uh give a friendly reminder to everyone that our street parking changes have gone into effect this month. This May, they went into effect. Hopefully, you didn't notice cuz hopefully you did not get a ticket. But, um, I just want to emphasize some of the changes that folks will see. So, uh, we are introducing a tiered payment plan. While some ticket fees are increasing, residents who make their payments within the first seven days of receiving the ticket will receive a $20 discount. So, if you don't put it just in your purse or in your glove compartment, make sure you pay for it and you're going to pay a little bit less than what the rate is. Among the other changes, we're also introducing safety and mobility focus violations. So, if you park in a bike lane, and I see you friends on Broad Street that I travel every day, um if you park in a bike lane or a bus lane, you will be fined a ticket and it can cost up to $100 if it's not paid within 30 days. And so, this is also just another mark of making sure that the mobility tools that we have in the street like bike lanes, like bus lanes are kept for those purposes. Um, we hope that this new policy will continue ensuring the safety on our streets and ensuring fair access to on street parking. We want to make sure that there's high turnover in high demand areas and commercial corridors so

people can get to where they need to go. So with that, director, is there a specific place that folks can go to if they wanted to see what the different parking changes are? Is that on our website?

You caught me off guard. I know. Sorry. But I'm I was gone a week and I'm a little rusty. Uh good evening, President Harden, uh Chair Bura, Deputy, members of council. It is on the website. And um I do not have that right now. No, that's okay. If folks are interested, if you want to see what those differences are, we had a public hearing about it, so folks can always go to YouTube, but you can also check out the city's website to see those uh changes. But if everybody downloads the park mobile app, then you can ensure because it will tell you exactly where you're parking and it'll give you reminders so that you don't get those parking tickets. So, happy parking everyone and happy bike month. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Preso Tim. Council member Remy.

Thank you very much, Council President. I did want to take a moment to recognize that today marks the beginning of National EMS Week, Emergency Medical Services Week. Throughout this week, let us take the time to think about the men and women across this nation, especially right here in Columbus, who are often the very first to arrive when someone's experiencing an emergency or needs help most. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, our EMS professionals show up ready to serve our residents with skill, compassion, and professionalism. Our city would not function without them and our community is safer because of the their dedication and sacrifice. We will be formally recognizing our EMS personnel later this week and I look forward to sharing more about that rec recognition on social media. Council member Ros, I'm done. Thank you,

Council Member W.

Thank you, Council President. Just a quick reminder that this Wednesday, May 20th, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., we'll be at the Glenwood Community Center for our next Wednesdays with White office hours. Obviously, RSVPs are encouraged, but walkins are also welcome to RSVP. Please visit bit.ly/w Wednesdays with WC or email my a Chelsea Goldzman at cglt r m- ancus.gov. Um, hope to see everyone there. That's it for me. Thank you, council member. Um, my only uh announcement is uh next week we do not have council because uh as we observe Memorial Day, but the following Monday uh June 1st, we will host our annual Pride illumination and Steven Shullberger award ceremony uh outside of city council at 7:45 p.m. So, we encourage and invite all the community to come and participate. Uh looking to my right, I also want to uh recognize and welcome our new auditor. I think it's her first time sitting uh here. Welcome uh Auditor uh Lewis. Welcome to council. Um are there any other comments from elected officials, from the city attorney's office, from the treasur's office? Are there any requests by members of council for the removal of any ordinance uh on or resolution or consent action tonight? Hearing none may we now have a motion to wave the reading of titles of 30 legislation.

So move second. Clerk, please call the role. Thanks. Temposa de Podia Dorren Remy Ross Weiss President Harden.

Thank you. Will the clerk now read to the record the ordinance number on 38 legislation tonight for first reading. In Finance and Governance Committee, we have resolution 127X-2026, ordinances 867 and 1379-2026. Economic Development and Small and Minority Business Committee Ordinance 1306-2026. Workforce Education and Labor Committee Ordinance 1228, 1229 and 1230-2026. Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee ordinances 1146 and 1329-2026. Housing, Homeless Assist, and Building Committee, Ordinance 1383-2026. Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee, Ordinance 813, 1138, 1184, 1212, 1296, 1318, 1319, 1320, 1324, 1328, 1342, 1355, 1360, and 1362-2026.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. We don't have any speakers on the first reading portion of the agenda. The following ordinance be on our agenda as consent. Will the clerk now read those into the record?

In finance and governance committee, we have ordinance 946, 1218, 1281, 1358, and 1388-2026, economic development and small and minority business committee. We have resolution 122X-2026, ordinances 999, 1179, 1236, 1273, 1413, and 1432-2026. Neighborhoods, Recreation, and Parks Committee. We have ordinance 666, 1068, 1069, 1074, 1076, 1077, 1083, 1092, and 1180-2026. Workforce Education and Labor Committee Ordinance 1309 and 1376-2026. Health, Human Services, and Equity Committee Ordinance 1226- I'm Yeah, 1226-2026. Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee Ordinance 267 and 1307-2026. Housing, Homeless Assist, and Building Committee Ordinance 1012, 12 1298, 1303, 1321, 1341, 1344, 1363, 1364, and 1370-2026. Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Ordinance 1025, 1125, 1149, 1222, 1240, 1247, 1256, 1278, 1322, and 1359-2026. and rules and policy committee. We have appointments A89, A91, A92, A93, A94, A95, A96, A97, A98, A99, A100, A101, A102, A103, A104, A105, A106, A107, A108, and A109-2026.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Again, we have no speakers on the consent portion of the agenda. Are there any questions or concerns from my colleagues on consent agenda? Hearing none. May I have a motion of approval of these items? So moved. Second. Cler, please call the role. Thanks, Debor Rosa, Deodia, Dorren, Remy, Ross, Wish, President Harden. The consent portion of our agenda is passed. We'll now proceed with the second reading of 30-day postponed in emergency legislation. The first committee to come for council is the finance and governance committee. That committee is chaired by council member Bangston. Council member, the report is yours.

Uh thank you, council president. Uh tonight in the finance and governance committee uh first we have ordinance 0881-2026 to authorize the director department of technology to enter into a contract with crash soft technology corp for VMware techn technical account manager uh services software licensing to wave the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City codes and to authorize the expenditure of $18,21918 from the department of technology information services division information services operating fund. This ordinance authorizes a contract with crash soft technology corp for services so for services software licensing to support city use of various VMwarebased platforms such as workspace 1 VMware hypervisor and NSX-T VMware software is the core component that is needed to operate virtual servers that run critical applications for the city such as Excella the Columbus utility building system and 311 just to name a few. The city receives special pricing with Crashoft via the Ohio Academic Resource Network. Uh so a waiver of competitive bid is requested to access that uh more competitive pricing. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for passage.

Banks Barrosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Thank you. Council President Manu uh to the uh economic development and small minority business committee.

Thank you. Uh we have in the uh economic development small minority business committee. First up is resolution 0121x-20226 to determine that the written uh consent providing for the addition of certain properties of the confluence community authorities new community district and its owned or controlled by the city of Columbus, Ohio insufficient and complies with the requirements of chapter 349 of the Ohio Revised Co. to set the time and place for a public hearing on such consent and to authorize the notice notices of such public hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation for three consecutive weeks a or as provided in Ohio Revised Code sections 7.16. As a recap, this resolution confirms receipt of a written notice from the de from our department of development that allows the scheduling and public notice of a department of development held hearing to discuss the addition of NWSL deal parcels into the confluence community authority district. The administrative step was originally approved by the body via ordinance 1112-2026 and is an Ohio revised code requirement since council serves as an organizational board of commissioners for the uh fluence community authority. This resolution does not transfer the parcels into the community authority. It does not change the ownership of the parcels and it does not legislate new deal terms. Also, as was outlined last week, no occupied residential parcels are included in the proposal. At the request of the McCoy Park Working Group, tonight, council will move to amend this resolution to remove parcels to the north of the project site owned by formerly owned by the Yonan family. with us tonight to speak on the progress of

the work group and the legislation timeline for the deal. We have uh our chief of staff for the mayor Elon Sims who is here with us um who will give us just a really update on I think where we are today progress of the uh work group and to also maybe answer any additional uh questions that my colleagues may have. We do have one speaker on this as well and we'll invite that speaker up after Chief Sims. Chief Well, good afternoon, Council President Harden, Chair Benson, and members of council. Good to see you all uh this afternoon. So, more than a year ago, Mayor Gther announced his ambition for Columbus to become the nation's capital for girls and women's sports. Not just for the opportunity to gain national attention, but because sports helped teach perseverance, teamwork, leadership, and competence. Those are skills that shape young people well beyond the field of play. and into school, business, community life. And as a former D1 athlete myself, I can attest to that. That broader vision has included our successful effort to secure a National Women's Soccer League team for Columbus, an opportunity that will have both economic and community impact for our city. I'm here to provide an update on the on the work following council's approval of ordinance 1112-2026 on April 20th. That ordinance authorized the city to move forward with a development agreement framework for the proposed NWSL facilities project including a training facility on the city-owned land and involving McCoy Park and adjacent city-owned parcels. Importantly, the ordinance also established several additional steps related to expanded recreation opportunities, additional parkland evaluation, and continued public engagement in Southwest Columbus. This project represents a significant opportunity for our city and it also carries significant responsibilities for

to residents across Columbus to neighbors in southwest Columbus to the region or to excuse me to the original vision connected to McCoy Park and to the public process that is now underway. Mayor Gther has been clear with our team. Our responsibilities to the southwest community must be taken seriously, communicated clearly and follow through fully. I also want to address something directly tonight. We understand that some residents have been frustrated by this process and have questions about the future of recreation investments connected to McCoy Park. We hear those concerns and we understand why residents are asking those difficult questions. This is why the administration is approaching this work with structure, accountability, and continued public engagement. I also want to acknowledge Liz Reed and other community members who have been engaged throughout this entire process. While there may be have while there may have been different perspectives on certain components of this project, there's also been a shared understanding that what we must continue to do is working towards solutions that serve both current residents and the future generations of here in Columbus. So tonight, I want to provide an update on the working group established through the ordinance approved by council in April. This group has now been meeting for several weeks and includes discussions focused on design concepts, site opportunities, construction timelines, funding strategies, and expanded recreation opportunities tied to Southwest Columbus. This group's work is focused on ensuring that therapeutic recreation, adaptive sports programming, and broader park access opportunities remain central to the path forward. These conversations remain active and ongoing. As many are aware, potential site opportunities under review have already been discussed publicly through media reporting. Those concepts are expected to be formally evaluated and incorporated into the work group's final report and recommendations. A draft outline for that report has already been developed and the work

group will continue working towards completion of the report within a timeline established by council. It's important to emphasize that no final decisions have been made at this point regarding the future park investments or recreation opportunities connected to this process. The group's charge is to continue evaluating options that can support recreation, park access, and therapeutic programming for residents on the southwest side. I also want to clarify an important point that has generated questions about the about the within the community. This ordinance approved by council and able to not finalize uh but yet outline future components of this project. There are still multiple legislative actions, public hearings, funding considerations, and agreement approvals that remain ahead in this process. These steps matter because they create continued opportunities for both public input, oversight, approval, and accountability as this work moves forward. I also want to address an important question regarding the purpose of the amended legislation being voted on tonight. The administration proposed this amendment to allow the city to move forward on parallel paths. One track on one track, it allows the city to meet necessary timelines associated with beginning site work for the training facility. On a second path, it allows important conversations regarding the northern McCoy uh parcels, future recreation investments, and broader community uh priorities in Southwest Columbus to continue moving forward in a thoughtful and deliberate way. From our perspective, this approach allows us to remain solution focused while continuing meaningful engagement with residents, council, and stakeholders regarding the long-term vision for this area. At the same time, we recognize that residents want to see more than a process. They want to see follow-through. And that is why this work is being approached with an expectation that it results in tangible recreation investments, expanded opportunities, and meaningful long-term benefit for Southwest Columbus residents. As well as these

conversations continue, it is also important that we do not reduce this discussion to simply a conversation about acreage. This must also be about a conversation about access. access to recreation, access to therapeutic programming, access to amenities, and greater access for all these things for households across Southwest Columbus and the entire city of Columbus. Part of the work ahead is ensuring that recreation activities are not concentrated in just one location alone, but that families across southwest side have a meaningful opportunities to connect multiple uh quality parks, programming, and amenities closer to where they live. This work is active and moving forward. Consistent with Mayor Gunther's commitment to open dialogue and continued engagement with residents, the mayor remains engaged in this process and we continue to the importance of delivering a real and meaningful path forward for the people of Southwest Columbus and the community at large. We intend to provide additional public updates as this work advances in alignment with legislative steps ahead. And you see those on the screen here. Tonight, council will hear the second reading of resolution 0121X2026. This resolution establishes a date and time for public hearing required by the Ohio Revised Code and authorizes notice process related to adding the identified property to the Confluence Community Authority District. The hearing is set for 4:30 p.m. on June 24th at the Michael B. Kman Center parking garage conference room. The administration is also drafting legislation related to administration fee increase outlined in ordinance 1112 2026 and we anticipate bringing that legislation to council in June. In addition, the city's capital funding contribution will require separate legislation. We anticipate bringing that ordinance forward following council summer recess allowing intentional time for the work group to complete its task in a thorough and responsible way. At the same time, the administration continues to work on

agreements authorized through ordinance 11126, including the development, lease, and contribution agreements. We are also continuing conversations with the Yncan family regarding the naming of and use commitments connected to the city's prior acquisition of those parcels, including commitments associated with therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports programming. Dr. Stevens and I and reps from the ownership group uh met on just last Friday, excuse me, and those discussions remain positive and and ongoing. In closing, the commitments we made uh matter. They have not been forgotten, and we understand that residents will ultimately measure this process not by statements, but but by followrough. So, my message is straightforward. This work must continue moving forward with purpose, structure, accountability, and continue public engagement because residents believe and deserve nothing less. We understand that people hold strong views about this project, and we respect those perspectives. We also understand that projects of this scale require steady and direct communication. That's what the mayor expects, that's what residents expects, and that's how this administration intends to proceed moving forward. We will continue working with each of you all uh the residents and community stakeholders to move this process forward responsibly, transparently, and thoughtfully. With that, myself and Director Stevens are happy to answer any questions that you all have.

Uh thank you, uh Chief Sims. Are there any questions from my colleagues? Uh Council Member Broady. So, um Chief Sims, first of all, thank you for that and thank you for the thoroughess of walking us through. Um, can you talk just a little bit more about that that parcel that we're removing and why, just in case there are folks who might be tuning in, might not have followed along or understand what the intention of the use of that land is and what might the intention be moving forward.

Yeah, I'll jump in here and director Stevens, I'll have you jump in as well. you know, as we've been having conversations with the work group, uh part of our the charge from this council has really to been worked to identify uh southwest park opportunities and and knowing that um that that northern part of the property is something that was part of our consideration, we wanted to make sure that um while the conversations were ongoing about the facility in of itself that we could set aside time to specifically get that work done, but also focus our conversations intentionally on what can happen on the north side of that property. And so as we have conversations with the ownership group, community stakeholders, administration, and council, we want to make sure that we had more time to address those concerns while also moving the process forward on the training facility in of itself.

And it is the intention to find an additional property. Correct. That is correct. And so as reported uh this morning in the dispatch and what you might have saw already, there's opportunities around Green Leaf Park that have been we're looking into. uh the design concepts have been proposed to the work group and as I shared earlier we'll continue to assess other additional opportunities but also include that option in the final report to you all uh as well.

Thank you. Any other questions from my colleagues? Thank you again for uh being here chief. I think um I want to kind of reiterate some of the comments I said last week which is that in any economic development deal uh of this scale there are always going to be uh complications. They're never straightforward. I think in this particular deal there are many things along the pathway that uh the last ordinance 1112 initiated and I think that there was an assumption that uh we were just moving through as procedurally and so I think that folks uh in the community I hope the ARC the commitment that council has been doing behind the scenes with working with the work group as well as the administration to say that we need to overcommunicate this is not a simple uh economic development deal that we've seen in the past and that we want to make sure that we get it right. So, I thank you uh for being here this evening and also thank uh the work group that is working diligently behind the scenes. It's made up of both uh residents as well as uh community leaders and the ownership group. So, again, thank you for being here.

Yep. Thank you. Uh we do have one speaker in favor of this tonight. So, I'm going to ask Miss Liz Reed uh to come up, chair of the Southwest Area Commission. And welcome back to Council Miss Reed. I don't think I need to tell you the the spill here. I think you got it. So, I'll turn the floor over to you.

Uh, President Pardon, members of council, thank you for your continued efforts to listen to the concerns of the community. Quite a bit has changed since last week in the working since last week in the working group for ordinance 11126. Uh first first so first in last week's meeting it was the owners group who first recommended removing the green lawn parcels from the amendment. Um I felt that felt good that they were the ones who proposed that first. Um this reserves our ability to have future conversations regarding these parcels. However, these discussions have not taken place yet. with the passage of two items on today's agenda 0121X and -2026 I'm sorry and uh 1407-2026 there will be two small steps forward one for the NWSL team and one towards the fulfillment for what was envisioned for McCoy Park the working group still needs to find many solutions to fulfill everything that was envisioned for McCoy Park. We have 42 days left of our 60. We still need to find solutions for the adaptive therapeutic park, the splash pad, a garden, comm community, a community center building, 20 to 30 acres of parkland loss, public accessibility um to a park near McCoy Park. a solution for the flooding that became a feature in McCoy Park. We still need timelines and we still

need funding. These discussions last week in last week's meeting were more promising, but there's still a lot of work to do. I appreciate Elon Sims providing timelines for the NWSL tonight to ensure that there will be no surprises as we move forward. However, we don't have clear timelines on the community parks or park or parks. With the green lawn parcels available for discussion, the community feels cautiously optimistic about fulfilling what was envisioned for McCoy Park. Resolution 0121X-2026 allows for public a public hearing and does not automatically move McCoy Park into the NCA. During the group meeting, the city representatives assured us that the hearing is more than a legal requirement that the community comments will be considered. Although the date has not been set for the community meeting regarding fulfilling what was uh envisioned for McCoy Park, that should occur before the June 24th date for the MCA hearing. So I do want to note that this resolution also states that exhibit B attached here too to conform to the additional property to phase one of the new training facility site subject to fi it's subject to final design and operational requirements. So, I just want to be cautious around those terms so that when we do see what that final thing looks like that it's not encroaching um or going into those uh green lawn parcels. So, we're concerned about that. but with the public hearing

and also knowing that you're going to listen to that feedback. Um I understand from today's presentation that the first reading will be the week before we'll have the hearing and then during the second read um if there are concerns um our community will be here to to inform you of those concerns. I know my time is up, so I I guess my question is I do have some discussion um about a resolution or I'm sorry about an ordinance that's later on the agenda. Um do you mind if I go ahead and talk about that now um because it does relate to this in some regard.

Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you. Um, so regarding ordinance 1407-2026, the Southwest Area Commission identified a parcel of land that came for sale three about three years ago and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department purchased that land. It's about 9 acres um and it is central to the Southwest Area Commission um near residential areas without a park. Um so the Department of Recreation and Parks um did they did purchase that property and we did as of today as of before these amendments and these um ordinances we didn't have any plans for development of those parks. So with today's um legislation on 1407-2026, those parcels um it essentially moves design money from the McCoy Park design phase 2 to be able to do parcels or design work for this parcel, the green leaf parcel, as well as potentially other parcels that are identified. It also allows for additional funds to be added to that so that we can start working on this quickly. The community, as I mentioned earlier, we are cautiously optimistic. The tenor of the working group changed quite a bit. Um the owners group, council representatives, and recreation and parks are all voicing efforts towards achieving the goals of this working group. It would be lovely to see a quick coordinated efforts to fulfill what was envisioned for McCoy Park within the stated timelines and at the same time the NWSL training facility is built. The community's replacements are also to ensure that at the same time

the community replacements are moving forward in in those same timelines. Um, so what we're happy about is that we're going to have two pieces of legislation before you today that is one step forward for the NWSL and one step forward for the community. So we're we we appreciate that and we're hoping we continue to see those kind of combined efforts. Thank Thank you, Miss Reed, and thank you for uh your contin advocacy and leadership uh throughout this. Any questions uh for Chairwoman Reed? Uh, Council Member Robosa Dil.

Um, I first wanted to say thank you. I I we haven't had an opportunity to speak yet, but I wanted to say thank you for your leadership. And I think um it is unfortunate that we got to this place. What is fortunate is that we have leaders like you and other members of the community that are keeping us honest about a promise that we made to the community. And while this is not what the original intention is, my hope and why I'm supportive of these pieces of legislation moving forward is because we are ensuring that everything that folks talked about that kids, my kids, my kids kids can have a place to play and that no matter who you are that you have a place that you can call um yours that's outside and while what no matter your age, you can experience the joy of being outside. And I think when we've made that promise to a community, we have to be honest about what that looks like. And like I said, it's unfortunate the way that we got here, but I do appreciate the fact that we are coming together to say, how do we make this better? And how do we ensure that people get the things that they need at the end of the day? And so continue to keep us honest and um I'm sure you will. You don't need me to tell you that. Um but um but also thank you for the continued conversations. And my hope is that what we get at the end of this is even better, right? Cuz sometimes we have that opportunity to dream bigger to make it even better. And if there's multiple places now in a place that never had something, then there has to be a good that came of this. So thank you.

Okay. Thank you, President Pro Tim Dorne.

Thank you, Council Member Chair. Just again, thanks for coming down. Uh again, I know uh the level of frustration that you had last week uh was I think righteous uh where we were at and um knowing that this last week things have changed and folks have continued to work with you in good faith. Um I've believed in my council colleagues that made a lot of commitments when this came to vote came before council for a vote. You know, ultimately I was not supportive of that at that time simply because the things that are happening now in my view should have happened you know months ago. But again to council member bro David Dia's point like we can't keep relitigating history at this point. It's about make doing what we need to to make sure that the folks um in that community get get what they were promised. And I just want to thank you for earnestly moving that forward. And you know, frankly, I've been you watching the agenda to see as additional pieces of of this deal come forward with great skepticism and knowing that you're in support of the two things that are before us tonight says everything I need to know about where I'm going to be and that is very helpful to see folks, you know, meaningfully engaging to hopefully again achieve both these things that uh folks would like to see happen in our community. So, uh I it it's great to see you um you know much a much more pleasant uh mood this week considering uh the progress that has been made and that's something that I think everyone at that table should have uh a lot of optimism about. So, thanks for for being here and sharing that with us.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh seeing no other questions or comments from my colleagues. Thank you again, Miss Reed, for uh being here. Thank you. Uh so with that, I will first uh move to amend as submitted to the clerk. Second clerk, please call the role. Bankston, Barrosa de Padilla, Dors, Remy, Ross, Weiss, President Harden. Amended. And now I move for um now I move to for adoption as amended by voice. Cler, please call the role. Bankston Rosa de Padilla Dors Reie. Let me go back. Can we go back? Let's reconsider the amendment. Just click call the roll by voice. Okay. Bankston. Yes.

Padilla. Yeah. I think you need to No. Abstain.

You say yes. You can do It's a yes. Okay. She's a yes. Mhm. Okay. Dorren, yes. Remy, yes. Ross, yes. President Hard, yes. Pass. Thank you. And that's all I have in my committ this evening. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, the next committee to come before council is the public service and interpretation committee. That committee is chair by council member Rosa Deia. Councilman, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Thank you to my colleagues for trying to keep me honest. I got you. I got you. I got you. Um, okay. So, council president, I have two ordinances today in public service and transportation. So, the first I am very excited about. Um, this is ordinance 10562026 to authorize the transfer of appropriation within the streets construction maintenance and repair fund to authorize the director of public service to modify a a contribution agreement with the greater Columbus Arts Council Incorporated in support of the Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children Art Memorial to accept on behalf of the city title and ownership of the completed artwork and add it to the city's art collection upon final acceptance and required approvals and to declare an emergency So, we have a number of speakers if y'all want to start making your way up as a group. Um, our representatives from MOCC and GCAC. Um, so I want to first thank my colleagues, Council Member Ross, Council Member Reie, and Council Member Dehauer who also contributed uh to making this possible. So, um, just a reminder for folks, a few a while back, uh, mothers of murdered Columbus children, um, came together, and I want to acknowledge a number of them are here with us today. Um, came together to do a memorial. They were putting locks on one of our bridges. Unfortunately, there was a little bit of miscommunication. It was the locks were taken down and in conversations together, we decided that a fitting a more fitting tribute than just even the locks were to really memorialize uh folks who have died um from violent deaths due to gun violence. That this could be a tribute to uh the mothers who have lost their children, but also a memorial for the entire city to come around. place of peace and healing, a place that we could come together as a city um to honor the folks that we have

lost way too soon. So, um throughout this process, we started it last year during the last couple months, a jury has come together. I was honored to be part of that jury to select artists. We did a national call to artists um to come together to design a piece. Uh the design concept has been chosen by the jury. An announcement is soon to come. But I um want to acknowledge all of the folks who were part of making this um process. There were folks from the administration, folks from city council, GCAC helped to lead the way. I want to thank the department who first brought this to us and said, "Hey, what can we do here?" Um thank you for uh kind of on the theme that we were going keeping us honest and saying hey we have an opportunity not just to make this right for um this for these mothers but for all mothers for all people who have lost someone. So I want to thank all the folks this coalition that has come together. I think it is well we talk a lot about the Columbus way and to me this is the best example of the Columbus way. This is how we bring people from cross-sections of the community together to create um uh really places of healing, places of magic, and places where the community really sees themselves. So, I want to welcome Mch Mench Mitch Menaka, um the uh new well, I can't even say that anymore, our CEO of GCAC and also um our representative from Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children. The floor is yours. Good evening, President Harden, Council Member Barrosa Depia, and members of the council. Thank you for the opportunity to mark this important milestone. I am proud to be joined by Carla Harris, Melissa Stlair, and members of the Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children and our public art team. Today, today's funding is more than a step forward in a project. It reflects a sustained commitment from the city of Columbus to

honor the lives of the children lost to violence and to stand alongside the mothers of murdered Columbus children. Over the past several months, this process has been shaped by deep engagement withCC members, community voices, and city partners, ensuring that we create not only a memorial, but something that is truly reflects the values and experiences of those it is meant to serve. Public art invites dialogue and engagement across diverse communities, helping people feel seen, welcomed, and connected to the places where they live, work, and gather. It strengthens communities by making art accessible to everyone, including the local folks and stories and cultures and inviting the community to participate in creating vibrant environments for residents and visitors. Through that process, a final artist has been selected. While we are not yet able to say their name, we can say that their proposal reflects a thoughtful and powerful vision, one that creates a place, not just an object. It will offer spaces of gathering, quiet reflection, ceremony, and everyday visitation. It considers accessibility, comfort, and care through elements like seating, shade, and moments of pause while honoring the stories and presidents of MCC families. As we move into the next phase, important work lies ahead. Design refinement, technical coordination, and continued collaboration will ensure that this vision is realized with the care and integrity it deserves. We are grateful to our city partners for their continued support, especially to the members of the MOC for their trust, leadership, and willingness to guide this process. Thank you.

Want to say anything? I'm good. Um I also would be remiss if I did not thank uh director Reese and her team when we were looking for land. This is um part of our land with Wreck and Parks. They will help to maintain it. This is along the Sciota. So this will be a beautiful piece that we can add to our collection as a city. We're inching closer and closer to more beautiful spaces everywhere that do provide that healing um for folks to go to. Do my colleagues have any questions, comments?

I just want to say thank you, council member, first for offering us the opportunity to participate. Um, I have always been a fan of Melissa Sinclair and the mothers of mothers of Columbus, mothers of murder Columbus children. Um, turning imaginable, unimaginable grief into advocacy and having because nothing can replace the lives lost. Literally nothing can replace the lives lost. Having a permanent fixture that provides refuge and healing um is is really just the most appropriate response that we as a city can have um to support you to support all of your work and really uh to continue this call for action for safer communities. Um this is a place that you can use to help elevate your mission and your message and I am so proud to have been a part of supporting this. So thank you council member.

Absolutely. And I just want to say I don't think I've had the opportunity. Um this is in the most Columbus of stories. Melissa and I actually went to high school together and um that was Eastmore High School if anyone didn't know. Um and our our um our mascot is the Warriors. We're warriorettes and that warrior spirit lives in you. And I think also in every single one of the moms who are part of and who show up every day and who advocate for um better legislation, who advocate for their sons, their daughters, and the people that they lost to ensure that our city is safer. And thank you for always keeping us honest and for making us better and making us a safer city for everyone. So, um, yes, council member,

I just want to thank you as well and thank you to the other council members that helped fund this. U, you know, it was an unfortunate situation that happened and looked, it was a dark day when that happened and of course, we needed to make this right. And so, it's exciting to think about what's going to become because it's going to be something much more than what it was. and it'll be a place for this entire community to see, you know, the the pain that people have felt, but then the passion that you bring every single day in this community. And so, we just really thank you for your leadership in the community and all the things that you do to help support safer communities. And we love you. Thank you. And my last shout out, I would be remiss if I did not thank Director Skako and he's not always out front, but Deputy Director Randy Bourne Treger who first brought this and said we have to do something and first put the dollars down and then we joined in to make this um better for everyone. And so I can't wait for the day that we cut this ribbon. I can't wait for the day this is going to be such a beautiful place of solace and peace and healing for everyone. So with that, um I move for passage. Banks Barosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross Wise President Harden

passed.

Thank you. One step closer y'all. And next, see, it's always good when we have we have good things to y'all. Okay. Next is um ordinance 1163206 to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the city auditor to transfer cash and appropriation within various funds to authorize the establishment of an auditor certificate for construction inspection and administration fees and to authorize the expenditure of up to 1,375,5672720 from various funds for the purpose of providing sufficient funding for construction inspection and administration services on public service projects. So construction inspection funding is generally estimated by taking a percentage of the construction costs. Occasionally the funds set up for this uh estimated costs are not sufficient to cover the inspection of the project through completion due to project related unforeseen conditions, weather, construction change orders, etc. So this ordinance essentially provides the funding for that inspection and administrative deficits for capital improvements projects for the department of public service. Do my colleagues have any questions or comments?

Seeing none, I move for passage. Cler, please call the role. Thanks. Timber Roso de Padilla Dors Remy Ross, Vice President Hard. Passed.

Thank you. Um, council president, in her absence, may I move to page 18 in health and human services and equity. Um so I vice chair health and human services and equity committee and we have one ordinance this evening and that is ordinance 1373 2026 to authorize and direct the board of health to accept the uh fiscal year 27 reproductive health and wellness grant from the Ohio Department of Health in the amount of 1,332,87 to authorize the appropriation of 1,332 um,87 and any additional funds from the unappropriated balance of the health department grants fund and to declare an emergency. The FY27 reproductive health and wellness program will allow family planning and reproductive health services including contraception, cancer screening and sexual health with target populations including vulnerable men, women and teens, minorities, special populations such as residents with substance use disorder in incarcerated individuals and those experienced homelessness. We estimate that this grant will serve 8,000 visits this year alone. Do my colleagues have any questions or comments? Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second. Cler, please call the role. Thanks. Deborrosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross Weiss. President Hard passed. Thank you. Almost done. Can we move to rules and reference on page 22, please?

Thank you. Um, so this next piece of legislation has been in the works for quite some time. Since 2024, transit advocates have approached the city advocating for a complete streets policy. This policy is about safety. It's about ensuring that we are prioritizing cyclists, pedestrians, and the most vulnerable users when we design and construct our uh roadways. So, in winter 2023, we had an alarming number of serious pedestrian crashes and fatalities, and residents and advocates were demanding for safety measures. In spring 2024, I with the Department of Public Service organized roundts with local transit advocates to discuss topics face-toface with residents and they were able to express their concerns. This resulted in a resounding request for complete streets policy. In July 2024, we held a hearing with Morpsy updating us on their regional complete streets policy that had been adopted by many of our fellow uh uh municipalities within the region. Then in 2025 October, we held another hearing on complete streets with DPS updating residents on complete streets within the department, which brings us to today. So, ordinance 1392 20226 to require the uh director of the Department of Public Service to adopt and regularly evaluate a complete streets policy for the city of Columbus to amend sections 213.034 to enact section 21005.02 and to repeal the existing version of section 219.034 of the Columbus City Codes. The code change defines complete streets policy to mean a set of guidelines and internal policies that emphasize the consideration of safety for all public infrastructure users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities during the planning, design and construction of public infrastructure. This change uh this code change also

requires the director to issue a report to city council on the mayor annually to detail any changes made to the policy and to review new recommendations and best practices issued by the national national association of city transportation officials the national complete streets coalition the American Planning Association other relevant organizations since the previous report. So we do have two speakers in favor of this ordinance. So, first I'd like to call up from Transit Columbus, Stevie Pasamonte, and then Dustin Hullfinger from the American Heart Association will be next.

Stevie, welcome back to council.

Hello again. It feels like I'm here too often. Uh, my name is Stevie Posante and I'm a board member for Transit Columbus and I'm here to speak in support of the adoption of the complete streets policy into city code. It has been a long couple of years to get to this point, but I want to thank you for all of the work that you've put in to adopt this complete streets policy in the fall and today to have it enshrined in city code. I know it's a lot of effort, but it is a worthwhile effort. Street design is a public safety issue. When we talk about public safety, I think we often focus on crime and murder rates. But while there were 85 homicides in the city of Columbus last year, 103 people were killed in fatal crashes in Franklin County in 2025, at least 70 of which were in the city of Columbus and another 354 were seriously injured beyond that. As our friends at the American Heart Association will tell you, I'm sure street design is also a public health issue. Most people don't have the time or money to carve out to go to the gym regularly, but having a safe way to walk, bike, or roll keeps people active, prevents a wide range of health issues, and ultimately lowers health care costs. Increasingly, street design is an affordability issue. Transportation is the second highest household cost next to housing itself. And with the rising cost of gas and cars and housing and everything else, Columbus residents should not be forced into shouldering the cost of personal vehicles simply because they have no other choice. So, thank you for putting in the work to give our residents more choice. There's a lot that happens in between these public hearings and it's for that reason that I'm really appreciative that council member and DPS have elected to review this policy on an annual basis to ensure that we are constantly learning, iterating, and experimenting with ways to build a more walkable, more bikable, more transit friendly, and yes, even more drivable city. When we first commented on this policy a couple years

ago, we urged the city to adopt the best complete streets policy in the country. We are much closer to that than we were then. Uh but we are still getting beat by cities in Texas and New Jersey. So I'm confident that we can work together to get to get get to that place even if we aren't there now. To that end, I ask that we keep the ball rolling and work to reinstate the transportation and pedestrian commission established in chapter 213 of city code. Uh, and otherwise, thank you to every advocate who helped push for this, and thank you, council member, and to director Scott and DPS for continuing to move us forward a little bit more safely.

Thank you. Thank you, Stevie, for being here today. Dustin, come on down. Hi, good afternoon. My apologies for reading from my phone. My printer was broken today. I've never done this before, so hopefully it doesn't time out. Uh, I want to start by thanking you all for your time, your leadership, and your genuine interest in the city of Columbus. Complete streets policy. At the American Heart Association, we know that the design of our communities directly impacts the health of our residents and safe walkable neighborhoods are essential act for active living. So, Stevie was right. Right now, the Department of Public Safety or Department of Public Service has an excellent forward-thinking framework on paper. However, by taking this next step to integrate this policy directly into your city code, you all have the great opportunity to turn great internal staff guidance into permanent municipal law. This cotification is exactly what we need to be build real long-term accountability that ensure safe equitable streets are a legal requirement for every project in our city from day one planning to routine maintenance. As you review this framework and work to lock in these design standards into your code, I strongly encourage you to keep the door open, open to community engagement and deeply engaging with that community. One concrete way to do this would be to reinstate the transportation and pedestrian commission. With this advisory board in place, the depart the public service director and council would receive direct input from a body that will hold open meetings, giving residents consistent opportunities to provide valuable feedback on local transportation conditions. The people who live, work, and commute in your neighborhoods every day possess the best firsthand insight into how our streets can be safer and more comfortable for everyone, whether

they are walking, biking, driving, or catching the bus. By maintaining an active trans or transparent dialogue and making sure your outreach meets those residents where they are, council can ensure this ordinance will truly reflect the needs of our diverse community while helping to repair past inequities and potential for in our urban planning. Thank you again for your commitment. We'll say that again. Thank you again for your commitment. It's been a long time coming to a safer, more connected Columbus. I urge you to move forward with codifying this policy and keep working hand inand with the community as you work to build the future.

Thank you, Dustin. Thank you for being here and thank you for your continued advocacy. Director, I do want to You're good. I think we're okay. Yeah. Um director, I do want to two things. Um one is just so my colleagues also understand part of the complete streets policy. The the department always had one as part of kind of their policies. putting into code gives us a little bit more teeth for us to continue to revisit it. It's this is really about um we know that if we improve our infrastructure, it can help to uh ensure that there will be human error, right? We we will be distracted. We can be the best drivers, we can tell people to lock in. We can tell them to put down their phones, but if your baby's crying in the back, if something drops in the car, even a minute of distraction, we know can be detrimental. And so by redesigning our streets to allow for that human error, but to ensure that it's safer um is really what complete streets is about, right? It's about how we do that and the principles that we use to make our streets safer. And so by putting it into code, it really gives us that accountability for us to revisit it year over year for us to ensure that there's best practices there and for us to continue to keep us honest on the promises that we're making to the community. So, director, I want to give you the floor as well if there's something that you want to add to the legislation.

Good evening again, President Harden, Chair Barrosa Deputy, other members of council. Uh, complete streets are designed to serve everyone in this community regardless of how they travel. They balance the needs of all users within a safe, comfortable, and integrated environment suitable for the surrounding development. As you said, council member, we have been using these practices since 2008 and incorporating complete streets, you know, into all of our design practices, and we are constantly looking around the country and at our own designs to see how we can make our streets even safer. Complete streets is a key component for our vision zero initiative, aiming to eliminate roadway fatalities by 2035. Early data from April indicates we've achieved our second month without any traffic fatalities on Columbus roads this past year, which is a huge win.

That's huge.

Every fatality we mourn, but a month that we do not have these fatalities is so critical. Our numbers are a little different than Miss Pasamonte's, but you know, we had a high of 74 deaths in 2021. Last year, we were down to 48. So, we really truly feel like our efforts are paying off. We are on the right track and we're happy to codify the department's existing complete streets policy tonight as we move forward on our goal to support vision zero efforts to end traffic deaths and foster resilient interconnected neighborhoods for everyone. And if folks from home want to find out more about this subject, we encourage them to go to our website at uh columbus.gov/visionzero. I had the opportunity to sit on a um there was a two book authors. They also have a podcast and they talked about life after cars. And one of the things that we know to be true is that it has become essentially a standard since really um since the car industry was really born that um there's been uh fatalities due to car crashes in the five to six figure number year over year. And it has become something that we're all accustomed to that that is in order if we're going to have a car, this thing is true. And this is why vision zero is so important. This is why complete streets and these policies are so important too. I think you know Stevie you made an excellent point of we're making people have tough decisions of a house or a car and how do you have both and so ensuring in things like link us and the other mobility opportunities that we have could help to change the game for people. Director there is one last question that I have just around a commission. Can you talk a little bit about why we currently do not have that commission because I know it is part of code. Can you talk a little bit about that and what might the future plans be?

Yes, we are currently using our vision zero Columbus committee as a commission that reviews the our policies on you know our best practices. Um we also have the bike plus engagement that we've done extensive engagement with. Vision Zero Columbus has an extens extensive engagement and as part of you know link us we're always out there engaging with the public we are sharing all of our databased experience that we have we make our decisions based on data lots of data um and it allows us to really move that needle. I will say that I will give a shout out to my transportation team, both the planners and the engineers. We have absolutely the best transportation team in Ohio. If not, I'd put them against anyone in the country as far as being able to safely go out there and design and be so compassionate and willing to look at our our designs and make sure that we're designing the best, safest streets for the residents of Columbus.

Sure. And I would love for us to have continued conversations about, you know, I think all of those um all those engagements have a specific purpose, but what that might look like in the future just because I think that, you know, as we have the GBTQ commission and the um the immigrant refugee commission, I think having that voice has been so key. So, if there's ways that we can work together to look at what that looks like in the future for that continued kind of engagement, um we we will continue to have those conversations. So, do my colleagues have additional questions or comments?

I think my only question was the opportunity for public input to that commission, but it sounds like your Thank you. that we want to continue to have conversations about about what it looks like since you know I think the intentionality is a little bit different but what that looks like. Um seeing no additional questions or comments I move for passage. Thanks Timber Rosa Deodia Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden.

Great. And that is I'm so excited. I also just want to say I'm very excited to preview coming up very soon and thankful to the department that um as we think about complete streets and other things we are looking at setting aside a fund that would actually go towards mobility towards innovation towards other things. So more good things to come but I want to thank you for our residents and advocates who have been working and hanging in there with us. I want to also thank the department for your partnership um and uh continued um commitment to ensuring that everyone gets to where they want to go and gets home safely as well. So, thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh I think we'll we'll go ahead and let's see if you can do it. He's fast. The next committee to come before council is the neighborhood recreation and parks committee chaired by council member deakar but in her absence the vice chair is council member white. He will read that committee. Council member yours.

Thank you council president. Uh tonight in neighborhoods recreation and parks committee we have four ordinances up for second reading. First is going to be 0921-2026 to authorize and direct the city clerk to enter a grant agreement with Native American Indian center of central Ohio to provide upfront support for their outdoor programming and to authorize an expenditure from the neighborhood initiative sub fund. I'm going to kick it to council member Rosa Padilla to talk a little bit more about this ordinance.

Thank you. Thanks everyone for coming this evening. I'll be here all week. Okay. Um I just want to Is are Ty Oh, good. Come on down, Ty and Masami. Um, we have for a number of years since I came into council, uh, we have been supporting the work of Nikico. Nikico is an organization, uh, that is dedicated to preserving and restoring balanced driven values and initiative focused on cultural preservation, restoration, social development, and economic development and sustainability. Uh, the funding for this year will assist with program related costs through 2026 related to Nikico outdoors. So my friends, it is so good to see you. It's been a long time. I first was um engaged with the Native American Center when I was a City Core member and actually did service there and many times we came back to partner and do service. I think especially at this time when we um when we are trying to erase history, when we are uh so many of our identities are under attack, continuing to preserve um our native culture is so key in cultures around the world and certainly here. And so that's why the work that you all do is so key um to ensuring that we preserve culture, that we um understand our history. And so that is why I always have a commitment to this organization year over year. So I would love to give you the floor to talk more about your mission and the work and what this funding is going towards.

VA greetings everyone. President Harden, council members, thank you for having us here and allowing us to You have to go closer

like a little bit closer. Listen to your wife. They say um always good to come back here. Um the experiences have definitely been good. Uh we just really are appreciative on behalf of those that you know we represent. Uh who personify our mission and vision work. We definitely want to say kola thank you for the love and support that you've extended our way over the years. Um yeah we're just we're super excited to uh to receive this funding. It really advances the good work that we've already been able to do through the funding that we've received from you guys already. So, you know, it's just uh and maybe just to kind of share a little bit too so people can be a little bit, you know, more privy to what we're what we're doing in terms of what we're the the programming is called Niko Outdoors. And uh it's really about allowing our people access to the outdoors and you know, in a lot of ways, our culture is tied to mother nature. Uh what we find is that a lot of our people are really just kind of uh consumed with their lives, you know, kind of in the urban setting. And so we're seeing people that want to decompress and, you know, get outside. And so we're accessing, you know, a lot of different things through fishing, through foraging, gathering, uh just being able to, you know, just feel the air, you know, be in the water, you know, listen to the birds. And a lot of these things really tie into our our cultural pathways. And so it's just it's really awesome that uh we've been able to come this far. And again, you know, to to have the love and support that you guys have extended our way. And uh I want to say to you Lordes, I just want to say thank you for the few years back when you first reached out to us. You know, very meaningful at that point in time and it really was a shot in the arm that we needed too. So and to uh to everybody else too for your support. Thank you my wife.

Good afternoon or good evening. Um uh and Masami Smith, executive director for the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio. Um I just I want to say thank you uh Kathan Ush that means I'm grateful. Um, Columbus City Council has really lifted up our our our native community here in Ohio and we touched the four corners of the state. People, we're like, you know, the main Indian center in Ohio that everybody comes to for help, for resources. Um, and our current initiative is, you know, the gathering and foraging. And this is the most important thing to our our people our people all over Indian country. And this this um helps them to ground themselves and belong to the creator to um all of our cultural ceremonies. Um and this is what helped us survive all these these years of trying to survive and restore our culture. So I just want to say thank you. uh really appreciate you Questanmush and um yeah, we're grateful. Thank you so much.

I just want to say to my colleagues, this is on the south side. Woo! Woo! Um if you've not been, please head to the center. I had the opportunity to go to one of the harvesting feasts and it was the most beautiful experience. And there's also a food truck so if you're having an event or you want to follow along and have some great um uh what are they called? love the tacos. No, the tacos. Yeah. Um they're amazing. So, please see where the food truck is going to be somewhere uh this summer because this is also another way that you can support the cause. Do my colleagues have any additional comments or questions? Great. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second. I'm sorry. Um just kidding. I am amending as submitted. That's what I'm doing. Is there a second? Second. Cler, please call the row. Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross Swice President Harden. Amended. And now I move for passage. Second. Please call the row. Banks Timber Rosa De Padilla Dors Remy Ross Swiss President Harden. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Thank you, vice chair. You're keeping me real honest today. I appreciate it. The floor is back to you.

Trying to move it along here. All right. So, next I have ordinance 1086-2026. to authorize the director of Recken Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Clare Weiss Architects LLP doing business as WXY Architect Architecture and Urban Design for the Lynen Green Line project to authorize the appropriation of $743,94851 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund to authorize the transfer of $1,13,92724 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and permanent improvement fund to authorize the transfer of $2,426,452.90 between the general fund income tax set aside sub fund and the recreation and parks bond fund to authorize the appropriation of $2,426,452.90 in the income tax set that may be on here. No, that's good. income tax set aside fund and recreation and parks voted bond fund to authorize the amendment of the 2025 capital improvement budget uh to authorize the expenditure of 3,600,000 from the recreation and parks voted bond fund and permanent improvement fund and to declare an emergency. This ordinance provides the funding for continued design and engineering services for phases one and two of the lending green project. This project will provide seven linear miles and 58 acres of trail and park space to the Lynden Northland communities. Emergency designation is requested to ensure that phases one and two construction plans are ready for bidding and comply with grant requirements. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second. Cler, please call the row. Banks Barrosa Deodia Dorance Remy Ross Swe president Harden. Pass. Thank you. Next, I have ordinance 1087-2026 to authorize the transfer of $24,500 from the Sustainable Columbus Fund to the Recreation and Parks Special Purpose Fund to support the Tree Assistance Program in partnership with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District. The Tree Assistance Program or TAP allows private land owners to apply for funds to plant trees on their private property. This program is crucial to meeting the goals of our urban forestry master plan as most of the land available to expand our community's tree canopy is on private property. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Second.

Please call the role. Banks Roa Deia Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden

pass. And last in recreation uh neighborhood recreation parks committee I have ordinance 1407-2026 to authorize the director of recreation and parks department to modify an existing contract with Kim Leehorn and Associates Incorporated to extend the contract term through December 31st, 2027 to allow for continued architectural and engineering services for the Gender Road Park and McCory Park Improvements Project and to declare an emergency. This ordinance is a positive step forward to follow through on the promise to deliver recreational space for the southwest community. With this contract modification, the vendor can now start redesigning therapeutic recreation originally planned for Moory Park at alternate sites. Emergency designation is requested in order to meet the end of June 2026 deadline that has been set for the working group to identify alternative spaces. While we were all disappointed in the process, I'm excited that we're are starting to earn back the trust and confidence from the community members. Uh we did have one speaker signed up, uh Commissioner Reid, but I believe she is gone. Uh

yeah, she did it earlier, so I think we heard her comments there. Let me stop and see if there are any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Second clerk, please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross vice president Harden passed. Thank you. That is all I have in uh neighborhoods recreation and parks committee. May I move on to public utilities and sustainability or are we pausing for zoning? I'm actually going to Can can you do weld in a few? I'm going to go back in order. We'll come back to you. Weld

kind of get the sum out the way. The next committee to come before council is workforce education labor committee chair by pressim press. The floor is yours. Uh, thank you, council president. Tonight in the well committee, we have ordinance 1162-2026 to amend the police management compensation plan. Ordinance number 2715-203 as amended by enacting section 7J by uh amending section 8G and uh enacting section 14C and declared emergency. Uh last week the mayor announced a renewal of police chief Elaine Bryant's contract for additional 5 years with the city of Columbus. I know I'm not the only member of this body that thanks her for her service uh to the city. Uh she's done a fantastic job and very excited to know that um she'll be continuing her service with the city of Columbus. Uh as a result of the negotiations between the the chief and the city of Columbus, updates the police management compensation plan are necessary to reflect the new terms um of employment for Chief Bryant. Uh HR Director Alicia Martin is here um to walk us through those changes. Dr. Martin, floor is yours.

Good evening, Council President Harden, Council President Proim Dorren. Oh, pull the mic up to you. Good evening. There you go. Sorry.

Good evening, Council President Harden, Council President Proim Dorren, and other members of council. Um, so these changes coincide with Chief Bryant's uh recent acceptance of a second five-year term, which begins on June 25th, 2026. There are three um primary changes to the police MCP. The first one includes the addition of a mutual separation clause that allows for an em amicable separation should the police chief and city of Columbus find it in the best interest of both parties to sever the employment relationship before the 5-year terms is up. This lump sum payment is subject to approval by both the director of human resources and the director of public safety and will expire um upon chief prime chief Bryan's final term on June 30th, 2031. The second change is to increase the term life insurance. The police chief classification right now for the city maintains a life insurance policy for one and a half times the salary. this um currently does not exceed $200,000. And so um we are changing the language to not only increase to the full amount of the salary, but also avoid a reduction um should the police chiefs in the future um exceed ages 65 or 70 years of age. This change recognizes the unique demands and high risks associated with public safety and serving as police chief for a large and rapidly expanding metropolitan area such as Columbus, Ohio. And the third change is um to allow the police chief to be eligible for sick leave reciprocity. Um, the addition of this language will allow the police chief an opportunity each year to elect either to be paid out unused sick leave at their regular hourly rate, carry over the sick leave to the next

year, or split the remaining balance 50/50 between a carryover um and a payout. This reflects both the city's support for retention and employee well-being, but will also serve as a strong recruitment tool, making the opportunity more compet more more competitive when we fill the position in the future. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Martin. Uh questions, my colleagues for Director Martin. Seeing none, uh again, just want to point out that the sun setting provision for these changes will expire on June 30th of 2031 unless there's additional action taken by this body. Um any comments from anyone else? Seeing none, I move for passage. Second clerk, please call the role. Thanks. Timber adorns Remy Ross, Vice President Harden.

Passed. Thank you, Council President. Can I do rules and reference? I would if I were you.

Thank you, sir. Um in rules of reference, I have ordinance number 1265-226 to amend chapter 378 of the community benefits uh agreement advisory committee. Uh this code change will protect the city and city contractors against accidental non-compliance with the city's uh community benefits agreement advisory committee procedures by requiring that all contracting agencies of the city to include notice in all solicitations informing them of the committee the committee's procedures and the possibility of a recommendation of a community benefit agreement. Uh this will ensure the council's goal around workforce development, use of unionized construction labor and the community benefits uh are further realized through our own city construction projects um through our work through the CBA advisory committee um through the implementation of these agreements um and allowing us to have better contracting procedures to ensure that when these requirements are put in place that all contractors are put on notice as early as possible in the contracting process uh to ensure that all folks are playing from an uh level playing field. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for passage.

Second. Clerk, please call the role. Thanks. Tim Barrosa Deodia Dors Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next, we have ordinance number 1477-226 to amend chapter 378 community benefits agreement to amend section 111.04 of the Columbus City Coast pertaining to council committees and to create a new ad hoc committee. Uh, this code change will establish a new joint committee between Columbus City Council and the Columbus City School Board of Education, creating a new body focused on a shared responsibility for the success of our school district for students, families, teachers, support staff, and our entire city. Uh we announced this committee late last month in a classroom at Northland High School and we'll have our first meeting on Monday, June 15th here in council chambers and we're hitting the ground running with an investment in the Northland High School community campus school pilot. Uh this committee will explore new and innovative ways to collaborate between city and the district with no topic off the table between our members here at council and those uh at the school board. Uh I'm personally very excited uh myself to use our the city's land use tools to help strategically manage public property both owned by the city and the school district. Uh I'm deeply appreciative of of the board president Anto and Miranda uh vice president Sarah Engles and council president for our leadership getting this committee off the ground. And as the parent of a soon to be kindergartenner and I know the the dad's caucus here has lots of kids that are about to be in that position. Uh there's no better time than now to make sure that this body is doubling down on its investment and its partnership with Columbus City Schools. Uh to make sure that all of our kids have an opportunity to world-class education and to ensure that they have the opportunities and the tools to be successful right here in Columbus. I did want to pause and and turn the mic over to my partner in crime on this with Council President Harden who also has a kiddo who's about to head off to kindergarten as well.

Yes, sir. Well, thank thank you uh Mr. chair and it it truly is a a a good step forward as we um you know a lot of folks know that uh the city schools and city of Columbus are two different institutions but the truth is the issues that impact both of them cross uh cross over and so this is an opportunity to put everything on the table in front of the two bodies uh to show a collective and a realignment of how we do things together uh to improve um the lives and the ability to educate our young people but also to move our city forward. And so we look forward to uh open and frank conversations and actually continue to move uh policy uh forward in that committee. And so uh thank you so much for your your leadership and I look forward to the work ahead.

Thank you, Council President. Appreciate getting a chance to work with you and the board president, vice president, CCS. Lots to come on this. Very very excited for um this body to lean in that effort because we know that the success of our kids is the success of this city. Um, unless there's any other question or comments from my colleagues, I move for passage. Second. Clerk, please call the role. Thanks. T Rosa, David adorns Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass. Thank council presidents. Uh, I will make a motion for recess. There we go. Is there a second? Cler, please call the role. Bang, Barosa, de Padilla, Dors, Remy, Ross, Vice President Harden.

We are in recess. Oh, oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh, oh.

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah, I la.

Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Natal. Heat. Heat. N.

N. N. Heat. Heat. N. Down.

Heat. Heat. Popul. I'm wearing Heat. Heat. On the fly

on the ground. I want to thank you. That's what I love. Heat. Heat. N. I'm down. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat.

Oh. Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

Hey, hey, Come on. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

Hey, hey, hey. Natal. Now come to order. Clerk, please call the role.

Banks Denver Rosa Day Padilla Dorren Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Can I get a motion to the reading of the journal? Second. Clerk, please call the role. Banks Denver Rosa Day Padilla Dorne Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Are there any additions or corrections to the journal? Hearing the journal is approved. We'll now go to the zoning committee. Press pro Tim chair that committee. All members serve on it. Uh floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President. Uh before we get into tonight's uh zoning agenda, uh this is the second time in a couple weeks we've had to postpone some pieces of legislation that has significant amount of public interest. So, I want to thank my colleagues, staff, and certainly the public for their understanding the and their flexibility. Uh we did have uh many members of the public that are planning to be here with us tonight to express their opinions on the 2100 hard road zoning ordinance. Uh however, that uh ordinance has been postponed at the applicant's request until June 8th. Uh as we've had the other postponements, um the city attorney's office has confirmed that those who speed up those who signed up to speak tonight will have their speaker slips transferred to the night uh on June 8th that we will consider that ordinance and there's no reason to sign up um to to speak again. Uh, as always, I will go in and review our rules pertaining to speaking for council on resonings and variances. We only hear a staff presentation of the ordinance have a disapproval from recommending body or if we have a public speaker assigned to speak against an ordinance. We permit three speakers on each side of an ordinance, three proponents, three opponents. We ask those speakers limit the remarks to three minutes per the standard rules of city council. All speakers in the council of variance including city staff, air commissioners, applicants and members of the public will be sworn in before they give testimony. Again, that is only for variances. Representative air commission are always able to speak on ordinance. You do not need to fill out a speaker slip. We do ask you alert city staff of your intention to speak at this hearing. Representative civic association do need to fill out a speaker slip because civic associations are not formally recognized under Columbus City Code. Uh this evening we have 17 public speakers signed to speak on on ordinances tonight in this this agenda. Though again due to the postponing pending legislation, many of those speakers were notified of the new date of those ordinance will be considered. We do have six public speakers signed to speak uh on legislation we'll be hearing tonight. Uh on the advice the city's office, I will will now swear in city staff. Please stand and raise your right hand be sworn

in. Um, do you swear affirm the investment you're about to give shall be the truth, nothing but the truth, as you shall answer under pains of penalty per so please say I do. I do.

Thank you. Please let the record reflect that Tim Dietrich for the department of building and zone services uh along with Toby Celibreezy from the department. Christopher Lure from the division of planning, Dan Bleshman for the division of traffic management. uh deputy director for housing strategies, Aaron Proer from the Department of Development and Manager of Storm uh plan review and storm water uh storm water management section of the Columbus Water and Power, Greg Fetner and Deputy Director John Lee. Did I miss anyone? I don't think I got everyone. All right, the let the reflect that all those people have been sworn in. Um, first we have ordinance number 09 or I'm sorry 0290-2026 to reszone 2100 Hard Road being 5 0 plus acre located in the north side of Hard Road 100 plus feet west of Stonefront Drive from LR R Limited Rural Residential District to AR1 apartment residential district. Again, at the applicant's request, I move to postpone this ordinance to June 8th uh zoning committee agenda. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Um, please let the record reflect that Scott Frederickson, Deborah Link, Lisa Ca Casser, Nathan Brisone, Jill Brisco, uh, Jonathan Bashers, and backup speakers Aaron Newman, Julie Bashers will have their speaker slips honored for the June 8th meeting. Now move to postpone.

Second. Cler, please call the role. Bankston, Barrosa, Deodia, Dors, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Postponed.

Thank you. Uh next we have ordinance number 1035-2026 to reszone 7801 and 7809 Olant Tangi River Road being 5.82 plus acres located the west side of Tangi River Road 370 plus feet south of Club View Boulevard from R1 Rural District to L AR12 Limited apartment residential district site consists of two parcels one developed with a reeler's office and the other with a single unit dwelling the requested reszoning will allow a townhouse development with a proposed density of 4.4 4 units per acre. Pro approved from city staff and the development commission, but a disapproval from the far northwest uh coalition uh civic association. There is no area commission that covers this area. Due to the disapproval from the civic association, we'll now hear a staff report from the city staff starting with Mr. Tim Dietrich from the Department of Building Zoning Services. Floor is yours, sir. Chair Dorren, President Harden, members of council, the subject site consists of two parcels developed with an office use and a single unit dwelling both in the R1 residential district. The requested L12 limited apartment residential district will allow a 26-unit town home development as shown on the submitted site plan and building elevations. North and west of the site are single unit dwellings in the R8 restricted urban residential district within Sharon Township. South of the site are single unit dwellings in the PD4 planned unit development district. east of the site are offices, a fuel station and a multi-unit residential development in the PSC plan shopping center and EU exceptional use districts both within Sharon Township. The limitation text establishes appropriate use restrictions and supplemental development standards addressing maximum unit count, density, building setback, perimeter yard, site access, parking, sidewalk placement, open space, building design, and includes commitments to develop the site in accordance with the submitted site plan and building elevations. The requested L12 limited apartment residential district will allow a town a town home development with a maximum of 26 units consistent with the Columbus growth strategies recommendation.

Although the proposed use is inconsistent with the Northwest Plans land use recommendation, it is compatible with the density and development standards of adjacent residential developments. Additionally, staff note that the provided building elevations and site plan, which demonstrates the applicant's commitment to preserve mature trees along the site's perimeter are both consistent with the Northwest Plan design guidelines. Lastly, the request is consistent with the city's objective of providing more housing in all areas of the city and therefore city department's recommendation is for approval. Thanks, M Mr. Dietrich. Uh, questions for my colleagues.

Mr. Dietrich, I know that there's an amendment that was submitted here uh with this legislation that I think was primarily in response to a number of environmental concerns that uh neighbors had posed during the lengthy um process that there was engagement between the applicant and and adjoining neighbors. Can you talk a little bit about what that that amendment you sort of subject of that and sort of what it does?

Yes. Uh the amendment was a um a revision to the limitation text that is within this ordinance. Um and it does provide um wording regarding the mature tree and um other brush along the uh applicant's perimeter of the uh property. Uh so they do have commitments to to the best of their ability with what is healthy and what is not um invasive to preserve those natural elements. So in essence, it's the commitment of obviously in Ohio and lots of other places, we have uh invasive species from a tree standpoint. So this is basically stating that you if it's not not invasive and it's healthy, it should remain throughout the construction process. That's correct.

Thank you. Um want to next turn the floor over to Mr. Chris Lore from the Division of Planning.

Thank you, Chair Dorren, President Harden, and members of council. Planning supports the proposal. The Northwest plan recommends a portion of the site for lowdensity residential with the balance recommended in the Columbus growth strategy for mixeduse one. The plan notes that proposals to redevelop existing residential uses may be supported if the use and design are compatible with surrounding areas. As such, staff recognize that the proposed use is compatible with surrounding uses and is consistent with the Columbus Growth Strategy recommendation. Additionally, the Columbus Grow Strategies residential design guidelines include recommendations regarding the buffering and screening of adjacent uses and notes that mature trees provide significant environmental benefits and should be preserved where possible. Since the original submitt, the applicant has made revisions that included commitments to the preservation or replacement of those existing perimeter trees as as just noted and has provided building elevations as well. Uh, additionally, a contemplated access drive to club to Club View Boulevard was also removed. Staff has reviewed the building elevations and found them to be consistent with the Columbus Growth Strategies design guidelines and as such staff is in support.

Thank you, Mr. L. So, one question about the growth strategy recommendation, which obviously is only a recommendation at this point. It's not the not the zoning district that's been applied, but oftentimes folks measure density rightfully or wrongfully based upon like how tall something is. So can we compare contrast what's in this application here today compared to what is proposed uh within that u growth strategy recommendation. So for the portion of the site that's recommended mixed use one which would support heights up to uh four stories approximately um this is well within that um within that recommendation. Obviously there's slope u but the measurement of height is really based on kind of the average uh is my understanding.

Thank you. Any uh question my colleagues or Mr. floor. See? None. I will turn it over to Mr. Blushment from the Division of Traffic Management.

Thank you, Chair Dors, President Harden, members of council. In regards to our review of this application, please be advised that the proposed access point to this site is to be taken from State Route 315, which is within the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Transportation. The Ohio Department of Transportation required a traffic impact study to evaluate this proposed area of development. Based on the review of this traffic impact study, the Ohio Department The Ohio Department of Transportation is requiring that only right in, left in, and right out turning movements be permitted at the proposed site access point to State Route 315. No vehicles will be permitted to make a left turning movement to exit the proposed site access point to State Route 315. Additionally, a shared use path is being required along the frontage of this site. With these comments and note, the Department of Public Service has no further concerns regarding this application. I would be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Mr. Blushment. Questions from my colleagues? Mr. Bushman, I did want to ask, so you mentioned that the traffic study was at the behest of of ODOT, considering we're right up there on 315 under sort of standard rules. So, let's say that this development was happening somewhere else and not right up on a state highway. Um, normally we're talking about much larger developments. We're talking about these zoning changes. This one in the grand scheme of what this committee normally hears is is relatively modest from a unit count. Um what type of traffic study or improvements um coming from that would we normally see for for a project of this size?

So absent any other extraneous factors this would typically be a traffic access study and and it was considered a traffic impact study because it did consider the uh adjacent intersection to the north the signalized intersection to look at those impacts and potential interactions with that. So um that was you know the department of transportation can put restrictions or requirements on their their permits. So that that is what they did with this particular application and applicant.

And to be clear for many folks uh sometimes there's questions about hey when do these improvements happen uh as as applied to when the construction occurs. So you can like walk folks through sort of how you know when those traffic improvements that are being required here would happen as it relates to the development itself, the proposed development itself. So that that would occur with the development of the site. I mean there would be no um you know ODOT will not grant a a permit for their their site access until they uh complete the improve or make the appropriate uh representations. They will they will complete the improvements. So in other words, you're not talking about oh the development comes online a year or two or three years later finally someone gets improving the traffic

right there and there would be I think there they have definitely ways to you know enforce those those permit requirements. Thank you. Any uh questions for my colleagues. Uh seeing none I will next invite deputy director and proer uh to give us her report on housing.

Thank you Chair Dorren President Harden members of council. The proposed resoning at 7801 Olanti River Road supports the Columbus housing strategy by adding critical housing units in a high demand location and expanding housing options in an area with extremely limit limited housing diversity which limits the options for housing mobility for existing neighbors and excludes opportunities for new neighbors to call this part of Columbus home. The existing housing in the census track is 96% owner occupied, 98% single family homes, 84% of the homes have four or more bedrooms, and 70% of the households earn more than $150,000 per year. The median household income is more than $198,000 a year, which is 200% higher than the median income for the city. Since 2020, the city of Columbus has added more than nearly 10% more households. However, in this census track, there are nearly 6% fewer housing units and 3% fewer households in this census track. All of these factors combined to severely limit the mobility rate. In this census track, the annual annual mobility rate between 2023 and 2024 was just 0.39% compared to a 20% mobility rate uh for the greater Columbus region. In this census tract, only 8.4% 4% of residents have moved since 2020. Compared to the neighborhood mobility between 2005 and 2010, when 35% of families in the census tract moved. This indicates an increasingly stagnant housing market with little opportunity for new residents to move into the area and fewer options for those wanting to change housing to meet their lifestyle needs. This housing development is not only critical to addressing the needs in this area, but also for the affordability in the region. As we work to build sufficient housing units across our community, the me to meet the growing housing demand, it is simultaneously becoming increasingly hard to build new housing units for financial reasons. For new housing to be financially feasible, developers must carefully balance the rising construction costs against the projected revenues to ensure the project is feasible or it can't or it can't be

built, further slowing down the construction of housing we need. In areas like this with high demand and high home prices, new development is feasible. Therefore, we need to allow new for new housing where it can be built in this region to alleviate the overall pressure on this system and ensure regionwide affordability. Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Miss Ber. Uh questions from my council colleagues. Seeing none, I again I do want to point out that we do have uh representatives from Columbus uh Power and Water here with us because I know a lot of the discussion with the community has revolved around uh questions regarding storm water the storm water manual and the process that's uh sort of those things go through. Um so I will probably invite the the folks from that department at some point u to engage with both council and potentially public speakers. to emphasize um a project that cannot meet the storm water requirements of the city of Columbus um cannot get their permits. So if they cannot demonstrate that uh they then have to go back and change their proposal in order to allow our experts at the city to say yes that they can meet those requirements under that new site plan. Um, and I know there's lots of questions about why uh those things don't come first, but uh our system is set up for folks to come get their zonings or their variances first before they subsequently engage in all of those processes for a variety of reasons. Um, but there are preliminary steps that are taken with the department on the front end as they go through the process. But again, just from a process standpoint of where we're at, um, if folks cannot adequately uh, meet those requirements, the project cannot get built in that way. Um, so I do want to pause and see if any of my council colleagues have any questions before I call the applicants representative. Seeing none, I would invite Miss Molly Gwyn. Welcome back to council. Okay. Good evening, members of council, President Harden, and Chair Dorance. Thank you very much for the opportunity to present this evening. My name is Molly Gwyn, and I am an attorney with the firm of Ice Miller here representing

the applicant. My address is 250 West Street, Sweet 700, Columbus, Ohio. Um, and present with me this evening is our entire development team, starting first and foremost with Mr. Eric KTZ with Story Boards Development. He is the developer for this project and the owner of the Northern Parcel that comes before you tonight. Also present is Mr. Bo Kanz with Whitaker Knezz. Mr. KZ is a builder. He is the builder we've selected to construct the homes that we're going to talk about this evening. Uh Mason Malcolm, a principal engineer with Kleers is also here. Kleiners has been retained to develop the site plan, perform the two traffic studies that have been performed here, and to provide uh additional guidance and background on the development standards. Um not present this evening is Mr. Rob Milligan with EMH&T uh who we recently retained in order to have a jurisdictional delineation done a storm water uh study done that was performed on site at the property in March of this year with a report generated um on April 8th that I'm going to to get into this evening. Um and so as noted I I want to talk a little bit about uh what's around us. Um and that's the site right there. you'll see um and to the east we have uh commercial including the Bristol Senior Living Center, the Hills Market and two fuel stations. Uh we do have residential to the west. Uh to the south we have the ravines of Worthing Ridge as well as the Hill and Dwise Law Firm. Um and then to the north we have our our residential. Um so really we've got kind of residential uses as well as sort of your general neighborhood types of uses. Um, and I would like to just note that per the recommendation of the land use plan for this area, a lot of pictures. Um, the land use plan does recommend a low density at just slightly less than four units per acre, but as noted, um, you can vary that proposed uses and/or higher density may merit support if they're compatible with the adjacent proposed development. Uh,

and we believe that at this point in time, um, this is in fact consistent with that land use plan recommendation as has been noted by city staff. Um, and so, oh, uh, oh, can I go back to the beginning? Oh, I'm getting younger. Um, uh, so these right here are the elevations. We are proposing, as noted by city staff, 26 homes that are going to be developed on private streets. Um and these designs as shown in the elevations uh with the textual commitment for general conformity with these elevations uh are going to feature high quality design standards, natural materials, full cementitious siding and metal roofs. Um and the anticipated price point for these units is roughly $750 to $800,000 which we again believe is consistent with the high-end homes and the high-end quality of the area. Um as noted, we've also committed to an asphalt path on the property. We've set aside required area for rightaway dedication to state route 315 at the request of planning staff. Uh we are going to have privately maintained common open space. We will be paying the parkland fee uh in in in lie of dedication of parkland. Um, we've also uh been in discussions with Department of Sewers and Drainage to commit to a payment for downstream INI remediation to remedy existing sanitary capacity issues present at the premises. And most importantly, um, we are prepared at this point to observe and respect the riparian corridor based upon the study that we've had recently performed here. Um, this plan has evolved substantially since its inception over two years ago. Um the initial plan on which the traffic study is based showed over 40 units and as noted the access onto Club View uh north of the site was eliminated. We reduced the unit count to 34 had some

other iterations of the plan in between and now we are down to 26 units. Um and we would submit that um the feedback from the neighborhood has been helpful and has been taken into account in the changes to the site plan that have occurred. Uh this project does have unanimous support from the development commission. Uh this is just a brief history of sort of all of the outreach that we've done here. Uh Mr. KMD started working with uh local stakeholders and the neighborhood in 24. Uh the traffic studies were performed in 24. Um and then we've had this level of outreach since 2025. Uh including um an on-site meeting at at the premises. Um, I'd like to just go ahead and and talk a little bit about um complaints we heard regarding alleged nonobservance of riparian corridor and non-observance of the storm water drainage manual of the city of Columbus. And I want to be very very clear that the developer is committed to respecting all regulations of the city of Columbus and working with your departments and your professional planning staff in conjunction with our professional engineers. And so we engaged DMH&T to perform an analysis to determine if a stream existed on the property and to determine if riparian corridor would be required and then subsequently whether the homes would need to be adjusted. I just want to note as has been pointed out a final jurisdictional delineation as well as a final storm water analysis is not part of a zoning approval. It is not typically done at this step in the process, but we've taken this step at this point. And based upon the findings of the study constructed on site on March 19th, we have an intermittent stream here, not an ephemeral stream. And there is a difference in what is required for mediation. Um, the stream originates off site and it flows along roughly the southern boundary of the

property along the ravine that's been shown here. These are the applicable provisions of the Columbus storm water and drainage manual that I'm sure that uh Mr. Fedner can speak to more cogently than we can. Um but per our engineers, we have to maintain 50 ft of riparian setback 25 on either side of the stream and then we have a 15% grade that also requires observation. Uh and so we're going to comply with all of these requirements, including observing the 50 foot of riparian corridor. Uh that's 25 on either side of the stream. The exhibit that has been prepared allocates all 50 feet onto the developer's property, but it doesn't entirely sit with this stream based upon our fieldwork right on this developer's property. It runs along the boundary. Um, and as noted, there are existing encroachments into this stream corridor presently with the ravines at Warthing Ridge condo that likely predate the storm water management regulations. Um, so this is the stream right here. This is where it's shown. Again, this is based upon the field study that was constructed by EMH&T. Uh, this is the exhibit that was shown at development commission. I believe you're going to be seeing this again. And again, this allocates the riparian corridor entirely onto the developer property. Um, we went ahead and overlaid the stream based upon the field study onto our existing plan and we are able to pull the units out and comply with the riparian corridor and that's our intention and that's always been our intention and that's our obligation here this evening. Um, this is the language that's been referenced. This is the language that has been added. Uh I will note that to the extent that there are trees that are sitting in the riparian corridor and we're required to observe that those are the city's trees. Um we'll be required

to do whatever we're instructed with those trees. Uh that's not going to be for us to decide. Um and so this is the language that we worked with planning staff on and we feel it's a good uh interim measure. I won't read that to you because I've been talking for a while. Um, one thing I would like to talk about is the allegation regarding the trees that are presently present on the property. And we obviously recognize that existing trees are a benefit to our potential residents and to our community. But many of the trees here right now are diseased, are dead, are a safety hazard, um, and have been previously requested to be removed uh, to the property owner to south. Um, and these are just a few photos of what the existing condition looks like. These photos were taken last month. Um, and as you can see, many of these trees are far from healthy, mature trees that would be expected or desirous to keep. And perhaps nowhere is this clearer than this is a photograph again that was taken just last month and um we're all familiar with the site when you drive past it. There is a home and this is a photograph of a tree that had fallen on the house. Um some of these trees are going to have to come down um because it creates a safety hazard and they're they're not they're not the the beautiful things that we all want to see and that the city deserves. Uh again, these are the prior plans. We previously had a duplex type of look. We previously had 40 units. Now we've got 26 individual town homes. I also want to note, as has already been noted, um that this property is slated for phase 2 uh for mixeduse development. Again, highdensity mixeduse development, including fourstory buildings is presently slated to go here. And we

think that this fits much better with the character of the area and will be of value to to the community. The applicant has had two traffic studies done, one in November and one in December of 24. Both those studies have been reviewed by ODOT as well as city staff as noted. Um, and I just wanted to call out the AM and PM peak times that are here. Um so estimated traffic generation at AM peak 1 hour is a total of 15 cars. If you think about that roughly standing there uh it's not not exactly intensive. Uh PM peak same time 20 trips. Uh so we have had a study done and the study has not found that other improvements are warranted. Um, frankly, in order to drive more significant improvements to this area, you would need higher density and more houses. Um, I don't need that yet. Um, again, we think that the value of the homes here are going to be consistent with the neighboring communities. And we think, as noted by professional staff, that there is most certainly a need for housing in central Ohio. um and that this housing fills a piece of the market that uh while not the kind of thing that I'm traditionally here talking about, fits with the character of the area and will help alleviate some of the housing shortage in this corridor. Um you know, change is hard. Uh, it's hard when the field by your property, it's been a field for a long time, develops, but we're here to rely on the recommendations of your professional staff and our professional consultants and the developer who's prepared to invest $30 million in the development of this property as to an appropriate what is an appropriate land use. Uh, as well as your development commission. Um, and with that, I will thank you very much and I'll be prepared to address

rebuttal or answer questions. Sorry. Any questions for Miss Gwyn for my colleagues? So, Miss Quinn, just one quick question. I I know it's uh just by cork of the code, you've been referring to these as town homes. Um, but in practical reality, these are these are detached, you know, single units. So, you know, how I would normally refer to a single family house, but again, in this situation, given the zoning district under this code that, you know, just to make clear to my colleagues that we're talking about um you know, again, basically detached single family housing, even though that is practically what is not is actually referenced from a code standpoint.

Yes, that pathway was not exactly forward for what ex uh we wanted these to look like from a code standpoint. And so, yes, they definitely look much more like single family houses. Some of the variances that we're going to get into later speak to the single family character of the project. They are detached. They're not attached at this point. And again, that was a change that was brought about by the feedback from the development commission. So, yes, that it really looks, lives, and feels more like single family homes. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for Miss Gwen?

Seeing none, I'll invite you back up after our public speakers. Uh, as I mentioned, we have three public speakers signed to speak on this ordinance. The first speaker is Mr. Aaron Newman. Welcome back to council. Uh, as a reminder, we'll uh ask folks to state any relationship they have with the property and ask folks that try to limit their remarks to three minutes, but we'll try to practice Midwestern politeness as much as we can.

Good evening, council members and city staff. Aaron Newman, 8844 Athetherton Road, speaking on behalf of the Far Northwest Coalition of Columbus. It's good to see most of you again. Good to meet some of you for the first time. Uh coalition is here tonight to reiterate our board's unanimous recommendation to disapprove both this reszoning application and the concurrent variances that would allow the development of 26 highpric town homes on Olantangi River Road in the far northwest. Uh many residents and members of our board voiced concerns with this proposed development across two public hearings and by phone and email. Uh concerns included the increased disruption to traffic on Tangji River Road, the dubious effectiveness and safety of the right turn only exit, the increased demand on the utility grid and wastewater lines as mentioned and the destruction of existing trees, wooded areas, and the fragile waterway of the bordering ravine. There are also concerns about the lengthiness of the phase construction approach, the uh devastation and ongoing disruption of such a high density development on such a uniquely graded site, especially one on such a precariously vital two-lane roadway leading right into the city. One of the overarching concerns, however, was that the reszoning this property uh was that reszoning this property to the higher density L12 is fundamentally inconsistent with the surrounding properties in the far northwest and would negatively impact our neighbors and surrounding properties. The Northwest plan recommends lowdensity residential for the large northern parcel and states plainly, quote, "A primary goal of the use plan is to preserve lowdensity residential neighborhoods and guide infill development to be compatible with the existing development patterns of the neighborhood. The existing development pattern of the neighborhood is low density residential and higher density development would be flatly inconsistent with the current use plan. With respect to city staff, the Columbus growth strategy does not change the designation for this parcel. The southern parcel is a single family residence zone for office use. And while the growth strategy recommends potential smaller

mixed use development there, any such development is a long way away. Building within the current recommendation of four units per acre would allow for redevelopment and additional homes that are actually affordable for new families that are consistent with community standards and would be welcomed by neighbors. Moreover, these concurrent applications would supersede a 2014 council variance that forms a covenant, a covenant with the neighbors, requiring that the southern property remain a single family residence and maintain all natural boundaries, a covenant which the current applicant intends to break. The far northwest is ready for growth and eager to welcome new neighbors, but this proposal is simply not the right fit. The current I'm sorry, the concurrent variances sought along with this resoning also indicate a development that is too tightly packed onto too small a site. Low resident low density residential remains the most appropriate usage for the property at this time as we look forward to future redevelopment of the southern parcel with its inclusion in the Columbus growth strategy. Therefore, the board of the far northwest Coalition joins the impassion neighbors who have remained engaged in the process throughout respectfully requests that city council vote against the resoning application and concurrent variances and we encourage the applicant to work with us on an appropriate plan.

Thank you very much. Questions from my council colleagues. Mr. Newman. So, Mr. New, I did want to give you a chance to respond. So you referenced a number of times the Northwest plan um that plan is close to 20 years old. So when we talk about a modest increase of of density here going from four to a little over four here I just at you know talking with your neighbors and certainly the coalition just when we talk about the plan being um you know close to two decades we we know the growth of Columbus and all the different areas. I just want to give you an opportunity, you know, when I see a plan that is that old. Um, and again, we're not talking about a significant departure from it from a density standpoint. Just want to, you know, you talk with your neighbors about this. Just want to give you an opportunity to respond to that.

Sure. Well, it is 20 years old, but it uh still recommends um low density residential and again the Columbus growth strategy does not intend to change that designation for this parcel. uh we have an opportunity, you know, we had an opportunity to include that in perhaps make it mixed use as well. Recommendation like the southern parcel, but for now and into the near future, that northern parcel is going to be zoned low density residential and we believe it should stay that way. Still plenty of room to build plenty of houses. Council member Brody.

Yeah, I Hi, welcome back. I have a quick question just um if you boil it down brass tax, right? A lot of folks will come in because they're concerned about apartments or condos where you know would have a much higher density than single family homes. So if they're top line, what are the main concerns from the coalition that they would not want single family homes in this area? Is it because of the traffic? Is it because of the ravine? like can you just boil it down for us of what the main concerns are?

Oh, there are no concerns with um any specific type of housing? Uh but when you get into such dense housing as this, that's where the concerns come in on such a small property. So, uh we'd be happy to see multif family, single family, detached houses, as long as it's, you know, within or near that, you know, within that four units per acre designation, uh we'd be happy to take a look. So, and this is 26, correct? Total. So, it's 4.43 units per acre. Got it. So, if it was less, if it was, you're saying it doesn't matter if it's single family homes, but if there were 20, would that be better than 26?

If it met the land use plan recommendation, we would be happy to consider that. Sure. Okay. Thank you. But this recom this application does not meet those recommendations. Okay. Other questions from my colleagues? See none. Thank you, Mr. Newman. Thank you.

Uh, our next speaker is Mr. Chris Vandrin. Welcome to council, sir. Good evening, council. My name is Chris Fondrin. I live at 200 East Canawa Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, here in Clintonville, over by the school for the blind. Um, for about 30 years now, I've been a land planner, landscape architect. Uh, two different stints in some significant offices here, one being Kinsman Klein Gossman, the other one uh MKSK here, which was the merger of two different firms. But I was asked by Tim Marini, who is a resident in the area just south of this development and his community to look at an evaluation of how this development plan really sits on the property, not to look at densities, not to look at any of the things related to zoning, but look at it purely from a uh a land planning standpoint. A land plan that hopefully would be sensitive and responsible. That's what we try to promote as land planners and landscape architects. So, everybody I assume has a copy of the document that I'm going to be referring to, right?

So, what I did was I reached out to my contacts, gathered some GIS data, topo, soils, uh, vegetation cover, etc., and overlaid it on the property. Now, this property is not flat. It has about 60 feet change in elevation from the west down to the east side. That's about a 12 to 14% slope across the property. It's not flat. The land plan that's in place, you would typically see this signature on a flat piece of ground. It makes you bring into qu question some of the uh the practices behind how to develop this property. Okay. Um, in comparison, again, the roadway going up into Worthington Hills is 9%. We're dealing with a 14 to 12% slope across this property. Okay. So, if you look at the topo towards the the south southern portion of the of of the development, there are a lot of ganged close topo lines. That's this ravine area that we've that is currently there. Okay. When you look I'm going to speak more related to building location as it relates to this ravine. Um when you look at each one of the footprints there's about six of them there on the south side. They are proposed in the ravine. This is the plan that had been presented to the community had been presented in conversations and that's this is the one that I'm referring to. I did see a plan in the presentation from the developer, a modified plan that speaks to this sensitivity that we need to pay attention to on the south side. So, we've already started to see a modified plan to reflect the concerns of the surrounding community. Um, I was asked to also create some in

the next exhibits some cross-sections to show where the bottom of the ravine would be, the current slopes of of the property. I you can have a couple more answers.

Okay, thank you very much. And so this area is by criteria standpoints based upon the storm water manual an area that would be considered for a stream corridor protection zone. So, I'm going to go towards the last page to speed this up. There is a hatched area. It would be this page right here, the very last page. Okay? Again, I'm not getting to the trees that are mature trees that are 102 years old that I think are valuable, but as it relates to this area, there is a minimum protection zone based upon the calculations that storm water uh engineers will go through. This meets the minimum based upon the catchment area and the water that flows through this. So already in this plan, which the red boxes suggest a modification to the plan, we started to see that in the last presentation. That's the first time I think anybody I've seen that or anybody in the community has seen an adjustment to the plan already. So with that being said, I'll I'll I'll wrap it up with any questions.

Sure. Uh any questions, my colleagues? Okay. See none. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, our final speaker on this ordinance is Mr. Tim Reinie, who is uh, I believe joining us virtually. Do we have him, Mark?

Mr. Reie, can you hear us? Yes, sir. Thank you. Floor is yours, sir.

Thank you, council members and city staff. Thank you for having me. My name is Tim Renie. I live at 7-Eleven Old Oak Trace, which is in the um community right across the ravine that Chris was just speaking about. Uh my background is I had a 46-year career as a registered architect and a residential real estate developer. So, I'm extremely familiar with um what is being proposed here. And I think it's important for me to say that um our neighborhood is not opposed to this site being developed. We're not opposed to a lot of what Mr. KTZ has um suggested. I will tell you that I'm overjoyed that there's already been a revision in the site plan this evening because we we have been pointing that out for months that there are homes originally in the ravine down by the stream that if you thumb through Chris's uh slideshow in your hand, you'll see where that is. Um, I'm kind of throwing out my my prepared remarks to simply say that if you drive from uh Ohio State north on 315 to Delaware, you are surrounded by the Oland Tangi River Valley, the scenic Olant Tangi River that this uh intermittent stream flows into. Um, you will also notice organic site design the entire way from just south of

Henderson Road all the way up into Delaware. And that is the caliber that our community is, our our little 10-unit condo community. That's the caliber of development that Worthington Hills is. That's the caliber and the characteristic of design up and down the scenic byway of Tangi River Road. That is what we have been asking that would please be adhered to. um taking this slope site, which I respect is going to be a tough design to to get to work, but terracing it off into two big flat areas and lining it with pretty much identical homes, identical setbacks the entire way up and down is not a characteristic of our entire area. If Mr. KTZ could could look at that, I'm glad he's finally seeing the light that he shouldn't be building in a 30-foot deep ravine. Um, I I hope that we could get things like the the limitation text tightened up a little bit. Uh there's a lot of vague ambiguous information there that really does not say anything about the the quality and the commitment of the site planning on this project. I will say one other thing. Our community has raised a lot of issues about the trees on this site and indeed in the ravine there's some pretty sad looking

trees. But when you have a developer coming in that's literally saying their their back wall of their home is going to be just a few feet from a stream, it it gets pretty unnerving. If you look at the mature trees that are at the crest of the ravine, there are some specimen trees there. The development commission encouraged Mr. Kettz to keep a buffer between our properties. The the number one buffer that could be should be kept are the trees at the crest of the ravine. They are healthy. They are significant. They are specimen trees and as much organic design as could please be incorporated into this project, we would appreciate it. Uh my original request tonight was that this be tabled because there needs to be more guidelines. I will stick with that. If if you read the memo that I submitted to the the council members, I mentioned and even gave some uh sample language. Not that I was trying to say that's what the additional limitation text should say, but right now there's very little guidelines for this development. Thank you very much for hearing me and uh I appreciate your time. Thank you, Mr. Reinie. Any questions from my council colleagues for the speaker? Thank you. I will invite the applicants representative, Miss Gwyn, back if she wants to have any rebuttal with any of the public comment.

Good evening. Uh I won't belabor the point on this but I'll just note that we had field work done to identify where this stream is and then EMH&T provided that field work I believe to the city as well as to Kleers who was then o able to overlay the stream on the CAD file and orient the units. It's not a new site plan. It just shows how the existing site plan can can respect with the same number of units and all of the same variances that are required how the existing plan uh can be respectful of that riparian corridor. Um and and again, you know, uh this developer's efforts to engage with the neighborhood are are quite well documented. Um and it's not a matter of us just now seeing the light on a jurisdictional delineation. that is typically not done at this phase of the process but it has been done at this point. Um the elevations that are shown uh are a result of two development commission meetings and adjustments that were proposed subsequent to those two development commission meetings and as noted have the support um of of city planning staff for that. So, um, again, uh, this is someone who has worked very very hard to be responsive to the concerns of of the neighborhood. And I'll just note that it's disappointing the continued ad hominemum attacks against the developer for doing things in accordance with the city's direction and the development commissions. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Quinn. Any questions? Council WC, Miss Quinn, I think Council White has a question for you.

You're good. And I don't have a question. I do appreciate the back and forth that has been done between the neighbors and developers. When I heard about this project from some of the neighbors, they expressed concerns regarding the number of units, the type of units that would be there, and changes were made. And then we talked about the stream quarter protection zone, and it looks like again changes have been made to kind of meet the needs of the residents. Um, so my vote, my no vote this evening has nothing to do with that. I think we have worked, you have worked tremendously hard to kind of bring a proposal together that that kind of makes sense on that land. My hesitation and my concern is that intersection of Tangi River Road and 315. It is a nightmare. I disagree with ODOT's thinking that a lefthand turn lane is going to make any sense at all when it's constantly backed up all the time. So, I appreciate the work of the developer. I applaud him for continuing to bring the right people to the table. That was also something that I heard in the very beginning. He didn't have the right people. He's never done this before. This isn't going to work. But it has shown through just your constant uh back and forth with the community that you wanted to bring forth a plan that took their feedback into consideration to find something that was going to be most workable. So I do appreciate that.

Thank you very much. And chair I do have a quick question. Um can you some someone I don't know the appropriate person but at this juncture you you mentioned this a little bit before when we talked about this uh storm stewer etc. So those protections along the ravine at which point are those do we ensure that those are enforced in the site plan and who does that enforcement?

So um Miss Gwen and then I can certainly throw it to some of our folks in planning as well. But Misswin do you want to speak to that? uh we will have to submit a CC plan that identifies after we get through uh hopefully if we're successful this evening and we get through zoning um we would final engineer the site we would submit a final site compliance plan because this is NAR 12 we would then submit our storm water CC plans which would be reviewed um and it would note the the riparian corridor and the slope that's in there that's an an extra item that we're required to observe in this area given the 15% grade where the ravine sits. Uh and again um we would submit our uh storm water delineation at that time for review uh by the Army Corps of Engineers as well as city planning staff.

Council member, if I can I think some of the confusion that certainly has I think contributed to some of the back and forth with the community and the applicant has been around was this in fact a stream. Um these are fun land use questions you end up getting into and originally there was a contention certainly um that there was a question around whether or not this was in fact a stream um due to its intermittent times where it runs or doesn't run. So once um there was a a designation that it was in fact a stream that's when the riparian corridor requirements kick in. So um that's where I think there was some very healthy back and forth between the applicant and and the community about well what are you going to do about this? Um there are many many things in our community that we don't realize are in fact streams until again the engineers look at them and make a designation. In this case uh I think we'd be in a very different place right now if there was still dispute about whether or not that was in fact classified as a stream. No one here at at this point is in fact arguing about that. So the the the buffer that exists is just the buffer that that comes. So while other things from the site plan can change since that has been designated as a stream at this point that buffer is the buffer. that cannot change uh throughout the process at this point.

I'm just wondering when I look at you know I'm a visual person. When I look at other places where we have built homes near ravines up near Worthington, Clintonville etc. I mean I'm my assumption is we've taken these things into account. I mean even in you know Clintonville we actually have a path that goes through so that people can use it and come come down from their homes etc. So, I'm just wondering, I mean, I hear from some of our experts that live in the area that you know, you know, some of their concerns, which I guess I'm also just trying to boil down what the concerns are of the community and what the push back is and just it seems that we're addressing them along the way. We haven't gotten quite to traffic yet, but it seems that we are addressing some of those protections along what is a ravine or stream, etc. Um, and then I know the density is maybe pushing it a little bit for folks, but I'm I guess I'm I'm just trying to also understand what all the other challenges might be and at what point do we look at those and it seems that we're course correcting on some

Yeah.

And just to address that, there is right now encroachment into that riparian corridor, I believe, with the ravines at Worthing Ridge. Some of those homes are in the area that's designated. Um there's also reference in the materials that have been provided that this is an ephemeral stream. Uh our study says it's an intermittent stream and that requires slightly different uh mitigation that is required. And then finally um there is a variance process. It's not a BCA variance. It's not a council variance. There is a variance process in order to allow for encroachment within the riparian corridor that's handled uh at an administrative level again with professional planning staff. So that might be why uh you're seeing some of that. But at this point in time, it is the applicant's intention to just comply with the requirements of the storm water drainage manual in terms of the placement of those homes. Um, certainly.

And my last question to our last speaker's point around the mature trees and the buffer, is it what is the intention of the developer in terms of preservation of mature trees in the places where we potentially can? What does that look like? And is there a plan to plant more tree? What is that?

Certainly to the extent that trees are healthy and not unsafe, we would do everything we can to preserve those trees. Uh they're about and and they're not where the houses need to go. Uh there is a commitment in the text right now that speaks to the obligation to preserve them onetoone. Um, I'll just note that the proposal for language in the limitation text that was submitted on Friday and redone, um, proposed that trees of 24 in diameter at breast height or greater, and all trees within 25 ft of the ravine crest, which again are clearly in the storm water protection zone and would not be for us to determine, uh, shall be presumptively preserved and, if approved for removal, replaced at a 3:1 caliber to inch ratio. ratio. Um that is obviously a very extensive standard that I have never seen anywhere else. So our our intention is to replace one to one and certainly preserve mature healthy trees where we can. They're a value to our community. They're a value to our residents. Uh and it doesn't mean we're not going to plant other trees as well, but we we have some concerns with the current state of them and some of them are going to have to come down. We don't want to make blanket commitments about tree preservation and then not be able to honor them.

Sure. Yeah, thank you. Okay,

thank you, Miss Gwen. Any other questions for my colleagues? Seen them. Thank you. Um, you know, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the neighbors on this this u piece of legislation a number of months ago. I think obviously we've seen tonight a number of different changes to the plan. I think we've also talked a lot about what comes after zoning. You know, fundamentally before council is a land use question. Some of the administrative processes, whether it's storm water or other things happen beyond you this body. Uh, you know, it's somewhat ironic that normally we're down here when we have lots of opposition to a zoning. It's oftentimes around large multif family projects. You know, it's sort of interesting here tonight. We have 26 what functionally are single family houses um with some significant opposition and certainly I think many of my colleagues have heard from folks and engaged with folks I think meaningfully throughout this process as we've seen the applicant make what I think is are meaningful changes uh to this proposal. Uh that said, this is certainly an area that, you know, could use more housing according to director proer's report. Certainly an area in which we're seeing a modest increase in in density. Uh I, you know, respect my colleagues concerns around the traffic. But I'm not a traffic engineer. Neither is he. And certainly, you know, when we think about how do we have these administrative processes in place to ensure that um these things are handled, I I believe the system that is in place should provide the benefit that is necessary to help again to account for what is a small increase in density. Uh Columbus is growing. It's going to continue to grow. Uh that's going to mean more traffic no matter what. It's a question of how do we approach that and how do our processes help to address that. Uh, so in my opinion, while you know, I I certainly understand folks within that area would like to see more out of the applicant at this point, I think the applicant has demonstrated good faith over and over and over again in this instance. And, you know, at some point, you know, they uh deserve an answer from the body about whether or not the proposal that is in front of us um is a policy choice that this body would like to make. And I think at this point,

they've demonstrated um that they have put together a plan um that justifies um this body's consideration. So that at this point I move to amend and submitted to the clerk by voice. Clerk please call the role. Bankston, yes. Barrosa Deodia, yes. Dorren, yes. Remy, yes. Ross, yes. White, no. President Harden, yes. Amended. Thank you. Next move for passage as amended. Second. Cler, please call the role by voice. Bankston, yes. Barosa Padilla, yes. Dorren, yes. Remy, yes. Ross White, no. President Harden, yes. Passed.

Thank you. Next, we have ordinance 1294-26 to reszone 3600 Park Mill Run Road being 12.56 plus acres located in the northwest corner of Spring Mill Drive and Fisher Bowling Bar from CPD commercial plan development district to CPD commercial plan development district. Site consists of one parcel developed with a big box home improvement retailer and the requested resoning will incorporate an updated development text and site plan demonstrating accessory outdoor storage. A code modification to require require parking from 442 spots to 393 spots is included in the text. A concurrent council variance will uh considered with this uh piece of legislation later on agenda. Proposal is approved from city staff development commission and the west sciota area commission obviously question comments. Seeing none and move for passage please call the role.

Thanks Timberia adorns Remy Ross vice president Harden passed. Thank you. Next we move into our variances portion of our agenda. First we have ordinance number 0291-226 to grant a variance provisions section 3312.27 parking setback line 333.18 building lines and 333 2.255 per yard of the Columbus Dakota for property located at 2100 Harder Road to allow reduced development standards in the preferred apartment complex and R AR1 apartment residential district. Again uh at the applicant's request I move to postpone this ordinance to the June 8th zoning committee agenda. like please call the role. Banks Barosa de Padilla, Dorren, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden.

Thank you. And please let the record reflect that Jennifer Delass and Kevin Craig will have their speaker slips honored at that meeting. Uh next we have ordinance number uh 1031-2026 of grant advance provisions of section 3370.05 permitted use of the Columbus city codes for the property located 1905 Jetway Boulevard to allow recreational facility in the LM limited manufacturing district. site consists of one parcel developed with two warehouses and the requested council of variance will allow a recreational facility within the existing building. A council of variance is required because the limitation text does not allow for recreation facilities. Uh the proposal is approved from city staff and the northeast area commission. Any question or comments? Seeing none, I first move to accept the entire staff report into evidence as an exhibit.

Cler, please call the role. Bankston Padilla Dorsy Ross vice president Harden. Accept it. Thank you. I next move to adopt the five staffs the fin council. Cler please call the ro. Banks roa day padilla dors Remy Ross vice president Harden adopted. Thank you. And if I move for passage, please call the role. Banks Rosa Padilla Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next we have ordinance number 1036-2026 grand variance provisions section 3333. 025 AR uh 12 ARLD and AR AR1 apartment residential uses 333.41 41H standards of the Columbus City codes for property located at 708 and 709 Tanger River Road to allow reduced development standards for the town houses in the LR12 limited apartment residential district. Uh this is a concurrent variance to the resoning we just considered u for a proposed development of 26 individually platted town houses. A this variance request includes a used a variance to reduce the minimum number of town homes in a row from 3 to one and a development standard variances to allow individually platted townhouse town houses on private streets to reduce the front building line and reduce the side yard setback. Proposal approves from city staff and a disapproval from the civic association area and again a reminder there's no area commission that covers this section of the city. Uh due to the disapproval, we'll once again hear hear from the department building zoning services representative to present a staff report on the variances only. Mr. Dietrich, floor is yours. Chair Dorren, President Harden, members of council, the council variance request before you includes a use variance to reduce the minimum number of town homes in a row from three units to one unit and includes development standards to allow individually plotted town houses on private streets and to reduce the front building line and sideyard setbacks. Uh staff concurs with the applicant's analysis of the seven practical difficulties in achieving the proposed development and supports the requested variances. Staff note that the provided building elevations, site design, and commitments to preserve mature trees are all consistent with the Columbus growth strategies design policy and we recommend approval.

Thank you, Mr. Dietrich. Uh questions my colleagues to the department at this time. I would like to invite the applicants represented forward. Um, and MissWim, since this is the variance, I will swear you in when you get to the podium. And just a reminder for the other public speaker signed speaking on this ordinance. Uh, since this is a variance request and council sitting in a quasi uh, judicial capacity, I will be swearing in everyone when they give testimony. Um, do you swear affirm the testimony about to give shall be the truth, nothing but the truth, as you shall answer under pains of penalty of perjury. So, please say I do. I do. Floor is yours, Miss.

Thank you. Uh, yeah, nice to see everyone again. Um so I um the first variance that is before us this evening is to section 3333.41H. Um that provision of the code requires that each townhouse uh shall have a minimum of 15 ft of frontage on a dedicated public street and the simplest variant uh way to explain this is we have private streets here and so we just need a variance from this. Um and we would submit that this variance will not substantially impact the surrounding properties. The surrounding properties are largely residential and neighborhood commercial in nature. Um it is consistent we believe with most of the surrounding uses uh and will allow for our kind of highquality fee simple town homes. We don't believe it will substantially alter the character of the neighborhood. Uh again we're consistent with residential residential here. Uh will not impact the delivery of governmental services. Um if anything it will be hopefully helpful to service impact because these are private streets that will be required to be maintained by the HOA. Um and design standards will not be negatively impacted by the presence of this variance. Uh so that's the first variance. I'll then address the next one. I need to create a record on this. So um the next variance um again is to code section 333.025. Um and this is for in the uh AR12 which is what we are going to requiring um townhouse development with no more than eight in a row and no less than three in a row. We do have kind of a fee simple standalone residential town home product. Um and uh it's a little bit of a different product than the code recognizes right now. And so we're looking for a variance there to allow for one unit in a row, one town home at a time. Um and again we would submit that this is consistent more consistent probably than attached town homes with the surrounding kind of character of the

area. Um it again allows for the town homes to be developed at at kind of the the price point that we're looking at. Will not substantially alter the character of the neighborhood. Uh they are intended to be sold. They are intended to be for sale product. Um will not impact the delivery of governmental services. uh and design standards will not be negatively impacted. Um the next variance that we have is uh to the lot line and that's a variance to code section 3333.41J. Um and we've got 25 ft for the build line from the front lot line irrespective of the orientation from the building. We are requesting a modest variance to that. Um we would like it to be 20 ft. Uh we would submit that this is not substantial and we would submit again that it allows us to slightly increase the density on the property. Uh does not substantially impact delivery of governmental services, does not alter the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Um and design standards will not be negatively impacted. Uh it also will allow for us to pull those houses forward a little bit out of that that ravine area. Um and then finally, uh variance to section 3333.41i. Um we would like to vary the sideyard setbacks to 5 foot sideyards. This is consistent with the residential development standards for straightforward residential. It is what is required. Um technically for any end unit in here in a town home development, it's 7 and 1/2 ft. But you could have three in a row that were connected that are zero lot line that have no sideyard setback between buildings. Um, and again, this is being done to allow for a type of housing of product that maybe isn't quite exactly reflected in the code with the town homes. And so again, we would submit that it will not

substantially alter the character of the neighborhood. It will allow for the look of the product that we want, the look of the houses that we want, will not impact the delivery of governmental services. This is consistent with fire code requirements. It's done on residential uh all of the time and is consistent with a more residential look. Um and uh it will not negatively impact the look of the other properties. And so those are the four council variances that are submitted concurrently with this design application. I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions for my colleagues for the applicants to represent? Seeing none, uh we can invite you back after uh public speakers. Okay.

As I mentioned, we have three public speakers to speak on this variance. Um I will call those speakers in order that the slips are received. First, we have Mr. Paul Peterson. Mr. Mr. Peterson, welcome to council. Again, just a reminder, I'll swear everyone in at the podium. Patterson, I'm sorry. Uh, do you swear affirm that testimony back to give up the truth, nothing but the truth, as you shall answer under pains of penalty perjury. If so, please say I do. I do. Floor is yours, sir.

Very good. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, members. My name is Paul Patterson. I live at 771 Old Oak Trace, which the property in question. More than 40 years ago, a well-known central Ohio developer, Bob Webb, and his company built 10 homes on a ridge bounded by two ravines, one on each side, nestled within an old growth forest as part of Worthington Hills. He understood that the natural beauty of the forest and the ravines would enhance the value and character of the homes built there. As the street name might suggest to you, the community was developed among dozens of oak trees that are well over 100 to 200 years old and still standing today. He built the houses in and around them. My property adjoins the property in question. The proposed development plan as it exists today would dramatically alter the environment we have known for decades. In its current form, the old growth forest on the property in question would largely be eliminated in contradiction to the Columbus urban forestry master plan, replacing a naturally wooded ravine or excuse me, naturally wooded view with an unnecessarily cramped housing complex. Meanwhile, the new development would continue to benefit from the views of the old growth forest on our side of the ravine. How is that fair? How is that consistent with responsible development that should seek to integrate respect, excuse me, to integrate respectfully into a neighborhood that has existed since the 1960s? The the request zoning relief from established development setback standards is clearly intended to increase dense, excuse me, increase development density. This increases in density will inevitably impact the character of our adjacent community and the aesthetics that residents have valued and become accustomed to over many decades. Maintaining the current standards between the home and structures

preserves both our quality of quality of life and the environment character environmental character that makes the area unique. I'm sorry, I'm trying to read through glasses and I can't. Support for these variances would erode what has taken generations to create. I urge you to consider voting no for these variances. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Any questions from my colleagues? Thank you. Um the next speaker to come for council is Mr. Brian Hunt. Welcome back.

I'll swear you in here in a second. Do you uh swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give sh the truth nothing but the truth as you shall answer under pain of penalty perjury. If so, please say I do. I do. Floor is yours, sir.

Thank you. Good evening, members of council. My name is Brian Hunt and I'm appearing on behalf of the ravines at Worththing Ridge Condominium Association, which has comprised the property owners adjacent to the property who will be directly affected by this development. Before I get into my prepared remarks, I'd just like to briefly respond to a statement earlier this evening that neighbors have attacked the developer. I haven't heard any personal attacks tonight. I've heard genuine, reasonable concerns about the way that this development will impact the neighboring property owners, and I think comments like that are neither warranted or accurate in this case. That said, we respectfully urge this council to deny the requested variances for multiple reasons. Before city council may grant a variance, it must find that the applicant has demonstrated practical difficulties under the seven factor test established by the Ohio Supreme Court in the case of Duncan v. Village of Middlefield, as well as the standards codified in section 3307.10 of the Columbus Code of Ordinances. Many of those factors weigh decisively against the approval in this case. First, the property can recognize a reasonable return without the variances. The applicant has claimed that no reasonable return is possible without the variances. Yet, the site currently operates as a realtor's office in a single family dwelling and thus the property plainly yields a current return today. Any hardship here is self-created and the inability to develop without variances flows from the applicant's chosen site configuration, not from any inherent characteristic of the land that makes code compliant development impossible. Second, the variances are substantial. The applicant claims the variances are not. Yet, in a single application, the applicant seeks to eliminate public street frontage for all 26 proposed lots, reduce sideyard setbacks from 7 1/2 to 5 ft on every lot, and cut front building lines from 25 ft to as little as 11 ft. These are not minor adjustments. Multiple simultaneous variances applied to every lot in the 26

development are by any reasonable measure substantial. Third, the neighborhood characteristics will be altered by the variances. This site is surrounded on three sides by single family dwellings. Those neighborhoods are defined by public streets, meaningful front yards, sideyard separation, and lower density. The variances would strip all of those features from this development and allow private streets with no public access, setbacks as shallow as 11 ft, a five foot sideyard on every lot, and higher density. It is those dimensional departures that create a risk of detriment to adjoining owners and the applicant has not shown otherwise. Fourth, the variances do circumvent the code's purpose. The public street requirement ensures emergency access and municipal services. The setback standards protect light, air, and neighbors reasonable privacy expectations. And waving all of these standards simultaneously across an entire development is not a variance from practical difficulties, nor is it in line with the code. It is a customtailored zoning district created for one applicant's preferred design. Thus, the practical difficulties are self-imposed. Just to be clear and to reiterate what's been said already, my client and its members do not oppose residential use or redevelopment of the site. We do however take issue with the elimination of the standards that Ohio law and the Columbus code require a showing of genuine practical difficulty to wave and respectfully that showing has not been made. Therefore, we ask the council deny the requested variances at this time and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hunt. Questions from council members. Thank you. Uh our final speaker to come for council, Mr. Rob Miller, council, sir, and I will swear you into the podium. Chair, if we have a question about when Well, should we just wait till after then we'll go back? Yeah, we'll either either ask you to direct question to the department or the applicant's representative. M raise your rating. Uh do you swear affirm the testim about to give sh the truth nothing but the truth as you shall answer under psal penalty perjury? If so, please say I do. I do. Floor is yours, sir.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Chair Dorren, Council President, uh Harden, and the council members for uh the opportunity to address this situation. My name is Robert Miller, owner at 718 Old Oak Trace, uh which is in the ravines at Worththing Ridge, just uh boring the south of that ravine. And I'll be very uh practical about you've heard lots of things today and and just to reiterate, we are not opposed and have never suggested be opposed to development of the property. It is a wonderful property that has uh beautiful characteristics and one of them is the ravine. And so I have just a very practical concern about the ravine and the building at the ravine because we've been consistent on that feedback that that's something that actually brings tremendous asset and value to our properties. And so that's not only just the visual, but I want to also talk about the fact that you're going to have those buildings that are going to be sunk down for walkout in that area. So you're going to have uh blasting and and destruction of the ravine. So setback is important in that time on that. So as I was reading through this and preparing a key aspect for this council in authorizing any variance, the city council will first determine that such variance will not and there's a number of things there unreasonably diminish or impair established property values. I'm very concerned that this will have a problem with our property values because of the potential for the change in drainage that's going on in there, the undermining of our foundation, our road driveway that accesses that has all of that is right on top of the uh on the side of the ravine. So to lose any of those types of things would have truly detrimental elements of it. If you do vote for the variance, I also noted that

the council may impose such requirements conditions regarding the development. So I would hope that in that that conditions and requirements around that ravine that protect the value that we see as we look out onto that. And so it's tremendously important to the asset and the value not only of our property but of the development's property to retain the quality of that ravine. So I look for you and ask you to vote against the the variance that's requested here before more work can be done to do that. So thank you very much.

Thank you Mr. Miller. Any questions for Miss my colleagues? Seeing none, I would invite Miss Gwyn back up for any additional comments. And council member, I don't know if you have a question directly for Miss Gwyn or for the department. Thank you. Miss, I'm going to have you make any comments you like. Then I know council member Barosa deputy has at least one question for you.

I'd just like to briefly address some of the Duncan factors quickly. Um in terms of a reasonable return, um there is a need to have a few more units on this property to to make to make this work. And so, um, while the property is presently vacant and there is on the southern parcel of a commercial real estate office, for our purposes, we need these variances to allow this to have a reasonable return. Um, there are existing conditions that make this property difficult and impose a practical difficulty. These are not self-created by the applicant. The first is the ravine that we've discussed extensively here. And frankly, the reduction in the front yard setback is going to allow us to pull those houses even further out of the ravine. So, it will serve the purpose um of making this more aesthetically pleasing development. This property also has a very significant grade. I believe it is approximately 70%. Um I'll let No. Okay. It's I'll let our engineers speak to the to the grade in support of this, but there is a significant grade that's at the property. Um, and there's a a switchback that's required for the existing drive. And that dictates not only the front yard setbacks that need to be reduced, but also the sideyard setbacks that again are just tightened up because these are all considered end units. Uh, and again, we think this actually serves the spirit and intent of the zoning ordinance because these variances help make it more consistent with single family dwelling units. Um, and so it it's more consistent with the neighboring properties. It's more consistent with uh what's around it and it allows us to respect the difficult conditions on the site all while frankly helping with delivery of governmental services given that these are private roads. And so answer your question. Thank you. question.

Um, again, this is just kind of the look and feel of the community. They're proposed to be private streets at this point. Um, it started out as an AR, it is an ARLD. Uh, private streets are required in an ARLD. I believe they're set forth in the code. Uh, and so private streets consistent with the ARLD code, but we'd like to be able to do fe simple lots, platted lots, and that's the reason for the variance. So, yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions from council members? Thank you, Miss Good. Thank you.

Um, so again, I think as it's been stated a number of times by by folks for and against this proposal, this is an incredibly unique property. Uh, whenever we see properties that are this unusual, uh, we tend to see more variance requests simply to try and make uh, projects fit and work. Uh, you know, I've had a chance to review the staff reports, um, and certainly appreciate all the testimony that's been provided here tonight. I do believe the applicant has met their burden under the Duncan factors in order to justify these hardships. Um, so therefore, I move to accept the entire separate indues exhibit by voice. Bankston Padilla,

Dorren, yes. Remy, yes. Ross, yes. White, President Harden, yes. Thank you. And next move to adopt the final steps, the fines of council by voice. Call the role. Bankston, yes. Barosa de Padilla, Dorren, yes. Reie, yes. Ross, President Harden, yes. Thank you. I finally move for passes by voice. Please call the robot. Bankston, yes. Barrosa de Padilla Dorens. Yes. Remy, yes. Ross White, President Harden.

Thank you. Next, we have ordinance 1295-226 grand variance provisions of section 3356. 33 C4 permitted uses 3361.02 permitted use of the Columbus DOS for property located at 3600 Park Mill Run Drive to allow for an accessory outdoor storage in the CPD commercial plan development district. This is a concurrent variance to a reszoning ordinance we heard tonight earlier on our agenda. The requested council variance will allow accessory storage uses as part of a home improvement retail development. Council variance is required because the current zoning district does not allow outdoor storage. The approval the proposal is approved from city staff and the west side area commission. I first move to accept the entire staff report and do evidence as an exhibit. Banks Tim Rosa de Padilla Dorance Remy Ross President Hardy

accept it. Thank you. I next move to adopt the five staffs finance council. Clerk, please call the role. Bankston Barosa de Padilla, Dorren Ros, sorry, Dorren Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Adopt it. Thank you. Finally, move for passage. Please call the role. Bankston Barrosa Deadia Dorren Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next, we have ordinance 1346-2026, the granance provision section 3367.01, M2 manufacturing district 331 point uh 3312.49 49C required parking this city codes property located at 350 McCormack Boulevard to allow accessory eating, drinking and retail use of reduced parking in the N2 manufacturing district. Site consists of one parcel develop a mix of recreational warehousing and manufacturing uses and the council variance will allow 2,179 square ft of accessory eating, drinking or retail space within existing recreation facility. The council variance required because the current zoning district does not allow eating and drinking or retail uses. Advance to reduce required parking from 226 to 201 spaces is also included in the request proposal as approved from city staff in the far east area commission. Uh we had one public speaker on this ordinance, Mr. Bill Taylor, but that speaker decided to rescend their wish to speak at this committee hearing. Therefore, I first move to accept the entire staff report into evidence as an exhibit.

Click please call the role. Thanks. Temperosa Deia Dorance Remy Ross, White President Harden. Accept it. I move to adopt the finance of staff, the finance of council. Cler please call the role. Bankston Barrosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross White President Harden adopt it. Finally move for passage. Click please call the role. Banks Barrosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden pass.

And finally we have ordinance 1350-126 grant variance provision section 3332.035 R3 residential district 3312.49 C require parking in 3321. 5D2 vision clearance and 333 2.5 A4 acre. Just get allowed with requirements 333 2.13 R3 area district requirements 333 2.18D basic computing area 333 2.21 building line 333 2.25 A3 required side yards and 333 2.27 rear yard of the Columbus City Coast for property located at 574-576 Kelton Avenue to allow two unit dwelling with reduced development standards in the R3 residential district. site consists of one undeveloped parcel and the requested council of variance will allow the site to be developed with a twounit dwelling. A council of variance required because the current district prohibits two two unit dwellings. A variance will require parking vision clearance lot width lot area lot coverage building setback sideyard and rear yard are also included in this request. Proposal approved from city staff and the near east area commission. First move to accept the entire step into evidence as an exhibit. Clerk please call the role.

Banks timber roa day padilla adorns Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Accept it. Thank you. And next move to adopt the finance of staff finance of council. Click please call the role. Banks timber roa de padia dors remy ros vice president Harden. Adopted. Thank you. If I move passage please call the role. Banks roa de padilla dors remy ros vice president Harden. Passed. All we have tonight in the zoning committee. Council president. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. Second. Cler please call the role. Bank simposia adorns Remy Ross vice president Harden

meeting is adjourned Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey.

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. prior to the creation of the purchase order to wave the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code. to authorize the expenditure of $661,500 from the general fund and to declare an emergency. I move to postpone to the June 1st, 2026 regular council meeting.

Second cler, please call the role. Thanks Denver Rosa Padilla Dors Remy Ross vice president Harden. Postpone.

Next I have 1377 2026 to authorize the appropriation expenditure of 250,000 within the neighborhood initiatives sub fund to authorize the Columbus City Attorney's Office to extend service contracts with MDDR Enterprises Inc. and Lindsay Automotive, Inc. for vehicle maintenance and/or repair services for the city's project tail light public safety and crimerevention program through April 30th, 2027 to authorize the reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the issuance of a purchase order and to declare an emergency. It is such an honor to present this ordinance to my colleagues tonight, which provides 250,000 to continue project taillight. This is a program that I've supported for years because of its practical, effective, and directly tied to the to the work of public safety and criminal justice committee. A broken tail light, worn tires, bad brakes, or another minor vehicle issue may seem small, but for many residents, the cost of that repair can create a real burden. Too often, families are forced to choose between fixing the car, paying a bill, buying groceries, or risking a citation. Project Taillight helps solve those problems before they become bigger. It gets vehicles repaired, keeps drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safer and reduces the need for officers to initiate avoidable stops um over equipment violation and that matters. So every time we can prevent an unnecessary traffic stop, we are helping keep officers available for more serious calls for service and more urgent public safety needs across our c um excuse me, across our neighborhoods. Um we are just excited to work with the city attorney's office for them to help um implement that. Um we're excited that we are helping, you know, many of these people that get this assistance are single mothers

um that wouldn't be able to get their cars fixed otherwise. That means, you know, doctor's appointments, that means work, that means school, all of those things um are being cured with with this program. So, we have made the investment to invest in this work year after year because it brings so much value to the residents and to the broader community. Um, it's this funding also supports local automotive businesses that are doing repair work and help deliver the program directly to residents. So, I want to thank city attorney Klene, his team, vice chair Ross for her support and splitting this with me and our repair partners for helping move the program forward forward. I could go on and on, but let me see if you have anything to say. In the interest of time, I will not read all that I have here to say, but I will say that this um program was born out of a review of traffic data, which which basically resulted in um data that showed us that um a large majority of folks that are pulled over from equipment violations have myriad barriers when it comes to financial stability in our community. Um, and so I am proud to support this, not only to reduce um, contentious experiences between community and law enforcement because a lot of those are born from traffic stops for equipment violations, but also to ensure that folks are um to ensure that we are supporting the reduction of barriers to both transportation and affordability in our community. So proud to support this legislation.

Thank you, Council Member Ross. Council member Rosa, Deputy. Um, it is such a good program. I love it so much. Can you also let folks know how they can find out about it? Like if they want to use the services, how and where do they go? You know, um that's a really good question. I think look up project tail light with the city of Columbus and you will find um that information on the website. So I um need to have that uh let me see if I can do it fast enough. It's um city attorney. It's under the city attorney's office, but if you go ahead and look it up online, you'll find it right right there. And the email address is project taillight@colus.gov.

Perfect. I just I know that it is um it is incredibly helpful for folks and um especially for the folks who need it. I mean, the same way we talk about potholes can be detrimental, so can you know a broken tail light, so can your brakes, so can all these other things that folks can't always afford. And so being able to know how to access those resources is also just incredibly important. And thank you for um continuing to support this program because we've heard time and time again stories from folks and how this has been um so helpful to them and especially these sorts of blessings always come along when you need it the most. So thank you.

Thank you so much, council member. Um are there any other comments or questions? Seeing none, I move for passage. Second. Please call the ro. Banks Timber Rosa de Padilla Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden.

Next I have 1505 20.26 to authorize and direct the director of public department of public safety to modify and extend the contract with change healthcare technology enabled services LLC for EM EMS billing collection and reporting services from May 31st 2026 to August 31st 2026 to authorize the expenditure of 350,000 from the general fund to wave the competitive bidding provision of the Columbus city codes and to declare an emergency. Competitive bidding is requested to be weighed because change healthcare technology enabled services is uniquely positioned to complete the collection of outstanding receivables that they've already been working on. Emergency action is necessary to allow for immediately collection of unpaid debts. So as the city transitions to a new EMS billing vendor, there are still outstanding EMS receivables that need to be collected and properly closed out. Change healthcare is the current provider, so they are already in position to continue to do the work during this short transition. An extension could mean an increase in revenue for the city of up to $1.8 million. I also want to clarify that this expense is directly tied to collection activity. The vendor is compensated based on revenue collected and not being paid otherwise. So the city is paying for work that helps recover dollars that may go uncollected. So are there any questions or comments from my colleagues? Seeing none, I move for passage. Second

Bangston Bara Deia Dors Remy Ross Vice President Harden. Thank you very much council president. That's all I have tonight. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The next committee to come before council is the housing, homelessness, and building committee. That committee is chaired by chair council member Ross. Council member floor is yours.

Thank you, council president. Actually, tonight we have three pieces of important legislation up for a second read. I will start with ordinance number 1213-2026. And while I am reading the ordinance number, I would ask Ambishoff to uh come to the podium. This is to authorize the director of the department of development to enter into a capital contribution agreement with the starhouse for facility renovations to authorize the expenditure in an amount of of up to $1 million within the department development taxable bond fund and to authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule. Starhouse once operated as a 24-hour drop-in center and is currently the only drop-in center for youth ages 14 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness. At the drop-in center, youth are provided immediate access to food, clothing, hygiene items, laundry facilities, showers, and a safe place to be, as well as access, therapy, case management, housing, transportation, healthcare, employment, education, addiction services, legal aid, government benefits, ID cards, and more. In 2025, Starhouse reported that youth who visited the drop-in center for 90 days or more reported the outcomes of secured critical IDs, enabling them to sign leases, get jobs, enroll in school, obtain jobs, disproving myths about homelessness and unemployment, received healthc care thanks to on-site partners like Nationwide Children's and Columbus Public Health, participated in case management with our trained clinical team, chose to engage in therapy, taking steps to address trauma and PTSD, obtained housing amidst the nationwide affordable housing, crisis and this funding will allow renovations to the second drop-in center on the southside and renovations of the current facility in the Milo Grogan community. This investment will ensure that youth in the community have safe, well-maintained and adequate place for reprieve and resource provision during their stay. Um, thank you to C the CEO of Starhouse for being here today and Bishoff will allow you to provide comment before I move for passage.

Thank you and good evening, President Harden, Chair Ross, council members. I appreciate the chance to share this evening. My name is Anne Bishoff, CEO of Starhouse. I'm here today in support of ordinance 1213206 to authorize the director of department the department of development to enter into a capital contribution agreement with Starhouse for facility renovations. For two decades, Starhouse has partnered with youth ages 14 to 24 as they exit homelessness and thrive. Our success has been made possible by a long-standing partnership with the city of Columbus and other key partners. Our Milo Gorgan Dropin Center is the only place in central Ohio where young people experiencing homelessness have immediate year-round access to safety, basic needs, and stabilizing resources all in one place. Every day we meet young people navigating trauma, exploitation, family rejection, violence, and housing instability. The environment we provide matters deeply. Safe, welcoming, and functional spaces help young people stabilize, engage in services, and begin envisioning a different future. Last school year, we served more than 1,700 individual drop-in center guests, double the number served four years before that. After more than a decade of operating 365 days a year out of the Milo Groen drop-in center, and with demand for services growing, the facility is in urgent need of renovations and infrastructure improvements. This proposed investment would strengthen our ability to serve youth with dignity, safety, and effectiveness by supporting essential facility upgrades. Planned improvements include the creation of additional therapy and case management offices and educational play space for the young children of our guests, updated HVAC systems, additional showers and bathrooms, muchneeded flooring repairs, parking lot repairs to address flooding and drainage issues, and other critical facility enhancements. The impact of our services prevents chronic homelessness into adulthood in our community. Among youth who engaged with Starhouse

services for 90 days or more, an overwhelming majority obtained housing, secured employment, accessed medical services, obtained crucial IDs, and more. These outcomes are possible because young people have a stable, trusted place that serves as a safety net and a launchpad into stability. We're grateful to the city of Columbus for your long-standing partnership and commitment to young people who are exiting homelessness. On behalf of the youth we serve, our staff, our board, and community partners, thank you for your consideration, and I respectfully ask for your support of ordinance 1213 2026. Thank you, and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you, Ann. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? Council,

no, just thank you. Thank you for the incredible work that you do. I'm so excited about um the new building on the south side and the way that you're going to be able to treat folks. I think you and I have had conversations about this, it's just so critical for our young people um to I think increasingly as we think about intentional work that we need to do in communities uh with what our young people are facing today is so critical. And so Starhouse has stood in that gap for a very long time. And so continuing to develop that work and um meet be in community and in different areas of the community so that we can meet our young people where they are is just so critical. So thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for your support. Thank you Ann. We are certainly excited about the growth of Starhouse and the resource that you all continue to provide to our young people and community. And so if there are no other comments or questions for my colleagues, I'll move for passage. Second. Thanks Denver Remy Ross. Vice President Harden. pass.

Thank you, Council President. The second piece of legislation is ordinance number 1368-2026 to authorize the city attorney to enter into contracts with Columbus Next Generation Corporation and Habitat for Humanity Mid Ohio to provide home repair services under the owner occupied initiative program to authorize the reimbursement of qualifying expenses incurred prior to the creation of the PE purchase orders to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of funds within the general fund neighborhood initiative sub fund and to declare an emergency. I will talk a little bit about the owner occupied initiative program, but we'll ask Tracy uh if you could come to the podium while I give some information. The owner occupied program initiative program is a collaboration between the city of Columbus office of the city attorney and the Franklin County environmental courts to assist homeowners throughout the city, particularly those who are elderly and or disabled in repairing code violations on their homes. Repair work has included roof repair and replacement, gutters, painting, sewer line work, porch and foundation repair, removal of dead trees, and remediation of overgrown vegetation. Council has extended the program through the end of this year and authorized Columbus Next Generation Corporation and Habitat for Humanity Mid Ohio as partners in completing the relevant repairs. And thank you so much to my friend from Next Generation Corporation for being here. Um, I will pass it over to you for remarks before I move for passage. Thank you so much, Chairman Ross, Council President Harden, and our members of council. Thank you for this opportunity to come before you. Um, most of you, I know, some of you I've not had the pleasure of meeting. My name is Tracy Taylor. Double T for double trouble, but usually is good trouble. And I am a graduate of Eastmore. Yes. So, at the end of 2021, uh the city attorney's office, that client's office noticed increasing code violations and due to COVID, it kind of got backed up a little bit more. So, they need seen a need to try and get some emergency funding to try and

decrease some of these code violations and to help our seniors stay in the homes that they have. Um, Columbus Next Generation's goal is to redevelop in urban city neighborhoods, either it be new developments or repairing some of the buildings that are there. We also believe in our mission, and this is my personal mission, that you cannot build new buildings and rehab buildings without addressing the social issues. And this program does both. It helps keeps our most vulnerable seniors. And a lot of those seniors have custody of their grandchildren in the homes that they worked for and raised their families in. Um over the last four and a half, five years, we have helped over 80 families to stay in their homes. Um they do have to live in the home and own the home. Um, we have done repairs from minor repairs from putting up a porch railing to gutters to replacing and repairing roofs to major plumbing um, ex work for most of the homes. Um, one of the things that is very personal for me is almost every homeowner when I do initial contact with them, they say to me, I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose my home. This is what I worked for. this is what where I raised my family. I'm scared. Can you help me? And I think that this program helps validate that with our housing crisis. There's nowhere for them to go. And it also for the future homeowners, I believe that this structure of rebuilding these homes provides for our future homeowners. I I greatly appreciate and I and I hope that we have continued support from the council for this program. I see that it has had a very valuable effect on the community not just financially but socially which I sometimes is more important than just

the numbers. Um Columbus NextGen has integrated this program in long terms um because this is a part of our mission and we hope to continue to see it grow and we are blessed to be a part of it. Thank you for your continued support and thank you for your time this evening.

Thank you Tracy. Any comments or questions from my colleagues? Um, we certainly appreciate the work of Next Generation Corporation and also Habitat for Humanity Mid Ohio. Um, as someone who used to work in the city attorney's office and also manage the owner occupied initiative docket, I too can attest to um, not only the um, increase in health outcomes that aging in place and allowing for aging in place has on our community, but also it meets the strategy that we as a city of Columbus have to promote affordability in our community by the preservation of housing stock in our community. And so, um, I certainly thank you for, uh, being a partner in this work. It takes several conversations. It takes lots of handholding. It takes lots of back and forth. And it takes a special person to be able to walk someone through this process. And so we appreciate you for your partnership um your continued partnership in this program. And so that council member doesn't ask me in order to receive access to services as a part of the owner occupied initiative, you do first have to have a code violation and there has to be an open environmental court case. But on that code violation, there is always a name and a number right at the bottom. If you call that name and that number and you qualify for these resources, you will get the help. And so instead of ignoring the code violation, please lean in uh please call, please ensure that you're engaging uh with this process so that you can receive the resources that may be available to you. Well, and and I just want to say the last thing I want to say is I think as people get older, you know, your your money doesn't go as far and especially when you're taking care of other family members. And so those critical needs, you sometimes can't even take care of them. And so this is why this is so important because it's not just about staying in your home also means that that roof gets fixed and that those other issues are addressed. So I think that's that's the most important

point. I think that that this is a gap that we fill because of that. Agreed. Agreed. Thank you, Tracy. And if there are no com if there are no other comments or questions, I will move her for passage. Banks Bar Roa de Padilla Dorance Reie Ross, Vice President Harden.

Thank you, Council President. And the final piece of legislation is ordinance number 1465-2026. And before I read it, oh, she's already coming up because she's been here before. Uh we'd like to welcome president and CEO of the community shelter board, Shannon Isam. And this ordinance is to authorize the director of the department of development to enter into a grant agreement with the community shelter board in an amount up to $13,75,000 for the purpose of continuing the city's support for men, women, and families who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in Columbus. to authorize the payment of expenses prior to purchase order execution starting January 1st, 2026 to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $4 million within the neighborhood partnerships capital fund. At this time only 3,654,65464 is available and the additional $345,345.36 will be received near the end of May and at that time should be appropriated and an ACPO should be established for use for this agreement to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to 13,75,000 to authorize the payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages as they are an integral part of their operational cost to allow funding to be advanced to the agency on a predetermined schedule and to declare an emergency. This funding will allow CSB to continue to provide five initiatives to address homelessness in our community. The continuum of care application, crisis response, outreach services, permanent supportive housing services, safety net program, and hotel cost office of violence prevention. These programs provide support for men, women, and families who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in Columbus. CSB leads a coordinated community effort to make sure everyone has a place to call home. And with that, I will pass it to President and CEO of the Community Shelter Board, Shannon Ism. Thank you for being at council

today.

Absolutely. And thank you. Good evening, Chair Ross and Vice Chair uh Chair Ross, Vice Chair, and then Council President Harden, members of the council. Uh thank you for your time, energy, and effort as well towards this. This is not lost on me that we've asked for the the largest amount of dollars from this council, and you said yes. So, thank you. I know that there are many, many, many voices uh that made this possible. Each time that I have the opportunity to speak about homelessness, I approach it with the understanding that many of you many of you understand the complexities and the challenges that are before us. Sometimes though it feels absolutely unrelenting um and striden and untenable. Um but homelessness um we know is persistent at times that um it its need can feel like it is always outpacing our resources. But this region has refused to accept that. The council in particular has refused to accept that. Columbus and Franklin County have built a strategy, a system, and a coordinated response that has been designed to meet these needs. And the evidence tells us that this works if we stay the course. Homelessness is not inevitable. It is not inevitable. Um, really quickly, New York's Times today had an opinion piece that was entitled Affordable Housing in America. And the central argument is that the US housing crisis is fundamentally a shortage problem. And as with America, all of America, it has made far too um um few housing um development. And it's we're underbuilding. is it's hard for us to keep up, but that under underbuilding has been for decades. And this underbuilding has pushed ownership and

rent beyond reach for many households. So, um um it talks also about increased opportunity metro areas. Franklin County is one of them. We are struggling with supply. So we come here, I come here from community shelter board understanding that this coordinated system response of accountability, partnership and shared responsibility also says that our progress is predicated on a strong voice where community alignment is important in sharing the responsibility but also that we have to have to be dedicated that homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring. And that can only happen if we have more housing. Um, so as the federally designated UFA for Columbus and Franklin County Community Shelter Boards leads this funding, this data, this strategy, the partnership across the coordinated network for 16 nonprofit agencies to ensure that our response system remains responsive and effective and that our programs are a part of the investment, but that housing must be the end goal for the readiness of these partners. The city's $13 million sustains this core function of this system. Um, Councilwoman Ross, you mentioned it. Prevention, diversion, emergency shelter, outreach, pathways to housing stability is the key. Housing stability. We must um ensure that we are focused on housing. So, while we continue to make progress, these headwinds are growing. Um many of you know I won't um sit down before taking the opportunity that the point in time count showed us a couple of things that um homelessness is increasing um that nonsheltered homelessness saw a 43% increase over the previous year and we know that this will continue to increase. Why do we know this? We predictive modeling told us so. And so, uh, these dollars that will be

put, every dollar will be put on the ground for homelessness and housing. Um, but, um, my voice if before I sit down, um, would be remiss if I don't say that the work that we continue and the investment um, is um, more than just shelter beds, but it must be to protect the readiness of our system. So, on behalf of the community shelter board, our system partners, uh, we ask for your support for the ordinance. Thank you, um, Councilwoman Ross, bringing this forward. And we thank council, we thank Mayor Gther, Director Michael Stevens, and the Department of Development for your continued leadership and making homelessness rare and brief, helping us to make it non-recurring across our region. Thank you for your time, and I'm happy to answer any questions and along with this ordinance. Thank you, President Isim. Uh any questions or comments for President Isim from my colleagues. We certainly thank you for all of the work that you continue to do. It's not easy work. It is hard work. And um we appreciate all of the partners who you support in this work. And um I'm going to allow my chair or vice chair to make comment if he would like to. Okay. Awesome. Well, this is the best package of legislation I think I've passed to date. Um, so I'm very excited. If there are no if there are no other comments or questions from my colleagues, I'll move for passage.

Please call the Bangston Barosa Deodia Dors Remy Ross, vice president Harden. Passed. That is it for me. Thank you. Thank you, madam chair. Good work tonight. Uh, the final committee coming for council is the public utilities and sustainability committee chaired by council member Weiss. Council floor is yours.

Thank you, council president. We were so close everyone to not going last. We'll try again next week. Um, first I have ordinance 882-2026 to authorize the director of public utilities to enter into a construction contract with Gossing Industrial Incorporated for the Parsons Avenue Wellfield Development Project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement budget to appropriate funds within the water freshwater market rate fund to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project to authorize the expenditure of up to $33,85,400 from the Waterfresh water market rate fund to pay for the project and to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,000 from the water bond fund to pay for prevailing wage services. This project involves the construction of a seventh radial uh collector well at the Parsons Avenue water plant, helping to offset the anticipated future loss of other collector wells. This work will ensure that the Parsons Avenue water plant is able to continue treating and supplying safe drinking water to Columbus and other surrounding communities. Let me stop there, see if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Please call the roll. Banks timber roa deodia dors remy ross vice president Harden pass.

Thank you. Next I have 105-2026 to authorize the director of the department of public utilities to modify and increase the contract with Burgess and Niple Incorporated for the Jackson Pike water acclamation plant screening improvements project to authorize the appropriation and transfer of funds from the sanitary sewer reserve fund to the water pollution control loan fund. to authorize the appropriation of funds within the sanitary revolving loan fund to authorize an expenditure of up to $2,380,53 from the water pollution control loan fund to pay for the project and to declare an emergency. This project involves improvements to two aging mechanical screens at the Jackson Pike water reclamation plant. These screens are necessary for removing large debris from the wastewater that enters the plant. Emergency designation is requested as the existing screens cannot adequately remove debris and could therefore cause damage or extra repair expense in the future. Let me stop there and see if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Please call the role. Banks dimperosa deodia dorms Remy Ross vice president Harden pass.

Thank you. Next, I have 1058-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Glass, Pike, Schumer, Burns, and De Haven Incorporated for the Division of Water Reclamation, Sanitary Pump Stations Construction Project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund to authorize this contract to be funded with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority. approving a loan for this project and to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,58,861.31 from the sanitary revolving loan fund for the contract. This ordinance involves a variety of improvements to the division of water reclamation sanitary pump stations which are essentially to uh which are essential to the collection of wastewater. These improvements will ensure that the pump stations have the capacity to keep up with demand and maintain peak operational performance. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Second cler, please call the role.

Banks Denver Rosa deorns Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Passed.

Thank you. Next, I have 1117-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Technology on behalf of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a contract with Realtime Networks Incorporated for hosting an ongoing support of an electric key management system to wave the combat bidding provisions of chapter 329 of Columbus City codes and to authorize expenditure of $8,16 from the Department of Technology Information Services Division Information Services Operating Fund. This ordinance provides the funding for the maintenance and ongoing support of Columbus Water and Powers's electronic key system which enhances the security of the department's facilities, vehicles, and other assets. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Cler,

please call the role. Thanks Denver Rey Ross Vice President Harden.

Pass. Thank you. Next, I have 1133-2026. to authorize the director of public utilities to enter into a construction contract with the lead excavating company of Ohio Incorporated for the Youngs Drive Area Waterline Improvements Project to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize the director of public utilities to apply for and accept a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority Direct Loan Program for the Young's Drive Area Water Line Improvements Project to appropriate funds within the Waterfresh Water Market Rate Fund to authorize an expenditure of up to 7,478 $8,897.80 from the water market rate fund for the contract to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for the project and to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,000 from the water bond fund to pay for prevailing wage services. This project consists of the installation of approximately 10,575 linear feet of new water manes as well as the replacement of privatelyowned lead and galvanized water service lines in the Northland community. This project will improve water service, reduce burden on water maintenance operations, and minimize water loss. Let me stop there, see if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

I please call the role. Thanks. Timber adorns Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next, I have 1142-2026 to authorize the director of public utilities to enter into a construction contract with complete general construction company for the community park Maple Canyon Home Sewage Treatment System Elimination Project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement budget to appropriate funds within the water pollution control load fund to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the sanitary bond fund to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project and to authorize the expenditure of up to 2,152,55120 from the water pollution control loan fund and the storm bond fund to pay for the project. This project consists of the installation of approximately 2200 linear feet of sanitary sewer mains as well as other improvements to existing storm infrastructure in the Northland community. This work will mitigate drainage and flooding issues and prevent sanitary sewer overflows to basement and waterways. Let me stop there, see if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Second,

clerk, please call the role. Banks temporarosa adorns Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Passed. Thank you. Next, I have 1164-2026 to authorize and direct the city auditor to appropriate and transfer funds from the special purpose POS settlement fund to Columbus Water and Power Water Operating Fund. In July 2025, the city authoriz uh the city was authorized to accept settlement claims in a product liability case. This ordinance authorizes transfer of these funds so that they can be used by the division of water for the purpose of improving water quality. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Clerk, please call the role. Thanks. Timber adors Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next, I have ordinance 1206-2026 to authorize the director of public utilities to modify the service contract with Senegro Central LLC for the Parsons Avenue water plant residuals removal and disposal Lagoon 3 project and to authorize the expenditure of up to $12 million from the water operating fund. This project involves the removal and disposal of residual waste materials collected during the water purification process. This work will preserve the existing lagoon allowing it to continue being used for residual storage and avoiding more uh other more costly solutions. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Please call the role. Thanks. Tempered Padilla Dors Remy Ross vice president Harden

pass.

Thank you. Next, I have 1215-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with JLD Construction Services LLC for the lead service line replacements part three project to amend the 2025 capital improvement budget to authorize a transfer of cash appropriation between the water system reserve fund and the water supply revolving loan account fund to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to 10,756,912 from the water supply revolving loan account fund for the contract to authorize the expendure of up to 2,000 $2,000 from the water bond fund to pay for prevailing wage services and to declare an emergency. Uh this ordinance funds the replacement of lead water service lines in the greater hilltop community, an estimated 548 public side and 274 private side service lines will be replaced. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role. Bank Rosa, dear Dorren, Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next, I have ordinance 1223-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with uh Peterson Highway Safety Incorporated for the purchase and delivery of 20 solar powered trailer mounted arrow boards for the Department of Public Utilities to wave competitive bidding provisions of chapter 329 of Columbus City Code and to authorize expenditure of $93,800 from the water operating fund. These arrow boards will be used by maintenance supervisors and barricade crews to direct the flow of traffic in the event of road closures, therefore creating a safe parking area for crews to fix water main breaks. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage.

Clerk, please call the role. Thanks, Tempos. Deporns Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Pass.

Thank you. Next, I have 1254-2026 to authorize the director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify the contract with J&D Home Improvement LLC doing business as the basement doctor for the blueprint volunteer sump pump 2025B project to authorize an amendment to the 2025 capital improvement budget to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the sanitary bond fund and to authorize an expenditure of $1 million from the sanitary bond fund to pay for the contract modification. As one of the main pillars of the blueprint process, this project consists of residents volunteering for the installation of some pumps in their homes. This will reduce excess uh storm water entering the city sanitary sewer system, thus minimizing sewer overflows to basements and waterways. Let me stop there. See if any questions or comments from my colleagues. Seeing none, I move for passage. Cler,

please call the role. Banks temporarosa dorsy Ross vice president Harden passed. Thank you. And last, I have ordinance uh 1389-2026 to authorize and direct the director of the Department of Public Service, sorry, to enter into a contract with NextStar Broadcasting Incorporated doing business as WCMH for marketing campaign services for the Cleaner Columbus Initiative, to authorize an appropriation expenditure within the neighborhood initiative sub fund, to wave the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code, and to declare an emergency I will kick things over to my vice chair, council member Remy, to speak to this last ordinance in the committee.

Thank you very much, Council Member W. Uh, this is an ordinance that I've been proud to found and it's an ongoing initiative for my office. Cleaner Columbus has made a real positive change in the community over the years. This ordinance allows our annual contract with NBC4 to continue marketing and creating public awareness for support for the Cleaner Columbus initiative. Cleaner Columbus starts be started because residents told us clearly that litter in our streets, alleys, and neighborhoods affects their quality of life and pride in where they live. This partnership with NBC4 helps us reach more residents, promote sustainability, and make sure people know and about future opportunities to get involved, provides jobs and opportunities to earn money for nonprofits to those that help with our cleanup efforts across the city. So, we saw exactly how that worked last week with our fifth annual citywide cleanup where we had more than 300 volunteers and and collected almost 10,000 lbs of litter. So, thank you, Council Member White. Appreciate the opportunity to share. Have a great

No worries, Vice Chair. And with that, I move for passage. Please call the role. Thanks. Timber Dors Remy Ross, Vice President Harden. Passed. Thank you. That is all I have from my committee this evening. Thank you, Mr. Chair see no further business come for council. Is there a motion to adjourn? Climber Rosia Dors Remy writes Ross Weiss. President Harden pass. We have three agendas.