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2026-05-18 - Columbus City Council

Summary

Built from the final minutes (regular meeting no. 25). No agenda or video is recorded for this meeting. The minutes record motions and votes but no debate or public comment. The next regular meeting was 2026-06-01 - Columbus City Council; the minutes note there was no meeting on Monday, May 25, 2026 in observance of Memorial Day.

  • Called to order 5:11 PM. Present (7): Bankston, Barroso De Padilla, Dorans, Remy, Ross, Wyche and President Hardin. Absent (2): Day-Achauer and Green. Every recorded vote was therefore 7-0.
  • Journal dispensed with and approved 7-0 (Remy / Wyche). Hardin stated one correction to the May 11 journal: zoning ordinances 0290-2026, 0291-2026, 1035-2026 and 1036-2026 inadvertently appeared as first-read items on the 5/11/2026 agenda, but they had their first reading on 4/20/2026 (see Hard Road Apartment Rezoning for 0290 and 0291).
  • Liquor permit communication C0024-2026 (a D-5J transfer for World of Beer Easton, new D-5 and D-3A permits, and a D-5 transfer on North High Street) read and filed. No resolutions of expression were taken up.
  • First reading of 24 items, titles waived (Ross / Remy, 7-0): technology contracts, the CDBG extension, Future Ready Five and United Way education contracts, the alarm fee write-off, and 14 Public Utilities items.
  • Consent agenda of 65 items (45 ordinances and resolutions plus 20 board and commission appointments) approved 7-0 (Ross / Wyche).
  • Second-reading and emergency calendar of 31 items: 30 approved 7-0 (two of them first amended as submitted to the Clerk) and one, the SoundThinking contract, postponed to June 1 (Remy / Ross, 7-0).
  • Recessed 6:38 PM (Dorans / Remy, 7-0); reconvened 8:34 PM (Ross / Wyche, 7-0); adjourned 9:13 PM (Ross / Wyche, 7-0).

Complete Streets Policy Requirement

  • 1392-2026 (sponsor Barroso De Padilla): requires the Director of Public Service to adopt and regularly evaluate a Complete Streets policy; amends section 219.034, enacts section 2105.02 and repeals the existing section 219.034. Barroso De Padilla / Remy; approved 7-0.

Participatory Budget Recommendations

  • 0127X-2026 (sponsor Bankston): accepts the 2026 Participatory Budget Steering Committee's recommendations for the Our Voice, Our Choice Budget and acknowledges the city's role in supporting residents through the remaining phases. First reading only on 5/18; adopted 9-0 on June 1.

Community Shelter Board Homelessness Funding

  • 1465-2026: grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board of up to $13,075,000 to continue support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness; payment of expenses allowed from January 1, 2026; an appropriation of up to $4,000,000 in the Neighborhood Partnerships Capital Fund, of which only $3,654,654.64 was then available and the additional $345,345.36 was expected near the end of May; funding advanced on a predetermined schedule. Ross / Wyche; 7-0.

Parsons Avenue Wellfield Construction

  • 0882-2026: construction contract with Kokosing Industrial, Inc. for the Parsons Avenue Wellfield Development project, up to $33,805,400 from the Water Fresh Water Market Rate Fund plus $2,000 for prevailing wage services ($33,807,400 total), contingent on Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) loan approval. Wyche / Barroso De Padilla; 7-0.

Lead Service Line Replacement Contracts

  • 1215-2026: JLD Construction Services, Lead Service Line Replacements Part 3, up to $10,756,912 plus $2,000 for prevailing wage ($10,758,912), from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund; emergency. Wyche / Bankston; 7-0.
  • 1278-2026 (consent): planned modification with Stantec Consulting Services for construction administration and inspection of Part 3, up to $999,291.15.

Water Utility Contract Approvals

  • Second reading, all moved by Wyche and approved 7-0: 1133-2026 Elite Excavating, Youngs Drive Area water lines, up to $7,478,897.80 plus $2,000 (OWDA loan contingent); 1142-2026 Complete General Construction, Community Park/Maple Canyon home sewage treatment elimination, up to $2,152,551.20; 1005-2026 Burgess & Niple, JPWRP Screening Improvements increase, up to $2,380,053; 1058-2026 Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & DeHaven, DWR Sanitary Pump Stations, up to $2,058,861.31; 1164-2026 transfer of $2,288,967.85 from the PFAS Settlement Fund to the Water Operating Fund; 1206-2026 Synagro Central, Parsons Avenue Water Plant residuals removal (Lagoon 3), up to $12,000,000; 1254-2026 The Basement Doctor, Blueprint Volunteer Sump Pump 2025 B, $1,000,000; 1117-2026 Real Time Networks key management system, $80,106 (bidding waived); 1223-2026 Peterson Highway Safety, twenty solar arrow boards, $93,800 (bidding waived).
  • First reading of 18 Public Utilities items later approved: the Youngs Drive inspection contract, Hill International ($4,250,200), Eakin Road, Bulen Road, Walhalla Ravine, Hansen Banner ($797,680.36), the 28 Program Year 2027 water supply revolving loan agreements (1320-2026), K.N.S. Services, Righter (Wilson Bridge Booster Station), Resource International, Lakeview Avenue and others. The BBCO Design space planning study increase (0813-2026, $754,633) was read for the first time; it was referred to committee on June 1.
  • Consent: Metropolis Ohio headquarters parking, $580,000 (1125-2026); Second Avenue Sewer Improvements engineering, $249,470.40 (1025-2026); Hatch Associates, Community Park/Maple Canyon inspection, $379,900 (1149-2026); RCC Global meter data system, $159,903.25; 360Water support, $30,000; two articulating wheel loaders, $914,800 (1256-2026); Lockbourne subtrunk real estate, up to $150,000 (1322-2026); a lease with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio for temporary office space (1359-2026).

Project Taillight Vehicle Repair Funding

  • 1377-2026 (sponsors Remy and Ross): appropriates and spends $250,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund so the City Attorney's Office can extend vehicle maintenance and repair contracts with MDDR Enterprises Incorporated and Lindsay Automotive Inc. for the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program through April 30, 2027; emergency. Remy / Ross; 7-0.

Police Technology Contract Renewals

  • 1225-2026 (SoundThinking Inc., formerly ShotSpotter, gunfire detection, $661,500 from the General Fund, bidding waived, emergency): postponed to June 1, 2026 (Remy / Ross; 7-0).
  • 1505-2026 (late addition): extends the Change Healthcare EMS billing collection and reporting contract from May 31 to August 31, 2026, $350,000 from the General Fund, bidding waived, emergency. Remy / Ross; 7-0.

Police Management Compensation Plan Amendment

  • 1162-2026: amends the Police Management Compensation Plan (Ordinance 2715-2013) by enacting Section 7(J), amending Section 8(G) and enacting Section 14(C); emergency, no cost shown. Dorans / Remy; 7-0.

Community Benefits Agreement Advisory Committee Changes

  • 1265-2026 (sponsor Dorans): amends Chapter 378, the Community Benefits Agreement Advisory Committee. Dorans / Remy; 7-0.

Council Ad Hoc Committee Creation

  • 1477-2026 (sponsors Dorans and Hardin): amends section 111.04 of the City Codes on Council committees to create a new ad hoc committee. Dorans / Ross; 7-0.

Future Ready Five Early Literacy Contracts

  • First reading of 1228-2026 (not-for-profit service contract with Future Ready Five, $400,000 from the General Fund) and 1229-2026 (early literacy assessment and intervention for about 380 four-year-olds, up to $130,000). Both were approved on June 1.

After School Programs Fiscal Agent Contract

  • First reading of 1230-2026 (United Way of Central Ohio as fiscal agent for after school providers, $2,000,000). Approved June 1.

Linden Green Line Design Contract

  • 1086-2026: modification of the Claire Weisz Architects (WXY Architecture and Urban Design) contract for the Linden Green Line project; expenditure of $3,600,000 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and Permanent Improvement Fund, with transfers of $1,103,927.24 and $2,426,452.90 (from the Income Tax Set Aside subfund) and an appropriation of $743,948.51; emergency. Wyche / Ross; 7-0.

Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children Art Memorial

  • 1056-2026 (sponsors Barroso De Padilla, Day-Achauer, Remy and Ross): $70,000 transferred within the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund and a modified contribution agreement with The Greater Columbus Arts Council for the memorial; the City accepts title to the finished artwork for its public art collection; emergency. Barroso De Padilla / Wyche; 7-0.

Parks Capital Project Contracts

  • Second reading, 7-0 (all Wyche except 0921): 1087-2026 transfer of $24,500 from the Sustainable Columbus Fund for the Tree Assistance Program with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (see Sustainable Columbus Funding); 1407-2026 Kimley-Horn contract extended through December 31, 2027 for Gender Road Park and McCoy Park.
  • Consent: Active Network hosted software, $100,000; Community Arts Project advance-pay grant, $75,000; Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District, $250,000; Friends of the Cultural Arts Center partnership; golf improvements, $100,000; GPD Group, East Side Rail Trail, $390,000; Ohio Public Works Commission grant of $259,600 (local match $100,800) for the Alum Creek Trail, Ba' Hai Assembly Preservation project; Topiary Park shared-use agreement with Encova Mutual Insurance Group, repealing Ordinance 1924-2018.

Neighborhood Initiatives Grant Awards

  • 0921-2026 (sponsors Barroso De Padilla, Day-Achauer and Green): Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio, $20,000 for outdoor programming; amended as submitted to the Clerk and approved as amended (Barroso De Padilla / Wyche, then / Ross; 7-0 each).
  • 1389-2026 (sponsor Remy): Nexstar Broadcasting (WCMH) marketing for the Cleaner Columbus Initiative, $75,000, bidding waived; Wyche / Bankston; 7-0.
  • Consent: Tech Corps Ohio TECHCORPShack Hackathon, $20,000 (sponsor Wyche).

Alarm Fee Write-Off

  • First reading of 1329-2026: writes off $968,533 in outstanding alarm fees as uncollectible. Approved June 1 on the consent agenda.

Confluence Community Authority District Expansion

  • 0121X-2026: amends the consent to add city-owned property to the Confluence Community Authority's new community district (updated map), finds the consent sufficient under Chapter 349 of the Ohio Revised Code and sets a public hearing with three weeks' newspaper notice. Amended as submitted to the Clerk (Bankston / Barroso De Padilla) and adopted as amended (Bankston / Ross); both 7-0.

Grandview Crossing Community Authority Expansion

  • Consent: 0122X-2026 finds sufficient the written consent of 810 Grandview LLC and the Grandview Crossing Community Authority to add property to the Authority's district and sets the required public hearing; emergency.

Enterprise Zone Abatement Approvals

  • Consent: second amendments of three Enterprise Zone Agreements to substitute the enterprise party: Columbus STS, LLC replaced by 6770 Shook Road, LLC (1179-2026); 6730 Prushing Farms, LLC replaced by AC Prushing, LLC (1236-2026); Gravity 2 - Office, LLC replaced by 935 Cassady LLC (1273-2026). No cost.
  • Consent: fourth amendment to the 2012 Tax Increment Finance Agreement with NRI Equity Land Investments, LLC (3rd and Olentangy TIF area) to allow later community reinvestment area action that could increase affordable housing units (1413-2026).

Township Annexation Applications

  • Consent: 0999-2026 accepts application AN25-027 for 15.4 acres in Jefferson Township. First reading of 1306-2026 (AN25-028, 1429 Properties LLC, 0.2 acres in Franklin Township; consent June 1).
  • Consent: 1432-2026 statement of municipal services and zoning conditions for proposed annexation AN26-008 (279.5 acres in Brown and Norwich Townships); emergency. See Norwich Township Annexation Application.

City Technology Software Contract Renewals

  • First reading of 0867-2026 (Technology Site Planners data center alarm monitoring, $54,770, bidding waived) and 1379-2026 (CDBG extensions); 0881-2026 Carahsoft VMware technical account manager licensing, $108,219.18, bidding waived, approved 7-0 (Bankston / Wyche). Consent: Hyland OnBase support through 3SG Plus, $233,597.25; Harris and Heavener Excavating fiber maintenance, $300,000; AlxTel Tableau, $222,621.70; G Treasury treasury management software for the City Treasurer's Office, $34,194.

Other items

  • Second reading 1373-2026: accepts the FY27 Reproductive Health and Wellness grant of $1,332,807 from the Ohio Department of Health (Barroso De Padilla / Wyche; 7-0). Consent: Minority Health grant of $52,500 (1226-2026); TechCred training grant of $26,429 (1309-2026).
  • Consent, public safety and housing: Intrado 911 system maintenance, year 3 of 5, $324,842.53 (0267-2026); correction of $210,851.94 on the 2023 BJA COSSUP grant (1307-2026); forgiveness of up to $838,648 in accrued interest on HOME loan documents for the Orono Pike rental development in Reynoldsburg, assigned to Pheasant Run Homes Rehab, LLC (1012-2026); Environmental Remediation Contractor LLC renewal for litter and debris cleanup, up to $400,000 (1298-2026); Sky Nile Consulting extension to June 30, 2027 (1303-2026); Homes on the Hill CDC HOME loan modification, $5,650 (1321-2026); three Emergency Repair program contractors, $20,000, $5,000 and $5,000; LifeCare Alliance home repair services, up to $155,000 from April 1, 2026 (1364-2026); weed and solid waste assessments (1370-2026). On the second-reading calendar, Star House capital contribution for renovations, up to $1,000,000 (1213-2026, Ross / Wyche, 7-0); owner-occupied home repair contracts with Columbus Next Generation Corporation and Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio, $477,536.80 (1368-2026, Ross / Wyche, 7-0).
  • Second reading, 7-0: 1163-2026 construction inspection and administration funding for Public Service projects, up to $1,379,567.20 (Barroso De Padilla / Wyche).
  • Appointments on the consent agenda: Jake Wozniak to the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority Board of Directors (term to April 30, 2029); Anna Teye-Kasongo and Joshua T. Cox to the Development Commission (terms to June 11, 2028); Lynette Santoro-Au and Samantha Thune to the Columbus Art Commission; Cynthia Hunt to the German Village Commission; Dominic Bianconi to the Victorian Village Commission; and reappointments of Mike Reeves (Big Darby Accord Advisory Panel), Sonya Brown and Jana Maniace (Downtown Commission), Lauren Benner (East Franklinton Review Board), Karen McCoy and Rachael Schultz (German Village Commission), Clyde E. Henry, Melva Williams-Argaw and Joseph M. McCabe (Historic Resources Commission), Joe Berardi and Shannon Salvadore (Italian Village Commission), David W. Paul (Rocky Fork-Blacklick Accord Panel) and Tim Skinner (Victorian Village Commission), all with terms ending in 2029 or 2030.

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