[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6623158,"mediaKeyId","2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718","parentId",2776473,"title","Council votes and major actions: UDO change, board deletions, SRF loans approved; demolition list set for final vote","audioSeconds",435,"startMs",1319000,"endMs",1754000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718&start=1319&end=1754","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718/thumbnail_1319000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623158/Columbus/Muscogee-County/Georgia/Council-votes-and-major-actions-UDO-change-board-deletions-SRF-loans-approved-demolition-list-set-for-final-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623158-f95f9fd39df8850383f1f9a090954e5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149175&Signature=KdyDM-8PWa6nw7gy~Rhwyz37NiTZvVwp4~vK51X79PH5fhFygQz6a6TDSDRl8-Jw~yo5IE57be6UPIeDHQJAvTKbyUxb4fOvp34d0RG2Ckz~empeO4iXeD1XF9A3-wxIFZVAcICHrkmYhA4dvz7v31bgM6EQAmJ5OWKOASgbI-ltMRkPIsTl8ojpsI8pToSrql587w9YMAf7ztW35QjEqcgKc2MAyywXrUlO3pl4Ri1dEtnf-nQyXQ~bGtoPzRsxm4-7L51zJm1XVcqlqM9V8WJQRmLLKwSBTOJRKaH~o7cDti7JXFaNe-IezOapbcYC2CufpzfovoqCMDqah6saQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbus","date","2025-03-26T14:44:46.427Z","article","The Columbus City Council on March 25 approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and procurement items and recorded several actions to return for final votes. Major actions taken and recorded on the clerk’s agenda and during the session included zoning text changes, code housekeeping, funding resolutions and procurements.

Key outcomes

- UDO text amendment (single‑family detached homes): Council had a motion and a second to approve a Unified Development Ordinance text amendment to allow single‑family detached homes; the item passed on the council floor with no recorded additional discussion.

- Deletion of Columbus Aquatics Commission (Article 2, Chapter 4): Council voted to delete the Columbus Aquatics Commission from the city code and move to other boards as substitutions; motion, second and approval recorded on the floor.

- Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans: Two resolutions extending Clean Water SRF loan amounts were approved. Council approved a loan resolution for Columbus Water Works in the amount of $24,705,000 and separately approved extension of resolution for $8,869,800; both were approved after motions and voice/record votes.

- Demolition ordinance (first step; final vote in two weeks): Staff (presented by Philip Smith of planning/inspections) listed eight properties proposed for demolition. The council heard the list, invited owners to speak, and staff stated the matter will return in two weeks for a final vote. The properties listed on the March 25 agenda were:
• 2903 10th Avenue (Vision Investment Properties)
• 1024 Henry Avenue (Christina Williams and Joseph Philippe)
• 2610 Jones Avenue (Green Pryor Lewis Jr.)
• 3826 Third Avenue (BSL Investment Group)
• 3822 Third Avenue (BSL Investment Group)
• 831 Barclay Way (Eloisa Lane Dale)
• 2475 Walker Street (William D. Holland)
• 615 Parkchester Drive (Gerardo Ledesma Angeli)

- Personnel/policy housekeeping and first readings: A housekeeping ordinance renaming the city’s maternity/paternity leave policy to \"paid parental leave\" and aligning definitions with EEOC guidance was presented and will return in two weeks for final vote. First reading also occurred for new parks and recreation hourly pay rates (lifeguard pay scale from $14.00 to $18.50) and will return for final vote.

- Purchases and contracts: The council approved a range of procurement and contract items on the consent/purchase agendas, including external audit services (Maundin/Jenkins—external auditor selection as recommended by the audit committee), Metra paratransit vehicle purchases (federally supported match), a rescue pumper for fire services, household trash cart purchases, and multiple Civic Center equipment items. Several items were bundled and approved by single votes as allowed by the agenda process.

- Clerk and board actions: The clerk recorded and the council approved receipt of Councilor John Anker’s resignation on the clerk’s agenda. Board and commission nominations and confirmations were also handled; multiple mayoral and council nominations were announced and several confirmations were approved during the meeting.

- Executive session and settlement: The council entered executive session for litigation and for acquisition/disposal of land. After returning from executive session the council approved a settlement resolving claims by/for Sir Michael Holloway (individuals and heirs) for $350,000 (including attorney fees) as read into the record by the city attorney.

What’s next: Several items will return for final votes or additional public engagement. Demolition and code housekeeping items were scheduled to return in two weeks; the Trade Center master plan was deferred for clearer budget and agreement details and a public follow‑up meeting was requested for Eighth Street corridor and stormwater impacts.

Votes at a glance (selected items)
- UDO text amendment (allow single‑family detached homes) — outcome: approved
- Delete Columbus Aquatics Commission — outcome: approved
- Clean Water SRF loan (Columbus Water Works) — $24,705,000 — outcome: approved
- Clean Water SRF loan extension — $8,869,800 — outcome: approved
- Demolition ordinance (8 properties) — initial listing; final vote scheduled in two weeks — outcome: pending
- Receipt of Councilor John Anker resignation (clerk item) — outcome: approved
- Settlement approval — Sir Michael Holloway claim — $350,000 — outcome: approved

Documentation: Council minutes and the clerk’s agenda list the formal motions and approvals. Where roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the public‑spoken record, the minutes show the clerk registered votes via the scribe as part of the electronic voting process. If readers need a full roll‑call or itemized procurement list, the city clerk’s office posts the meeting packet and the updated agenda online.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbus Ga City Council Meeting 03-25 -2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Columbus City Council on March 25 approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and procurement items and recorded several actions to return for final votes, including code housekeeping, loan resolutions and a demolition list for future final votes.","taxTitle","Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia","taxId",4892,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623162,"Trade Center Authority asks council to approve master plan for new parking garage; council seeks clearer numbers",5637,8377000,14014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718&start=8377&end=14014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718/thumbnail_8377000.jpg","/articles/6623162/Columbus/Muscogee-County/Georgia/Trade-Center-Authority-asks-council-to-approve-master-plan-for-new-parking-garage-council-seeks-clearer-numbers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623162-e6ed5cb6ae146e24e657798e21d8d618/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149176&Signature=L-sfoeYcRcxuCr3v9~0Y4MkRCT0Po4H8qAdoier9SMlifZsUbTvpmCK4zWP9DhxFRAcTZtnhme4inDBees8Ba4VKV8NA6n~57hTIeKSlNZ4rLU6WcptKLTCqsIwGMX34S6dQwCStYKYE5jpOjht6E82pNQhEh6i4NpuTfsVDZpLn6VgxIo6GJPlPpC0lNY~MRGtbEF5eKJ8SKRnserEa42ApmjFhXAbE9eOKSmY7lT~7G2i-1NVbeKHcR6EtTf1qq1xBYK79BiYsyW~HQJ4KnCW1S48g7eH~h9dhI1FeoW40FwEQR6QNAzY2hxoUm2F6iX2GgrL3sh1mIEHE2KSo5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbus Trade Center Authority asked the City Council on March 25 to adopt a master plan that would add a new structured parking facility intended to support the Trade Center, future convention activity and downtown hotels.

\"Parking has been something that has been on the Trade Center plan since 02/2004,\" Trade Center Director Haley Tillery told the council, summarizing a multi‑year effort and saying the authority has an RFP vendor selected to start detailed discussions. \"The key thing is a plan for the future. But one thing that's desperately needed is accurate parking,\" Tillery said.

Why it matters: The proposal ties downtown economic development to additional parking capacity and to a potential future convention hotel. The authority is asking council to endorse the master plan so it can negotiate final costs and next steps. The plan would use $3.5 million from a 2003 Columbus Building Authority bond series (described in the report as 2003 B bonds) together with $5 million from the voter‑approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) passed in November 2021.

Project scope and funding: City staff and the Trade Center authority described a goal of roughly 500 parking spaces (the 2003 bond language referenced an earlier figure of 300 spaces, but adding the SPLOST funds increases the total). Councilors and staff confirmed the authority’s planning target is about 500 spaces, \"give or take,\" not 300.

Council debate and concerns: Council members questioned project cost estimates and operational details. Councilor Tanner (asked as an example) relayed a construction industry estimate that a new structured space could cost around $50,000 per space for a ground‑up build; a councilor said she had been told by a construction company that a 500‑space structure at $50,000 per space would cost roughly $25 million. Council members asked whether the existing Marriott hotel would reserve an allocation of spaces in the new garage and whether such reserved spaces would reduce public availability.

\"There has been no agreement with the Marriott as far as parking dedicated to that hotel at all,\" Tillery said; she added that discussions with hotels and potential partners are ongoing. Several councilors told Tillery they wanted a clearer, consistent description of the plan’s parking count and of any agreements that would reserve spaces for a hotel.

Amendment and procedural outcome: Council adopted an amendment to clarify the agenda summary and the project description to show the combined funding would target approximately 500 spaces, rather than referring only to the 2003 bond’s original 300‑space figure. The amendment passed unanimously. When the Trade Center master plan itself came up for a vote, the council’s voice vote was inconclusive and the council deferred a final decision to a future meeting, asking staff and the Trade Center Authority to return with clearer budget and agreement details and to schedule follow‑up public meetings on corridor and stormwater impacts. Trade Center Director Tillery said convention revenue has funded recent building upgrades and that the authority planned to proceed with additional vendor negotiations once the council signaled support.

Next steps: City staff said they will schedule a public meeting on Eighth Street corridor and stormwater improvements and will work to finalize cost estimates and hotel/parking agreements. Councilors asked for clearer cost projections, confirmation of where patrons will be directed to enter and exit the garage, and a timeline for RFP‑level cost estimates and designs.

What was not decided: The council did not authorize construction funding on March 25. Members asked staff to return with more detailed financial numbers and with explicit hotel‑parking arrangements before a final vote.","The Columbus Trade Center Authority asked the City Council on March 25 to adopt a master plan that would add a new structured parking facility intended to support the Trade Center, future convention activity and downtown hotels.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623167,"Columbus residents and civic groups demand probe after council appoints John Anker; mayor signals review",13673,204000,13877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718&start=204&end=13877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776473-c64279a9075933d94619dcecf78bc718/thumbnail_204000.jpg","/articles/6623167/Columbus/Muscogee-County/Georgia/Columbus-residents-and-civic-groups-demand-probe-after-council-appoints-John-Anker-mayor-signals-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623167-60e0760d362cc38b1871478b1b9b024f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149176&Signature=ozsiXFsz~8InBnsN09hDMWhQUUTWRphpS2BsG3UPopf~lsuy9~ayevIVegKvTe3kNztUKvSspIKz3ksJy8-6Tto-zDfinmDh8INHY8Xzsk1rqJuQRp7y9GFz8sKY~iC7zvFdW7VcCdwbZOwJfi2Gki9zAESMjfrKekR3sntDZC8V79HURJk699NPm~aCX8n8Vui-1-1WBL9Dbnr1wAgmq3QNyHLviQ0PZyLVnaLVYqUe4oU6aiRpRhMKj9gPAwwVhN8YSdgfFictPvkH~~xOb4tlp5W7ZtLTvHwsSV7-pasJbs98kp-JLRJQom22xNACrRZs5VCNWLMAvt4hLfJkSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbus residents and civic groups pressed the City Council on March 25 to investigate how council filled an at‑large seat after the resignation of Councilwoman Judy Thomas, saying the nomination of John Anker on March 11 lacked transparency and may have violated Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.

The public-comment period, which drew scores of speakers and an overflow audience, included repeated calls for an independent review. \"Has the attorney general commissioned this investigation?\" asked Melvin Tanner Jr., president of the NAACP Columbus, Georgia, saying the organization had circulated a petition asking Mayor Skip Henderson to request an attorney general inquiry. \"Will the findings be disclosed to the public?\" Tanner asked.

Why it matters: Speakers said the March 11 appointment was rushed and that private discussions among a quorum of councilors before the public meeting would run afoul of state open‑meeting rules. Multiple commenters tied the process to broader concerns about transparency and public trust in city governance.

Resident and activist Marquise Averett, who identified himself as a District 7 resident, urged a formal review and criticized Anker’s initial public remarks after confirmation. \"Mister Anker, I'm sure you're a nice man, but simply being nice doesn't qualify,\" Averett said, adding that Anker had been rejected by voters in prior citywide contests. \"There must be an investigation to see if there was a violation of the Open Meetings Act,\" he said.

Other speakers raised similar points about process and the charter. James Augren said he believed the appointment had been handled \"in a very, improper way\" and urged transparency about discussions that led to the nomination. Demetrius McBride of the Urban League Young Professionals urged an immediate charter review, calling attention to language in the charter cited during public comments (in the meeting several speakers referred to \"section 6‑201\" and other city charter provisions when describing vacancy procedures).

City response and next steps: Mayor Skip Henderson acknowledged community concern; at least one speaker credited the mayor with beginning an inquiry. A number of speakers asked Henderson to request an outside review by the Georgia attorney general; the NAACP’s petition, Melvin Tanner said, asks precisely that. The council later entered executive session for litigation and property matters; after the session the council returned and approved a settlement unrelated to the appointment matter.

Concurrent public support for the city manager: Dozens of public speakers also used the meeting to defend City Manager Isaiah Hugley and to oppose any effort to remove him. Carolyn Chaney said she did \"not believe our city manager mismanaged any finances,\" and several other speakers urged that the council allow the manager to continue his work.

Formal actions recorded: The clerk’s agenda included and the council approved receipt of a resignation identified on the record as \"resignation of Councilor John Anker\" (clerk’s agenda item 1). After the public comments session the council moved into executive session for \"litigation and acquisition and disposal of real estate,\" and later approved a settlement for an unrelated claim. No motion to rescind Anker’s appointment was on the council’s public agenda on March 25.

What the public asked for: Petition signers and speakers repeatedly asked for: (1) an independent investigation into whether councilors discussed the appointment in violation of the Open Meetings Act; (2) public disclosure of any findings; and (3) charter changes so future vacancies are handled with a fuller public process.

Evidence in the record: Public speakers on March 25 repeatedly cited the Georgia Open Meetings Act (referred to in comments as \"Georgia code 50‑14‑1 / Open Meetings Act\") and several callers urged use of the attorney general’s office. Council members and staff repeatedly said they would review the concerns and follow up. The council did not take a final vote on any change to the appointment on March 25.","Columbus residents and civic groups pressed the City Council on March 25 to investigate how council filled an at‑large seat after the resignation of Councilwoman Judy Thomas, saying the nomination of John Anker on March 11 lacked transparency and may have violated Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council votes and major actions: UDO change, board deletions, SRF loans approved; demolition list set for final vote

Trade Center Authority asks council to approve master plan for new parking garage; council seeks clearer numbers

Columbus residents and civic groups demand probe after council appoints John Anker; mayor signals review