[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6550482,"mediaKeyId","5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b","parentId",5391310,"title","Votes at a glance: Council passes dozens of ordinances — grants, contracts and capital projects approved","audioSeconds",6337,"startMs",673000,"endMs",7010000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b&start=673&end=7010","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b/thumbnail_673000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6550482/Ohio/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-passes-dozens-of-ordinances-grants-contracts-and-capital-projects-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550482-510de473b219fd17d8916b51323f0af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771018290&Signature=bfpT-UTqzDZk9DoF4nM6wiY88RI2XTjfqLHQo--ESgXv1qcW29szzvXUOeMFKT0CVBKF5amn-mhfOFfjHKeHi34c4JdRdMAJYfyDqvBFj3NjHGTEbntxKllRsyEBIetl9Loz1pJz-IsEliTWVylSKi5kbJwmLtNiLp0XOlThKmXBWSZ1U866r--5a10SA9nUZJYOIaSopeeVKbgm8AlL8CufH3lrDZeyZoSUgw6Nhe187vdboKPp8WVPQigqron-~pFEI7Lh4MRGsvs7rGKp56eRqrefXi2V4V09kpBOv816E8FSoHzc46~2p0Cp~8Zvujy9QvIi5xWaUv20jqXXEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbus","date","2025-07-15T16:42:21Z","article","Columbus City Council approved a wide range of ordinance and contract measures across its committees during the meeting, including grant awards, procurement contracts, capital appropriations, public-works projects, and zoning actions. Most items were adopted by roll-call vote with limited debate.

Key actions approved (ordinance or contract numbers shown as read in the meeting): Mid-Ohio Food Collective Eastland Prosperity Center grant (12-09-2025) — capital grant of up to $2,000,000 to renovate a former grocery store into a community services and health center; Department of Technology 0-trust network modernization (16-58-2025) — authorization of up to approximately $23,000,000 for a citywide zero-trust cybersecurity and network modernization project; Moody Nolan amendment for new municipal court design (17-75-2025) — contract modification and authorization of up to $12,594,678.11 in construction management taxable bond funds; multiple Department of Public Utilities water and sewer projects, including Bloomfield Drive waterline improvements (16-79-2025) and Blueprint Hilltop lateral lining (17-13-2025); Early Start Columbus pre-K contracts (17-05-2025) — up to $5,950,000 to continue Early Start prekindergarten partnerships; grants to community nonprofits including Clintonville Community Resource Center (18-51-2025) and Choice Network (19-66-2025); and numerous procurement contract renewals and service agreements (e.g., document scanning, transit resurfacing, janitorial services, helicopter maintenance, digital forensics licenses).

Zoning-related ordinances and variances on the agenda were also adopted, including rezoning requests and variances to allow mixed-use and residential developments at multiple addresses (examples: 18-40, 18-43, 18-50, 18-57, 18-62, 18-63, 18-66, 18-67, 18-68, and multiple variance ordinances 18-47, 18-63, 18-66, 18-67, 18-68). The zoning committee followed its standard procedure of entering staff reports into the record and then calling for votes.

Several procurement and grant items were authorized with emergency designations or waivers of competitive bidding where vendors were described as sole-source or transitional suppliers (examples: Exela environmental health platform migration 16-37-2025; Cellebrite software licenses 1560-08-2025; and multiple construction contracts for water and sewer projects). Council approved appropriations and budget transfers to support the projects from bond funds, revolving loan funds, or designated operating funds as outlined in each ordinance.

Most recorded items were adopted by roll-call vote; the clerk’s entries in the transcript list each item as “Passed” or “Adopted.” A number of items were moved off consent for additional consideration (for example ordinance 16-55 was removed from consent and heard on second reading). The meeting record shows the council proceeding through its committee blocks (rules and policy, finance and governance, economic development, public service and transportation, workforce and education, health/human services/equity, public safety, zoning, public utilities and sustainability, housing/homelessness and building) and voting on each listed item.

Below is a nonexhaustive representative list of adopted items from the meeting record (file numbers and short descriptions as provided during committee presentations):

- Ordinance 12-09-2025: Up to $2,000,000 grant to Mid-Ohio Food Collective — Eastland Prosperity Center (economic development) — Adopted
- Ordinance 16-58-2025: Zero trust network and cybersecurity modernization — up to ~$23,000,000 (finance) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-75-2025: Moody Nolan contract modification for new municipal court building — up to $12,594,678.11 (finance) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-38-2025: Indianola Avenue resurfacing and bike lanes — up to $2,115,416.28 (public service) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-42-2025: Livingston Avenue right-of-way acquisitions — appropriation up to $1,000,000 (public service) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-80-2025: North Fourth and East Fifth bike and safety improvements — up to $2,102,730.19 (public service) — Adopted
- Ordinance 16-37-2025: Exela environmental health platform migration — $258,000 (finance/public health) — Adopted
- Ordinance 16-30-2025: Back-file scanning and shredding services for City Attorney — $96,018.10 (finance) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-47-2025: Audit services contract with Ria and Associates — up to $352,000 (finance) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-61-2025: Custodial services extension for Columbus Police Academy — up to $89,000 (finance) — Adopted
- Ordinance 11-28-2025: Skid steer purchase for street maintenance — up to $68,409.30 (public service) — Adopted
- Ordinance 15-70-2025 & 15-80-2025 and multiple public utilities contracts and loans (water treatment granular activated carbon, lead service line replacement, Bloomfield Drive waterline replacement, Blueprint Hilltop sewer lining) — Adopted
- Ordinance 17-05-2025: Early Start Columbus pre-K contracts — up to $5,950,000 (workforce/education) — Adopted
- Ordinance 18-51-2025: Grant to Clintonville Community Resource Center — $15,000 (health/human services) — Adopted
- Ordinance 19-66-2025: Grant to Choice Network for family planning and assistance — $70,000 (health/human services) — Adopted
- Public safety items including withdrawal of liquor objections (three items) and renewal/maintenance contracts (Cellebrite licenses, helicopter maintenance) — Adopted
- Zoning rezonings and variances listed under the zoning committee (multiple items as read into the record) — Adopted

For each adopted ordinance, the transcript shows the clerk calling the roll and the item marked as “Passed” or “Adopted.” Where emergency declarations or loan contingencies were required (noted in a handful of public utilities and finance items), council approved the items with those conditions recorded in the ordinance language.

Council members frequently noted that numerous items were funded from bond funds, revolving loan funds, federal grants, or departmental operating budgets. Many items included instructions to encumber funds, set aside prevailing-wage allocations for Department of Public Service oversight, or make ordinances contingent on Ohio Water Development Authority loan approvals for specific water and sewer projects.

Because the meeting covered a large number of items across committees, staff will publish the formal ordinance texts and detailed appropriation amounts in the city bulletin and the city’s legislative information portal for reference.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbus City Council 7/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","Columbus City Council approved dozens of ordinances and contract authorizations in a meeting that covered grants, capital projects, procurement and zoning matters across the city’s committee blocks.","taxTitle","Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",75950,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6550487,"Columbus council approves resolutions to place $1.9 billion voted bond package on Nov. 4 ballot",404,1655000,2059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b&start=1655&end=2059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b/thumbnail_1655000.jpg","/articles/6550487/Ohio/Columbus-council-approves-resolutions-to-place-19-billion-voted-bond-package-on-Nov-4-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550487-7be6b6a4827fce84f970e6600988496d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771018290&Signature=nmt3ejvNKICnWFKXeDI2kf7KN38tgwyR6MIhr4PlbYr1xkhbCP0XPAQbX-CVVqqm2G-pyoTpjeHWC0zVKB~Piv55Z~L1AAvjmWnIHvAMZwkB08BpA9ZaACmM7GSUOZtPGSArR5pYAqkUj7O9FAZs-nq-KlWSL9VJfJCwppHyi69~N5PSNCYvu3~yN~kzfrXzjmJTXouGiEQza4qG3heMfUsj8yypw61KviVSWc8b3WkNlF50JP1ZswS0XooDxjZCc0sp45JHSsaDVawS1tgXLQ6KtiD-3JYK24CHG9OQ5zzzdspeqBtOgqhbGZejMO5PLKuW0OkVL1uj-mv3qUepqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbus City Council adopted a set of resolutions directing the city to proceed with a $1.9 billion voted bond package that will be placed on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot.

The package is divided into five purpose-specific measures: $250 million for health, safety and infrastructure; $250 million for recreation and parks; $400 million for public service; $500 million for neighborhood development and affordable housing; and $500 million for public utilities (water, power, sanitary sewer and storm sewers). Council voted to file certified resolutions of necessity and to proceed with the Board of Elections, with the required filing deadline noted in the meeting record.

Councilmember Banks, chair of the Finance and Governance Committee, explained the process and emphasized that the bond authority would allow the city to borrow for infrastructure projects without increasing property taxes. “This is a way for us to continue, to invest in our infrastructure without raising property taxes,” Banks said while describing the city’s long-standing practice of setting aside a portion of income tax revenue to pay debt service.

Council officials said the resolutions also instruct the Franklin County Board of Elections to estimate the annual property tax levy and set the language and millage amounts to appear on the ballot. Upon adoption, certified resolutions must be filed with the Franklin County Board of Elections by Aug. 6, 2025, according to the clerk’s reading of the ordinance record.

Council described the measures as a routine mechanism to authorize issuance of voted bonds and said the city has used similar bonds since the 1950s to invest in capital projects while maintaining its longstanding practice of using income tax revenue set-asides for debt service. Each resolution was moved and adopted by roll call; the clerk recorded each item as “Adopted” in the meeting transcript.

The ballot language, estimated millage and project lists to be funded by each measure were recited as part of the committee presentation and will be reflected in the certified documents filed with the county.","Council adopted a series of resolutions to submit a $1.9 billion voted bond package to voters on Nov. 4, 2025, allocating funds across health/safety, parks, public service, affordable housing and utilities; council members said the measures would fund infrastructure without raising property taxes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6550492,"Columbus council establishes LGBTQ affairs commission after emotional testimony and archived 1984 footage",602,943000,1545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b&start=943&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391310-d923bd370d46fe902fdf9af0a9ace89b/thumbnail_943000.jpg","/articles/6550492/Ohio/Columbus-council-establishes-LGBTQ-affairs-commission-after-emotional-testimony-and-archived-1984-footage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550492-ae5fd05bdd62124b3326226375fe50ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771018290&Signature=YP4Lnoo5ZB07uSpk7XbvjXjEYGr2H4lVkcoxx7mIXwC93ok4iT8vI-OtwcOk73UzUFi0O3E7Hwx01nSl1YExWM05Z1c7-KuIupMuKwg6u4~BQIiZ44ZY383YdX7lqAryL3RiH1hIEDMrCORYkPLnAlryyf7jMCC~dC57tILw7dLmk~ls5OFwG1MhQMveVucAKAsVb6jKw53ndnZ0q5gN3cpxptnV6b53-I1x37Ehk06VHT4MH1sb06goBTfwk7zHra1bVJ2W~Bkq91WaqMPRQasoAYtN02~ev6-gN4vbpyKzfVKJ4eqqG6wpbtnpanLHyno6HquaUJtoQP8S3rE34Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbus City Council on the evening decided to create a permanent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Affairs Commission, approving ordinance 14-12-2025 after an amendment and a roll-call vote.

The measure, carried by the Rules and Policy Committee, directs the city to establish an LGBTQ affairs commission to advise and advocate on issues affecting LGBTQ residents and to encourage the city’s inclusive practices.

Supporters described the commission as a corrective to past council decisions and as a vehicle for ongoing community engagement. Council President Harden framed the vote in historical context and played a clip from council debate in 1984 that opponents and supporters of anti-discrimination protections recorded at that time. The archived footage and live testimony underscored how the issue has recurred in city politics for decades.

Rhonda Rivera, who identified herself as an attorney and described bringing family members to the meeting, said the moment carried deep personal meaning. Rivera told council she had “felt so deeply and cared so much,” and described bringing her 17-year-old son to the hearing to show the stakes for young people in Columbus public schools. Rivera urged council members to act.

Robert Rivera, introduced by his mother and identified in the meeting as a Columbus Alternative High School student, addressed council directly. “What I’d like to say to you tonight is that we’re all opening our hearts to you, and we’re putting them on a silver platter so you have two choices. You can cut it or you can love it,” he said.

Council members also acknowledged that the measure drew hostile written and spoken testimony opposing the creation of a commission. Multiple speakers in the historical clip and later public comments opposed including sexual orientation in local protections; those remarks were part of the record but did not alter the council’s vote.

Council moved to amend the ordinance as submitted and then voted for passage as amended. The clerk called the roll and the measure passed by recorded vote; the transcript records the item as “Passed.” The ordinance enacts chapter 71.179 of the Columbus City Code as described on the meeting agenda.

City officials said the new commission will open a formal channel for community input and outreach; further details on membership, duties and reporting will be developed consistent with the ordinance language and subsequent administrative direction.","Columbus City Council voted to create a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Affairs Commission, after council members heard community testimony and a historical video of a contentious 1984 council debate. The ordinance passed after an amendment and a roll-call vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Council passes dozens of ordinances — grants, contracts and capital projects approved

Columbus council approves resolutions to place $1.9 billion voted bond package on Nov. 4 ballot

Columbus council establishes LGBTQ affairs commission after emotional testimony and archived 1984 footage