Councilmember announces public hearing on proposed rental registry

Councilmember Bankston announced that his office will host the first of two public hearings on proposed amendments to the Columbus City Code that would create a local rental registry of residential rental properties within city limits.

Bankston said the hearing will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Office on Aging, 3776 South High Street, and will be livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel and council Facebook page. The announcement clarified that this meeting will present the framework of a proposal and is intended to gather community input; Bankston emphasized no legislation had yet been filed.

The rental registry was described as a publicly maintained database listing rental properties, which proponents say can be an administratively straightforward tool for enforcing health and safety standards. Bankston's office asked that residents who wish to speak in person submit a speaker request form by Monday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m.; written testimony also must be received by that deadline.

Bankston said his office has added the speaker slip to the city council webpage and provided an email contact for his staff. He urged residents to attend and offer feedback, calling the registry "one of the last pieces of our housing for all package." No legislation or ordinance text was presented at the meeting; council members present were asked to note and publicize the hearing.

The announcement included logistical details: in-person speakers were limited to three minutes each, and the meeting will be live streamed. Bankston encouraged residents to use the council and his office social channels to find the speaker form and to submit written testimony on the schedule provided.