Columbus council committee hears capital requests from conservatory, health centers, nonprofits; chair to file amendments Monday

Columbus City Council’s Finance and Governance Committee held its second and final public hearing on the capital improvements budget, hearing direct presentations from external organizations that appear in the mayor’s proposed capital budget and capital improvements program. Committee chair Council Member Noelle Bankston said council will advance a set of amendments when it considers the capital improvements budget on Monday.

The hearing matters because the capital budget is being used, in part, to fund nonprofit infrastructure — from museum restoration and historic preservation to new behavioral-health facilities, community clinics and workforce hubs — projects presenters said will expand services and leverage private philanthropy.

Bruce Harkey, president and CEO of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, asked the committee to support work that the conservatory says will be part of a 25-year “North Star” master plan. Harkey said past city capital investments helped leverage private matching funds and grow the conservatory’s earned revenue; “Every dollar of public support has been matched 2 to 1 by the private sector,” he said. He described restoration of the John F. Wolfe Palm House, a 19th-century glass house, improved ventilation, and a proposed 35,000-square-foot visitor center to sit between the public park and the conservatory. He said the conservatory has completed about $45,000,000 in capital investments since he became CEO in 2007 and reported organizational revenue growth from roughly $4,000,000 to $16,000,000.

Mental-health and youth-care requests featured prominently. Sarah Book and Abby Manley of Buckeye Ranch requested $500,000 to…