Columbus City Council approves police helicopter purchase, parks upgrades and workforce funding; pollinator code draws public support

Columbus City Council met at Columbus City Hall and on several major items Monday approved upgrades to the police aviation fleet, passed multiple public‑works and parks contracts and authorized workforce and community service funding, while taking public comment on a proposed pollinator‑friendly amendment to the city code.

The most notable vote authorized the Department of Public Safety to buy two Bell 505 helicopters for the Division of Police at a price the city described as $5,940,233. Council Member Ramey, who chairs the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, said the purchase is intended to “ensure safer, more reliable, and less disruptive operations for both officers and the residents we serve.” Deputy Chief D.C. Segal described the division’s equipment as “comparable to trying to function efficiently in 2025 using an iPhone 3,” arguing the newer aircraft add updated technology, quieter operations and lower long‑term maintenance risk.

Why it matters: the aviation unit responds to thousands of runs yearly and is frequently first on scene in high‑priority incidents, city officials said. Council members who spoke in favor emphasized that the funds are capital expenditures and not drawn from the general operating budget.

Council also approved a package of infrastructure and parks measures: a contract with Complete General Construction Company for the downtown traffic signals project (authorized expenditure up to $3,031,498.26) to replace poles and update fiber connections downtown; a contract using Ohio EPA grant funds to bring on‑site recycling and compost services for major city events ($53,454.99); modifications and transfers for Recreation and Parks hard‑surface projects (roughly $834,402.25 in transfers and related appropriations) that include parking‑lot and driveway work ahead of the 2026 Gay Softball World Series; a $50,000 pilot to install reflective “cool” surface coatings at Blackburn Park; and the final phase of Kilburn Run Sports Park improvements, which includes construction of a…