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 roundabout to improve site access and safety. Deputy Director John Lee said the cool‑surface coating can reduce asphalt surface temperatures by up to 20 percent in tested cases.

A workforce training ordinance creating a 12‑week pre‑apprenticeship program—funded through a $200,000 nonprofit contract—won passage. Council members described the program as a first‑of‑its‑kind collaboration between faith‑based community organizations and organized labor; participants will be recruited and provided wraparound services by the City of Refuge Good Life Foundation and will enter union apprenticeship training through the Columbus Building Trades Building Futures program.

On social services, the council approved a grant agreement to support the hygiene program run by A Step in the Right Direction. The ordinance authorized an appropriation of $33,980 and total program expenditures reported at $51,480 to expand hygiene supplies and mobile outreach; Executive Director Kayla Davis told council the program aims to serve some 8,000 households and individuals in 2025.

Public comment and land‑use matters: speakers from the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed and the Franklin County Pollinator Pathway urged council to approve changes to the city’s noxious‑weed standard and a pollinator‑friendly code (ordinance 16‑13). Laura Fay of the Friends group called pollinator gardens “a low‑cost best management practice for watersheds” and said turfgrass does not provide the root depth or infiltration benefits of native plantings. Gregory Toothman of the Xerces Society and Franklin County Pollinator Pathway described naturalized landscaping as “intentional” and asked the council to adopt code language that allows these plantings while giving enforcement staff clear guidelines.

Other items: the council adopted a settlement accepting a $64,045.09 deposit from Columbus Limestone to help fund a regional Scioto River floodplain study; authorized a $4,372,128.84 contract for removal and disposal of water‑treatment residuals from the Haskins Water Plant; approved a contract for removal of tires and scrap from nuisance properties by Liberty Tire Services of Ohio; and approved a series of rezoning and variance requests in the zoning committee.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Ordinance 12‑52‑2025 (two Bell 505 helicopters): adopted (motion passed) — funding amendment and appropriation included; capital purchase $5,940,233. (Public Safety and Criminal Justice) - Ordinance 13‑98‑2025 (downtown signals, Part 2): adopted — authorized the expenditure of up to $3,031,498.26. (Public Service & Transportation) - Ordinance 12‑67‑2025 (event recycling contract): adopted — $53,454.99 from Recreation Park Special Purpose Fund (Neighborhoods, Recreation & Parks) - Ordinance 12‑75‑2025 (hard surfaces program phase 2 modification; cool‑surface pilot funding included): adopted — transfers and appropriations totaling roughly $834,402.25; $50,000 toward cool surfaces pilot at Blackburn Park. (Neighborhoods, Recreation & Parks) - Ordinance 12‑76‑2025 (Kilburn Run Sports Park phase 2 including roundabout): adopted — multiple fund transfers and appropriations totaling several million for the final phase. (Neighborhoods, Recreation & Parks) - Ordinance 17‑70‑2025 (pre‑apprenticeship contract with Columbus Building Trades/First Church City of Refuge): adopted — not‑for‑profit service contract up to $200,000. (Workforce, Education & Labor) - Ordinance 17‑68‑2025 (grant to A Step in the Right Direction hygiene program): adopted — appropriation $33,980; total program expenditures $51,480. (Health, Human Services & Equity) - Ordinance 15‑85‑2025 (residual removal/disposal, Haskins Water Plant): adopted — $4,372,128.84 expenditure authorized. (Public Utilities & Sustainability) - Settlement with Columbus Limestone (floodplain study deposit): adopted — deposit $64,045.09 to sewer operating fund. (Public Safety/Utilities matters) - Multiple rezoning and variance approvals in zoning committee: passed. (Zoning Committee) - Resolution 0148x2025 (recognizing June as Caribbean American Heritage Month): adopted. (Council) - Resolution 0162‑2025 (renaming Thornwood Commons to Tompkins Village): adopted; dedication event scheduled June 25 at 11:00 a.m. (Council) - Resolution 0158‑2025 was removed from consent and referred to committee at the request of Council Member Beatty. - Resolution 0109x2025 (2026 tax budget): postponed to the June 30 council meeting for a public hearing.

What council members said: Council Member Beatty highlighted the Thornwood Commons dedication and emphasized community history; Council Member Rosa de Padilla led several district announcements and presented the Caribbean Heritage Month resolution to the local Dominican organization; Council Member Green used his remarks to highlight a hygiene program's role in dignity and stability; Deputy Chief Segal and First Assistant Chief Potts described operational benefits and cost savings from replacing aging aviation equipment.

Context and next steps: the helicopter purchase and the larger capital appropriations are immediate actions the city said will reduce maintenance costs and modernize aging equipment. The pollinator code change remains on the agenda for further committee and council consideration following the public comments. Several items are set to move forward under emergency declarations or with amended appropriations per the motions recorded at the meeting.

For reference, council members and outside speakers who appeared in these discussions included Council President Harden; Council Members Rosa de Padilla, Beatty, Dorn, Dayakara, Bankston, Wyche, Remy, Weisz, Green, Ramey and others; Pastor Simbo (invocation); public commenters Laura Fay (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed), Dr. Greg Toothman (Franklin County Pollinator Pathway/Xerces Society), Zari Carmona (Dominicans in Columbus), Kayla Davis (A Step in the Right Direction); Deputy Director John Lee (Water & Power), Deputy Chief D.C. Segal, First Assistant Chief Lashana Potts, and representatives from the Columbus Building Trades and First Church City of Refuge.