City Council approves rezonings, code changes, property purchases and new community program

Columbus City Council on April 22 approved a package of land-use actions, code amendments and budgeted program changes, including three rezoning requests, two city-code ordinances, a resolution clarifying vendor insurance requirements and a new community care program for medically underserved residents.

The actions were taken during the business agenda; councilors voted on second readings of three rezoning requests and adopted two ordinances after motions and brief staff presentations. The meeting record shows unanimous approvals for each item where a roll call was taken.

Votes at a glance - Rees Road rezoning (3051 Rees Road): approved on second reading. The zoning was changed from Single-Family Residential-2 to Single-Family Residential-4. (Action: land_use — approved.) - River Road rezoning (11001 River Road): approved on second reading; zoning changed from Residential Estate 10 to Residential Estate 1. (Action: land_use — approved.) - Third Street rezoning (104630 Third Street / 30 Third Street): approved on second reading; changed from Residential Multifamily-2 to Residential Multifamily-1 with conditions. (Action: land_use — approved.) - Ordinance adopting amendments to Chapter 5 of the Columbus Code (bridal services): approved on second reading. (Action: ordinance_adoption — approved.) - Ordinance amending Section 17B-11 of the Columbus Code (demonstration and festival permits): approved on second reading. (Action: ordinance_adoption — approved.) - Resolution amending resolution 3-2-25 (insurance requirements for CCG vendors): approved; the amendment narrows enforcement so certain professional-service providers are exempt. (Action: resolution — approved.) - Community Care Program for the medically underserved and inmate population (formally described as indigent care): council approved creation and funding authorization; the program will include a program administrator, mental-health and medical provider contracts, and program oversight. (Action: other — approved.) - Property purchases and dispositions: council authorized purchase of 5803 Moon Road (appraised value reported in the meeting as $166,000) to hold as green space and approved conveyance of a small alley parcel to Webb family holdings so the city can stop maintaining it. (Action: other — approved each.) - Appropriation to cover the Muscogee County Prison inmate food contract overrun: council approved an additional appropriation to cover an approximately $247,000 cost increase in the inmate food contract. (Action: budget_amendment — approved.) - Waiver of penalty and interest for Columbus State University properties: council found no gross willful neglect and approved waiving $18,405.03 in penalties/interest after the university paid delinquent taxes discovered during a recent title review. (Action: other — approved.) - Donation acceptance: Peach Little League donated a batting cage valued at $41,199 for installation adjacent to Wilkinson Field at Lakebottom; council accepted the donation. (Action: other — accepted.) - Fleet and equipment purchases: council approved several budgeted replacement vehicle and equipment purchases (listed on the agenda as items A–C) that were included in the FY25 budget and are being executed now. (Action: other — approved.)

Several items on first reading were continued to a future meeting; council also adopted a small cleanup resolution clarifying insurance requirements for vendors after staff noted enforcement questions.

Why this matters: The package bundles routine land-use approvals and administrative code updates with programmatic spending decisions that affect city operations (parks, property holdings, inmate services and a new community care program). The community care item in particular moves a multi‑year policy discussion toward implementation and creates a new locally run option for medically underserved residents.

What council said: Items were presented by the assistant city attorney and the city manager's office; council discussion was limited on most items and votes were recorded as approved by consensus. When the Moon Road appraisal was discussed the city manager said the long-term intent is to put the parcel back on the tax rolls; staff noted some parcels are retained as green space until a use is identified.

Next steps: Items on first reading will return for final action at future meetings; staff will begin implementation tasks for the community care program and the procurement and installation work for donated equipment and approved purchases.