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Gahanna council office outlines 2026 priorities: charter review, public‑records modernization and web accessibility work
Summary
The council office previewed three priorities for 2026: onboarding and development for boards and commissions tied to a move to a new facility, a charter review commission running Jan–Jun 2026, and efforts to modernize records management (including evaluating AI tools) and improve digital accessibility to WCAG standards.
The Gahanna council office on Nov. 24 presented three main priorities for 2026: strengthen onboarding and professional development for boards and commissions as the council moves into a new facility at 825 Tech Center Drive; support and staff a Charter Review Commission scheduled to meet Jan.–Jun. 2026; and modernize the city’s records program while expanding inclusive community engagement and digital accessibility.
Council staff said they have set aside funding for board and commission professional development tied to the move to a modern council chamber, and they noted that the Charter Review Commission will require additional legal advertising and outreach; staff said they will livestream those meetings to increase transparency. The office also flagged the loss of the Daily Reporter (a legal‑notice outlet) and the high cost of advertising in the Columbus Dispatch as reasons to budget for increased legal‑advertising expenses.
On records modernization, staff described ongoing foundational training through departmental records liaisons and a records management manual. The council office said it is investigating how AI tools might assist with indexing, redaction and search for complex records requests but has not yet requested funding; the office hosted an Ohio Municipal Clerks Association academy on records in the age of AI and is pursuing low‑cost, high‑impact process improvements (for example, an in‑portal alert that directed crash‑report requesters to the Ohio crash‑report portal and has been viewed 661 times).
Staff also said they will develop a WCAG compliance checklist and work with local partners, including Gahanna‑Jefferson Public Schools and the local historical society, to broaden engagement and make archival materials accessible. No formal decisions were required at the Nov. 24 meeting; the presentation was an informational preview of planned 2026 work.
