Columbus City Council Final Meeting Highlights:
• CELEBRATING DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK: Councilmember Nick Bankston is sponsoring Resolution 0185X-2022 to recognize October 2-7 as Digital Inclusion Week. This week is an opportunity to help raise awareness of the challenges that exist for households without internet access, and to promote proven strategies to help reduce roadblocks to digital inclusion. To find ways you can engage and close the digital divide, go to smart.columbus.gov/get-involved.
• COUNCIL WILL ENDORSE THE SENIOR SERVICES LEVY: Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla is sponsoring Resolution 0190X-2022, to endorse the Senior Services Levy on the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 ballot as Issue 10. This levy will fund Franklin County Senior Options, which provides services and programs designed to help seniors remain safely at home. Services include meals-on-wheels, transportation to the doctor, and emergency response buttons. The passage of this $1.75M levy is not a tax increase. It means that Senior Options will continue to serve over 60,000 seniors in 2023 with a 3% increase each year of the levy cycle.
• ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO REPAIR PARK SURFACES: Council President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown, Chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee, is sponsoring Ordinance 2042-2022, to authorize Recreation and Parks to contract with M&D Blacktop for the Hard Surface Improvements 2021-2022 Project. The contract, valued at $931,079.25, focuses on the improvement of highly used asphalt and concrete surfaces, including entry drives, parking lots, trails, sidewalks, and sport courts. The Hard Surface Improvements 2021-2022 Project includes the following parks: Berliner, Anheuser Busch, Cooper, Kilbourne Run, Rhodes, Sammons, McFerson Commons, Far East, Tuttle, Millbrook, Westgate, and Moeller.
• LINDEN STORMWATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT: Councilmember Rob Dorans, Chair of the Public Utilities Committee, is sponsoring Ordinance 2412-2022, to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to execute a planned modification to the 2020-2022 Construction
Administration/Inspection Services agreement with DLZ Ohio, Inc. for the Linden Neighborhood Stormwater System Improvement Phase 2 Project. This project will mitigate street and back yard flooding, and reduce roadside drainage issues in areas of the North Linden Community. It includes installing approximately 3,530 linear feet of 12-24 inch storm sewer pipe/bedding, manholes, catch basins, curb and gutter inlets, scour pool with rock channel protection and restoration.
• THE RAPID RESPONSE EMERGENCY ADDICTION CRISIS TEAM (RREACT) ON THE MOVE: Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy is sponsoring Ordinance 1311-2022, to increase and modify the current contract related to the Rapid Response Emergency Addition Crisis Team. RREACT is an innovative outreach service operated by the Division of Fire to actively address the opioid crisis negatively impacting Columbus residents. Outreach includes firefighters/paramedics, Crisis Intervention Team certified peace officers, a substance use case manager, a registered SUD nurse, a family case manager, and a trauma specialist. RREACT proactively connects and builds relationships with opioid users.
