Columbus City Council Meeting Highlights:

• CELEBRATING ELIZABETH BROWN: Council President Shannon Hardin, chair of the Rules and Reference Committee, is sponsoring Resolution 0245X-2022, which recognizes the achievements of President Pro Tempore Elizabeth Brown. President Pro Tempore Brown recently announced that she would be resigning from Council to serve as President and CEO of YWCA Columbus. This resolution features some of her highlights during her tenure on Council, where she proudly advocated for women, families, and working residents of the City of Columbus.

• COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: Councilmember Shayla Favor, chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, is sponsoring Ordinance 3176-2022 to prohibit the possession of a large capacity magazine, promotes the safe storage of firearms and prohibits the reckless selling, lending, giving, or furnishing of a firearm to a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Last year alone, 91% of homicides in Columbus were committed with a firearm. Gun control simply cannot wait. This legislation will effectuate common sense gun reform in our community and help create a safer Columbus.

• SUPPORTING THE BUILDING BACK TOGETHER PROGRAM: Councilmember Rob Dorans, chair of the Public Utilities Committee, is sponsoring Ordinance 3374-2022, to authorize the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services to enter into a grant agreement with Creating Central Ohio Futures, a non-profit organization, in support of the Building Back Better Together Program. This program will provide training and certifications that can be translated into career opportunities in the trades. Participants will be paid a weekly stipend, given the necessary tools and equipment, and referred for opportunities after graduation. The Building Back Better Together Program will host their sixth cohort in February 2023. Learn more about the program here: [ Ссылка ]

• INCREASING MINIMUM WAGE FOR JOBS WITH TAX INCENTIVES: Councilmember Nick Bankston, chair of the Economic Development Committee, is sponsoring Ordinance 3221-2022, which amends Chapter 4565.11 of the Columbus City Codes to increase the minimum wage from fifteen dollars ($15.00) an hour to twenty dollars ($20.00) an hour for all employees to which an incentive applies. Columbus City Council, on December 10, 2018, created the Job Creation Incentive Program Employer Minimum Wage for the purpose of reinforcing its commitment to support broad-based economic prosperity by only providing tax incentives for jobs that provide a living wage. This amendment will allow City Council to continue with this support.

• DNA CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT AND BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM: Councilmember Emmanuel Remy, chair of the Public Safety Committee, is sponsoring Consent Action 2826-2022, to authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, to accept a FY2022 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program grant award from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The Division of Police was awarded funding through the FY2022 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program from the NIJ. This federally supported program seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of existing state and local crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis so they can process DNA samples efficiently and cost effectively. Funds have been awarded for additional DNA equipment, analysis supplies, and training analysts in the latest technologies in this ever-evolving field. The cost breakdown for this two-year grant award is as follows: Hire two police evidence technicians $157,536.64, DNA testing equipment $179,195.36, DNA equipment technology and supplies $23,890.00, travel and training $19,042.00.

• BETTERING OUR PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION: Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee, is sponsoring Ordinance 3125-2022, which allows for the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with Lake Erie Construction Company and Rocal Inc. With the money authorized for this expenditure the company will repair highway signage on SR-315, keeping the city both beautiful and safe!

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