Council Agenda - Regular Meeting 04/14/2026 09:00 AM C. E. “Red” McDaniel City Services Center- Second Floor

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor B.H. "Skip" Henderson, III, Presiding

INVOCATION: Offered by Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards - St. Thomas Episcopal Church

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Skip Henderson

MINUTES

• 1.Approval of minutes for the March 31, 2026, Consent Agenda / Work Session and Executive Session.  

PROCLAMATIONS

• 2.Proclamation:     Jubilee Freedom Day

        Receiving:      Johnnie Warner, Aaron Guest, Sr., and Spencer High School Students

• 3.Proclamation:     Arts & Culture Month

        Receiving:      Carrie Beth Wallace, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Columbusite

• 4.Proclamation:     Ridgecrest Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center Recognition Day

  Receiving:      Jennifer Kelley, Administrator of Ridgecrest

• 5.Proclamation:     Georgia Cities Week

        Receiving:      Teasha Hollis, Director of Communications & Community Affairs, City Manager’s Office

• 6.Proclamation:     Fair Housing Month

        Receiving:      John Bunn, Jerry Tucker, and Anthony Montgomery

PRESENTATIONS

• 7.National Travel and Tourism Week, May 3-9, 2026 – Presented by: Ashley Woitena, President-CEO of VisitColumbusGA

CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA

ORDINANCES

• 1.1st Reading:  REZN-07-25-1259: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 6821 Mobley Road (parcel # 190-014-020) from Single Family Residential – 1 (SFR1) Zoning District to Single Family Residential – 2 (SFR2) Zoning District. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.)(Councilor Davis) 

• 2.1st Reading:  REZN-02-26-0189: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 5306 Buena Vista Road (parcel # 095-045-019) from Single Family Residential – 2 (SFR2) Zoning District to Residential Multifamily – 1 (RMF1) Zoning District with conditions. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.)(Councilor Tucker)

• 3.1st Reading:  REZN-02-26-0346: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 9055 Veterans Parkway (parcel # 079-001-034) from Residential Office (RO) Zoning District to Residential Estate - 1 (RE1)(Planning Department and PAC recommend approval)(Councilor Davis)

RESOLUTIONS

• 4.A resolution approving a Special Exception to allow for a Tattoo Studio in the existing building located at 1023 Broadway located in the Central Riverfront (CRD) zoning district. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.)(Councilor Cogle)

PUBLIC AGENDA

• 1.Mr. Timothy Veals, Re: School Zone Signs, Neighborhood Property Owners, Responsibility of Landlords to Clean Up Properties

• 2.Mr. Joshua Broomfield, Re: Inclusion of Local and Minority Businesses in Major Projects.

• 3.Mr. Paul Olson, Re: Public Agenda, Open Meetings Act, and the Planning Advisory Commission (PAC).

• 4.Mr. Gregory Foster, Re: The Ugly Truth About the Stop Hypercycle Data Centers in Muscogee County Group.

• 5.Mr. Daniel Veach, Re: Proposed Data Center.

• 6.Mrs. Jessica Warchal, Re: Who are the purveyors of misinformation?

• 7.Ms. Theresa El-Amin, representing Southern Anti-Racism Network, Re: Correct Care, Crime Prevention Department Reforms. (Referral from Mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities)

• 8.Mr. Joshua Ferguson, Re: Business Development, Public Goods, and the Signal that Columbus Sends.

• 9.Mr. Scott Johnson, Re: Proposed Data Center for AI.

• 10.Mr. Matthew Davidson, Re: Inconsistencies in Zoning Overlay for Data Center.

• 11.Ms. Sophia Rother, Re: Moratorium or Send to Ballot – Zoning Overlay for Data Center.

• 12.Dr. Marvin Broadwater, Sr., Re: Board Appointment Concerns.

• 13.Dr. Natalie Nicole, representing Role Model Academy, Re: Fight Blight Columbus, GA Initiative.

• 14.Ms. Inja Gordon, representing Haygood (Boxing Gym) Recreation Center, Re: Community Legacy, Exposure & Athletic Funding, and Accessibility Alignment.

• 15.Ms. Pamela Mulvaney, Re: Data Center, Tech and Environmental Concerns.

• 16.Ms. Patricia Stephens, Re: Patterns in Economics.

• 17.Mrs. Debra Jarzomjoski, Re: Contradictions of Politics.

• 18.Mrs. Darlene Laird, Re: Proposed Technology Overlay District.

• 19.Mr. Val McGowan, Re: Civility and Good Trouble.

• 20.Mrs. Audrey Holston Palmore, Re: Heir Property.

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA

• 1.Sidewalk and Maintenance Easement Deed for Additional Right-of-Way Adjacent to Manchester Expressway and Armour Road

  Approval is requested to accept two Easement Deeds for Sidewalks: 1) from the Columbus Airport Commission, being in that portion of Land Lot 48 of the 8^th District, 27.14 sq. ft. 0.001 Acres, adjacent to Manchester Expressway, 2) from the Baynes Family LLC, being in that portion of Land Lot 48, 8^th District, 290.88 Sq. Feet 0.007 Acres adjacent to Manchester Expressway, and 609.22 Sq. Feet 0.014 Acres Adjacent to Armour Road southwest property line.

• 2.Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant Program

  Approval is requested for the to apply for, accept, and expend any awarded funds as per the grant guidelines and City regulations, if awarded, a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant program that provides lifesaving equipment and prevention education tools to first responders and public safety organizations, in the amount of $40,000, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match required, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

PURCHASES

• A.Construction Manager as General Contractor Services for Public Safety Building Renovations – RFP No. 26-0016

• B.Provision and Installation of Lighting Upgrade for Cooper Creek Tennis Center – Sourcewell Cooperative Contract Purchase

• C.Memorandum of Agreement for Mental Health Services for Muscogee County Prison

• D.Retrofit/Upgrade of Bomb Squad Robot for EMA/Homeland Security

EMERGENCY PURCHASES

UPDATES AND PRESENTATIONS

• A.Parks & Recreation Update - Holli Browder, Director Parks & Recreation

BID ADVERTISEMENT

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CLERK OF COUNCIL’S AGENDA

ENCLOSURES - INFORMATION ONLY

ENCLOSURES - ACTION REQUESTED

• 1.Resignation: Correspondence received from Avianca C. Dowdell, resigning from her seat on the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission (KCBC).

• 2.Travel Authorization Request: Approval is requested for Councilor Toyia Tucker to attend the 2026 ACCG Annual Conference, scheduled for April 23-26, 2026.

• 3.Minutes of the following boards:

  Board of Historic and Architectural Review 12-11-23

  Board of Historic and Architectural Review 07-08-24, 10-15-24

  Board of Historic and Architectural Review 09-08-25, 10-14-25

  Board of Tax Assessors #10-26, 11-26, 12-26

  Board of Water Commissioners 02-09-26

  Development Authority of Columbus 02-12-26, 02-24-26

  New Horizon Behavioral Health 01-13-20, 04-13-20, 05-11-20, 06-08-20, 07-13-20, 11-09-20, 12-14-20

  New Horizon Behavioral Health 01-09-23, 02-13-23, 03-13-23, 05-08-23, 06-12-23, 08-14-23, 09-11-23, 10-09-23, 12-11-23

  New Horizon Behavioral Health 09-09-24, 10-14-24, 12-09-24

BOARD APPOINTMENTS - ACTION REQUESTED

COUNCIL HEARING(S):

• Request for refund of property taxes as submitted by Mr. Andrew Ruh, Executive Director of Columbus Botanical Garden, for property located in Columbus, Georgia in the amount of $28,706.62. (NOTE: Request for waiver of penalty and interest on property tax in the amount of $7,935.60 was approved by Council on 03/24/2026. Property taxes for years 2023, 2024, and 2025 were paid in full on 03/25/2026.)