Council Agenda - Regular Meeting 06/17/2025 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 Pastor Wayne Anthony, St. Peter UMC of Columbus, Georgia

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Skip Henderson

MINUTES

• 1.Approval of minutes for the June 10, 2025 Council Meeting and Executive Session.

CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA

ORDINANCES

• 1.2nd Reading: REZN-04-25-0678: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 1012 31st Street (parcel # 015-008-023) from Residential Multifamily – 2 (RMF2) to Residential Multifamily – 1 (RMF1) Zoning District. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.) (Councilor Garrett)

• 2.2nd Reading: REZN-004-25-0706: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at Schley Road and River Road (part of parcel # 175-001-001, Lots PS20 and PS30) from Residential Estate – 10 (RE10) Zoning District to Residential Estate – 1 (RE1) Zoning District. (Planning Department and Staff recommend approval) (Councilor Davis)

• 3.2nd Reading: REZN-04-25-0743: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 101 23rd Street (parcel # 007-026-0145) from Residential Multifamily – 2 (RMF2) Zoning District to Single Family Residential – 4 (SFR4) Zoning District. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.) (Councilor Cogle)

• 4.2nd Reading: An Ordinance providing for the establishment of taxing districts, including a county-wide general services district and three (3) urban services districts and three (3) Business Improvement Districts (BID); providing for the levy, assessment, and collection of taxes for Columbus, Georgia within such districts for the year 2025 as provided under the Charter of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia; providing penalties for violations of the provisions of said ordinance; and for other purposes. (Budget Review Committee)

• 5.1st Reading: An Ordinance providing for the levy, assessment, and collection of taxes for the public school system of Columbus, Georgia; and for other purposes. (Budget Review Committee)

RESOLUTIONS

• 6.A Resolution authorizing payment of attorney fees which may be incurred for legal services rendered regarding various city issues during fiscal year 2026. (Mayor Pro-Tem)

• 7.A Resolution authorizing payment of attorney fees to the Robbins Firm (Atlanta, Ga), in reference to a sheriff’s investigation. (Mayor Pro-Tem)

PUBLIC AGENDA

• 1.Mr. Robert Nerkowski, Re: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Public Transportation and Mental Health Treatment for the Homeless. 

• 2.Mr. Tony Gaskins, Re: City Government.

• 3.Mr. Timothy Veals, Re: Columbus Property Conditions.

• 4.Mr. Seda Eugenio, Re: Delayed Permit for Commercial Roof

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA

• 1.Property Sale - 1545 14^th Avenue

  Approval is requested to authorize the Community Reinvestment Department to sell city-owned property to adjacent landowner, Columbus House Initiative Inc., dba NeighborWorks in accordance with section 7-501 paragraph 5 of the Columbus Charter, and to authorize the Mayor or his designee to execute all contracts, agreements and understandings related to the conveyance of City properties

• 2.Risk Management Legal Services 

  Approval is requested for the legal services rendered regarding Risk Management issues Fiscal Year 2026.  

• 3.FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety Grant

  Approval is requested to authorize the Mayor or his designee to apply for and accept, if awarded, a grant in the amount of $250,000.00 or as otherwise awarded from the FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety grant program.  There are no matching funds required.

• 4.FY25 Community Policing Development Microgrants - Officer Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention Grant Application

  Approval is requested for the Mayor, or his designee to apply for, accept, and expend any awarded funds as per the grant guidelines and City regulations, if awarded, a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for funds to attract and retain the best law enforcement candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds, knowledge, and experiences using novel or creative methods for recruitment and retention, in the amount of $175,000, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match required, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

• 5. FY25 Community Policing Development Microgrants – Homelessness and Squatting grant application

  Approval is requested for the Mayor, or his designee to apply for, accept, and expend any awarded funds as per the grant guidelines and City regulations, if awarded, a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for funds to assist MCSO with the implementation of innovative and collaborative programs for addressing the negative impacts of homelessness and squatting, with an emphasis on enforcement, prevention, and community collaboration, in the amount of $175,000, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match required, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

• 6.FY25 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Grant Application

  Approval is requested for the Mayor, or his designee to apply for, accept, and expend any awarded funds as per the grant guidelines and City regulations, if awarded, a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for funds to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for MCSO sworn and civilian staff through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs, in the amount of $200,000, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match required, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

• 7.FY25 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement – Support for Law Enforcement Agencies Grant

  Approval is requested for the Mayor, or his designee to apply for, accept, and expend any awarded funds as per the grant guidelines and City regulations, if awarded, a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) that provides funding to law enforcement agencies to promote safe outcomes during police encounters with persons in crisis through relevant training, in the amount of $500,000, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match required, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

• 8.FY25 Community Policing Development Microgrants – Violent Crime Prevention Grant Application

  Approval is requested for the Mayor, or his designee to apply for, accept, and expend any awarded funds as per the grant guidelines and City regulations, if awarded, a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for funds to combat pressing issues such as street gang violence, gun violence, enforcement of gun laws, federal law enforcement engagement, child trafficking, and other serious criminal activities, in the amount of $175,000, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match required, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

• 9.Risk Management Donations for Risk and Safety Day Community Event

  Approval is requested to accept financial donations from businesses and organizations to be used to offset the cost of hosting a full-day Risk and Safety Day Community Event at Lakebottom Park.

PURCHASES

• A.Bus Refurbishment Services for METRA – Washington State Transit Bus Cooperative Contract Purchase

• B.Bid Tabulation for: Hot Asphalt, Micro Surfacing & General Road Repair Services (Annual Contract) – RFB No. 25-0004

• C.Traffic Incident Management Services and Towing Services (Annual Contract) – RFP No. 25-0001

UPDATES AND PRESENTATIONS

• A.FY25 Juvenile Court Update - Judge Warner Kennon, Samantha Cannon

  Juvenile Court is requesting an estimated additional $90,000 to cover FY25 expenses.

• B.FY25 Probate Court Update - Judge Marc D'Antonio

  Requested amount pending from Probate Court.

CLERK OF COUNCIL’S AGENDA

ENCLOSURES - ACTION REQUESTED

• 1.Minutes of the following boards:

  Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia 04.03.25

  Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia 05.01.25

• 2.ADD-ON:  Resignation of Robert L. Wadkins, Jr. from his seat on the Civic Center Advisory Board to accept his appointment as the Corporate/Employment Attorney on the Columbus Sports & Entertainment Authority.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS - ACTION REQUESTED