Council Agenda - Regular Meeting 03/10/2026 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 Reverend Grace Burton Edwards- St. Thomas Episcopal  

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Skip Henderson

MINUTES

• 1.Approval of minutes for the February 24, 2026, Council Meeting and Executive Session.  

PROCLAMATIONS

• 2.Proclamation:     Intellectual and Developmental Disability Awareness Month-

        Receiving:      Chloe Landreth, New Horizons 

• 3.Proclamation:     Girl Scouts Day

  Receiving:      Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia

PRESENTATIONS

• 4.Fountain City Classic Update – Presented by Calvin Smyre

• 5.Regional Prosperity Initiative New 2026-2030 Strategic Plan – Presented by Tabetha Getz, Executive Director of Columbus Ahead

CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA

ORDINANCES

• 1.2nd Reading- An ordinance providing for the demolition of various structures located at:                                                                                                                                                                                                               
  
  

  1) 2317 Forsyth Street (Trevonte Johnson, Owner); 

  2) 5 Patton Drive (Edward Hickey, Owner); 

  3) 3810 16th Avenue (Virginia Royal, Owner); 

  4) 1543 Floyd Road (Marrina Jo Amerson, Owner); 

  5) 222 21st Avenue (W & D Ventures LLC, Owner); 

  6) 3016 3rd Avenue (Benjamin Hardy, Owner); 

  7) 2801 Baldwin Street (Taryn Daniel Araos, Owner);

  8) 1344 16th Street (William Glenn Perkins, Owner); 

  9) 928 Lawyers Lane (Sammie T. Harvey & King Bernice Harvey, Owner); and 

  10) 828 1st Avenue (FF Asset Fund I, LLC, Owner) (Mayor Pro-Tem)

• 2.2nd Reading- An Ordinance repealing various ordinances in order to abolish the Civic Center Advisory Board; and for other purposes. (Councilor Crabb)

• 3.1st Reading-  REZN-11-25-2091: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 2055 Old Guard Road (parcel # 074-001-008) from Residential Estate – 1 (RE1) Zoning District to Single Family Residential – 4 (SFR4) Zoning District. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.) (Councilor Davis)

• 4.1st Reading-REZN-02-26-0208: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 2045 Old Guard Road (parcel # 079-001-045) from SFR4 (Single Family Residential 4) Zoning District with conditions to SFR4 (Single Family Residential 4) Zoning District with amended conditions. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.)(Councilor Davis)

• 5.1st Reading: An ordinance amending Article I of Chapter 4 of the Columbus Code to insert a new code section which defines nonprofit community handmade and artisan events sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation; to clarify applicable permit requirements; to provide for a fee waiver; and for other lawful purposes. (Councilors Cogle and Garrett)

RESOLUTIONS

PUBLIC AGENDA

• 1.Mr. Kirk Holcombe, representing Access 2 Independence, Re: CDBG Funding

• 2.Dr. Marvin Broadwater, Sr., Re: What is a “Gentleman’s Agreement” and why do they exist?

• 3.Dr. Natalie Nicole, representing Role Model Academy of Arts, Re: Governance Standards and Enforcement Consistency

• 4.Miss. Emily Downs, Re: Chattahoochee Dam Alarm Notification on Riverwalk

• 5.Mrs. Darlene Laird, Re: Requesting a Moratorium on Data Centers.

• 6.Mrs. Leslie Landi, Re: Project Ruby / Overlay Rezoning Proposal

• 7.Mr. Gregory Foster, Re: Expressing Support for the Project Ruby Data Center

• 8.Mrs. Kim Hicks, Re: Concerns Regarding Proposed Data Center

• 9.Mr. Joshua Ferguson, Re: In support of Project Ruby and Choose Columbus for bringing these sorts of opportunities to the area.

• 10.Ms. Jessica Warchal, Re: Speaking as to the health quality effects of proposed data center campus.

• 11.Miss. Esther Warchal, Re: Effects on the natural world that I have come to reverence and love.

• 12.Mr. Liam Warchal, Re: Noise Pollution Concerns

• 13.Mr. Justin Sellers, Re: Concerns on Data Center Proposal

• 14.Mrs. Christine DiFeliciantonio, Re: Requesting a Moratorium on Project Ruby.

• 15.Mr. Jon LeGallais, Re: Opposition to the proposed “Project Ruby” Data Center

• 16.Ms. Michele Williams, Re: Data Center

• 17.Mr. Steve Craft, Re: Project Ruby

• 18.Mrs. Caroline Rowell, Re: Benefit to the Community

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA

• 1.Street Acceptance –Swedish Ivy Court

  Approval is requested for the acceptance of Swedish Ivy Court, located in Ivy Park Commercial Development.

• 2.Street Designation as a Public Street.

  Approval is requested for the designation of that portion of 5^th Street between 5^th Avenue and 6^th Avenue as a public street.

• 3.Surplus Property – 14 Properties in the Liberty District

  Approval is requested to authorize the Community Reinvestment Department to advertise and accept sealed bids for said properties and sell said properties in accordance with the Liberty District section 7-501(1) of the Columbus Charter, and to authorize the Mayor or designee to execute all contracts, agreements, and understandings related to the conveyance of City properties.

• 4.Cooperative Extension MOU Extension

  Approval is requested for Columbus Consolidated Government to renew its contract with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, on behalf of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, to continue providing Extension services to residents of Muscogee County. The agreement maintains current service levels with no change in City funding.

• 5.Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Outdoor Warning Sirens

  Approval is requested to apply for and accept, if awarded, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant award, in the amount of $368,809.00, or as otherwise awarded, for the purchase, installation and programming of six additional outdoor warning sirens, compatible with the existing 47 sirens and controls, with a local match requirement of $92,202.25, and amend the Multi-governmental Fund budget by the amount of the award.

• 6.Congressionally Directed Spending Grant – Fire & EMS

  Approval is requested to apply for and accept, if awarded, a grant in the amount of $412,154.95 or as otherwise awarded from the Congressionally Directed Spending program to go toward the purchase of a public safety robot. There are no matching funds required.

• 7.Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Back the Blue Act Donation

  Approval is requested to accept a donation in the amount of $5,735.28 from the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Inc as part of the 2025 disbursement from the Back the Blue Act funds defined in O.C.G.A. 40-2-26.1

PURCHASES

• A.Three (3) Chevrolet Silverado Trucks for Fire & EMS Department – Georgia Statewide Contract Cooperative Purchase

• B.Ten (10) Ford Explorer Interceptors for Sheriff’s Office – Georgia Statewide Contract Cooperative Purchase

• C.Four (4) Ford Explorer Interceptors for Columbus Police Department – Georgia Statewide Contract Cooperative Purchase

• D.One (1) Ford Explorer Interceptor for Columbus Police Department – Georgia Statewide Contract Cooperative Purchase

• E.Contract Extension for Inmate Medical & Pharmacy Services for Muscogee County Prison (Annual Contract) – RFP No. 18-0022

• F.Traffic Light Preemption System (Including Software and Equipment) for Fire & EMS – State of Georgia/Department of Transportation (GDOT) Cooperative Contract Purchase

• G.Ambulances for Fire & EMS – Sourcewell Cooperative Purchase

• H.Cardiac Monitor Defibrillators with Accessories for Fire & EMS – Sourcewell Cooperative Purchase

• I.Power Load Stretchers with Components for Fire & EMS – Sourcewell Cooperative Purchase

EMERGENCY PURCHASES

UPDATES AND PRESENTATIONS

• A.AJ McClung Stadium Update – Holli Browder, Director, Parks & Recreation, Scott Allen, Senior Principal, Partner, 2WR

• B. Finance Update - Angelica Alexander, Director, Finance 

BID ADVERTISEMENT

• Bid Advertisements

CLERK OF COUNCIL’S AGENDA

ENCLOSURES - INFORMATION ONLY

• 1.Upcoming Board Appointments: Development Authority

• 2.Upcoming Board Appointments: Housing Authority of Columbus

ENCLOSURES - ACTION REQUESTED

• 3.Request to Declare Vacancy: Memo from the Clerk of Council requesting Council declare the seat of Mike Welch, District 9 Representative, vacant on the Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC).

• 4.Minutes of the following boards:

  Airport Commission 01-28-26

  Board of Tax Assessors #06-26

  Board of Tax Assessors #07-26

  Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) 01-21-26

  Golf Authority 02-09-26

  Hospital Authority of Columbus 01-27-26

  Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) 07-16-25

  Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) 08-20-25

  Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) 10-01-25

BOARD APPOINTMENTS - ACTION REQUESTED

ADD-ONS