Council Agenda - Regular Meeting 05/26/2026 05:30 PM C. E. “Red” McDaniel City Services Center- Second Floor

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

INVOCATION: Offered by Chaplain Charles Lee Hindbaugh, Fort Benning

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Serenity Powell from Hannah Elementary School

OATH OF OFFICE:

• 1.SWEARING-IN CEREMONY: The Oath of Office for Simi Barnes as the District One Councilor for the City of Columbus, Georgia. (Oath of Office administered by Superior Court Chief Judge Arthur L. Smith, III and Probate Court Judge Marc D'Antonio)

MINUTES:

• 2.Approval of minutes for the May 12, 2026, Council Meeting and Executive Session.  

PRESENTATIONS:

• 3.River City Race Program – presented by Robbie Branscomb, Founder & CEO of Let’s Grow STEAMx, Inc.

CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA

ORDINANCES

• 1.2nd Reading: REZN 03-26-0356: An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 3890 Veterans Parkway (parcel # 031-044-006) from Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Zoning District to General Commercial (GC) Zoning District. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.) (Councilor Garrett)  

• 2.2nd Reading:  REZN-03-26-0663: An ordinance amending Sections 13.1.1, 4.2.18, 2.5.24, 3.2.6, 3.2.63, and 10.11.8 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for Columbus, Georgia. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.)(Mayor Pro-Tem) 

• 3.2nd Reading: REZN-03-26-0416- An Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia, to change certain boundaries of a district located at 5385 Veterans Parkway (parcel # 188-020-001) from Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Zoning District to General Commercial (GC) Zoning District. (Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.) (Councilor Garrett)

• 4.2nd Reading:  An ordinance providing for the demolition of various structures located at:                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  1) 3219 Cusseta Road (Edward Francis, Owner)
  2) 945 Henry Avenue (Willie A. Callier Etal, Owner)
  3) 1103 Henry Avenue (Connell L. & Minnie L. Holloman, Owner)
  4) 4026 Oates Avenue (Blue Fox Goebell LLC, Owner)
  5) 917 38th Street (Winston S. Marchan Jr., Owner)
  6) 4010 6th Avenue (Nstream Properties LLC, Owner)
  7) 1112 Bolton Avenue (Claudia & Harvey Joseph, Sr, Owner)
  8) 2623 Clover Lane (Darrel G. Hicks Jr., Owner)
  9) 2119 Munson Drive (Wendy Margarita Martinez, Owner)
  10)1118 Thyer Avenue (Nchotu Success, Owner)

  and for demolition services for the Inspections and Code Department in accordance with the attached Tabulation of Bid sheet. (Mayor Pro-Tem)

• 5.2nd Reading:  An ordinance to provide for a levy of increase on ad valorem taxes for blighted property; to provide for identification of blighted property; to provide for remediation; to provide for a decrease on ad valorem taxes on property; and for other purposes. (Councilors Garrett and Davis) 

• 6.1st Reading:  An Ordinance regulating vehicular traffic in Columbus, Georgia by establishing a  “NO PARKING ANYTIME” zone along Warm Springs Road beginning at the Southwest corner of the intersection of Billings Road running  Southwesterly for approximately 500 Feet; repealing any conflicting ordinances : and for other purposes. (Mayor Pro-Tem)

• 7.1st Reading:  An Ordinance amending the Columbus Code to repeal and replace Sections 14-14 and 14-15 with new code sections that impose a curfew for unattended minors in the Uptown District, and for other purposes. (Request of Uptown Columbus)

RESOLUTIONS

• 8.A resolution approving a Special Exception to allow for a Convenience Store with Gas Sales located at 5385 Veterans Parkway located in the General Commercial (GC) zoning district. Planning Department and PAC recommend approval.) (Councilor Garrett)

PUBLIC AGENDA

• 1.Mr. Michael Wood, representing Sleeping in Heavenly Peace, Re: Upcoming Event.

• 2.Mr. George McDowell, Re: Racism – 400 Years Later.

• 3.Mr. Paul Olson, Re: Data Center & Gentrification.

• 4.Mr. Jerry Powell, Re: An Idea for Future Elections.

• 5.Dr. Marvin Broadwater, Sr., Re: Crime Prevention Budget Line Item.

• 6.Mrs. Darlene Laird, Re: 1) Clarification on Development Authority role vs. Choose Columbus 2) The Development Authority is subject to open records, so why does Columbus Consolidated Government not have access to Development Authority Members' mailboxes unless an electronic mail exchange exists with someone with a city mailbox?

• 7.Mr. Timothy Veals, Re: Head Street Safety Concerns and Property Cleanliness.  

• 8.Mr. Val McGowan, Re: Correction to the Current Zoning of Moye Road.

• 9.Prophetess Dee Grier, Re: Data Center and God’s Resources.

• 10.Dr. Natalie Nicole, representing Role Model Academy of Arts, Re: FY27 Budget Allocations and Council Oversight.

• 11.Ms. Kayce Burdett, Re: City Council’s Responsibilities to the Community – What Service Means.

• 12.Mrs. Kim Hicks, Re: Experts on the Dangers of Data Centers.

• 13.Rev. Mark Lawrence, representing IMA, Re: Working Together.

• 14.Mr. Thomas Anderson, Re: Data Center Project.

• 15.Mr. Matthew Johnson, Re: Data Center.

CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA

• 1.Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NeighborWorks Columbus

  Approval is requested to authorize an MOU with NeighborWorks Columbus for the development of workforce housing at the Newman’s Crossing subdivision utilizing State of Georgia Department of Community Affairs Equity Fund Rural Workforce Housing Initiative Funding.

• 2.Easement to install EV charging stations on the METRA campus (814 Linwood Blvd)

  Approval is requested to execute an easement with Georgia Power Company to install EV charging stations on the METRA campus (814 Linwood Blvd) through the Georgia Make Ready Program.

• 3.Hazard Mitigation Grant Application – Hazard Mitigation Plan 2029-2034

  Approval is requested for the homeland security and emergency management to apply for a hazard mitigation grant through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency for the update/revision of the hazard mitigation plan for Muscogee County (Columbus Consolidated Government).

PURCHASES

• A.Architectural & Engineering Services for the Renovation & Expansion of the METRA Transfer Center – RFP No. 26-0021

• B.Third-Party Administration Services for the Community Care Program Serving Medically Underserved Persons in Muscogee County – RFP No. 26-0023

• C.Aerial, Ground Ladder & Apparatus Pumps Inspection & Testing Services (Annual Contract) – RFB No. 26-0010

EMERGENCY PURCHASES

UPDATES AND PRESENTATIONS

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

BID ADVERTISEMENT

• BID ADVERTISEMENTS

CLERK OF COUNCIL’S AGENDA

ENCLOSURES - ACTION REQUESTED

• 1.Minutes of the following boards:

  Board of Elections and Registration 03-12-26

  Board of Tax Assessors # 17-26 & 18-26

  Board of Water Commissioners 04-20-26

  Board of Zoning Appeals 04-08-26

  Columbus Sports & Entertainment Authority 04-13-26

  Development Authority of Columbus 01-08-26, 03-12-26 & 04-09-26

  Hospital Authority of Columbus 03-31-26

  Tree Board 09-03-25

BOARD APPOINTMENTS - ACTION REQUESTED

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ADD-ONS