Council approves downtown special‑improvement districts, arts grant and several contracts totaling millions
May 12, 2026 | Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
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The Columbus City Council on Tuesday approved a package of downtown and capital measures, including two new special improvement districts (SIDs), a capital grant for an arts nonprofit and multiple contracts and appropriations.
Safer Downtown presentation and SIDs: Robin Davis, executive director of Safer Downtown (a Downtown Columbus Inc. subsidiary), described the group's ambassador, cleanliness, homeless outreach and camera programs and said property owners representing more than 60% of downtown frontage petitioned for two SIDs. Council approved ordinances creating the Downtown Central and Downtown East SIDs and the plans of service that spell out the services they will fund; several members recorded abstentions on voice/roll calls.
Arts grant: Council authorized ordinance 1262‑2026 to provide up to $197,000 from development taxable bond funds to the Columbus Printed Arts Center (CPCA) for completion of a new facility at 705 Ann Street, including ADA and life‑safety upgrades. Alyssa Smith, CPCA co‑founder, told council the space supports affordable studio access, paid residencies and youth programs and is expected to open in June.
Major contracts and appropriations: Among other approvals, council:
• Authorized a construction manager at‑risk contract with Elford Inc. for a Department of Public Service South outpost project (ordinance 1235‑2026; up to $10,000,000 appropriation; total estimated project cost ~ $19,000,000).
• Passed a $1,100,000 renewal with AssetWorks LLC for fleet‑management software.
• Passed a lead service line outreach contract modification (ordinance 1060‑2026) with an estimated expenditure up to $2,527,488.06 to support community outreach for lead service‑line replacement.
• Approved an appropriation of $14,500,000 to pay 2026 waste‑disposal tipping fees to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (estimated 305,000 tons).
Votes at a glance: Council approved the SID ordinances and the CPCA grant by voice and roll calls; the construction manager contract, AssetWorks renewal and utilities/lead/outreach appropriations passed by roll call. Where abstentions occurred on SID votes, they were recorded in the clerk's roll call.
What this means: The SIDs will levy assessments on consenting downtown property owners to fund safety, cleanliness and outreach services beginning in 2027; the CPCA grant provides gap funding for an artist‑run nonprofit to complete life‑safety and ADA work. The construction manager authorization begins the procurement and early appropriation for a new public service outpost.
Safer Downtown presentation and SIDs: Robin Davis, executive director of Safer Downtown (a Downtown Columbus Inc. subsidiary), described the group's ambassador, cleanliness, homeless outreach and camera programs and said property owners representing more than 60% of downtown frontage petitioned for two SIDs. Council approved ordinances creating the Downtown Central and Downtown East SIDs and the plans of service that spell out the services they will fund; several members recorded abstentions on voice/roll calls.
Arts grant: Council authorized ordinance 1262‑2026 to provide up to $197,000 from development taxable bond funds to the Columbus Printed Arts Center (CPCA) for completion of a new facility at 705 Ann Street, including ADA and life‑safety upgrades. Alyssa Smith, CPCA co‑founder, told council the space supports affordable studio access, paid residencies and youth programs and is expected to open in June.
Major contracts and appropriations: Among other approvals, council:
• Authorized a construction manager at‑risk contract with Elford Inc. for a Department of Public Service South outpost project (ordinance 1235‑2026; up to $10,000,000 appropriation; total estimated project cost ~ $19,000,000).
• Passed a $1,100,000 renewal with AssetWorks LLC for fleet‑management software.
• Passed a lead service line outreach contract modification (ordinance 1060‑2026) with an estimated expenditure up to $2,527,488.06 to support community outreach for lead service‑line replacement.
• Approved an appropriation of $14,500,000 to pay 2026 waste‑disposal tipping fees to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (estimated 305,000 tons).
Votes at a glance: Council approved the SID ordinances and the CPCA grant by voice and roll calls; the construction manager contract, AssetWorks renewal and utilities/lead/outreach appropriations passed by roll call. Where abstentions occurred on SID votes, they were recorded in the clerk's roll call.
What this means: The SIDs will levy assessments on consenting downtown property owners to fund safety, cleanliness and outreach services beginning in 2027; the CPCA grant provides gap funding for an artist‑run nonprofit to complete life‑safety and ADA work. The construction manager authorization begins the procurement and early appropriation for a new public service outpost.
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