Explanation
BACKGROUND
On July 16th, representatives of the Our City, Our Say Coalition submitted signed petitions sufficient to send a charter amendment proposal to the ballot at the November 3rd, 2026 general election. The proposal, known as “Proposed Amendment No. 1, City Council District Elections,” would limit the ability to vote on City Council district representatives to only those electors living within the districts those members would represent.
Concurrently, Columbus City Council has convened two public hearings to discuss the future structure of council, and it is the opinion of this council that the inclusion of at-large representation is a crucial feature of a representative government for the City of Columbus.
With this ordinance, Columbus City Council sends to voters for their consideration an amendment to the charter that would enact all of the provisions of Proposed Amendment No. 1, while complementing those changes with the addition of at-large representation. The aforementioned complementary proposal is hereafter known as “Proposed Amendment No. 2, City Council At-Large Complement.”
Fiscal Impact: None.
Emergency Designation: While not an emergency, City Charter Sec. 42-12 requires that this ordinance have immediate effect upon passage.
Title
To submit to the electors of the city of Columbus at a special election to be held concurrently with the regular general election on November 3, 2026, the question of amending the Charter of the City of Columbus, such question to be known as "Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2, City Council At-Large Complement.” ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2026, Our City, Our Say petitioners filed with the City Clerk a pre-circulation copy of a petition for a charter amendment, titled “To amend the City Charter to eliminate at-large voting for city council district elections and to replace it with district-based voting wherein council members are elected or recalled only by the Columbus voters who live within their respective districts,”; and
WHEREAS, between submission of the pre-circulation petition and submission of signed copies, Councilmembers collaborated with Our City, Our Say representatives to craft a framework for Council that includes at-large representation; and
WHEREAS, the Our City, Our Say Coalition has submitted a petition to amend the city charter, and said petition has met all the criteria necessary to appear on the next electoral ballot; and
WHEREAS, on August 24, 2026, Columbus City Council will vote on ordinance 2354-2026 to advance the proposal, known as “Proposed Amendment No. 1, City Council District Elections,” to the ballot for a special election to be held concurrently to the general election occurring on November 3rd, 2026; and
WHEREAS, on May 4th, 2026 and August 17th, 2026, Columbus City Council convened public hearings to discuss considerations around the structure of City Council; and
WHEREAS, following the public hearings and in consideration of Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, City Council District Elections, Council now submits a complementary charter amendment proposal, hereafter known as “Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2, City Council At-Large Complement;” and
WHEREAS, Sec. 42-13 of the city charter affords the Columbus City Council the authority to determine if there are conflicting provisions between Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1 and Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2; and
WHEREAS, Section 42-12 of the Charter of the City of Columbus requires that this ordinance submitting the Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2, City Council At-Large Complement to the electors go into effect and be in force "from and after the date of passage" to assure timely filing with the boards of elections for placement on the November 3, 2026 ballot to be timely certified which is required to appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That pursuant to Section 45 of the charter, there be submitted to the electors of the city of Columbus the question of amending the Charter of the City of Columbus, such question and proposed amendments being set forth as an attachment (PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER City Council At-Large Complement) hereto and hereby made a part hereof.
SECTION 2. That the question submitted in Section 1 be and hereby is known as "Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2, City Council At Large Complement."
SECTION 3. That the city clerk is directed to forthwith serve a certified copy of this ordinance upon the boards of elections of Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County, Ohio.
SECTION 4. That the boards of elections of Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County, Ohio be and hereby are requested to place the question, "Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, Community Crisis Response" upon the ballot to be submitted to the electors as provided for and upon the date set forth herein.
SECTION 5. That the Columbus City Council supports the tenets of Charter Amendment No. 1, City Council District Elections and, pursuant to Sec 42-13 of the City Charter, the Columbus City Council does hereby find Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, City Council District Elections and Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2, City Council At-Large Complement to not have conflicting provisions.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to take immediate effect and be in force from and after passage, pursuant to Section 42-12 of the Charter of the City of Columbus.