Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to designate a Clean Zone, pursuant to City Code Chapter 599, within specific boundaries in the downtown area in order to regulate certain commercial activity on public property in conjunction with the Disney on Ice event to be held in Nationwide Arena from February 19, 2026 thru February 22, 2026. This is a large entertainment event, hereby declared a “Special event”, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the Columbus area, and is projected to have significant economic impact on the City and surrounding region. It is in the best interest of the City to regulate certain commercial activity on public property around this Special event to preserve the health and safety of all citizens, visitors, and participants, as well as preserve the aesthetic qualities of the downtown area. Nationwide would like to prohibit street vendors in the area adjacent to the Arena, therefore, it is necessary to create a Clean Zone within specific boundaries in the downtown area in conjunction with the Special event.
This legislation is being submitted as emergency because it is immediately necessary to establish this Clean Zone in order to be effective for the upcoming Special event.
FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact.
Title
To designate a portion of the downtown area as a Clean Zone, pursuant to City Code Chapter 599, in order to regulate certain commercial activity on public property in connection with the Disney on Ice event to be held in Nationwide Arena from February 19, 2026 thru February 22, 2026 (the “Special event”); to designate the geographical boundaries for the Clean Zone in the downtown area; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Nationwide Arena is hosting the Disney on Ice event from February 19, 2026 thru February 22, 2026, (the “Special event”); and
WHEREAS, the Special event is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the Columbus area and is projected to have significant economic impact; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to regulate certain commercial activity on public property around the Special event to preserve the health and safety of all citizens, visitors, and participants, as well as preserve the aesthetic qualities of the downtown area;
WHEREAS, the Clean Zone shall be effective only for the duration of the dates specified and shall not affect the operations of the City outside the specified dates and Clean Zone boundaries of this Special event;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Building and Zoning Services in that it is immediately necessary to establish this Clean Zone in order to be in effect for the upcoming Special event and for the preservation of public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That, pursuant to Chapter 599 of the Columbus City Code, a portion of the downtown area of Columbus, as specified in Section 3 herein, is hereby designated a temporary Clean Zone from February 19 thru February 22, 2026 for the Disney on Ice event being held at Nationwide Arena (the “Special event”).
SECTION 2. That the Clean Zone shall be in effect for from 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the designated period and ending at midnight on the last day of the designated period.
SECTION 3. That the geographic boundaries of the Clean Zone shall consist of an approximate one square mile area around Nationwide Arena. Specifically, the boundaries shall be as follows:
A. Vine St between N. High St and Neil Ave;
B. W. Spring Street between N. High St and Neil Ave;
C. Neil Ave. between W. Spring St and Vine St;
D. N. High Street between W. Spring St and Vine St.
The Clean Zone shall encompass the area within the boundaries described above, including the entire area of the boundary streets, and all public property and rights of way, which is adjacent to, or about, the boundary streets described. A map showing the geographical boundaries of the Clean Zone is attached to this Ordinance as Exhibit 1.
SECTION 4. That no person or regulated business may sell or vend any goods or services, including food or drinks, flowers, souvenirs, paraphernalia, or other merchandise, erect temporary signage, inflatables, banners, flags, pennants, wind or “sandwich board” signs, erect tables, utilize wagons to sell or store merchandise, or project images or otherwise engage in temporary promotional or commercial services of any kind, including sampling, from any street or rights of way located within the geographical boundaries and the dates of the Clean Zone.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.