Title
To Recognize The Work of The Participatory Budget Steering Committee
Body
WHEREAS, Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process that empowers residents to directly inform how a portion of the City’s capital budget is allocated, allowing community members to propose project ideas, collaborate with neighbors and City staff to develop proposals, and vote on projects that reflect the priorities and needs of their neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the goal of Participatory Budgeting is to strengthen resident involvement in local government decision-making, promote transparency and accountability in public spending, and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources across the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee, guided by the Participatory Budgeting Coordinator Melissa Bila, played a vital leadership role in designing and guiding the PB process, convening to establish the goals, rules, procedures, and outreach strategies that shape a fair, inclusive, and community-driven cycle; and
WHEREAS, the PB Coordinator, and members of the Steering Committee dedicated significant amounts of time to establishing a recommended framework for the entire PB process; and
WHEREAS, through their service, the Steering Committee and PB Coordinator demonstrated a steadfast commitment to civic engagement, equity, collaboration, and good governance;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize and commend the members of the Participatory Budget Steering Committee and the Participatory Budgeting Coordinator Melissa Bila, for their leadership, service, and commitment to empowering residents, advancing equity, and strengthening community voice in the City of Columbus.