Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend section 111.01 of the Columbus City Codes, pertaining to Council holding public meetings virtually, in-person, or a combination of the two.
In July 2022, the decennial Columbus Charter Review Commission recommended a charter amendment that would allow Council to conduct virtual meetings. Council placed this recommended amendment on the November 2022 ballot, when it was passed overwhelmingly by Columbus residents. Council then effectuated this charter change with an amendment to the City Codes that establishes how Council may allow for virtual meetings, including allowing Council to hold meetings & hearings in-person, virtually, or a combination of the two, establishing the means by which Council may hold virtual meetings & hearings, and establishing that such meetings and hearings are conducted in such a way as to ensure that members of the public are able to observe and hear the public discussions and deliberations of all the members of Council, whether members are attending in-person or virtually.
Council has successfully engaged these provisions, until changes to open meetings laws changed statewide in April 2025 with an amendment to the Ohio Revised Code. The Ohio General Assembly enacted more restrictive statutes that, among other changes, restricted what matters could be acted upon at public meetings held virtually. Now Council is proposing this amendment to restore the same rules and flexibility that it had prior to April 2025, which allowed for the Council to decide the date, time, manner, and location of its public meetings, and keeps the same safeguards for transparency and public safety. The amendment also does the following:
· Restores Council’s flexibility to decide the date, time, manner, and location of public meetings, including those held virtually, in-person, or a combination of the two
· Allows Council to continue to consider all matters typically discussed and acted upon at regula...
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