Columbus, Ohio USA
Return to Homepage www.shortnorth.comCouncilmember Michael Stinziano
Columbus City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Stinziano was born and grew up in the Short North where he lives with his wife Caroline, son Cooper and daughter Riley, along with two rescue pugs Wrigley and Fenway. For five years Michael proudly served the residents and businesses of the Short North in the Ohio House of Representatives. Michael is a pragmatic and innovative leader who works in a bipartisan manner to get results for his constituents.
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See Also: Stinziano State Representative
See Also: Stinziano Auditor
Changes Coming to the Short North in 2019
January/February 2019 IssueCommunity Hours: Michael Stinziano holds Community Hours across the city once a week to listen to issues and concerns of residents. Find a list of times and places at www.columbus.gov/stinziano
Some major improvements are coming to the Short North, the culmination of years of hard work that residents and businesses have had to endure.
With the finish line in sight for two major projects, I hope that any inconvenience gives way to excitement in 2019. Soon the Short North experience will be enhanced by streetscape improvements along High Street and the new Short North parking plan.
The city has made major investments in these projects, and both will benefit residents and local businesses alike.
The recently concluded Short North streetscape project will enhance the experience of one of our city’s core communities with a well-designed plan that provides newly paved streets, improved sidewalks and crosswalks, new street lighting – even new trees to line High Street. All in all, it’s a comprehensive facelift, representing a $30 million dollar investment, that’s sure to enhance the Short North experience for everyone involved.
You’ll also get the chance to meet IKE, the interactive Smart City Kiosks lining High Street. IKE is a breakthrough way for citizens to engage with the neighborhood. An almost 9-foot tall touchscreen that acts like a smartphone will be able to provide recommendations where to eat, shop and stay, it can provide information on events and activities going on, civic resources (so you can always reach me), report an issue to 311, see the COTA schedule, call a rideshare, and most importantly – take selfies. All in one place.
Another long sought improvement that will soon be implemented is the city’s plan to address parking in the Short North. City staff are currently installing new parking signs throughout the Short North. The new signage is being covered up with a bag that has the old signage printed on it to maintain existing parking restrictions applicable to the street. Over the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend, staff will remove the bags and the new signage will be displayed. Enforcement will begin on Tuesday, January 22.
Much of the new revenue generated by the plan will be shared within the Short North district. Meters will be in effect from 8 am – 10 pm with a 3 hour limit, and those with a permit will be able to park from 10 pm – 8 am. Rates will be $1 per hour 8 am - 3 pm and $2 from 3 pm -10 pm. If you are a permanent resident, visitor, employee or business owner, you will be able to purchase a new parking permit. You can visit the city’s website to learn more about the application process by going to www.columbus.gov/publicservice/parking. Nothing in the new parking plan is set in stone. The city is committed to evaluate and modify the parking plan, if and as needed every four months to make sure the plan is working for the neighborhood.
It’s taken years to accomplish both projects, but the work is nearly done. Now it’s time for our residents, visitors and small businesses, who lived through the planning meetings and construction, to reap the benefits of our renewed streetscape and parking plan. I’m encouraging all Columbus residents to visit the Short North and support our local businesses which continue to help make Columbus and Franklin County a great place to live and work.
If you would like to share your thoughts about these changes, or anytime that I can be of service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.Who You Gonna Call? 311!
November/December 2018 IssueCommunity Hours: Michael Stinziano holds Community Hours across the city once a week to listen to issues and concerns of residents. Find a list of times and places at www.columbus.gov/stinziano
Along with holding weekly community hours through the City, I also weekly check and review our City’s 311 service reports, because it shows where services are needed throughout Columbus. As the Chair of City Council’s Neighborhoods Committee and the Technology Committee, I take pride in knowing that 311 is being utilized by our residents and performing efficiently to high standards.
The City of Columbus Service Center, better known as 311, provides a way for you to submit a request for City Services. The Service Center serves as a single point of contact for requesting all non-emergency City services and is available to residents, businesses, and visitors. Its mission is to provide access to City services and City information with the highest possible levels of customer service. 311 strives to help City Departments to provide efficient service delivery by allowing them to focus on their core missions, manage workloads efficiently, provide insight into the needs of residents, and measure how well services are delivered.
Keep in mind that the good people operating the phones or online submissions at 311 don’t actually run out and fix the problems themselves. The Service Center’s job is to understand an issue or concern, and relay it to the proper City Department to fix the issue. Did your car hit a pothole on your drive to work? Call 311. Did your trash not get picked up? Call 311. Maybe there’s a waterline break and the street is flooding. Call 311. Are you bleeding, and in need of emergency medical attentions? Call 911 immediately! But if it’s a crumbling sidewalk, or a missed trash pickup, 311 is who you need to call.
I am a big fan of government efficiency and relying on statistics to drive decision making. One of my favorite routines is to look at the call stats to the 311 Service Center every week to help me understand what’s going on around Columbus and see where trends in requests exist and where additional Department attention is needed. Depending on the time of year, calls for certain services rise and fall. One thing that remains constant is the large number of calls and online requests the 311 Service Center handles.
To give you an idea of how many calls 311 deals with, so far in 2018 more than 250,000 residents have called. Last week alone saw 2,266 calls to schedule bulk pickups across Columbus! To date there have been 5,971 street light repair requests, 969 parking meter repair requests, 674 vehicle damage calls due to potholes, 505 inquiries about the eviction process, 225 complaints about basketball hoops in the street, 107 requests for sidewalk snow removal, 6 pet store complaints, 5 calls about the Women’s Final Four, and one person called in September to let us know that there was a smelly odor outside. As you can see, there’s a lot of calls to keep the City Departments busy improving our neighborhoods.
Another favorite stat from 2018 are the 277 well-deserved calls to thank the folks at the 311 call center, complementing the great job the team is doing helping residents direct their calls and requests.
The call center and the online portal exist to serve you, and I encourage you to call 311 by dialing (614) 645-3111 or go online to www.311.columbus.gov to submit a service request. You can also contact 311 on the MyColumbus app which you can download for free on any Apple or Android phone. I hope that take advantage of this service and call to report any issues as they arise. I’ll be checking.
If you would like to share your thoughts about the 311 Call Center, or anytime that I can be of service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
Celebrating my 150th Community Hours Meeting...
and many more
September/October 2018 IssueCommunity Hours: Michael Stinziano holds Community Hours across the city once a week to listen to issues and concerns of residents. Find a list of times and places at www.columbus.gov/stinziano
People often ask me what I like most about being an elected official. While there are many aspects of public service that make my work a privilege, one of my favorite activities are my weekly Community Hours meetings.
Scheduling time every week to sit down with constituents throughout Columbus outside of City Hall is one of my favorite ways in which I enjoy working with residents of our city. This month will mark my 150th Community Hours meeting while serving on council and my almost 400th Community Hours meeting overall as an office holder.
I love being outside of City Hall and I’m pretty sure my staff loves me being outside of City Hall as well! Out in the neighborhoods is where my constituents and their concerns and ideas are. Many of the policy initiatives that I’ve worked on both on council and at the Statehouse have come from meeting with residents during Community Hours. Many of the bills and ordinances which I have sponsored that have been signed into law by the governor and the mayor were the result of talking to constituents over coffee at places like Mission Coffee Co., One Line, and the Short North Coffee House, or meeting at any one of our neighborhood libraries.
Significant issues confront our diverse city. Representing more than 850,000 people in Columbus is an honor as I work to address the challenges and opportunities residents face every day. We are a large growing city with a wide variety of issues that concern my constituents. I welcome an in-person visit or a phone call, but I realize that some might find it intimidating to call or visit City Hall. For many, it is more convenient to come to my Community Hours out in your neighborhoods to express face-to-face your thoughts and concerns. I don’t come with an agenda beyond listening, exchanging ideas, and a commitment to address as best as possible any concerns that you share.
I am proud to be born and raised in Columbus, where my father served 22 years in the General Assembly as a state representative. As the youngest of four children, I grew up witnessing the importance of serving the public. Dad gave out our home phone number to constituents when they needed help, and when he wasn’t home it was often up to me to answer the phone to record the details of what the caller needed help with. This was an early lesson of how important it is to engage with neighborhood residents and to help when they need it. For me there is nothing more rewarding than providing the very best constituent service I possibly can.
Meeting with residents during Community Hours is essential to me. Not only do Community Hours give you a chance to ask questions and voice your concerns and opinions, Community Hours let me get to know what neighbors are concerned about and what problems need to be fixed in their communities. I couldn’t be more proud that this September we will celebrate my 150th Community Hours meeting while serving on City Council. No cake or ice cream is necessary, but I certainly hope you’ll consider attending for the first time or come back to share more of your thoughts. You can
always visit www.columbus.gov/Stinziano to see where I will be in the community during the upcoming month.Hearing firsthand from residents about their concerns is always a priority. Over the years, I have learned that the best way to figure out what people want and need is to speak with them directly, and through Community Hours meetings, I am able to do just that.
If you’d like to find out more about my Community Hours, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
Balancing safety and free speech in the Short North
July/August 2018 IssueLike many neighborhoods throughout Columbus, the Short North has seen its share of change over the years – most for the better. Storefronts, restaurants, festivals and trends have come and gone. Unfortunately, one trend we’ve seen increase recently is an uptick in aggressive panhandling in the Short North and across the city of Columbus.
Earlier this year, my colleagues and I began studying our city’s laws that relate to panhandling. After holding public hearings in March and June we are closer to finding successful ways to deal with aggressive panhandling in Columbus. The hearings were an opportunity to hear from outreach workers, business leaders, and community residents about their experiences with panhandling.
Our Columbus Police Division has difficulties dealing with panhandlers because last year the United States Supreme Court struck down a law involving panhandling as unconstitutional. As a result, like Columbus, many cities across the country are experiencing problems dealing with panhandling since the courts have ruled that panhandling is free speech.
The legislation that was crafted as a result of our findings focuses on the safety of residents and visitors to our city. It will not make asking for money illegal, but will give our Columbus Police Division more tools to address certain specific behaviors such as:
• Participating in distribution in the right-of-way
• Unwanted touching/grabbing while attempting to engage in distribution
• Following someone after they have expressed they are unwilling/unable to engage in distribution
• Standing within 3 feet of someone while they are operating an ATM machine
• Blocking the sidewalk, entrance to a building, or any other public right-of-way
We will also be creating a permit that will allow charitable organizations the ability to participate in the Right of Way for one 24-hour period. So the Firefighters Fill the Boot and Charity Newsies drive can still take place!
One thing that is certain is that we need to do all we can to help panhandlers in ways that reflect our city and our values. No one should feel that they have no other option but to panhandle which is why I encourage you to help the homeless by supporting organizations here in Columbus like the Community Shelter Board and Maryhaven.
The Short North is a neighborhood that brings folks from many different walks together. As a city we can provide the necessary resources to help all of those affected by panhandling while keeping the Short North as a community where all can benefit.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about aggressive panhandling, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
Capital Improvement Projects coming to the Short North
May/June 2018 IssueIt’s that time of year again in the City of Columbus when changes are abound. The days are getting longer, the weather is warming (it’s supposed to anyway), the leaves are returning, and Capital Improvement Budget projects are being announced. While it is difficult to pick a favorite springtime ritual, crafting a good Capital Improvement Budget is significant. Normal operating budgets are fine and all, but the CIB is the one where residents and neighborhoods see the biggest impact! I’m talking about street repaving, water and sewer upgrades, new streetlights and sidewalks!
This year the CIB appropriates more than $1 billion dollars to projects all across Columbus. A majority of that investment will be spent citywide on major items like police and fire facility and equipment upgrades, vacant housing demolition, recreation and parks bikeways and greenways, street resurfacing, street lighting and improvements to water infrastructure.
In addition to all the dollars being spent on streetscapes and sidewalks, investment is occurring in the North Market Streetscape. This is intended to provide for streetscape and beautification efforts around the proposed North Market tower scheduled to break ground this year. I believe this will only add to an exciting project that will enhance one of the true landmarks of Columbus.
Additional highlights of the CIB include a new recreation center and fire station, investment in a gunfire detection system as part of the City’s Comprehensive Neighborhood Safety Strategy, sidewalks around several Columbus schools where students currently have to walk in the street to get to school, affordable housing and improvements to the courthouse downtown.
There’s a lot to be excited about with all of these investments being pursued and there are many, many more for you to see for yourself by visiting the City of Columbus website where the CIB is available: www.columbus.gov/finance.
Budgets are all about priorities and the City’s budget priorities are based on what we hear from residents like you. I encourage you to reach out to me and share your ideas for capital projects that should be included in next year’s CIB. Then next year, at this time, we could be announcing a major investment coming to a neighborhood near you.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about this year’s Capital Improvements Budget, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
Work of City Council Impacts the Short North
March/April 2018 IssueIf you make your way to a Columbus City Council meeting, you will notice some new faces with new responsibilities on council. Those elected to serve on City Council have an important impact on your neighborhood and council members work on lots of issues that contribute to life in communities like the Short North. It’s important for you to know who your elected leaders are, and what responsibilities they have.
First, congratulations to our new Columbus City Council President, Shannon Hardin. Elected by his fellow council members to serve as president, with the help of the rest of council, President Hardin has announced new committee assignments for the upcoming year. Each councilmember serves as the chair of multiple committees that oversee policy and legislation affecting the thirteen executive departments in the Columbus municipal government.
I am excited to serve this year as council president pro tem and to chair council’s Neighborhoods Committee which was created in July 2016 to better deliver comprehensive services to the city’s diverse neighborhoods. As chairman of the Neighborhoods Committee, I will work more closely with our Area Commissions, Civic Associations like the Short North Civic Association, Neighborhood Pride, the Community Relations Commission, and Neighborhood Liaisons.
In addition, I will continue to serve as chair of council’s Technology Committee, which supports our local government information infrastructure, and council’s Public Utilities Committee which sees the most ordinances of all the committees, focusing on protecting surface water quality, managing storm and waste water, and providing safe and reliable drinking water in the Short North, Columbus and 22 suburban communities in Central Ohio.
Councilmember Elizabeth Brown is the new chair of the Finance Committee which protects the fiscal integrity of Columbus, while ensuring effective oversight of municipal operations. Liz will also oversee the Recreation & Parks Committee which is responsible for health and wellness centers including Goodale Park. Councilmember Brown’s work as the chair of the Education Committee will continue to promote high quality public education.
Councilmember Mitch Brown will stay on as the chair of the Public Safety Committee that serves to keep neighborhoods like the Short North safe.
Councilmember Jaiza Page is the new chair of the Economic Development & Small Business Committee which helps assist local business, like those along the High Street corridor in the Short North and provides assistance to companies looking to relocate to our city. She will also continue her leadership role on the Housing Committee that serves the city by preserving and building housing that helps build strong neighborhoods, offering programs to help homeowners, developers, and rental property owners.Our newest councilmember, Emmanuel Remy, will chair the Public Service & Transportation, Environment, and the Administration Committees. His work on the Public Service Committee deals with trash collection, traffic and parking management, infrastructure management, and design and construction.
Councilmember Priscilla Tyson is the new Zoning Committee chair which oversees land use in the city and also the chair of the Health & Human Services Committee as well as the Workforce Development Committee, which focuses on job training, career and technical education, job placement, skill development and internship programs.
As you can see, there’s a lot of work to do and many opportunities to learn more about resources that are available in the Short North, or to share your feedback on how council can do our work better. Whether there’s a pothole on High Street (Public Service), a broken streetlight on your street (Public Utilities), or you’re concerned about new building proposed for the Short North (Zoning), we are here to help address your concerns.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about how City Council impacts the Short North, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.An Age-Friendly Short North
January/February 2018 IssueWe’re getting older. While your first reaction might be an eye roll for saying the obvious, I want you to think about the fact that we are all experiencing the obstacles of aging on a daily basis. Neighborhoods like the Short North have cracked sidewalks, crosswalks that offer little time to cross busy streets, or a lack of wheelchair ramps in housing and businesses that pose a challenge for our seniors to navigate. Aging will eventually affect us all. Getting to work or school, or even going to a movie or a restaurant, might not be a problem for us now, but it could be when we’re older. These are very important issues.
Central Ohio’s 65-and-older population is set to double in the next 35 years. This is not a trivial statistic we can ignore, nor is it a dire warning of trouble ahead. That statistic is an opportunity – one that I, along with my friends at the Age-Friendly Columbus Initiative, have been studying for the past two years. Thanks to this work, Columbus and Central Ohio have positioned ourselves to be national leaders in creating neighborhoods that are truly friendly to people of all ages. As one of the co-chairs of the initiative, I am honored to have taken part in what served as a model for community engagement.
The initiative held inclusive surveys, focus groups, and neighborhood meetings in a process that included feedback from our older adults. Hearing directly from our older residents served as both a challenge and a major strength of the initiative’s work. It takes time to build relationships and earn trust, but I am confident that Age-Friendly Columbus set a foundation where we are now all working together to truly become an age-friendly city.
Working with many community partners including the World Health Organization, AARP, The Ohio State University, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, we have set out to improve the lives of our 65-plus population in the areas of communication, health services, public spaces, housing, employment, transportation, social inclusion, emergency preparedness, civic participation and more.
Over the next three years, along with the Columbus City Council, Age-Friendly Columbus leaders, and Mayor Ginther’s office, we will continue supporting Columbus’ aging community in order to create a city where citizens of all ages and abilities can flourish. Through the Age-Friendly Columbus Strategic Plan, we strive to provide a safe and supportive community to all residents. Together, we will continue working with our elders to honor and respect our history as we look toward a future of innovation.
One such strategy is the adoption of an “aging lens” in our city departments, buildings, and spaces. We will review our public spaces, parks, and processes to ensure that we are facilitating inclusive-planning efforts within city, and eventually county, departments.
These are important areas to study because they force us to think about issues you might ignore if you’re not a senior. But keep in mind, someday you will be. It’s important to begin to solve problems now so that neighborhoods like the Short North don’t become unreachable for certain groups of people. Enjoying the Gallery Hops, fine dining and shopping, and events shouldn’t be off limits because of the number of birthdays someone has celebrated.
Luckily, the study we have been conducting here in Central Ohio has paid off with some real data and highlights that will help solve these issues. Just last month, that study was released with a trove of information I think you’ll find interesting. I encourage everyone to read the findings published at www.agefriendlycolumbus.org and share with me your thoughts and ideas that could help our community become more age-friendly.
We’re getting older. But with the foresight and commitment to improving life for our elders and ultimately everyone in our neighborhoods, we’re getting a little wiser too.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about the Age-Friendly Columbus Initiative, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
The 'Columbus Way'
November/December 2017 IssueThe City of Columbus is growing. This year our community overtook Indianapolis to become the 14th most populous city in the United States. With new residents moving to Columbus every day, it won’t be long before we move up the list past San Francisco and Jacksonville to number 12. For those of us who are fortunate enough to call Columbus home, it’s not hard to see why many understand that “Columbus is the best place to live, work, start a business and raise a family.” You hear that a lot from our local leaders because it’s true.
For example, Columbus has been named the best in a number of categories by a lot of different publications. Looking for the number one up-and-coming high-tech city? – Columbus (Forbes Magazine). Best public library in the country? – Columbus (Library Journal). Best baseball stadium in America? – Huntington Park in Columbus (Ballpark Digest). Most affordable place to retire? – Columbus (Forbes Magazine again!). Best zoo and aquarium - Columbus (USA Travel Guide), best science center in COSI (Parents Magazine). Best city to end in US? – Columbus! Okay, I made that one up but the evidence is pretty clear, Columbus is a great city and we’re doing a lot of things right.
That something right is highlighted by what people around the country have started to call the Columbus Way. It’s the special relationship between our neighborhood residents, private businesses, and the public sector. In fact, the Harvard Business School uses Columbus as a case study and sees us as a best practice when it comes to public-private partnerships. Harvard studies how our corporate partners not only do business in, but invest in neighborhoods like the Short North. Businesses, large and small, realize that investments in our city’s neighborhoods and workforce pay off for everyone.
When I look around the city, I see many examples of success that result from the city’s relationship with local businesses and neighborhoods. The Riverfront downtown has been transformed and is enjoyed by thousands of residents. Businesses hiring workers and improving infrastructure is helping to revitalize neighborhoods like Franklinton, Milo-Grogan and Weinland Park among many others. The Reeb Avenue Center on the South Side stands out as a shining example that the Columbus Way can work for all neighborhoods. It is this approach that will help to address some of our larger challenges like the opioid epidemic and the need for more affordable housing in many neighborhoods, just to name a few.
Our beating out hundreds of other US cities to win the Smart City prize is going to help address infant mortality in neighborhoods like Linden, and it wouldn’t have happened without major investment commitments made by the private partners. You don’t get recognized for having some of the best municipal institutions in the nation without a great relationship between our neighborhoods, companies that do business here, and the city.
So whether you’re enjoying a stroll along the riverfront downtown or visiting galleries and restaurants in the Short North, I encourage you to take a minute and think about all partners in our neighborhoods both private and public that help make Columbus the wonderful place that it is today and how much more we need to do together to meet the challenges facing our community.
Experience tells me that Columbus residents serve as the impetus for many ideas around which partnerships form. Only when we work together to overcome challenges, appreciating the positive environment already found in our neighborhoods and supported by our residents and our businesses, will our city’s true potential be reached through the Columbus Way.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about the Columbus Way, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.City Works with Residents Toward Parking Solution
July/August 2017 IssueDespite a year-long effort to establish solutions to parking problems in the Short North area, potential solutions remain embroiled in question and clarification.
On Thursday evening, July 6, I was one of a number of residents who participated in the most recent community meetings, this one held at Goodale Park Shelterhouse, where neighborhood residents and business owners met with city officials to voice concerns and seek clarification about proposed solutions to parking problems in the Short North.
Short North area residents, business owners, and visitors have experienced a twenty-year revival of economic and community activity. The area stretching from The Ohio State University Campus to immediately north of Downtown has evolved into the city’s premier urban art, dining and shopping space.
With the growth of the number of area residents and visitors, the demand for parking has significantly increased, and the demand will continue as Columbus expects to grow by another 500,000 residents by 2050. Facing the existing and projected challenges of parking, Short North neighbors reached out to the City of Columbus to help develop a parking solution to balance the availability of parking for residents and visitors that drive the economic vitality of the Short North corridor.
I am committed to supporting Columbus residents who live and work in the Short North to find a solution to parking problems.
City Council commissioned a parking study to evaluate parking pressures in the area. The study led to open houses, stakeholder interviews, focus groups and an online survey to gather feedback from the residents and businesses. Existing parking conditions and a parking inventory of the Short North were compiled and assessed. The study resulted in recommendations to address five focus areas:1. Enhancing the economic development and vitality of the Short North and surrounding neighborhoods
2. Protecting residential neighborhoods
3. Providing convenient, accessible parking as part of a multimodal transportation system
4. Recommending a financially sustainable parking plan
5. Creating realistic zoning requirements for future Short North developmentFollowing the study, and for the past 16 months, a group of residents and Columbus Department of Public Service representatives have worked together to develop the Short North Parking Pilot Program. Progress on the Short North Parking Pilot Program has been shared with residents in a series of five open house feedback sessions, and proposed drafts have been made available to the public for additional feedback and consideration.
The residents commissioned to work on the draft proposal have invested their time, energy and perspectives into identifying best practices and debating solutions. I am grateful for their commitment to making the Short North and City of Columbus the best it can possibly be for residents and visitors. In addition, under the leadership of Council’s Public Service and Transportation Committee Chairman Shannon Hardin, the Department of Public Service has been hard at work addressing the concerns raised by residents and community leaders.
Our community has the opportunity to come together and create a plan that enhances the access and livability of the Short North. I strongly encourage residents to continue to provide feedback and suggestions to all members of Council as your voice and perspective will continue to share the direction of any proposal presented to Council members.
You can learn more about the project and updates for the Short North Parking Pilot Program at: www.columbus.gov/publicservice/parking/proposed-short-north-pilot-program/
If you have concerns, suggestions or ideas about how to improve life in Columbus, or thoughts about solving the parking problem in the Short North, please call me at (614) 645-8084 or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. Also, please visit my City Council website www.columbus.gov/stinziano often to learn more about Council’s work to improve life for the residents and businesses of our community.
I look forward to hearing from you.Capital Investments Improve Life in the Short North
May 2017 IssueEvery year, the mayor proposes and City Council passes a Capital Improvement Budget investing hundreds of millions of dollars to improve life for the residents of Columbus.
New sidewalks, recreation centers, parks, streetlights, road repairs, and sewer improvements are important investments that raise the quality of life for residents of our community.
This year, Columbus is dedicating $857 million to capital projects. Public dollars spent on transportation, clean water, safe buildings and parks, provide Columbus healthy neighborhoods in which to live, work, and play. In addition to improving our neighborhoods, capital projects put Columbus residents to work, creating hundreds of good paying jobs.
Highlights from the 2017 Capital Budget include:
• Continued investment in our utilities infrastructure with hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to our sewer and water systems
• $28.5 million in extensive street resurfacing and pedestrian safety improvements– including the continuation of Short North streetscape project
• $11.5 million for fire facilities and police mobile substations renovations and updates
• $4.6 million for Recreation and Parks for facility renovations, bikeways and greenways improvements
• $4 million in funding for the street light project, about twice as much as last year
Where does all this money come from? The capital budget is financed by boands that the city repays using tax and utilities service revenue. Columbus City Auditor Hugh Dorrian maintains a conservative spending budget and Columbus remains a reliable city for lenders to invest in.
To learn more about the Capital Improvement Budget and how Columbus continues to keep our infrastructure strong, please visit www.columbus.gov/finance.
If you’d like to share your thoughts about improvements needed in your neighborhood, or anytime that I can be of service, please call me at (614) 645-8084 or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. Also, please visit my City Council website www.columbus.gov/stinziano often to learn more about Council’s work to improve life for the residents and businesses of our community.
I look forward to hearing from you.Columbus Streetlights Help Keep Short North Safe
April 2017 IssueFor more than 100 years, the city of Columbus has been providing electric energy to customers and using the proceeds to fund city streetlight projects and operation.
As chair of the City Council Public Utilities Committee, I work closely with Director Tracie Davies and the Department of Public Utilities Division of Power to ensure reliable street lighting for people living in or traveling through the Short North and greater city. The city of Columbus operates over 53,000 streetlights on main corridors and in neighborhoods of Columbus, illuminating roughly two thirds of city streets. Street lighting projects are prioritized by the Division of Power based on public safety considerations and public activity factors. Street lighting is proven to reduce numbers of vehicle crashes, pedestrian-vehicle incidents, and deter crime.
Just this past year, Council dedicated $1.7 million for Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund street lighting projects and $2.3 million in capital funds for additional street lighting projects. Columbus is also investing more in smarter, greener LED lights. The Short North has two active street lighting projects on West Third and East Fifth avenues. These investments support stronger, safer, more family-friendly communities, but also puts people to work, building better neighborhoods.
Reporting Outages
The Columbus Division of Power responds to streetlight outages and maintenance daily. If you see a streetlight that is not operating correctly, I encourage you to call the city of Columbus Service Center or 3-1-1 or report the outage online, at 311.columbus.gov or using the MyColumbus App smartphone. The Department of Public Utilities does a tremendous job of getting out and fixing lights when reports are made.
We have a collective responsibility to keep our streets safe. If you see a street light out in the neighborhood, report it.
Columbus City Council is committed to enhance quality of life and safety by providing energy efficient and sustainable street lighting. Please visit columbus.gov/utilities for more information on the Columbus Department of Public Utilities programming and resources available to all citizens.
If you’d like to share your ideas, questions or concerns regarding how to keep our community safe, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. Also, please visit my City Council website www.columbus.gov/stinziano often to learn more about Council’s work to improve life for the residents and businesses of our community.
I am at City Hall working for you.Get Active with Columbus Recreation and Parks
January/February 2017 IssueThe New Year is the time when many of us set our goals. For Columbus residents seeking to improve their health and wellness, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department has the tools to help you reach your goals.
Through the leadership of Director Tony Collins and City Council Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Councilwoman Jaiza Page, the City of Columbus is dedicated to enriching the lives of citizens through the work and programming of CRPD which operates 29 community centers and five athletic complexes throughout our city that are open to public use all year round. Whether you are new to Columbus or your family has utilized CRPD facilities for generations, I invite you to visit one of our community centers and check out the health and wellness resources available to all Columbus residents.LEISURE CARDS
For access to swimming pools and community recreation centers CRPD uses a photo ID card system, known as Leisure Cards. In order to take advantage of the great programs and facilities we offer around Columbus you must obtain a Leisure Card which cost only $1 (new or renewed) and are good for three years from the date of purchase. You can pick up your Leisure Card at Thompson Community Center at 1189 Dennison Ave.GET ACTIVE CENTERS
Nearly all Columbus community recreation centers have some sort of fitness room, weight room, or gymnasium. Residents are able to purchase an Annual CRPD Fitness Room Membership Pass allowing access to 14 Get Active Centers across the city, including Thompson Community Center in the Short North. At a fraction of the cost of a private gym membership, the membership pass gives you access to all of CRPD’s Get Active Centers across the city and the fitness classes held at these facilities.
To learn more about Get Active Centers and class offerings through the Annual-CRPD Fitness Room Membership pass visit https://apm.activecommunities.com/ columbusrecparksCOLUMBUS AQUATIC CENTER
A great way to exercise this winter is to visit the Columbus Aquatic Center which offers a wide variety of programs for all ages from 6 months to senior citizens including open swim, adult swim classes and water fitness, learn to swim and competitive youth swimming programming. The CAC is located next to Thompson Recreation Center, two blocks west of North High Street and one block south of West Fifth Avenue.
Please visit www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks for more information on Columbus Recreation and Park programming and resources available to you.
If you’d like to share your ideas, questions or concerns regarding how to keep our community moving, please call me at (614) 645-8084 or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. Also, please visit my Council website www.columbus.gov/stinziano often to learn more about Council’s work to improve life for the residents and businesses of our community.
SHORT NORTH RECREATION
COLUMBUS AQUATIC CENTER, 1160 Hunter Avenue • (614) 645-6122 / THOMPSON COMMUNITY CENTER, 1189 Dennison Avenue • (614) 645-3082
www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks
City Budget Sets Priorities:
Council gets ready to review mayor's
budget proposal and plans for future
November/December 2016 IssueWhen asked about what our local government priorities are, I often point people to our city’s budget. Budgets set priorities and commitments. The forming of our budget is one of the single most important processes our city takes on, yet, few residents engage in or understand this process.
In a few weeks, Mayor Ginther will propose and present City Council with an operating budget that accounts for the city’s expenses, expected future costs, and forecasted income for the coming year. Following the mayor’s presentation of the operating budget, Council has responsibility to review, amend, and approve a sound budget. Mayor Ginther and City Council are committed to continuing the City of Columbus’ legacy of fiscal responsibility and providing strong neighborhood services.
The general fund provides financial support for the city’s basic services – police, fire, and refuse collection, snow removal among others. In addition, the general fund budget includes personnel costs and annual facility operating costs. Many city departments are funded solely by the general fund, while others receive general fund subsidies, and some have multiple funding sources.
The primary source of revenue to the general fund is the income tax. However, a number of additional revenue sources including casino revenue, parking meters, property taxes, charges for services and licensing and permit fees, help strengthen the general fund and the city’s commitment to the safety of our residents and the delivery of basic neighborhood services.
After the mayor’s presentation to Council, my colleagues and I will be hosting hearings to review Mayor Ginther’s budget proposal. I invite Short North neighborhood leaders and residents to participate in upcoming budget hearings to learn about the mayor’s funding priorities and share their vision about how to advance city services to all residents and neighborhoods. Council budget hearings will be announced in the next couple weeks. If you are not able to attend the hearings, recordings will be available on the Columbus Television YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/cityofcolumbus.
Following these budget hearings, Councilmembers will propose amendments and vote to approve the 2017 operating budget in early 2017.
If you would like to share your thoughts about the Mayor’s proposed operating budget, or anytime that I can be of service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
Also, please visit my City Council website www.columbus.gov/stinziano often to learn more about Council’s work to improve life for the residents and businesses of our community.I look forward to hearing from you!
Council Supports Restorative Justice
September/October 2016 IssueThis past month, I had the distinct privilege to attend and speak before the Franklin County Municipal Court’s Mental Health Specialty Docket Graduation. As the chair of City Council’s Judiciary and Court Administration Committee, my visit to the courthouse was a fulfilling experience as I learned more about the life-changing work our local judges and court administrators are committed to.
Council’s Judiciary and Court Administration Committee is responsible for all legislation related to criminal, civil, and administrative law in the City of Columbus to provide the resources necessary to run one of the largest and busiest municipal courts in the state. Columbus City Council is proud to support and help fund the specialty dockets and restorative justice efforts in the Franklin County Municipal Court.
An extraordinary number of our current prison population suffers from mental health or substance abuse issues. Our judges and court administrators understand that a one-size-fits-all model of incarceration does not support the rehabilitation and restoration of populations with special needs. Specialized dockets provide an alternative to traditional sentencing. Participants enroll in a rigorous two year program of coordinated treatment run by licensed social workers and court administrators to help participants turn away from a life of crime.
Columbus’ local courts administer five specialized dockets and two education programs with target populations ranging from victims of human trafficking to offenders suffering from opiate addiction. In 2015, specialized dockets served 646 participants and less than 25 percent of those participants committed similar crimes following graduation.
This programing has been so successful, other municipalities have recognized and used Franklin County Municipal Court as a model for progress in restorative justice. After listening to the personal journeys and recognizing the 17 graduates of the 2016 Mental Health Specialized Docket Program, I am confident to say, our community members who want to put their criminal actions in the past, are facing a brighter future.
If you’d like to share your vision of how our local courts could best serve Columbus residents, or anytime that I can be of help or service, please call me at (614) 645-8084, or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. Also, please visit my City Council website www.columbus.gov/stinziano often to learn more about my work to improve life for the residents and businesses of our community. I’m at City Hall working for you.
Columbus Libraries Inspire
July/August 2016 IssueColumbus is home to 17 incredible community libraries serving over 570,000 library card holders and over 5 million visitors yearly. Our libraries are not just homes for books, they are community centers and treasures, inspiring Columbus residents in every neighborhood.
In 2013, Columbus Metropolitan Libraries broke ground on their first of ten library renovations as a part of their Aspirational Building Program. The newly built libraries are designed to fit the needs of each community they serve. New buildings are outfitted with more space for community gathering and collaboration, increased computer access and technology options for patrons to better serve Columbus residents.
City Council committed generous funding to Columbus Metropolitan Library in the 2016 Capital Improvement Budget approved in May. I host many of my weekly Community Hours in libraries across the city and am always amazed by how busy our branches are. I think this is a great sign. Our libraries are providing valuable services to our residents. I look forward to continuing my support for Columbus Metropolitan Library while on council.
Libraries serve as common ground for residents and cornerstone of knowledge and imagination for our neighborhoods. For many of our residents, the library is the only point of access for those without technology or Internet at home. Our libraries will help ensure families have access to books and educational resources. CML’s construction goes beyond building. This construction is symbolic of the value of learning, of collaboration, of dialogue, and of Columbus’s future.
With seven of the ten buildings under construction or opened, Columbus Metropolitan Library is on track with their 2017 construction completion goal. The recently opened Main Library is one of the most spectacular renovations of all. The Main Library truly showcases Columbus’s investment in culture, knowledge and most importantly, people.
Be sure to pick up your books on hold or browse the collection at the Northside Temporary Location this summer in the Kroger parking lot, 1350 North High Street. While you’re there, check out the award-winning design and construction of the Northside Branch.
I look forward to enjoying our new facilities and hope you’ll join me in supporting our local libraries. When you have a problem, question, or concern, or anytime that I can be of service, come meet me, call me at 614-645-8084, or e-mail me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help.
Area commissions guide City Council on neighborhood decisions
May/June 2016 Issue
Columbus neighborhoods are rooted in the values and work ethics of residents who have lived in their communities for decades. In the 1970s, Columbus City Council recognized that neighborhoods are the heartbeat of our city and established area commissions and historic architectural review commissions to extend the voice of the people to City Hall.
Commissions give authority and advice on city issues and how policy affects neighborhoods. In the Short North, Italian Village, Victorian Village, University Area, commissions act as a liaison between neighborhood groups, property owners, residents, developers and city officials.
Whether you’ve lived in Columbus your whole life or just moved here, whether you pay rent or a mortgage, whether you’re a student, or retiree, your area or review commission serves you.
I invite you to get involved. Through area and review commissions, Columbus residents have the opportunity to shape their surroundings and initiate community dialogue to keep our neighborhoods unified and strong.
When legislation hits a councilmember’s desk with an official recommendation from a commission, we are able to better understand how the community feels about the proposed legislation. Commissions help generate communication, understanding and cooperation between neighbors, city officials and developers.
Columbus currently has eighteen area commissions and five historic architectural review commissions overseen by the Columbus Department of Development. Commissions have anywhere from seven to twenty-one members, serving two or four year terms. Typically commissions meet on a monthly basis and follow a set of by-laws, procedures and rules that keep meetings running smoothly.
All commission meetings are open to the public, and I encourage community residents, civic association representatives, business owners, faith leaders and public safety officials to attend. Along with the Mayor’s Neighborhood Pride Liaisons and the City Council Office on Community Engagement, councilmembers also regularly attend meetings.
Our residents, who love our city and their neighborhoods, deserve a say in the future of their local community. Please visit www.columbus.gov/development/Public-Meetings for more information on your local commission and how you can get involved.
I look forward to keeping you updated on issues that affect our neighborhood. Remember, when you have a suggestion, problem, question, or concern, or anytime that I can be of service, call 614-645-8084 or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. I’m at City Hall working for you.
Committed to Safe Drinking Water
March/April 2016 Issue
Is my drinking water safe?
With reports of unsafe levels of lead turning up in cities across the country, neighbors ask me all the time about the safety of our drinking water. As were many of the homes in the Short North, my home was built in the early 1900s. A few distinct characteristics of our historic neighborhood’s homes are wonderfully detailed woodwork, four square floor plans, and lead pipes.
Despite the old bones of our plumbing, a number of citywide safeguards are in place, and the city of Columbus’s water is safe.
As a resident and chair of City Council’s Public Utilities Committee, I take special interest in securing and maintaining our city’s water infrastructure.
Last year, Columbus provided almost 49 billion gallons of safe, clean drinking water to more than 1.1 million people throughout the Central Ohio region. Our city is in compliance with all of the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, including the lead and copper rule, exceeding many federal and state minimum requirements. Water leaving Columbus treatment plants is lead-free and pretreated to keep lead in old pipes from entering water during transportation to our homes and businesses and Columbus tap water is tested multiple times each day to ensure these safeguards are working properly.
What you can do to reduce your risk of exposure to lead:
• Check home plumbing for any sources of lead.
• If your home, like mine, was built before 1950, call the Division of Water to identify the service line material at 614-645-7691.
• Let water run from the tap before drinking or cooking whenever the faucet has gone unused for more than 6 hours. The longer water sits in your home’s plumbing, the more lead it may contain.
• Use cold water for cooking. Cold water does not dissolve lead as quickly as hot water.
On Council, I look forward to working closely with the Department of Public Utilities to continue infrastructure improvements at our water treatment facilities to ensure we have the cleanest water possible. My goal is to provide public hearings, relevant information and continue to engage in open dialogue to ensure transparency and keep you up-to-date on the safety of our drinking water.I look forward to keeping you updated on issues that affect our neighborhood. Remember, when you have a suggestion, problem, question, or concern, or anytime that I can be of service, call 614-645-8084 or email me at mstinziano@columbus.gov and I will do everything I can to help. I’m at City Hall working for you.
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