Columbus Council mandates community ethics board and bans Water Street parking | The Locally Times
Ordinance 817-26 adds five community members to the ethics board, while Ordinance 818-26 removes parking from the east side of Water Street.
## Ethics Committee Composition The Columbus Common Council adopted Ordinance 817-26 on July 7, 2026, requiring the Ethics Committee to include 5 community members. Section 2-390(a) of the City Code now mandates that existing Chairs of City Committees fill any board vacancies. The July 7 meeting record does not specify the selection criteria for these community members, the application process for residents, or the legislative reasoning for the change. ## Water Street Parking Ordinance 818-26 prohibits parking on the east side of Water Street between James Street and the municipal parking lot entrance. The ordinance authorizes the Chief of Police to implement additional parking restrictions on the west side of the street if safety conditions require it. The ban takes effect upon the installation of new signage, though the city has not scheduled a date for the installation. ## Legal Services Agreement The Council approved a Legal Services Agreement with Reuter, Whitish & Evans on July 7. Dan Evans will serve as City Attorney starting in November 2026, replacing the retiring Paul Johnson. The city records do not disclose the contract duration or the financial terms of the agreement. ## Administrative Actions The Council approved $648,718.28 in city claims for the period ending June 30, 2026. Members also adopted a Public Participation Plan for the upcoming City of Columbus Comprehensive Plan update. Additionally, the Council appointed Elizabeth Gilbertson, Ryan Rostad, and David Stira as election inspectors for the 2026-2027 term. ## Key Questions **Who will serve on the new Ethics Committee?** The committee will include 5 community members, with vacancies filled by existing Chairs of City Committees. **When does the new parking ban on Water Street start?** The ban takes effect once the city installs new signs on the east side of Water Street. **Who will be the new City Attorney?** Dan Evans of Reuter, Whitish & Evans is set to become City Attorney in November 2026.