Hi friends, happy August and welcome to Good Works Columbus! Let’s get to it.

Things you can do in person

• COTA Service Change Meetings
  August 6th or August 11th
  Service change meetings are a great opportunity to ask COTA questions or give feedback on service!
  
  Join us on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. or Tuesday, Aug. 11, at noon for public info meetings to discuss proposed service changes effective Sept. 7, 2026. You can attend:
  In person at 33 N. High St., WPG Boardroom
  
  On Facebook Live @COTAbus Learn more: COTA.com/servicechanges
  

  

• Flock Out of Columbus Rally
  Monday, August 10th, 3PM
  

  

  

• Review of Flock Safety Community Meeting
  Monday, August 10th, 4PM
  

  

  
  
  

• Help Shape the Future of Columbus Buildings! - RSVP Today

  Join Sustainable Columbus, CREDA, and Ohio Environmental Council at 556 E Town St. Columbus, OH on August 18th for drop-in office hours from 5:30–7:30pm. These office hours are one way you can weigh in and ask questions on the Building Energy Performance Standard draft, a forward-looking policy designed to help large, existing buildings cut energy usage and hit efficiency targets over time. Street parking is available for free! (Editor’s note: Accessible by COTA lines 11, 2, and 10. There’s also bike parking next door or you can bring your bike inside the OEC building.)

• Habitat for Humanity Triplex Build with Strong Towns Columbus
  Saturday, August 15th 8:30AM-3:30PM
  Help Habitat build a triplex for 3 local families! There is no experience necessary. Tasks will vary and our helpful site leads will teach you everything you need to know. You must be 16 years or older (and accompanied by an adult 21 or over if you are under 18) to volunteer. Teams of youth volunteers must be accompanied by 1 adult per 5 youth.

• Columbus Arborfest
  Saturday, August 22nd
  Columbus ArborFest will take place on August 22nd from 12 to 5. We need volunteers before, during, and after the event to ensure things run smoothly.

  Please fill out the form below to sign up to be a volunteer!

Things you can do online

• Tell ODNR more time is needed
  From the Buckeye Environmental Network:
  ODNR gave Ohioans just two weeks to comment on nine oil and gas rules it plans to leave unchanged. These rules are reviewed only once every five years. Send comments to BOTH emails by Aug 3: [email protected] + [email protected] Demand more time.

  

• What do you think of the new 4th Street bike lanes?
  Take the online survey to provide feedback! This is a great opportunity to show that there’s appetite for more of these projects and also make comments on what can be improved for this lane and future projects.

• Columbus Participatory Budgeting 2026

  Over the course of the next few months, residents will have the opportunity to submit project ideas, develop project ideas into proposals, and vote for final projects to improve our city. All Columbus community members over the age of 14 are invited to submit ideas, and anyone over the age of 16 is invited to participate in the final vote. The $9 million in capital funds will be distributed equally among the city's nine Council Districts.
  
  Visit the website to learn more, find in-person meetings, and submit your ideas!

• Building Energy Performance Standard Draft Feedback

• Columbus is looking to adopt a Building Energy Performance Standard Policy (BEPS) that will require large, existing buildings to decrease their energy usage overtime. As Columbus continues to grow it is critical that we grow sustainably so that all people and businesses are able to thrive in our city. A BEPS will help us achieve that by:

  • Reducing energy costs for residents and businesses.

  • Creating an ecosystem to support building owners in making their buildings healthier and more efficient.

  • Generating economic opportunities for all Columbus residents through local jobs and improved property values.

  • Take the survey here!

Things I’m reading/watching:

• Group collects enough valid signatures for vote on how Columbus elects City Council from WOSU

• Congress Budgeted Billions for Big Transit Projects. Trump Isn’t Spending It. from NYT

• Local Politics: A rundown of what the Flock is going on from Matter News

• Franklin County's Community Shelter Board cutting capacity amid funding uncertainty from Columbus Dispatch
  

Have a great day everyone!

Thanks for reading Good Works Columbus! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. If you are able to, please consider upgrading to a pay what you want subscription.