To submit to the electors of the city of Columbus at a special election to be held concurrently with the regular primary election on May 5, 2026, the question of amending the Charter of the City of Columbus, such question to be known as "Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, Community Crisis Response.”

This item proposes a charter amendment, "Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, Community Crisis Response," to be submitted to Columbus city electors on May 5, 2026. The amendment aims to establish a community crisis response system managed by Columbus Public Health.

Key Features:

• Division of Community Crisis Response: A new division within Columbus Public Health will manage unarmed crisis response teams for situations not involving imminent danger, such as mental health, substance abuse, wellness checks, and homelessness.
• Advisory Board: An advisory board will be established to oversee the system and make recommendations.
• Data Collection & Reporting: The division will collect detailed, anonymized data on services provided, response times, and outcomes, with quarterly public reports.
• Funding: The amendment mandates appropriations, starting with $5 million in FY2027, increasing to a minimum of $12 million by FY2031, with adjustments for inflation and service usage.
• Implementation Timeline: Key services are to be fully operational by January 1, 2029, and available 24/7 by January 1, 2031.