Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at November 10th's City Council Committee of the Whole meeting. Below are brief summaries of the most significant discussions. For those interested in the full details, we've included links to longer articles where appropriate.
Community Groups Present 2026 Budget Requests
Monday's meeting was dedicated to hearing from five nonprofit organizations that receive direct grants from the city. Each group presented their annual reports and funding requests for 2026, with all requesting a 3% cost-of-living adjustment as suggested by city staff.
Veterans Alliance Requests Additional $5,000 for Building Repairs
The Worthington Veterans Alliance detailed their extensive community service, including providing honors for 30 veterans, repairing 200 wheelchairs for Honor Flight, and hosting crew members from the USS Columbus during Navy Day celebrations. Commander Glenn Luksik made an additional request for an additional $5,000 after contractors discovered asbestos in the flooring and receded gravel beneath the subfloor during renovations at the Leasure-Blackston Post. The Alliance offered to accept a corresponding reduction in next year's grant to offset the cost. Council will consider the request at next week's meeting before the final budget vote.
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McConnell Arts Center Reports Record Attendance and Regional Recognition
The MAC reported a banner year with over 27,000 visitors and nearly 30,000 attendees at the Worthington Arts Festival—believed to be the largest crowd in the event's history. Executive Director Kim Goodman shared that the organization has grown from about five classes per term in 2021 to 50 today, with over 1,000 children participating in programs. The MAC earned recognition as the fourth-ranked cultural institution in Columbus, launched a new film series, and opened a gift shop. The organization's budget has grown from $750,000 to nearly $1.2 million since pandemic recovery.
Historical Society Catalogs 20,000th Object, Secures Historic Marker
The Worthington Historical Society celebrated breaking the 20,000 object mark in their collections management system, adding 1,100 new items this year alone. Kate LaLonde reported that social media campaigns reached over 156,000 views through creative series like "Big Move Monday" and "100 Years Back." The popular ghost tour expanded to two sold-out nights, more than doubling fundraising. The Society also received state approval for a historical marker at Flintridge Terrace, recognizing the neighborhood founded in 1962 that became home to over two dozen African-American families. The marker is expected to be installed in fall 2026.
Worthington Partnership Posts Record Farmers Market Attendance
The year-round Worthington Farmers Market broke all records, with regular Saturday attendance topping 9,900 visitors and over 11,000 during Arts Festival weekend. The market hosts 109 individual vendors each week and now features its most diverse vendor lineup ever, with 10 new cultures represented this season. Executive Director Annina Parini, in her final budget presentation after 10 years leading the organization, highlighted that 55% of event attendance comes from visitors outside Worthington, with the Partnership promoting tourism on approximately $70,000 compared to neighboring communities' millions. The Green Team secured over $25,000 in SWACO grant funding for reuse programs partnering with 25 local businesses.
In Other News
Leadership Worthington Growing: The Chamber of Commerce reported that Leadership Worthington seated a diverse 25-person cohort in September from over 35 applicants. Service Day is returning with expanded plans, and alumni engagement efforts are underway.
Community Grant Program Expanded: City Manager Robyn Stewart noted that the 2026 budget includes a 3% inflationary increase to the community grant program plus an additional $20,000 to address expanding community needs, including support for the Worthington Resource Pantry. Awards will be made in the first quarter of 2026.
Comprehensive Plan — Round Two: The city is launching the second round of community engagement for the comprehensive plan, testing themes and ideas gathered from round one. Residents can participate through multiple options (see dates below).
Outdoor Pool Construction: Staff are finalizing details for the construction phase, with final legislation expected at the first Council meeting in December.
Deer Management: The city is finalizing the list of properties for the deer management program and will begin communications with the community and nearby property owners in the coming weeks.
October Financial Report: Council accepted the October 2025 financial report as presented.
Key Dates to Remember
Coming Up:
- Thursday, November 20: Comprehensive Plan online webinar, noon–1:00 p.m.
- Saturday, November 30: Holiday Open House, noon–5:00 p.m. (leads into city tree lighting)
- First Wednesday in December: Illuminated Shopping event downtown
- First Meeting in December: City Council vote on 2026 budget and outdoor pool construction legislation
- December 31: Last day for early bird pricing on Passport to the Arts gala tickets ($75; increases to $100 on January 1)
2026:
- March: Passport to the Arts gala at McConnell Arts Center
- Fall 2026: Flintridge Terrace historical marker installation
Visit WorthingtonTogether.org to share your input on the Comprehensive Plan.
Thanks for reading this summary of the November 10th City Council Committee of the Whole meeting. You can watch the original full video here.