Council recognizes UC students participating in Portman Center for Policy Solutions

Roll Call

• In attendance: Mayor Aftab Pureval, Jan Michelle Lemon-Kearney (vice mayor), Victoria Parks (president pro tem), Anna Albi (council member), Jeff Cramerding (council member), Mark Jeffreys (council member), Evan Nolan (council member), Meeka Owens (council member), Scotty Johnson (council member) and Seth Walsh (council member).

The mayor called for silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance

Minutes from previous meeting approved and filed without objection

• Council Member Meeka Owens submitted a resolution recognizing the 2025-26 University of Cincinnati Portman Center undergraduate fellows and expressed appreciation of the Mayor and the Council of the City of Cincinnati for the students’ participation in the Portman Center for Policy Solutions fellowship program.
• Owens then recognized the fellows. She encouPortman Center for Policy Solutions | University of Cincinnatiraged and applauded students’ bipartisan work, saying that they can change the current political climate. The fellowship will allow them to learn about government and eventually perhaps pursue careers in government. There was applause, and a student asked to say a few words. Owens asked them all to introduce themselves. A diverse group of majors were represented, including political science, criminal justice, psychology, international affairs, economics, mechanical engineering and medical science. A student  thanked city council and staff for their welcome and talked about how important the Portman Center was for its ability to bring visibility to local government and nuance to world conversations.
• The mayor asked for any additional comments.
• Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney thanked Owens and welcomed students. She spoke about civility and bipartisanship and said that this was what Portman was all about. She told a story of how two former U.S. senators, Rob Portman (R) and Sherod Brown (D), worked together to lead efforts in the city, particularly on the law enforcement training shooting range.
• Council Member Mark Jeffreys said several of the council members had spoken with the students already over lunch and said it is inspiring and hopeful to talk to students who are idealistic, hopeful and ready to do the work.
• Council Member Seth Walsh said he was happy to have lunch with them as well, and he wished he had had those opportunities at Xavier University. He commented on the remarkable potential of these students.
• Council Member Anna Albi welcomed the students and advised them to always follow their passion.
• Council Member Evan Nolan said he appreciated student interest in the public sector. He advised that the road is long and pay is not good, but it is very meaningful work. It is not a sprint, and it’s important to keep finding a way to contribute and make contributions.
• Council Member Jeff Cramerding also thanked them.
• Mayor Aftab Pureval called for approval of Owens’ resolution, and all were approved. Owens headed out with the students to take a picture with them outside the chambers.
• Next on the agenda were appointments to the housing and advisory board.
  • The mayor sponsored Ron Stubblefield and Kai Lewards to the Housing Advisory Board for four-year terms. Roll call to confirm, all voted yes.
  • Gregory Johnson to Community Development Advisory Board for a three-year term. Roll call to confirm, all voted yes.
• The mayor called to attention Item 16 from the agenda: Emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply/accept a grant of in-kind services from Public Allies AmeriCorps valued at up to $60,000 for one full-time contracted position for portions of the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan
  • Albi said she had been asked about what it means for something to be called an emergency ordinance. She explained that an emergency does not mean a house on fire but, rather, that the measure would go into effect immediately.
  • Roll call, all approved. Roll call for emergency, all approved.
• The mayor asked if Owens would like to put a yes on the record for the three appointments that occurred while she was out of the room. She said yes.
• Reading of Item 17 from the agenda: Authorizing the transfer and appropriation of $1.8 million from the unappropriated surplus of Convention Center Fund 103 to Enterprise Services Convention Center Fund non-personnel operating budget account No. 103x243x7200 to provide resources for contractual service obligations and the termination of the current naming rights agreement for the Convention Center.
  • Roll call on suspension , all approve. [Editor’s note: Typically, ordinances require three readings in front of council, but council members can vote to suspend those rules to allow the ordinance to take effect immediately.]
  • Cramerding said this is a critical step in reimagining the convention center and transferring naming rights from Duke so they can be sold to someone else
  • Roll call on passage – all yes. Roll call on emergency – all yes.
• Item 18: “To accept and deposit a grant of up to $17,347.50 from the Cincinnati Parks Foundation into Parks Private Endowment and Donations Fund 430 to reimburse the Cincinnati Parks Department for litter removal expenses for Jackson Hill Park that were incurred and paid for during FY 2025”
  • Roll call on rule suspension, all yes.
  • Cramerding said this is about accepting a grant for litter removal
  • No comments. Roll call, all approved.
• Item 19: New capital improvement program to provide resources for making pedestrian safety improvements in the downtown area known as The Banks, through the construction of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (“APS”) and ADA-compliant curb ramps…”
  • Roll call on suspension – all yes
  • Cramerding – these are pedestrian safety improvements near The B

banks to comply with increased ADA requirements

• Albi said she was grateful they were doing this. ADA compliance makes the city more accessible for families as well as those with disabilities. She said this will be a step forward to making an area where everyone can spend time.
• Roll call – all approved.

• Item 20: Acceptance of a grant of up to $225,406 from the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Health Preparedness, to plan and implement emergency preparedness activities in response to public health threats.
  • Roll call on suspension – all yes
  • Cramerding said this was about accepting money for emergency health preparedness
  • Roll call — all yes. Roll call emergency – all yes.
• Item 21: Acceptance of French Park Conservation Grant to provide resources for trail improvements and invasive species removal at French Park.
  • Roll call suspension – all yes
  • Cramerding said French Park volunteers are doing important work removing invasive species
  • Nolan recommended that council members tour the park. He said there is a stark contrast to areas where invasive species have been removed and where they have not.
  • Roll call — all yes
• Item 22: Application for a grant of up to $1.5 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (ALN 15.622), as administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft, to construct a boat dock for transient vessels at the Public Landing in Downtown Cincinnati.
  • Roll call suspension — all yes
  • Cramerding deferred to Jeffreys
  • Jeffreys said there has been a plan to construct a marina along the waterfront near Smale Park for several years. This $1.5 million grant would move these plans along.
  • Roll call on passage – all yes
• Item 23: A Community Reinvestment Area Tax Exemption Agreement with 209 Limited, a subsidiary of Urban Sites, for a 15-year tax exemption for 100% of the value of improvements made to real property located at 1425 Main Street, 209 Woodward Street and 1227 Walnut Street in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati in connection with the remodeling of three existing buildings to into approximately 16,498 square feet of residential space, consisting of 17 residential units, and approximately 2,680 square feet of commercial space, consisting of two commercial units, at a total remodeling cost of approximately $4.2 million.
  • Roll call on suspension
  • Cramerding explained this is for a community reinvestment agreement in Over-the-Rhine.
  • Nolan claimed these will be naturally affordable prices, not tax credits
  • Roll call on passage — all yes, on emergency — all yes
• Item 25: A funding agreement with Corryville Community Development Corp. to facilitate acquisition of real property located in the Corryville neighborhood of Cincinnati;
  • Roll call on suspension — all yes
  • Cramerding explained that this is about the transfer of tax increment financing (TIF) dollars to allow purchase of property for community development. He expressed hope that this will be an anchor investment in Corryville
  • Walsh said College Hill did this by looking at properties important to the community.
  • Roll call on passage – all yes. Roll call for emergency – all yes
• Item 26: Approving the report of the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District Assessment Equalization Board
  • Roll call suspension – all yes
  • Cramerding introduced items 27 and 28. All of these related to item 24 already filed, item 26 approved that report, 27 cited need for assessment and 28 approved that assessment
  • Roll call on passage – all yes, emergency — all yes
• Item 29: Chapter 723, “Streets and Sidewalks, Use Regulations,” by ORDAINING new Section 723-91, “Trespass in a Transit Center Zone,” and by AMENDING Section 723-26, “Designated Transit Zone,” to promote the safe and efficient operation of the regional transit system in the public right-of-way.
  • Roll call on suspension
  • Johnson said this ordinance brings the streetcar transit and bus and center zones all in compliance when it comes to trespassing and or preventing those who wish to ride on public transportation, bringing all resolutions in accord. There is still work being done on signage, etc., to make sure everyone using public transit feels safe. “We do not want to criminalize people,” he said, but instead to make it safe to board.
  • Jeffreys said several years ago they passed Issue 7, which was about major investment in Cincinnati Metro, and it’s important to encourage people to ride the bus. However, sometimes people hang out at bus stops all day. Moreover, sometimes there are no benches where people can sit. This ordinance allows the bus professionals to encourage people to move on. It’s a civil fine, not a criminal fine.
  • The mayor said this is the city trying to make the city safer.
  • All approved for passage
• The mayor asked if there were any announcements from Long; there were none. He recognized other members for announcements:
  • The vice mayor announced the Healthy Neighborhoods meeting for Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. It will take place in Price Hill, and community members are invited to talk about both good things and challenges there.
  • Johnson thanked the city manager and their team for a great time last Friday at the city Olympics. He said that city employees deserved an amazing day, they work hard, and they make sure the city moves the way it is supposed to. He was glad they had a great time, they deserved it, and he encouraged them to keep up the good work.
  • Owens announced over 2 million people have attended Reds games this year. This is the highest record of attendance since 2015. This is a great indicator of the attractiveness of downtown. It doesn’t happen without intention. She said this shows that they are making the right choices because people feel safer to come downtown.
  • Kearney announced October this is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and he encouraged men and women to do self checks, get mammogram testing, etc.

The meeting was adjourned. 

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