Cincinnati continues to remove lead hazards

Cincinnati Council members: Anna Albi, Evan Nolan, Jan-Michele Kearny, Jeff Cramerding, Mark Jeffreys, Mayor Aftab Pureval, Meeka Owens, Scotty Johnson, Seth Walsh, Victoria Parks

Mayor Pureval concluded the business portion of the agenda. He then asked if there were any announcements from the city manager or council. There were no announcements, and the meeting was adjourned. 

The meeting began with a presentation of a resolution that recognized the Store It Safe Coalition, an initiative by the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics.

Council Member Anna Albi introduced members of AAP, Moms Demand Action, and Whitney Strong organizations while stating “we are a Store It Safe city here in Cincinnati.”

In attendance were: Brooke Powell, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Dr. Denise Warrick, general pediatrician in Anderson Township with Tri-Health; Dr. Chris Peltier, general pediatrician in Eastgate and former president of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Karen Morris of Be Smart and Moms Demand Action; Jill Bowman of Moms Demand Action; Michelle Mueller of Moms Demand Action; Whitney Austin, executive director of Whitney Strong; Al Staples, retired Cincinnati police officer; Ann Wallace of Whitney Strong; and Alexis Wingtrap of Whitney Strong.  

Council Member Albi thanked the coalition and once again declared Cincinnati a Store It Safe city. Albi read off stats that seem to illustrate the need for the Store It Safe Coalition.

Firearms are the leading cause of death in suicides.

Almost 50% of homes in the U.S. have a firearm.

Almost 82% of youth who die of suicide use a firearm from their home.

Teen access to firearms triples the risk of death by suicide.

Albi said the goal of the coalition is to keep children safe from firearms. The city is  committed to protecting its residents, she said, particularly children and adolescents through education and proactive safety measures  The city is working to raise  awareness and empower residents to practice responsible storage of firearms, alcohol, marijuana and medication.  Albi invited all citizens to join in the effort to protect people.

Peltier took the floor and said Cincinnati is grateful to become the second Store It Safe community. Through the program, he said,  over 5,000 lock boxes have been distributed across the state, and over 300 healthcare providers have been trained to screen for suicide and discuss safe storage. This has resulted in 14,000 adolescents in Ohio being screened for depression and suicide. Overall, they estimate the program has touched 130.000 Ohioans.=

Morris spoke about sharing the message that firearms need to be properly stored. She thanked the mayor and council for their time. 

Austin spoke about how the 2018 mass shooting at the Fifth Third Bank downtown was the motivation behind Whitney Strong. 

Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Council Member Mark Jeffreys and Council Member Meeka Ownes thanked the coalition members for their work. Council Member Evan Nolan seemed particularly somber when he spoke to the coalition about people on the federal and state level who are working against “us” (city leaders) regarding common sense gun laws. He also thanked the coalition. Council members Seth Walsh and Scotty Johnson thanked the coalition, with Johnson speaking about being present during the mass shooting at Fountain Square.

Mayor Aftab Pureval called for roll call and passage of the resolution. All council members voted yes. The resolution was passed with applause from the coalition. 

Mayor Pureval did a brief review of the agenda, stating Items 2 to 6 are as indicated. Item 7 will be referred to the Public Safety and Governance Committee. Items 8 to 12 are as indicated. Mayor Pureval addressed Item 13 with the council.

Item 13:  202501820 — MOTION, submitted by Councilmember Owens, that the city administration prepare a report within the next 30 days to provide updates on all projects that were recommended funding as part of the FY26/27 biennium budget. Recommendation: ADOPT 

Owens introduced the item citing the sale of the railroad opening new projects across the city. She expressed excitement to have updates on current and future projects with estimated completion dates. There was no indication that there was a vote from Council members Cramerding and Albi. There was no indication that the motion was passed. 

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 14:  202501794 — Ordinance submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/1/2025, authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant of up to $4.2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program (ALN 14.900) to provide resources for remediating lead-based paint hazards in eligible homes throughout Cincinnati and addressing other health risks through the City’s Healthy Homes program; and authorizing the Director of Finance to deposit up to $3.96 million into Lead Hazard Research Control Fund revenue account No. 387×8556 for lead hazard control and up to $240,000 into Public Health Research Fund revenue account No. 350×8556 for Healthy Homes initiatives. Recommendation: PASS Sponsors: City Manager

Jeffreys said there are at least 65,000 homes in the city that have lead paint. While lead pipes in the city will be remediated by 2035, lead paint is the next issue, particularly for children under the age of 2. He said between n 500 and 1,000 children could be impacted each year.

Johnson said he and the vice mayor learned from city nurses that planting sunflowers draws lead out of soil. , and there will be more information about that coming. He thanked the Cincinnati Health Department for their knowledge on the subject.

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 15:  202501797 — Ordinance submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/1/2025, authorizing the City Manager to accept grant resources of $57,000 from the Cincinnati Parks Foundation to fund construction of a comfort station at Lytle Park; authorizing the Director of Finance to deposit the grant resources into Park Miscellaneous Revenue and Special Activity Fund 326; establishing a new capital improvement program project account No. 980x203x262048, Lytle Park Comfort Station, to provide resources to construct a comfort station at Lytle Park; and authorizing the transfer and appropriation of $57,000 from the unappropriated surplus of Park Miscellaneous Revenue and Special Activity Fund 326 to newly established capital improvement program project account No. 980x203x262048, Lytle Park Comfort Station. Recommendation: PASS Sponsors: City Manager

Johnson asked for clarity on what a “comfort station” is. Pureval referred to Cramerding, who then answered very candidly: “It’s a bathroom.” He later said, “It’s a very comfortable bathroom,” causing fellow council members, including Johnson, to laugh. Johnson thanked Cramerding. 

Albi, after voting yes to Item 15, put in a yes vote to Items 13 and 14 that she missed. 

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 16: 202501604 — Ordinance (emergency) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/1/2025, authorizing the City Manager to accept an in-kind donation of the use of office space, valued at up to $50,000 per year, located in the Central Business District and/or Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods, from the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and Urban Sites to provide resources to support connecting community members with city services and violence reduction efforts. Recommendation: PASS EMERGENCY Sponsors: City manager

Cramerding thanked 3CDC and Urban Sites for their in-kind contribution, saying it will allow for a satellite office connecting community members with city services. 

Albi said that having city services be more accessible is a wonderful thing.She thanked the team who made it happen.

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 17:  202501795 — Ordinance (emergency) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/1/2025, authorizing the transfer and appropriation of $49,750 from the unappropriated surplus of Parking Meter Fund 303 to Enterprise Services Parking Meter Fund non-personnel operating budget account No. 303x248x7200 to provide resources to maintain and repair the outdoor dining areas located within the public right-of-way. Recommendation: PASS EMERGENCY Sponsors: City manager

Cramerding clarified that the money is going to repair popular “streeteries.” 

Owens revealed that Cincinnati’s OTR (Over-The-Rhine) street eateries were recently added to a new exhibition at the National Building Museum. Pureval seemed both surprised and pleased, responding with a lighthearted “Really? That’s cool.” Owens continued by applauding the city for making use of the eateries that were originally established during the pandemic to assist restaurants in staying in business. It also adds to the culture and vibrancy of the city, she said. .

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 18: 202501796 — Ordinance (emergency) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/1/2025, authorizing the city manager to accept cannabis tax revenue from the State of Ohio; and authorizing the Director of Finance to deposit the revenue into General Fund revenue account No. 050×8506. Recommendation: PASS EMERGENCY Sponsors: City manager

Cramerding clarified that Ohio voters in 2023 legalized a number of cannabis products, which will be taxed. Some of the tax money will come to the state. There’s no estimate on what that will look like, but this legislation will allow Ohio to accept the revenue. 

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 19: 202501802 — Ordinance submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/1/2025, dedicating, accepting and confirming the dedication to public use of an approximately 0.081-acre tract of real property as Langston Street, a public right-of-way for street purposes in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati.

Cramerding stated the city is accepting a small parcel of land.  

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 20: 202501849 — Ordinance (emergency) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 10/6/2025, authorizing a payment of $86,155 from Cincinnati Health Department Public Health Research Fund non-personnel operating budget account No. 350x263x3110x7289 to Companies By Design, LLC, as a moral obligation for lead remediation services provided between July and October 2023. Recommendation: PASS EMERGENCY Sponsors: City Manager

Cramerding stated this is an obligation to one of the city’s vendors for conducting the lead remediation work. 

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 21: 202501606 — Ordinance submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 9/4/2025, amending the official zoning map of the City of Cincinnati to rezone the real property located at 3425 Burnet Ave. in the Avondale neighborhood from the RMX-T, “Residential Mixed Transportation Corridor,” and the CN-M-T, “Commercial Neighborhood Mixed – Transportation Corridor,” zoning districts to Planned Development District No. 105. Recommendation: PASS Sponsors: City Manager

Jeffreys said this project will happen in four phases. The project is currently in the first phase.The zoning change will allow for 344 housing units along with parking. He said the community council is also in support of the project. 

Nolan acknowledged many neighbors and business districts are trying to grow in the face of changes and vacancies. He expressed appreciation for the organizations in Avondale for coming together for the project. 

Mayor Pureval moved on to Item 22: 202501681 — Ordinance (emergency) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, city manager, on 9/10/2025, approving a major amendment to the concept plan and development program statement governing a portion of Planned Development District No. 79, “Uptown Gateway,” to permit additional uses within the planned development to allow office, research and development, laboratory, hotel, multi-family residential, retail, restaurant, entertainment, school, and all other uses permitted within the CC-A, “Commercial Community Auto,” RM-0.7, “Residential MultiFamily,” OG, “Office General,” ML, “Manufacturing Limited,” and IR, “Institutional Residential,” zoning districts in the area located at 3020-3090 Exploration Ave. in the Avondale neighborhood. (Subject to the Temporary Prohibition List ). Recommendation: PASS EMERGENCY Sponsors: City manager

Jeffreys stated there will be more uses for the space than there currently are. They’re exploring a hotel, residences and other uses. 

Nolan wanted business offices in the space, but that never happened due to the pandemic. He said he is grateful there is funding to put housing there instead.  

These notes can be found on documenters.org.

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