Meeting summary:

  • The city has approved the first steps in establishing a Convention District Community Authority which would finance the Convention Center Hotel project. This community authority will last at least 30 years.
  • The city is applying for multiple federal grants in order to address housing needs and clean energy initiatives.
  • The city has come to a labor agreement with CODE.

Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • It was not clear what Mr. Pryor was referencing when he mentioned that receivers are charging $60,000 on top of fees. What was that about?

The meeting began three minutes late. All committee members were present.

Public Comment:

  • Stephan Pryor: Talked about new receivership ordinances (anyone in Cincinnati who owns a property that is vacant for more than six months needs to register and pay a fee). According to Pryor, this policy should be repealed because it is taking property from Black citizens. He t the $60,000 on top of the fees that the receivers are charging. He called out the city for inaction against crime and for “giving money to the same nonprofits.”

Regular Agenda:

Item 1: Ordinance authorizing the city manager to implement a labor management agreement between the city and CODE (Cincinnati Organized and Dedicated Employees)

  • Council member Seth Walsh and Meeka Owens voiced their support.
  • Put on for passage.

Item 2: Ordinance authorizing the city manager to implement a labor management agreement between the city and the Cincinnati Building Trades Council. Among other items, this agreement includes concessions related to health care.

  • Chair voiced his support. 
  • Put on for passage.

Item 3: Ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing program (PRO Housing 2024). The ordinance aims to expand affordable housing.

  • Council Member Mark Jeffreys: Voiced his support.
  • Council Member Anna Albi: Voiced her support as well, especially as related to addressing the city’s vacant lots.
  • Council Member Evan Nolan: Mentioned how funds from the federal government are “fewer and fewer” these days.
  • Committee Chair Jeff Cramerding: This ordinance is related to a rise in crime in vacant lots. 
  • Put on for passage.

Item 4: Ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Clean Investment Fund. The city would be a subrecipient of the grant. Funds would be used to support energy related projects.

  • Jeffreys: Mentioned the city’s Green Bank that was established a year ago, saying lots of the federal funds have dried up. Wants to help address rising energy costs for residents.
  • Council Member Meeka Owens: Would create over 40,000 green jobs.
  • Put on for passage.

Item 5: Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to apply for a $2,082,000 grant from Homeland Security. The city has received this grant previously. Funding would be split between the transfer of equipment and supplies and the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center, a cooperative of regional public safety agencies that is meant to combat terrorism. 

  • Albi: When the city puts on big events, the center plays a huge role in keeping everyone safe.
  • Put on for passage.

Item 6: Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to apply for a $25,569 grant ordinance from the Cincinnati Police Department Community Preventive Education Program. This money would support the SWISH youth basketball program.

  • Put on for passage.

Item 7: Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to apply for a $36,080 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Ohio Urban Transit Program. This money would go toward the streetcar system.

  • Put on for passage.

Parks and Recreations ordinances:

  • Item 8: Donation ordinance of $1,131,037 going toward parks operational expenses (horticultural supplies, salary, maintenance contracts, etc.)).
    • Put on for passage.
  • Item 9: Splitting a donation of $112,233 between the special activity fund and the Cincinnati Riverfront Park fund – operational expenses.
    • Put on for passage.
  • Item 10: Accepting a donation of $256,117.52 from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Board of Visitors. Put on for passage.
  • Item 11: Transfer and appropriation ordinance for parks of $55,080 coming from the Riverfront surplus. Put on for passage.
  • Item 12: Moral obligation ordinance. Payment to Harris Distributing Company for their housing of supplies. Put on for passage.
  • Item 13: Clarifying standards for the commercial solid waste program. Put on for passage.

Item 14: Petition to establish the Convention District Community Authority. Would trigger the need for a public hearing to establish the process of the community Authority.

Item 15 (related to 14): Resolution. The next step in establishing the community authority. Hearing would need to happen within 30 to 45 days of the petition being filed. Once completed, an additional resolution will appear before the city.

  • Vice Chair Scotty Johnson: What is a community authority?
  • City presenter: Established by the Ohio Revised Code. The authority can be used in certain areas with the consent of property owners to conduct economic development.
  • Johnson: Asked for more clarity. Is this the same authority as a community council?
  • Community and Economic Development representative: In this context, a board would be created, mostly in order to address the building of the Convention Center hotel.
  • Caitlyn Felvus with 3CDC: Private property owners coming together for a common purpose. They are proposing they will put a 1% charge in place to support the members of the district.
  • Johnson: The board will determine the economic sum or all economic development in that area?
  • William Weber (assistant city manager): Purpose is very narrow here. About 29 businesses that have voluntarily agreed to sign on to the 1% tax on food and beverage sales in order to support the hotel.
  • Council Member Victoria Parks: Will this also cover the Fountain Square district?
  • Weber: There will not be a separate community authority for the Fountain Square district. Some of the 29 businesses are in the Fountain Square area. A community authority is a legal entity that addresses the proposed 1% charge.
  • Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney: Who are the 29 people?
  • Felvus: A group of property owners and their tenants. This includes 3CDC, the Convention Center, and private property owners.
  • Weber: Largely this will support the financing structure for the bond issuance.
  • Cramerding: This is similar to the Special Improvement District downtown.
  • Kearney: Are the people approved by anyone or can anyone sign up for this?
  • Felvus: Additional properties could be added but would require an additional petition.
  • Kearney: We need to look at the Ohio Revised Code.
  • Jeffreys: How much will the 1% yield per year? What is the longevity of the authority?
  • Weber: Is projected to bring over $1 million per year. The bond will be over in 30 years. Not an automatic expiration of the community authority after the bonds are paid off.
  • Council Member Victoria Parks: Where does the county fit in here?
  • Weber: Have been working closely with the county. There is a county representative on the board.
  • Albi: Voiced her support.
  • Owens: voiced his support.
  • Items 14 and 15 put on for passage.

The meeting ended at 1:41 PM. 

These notes can be found on documenters.org.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcincinnati.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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