Care facilities that call fire department to lift residents who fall, may be charged

Notes

Public comment began at 1:30 p.m. and the meeting began at 2 p.m. 

All members except for council members Mark Jeffreys (excused) were present.

Public comment:

• A citizen presented a personal story about her unstable housing situation and asked for the city’s help. Mayor Aftab Pureval directed her to leave her information with the counsel and they will “see what (they) can do.”
• A citizen shared his grievances with the U.S., citing racism and xenophobia. He also accused the city of Cincinnati of perpetuating this problem by unfairly firing Black individuals and taking their homes, with specific community examples. “Mayor, we expected more from you.”
• A citizen condemned the federal government’s involvement in the Israel-Palentine conflict. They also shared how they believe that Cincinnati should divest from Israel and focus on their own problems such as homeless youth.
• Stephan Pryor: Make sure that Black people are also given the opportunity to benefit from the employment opportunities resulting from the Western Hill Viaduct. He also read a Bible verse and encouraged the council to remember that they work for God and that they need to ”help people.”
• A citizen addressed the city manager and accused the city of racism. Audio not clear.
• A citizen complained about how Greater Cincinnati Water Works is charging people for services that they are not using. He expressed how he could possibly sue the city for refusing to pay the invoices he’s been sending them based on this precedent.
• The HR director of Employment and Financial Access Network (EFAN) talked about the barriers (transportation, long hiring process, etc.) that communities in Cincinnati face to employment and advertised for EFAN.
• A citizen complained about how a Cincinnati Fire Department patient care report stated that his sister was suspected of drug abuse. . He also complained about the youth curfew and told personal stories about a firefighter and a school administrator who played vital roles in his community by helping students.

Item 1: Motion that city council cancels its meeting on Nov. 26.

• Approved.

Items 4-6: Reappointments to Board of Building Appeals.

• Approved

Items 7-9: Reappointments to Historic Conservation Board

• Approved

Item 10: Reappointment to Zoning Board of Appeals

• Approved

Item 21: Motion for the city to develop a report on the feasibility for establishing a lift assistance fee.

• Council Member Meeka Owens: “The state plays a role here as well.” The distinction between the city’s role and the state’s role in this issue needs to be clarified, especially when it comes to issues of statutes.
• Council Member Scotty Johnson: We don’t want to discourage people who need help from getting help. It sounds like we have some “bad actors.”
• Council Member Anna Albi: There have been “multiple complaints” from the community when it comes to senior care. This is part of the city’s due diligence.
• Motion adopted.

Item 22:

• Cramerding: Payment for services rendered by the county engineer during the snowstorm in January 2025.
• Approved.

Item 24:

• Chair: This is a printing services charge for $8,462.
• Cramerding: This is a then-and-now payment, which is a payment the city was authorized to make but did not make in a timely fashion. The delay was related to personnel changes in the printing office. With these changes resolved, there will not be any more then-and-now payments on this issue in the future.
• Approved.

Item 27: Acquiring rights of way for a portion of the Ohio River Trail.

• Council Member Jeff Cramerding: At committee, we talked about the success of our bike and pedestrian trails. These will “transform the city of Cincinnati.”
• Council Member Evan Nolan: These funds help clear a major obstacle for realizing this project.
• Approved.

Item 28: Authorizing the city to accept donations from the Cincinnati City Parks Foundation

• Cramerding: Thanks to the Parks Foundation and their volunteers. This donation includes plants, lanterns, and money.
• Approved.

Item 29: Emergency ordinance amending the scheduled payment of funds for the Western Hills Viaduct project.

• Cramerding: Internal adjustments with the state of inflation and “some things going on with the federal government.”
• Owens: Great presentation in committee. This will take collaboration at all levels of governments. What’s important is getting “shovels in the ground” in 2026.
• Albi: Critical piece of infrastructure. She hopes the federal government will continue to be advocates for us because their support is vital.
• Approved.

Item 30: Transfer and return of excess funds from the Economic Development Initiative’s general fund to the surplus of the general fund.

• Cramerding: This money will continue to go to housing.
• City manager Sheryl Long: This money will be given to landlords in Avondale to get them back in compliance with city regulations.
• Johnson: “We are not in the business of trying to take people’s homes and properties.” This is a clear case of assistance from the city.
• Owens: Thanks to the administration for doing this work. There is a correlation between conditions and evictions. We want to make space for landlords who want to do the right thing.
• Approved.

Item 31: Emergency ordinance for acquiring property in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood.

• Cramerding: Item 31 and 32 are related to TIF districts. We need to address neighborhoods where the TIFS are flat. This is not to distract from the great project in Pleasant Ridge which will help with traffic calming among other things.
• Council member Walsh: These TIFs are finally showing up for a lot of our neighborhoods. “Incredibly exciting project.”
• Johnson: I salute the community of Pleasant Ridge and the collaborative effort from the people in that area.
• Albi: Many of us took the tour with the Pleasant Ridge group. They are focusing on pedestrian safety and we still have work to do to support them.
• Approved.

Item 32: Emergency ordinance directing funding towards Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation acquiring a property in the CUF neighborhood.

• Cramerding: Incredibly important piece of property.
• Walsh: Clifton Heights’ used most of their TIF availability years ago to build USquare. This development has in turn strengthened their TIFs again.
• Approved.

Item 33:

• Vice Mayor Kearney excused herself for this item.
• Mayor: Exciting and important item. This Friday we will open up the Elm Street Plaza, which is part of the project of reimagining the Convention Center. This is an opportunity to open up the western end of Downtown to more business opportunities. We learned here how hard it is to collaborate with out of town landlords who do not share the same vision for the city. This city council led the work to acquire the property. This item gives us an opportunity to think ahead by getting control of a critical piece of property – a former food bank site. I want to be clear about the city’s intentions for this acquisition: “It is not for any specific project.” It is not to acquire an arena, even though I believe this is important. Conversations about where a proposed arena would go are “premature.” It is understandable why people would think this purchase has to do with constructing an arena. However, it is simply to give the city control over this property. This is an indication of this council being proactive.
• Walsh: “We are at a moment where we are looking to the future.” When developing College Hill, most of the time was spent acquiring property.
• Owens: We have leveraged our partners to acquire this property. Some folks have reimagined Central Parkway as a “Cincinnati’s Champs Elysees.”
• Approved.

Item 34: Authorizing the implementation of the Labor Management Agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Municipal Workers Local 250.

• Cramerding: Congratulations to Local 250 and our team.
• Approved.
  

Announcements:

• Kearney: Reminder that the OwnCincy Housing Symposium is this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Xavier University. This symposium will cover home costs, owning a home, etc. Kappa Alpha PSI is giving away about 25 turkeys. Sign up on owncincy.org. Free childcare as well as free breakfast and lunch.
• Albi: Recognized new policy director Faith Nixon.
• Johnson: Thanks to the mayor and city manager for last weekend’s event.
• Owens: Last week we released our Stout Report (right to counsel and eviction prevention strategies):
  • Supported upwards of 800 families. 
  • 86% of families helped in the program have avoided disruptive displacement.
  • This supported working families whose benefits are being threatened federally.
• Nolan: Encouraged people to attend the Friday Night Lights game.
  
  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.

Find more Documenters’ notes on Cincinnati City Council here.