Meeting summary:

  • The City of Cincinnati will use grant funding to enhance traffic and public safety. 
  • The committee is eager to enhance major thoroughfares within the city.
  • The Budget and Finance Committee is open to addressing questions and concerns regarding Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) before the program begins.

Documenter’s follow-up question:

  • Why will construction for the Lick Run Connector not start until 2028? 
  • What are community members’ specific concerns regarding SOPEC?

 Notes

Find agenda and other meeting materials here.

Grant funding and donations

The Gilbert Avenue complete street project was granted $8.8 million for construction starting at Court Street and stretching to Martin Luther King Boulevard. This project, funded by Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI), will focus on improved safety and calming traffic and is expected to begin construction in the summer of 2026.

OKI will also fund the Lick Run Connector project via the surface transportation block grant. Comparing the Lick Run Connector to the Wasson Way project as it will connect Westwood and Price Hill, City Council Member Jeff Cramerding expressed his excitement about this project, calling it an “equitable development.” Construction is expected to begin in 2028. 

The city will receive parking facility safety improvement funding to enhance safety resources for city-owned parking garages and lots. These improvements will include better lighting and cameras in vital areas.

Council Member Anna Albi added that this project will address safety issues in the Central Business District, including car break-ins, some of which resulted in stolen firearms. 

SOPEC

The ordinance in Item 9 on the agenda authorizes the city to join the Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) in collaboration with other local industries to “maximize the potential benefits of electricity procurement through group purchasing efforts.” 

Cramerding placed a hold on this item to leave time for questions and concerns regarding the matter.

Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney agreed that there has been a lot of confusion about SOPEC and there are questions to be answered. 

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Stephan Pryor, who unsuccessfully ran for council this month, expressed his frustration with the city’s interest in SOPEC, calling it a “scam.”

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.