Meeting summary:
- Black infant mortality rates continue to increase in Hamilton County.
- The city of Cincinnati is attempting to address increasing infant mortality rates by funding safe sleep/crib initiatives.
- The city is working to increase affordable housing options for residents.
Documenter’s follow-up question:
- How will the city approach high infant mortality rates beyond providing community members with cribs and crib education?
- Why are infant mortality rates higher in Black families? How will the council support education regarding this topic? How have organizations like Queens Village, which focus on Black maternal health, been used effectively by residents? What have been the results of the services offered by Cradle Cincinnati to support these issues?
Notes
Meeting agenda and other materials:
Meeting Attendees:
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, vice mayor
Anna Albi, council member
Jeff Cramerding, council member
Mark Jeffreys, council member
Meeka Owens, council member
Scotty Johnson, council member
Ryan James, council member
Seth Walsh, council member
Mayor Aftab Pureval was absent. Kearney led the meeting in the mayor’s absence. Council Member Evan Nolan was also excused.
The meeting began with public comment, followed by the business portion of the agenda.
Children/Youth Services
City seeks funding for cribs for “safe sleep” initiative
A request was submitted for the city to seek funding from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth’s Cribs for Kids program. Council Member Anna Albi highlighted the importance of this initiative as she received information from Northside health center that sleeping deaths for babies have increased over the past year. Albi also shared data from Cradle Cincinnati that showed a “sharp increase” in Black infant mortality rates in Hamilton County within the last year.
President Pro-Tem Scotty Johnson also shared sentiments of appreciation for the crib initiative.Kearney suggested supporting mothers of newborns by providing them with opportunities for naps, as exhaustion is often a factor affecting Black infant mortality rates.
Budget and Finance
City receives grant to replace recycling carts
A grant of just under $5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SWIFR program will go towards the replacement of the city’s current recycling carts. Council Member Jeff Cramerding expressed his excitement for this news: “They’re getting older and older and are wearing out. This is definitely a concern for the city.”
Millions of General Fund dollars will be transferred
An emergency ordinance for the transfer of $12 million from the General Fund was submitted. Cramerding, the council’s Budget, Finance and Governance Committee chair, said specifics regarding where the funds will be transferred can be found on the city’s website in this meeting’s agenda.
Phase 7 of Wasson Way project
Phase 7 of the Wasson Way project will connect Blair Avenue in Avondale to Reading Road and Martin Luther King Drive. According to Council Member Mark Jeffreys, “There are about 61,000 jobs in Uptown, so a lot of folks can be connected to those jobs, but also to recreation.”
Community budget kick-off meeting on June 1
Cramerding announced the upcoming community budget meeting on June 1 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers. According to Cramerding, the council has submitted budget requests to the city manager’s office, and, once approved by the mayor, those requests will be presented at this public hearing.
Housing
Improvements to the city’s tenant improvement webpage
An ordinance was submitted for updates to the tenant improvement webpage on the city of Cincinnati website. Council Member Meeka Owens stated that the goal is to “highlight the work around tenant protection and resources,” referencing the city’s eviction prevention efforts. Owens expressed her excitement for increased accessibility for tenants.
Community Reinvestment Area Tax Exemption Agreements
Jeffreys presented a Community reinvestment area tax exemption agreement (CRA) for a vacant building on Court Street. According to Jeffreys, the property will be converted to 12 residential units and a first-floor commercial office space.
Jeffreys also shared details of a 12-year CRA on Harrison Avenue in Westwood. He said this will be a new construction modular apartment with 10 units, all restricted to 80% Area Median Income . Jeffreys said the developer is African American, who also has development plans for Avondale and an additional location in Westwood.
A request for a CRA with AAA was also submitted. According to Jeffreys, AAA Club Alliance Inc. is consolidating much of their operations to the Central Parkway location, including “30 former remote jobs and an additional 135 jobs averaging $75,000 in salary.” These changes will result in $10.1 million in earnings to the city, and $1.8 million in earnings tax over 10 years, he said.
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 here.