Council approves Human Service Fund priorities for FY 2028-2029, 6–3

Midpointe Crossing REDD Grant, Bond Hill

9 yes, 0 no

Seth Walsh (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Ryan James (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes)

Human Service Fund priorities for FY 2028-2029

6 yes, 3 no

Scotty Johnson (no), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (no), Ryan James (no), Meeka Owens (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes)

Resolution honoring UC Health Mobile Crisis Team

9 yes, 0 no

Anna Albi (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Ryan James (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Evan Nolan (yes)

Rezone 5707-5711 Madison Road for Veterans Village

9 yes, 0 no

Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Ryan James (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Seth Walsh (yes)

Cannabis Revenues Restricted Fund allocations

8 yes, 1 no

Evan Nolan (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Ryan James (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Jeff Cramerding (no)

Reconstitute Leveraged Support grant process

7 yes, 2 no

Ryan James (no), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Seth Walsh (no), Scotty Johnson (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Meeka Owens (yes)

Access to Council funding ordinance direction

8 yes, 1 no

Seth Walsh (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Jeff Cramerding (no), Evan Nolan (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Ryan James (yes)

Cancel November 4, 2026 Council Session

9 yes, 0 no

Evan Nolan (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Ryan James (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes)

Clifton Neighborhood Plan adopted

9 yes, 0 no

Meeka Owens (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Ryan James (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Anna Albi (yes)

Job creation tax credit for A-Men Consulting LLC

9 yes, 0 no

Seth Walsh (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Ryan James (yes)

Appointment of John Willingham to Downtown SID Board

0 yes, 0 no

Vibrancy Art Fund motion

0 yes, 0 no

Then-and-now payment to Amazon Web Services

9 yes, 0 no

Property sale to East Main Design LLC, Oakley

9 yes, 0 no

SD Creek development agreement, Winton Hills

9 yes, 0 no

Pleasant Ridge pedestrian safety TIF account

9 yes, 0 no

MOTION submitted by Councilmembers Owens, Nolan, Walsh, James, Albi, and Vice Mayor Kearney, WE MOVE that the City Administration prepare an ordinance that reflects the following: (BALANCE ON FILE IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE).

8 yes, 1 no

Rezone 5707/5711 Madison Road to Planned Development District No. 107 (Veterans Village)

0 yes, 0 no

Clifton Neighborhood Plan

0 yes, 0 no

AMEND Consulting job creation tax credit

0 yes, 0 no

Winton Hills Estecreek Road tax exemption

0 yes, 0 no

Pleasant Ridge Pedestrian Safety TIF — $1 million

0 yes, 0 no

Paul Clock Bell Tower acquisition motion (Item 202602905)

0 yes, 0 no

WE MOVE that the City Administration, in a continuing effort to improve the efficiency, transparency, and consistency of our community grant programs, take the necessary measures to reconstitute the L

4 yes, 5 no

Seth Walsh (no), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Meeka Owens (yes), Scotty Johnson (no), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (no), Ryan James (no), Jeff Cramerding (no), Anna Albi (yes), Evan Nolan (yes)

Motion 202602926 — Vibrancy Art Fund

7 yes, 2 no

Evan Nolan (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Ryan James (yes), Scotty Johnson (no), Meeka Owens (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (no), Jeff Cramerding (yes)

Motion 202602851 — Cannabis Revenues Restricted Fund allocations

8 yes, 1 no

Meeka Owens (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Ryan James (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Jeff Cramerding (no)

Motion 202602920 — Reconstitute Leveraged Support process

5 yes, 4 no

Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (no), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Scotty Johnson (no), Meeka Owens (yes), Ryan James (no), Anna Albi (yes), Seth Walsh (no), Evan Nolan (yes)

Motion 202602925 — Human Services Fund priorities FY 2028-29 (as amended)

6 yes, 3 no

Mark Jeffreys (yes), Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (no), Scotty Johnson (no), Jeff Cramerding (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Ryan James (no), Meeka Owens (yes)

Motion 202602924 — Access to Counsel funding ordinance

8 yes, 1 no

Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (yes), Jeff Cramerding (no), Ryan James (yes), Mark Jeffreys (yes), Evan Nolan (yes), Anna Albi (yes), Seth Walsh (yes), Scotty Johnson (yes), Meeka Owens (yes)

Ordinance 202602935 — CMHA City West $1.5M transfer

0 yes, 0 no

Ordinance 202602937 — $200K special events transfer

0 yes, 0 no

Motion 202602906 — Carryover budget 'Waterfall' final tier

0 yes, 0 no

Ordinance 202602931 — Midpointe Crossing REDD Grant

0 yes, 0 no

Ordinance 202602893 — $359.37 AWS payment

0 yes, 0 no

Ordinance 202602895 — Oakley property sale to East Main Design

0 yes, 0 no

Midpointe Crossing Development

Bond Hill neighborhood, Cincinnati, Ohio

Council accepted up to $2 million in state grant funds to advance this Bond Hill housing and economic development project.

approved (9-0) · still approved

East Main Design, LLC property sale — Ridge Avenue

Ridge Avenue, Oakley neighborhood, Cincinnati, Ohio

Council approved selling a 0.1544-acre city parcel on Ridge Avenue at fair market value.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Veterans Village

5707 and 5711 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH

Council rezoned church-owned land for 14 tiny-home rental units for homeless veterans with permanent supportive services.

approved (9-0) · still approved

616 Race, LLC Roots Alley easement

Roots Alley / College Street, Central Business District, Cincinnati, Ohio

Emergency ordinance granting an easement for a patio, pergola, trash storage, and fencing was referred to committee.

still pending

SD Creek LLC development agreement

5051 SD Creek Road, Winton Hills

Council approved a development agreement retaining over 100 jobs relocating from Queensgate to Winton Hills.

approved (9-0) · still approved

College Hill CRC acquisition — 5911 Hamilton Avenue

5911 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio

An ordinance would provide $402,500 to the College Hill redevelopment corporation to buy property at 5911 Hamilton Avenue.

still pending

CMHA City West Housing Development Rehabilitation Project

A $1.5 million general fund transfer to support CMHA's City West housing rehabilitation was held at the mayor's request.

tabled · still tabled

Midpointe Crossing Development funding in Bond Hill

Council accepted up to $2 million in state grant funds to advance the Midpointe Crossing housing and economic development project in Bond Hill.

What it means: Up to $2 million in state grant funds for the project.

Raised 2 times this week

Vibrancy Art Fund and Arts Collaboration

A proposed arts fund was held after controversy over shifting cultural dollars away from Black Arts Speaks toward Arts Wave. The Mayor will convene stakeholders before the item returns.

What it means: Artists and cultural organizations in historically underserved neighborhoods, if the fund is finalized.

Raised 2 times this week

Human Services Fund Policy and Priorities for FY 2028-2029

Council set four priorities for the next funding cycle — workforce equity, housing stability, violence reduction, and youth support — each at 22%, plus up to 10% for Access to Council. Three members voted no, saying they were left out of drafting the priorities.

What it means: Commits 1.5% of the city operating budget to human services for the 2028-29 cycle.

Raised 2 times this week

Surplus property sale in Oakley

The City was scheduled to consider selling a small 0.1544-acre parcel along Ridge Avenue in Oakley that it no longer needs, to East Main Design, LLC.

What it means: Sale proceeds for a 0.1544-acre parcel; amount not stated.

Raised 2 times this week

Leverage Support Process Reform

Council restructured how community grant dollars flow: economic development and environmental dollars stay with the administration, economic inclusion moves into the Human Services Fund process, and arts funding awaits a separate Vibrancy Art Fund discussion.

What it means: Grant applicants get a more transparent, budget-aligned process, per sponsors.

Raised 2 times this week

Restricted Cannabis Fund Creation

Council told the administration to write an ordinance splitting cannabis tax revenue among home repair (25%), new homeownership (20%), childhood lead paint removal (25%), child savings accounts (15%), and youth-to-work programs (15%). Supporters framed it as reparative investment in communities hit hardest by past marijuana enforcement.

What it means: Homeowners needing repairs, first-time buyers, families dealing with lead paint, and youth seeking jobs in disproportionately impacted communities.

Raised 2 times this week

Homelessness Prevention and Bridge-Loan Funding

Council directed the administration to draft an ordinance guaranteeing at least 0.30% of the General Fund for the Access to Council program, which provides attorneys and rental assistance to tenants facing eviction. The program has prevented nearly 2,000 evictions since 2023.

What it means: About $1.8-1.9 million a year from the General Fund, locked in for future years.

Raised 2 times this week

Veterans Village Housing Project in Madisonville

Council unanimously rezoned land behind Gaines United Methodist Church for 14 tiny-home rentals for homeless veterans, with permanent supportive services at 50% of area median income for 20 years. Over 16 churches helped fundraise.

What it means: Homeless veterans in Madisonville gain permanent supportive housing.

Raised 2 times this week

Pleasant Ridge Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Council created a TIF-funded account for pedestrian safety improvements in Pleasant Ridge's business district, a joint effort by the community council and community development corporation.

What it means: Pedestrians and businesses in Pleasant Ridge's business district.

Raised 2 times this week

City West Affordable Housing Preservation and Debt

The mayor's $1.5 million transfer for CMHA's City West housing rehab was held after a public commenter questioned giving money to an agency that owed the city money from the TQL stadium property sale.

What it means: $1.5 million from the Housing and Economic Development Capital Project Reserve — on hold for now.

Procurement Oversight and Moral Obligation Payments

A resident flagged a state auditor investigation and an external auditor's management letter citing a $353,000 IRS penalty, IT security issues, fraud-training lapses and missed financial disclosure filings — and asked the committee to hold a public hearing.

What it means: Includes a $353,000 IRS penalty identified in the external audit.

FY 2026 to FY 2027 Budget Carryover and Surplus Allocations

The committee held debate on how to split the roughly $3 million 'any additional surplus' tier — 50% to a housing and economic development reserve, with flexibility for operations. Members will submit communications by November 5.

What it means: Roughly $3 million in surplus is at stake, split between capital reserves and flexible use.

Paul Clock Bell Tower Acquisition and Restoration

A motion would have the city pursue Option 2 to acquire and restore the Paul Clock Bell Tower. It was held so the committee can first consider whether restoring one privately owned landmark sets a precedent for others.

What it means: If pursued, the landmark's restoration would preserve a neighborhood historic asset under city ownership.

10-Year Neighborhood Planning Cycle

Clifton's first neighborhood plan update since 1982 covers development, historic preservation, hillside protection, transportation, and affordability. Residents raised about 700 people through 37 meetings to shape it.

What it means: Clifton residents, businesses, and developers get a clear roadmap for growth, preservation, and safety improvements.

AMEND Consulting job creation tax credit

AMEND Consulting will create at least 80 new jobs at 312 Plum Street downtown with an average salary of $85,000, and retain 103 positions, in exchange for a 45% city income tax credit on the new jobs' revenue.

What it means: The city forgoes 45% of income tax revenue from the 80 new jobs.

MetroRapid Transit System Update

Cincinnati's first BRT lines on the Reading and Hamilton corridors are on track for 2027 construction and 2028 launch, with 10-minute frequency (5 minutes downtown-to-UC), 60-foot buses, and tap-to-pay fare. Design changes since 30% design include consolidating BRT with the streetcar downtown and dropping bus lanes on Vine Street Hill.

What it means: The project represents roughly $300 million-plus in investment, largely funded through a federal FTA grant agreement expected in 2026.

Building Energy Benchmarking and Performance Standards

A proposed ordinance would require large building owners to track and report energy use. Four residents testified in support, citing cost savings and emissions cuts; the item isn't on the agenda yet but the chair hopes it passes before year's end.

What it means: Supporters cited average energy savings of roughly 3% annually for compliant buildings in Columbus, offsetting energy costs that have risen over 27% in recent years.

Cold Storage Industrial Facility Development in Winton Hills

A port-owned property in Winton Hills will become a cold-storage facility leased to Chef's Warehouse, relocating from Queensgate — retaining 100 jobs at $10 million payroll and creating 40 more at $4 million — with a 30-year property tax exemption.

What it means: Property taxes on the improvements are exempt for 30 years.

Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program

LISC offers 2% loans of $5,000–$25,000 (up to $50,000) for essential home repairs to homeowners at or below 80% AMI, citywide. About 20 homeowners are in the pipeline with room for roughly 60 total; city dollars are matched by private loan capital.

What it means: The city's $1 million is matched by roughly another $1 million in private loan capital from LISC.

Neighborhood Cleanliness and Litter Abatement

An emergency ordinance would bring up to $95,504 in state grant money to clean up illegal dumping sites and buy equipment to deter future dumping.

What it means: Up to $95,504 in grant funds for dumping cleanup.

College Hill property acquisition at 5911 Hamilton Avenue

A $402,500 transfer from the College Hill Equivalent Fund would help the local urban redevelopment corporation buy property at 5911 Hamilton Avenue, a key commercial corridor.

What it means: $402,500 from the College Hill Equivalent Fund.

Buildings and Inspections Staffing and House Bill 361

An ordinance would create three new Elevator Inspector job classifications with salary ranges, expanding the City's capacity to inspect elevators — a public safety matter for residents in multi-story buildings.

What it means: Residents and workers who rely on elevator safety inspections.

UC Health Mobile Crisis Team recognition

Council honored the mobile crisis team's 40 years of mental health crisis response — now operating 24/7 in every police district, serving nearly 3,000 people this year.

What it means: People in mental health crisis get a clinical response instead of police-only intervention.

Proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy Overhaul

Multiple residents criticized rising TIF expenditures, citing the Grand Park project's cost climbing from $5.9 million to $13.5 million in weeks, and argued TIF money belongs in the General Fund. A listening session on TIF funds is set for November 4.

What it means: Grand Park costs rose to $13.5 million, with $7.5 million from TIF.