Cincinnati · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cincinnati public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Vibrancy Art Fund and Arts Collaboration
A new fund will support artists and organizations in neighborhoods historically shortchanged by public and private arts investment, with Black Art Speaks leading application review and ArtsWave handling the money. Some members pressed for Black Art Speaks to be the fiscal agent.
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.
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.
AMEND Consulting job creation tax credit
AMEND Consulting would get a 45% city income tax credit for committing to create at least 80 jobs at 312 Plum Street downtown. It's still in committee.
Paul Clock Bell Tower Acquisition and Restoration
Councilmember Walsh wants the city to move ahead with Option 2 to acquire and restore the historic Paul Clock Bell Tower and take ownership. The question goes to the infrastructure committee.
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.
Neumann Clubhouse replacement
$5 million in park bond money would fund replacing the Neumann Clubhouse, including equipment and furniture — a significant reinvestment in a neighborhood recreation facility.
Railroad Crossing Safety and Quiet Zone in Columbia Tusculum
A resident raised concerns about four back-to-back railroad crossings near Lunken Airport lacking safety gates, resulting in excessive train horn noise and safety risks amid new development.
Fire Department thermal imaging equipment
Councilmembers Johnson and Kearney want $225,000 of carryover money to buy thermal imaging gear for the fire department, but the motion was held rather than sent to Council.
Justice assistance grant for police overtime and advocacy services
Up to $274,735 in federal money would fund police visibility overtime and the sexual assault advocate contract with Women Helping Women.
Recognition of Retired Assistant Police Chief Ronald J. Twitty
The city honored retired Assistant Police Chief Ronald J. Twitty for his groundbreaking career in law enforcement and community leadership by passing a formal resolution and naming a street after him.
2260 Vine Street acquisition and demolition
Mount Auburn TIF dollars would help the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation buy and clear a property at 2260 Vine Street as a public infrastructure improvement.
530 Walnut Street mixed-use renovation
The city would put $2.9 million of Downtown TIF money into Urban Sites' plan to turn 530 Walnut into roughly 67 apartments plus ground-floor commercial space — more housing in the central business district.
Access to Free Period Products in Municipal Buildings
Council members advanced a motion requiring a comprehensive report on the availability and condition of free period product dispensers in municipal buildings and city-operated properties to ensure equitable access for employees and the public.
Water system bond refunding
The city wants flexibility to refinance its water system revenue bonds, possibly with cheaper loans from the Ohio Water Development Authority. Refunding debt can lower costs for water ratepayers.
Paid Organ Donation Leave for City Employees
Vice Mayor Kearney's motion pushes the administration to recommend extra funding for city employees who become organ or tissue donors — supporting workers who take on a major personal sacrifice.
Price Hill Litigation and Community Updates
City officials provided updates regarding Second Avenue litigation and general neighborhood developments in Price Hill.
Library Services and Community Partnerships
The committee reviewed programs and services offered through the public library system to support Cincinnati youth and families.
Civil Service Commission Policy Directives
Council advanced a motion requiring the administration to draft new human resources policies based on previous civil service recommendations.
Hate Crime Incident Procedures Update
City leaders are following up on how the administration tracks and responds to hate incidents and hate crimes. The committee requested a 30-day update on dashboard creation, reporting portals, and police procedure updates.
Certified Welcoming City Designation
Six organizations that serve Cincinnati's immigrant, minority, and entrepreneur communities briefed the committee. The presentations highlighted how chambers and nonprofits like MORTAR help launch and grow businesses that create local jobs.
Fee Schedule Adjustment
Cincinnati is tweaking its fee schedule for 2027, meaning the price tags for various city services are about to change. Depending on what you use, you could end up paying a bit more or a little less.
Home Rule Governance
Cincinnati's right to run its own show is constantly under threat as Ohio lawmakers keep trying to override local rules. This tug-of-war directly impacts everything from city policies to how much control you actually have over your neighborhood.
Climate Migration
Cincinnati is getting ahead of the curve by planning for people moving to the city to escape climate disasters elsewhere. Instead of scrambling later, city leaders are figuring out how to handle the extra growth now.
Police Department Litigation
Another day, another police department drama in Cincinnati. A reinstated police captain is now suing the city and the former police chief, keeping local law enforcement leadership in hot water.
Trauma Care and Emergency Medical Education ('Stop the Bleed')
UC Health representatives presented information on regional trauma and burn services and demonstrated critical bleeding control techniques for everyday citizens.
Short-Term Rental Regulation and Neighborhood Impact
City leaders and realtors discussed how short-term rentals (STRs) affect neighborhood housing stock, noting that high concentrations in certain areas can displace permanent residents.
Lawsuit Against City
A wrongfully imprisoned Cincinnati man is suing the city and local police, which could end up hitting taxpayers in the wallet depending on how the case goes. It's a major legal headache for the city that highlights accountability issues within the local police force.
Public Records Transparency
The Ohio Supreme Court is deciding whether Cincinnati has to release public records about a brawl, which could make it much easier or harder for residents to see government files.
Sidewalk Regulations and E-Bike/Scooter Safety
The city has partnered with The Garage OTR and secured $50,000 in philanthropic funding to launch an e-bike incentive pilot program. The program offers zero-interest financing on e-bike purchases to make personal electric vehicles more affordable and accessible to residents across neighborhoods.
Downtown Street Lighting Assessment Concerns
A downtown resident raised concerns that property owners are being assessed for street lighting counts that exceed the number of actually working lights on their block. Council agreed to hold the lighting assessment ordinance for a week to investigate.
Cincy Reads Early Literacy Initiative
The Cincy Reads program successfully engaged nearly 1,900 participants to read over 605,000 minutes during March, promoting early childhood literacy and family reading habits across Cincinnati.