ticking. I want you. Heat. Heat. Young. Hey. Happy new year. Hey, Hey, hey hey. Happy. Welcome to today's public comment. As I call your your name, you'll have two minutes to address council. Our first speaker is Tori Y. Welcome. >> No need to touch the mics. They'll they'll um they're on automatically. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, the first thing I wanted to notify everyone about was a black history program that's coming up at 7 Hills Neighborhood House at 901 Finley Street. U more of a public announcement the February on February 20th, which is this Friday from 3 to 6. Um, the children will be presenting um the alphabet and connecting it with uh individuals African-American individuals who have been successful through history. Um, so that's from Summer Hills Neighborhood House. Then the second portion of what I'm uh speaking about is called We Excel program. I just wanted to let everybody know that it's a program to help to elevate the reading literacy of children um K through six. And it's uh has a pilot program right now where it's offering free reading uh uh ways to practice reading and to raise your uh level to raise the child's level of reading uh through 45 minute sessions and uh it's all free so it's open to any community. >> That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you Stanford Pool. Welcome When we look at u the city of Cincinnati and we look at what Donald Trump is doing, firing people, taking property, stealing, taking money, changing the law for the better u better things for their buddies. I think we got the same thing here in Cincinnati. This this council came in and said they going to stop the corruption when Cranley and his group was here. Now I haven't seen you change anything. I think you had improved the corruption. Now a number of people that came here and asked you people to help them. Trump, Donald Trump asked people to help them and he turned on them. And here in Cincinnati, a lot of people for housing, uh, real estate people ask for help and y'all did nothing. And you got your paycheck and your little titles. Is that the important thing you want to have? Start doing something for the poor people. Now, you just gave an airport to the some rich people that you gave them $2 million to come up with schemes to help them. And then the people, you told them to increase the payroll checks. That's what we got. The peasants, but the rich guys got an airport down there that that they got the plane. Is anybody in here got a plane down Airport? Raise your hand. Nobody. But y'all took care of them. You gave $880,000 to the Port Authority, DC3C to be policemen. So when are you going to do something for the regular people? You're stealing property. Your the mayor Cranley Deers and uh um and yourself came up with the housing thing to take property from black and brown people. Your law department said and your building department said we go to the poor neighborhood, we write them up and then we tell them to give their title to them. When you steal some property from a person, that's a theft. That's a murder. >> This is Carol Cunningham. Welcome Mayor AFAB Pural and city council. Uh the matter at hand today is I have received an eviction notice for March the 6, 2026. That's two weeks I've been assaulted twice. You've been uh concerned about elderly attacks. I'm one of your avid supporters. I met you first at the clerk of courts, then here. I want to say you're doing and the staff an excellent job. Just an excellent job. And I have paperwork. I have nine items. Not only did I suffer a rotator cuff injury from uh Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health, Emily Bender, two years ago. I'm 78. I'm not going to sit around and wait till I'm 86 and dead. I'd like these matters resolved. and I need housing. I was attacked November the 8th and November the 10th once that's BP once where I lived and most recently a resident whose name I don't know at the time I will get it. I need help. >> Thank you. Jerry Coach, welcome. >> Who do I seek about this? >> Yep. Vice Mayor, go ahead. Go ahead. >> Director White, are you able to speak with her? Thank you so much, Director White. Right there with the blue jacket. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Jerry Coach. Welcome. >> Greetings, council. Mr. Scotty Johnson, Miss Curtney, I'm here to talk to y'all directly. If anybody got a child up there, I'm talking to y'all directly. This ain't even about what CPD did at the bottle of sister. These little brothers right here took my little man right here license and insured driver cuffed him up. All this crazy stuff held him in the car for over 12 minutes. Let me tell you how I found out the body cam cuz I went to district one and I told him, "Y'all go show me what happened to my little boy or I'mma show you what could happen to your little boy." They showed me the body cam. I'm furious. Furious. My little boy was more of a gentleman than them thugs could ever be. So you know what they did when I told him I been stranded on the street corner looking through Ford's floor right past. They sink in the wind tears. Ye that's where we at with this. Somebody go find him or I'mma find him. However it is. Y'all know y'all started. I got no care about this one. None. I'mma find them. >> I ain't waiting on the CCA. They got that case out there cover talking to y'all about you knew little brother it's hell in this city. I ain't waiting on the CCA. I'm spreading this through every neighborhood. Soon as my son mama put this out there. The people from with Terrace, they said, "Hey, them people just jook me down." So they got him on 214. They got them people on 217. They work second shift. I work three shifts. about my kids. >> Ye, that's where we at with this. >> And I don't care if mine just I just I could go at a box with ashes. I don't need a prestigious funeral. >> It's Black History Month. I'm here to make black history. He speak next. I hope he got the pride to tell y'all what happened. But if not, somebody go tell y'all. Or maybe they won't. That's on my mama and everybody kids. >> You want to talk to him right now? >> Grey low coach. >> Okay. >> Kelton Miller. >> No, wait. >> Uh, Iron Turner. >> That's on everybody. kids. >> Ain't no Cincinnati. >> My name is Iron Turner and that was just my mentor. That was somebody who helped pave the way for me. I served this country four years. Honorable US Army stationed in Alaska, paratrooper, nine months Afghanistan with a bronze star. I came up under that man. I was born and raised here in Cincinnati. I now reside back here in Cincinnati. That man is not only a coach, a mentor, a trainer. That's a father like a lot of us in here too. And he just want protection for his kids as we all do. And we just want the justice and just those officers to be held accountable for those actions. That's one thing that I was taught, one thing that I was shown in the service and serving this country is accountability. Being able to say when I did mess up and take the consequences from that and become better because now you know in a situation like that what you would do and how to be better from that. you don't just uh we we we got our hand in the fire and now we're going to you know we're going to tuck it away because we can because we're able to because we're the ones that's you know making the rules now let's also stand on those rules too. Let's also hold each other accountable too and let's also support our community and that's very important as it would be for anybody. I couldn't imagine if that was my son in a different type of situation. I've been arrested just for being dark-kinned, just being in the wrong place, wrong time, and just a fit fitting the description. So, let's hold those people accountable. Let's hold each other accountable, and let's just get it right. And that's all I have to say. >> Thank you, Mr. Turner, and thank you so much for your service. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, >> Paul Bean. Welcome. See what I'm talking about? We We want that black. You got to take that You get ready take that Duke Energy uh sign down, right? It just go to show you black lives don't matter. I've been covered down here. I can't get no justice. Oh Lord, I see what everybody else going through. We want that black lifestyle. That little painting you got right there. That don't mean Excuse my language, but you know how I feel. You know, we want that on convention center. When do come down that go up? See that go up. I've been doing construction for 20 almost 30ome years. You've been ignoring the fact that who I am. See, I told you I ain't got no felon. I I grew up in the West End. He used to chase me. I I used to be bad as hell. Could be bad as hell today. But I look for justice and I can't get it. I ain't going to be like that man. He frustrated. He got kids. Mine grown, >> you know. But y'all ain't y ain't giving out no justice. You ain't paying no attention at all. You stole my project. You said it cost too much. You told me in motion walking the strip. Oh, we ain't going to use your project. You need more than my project. But my project is better cuz it cost too much money. So you don't want to use it to save nobody. No kind of way. And y'all got degrees. All y'all puppets on the damn string. See? Okay. All y'all, while you still hold your jobs, you got a system. I gave it to you. You might as well say it wasn't patent. That's why you took it. You tell me you can't find it. But it's in here. Need help, baby. >> Jonathan Norton, welcome. The land of the free is currently demonstrating just how free it isn't. Right now, the Department of Homeland Security is issuing subpoenas to big tech companies demanding the personal information of accounts that criticize ICE. Right now, the state of Ohio is redefining anti-semitism. A definition where pointing out ethnic cleansing and the apartheid structure Israel has forced on Palestine would be deemed anti-semitic. To acknowledge that separate roads for Palestinians, separate IDs for Palestinians, separate rights for Palestinians, separate areas and cities Palestinians are prohibited from entering in their own occupied land, separate laws carrying out executions by hanging only applied to Palestinians. To see all of that and call it what it is, racism in the highest degree, that would be considered anti-semitic. There is no free speech in the land of the free. In fact, it is our speech that is policed and prosecuted to a harsher level than the violence our state commits. ICE and CBP can commit murders in Minnesota, and the federal government won't cooperate in the investigations. They'll spend 38 billion to convert warehouses into concentration camps, but can't spend a fraction of that to house the homeless or feed the hungry. Our taxes aren't spent in service of us. Our laws aren't written in service of us. Our troops aren't even deployed in service of us. We send them and a second aircraft carrier to Iran so they can serve the interest of Israel. As Lindsey Graham said, there is no gap between Trump and Netanyahu. Our government prepares for attacks on Iran because we don't care about people's safety or freedom there either. As much as this country tries to co-opt their protests and claim they want freedom for the Iranian people, our sanctions on them tell a different story. Our sanctions strangle and starve the people of Iran as they do the people of Cuba and Venezuela while we blockade and steal more oil tankers and kill more in boat bombings. But we're told our words are the real violence. When will those like you that have sat back and watched with your authority, comfort, and convenience choose to act? This council has broken its promises to keep our children safe and in that same time frame expanded ISIS surveillance apparatus built by collaborators of genocide and apartheid. This lesser evil party is watching and assisting the greater evil. How are your future voters expected to believe you have any interest in changing this land that fights against freedom? Stefan Prior. >> Good afternoon. Uh, Mika Owens, wait over here. Mik Owens, that Duke bill, you need to talk to your committee about this Duke aggregation program. I keep talking about it. These Duke bills are too damn high. Ridiculous. You paying three different suppliers. They're not saving nobody no money. I'm going to keep talking about that. The West End and over these Cincinnati police officers are messing with the youth. I see it with my own eyes. Some of y'all know. Y'all need to tell them. Mr. Scotty Johnson, Council Members Johnson, your the policees, what they're doing to the youth, frisking them down, patting on them, doing old crazy stuff, disrespecting them. I saw it from my own eyes. But what we need to do as a community is get cameras, too. Body cameras for your youth, too, y'all. Get some body cameras to show y'all side of the story, too. Because they'll try to hide things on them body cameras. Sometime they want to turn them on. Ryan James. Sometime they won't. And it's sad these officers. I saw officers slam uh my matter of fact was my cousin. He was handcuffed in the police car. He slamming his head all in the back seat. I saw that on Lyn Street in front of the Lincoln Center. It's sad what they doing. Y'all need to put out a call. They need to actually cease what they doing. Man, they coming out destroying the community the way they act. officers. They supposed to respect the people. Mayor Ab, you got to put that call out there. You the mayor. You got to make that happen. Uh Chief Adams, he you need to talk to him about what what what's your tactics? Why you doing that to these youth out here? It falls up under y'all clock because y'all putting these chief in positions to do what they doing. And it's sad. We got good youth out here, man. Ain't all the youth bad. We might got some bad apples, but they need to do their jobs, y'all. And it's sad that they do this. Thank you. Moving to Zoom. Mike Ulehorn, welcome. Can we have someone log in? Mike Ulhorn. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead, Mike. >> Yes. Thank you. So, I was reviewing uh what was going on with Greater Cincinnati Waterworks committing fraud against people when they charge people every month waters turned off at the meter. They're providing absolutely nothing. Now, of course, when I purchased the property, nobody disclosed that Greater Cincinnati Waterworks would be stealing money from me when I didn't have the water turned off, had been turned on for years, but they charge a monthly base rate just for being ready to provide something. There was nothing at closing. When I contacted Greater Cincinnati Waterworks to check to see if there was any outstanding balance, they said there was none. They did not disclose that they charged for providing absolutely nothing. Now, this is a very dangerous precedent to be setting, don't you think, for companies to charge people for providing nothing but just being ready to provide something and people having access to it? Because imagine when all the companies start following that precedent. And then if you don't pay that bill, Greater Cincinnati Waterworks, they sue you for not paying for nothing. And the courts have actually ruled that well because it's a law in the city of Cincinnati that Greater Cincinnati Waterworks can steal money from people. You have to pay that bill because that's what the law is in the city of Cincinnati. Even when your house is not in the city of Cincinnati, but in another city like mine in gr in the Forest Park. When is this going to stop? I've been here many, many months and nobody's doing anything. I don't think anybody does anything there about anything that all these people talk to you about and complain about because after all, would criminals do the right thing? I don't think so. You're all participating in this fraud because you passed laws that greater Cincinnati Water is free to commit fraud against people and charge people for providing nothing. Nobody has contacted me back. I've left message after message after message. Even with the good government and fraud number, nobody calls me back. How can it be good government to steal money from people when you're providing nothing of value? The water's turned off. You're providing nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just being ready to provide something. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Jerica Toiver. Welcome. Hello. On July 13th, I was having a stroke. There is a video before the fire department got to my house when I was having a stroke. The fire police, the first responders were in my house for at least 7 to 10 minutes. Did not help at all. Did not assist. They checked my blood sugar. They never helped. I asked them how they were going to get me out of my apartment. They told me it's four of us big men here. Yet neither one helped to do anything. I told them that I was about to lose consciousness. I reached for one, never touched back. My brother had to physically pick me up with his hands and put me in the chair for them because they refused to do anything. When we got downstairs, they put me on the stretcher the whole time that I was in the ambulance. I was literally rolling back and forth. I asked one of the firefighters to help me because my hands were going numb because my entire body was numb. He looked at me with a look of disgust. When they got me to the hospital, he verbatim when they pushed me in and said, "Huh, look at her now. She ain't acting like she was when we were at the house." Yeah. Because I'm no longer having a stroke and someone is here to help me. That is not fair. That is not okay. And since then, I've been suffering from lack of oxygen to my brain. I have not been able to go back to work. this is unacceptable. The fact that I was no longer having stroke symptoms when I got to the hospital, that means that they diagnosed me with atrial ventricular heart block because with no symptoms, they had no reason to do a CAT scan. So therefore, it was never noticed until December. So now I'm still suffering with lack of oxygen to the brain. When I called the fire department from the hospital, they told me one thing. I asked for the reports. When I explained to you that the reports, there are three reports for this one call. Neither one of them are correct. One of them is at least six paragraphs long and it explains over three separate days. The second report, it has two days away, literally explaining that they took two days and five minutes to get me to the hospital. Y'all need to get y'all people together. >> Thank you. Uh I can't read this name, but the last name looks like Sullivan. I apologize. Yes, this is Nancy Sullivan. I'm the director of transformation CDC and I'm really here because I'm confused about the very last item on the agenda, an amended motion. Um, I sat through the budget committee meeting and have all the documentation for this. So, there are things that are not included that were in the original, including um $100,000 for a Cincinnati Compass. And then the toolkits and trainings, I believe, is material that um an organization called CMRNC has provided to um another organization in the city. I've personally participated in several of their free online trainings. So, I'm a little confused as to whether the city is going to pay $75,000 for this training, which is free and available. Um, and wondering what happened to Cincinnati Compass. >> Thank you. It's now 156. We'll stand in recess until 2 p.m. when the business portion will begin. Thank you. It's now 2 o'clock and we'll begin today's business portion of Cincinnati City Council and the clerk will please call the role. >> Council member James. >> Okay. You want to stay away from that. Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. Here. >> Council member Johnson. Vice Mayor Kernney. Council member Owens >> here. >> Council member Walsh >> here. >> Council member Albby >> here. >> Council member Kramerine >> here. >> Please stand for a moment of silence. And now the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The minutes from the previous meeting will be approved and filed without objection. Hearing none, they'll be approved and filed. Council member Nolan is excused from today's meeting. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, Vice Mayor. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry to be late. Please count me as present. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Items one and two are as indicated. Um before we begin, I do want to briefly call attention to these uh items one and two. These are items authorizing and appropriating funds for a new path forward on our pension. They include a 50 million one-time allocation from funds set aside to guard against tax uncertainty during COVID, an additional 50 million advertised over time from restricted fund sources, and an increase from the current minimum contribution of 16.25 to 19.25 with triggers for raising that to 21.5 depending on the current long-term projections for the fund. When a 75% contribution is equivalent to roughly $2 million million, we are talking about an extraordinary level of investment to get our pension back on track and to fulfill our sacred commitment to our employees. Our pension is one of the city's greatest unfunded liabilities. There is a reason it was such an area of focus for the futures commission. And with council approval of the updated collaborative settlement agreement, which after our passage will go back for federal judge approval, we are taking action now to make sure that in perpetuity we have the right plan in place to protect the benefits our employees and retirees have been promised. The long-term projections for our pension fund have been a real concern since before we came into office. That is why this council administration have voluntarily allocated above the minimum contribution in our budget cycles. It's why we updated our waterfall process to prioritize CRS contributions during the carryover. But this plan is designed to outlast any of our times in our seats to create a sustainable infrastructure for our CRS finances. There's plenty of discussion ahead both in committee and during council. But as we refer this, I would like to thank all of our city staff who have worked so hard on these items. Our law department under the leadership of Emily Smart Warner for working with all parties, our CRS team under John Solstrm, our finance team, um, and everyone else putting in their effort and expertise to ensure our fiscal health and our obligations to city employees are met. Item three is as indicated. Item four will be held. Item five, we will now recognize council member Owens to recognize Antonio AJ Johnson as a 2026 Black History Month honore and expressing the appreciation of the mayor and the council of the city of Cincinnati for Mr. Johnson's historic leadership as president of the Black Students As Association at Xavier University and for establishing a legacy that has resulted in 50 years of in un of uninterrupted Black History Month programming. Miss Owens, >> thank you, mayor. Um, it is with my my privilege and honor to be able to recognize a remarkable human being, not only as a an alumni uh alumni of Xavier University uh but as a black woman in this city who uh can look to an example of such an incredible person who broke barriers and we know that you know every day is black history because legacy certainly continues on. So I would like to uh recognize uh Dr. for Ivy Banks from Xavier University to come on up. Wanda Johnson, his sister to come up and Alicia who is also uh part of the administration at Xavier University. So, thank you for um sharing your brother with us, the legacy that he left, uh the example. Uh he is someone that certainly broke barriers at Xavier University. Uh he is someone that certainly certainly demonstrated um the commitment to the human condition of all folks. uh resilience and all of those things that uh make us proud to be who we are and to continue again his legacy. And so Antonio Johnson grew up in Wanut Hills. He attended Roger Bacon where he then began his academic journey in 1971 at Xavier University as an urban studies major. He served as the president of the Black Student Association where he served as a bridge between Za the Xavier community and the Cincinnati community. Mr. Johnson organized and implemented the university's first dedicated programming for Black Awareness Month. Unfortunately, on February the 8th, 1976, uh, tragically, Antonio Johnson lost his life at the young age of 22 in the second year of the Black Awareness Month uh, program and leaving a void in the campus community. But his pioneering efforts did not stop there because every year since 199 uh, 1974, Xavier University has com commemorated now known as Black History Month. His legacy is further celebrated as every year the Antonio Johnson scholarship is presented to junior students at Xavier University who demonstrate excellence in service to the black community. And so we are recognizing his life today. I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker to that amazing group of uh black gifted students who are looking to change the world. So again, uh you should be very proud of the seeds that Antonio planted and all of the young brilliant minds uh who will go on and be inspired by his legacy. And so be it resolved by the council of the city of Cincinnati, the state of Ohio, that the mayor and this council hereby recognize Antonio AJ Johnson as a 2026 Black History Month honore for his visionary life, activism, and his legacy. Thank you. We we'll go to councel and then we will have we'll ask you all to say some words if that's okay. >> All right, do you want to let them speak first? Let's do this. No, you hear from this is all about you. >> So, let's hear from you and please introduce yourself and and all of the things that you >> Hello, I'm Wanda Johnson Horton. Um Antonio was my brother. I was 16 years old when he passed away. And it's just an honor that Xavier has continued his legacy for all these the past 50 years. It's just an honor to know that all the students each year is going to be honored with that wonderful scholarship that they're given. And it's I'm sure he would be just thrilled. Thank you so much for the honor. We are so grateful to be here and extend our thanks to not only to the Johnson family but also to council for recognizing Antonio Johnson for 50 years. We have recognized his work and his labor at Xavier University supporting not only our students with scholarship but also recognizing that through programming. All of the students in the past 50 years who've gone on in the tradition and in the footsteps of Antonio Johnson have gone on to do amazing things here in the city of Cincinnati and also in the great state of Ohio. So, thank you so much for this recognition. >> Congratulations. We're so honored that you're here. Uh, members of council, Vice Mayor, >> Council Member Owens, thank you so much. And family of Antonio, I I know you miss him a lot. he was your big brother and um that's always a loss that lasts a lifetime. But I love that um he left such a fantastic legacy for others to follow and uh providing a scholarship for students. It gives them uh Antonio as a role model. So that's that's extra special. Thank you for sharing him with us. Thank you for for all you're doing. Um you know, we'll always remember him and uh we we are just very grateful. Thank you so much. Thank you all, >> Mr. Johnson. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Miss Owens, for bringing this forth. Uh, an incredible last name, of course. >> But I salute you, uh, his family for lending him to us. And I salute Xavier University for not forgetting, >> yes, >> the seeds that were planted and for those seeds to grow so others know that there is a trail that they can also blaze. So, thank you very very much. Thank you all. >> Further comments, Mr. Walsh. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, as a Xavier alumni, I can tell you that the Antonio Johnson gayla in my recollection was like the Academy Awards. Um, and I'm not even exaggerating. I I remember going there one year because my friend was nominated. He ultimately won and it was like the greatest night at our time at Xavier. Um, it's a legacy that lives on for so many reasons. And uh to see your brother's legacy live on through people like my friend who won and I know winners subsequently since then uh really speaks the testament of you know 50 years of what he left behind and ultimately the impact he's had on this earth even after. Um so congratulations on this award. I wish it was under happier circumstances but uh I do want you to know like it's been about 13 years since my buddy won and it was still a memory that I hold very fondly of that night. >> Thank you. Further comments? Congratulations again. So honored to be a part of uh his legacy uh and so grateful um for the work that you do to continue it. Roll call on uh uh because this is a uh excuse me, I apologize. Because this is a posthumis resolution, council members are reminded that an affirmative vote is indicated by standing. Roll call on passage of the resolution. >> Council member James. >> Yes. Council member Jeff, >> Council Member Johnson, Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> Council Member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> It passes. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you, Miss Owens. Uh, items 6 through items 6 through 72 are as indicated. Item 73, first reading, please. An ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant of up to $10,000 from the American Public Health Association Building Bridges Learning Community Project. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramer, >> yes. Mr. Kermit. >> Yes. >> Item 73. Sorry. >> Oh, sorry, Mayor. I thought you were apologize. I thought the yes was not appropriately. >> Wake up. >> Oh, I'm happy to. >> I need a mic. >> Would you like to introduce it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Sorry. >> That's right. >> Wake up. >> Um, this is the uh I apologize. Item number 72. >> 73. >> 73. >> 73. Okay. This is a uh a uh grant from the American Public Health Association. Thank you to the American Public Health Association. $10,000. >> Thank you. Further comments. Roll call on passage. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens, would you also like to be counted as a yes vote for suspension? >> Yes. Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Item 74, first reading, please. >> An ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant of up to $25,000 from the 2026 Power Building Partnership for Health Program. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albi. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kramer. Mayor, >> this is a $25,000 grant from the Powerbuilding Partnership for Health. Thank you to Powerbuilding Partnership. >> Further comments. >> Roll call on passage. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Karnney. >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramerine. Yes. >> Item 75, first reading, please. >> An ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant of up to $39,600 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Services, fiscal year 2026, State of Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Crarmerding. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kraming. >> The Ohio Department of Safety is, you know, a consistent partner with the city of Cincinnati. This $40,000 grant goes to domestic violence reduction, which is obviously very important. >> Further comments, Miss Alvie? >> Uh, thank you. I I want to thank the YW.CA CA who are important part partner in this and making sure that we are providing compassionate and appropriate on the scene uh response when there is a domestic violence situation and including making sure that we are leading with the lens of believing survivors and providing that trauma-informed care. So thank you to the YW.CA and to CPD who has really done an amazing job uh ensuring that our response to domestic violence situations is you know bestin-class. So I'm really grateful for everyone involved. >> Thank you. Any further comments? Roll call on passage. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramerine, >> yes. >> Item 76, first reading, >> an ordinance authorizing the city manager to accept an inkind donation of goods and professional services from the Corbo Ski Club through the Cincinnati Recreation Foundation valued at approximately $63,000. Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Karine, >> yes. >> Mr. Kramer, >> thanks to the Corbo Ski Club, this grant money will go to introduce uh youth to the sports of of skiing or snowboarding. As I said in committee, I just think this is incredibly important wherever we're nursing young people to a new activity, skiing, what, whatever it is, because this could be a pursuit. This is be something they invest in. This could be something that becomes part of their identity and of course it keeps them on the straight and narrow. So very important. >> Thank you. Further comments. Roll call on passage, please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Karine, >> yes. >> Item 77, first reading, please. >> An emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a naming rights agreement with First Financial Bank and Ohio State Chartered Bank, providing for the sale of naming rights to the city-owned convention center located at 525 Elm Street. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kramer. >> Mayor, this uh agreement provides for the naming rights uh for First Financial Bank for the new convention center. So, it's a very exciting deal. As I said in committee, since the money wasn't part of the capital stack, I falsely thought that council would not vote on it. We do vote on the agreement. So, that is a correction. I'm correcting an error on my part as far as how this came to play. >> Thank you, Mr. Walsh. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. uh just to reiterate my points and comments from Tuesday is that First Financial Bank I think is a incredible naming partner not only you know for the financial help and the naming rights but also because they are true community partner um they've worked with so many community development corporations and neighborhoods and getting them revitalization efforts and I just think they deserve the accolades for that. >> Thank you. Further comments I will also thank uh First Financial. This is a big deal for the future health of our um newly reimagined convention center and I appreciate all the hard work in achieving this. Roll call on passage please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kaming, >> yes. >> Roll call in emergency. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. Yes. Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Item uh before we begin item 78 and 79, the solicitor wanted me to make sure we understood the uh process. Um item 78 is uh from our carryover decisions um that we are making. Um authorizing the transfer of 200,000 from the general fund balance sheet reserve account. Um uh it also is uh well I'll just read what it does. Uh the ordinance is authorizing the transfer of $200,000 from the general fund balance sheet reserve account uh to the unappropriate surplus of general fund. authorizing the transfer and appropriation of the $200,000 from the unappropriated surplus of the general fund to city manager's office general fund non-personnel uh to provide one town onetime special event support for $100,000 uh each for the black family reunion and the Abbercrombie Group authorizing the transfer of 1,6,417 from the general fund balance sheet reserve account uh infrastructure and capital project reserve to the unappropriated surplus of general fund and authorizing the transfer and appropriation of the $1 million 6,417 uh from the unappropriated surplus of general fund to capital improvement program project account fleet replacement. Um so 78 uh is a vote to support 200,000 going to black family union and abocromic group respectively. the $1 million uh 6,417 going to fleet replacement in the capital improvement project account. 79 is a motion that the 200,000 from the infrastructure uh and capital project reserve fund allocated to YW.CA um uh yes. So, uh, so the 79 is taking 200,000 of the 1,6,417 from from fleet replacement and putting it towards the YW.CA's capital project reserve. Okay, that's what the 78 and 79 does. If council passes 78 and then passes 79, in order for the 200,000 to actually be allocated to YW.CA, CA. It would require a follow-up motion. Excuse me. It would require a follow-up ordinance because item 79 is just a motion. So, want to be clear that if item 79 passes, it would still require action from council via an ordinance in order to take the 200,000 away from fleet and put it towards the YW.CA project uh capital project. Sorry, that was that was very long. Um, any questions? Are we on the same page about 78 and 79? >> Okay, perfect. Clerk, I apologize for doing your job there for a moment. Uh, item 78, first reading, an emergency ordinance authorizing the transfer of $200,000 from the general fund balance sheet reserve account reserved for special event support to the unappropriated surplus of general fund. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramerine, >> yes. >> Mr. Kramer, >> I have nothing further to add. Mayor, >> thank you. Further comments? >> Seeing none, roll call on passage of item 78. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Roll call in emergency. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Okay. Now to item 79, the aforementioned motion from Vice Mayor Kernney that 200,000 from the infrastructure and capital project reserve fund be allocated to YW.CA to address urgent needs to ensure the shelter for survivors of domestic violence remains safe and efficient for survivors and the community. Capital needs include cameras, security doors, accessibility, and basement improvements. Mr. Kramering, may I have the vice mayor introduce the item? >> Yes, >> vice mayor. >> Thank you. Um, so yes. Uh and and the mayor did a great job explaining. So we um this motion is to move $200,000 from the infrastructure and capital project reserve. So everything that we're funding is vitally important. Uh this $200,000 for the YW.CA really saves lives. The YW.CA shelter is the only shelter for victims of domestic violence uh in our area and so in our tri county area. And so it's very necessary uh in order to uh complete this structure. Cameras are needed, security doors, uh some accessibility um improvements and also basement improvements. Uh but this is vitally important. uh these women who go to the shelter, the YW.CA shelter um actually are um running for their lives and they need a safe place to be, a supportive environment to be in and uh they really need assistance. And so this is this is lifesaving and so we're asking uh the YWCA is asking us to approve this $200,000 for this shelter for victims of domestic violence. >> Thank you. Further comments, mayor. >> Mr. Jeff. >> Yeah, I'll just reiterate my comments in the committee. Huge need here. Obviously, um, very important. Uh, but with our fleet, we are underfunded this year by $15 million. We don't have enough money for fire trucks. We don't have money for sanitation trucks. Uh, if we pull from that, we don't have as much uh to make sure we're replenishing our fleet. Uh, and so for that reason, I'm uh going to be a no on this. Thank you. >> Thank you. further comments. >> Um I would just like to point out that um the YWCA does not have the choice of using uh railway funds for example, but we can use railway funds for a fleet. So the fleet has other options. The YWCA does not. >> Miss um Mr. Kramer. >> Yeah. No, this is an important conversation, but uh the fleet is not a capital expense. So fleet can't be used out of railroad dollars, just so we know. Um uh I I I am going to I am in favor of keep >> Mr. Mr. Crane, I'm sorry to interrupt. May May I u refer that question to the administration >> please? Uh ad administration uh the question before us is whether uh fleet uh expenditures can come from railroad dollars. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, to the council member. Um, while fleet expenditures can qualify, certain fleet expenditures can qualify as a capital expense for the railroad dollars, those have to be used on existing infrastructure, which is more restrictive than the general capital definition. So, no, the railroad dollars cannot be used on fleet. In other words, we can't buy a new truck uh with with railroad dollars because it is not an existing infrastructure expenditure. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> But Mr. Chair, we allow we may repair existing fleet with railway dollars. Is that correct? >> Sorry. Uh Mr. Chair, to the vice mayor, um not to my knowledge at this moment. I could follow up and um ensure that that is the precisely correct answer. >> So um if I could summarize and then we'll go back to Mr. Kramering. I apologize for interrupting. Um it's clear that new trucks may not be used with railroad dollars because they are not existing infrastructure. Uh maintaining or servicing existing trucks uh I believe is an open question. Um and uh the city solicitor will will return to us um to answer that specifically. Go ahead, Mr. Priming. Yeah, thank >> thank you to the solister and thank you to the vice mayor uh for raising these points. Yeah, I I I do support the mayor's proposal in keeping it with fleet. I mean, this is paying for the new uh pothole truck which can you cover a lot of ground. I think we invested in snow removal and we saw all tremendous benefits. I think we need the same investments in in in potholes and citizens can see a difference this spring. Uh, I am a supporter of the YWCA and will support them in the budget and think that at the end of the day, this will prove to be a win-win. >> Mr. Chair, >> yeah. Um, Vice Mayor, if I could go to Mr. Jeff first. He um he had a >> had to comment earlier. No. Okay, back to you, Vice Mayor. I apologize. >> So, I just want to say we, you know, all of our needs are important. So, I'm not I'm not disagreeing with that, but this is really when when we're talking about people uh who are victims of domestic violence and the YW.C.A. being the only entity that has a shelter that serves them and they really need this $200,000. Much of their funding has been cut as we know uh from what what has been going on this past year. They really need this money. Um they need to make these repairs. They need to make these additions. the camera, security doors, accessibility, other improvements. This is really vital. And so potholes are important, but people over potholes in this case. >> Thank you. Any further comments? Seeing none, roll call. Oh, >> yes. Go ahead, Miss Warner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, the question about repair of existing vehicles. The repair of any existing fleet is an operating expense, not a capital expense. So that also would not be eligible for the railroad. >> Understood. So I believe >> Thank you. I I I sit corrected. >> No, no, not about that. Just wanted to to be clear. Um so I think the answer is clearly no. Uh any further comments? Roll call on adoption of the motion. >> Council member James, >> no. >> Council member Jeff, >> no. Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> thank you. Sorry. >> Thank you. Item 80 is a motion from council members Johnson, James, and the vice mayor that city council allocate funds in the amount of $100,000 from the special events fund for fiscal year 25 to support the Aendale Film Festival. Um, Mr. Criming, may I have Mr. Johnson, President Johnson, introduce this item? >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Mr. President. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, the Aenddale Film Festival is a remarkable uh film festival that I think everybody needs to take the time out to go and uh view it and check it out. in its three years, it has done amazing uh it has done an amazing job in partnering with the University of Cincinnati in bringing in young film producers and providing opportunities for jobs in front of the camera and behind the camera. I've been there the last two years and it employs youth from Aendale and it also employs youth from around the city. Uh, Cincinnati is on the map now when it comes to film making around the country. I think the Aenddale Film Festival is something that also will enhance Cincinnati remaining on the map when it comes to film production in the city of Cincinnati. Um, we've had people come as far away, they've had people come as far as way from Los Angeles and all across the country to participate in this film making. It is amazing to watch young people uh present their ideas in front of the camera and we saw some very very touching and telling films this past uh fall when the film festival took took place. So this is a boo this would be a boost for the Aendale community and the city of Cincinnati supporting this film festival. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Further comments? >> I'll make it. >> Vice Mayor, >> thank you so much. This is um yeah the the Aendale Film Festival is really phenomenal. Uh it's named after Aenddale because it started there but it really uh is for everyone across the city and there are um lots of films from all over the country. We had films this year from California Tennessee Kentucky um other places uh as well as last year. I'm not sure about the first year but this really is just amazing. In addition to the film festival which is open to everybody um there's also the camp uh for uh young filmmakers and there you know award-winning uh teachers such as Zo Wesson. Zo Wesson has won at least 30 Emmys uh just you know an amazing person uh in that field and this is an opportunity that is is really rare um and not available in most cities. So the fact that Cincinnati has this film festival um as well as this camp for youth really makes a big difference. Also it helps with workforce development. A lot of the people who participate in this film festival start thinking about careers in the film making industry and you know as um council member James was surprised but yes we are Hollywood East right here in Cincinnati. We thanks our film commission. Uh we we have a lot of folks from the film industry who now live here and so this is this is huge and uh we just encourage everyone to support it. >> Thank you. Further comments, Mr. James? >> Yes. Building off the vice mayor's point here. I think we have a little bit of work to do before we can take on the title of Hollywood East, but I believe we're going to get there and I think steps like this is how we get there. I think this is a tremendous opportunity. Uh for those of you who are not privy to the conversation over budget and finance at the Aendale Aendale Film Festivals and multipleear plan to reach self-sufficiency um they are not there yet. So these dollars are absolutely vital vital for seeing forward this wonderful organization this wonderful cause that we all love that is so important to the young people in Cincinnati. >> Thank you. Further comments seeing none call on adoption of the motion. >> Mr. Mr. King, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, mayor. I I support the Aenddale Film Festival. I'm very excited about it. As my colleague suggested, there was there is a dispute between the the community development corporation and the community council. I think that that will be resolved and I know some people up here uh were uh working on that. I think it will be happen. The community council did ask us to hold it for a week. I'm going to be voting no just for that reason out of respect for the Aenddale Community Council, but nothing against the substance of the film festival. >> Mr. Sure. >> Mr. Johnson, please. >> I um I think the vice mayor also, myself and the vice mayor have been in conversation since yesterday's um meeting here and uh I've talked to uh the Aendale Community Council. Uh I think we're on a good path right now to a resolution between them and uh Aenddale Development Corporation. Um, I do think though also this film festival is a completely different separate situation. There were some that came from Aenddale that talked about halting funding, but we're in no position in this city to be halting funding anywhere when we have viable good things going. I respect everybody that came from Aendale that talked about halting funding. I spoke to them also and said I'm not not in agreement with halting any funding. We'll get that worked out between the Aenddale developer Corporation and the council and I say we move forward on a positive measure here. Thank you. >> Thank you, President Johnson. Further comments? >> Um I would just like to add um just for council member Kramer and even as you recall even those um who were upset about this tiff between the community council and the Aenddale Development Corporation said how much they like the film festival. So the film festival was not was not part of that disagreement that is being resolved. >> Thank you for further comments. Seeing none, roll call on >> roll call on adoption of the motion, please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. Council member Kramer. No. >> Item 81 is a motion that's amended from council members James Johnson Walsh, Owens, and the vice mayor that city council allocate funds from the operating contingencies budget for fiscal year 25 to immigration and refugee law center in the amount of $210,000. Access to council in the same amount, West End Sports Bar and Grill uh in the amount of $70,000. Mr. Kramering, this is a motion um from uh Mr. James and others. May I have Mr. James introduce this item? >> Absolutely. >> Mr. James, please. >> Uh, thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. This is exciting for a couple reasons. I will say first and foremost because it dedicates this portion of the operational contingency budget towards meeting our residents most uh persistent needs, especially in this cost of living crisis with access to council here. Um, as well as protecting our immigrant neighbors with direct funding to the immigration refugee law center. It also uh finishes the funding to the West End Bar and Grill, serving as the last injection of resources to help the business get across the finish line and serve as the only uh affordable, family-friendly, accessible restaurant over in the West End, my home neighborhood. So, very excited to see this forward. I'm dy excited because this is my first motion here as a Cincinnati city council member. So, I just want to extend another thank you to my colleagues on council here. Uh this was certainly a learning process uh for me in in general. Um but yeah, particularly the uh intricacies of navigating the budgeting process and um the uh uh there are so many different pots of money associated with this. So thank you for helping me uh navigate this maze. Um so thank you for your buying here and um thank you for your personal support because it it took a village and I'm so thankful to be able to work with all of you. >> Further comments? >> Yes, >> Miss Owens. >> Thank you. Well, congratulations, Council Member Ryan uh James. Uh I know how it feels to to cross something off your list and and feel accomplished. So, thank you. And, you know, thank you to the entire council uh for supporting this motion. I believe this is a response to uh helping to support and provide the resources for those that are most vulnerable in this moment. Similar to the reaction uh that we that we took in last summer, uh making investments where needed when the time demands for it. And so when we're talking about immigrant communities who are facing serious challenges and feeling uh singled out uh for good reason, uh this is working with our organizations who are on the front lines to support them. Uh we are also talking about those that are most vulnerable and housing instability and the work that we continue to do around eviction prevention. It is working. While we know that eviction filings are going up, we're talking about parents, moms, single black moms who are facing eviction the most. And we're also talking about the working poor, right? So, uh these are critical investments and I just continue to be proud of uh the work that we have accomplished together. And with that, I also want to say thank you to this council for investing in a black business in a black community, the West End, where uh when we think about history and Kenyan Bar and what 75 did to disrupt that community so many decades ago, uh this to me is is not only doing the apology but also building on that commitment. So again, thank you for this very comprehensive needed uh motion and resources to our community. >> Thank you. Further comments, Miss Albby. >> Uh thank you. I will be voting in favor of this. Uh access to council has been a wildly successful uh program. So for our students in the audience who walked in, access to council basically when people are being evicted, they end up in front of a judge. And you can be evicted from your house in like 30 seconds. Genuinely, you can get evicted from your apartment that quickly. But what the city does is we pay for a lawyer and having a lawyer there with that resident leads to much better outcomes from everyone. So this has been a truly effective program. We we as a city has implemented. Thank you Council Member Owens for spearheading it. Thank you to Director Diana White who does a lot of work on it as well because this is a way we can keep people in their homes because it is uh frankly financially uh more effective and efficient to keep people in their homes but also just like more humane and compassionate to keep people you know in their current housing. So, that's been a wildly successful program. Um, but while we go into budget cycle, as council member Kramering has reminded us, uh, thinking about priorities, there is a devastating need in our community for food access and additional homeless prevention and especially as we think about our immigrant residents. I I shared this on on Tuesday, but I'll repeat again. If you look at COVID era versus now, the need for food access has grown substantially. Uh, St. Vincent Depal uh reports that 2020 versus 2025 there was a 185% increase in neighbors needing food access. That's the difference between 47,000 families and 134,000. When it comes to rent utility assistance, I know council member James has talked a lot about this. We have a huge cost burden for energy in fiscal year 2020. That was during height of COVID. There was a request for about $2 million of assistance. 2025, $4 million, doubling the cost. We see that across the board. And as we think again about our immigrant community, as families, frankly, are losing members in their household who might be uh earning a wage and bringing money home. Uh there's a real need for what happens if that person's no longer there. Where where do they get food? How do they pay for their rent? and the Freestore food bank specifically has a new Americans program that is serving our immigrant community. So I just I I beg and encourage my colleagues as we go into this next budget cycle to remember there are some very acute urgent needs in keeping our community fed and housed in addition to the council uh access to council program. So thank you all for for your your amazing work. I know we're we're here to really protect those most vulnerable in our community. >> Thank you, Mr. Kering. Yeah, I want to thank my colleagues on the process. Uh, as always, it was a lot of passionate items, a lot of thoughtful conversation. Uh, congratulations to Council Member James. I think that's a very big deal and thank you for your work. Uh, this process was late this year. Uh, that was my fault. I think that was a lesson learned. And in the future, uh, if I'm still budget chair, uh, I would keep that in the fall to separate the carryover from the budget. I think that was a lesson learned. and I will be proposing that we do it differently and has done in the past next time. So, but I do want to remind people that budget is upon us. On Monday at budget, this is a sneak preview. We'll be announcing our public hearings, which is critically important and the dates when we'll be doing the our council's policy budget where we give the manager and the administration direction about what our priorities are. So to the extent that you feel like your priorities weren't met, uh that there's other identified uh priorities in the city that are critically to me the council priority budget is the most important document because it tells the administration and the city manager what we want to see and if they don't to see it, we can correct that. So, uh, I just say say that to be ready, be ready for the public hearings, to hear from citizens, and really to put pen to paper and hope we come up with a sharp, uh, policy, uh, priority budget that gives clear direction to the city manager. >> Mr. Chair, >> Vice Mayor, >> I just want to reassure Council Member Kramering, he's doing a fine job as our budget chair, and we're proud of you, and we support you, >> Mr. Kramering. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. I appreciate that. But when you when you uh when you make a mistake, you you have to say, "Hey, I stepped into it. I stepped in it and I won't do it again." So, this lesson learned. >> Anyone want to pile on further comments? Seeing none, roll call on adoption of the motion. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> no. >> Item 82 is a motion from council members Walsh Jeff Owens James Albby and the vice mayor that the city administration provide a report to city council evaluating the city of Cincinnati's current sidewalk snow and ice removal policy, including its effectiveness, consistency of compliance, and enforcement practices during recent winter seasons. This is in the climate, city services, and infrastructure committee. Miss Owens, may I have Mr. Walsh introduce this item. >> Yes, please. >> Mr. Walsh. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, very simple. Uh, we obviously just had another big snowfall and we did a fantastic job getting the roads uh cleared, but we also want to have a pedestrian friendly city. And so, uh, this motion is just asking the administration to continue our research and our our deep dive into how we can improve our snow relief practices and what that next step looks like, where they may need support from us, where where we need to up may need to update policies, how we can make sure we're doing equitably for everybody. We're not trying to be punitive toward our neighbors or, you know, our residents. We're just trying to make sure that people can walk safely around when we have snow emergencies and not have to walk in the street uh because the sidewalks are not clear. >> Thank you. Further comments? >> Yeah. >> Uh Miss Owens and then Mr. Jeff. >> Thank you. Um thank you, Mr. Walls, for introducing this. Happy to support. Uh I think this builds on the work that the administration did last summer to get ready for snow removal. And so now we can talk about how effective we can be with sidewalks. But it's also a moment in my preliminary conversations with the city manager to really level set on information. And first of all, because of state law, uh, property owners are responsible for their portion of the sidewalk. At the same time, we know that yes, pedestrian safety is at the top of the list. And so, how might we do this in a way that is effective enough where we're still reaching the goal, but it's not also an additional barrier and ownorous. And so I know the city administration, the city manager uh is willing to go above and beyond look at other cities uh what are some best practices so that ultimately we are achieving the goals together. >> Thank you Mr. Jeff. >> Thank you and thank you my colleague for offering this just to put a fine point in some of these some of these points. This is really a safety issue because if you think about 30% of our city does not own a car. They are walking to bus stops. they're walking in destinations and what we saw this time was a lot of those it's just difficult to get around people who are disabled seniors really difficult. So I think there are two parts to this. There are private um uh properties which I think this address and just want to make sure as we do the report we're also looking at public uh so how are we making sure that we're staying on top of clearing uh sidewalks around parks and recck centers and other city business uh bu buildings and other city properties. So, uh, thank you again for my colleague for offering this and thank you again to the administration being on top of all these issues in this, uh, past snow season. >> Thank you. Further comments, Miss Alvie. >> Uh, thank you. Uh, look, thank you for this motion. I I think one of the things I talked with Council Member Walsh about was making sure that we aren't being punitive, especially when we think about our elderly population and how we can make sure we're being um, respectful of those who physically aren't able to shovel um, their sidewalk. I also want to do a little bit of myth busting. There's some uh kind of uh theory out there that if you shovel your sidewalk and then someone falls, you're like liable and can get sued. Um that I want to dispel that. Not true. Like much better to shovel your driveway or shovel your sidewalk uh and make it safer to the point of council member Jeffy's point of this is a safety issue. Um so wanted to do a little myth busting there um for for those who might be tuned in. Thank you. >> Thank you. Further comments, Mr. Kermit. Yeah, I I think this motion's critically important. I like the emphasis on the the private sector, the public sector, and I think it would be great if we could rope in our partners. I think I heard a lot of conversation about from bus riders about Sorta and really be able to access those those bus lanes and and I think that was a challenge, too, and it would be great to get Sorta involved and certainly our partner at 3CDC, which does so much in the downtown area. So, I think there's a lot to work on and I appreciate the the makers of the motion. >> Thank you. Any further comments? Seeing none, roll call on adoption of the motion, please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens? >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh? >> Yes. >> Council member Albi? >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering. >> Yes. >> We're now in the housing and growth committee. Item 83. First reading, please. >> An emergency ordinance renaming Bankstream to William L. Mallerie Senior Street in the West End neighborhood of the city of Cincinnati, notwithstanding council resolution number 16-203. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens? >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh? >> Yes. >> Council member Albi? >> Yes. >> Council member Kramer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Jeff? >> Yeah. I'll defer to my colleague, the vice mayor, to introduce this item. >> Vice Mayor, please. >> Thank you. Thank you. Well, I'm really excited uh that we are uh hopefully if you approve it today, we will have a street uh in Representative Mallerie's neighborhood of the West End, and that will be Bank Street. Uh this is a notwithstanding ordinance because uh the Committee on Names has a rule that if there's another street with a similar name in Hamilton County, um they will not approve the street naming. But um there's only from what I could find one street with a similar name and that's Mallalerie Lane in Mount Hely. Um but meanwhile there are in Hamilton County about six streets named Highland, six streets named Maple, six streets named Oak, six streets named Washington, about seven streets named Park, and the list goes goes on and on. So um this really having uh William L. Mallerie Senior Street uh on Bank Street uh should not be a problem at all. I I'd like to say a few words about Representative William El Mallerie. I think everybody knows him. He's he's a legend. Um he in 1965 he was elected president of the West End Community Council. In 1966 he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives and he served for 28 years. uh he was elected majority floor leader uh and he was the first African-American to hold that position. Uh during his service in the general assembly, uh Representative Mallalerie sponsored or co-sponsored more than 600 pieces of legislation, including legislation creating the first statewide drug prevention program, the Urban Minority Alcohol Drug Outreach Program, still existing and going strong today. we call it UMDOP. His legislation also helped to finance the Riverfront Stadium in Fountain Square South. Uh in 1986, he filed his famous lawsuit charging discrimination in the election of judges on a countywide basis. As a result, 14 judicial districts were established, making it easier for African-American candidates to win seats in the Hamilton County Municipal Court. Uh, Representative Mallerie played a major role in the creation of a publiclyowned transit system, uh, which became known as Metro. He at that point served as co-chair of the citizens transportation committee. He also, uh, during a 36-day bus strike, he and his wife organized a carpool to transport workers and students in the West End to their jobs and schools throughout the day. Representative Mallerie also created the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission which replaced the mayor's friendly relations commission. On national level, he was appointed to the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee by President Jimmy Carter and he also uh was appointed to the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee by President Bill Clinton. He won many awards over uh his career. Central State University awarded him with an honorary doctorate. He was also uh chosen as one of the 50 most influential African-Americans of the past 50 years. Uh he was honored by Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber as a great living Cincinnatian and so many more honors. Uh you know he and his wife Fanny um were married in 1955 and uh they gave birth. They have six children um all of whom uh are very successful. uh they did uh lose their daughter unfortunately recently. Um but all six children uh have been wonderful members of this city and this community. And so um this is to ask everyone to approve this ordinance to rename Bank Street in the West End as um William L. Mallerie Senior Street. And I should mention that the Weston Community Council has approved. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Further comments? Seeing none, roll call on um passage. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramer, >> yes. >> Roll call in emergency. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Karding, >> yes. >> Item 84, first reading, please. >> An emergency ordinance declaring that Chering Avenue at SD Avenue in the Springrove Village neighborhood shall hereby receive the honorary secondary name of Amir Anthony Jordan Way in honor of Amir Anthony Jordan. >> Roll call and suspension, please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramerine, >> yes. >> Mr. Jeff, >> so refer back to the vice mayor in this one as well. >> Vice Mayor, please. >> Thank you. Um, so the parents of Amir Anthony Jordan uh requested the secondary honorary street naming in honor of their son. Uh, Amir Anthony Jordan was born in Cincinnati in February 2005. Uh he is a proud big brother, devoted grandson, cherished friend whose warmth, humility and compassion drew people of all ages to him. Amir loved animals, video games, karate, cooking, and fishing with his grandfather. He trained at Miller's karate studio where he excelled and mentored younger students. He graduated from Don Community High School in May 2024 and he worked at St. Vincent to Paul where he was known for his hard work, positive spirit and appreciation for the unique stories behind donated treasures. Amir gave back to the community through volunteer work with holigan flying pig events, city gospel mission, and so much more, demonstrating his dedication to service and compassion for others. He was tragically struck while crossing the street at Chering Avenue at Estie Avenue uh in the Spring Grove Village and the Springrove Village Community Council has approved of this honorary secondary street naming Amir Anthony Jordan Way. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Further comments? Seeing none, roll call on passage. >> Council member James. Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Karnney. >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albi. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering. >> Yes. >> Roll call in emergency, please. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens? >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh? >> Yes. >> Council member Albi? >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering? >> Yes. >> Item 85. First reading, please. An emergency ordinance approving and authorizing the city manager to execute a community reinvestment area tax exemption agreement with the Citadel at 8 LLC. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Karing, >> yes. >> Mr. Jeff, >> yes. So, this is a vacant building uh downtown on 8th Street. Uh and uh this is for a community reinvestment uh area tax exemption uh for 8 years. It will convert it into eight residential units uh mostly on the top two floors and then commercial on the bottom. Uh so uh reinvigorating a previously vacant building that would not be uh full of residents or other activity but for this uh ordinance. >> Thank you. Further comments. >> Roll call on passage. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney. >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Karine. >> Yes. >> Roll call in emergency. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney. >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramerine. >> Yes. >> Item 86. First reading, please. An emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a funding agreement with Urban Sites Capital Adviserss LLC. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Mr. Jeff, >> yes. So, this is a project on Walnut Street, uh, just north of 14th Street that Urban Sites is doing, which we separately uh passed uh some ordinances on. This specifically is related to streetscape improvements. So, south uh, south of 14th Street, 3CDC had done a lot of streetscape improvements, uh, burying the lines, trees, etc. North there is no. So, uh, this is authorizing transfer of funds to enable us to pursue street c streetscape improvement on that, uh, portion of 14th Street and Walnut. >> Further comments. Roll call and passage. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Roll call emergency. Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Camden, >> yes. >> Item 87, first reading, please. >> An emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a release of easement to terminate certain easement rights midfending the city of Cincinnati. >> Roll call and suspension. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramerine, >> yes. >> Mr. Jeffers, >> yes. So, uh, this is property actually in the city of Norwood. Uh, this was property that city of Cincinnati bought probably 100 years ago when we were going to build the subway. Obviously, we are not going to build a subway right now through uh the city of Norwood. Uh there is a development there and the developer is paying the fair market value 80 something thousand for the transfer of this easement. >> Further comments. >> Roll call and passage. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering. >> Yes. >> Roll call in emergency. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Karnney. >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albi. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering. >> Yes. >> Item 88 is a motion from council members Walsh and Jeff that the administration provide a report within 45 days establishing a metric for success of our currently established tiff districts. Mr. Jeff. >> Yeah. The next two items, two motions are uh offered by my colleague Mr. Walsh and myself, but I'll let my colleague introduce it since he was the author of it. >> Mr. Walsh. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, this motion is very simple. We have uh 30 plus TIFF districts that exist and have been in existence from their initiation in 2002, 2005 or 2019. Merely asks our administration to do a review and come up with a scoring and grading criteria to see if they are succeeding or not succeeding and to begin a large larger conversation with us about success metrics for our TIFFs. Further comments? >> Roll call on adoption of the motion, please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Kering, >> yes. Item 89 is a motion from council member Walsh Jeff that the administration provide a report within 60 days on restrictions and policies in the zoning and building codes that impact the ability to more easily build quality development including but not limited to minimum lot size setbacks and yard requirements, single stair reform and ADU restrictions. Mr. Walsh. >> Yeah. Um, this one again beginning a conversation with the administration to start reviewing some possible uh, you know, zoning and development uh, ideas that could help us improve the quality of our development. You know, it lists here a few of them, but something that I'm really excited about single staircase reform and ADU restrictions. It's just the beginning part to see what might come next and get the feedback from administration on these specific items. >> Thank you, Miss Alvie. >> Thank you. I'm really excited about this because uh you know we did work last year to change zoning to allow for more middle housing. This to me is the next step because uh we need to be able to build more kinds of housing. Uh especially as we welcome kind of newer, younger generations into hopefully the the home buying market. Um being able to buy a townhouse as your first home uh or something like that is really important. Uh but right now there are various barriers whether it be building code or zoning um that keeps us from making two or three unit or four unit buildings available. Um and so I'm really excited. I think this is the first step. But whatever we can do to make it easier, faster, more affordable to build more housing is a good thing in the city. So I'm excited. >> Thank you. Further comments, Mr. Mayor. >> Mr. Jeff. >> Yeah, thank my colleague for offering this. I the intent of this when the administration first saw it, they said, "Oh, this could be a zoning study. This is not a zoning study. All it is is a very high level these are the areas that we should be exploring and then hopefully that'll stir more discussion and uh and next steps. So thank you again my colleague for offering it. >> Thank you further comments. I I think this is fantastic as well. Um zoning is is obviously a big part of the conversation last year and this conversation. I think building codes particularly is um fertile ground for um modern and innovative reforms. Single-use staircases the size of elevators. We've got to do everything we can to reduce construction costs to to get these things out of the ground. Roll call on adoption of the motion, please. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Kramering. >> Yes. >> That concludes the business portion of our agenda. Are there any announcements uh from council? >> Yes. Um first of all, I'd like to um just just point out that you know we um lost a civil rights icon, uh Reverend Jesse Jackson. And um we just need to acknowledge uh the great work he did. He he did a lot of work here in Cincinnati as well. I think a lot of folks here in Cincinnati knew him personally um and uh throughout the country and the world. I mean, he really pushed for economic justice and economic empowerment for uh underserved people. And so I I just think um you know, I know that he was a mentee of of uh of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and um became in his own right a great leader and uh his loss is um is really huge. And so I just want to acknowledge that. Uh the second thing I wanted to say um on an upbeat note um was the career the mayor's career fair was phenomenal and I really have to give a shout out to the mayor, the mayor's office and our Cincinnati uh recreation commission. They did I I think there were at least a thousand young people there uh getting jobs on Saturday. I mean it was so packed and they were really enthusiastic. Um, some came in groups with friends, some came by themselves, some came with parents. Uh, they were they were all over the place and it was just it was just a joy to see and so really successful. Shout out to CRC uh, Director Daniel Betts, the mayor's office and all those others um, who I'm probably not naming um, but I know it was a huge undertaking and just fantastic to see so many of our young people out there getting jobs. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. That's very kind. Further announcements, Miss Albby. >> Uh, thank you. I will second that. I also stopped by the career fair and thank you. I think the departments I least got to uh talk with was DOT, uh, MSD, CRC, uh, waterworks, right? Uh, fire, police, we were there in force for the city. So, always um really great to to be out there. Um, so on a much more sober note, I did want to take a moment to recognize um the past week in the city of Cincinnati. We've seen a lot of shootings, a lot of really tragic shootings. And I know all of us, our hearts are just broken over this amount of violence in our in our community. And we are truly tireless when it comes to addressing this. We uh have an amazing team. Um I want to highlight the work of Karen Rumsy and the victim assistance leazison team who shows up and they're working with survivors and they're helping protect witnesses. Um, obviously Cincinnati police, our paramedics, everyone who shows up each day and responding to this. Um, there's a lot of work still to do. Uh, and I know my colleagues and I are all committed to doing that work. We'll continue to invest um, both, you know, through through the city and what we can do with youth outreach, but also lifting up and supporting our community partners. So, I I just wanted to say, you know, it's been so uh challenging this past week and I'm really really sorry to everyone affected by the violence and I know there's work left to do and we're really committed to it. >> Thank you. Further uh announcements? Seeing none, meeting adjourned. Thank you.