Cincinnati meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Council approves $2.9M Walnut Street renovation and $310K Vine Street demolition

Cincinnati City Council on Oct. 14 approved a $2.9 million funding agreement for a mixed-use residential and commercial renovation at 530 Walnut Street and $310,000 for property acquisition and demolition at 2260 Vine Street. Each passed 8-0, according to the official minutes. The same meeting confirmed a slate of mayoral appointments and approved an honorary street name, also on 8-0 votes.

What Council decided Oct. 14

• **530 Walnut Street:** authorized a $2.9 million funding agreement for the mixed-use residential and commercial renovation (8-0).
• **2260 Vine Street:** authorized $310,000 for property acquisition and demolition (8-0).
• **Recreation facilities:** passed an emergency ordinance for recreational facility improvements (8-0). The summary does not state a dollar amount.
• **FC Cincinnati donation:** authorized an in-kind donation from FC Cincinnati for the Lincoln Recreation Center mini-pitch (8-0). Committee documents list the donation at $178,293; the Council minutes list it as $178k.
• **Street name:** approved "Ronald J. Twitty Way" for Reading Road at Asmann Avenue (8-0), and passed a separate resolution honoring Ronald J. Twitty (8-0).
• **Appointments:** confirmed appointments to the Human Service Advisory Committee (8-0) and reappointments to the Railway Board, Port Authority and others (8-0).

Several financial and administrative reports were referred to the Budget, Finance & Governance Committee rather than acted on.

Committees: recommendations, a hold, and filings

The Housing & Growth committee on Oct. 13 recommended passage of a development agreement for a cold storage facility at 5051 Estecreek Road, and recommended emergency passage of the Reading Road at Asmann Avenue naming. A recommendation is not a final action; the naming was subsequently approved by Council.

The Public Safety & Quality of Life committee on Oct. 20 held an ordinance that would modify Chapter 761 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code regarding chronic nuisance premises, and filed a communication from the Cincinnati Collaborative Foundation on summer safety statistics.

Youth & Human Services on Oct. 20 filed presentations on the Hamilton County Domestic Violence Task Force and a Cincinnati Police Department STARS review. Climate, City Services & Infrastructure (Oct. 13) and Economic and Cultural Opportunity (Oct. 19) took no votes; their presentations and reports were filed.

Proposed but not yet decided

Agendas for the Budget, Finance & Governance Committee on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 list items whose minutes have not been published, so no outcome is established: a policy to split TIF District 1 and 5-36 net revenues between affordable housing and neighborhood funds and community-based organization projects; a $5,000,000 transfer for affordable housing and $2,000,000 for pension obligations; a $5,000,000 appropriation for the Neumann Clubhouse Replacement; a property sale and 15-year tax exemption for Nehemiah Manufacturing Company LLC at 800 Evans Street; $225,000 for Cincinnati Fire Department thermal imaging equipment; and a grant of up to $274,735 from the U.S. Department of Justice for police overtime and sexual assault advocacy.

Council's Oct. 21 agenda, also without published minutes, listed a $1,000,000 appropriation for pedestrian safety and traffic calming in Pleasant Ridge, the $5,000,000 Neumann Clubhouse appropriation, a Job Creation Tax Credit Agreement with AMEND Consulting, LLC for 80 new jobs at 312 Plum Street, the Nehemiah property sale, and a request for a presentation on a spike in reported rapes and strangulations in STARS crime reporting.

Coming up

• **Oct. 26 — Budget, Finance & Governance:** a $1,500,000 transfer for the CMHA City West Housing Development Rehabilitation Project; $200,000 for special events ($100,000 Black Family Reunion, $50,000 each for Asianati and Cincinnati Art Week 2027); an application for a grant of up to $2,000,000 for Midpointe Crossing in Bond Hill; a proposed Cannabis Revenues Restricted Fund allocation; and sale of 0.1544 acres of City-owned property along Ridge Avenue in Oakley to East Main Design, LLC.
• **Oct. 27 — Climate, City Services & Infrastructure:** MetroRapid update; motion to proceed with Option 2 for acquisition and restoration of the Paul Clock Bell Tower.
• **Oct. 27 — Housing & Growth:** rezoning 5707 and 5711 Madison Road to Planned Development District No. 107 (Veterans Village); Clifton Neighborhood Plan resolution; the $1,000,000 Pleasant Ridge appropriation; the AMEND tax credit; and a 30-year real property tax exemption at 5051 Estecreek Road.
• **Cancelled:** Economic and Cultural Opportunity (Nov. 2) and Public Safety & Quality of Life (Nov. 3).

Cincinnati committees advance cold storage deal and street naming, request reports on nuisance code and period products

Cincinnati City Council and its committees spent the past two weeks largely on requests for administrative reports and committee recommendations, while several million-dollar spending proposals sat on agendas without recorded votes.

The most concrete action came Oct. 13 in the Housing & Growth committee, which recommended passage of an emergency ordinance for a development agreement covering a cold storage facility at 5051 Estecreek Road. The same committee recommended emergency passage of naming Reading Road at Asmann Avenue in Paddock Hills as "Ronald J. Twitty Way." Both are recommendations to the full Council; the records provided do not show final Council action on either.

Reports requested on nuisance code and period products

On Oct. 6, the Public Safety & Quality of Life committee adopted a motion requiring the City Administration to report within four months on concerns regarding a proposed amendment to the Chronic Nuisance Ordinance. An ordinance to modify Chapter 76 I (Chronic Nuisance Premises) and Title XV of the Cincinnati Municipal Code was held. The committee also filed a presentation on surveillance technology at CPD.

The same day, the Youth & Human Services committee adopted a motion requiring the Administration to report within 90 days on the availability and condition of free period product dispensers in city buildings, and on funding for them. Two presentations, on health advocacy and housing stability, were filed.

Both motions were adopted at the full Council meeting on Oct. 7, according to the minutes.

Council resolutions

Council approved two resolutions on Oct. 7: Enactment No. 0037-2026, recognizing Reverend Dr. Alphonse Allen, Jr.'s 40th Pastoral Anniversary, and Enactment No. 0038-2026, recognizing Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church for 106 years of service.

Spending proposals await votes

The Oct. 12 Budget, Finance & Governance Committee agenda and the Oct. 14 Council agenda listed several funding items, including a proposed policy to split TIF District 1 and 5-36 net revenues between affordable housing and neighborhood funds and community-based organization projects; $2,900,000 for a mixed-use residential and commercial renovation at 530 Walnut Street; $310,000 for property acquisition and demolition at 2260 Vine Street; $5,000,000 for the replacement of the Neumann Clubhouse; $5,000,000 for the Cincinnati Development Fund for affordable housing initiatives; and $225,000 for Cincinnati Fire Department thermal imaging equipment. The Oct. 12 agenda also listed authorization for securities issuance to fund recreational facilities improvements and acceptance of a $178,293 in-kind donation from FC Cincinnati for the Lincoln Recreation Center mini-pitch.

Minutes for those two meetings have not been published, so no votes or outcomes are recorded here. Council also referred the TIF revenue expenditure policy ordinance, a Cannabis Revenues Restricted Fund allocation motion, and emergency ordinances including funding agreements for 530 Walnut St and 2260 Vine St to the Budget, Finance & Governance Committee on Oct. 7.

Meetings without decisions

The Oct. 5 Economic and Cultural Opportunity meeting consisted of a presentation on access to capital by First Financial Bank; all four scheduled agenda items were filed and no votes or official actions were taken. The Oct. 13 Climate, City Services & Infrastructure meeting consisted of presentations and reports that were filed, with no votes taken.

Coming up

• **Oct. 19 — Budget, Finance & Governance Committee:** FY 2026 carryover reports and emergency ordinances for fund transfers, including $5,000,000 for affordable housing initiatives and $2,000,000 for pension obligations, plus a $5,000,000 appropriation for the Neumann Clubhouse Replacement. Also listed: a property sale and 15-year tax exemption for Nehemiah Manufacturing Company LLC at 800 Evans Street, $225,000 for fire department thermal imaging equipment, and a grant of up to $274,735 from the U.S. Department of Justice for police overtime and sexual assault advocacy.
• **Oct. 19 — Economic and Cultural Opportunity:** presentations on the Urban League of Greater SW Ohio Women of Color Access to Capital Bootcamp Initiative and the 5th Annual Business Enterprise Expo.
• **Oct. 20 — Youth & Human Services:** a presentation by the Hamilton County Domestic Violence Task Force, submitted by Councilmember Anna Albi, featuring representatives from the Court of Domestic Relations, Sheriff's Office, Tri-Health, City Prosecutor, and Women Helping Women.
• **Oct. 20 — Public Safety & Quality of Life:** Ordinance 202602543 to modify Chapter 76 I and Title XV of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, with proposed enforcement against businesses in addition to property owners and updates to notifications, citations, and appeals for chronic nuisance premises. A presentation on Summer Safety Numbers by Iris Roley is also scheduled.

Council establishes standalone stormwater utility, accepts grants for paving and policing

Cincinnati City Council voted on Sept. 30 to establish the Stormwater Management Utility as an independent agency separate from Greater Cincinnati Water Works, one of several decisions recorded in official minutes over the past two weeks. Council also accepted three grants and passed code changes, while committees filed several presentations without voting.

Stormwater utility becomes standalone agency

Council adopted a motion establishing the Stormwater Management Utility as a standalone agency. It also adopted a motion requiring the administration to report within 30 days on the incremental cost to pave 120 lane miles in fiscal year 2028.

Grants accepted for paving and police work

Council passed an emergency ordinance accepting a $199,987 U.S. Department of Justice Community Policing Development Microgrant (Enactment 0334-2026). It passed an ordinance establishing capital improvement program accounts and accepting $380,000 in Hamilton County MRF grants for Ridge Avenue and Whetsel Avenue rehabilitation (Enactment 0335-2026). A third ordinance accepted a $1,066,148.80 Federal Highway Administration grant for Beechmont Avenue urban paving in Mt. Washington (Enactment 0336-2026). Council also passed an ordinance modifying municipal codes for parking lots, garages and civil offenses (Enactment 0341-2026), and confirmed Trent Cook to the Lunken Airport Oversight & Advisory Board and Morgan Noel Smith to the Historic Conservation Board.

Street named for Batsakes Hat Shop owner

Council honored the late Gus Miller of Batsakes Hat Shop by naming a downtown street segment "Gus Miller Way." The Housing & Growth committee had recommended emergency passage of an ordinance giving Sixth Street at Vine Street the honorary secondary name.

Committee actions: reports requested, items held

Public Safety & Quality of Life adopted a motion requiring the City Administration to report within four months on concerns about a proposed amendment to the Chronic Nuisance Ordinance. An ordinance to modify Chapter 76 I (Chronic Nuisance Premises) and Title XV of the Cincinnati Municipal Code was held, and a presentation on surveillance technology at the Cincinnati Police Department was filed. Youth & Human Services adopted a motion requiring the Administration to report within 90 days on the availability, dispenser condition and funding of free period products in city buildings.

Meetings that ended without decisions

Climate, City Services & Infrastructure received a presentation on Cincy On Track: FY25 & FY26 Update from Transportation & Engineering Director Greg Long and Assistant City Manager William "Billy" Weber, and filed a report on labor involvement in Cincy On Track projects. Both items were filed rather than voted on, and the meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m. The Economic and Cultural Opportunity committee heard a presentation on access to capital by First Financial Bank; all four agenda items were filed and no votes were taken. Housing & Growth filed presentations on the Neighborhood Planning Cycle and the Uptown Gateway Project and held a report on the impact of the 2023 Residential Tax Abatement Reform.

Proposed, not yet decided

Council's Oct. 7 agenda and the Budget, Finance & Governance Committee's Oct. 12 agenda list items that had not been voted on as of the published agendas. They include $2,900,000 for a mixed-use residential and commercial project at 530 Walnut Street; $310,000 for acquisition and demolition at 2260 Vine Street; an ordinance establishing a new expenditure policy for TIF Districts 1 and 5-36; a motion to codify cannabis revenue allocations for home repair, lead paint and youth programs; and acceptance of an in-kind donation up to $178,293 from FC Cincinnati for Lincoln Recreation Center. Minutes for those meetings were not yet published.

Coming up

On Oct. 13, Climate, City Services & Infrastructure will hear a presentation on the administration's response to July 2026 flooding by MSD, the Stormwater Management Utility and the Department of Opportunity and Resident Services, and will review Report 202602811 on the feasibility of the City acquiring the Paul Clock Bell Tower. Also on Oct. 13, Housing & Growth will review a proposed development agreement for a 131,631-square-foot cold storage facility at 5051 Estecreek Road, a proposed honorary naming of Reading Road at Asmann Avenue as "Ronald J. Twitty Way," a presentation on the Rental Housing Platform Year 1 Overview by City Wise Software, and a report on the impact of the 2023 Residential Tax Abatement Reform.

Cincinnati committees advance funding, housing, and safety measures

Cincinnati's committee meetings over the past two weeks produced a slate of recommendations for City Council, including millions in development and public safety funding, a new historic district, and an emergency ordinance targeting chronic nuisance properties. The most consequential actions came from the Budget, Finance & Governance Committee, which recommended passage of more than $30 million in grants and tax exemptions for projects across the city.

Budget and finance

The Budget, Finance & Governance Committee on Aug. 3 recommended passage of several ordinances and motions. It approved a motion to create a restricted fund for future state cannabis funds starting in fiscal year 2028, and a motion to disburse $1.5 million for improvements to Dunham, Hanna, and Hirsch pools. The committee also recommended:

• $5.8 million in funding and tax exemptions for the 1700 Vine and 1800 Vine mixed-use projects in Over-the-Rhine.
• $16.1 million in FEMA grant funding to hire 50 fire recruits.
• $2.9 million in DOJ grant funding for police mobile cameras and victim advocates.
• $4.9 million for North Vine Streetscape improvements.
• $2.3 million for the 1520 Madison Road redevelopment.
• $1 million for supplemental emergency floor relief.

Public safety

The Public Safety & Quality of Life Committee on Aug. 3 recommended emergency passage of an ordinance modifying Chapter 761 (Chronic Nuisance Premises) and Title XV (Code Compliance and Hearings). The changes are intended to create tools to abate crime at commercial properties while providing protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Housing and development

The Housing & Growth Committee on Aug. 4 recommended passage of several ordinances, including designation of the North Avondale Historic District, covering 370 properties. It also recommended emergency passage of tax exemptions for multiple projects:

• Kettering Lofts Cincinnati LLC – 15-year exemption, $23,995,025 project.
• Alms & Doepke Building, LLC – 15-year exemption, $41,774,076 project.
• Cincy Club BRESSDG, LLC – 12-year exemption, $31,565,115 project.
• 530 Walnut LLC – 15-year exemption plus 10-year historic extension, $14,436,431 project.

The committee also recommended emergency passage to reduce special assessments for the Oakley Station development. A presentation and ordinance for the Westline Flats rezoning at 2323 Ferguson Road were held without action.

Climate and infrastructure

The Climate, City Services & Infrastructure Committee on Aug. 4 passed three motions to City Council: a request for an administration report on roadway resurfacing costs and timelines, a motion to establish a technical committee for building energy policies, and an amended motion to evaluate expanded green infrastructure for stormwater runoff. The committee held an ordinance on building energy benchmarking and a related presentation. A presentation on the July 2026 flash flood response was filed.

Youth and human services

The Youth & Human Services Committee on Aug. 4 filed a presentation on the Grocery Delivery Pilot Program Pulse Survey and referred a motion requesting a 30-day update on Hate Crime Incident Procedures to City Council.

City Council agenda

City Council met on Aug. 5, but minutes have not yet been published. The agenda included consideration of Mayor Pureval's emergency declaration for severe storms and flooding that began July 17, 2026, effective through Sept. 15, 2026; a motion for a comprehensive after-action analysis of the 2026 flash floods; a motion to allocate $150,000 to the Center for Addiction Treatment for FY'27; an ordinance modifying parking garage and lot regulations; and appointments to the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Over-the-Rhine South SID Board.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Cincinnati committees advance millions in OTR projects, flood response

Cincinnati's Budget, Finance & Governance Committee recommended passage of several major spending items on Aug. 3, including $5.8 million in funding and tax exemptions for two mixed-use developments in Over-the-Rhine, a $16.1 million FEMA grant for 50 fire recruits, and a $2.9 million DOJ grant for police mobile cameras and victim advocates. The committee also adopted motions to create a restricted fund for future state cannabis funds starting in FY 2028 and to disburse $1.5 million for improvements to Dunham, Hanna, and Hirsch pools.

Budget, Finance & Governance

The committee recommended passage of ordinances covering:

• $5.8 million in funding and tax exemptions for the 1700 Vine and 1800 Vine mixed-use projects.
• $16.1 million FEMA grant for 50 fire recruits.
• $2.9 million DOJ grant for police mobile cameras and victim advocates.
• $4.9 million for North Vine Streetscape improvements.
• $2.3 million for the 1520 Madison Road Redevelopment.
• $1 million for supplemental emergency floor relief.

It also adopted motions to create a restricted fund for future state cannabis funds starting FY 2028 and to disburse $1.5 million for pool improvements at Dunham, Hanna, and Hirsch.

Public Safety & Quality of Life

The committee recommended emergency passage of an ordinance modifying Chapter 761 (Chronic Nuisance Premises) and Title XV (Code Compliance and Hearings). The changes aim to create tools to abate crime at commercial properties and provide protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Climate, City Services & Infrastructure

The committee passed three motions to the City Council Calendar: a request for an administration report on roadway resurfacing costs and timelines, creation of a technical committee for building energy policies, and an amended motion to evaluate expanded green infrastructure for stormwater runoff. It held an ordinance on new Chapter 1051, 'Building Energy Benchmarking,' and filed a presentation on the July 2026 Flash Flood Response.

Housing & Growth

The committee recommended passage of ordinances designating the North Avondale Historic District (370 properties) and approving several tax exemptions:

• 15-year exemption for Kettering Lofts Cincinnati LLC ($23,995,025 project).
• 15-year exemption for Alms & Doepke Building, LLC ($41,774,076 project).
• 12-year exemption for Cincy Club BRESSDG, LLC ($31,565,115 project).
• 15-year exemption plus 10-year historic extension for 530 Walnut LLC ($14,436,431 project).

It also recommended emergency passage to reduce special assessments for the Oakley Station development project. Two items regarding the Westline Flats rezoning at 2323 Ferguson Road were held.

Youth & Human Services

The committee filed a presentation on the Grocery Delivery Pilot Program Pulse Survey and referred a motion requesting a 30-day update on Hate Crime Incident Procedures to the Cincinnati City Council.

Economic and Cultural Opportunity

The meeting consisted of presentations from six chambers of commerce and business organizations. All agenda items were filed, and no votes or formal decisions were recorded.

Cincinnati City Council (Aug. 5 agenda)

Council is set to consider Mayor Pureval's emergency declaration for severe storms and flooding that began July 17, 2026, effective through Sept. 15, 2026. It also will vote on a motion for a comprehensive after-action analysis of the 2026 flash floods, a $150,000 allocation to the Center for Addiction Treatment for FY'27, an ordinance modifying parking garage and lot regulations, and appointments to the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Over-the-Rhine South SID Board. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

No Decisions as Two Cincinnati City Council Committees Cancel Meetings

Two Cincinnati City Council committees cancelled their scheduled meetings in late June, leaving the agenda empty for the second half of the month.

Committee Cancellations

On June 23, the Climate, City Services & Infrastructure Committee cancelled its meeting. No agenda items were posted.

On June 29, the Economic and Cultural Opportunity Committee cancelled its scheduled meeting. No items were discussed or decided.

Minutes for both meetings have not yet been published, but the official cancellations mean no votes, proposals, or public testimony occurred.

Coming Up

As of July 5, no City Council committee meetings are listed on the public calendar for the next two weeks.