[{"_1":2,"_115":-5,"_116":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,95,105],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5982167,"mediaKeyId","5778101-381b688005de0f64134f210ce3bdc996","parentId",5778101,"title","Council recognizes 30 years of Mill Creek Alliance work restoring urban waterway","audioSeconds",209,"startMs",2004000,"endMs",2213000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778101-381b688005de0f64134f210ce3bdc996&start=2004&end=2213","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/5982167/Ohio/Council-recognizes-30-years-of-Mill-Creek-Alliance-work-restoring-urban-waterway","mediaUrl","author","City Council of Cincinnati OH","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","City Council passed a resolution recognizing the Mill Creek Alliance on its 30th anniversary for work restoring and enhancing the Mill Creek watershed, a resolution sponsor said during a brief presentation.

Council member Mark Jeffries introduced the proclamation, recounting the stream’s history as a highly polluted waterway and praising decades of cleanup and volunteer work. Mill Creek Alliance executive director (Dave) said the stream now supports wildlife and recreational use, including 65 species of fish, and that canoeing, kayaking and fishing programs operate on the creek.

Council members praised the alliance’s long‑term partnership with neighborhoods and city departments and highlighted upcoming projects under a broader Experience Mill Creek initiative intended to bring community revitalization, affordable housing and recreation access to nearby neighborhoods. The council adopted the resolution on roll call and commended volunteers and partners for the multi‑decade effort.

The resolution recognizes the Mill Creek Alliance and its network of public‑private partners and volunteers; no funding action was recorded in the meeting minutes for this item.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Cincinnati City Council Meeting (September 17, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Council adopted a resolution honoring the Mill Creek Alliance’s 30th anniversary, noting improvements in water quality, wildlife, and community revitalization projects tied to the Mill Creek watershed.","taxTitle","Cincinnati City Council, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio","taxId",72652,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982172,"Council recognizes Human Services Advisory Committee after recommending $7.7 million in nonprofit funding and a large impact award",306,2426000,2732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778101-381b688005de0f64134f210ce3bdc996&start=2426&end=2732","/articles/5982172/Ohio/Council-recognizes-Human-Services-Advisory-Committee-after-recommending-77-million-in-nonprofit-funding-and-a-large-impact-award","City Council recognized the Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) for its volunteer work evaluating and recommending human‑services funding and for selecting recipients for the city’s second Impact Award.

Council member Janan Owens introduced the HSAC members and said the committee reviewed 141 proposals and recommended 74 programs that together received about $7,700,000 in funding from the city. Owens said HSAC’s recommendations focused on three priority categories set by council: workforce development (24 projects), youth gun‑violence prevention and reduction (25 projects), and securing and stabilizing housing for high‑risk populations (25 projects).

Owens said the HSAC recommended the second Impact Award to a partnership titled Safe Network Hunger and Healing and Hope, described in the meeting as a food‑system and community‑safety approach to be led by Children’s Hospital and 12 partner organizations; the transcript records the committee’s description of that initiative as “totaling a $108,150,000 dollars.” Council members thanked HSAC volunteers for the hours they invested in review and deliberation.

HSAC is a 21‑member volunteer board appointed by the mayor; Owens noted members are required to participate in bias training, declare conflicts of interest and invest substantial time to review applications. The council adopted the recognizing resolution on the floor and recorded votes in the roll call.

Council and administration officials present praised the committee’s work and the administration’s Deanna White was singled out as the staff lead coordinating HSAC processes. The council’s resolution recognizes HSAC’s role in advising the city on human‑services investments and in guiding the second Impact Award process.","Council passed a resolution recognizing the 21‑member Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) for recommending $7.7 million in human‑services funding and awarding a second “Impact Award” that HSAC said will leverage a multi‑partner effort described in the meeting transcript.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982177,"Council confirms Anthony Covington as clerk of council designate; training to start before incumbent retires",244,3043000,3287000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778101-381b688005de0f64134f210ce3bdc996&start=3043&end=3287","/articles/5982177/Ohio/Council-confirms-Anthony-Covington-as-clerk-of-council-designate-training-to-start-before-incumbent-retires","City Council confirmed Anthony J. Covington as clerk of council designate and approved an immediate start to his training with incumbent clerk Melissa Autry before she retires at the end of October.

Vice Mayor Kearney explained the selection committee reviewed 122 applications and conducted multi‑day interviews. The council voted to allow Mr. Covington to begin training Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2025, and to assume the position of clerk of council on Nov. 1, 2025, for the remainder of the current council term.

Kearney thanked members of the selection committee, including Melissa Autry (incumbent clerk), Leticia Hazell (Director of Human Resources), City Solicitor Emily Smart Warner, Council President Pro Tem Victoria Parks, Council members Scottie Johnson and Jeff Kramer Ding, and chief of staff Kazeila Frambrough for their roles in the vetting process.

Councillors moved for immediate consideration so the designate could begin orientation promptly. Roll call recorded approval and the appointment was confirmed on the council floor.

Council members praised the selection process and thanked the city clerk for her 31 years of service; the council noted it received a large and competitive applicant pool. The administration will proceed with transitional tasks to onboard the designate and publish any related staffing changes.","Council appointed Anthony Covington as clerk of council designate to train with incumbent Melissa Autry ahead of her retirement, then to assume the clerk role beginning Nov. 1, 2025; council said the selection followed a competitive search of 122 applicants.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982181,"Council approves $5.42 million transfer to public‑safety measures after debate over priorities",50,3824000,3874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778101-381b688005de0f64134f210ce3bdc996&start=3824&end=3874","/articles/5982181/Ohio/Council-approves-542-million-transfer-to-publicsafety-measures-after-debate-over-priorities","City Council approved an emergency ordinance transferring $5,420,000 from the general‑fund reserve for weather‑related events and one‑time needs to general‑fund public safety accounts, funding police overtime, lighting and camera upgrades, and downtown ambassador staffing.

The transfer’s largest line items included $1.2 million for expanded police visibility overtime, $1.2 million for street lighting and cameras, and $880,000 for downtown ambassadors, who perform litter removal, street cleaning and outreach work in the central business district. Council member Jeff Kramer Ding described the package as an initial step to provide resources where hot‑spot policing and environmental improvements are needed.

Vice Mayor Kearney and several colleagues argued for immediate action to reduce violence and improve public safety downtown and in neighborhood hot spots. Council member Scottie Johnson opposed the overall size of the transfer, saying the police chief had requested $500,000 and arguing that additional funds would be better directed toward youth jobs and proven community‑violence intervention programs. Johnson also urged clarity on how tapping reserves would affect future emergencies.

Council member Alvey and others defended elements of the package, citing crime‑prevention through environmental design and prior success with outreach at transit stations. Council member Mark Jeffries emphasized that proposed measures address downtown and neighborhood needs and noted concerns from business leaders who are hesitant to invest without assurances on safety.

Council discussion included several implementation clarifications: the administration said it will update the public on expenditures by the end of the year and that any unspent funds could be reallocated by June. Council members also discussed license‑plate reader funding (mentioned at approximately $360,000 during debate) and the role downtown ambassadors play in cleanup, litter removal and public‑safety observation.

On roll call the ordinance passed by majority vote; council recorded opposing votes from several members. The ordinance authorizes the administration to allocate the transferred funds to specific public safety and technology line items as described in the measure.","City Council approved an emergency transfer of $5.42 million from reserves to expand police overtime, street lighting, cameras and downtown ambassador coverage after council members debated whether the allocation favored enforcement over youth and prevention programs.",{"_33":106,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":107,"_41":108,"_43":109,"_45":110,"_47":111,"_49":50,"_51":112,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":113,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":114,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982186,"Cincinnati council adopts ordinance limiting hours for hookah and other smoking establishments",4575,25000,4600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778101-381b688005de0f64134f210ce3bdc996&start=25&end=4600","/articles/5982186/Ohio/Cincinnati-council-adopts-ordinance-limiting-hours-for-hookah-and-other-smoking-establishments","City Council on first reading approved an ordinance creating a new section of the municipal code to regulate operating hours for hookah and other smoking establishments, a measure sponsor Council member Mark Jeffries said is intended to reduce late‑night disorder in affected neighborhoods.

Residents and local business leaders told the council during the citizens’ forum that hookah cafés in Clifton have become the focal point of “street takeovers” and related public‑safety problems in the early morning hours. Ben Pantoha, president of Clifton Town Meeting, said the activity has included fights that blocked traffic, littering, assaults on officers, sales of alcohol from vehicles and, in one instance described to the council, a kidnapping and beating.

“Restricted hours, I believe, are by far the best option to address crime‑related issues related to hookah bars,” Pantoha said during public comment. Mike Anagnosto, president of the Clifton Business Association, urged passage, calling the change necessary to protect quality of life for a mixed business‑and‑residential neighborhood. Jan Brown Cecco, a Clifton resident and community leader, told council the proposed hours would “put some reasonable hours of operation” on businesses and described a proposed schedule of 10 p.m. closing on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Jeffries told the council that cities including Cleveland have adopted similar hour restrictions and said enforcement follows when neighborhoods repeatedly report problems. “We’ve had actually nine or 10 nuisance claims against these establishments in the last two years, which is clearly a pattern,” Jeffries said during the discussion.

The ordinance modifies Title 8 of the municipal code by adding a new section 4.87 to set hours for hookah and related smoking establishments. Council took the ordinance up on suspension and passed it in the business portion of the meeting. Council members voting records were recorded on the roll call.

The ordinance does not close businesses; it imposes limits on hours of operation. Council and several public commenters said the aim is to balance residents’ safety and livability with the ability of businesses to operate. The council directed the administration to proceed with implementation under the new code section.

Council discussion and public comments on this item occurred during the citizens’ forum and the business portion of the meeting; the transcript records both sets of remarks.","City Council passed an ordinance creating a new section in the municipal code to set operating hours for hookah and other smoking establishments after residents and business groups said late‑night activity on Ludlow Avenue has produced violent incidents and neighborhood disruption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council recognizes 30 years of Mill Creek Alliance work restoring urban waterway

Council recognizes Human Services Advisory Committee after recommending $7.7 million in nonprofit funding and a large impact award

Council confirms Anthony Covington as clerk of council designate; training to start before incumbent retires

Council approves $5.42 million transfer to public‑safety measures after debate over priorities

Cincinnati council adopts ordinance limiting hours for hookah and other smoking establishments