Cincinnati council orders reviews of TIF policies, pollinator protections and city cemetery directory

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati City Council on March 26 adopted three motions directing the administration to prepare reports on tax-increment financing policies, protection for native plants and pollinator gardens, and a directory of city-owned or maintained cemeteries.

The council unanimously approved the three motions during the business portion of its meeting. Council member Walsh introduced the motion on TIF policies, Council member Owens introduced motions on pollinator protections and the cemetery directory, and each measure carried on recorded votes or voice action as noted by the clerk.

Council member Walsh moved that the administration provide “a report within 45 days regarding all policies related to TIF funding and how it will be utilized.” “In short, we’re just asking the administration to compile all the policies that have been passed by any council over the years regarding TIF into just one large report for all of us to take a look at,” Council member Walsh said during his introduction.

The motion passed on roll call with the clerk recording yes votes from Council member Owens; Council member Walsh; Council member Albee; Council member Jeffries; Council member Johnson; and Vice Mayor Kearney.

Council member Owens introduced a motion that the administration prepare a report within 30 days “to devise a strategy for protecting native plants, pollinator gardens in the city of Cincinnati.” Owens cited the Green Cincinnati plan and recommended reviewing Section 7.31 of the municipal code to allow native grasses and low- or no-mow practices in residential areas as part of the city’s biodiversity goals. The motion was adopted on roll call with the same recorded yes votes.

Council members Owens, Nolan and Walsh jointly moved that the administration prepare a report within 60 days creating a directory of all city-owned or city-maintained cemeteries. Owens noted the city’s Potters Field, on roughly 26 acres on the northwest side near Gurley Road, and said it may contain as many as 20,000 burials of unidentified or indigent people, including veterans from the Civil War and Spanish–American War and World War I; she asked for a plan to maintain and honor those sites.

That motion passed on roll call with yes votes recorded from the same six members. Council did not adopt new ordinances at the meeting on these topics; it directed staff to return the requested reports within the stated timeframes for committee review.

What the motions require

- TIF policies report (45 days): compilation of all Council-passed policies related to TIF funding and explanation of how TIF is being or will be used. Mover: Council member Walsh. Outcome: adopted by roll call.

- Native plants/pollinator strategy (30 days): review of municipal code Section 7.31 and a proposed strategy to support pollinator gardens, native plantings, and low/no-mow practices. Mover: Council member Owens. Outcome: adopted by roll call.

- Cemetery directory (60 days): directory of city-owned or maintained cemeteries and a staff report on maintenance and commemoration, with Potters Field specifically cited. Movers: Council members Owens, Nolan and Walsh. Outcome: adopted by roll call.

Next steps

Council referred the forthcoming reports to the appropriate committees for consideration. No ordinance or binding policy change was adopted at this meeting; the measures direct the administration to prepare information and recommendations for future action.

Votes and recorded names are captured in the clerk’s roll calls as entered on the record at the meeting.