Cincinnati City Council honors federal workers and approves a package of housing, grant and zoning measures

Cincinnati City Council on an afternoon session adopted a resolution expressing support for federal employees and approved several emergency ordinances, budget and housing motions, and zoning changes that city leaders said are aimed at helping residents and advancing development projects.

The council unanimously passed a resolution offered by Council Member Mark Jeffries that “extends its deepest appreciation to all federal employees who serve our nation with integrity, diligence, and professionalism, and reaffirms its support for their continued employment and service within our community.” Council members also approved emergency amendments to accept and use grants from the Ohio Department of Health and the Federal Bipartisan Airport Infrastructure Grant Program, accepted a county donation for downtown wayfinding signs, advanced a rezoning in Walnut Hills for an affordable housing project, and adopted motions on the vacant building registry, an apartment-listings technical feasibility report and the city’s FY2026 policy budget directions.

Why this matters: Council members framed the resolution as a local response to recent workforce reductions and federal agency layoffs, saying the cuts harm neighborhoods and public services the city relies on. Council also emphasized using available grant funds and local tools to support housing, infrastructure and city services as part of the next budget cycle.

Council action and debate Council Member Mark Jeffries introduced the resolution, saying the city should “express our deep concern and outrage, over it, with this resolution and support for, all the federal workers locally.” Supporters invited labor leaders to the meeting: Brian Griffin of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO told council, “These are the people who inspect our food, deliver our mail, protect our borders, care for our veterans, and administer the benefits so many of our neighbors rely on.” Ted Thomason, president of Branch 43 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, described the local workforce impact and praised the council’s statement.

Vice Mayor Kearney and other council members said the city manager is coordinating with administration staff to identify city employment or partner opportunities for affected federal workers and to connect displaced workers to local resources. Kearney asked the administration to prepare follow-up assistance and noted specific cases of former federal employees whose jobs had been disrupted.

Votes at a glance - Resolution recognizing and supporting federal employees (item 1): passed, unanimous roll-call vote (Council Members Walsh, Balbi, Albee, Krammerding, Jeffries, Johnson, Vice Mayor Kearney, Nolan, Owens, Parks recorded Yes). Outcome: approved. - Emergency ordinance amending Ordinance No. 172-2024 to allow use of Ohio Department of Health "Creating Healthy Communities" grant funds for reimbursement of non-personnel expenses (item 26): passed (suspension and emergency adopted). Outcome: approved. - Emergency ordinance increasing the amount the city manager may accept from the Federal Bipartisan Airport Infrastructure Grant Program (up to $1,400,000) for Lincoln Airport drainage infrastructure (item 27): passed (suspension and emergency adopted). Outcome: approved. - Emergency ordinance accepting and appropriating a $24,252 donation from Hamilton County for downtown pedestrian wayfinding maps, including signs for the Black Music Walk Hall of Fame (item 28): passed. Outcome: approved. - Motion to optionalize the vacant building registry as a data input to connect property owners with capital resources (motion from Council Members Nolan, Johnson, Jeffries; item 29): adopted. Outcome: adopted. - Ordinance renaming a portion of Smith Alley to Frasier Alley in the California neighborhood (item 30): passed. Outcome: approved. - Emergency zoning ordinance to rezone property at 2846 May Street in Walnut Hills to an Urban Mix Transportation Corridor (item 31): passed (discussion noted the proposed project includes more than 100 units at roughly 30–80% AMI as described by council during debate). Outcome: approved. - Motion directing the administration to prepare a report within 60 days on the feasibility of an API to scan online apartment listings and update affordable-unit availability (item 32): adopted. Outcome: adopted. - Motion directing preparation of a FY2026 recommended general fund policy budget (item 33): adopted. Outcome: adopted.

What council members emphasized Council members repeatedly framed the session around two themes: protecting essential public services and making pragmatic budget choices. Council Member Jeffries and others said the resolution was meant to signal local support for federal staff amid national layoffs; Vice Mayor Kearney noted the city manager and administration are already identifying possible placement and training opportunities for affected workers. Multiple council members and union representatives stressed that reductions in federal staff have downstream effects on local services and vulnerable residents.

On housing and development, council approved a Walnut Hills rezoning supported by the local community council and the project developer. Council Member Mona Jenkins (speaking during public comment) and several council members praised the collaborative process and said the rezoning aims to add housing, including units serving 30–80% area median income, on a site near I‑71 that had previously been light industrial. Council approved a motion to use the vacant building registry not simply as an enforcement tool but as a way to surface properties for rehabilitation and access to capital resources.

Grants and infrastructure Council approved emergency changes to allow the city to use state health grant dollars for non-personnel expenses and to accept a federal airport infrastructure grant increase (Lincoln Airport drainage study and related work). Council also accepted a $24,252 county donation for design and installation of 23 pedestrian wayfinding maps downtown; Vice Mayor Kearney noted the signs will help promote the Black Music Walk Hall of Fame.

Process and next steps Council instructed the administration to return with the apartment-listings feasibility report within 60 days and directed the city manager to compile a FY2026 recommended general fund budget guided by council priorities. During the meeting the council chair outlined a timeline that places the manager’s draft submission back to council in mid‑May (the transcript notes May 22 as a deadline in discussion).

Public safety and flood response noted At the meeting close, the mayor and multiple council members briefed the public on the recent Ohio River flooding response and thanked city staff and first responders. Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Flagler was singled out for leading the coordinated response; the mayor said roughly 700 homes had been directly impacted and urged residents to follow safety guidance.

Ending Council adjourned after unanimous votes on the package of items. Several council members said they will continue follow-up with the administration on workforce placement for affected federal employees, progress on the vacant buildings initiative, and details of the manager’s upcoming budget proposal.