Council moves proposed community-center steering committee to committee, then removes item; abatement estimates to be presented in finance committee

North College Hill City Council members on the floor discussed a draft resolution to establish an ad hoc steering committee to study renovation, funding and scope for the North College Hill Community Center and city administrative offices, moved the draft to the Public Safety committee and then voted to remove the item from the agenda pending committee review.

The move came after several council members said the draft had not been through committee and residents and council members asked for clearer cost information about asbestos and mold abatement before the council pursues broader renovation options. Council voted twice on the item: first to move the draft resolution to the Public Safety committee and then to remove the resolution from the current agenda. Both votes passed 7–0.

Why it matters: The community center at 1500 West Galbraith Road has been the subject of separate emergency cleanup and abatement work; several residents and council members said they want hard cost estimates for abatement and for ‘‘all options’’ to be evaluated—tear down and rebuild, full rehabilitation, or land-sale alternatives—before forming a steering committee.

Council member remarks and next…