Council accepts $60,000 grant for outdoor fitness court after debate over local match and administrative authority

The North College Hill City Council voted to accept a $60,000 University of Cincinnati/National Fitness Campaign grant to support an outdoor fitness court project after amending the resolution to remove language members said could be read as delegating spending authority beyond charter thresholds.

Councilmember Miss Gaston, whose committee shepherded the item, described the grant and said the project’s total estimated cost was about $111,000 with a local funding component. Legal and administrative questions centered on whether the resolution’s language in section two would allow city administrators to commit funds in excess of the charter threshold without returning to council. City attorney/law director counsel and the city administrator clarified that any expenditure above the charter’s limit (reported in discussion as $75,000) would require a separate council appropriation.

Miss Clear proposed and the council approved an amendment to make the resolution an acceptance of the $60,000 grant rather than broad authorization to allocate unspecified funds; members also removed a reference to an attached grant-requirement document that had not been provided at the council desk. Law director Mr. Deeders explained the process for high-cost approvals and noted the administration would return to council if additional appropriations were required.

After amendment and a final discussion in which members asked for clarity on attachments and the concrete pad/local-cost responsibilities, the council adopted Resolution 06-2026 as amended by unanimous roll call.

Council members said the city will use available grant dollars and other previously received funds where possible and will return to council for any expenditures that exceed charter thresholds or require additional appropriations.