City Council approves Center Hill solar project, several emergency ordinances and requests reports on childcare and small‑business building purchases

Cincinnati City Council on Feb. 22 adopted a series of unanimous motions and emergency ordinances covering appointments, remediation funding, payments and a major solar project at Center Hill Landfill.

The council voted to join the Ohio America250 commission (item 14) and unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Julie Calvert for her leadership at VisitCincy (item 15). Council confirmed several appointments, including Anna Alvey to the City Planning Commission; one appointment (Shauna Daniel to the CMHA board, item 5) was held for a week.

On finance and infrastructure, council adopted an emergency ordinance amending earlier funding to provide remediation services at the West Fork Incinerator site (item 48). It also approved several departmental payments, including an $136,586.53 payment from the Fire Department to University of Cincinnati Physicians Company LLC for paramedic training (item 49) and a $16,032.96 payment authorizing Mike Albert Leasing (item 50).

Councilmembers spent significant time on items 52 and 53, which together amend bond-authorizing language to allow purchase or construction of a solar photovoltaic array at the Center Hill Landfill and establish a new capital-improvement account for the project. Councilmember Owens and others said owning the landfill made the project feasible; Councilmember Jeffries cited administration figures saying the project would yield "several hundred thousand per year net of recovery" and provide predictable energy costs for the city. Both ordinances were passed on suspension and as emergency measures.

On service‑delivery questions, council adopted a motion (item 46) asking the administration and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission to report back within 60 days on what capital investments would be required to make the remaining 13 CRC sites eligible for state childcare licensing; proponents said doing so could expand affordable childcare access and allow facilities to accept vouchers. Separately, a proposed "buy-the-building" program for small businesses (item 58) was amended on the floor to request a 60‑day feasibility report and the amended motion was adopted. Council also adopted a motion (item 59) directing a 90‑day report to identify opportunities to build income‑restricted housing above new city facilities.

Council members emphasized oversight and next steps: several items were referred for administrative reports to committees or to be reviewed by the administration, and multiple councilmembers asked staff to provide materials and to circulate reports in advance of committee hearings.

The meeting concluded with administrative announcements about budgeting deadlines and a weather advisory from City Manager Cheryl Long.

Votes at a glance

- Item 14 (resolution): Join America250 Ohio — Passed unanimously. - Item 15 (resolution): Recognition of Julie Calvert — Passed unanimously. - Item 1: Appointment of Anna Alvey to City Planning Commission — Confirmed by roll call; unanimous. - Item 46 (motion): CRC childcare report — Adopted; administration to report within 60 days. - Item 48 (ordinance): Funding for West Fork Incinerator remediation — Passed on emergency/suspension; unanimous. - Items 52–53 (ordinances): Center Hill Landfill solar bond/CIP authorizations — Passed on emergency/suspension; unanimous. - Item 58 (motion): Buy-the-Building program amended to request report within 60 days — Adopted. - Item 59 (motion): Housing‑Where‑We‑Serve report within 90 days — Adopted.

Next steps: several of the motions requested short (60–90 day) reports from the administration; councilmembers asked for materials in advance of follow-up committee hearings.