Council approves funding agreement to support Mill Creek Conservancy District maintenance and avoid future city liabilities

Council members and public commenters emphasized the regional importance of maintaining Mill Creek flood‑control infrastructure and approved a funding agreement to help the Mill Creek Valley Conservancy District build revenue and capacity.

Gerald Checo, identified in public comment as president of the Mill Creek Conservancy District, and Dave Schmidt, executive director of Mill Creek Alliance, both urged support and highlighted decades of revitalization projects and recent improvements that, they said, rely on the conservancy's continued operation. Chris Patterson, a village council member for Evendale, also thanked the council for political and financial commitments that make coordinated flood control and recreation projects possible.

In the council's business session the ordinance (item 51) was described by council members as a multijurisdictional, multi‑decade responsibility that, if the conservancy dissolved, could shift millions in infrastructure maintenance obligations to the city. Council members said the agreement will function as a loan or bridge to allow the conservancy to plan sustainable revenue sources and hire leadership to coordinate maintenance across jurisdictions.

The ordinance authorizing the funding agreement was adopted by roll call. Council members who spoke on the measure framed it as a preventive investment to avoid larger city costs later and to support ongoing trail, park and flood‑control projects in the Mill Creek Valley.

Next steps: The ordinance authorizes the city manager to execute the funding agreement; the conservancy and city staff are expected to proceed with the implementation steps described in the agreement and to negotiate revenue sources and capacity building identified in committee and the ordinance text.