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Council approves grants, leases and infrastructure measures; orders climate and tax‑abatement reviews
Summary
Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved an array of first-reading ordinances and emergency measures, including a $2,500 parks grant, street-repaving CIP for Eggleston Avenue, procurement code changes, sidewalk repair assessments, multiple leases, and motions to update climate equity indicators and to produce a 120‑day review of the 2023 residential tax‑abatement reform.
After the citizens forum, the council moved through the business agenda and approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and motions, generally by unanimous roll-call votes.
Grant and capital items: The council authorized an emergency ordinance allowing the city manager to accept up to $2,500 from the Cincinnati Parks Foundation to cover costs for the annual Let's Grow Local event; the measure passed on suspension and final passage. The council also established a new capital improvement project account to rehabilitate Eggleston Avenue (from Pete Rose Way to Court Street) with grant support from OKI; Council member Jeffries said OKI had not previously funded street-repaving grants and confirmed the city's complete-streets policy would apply to the project.
Procurement and sidewalk measures: Council approved an amendment to chapter 3.21 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code to clarify the applicability of prevailing-wage rates to city development agreements; sponsors said the change aligns municipal code with recent office reorganizations including the Office of Strategic Growth and DOORS (Department of Opportunity and Resident Services). The council adopted a legislative resolution declaring emergency sidewalk repairs and authorizing leveling assessments under Cincinnati Municipal Code sections 7-21-149 to 7-21-169; a council member noted the city had piloted a proactive residential sidewalk repair program in the prior year.
Climate and housing reviews: Council member Owens successfully moved that the administration update the Climate Equity Indicators Report before the 2028 Green Cincinnati Plan. The motion passed unanimously. Separately, a motion from council members Albee, Walsh, Jeffries and Nolan asked the administration to deliver a report within 120 days assessing the impact of the city's 2023 residential tax-abatement reform, consistent with a three-year review commitment.
Leases and housing: The council approved several lease agreements. An emergency lease was authorized with Findlay Ops LLC/Findlay Market Corporation for Building 1720 Ray Street to activate a vacant first floor and store maintenance equipment. An ordinance authorized leasing about 95 parking spaces to the Coryville Community Development Corporation (near Short Vine) following dissolution of a prior business association. The council also approved a lease allowing Ozcamp Flats Limited Partnership to use an alley/right-of-way adjacent to a proposed 27-unit affordable senior housing project at 223 W. 4th for outdoor trash and service access. All listed measures passed on roll-call votes with no recorded dissent.
Votes at a glance: Each item called for suspension and passage or first reading passed on unanimous roll-call votes with nine council members recorded as voting yes: Kramer Ding; James; Jeffries; Johnson; Vice Mayor Kearney; Nolan; Owens; Walsh; and Albee.
What happens next: Many items were taken as first reading or emergency ordinances that typically proceed to further administrative follow-up (design, contracting, implementation). The administration received two formal requests: to update the Climate Equity Indicators Report ahead of the 2028 Green Cincinnati Plan and to deliver a 120-day impact report on the 2023 residential tax-abatement changes.
