City Council - Regular Meeting

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Hey, good afternoon, everybody. We are going to get started with today's Citizens Forum. Council members are coming in. Everybody's got on their originalities T-shirt for Cincy Pride. Thank you, Council Member Owens, for organizing this for us. OK, so I don't know if I need to repeat the rules again, but just so you all understand, everybody gets the privilege of the floor for two minutes. And so when I call your name, you'll come on up. You don't have to touch the microphones. In fact, you should not. They will be on. And so don't worry about that. You know, as I always say, this is not Q&A, so we're here to listen to you. It's your two minutes. We don't respond. We don't ask you questions. We don't take up any of your time. But our staff members are all around the room, and so if you need assistance, if you need help, you need follow-up, when you finish speaking, just turn around, and they will signal to you, and they will address your concerns, okay? So you're not being ignored. just because we're not responding, we are listening. All right, so the first, we'll start with in-person. The first person is Marvin Barnes. Please come on up and have a seat. You're gonna speak first. The next speaker, and you may come on up and have a seat, Stanford Poole. And the third speaker will be, I'm having a hard time with this name, let's see. I think that's right. Okay, so when you come up, please say your name to make sure we get it right. Okay, the other two coming up is, oh, Mr. Poole, come on up, and then, and Tadaria. Come on up, okay. This will just make it go a little faster to have everybody ready. Okay, we're going to start with Mr. Barnes for the floor for two minutes.

Okay. On April the 8th, Jerry Foster received a eviction letter. By now, everyone knows Dion Crockett has been arrested, except for Jerry Foster. That's 28 days or I'm sorry, 20 days later, he passed away. On April the 28th, a resident was found dead in his apartment, and it was Jerry Foster. He had no family that we knew of. I have documents of his stolen money orders and an eviction letter. I'm not suggesting this is what killed him, but it surely didn't help him stay alive as we went back and forth to neighborhood goods, trying to borrow money for an issue that's bigger than him. To Dion Crockett, Josh, Amy, Greg Johnson, Vernal Moore, Christy Stuckey, Mika Owens, Missy Elliott, and the entire CMHA Touchstone properties and the Evanston LLC. All of you have his blood on your hands, as I warned you about this over a year ago, and no one did anything about it except stall and delay. I guarantee you the mighty Yahweh will help you remember the name Jerry Foster, and please don't cover up Jerry Foster's name as you continue to plot and cover up an evil scheme based on your involvement.

Okay, thank you. Okay, our next speaker is Stanford Poole.

Well, we're back here again. We wanted this council to be different than the previous ones that left here. And you did say you're gonna be better than them. And I haven't seen anything different. Paychecks going to different people in your name tag, but you're not doing anything for the poor people that voted for you. Now, you are doing it for the rich people and that, And you still let the building department come in here and steal property, along with the law department and receivership. Now, like the building department did come in here and said, we go to the poor neighborhood, we write them up, and then we tell them to give their title to them, where they can make money. The receivership, the poor authority that y'all have created to make money for y'all. And they'll always go to the poor neighborhood to do it. We just had a building collapsed on Riverside. You didn't do nothing with them. You had Davis Furniture collapse. You didn't do nothing with them. They wasn't in housing court or taking anything or faking building and that. Only the poor black properties you're looking for. Right now on Gilbert, they get ready to take this lady's house down because y'all lied to her, your building department. And they had a bunch of lawyers on the other side So this got to stop. We're tired of you people coming in here with the Trump system. And I bet every one of y'all vote for this guy, because you're doing the same thing he's doing. We're tired of that stuff. I'm tired of it. So until y'all start doing your job, you shouldn't get a paycheck. That man died. It could have been stress from him telling me he got to move. Nobody care. Do you care? I think I doubt you not. The only thing you care about is that paycheck and that title. That's a shame. You're supposed to have education behind you, and you ain't doing nothing.

Okay, thank you. The next speaker, Tadara. And, ma'am, if you don't mind saying your name for me, please.

My name is Zorasha Haya Hatsiba. I presented this proposal on the 20th of last month, but I forgot a few tenants of it, so I'm back. And I would like any help any of you all could give me on presenting this proposal to the Bond Hill Community Council. I don't know if you all know that Bond Hill was allocated, at least at our meeting, they said they were allocated like $6.6 million for that community. there's a corner in that community where the young men and women hang out. I mean from not every day and they're very respectful if you treat them with respect. But that corner needs to be clear with a legal cannabis store. I wrote it up on a proposal and the receptionist said she would give you a copy of this. And it says that we would like to clear the corner of the illegal sales and try to find a building in Bond Hill to do a legal building. But they have to be the first employees hired, because if we don't hire them, the whole premise will go to, it's for nothing. It's to get them off the corner. But the person that gets the license, they have to have a good background. Now, you know, most of them have been arrested, so they can't open up the store. And I would be willing to supervise that store for a year to make sure they're following all of your laws and rules and whatever it is that I need to do to make sure they're doing the right thing. Because I believe it takes a whole village to raise a child. And to me and some of you, from looking at your hair color, these are children to us, even though they are 40 years old down to like 18 or 19. And some of these children are in elementary school. I see them passing, puffing on those fake cigarettes, whatever you call them. So please, I thank you for your time and I appreciate you allowing.

So Alex Stanton is on the way in here. If you wait one second, he'll come in and find you and talk to you. All right, thank you so much. Okay, our next three speakers, and please come on up and have a seat. G.I. Johnson, Rob Rimlinger. Okay, was that close? And Paul Bean. Either chair. Mr. Bean? Okay, you wanna wait? Is that what you're telling me? Okay, all right, we're gonna get moving. All right, Mr. Johnson.

Yes, I'm G.I. Johnson, CEO and President of G.I. Johnson Productions. I'm out of Los Angeles, California, but I'm born and raised here in Cincinnati, Ohio. We filmed the first independent feature film in the 90s, Chill Time Productions. I was part of that production, One Way Out. We're back here in the city now working on the Tim Austin story. We were shooting a documentary right now. I want to come to this council and say that we're looking forward to working with the city some sponsors um different people that we're going to be bringing here in the city we want to do something for timmy to you know get his honors here he's got a a non-profit pound for pound gym over in um on rhode island in bond hill and we work we're looking to get some some some funding and some to cure some um investments for his program to help the children here in cincinnati and to get timmy's name out there we're going to be doing some major events and projects here i just want to let the city know i talked to a few people here already and i'm just looking forward to you know opening doors open arms and let's make some things happen and bring some pride to this city and and you know make um positive projects here all right thank you wonderful thank you okay mr remlinger

My name is Rob Remlinger. I live in Northside. I'm an Eagle Scout. This is a strong form indoctrination in US citizenship. My only hobby is geopolitics, and that's the game theory of power. I speak now with sincere urgency. The USA enters an end game scenario, risking our autonomy. We witness the sequence pattern of check moves. Look at the board, examine the pieces and relative positions. This is real. Title transfer looms, assets shift and resources liquidate before divorce. Corporate influence as regulatory capture with governance is now far worse. We live in the era of useful idiots acting as nefarious demolition men and women. This chapter is structured bankruptcy. Notice the obvious data points within the federal government. The 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 224, combines the United States military branches and intelligence community with the state of Israel. Go ahead and look for yourselves. I insist. Every presidential cabinet member is compromised. Over 90% of the US federal legislature is compromised. The new chair of the Federal Reserve is compromised. Any leadership attempts at resistance are crushed as strict example. Look at the lead prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. On April 24th, 2024, Karim Khan received a letter signed by 12 US senators. Their wet ink signatures outlined the demand and threats in plain language. Do not hold Israel to account for war crimes. This letter closes with, quote, you have been warned, end quote. I will not be silent during this potential US end game. The data center argument and debate is false. These fusion centers will use ICE and the IDF as checkmate. Investigate, fact check me.

Speak hard truths and use boycott, divestment, and san- Mr. Remlinger, I'm sorry your time is up, but thank you so much. Our next speaker is Paul Bean.

It looks like this city needs to be monitored, like I said, you know. We have people dying every night, every day on the second of an hour. You had this program. You stole it from me. You won't return it. I got it from the horse's mouth, A and B. If you're not going to use something, give it back. It's to save lives, not to ignore situations that can be controlled. Are you listening or are you just hearing and not paying attention? You said it costs too much money, but you're tearing up the city like what? You have to have security. You want all these events to come here. Who's protecting them? Zero tolerance. You have none. You're not showing no hope for life in this city at all. You have a program you say costs too much money. Anything costs too much money, you're supposed to use or at least try to use. I asked back for this program so I could give it to somebody that's going to use it. But still, I come down here for justice, and I get no attention from you people. So I got to bring my own attention and take this farther than where it needs to go. I'm not scared to walk these sidewalks. I worked in this city all my life. Out this city, I didn't work in all these neighborhoods. I never been in a gang, never sold drugs, always been a taxpayer. And you still can't hear me, but you listening. So you're not listening, okay?

Thank you, Mr. Bean. Okay, the next three speakers to please come up, Roger Pyle, Stephon Pryor, and Kent Evans. Please come on up and have a seat. Okay, Mr. Pyle, you have the privilege of the floor for two minutes. Is it P or P?

Pili.

Pili?

Pili.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you. In 2002, the city made a $250,000 investment in an abandoned 1947 movie house on Glenway Avenue. I'd argue it's one of the best returns on investment in the history of Cincinnati neighborhood development. My name is Roger Pilly. I'm the executive director for Cincinnati Landmark Productions. For 24 years, we've owned and operated the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts and welcomed half a million patrons through its doors. That's over 20,000 visitors a year to the West Price Hill Neighborhood Business District, 56% of whom report dining or shopping before or after a show. So what did that 2002 investment buy? One of the city's most successful art centers outside the downtown core with a loyal and enviable subscription base, a home for one of the region's great teen arts programs, Cincinnati Young People's Theater. This is a neighborhood anchor, a civic space for community events beyond the arts, including mayoral debates, city council forums, police cadet graduations. It's been open and active every year since 2002 without a single dollar of public operating support. Cincinnati Landmark Productions has operated responsibly for 24 years, 85% funded by ticket sales alone. When minor systems failed, we spent over half a million of our own dollars to fix those systems. But the need now is bigger than our operating budget can solely cover. The work identified in this project includes new HVAC and roof systems, accessible seating, modern theatrical systems, updated bathrooms. We need a partner again. We bought a 55-year-old building in 2002. Today, it's 79 years old. An investment now keeps it viable for the foreseeable future. The cost of doing nothing is losing that anchor entirely. We're not asking for a rescue. We're hoping for a partnership. I invite all of you to come visit the facility and check it out for yourselves.

All right. Thank you.

Thank you.

Stefan Pryor.

My mic on? Oh, loud and clear. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. That was real nice of Mr. Johnson, wasn't it? But anyway, I was looking on the news, Channel 12.

It's Mr. Evans.

Start me over. She interrupted me, please.

Mr. Evans. Yeah, this is Ken Evans.

Oh, he up next.

All right, let's go. Two minutes, let's go.

Go ahead, go ahead.

No, no, no, no. It's you. Two minutes.

Thank you for my two minutes again. My bad. That was a commercial break. Thank you, Ms. Kearney. Anyway, I was watching the news. One of the judges required the courts involve youth to obtain public library cards. Ain't nothing wrong with that, but if you look at it, they need metal detectors. Because they bringing in guns inside the library. I saw that report. They bringing in guns, Mark Jeffery. They need metal detectors at the libraries now. Because I don't want to be inside of a little library and it's a gun inside there, Evan Noah. You know, we can't have that. So make sure they put metal detectors in there or security patting them down too. They do it downstairs, what's the difference? So that need to happen. This budget cut, I heard Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, y'all got to cut that, safe and clean funds. They need that. They really need that. It really works. It gives some of the youth work, jobs, and that's a great idea. I wouldn't cut the safe and clean funds, not at all. Mika Owens, before you leave, Mika, when you go to the county commissioners, make sure you help the taxpayers off their property. You got to hold that promise with that pink rose you got on. That's what it really means, kindness and being gentle to the seniors. So make sure you do that. The taxes are high. And the Duke bill, you need to actually dismantle the aggregation program, because Duke keep on putting the added fees on the Duke bill. So if you dismantle the aggregation program, your committee, or cut it out, period, They can save money with this Duke energy bill. Ms. Cheryl Long, how you doing in that purple over there? That's Ms. Cheryl Long, if y'all don't know who she is. City manager, long time no see. But I love you guys, I know you can do it about it.

All right, thank you. Okay, next, Mr. Ken Evans.

In the name of proper fiscal governance, now is the time to think preemptively. Change the city charter. Is that the proper protocol? Is that impossible? Change it to create a progressive municipal tax system from the current regressive flat tax. Keep the 1.8% tax for the lowest one-third of the income earners within the city of Cincinnati and split the higher rates for those who earn one-third to two-thirds and also above two-thirds to 1.9% and 2.0% respectively. I don't mean to be specific, but I did it. It is, as always, an embarrassment to the designers of our tax system to be flat tax, especially when I hear you all correctly espousing concern for those living in our city at sub-poverty levels. Am I wrong there? You can speak up. I give you permission. So that's a good thing. The flippant mention of a flat tax for decades is a good simpler thing are ignorantly mentioned, as many things are these days. With the bull-rushed, reckless evisceration of legacy programs in the federal realm, now is the time to pass, to gird our city into facing this onslaught of malevolent change.

All right, thank you. Okay, our next two speakers are on Zoom. Amber Casson. Can you hear me, Vice Mayor? Yes, we can. Thank you.

Thank you. Appreciate it. First, I want to thank your office, Vice Mayor, Councilmember Ryan James and Councilmember Albies for being the three offices that actually do work and follow up. So I just wanted to say thank you for that. This is a follow up on the budget hearing. Again, I'm not asking for money unless you guys just want to pay me so I can go away and stop giving you a headache and that'd be fine. But I'm asking for this body to stop funding the management of failure and start funding our future. You guys need to buy Drake Hospital and give it to the cat program. Right now and last, I guess it was on Monday, you guys heard that there was testimony. Someone from Claremont County was sent to the Cat House to recover. You guys cannot continue to fund and recruit people from Indiana, Kentucky, Butler County, Claremont County to come in here and dump the problems that they don't want to solve. We are full. were full so put up some type of reciprocity agreement or moratorium or charge them back but um you guys don't even have the means or mechanism to investigate those referrals Second, all this gun violence stuff, you guys really need to stop funding anything that doesn't improve literacy, attendance, and immediate workforce improvement. The types of programs that you're funding are not helpful, and it's really just to support the losers that own the NGOs rather than actually the community. AND STOP MEASURING THINGS BASED ON DOLLARS SPENT. THAT IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO LEAVE. THAT'S WHY OUR MEDIAN INCOME IN 2030 WILL BE DOWN. I'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT PRICE HILL. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

MS. CASSAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M SORRY YOUR TIME IS UP, BUT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER ON ZOOM IS MIKE ULHORN.

MR. ULHORN, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. YES, WE CAN.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I keep coming here every time for the same reason about Greater Cincinnati Water Works. Every single month when I get my bill, they're still trying to charge me for two months before I contacted them to get the water turned on, before I wanted any water, before they provided me with anything. But they feel like they can bill like that. Why? Because you guys, well, not you guys, but people before you actually passed the rules and regulations and laws But they can charge people just for being ready to provide something and people having access to it just by making a phone call. Well, then you set the precedent that every business can do that, just like mine. Now, I've been billing you guys, as you know, every single month, just like Greater Cincinnati Water Works does, because I'm ready to provide you with my business services and you have access to my business service. But none of you are paying that bill that's identical to what Greater Cincinnati Water Works does. What would that be?

I think it's because you know that it's fraudulent.

In fact, it is. It's a violation of Ohio Rice Code 2913 to be charging somebody without their authorization, without their approval, and to collect money for providing absolutely nothing of value. So why would you expect me or anybody else to pay that kind of bill when you won't pay that kind of bill, even though you set the precedent? The companies can charge like that. And of course, then the precedent is that greater Cincinnati Water Works and actually sued people for not paying your bill for providing nothing and actually win. So I guess since nobody contacts me, that's what I'm going to have to do is follow that precedent and sue all of you guys for not paying your bills. Because that's what greater Cincinnati Water Works does.

All the time.

I don't know why, and I guess since I'm not there, nobody gets back in touch with me. My number is 513-833-7057. Mr. Ullhorn, thank you so much.

I'm sorry your time is up. Thank you, though. Thank you. We have two more speakers on Zoom, but meanwhile, let me ask the next in-person speakers to come on up and have a seat. Susan Lakes, Bishop Sonny James, and Jonathan Nortman. coming up and get comfortable. Our next speaker on Zoom is Inez Durden. Miss Durden, can you hear us?

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you.

Okay, first of all, let me address the sarcasm that I received from your clerk, Lisa, yesterday. I had signed up to come on a public speaking for public safety on yesterday, I wasted 11 minutes trying to get her to send me the right link. Instead of her pointing out that you all have a new employee, give her some training to help the new employee and not be sarcastic and tell me that she's a new hire. She needs to help the new hire. So I wasted 11 minutes yesterday and then she told me that Scotty Johnson told her not to give me the Zoom link. Scotty Johnson, if you're not going to help me, then you're aiding and abetting the retired firefighter and his desire to kill me. And you have been doing that for quite some time now. I need an answer from you whether or not You are in process of working on that active protection order in which I told you there's a copy at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and there's a certified copy at the prosecutor's office. I need you to confiscate that AR-15 and those other firearms from Firefighter Durden. If you're not going to do it, then you need to make me known of that because as public safety, that is part of your leadership in the city of Cincinnati is to make sure that everyone is safe. I am really tired of you all discriminating against me because if you're not going to help me, what you have been doing is aiding and abetting him and his desire to kill me. Now, if you need me to drop that 911 call, and on Facebook, and if you also need me to put that recording that Nedge Award had with Durden out there, how I was falsely locked up to kind of get you all on the ball, then I will be willing to do that because that in itself has a lot of falsification with it. So then maybe you need to go back and...

Okay, thank you, Ms. Durden. Okay, our next speaker on Zoom, Vanessa Sparks. Ms. Sparks, are you there? She's not there, okay. We'll come back and check. Okay, in person, our next speaker, Susan Lakes. You have the pleasure of the floor for two minutes.

Can you hear me? Hi, everybody. Okay, I live in Over the Rhine. Been there about six years. Couple things. First of all, thank you so much. I came to you about a year ago, and I was afraid. I said there's something happening here. I don't feel that way anymore. I live halfway between Findlay Market and Washington Park. There's a police presence, but to me, it's not friendly. It's not protective. It's just there. I feel safe. All the time, no. Anywhere I've ever lived, I haven't felt 100% safe all the time. It's the world we live in. So I do want to compliment and commend all of you for that. Now the next thing is just something that on my walk today as I was picking up trash along Elm Street I thought of. There seems to be an increase in graffiti all over the place. I even talked with a young student who was doing some kind of graffiti survey and I had an idea. I believe in meeting people where they are. What about if somebody dedicated just one space for people to go and do graffiti. Some graffiti is just beautiful. And just let young people, old people who are into graffiti, just let it be known that that's where you can go do your graffiti.

Just have the idea. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, our next speaker is Bishop Sonny James.

Greetings, everyone. This Sunday, I will be preaching a message that we are facing trials and tribulations. And the subheading will be urgency. Folks, we are very intelligent people. And we all have a heart. And I understand that the budget issue really took some time. And so Ms. Long, as I said at the budget hearing, I do applaud you and those that helped you. Because as my father always taught, the only way to get finished is to get started. And so we have to begin addressing issues. One of the things that I want my peers to understand, number one, I'm not a liar. Number two, I'm not a liar. And number three, I'm not a liar. I can tell you 100,000% the people that sit in these seats have a heart to listen. What we have to do though, what I've been advocating, is come together. And some of the folks have been challenging funding and where it goes. What I'm asking all of you to do, the first thing is look at things from a long-term perspective. We have Save a Lot in Seymour that's about to close. They're asking for $200,000 or $400,000. I'm saying look into that budget and see if there's $500,000 because what we don't need is we don't need crime moving from one area to another area because of the anxiousness. We also need to reinvest into the history, the fiber of this fine city. So when you have people like G.I. Johnson coming forward, doing something, bringing history to the table, that really attracts some of our young people. They don't know the history. So please let us come together and let us be sensitive.

Thank you, Bishop. Okay, the next speaker, Mr. Nortman.

Trump officials Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio say that no harm against Americans will be tolerated. But Americans are being harmed, and the assailant is our own tax dollars. They only deploy this rhetoric to legitimize an invasion of Cuba or a continued war on Iran. But it's silence for the Americans we have paid to exterminate. They tolerate it quite well when Israel kills American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, bulldozes American activist Rachel Corey, when Saifullah Mousselet becomes the fifth American killed in the West Bank since October 7th, beaten to death by Israeli settlers and ambulances blocked by the IDF. They tolerate this assault on Americans when it's ICE doing the assaulting, invading our communities, tearing families apart, locking up people despite having citizenship, kidnapping and killing people with no criminal record, murdering Americans who stand up against this. It's all too tolerable while we pay to end lives instead of improving them. While so many of this country can't afford the medical care they deserve, while Americans are left dying in the streets. Tolerate the assault our officials wage while the White House introduces a counterterrorism strategy that equates being pro-transgender with Al-Qaeda and ISIS. People seeking just to live their lives being further denied healthcare rights and representation. And we would know if any of them were actually terroristic because if they were, they'd be receiving the largest government check. Israel, our greatest recipient of aid, has conducted genocide in Gaza, seized more than 60%, operates an apartheid in Palestine, has invaded and occupied Lebanon to a larger extent than Russia has to Ukraine, bombed some of the oldest cities on the planet. Israel, now added to the UN's blacklist of countries that commit sexual violence in war zones, raped people to death. More than half of Palestinian children ages 12 to 17 held in Israeli detention witnessed or experienced sexual violence. This is where our money is going while the USAID cuts have killed hundreds of thousands. All of this is just what I can fit in two minutes. You should all be just as outraged as I am, as motivated to act and to change, and you can. Americans and people just like us are being targeted by how this country uses our dollars. Amend this spending trend and investments in all those that profit from and contribute to this violence.

Thank you. OK, our next three speakers, Daniel Burrage, Howard Vaughn, and Sam Bee. OK, you have the privilege of the floor for two minutes.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Good afternoon, council members, city manager. I wanted to make these comments at the budget hearing the other day, but I have to do them now, so thanks. As many of you have said, and as many of us agree, as we should, any institution's budget is a reflection of their values. And so in broad strokes, this current proposed budget does truly reflect the city's commitment to the health, the safety, and the well-being of its residents. also reflects a concern for the future sustainability of our communities in both social and environmental terms. So really you are to be congratulated for that, so thank you. Now, we of course have much more to do, and I really want to comment on housing. There was a process of bringing forward the Connected Communities Zoning Framework in the past few years, and there was a number of citizen committees who got together to make recommendations to that zoning framework. One of those recommendations was that when there is any city subsidy provided to a housing development, that there be the requirement that there is truly affordable housing incorporated into that development. As Mark, I am the executive director of MARC, the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, should have said that at the beginning. But as an interfaith coalition that truly tries to advocate and educate for the common good and for the neediest people in our communities, we feel that that recommendation that has already been brought forward to council and which would stipulate that any city subsidy, this is tax abatements, TIF financing, the various ways in which discretionary spending can be put to use to facilitate development, that there be a requirement that those city subsidies come with conditions that affordable housing be invested in. And you all are already doing a lot of things on affordable housing, and we appreciate that. You know, even the Build Ready campaign, now restructuring to have the office of strategic growth. These are excellent things, but we do believe we can do more. And so that requirement, that any city subsidy come with the requirement for investment in truly affordable housing is a very feasible and productive thing. So thank you.

All right. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Howard Vaughn.

Yeah, as I sit here in front of all of you dignitarians, and I'm honored to be here because this is where I worked at. And all of y'all know me, and if it wasn't for working for the city of Cincinnati down in City Hall, I wouldn't be where I'm at. Now, I had all kind of, I had a karate school on Vine Street. I had a grocery store on 12th Street. I had a karate school in Madisonville. I had a nightclub out there, but they saying I didn't have all this. Now, I'm hoping, Michelle Kerney, because you're attorney, if you can, I can talk to the IRS, because I know they got my records that I paid taxes. Now, I only need one point, and you were supposed to get somebody to talk to me, but they didn't talk to me. I talked to you a couple days ago. You know that, Miss Kerney, and I respect all of y'all, but... Hopefully that I can get this all situated. I'm a Vietnam veteran and a world champion in the Hall of Fame for boxing and karate. I've been working with kids, Turnaround America. And both Bushes are back in our organization. Hopefully I can get that going again, because the parents talk to me just about every day. Hey, Master Vaughn, will you teach my kids karate, boxing? I don't have the money like I used to. I can't even get them uniforms. That's like $100. If I can get uniforms or something, I'll teach it free. I mean, this is a great city. But now, I really want to talk to you, Ms. Kearney, if you can get somebody that can talk to the IRS, because they got my taxes down there. Shouldn't they? Shouldn't they have my taxes? Because I only need one point, and I've been working with this a long time. Greg Lansing's supposed to be helping me, but I hope I can get this settled real soon. Okay, thank you.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Vaughn. Okay, Sam B., on the way in.

Need one second here. No, don't start it.

Yeah, I don't think it's going to move. Yeah.

No, it's not about that. I want to be able to stand. When inflation forces everything in our economy to scale down, our zoning codes legally penalize homeowners for doing the same, enforcing outdated 900 square foot minimums that ignore the reality of modern hyper-efficient construction. This forced scale makes already affordability a structural impossibility and traps seniors into paying astronomical utility bills to heat and cool massive spaces they do not need. Extreme heat is our city's silent killer. Removing these zoning barriers gives our seniors the right to safely downsize, organically freeing up housing stock for growing families while turning empty land big lots to active tax assets. Waiving taxes for speculators while denying families the right to build a smaller footprint is pure disenfranchisement of the right to live. It's not a matter of finance, it's a matter of permission. And when we see the exact same self-defeating design crisis when we look at our public infrastructure, Just look at the chaos and mismanagement across the Western Hills Viaduct right now. The traffic gridlock backing up caused by the arbitrary closing of the turn lane to Queen City Avenue is actively slowing down our local economy and stealing thousands of hours from our working people trying to get home. While the city fails to fill basic potholes, it somehow has the time to install heavy concrete speed bumps. This project is moving with zero urgency, left completely undone, and the lack of proper traffic management has already turned fatal, costing a citizen their life in a horrific vehicle plunge. Why are we installing intrusive concrete barriers when less invasive temporary tire bumps are just as effective and don't halt our city's economy? The construction hole should have been covered, and our tire bumps can be deployed and replaced easily. Look at our current geography. Wasson Way's next phase heads into Walnut Hill, steering completely away from a true westward connection. Meanwhile, the $150 million Lick Run Greenway sits stranded as an isolated western terminus. Upcycling the Viaduct is the only way to bridge the gap, connecting the Lick Run to Central Parkway to create a true cross-city public commute rather than just a weekend joy ride for Eastsiders. Yunkta, you want.

All right, thank you. Is Vanessa Sparks online yet? OK. Then that concludes our citizens forum. Thank you all of you for being here, and those of you who spoke, thank you so much. Given that it is now 2.15, we will go straight into the business portion of the meeting. Gavilan City Council meeting, and we will begin, we'll stand, oh, roll call first, sorry.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Here.

Councilmember Nolan?

Here.

Councilmember Owens? Here. Councilmember Walsh? Here. Councilmember Albee? Here. Councilmember Kramerding?

Here.

Councilmember James?

Here.

Councilmember Jeffries? Here. Councilmember Johnson?

Here.

Thank you. Now we will stand for a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So, and I should have told you this earlier, so the mayor is representing the city of Cincinnati at the U.S. Council of Mayors, and he will be back next week in city council. So thank you to the mayor for that representation. I'm sure he'll bring lots of good information back to the city. Moving to our agenda. Oh, and I forgot, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mr. Covington. Okay, just a minute. The minutes from the previous meeting will be approved and filed without objection. Hearing no objection, they will be approved and filed. Okay, now moving to our agenda items one through 32 as indicated. Now we're on to item number 33 and this is appointment submitted by the clerk of council recommending the appointment of Alondra Brown as a deputy clerk in the office of the clerk of council pursuant to article two, section 5A of the charter of the city of Cincinnati. Thank you for joining us, Ms. Brown. Okay, roll call on confirmation of appointment.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh?

Yes.

Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

All right, thank you. Items 34 through 62, as indicated, Item number 63 is a motion by Council Member Albee that City Council will allocate the funds in the amount of $20,000 from the general fund balance sheet reserve account reserved for special events support to support the 2026 West End Festival. Ms. Albee, would you like to comment?

I would love to, thank you. Well, thank you all for this. So these funds would go to be supporting the West End Festival, which is gonna take place July 24th through 26th, overlapping with the Music Fest, and the idea is to give kids a fun, safe place to do while everyone else has the music festival. So thank you to Dwayne Harmon, Dante Payne, and Pastor Nick Burnett, who came on Monday to talk about the event. It's going to be super exciting, ton of fun activities for kids, basketball, cornhole, volleyball, food trucks, face painting, and more. And so these funds are really going to help cover the cost to ensure that there's security, porta-potties, insurance, and all those other basic things to make a fun event. So I hope the council passes unanimously on Monday, and I hope we do the same today.

All right, thank you so much. Any other comments? Okay, roll call on confirmation, on adoption. I'm sorry, Mr. Covington is like, just breathe, I'm doing everything wrong. Okay, let's start over. Roll call on adoption of the motion. Here we go. Vice Mayor Kearney. Yes.

Council Member Nolan. Yes. Council Member Owens. Yes. Council Member Walsh. Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

All right. Thank you. All right. Item number 64, as indicated. Item number 65, first reading, please.

An emergency ordinance amending ordinance number 135-2026 and the attached streetcar operation funds transfer schedule to change the source account to streetcar operations funds streetcar operations non-personnel operating budget account.

Okay, roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

All right, so this ordinance is from the Budget, Finance, and Governance Committee, so Council Member Kramerding, would you like to comment?

I would, Vice Mayor. Thank you. So this is an internal transfer of funds. This is all related to the streetcar funds were allocated from the non-personnel account. They should have been allocated from the personnel account. This fixes that error.

Okay. Any other comments? Okay. Roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes. And emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes. Item number 66, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant of up to $25,000 from the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James?

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Council Member Kramerding, would you like to comment?

Yes, Vice Mayor. Shout out to Joshua Springs and the administration that worked on this grant. It's a new program. It's very exciting. It's a continuation of our partnership with the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Foundation. I've talked to their board members. They're very excited about this. We've got a number of existing programs. This is new, so it's very exciting.

All right, wonderful. Any other comments?

Okay, roll call on passage. Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

And emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Okay, item number 67, first reading, please.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a selective traffic enforcement program grant of up to $75,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

Okay, roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Councilmember Nolan? Yes. Councilmember Owens? Yes. Councilmember Walsh?

Yes.

Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Kramerding?

Yes.

Councilmember James?

Yes.

Councilmember Jeffries?

Yes.

Councilmember Johnson? Yes. Councilmember Kramerding?

This is a $75,000 grant. Thank you to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The grant will be used to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.

Thank you. Any other comments? Okay, roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

Thank you. Okay, item number 68, first reading please.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant of up to $70,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Traffic Safety's Office's Fiscal Year 2027 Impaired Driving Enforcement Program.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Councilmember Nolan? Yes. Councilmember Owens? Yes. Councilmember Walsh? Yes. Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Kramerding? Yes. Councilmember James? Yes. Councilmember Jeffries? Yes. Councilmember Johnson? Yes.

Councilmember Kramer-Ding?

Yeah, this is the second of what is a trilogy of grants from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. This one targets impaired driving.

All right, any other comments?

All right, roll call on passage. Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Councilmember Nolan? Yes. Councilmember Owens? Yes. Councilmember Walsh? Yes. Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Kramer-Ding? Yes. Councilmember James? Yes. Councilmember Jeffries?

Yes.

Councilmember Johnson?

Yes.

okay thank you item number 69 first reading please an ordinance authorizing the city manager to apply for accept and appropriate a grant of up to 220 000 for fiscal year 20 2027 from the state of ohio department of public safety ohio traffic safety office fiscal year 2027 traffic safety resource prosecutor program roll call on suspension Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Council Member Kramerding?

Yes. The third part of the trilogy goes specifically towards training for our prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the prosecution of traffic and SPECIFICALLY IMPAIRMENT, OFFENSES RELATED TO IMPAIRMENT WHILE DRIVING. EXCUSE ME.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ROLL CALL ON PASSAGE.

VICE MAYOR KEARNEY. YES. COUNCILMEMBER NOLAN. YES. COUNCILMEMBER OWENS. YES. COUNCILMEMBER WALSH. YES. COUNCILMEMBER ALBE. YES. COUNCILMEMBER KRAMERDING. YES. COUNCILMEMBER JAMES. YES. COUNCILMEMBER JEFFRIES. YES. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

YES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 70, FIRST READING, PLEASE.

An ordinance establishing new capital improvement program project account Watson Way Phase 7 COTF grant.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Councilmember Nolan?

Yes.

Councilmember Owens?

Yes.

Councilmember Walsh?

Yes.

Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Kramerding?

Yes.

Councilmember James? Yes. Councilmember Jeffries? Yes. Councilmember Johnson?

Yes. Councilmember Kramerding? Vice Mayor, I'll defer to my colleague, Councilmember Jeffries. Councilmember Jeffries. Thank you.

As we said on Monday, almost every week we have something on the Wassam Way. That's because these projects are complex. This is a $500,000 grant from ODNR, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This will extend the Wassam Way, which currently ends at Blair in Avondale west, so it is going west, to Redding Road. And I did want to point out just to the public comment, This is one of many. So along the Lake Run, we've got a connection to Dunham and Rapid Run, which is happening. Obviously, the Western Hills Viaduct will be a new connection to downtown and then the Mill Creek Trail. So there's a lot within the network. These are little bits of pieces and puzzles, and this is the additional piece that will be built next year.

Very exciting. Vice Mayor. Any other comments?

Vice Mayor.

Councilmember Cramer, do you?

Yeah, I just wanted to add on to that because one of the speakers referenced the need to connect the west side to Wausau Way, so that has been funded. We are connecting Price Hill and Westwood to the Lick Run Trail. That will connect to the Mill Creek Trail going north and will connect to the larger trail system through different ways, but ultimately through the West Channels Viaduct once the new viaduct is up and running.

All right, thank you. Any other comments? Okay, roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Thank you. Okay, item number 71. First reading, please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager and employees of the Department of Economic Inclusion to solicit and accept donations of money, in-kind contributions, participation fees, and other things of value from the business community, individual benefactors, and other appropriate sources for the city's 2026 Business Enterprise Expo.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Council Member Kramerding? Yes.

So the city has their 2026 Business Enterprise Expo. This allows the manager and the administration to accept contributions for the Expo.

Do we have a date for that Business Enterprise Expo yet?

I do not. Is there a date for that? Okay, not yet, okay. I'm saying, yeah.

Okay, all right, any other comments? All right, roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Roll call on emergency.

Vice Mayor Kearney. Yes. Council Member Nolan. Yes. Council Member Owens. Yes. Council Member Walsh. Yes. Council Member Albee. Yes. Council Member Kramerding. Yes. Council Member James. Yes. Council Member Jeffries. Yes. Council Member Johnson.

Yes. Item number 72, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to accept and appropriate a donation of $1,102,201 from the Cincinnati Park Board Commissioner's Fund.

All right, roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Council Member Kramerding, any comments?

Yes. The Park Board Commissioner's Fund is one of the larger funds administered by the parks. This money, which Council must approve, goes to support largely Crohn's Conservatory.

Any other comments?

Roll call on passage. Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

And emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Council Member James?

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes. Okay, item number 73, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing payment of $18,351 to CGI Technology and Solutions Inc. from the General Fund Enterprise Software and Licenses Non-Departmental Non-Personnel Operating Budget Account.

Okay, roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

Council Member Kramerding?

Yeah, Vice Mayor, every once in a while I like to explain to those watching at home what a moral obligation is. That's when the city has received a service or equipment. There's no doubt that the vendor is due money. The contract just wasn't in place to perform that service. So this is a moral obligation out of the general fund.

Thank you. Any other comments? All right, roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens?

Yes.

Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes. And emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Councilmember James? Yes. Councilmember Jeffries? Yes. Councilmember Johnson?

Yes.

Item number 74, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing the payment of $95.47 from the Office of Budget and Evaluation General Fund Non-Personnel Operating Budget Account to Cincinnati Copiers Incorporating Doing Business as Pro Source for Printer and Copier Services.

Okay, roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson?

Yes. And we're still in budget, so Council Member Kramerding.

Yes, this is a then and now payment. A then and now payment is like a moral obligation, but there was a contract. The payment is just made outside the timeframe of the contract, so this then and now payment is from the Office of Budget and Evaluation.

All right, any other comments? Roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Councilmember Johnson?

Yes. And emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Councilmember Nolan? Yes. Councilmember Owens? Yes. Councilmember Walsh? Yes. Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Kramerding? Yes. Councilmember James?

Yes.

Councilmember Jeffries?

Yes.

Councilmember Johnson?

Yes. Item number 75, first reading, please.

An ordinance accepting and confirming the grant of a public utility easement in favor of the City of Cincinnati for water mains and related fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances through certain real property in Delhio Township, Hamilton County, Ohio.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney.

Yes.

Council Member Nolan.

Yes.

Council Member Owens.

Yes.

Council Member Walsh.

Yes.

Council Member Albee.

Yes.

Council Member Kramerding.

Yes.

Council Member James.

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries.

Yes.

Council Member Johnson.

Yes.

Council Member Kramerding.

This ordinance accepts an easement. The city's allowed to accept an easement so we can run water to a new property in Delhi Township.

All right, any other comments? Roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh?

Yes.

Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Council Member James?

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

Item number 76, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing the transfer and appropriation of $620,000 from the inappropriate surplus of the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System Fund of the Office of Performance and Data Analytics, Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System Fund non-personnel operating budget account to provide resources for the Akella upgrade and other year-end software licenses needs.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Councilmember Owens?

Yes.

Councilmember Walsh?

Yes.

Councilmember Albee?

Yes.

Councilmember Kramerding?

Yes.

Councilmember James?

Yes.

Councilmember Jeffries? Yes. Councilmember Johnson?

Yes. Councilmember Kramerding?

This is a transfer from the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System, more commonly referred to as CAGIS. The transfer is to the Office of Performance and Data Analytics for software and licensing.

Any other comments? Okay, roll call on passage. Vice Mayor Kearney. Yes.

Council Member Nolan.

Yes.

Council Member Owens. Yes. Council Member Walsh.

Yes.

Council Member Albee. Yes. Council Member Kramerding.

Yes.

Council Member James.

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries.

Yes.

Council Member Johnson.

Yes. Emergency.

Vice Mayor Kearney.

Yes.

Council Member Nolan. Yes. Council Member Owens. Yes. Council Member Walsh. Yes. Council Member Albee. Yes. Council Member Kramerding.

Yes.

Council Member James.

Yes.

Councilmember Jeffries?

Yes.

Councilmember Johnson?

Yes. Item number 77, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing a payment of $65,000 from the Office of Performance and Data Analytics Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System Fund Non-Personnel Account Operating Budget Account to Nearmap US Inc. as a moral obligation for outstanding charges related to the aerial imagery subscription services.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Councilmember Nolan? Yes. Councilmember Owens? Yes. Councilmember Walsh?

Yes.

Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Kramerding?

Yes.

Councilmember James?

Yes.

Councilmember Jeffries?

Yes.

Councilmember Johnson?

Yes. Councilmember Kramerding?

Yeah, sorry to the vice mayor, are we on 77 or 78? I apologize. We're to the clerk.

Yeah, item 77.

77, I apologize for losing credit. That's okay. This is a moral obligation out of CAGIS.

Okay, any other comments?

Roll call on passage. Vice Mayor Kearney.

Yes.

Council Member Nolan.

Yes.

Council Member Owens. Yes. Council Member Walsh.

Yes.

Council Member Albee. Yes. Council Member Kramerding.

Yes.

Council Member James. Yes. Council Member Jeffries.

Yes.

Council Member Johnson.

Yes. Emergency.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James?

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson?

Yes. Item number 78, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance establishing department number 105, Office of Strategic Growth and authorizing the transfer of $185,000 within the general fund from and to various operating budget accounts.

Roll call on suspension. Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Council Member James?

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

Council Member Kramerding?

This creates a new departmental account, specifically number 105. It puts $185,000 into the account. This will be used for the newly created Office of Strategic Growth.

All right. Any other comments? Roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens?

Yes.

Council Member Walsh?

Yes.

Council Member Albee?

Yes.

Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James?

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson?

Yes. Emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson?

Yes. Okay, we're at the last item for budget, item number 79. First reading, please.

An emergency ordinance authorizing the establishment of permanent improvement program project account Finley Market Area Improvements to provide resources for improvements to the area in and around Finley Market.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan?

Yes.

Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerdine? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes. Council Member Kramerdine, your last one.

Yes, this is obviously a lengthy ordinance. This is a realignment ordinance. It's a step in the budget process where there's programs that have excess or surplus funds. Those funds are being transferred to programs where there's still a need. So we do this with every budget.

Okay, any other comments? Councilmember Jeffries.

Yeah, we talked a lot of these on Monday, but just to point out a few of them. The West Fork Incinerator, I mean, that has been an eyesore for the longest time. Getting rid of that. The $400,000 for LEAP Pedestrian Safety in North Fairmont, hugely important, make sure kids are safe. And then the Downtown Plan, which we are shaping, which we'll announce a little later in June, which is really complex because you have visitors, you have employees, you have employers, you have residents as well. obviously, so this will enable the downtown plan. The last one was done in the 1980s. And so there's a lot here to like. Appreciate the administration putting it all together.

And that West Fork incinerator, we've been talking about that for about six years, and it goes in and out the budget. So I'm so glad we're finally going to be able to take care of that. Any other comments? Okay, roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Cramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson?

Yes. And emergency?

Vice Mayor Kearney? Yes. Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh? Yes. Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding?

Yes.

Council Member James? Yep. Council Member Jeffries?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson? Yes.

Okay, now on to Public Safety and Quality of Life Committee. Item number 80, first reading please.

An emergency ordinance modifying the provisions of Title V Traffic Code of the Cincinnati Municipal Code by ordaining new Chapter 519 Street Racing, Stunt Driving, and Street Takeover.

Roll call on suspension.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Council Member Nolan? Yes. Council Member Owens? Yes. Council Member Walsh?

Yes.

Council Member Albee? Yes. Council Member Kramerding? Yes. Council Member James? Yes. Council Member Jeffries? Yes. Council Member Johnson?

Yes.

Council Member Johnson, would you like to comment?

I'm going to kick it to my colleague, Mr. Jeffries.

All right, Council Member Jeffries.

Thank you. First of all, I want to thank the administration for putting this together and the sponsors, Council Members Owens, Johnson, and then those who signed on to the original motion, Kramerding and Albee, appreciate it. So on Monday night, we saw why this is needed. We had a street takeover on Monday on Paycor. Folks decided to take over the street and do donuts, hugely dangerous. This originated out of one in March where there were about 100 cars, 85% of which were not even from Cincinnati. We had a social media post in Columbus advertising to come to Cincinnati for these. So as a result, you know, we have, these are hugely dangerous. They damage roads. They put neighborhoods at risk. This is an ordinance which mirrors what Louisville did, which would impound a vehicle for six months, as well as fines. There's obviously a due process as part of it, hence it's an 11-page ordinance, and appreciate the law department doing research around it, make sure it's consistent with Ohio law and Eighth Amendment issues as well. But, you know, we have to put a stop to these. Our streets are not racetracks. They're hugely dangerous, hugely disruptive to neighbors. And I appreciate all of my colleagues for their partnership in making this possible.

Absolutely. Thank you for this. Looking at the list of people arrested for this, they were from Hamilton, Middletown, Westchester, Mason, not from Cincinnati. So somehow people think they can come to Cincinnati and do all this crazy stuff. And so this ordinance will definitely put a stop to that. So thank you. Any other comments? Councilmember Albee?

Oh, Councilmember Johnson, I'm sorry. I'll let the chair.

Councilmember Johnson?

Thank you, thank you. Thank you to the administration, law, Mr. Jeffries, and the co-sponsors. Just as the arrogance of advertising come to Cincinnati that took place in March, I hope the same message goes out. Don't come to Cincinnati. Honestly, I wish we could start and the thousands of dollars of fines when you come with this type of disrespectful, rude, irresponsible behavior. I wish we could keep your car for a year when you come to our city and act as if you have no sense. To have a license is a privilege. It is not a right. It's a privilege to drive in Ohio. It's a privilege to drive in Cincinnati. Our citizens, our police officers, fire, public service, everybody deserves to be safe. And this type of reckless, nonsensical behavior is going to get somebody killed in our city. But we as legislators here on this dais, I think we've taken the step in the right direction in making sure that this type of behavior is not going to be tolerated. If you come here and participate in this behavior, I think you will remember not to come back. So thank you all for supporting this. Thank you for the hard work that went in to make this happen. Don't come to Cincinnati with this reckless irresponsible. behavior. Thank you, Madam Chair.

That's right. Councilmember Albee.

Thank you. Thank you to Councilmember Jeffries and the administration for working on this. This is a step forward to really make it very clear that we are serious about this. And just to highlight some of the side-by-side differences, you know, possible jail time in the previous version of this said not more than 180 days. We've now increased that to not more than six months. In the same way, we've now added a series of civil penalties that did not exist before. which includes impounding the car for six months. Not up to, but impounding for six months and including some fines. So we know this is a major change to the law because these are things we take very, very seriously. Public safety, we say it over and over again, is paramount. But also this is a quality of life issue. our streets to be safe. We want neighbors to not be, you know, in the middle of a race zone. This is not Fast and the Furious out here. So I'm excited to vote on this and timing is clearly of the essence given we just had another series of arrests this week. So looking forward to this being in effect immediately.

That's right. Any other comments?

Madam Chair.

Council Member Owens.

Thank you. So first, yes, thank you to my colleagues for investing the time in making this happen and taking this seriously. Thank you to the administration and the Solicitor's Office for getting this accomplished as well. As you have heard, this is disruptive behavior, dangerous behavior in communities. And so while this has happened just recently, a few days ago and earlier this year, I also want to thank CPD for your professionalism in showing up to these incidents. My understanding is that no one hurt, and so I appreciate that. But it also further underscores our investment in technology and how drones are helping to assist our officers in showing up and responding in the right ways and keeping our community safe. And so ultimately, at the end of the day, do not come to Cincinnati and do this.

That's right. That's the message. Councilmember Kramer-Ding.

Thanks, Vice Mayor. I supported this ordinance for a number of reasons, but of particular concern to me is the possibility of one of our officers getting hurt, asking them to interject themselves into this situation, stop vehicles, try to extract the driver while other vehicles are careening around them is extremely dangerous. So that is why it's critical that we continue to monitor this, work with our partners, and ensure this stops.

That's right, absolutely. Any other comments? Okay, roll call on passage.

Vice Mayor Kearney?

Yes.

Councilmember Nolan?

Yes.

Councilmember Owens? Yes. Councilmember Walsh? Yes. Councilmember Albee? Yes. Councilmember Premier Ding?

Yes.

Councilmember Jaynes?

Yes.

Councilmember Jeffries? Yes. Councilmember Johnson?

Yes.

Emergency. Vice Mayor Kearney. Yes. Council Member Nolan.

Yes.

Council Member Owens. Yes. Council Member Walsh.

Yes.

Council Member Albee. Yes. Council Member Kramerding.

Yes.

Council Member James.

Yes.

Council Member Jeffries. Yes. Council Member Johnson. Yes.

All right, very good, it passes. Don't bring your foolish behavior here, I love it. Thank you so much. Okay, that concludes the business portion of our agenda. City Manager Long, do you have any announcements? I have no announcements, Vice Mayor, thank you. Are there any announcements from committees? Councilmember Jeffries, are you saying yes?

Well, it's not a committee announcement, but I did want to mention that on Saturday, I invite my colleagues and the public to the Mill Creek Alliance has its annual Canoes and Conversations. It's at the Yellow Bridge in Northside. It's 9 o'clock. Part of it is, as the name suggests, conversation about the future of that area and what is happening. But also, there's a lot of fun activities. Go on a canoe ride. I think several of us are going fishing. other things, so come on out, 9 o'clock on Saturday.

Thank you, I think you're kicking it off at 9. Councilmember Owens, you and Councilmember Nolan are on a committee at about 11ish, I think?

On a panel, I think that's like at 11 o'clock, and so it's a little bit of a choose your adventure before, so I might join my colleague, Mr. Jeffries, fishing at 9.30.

All right, sounds good. And then I think Councilmember Johnson, you and I are doing something later at 11.30. So you all just come on out. It's going to be a great time. So we will get that scheduled together, right? Councilmember Albin, you might be. Councilmember James, you're on one of those. I think you're on a panel.

I don't think I'm on a panel, but I'm very excited to be doing the canoe tour.

Your name is on that agenda list for something.

Oh, well, I'm very excited. Check it out. I am so excited to participate and speak.

All right, good. Yeah, you're on the list. Okay, so everybody come on out and join us. Are there any other general announcements? Vice Mayor? Councilmember Albee?

Sure. Yeah, I'm sorry to miss that event. I've got a wedding to go to that day, so please enjoy the outdoors for me. A couple exciting things to announce. So this weekend, we kick off our Summer in Cincy activities, so Teen Skate Night on Friday night. Vice Mayor, we will be joining Dr. Kareem Moffitt at 7.30. Come on out and skate with us.

I will be the one lying across the skating rink needing help. Okay, go ahead.

As I've stated, I wiped out last year and had the bruise to show for it. Also, Saturday night we'll have our Wreck-It Nights at all four locations, so that'll be exciting. Come on out to that. And then one other event to remind people of is this weekend, specifically Friday, June 5th, is National Gun Violence Awareness Wear Orange Weekend. It's Wear Orange... for a couple different reasons. Orange is the color of gun violence prevention. Also in 2013, a girl in Chicago, Hadiyah Pendleton, was shot and killed, and this event grew out of a movement of her friends and loved ones pushing for common sense gun safety. So in Cincinnati, on Friday, June 5th, at 11 a.m. at Grant Park, Moms Demand Action along with Drawn Hunter and team at the Urban League are going to be hosting a Wear Orange kind of picnic event. I will be here at Planning Commission, so everyone else please go out and enjoy for me and honor the day. This weekend's a moment for all of us to take a beat and think about the survivors of gun violence and the work we all have left to do. I know this council, mayor, administration, we're all very committed to tackling gun violence head on, and this is a good weekend to reflect on the work still need to be done. So thank you all.

Thank you. Council Member Walsh, do you know the date and time for the Marvin Butts street naming?

Yes, this Monday, June 8th at 10.30 a.m.

Okay, thank you so much. And then Antonio Sanders is reminding us that the Anzora-Atkins street naming in Evanston is on June 10th at noon. That's on Blair at the intersection of Fernside, I believe, okay. All right, any other, Council Member Kramer-Ding?

Yes, first a correction. I mentioned item number 66. That was the Innovation Incubator Initiative. I should have thanked Joshua Pine for his work. I apologize for that. I got his last name wrong. So for those familiar with City Hall, you'll see what I did. And secondly, I just wanted to update everybody on the budget process. On Monday, my colleagues and perhaps I will bring in communications about their budget amendments, looking at the city manager's budget. the mayor's changes and any additions, subtractions that they would like to make. They will advocate about why they're making the changes, and that will all happen on Monday. We hope to vote two weeks after that.

Okay, thank you so much. Any other announcements? Sorry, Vice Mayor.

Hot off the press, I got texted live from an inside source that yesterday was City Manager Long's birthday. So happy birthday to the City Manager.

Happy birthday, all right.

Sorry I missed it the first time around, but we got you this time.

We're gonna have to bring back that sunshine committee. Liz Keating used to head that up, and so that was really good, because we're missing a lot. Okay, well if there are no further, oh my goodness, okay. Who's speaking now? Councilmember Walsh, back to you. You guys just, now everybody's so full of announcements. Go ahead.

Well, I do, I mean, I have, Councilmember Albee just stole it right out from underneath me. I just said, I'm like, whatever. Well, we'll deal with it later, Anna. So yes, happy birthday, Cheryl. But more importantly than Cheryl's birthday is that today is my chief of staff, Zach Blanford's birthday. So Zach in the back there hates attention, so make sure you give it to him. This is the first year in which Cheryl and Zach have not had, one of them have not had to have a budget hearing on their birthdays. This is a pretty big movement, Jeff Grammerding. And on that note, we were gonna save this for a couple weeks, but it is Zach's birthday, so I just wanna point out that Zach is joining the dark side and joining Cheryl on the administration side after the budget passes this year. So we'll miss him at my office, but you guys are still gonna get to work with him.

All right, your gain is our loss for sure. Thank you. Okay, last chance, any other announcements? All right, this meeting is adjourned.