Budget, Finance & Governance Committee
Council Chambers, Room 300
Agenda — 29 items
- 1 AGENDA
- 2 EXECUTIVE SESSION
- 3 Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1)
- 4 MOTIONS
- 1. MOTION, submitted by Councilmembers Jeffreys, Cramerding, Nolan, Owens, Albi and Walsh, WE MOVE for City Council to begin the annual review of the City Manager. The review will be based on the ten categories listed below and will follow the timeline listed below. (BALANCE ON FILE IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE) (STATEMENT ATTACHED)
- 2. MOTION, submitted by Vice Mayor Kearney, WE MOVE that the administration prepare a report within 30 days: Indicating findings of a market analysis to increase the salary range of the Deputy Clerk position for the City of Cincinnati. (BALANCE ON FILE IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE).
- 7 PAYMENTS
- 3. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/22/2026, AUTHORIZING the payment of $1,325.58 to Broadcast Music, Inc. from Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) Recreation Special Activities Fund non-personnel operating budget account no. 050x199x1910x7452 as a moral obligation for outstanding charges for music licensing services.
- 4. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/22/2026, AUTHORIZING a payment of $8,740 from Greater Cincinnati Water Works Water Works Capital Fund capital improvement program project account no. 756x300x0000x7634x213354, “Grandin Ln/Grandin Rd/Torrence,” to United Title Services, LLC as a moral obligation for title services for water main infrastructure improvements in Hyde Park provided after January 1, 2025.
- 10 GRANTS
- 5. ORDINANCE submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/22/2026, AUTHORIZING the City Manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2025 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (ALN 16.607), to provide the Cincinnati Police Department with reimbursement of up to $263,250 for bulletproof vest body armor expenditures for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, which are estimated at $526,500; and AUTHORIZING the Director of Finance to deposit the grant funds into Law Enforcement Grant Fund 368, project account no. 26VEST.
- 6. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/22/2026, ESTABLISHING new capital improvement program project account no. 980x233x262346, “Gilbert Ave Safety Phase 1 Rehab PID 115756,” to provide resources for the Gilbert Avenue Safety Project Phase 1 (PID 115756) (the “Gilbert Avenue Safety Project”), a two-mile long Complete Street along Gilbert Avenue beginning at Court Street and ending at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, including but not limited to pavement rehabilitation, intersection and traffic signal improvements, bus stop improvements, shortened crosswalks, and protected bike lanes; AUTHORIZING the City Manager to apply for, accept, and appropriate grant resources of up to $3,800,000 from the Federal Highway Administration (ALN 20.205), administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation (“ODOT”), to newly established capital improvement program project account no. 980x233x262346, “Gilbert Ave Safety Phase 1 Rehab PID 115756,” to provide resources for the Gilbert Avenue Safety Project; AUTHORIZING the Director of Finance to deposit grant resources into capital improvement program project account no. 980x233x262346, “Gilbert Ave Safety Phase 1 Rehab PID 115756”; and AUTHORIZING the City Manager to do all things necessary to cooperate with the Director of ODOT to complete the Gilbert Avenue Safety Project.
- 7. ORDINANCE submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/28/2026, ESTABLISHING new capital improvement program project account no. 980x233x262347, “Little Miami Scenic Trail PID 115291 COTF,” to provide resources to extend the existing shared-use path along Beechmont Avenue from the intersection of Elstun Road to the intersection of Ranchvale Drive in the Mount Washington neighborhood; AUTHORIZING the City Manager to accept and appropriate a Clean Ohio Trails Fund grant of up to $412,500 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (“ODNR”) to the newly established capital improvement program project account no. 980x233x262347, “Little Miami Scenic Trail PID 115291 COTF”; AUTHORIZING the Director of Finance to deposit the grant resources into newly established capital improvement program project account no. 980x233x262347, “Little Miami Scenic Trail PID 115291 COTF”; and AUTHORIZING the City Manager to do all things necessary to complete the extension of the existing shared-use path along Beechmont Avenue from the intersection of Elstun Road to the intersection of Ranchvale Drive in the Mount Washington neighborhood, including but not limited to entering into any agreements necessary for the receipt and administration of the ODNR grant resources.
- 14 TRANSFERS AND APPROPRIATIONS
- 8. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/28/2026, AUTHORIZING the transfer and return to source Fund 304, “Community Development Block Grant,” of $3,100,184.29 to close out or decrease existing project accounts according to Section A of the attached Schedule of Transfer; and AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $3,100,184.29 from the unappropriated surplus of Fund 304, “Community Development Block Grant,” to various project accounts according to Section B of the attached Schedule of Transfer to ensure funding will be spent in a timely manner to support vital City programs.
- 16 USE OF TIF FUNDS
- 9. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/28/2026, AUTHORIZING the City Manager to execute a Funding Agreement with Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation to facilitate acquisition of real property located at 125 Calhoun Street in the CUF neighborhood of Cincinnati; AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $995,000 from the unappropriated surplus of CUF/Heights Equivalent Fund 487 (CUF/Heights TIF District) to the Department of Community and Economic Development CUF/Heights Equivalent Fund non-personnel operating budget account no. 487x164x7400 to provide resources for the acquisition of real property located at 125 Calhoun Street in the CUF neighborhood of Cincinnati; AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $30,000 from the unappropriated surplus of CUF/Heights Equivalent Fund 487 (CUF/Heights TIF District) to the Department of Community and Economic Development CUF/Heights Equivalent Fund personnel operating budget account no. 487x164x7100 to provide staffing resources in support of the acquisition of real property located at 125 Calhoun Street in the CUF neighborhood of Cincinnati; and further DECLARING expenditures from such project account related to the acquisition of real property located at 125 Calhoun Street in the CUF neighborhood of Cincinnati to be a public purpose and constitute a “Public Infrastructure Improvement” (as defined in Ohio Revised Code Section 5709.40(A)(8)) that will benefit and/or serve the District 8-Clifton Heights-University Heights-Fairview (CUF) District Incentive District, subject to compliance with Ohio Revised Code Sections 5709.40 through 5709.43. (Subject to the Temporary Prohibition List <https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/law/ethics/city-business>). <https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/law/ethics/city-business%3E).>
- 18 COMMUNICATIONS
- 10. COMMUNICATON, submitted by Councilmember Cramerding regarding FYI Memo: $5.42M Public Safety Funding Update.
- 20 CLOSEOUT
- 11. REPORT, dated 1/28/2026, submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, regarding the Department of Finance Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025 (unaudited).
- 12. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/28/2026, AUTHORIZING the policy of managing the Stabilization Funds for the City of Cincinnati.
- 13. MOTION, submitted by Councilmembers Walsh and Owens, WE MOVE to amend the 2026 waterfall update (Ordinance # 202600211) so that the General Fund Contingency Account remains at 2.0% in the Carryover Waterfall and the overall percentage of reserves remains at 16.7%, two months of regular general fund operating expenditures. WE FURTHER MOVE that the City Administration use expenditures as the basis for reserve fund balances beginning this year rather than revenues. For the purposes of the FY25 carryover process, that means calculating the reserve fund balances with the FY25 final expenditures of $569,480, 270.
- 14. MOTION, submitted by Vice Mayor Kearney, WE MOVE that the Stabilization Funds (the “Waterfall”) Policy is amended to remove the restriction to capital projects on the distribution of the last bucket of additional funds. Removing the restriction would allow City Council to allocate additional surplus funds where needed, including not limited to capital projects. (STATEMENT ATTACHED).
- 15. REPORT, dated 1/28/2026, submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, regarding FY 2025 Carryover to FY 2026 Report.
- 25 MOTION, submitted by Vice Mayor Kearney, WE MOVE that the administration prepare an analysis of the effects of amending the 2026 waterfall update (Ordinance #202600211) so that the General Fund Contingency Account remains at 2.0% in the carryover Waterfall and the overall percentage of reserves remains at 16.7%. WE FURTHER MOVE that the City Administration also analyze using expenditures as the basis for the reserve fund balances rather than revenues. The analysis should provide the pros and cons of a change of this nature and be made available within sixty days.
- 16. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Sheryl M. M. Long, City Manager, on 1/28/2026, AUTHORIZING the transfer of $2,761,207 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to the unappropriated surplus of Working Capital Reserve Fund 754 to increase the City’s working capital reserve; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $2,478,755 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2585, “Economic Downturn Reserve,” to increase the City’s emergency reserve; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $17,763,995 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2580, “Reserve for Weather Events, Other Emergency and One-Time Needs,” to provide resources for unanticipated emergencies, including those caused by unusual weather events, to increase the City’s reserve and for one-time needs; AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $5,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to Department of Community and Economic Development non-personnel operating budget account no. 050x164x7200 to provide resources for the Cincinnati Development Fund to use for affordable housing initiatives; AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $2,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to the City Manager’s Office fringe benefits operating budget account no. 050x101x7500 to provide a one-time contribution to address the City’s pension obligation to the Cincinnati Retirement System; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $500,000 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2535, “Reserve for Operating Budget Contingencies,” to provide resources for subsequent appropriation for one-time unforeseen operating needs that arise during the remainder of the current fiscal year; ESTABLISHING new balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2581 within the General Fund 050, "Reserve for Special Events Support," to provide resources for subsequent appropriation by Council for identified one-time support for special events or as part of the next annual budget cycle; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $500,000 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to newly established balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2581, “Reserve for Special Events Support,” to provide resources for subsequent appropriation by Council for identified one-time support for special events or as part of the next annual budget cycle; AMENDING Ordinance No. 323-2022 which established balance sheet reserve account no. 050x3440 within the General Fund 050, “Infrastructure and Capital Project Reserve,” to expand the purpose of the balance sheet reserve account to provide resources for identified one-time infrastructure and capital projects for City-owned assets, including but not limited to fleet and other equipment, facilities, and technology; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $1,006,417 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to balance sheet reserve account no. 050x3440, “Infrastructure and Capital Project Reserve,” to provide resources for subsequent appropriation by Council for identified one-time infrastructure and capital projects for identified urgent needs or as part of the next annual budget cycle; ESTABLISHING new balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2582 within the General Fund 050, "Housing and Economic Development Capital Project Reserve," to provide resources for subsequent appropriation by Council for identified one-time capital or permanent improvement projects supporting housing and economic development for identified urgent needs or as part of the next annual budget cycle; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $1,006,417 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to newly established balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2582, “Housing and Economic Development Capital Project Reserve,” to provide resources for subsequent appropriation by Council for identified one-time infrastructure and capital projects supporting housing and economic development for identified urgent needs or as part of the next annual budget cycle; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $1,063,294 from General Fund balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2580, “Reserve for Weather Events, Other Emergency and One-Time Needs,” to the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050; and AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $1,063,294 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to the City Manager’s Office non-personnel operating budget account no. 050x101x7400 to provide resources for Human Services funding, which was funded in FY 2025 but not encumbered before June 30, 2025.
- 17. ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY), submitted by Mayor Aftab Pureval, from Emily Smart Woerner, City Solicitor, AUTHORIZING the transfer of $200,000 from General Fund balance sheet reserve account no. 050x2581, “Reserve for Special Events Support,” to the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050; AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $200,000 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to City Manager’s Office General Fund non-personnel operating budget account no. 050x101x7400 to provide one-time special events support of $100,000 each for the Black Family Reunion and the Abercrumbie Group; AUTHORIZING the transfer of $1,006,417 from General Fund balance sheet reserve account no. 050x3440, “Infrastructure and Capital Project Reserve,” to the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050; and AUTHORIZING the transfer and appropriation of $1,006,417 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to capital improvement program project account no. 981x256x262505, “Fleet Replacements” to provide resources for additional replacement fleet vehicles.
- 28 ADJOURNMENT