Council convened in Council Chamber at 6:00 p.m., Mayor Mallory Presiding. Present were Councilmembers Berding, Bortz, Cranley, Cole, Crowley, Ghiz, Monzel, Tarbell and Thomas (9)

Also in attendance were City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. Solicitor J. Rita McNeil and Clerk of Council Melissa Autry

Council observed a moment of silent prayer and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

There being no objection, Minutes of the previous session Council were ordered Filed.

Items on the Council Calendar and items presented by-leave were disposed of as follows:

RESOLUTION, dated 2/20/2007 submitted by Mayor Mallory, commending the Youth in City Government Program for providing the highly worthwhile community service of enabling outstanding area students to closely observe the working of City government.

COMMUNICATION, dated 1/16/2007 submitted by Councilmember Berding, from Otto M. Budig, Jr., Chairman, Cincinnati Ballet, requesting an extension of the City's abatement.

ORDINANCE, dated 2/17/2007, submitted by Councilmember Cole, Authorizing the transfer and appropriation of the sum of $46,840.00 from the unappropriated surplus of General Fund 050 to Department of Community Development Account No. 050x162x7200, for the purpose of increasing the administrative budget for Invest in Neighborhoods and funding the 2007 Neighborhood Support Program contract.

COMMUNICATION, dated 1/30/2007, submitted by Councilmember Crowley, from Tim Jeckering President, Northside Community Council, P.O. Box 23324, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223, regarding the construction of the $15-20 million CPS Montessori School at Schwab Site.

MOTION, dated 2/21/2007 submitted by Councilmembers Thomas, Crowley, Cranley, Ghiz and Vice Mayor Tarbell, that the City Administration assign a payroll slot for the Police and Firefighters Insurance Association to provide for voluntary payroll deduction. (STATEMENT ATTACHED)

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/22/2007, approving and authorizing the execution of a Community Reinvestment Area Tax Exemption Agreement with The Stratford Companies, LLC, thereby authorizing real property tax exemption for a period of fifteen years in connection with construction of a continuing care retirement community located at 5395 and 5457 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45227, at an estimated cost of $91,325,600.00 in the City of Cincinnati Community Reinvestment Area.

ORDINANCE, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/22/2007, modifying the provisions of Chapter 414, Valet Parking, of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, by amending Section 414-7, Valet Parking Board, 414-11, Minimum Requirements of a Valet Parking Business, 414-13, Revocation or Modification of Franchise, and enacting new Section 414-25, Appeals.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/22/2007, authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the approximate amount of $400,000 for the purpose of further enhancing and maintaining the City's Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS); and further REPEALING Ordinance #348-2004.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/22/2007, authorizing the City Manager to apply and accept a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $232,300 for the purpose of further enhancing and maintaining the City's Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS).

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, regarding Tax Incentive Review Council status of property tax agreements.

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, regarding a request for additional information on Defined Community Boundaries and Universal By-laws for Cincinnati's Community Councils. (SEE DOCUMENT #200601001 FOR PREVIOUS REPORT)

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on a communication from the State of Ohio, Division of Liquor Control, advising of a permit application for Dukester, LLC DBA The Dukester, LLC, 7733 Reading Road Units A4-A8. (#2339133, New, D3A) [Objections: None]

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on a communication from the State of Ohio, Division of Liquor Control, advising of a permit application for Echo Restaurant, Inc. DBA Echo Restaurant, 3510 Edwards Road. (#2421074, Transfer of Ownership and Location, D5, D6) [Objections: None]

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on a motion dated 1/30/07, submitted by Councilmembers Thomas, Berding, Cranley, Tarbell, Ghiz, Monzel, Crowley, Cole and Bortz, that the City Administration work with the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) Committee to begin the process of developing a strategic plan to reduce gun violence in the City of Cincinnati. (SEE DOCUMENT #200700127 FOR ADOPTED MOTION)

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, regarding NBDSF funding requests for Over-the-Rhine, West End, and Camp Washington.

REPORT, dated 2/22/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, regarding the Department of Finance reports for the month ended January 31, 2007. (REPORT ON FILE IN CLERK'S OFFICE)

RESOLUTION submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/22/2007, expressing the support of the Council of the City of Cincinnati for the rail passenger service provided by Amtrak.

COMMUNICATION, dated 2/12/2007 submitted by the Clerk of Council, from Jacqueline Panioto, Clerk Board of County Commissioners, Room 603, County Administration Building, 138 E. Court Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, adopting a resolution appointing a member to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority.

RESOLUTION, dated 2/13/2007 submitted by the Clerk of Council, from J. Rita McNeil, City Solicitor, declaring the intent to appropriate to public use property required for the improvement of Red Bank Road.

STATEMENT, submitted by the Clerk of Council, formally filing a copy of the Financial Disclosure Statement for Ralph G. Renneker, Director, Regional Computer Center.

STATEMENT, submitted by the Clerk of Council, formally filing a copy of the Financial Disclosure Statement for David C. Crowley, Councilmember.

STATEMENT, submitted by the Clerk of Council, formally filing a copy of the Financial Disclosure Statement for Kenneth E. Glenn, Director, CCA.

MOTION, (AMENDED) dated 2/22/2007 submitted by Councilmembers Crowley, Thomas, Cranley, and Vice Mayor Tarbell, that the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Opening Day Parade and the Heart Mini Marathon pay invoiced amount from 2006 plus 15 percent. We Further Move that the associated costs not to exceed $20,000, will come from the Arts and Culture Capital Fund and the administration will work closely with Council to identify the source of the remainder of funds (an estimated $20,000). We Further Move that the City administration report to Council on the actual adminstrative cost of the following events: St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Opening Day Parade and the Mini Heart Marathon these events include the Black Family Reunion, Riverfest, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Taste of Cincinnati, Juneteenth and the Ault Park 4th of July Fireworks. We Further Move that if contracts have not been signed that the events use Cincinnati Police & Fire Services. (STATEMENT ATTACHED)

ORDINANCE, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 1/24/2007, modifying the provisions of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, Chapter 407 by amending Section 407-53, Taximeter Fare, Distance Traveled in Service, Waiting Time, to provide for certain fare increases.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY), submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 1/24/2007, amending Section 515-4 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, "Parking ticket, service and liability," for the purpose of implementing changes necessitated by the impending use of hand-held electronic parking citation equipment.

ORDINANCE submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager on 2/7/2007, repealing Section 910-11 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, "Public Disturbance; Second Response Fee", based on the limited number of violations filed under Section 910-11, and further based on the current availability of alternative methods for pursuing individuals who may be in violation of the public disturbance provisions of Chapter 910 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, "Public Order", which alternate methods provide for more efficient and cost-effective enforcement.

RESOLUTION, dated 1/31/2007 submitted by Councilmember Thomas, EXPRESSING the support of City Council for the work of the joint jail taskforce created by the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, established to monitor ongoing critical jail issues in the region, including the current overcrowding of inmates, adoption of effective sentencing alternatives and provision of adequate mental health services to the jail population.

MOTION, dated 02/05/2007, submitted by Councilmember Cole that the Administration take the necessary steps to sign the 2007 NSP contract with Invest in Neighborhoods for the duration of 7 1/2 months retroactive to January 1, 2007 for an amount which would keep NSP funding at current levels and give Invest in Neighborhoods and administrative overhead of $75,000. Also that the contracts for the Community Councils be retroactive to January 1, 2007. And that an ordinance be drafted that allocates an additional $45,000 to fund Invest in Neighborhoods at its full funding level. This money shall come from general fund or anthem revenue that has been earmarked to supplement Capital projects. $45,000 shall then be restored during the Capital Improvement Program Sunset Ordinance in late spring 2007.