Council convened in Council Chamber at 2:00 p.m., Mayor Mallory Presiding. Present were Councilmembers Berding, Bortz, Cole, Cranley, Crowley, Ghiz, Monzel, Qualls and Thomas (9)

Also in attendance were City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Solicitor 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:

ORDINANCE, (EMERGENCY) submitted by Councilmember Thomas, NOTWITHSTANDING the provisions of Chapter 1413, Manufacturing Districts of the Cincinnati Zoning Code, authorizing the Chief Building Official to issue any necessary building permits and a certificate of occupancy for use of the building at 1709 Central Avenue as a religious assembly.

RESOLUTION, dated 1/11/2008, submitted by Councilmember Thomas, EXPRESSING the support of the Council of the City of Cincinnati for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act by Congress, which will safeguard employees' ability to make their own decisions about forming a union, provide for first contract mediation and arbitration and establish meaningful penalties when employers violate workers' rights.

ORDINANCE submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/6/2008, authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept a grant up to the amount of $4,660,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) related to fiscal year 2006 for the purpose of allowing the Southwestern Ohio Southeastern Indiana Northern Kentucky (SOSINK) regional planning committee to assist the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Urban Area with Homeland Security and emergency preparedness by providing assistance to the Cincinnati Fire Department and AUTHORIZING the establishment of UASI Grant Fund 476.

ORDINANCE submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/6/2008, authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept a grant up to the amount of $5,240,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) related to fiscal year 2007 for the purpose of allowing the Southwestern OHio Southeastern Indiana Northern Kentucky (SOSINK) regional planning committee to assist the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Urban Area with Homeland Security and emergency preparedness by providing assistance to the Cincinnati Fire Department.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/6/2008, authorizing the transfer of the sum of $250,000.00 from existing Strategic Housing Initiatives Program project account 980x162x03417 to a newly created Rockford Woods project account number 980x162x03494 for the purpose of funding for the upgrade of private streets to public standards, for the payment of legal expenses, and for the capitalization of the Rockford Woods Homeowners Association.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 2/6/2008, approving and authorizing the execution of a Community Reinvestment Area LEED Tax Exemption Agreement with Burnet Avenue Associates, LLC, thereby authorizing real property tax exemption for a period of fifteen years in connection with the construction of a 46,000 square-foot, three-story office and retail building to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certified Silver, Gold or Platinum standards, as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council located at 3440 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati Ohio 45206, at an estimated cost of $7,780,000.00 in the City of Cincinnati Community Reinvestment Area.

REPORT, dated 2/6/2008, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on a motion, dated 5/7/2007 submitted by Councilmember Berding that the Administration investigate the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance and report to Council on whether or not the City of Cincinnati could accrue significant savings from participating in the alliance.(STATEMENT ATTACHED)

REPORT, dated 2/6/2008, 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 1901 Vine Street, LLC DBA (None listed), 1901 Vine Street. (#6424682, New, D5) [Objections: Department of Buildings & Inspections]

REPORT, dated 2/6/2008, 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 TEWNC LLC DBA Grammers Bar, 1440 Walnut Street. (#8769462, Transfer of Ownership & Location, D5, D6) [Objections: None]

REGISTRATION, (UPDATED) submitted by the Clerk of Council from Legislative Agent Marie Gemelli-Carroll, Consultant, Starboard Strategy Corp., 135 Garfield Place, Studio 425, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 1/30/2008, amending Section 1106-31 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, "Appeal,"; AMENDING Section 1106-99, "Penalties," to include violation of any provision of Chapter 1106, "General and Specialty Contractors," as a Class D Civil Offense; and further AMENDING Section 1501(a) of the Cincinnati Municipal Code to include a violation of Chapter 1106 as a Class D Civil Offense subject to a fifth percent(50%) reduction for correction of the violation.

ORDINANCE, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 1/30/2008, modifying the provisions of Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 1106, "General and Specialty Contractors" by amending existing Section 1106-5, "OCILB Licensed Specialty Contractor Registration Required," Section 1106-7, "OCILB Licensed Specialty Contractor Registration Requirements," Section 1106-9, "Building Construction Contractor Registration Required," Section 1106-11, "Building Construction Contractor Registration Requirements," Section 1106-13, "Home Improvement Contractor Registration Required," Section 1106-15, "Home Improvement Contractor Registration Requirements," Section 1106-21, "Rules and Regulations," Section 1106-23, "Registration Fees," and Section 1106-27, "Suspension and Revocation of Registration" in order to reflect changes to the City of Cincinnati's organizational structure for consistency purposes.

REPORT, dated 12/19/2007, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on a communication, dated 11/14/2007 submitted by Councilmember Cole, from the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati, 415 Glensprings Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-2357, Phone: 513-851-6300, presenting a report that focus on their concerns about general and specialty Contractors' Registration.