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., Acting City Solicitor Pat King 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:

COMMUNICATION, dated 2/26/2008 submitted by Vice Mayor Crowley, from S. Barbara Busch, Treasurer, South Cumminsville, Community United for Better Housing, 1814 Dreman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 regarding their housing concerns for South Cumminsville.

RESOLUTION, dated 3/5/2008 submitted by Councilmember Cole, EXPRESSING City Council's support for the 19th Annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of Aids.

COMMUNICATION, submitted by Councilmembers Cole, Ghiz and Vice Mayor Crowley from Mrs. E. Dian Johnson, 5303 Grafton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237, regarding having speed bumps placed on Grafton.

MOTION, dated 2/21/2008 submitted by Councilmembers Qualls, Cranley, Monzel, Thomas, Cole and Vice Mayor Crowley that the City of Cincinnati will construct the first phase of a streetcar system that would connect downtown Cincinnati to Uptown, an area that includes the University of Cincinnati, the hospital complex, Clifton and Mt. Auburn. The city administration will proceed to plan for a larger streetcar system that serves the neighborhoods of the City of Cincinnati. Such a system will be integrated into an expanded bus system as outlined in the SORTA Metro Moves plan and be consistent with any plans for future Light Rail Transit (LRT). Prior to final approval of the Phase I plan and undertaking any construction for Phase I, the city administration will complete the followng analysis and upon completion of each study, the administration will present its findings to the Mayor and the City Council for approval. (STATEMENT ATTACHED)

ORDINANCE, submitted by Councilmember Thomas, AMENDING the provisions of Section 701-42, "Possession or Sale of Wild or Potentially Dangerous Animals; Prohibitions," of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, in order to ensure that any entertainer, who engages in the use of wild or potentially dangerous animals to entertain the public, is properly licensed as required by the federal Animal Welfare Act.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 3/5/2008, authorizing the Board of Health to apply for and accept a grant from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health in the amount of $69,023.00 for the purpose of funding the development of a local Office of Minority Health within the Cincinnati Health Department.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 3/5/2008, authorizing the Board of Health to apply for and accept a grant of $5,000.00 from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health for the purpose of providing funding to coordinate the activities of the six local funded agencies for 2008 Minority Health Month.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 3/5/2008, authorizing the Board of Health to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $146,500.00 from the Ohio Department of Health - Safety Net Dental Care for the purpose of funding to renovate the Millvale Clinic relocation site at Hopple Street to meet the needs of dental patients.

ORDINANCE (EMERGENCY) submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 3/5/2008, authorizing the Administration to do all things necesary to cooperate with the Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in order to complete the HAM-50-22.89 pavement rehabilitation project to be included in ODOT's 2008 Urban Paving Program.

ORDINANCE submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, on 3/5/2008, modifying the provisions of Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 517, "Commercial and Heavy Vehicles" by amending existing Section 517-37, "Excess Load; Moving Permit," in order to establish an annual excess load permit for businesses in Cincinnati that regularly engage in the operation of excess load vehicles on local streets immediately adjacent to their business.

REPORT, dated 3/5/2008, submitted by Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, regarding the Department of Finance report for the month ended January 31, 2008. (REPORT ON FILE IN CLERK'S OFFICE)

COMMUNICATION, submitted by the Clerk of Council, from Terry Poole, Superintendent, Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, 6606 Tussing Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-9005 regarding Transfer of Ownership Application, Permit #7409623, Class D-1-2-3-3A-6, RS Cafe, Inc. dba East End Cafe, 1st Floor, Basement & Patio, 4003 Eastern Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.

COMMUNICATION, submitted by the Clerk of Council from James P. Bally, Attorney, Legal Section, Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, 6606 Tussing Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-9005, regarding New Permit Application, Permit #0986401-0005, Class C-1-2, Stoney L. Brooks dba Stoney L. Brooks, 1626 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Hearing to be held on March 31, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in Room B.

COMMUNICATION, dated 2/29/2008 submitted by the Clerk of Council, from James P. Bally, Legal Section, Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, 6606 Tussing Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-9005 regarding New Permit Application, Permit #2391972, Class C-1-2, EZ Market, Inc., 5941 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224. Hearing will be held on March 31, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in Room B.

REGISTRATION, (UPDATED) submitted by the Clerk of Council for Legislative Agent Todd A. Ward, Consultant, 2500 Meyerhill Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.

REGISTRATION, submitted by the Clerk of Council for Legislative Agent Todd A. Ward, Consulting, President, Forward Consulting, LLC., 2500 Meyerhill Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.

REGISTRATION, (UPDATED) submitted by the Clerk of Council for Legislative Agent Stephen L. Schwalbe, Senior VP Strategy, Public Affairs and Communication, 619 Oak Street, 7th Floor, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206-1690.

REGISTRATION, submitted by the Clerk of Council, from Legislative Agent Stephen L. Schwalbe, Hospital Administrator, Senior VP Strategy, Public Affairs and Communications, 619 Oak Street, 7th Floor, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206-1690.

REGISTRATION, submitted by the Clerk of Council from Legislative Agent Louise S. Hughes, Manager, External Relations, P & G, Director Ohio Government and Community Relations, 2 P&G Plaza (TN-2), Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

STATEMENT, submitted by the Clerk of Council formally filing a copy of the Financial Disclosure Statement for Gerald (Jeff) Berding, Councilmember.