An unnamed council chair introduced a motion to set aside $2,000,000 from the city's reserve fund to address public-safety concerns, but the council agreed to hold the item for one week to allow members to propose alternatives before a planned vote next Monday. The motion would create a reserve pot for measures including police overtime, a youth curfew center and lighting and camera upgrades.

Why it matters: Council members said a short-term infusion is aimed at reversing a perception that downtown is less safe and at supporting businesses and commuters who rely on a stable downtown environment. Officials described the proposal as drawing from the city's reserve (described in the meeting as the 'waterfall') and urged colleagues to weigh alternatives before final approval.

During the discussion the chair said the initial pot was $2,000,000 and that departments and the administration later identified a longer list of options valued between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000, prompting the council to consider how best to allocate funds. The chair identified several line items discussed in the proposal: $1,500,000 for increased police visibility and overtime; $500,000 to activate a curfew center in partnership with '7 Hills in Lighthouse'; and funds for street lighting and cameras. The chair described the $500,000 curfew-center figure as the capacity amount (the chair said the center's capacity is about 20 uses per night) and said the administration expects actual use to be far lower.

Council member Mika Owens said she appreciated the motion and called out technology investments, including license-plate readers, as a way to solve property crimes faster. Councilman Mark Jeffries noted the overtime figure in the motion exceeds what the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) had requested and that any unused overtime funds by year-end would be returned to other public-safety needs, such as more lighting or cameras. Jeffries also supported expanding the downtown ambassador program, saying the proposal would add nine ambassadors'five downtown and four in Over-the-Rhine'to operate seven days a week.

Another council speaker thanked the mayor's office and administration for a summer response to increased incidents and requested that CPD and the administration be present at the committee meeting next week to answer questions about capacity, training timelines and how quickly newly funded items could be deployed. Council members noted that funding had already been allotted for 150 additional officers to be trained this year but that training takes time.

The council did not vote on the motion. The chair said colleagues have one week to propose alternatives and that a vote is planned when the item returns to the agenda next Monday. Until then, the item is postponed.

Discussion vs. decision: The meeting record shows a discussion of specific spending options, direction to allow a one-week comment period for alternative proposals and no formal appropriation or vote; the matter was postponed for future action.

Additional context: Speakers framed the proposal as drawing from reserves with the expectation reserves will be replenished at year-end; council members also raised prevention steps, including community outreach workers and crime prevention through environmental design, in addition to enforcement and technology tools.

Ending: The council held the item to permit additional proposals and directed staff and members to return with details next week for a recorded vote.