Council accepts federal grants and energy-credit proceeds for public-safety, health and energy projects

Cincinnati City Council on Tuesday approved ordinances to accept federal grants and to appropriate energy-credit proceeds for city energy projects, moves that city leaders said will fund public-safety, public-health monitoring and energy-efficiency work.

Council approved an ordinance to apply for and accept up to $60,000 from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for infectious-disease and wastewater testing. Members also approved a $1.5 million earmark from the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) that the administration said will support the city emergency communications center. A separate DOJ technology-and-equipment grant application was also approved.

Council member Owens thanked the administration and called the energy-credit and retrofit investments "a very significant, just smart investment considering the rising cost of energy right now," saying the work will save money as facilities are retrofitted.

All three grant-related items and the energy-credit ordinance passed on roll-call votes. Council members noted the awards are largely contingent on grant approvals and federal requirements; staff said the NACCHO award would fund city testing programs while the DOJ funds are earmarked for equipment and emergency communications upgrades.

The ordinances do not themselves appropriate large operating budgets beyond the grant amounts; administration staff will return with implementation plans and specifics about how federal grant requirements will be met.