5/6/2014 Council meeting

Items of interest from this week’s city council workbook:

Page 18 of 87 [This item and the next are from the minutes of the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 03/17/2014 meeting]:  “Discussion was held to share ideas on what we need to do to make the Canal District (new downtown name) as a Destination to bring people to the downtown. The Canal District area has been suggested to be from the Miami River to the railroad tracks.”

I guess this is the “new plan”, that is, to change the name of downtown.  Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”???  I guess that sewer gas by any other name would be as offensive.

“2014 Grants: process if we should continue doing one time a year Grant Awards in Spring was discussed; it was decided that this should be an ongoing process … It was also decided that instead of calling it a Grant Award that we will call it Marketing Promotion package.”

As far as the CVB goes, a grant by any other name is still just a way to channel precious taxpayers’ dollars into pet projects!!!  These two items are typical of City Hall thinking.  Just change the name and we can fool the people into thinking we are trying something new.

Pages 21 and 22 of 87 [This item and the next are from the minutes of the Historic Commission’s 03/27/2014 meeting]:  “The Historical Society is now wanting to move forward with the project which involves the painting of a mural on the vinyl siding on the rear of the building and raised lettering for a sign attached to the vinyl siding. They are planning to paint the vinyl on the entire house. … Ms. Mejias asked if the mural would be considered to be a sign. Mr. Kohler said that designs that are official logos of an organization would be considered to be a sign, but the design submitted would be considered to be artwork…”

Typical working of the kangaroo court Historic commission!!!  If any outsider owned this building and was contemplating work on its exterior, they would be demanding that it be “restored” to its original historic splendor.  But, for the Historic Society, not only is the dreaded vinyl siding just peachy…PAINTED VINYL SIDING is okay, too!!!  File this under “When is a sign not a sign?”!!!

“The proposal is to install an electronic reader board where the clock is currently located that would scroll messages about events at Cincinnati State. Mr. Kohler noted that the downtown design standards recommends against scrolling or flashing sign messages. It does allow for stationary messages that can periodically change. After discussion it was agreed that the message could change every 10 seconds to allow for more extended messages.”

If I recall correctly, when @the Square (owned by an “outsider”) wanted to install such a sign, the Historic Commission’s answer was “NO WAY, NO HOW, NEVER, Not in THEIR downetowne!!” under threat of heavy fines and imprisonment!!!  I guess if the owner is an “insider” (such as Cinci State), it’s a whole different matter.  File this under “When is a scrolling sign not a scrolling sign?”!!!

Page 31 of 87:  This is the Staff Report for the South Main Street decorative lighting program.  What seems odd is the “FINANCIAL IMPACT” section.  The “FINANCIAL IMPACT” section of every other staff report that I can recall discusses the financial impact to THE CITY!!!  This one discusses only the financial impact to the residents of South Main Street.  It neglects to mention that THE CITY (which is actually WE, THE PEOPLE) will be on the hook every year until the end of time for about $6,000 in extra utilities and maintenance over and above what we would be paying with the regular street lights!!!