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

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

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

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

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

Pages 21 and 22 of 87 [This itemand the next are from the minutes of the Historic Commission’s 03/27/2014meeting]:  “The Historical Society is nowwanting to move forward with the project which involves the painting of a muralon the vinyl siding on the rear of the building and raised lettering for a signattached to the vinyl siding. They are planning to paint the vinyl on theentire 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 wouldbe considered to be a sign, but the design submitted would be considered to beartwork…”

Typical working of the kangaroo court Historiccommission!!!  If any outsider owned thisbuilding and was contemplating work on its exterior, they would be demandingthat it be “restored” to its original historic splendor.  But, for the Historic Society, not only isthe 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 anelectronic reader board where the clock is currently located that would scrollmessages about events at Cincinnati State. Mr. Kohler noted that the downtowndesign standards recommends against scrolling or flashing sign messages. It doesallow for stationary messages that can periodically change. After discussion itwas agreed that the message could change every 10 seconds to allow for moreextended 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, NOHOW, NEVER, Not in THEIR downetowne!!” under threat of heavy fines andimprisonment!!!  I guess if the owner isan “insider” (such as Cinci State), it’s a whole different matter.  File this under “When is a scrolling sign nota scrolling sign?”!!!

Page 31 of 87:  Thisis the Staff Report for the South Main Street decorative lighting program.  What seems odd is the “FINANCIAL IMPACT”section.  The “FINANCIAL IMPACT” sectionof every other staff report that I can recall discusses the financial impact toTHE CITY!!!  This one discusses only thefinancial 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 bepaying with the regular street lights!!!