Jay Hanselman

Update: Cincinnati Council Member Chris Seelbach Friday released a different plan to balance the city's budget without leasing the city's parking facilities. 

He posted the plan on his Facebook page.

His plan includes nearly $5 million in spending cuts, redirects anticipated casino revenues to help the troubled general fund, and puts two issues on the ballot for voters to consider. 

Jay Hanselman takes a look back at some of the week's top stories.

Cincinnati’s Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the city manager’s proposal to lease some parking facilities Friday at its regular meeting. City Council could vote on the plan next week.

There was a final public hearing last night with about two-dozen speakers offering their thoughts, and all but four were opposed to the proposal.

Tabitha Woodruff is with the Ohio Public Interest Research Group. She said the organization is happy the city has shared detailed information about the lease agreement.

Cincinnati City Council ended its dispute with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority Wednesday by approving Metro's operating budget for the remaining four-months of the city's fiscal year.  

Council had been approving monthly budgets because of a disagreement with the SORTA, which manages the bus system, over how the city's transit tax can be spent.  

The SORTA Board argued it was only for Metro purposes and had filed a lawsuit concerning the issue.   

The city countered it could be used for any transit related expense.  

Cincinnati officials and Avondale residents will likely have a chance to meet next week with the firm that wants to buy nearly 750 units of HUD-supported Section 8 housing in the neighborhood.  

City Council was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution opposing the sale.  But the item was held because of the planned meeting.  

Kathy Schwab is with the Greater Cincinnati Local Initiatives Support Corporation.