Cincinnati parking

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.

Two dozen people spoke at a public hearing Monday night on a proposal to lease some of Cincinnati's parking facilities to a private operator.  And all but a couple of them were opposed to the plan. 

Chad Weldishofer owns Queen City Crossfit in Downtown.  He's concerned about the possibility of high rates at parking meters near his business.

Cincinnati’s City Manager has laid out a plan to let a public/private partnership lease and operate some the city’s parking garages and all the city’s parking meters.  

Now City Council has to decide whether to approve it.  

The city would partner with the Greater Cincinnati Port Authority and four other companies to operate the system.  

City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. addressed the issue of parking rate Tuesday during a presentation to Council’s Budget and Finance Committee.

Cincinnati's City Manager released more details Tuesday about 8 of the 9 companies that submitted proposals to operate some of the city's parking facilities. 

Milton Dohoney, Jr. said in a memo 3 of the firms are offering an upfront payment ranging from $100 to $150 million plus revenue sharing provisions. 

A city union will not oppose plans to privatize the operation of some Cincinnati parking facilities in exchange for pay raises and a pledge from the city not to layoff any bargaining unit employees for 3 years.  

The specifics are detailed in a memorandum of understanding between the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.  

25 union members will lose their positions in the parking division, but they'll be transitioned to other city jobs.