BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati City Council members who want the new Reds ballpark at Broadway Commons have offered the Reds a $20 million carrot, but they don't have the strength to wield a stick.
Five members of the nine-member council have signed off on a $20-million incentive to try to lure the Cincinnati Reds away from the riverfront and to Broadway Commons.
But there are not five votes on council to wield what might be the city's most effective leverage tool: to withhold transfer of city-owned land for construction of a Reds park at the riverfront site known as The Wedge.
Republican Councilwoman Jeanette Cissell signed all seven motions outlining the $20 million incentive package, but she said Wednesday that she would not support '"holding the land on the riverfront hostage."
"I don't think it needs to come to that," Mrs. Cissell said. The incentive package was devised by Democratic Councilman Todd Portune and was supported at Wednesday's council meeting by Mrs. Cissell, Mayor Roxanne Qualls and council members Tyrone Yates and Bobbie Sterne.
The package, aimed at trying to influence the negotiations between Hamilton County and the Reds over the new stadium, includes provisions that would:
Abate taxes for as many as 30 years instead of the 20 already agreed upon. Valued at $14 million.
Waive city permit fees for construction. Valued at $1 million. Improve streetscapes and infrastructure in the Broadway Commons area. Valued at $5 million.
Improve lighting in the Broadway Commons area.
Both Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus, who favors the Wedge site, and the Reds responded coolly to the council majority's offer when it was unveiled at a press conference Tuesday.
At Wednesday's council meeting, the five council members asked City Manager John Shirey to begin drawing up formal language on the incentive package for council to act on.
Mr. Portune said Wednesday that it "is not yet necessary" for council to use its potential leverage in withholding riverfront land for the Wedge site.
"That's a bridge we don't have to cross at this point," Mr. Portune said. "What I'm hoping is that the incentive package, which is offered in good faith by five council members, shows the county and the Reds that there are real economic advantages in locating at Broadway Commons."
Four council members -- Republicans Phil Heimlich and Charles Winburn and Democrats Dwight Tillery and Minette Cooper -- did not sign off on the incentive package.
