Wednesday, September 06, 2000
City questions port's powers
Authority to lead Banks project
By Robert Anglen and Dan Klepal
The Cincinnati Enquirer
City and county officials say a port authority is needed to lead the $248 million revitalization of Cincinnati's riverfront.
But a week before it is supposed to approve an expanded port authority, Cincinnati City Council is questioning how much authority the port really needs.
And rather than broadening its powers, a majority of council members Tuesday talked about how much to take away, including its ability to put tax questions on a ballot and limiting its power of eminent domain.
That has Riverfront Adviser Jack Rouse worried the port won't have the authority to change the riverfront from parking lots into a new neighborhood of shops, condos, parks and restaurants, known as the Banks development.
“Be very clear about the reason the full powers need to be granted to the proposed (Port Authority),” Mr. Rouse wrote to Councilman Phil Heimlich, who proposed to cut its taxing authority. “This is about long-term economic development.”
While riverfront development does not rely on new taxes, Mr. Rouse said, the authority needs to be given all of the power allowed by state law to attract world-class developers and compete with other Ohio cities.
“Please do not frame this as a tax issue,” he said. “That is very misleading, because ... as we have stated many times, the economic models we recommended do not rely on any new taxes.”
The Riverfront Advisers, a group of volunteers appointed by city and Hamilton County officials, first unveiled the Banks plan to the public in September. But their ideas on how to pay for it were rejected, in large part because they relied heavily on money from the sales tax increase passed by voters in 1996 to pay for two new stadiums.
The advisers' new deal would tap into state and federal dollars, then use the Port Authority for Brownfields Redevelopment to oversee the development. But Mr. Rouse said the city and county need to agree on the authority by the end of next week, or the development schedule will be interrupted.
But Mr. Heimlich said Tuesday he still did not understand why the authority would want taxing powers if there was no need to tax.
Members of the Community Development Committee questioned how much power the authority should be given to seize land.
“They would have the right to identify property and get it,” Councilwoman Minette Cooper said. “I have a problem with that.”
The council meets in regular session Sept. 13. But before then, Councilwoman Alicia Reece wants a full public hearing on the authority.
Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus said his board will likely approve the Port Authority proposal at a Sept. 13 meeting.
But he said it's difficult to understand how such serious issues could be raised at the last moment.
“Unfortunately, nothing goes smoothly at City Hall,” Mr. Bedinghaus said. “I thought the advisers made a compelling case that the taxing authority is needed.”
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