The Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati announces support for reforms to the Cincinnati City Charter that have been recommended by the Cincinnati Charter Review Task Force. 

The Charter Committee has voted to formally endorse the four proposed charter amendments that are recommended by the Charter Review Task Force, and Charter Committee President, Colin Groth, states, “we look forward to running a strenuous campaign in support of these amendments this fall.” 

“These are all common sense, good government changes and we expect that they will receive overwhelming support if voters are given the opportunity to learn why they are important and what they accomplish,” Groth added. 

In order for citizens to be given the opportunity to consider these amendments in November, at least six members of Cincinnati City Council need to vote to place them on the ballot. The Charter Committee is asking all of its endorsed candidates to support the measures. Council members Kevin Flynn, who spearheaded creation of the committee, Yvette Simpson, Amy Murray and Vice Mayor David Mann have all been elected with a Charter endorsement. 

“These recommendations are an expression of Charter’s principles of ‘Good Government’ that will ensure independence, accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility in city government,” said Colin Groth, president of the Charter Committee. “These recommendations are not a reflection on any current elected or appointed city official but rather a way of correcting the unintended consequences of the 1999 Charter Reform.” 

The Charter Committee wishes to thank members of the Charter Review Task Force for their thoughtful analysis of the Cincinnati Charter. The recommendations proposed by this non-partisan group are the result of thousands of hours of research and discussion that were generously given by civic volunteers between December 2013 and July 2015. 

The Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati today announced their endorsements for the November, 2014 election. Charter endorsements were determined evaluating each candidate and issue against the Charter Principles:

 Transparency                          Accountability

 Fiscal Responsibility               Equity

 Regional Cooperation             Independence

 Continuous Improvement

The Charter Committee is proud to announce their support for the following candidates and issues.

CANDIDATES

Mike Mezher for Hamilton County Auditor

Mike Mezher is a change agent candidate who will work hard to bring a fresh perspective to the Auditor’s office. The Charter Committee was encouraged by Mike’s support for regional cooperation and shared services and was impressed with his ideas on how the Auditor’s office can better serve the residents of Hamilton County. The Charter Committee thanks current Auditor Dusty Rhodes for his service throughout the years; however the Committee feels strongly that new ideas are needed in our County offices. 

Jim Tarbell for Hamilton County Commissioner

Jim Tarbell’s passion for the Greater Cincinnati region and desire to make an impact has had a profound effect on Hamilton County for decades. As a member of the Hamilton County Commission, Tarbell could serve as a bridge builder to local municipalities and work to bring a regional perspective to the County seat. When others saw Over-the-Rhine as a community liability, Tarbell saw a regional asset that needed to be protected. His knowledge on the history of our community and the opportunities to work better together make him an ideal candidate for the Hamilton County Commission.

Colin Groth, Charter Committee President said, “These two candidates represent an opportunity to shake things up in County Government. We see these individuals as agents of change to focus on regional, fiscally responsible governance in southwest Ohio.”

ISSUES:

In addition to their endorsement of candidates, the Charter Committee supports the following issues: 

Yes on: 

 Issue 1 – Cincinnati Public Schools Renewal

 Issue 6 – Family Services and Treatment Renewal.

 Issue 7 – Health & Hospitalization levy: 

 Issue 8 – Union Terminal Levy

 Issue 11 – Proposed Charter Revision City of Cincinnati 

Bob Dehner, chair of the Charter Ballot Issues and Endorsements Committee said, “These issues support our core services, our historic sites and infrastructure, and effective governance in our City. Each issue is critical to the continued improvement of our region.” 

Groth continued, , “These endorsements represent another year of Charter’s rededication to our principles. We will continue to support issues and candidates that do not divide people along partisan lines but bring our region together around good governance for our citizens.”

The Charter Committee will release additional information regarding the candidates and issues we are supporting in the weeks preceding the November election. To learn more about the Charter Committee and our Statement of Principles visit:

https://www.facebook.com/chartercommittee
www.chartercommittee.org
@CharterCommitte

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The Charter Committee fully supported the initial plan to renovate both Union Terminal and Musical Hall. The plan, a result of countless hours of research and collaboration was squandered under the disguise of fiscal responsibility. The people should have been given an opportunity to vote their conscience and that opportunity was denied.

The private and philanthropic sector got it right, but our county government got it wrong. The City of Cincinnati administration got it right, but our county government dropped the ball. Decisions of this magnitude should be decided based on data, not fear or ideology. They should be debated in public, not in recess. Fiscal responsibility in government is exemplified when there is a mix of public and private accountability to get things done. We had that in our sight and the opportunity was wasted.  The people deserved an opportunity to vote as it was originally presented.

While the verdict is disappointing, it should strengthen our resolve to find solutions to carry on the momentum and progress that our region is experiencing. While we are frustrated with the lack of leadership shown by our elected officials, we should use this as motivation to get involved and make our voices heard. We should expect better and it starts with each and every one of us, today.

Read more here.

The Icon Vote: Poor Governance at its Finest

The Charter Committee fully supported the initial plan to renovate both Union Terminal and Musical Hall. It's disappointing that the County Commissioners voted to remove Music Hall from the plan. It was poor governance at its finest.

Continuous Improvement & Data-Driven Solutions - How were the numbers from the single icon plan developed? Were they based on quality data?  Was the expertise of the publicly commissioned, professional Cultural Facilities Task Force (CFTF) utilized? Or the expertise of Hines, Inc., the internationally respected real estate firm hired by the County to vet the Cultural Facilities Task Force plan or the Tax Levy Review Committee who agreed that best practices were used in developing the estimates, and suggested that now was the time to move forward with the combined plan.  Ironically, Hines recommended adding $1.1m to the Union Terminal plan yet Commissioners Monzel and Hartmann reduced the amount of funding in their plan.  Decisions of this magnitude should be decided based on data.

Transparency – The recess to consider the Union Terminal-only plan, the details of which still have not been disclosed publicly, offline and out of sight was inappropriate and causes distrust of government. Decisions should be debated and decided in public.   

Fiscal Responsibility - It's unclear if the Monzel/Hartmann Union Terminal-only plan is financially responsible or if any construction or financial experts have vetted the numbers.  In addition, it puts at risk tens of millions of dollars in private investment, including the possibility that no private dollars have been committed to the Monzel/Hartmann plan.  It also jeopardizes the City’s financial commitment to because its approval was contingent upon approval of the CFTF plan.

Regional Cooperation – With leadership from Mayor Cranley, the City and County had been working cooperatively on a compromise solution. Instead of providing an opportunity to create a solid working relationship moving forward, yesterday’s vote strengthens the notion that there is a constant battle between the city and the county, instead of moving us towards a regional mindset.

The vote yesterday was not equitable.  It does not give citizens the right to decide for themselves if these two icons are a priority for this region.  It showed a lack of accountability in governance.  The Cultural Facilities Task Force worked in good faith for nine months to develop a comprehensive plan that balances the needs of Music Hall and the Museum Center with the financial ask of the taxpayers.  By waiting until the last possible meeting to make a decision or even present an alternative of their own, the commissioners eliminated the ability of the public to explore other options.  Neither citizens nor the Task Force ever asked the County Commissioners to endorse a sales tax increase to support Music Hall or Union Terminal.  They simply asked that the item be placed on the ballot to allow the taxpayers, residents and voters of Hamilton County to determine if they wanted to pay an additional tax.

Commissioners Monzel and Hartmann’s vote puts a plan on the ballot that lacks the basic principles of good government, risks millions of dollars in private investment and threatens future public-private partnerships between the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and private sector. 

Finally, the Commissioners sited a number of items yesterday that are, in their view, more pressing needs for the County.  We look forward to plans to address those needs, including how the County suggests paying for them, being presented soon for the public to review and provide input.

As the Mayor and Council prepare to interview candidates and select Cincinnati’s next City Manager, the questions arises, what should we be looking for in a City Manager?  The City Manager runs the city.  A City Manager oversees an annual operating budget over $350 million dollars, the delivery of basic city services, and the development and construction of major projects throughout the city.  Candidates should have significant experience in management. 

Independence: The City Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the city and that person should have both the appearance and the practice of independently running the city on a day-to-day basis.  The Mayor and Council per our Charter should act as the Chair of the Board and the Board of Directors leaving the City Manager to make personnel decisions and to present projects in a clear and unbiased manner.

Accountability: A City Manager needs to be held accountable and he needs to hold each department and staff member accountable.  In order to do this, the city needs to do a better job of tracking data, measuring outcomes, and using those tools to improve the delivery of city services.  Creating accountability measures should be a priority for the City Manager.

Transparency: A City Manager needs to be able to both run the day-to-day operations and effectively and accurately report to the public, the Mayor, and Council.  Deals should not be made behind closed doors. Details should not be withheld. The public should be able to trust their government.

Fiscal Responsibility: The budget process has typically been contentious and flawed. A priority for a new City Manger should be to create and implement a budget process that will be followed.  It needs to be clear how to participate, what participation can affect, when the budget will be presented, and when Council will vote.  Processes for awarding money to agencies, for increasing or decreasing departmental funding, and for prioritizing projects should be clearly defined and followed. 

Regional Cooperation: There are shared service opportunities throughout this region that could save taxpayer dollars, and increase the effectiveness of city government.  The next City Manager should present to Council on a regular basis shared service opportunities for an up or down vote to create greater regional cooperation and strengthen this region.

Equity:  While some areas of Cincinnati have seen improvements, the success has not been shared. The City Manager should ensure that all projects are fair and impartial by creating, updating, and following agreed upon processes for the distribution of funds, contracting and prioritization of projects.

Continuous Improvement: A strong commitment to continuous improvement of city services should be achieved by implementing a new system for tracking and utilizing data. The City Manager should not be satisfied with business as usual, but constantly questioning and challenging assumptions by collecting, analyzing, and making decisions based on data.  Processes in every department could be improved by defining key metrics and making administrative decisions based on work to improve those outcomes over time.

The Gumption Committee of the Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati announced today that Roxanne Qualls will receive the Charles P. Taft Civic Gumption Award.

Click here for event details

The purpose of the Charles P. Taft Civic Gumption Award is to call attention to those people who consistently uphold the same principles as Charlie Taft.  It is an award of great honor that we bestow on individuals, living or dead, who tirelessly and fearlessly work for the well being of our city.

Taft was known as a reformer who never quit reforming.  His independence and commitment to do what he believed was right, even in the face of adversity and criticism, remain legendary.  Charlie's civic gumption contributed to the civic fabric of Cincinnati. 

This biennial event celebrates the accomplishments of leaders in our community who exhibit courage and common sense in leadership.

Roxanne Qualls served as Mayor of the City of Cincinnati from 1993-1999 and as a member of City Council from 1991-1999 and from 2007-2013.

She previously taught in the Masters of Public Administration program at Northern Kentucky University and served as Director of Public Leadership Initiatives until December 2007.

Qualls also served as director of the Cincinnati office of Ohio Citizen Action, executive director of Women Helping Women, and the director of the Northern Kentucky Rape Crisis Center.

Throughout her life, Roxanne Qualls has displayed the courage and determination to improve life for all Cincinnatians.

The Charter Committee will also be recognizing Eric Avner of the Haile Foundation and Kay Pettengill of Stepping Stones for their contributions towards strengthening the civic fabric of the Cincinnati Community.

This will be the 17th time the Charles P. Taft Civic Gumption Award has been given.  The event will take place on May 28, 2014 from 5:30 to 7:30. Please contact info@chartercommittee.org, 513-241-0303 for tickets.

City should adhere to current Charter by filling City Manager position

The Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati was founded in order to remake City Government.  The City Charter, our city’s constitution, has served us well for nearly 90 years.  Currently, some city leaders have been advocating for piecemeal changes to our governing structure in a knee-jerk reaction to the political challenges of the day. 

This is short-sighted.  Instead of simply reacting to today’s issues, we should be asking ourselves how we can transform our government to best position our city for the next 90 years.

Until the charter reform process is complete, the current City Charter outlines the governing structure of our City and should be followed. Our Charter still calls for a City Manager to act as the CEO of the city. Filling the City Manager position with an outstanding professional should be a top priority for the city.

The Charter Committee has publically advocated for a comprehensive review of the City’s Charter since 2012 when yet another piecemeal change was made to our City’s constitution – 4 year terms for council members.

Charter Committee President, Colin Groth said, “In 2014, the Charter Committee’s 90th year, Charter is excited to work with city leaders in a transparent and inclusive manner to revisit our Charter to determine how it can be improved.  It is good to see that a task force is being created to oversee a comprehensive review. It is long overdue. In the meantime, the city must follow the current charter as written and fill the vacant City Manager position.”

Yesterday, the Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati elected and re-elected new and current board members.  Colin Groth, Charter Committee President, stated, “We are excited to see such a renewed interest in this movement for good government.  We look forward to continuing to put citizenship over partisanship as we begin 2014.”

The newly elected board members are:

Greg Landsman - Executive Director, The Strive Partnership

Kari Armbruster - Corporate Affairs Project Specialist, The Kroger Co.

John Eby - Electrical Engineer and Business Development, PEDCO E&A Services, Inc.

Ozie Davis - Executive Director, Avondale Comprehensive Development Corporation

Matt Jones - Director of Economic Development and Government Affairs, Cincinnati Business Committee                                       
Darrick Dansby - Non-Profit and Real Estate Consultant

Jim Benedict - Vice-President, Government Strategies Group, LLC

John Back - Partner, John Back Assoc AIA & Wellman Brands LLC

Andrew Simon - Manager, Deloitte Consulting

Vanessa White - Doctoral Student, University of Cincinnati; Consultant

Re-elected to the board were, President Colin Groth, Arzell Nelson, Lyn Battle, Chuck Downton, Mike Goldman, Marilyn Ormsbee, Marian Spencer, Matt Bourgeois, and Mike Morgan.

The Charter Committee was founded as a movement for good government nearly 90 years ago to overthrow the corrupt “Boss” Cox regime.  It is the oldest, active, independent political party in the United States.  The Charter Committee believes that local government should be free of partisan politics and led by individuals committed to the City and region, not the fortunes of their party or their budding political careers.

City Council should be commended for voting today to restart construction of the Cincinnati Streetcar Project.  We thank the elected officials who voted for the project to proceed and the elected officials who allowed for it to proceed quickly and without further interference. We believe that the decision that was made was the fiscally responsible one.

Colin Groth, President of the board stated, “We saw the pause of the streetcar project as an opportunity to build consensus from public and private partners on a solution-oriented approach to this critical issue.  While the past few weeks have been long and difficult, we hope that we can now move on to getting the streetcar up the hill to Clifton, and focusing on the other major issues that face our great city.”

Groth went on to say, “we believe the conversations that developed during this pause between the public sector and the private and philanthropic community is the start of new relationships that will lead better, solution-driven processes at City Hall.  We hope that Council will now shift their attention to the many other issues and will begin a conversation about a regional transportation system that serves the needs of our entire community”.

We need to harness the energy of the supporters of this project and carry it forward to ensure that the operating and maintenance plan does not hurt the city’s bottom line, that sustainable funding mechanisms are developed and implemented, and that the streetcar is ultimately enormous success that enhances the city and its budget.

Today, the KPMG independent audit of the streetcar project was released and the numbers fell in line with the projections put forth by the administration.  The report stated, “The annual operating and maintenance costs estimated by the City appear reasonable and adequately supported.”

As a result, the Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati encourages City Council and the Mayor to continue the streetcar project.

Colin Groth, President of the board said, “If we cancel the project, we are spending 100% local money to cancel.  If we complete the project, nearly half the remaining cost is covered by federal money.  It is fiscally irresponsible to cancel, to give over $40 million to another city, and to have nothing to show for it.”

As we said in our earlier statement, we see the pause of the streetcar project as an opportunity to build consensus from public and private partners on a solution-oriented approach to this critical issue.

For the first time since the early stages of this project, private and philanthropic individuals have stepped up to offer assistance.  They have offered time and resources.  They are willing to help.  We urge Council and the Mayor to take them up on that offer.

Under the current system, the Mayor and Council act as a Board of Directors and the Administration acts as the professional management.  We commend the professional management for their accuracy in their work, as shown by the independent audit.

To Council and the Mayor, build the streetcar.  It is fiscally responsible and offers the opportunity to open a broader conversation around the potential of future public-private partnerships and a regional rail plan.