Hamilton City Council Meeting 10-28-26

Hamilton City Council’s regular meeting on October 28, 2026 included several infrastructure, funding, and contract matters. Staff presented a proposed 2027 municipal-court defense-counsel contract with an approximately 5% increase and a $13,254 Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant for salaries, training, and supplies. Engineering staff recommended awarding a Ray Avenue storm-sewer repair to a contractor already working nearby without separate advertising, estimating about $25,000 in savings from avoiding duplicate mobilization and road closures. The city also discussed paving and water-main projects, including $800,000 in OKI funding for East Avenue paving. Council approved an emergency ordinance for the Schuler Benninghofen Mill grant-funding and reimbursement agreement and an amendment to a Neighborhood Housing Services funding agreement. It adopted a resolution to apply for Ohio Department of Natural Resources funding for Jefferson Park improvements, including a spray ground and ADA bathrooms, and approved an intergovernmental agreement to sell road salt to the Hamilton City School District for the 2026–27 winter season.

Several spending and property items received only first readings: issuance of up to $55.77 million in bond-anticipation notes; acceptance of up to $1,491,451 in Community Development Block Grant funds, including $500,000 for street paving, and $456,991.42 in HOME funds; property-sale and funding agreements with Habitat for Humanity; and an amended water-supply agreement with Butler County. The proposed water agreement would extend the term through 2049, set an initial rate of $2.70 per thousand gallons, and revise annual rate adjustments to reflect actual cost changes; staff described it as revenue neutral. Council held public hearings and gave first readings on three proposed cannabis dispensary conditional uses at 877 and 845 Northwest Washington Boulevard and 1520 Main Street, but took no approval votes. The 845 Northwest Washington hearing also included evidence and testimony about application timing and the city’s one-mile dispensary buffer procedures.