Loveland City Council Update 1-13-2026

2026 Valentine Lady Cynthia Tait

Loveland city council rang in the new year with its first meeting of the year. A robust agenda of yearly resolutions, a zoning change to add a Special Planning District and adjustments to the city’s sidewalk program and the city manager’s spending authority awaited. But first, as tradition dictates, CeeCee Collins, Director of the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance presented the newest Valentine Lady, Cynthia Tait, who was introduced by last year’s Valentine Lady, Lynn Oury. Lynn is also the artist for this year’s Valentine Card, which is available for sale through the Chamber Alliance and at the Loveland Post Office, between February 2nd – 13th between 10am-4pm.

Lynn Oury, 2026 Valentine Card Artist

Council passed numerous resolutions ranging from vehicle purchases and insurance policies to the yearly finance department required documents of naming bank depositories and advancements of property tax from the three counties Loveland reside.

City Hall will be saving a few dollars with a change in its VoiP phone services, changing providers from AltaFiber to RingCentral. Estimated savings of $30,000 are expected with this

change.

City staff present the first reading of an ordinance to add Special Planning District #20 to the zoning map. The “Highlands of Loveland” project will bring 27 units on land between Loveland Pines and Westover Village, just east of the Loveland Heights subdivision.

For first readings of Ordinances, the administration presented two items. The first, proposed changes to the sidewalk ordinance, which provides for a 50/50 reimbursement to property owners for replacement of sidewalks. Changes include capping the cost at $1500 and placing the cost onto the property tax record as an assessment over a two year period.

The second item was a request to increase the City Manager’s spending authority, from $15,000 to $30,000. Councilmember Sherry Hamlin noted that the last adjustment was made in 2011. City Manager Dave Kennedy discussed data showing what items would have been covered over the last several years, especially regarding the water system, and those items already covered with the 2026 budget. Councilmember John Hart commented favorably on the

adjustment for inflation.

Both Dave Kennedy and Assistant City Manager Chris Wojnicz gave updates on numerous city projects, especially noting that the state funding of the purchase of the Schildmeyer property long the Little Miami River and that the traffic light and bike trail signals at Railroad and West Loveland Avenue will hopefully begin the first week of February. The Nisbet Amphitheater has been full funded with project bidding shortly expected. Movement of utility poles between the

public works facility to Castle Skateland will begin this spring, as part of phase 1 of the renovations to the Loveland-Madeira Road corridor. It was notes that phase 2, involving a roundabout at Valley View, has been delayed by the Postal Service, who operates under specific timelines. Also mentioned: the city will be sending out a mailing concerning the water works and PFAS.

Council wrapped up the meeting by going into executive session to discuss purchase of property. Council members Hart and Adam Jeranek were excused for the second part of executive session.

Todd Osborne 1-16-2026