Cincinnati City Council members are so concerned about the cleanliness of city neighborhoods that they've introduced no fewer than 13 ordinances and motions dealing with litter in just nine months.

        Councilman John Cranley added a 14th Wednesday, proposing a new law that would hike fines for littering from $100 to $500, increase street cleaning along the city's 42 busiest streets and institute periodic made-for-television “litterbug raids.”

        Mr. Cranley's proposal, which already has the support of all nine council members and the mayor, came the same day City Council passed an ordinance by Councilman Pat DeWine cracking down on illegal flyers and signs on street poles.

        Under the previous law, police could cite people only for posting signs like “We Buy Houses” and “Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days” if officers caught them in the act. The new law allows the city to go after the companies that benefit from the illegal advertising.

        Other ordinances passed this year eliminated warnings to property owners with high weeds and litter, required quarterly reports on the number of citations issued and shifted funding for additional enforcement.

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