May 2005

Location:  College Hill Community Center
5545 Belmont Ave-phone 591-3555

May 12, 2005

Gathering, Individual Greetings, Refreshments – 7:45 – 8:15

8:15 am  Call the meeting to order  - Elizabeth Sherwood   (Thanks, Elizabeth!) 

                         (Thanks Phyllis for taking notes in our absence.)

8:15 am Welcome & Introductions –

            New representative to the Summit from College Hill Gardeners, Elaine Ludwig, was introduced as the College Hill Gardeners representative at the Summit.  Elaine has been with CHG since the beginning and is currently active in the Farm Market.

            Representative from Aiken High School, Joan Pack-Rowe , was introduced as representing Aiken High School at the Summit.  Joan coordinates Family and Children First Program at Aiken since 1997.

8:20 am Agreement to the Agenda for the Day- Adjustments and Substitutions

·         Minutes from our April meeting were accepted.

·         Special Announcements:  Pleasant Hill School’s official moving date is August 15.  A private viewing was suggested to the Summit attendees.  No date set.  John Copenhaver asks to be on the agenda of the next Summit meeting to discuss the new school.

·         Elizabeth Sherwood thanked all of those who participated in the Great American Clean Up that made it so successful.

·         Dave Scharfenberger, WIN, announced a June 2 program on home ownership in conjunction with Fidelity Mortgage in Northside, 5-8 pm.

·         Attendance Record Present: P. Bowers, Rev. Chapman, J. Copenhaver, K. Hartman, Fr. George, C. Lyon, Rev. Moore, E. Ludwig, Officer Noble, Rev. O’Neal, M. Ruehl, S. Parton, D. Scharfenberger, P. Schoenberger, R. Schroer, E. Sherwood, T. Strothers, C. Sucher, B. Walker, M. Weldishofer, J. Pack-Rowe,

8:30 am Opening Prayer by Rev. Todd O’Neal

Proposed Topics & Suggested Times for Each            Presentation            Discussion

Notes:

Website:  Elizabeth will talk with Pamela Menges and Brenda Hogan for definitive guidelines for website use.

Mission/Vision Statement:  Marty asked who was on that team.  Ron Copenhaver said that he and Ken Lyon  were on the team and that Valerie was working on it.

Ministerium to share at the next Summit meeting.

Communication Updates            Presentation Time                 Q & A time

College Hill Block Party Update– Jenny Keys    5 minutes 5 minutes

Notes:  Jenny Key presented up-date on the August 2-6, 2005 Block Party.  The events will start on Tuesday, the 2^nd, with the National Night Out.  Amy Finnegan has met with Jenny and is currently looking for funding for NNO.  Jenny asked for help from the Forum, individuals and organizations for financial help, food donation, and volunteers.  Items needed are a performance stage since the Rec Center stage is not available, bottled water, soft drinks, overnight security, basketballs, ice cream, food, paper products, grills, prizes, financing for the Pete Wagner band.  Tables will be available for College Hill Organizations to display.  Jenny asked if there was a CH logo.  That is being worked on at this time and should be available for use on advertising by next meeting.

Streetscape  Update – Tom Jackson                       

            Celebrate the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – it was great!

Notes:  Still finding out the budget outcome of streetscape, what money is available, if any, after the project.  There are a few spots along the Avenue that are not finished.  The street will be rehabbed in 2006.  Hamilton Avenue will be widened starting this year from Twin Towers to Ashtree.

Concern for the newly planted trees was discussed.  It does not appear that they are being watered and are stressed.  At present, there is no plan for their watering by Urban Forestry.  If they fail, they will be replaced is their answer.  CHBA will put out an email for the businesses to adopt a tree.

Planters will be planted the 1^st or 2^nd week of June.  Cinergy money was used for the ribbon cutting, beautification and celebration costs.

CHCURC Up-Date-Marty Weldishofer

1. Linden Commons:  Al Neyer Development Co submitted a proposal to Kroger property owner and there was agreement on price for purchase.  A proposal has been submitted to Eastern Star owners.  Eastern Star countered with proposal based on need for an agreed on time line.  Will know by the end of this week.  Neyer, CHCURC and the City met to work out details for the City to purchase Shuller property before June 30.
2. College Hill Logo-now down to one.  It is being refined and color added.  It will go before the CHCURC Board for approval and then before the community.
3. Façade Program brochures are being written to get information to property and business owners who want to participate in the program.  Taget date for beginning to get contracts is June.
4. Llanfair Commons (corner of Llanfair and Hamilton Ave).  CHCURC has filed a pre-application for CNBDU funds of $30,000 to redo the CH welcome signs and use our new CH logo.                                              

Another proposal went to CNBDU for $350,000 to purchase, remediate, design and build Llanfair Commons as a public park with shelter and staging facility.

Also working on buy out of the PDA from Mr. Cassity.

NRSA Update – Tom Jackson            

Notes:  The Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) work consists of a collection of priorities for two specific census tracts in College Hill that became eligible for low-moderate income designation.  The strategy for revitalization is focused on five key areas: Business and Economic Revitalization, Housing Improvements and Residential Development and Redevelopment, Environmental and Infrastructure Improvements, Safety, and Education.  Tom discussed the South parking lot and that the deed signing will occur in June.  The Court case was filed 2 weeks ago on the 6015 Hamilton Avenue property to force environmental assessment.  Testing company is scheduled for the week of May 23.

College Hill Housing Survey Update – Phyllis Schoenberger  

Notes:  The survey is going well.  Still have streets that need a volunteer for the survey, mostly in the southeast area, south of N. Bend Rd, east of Hamilton Avenue, west of Center Hill.

Surveillance Camera Update – Jim Bodmer                       

Notes:  It looks as though the cameras will be in operation, however, no date as of now.  The financial issues with vendor have been resolved.  Need volunteers to monitor and training dates and times will be announced.  Joan Pack-Rowe, Aiken High School, suggested that the students know that the cameras are up.  Aiken will announce when the cameras are working.  Jim Bodmer will work with Aiken students on this.

Summer Youth Programs of Christ Community, - Nathl  More
            Hunger Walk 2005      

Notes:Hunger Walk 2005 campaign will be on Memorial Day in conjunction with the Free Store Food Pantry.  Registrants as well as sponsors are needed.  If Christ’s Community gets 30 or more participants, they will get a $400 food credit from the store.

Summer Youth Camp-grades 1-8 from June 20-August 11

Job opportunities for youth to work as camp councilors through CCY.

Clean Cut Initiative is in full swing.  A group of 14-18 year olds have been taught basic lawn care skills, use of equipment, marketing techniques and money management in order to offer their skills throughout College Hill.  They will be dressed in golden yellow T-shirts with a Clean Cut logo and they will carry a picture ID.  The price for lawn service will be $35-45 depending on size of yard.  All proceeds go back to support the program.  What is needed now is for the community to provide lawns for them to service.

Website – Progress – Forum Representative             

Notes:

Put on agenda for next month

CPOP Study, Aiken High School Support – Phyllis & Joan     10 minutes 5 minutes
            Pack-Rowe

Notes:

The top three issues that came out of the May 9 &11 CPOP meeting regarding Aiken are as follows:

1. Lack of support of Aiken by Cincinnati Public School Administration, parents, the community in general and the LSDMC specifically, to establish policy, create effective alternative programs and in general, develop methods of dealing with approximately 15% of the students who cause most of the disorder.  Proposed ban of cell phone and text-messaging during school hours; institution of school uniform policy; establish engaged, effective LSDMCs; create a parent support group and/or a PTO; discuss alternative schooling for those who are creating disorder.
2. Lack of communication and consistency within the Aiken three-school system regarding the implementation of school policy, specifically as it relates to on-site control of discipline and management.
3. Lack of consistency within the Cincinnati Public School System regarding school admissions.  Is Aiken treated differently from other CPS facilities  in admission policy, percentage of “special needs” students?

Next CPOP meeting is Wednesday, May 25 at 6:30 pm, at the CH Recreation Center.  Community residents will volunteer to head a task force for the above three issues and form a team to work on the issues.

Joan Pack-Rowe states that part of the problem is that the Gates Funding calls for smaller schools.  

Community Events - Phyllis            5 minutes

Notes:

College Hill Sampler Dulcimer/Folk Music Festival, Saturday, May28, at Heitzler Field/Town Hall.  Featuring Jean Ritchie with Larry Conger, Gary Gallier, Dave Hawkins and much more.  All day music, workshops, lectures, arts & crafts, good food & beverages, nature walks, historic tours, children’s activities and an evening concert.  Advance price for all events is $35.  Concert tickets $12.  For more information contact Tom Strothers at tom@strothers.com or call 542-6273

College Hill Community Yard Sale, Saturday, May 21 at the Shuller lot and throughout the community.  The Forum Events Team has taken care of promotion in the media.

 Parking Lot Topics, if any; Location & Agenda focus              5 minutes
            Focus for next meeting, if any? 
            Meeting Review – What worked well?
            What do we need to improve?

Notes:

None

Aiken High School has volunteered for hosting the July Meeting.  (We had scheduled Twin Towers as a backup.  OK if we change to Aiken?

Notes:  July meeting at Aiken.  They will have signs directing us.

10:00 am Adjourn to Next Meeting 8:00 am Thursday June 9, 2005 –

Location – St. Clare’s Church