SUMMIT MEETING NOTES

October 12, 2006
Location: Llanfair Retirement Center

 ACTION ITEMS

The key action items as agreed to in this meeting are as follows:

ATTENDEES: (See Abbreviation Key)

ABSENT:

AGENDA

• Welcome and Introductions
• Agenda Review & Modification
• Review of Minutes from Last Month’s Meeting
• Opening Prayer
• Review of Action Items from Last Month’s Meeting
• Special Announcements
• Reflections on Topic (Schools/Youth/Young Adults) from Sept Meeting
• College Hill Gardeners
• CHCURC
• College Hill Housing
• CPOP/COP/Court Watch
• CHBA
• Special Discussion Topic – Fostering Healthy Business District
• Community Events & Announcements

DISCUSSION

1.   Special Announcements

Jim Bodmer indicated that a letter had been received from Sherry Flagler, who is the Human Resource Manager for Kroger in North College Hill.   She is looking for qualified applicants to hire.   Call her at 728-2707. 

2.   Review of Sept 2006 Minutes
Summit members needed more time to review the notes from the Sept meeting, and these will be approved at the October meeting. 

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

Valerie will issue the August notes as soon as she is able to get to them. 

4.   Reflections on Sept Mtg (Schools/Youth) – by All

Various observations were offered about how things have changes for the better in College Hill:

§         Aiken kids are no longer an issue in the business district on the avenue.

§         COP members have talked to kids in the neighborhood.   They are now happy and smiling.  

§         Extra-curricular activities are keeping some kids at school later.

§         CPD reported that there have only been 3 fights so far at Aiken, which is a significant reduction.

§         School enrollment is down, but many of the missing kids are ones who normally make trouble and have found that their behavior is no longer tolerated at Aiken.

§         We need to continue to provide opportunities and resources to kids, like jobs.

§         We need to support them when they are behaving well, not only when misbehaving.

Some ways support is already starting to happen include:

□       After school activities (some, but need more).

□       People are looking into setting up scholarships.

□       Some very limited relationship building is being done by just having lunch with a student and spending some one-on-one time.

Pleasant Hill is in desperate need of tutors.   Also mentors for middle-school, and advisors for the after-school program.   Call Tia to get involved (363-4342).   Currently there is relatively low parent & community involvement.

Then a question was raised about the 18+ age group, young adults.  

¨      Pleasant Hill indicated that they have parents in that age group and are trying to reach out to them.  

¨      Michelle said that she is doing financial training at Aiken and is willing to include Pleasant Hill.

¨      Fr. George said that St. Claire is working to make moving away from College Hill a difficult decision.   Currently they are providing adult volleyball and basketball.

¨      CCCH is in transition because Kevin is leaving, but CCCH is seriously discussing this area as well.

Finally, a discussion ensued about how more opportunities for youth & young adults could be coming to fruition if members of the community could be motivated to get more involved.  It was noted that, based on experience in other areas, people need to be asked personally and individually to get involved.   They do not respond to general information or requests.    The challenge then is to somehow get one-on-one contact with everyone in the community to share information and to issue invitations.   From this discussion, one idea that came up was to involve current students at the schools in service projects to put together welcome bags for families of new students.  (Welcome bags arecurrently done by CHG.)

5.   CH Gardeners – by Elaine Ludwig

Neither Elaine nor anyone else from CHG attended this meeting, so no update was available. 

6.   CHCURC – by Marty Weldishofer

·        Linden Park – signs will be placed on the Shuler lot soon which will show what is to come.   A trailer and tent will also be installed soon to be the sales office. 

·        Eastern Star property – will undergo demolition by the end of the year.

·        Kroger Property is still being pursued.   It is owned by an investment trust, who have not yet responded to a request for a price for the property.

·        The Marketing packet for the community still needs work, specifically, volunteers to summarize: Attractions, Shopping & Dining, Housing, and Government.

·        The Gateway project is waiting on a response to the offer made for the property.

·        The Façade project is getting underway.   Two businesses are moving forward, with 14 others still in process.

·        Marty handed out a flyer for Christmas wreaths on the avenue. 

·        Mary handed out a flyer on SID (Special Improvement District) and explained that this was being explored as a way to help fund ongoing costs, such as the annual cost for flowers and plantings.

·        The new firehouse will definitely be going in on the corner of Llanfair and Hamilton. 

7.   College Hill Housing Team – by Dave Scharfenberger

The selected Housing Developer (WIN) is now approaching a couple of property owners on Cedar, and hopes to acquire at least 3-4 properties to get started.   The team is waiting for the purchases to initiate publicity to the community, in order to avoid price increases.  The team has shifted from meeting twice a month to meeting once a month, the first Thursday of every month. 

8.   CPOP/CPD/COP/Court Watchers – by Tom Strothers

CPOP requested that Elisha Hall give CPD a calendar of events and to hire private security for any teen parties.   The Board has been unresponsive to these requests, as well as to requests to meet again.   CPOP is working on next steps.

Court Watch reports that several people who have been the source of trouble in College Hill have been sentenced, and the community has been quieter as a result.

Officer Noble handed out copies of the Crime Report for Sept.  He indicated that Katrina Neal is the contact to get additional information or statistics. 

9.   CHBA – by Phyllis Schoenberger

(a)  Youth & Young Adults:  CHBA is actively considering how to engage and support the youth of the community.  

-     A task force has been formed to deal with drug dealing on the avenue.  Lantana corner was previously an area of drug dealing, but with focus from CPD, this activity has moved.  Unfortunately, it has moved to the corner of Hamilton and Marlowe.

-     Active discussion is ongoing about jobs for young people.

(b)  Arts Project:  Vacant buildings on the avenue are being painted with images of a desired business on the avenue.    The first one has been sponsored by Children’s Hospital, and will be of an ice cream shop.   The second one will be sponored by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.  

(c)  New Businesses:  The Sonshine House has opened on Llanfair Ave in a bright yellow building.   There is some challenge with parking which needs further followup. 

It was suggested that business owners be invited to the next Summit meeting when we will have an extended time on the topic of fostering a healthy business district. 

10. Announcements & Community Events– by All

¨      Luminary Project – There will a luminary project again this year for the holidays, and Juanita Canfield is coordinating.   The date is not yet set. 

¨      Make A Difference Day – Oct 21 is Make A Difference Day.   Volunteers should meet at Llanfair Commons at 9:00 am to help clean up College Hill.   There will be T-shirts and food provided.   

¨      PresbyMade Day – Oct 28 is the day that volunteers from various Presbyterian churches in Cincinnati will help elderly residents of College Hill with fall cleanup and minor repairs.  Barry Stare, a member of CHPC, is the coordinator.

¨      CHCURC Annual Dinner – this will be Feb 6, 2007

¨      Evening of Excellence – St. Clare has organized an Evening of Excellence for Oct 28, which will include a dinner supplied by Sturkey’s restaurant, an open bar, dancing, and a silent auction.  Anyone is welcome to sign up and come enjoy the evening.

¨      Vote: - Sheena handed out a flyer which encouraged a “no” vote on issue 2.

¨      Parolee Program – Phyllis is working with a parolee program to see if community service projects such as cleanup and landscaping can be done.

¨      Aiken Homecoming – this will be held Saturday night at Taft-Stargel field, with a dance following back at the school.

¨      Customer Appreciation Day – is being held at PNC Bank on Friday, Oct 20. 

Next Summit Meeting: November 9, 2006 @ 8:00 am at Llanfair.

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                November 7, 2006

                                                                                                Corrected Nov 10, 2006

Abbreviation Key: