1.   Special Announcements

Three officers from CPD came to the meeting, but had to leave early, so they reviewed their items at the beginning of the meeting.   This included:

-     The January 2007 College Hill Crime Report was handed out.   There has been a recent significant increase in burglaries/break-ins in the area, which is believed to be the work of several teenagers working under the direction of an unknown adult.   The teens are quite bold, often entering homes during the day even when police may be in the area, so a flyer was handed out asking residents to be on the lookout for suspicious persons and to call 911 to report them.    

-     Related to these burglaries, the officers reminded everyone that the Right of Entry Letters (also called Trespass Letters) expire annually and need to be written again.   These letters are written by property owners to give police permission to come onto properties and enter buildings based on observations that something suspicious may be going on.   The letters can be emailed to Officer Katrina Neal in Adobe format, with signature and notarization, or can be given to Jim Bodmer who will forward them.  

-     Officer Neal also showed everyone a sticker that had been developed for the community of Northside, which is a triangular shape and will brightly reflect light after dark.   The stickers are placed on a specific window of each property, and indicate that a Trespass Letter is on file with CPD.   Seeing the sticker then allows an officer on the scene to enter a property without the delay of calling back to check on whether a letter in on file or not.    Officer Neal said that CPD would like to see the same sticker design in all neighborhoods, and propose that College Hill adopt this design.

-     CPD has been visiting schools as part of their effort to create a positive experience for communities with the police.   They have recently been to 5 different College Hill schools, doing things like letting kids experience getting their fingerprints taken. 

2.   Review of January 2007 Minutes
January minutes were approved and will be sent to Tom Strothers for posting on the website.

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

A.  Ron sent out the prework questions for beginning the “Break Down Barriers” discussion.

B. Sheena contacted the AOPHA and found that they have not had an interactions with Rep Dale Mallory yet, so they have no advice to offer us.

 4.   CHCURC Update – by Marty Weldishofer

·        CHCURC’s Annual Dinner was postponed to Feb 28 because of the weather.   It will still be at the same time & location, and with the same agenda.   If you planned to attend, you need to call and confirm that you are still going, or if you missed the previous deadline to sign up, this is a second chance.

·        There will be a fund raiser at Clovernook Country Club put on by 3 couples in support of CHCURC, on Tuesday, Feb 27, at 7 pm.   A flyer will be sent out by email.

·        Linden Park – Two condos are reserved.   The architect recently presented the team with a concept in a slightly new direction for the west side of Hamilton Ave, and it was well received.   No details are currently available.  Negotiations continue with the Trust that holds the Kroger property.   

·        Façade – Several businesses are moving forward to beginning work with contractors. 

·        Business District Marketing – Thanks to the many volunteers who helped with preparing the Marketing sheets for the business district.   Marty met with Prof Conway & his grad student Lindsay, who will put together the marketing plan as a graduate project.

 5.   College Hill Housing Team – by Dave Scharfenberger

§         WIN has purchased two houses, one on Saranac and one on Cedar.   Both are too badly deteriorated to save, and will be torn down.   Community volunteers are being sought to help with low skill demolition on Feb 22.   Property owners of vacant buildings on Cedar and Piqua are being contacted to see if they will sell.   

§         The team is planning some kind of kick off community event for May or June to create enthusiasm in the local community for this effort.   

§         Separately, St. Clare has purchased a vacant house on the corner of Cedar and Saranac to use for additional office space.   This move is very synergistic with the goals of the Housing Team.

§         Final touches are being done to the working agreement between the Housing Team and WIN, which outlines how the two groups will work with each other.

6.   Paint the Town /Give Back Cincinnati – by Phyllis Schoenberger

Applications have gone out.  They have received about 80 so far.   Give Back Cincinnati will interview all applicants and make the final selection.   Please contact Phyllis with any additional possible submissions. 

 7.   CPOP/CPD/COP/Court Watchers – by Jim Bodmer & Tom Strothers

o       Burglaries/break-ins have increased dramatically, with 19 committed recently and 4 people caught.  

o       Drug houses have been raided and shut down on Lantana and Ambrose, with warrents out for 11 people.

o       Court Watch continues to have a positive impact.  They are current tracking 61 cases, and are in court 3-4 times per week.  Recently a judge called the College Hill representatives into chambers and thanked them for their efforts.

o       Clifton asked the College Hill CPOP to come give a presentation, and seemed to be impressed.   Several other communities are interested in what College Hill does.

 8.   School Update – by Barbara Gordon

College Hill Fundamental Academy currently has a number of projects and challenges.

-         The school’s first Community Computer Programming class was scheduled, but postponed because of snow.   The new date is not yet set.

-         A plan for renovation has been developed, but is waiting for the architect’s contract to be approved.

-         One teacher recently had to be let go, on short notice, because of overall school district budget issues even though this school’s budget was ok.   Every school was expected to contribute to the balancing of the CPS budget.

-         A key question for CH Fundamental Academy is whether to expand to be K-8  or to stay K-6.  Good arguments exist for both directions, and Principal Gordon would like to get community input on this question.  She handed out a flyer, and requests everyone contact her with input.

Barbara also shared the Handbook for the School Discipline Plan. 

9.   Discussion Topic: Break Down Barriers/Build Relationships

Ron & Valerie proposed that the group first more fully define or list the barriers they want to discuss.   This sparked a number of comments that expressed ideas, hopes, and concerns.   Highlights of these comments are below:

·        In this discussion, let’s just make it about College Hill, not the whole world.   We can’t solve the problems of the whole world.

·        Let’s find a way to be inclusive in the discussion, so that is it not the white community telling the black community what to do.

·        We’ve got cultural differences here, and that’s a lifelong continuous learning process.

·        We need to brainstorm how to engage African-Americans who have been active in the community in this discussion.

·        Do we need to have meetings outside of Thursday mornings so that others can more easily come?

·        How do we get African-American parents more involved in the schools?

·        Discussions with community-active African Americans may need to be about specific topics in the community rather than just about diversity.

 The group then moved to talking about and listing the specific barriers they want to discuss & address.   The list is below:

·        The racial divide.

·        The disconnect between leaders of the African-Americans in the community and the leaders of the white community.

·        Age: mostly older people are active in the community, this is true for all racial groups.

·        Also need to include other elements of diversity, like gender, national origin, education, religion, etc.

·        We have economic/financial “classes” in College Hill, with some people very financially secure and others needing to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.

·        Emotions are a barrier – our fears of differences

·        The schools have become racially segregated.

·        Perceptions about African-American leaders.

·        Complexity of racial issues.   There is diversity of thought about these issues.

 Someone in the group then asked what is the objective of tackling this topic.   Several people gave their perspective on this, and these comments are listed below:

The Objective Is:

·        To recognize and enhance the good things

·        Increase participation in the community of more residents

·        To develop the ability to be open and honest

·        Increase our ability to solve problems.   Someone can see an issue and don’t know the path to get there.   We need everyone involved to really resolve issues.

·        Quality of Life – development of friendships, relationships, enhance enjoyment of living in the community.

·        Find out more about objectives of the African-American community within the overall College Hill community.

·        Find and build on similarities

·        Create an atmosphere of being able to share without fear of intimidation or other negative consequences.

·        Find an avenue for creating true dialog on diversity in the community

 We agreed that we need to have ground rules for discussion, which we will develop together at our next meeting.  

 10. Announcements & Community Events– by All

o       Aiken Pancake Breakfast – volunteers are still needed to be pancake flippers and help serve breakfast to the students.   Friday, Feb 9, 7:30 am to 9:30 am.

o       Community Potluck – The third annual Community Potluck dinner will be Feb 16 at CHPC from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.  Still need more adult volunteers to be greeters & for cleanup.  Need College Hill kids who play piano or guitar.   A flyer was handed out.

o       Garage Demolition – volunteers are still needed to help tear down a garage at 5836 Saranac on Feb 22.   Contact Phyllis.   [Note: since the Summit meeting, this has been changed to helping demolish a house at 1304 Cedar.   Same date.]

o       CHBA Mix & Mingle – CHBA is having a Mix & Mingle at Shakers on March 6.   They are inviting property owners as well as business owners.

o       Concert at St. Clare - will be March 11 at 3 pm.  Sacred Classical & Spiritual music with Kearstin Piper Brown, a soprano with the Cincinnati Opera.   A flyer was handed out.

o       Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend – sites in College Hill will be hosting some of the events, including Town Hall and McAuley High School.   Pamphlets with more details were handed out.

o       WIN Walk/Run – will be April 7 at Winton Woods at 1 pm.

o       St. Clare Fish Fry – will be held on Fridays during Lent

o       CollegeHillOH.net – just a reminder that the portal website is established, and can direct you to all other websites.   Summit meeting notes are posted there.

 Next Summit Meeting: March 8, 2007 @ 8:00 am at McAuley High School.   

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                February 11, 2007