SUMMIT MEETING NOTES
November 8, 2007
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
• Host Greetings
• Agenda Review & Modification

• Review of Minutes from Last Month’s Meeting

• Opening Prayer

• Special Announcements

• Review of Action Items from Last Month’s Meeting

• CPOP/COP

• Court Watch

• CHCURC Update

• CHBA Update

• Christ’s Community Update

• Community Blood Drive

• Aiken C&C at CPS Board Meeting

• Housing Team Update

• Community Activities

DISCUSSION:  

1.   Special Announcements

None 

2.   Review of Oct 2007 Minutes
The Oct minutes were not issued in time for the Summit members to review.   These minutes will be approved at the next meeting. 

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

Trena said the list is currently being compiled by principal Cherese, and Trena will send it out later. 

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

-  Many fewer young people are hanging out on the streets.  

-  1 of 2 judges recommended by CPOP got elected.

Officer Williams handed out copies of the Oct Crime Report for College Hill.

-  Overall, College Hill has a good reduction in crime.   It’s best of all District 5

-  Vice arrests were up +12 this month, indicating that this type of criminal is successfully getting arrested instead of being out in the community.

-  Recent police emphasis on theft and burglary has produced results, with strong reductions in this type of crime this month.

Officer Williams also reported that a police officer will be in the same office as the probation officer, and will be there around 80% of the time.   The police officer will have a separate desk and computer so he or she can do all their paperwork. 

Tom reported on Court Watch activities.

-  The volunteers of court watch are currently tracking around 56 cases.   This is down from a previous high of nearly 70 cases.

-  Of the 56 cases, many have been resolved by remanding to community control.   About 25 have gone to prison. 

-  A number of high crime individuals are now in jail, for at least a year.   This is good news for the community, and should help with the overall crime rate.

-  The Ohio Senate is working on a 3-strike bill for felony offenses, which would result in severe penalties after 3 felony convictions.

-  The Court Watch team has been tracking the many dog fighting cases.   The cases completed so far have been of participants but not the organizers and perpetrators.   The next cases are the more serious ones. 

5.   CHBA – by Sheena Parton

-         CHBA is redoing their website.  It should be up and running soon.

-         CHBA Board is working on goals for next year.

-         They continue to make progress on establishing the new probation office.   Officers are being recruited by CPD for College Hill. 

6.   CHCURC Update – by Marty Weldishofer

·        Linden Park – The city and Neyer are continuing to negotiate on the proforma details.  The final approval has to go through the City Administration Finance Review Team; the next opportunity for this will be Nov 20.

·        Gateway – The design for the new firehouse was presented at the last Forum meeting.   It is an attractive design which is also environmentally green.   Space has been allotted for the south gateway, but discussions are needed to understand if the Fire Dept will maintain the landscape or if the community will need to do the maintenance.  The north gateway has not yet gone out for bid.  The city has decided it wants to transfer ownership of the property to CHCURC.

·        Signs –  The College Hill Signs Committee has narrowed down the choices to two designs.

·        Facade – More people are coming forward as the year comes to an end.  Some are coming to the table based on citations given to property owners on the Avenue from a B&I sweep that was done in the summer.   A number of buildings will get at least some work, from tuck-pointing to awnings. 

7.   Christ’s Community in College Hill (CCCH) – by Dan Weyand-geise

Dan is on the board of CCCH, and this was his first Summit meeting.   He shared about 3 key actions they are taking this year:

§         End Zone Program – CCCH has partnered with Nate Foster to start an End Zone Program in College Hill for 2008.   This program has a good track record in the city, and aims to develop values and skills in kids to help them succeed in school.   The program meets at The Rock on Wednesday nights, with homework and other follow up on Thursdays. 

§         City Cure – CCCH is looking at partnering with City Cure to have a full time youth minister on the streets of College Hill.  Typically, City Cure works with an individual church but wants to try out partnering with CCCH.   They hope to be able to have the youth minister start as early as this December.

§         Building Bridges – CCCH is supporting the initiative by the Ministerium to sponsor intra-church dinners to foster building relationships and understanding across racial differences.  10 people are invited from each of several churches, both black and white churches, and the first dinner will be next week at Llanfair.   

8.   Blood Drive by Sr. Marilyn Trowbridge

The Hoxworth Blood Center has been desperately trying to obtain blood donations, especially for the holiday months.  The Franciscan Friends are sponsoring a blood drive at the St. Clare Parish Center on Thursday, Nov 29, from 2 to 8 pm.   Please come give blood! 

9.   Aiken Update – by Phyllis Schoenberger & Eric Thomas

The Aiken College & Career results have been so good, Eric and some students were invited to present to the CPS Board.   Phyllis also participated as a representative of the community.  Eric handed out copies of his presentation, and shared that he highlighted 5 specific slides which documented the significant improvement in “social readiness” of the students, as measured by the great reduction in discipline problems at the school.    

10. Housing Team – by Dave Scharfenberger

Ø      The previously acquired two properties on Cedar and Saranac are ready for new houses.   Builders are being interviewed, and WIN hopes to select one soon.

Ø      Two more properties have been acquired: 5918 Lantana and 1402 Cedar.   The Lantana house will be rehabbed, but the Cedar house is in such bad shape that it will be torn down.

Ø      WIN has run two homebuyer classes this year, and plans to run more.   A flyer for a seminar on foreclosures was handed out.   It will be held Monday, Nov 19, at the Cintas Center.

Ø      WIN and the Housing Team will do a presentation update to the Forum later this month.

Ø      Sheena shared that Llanfair is acquiring some of the run down homes that adjoin the Llanfair property.   Some of the houses will be torn down to allow for additional Llanfair building, some others will be torn down and the land donated to the nearby park. 

11. Community Events & Announcements

o       Luminary Project – “Light Up College Hill” will be held again this year, sponsored by the Forum.   Luminary night is Saturday, Dec 15, with a raindate of Saturday, Dec 22.  Orders for luminaria kits are needed by Wednesday, Nov 28 with pick up on Saturday, Dec 1 at the Rec Center.

o       Parolee Community Service – Parolees will be helping with the Luminary project by shoveling sand and putting together kits on Nov 29.   Phyllis is looking for someone to donate lunch for 25 men on that day. 

o       Evening for Excellence – went very well, with about 300 people attending.

o       The Great Gatsby Event – at Powell-Crosley was also a great success, with about 350 people attending.

o       Interim Principal at CH Fundamental – Sean McCauley has been named interim principal at College Hill Fundamental Academy until Barbara Gordon can return.

o       Bed Bugs – are an increasing problem in the Cincinnati area (and around the country).   A DVD is available from the Health Dept which tells how to deal with these pests.

o       The Cincinnati Youth Symphony Orchestra – is practicing at UCC.  Contact Pastor Dan Weyand-geise if you would like for this group to be part of an event or program, and he will pass along the message to them.

o       Pleasant Hill’s After School Program – began last Monday, with great participation.   So much that there is a waiting list.   Kudos to Powell-Crosley YMCA, who is running the program.

o       The Mental Health Levy – successfully passed, and CCHMC wants to thank everyone who supported it.   CCHMC does not receive funds from this, but money will go directly to the families that CCHMC provides services to.

o       Wish Lists – Lots of kids at CCHMC do not go home for the holidays.   This year, CCHMC is having the kids create wish lists for Christmas gifts, and the community is asked to contribute gifts or money. 

12. Barriers Discussion – by Ron Cowgill

Ron suggested that Summit members may want to take the Barriers discussion compilation handed out by Valerie at the last meeting back to their organizations for further discussion and action planning. 

13. Meeting Schedule for 2008

Ron asked Summit members to volunteer to host Summit meetings in 2008.   He suggested using the schedule from 2007 as a starting point.   Most of the meeting dates were filled this way.   The 2008 schedule is attached to this summary, following the 2007 schedule.    

Next Summit Meeting: December 13, 2007 @ 8:00 am at Children’s Hospital.   

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                Nov 10, 2007

                                                                                                Revised Nov 15, 2007

Abbreviation Key: