SUMMIT MEETING NOTES
July 10, 2008
Location:  Children’s Hospital College Hill Campus

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 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

• CHBA Update

• CPOP/COP/CPD

• Forum Education Committee

• CHCURC Update

• Schools

• Ministerium

• Community Activities & Announcements

DISCUSSION: 

1.   Special Announcements

§         Jim Bodmer announced that there will be a special presentation by Off. Governor Williams on personal safety at the next Forum meeting, July 22.   He indicated he had seen the presentation before, and that it is excellent.   All are invited.

2.   Review of June 2008 Minutes
The minutes for the June meeting were approved, with two corrections.

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

Both are in progress. 

§         Nothing specific to report in regard to meeting with Rep. Mallory.

§         Valerie shared an update regarding the effort to contact Summit members who have not attended a Summit in a long time.   About half the list has been contacted so far, with work conflicts and personal/family health issues being predominant themes as to why people have not been coming.

4.   CHBA Update – by Phyllis Schoenberger

Llanfair Groundbreaking – Llanfair is having a groundbreaking for their new Wellness Center and Chapel on July 15 at 2:30 pm.   Everyone is invited.   This is great news, indicating the continued success of the Llanfair Retirement Center.

Monthly Meeting Location Change -  CHBA’s monthly meeting will be moving from Twin Towers to Hammond North, beginning with the September meeting.

Anti-Litter Initiative – CHBA is launching a zero tolerance litter elimination initiative for the Business District.   There continues to be a chronic problem in parts of the district, which discourages local residents from patronizing the district.  CHG has been picking up litter in order to help, but has stopped at the request of the CHBA so that the problem can be brought into clearer focus.  Issues of severe litter will now be called into the Health Dept, and cited by the police on walking patrols.   Citizens can call 591-6000 to report litter issues 24/7.   During daytime hours, the Health Dept Litter & Weeds control can be reached at 564-1750.   Property owners will be fined $100 for a first offense, and $500 for a second offense.

5.   CPD/CPOP – by Jim Bodmer  and Off. Governor Williams           

§         The Mason family removed the memorial behind Shakers.  Pass this information along if anyone expresses concern about the removal.

§         Kendricks, the man who previously raised pit bulls in a house on Lantana, was found guilty on all counts and received a sentence of 13 years in prison.

A review of crime stats showed:

o       Burglaries are a long term chronic issue for the College Hill community, and are probably perpetrated by only a few individuals.   Effort is being made to identify and pursue these individuals in order to reduce this problem. 

o       Robberies used to be an issue in the business district, but now are mostly on side streets.

o       Thefts of car catalytic converters is on the rise.   The platinum inside is worth more than copper in the scrap metal trade.  Thefts can occur during the day, with thieves pretending to be working on their own cars.  Incidents are highest in Clifton right now, with this type of crime spreading to other neighborhoods.

CPD is working on getting enforcement of current regulations for scrap yards to be more rigorous to help combat the continuing thefts of copper and other metals.  For example, scrap yards are supposed to be licensed, but only 2 of 7 scrap yards in Cincinnati have licenses.   And licenses are supposed to be renewed every year, but the 2 scrap yards with licenses haven’t renewed in 3 years.

Governor also shared that there are Asset Forfeiture Funds available from CPD which communities can apply for.  Email Governor to find out more details.

6.   Forum Education Committee – by Phyllis  Schoenberger
The current focus of the Forum Education Committee is to  develop significantly more teacher and principal support from the community.  She believes the timing is right, with Ohio Governor Strickland taking initiative to overhaul the education system in Ohio.
In order to help accomplish this, Phyllis recently attended a conference to which she was invited by the Kettering Foundation.   The topic was “closing the achievement gap”.   Other local leaders there included Dorothy Battle, Ph D at the University of Cincinnati, who has been working with the Kettering  Foundation, Myra Greenburg, Community Activist in Over the Rhine, and  Patricia Timm, Public Policy Mediator. A process was outlined and demonstrated at this meeting which consists of conversation groups among the grassroots  level of communities.   This process will be done in College Hill, and Phyllis is recruiting people to participate.   All kinds of people are invited – residents of College Hill, non-residents whose children attend College Hill schools, local business owners, church members, parents, educators, youth. Any one who is interested in the Cincinnati Public Schools and the achievement gap, or wants further information, please contact Phyllis at 542-3498 or phylmark@fuse.net.

7.   CHCURC – by Marty Weldishofer

Linden Park –Theresa Alexander of Sibcy Cline has asked everyone to pass the word about how buyer-friendly the condo reservation system is.  A check for only $1000 will reserve a condo, and the check will not be cashed.   If you change your mind later on, the check will be returned, uncashed.  The Sales Team is starting to reach out to potential buyers through efforts such as setting up information tables in the cafeteria at local organizations like Children’s Hospital.

Gateway Project – The city requested drawings for the South Gateway so that the design can be incorporated into the design for the new firehouse.   Architects Plus submitted them.

Signs – The final design has gone out to bid. 

Façade – Despite a slow start, the façade program is in full swing.

Hollywood Apt work is completed, and Barry Miller has submitted the paper work to get reimbursed.

LaRosa’s (owned by Bruce Soldano) has two new signs, still needs to paint the wall behind them.

CH Shoe Repair – will have a new sign in the next couple of months.

5 Storefronts from Hartman and Ehrmantraut CPA to St. Theresa’s Textile Trove (building owned by CHIC) are nearing completion

American Heritage Flooring (owned by Ramone Norris) will have a new sign.

PNC Bank to Goodies has been painted.

New Nursing School (at the corner of Hamilton & Cedar) building and the next one south will have all new windows and paint in the next couple of weeks.

Grant Application – CHCURC is pursuing a grant from the city to buy the Saba building (behind the CH Coffee Shop).  There will be a presentation to the city regarding this on July 21 at 6:30 pm at 805 Central Ave.   Please come and show community support!

CHBA Grant Application – CHBA has submitted a grant for cameras in the business district, and their presentation will also be on July 21 at 805 Central Ave.   Their presentation is at 7:00 pm.   Please come and show community support!

Fund Raiser – The recent fund raiser at Laurel Court, called Summer Fete, raised about $10,000.

Rhythm Race – CHCURC will be putting on the Rhythm Race this year, and they are looking for volunteers.

Marty  also shared about attending a meeting and tour in Nashville on June 19-20  hosted by the Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Planning Department on  the topic of Form Based Codes (also called Smart Codes).   The purpose of the meeting was to share Nashville’s successful use of these codes  for potential reapplication in other cities. Participants from Cincinnati included representatives from city government (Roxanne Qualls, Scott Stiles,  Michael Moore, Charles Graves, and other staff) as well as leaders from the  neighborhoods of Northside, OTR, Western Hills, East Price Hill, and College  Hill (Elizabeth Sherwood, Phyllis Slusher, and Marty Weldishofer).
Marty  and the other participants learned that the key difference of Form Based Codes  is that they focus on building form over land use, and that they are very  helpful in protecting or even creating a specific “character” in a community.  Additionally, conventional zoning focuses more on single use zones and automobile orientation while Form Based codes  can more easily support mixed use areas with greater pedestrian emphasis.  
Roxanne Qualls is pursuing additional discussions with all interested Cincinnati neighborhoods.

8.   School Update – by Treena Goodwin   

Pleasant Hill Academy is looking for community support, specifically in helping keep the kids in uniform.   Donations of gently used uniforms for kids who can’t buy them for some reason will be appreciated.  White shirts and Navy or Khaki bottoms.   And since the school will provide uniforms for kids who show up without one, it would be helpful if volunteers would launder and return these uniforms to the school.

The CHCURC Rhythm Race will be held in the Pleasant Hill parking lot.

Pleasant Hill Academy may get funding for a Community Learning Center Coordinator.  This person would coordinate all activities for the school and would develop ways to involve the community.

In May, Public TV from New York came and filmed at Pleasant Hill as part of their project to find and document innovative approaches to teaching.

9.   Ministerium – by Fr. George Jacquemin

-         The third Bridges Dinner, aimed at enabling conversations between Caucasians and African-Americans, went on as scheduled on June 12.   While attendance was down somewhat, a film was shown which sparked lively discussion at each table.

-         The Ministerium will be supporting the National Night Out, and the Unity Walk, both of which are part of this year’s Neighborhood Block Party.

11. Community Events & Announcements

Ø      Little Brothers Golf Outing - The Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly, are sponsoring a Golf Outing.  Pam handed out a flyer with more detail.  If interested in playing, contact Melissa Harney at Children’s Hospital, 636-7759.

Ø      WIN  has received the building permits from the city for two house to be built in College Hill.  Dave handed out flyers for both houses.   WIN hopes to start construction next week.

Ø      ARCH-sponsored Pumpkin Patch will be Saturday, Oct 11.   ARCH would like to make this weekend an overall College Hill Arts & Music weekend.

Ø      Crime Prevention Specialists – Officers Governor Williams and Katrina Neal have become certified crime prevention specialists.   They can consult with both homes and businesses.

Next Summit Meeting: August 14 @ 8 am.  Location is Llanfair Retirement Center.

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                July 31, 2008

Abbreviation Key: