SUMMIT MEETING NOTES

November 13, 2008

Location:  Pleasant Hill Academy

 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

• Opening Prayer

• CHBA Update

• CPOP/COP/CPD

• CHCURC Update

• Schools

• Ministerium

• Housing

• Community Activities & Announcements

DISCUSSION: 

1.   Special Announcements

None

2.   Review of October 2008 Minutes
The minutes for the October meeting were approved pending additional input expected from Rep Mallory’s office.

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

There was a brief review of the various follow up steps from the Oct 9  meeting, most of which were the responsibility of the visiting legislators.  These items will be carried over to the next meeting for a discussion of how Summit wants to monitor progress.

4.   CHBA Update - by Sheena Parton

-  Still working on Form Based Codes.

-  Met recently with all of City Council except one.

-  Allocated $3000 to police detail from CNBD funds.

-  Christmas wreaths will be up by Nov 22.

Phyllis added that CHBA is looking for a new occupant at the corner of Cedar & Hamilton, which is renting for $700 per month.  The Nurses Aid Training business is leaving.

5.   College Hill Forum Quality of Life Committee (QOL) – by Phyllis Schoenberger     

QoL is looking for an additional volunteer who will oversee the Edwood/Bobolink/Oak Knoll streets.   This person should live in this area.  QoL has 26 volunteers so far.
 

6.   Citizens on Patrol/CPD/Probation/Court Watch – by Jim Bodmer & Officer Jason

Officer Jason complemented the residents of College Hill on their neighborhood watching, and indicated that the vigilance of the community is a great help to the police.

Off. Jason circulated two maps which showed the gun crime intensity in College Hill.  CPD Dist 5 recently studied all neighborhoods they are responsible for, looking at gun-related runs and written reports.   He also reviewed a chart of CH versus other neighborhoods in Dist 5.

Other items reviewed included:

-  CHBA is requesting funds for a portable covert camera, to be donated to Dist 5.  Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Clean & Safe funds have been applied for.

-  Sometime in Dec, COP will be starting a burglary patrol.   Need 3 volunteers.

-  Justus Eliot is wanted for robbery.  If anyone sees him, call police.

-  Loitering at EZ mart is mostly teens now.

-  The corner of Daly & Galbraith has a lot of crime activity.

7.   CHCURC Update – by Marty Weldishofer

Linden Park – There is a meeting with Blumfield-Shaun this evening (Nov 13).  The discussions are back to square one, and many new possibilities are being discussed.   Given the recent changes in the economy, this has many positive aspects to it.

Façade Project – Marty did get an extension of a few months to complete 5 applications from August.   These include:

Old A&S Property – new windows, doors, signage, paint.

Across from House of Joy – replacing windows, new doors, lighting, tuck pointing.

 Corner of Cedar & Hamilton – new windows, doors, tuck pointing, painting.

Schwartz Jewelers – new awning.

Shoe Repair – new sign.

College Hill Signs – the design was sent out to bid and the contract awarded to Holt Haus Signs.   Hope to have them done by the end of the year.

8.   College Hill Schools Discussion

Aiken College & Career High School – by Karen Barrett

Aiken just handed out their annual awards to students whose grade point average is 2.5 or above.  There were 264 students who qualified.  Next year the two Aiken High Schools will be down to one, and there are two committees meeting to work out just how to do this.  The new school building design is done, both inside and out.

Pleasant Hill Academy – by Paula Sherman

Paula handed out the school’s newsletter “The Shooting Star”.  The school has hired 3 more teachers, and needs more volunteer reading and math tutors.  Tonight (Nov 13) is literacy night in partnership with the College Hill Library, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

Llanfair adopted a 6^th grade class.  The Llanfair residents loved interacting with the kids.

9.   College Hill Library Update – by Arnice Smith

Arnice reported that the Library has been very successful in becoming child-friendly, with lots of computer use.   An unfortunate side-effect of this is that the Library has become a “hang out” for kids of all ages, from Aiken High School students who use it as a social gather place, to younger kids whose parents are late picking them up from school.   Also, expelled or truant kids will hang out there.   By policy, only the main building of the City Libraries is able to call schools to get a truant sweep, so the College Hill branch has had to just cope with all the kids who are not really there to read.   

This was new information for the other members of the Summit.   Karen Barrett committed to have a roving security person from Aiken drop by the Library occasionally to help deal with the Aiken students.

10. Christ’s Community in College Hill (CCCH) Update – by Dan Weyand-Geise

Dan indicated that CCCH needs food/snacks for kids who participate in the End Zone program after school.   CCCH cannot afford to continuously supply the snacks and the kids arrive hungry.

CCCH also needs turkeys for their annual Thanksgiving gift baskets by Nov 22.

Ron Witt continues his neighborhood work.

The MARC (Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition) will have its annual planning conference on Nov 18.

11. Ministerium Update

Churchapalooza was a lot of fun this year.   They plan for even more activities with ARCH next year.

It was suggested that churches could “adopt a class” as well as businesses.   This idea will be discussed by the Ministerium.

12. College Hill Housing Team – by Sr. Barbara Busch

Sr. Barbara handed out a flyer on the upcoming Ribbon Cutting for the new house at 5836 Saranac, WIN’s first house in College Hill.   The event will be on Nov 21 at 10 am.  The house is Leed Certified and has a 15 year tax abatement.  Only first time homeowners are elegible.

Sr. Barbara also reported that the house at 1208 Cedar is being torn down.

Paula suggested that Pleasant Hill could help in reaching parents to inform and invite them to WIN’s  Homeowners Classes.  Sr. Barbara and Paula will follow up later.

It was suggested that “Economic Stress” be added to Summit’s list of discussion topics.

Ron invited WIN to do a presentation at the next Summit meeting on avoiding foreclosures, etc.

13. Community Events & Announcements

Phyllis handed out a flyer from Invest In Neighborhoods for purchasing Nutcracker tickets. 

Next Summit Meeting: Dec 11 @ 8 am.  Location is Children’s Hospital.

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

Abbreviation Key: