SUMMIT MEETING NOTES

August 11, 2005
Location: Pleasant Hill Elementary School

ACTION ITEMS

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

AGENDA

Welcome and Introductions

Agenda Review & Modification

Review of Minutes from Last Month’s Meeting

Opening Prayer

Special Announcements

Review of Action Items from Last Month’s Meeting

Mission/Vision – Brief Comments

College Hill Block Party Update

Streetscape Update

NRSA Update

College Hill Housing Survey Update

Surveillance Camera Update

Website

CPOP Study, Aiken High School Support

Pumpkin Patch Plan

Rhythm Race Update

New CH Logo

Community Events

Announcements

Parking Lot Topics, if any; Location & Agenda focus
Focus for next meeting, if any?

DISCUSSION: 

1.   Review of July Minutes
The minutes for the July meeting were agreed to, with no further corrections

[Note: after the meeting, it was requested by email that members of COP not be identified for security reasons.] 

2.      Special Announcements

A.            Cincinnati Enquirer Reporter:  Elizabeth Sherwood informed Ron that the Cincinnati Enquirer is interested in doing an article on the College Hill Summit, and had planned to send a reporter to this meeting.   However, the expected reporter did not show up.

B.   Ice Cream Social:  There will be an Ice Cream Social on August 18 at Pleasant Hill School at 6-8 pm.   Please call Pam at 238-8010 to get a booth.   Special thanks to CHBA for their support of the Ice Cream Social.  Everyone is invited to attend.

C.  New School Building:  Pleasant Hill School will move to its new building sometime from mid-Sept to early Oct.   Summit is the first community group to the see the new school.   Tour today after the meeting.

D.            Cincinnati Magazine:  There was good mention of local businesses in the August issue of Cincinnati Magazine on page 24.

E.            Cincinnati Enquirer Article:  There was a good article on the CHPC summer program in the Enquirer last Wed. 

3.      Mission/Vision Comments – by Ron Cowgill

Ron asked the group if anyone wanted to share their thoughts about the Summit Mission/Vision statement, indicating that we plan to start the revision process next meeting.   There were a few comments:

-         Like the information sharing, and that being part of Summit doesn’t require extra meetings

-         Need more focus on youth in the community

-         Needs to be defined whether Summit is active (ie, doing projects) or passive (primarily info sharing)

It was requested that the current Mission/Vision of Summit be sent out prior to the next meeting.  This was previously shared in the February 2005 minutes. 

4.   Block Party Summary

Results of the Block Party were briefly reported.

-         Seemed like somewhat fewer people than last year

-         Heard lots of positive comments from the community, even from kids

-         The 3x3 basketball night was well attended.   Lots of kids really liked this particular event.

-         Estimate about 250 people for the Big Band Concert night

-         Publicity didn’t seem to get out for the nights other than the National Night Out.

-         The walk down the Avenue at the start was too fast, and didn’t allow for the people to interact with the businesses.   This was a disappointment for some of the business owners, who had hoped to interact more with the community during the walk, as they did in previous years.

Fr. George said he would take the comments back to the Ministerium. 

5.   Streetscape Update – by Tom Jackson

There are just a few remaining items to be completed for this project.

-         There are about 10 trees to be planted.   Dept of Urban Forestry is waiting until the weather is a little cooler to ensure the trees survive.

-         There are some concerns expressed by businesses about the placement of a few planters.  These need to be worked through.

-         There are 3 areas near Hodap and the PNC Bank, not part of the original plan, that going to be bricked. 

6.   NRSA Update – by Tom Jackson

Tom explained that NRSA stands for Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area, which was a way to group multiple local initiatives with priorities and guidelines for the acquisition and spending of federal monies.   There was never a promise that every project would automatically be funded, which continues to be misunderstood by some community activists.    Each project still needs a sponsor, who needs to organize that project and go to City Council to make things happen.

There was some discussion about how people need more information about the NRSA plan and that it takes effort and time to really understand the plan.   Tom volunteered to bring the chart that summarized the original NRSA plan to the next Summit meeting and update everyone. 

7.   College Hill Housing Survey – by Phyllis Schoenberger

Phyllis reported that the survey is about ¾ done, but that she is having difficulty with data inputing, since she still doesn’t have needed computer support. 

8.            Surveillance Camera Update – Jim Bodmer

-     The system was down for a week to update the software.   Resolution is great but the speed is still not yet what is needed.  

-     The camera at CHPC has been removed due to electrical problems.   It will be installed instead on Cedar Ave.

-     Police love the cameras and look at them every day.

-     Still need volunteers to watch the cameras, especially to decide when to zoom in on something or someone.   There was a discussion about how some people have signed up for the training, but haven’t been contacted.   The Forum needs to help get this whole area moving ahead, and Marianne agreed to take it to the next Forum meeting.  Jim said that Eric Franz is the officer setting up the citizen training, and Ken Lyon committed to call Eric to get more information for the e-newsletter he issues.  

Officer Franz came to the Summit later in the meeting, and shared the following:

-         Three training classes have been set up for Sept 15, 22, and 29.   All three classes must be attended to complete the training, plus a one-shift ride in a police car.  All will be 5:30 – 9:30 pm.

-         The Sept 15 class will be at the Police Academy.   The other classes do not have yet have a location.

-         Computer labs are available both at Pleasant Hill School and CCHMC.   Eric will look at both of these to see which one could be suitable for the Sept 22 and 29 training classes. 

-         It was suggested that training the security personnel at CCHMC should be a higher priority than training citizens, since training CCHMC would immediately start 24 hour monitoring of the cameras.  Eric will follow up with CCHMC to understand more about their security personnel.

-         Eric and Ken will talk after the Summit meeting about both Ken’s training and getting appropriate information about the training into the e-newsletter.

-         Officer Franz can be contacted at 352-2989 with any other questions about the training.

9.   Website Update

No one was present who could speak to this, however, the website itself shows change and progress.   Tom Strothers will contact Elizabeth Sherwood and ask for someone from the Forum to update us at the next meeting.

10. CPOP Study, Aiken High School Support

§         Three key problems were identified at Aiken, and three committees were set up.   Intially, teachers at Aiken were concerned about these committees; they weren’t sure of the intentions of the community members.   Now the relationships are much better and the committees are starting to function well.

§         CPS has rolled out a Positive Behavioral Program, and Aiken leadership has decided to adopt it with modifications for the specific conditions at Aiken.   Aiken University worked with the same specialists that CPS did for the original development to adapt it.   The program includes elements such as uniforms and zero tolerance for cell phones.   CH groups can send a letter of support for the program to the 3 school Principals (Eric Thomas, Susan Raudabaugh, Donna Perzigian), as well as Rosa Blackwell, copying all school board members.

§         There will be a special dinner and welcome of kids back to Aiken on Aug 17, hosted by the University leadership.   COP will be there, and will have their own table.   Other groups from the community are welcome too.

§         There was a discussion about how it would be helpful for the community to know more/get more information about key Aiken activities and events.  Ken Lyon will follow up with Joan Pack-Rowe to get complete information into the e-newsletter.

11. Pumpkin Patch Plan – by Elaine Ludwig

Pumpkin Patch will be Oct 8 from 10 am to 4 pm at Townhill Park.

They are asking CHPC to handle the kids games again.

Some kids want to come, but cannot afford it.   Passes can be purchased and donated.  Contact CHG at 681-1326.

CHBA is responsible for getting crafters and would like help.   If you know of crafters, please send that information to Carol Lyon.

Contact for volunteers is Dee Pitinger, 729-4280 or dpitt@cinci.rr.com.

12. Rhythm Race Update – by Elaine Ludwig

Forum thanks the business community for their support.   PNC is a major sponsor.   CCHMC is sponsoring kids Fun Run, which is a new event.

Still need volunteers too.   Information is in the e-newsletter or call Becky at 521-2729.

Forms are available at the website, CollegeHillOhio.org, for volunteers and pledges.

There will be a party afterwards in the Kroger parking lot.

13. New Community Logo – by Carol Lyon

Carol presented the new logo.   One section includes trees/nature in response to the positive feedback of the community in regard to the greenery in the neighborhood.   One section includes a kind of architectural graphic in response to the pride community residents take in the classic architecture and buildings of the neighborhood.   Underneath the graphic is a slogan “A Diverse and Neighborly Community”. 

All CH groups are encouraged to use this logo on their correspondence.   There are written guidelines for use of the logo, which you can get by giving Carol Lyon your name and address.   Marty has an electronic copy of the guidelines, which he will send to Valerie for attachment to these minutes,

14. Community Events

No additional community events were announced.

15.      Announcements – by all

o       The property at the corner of Cedar and Hamilton is now for sale.  Tenants are moving out.   Karen Hartman has the phone # of the properly owner.

o       The Gumbo Spirit House at the corner of Llanfair and Hamilton has moved, and that property is for sale as well as an adjacent apartment building.

o       The College Hill Cookbook still needs recipes.   Send to Elaine or to the Forum.

o       John Copenhaver pointed out that the new Pleasant Hill School facilities belong to the community, and he encourages CH groups to consider how to use the new buildings.    This could even be a topic at the next Summit meeting.

o       There will be an ARCH retreat in Sept (exact date tbd) with Jim Edgy (sp?), a consultant in how to set up non-profits.   Everyone is invited, but should register ahead of time.

o       The next meeting of ARCH is on Sept 13 at the College Hill Coffee Company.

Next Summit Meeting: September 8, 2005 @ 8:00 am at College Hill Presbyterian Church. 

                        Summarized by:

                        Valerie Hershberger

            Corrected August 28, 2005

Abbreviation Key:

ARCH                = Arts Revival in College Hill

CCCH                = Christ’s Community in College Hill

CCHMC                = Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

CHBA                = College Hill Business Association

CHCURC                = College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation

CHG                = College Hill Gardeners

CHPC                = College Hill Presbyterian Church

CHRC                = College Hill Recreation Center

COP                = Citizens On Patrol

CPD                = Cincinnati Police Department

CPOP                = Community Problem Oriented Policing

C&T                = Communications & Technology Committee of Forum

HUD                = The Department of Housing and Urban Development, a Federal Agency

NRSA                = Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area, a HUD program for low/med income neighborhoods

QOL                = Quality of Life Committee of Forum

Summit Meeting Schedule

2005

General Meeting Time:   Second Thursday of the Month, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

Location Rotates