SUMMIT MEETING NOTES

November 10, 2005
Location: Llanfair Retirement Center

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 Review & Discussion

Hurricane Relief

Housing Development in College Hill

Streetscape Update

NRSA Update

Surveillance Camera Update

Website – Summit Summary

CPOP / Aiken High School Update

Community Events

General Announcements

DISCUSSION: 

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

 2.      Special Announcements

New Year’s Eve – Marty shared there will be a pre-demolition extravaganza at the corner of North Bend and Hamilton on Dec 31, from 9 pm to 12 midnight.    This is sponsored by CHCURC and CHBA.   They still need a couple of volunteers and donations of food/drink as well as money.

 3.   Review of Action Items from August Meeting

A.  Invite Eric Thomas to Summit – Ron was busy with a mission trip to Guatemala this month, and was not able to do this item.  He will do this by next month.

B.   Invite Barbara Gordon to Summit – Ron will do this by next month.

C.  Bring camera pledge list – Marty brought the list, and reviewed verbal pledges, written pledges, and donations to date.   We noted that about $5000 will be needed annually to pay City Watchers. 

D.            Document community support needed for Aiken – Phyllis is working on this and will have it at a future Summit meeting.

E.            Develop summary of Summit for website – Ron indicated this would be covered later in the meeting.

F.   Start the list for 2006 Summit meeting locations – Ron shared the list of meeting dates for 2006, and asked Summit members to sign up either via email or at the next meeting.

 4.      Mission/Vision Review & Discussion – by All

Frank presented the draft Vision statement from the Summit Vision Committee.   A diagram was at the top of the page, which incorporated key words identified in the Vision Survey.   Then there was a vision statement, followed by a short list of shared values.  The vision statement is below, after revisions from the meeting:

“The Summit is a diverse gathering of community organizations dedicated to make College Hill a better place to live and to work.   We do this by working together to share information, to collaborate on community issues and problems that affect us all and coordinate resolution of these issues, and to act as a cohesive, unified group with those outside of College Hill.”

The total vision, including diagram and shared values, is attached to this meeting summary.

5.   Hurricane Relief

·        Chappie indicated that Tanya, an evacuee from New Orleans, went back to get her sons who are now happily living with her.  She also had a job offer from CCHMC, but it was for a swing shift which she as a single mother could not manage.  She is still interviewing for employment.

·        Chappie also reported that a work teams from the local Presbytery is in the Gulf, and sending a daily report on what they see and do.  The team is working well.  Joan Pack-Rowe asked if there could be roles/tasks for teens (with staff supervision).   Chappie indicated he would check to confirm.

·        Treena reported that the Red Cross is managing about 700 evacuee families in our area.   Many who initially seemed to be ok psychologically and emotionally are now asking for counseling.   Sometimes volunteers need counseling too.   Call Treena with any needs for Katrina-related counseling and she will help make the connection. 

·        Joan indicated that there are organizations such as the Salvation Army which have “Adopt A Family” programs for Christmas or even longer.   Joan will forward information to Summit members. 

 6.   College Hill Housing Development – by Housing Team

Out of the Sept Summit meeting, a team coalesced around rehabbing housing in College Hill.  The team gave an update on where they are so far.

Carol Lyon said that the team was starting to focus on a specific street, Cedar Ave, as a first step.   Phyllis Schoenberger and Mike Ruehl are working on a door-to-door survey to help assess the current state of home ownership and to start the process of involving the residents of Cedar Ave in the project.   Valerie passed out a written copy of the team’s emerging vision/direction, as well as the team’s current list of questions to be answered.    Both of these documents are attached to this meeting summary.  

Scott Engle said that the neighborhood was in the process of purchasing a house on the west end of Cedar because it was so rundown, and will either raze or renovate it.  

The team’s next meeting is next Thursday morning at 8:30 am at Twin Towers.   Any interested parties are welcome.

7.   Streetscape Update – by Marty Weldishofer

No new information was available, so no update was done.

8.   NRSA Review – by Ron Cowgill

Ron indicated that the Housing Team will use the NRSA plan as a basis for requesting HUD money, when the time is appropriate.   Scott has interest in a separate project which is on the NRSA list, and is going to contact Tom Jackson directly to ask for guidance in next steps.

 9.   Surveillance Camera Update – Jim Bodmer

5 cameras are up and working well.   The 6^th camera will be by Shakers.   Training is scheduled for Dec 1, 8, and 15.   Most people getting trained are from COP. 

A bench by the carwash was recently destroyed, and City Watchers are going back to check the tapes to see if they can find out more.

 10. Website Update

Ron shared a draft of what might go on the website, based on input & help he had gotten from Joan Burger.   An additional revision is needed, to make it consistent with the new vision.  Ron will continue to work on this and also incorporate the recently revised and approved Summit vision statement.

 11. CPOP / Aiken High School – by Donna Perzigian

Donna talked about the new policy of requiring the students to wear uniforms, and indicated that it is going well.   The three schools are differentiated by the color of the shirts: red, black, or blue.   90% of the parents are very supportive.   The kids are very creative in finding ways  to merge their fashions with the uniforms, but are being guided back into compliance.  

The ban on cell phones is not as straightforward to implement.   Cell phones are small, and not 100% are able to be confiscated.  

Phyllis shared her learning that one of the biggest issues at Aiken is that a large percentage of students are economically disadvantaged, resulting in a lack of basics like food, hygiene supplies, and underwear.    Teachers are often using their own money to buy food for hungry students on test days, and feminine hygiene products for girls.   Many of the parents are only 13-14 years older than the students, and are still in need of being parented themselves.

There was a brief discussion about how we are able to pack hygiene kits for hurricane victims, but not for young people in our own city.   Aiken would love to have donations of basics like soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, underwear, T-shirts, and socks.   A question was asked if it was possible to get donations of these kinds of products from P&G.  Ron agreed to follow-up once a ‘needs list’ is put together.

The CH business district is finding the new uniform policy to be helpful; they have been able to determine that a lot of the young people hanging around are not Aiken students.   There is still occasional truancy by Aiken students, and everyone was advised to either call the school or the CPD truant officer (765-1212), who will collect loitering teens and return them to school.     Single students are probably on legitimate errands, such as going to the doctor, but groups of teens should not be on the streets during school hours.

 12. Community Events

·        Phyllis passed out a flyer the Dec 10 “Light Up College Hill”.  Luminaries are being distributed.  Help is needed to shovel sand for the luminary kits.   Help is also needed on Nov 17 at the Rec Center to assemble the luminary kits.

·        Chappie announced that Thanksgiving baskets will be handed out by CCCH at the House of Joy.   The baskets are being assembled the weekend before.

·        Dave Hawkins passed out a poster of College Hill community events, and asked that Summit members post them.   Tom Strothers said there are 4 pages of community events now listed on the ARCH website.

 13.      Announcements

o       College Hill Gardeners have received a second place national award from “Keep America Beautiful”.

o       Treena thanked everyone for their attendance at the Pleasant Hill open house.

o       Marty informed everyone that purchase of the Hamilton/North Bend properties is expected by the end of the year, with demolition to begin early next year, perhaps as early as January.   This is the reason for the pre-demolition extravaganza on New Year’s Eve.   Purchase agreements are being presented to the Finance Committee this Friday, then to City Council next Wed.   It would be helpful if College Hill organizations would send letters of support to City Council for this project.   Email is ok.   Marty can help with advice on the type of content to include.

 Next Summit Meeting: December 8, 2005 @ 8:00 am at McAuley.

                        Summarized by:

                        Valerie Hershberger

                        November 11, 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