SUMMIT MEETING NOTES
June 14, 2007
Location: Llanfair Retirement Community

 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

• CHCURC Update

• St Clare Parish Announcement

• CPOP/COP/Court Watch

• Community Activity Update

• Plan for Meeting with Dale Mallory

• Plan for Meeting with Dale Mallory

• Contact List Updates

• Discussion Topic: Ground Rules for Break Down Barriers/Build Relationships

• Additional Community Events & Announcements

DISCUSSION:

1.   Special Announcements

None. 

2.   Review of May 2007 Minutes
The corrected May minutes were approved and will be sent to Tom Strothers for posting on the website. 

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

The openings for counselors for the Christ’s Community summer program have been filled, so that item will be removed from the Action Items list.   All other items will be kept on the list until completed. 

4.   CHCURC Update – by Marty Weldishofer

·        Linden Park – Neyer is re-examining the project planned for the Shuler site, so the sales office will not open on June 15 as previously announced.   However, the community wants to go forward with the previous plan, so a meeting is planned with Neyer and the city to discuss this.  

·        Gateway – The design team has just been re-engaged.  The overall project was delayed for about 1 yr due to the slowness of property acquisition.   The north end property has been acquired, but the south end will probably be delayed until the firehouse planning is further along.  The North Gateway is expected to be up with plantings by the end of the year.  

·        Welcome Signs – the same graphics designer who is working on the Gateway project has been engaged to work on the design for the welcome signs. 

5.   St. Clare Parish Announcement – by Marty Weldishofer

Marty gave this announcement since Fr. George couldn’t come to the meeting.  The Parish Council of St. Clare has entered into a lease agreement through Leona Group to lease the school building to a charter school, Hillcrest Science Academy.    The contract is to be finalized in August.   Further comments or questions should be addressed to Fr. George or the Parish Council.     

6.   College Hill Housing Team – by Valerie Hershberger

The team conducted the planned May 19 Block Party with good success.   70-100 people attended, and feedback has been very positive.   Some people admitted they planned to come, eat, and leave, but ended up staying for hours because they were having such a good time talking with their neighbors.   Others really appreciated the information that was handed out.   Joe Poole’s group, Concerned Citizens of Southeast College Hill, had many new people attend because they had made connections through the Block Party.

WIN has received a letter from the city that gap funding has been granted for the two properties, but not the signed contract.   Reconstruction will not begin until the signed contract is sent.   WIN is hoping for a ground breaking in October.

Ron shared that the College Hill e-newsletter did a very nice special edition on the Housing effort (June 4), and suggested that everyone read it if they haven’t already. 

7.   CPOP/CPD/COP/Court Watchers

CPD reported first:

§         The College Hill May Crime Report was handed out.   Robberies are up slightly vs. April, as well as auto thefts.   But general thefts and burglaries are down.    

§         The police are not sure why there has been an increase in auto thefts, there has been a spike all over the city.

§         CPD got an anonymous tip about trafficking on Homeside, but insufficient information was given so the police are not able to follow up.

§         CPD was able to apprehend the men involved in the robbery of Mrs. Henderson, which was on the local news.  There were fingerprints on her car, and it turns out that these men have been involved in other robberies and burglaries in the city.   Residents are encouraged to contact the prosecutors and judges involved in this case to ask them to keep these guys off the streets.   Marty will send contact addresses out via email.

§         There is a gang in Northside now called the Taliban, which is trying to expand into other neighborhoods.   So far, not much activity in College Hill, but this is being watched.   Surprisingly, there are now many girls in gangs, and they are just as tough and as dangerous as the boys. 

8.   Community Activity Update – Anita Triggs

-     The June 2 Community Yardsale was a great success.   The coordinating group advertised street sales as well as the main location in the CHPC parking lot.   Next year, they will evaluate doing it all on streets and eliminating the main location.

-     Paint the Town on June 9 went very well.   There were 800 volunteers who painted 35 homes in College Hill, and residents were thrilled to receive this “gift”.   Feedback from Give Back Cincinnati, the sponsoring organization, was that they found College Hill’s cooperation, community support, and comradery to be exceptional among all the neighborhoods where they have worked.   Teams will be back on June 16 to finish up several houses.

-     The College Hill Historical Society recruited volunteers to paint the Town Hall on the same day as Paint the Town.   25-30 volunteers were involved.   The city has promised to finish up the work that these volunteers were not able to complete on that day.

-     The annual Rhythm Race will be August 18, at Pleasant Hill Academy.   The organizing committee is looking for sponsorship.

-     This year’s Garden Tour will be Saturday, June 23.  

-     This year’s Block Party will be organized by Chris (Christina) Miller of CHPC.  The first meeting of the planning group is June 14 at 10:30 am. 

9.   Meeting with Rep Dale Mallory – by Ron Cowgill

After discussion, the following was decided:

¨      We will invite Rep Mallory to the July 12 Summit meeting.

¨      It will be hosted by Summit, but all other community groups will be invited.

¨      Questions and focus area of discussion will be forwarded to him ahead of time.

¨      One of our key discussion areas will be his role / the legislative role in supporting the development of community youth.

Sheena will contact Elizabeth (Forum) to follow-up with Rep Mallory.   The Forum Board will discuss this meeting next Thursday (June 21).     If Rep Mallory cannot attend the regularly scheduled Summit meeting date/time, then Sheena will work with him to set another one in July.

Ron will follow up to determine an appropriate meeting place, once Rep Mallory confirms his attendance, and the date/time is finalized. 

10. Contact List Updating – by Valerie Hershberger

Valerie indicated that she has had input from Summit members to delete people from the contact list, but has had contradictory requests to be kept on the list and even to attend the meeting.   Valerie asked for clarification from the group regarding Summit’s guidelines on both of these.

After some discussion, the group affirmed that:

(a)  Summit meetings are intended to be a gathering of organizations in the community, not individuals.   Individuals may attend in order to share information, or if the topic of a particular meeting somehow involves them and they are therefore invited.

(b)  Community organizations will be represented by people who are in leadership positions in the organizations, not just members.   So, using schools as an example, Principals, Administrators, and Coordinators would be expected to attend Summit, but not teachers.  However, final determination of who represents an organization will be done by the overall leader/president/chairperson of that organization.  

(c)  Finally, the contact list will include only those people in leadership positions who attend Summit meetings on a reasonably regular basis.    However, as with attendance, if there is any question about being on the contact list, the leader of the relevant organization will be asked for a determination.

Given these guidelines, Valerie will eliminate people from the contact list for the June issue.   Eliminated people will be informed about the guidelines, and will be encouraged to access the website in order to read the Summit meeting notes each month. 

11. CHBA Update – by Sheena Parton

Sheena shared a number of items for CHBA.

-         The corner of Hamilton and Marlowe has become a problem area again, and so is a focus for CHBA.

-         CHBA acquired a grant to enable increased police presence on the avenue, and the monies run out in June.   However, 13 individuals and businesses have coordinated to contribute $300 each, which sustains this increased police coverage through Sept.

-         CHBA is also ensuring additional police coverage for the Garden Tour.

-         CHBA is working on improving its website.

-         NKU is doing a presentation of its marketing study for the business district on June 21.

-         Llanfair had 2 houses that were in somewhat dilapidated condition, so they were torn down.   Working on what to replace them with. 

12. Ministerium Update

The Ministerium has decided to pursue quarterly gatherings of African-American and Caucasian churches having dinner together.   This is still in the planning phase, but they are thinking that perhaps the dinners will include questions for discussion over dinner.

Also, Rev Drew Smith shared that CHPC has decided to hire a Director of Community Outreach in order to build more bridges between the church and the community.   A large percentage of the congregation does not live in College Hill. 

13. Discussion Topic: Break Down Barriers/Build Relationships

There wasn’t enough time to engage on this topic, so it will be taken up at the next meeting (if Rep Mallory doesn’t attend). 

14. Additional Announcements & Community Events

o       Love-In-Motion – Howard Roberts reported that he is working on establishing a non-profit called Love-In-Motion in Cincinnati.   He previously established this in Atlanta and wants to bring it to Cincinnati.

o       ARCH – Dave Hawkins shared that there will be an ARCH concert at CHPC on June 30, called “Bridge Over the Atlantic – The Sequel”.   Dave friend, Michael Weston King, will perform along with Dave.   No tickets sales, but attendees will be asked for a voluntary contribution.   There will also be a photo exhibit in the Atrium of the church of images of New Orleans, post-Katrina.   Any organizations wanting to set up information tables will be welcome and should contact Sharlyn “Sam” Stare at CHPC. 

Next Summit Meeting: July 12, 2007 @ 8:00 am at Mercy Hospital.   

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                June 22, 2007

Abbreviation Key: