SUMMIT MEETING NOTES

December 11, 2009

Location:  Children’s Hospital

 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

• Special Announcements

• Previous Minutes Review/Approval

• Action Items From Previous Meeting

• CPOP/COP/CPD

• CHBA Update

• Forum QOL Update

• CHCURC Update

• Schools

• Ministerium

• Housing

• Discussion Topic

• Community Activities & Announcements

DISCUSSION: 

1.   Special Announcements

None

2.   Review of November 2008 Minutes
The minutes for the November meeting were ???.

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

(a) Aiken Security has visited the Library during the day.  Done.

(b) The Ministerium has added “adopt-a class” to their discussion topics. Done.

(c) No update.

(d) “Economic Stress” has been added to Summit discussion topics.   Done.

4.   Citizens on Patrol/CPD/Probation/Court Watch – by Officer Katrina and Jim Bodmer

Officer Katrina explained that there had recently been a shift in the type of crime occurring in College Hill.  A new crime, theft of catalytic converters from cars, is on the rise.  These converters contain platinum, and a thief can get around $3000 for 10 converters.  She handed out a flyer on this issue.   Off. Katrina also reported that, as expected, burglaries were up in December.  Most of these were forced entry, even using ladders to get to 2^nd floor windows which are often left unlocked by home owners because of the perceived safety of doing so.  On a personal note, Off. Katrina said she will be getting married, and her new last name will be Zeller.

COP (Citizens On Patrol) reported that they are driving around frequently in the mornings because many burglaries happen in the mornings.  COP indicated that most of the young people arrested in robbery/burglary attempts are unknown to COP, which means criminals new to the area have moved in.   Both COP and CHBA urged citizen vigilance to help stop these crimes; recently observant members of CHBA reported suspicious activity in a barber shop, and the police were able to respond and immediately make an arrest.

5.   CHBA Update - by Phyllis Schoenberger

-  CHBA is doing email crime alerts.

-  Cameras will start up in February in the Business District.

-  Allocated $3000 to police detail from CNBD funds.  CHBA has set guidelines for the patrols, including: (a) stop by and talk to businesses, (b) include patrolling parking lots and (c) extra focus on the Marlowe area.

-  CHBA will know in a couple of weeks about whether funding was approved for a portable camera.

-  PNC is continuing as the hub of the camera operation 9on the internet) for now.

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

Phyllis handed out a summary of the Parolee Community Service work program that she has established, and discussed opportunities for non-profits to have work done.   She highlighted that the requirements would be for the non-profit to:

(a) provide a volunteer to give guidance on what is to be done

(b) respect and work side-by-side with the parolees

(c) provide a lunch for them (some are homeless)

(d) sit and talk with them at lunch

Karen Barrett of Aiken expressed interest in the possibility of having them do work at Aiken.  Phyllis and Karen will follow up to explore the idea.   Any other interested organization should contact Phyllis with their ideas and suggestions.
 

7.   CHCURC Update – by Pete Bauer

Façade Project – The Board has asked Marty to concentrate on getting the Façade program completed.

College Hill Signs – The new signs will be installed in Jan/Feb.

CHCURC Annual Meeting – will be held Feb 4.

Businesses – Moon Hair Styling will be moving to the old A&S building.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) – Hamilton County is slated to receive $8.3 million from the Federal government in association with the stimulus effort.  The focus is on foreclosed vacant/blighted buildings.  There will be meetings in December with each neighborhood community council, with projects to be finalized in January and money to be allocated in February.  Our current understanding is that the money will go to CHCURC, and then CHCURC will own the houses that get purchased and rehabbed.  CHCURC is looking for the collaboration of other community groups, such as the Forum QOL and the Housing Team.   The other groups indicated they are willing, but need CHCURC to provide the leadership to call everyone together and start the process.

8.   College Hill Schools Discussion

Aiken College & Career High School – by Karen Barrett

Last Friday, Aiken University was officially told that they are closing.  The new school will be Aiken College & Career because of the recently achieved Effective Rating.  Aiken C&C will be actively recruiting Aiken U students.

Aiken has done a Focus Area survey with all the teachers, and the themes that emerged were remarkably consistent.  Key themes were:

-     Academic Excellence

-     Academic Structure (kids together by grade group)

-     Marketing in the community to get local 8^th graders

-     Student Supports (mental health, social skills, behavioral supports, etc)

Aiken is seeking to have 220-240 9^th graders next fall.

The new Aiken building will be ready 2012.

The big focus now is keeping kids in school.  Joy Kain has been added to the staff.  She is the school Social Worker, and she described how she is diligently following up on students who have 5 or more days of unexcused absences.  She is finding that the school records are out-of-date.

McAuley High School – by Cheryl Sucher

Cheryl expressed appreciation for the many community members who came to last Friday’s concert.  Additional activities can be found on the McAuley website.

They have introduced a new policy of a required computer for every student in the 9^th grade.  12 Catholic schools are buying computers from the same source, so the price is relatively low.

They have gone to a new Progressive Schedule.  Students carry 8 classes, but only attend 6 per day.  This gives longer class times for each subject, and seems to be working very well.

They have added exams before Christmas, which are scheduled for Dec 17, 18, and 19.  Students then go on break, and return on Jan 5.

McAuley is also emphasizing community service.  The school did 32 boxes for CCCH for Thanksgiving.   The school also sent out 40 girls to do leaf raking for the elderly in the community. 

Pleasant Hill Academy – by Paula Sherman

There will be a snowball festival for Saturday.

They would like to have gently used coats for needy students.

There will be a Christmas program next Thursday at 7 pm.

9.   Ministerium Update

The Martin Luther King service will be January 18.  Location needs to be firmed up, but will probably will be at the Methodist Church of North College Hill.

There will be the next Bridges dinner in February.

CCCH’s Thanksgiving program went great.   They are seeing that the needs are almost twice as much as usual.  The Christmas baskets will be handed out on Dec 22 at CHPC.

10. College Hill Housing Team – by Hope Wilson

The Ribbon Cutting for the Saranac house was held after the last Summit meeting.  There were many people from the community and local churches who stopped by, and the real estate agent was pleased.  Additional open houses will be scheduled to help sell the house.

1304 Cedar will be completed by the end of December.

5918 Lantana will have rehabbing start in later January.

WIN is planning to start building another new house in the spring at 1208 Cedar.

WIN does do housing counseling, ranging from teaching first time home owners how to manage and maintain a home to helping people avoid foreclosures.  Jim Bodmer suggested that WIN may want to put flyers on the doors of local residents for the housing classes and credit counseling.

11. Discussion Topic: Economic Stress

The group had a brief discussion about the impact of the current economic situation on the community.

In general, Summit members saw the current economic situation as an opportunity to reinvigorate the community.   Many local activities are not only fun, but free (or very inexpensive).

-         The library does programs for seniors, such as Bingo and Wii.  Free coffee and cookies are also served.

-         1^st United Church of Christ also does Bingo for seniors, although they are currently challenged to find enough drivers to pick them up and take them home.

-         PNC’s Michelle Williams is organizing to offer seminars on finance.  It was suggested she consider doing them at the Library.

Making the local residents aware of the many events and activities continues to be a communication challenge.  Ken Lyon offered to help College Hill organizations publicize events & activities, not only through the e-newsletter, but also to put links or info on various Cincinnati websites.  He also asked for local organizations to share their email list with him so he could contact more people and give the opportunity to subscribe to the e-newsletter.  Juanita Canfield is now the editor of the Currents, the community newsletter sent through the US Post Office mail service, and would appreciate being informed of community events/activities.  She can be contacted at 681-5648 or 451-8506.

13. Community Events & Announcements

Children’s Hospital – There are currently 23 kids resident at the College Hill facility with no families to visit with them at Christmas, or send them presents.   Children’s is asking for donations from the community in the form of gift cards to Walmart or similar stores.

Luminary Project – This Saturday, Dec 13, is “Light Up College Hill”, where homes are encouraged to put out luminaries.  If you want any, call Juanita.

Christmas Concert – There will be a free Christmas Concert at 1^st United Church of Christ on Saturday, Dec 13, at 7 pm.

Next Summit Meeting: Jan 8 @ 8 am.  Location is College Hill Presbyterian Church.

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                Jan 7, 2009

Abbreviation Key: