SUMMIT MEETING NOTES

August 13, 2009

Location:  Llanfair Retirement Community

Approved Summit minutes can be found at the following website: collegehilloh.net

ACTION ITEMS

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

Item                                                                                                                   Responsibility           

None identified.

ATTENDEES:  (in alphabetical order)

Name                                                               Organization Represented

Pete Bauer                                                       CHCURC

Jim Bodmer                                                     CPOP/COP/Court Watch

Juanita Canfield                                              CHBA

Ron Cowgill                                                    Facilitator

Karen Hartman                                               CHBA

Valerie Hershberger                                        Facilitator

Fr. George Jacquemin                                     Ministerium, St. Clare Catholic Church

Christina Miller                                               Block Party, CHPC

Sheena Parton                                                 CHBA

Officer James Pechinney                                CPD, Dist 5

Paula Sherman                                                Pleasant Hill Academy

Arnice Smith                                                   CH Library

Bruce Soldano                                                CH LaRosa’s

Dan Weyand-Geise                                         CCCH, Ministerium

AGENDA

Welcome and Introductions

Host Greetings

Opening Prayer

Special Announcements

Previous Minutes Review/Approval

Action Items From Previous Meetings

CPOP/COP/CPD

CHCURC Update

CHBA Update

Schools Updates

Whiz Kids Initiative

Library Update

Ministerium

Housing Team Update

Discussion Topic: Becoming Green

Community Activities & Announcements

DISCUSSION:

1.   Special Announcements

Jim indicated that there is still $1400 left in NEP funds.  The Forum is investigating using these funds to do some brick repair on Hamilton Ave in the Business District.

2.   Review of July 2009 Minutes
The July minutes were approved with one additional correction.

3.   Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings

A.  Ongoing Follow Up List:  Ron have revised the list with input from the last meeting.  He will maintain the list and periodically revisit it at Summit meetings.

B.  Block Party Summit Info:  Ron did print out a brief summary of the Summit from the website, with some minor revisions for clarity on attendance, and this was on the Forum Table at the Block Party.

C.  Address for Input on Ric Schroer:  Chris did send out the address to Summit members for input regarding the potential transfer of Ric. 

4.   National Nite Out/Block Party – by Chris Miller, Jim Bodmer, Off. Jason Pechinney

The Block Party went well.  There were an average of about 450 people per night, with lots of kids, making it a major event.  Planning will need to be ramped up as befitting a major event. 

The hamburgers came from District 2 National Nite Out, which is the biggest one in the city.   There were also able to get $1000 from the Police Asset Forfeiture Funds.

The Unity Walk gathered over 100 people.  And there was not a shooting on Cedar on Wednesday.  This was mis-reported.

5.   Citizens on Patrol/CPD/Probation/Court Watch – by Officer Jim Pechinney and Jim Bodmer

Off. Pechiney handed out the College Hill Crime Stats for July.    Overall, the numbers were up versus year ago, but the same as 2 years ago.

Court Watch is proceeding very well.   Tom & Amos have great rapport with the judges, and are seriously listened to when sentencing is considered.  Unfortunately, there isn’t enough jail space for all offenders who qualify for jail time.

Overall, it is quiet in the neighborhood.   There was one cell phone theft.  There is drug activity by the EZ Market.  The corner of Marlowe & Hamilton is a trouble spot right now.  Another spot is the back steps of Shakers, where kids hang out & sell drugs.

6.   CHCURC Update – by Pete Bauer

Pete reviewed a number of items:

o       A meeting regarding the proposed Episcopalian Residential Home will be held on the 18th.

o       The building next to the Florists was taken by eminent domain, but negotiations are still ongoing between the owner and the city for removal of the stuff inside.

o       Papers have been sent to the city for the old car wash property.

o       The Façade program is almost done.  The total will be nearly $400,000 in improvements to the Business District done through this program.

o       The building previous known as Elisha Hall was purchased by Dave Schwartz and is undergoing renovation.  There will be businesses on both floors when it is done.

7.   CHBA Update – by Juanita Canfield

The regular CHBA meetings are the 3^rd Wednesday of every month at Hammond North at 8 am, instead of the 3^rd Tuesday.  You do not have to be a business owner to participate.

8.   CH Gardeners – by Juanita Canfield

The annual Pumpkin Patch will be October 10 this year, which is the second Saturday of October.  Invitations are already out for food & craft vendors.

The annual Christmas Bazaar will be the 1^st Saturday in December at the Rec Center.

9.   College Hill Schools Updates

Pleasant Hill Academy –  Paula Sherman

Paula reported that the school exceeded the building capacity last year, so many areas (called “pods”) previously set aside for teachers to interact with small groups have had to be converted to classrooms.  The Art and Music programs still do not have rooms.   Mt. Airy school has a similar problem with overcrowding.

There are 725 students this year.   There is a new Assistant Principal, as well as some new teachers.

The achievement test scores came back, and were not good.

The new volunteer program Whiz Kids is off to a positive start.  They were only targeting to have 15 tutors to get started, but will have around 25.  Meals for this after-school program for both kids and parents will be supplied through the Hunger Alliance.

A resident called recently about helping with uniforms, and donated money.   Any monetary donations will be gratefully received.  $20 covers a uniform set.  Checks can be made to the Pleasant Hill PTO.

Adopt A Class continues to gain strength, with Union Central adopting the entire 5^th grade.

Tonight (August 13) will be the annual Ice Cream Social.

10. Library Update – by Arnice Smith

Arnice reported that the cameras are up and running, and thanked Summit members for helping to make it happen.  She also shared that the new security system is finished, and was turned on this morning (Aug 13). 

There will be a levy this fall for the monetary support of the library system.  If it fails, 20 libraries will close.

11. Ministerium Update – by Fr. George Jacquemin

The Ministerium will start regular monthly meetings next month. 

Dates for the Interfaith Hospitality Network, in which churches temporarily host homeless families, will be set by the end of summer.  

CCCH is looking for a new Director.  The Position Description is on CareerBuilders.com.  Rev. Will Hagans is in a reduced role, primarily focused on the pantry.  Ron Whitt had about 100 kids in the annual Summer Program, which lasted about 6 weeks.

St. Clare will host a Blood Drive on Nov 9.

12. College Hill Housing Team – by Ron Cowgill

WIN expects to start building its 3^rd home in early-mid Sept.

The new brochure for the Housing Team was handed out.

13. Discussion Topic: Becoming Green         

This part of the meeting started with some questioning of the need to have discussion topics at each meeting.  A brief discussion reiterated that Summit members have found that time allocated for more in-depth discussions to be valuable.

In regard to “Becoming Green”, the following was shared:

-     Charlie Winburn is working to sell the area in College Hill called The Encampment.  The county wants to build a tract of “green” housing which would be priced higher than the typical housing in College Hill.  This plan will depend on obtaining monies from a Federal Program.

-     College Hill organizations should consider making use of resident architects who are knowledgeable in “green” design.

-     Maybe we should consider putting on a community seminar for upgrading an older home to be more “green”.

-     Maybe we could influence WIN to create a “green” showcase home, as part of housing renewal in the neighborhood.

14. Community Activities and Announcements

Ø      CCDA’s annual national convention will be held in Cincinnati Oct 21-25 this year.   Anyone interested in Christian faith-based community development can go to their website (ccda.org) to sign up.   Evening plenary sessions are free.

Ø      Blood Drive at St. Clare Parish Center on Nov 9.

Ø      Pumpkin Patch will be Oct 10.

Ø      There will be no Forum meeting in August.

Next Summit Meeting: September 10 @ 8 am at 1^st United Church of Christ. 

                                                                                                Summarized by:

                                                                                                Valerie Hershberger

                                                                                                September 9, 2009

Summit Meeting Schedule

2009

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

Location Rotates