College Hill Forum

Minutes April 2022

By

 

  1. Call to order — Welcome to new members and guests – Phyllis Slusher
    • Meeting called to order at 7:04. Meeting held by zoom.
    • Two students from Western Hills High School were attending the meeting.

 

  1. Police and Fire Department Reports
    1. Fire & Rescue Report – Engine 51, Steve Bien
      1. Reminders from Engine 51
        1. Smoke alarms should be placed on all levels and in all bedrooms
        2. Apartment residents are responsible for keeping working batteries in smoke detectors
        3. Clean lint traps
        4. Use smart911.com to enter information to help first responders

 

  1. Alerts
    1. As time permits, Engine 51 teams will check and clear fire hydrants in the neighborhood. After clearing, water may run brown briefly

 

  1. Police Report – D 5 – Captain Adam Hennie, Sgt. Todd Ploehs, Shawn Dent
    1. Crime statistics are looking good, with most categories down from last year.
    2. Link to crime stats

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12_uJAL01Eqc5yRskU9rHAeq0DzcYluRP/view?usp=sharing

  1. In response to to the speed enforcement initiative, District 5 officers has issued 38 citations on North Bend
  2. The traffic enforcement initiative was extended for an additional three months, through the end of summer, about August to September.
  3. Several street calming petitions have been submitted to Department of Traffic Engineering (DOTE). A request requires 50 signatures on a residential street.
  4. One of our student guests asked about racial or ethnic statistics in traffic stops
  5. District 5 reps said that there is a database of demographic information about all traffic stops, the driver stopped and the officer who made the stop. The statistics are monitored regularly by the Citizens Complaint Authority (CCA) since the Collaborative Agreement was created in 2002

 

 

 

  1. COP Update – Jim Bodmer
    1. We need more volunteers. Four residents have expressed interest.
    2. The next training session is coming soon
    3. National Night Out will be August 2 at the College Hill Presbyterian Church parking lot

HTTPS://WWW.CHPC.ORG/EVENTS/2022/08/02/NATIONAL-NIGHT-OUT-BLOCK-PARTY

 

  • Treasurer’s Report – Jim Bodmer

Balance                                   27243.63

Allocated: 

    Pedestrian safety.         923.73

    Citizens Patrol.            208.78

    Nation Recovery.      5000.00

    Communication.      2625.24

    NSP                            7638.00

 

Total allocated             16393.75

Net.                              10849.88

Reserve.                      10000.00

Available to spend           849.89

 

 

  1. New Business
    1. VOTE Election of new Forum officers
      1. The President asked for any nominations from the floor for any of the Forum offices. There were no nominations from the floor
      2. The four candidates were running unopposed, so the vote was taken as a “slate”
      3. The candidates were voted to new roles with 29 Yes votes, 0 no votes, and 3 abstentions
      4. New officers are: David Borreson, President; Jacquelyn McCray, Vice President; Karen Hartman, Treasurer; Cathy McLeod, Secretary.
      5. Councilmember Victoria Parks will swear in new officers during the May meeting. She will also provide an update on city council activities.

 

 

 

  1. VOTE to support CHCURC applications for a Major and a Minor NBDIP grant (Neighborhood Business District Investment Program) – Kate Greene, CHCURC
    1. Kate Greene asked for community approval for two grant requests presented by CHCURC on behalf of the College Hill Community. Each neighborhood can request two grants, a major grant ($50K or greater) and a minor (under$50K).
    2. This year, the major grant is for street scaping work to encourage a sidewalk culture. The plan includes additional planters, benches, trash cans and electric access points. Structures for more shade at Patrick’s Park are included.
    3. Assuming approval, the schedule is 12-18 months.
    4. CHCURC will work with DOTE.
    5. The minor proposal ($49,500) was for improvements for pedestrian safety along the business district.
    6. Grant proposals are presented in the week of May 14 through May 17. Typically, 20% to 30% of all proposals are funded.
    7. Vote to support the proposals was approved with 28 Yes votes, 0 No votes, and 3 abstentions

 

  1. Old Business
    1. CHCURC update – Kate Greene, Director of Operations CHCURC

Reminder:  May 4 is the CHCURC annual meeting in Patrick’s Park.  It will include tours of projects.

  1. Community Voice (College Hill residents and stakeholders – 2 minutes)

Thom Brown provided an update on construction at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

 

Tracy L. Wilson shared:

  • information about a collaborative effort between the Playhouse in the Park and Aiken High School. Some of the performances will be open to the public.
  • On May 12, there will be an event Teen Talk with the Cincinnati Opera where teens can meet and speak with a composer

 

 

  • Committee and Organization Reports

Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) – Jeremy Boerger – Hybrid In-person/Zoom meetings

  • Jeremy met with CRC IT and Engineering departments about installing and maintaining hybrid meeting equipment at the College Hill Rec Center
  • There are a few open concerns, including labor for installation and the software for the zoom meetings, including some billing for users
  • Current expectations are that hybrid meetings will be ready for the June Forum meeting.

 

Membership Committee – Cathy McLeod

  • There is an online payment option that is operational in response to an email request for membership.
  • The online payment is not yet available on the website

 

Education Committee – Virginia Rhodes and Jacqueline Amos

  • The Education Committee presented 391 goodie packets for all school employees in the five College Hill schools to thank the educators and staff who have been local heroes during the pandemic.
  • The next meeting will be May 10 at 7 – 8:30 pm

 

Communications Committee update– Julie Brown

  • Follow College Hill on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and collegehillforum.com
  • The current news is published twice monthly through the College Hill Currents newsletter. To subscribe, send your email to chcurrents@gmail.com

 

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety update – Julie Brown

  • Three College Hill streets are in the top 20 list of streets requesting street calming

Here is the link to traffic calming request

 

College Hill Business Association (CHBA) – Karen Hartman

  • Support local businesses if you want a vibrant business district

 

College Hill Gardeners (CHG) – Karen Hartman

  • Plant sale is May 7 behind the College Hill Coffee Company
  • June is the Garden Tour, featuring 8 gardens

 

 

 

 

College Hill Recreation Center – CRC

College Hill Historical Society (CHHS)

Arts Revival in College Hill (ARCH)

 

Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm

 

NEXT CH FORUM MEETING VIA ZOOM IS TUESDAY, May 24, 2022 at 7:00 PM.