Downtown Residents' Council Meetings & Activities

May 11, 2010 Member Meeting

Date of meeting: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Time/Location: 6:00 PM, Cincinnati Public Library (800 Vine St.)

Welcome and Introductions

Chris Smith (new president)

Cincinnati Police Department Update:

  • Lt. Neudigate announces new head of the DSU Captain Wiesman. Captain Wiesman has been with the police for 21 years (3rd tour in District 1 and former head of DSU).
  • Doug Neake gave the crime report: four main homeless camp areas (3rd Street) cleaned up by fencing in areas.
  • Chico Lockart with Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated spoke about panhandling: passed out a new pamphlet on what is panhandling and how to decrease panhandling, described a program to send people home to their families via Greyhound (four people placed recently) and offered to take calls at 266-7135 for help with panhandlers.
  • A question was asked about how to handle panhandlers.
  • It was noted to call police if someone sleeping in foyer/lobby (private property).

Cincinnati Fire Department - Lt. Danson with Engine 3:
In the past month there were 229 EMS runs, 14 fire runs, 1029 building inspections and 60 public inspections. The Safe Summer Nights program (May 25-27 & July 27-29 in Pendleton) will put the fire company on the streets from 7pm-9pm to help people with smoke detectors and the like. Currently, the fire department is browning out up to eight companies a day due to budget issues (brown outs on rotation) not including up to four a day for training. Brown outs were explained as needed to avoid overtime costs (personnel moved between companies). A question was asked about the Smitty fire (no information was available).

Adoption of April 2010 Meeting Minutes
Motion to adopt the minutes by David Siders and seconded by Craig Hudson. Unanimously accepted.

Guests:

  • Adam Clark and Maggie Kelley (both Xavier students)
    Presented on "practical public policy in practice" focusing on public transportation. They wanted to emphasize from their research that both Metro and Streetcar service (streetcar for compact spaces and metro for traveling between neighborhoods) is needed for good public transit. Studies show the streetcar will help promote Metro and economic development in our city (which will increase earnings tax to improve metro funding).
  • Carolyn Janssen ‚Äì Library's Children's Learning Center
    For 7 years the DRC has donated money and volunteer time for the “Summer Arts at the Library” program. Volunteers were requested for each Wednesday night starting June 9th at the Main Library (set up starts at 6:45pm with the programming starting at 7pm and ending shortly after 8pm). The programming for this year was mentioned. Volunteers will simply work with the kids and not be expected to be a famous artist (just have fun with the kids). Contact Carolyn at carolyn.janssen@cincinnatilibrary.com or (513) 369-6922 to sign up.
  • Stephen Leeper ‚Äì Washington Park Expansion (including the new dog park)
    Stephen started by outlining the 3CDC investment to date (this year they are nearly doubling what they have done over the last 4 1/2 years). Currently, 22% police calls for service in OTR are from the area around Washington park. 3CDC is moving their headquarters to just north of Washington Park. The northern part of Washington Park will include an underground garage with the park on top. Some features of the park will include: a 1/4 acre dog park with hard surface, outdoor event plaza, interactive water fountains and civic lawn. The estimated completion will be November 2011. Public meeting for feedback will be May 20th at the Art Academy. The Cincinnati Park Board will own the park with event handling in joint effort by 3CDC with ambassadors.
    A question was asked about preservation of trees and monuments. 3CDC is trying to preserve trees in their plans, but many cannot be saved.

General vote to extend meeting 10-15 minutes

NEW BUSINESS:
  • Great American Clean Up Recap: Chris Wiedeman chris.wiedeman@gmail.com
    17 people to clean up Path to the Taft
  • Broadway Commons Casino Update ‚Äì Craig Hudson cramary@fuse.net
    DRC is involved, but there is no final design yet since there is no architect\operator. Rock Ventures, however, is down to a short list of those committed to promised design principles (outside retail/restaurants, walkable, etc...). All the land is purchased except the Greyhound station (in negotiations).
  • Facebook/Website ‚Äì Communications Committee, Conrad Thiede conradfoster@yahoo.com
    New http://ilivedowntown.com/ DRC homepage redesign by Rick Dieringer. The new Facebook site is only for service and events with website for everything DRC.
    Special thanks to Rick Dieringer and Conrad Thiede for all their hard work.
OLD/REGULAR BUSINESS: COMMITTEE UPDATES

Treasurer's Report: Chris Smith
Started with $7918.64; Deposit of $1130; $126.42 for the Great American Clean Up; Current balance $8922.22

Membership Committee: Alison Kamine
150 active members - including new businesses
The Hunger Walk benefitting the Freestore Food Bank will be held May 31st starting in Lytle Park (http://freestorefoodbank.org/Events/).

Clean, Green and Safe Committee: David Siders
Content was updated on the DRC website including contacts, resources and distinction between safe, clean and green. Next month there will be a presentation on the Riverfront Park by the Cincinnati Park Board. Sometime in the future we have them back to discuss Lytle and Piatt Park. Urban gardening programs will be held in June at the Main Library. We’re still looking for northern sector communal bin for recycling (please email location suggestions).

Dog Park Committee: Chris Wiedeman
Currently taking bids on site construction

Events Committee: Marty McGlinchey
TONIGHT: Join us at Arnolds after the meeting!
DRC Special May Event - Architreks Tour of Downtown - May 24th (email Marty if you are interested)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(All non-political items are welcome)

Motion to adjourn by Hugh Koon seconded by Rick Dieringer
Approximately 40 people were in attendance

Respectfully submitted by Ben Wissel