Weinland Park Community Civic AssociationSafety & Mobility Committee

Summary of meeting of May 15, 2014

Chris Orban, co-chair of the Safety & Mobility Committee, convened the meeting about 5:05 p.m. In addition to Mr. Orban, those present were Brandyn McElroy, Ahmed Ebady, Isom Nivins, Officer Steve Smith, and Steve Sterrett.

Brandyn McElroy, newly elected president of the civic association, suggested that the Safety & Mobility Committee be divided, as provided in the associations constitution. He asked that Chris Orban continue to chair the Mobility Committee, while Ahmed Ebady is willing to serve as chair of the Safety Committee. The committees might continue to meet together for several months, perhaps with the Safety Committee convening for half the meeting and the Mobility Committee convening for half the meeting. Mr. McElroy plans to announce the division at the civic association meeting on May 28.Committee members discussed the perception of some neighborhood residents that they prefer not attend the Safety & Mobility Committee meetings because the meeting is held in a building which houses a police substation.Ahmed Ebady suggested that representatives of Community Properties of Ohio and Community Crime Patrol should be invited to regularly attend Safety Committee meetings. He also expressed concern about the potential of gangs in Weinland Park; vacant, unsecured houses on North Fifth and North Sixth streets; and the large number of homeless people staying in Weinland Park, who he suspects may be contributing to burglaries and muggings.

Mr. McElroy asked Officer Steve Smith to report on public safety matters at the monthly civic association meetings. He agreed to do so.Mr. McElroy said the Coalition for a Nonviolent Columbus has re-opened the process for a second round of grants. He plans to submit grant proposals on behalf of the civic association for National Night Out and for block meetings or cook-outs. Mr. Orban plans to submit a grant proposal for additional bicycle lights. The grant proposals are due by May 29.

Mr. Orban reported that the city cited owners of a number of Summit Street properties for broken sidewalks a few months ago. On behalf of the Safety & Mobility Committee, he wrote a letter to city officials asking that the city postpone the sidewalk citations until the gas company completes its work on natural gas lines in the neighborhood. The city subsequently revoked the citations, but the city may return and issue citations after the gas line work is completed. Isom Nivins suggested that the civic association should advocate for Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund dollars to repair sidewalks. Mr. Orban will talk with Laura Bidwa about advocating for the UIRF money for sidewalks as part of the citys ongoing process to develop a new plan for the University District. Mr. Orban also suggested that residents be hired to break up sidewalks, then one contractor hired to install new sidewalks on a number of properties under one contract.Steve Sterrett distributed the results of a survey of neighborhood residents of their perception of public safety in Weinland Park. More than 60 residents completed the survey at civic association meetings in February and April and online. The purposes of the survey are to provide information to guide the work of the Neighborhood Options for Youth program and of the WPCCA Safety Committee. More than six in 10 of the residents surveyed think that the levels of safety in Weinland Park have gotten better in the last two years; one-quarter think the levels have not changed much; none think the levels have gotten worse. In assessing the priority of nine public safety activities, social services for youth in trouble and their families got the highest priority. Mr. Sterrett said the complete survey results would be placed on the civic associations website and shared at the civic association monthly meeting.Mr. Orban reported a shooting the previous Sunday or Monday in which a woman was shot in the shoulder on Ninth Avenue at either North Fourth or North Fifth streets. The shooter may have been an ex-boyfriend. Officer Smith did not have information on the shooting, but the situation may have been domestic violence, rather than a drive-by shooting.

Mr. Sterrett distributed information prepared by the Columbus Division of Police with five-year crime statistics for Columbus.Mr. Sterrett suggested that Mr. Ebady and he go to the citywide Block Watch coordinators meeting on May 29 sponsored by the Columbus Division of Police.

Mr. Ebady said Diane Dixon has complained about children playing in the street along North Sixth Street. Mr. Orban said that the portion of the street involved is one way. He said Ms. Dixon would like an additional one-way sign on East Eighth Avenue to alert motorists and avoid the potential of children being struck.The business of the committee being concluded, Mr. Orban adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m.

Summary prepared by Steve Sterrett.1