Kevin Marsh Uncategorized

Update on Clifton Water Main Replacements

The Clifton neighborhood has had multiple water main pipeline replacements happening over the past two years. Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) presented an update on the work to CTM in April 2015. CTM asked for a fresh update from GCWW during February so that residents would be advised. GCWW responded with the following details.

The Clifton 30” Water Main project is on schedule. The project started later than anticipated due to issues with the contract. The project officially started in November 2015 and is estimated for completion beginning of May 2016. The remainder of the work for the Clifton 30” Water Main will be between Ludlow Avenue and Woolper. Construction will be slower in this corridor due to the increased traffic, narrower roads, and installing the new water main in the trench of the existing 30”. This is a slower process removing the old water main and then installing the new one in the same location. The production decreased significantly, but our Contractor is doing a great job staying on schedule.

Once the 30” water main is complete, there is one more Clifton water main project that still needs to finish. The Clifton McMillan Water Main project includes installing 12” water main from Ludlow Avenue to Woolper. The Contractor cannot install this water main until the Clifton 30” Water Main is complete. The 30” Water Main is being installed first since it is deeper than the 12” water main will be.

The Ludlow Jefferson Water Main project was installed in 2015 and is complete. The Morrison Terrace Avenue Water Main was also installed in 2015 and is complete.

Kevin Marsh Uncategorized

CTM Education: Call to Action

Does Your Child Have Access to Quality Education? This is a call to action for Clifton as well as Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview (CUF) residents concerned about public education access. Did you know that our neighborhood assigned public school is failing on the state report card?

Access to Fairview-Clifton German Language School, a CPS magnet school, is only available through the CPS lottery. Not having access to quality public education in Clifton could result in fewer families moving to and staying in Clifton, which may also negatively impact our property values.

Let’s join together to improve the ability for all children in our neighborhood to attend a quality public school. Our neighborhood and CTM Education Committee is working hard to make positive change happen.

If you are interested in getting involved in now or would like to be added to our education email list, please click here to subscribe to the email list. Additional information is available here and in other posts on the Community News section.

Kevin Marsh Uncategorized

CTM Renews Support for Bicycling Infrastructure Resolution

The following resolution was sent by email on January 20, 2016:

Mayor John Cranley, City Manager Harry Black, and members of Cincinnati City Council:

This month Clifton Town Meeting (CTM) passed a resolution regarding bicycling infrastructure in Cincinnati. This resolution is the same one we sent to you in August of 2014. Our community continues to desire more bicycling infrastructure, and we are amplifying their voices to you. We have seen improvements in 2014 and 2015 such as the installation of 3 Red Bike stations in our neighborhood, a climbing lane on Woolper Avenue, the installation of a portion of the Central Parkway protected bike lane, and the installation of a pilot thermal traffic sensor at the intersection of Ludlow Avenue and Central Parkway. We see these as the beginnings of progress, and we look forward to meeting with DOTE staff and you to plan and implement additional infrastructure that connects Clifton with other neighborhoods. CTM formed a Transportation Committee at the beginning of 2015, and bicycling infrastructure topics will be handled by this Committee.

Our resolution does not necessarily connote acceptance of the current traffic issues raised regarding Central Parkway. As such, CTM urges the City to continue to address issues and solve the problems affecting cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists along Central Parkway. CTM requests that any change to the current protected bike lane on Central Parkway must continue to include a safe, protective bicycling infrastructure route on Central Parkway and not negatively impact the efficient travel of cyclists.

Resolution for Bicycling Infrastructure
Clifton Town Meeting desires to make Clifton into a premiere bicycling community within greater Cincinnati in order to improve the vibrancy, safety and overall health of visitors and residents. To do so requires continued investment in on-street infrastructure such as the Central Parkway protected bikeway, bike lanes, sharrows, and bicycle related signage. These features add tremendous value for local businesses and help make our communities more livable and attractive to active individuals and families. Our neighborhood supports the initiative to promote more on-street bicycle infrastructure that connects Clifton to other neighborhoods in Cincinnati. Residents of Clifton use bicycles on established roadways in order to commute to work, school, and shop. We need and endorse the full usage of roads for cyclists for a full and productive lifestyle, not just recreational riding on off-road trails.

Sincerely,

Eric Urbas, President
Clifton Town Meeting

Kevin Marsh Uncategorized

CTM Resolution to CPS Board of Education to Reserve Spaces for Clifton

CTM voted to pass the following resolution in late November 2015, and it was transmitted to the following parties by email on November 28:
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education
Superintendent of CPS Mary Ronan
Fairview-Clifton German Language School Local Decision Making Committee (LSDMC)
President of GEBAS at Fairview-Clifton German Language

November 28, 2015

RESOLUTION

A Resolution of Clifton Town Meeting (CTM) in requesting that the Cincinnati Public School Board of Education (CPS BOE) reserve spots for children living in the 45220 zip code in the event that the Fairview-Clifton German Language School expands its current location or obtains additional space in the former Clifton school building which is currently occupied by the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.

Whereas, the Cincinnati neighborhood of Clifton has a population of 8,500; and
Whereas, the children living in Clifton do not have a neighborhood school within their neighborhood; and
Whereas, the assigned neighborhood school is rated as failing and thus inhibits Clifton’s ability to attract and retain young families; and
Whereas, an expansion of Fairview-Clifton German Language School would create new openings and thus not decreasing the current number of openings for city wide students; and
Whereas, Cincinnati Public Schools has set a precedent with the Hyde Park School for a magnet-neighborhood merged school; now, therefore

Be it resolved:

1)CTM requests that any future expansion of the Fairview-Clifton German Language School include reserved Kindergarten spots for children living in the 45220 zip code.

2)CTM requests that Cincinnati Public Schools provide CTM with the enrollment data for children living in the 45220 zip code. Specifically; how many children enrolled and the corresponding data on school placement versus preference.

3)CTM requests that an Assistant Superintendent be assigned to work with CTM in order to help facilitate input towards achieving equitable short and long term solutions.

Kevin Marsh Uncategorized

Decorating Ludlow for the Holidays

Under the direction of the CTM Beautification Committee, several volunteers decorated Ludlow Avenue light poles with lighting, pine roping, and ribbons on Sat, Nov 21, 2015.  Adam Balz is the Chairperson of the committee, and he is the steadfast organizer of this event (from getting supplies to providing training).  CTM is grateful for the following people who donated their time and energy to this effort:  Peggy Spohr; Paul Buckley; Ken, Ashley, & Carter Fritz; Gerald & Jan Checco; Eric, Stella & Mary Urbas.

Below are some pictures that Ashley Fritz took of the event. We’re happy to post any pictures you have of the event here also. Email them to us.