May 1 meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Clifton Recreation Center
Join Clifton Town Meeting (CTM) on May 1 to learn about a series of land use and zoning proposals that would increase allowable density and eliminate parking minimums along major public transit routes and in neighborhood business districts across the city.
In Clifton, the proposed legislation would change zoning codes affecting both single- and multi-family housing areas between and just beyond MLK and McAlpin. An interactive map showing all of the affected areas can be found on the city’s Connected Communities website. Light and dark-green areas in the pictured map represent areas that would see changes in the zoning codes if City Council approves the Connected Communities proposals.
CTM’s special meeting will take place in-person at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at the Clifton Recreation Center, 320 McAlpin Avenue. All Clifton residents are invited and encouraged to join to learn more about the proposals, provide feedback and meet your neighbors. This meeting is focused on residents of Clifton, but you do not need to be a CTM member to participate.
Our featured speaker is City Council Member Reggie Harris, who was elected in 2021 and currently serves as chair of the city’s Budget and Finance Committee. Harris is a leading voice on growing the city to meet today’s housing crisis.
The public is welcome to attend. Public input on CTM agenda items will be heard after Trustee discussion is complete. Community members wishing to address the Board on an agenda item should sign up to speak at least 24 hours before start of the meeting by completing this Google form or with an email request directed to the president at contactctm@cliftoncommunity.org. Individual input on agenda items will last no more than two minutes.
Community members may speak on non-agenda issues during the public questions and concerns period at the end of the meeting. Individuals with statements are asked to sign in before the start of the meeting. Such statements should last not more than two minutes and are invited during the public questions and concerns period. Email your request to speak (specify the topic), or to request an agenda item at the next meeting to contactctm@cliftoncommunity.org.
Clifton Town meeting trustees appointed Mindi Rich to fill a board vacancy during its monthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Rich fills a seat that remained open after a community member elected in November 2023 resigned before his term began. The one-year appointment will end in December 2024.
Prior to being appointed, Rich shared the following candidate’s statement:
My family returned to Clifton in the summer of 2022. My husband, three daughters and I are thrilled to be back in this wonderful gem of a neighborhood! I have always enjoyed keeping busy by volunteering within the community in one way or another. For several years I assisted in coordinating the Clifton Child Study Group – something I am still very active in today. I have also assisted in organizing CliftonFest in past years – creating a space to raise funds for the Clifton Area Neighborhood School and The Amazing Race. In 2017, I worked with the City of Cincinnati and DOTE to have a crosswalk installed at the intersection of Glenmary and Brookline. In 2022, I once again reached out to the community to request its support in having a 3 Way Stop installed within that very same intersection. Thanks to the support of CTM and the Transportation/Public Safety Committee and to the efforts of DOTE – the 3 Way Stop has been installed – enabling pedestrians and motorists alike to have a safer experience while traveling through this intersection. Needless to say – I am a doer. I enjoy working with others and helping create a community and neighborhood that is welcoming, inclusive and safe for all. With all this said, I would truly appreciate the opportunity to serve as a Clifton Town Meeting Trustee.
New officers elected by CTM trustees
The CTM board selected the following trustees to serve on the executive committee:
Steve Goodin, President
Mindi Rich, Vice President 1
Nick Gregg, Vice President 2
Gerald Checco, Treasurer
Barry Gee, Secretary
Existing committees continue, new committees created, chairs selected
After hearing community feedback about the proposed elimination of CTM’s Housing and Zoning Committee as well as its Parks Committee, trustees sustained both.
The Housing and Zoning Committee will continue and those interested in volunteering on the committee should reach out to CTM by emailing the new committee chair, Rachel Wells, at rachel_wells@cliftoncommunity.org.
The Parks Committee will re-evaluate its status following additional outreach to further assess interest in committee participation or, in lieu of a CTM committee, the role of a CTM liaison to the Cincinnati Parks sanctioned Burnet Woods and Mt. Storm/Dunore Park parks advisory committees. If you have an opinion or wish to volunteer to serve on a CTM Parks Committee, email committee chair Rachel Wells at rachel_wells@cliftoncommunity.org.
The CTM Board of Trustees also created several new committees and selected chairs and co-chairs for each new and continuing committee. If you are interested in volunteering with any of the committees, please email contactctm@cliftoncommunity.org.
Committee
Chair
Public Safety
Tim Noonan
Arts & Culture
Joyce Rich
Caretaking & Beautification
Jayme Ritter (Chair) Nestor Melnyk, Gerald Checco, Jan Checco (Co-Chairs)
Chronicle
Jan Checco (Chair) Leah Kottyan, Mindi Rich (Co-Chairs)
Communication
FD Harper (Chair)
Events
Barry Gee (Chair) Leah Kottyan, Jan Checco, Gerald Checco (Co-Chairs)
The public is welcome to attend. Public input on CTM agenda items will be heard after Trustee discussion is complete. Community members wishing to address the Board on an agenda item should sign up to speak at least 24 hours before start of the meeting by completing this Google form or with an email request directed to the president at contactctm@cliftoncommunity.org. Individual input on agenda items will last no more than two minutes.
Community members may speak on non-agenda issues during the public questions and concerns period at the end of the meeting. Individuals with statements are asked to sign in before the start of the meeting. Such statements should last not more than two minutes and are invited during the public questions and concerns period. Email your request to speak (specify the topic), or to request an agenda item at the next meeting to contactctm@cliftoncommunity.org.
We thank the many volunteers who have worked with CTM over the years to make our community a better place. We always seek more volunteers to continue and support the efforts made by others.
CliftonCares established during Pandemic
Supported local restaurants during pandemic
Supported Health Care Workers with 2000 + free meals during pandemic
Leadership in Crisis award received
Successful fundraising to increase Police presence
Created Clifton Connect with Library and partners to welcome immigrants
Focused on newly-arrived immigrants
Seven orientation programs
Reached out to 50+ Clifton households
Memorial Day Parade & Picnic
Revived after pandemic
Served 300 – 400 individuals
Self-supporting thanks to sponsors
Holidays on Ludlow
Revived after pandemic
Collaboration with Clifton Business Association and local businesses
150+ attendance annually
Applied/ Obtained/ Managed multiple grants
Enhancement of Clifton Plaza ($25k)
Security Cameras installed on Ludlow ($20k)
Concerts & Events ($10k)
Opened Neighborhood Support Program application process to include:
Manifest
Clifton Cultural Arts Center
Clifton Business Association
Clifton Recreation Center
Clifton Town Meeting
Individual residents
Produced Clifton Chronicle newsletter
Over 50 Content Contributors
Over 25 Advertisers
10,000 recipients of electronic paper
4,000 recipients of paper newsletter
Eliminated waste by improved distribution
Continued Support of “Off Ludlow Gallery” on Ormond Av
About 20 shows
Holiday Gallery Gifts shows
City-wide draw
Zoning changes/ supported local initiatives
Alive & Well sidewalk decking
Clifton Cultural Arts Center construction phases
Immanuel Church renovation
Membership Maintenance
Cleanup of membership rolls
Maintenance of membership roll
Updated organizational mailing lists
Beautification and Caretaking
Replanted street flowerpots x 400
Eliminated 1000 graffiti tags
Eliminated a dozen abandoned street news boxes
Collected 800+ bags of litter
Beautified Telford Plaza
Beautified Clifton Plaza
Pressure washing of sidewalks (4x)
Beautification award (Keep Cinti Beautiful)
Multiple cleaning of Ludlow Avenue
Several litter pickups on North Clifton Avenue, Dixmyth, Lafayette
Traffic Safety
Enhanced safety in a dozen Clifton locations
Addition of speed bumps and signage
Addition of several 4-way stops
Golf Outing Production Support in 2020, 2021, 2022
Advocacy
Welcomed City Council meetings x2
Worked with CPD on crime prevention
Cooperation with CBA and local merchants for public safety
“Burnet Commons” ad hoc committee convenes residents for discussions
Support of other local civic organizations
Clifton Community Fund (CCF) as their fiscal agent
Clifton Business Association (CBA) as their fiscal agent
Clifton Soccer as their fiscal agent
Transparency/ Engagement
Enhanced Email communication
Introduced hybrid meetings
All motions for Trustee voting provided to all before meetings