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.

Kevin Marsh Uncategorized

2015 Membership Drive

Clifton Town Meeting is your local community council. CTM sponsors many activities and festivals throughout the year for our community including: Memorial Day Parade & Cookout, Lantern Walk, CliftonFest, the House Tour, Golf Outing, Holidays on Ludlow and more. We provide funding for beautification projects such as the new flower pots on Ludlow Avenue and Holiday decorations on Ludlow Avenue. We provide communications including community email Clifton News, website and the Clifton Chronicle. We partner with the Clifton Business and Professional Association (CBPA) to keep the Clifton Plaza operating.

In addition to these great things, we also advocate on behalf of the Clifton community. Issues we have promoted in the past year include the return of a local grocery store, renovation of the Probasco Fountain, more programming at the Clifton Plaza, restarting CTM efforts on Public Safety & Parks, creating Transportation & Education Committees to focus more on these areas, creating a more active and useful Community website, and engaging more in social media on Facebook and Twitter to promote CTM produced and sponsored events.

To support our important community work, we need your generous support. Membership dues are tax deductible and make up the second largest source of income for CTM. Starting or renewing your membership will help us keep Clifton a vibrant, desirable, and fun place to live, work, and play. You can click here to renew online.

If you wish, you can also use this Membership Form to do a mail in membership renewal.

Thank you for your support.
CTM Membership Committee