housing court = mayor's court?

Wondering if a Housing Court (Hamilton County has one) might help with the sometimes tough conditions in the Historic District. However, could Mayor's Court also be that tool? Ohio Supreme Court gives power to MC's. According to their website, there are 355 in Ohio as of 2007.

I would like to learn more about how the MC has been used, and if it can be ramped up to get better compliance.

Cortney

Reply to concerns about big web changes

After sending my recap of our website meeting, I got a note from a village person w concerns about degree of change, specificaly around pace, controlling public posting, and who controls/approves. Text of my reply note follows.

I think this is an interesting example of the power of inertia in an historic, tradition rich place like mariemont. Change is hard, and frankly it should be. We're a successful place! But if I really believe in something, I need to really put energy into affecting that inertia.

Cortney
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Thanks for the thoughts and perspective. A couple things to keep in mind. These may have been lost in translation....

We'll build in parallel, not touching anything on the site or Village Computers until we're ready and tested. Then we'll convert at the right time.

If the mayor would like to be involved, that would be great. The more input the better.

We'll phase this in over months. Right now, I think the group is thinking style changes for a Jan release. Better organization, fresh look, very little new stuff

The only public posting of information we're planning in the near term is participation in polls (ie do you like the new website yes or no?)

We won't make any changes that are more difficult to support without providing proper training. Your comfort and ability are critical to making it a success. And personally, I think we can do much of these enhancements without making it more difficult.

Cortney Scheeser
Senior Analyst, Global Home Care & PGP
Phone: 513-983-0463
Mobile: 479-221-1752
Email, IM: scheeser.cm@pg.com

Please consider the Environment before printing this email

Mariemont Website improvement meeting

I met on 11/21 with Kim, Jeff, and Andy to talk about what could be done to improve the Village Website on short timing. Very productive meeting, recap of email I sent below.

I'd like to see a series of improvements with the goal of cranking up transparency/effective communication without $$ investment in a way that's easy to support.

Cortney
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Hi Guys,

Really enjoyed our time on Saturday. Here are my notes:

purpose
inform, engage, promote
portal for everything mariemont
for current prospective businesses, current prospective residents, and tourists/visitors. current Residents primary audience
2 way communication w residents

approach
phased approach so that we can move towards more, better transparency
choose not to include enquirer like comments right away. Website could lose focus
this probably means easy to submit info/feedback, but an intermediate step of review for appropriate-ness before broadly sharing back
do want to get more raw unfiltered at some point

desired features (phased)
visual calendar
citizen login - constant contact expensive, salesforce.com
classifieds/corkboard like crossroads.net
updates per committee submitted by chair via twitter (in addition to sunshine law reqs)
place for MM Citizens, MM Businesses to publish a link. need to help businesses here in MM
most requested links either dynamically or we resort every 6 months
map showing true village + neighorhood Districts + links to council
How Do I format
Links to MM relevant sites: Wikipedia, theater, town crier link (Need this to be a true portal), Yahoo local, city-data.com, Inn, MPF, Topix.com
rotating photo, maybe 10 sec, maybe per session, maybe per month
amateur photo contest, generate eyeballs at launch
professions photos good too
picasso and flickr offer folder capability to auto rotate pix
online tax doc links need to be preserved
Google Docs as repository for our information. May reduce size of TW Cable bill for hosting? All docs avail to everybody. Can you see google docs anonymously? Agree logged in users better, but would like to be avail to all
icrc invited to film and links included
podcast and link in the short term. Research: laptop + $8 mic + editing software http://audacity.sourceforge.net all that's needed. one of us can do this! more info on process: http://www.ehow.com/how_5116110_make-podcast.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
selling ads to finance improvements? Allowed?
counter stats - google analytics
videos of events, like tree lighting and mem day parade
polls - great way to learn our way towards open communication
random, changing facts, maybe historical trivia, budget concerns, #speeding tx on wooster pike, etc. Maybe as a ticker? Need freq updates if this option. plug in twitter updates? Anything mariemont? We do this at PG
video contest, use poll to declare winner. great for getting eyeballs to site

I think I may have slowed down the group, putting a jan 1 update at risk. Sorry about this - I think a new site on Jan 1 is an awesome idea, and want to help us get there. Pls let me know what I can do. Maybe build the District Map? If this would help, I need to know what the file format should be.

It's gonna be fun!


Thanks,
Cortney
271-4513



scheeser.blogspot.com

Condos on Madisonville moving forward

Rick Griewe presented to MM's Architectural Review Board (ARB). His designs are attractive and he's exceeded some Zone D requirements which is a good thing. His project is still a year out, assuming he meets all requirements of Planning Commission and Council.

Cortney


http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/20091119/NEWS/911190325/Mariemont+board+OKs+condo+design

informal meeting scheduled to discuss Village Website

A small group will get together this Saturday to discuss MM's website and what it might be, how it might look, how to support it, etc. Jeff and I have talked at length and would love to see improvement right away. Probable attendees will be Jeff Andrews, Andy Black, Kim Sullivan, Sue Singleton, and me.

More to come!

Cortney

Chickens in Mariemont, cont.

More on the Mariemont Chicken controversy. Talking about them puts me in a Fowl mood:
http://cincinnatilocavore.blogspot.com/2009/11/chicken-keeping-in-mariemont.html

I think ideas like this are SUPER. Rain Barrels, allowing Line Drying, personal use farming are a big idea.

Cortney

11/9 Council Meeting - I made a public comment

Tonight was a would-be contested, hot, emotional meeting. However, it came and went with a whimper. No controversial action was taken. There was talk of Layoffs, but Mr. Mctigue recommended against action today. A special session will happen soon, accompanied by 3 readings of Council. This should shine some light on the deliberate actions and give them more credibility.

My comments: I followed a lady from Montgomery suggesting we support having chickens in the Village. I'm gonna LOVE this job! :)

I spoke about the pending layoffs (which didn't happen). I asked that Council consider waiting until the New Year to implement for 3 reasons:
-Budget Deficit clearer and better! Actions still needed?
-New Council would love to weigh in and be part of the solution.
-Waiting until after the Holidays would be nice.

Rationale - I really struggled with whether or not to speak. I do understand both sides (high level), and frankly a smaller Deficit would selfishly help me as a Councilman. But the need to speak in support of waiting won out. Complicating this is I don't belive any Department is without waste or without need to cut. After my due diligence, I may come up with the same proposed action.

No idea if Council will entertain the idea, but I wanted to at least say something. Did I burn "political capital" (do I have any)? Did I do the right thing? Not sure, but I feel good having done so.

Cortney

Sitting Council conversations part 2

I reached out to all the Councilmen and women and asked 2 questions:
-what do you wish you knew when you were new
-what can you share about the budget deficit and actions to correct

Perspective is an interesting thing. I heard some great "hadn't thought of that" comments. Timeline and corresponding logic was interesting. Many laid out the process:
-budget trouble, how to fix
-fire department merger idea, supported by majority
-fire department merger rejected
-still need to act
-put levy to correct budget trouble
-contingencies pre-decided
-levy fails
-execute contingencies
-execute quickly because we've waited too long

It all makes good sense. So interesting vs several other points of view I've heard from Citizens.

All believed 2 Full Time should be transitioned to Part Time Firefighters (maintaining 4 on duty at all time). Leaving 1 fewer Police as permanent. And 1 Maintenance Worker should be laid off.

All believed this is a start and more cutting would be needed, left to New Council.

Thanks to all who volunteered their time and views. Looking fwd to connecting w the other folks I haven't yet chatted with.

Cortney

Confidentiality and the Blog

A note about sharing details of conversations: this is tricky as it's MY blog, not Billy Bob's. So is it fair to lay out Billy Bob's affairs? Out of respect, I'll try to "anonymize" comments/conversations/actions. However, if unavoidable, I'll share more but a minimum amount of personal info.

I think more transparency is needed, and I'd rather over share. However, I welcome comments to this. Am I off base?

Cortney

Conversations with Sitting Council part 1

I've reached out to all sitting Council and so far I've talked with 3. Thanks to each for the candor and time. I've asked the same 2 questions. First question: What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a new Councilman. Why I asked: I'm a big fan of share and reapply vs invent. And not "inventing" the stubbed toes would be great.

Here's some of what I heard: reach out to Committee chairs before hot topics are discussed. Often not time to really research a topic before a decision is made. Understand the Finances (Budgets, Levys) inside and out. Make a real effort to know all the demographic differences in the Village (income, age, housing type). Many different faces to the Village. Really take the time to hear from and listen to a broad xsection of the Community. Understand in depth the history of the Village, especially plans never completed. Understand the true boundaries of the Village (this I can attest is tricky).

Question 2 to come shortly.

Cortney

Changing Purpose of Blog

I'm making a change to the Blog today. Here's what it's been labelled as til now:
"Random thoughts, observations, and beliefs about my run for Mariemont (Ohio) Village Council. I owe it to the Citizens to model the transparent behavior I expect from my government."

All still true, but I'm now on the other side of things. Here's what this blog will be about going forward:
"I commit to publish here my thoughts, observations, beliefs and actions on Mariemont Village Council (Ohio). I owe it to the Citizens to model the transparency I expect from my government."

Please hold me accountable. I now (Jan 1) work for you.

Cortney

Election

Family, Friends, Supporters, Angry Mob outside my window:

Wanted to share some great news and offer up a big 'thank you.'

As you may have heard, I did well last night, coming in 3rd of 7, securing a spot on mariemont village council in 2010. I am proud and humbled by this win. I am excited (and a little bit overwhelmed) by the work that lies ahead. We can do much to maintain and more importantly improve mariemont.

Thanks to each of you for the support, the help in honing ideas, the feedback (both kinds :) ), and the confidence along the way. Its been a great ride thanks to you.

Next up is to learn and chat and learn some more before the jan 1 swearing in.

Thanks again for your support. Oh and by the way, from here on, I will only answer to "Gov-neh", in a cockney english accent. Ha ha.

Cortney

Voted this morning-end of campaign

Weird. I've never had the experience of trekking to the poll on election day and seeing my name on the ballot!

It's done - "the defense rests". I am very happy w my campaign. And I feel ready to accept either answer. Winning is obviously preferred, but losing means I'm not the right fit for the citizens. And that's ok too.

My strategy for today is: go to work and catch up. I took a number of campaign vacation days in oct! Then dinner out - amys and my weekly date night is tonight. Poll/precinct results are posted @830pm, so maybe I'll run between the two and tally them up.

I had thought about pestering voters at the polls today but decided against it last night.

This ends phase 1 of my blog. Its been a humbling, educational, busy, and exciting process. Thanks for hanging with me and for your support.


Cortney