Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Council recap 8/23

I attended the short Council meeting Monday. Here's what I heard:

Homewood speeding. Committee is putting together objective criteria to qualify streets. Should be done in next 60 days. Prob frustrating for homewood but it feels like progress. In the short term stop zigns will help.

Roundabout. I delivered 8 emails of general and specific content to dennis but was told there would be another delay. I expected this so I felt out Kim/Jeff to see if they would consider meeting as a Pub Works committee as Plan B. Meeting will happen in Pub Works, regardless of Comm of Whole progress. This is somewhat controversial, as it tests the role of the Mayor in assigning Committees.

I voted in the affirmative on all votes. All were procedural, none controversial.

Here's the link to the Meeting
http://www.icrctv.com/mariemont


Cortney

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

many emails re speed humps

I've been corresponding with many citizens on the Homewood Speed Humps issue. I'm supportive of a long term solution like humps, dead end street, alternating-side parking, etc. I believe this is an important test case for the Village, and we ought to do it right, and figure out the criteria.

Cortney

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Attended Council 8/9/2010

I attended regular Council on 8/9

Erosion: I don't think we're taking this seriously enough. Cutting fallen trees is a good first step, but we need a specialized engineering eye above and beyond Chris Ertel's solid experience to figure out cause. Further we need to put a plan in place that stabilizes and partially restores the hillside.

Single Sided Council Packets: John S. did a nice thing by printing on both sides, cutting down paper usage by 50%. I'd like to see all Committee heads go to black and white, double sided.

Homewood Speed Humps: I think Stopsigns are a good 1st step but are not sufficient to fix the problem. I reco an objective measurement program to decide who gets speed humps. Factors like these should be considered: amt of traffic, propensity to speed, distance between intersections, through streets, and streets willing to pay a portion of the cost out of pocket (brainstorming here)

Roundabout: Dan and Dennis both committed to Council and Residents to put the Roundabout invitation into Committee of the Whole. However, I was asked to provide prework, which I am happy to do. I am an unwitting champion of this idea - I believe it's a fairness/courtesy issue, and I believe it deserves to be discussed. That said, I don't know enough about this to say I'll support it to the end. From what I know, I think it's a good idea worth exploring further.

Voting: I voted in the affirmative on all except an abstain on Minutes (missed last meeting). Ambulance Vote might be controversial, but I feel better knowing the previous one was 12 years old and a drain on General Fund. I voted to approve the Safety Committee's reco of Stopsigns on Homewood, only when guaranteed more Committee Meetings to further refine and discuss.


Cortney


link to meeting
http://www.icrctv.com/mariemont

Monday, August 9, 2010

Long time away, Council meets again tonight

I have been incommunicado for a number of days. I'm enjoying a few unplanned weeks off, with my trip to New Orleans + Last Meeting canceled. We're back on tonight.

Cortney