7/18 Safety Meeting

I had to miss the Safety Meeting due to my daughters' swim final race, but here's the note I shared with Dennis and Joe re my views on the topics.

Restricted parking - we need to reign in the visual clutter which has drastically increased over the past 4 years.  There are signs everywhere, and the addition of each slowly chips away at our quality of life.  We need a plan C vs the current options:  A) paint curbs or B) place signs every few yards.

Stop signs.  Once there has been an accident, we need to act.  Stop signs are the most necessary form of signage.


Cortney
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All,

 

I will not be able to attend tonight due to my daughter's swim final - I'm sorry for the late notice.  My views on the two topics (my views can't be included in the report, but I figured I'd let you know where my head's at):

-I support 1 side parking on all narrow streets for Fire egress

-I think we should paint the horizontal asphalt with red and/or white fire lane striping vs bold yellow on historic curbs or tall signage.  Here's an example of what I mean http://ericstow.com/services.html

-I don't love the Haines stop sign but understand the need.  I support one sign at the sw corner of the intersection.

 

Related, ***a resident*** asked me how paint vs sign vs both is decided.  If you could let him and me know the "rules", I'd appreciate it.

 

Again sorry for the late cancellation - pls call w questions.

 

 

Thanks,

Cortney

Annual Budget 7/8

I attended the Budget Meeting on 7/8, and here's what I saw.

Surprise windfall from Estate Tax.  The $300,000 surprise income to the Village is welcome.  It goes a long way to stem the tide of slow deficits projected in the out years.  That said, we can't count on these surprises and need to uncover meaningful savings and revenue every year to remain financially healthy.

Curbside recycling savings.  It is premature to plan for this. I believe there are many other ways to structure Trash that will avoid major changes to service and still deliver a savings.

Time. I wish we would delve deeper and spend longer than 40 min to discuss the master plan budget for the Village.

Cortney

Public records request

I was asked by Lisa Wakeland from the Enquirer for all correspondence pertaining to the Joint Economic Development Zone topic.  I consider myself a bit player who came to the party very late (while others worked on the Village's behalf), so my content is a bit thin.  I collected the info and complied with her request.

Cortney

My views on the Partnering Oppty with Columbia Township (aka "JEDZ")

I'm a big believer in partnership with neighboring communities.  A good "Foreign Policy" can make all our lives better.  In this case, a Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ) partnership with Columbia Township can be a real money maker for the Village and at the same time start to build a foundation of trust so we can move forward together on bigger and more substantial projects.  Maybe we agree on a stopsign (just happened w Fairfax).  Maybe we share a piece of equipment.  Maybe we build a bike path.  Maybe we join forces on some big service contract.  Who knows, but this can be a springboard for good things for Mariemont.

The following is a one page "editorial" I'm sharing with folks to educate.

Cortney
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In a world of shrinking budgets and rising expenses, the Village has an opportunity to receive $50,000 of new Revenue annually by Partnering with Columbia Township (sharing Mariemont’s Tax Office + agreeing to no Annexation).  This agreement is called a Joint Economic Development Zone or JEDZ.  Even with committed efforts by Joe Miller and Joe Stelzer on Council over many months, negotiations are unfortunately stalled, and we have only days before losing this opportunity (a neighboring community could become their Partner).


Council should meet right away to discuss the opportunity and advance a proposal, but there is no Special Meeting planned.  Council’s next scheduled meeting on 7/8 will likely be too late.


Many will say a deal isn’t possible/isn’t right for the Village.  You may hear some of the following comments (counter points included as well):


1) Columbia Township owes Mariemont a proposal---Any Partnership is a two way street.  Can't we initiate?  Are we motivated?

2) The Township isn’t serious about partnering---The Township has engaged Mariemont for years on portions of this proposal.

3) The Township won't accept our offer---It’s true we have no way of knowing if the Township will accept an offer to partner; this Revenue is not guaranteed.

4) We will generate more Revenue by instead Annexing Wooster Pike businesses---After a JEDZ is in place with another Partner, tax rates are cumulative and businesses will likely not allow annexation.  And, Newtown, for instance, has incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in Annexation fees so far.

5) The Township’s only motivation is new apartments that will hurt Mariemont---there is no plan for apartments, and our recent rejection of the $2,000,000 grant can't stop the Township from developing what/where they want. That said, a Partnership does give us the ability to influence Development.

6) ”We don't need the money”---One of Council’s important jobs is to reduce Expenses and find Revenue, even if difficult.  As a taxpayer, I’d like to see every dollar chased.

7) $50,000 isn’t the real number---This is a conservative estimate, definitely achievable.

8) We won’t make any money after expenses---The Township will pay for nearly all Mariemont's additional administrative and equipment costs.

9) The amount is much lower than earlier estimates, it’s not worth it---The value of the partnership is much lower since we’ve said no to Murray 6-way intersection improvements.  How much is too little, if expenses are paid by the Township?


Please press Mariemont Council and the Mayor to 1) meet this month and 2) put forth a proposal right away.  Time is running out on this great opportunity for Partnership and for Revenue for our Village.

Mayor's Bulletin Trash Survey

At the end of the Mayor's Bulletin is a survey on Recycling.  This is a topic near and dear to my heart.  I believe we have 2 additional options not covered by the Survey
-purchase a subsidized container from the Village (some bulk discount oppty)
-purchase a non-subsidized container on your own

Original Survey Qs:

-Using the open 18-gallon bins that are collected from behind the house

-Using a 65-gallon recycling cart on wheels with lid that would be emptied from behind the house but would result in an increase in the annual waste collection fee of approximately $25 per household

-Using a 65-gallon recycling cart on wheels with lid that would be collected at the curb but would allow the annual waste collection fee to remain the same

We are a leader in the County and would like to see that continue.  Bigger volume cans is a great start - its a psychological phenomenon called Abundance Mentality.  And it works!  More recycling results.

I'm looking fwd to working with Mary Ann who will likely own the Trash contract in 2014.  I chatted with her briefly, and her perspective from the Historic District will be very valuable as well.

Cortney

6/6 Safety Committee

I attended Safety on 6/6 and here's what I saw.

Belmont Stop sign.  While leery of the proliferation of Stop Signs (and signs in general) about the Village, I can't disagree with the need for this one.

Dog/Cat leash law.  I don't understand the impetus for this.  I know of no issue with leash law violations re Dogs, and I'm not sure Council climbing into the private lives of residents is right.  If your dog is under your control, with or without a leash, then what's the issue?  I also dislike writing laws that say dog off leash ok here and here, but not ok there and there (and corresponding signs that will surely pop up).  The conversation evolved to Cats, a very different situation.  No safety issue, but a nuisance one.  Again, why are we acting?  What is the real need?  I committed to do sensing with Residents to see what we should do.  The Committee agreed to reconvene in a month.

Cortney

Council 6/10

I attended Council, and here's what I saw.

Belmont Stop Sign.  I dislike the aesthetic hit this will cause the street/neighborhood (my comment did not make the official Minutes), but the residents there are supportive, and the hill make for a dangerous situation.  A stop sign is a reasonable solution

Haines Stop Sign.  Many street intersections in the Village do not have a Stop sign, and I'm not sure Stop Signs sprouting up all over the Village is necessarily the right answer.

No Exec Session for JEDZ.  I'm very disappointed we again are not discussing the opportunity to partner.  That said, we need to follow the law and heed the advice of our Solicitor.  I am concerned our response will be only a letter from the Mayor.  I believe we should make a bigger, bolder statement.  We need to reach out in a genuine way.

JEDZ, cont.  I love the idea of partnering with other Communities via a Joint Economic Development Zone.  A JEDZ will pay us to not Annex, which I believe is huge risk and headache avoidance.  Newtown has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Annex on Wooster Pike, and I don't care for the first responder & support responsibilities we pickup post Annexation.  This is a great opportunity for the Village, and we need to chase this.  Let's build into the Region and partner with Columbia Township.

I voted in the affirmative on all votes, as all were procedural in nature.  Exceptions - appointments to boards, where I will happily support volunteerism.

Cortney

icrctv.com