Sheep Farm Park Contract on Tonight’s City Council Agenda

President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown, chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee is sponsoring ordinance 1182-2021 to design the new Case Road Park, located on the site of the former Ohio State University Agriculture Extension Sheep Farm at 2425 W. Case Rd. This 58-acre park has more than 1,000 households within a 10 minute walk. The $235,825 contract with MKSK Inc. will include developing plans for the parkland design and layout of amenities, which will be guided by community input.

You should be able to view the City Council meeting on their YouTube channel. The meeting begins at 5pm, but this issue is expected to be discussed around 5:30 or later. Trustee Roy Wentzel is scheduled to speak.

Columbus to Fund Summer Youth Engagement and Anti-Violence Programming

The City of Columbus has received $93 million in federal funds out of an expected $187 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to provide assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be delivered over two years and must be used by 2024. Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and City Council have agreed to allocate $19.7 million for short-term summer youth engagement and anti-violence efforts.

“Our city and our residents continue to suffer from the fallout of the global pandemic, and no one has been more negatively impacted than our young people,” said Mayor Ginther. “Our first investment of American Rescue Plan dollars will help our kids regain some of what they lost with opportunities for programming, education and employment through city departments as well as through community partners.”

“We are advancing a bold plan with the Mayor to put nearly $20 million into area nonprofits focused on keeping our kids safe while helping them catch up,” said City Council President Shannon G. Hardin. “This package of ARP projects are critical to getting Columbus past the brutal challenges brought onto neighborhoods by COVID-19 restrictions and frustrations. Together with local partners we’re helping make sure folks can get back to work, back into classes and back to living their lives safely.”

Of the $19.7 million that is being allocated, $15.6 million will utilize ARP funding. The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s (CRPD) total additional spending for summer programming is $4.8 million, with $4 million coming from City sources outside of the ARP allocation. $4.2 million will be used by CRPD to support qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide youth programming centered on addressing educational disparities and/or promoting healthy childhood environments. 

Requests for RFPs through CRPD have been posted on the city’s Vendor Services portal since June 11, 2021. Proposals are due at noon on July 9, 2021. Questions can be submitted via email to: RecoveryFunding2021@columbus.gov.

The city is developing a process to determine how to best invest ARP funding to meet the community’s near- and long-term needs, informed in part by the work of the joint City-County Recovery and Resiliency Committee. Community organizations seeking financial support for proposals utilizing American Recovery Plan funding are encouraged to submit proposals online utilizing a standard form that includes a budget and description of how the funds will be used.

Sheep Farm Events

Join us if you are available on Saturday, June 12th from 9:00 am to noon.

We will have Pam from the City of Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks to show us what weeds we should target to keep the Sheep Farm as clean and usable as possible while we wait for a plan for the property. She will bring tools and gloves, but I encourage you to bring your own gloves and to be prepared with long sleeves and pants and, given the recent rain, boots.

As an inducement for rolling out so early on a Saturday, NWCA is providing coffee and donuts (really good ones from a local donut shop). So we know how many tools and donuts will be needed, please email northwestcivic@gmail.com if you plan to come.

Please come even if you can’t stay long. We want to show Recreation and Parks that this park is important to us. Thanks!
Join Columbus Landmarks Foundation to See a Presentation about the Farmhouse

Soon to be surrounded by a new city park, the fate of the c1880s sheep farmhouse – one of the oldest remaining structures in northwest Columbus – is unknown. Join Columbus Landmarks Foundation via Zoom, Friday, June 18 at noon for a free presentation by Miranda Nicasio, a graduate student at the Savannah College of Art & Design, who measured and evaluated this building as an assignment. We hope that Miranda’s work will help guide decision-makers and the design team toward a productive new use. 

Register to get the Zoom link

June 2nd NWCA Meeting

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Agenda

Speaker: Sarah Pomeroy, Assistant City Attorney, Zone Initiative

Sarah will share what her office does, specifically focusing on nuisance abatement in the city which can include everything from housing/zoning codes to criminal activity at residences, hotels, liquor-permit premises, etc.  

Topic: NWCA June Meeting
Time: Jun 2, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89499882381?pwd=N1d1QnA0d2psaVRKTVQwa1NuajMvdz09

Meeting ID: 894 9988 2381
Passcode: 682333
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Meeting ID: 894 9988 2381
Passcode: 682333
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North Side Council Residential Districting Commission Rescheduled for June 16th – Update

The Council Residential Districting Commission will postpone their upcoming North Side Regional Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 19th due to overlapping meeting schedules. The Council Residential Districting Commission is drawing the maps that will create nine Council districts in the City of Columbus, and we need your help to get it right.  In addition to the weekly neighborhood virtual meetings occurring right now, you have an option to take the CRDC survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Columbusdistricts. Visit columbus.gov/districtingcommission for more info.

The survey asks users for their insights in neighborhood representation in Columbus and how they want to see the CRDC address the new residential Council districts. The information will inform the strategy in the drawing of the maps to take place later this year.  

“As our community continues to reimagine public safety and discuss the needs of our neighbors, it is important that we don’t make people choose between two important meetings. Postponing this week’s CRDC meeting just makes sense,” said Malik Moore, Chair of the Council Residential Districting Commission. “We encourage residents to attend Mayor Ginther’s Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, May 19th at 6:00p to hear from the four finalists for Columbus Chief of Police.”

The next CRDC meeting will occur on Wednesday, May 26th from 5:30-7:30p focusing on the East Side Region of the City. Look for future Columbus City Council advisories for more information.

Updated CRDC meeting schedule:

May 26, 2021 – East Side Regional Meeting 5:30-7:30p

June 2, 2021 – West Side Regional Meeting 5:30-7:30p

June 9, 2021 – South Side Regional Meeting 5:30-7:30p

June 16, 2021 – North Side Regional Meeting 5:30-7:30p

June 23, 2021 – Community Outreach Meeting pt. 1, 5:30-7:30p

June 30, 2021 – Community Outreach Meeting pt. 2, 5:30-7:30p

To learn more, please visit https://www.columbus.gov/districtingcommission/ If you have any questions or concerns, please email CRDC@columus.gov

Meet the Trustee Candidates (and vote for them)

To vote for Trustees of the Northwest Civic Association, you must be a member in good standing. See our membership page to learn more. New members are reviewed for location and must be approved by the Board.

See profiles of candidates below.

2021 NWCA Trustee Election Instructions and Ballot

Please mail ballots so that they are received NO LATER THAN June 1, 2021

  1. The election is being conducted by mail.
  2. You may vote for as many people as you wish. Trustees are elected if they receive 50% +1 of votes cast. Only members may vote.
  3. Ballots and accompanying materials will be emailed to members and posted on the website (http://northwestcivic.org)
  4. If you cannot print out a ballot, you may vote by writing down your selected candidates. Whether on the ballot or written out, please do the following;
    1. Place your ballot in a blank, unmarked envelope and seal it.
    2. Place this envelope in a second envelope and address to: NWCA Election, P.O. Box 20134, Columbus, OH 43220.
    3. Include your return address on the outer envelope. This will be used to confirm your eligibility to vote.
    4. Stamp and mail.
  5. On June 1st or 2nd (depending on schedules) two trustees not on the ballot will confirm your eligibility to vote and separate the inner sealed envelope which will go to a second pair of trustees who will count the votes.
  6. Results will be announced at the June 2, 2021 Meeting.

2021 NWCA Ballot
Vote for as many as you wish. Only members may vote. Return no later than June 1, 2021. See above.

□ Steve Donnell

□ Marilyn Goodman

□ John Guroy  

□ Kori Mulligan  

□ Sam Simoes  

□ Stacey Swanson  

□ Roy Wentzel  

2021 Candidates for Trustees of the Northwest Civic Association (NWCA) for terms ending June 30, 2023

Steve Donnell

Steve Donnell grew up in North Central PA and has been living in Columbus since 1977. He and his wife of 40+ years have two children and one grandchild. Steve is retired but keeps busy with part time work. He has worked as a licensed OHSAA football official for almost 30 years up until 2014 and is currently an assistant football coach at Centennial High School. Steve is president of the Rittenhouse Square Condo Association and has assisted NWCA with presentations to the City.

Marilyn Goodman

Marilyn was President of the Northwest Civic Association from 2009-2010, and rejoined the NWCA Board in 2017.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Xavier University in Cincinnati.  In her first career, she was a psychotherapist and CEO of four nonprofit behavioral healthcare organizations.  In her second career as a Paralegal, she worked at Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Disability Rights Ohio, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and JPMorgan Chase.  Now retired, in addition to volunteering for NWCA, she is a Tour Guide at the Ohio Supreme Court, and is on the Steering Committee of Conestoga, the fundraising group for the Ohio History Connection.  Marilyn lives in Riverside Green.

John Guroy

John is a lifetime resident of northwest Columbus.  He is a graduate of Centennial High School and has an Associate Degree in Science that included course work in Fire Sciences.  As a member of Columbus Firefighters Local 67, he has participated in contract negotiations and the Mutual Aid Response Committee.  John owns Guroy Lawn Care, a lawn care and landscape business serving both commercial and residential properties.

Kori Mulligan

Kori is a graduate of Capital University Law School and has worked with homeowner and condo associations as a paralegal and attorney. She has been a member of NWCA’s Zoning Committee for about a year and has begun working on communications. She feels it is important to volunteer her time to help her community thrive. She wants to reach more people in the area to keep them informed about what is going on in the Northwest corridor and to have a say in development happening in the area.

Samuel Simoes

Pastor Simoes has a Doctor of Ministry in community and neighborhood transformation and serves as lead pastor of Northwest Church of the Nazarene on Olentangy River Road. He has been on the board and advised multiple community groups in Missouri, West Virginia, and Massachusetts and worked with not-for-profit organizations dealing with impoverished communities. He has been a community representative for Ridgeview Middle School since 2019. His passion is to find different ways to bring unity to neighborhoods and has seen great things happen when community leaders are intent on improving the well-being of their neighbors.

Stacey Swanson

Stacey has been the Treasurer for the Misty Meadows Civic Association since 2013 and administers their Facebook page. She wants to have more insight into our community and to maintain a safe and beautiful neighborhood that residents want to call home. She would also like to see more community effort toward events, volunteering, and fund-raising. She is a REFIT dance instructor and has an associate degree in early childhood development.

Roy Wentzel

Since returning to Columbus, Roy has worked/volunteered for numerous charities including Habitat for Humanity, The Hunger Alliance, Mid-Ohio Food Bank, The Northwest Counseling Center/Syntero, The Clintonville Resource Center, Our Lady of Guadalupe and is a board member of Avanza Together.  Roy was recently appointed to The Community Advisory Committee of MORPC.  With a great desire to make an impact on our local community, Roy has truly enjoyed getting involved with the NWCA, and has had great success with the The Friends of The Historic Sheep Farm.  Roy was the 2018 recipient of the NWCA Mildred Henderson Award for volunteerism. 

May 5th NWCA Meeting

NWCA’s next meeting is Wednesday, May 5th at 7:00 pm via Zoom. The Zoom link is posted below.. Our speaker will be Erin Beck regarding the Community Choice Electric Aggregation program. We will hear the following zonings/variances:

5400 Harvest St. (BZA21-020) – Variances needed to construct an addition to an existing dwelling and a second attached garage.

980 Old Henderson Rd. (Z20-037 and CV20-044) – Rezone the site from C-2 to AR-3 for the construction of a multi-family residential development.

Agenda

Topic: NWCA May Meeting
Time: May 5, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86523971518?pwd=R01Ub05KcVlmekN6Wnl3aXBoR1J3QT09

Meeting ID: 865 2397 1518
Passcode: 067476
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Meeting ID: 865 2397 1518
Passcode: 067476
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Join Your Neighbors at the Historic Sheep Farm Park for Earth Day!

Have you seen the new Columbus park on West Case Rd.? A lot of your neighbors have walked their dogs, flown kites and even cross-country skied there. On April 22nd we will meet in the Sheep Farm Park at 6:00 P.M. to celebrate Earth Day!

You can tour the 57+ acres, explore the mown paths and enjoy spring breezes! Or, you can help to remove some pesky invasive volunteer Callery pear seedlings. We will have trash bags to help clean up any trash we find. If you think you might want to do some clean-up or dig up unwanted plants, bring some gardening/work gloves. Bring tools if you have them.

This is great opportunity to get out in the fresh air, talk to other people and enjoy nature. We want everyone to be safe, however, so please wear your masks and maintain appropriate distance.

See you on Thursday!

Whether you are able to come or not, take our one question survey about how you can be involved with the Sheep Farm Park in future.

Council to Host Residential Districting, Mapping, and Processes Town Hall

Who:
Councilmember Emannuel V. Remy
Council President Shannon G. Hardin
CRDC Commission Chair Malik Moore
Columbus City Council Legal Analyst Niyah Walters, Esq.
Deputy City Attorney Lara Baker-Morrish, Esq.

When: Thursday, April 22, 2021, 5:30pm
 
Where:
Click this link to join our town hall on Facebook Live

What:

Council will host a Columbus Residential Districting Commission (CRDC) town hall on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 5:30pm. Residents will learn the historical importance of the CRDC, the mapping process and how the residency requirement will enhance neighborhood advocacy and amplify community voices inside City Hall. 

All residents are invited to attend and actively participate. Send questions to CRDC@columbus.gov by noon on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. There are also limited opportunities to ask questions during the event through Facebook Live.

The town hall will also be posted on the City of Columbus YouTube channel following the event.