My Vibrant Daily
Check out your maps from the first round of Workshops!
June 18, 2013 in Scenario Planning, Vibrant NEO 2040
Map Library
Over 70 maps were created at the six workshops by residents and public officials. We have created a the following galleries for you to look at the different maps. Three of the six workshop maps have been posted, the remaining three will be uploaded later today. We have removed the table numbers from each map.
Akron
Canton
Warrensville Heights
Warren
Cleveland
Oberlin
“Business as Usual” Workshops: Initial Review and Results Presented to Board
June 14, 2013 in Communications, Scenario Planning, Vibrant NEO 2040
Over a three day period (April 30 – May 2) nearly 600 individuals participated in our Business As Usual Workshops. The sessions focused on a presentation of the Business As Usual Scenario, instant polling and a mapping exercise to engage attendees in a discussion about how the region should look going forward. You can access a video from our Akron Workshop here.
Below you will find some of the results from the first Workshop Series. We have included an overall summary of the workshop results, a closer look at how different development typologies were utilized during the mapping exercise and a library of all of the maps created by workshop attendees.
Summary of Thematic Feedback and Table Notes
During the mapping exercise, we encouraged attendees to take notes about ideas and concerns at each table. This document is a record of the notes taken by volunteer note-takers during the mapping exercise conducted at the Vibrant NEO 2040 “Business As Usual” Scenario Workshop Series Click here to read through the VibrantNEO Phase One Table Notes.
What development types did participants use?
Attendees were able to place different development typologies on a Northeast Ohio map. The results from this exercise are summarized in the powerpoint results above. Here is a different look at the outputs focused on the number of different chips utilized. Click here to access VibrantNEO Workshop Chip Placement.
Map Exercise Library
Over 70 maps were created at the six workshops by residents and public officials. We have created a library of all of the maps on our website. If you would like to see the copies of individual maps from the workshops, Click here to access. Three of the six workshop maps have been posted, the remaining three will be uploaded later today.
Local Roots
June 13, 2013 in Environment, Quality Connected Places, Sustainability
Northeast Ohio has become somewhat of an epicenter of the local foods movement in the United States. From innovative urban agricultural zoning in Youngstown and Cleveland, to recognition of its historic and independent open markets (e.g. West Side Market in Cleveland), to entrepreneurial efforts to integrate local farming and markets in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, to future planning to increase local food growth, retailing, marketing and processing,[1] the region has set an example for other areas of the Midwest and the nation to follow. The case for local food has been made by many organizations, citing how local food means:[2]
- Better quality: Fresher, picked at the peak of flavor, and it loses fewer nutrients in transport.
- Better for the environment: Uses fewer fossil fuels in transportation, fewer chemicals for farming and promotes biological diversity.
- Better for the economy: Invest in local business, and they’ll invest locally, too. And eating seasonally means food is less expensive, putting money back into your pocket.
- Better for the community: Get to know who grows your food, and share ideas for growing and cooking with fellow local-foods lovers!
Local Roots Market and Café (and soon to also be Kitchen Incubator) has become a wonderful example of the evolution of the local food movement in Northeast Ohio. The concept began to emerge in Wooster (Wayne County) in February 2009 when people who were interested in
helping to make local food more accessible began to connect with one another and brainstorm how this could be best be accomplished. Meetings were held weekly to plan the development of what would become the Wooster Local Foods Cooperative, eventually doing business as Local Roots Market and Cafe.[3]
On Jan 30, 2010, almost exactly 1 year from those first meetings, the Local Roots Market & Café officially opened for business. According to their website,[4] the market has grown from being open only Saturday to six days a week. In October 2010, funds received from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) were put towards the completion of a small, but commercially licensed kitchen facility. This was completed in June 2011. In July 2011, Local Roots received notification of a grant from Rural Development/USDA for $99,500 to complete the full commercial kitchen facility. The kitchen will allow producers to further process and preserve products for sale in the market. The April/May 2013 Newsletter, “Roots Cellar,” announced the installation of a 14’x10’ freezer by a volunteer group known as “The Kitchen Crew.” The Crew also completed the plumbing trenches with help from College of Wooster and Ashland University students.[5]
For more information about Local Roots Market & Café, please email info@LocalRootsWooster.com. The Market is located at 140 South Walnut Street in Wooster.
Local Roots Steering Committee Members from left to right: John Drouhard (Electrician, WCSEN), Keith Speirs (Architect, WCSEN), Dave Benchoff (OEFFA Board Member, Farmer), Jen Hugon (Graphic Artist), Jennifer McMullen (Writer), Marlene Barkheimer (Bank President), Jessica (Barkheimer) Eikleberry (Business/Computer Systems), John Anderson (Poultry Researcher – OARDC), Monica Bongue (OEFFA Member, PhD Biochemistry, Farmer), Betsy Anderson (Entomologist – OARDC, Former Professional Baker), Bill Boyer (HS Teacher, Gardener), Marlene Boyer (Family & Consumer Sciences HS Teacher)
[1] Masi, B., Schaller, L., and Shuman, M. (2010). The 25% Shift: The benefits of food localization for Northeast Ohio and how to realize them. Cleveland, OH and Silver Spring, MD: Cleveland Foundation, ParkWorks, Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, Neighborhood Progress Inc., Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition.
[2] Local Roots Market & Café: Why Local? (retrieved 6.9.2013 from http://localrootswooster.com/why-local).
[3] Local Roots Market & Café: History (retrieved 6.9.2013 from http://localrootswooster.com/history).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Local Roots Market & Café. (April/May 2013). The Roots Cellar Newsletter (retrieved 6.9.2013 from http://localrootswooster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/LRAprilMay2013.pdf).
Have you imagined about Northeast Ohio yet? Imagine MyNEO is now live
June 12, 2013 in ACT, Scenario Planning
ImagineMyNEO is a fun and entertaining web-based tool designed to put the user in the role of regional planner, making critical policy decisions and weighing priorities for the future of Northeast Ohio and struggling with the tough choices that must be made. You can play today at vibrantneo.org/imagine.
Our goal with ImagineMyNEO is to ask residents ‘What would this region look like in the future if you are in charge?’” said Hunter Morrison, NEOSCC’s Executive Director. “Users can share their priorities for the future and make the kinds of policy choices necessary to help create that future, and all in an engaging way.”
In ImagineMyNEO, the user is first asked to finish the sentence “I want to live in a Northeast Ohio where…” by rating the relative importance of 15 statements such as “…My community has an urban character” or “…My taxes are low” or “I can get to places without a car.” Dynamic imaging in the tool changes the size and emphasis of a set of priority icons depending on the choices the user makes.
Next, the user learns about the ways that different policy choices can impact a variety of priorities, in positive and negative ways. For example, one Project option in the tool is “Invest in pedestrian, bicycling and public transit services.” This project positively supports the priority of having a community where kids can walk to school, or having a community with an urban character. However, it negatively impacts the priority of keeping taxes low.
Lastly, users are asked to “put your money where you ‘mouse’ is!” by allotting limited resources (in this case, 15 coins) to different projects, all of which have differing resource costs and differing impacts on priorities. Users can revise and rethink their choices to find the actions that most positively support their preferred priorities.
“The issues we are wrestling with are extremely important,” added Mr. Morrison. “They can sometimes seem technical or staid to a lay person, but we really want to hear from the broadest range of residents possible, so we designed ImagineMyNEO to make the issues of regional sustainability, and the trade-offs and choices that we face, easy to understand and relevant.”
ImagineMyNEO is the second component to NEOSCC’s Vibrant NEO 2040 scenario planning process. First, a round of community workshops was held in late April/early May, attracting nearly 600 participants to six events across Northeast Ohio. Those workshops focused on looking into a scenario referred to as “Business as Usual,” which used current and recent data to create projected scenarios about what Northeast Ohio will be like in 2040 – if we keep doing what we have been doing. (The “Business-as-Usual” presentation, along with a video developed to provide an overview of Vibrant NEO, can be viewed at http://vibrantneo.org/.)
Input from attendees will be used to create additional projections for a series of public open houses in late July/early August concentrating on “Alternative Scenarios.” During these open houses, the data collected through ImagineMyNEO will be presented to attendees. Like the “Business as Usual” scenario, the “Alternative Scenarios” will be projections of Northeast Ohio’s future, but, informed with resident feedback and priorities, they will look at that would happen if we do things differently and make different choices.
Lastly, a round of public workshops in mid-September will build off of all previous efforts and, factoring in Northeast Ohio’s stated priorities and values, will develop the region’s Preferred Scenario that can serve as a roadmap to a more vibrant, resilient and sustainable Northeast Ohio.
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Transportation as a Civil Rights Issue Forum on Thursday
June 11, 2013 in Transportation
You are invited to participate in a discussion titled “Transportation as a Civil Rights Issue.” The keynote speaker for the discussion will be Samuel Gresham Jr., former head of the Columbus Urban League and the Ohio Commission on African American Males. Mr. Gresham Jr. is current chair of Common Cause Ohio.
The discussion will take place at CSU’s Levin College of Urban Affairs (1717 Euclid Ave.) at 4pm on June 13th. For more information visit Bike Cleveland site.
Read More »Interested in reducing costs, stress, carbon footprint, pollution and congestion? Are you up for the Commuter Challenge?
June 6, 2013 in ACT, Transportation
Multitask Much? How would you like to…
save money on fuel,
reduce your stress,
reduce your carbon footprint, and
reduce air pollution and traffic congestion?
You can accomplish all this and so much more by joining NOACA’s commuter challenge!
Read More »What is Commuter Challenge?
Commuter Challenge is a clean-air campaign that encourages people to try an alternative to driving alone. It is also a friendly competition among Northeast Ohio businesses in which employees choose a sustainable mode of transportation such as walking, biking, carpooling, telecommuting, or using public transportation.How does Commuter Challenge work?
Employees representing their organization can sign up for the Challenge. Individuals not associated with an organization are also welcome to participate. At the end of the Challenge, participants complete the commuter form (third link on the left). The organization with the highest participation rate wins and will be recognized in a news release, publication and radio spots related to this event.For more information on this amazing opportunity, click here.
Public Hearing for ODOT Major and New Construction Projects
June 4, 2013 in News, Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) has reviewed and scored applications for this year’s round of major/new construction funding. Major/new projects are defined as those that cost more than $12 million and are critical to the mobility, economic development, and quality of life of Ohioans. ODOT has scheduled public meetings to receive feedback on the draft list of projects.
The public hearing for northeast Ohio that covers ODOT districts 3, 4, 11 and 12 is scheduled for Thursday, June 6 at 9:00 am at the Akron Public Library, 60 South High Street in downtown Akron. For more information.
Read More »Take the 2013 National Bike Challenge!
June 3, 2013 in Connections, News, Transportation
- Who is organizing the Challenge?
The lead sponsor is Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the Challenge is organized and presented by the League of American Bicyclists.
- What is the Challenge?
The Challenge is an exciting health and wellness initiative that encourages people to bike for transportation and recreation. In 2013, we aim to have 50,000 riders pedaling 20 million miles from May 1, 2013 until September 30, 2013. It is open and free to anyone who lives in the U.S. or works for an organization with U.S. employees.
- What is the history of the Challenge?
In 2009, Kimberly-Clark Corporation created an internal Bike Challenge for its more than 50,000 employees. With the help of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, the Challenge was successfully piloted In Wisconsin at the state-wide level in 2011. The Bike Challenge, then called the Get Up & Ride National Bike Challenge, went national in 2012. It had over 30,000 participants riding 12 million miles; 2013 will be the second year the Challenge is national in scope.
Learn more about the National Bike Challenge by clicking on the image above to visit their website!
Read More »Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center Opens in June
May 31, 2013 in Asset List, Environment
The Cleveland Metroparks’s Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek, staffed by natural resource and education professionals, land protection specialists, volunteers, and visiting scientists, is the first facility in Cleveland Metroparks dedicated to scientific research and promoting sustainable action.
Its mission of enhancing and protecting our urban watersheds will be achieved through innovative community programming, encouraging regional participation in watershed issues, and promoting scientific discovery.
Here some information on the opening celebration, June 21 – 22:
Celebrate the solstice as we joyfully cross the bridge into the new Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek!
The Watershed Stewardship Center is dedicated to promoting healthy urban watersheds through science, education, research and restoration. This Center was developed through a dedicated partnership between Cleveland Metroparks, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and West Creek Conservancy to serve a diverse community through adult and youth science education programming and professional trainings and workshops. Come explore, discover and delight in the Watershed Stewardship Center’s unique blend of science and technology, paired with green design and grassroots volunteer action.
Learn about your local watershed by viewing our interactive topographic map and tour dozens of water management features. Would you like to meet a Water Hog? Wonder how a green roof makes “cents” by keeping its cool? Want to stroll through our stormwater pipe? There is a new experience for everyone wanting to take a plunge at the Watershed Stewardship Center this summer!
To find out more visit the Metroparks Website.
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Regional AI/FHEA Report on Fair Housing available for public comment
June 10, 2013 in Housing
The Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium (NEOSCC) is currently undertaking a study to evaluate fair housing throughout the 12 Counties of Northeast Ohio. It is known as a Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. Today begins the public review period for the draft reports.
The purpose of the comment period is to allow the public an opportunity to review and comment on the draft findings and suggested recommendations. COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL JULY 9, 2013. Please note that these are proposed findings and recommendations and are subject to change. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend any of the public meetings and/ or forward written comments to:NEOSCC, 146 S. High Street, Suite 800, Akron, OH 44308 or info@neoscc.org.
Please go to our Regional AI/FHEA Draft Report page to access the documents.
Read More »Tags: equity, fair housing, public comment, regional AI No Comments »