Board of Education FC Cincy Stadium Proposal Community Outreach Summary Report
CPS CPS CPS
MARCH 2018 Introduction
In January 2018, the Cincinnati Public School District The illustrations throughout this report are the product Board of Education was approached by Football Club of Graphic Illustrator Tom Miller of Atomic Art. Mr. Miller Cincinnati (FCC) to “discuss a potential FCC-CPS captured the essence of the over 50 individuals who partnership in the event (FCC) choose(s) to pursue a West spoke at the Board’s Community Meeting, to highlight End stadium location.” the passion and commitment of community members on this issue. The Board of Education responded to that proposal, stating that such a proposal involve a robust community The Board thanks Ms. Regina Carswell Russo of discussion and stakeholder input with utmost openness RRightNow Communications, who facilitated the Board’s and transparency. Community Meeting.
This Community Outreach Summary Report is a Most importantly, the Board appreciates and thanks the summation of the Board’s work in this area between hundreds of citizens of Cincinnati who have sent letters, January and March 2018, and includes information that testified at Board members, responded to the Board’s was presented at three public Board meetings, including survey and have otherwise provided input to the Board a Community Meeting focused exclusively on the FC regarding this proposed land agreement. Cincinnati stadium proposal.
In total, the Board heard over 100 verbal speeches during its public engagement sessions, and received over 1,200 written comments in response to the Board’s FC Cincinnati Public School District Cincinnati public survey. Board of Education Members Carolyn Jones, President
Ericka Copeland-Dansby, Vice President
Melanie Bates
Eve Bolton
Lannis Timmons
Ryan Messer
Michael Moroski
Laura Mitchell, Superintendent
Jennifer Wagner, Treasurer
1 Timeline of Communications Copies of this correspondence is included at the end of Letter from FC Cincinnati to CPS this report. Links to correspondence can also be found online at www.cps-k12.org. Board of Education On January 22, FC Cincinnati President and General The CPS Board of Education was asked by FC Cincinnati Manager Jeff Berding sent a letter to CPS Board of to consider a land agreement proposal that would allow Education President Carolyn Jones. FC Cincinnati to utilize the current location of CPS’s Stargel Stadium in exchange for the construction of a new On January 24, Board President Jones sent a written reply Stargel Stadium adjacent to Taft IT High School. to Mr. Berding acknowledging receipt of his letter.
The Board stated its commitment to openness and On January 31, the Board of Education met for its transparency in all matters, including the discussion of regularly scheduled meeting. At that meeting, the Board this proposal. committed to several action steps to continue public engagement in an open and transparent way.
• Hold a community meeting at Taft IT High School;
• Request a presentation from FC Cincinnati on their development plans;
• Survey the community for their opinion.
On February 8, Jeff Berding wrote the Board of Education about the possibility of making a specific proposal to the Board. He also emailed the Board additional information on February 12th.
On February 12th, Mr. Berding and other FC Cincinnati representatives presented a land agreement concept and a redevelopment proposal for Stargel Stadium. CPS Athletics Manager Joshua Hardin also provided the Board information about the teams and other organizations that utilize Stargel Stadium.
On February 21st, the Board held a Community Meeting at Taft IT High School.
The Board released results of a non-scientific public survey on March 7. Over 2,700 individuals, 40 percent of whom self- identified as CPS Taxpayers, responded to the survey.
2 Board Meeting
Hearing of the Public January 31, 2018 Board Meeting
Individuals that testified
Craig Rozen Edith Thrower
Shirley J. Jones Christopher Griffin
Steve Smith Kelli Prather
Tia Brown Michelle Dillingham
Alexis Kidd Mary B, Rivers (Letter)
Sterling Rogers Trice Julie Sellers
Stephan Pryor Hawktime
The Board of Education held a Hearing of the Public during its regularly scheduled February 12th Board Meeting. A dozen community members spoke about the FC Cincinnati stadium proposal.
At the meeting, the Board committed to several action steps to continue public engagement in an open and transparent way including:
• Hold a community meeting at Taft IT High School;
• Request a presentation from FC Cincinnati on their development plans;
• Survey the community for their opinion.
3 Board Meeting
Hearing of the Public On February 12, 2018, the Board of Education met for February 12, 2018 Board Meeting a regularly scheduled Board meeting, with a specific agenda to address the FC Cincinnati proposal. Individuals that testified Jeff Berding, President and General Manager of FC Craig Rozen Joe Mallory Cincinnati and other FC Cincinnati representatives presented a land agreement concept and a Wendell Young Paul Bogenschutz redevelopment proposal for Stargel Stadium.
Cecil Thomas Contina Davis CPS Athletics Manager Joshua Hardin also provided Kelli Prather Michelle Dillingham the Board information about the teams and other organizations that utilize Stargel Stadium. Clement Tsao Alexis Kidd The Board heard from over 40 individuals during a Josh Spring Cerissa Newbill Hearing of the Public. At that meeting, the Board announced that it would hold a Community Meeting on Allie Graff Stephen Pryor February 21, 2018 at Taft IT High School. John Harshaw Marq Casey
Gwen Marshall Raymond Ellerbe
Iris Roley Kevin Wallace CPS Athletics and Facilities
Peter Hames Jeff Capell Stargel Stadium Reconstruction
Sterling Rogers Trice Ralph Moon
Clayton Adams Shirley Felton
Andrew Kuecwicz Christopher Griffin
Lashon Taylor Brian Garry
Tom Savoca Carliss O’Neal
Carol Brown Jared McFaddin 2002: Start Stadium Reconstruction Marlena Brookfield Gail D. Finke 2004: Stargel Stadium Dedication Amy Scroghan Scott Finke Initial project cost:$5,459,000
David Brenner Julie Sellers 2015: Field and track improvements $397,000
Final cost: $5,856,000
4 Board Meeting (cont) Stadium Specs
Seating: 3,000 2,000 Home; 1,000 Visitor
Facility includes: • Ticket booth • Concession area • Storage for maintenance and athletics
Teams That Utilize Stargel
Cincinnati Public Schools Teams
High School Football • Aiken Football Team Other Uses • Taft IT Football Team • Taft IT Physical Education Classes and • Hughes Football Team other health and fitness programs • Shroder Team • Gamble Team • 2017 Special Olympics summer event • Riverview East Team • 2018 Project Connect summer event Track and Field • Taft • Gamble Student Enrollment • Riverview East Taft IT: HS: 607 Digital: 267 • Sayler Park Virtual HS: 347 Rising Stars: 182 Non-CPS School Teams (Vine)
Football • Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy
Track and Field • Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy • St. Joseph’s
Others • Gotham Soccer • Kings Hammer Soccer • Cincinnati Christian University • Ohio Premier Football League • West End Little Senators Baseball • Cincinnati Gators Semi-Pro Football
5 Board Meeting (cont) MLS Bid & Stadium Update Potential West End Stadium Facts • Stadium will not touch Taft High School building in FC Cincinnati Stadium any way
• Opportunity to win MLS franchise requires soccer- • No housing will be taken, no residents will be displaced specific stadium that works best in an urban environment • A site plan involving high school stadium existing location would need to replace StargelStadium with • FCC Stadium will be privately financed – owners bigger, improved StargelStadium so current activities prepared to invest over $350 million are not impacted
• In June, 2017, FCC publicly identified three • FCC has committed to neighborhood outreach that will neighborhoods as potentially winning locations for new lead to a binding Community Benefits Agreement soccer stadium --Oakley, West End and Newport • FCC has never identified one as “preferred” or “Plan A” Existing Willard Stargel Stadium option – all have strengths and challenges that FCC is evaluating
• Given enormous private investment, an FCC stadium must be great addition to neighborhood – Jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities – Affordable housing – Retail and entertainment – Community assets
6 Board Meeting (cont) Proposed Stargel Stadium Site Exchange
7 Board Meeting (cont) Initial Vision for New Potential West End Stadium Willard R. Stargel Stadium Will work with CPS to:
• Improve facilities
• Improve student programs, both sports & academic
• Expand student and Taft school community partnership
Will work with West End neighborhood youth coaches to support their program needs
Will work with City on enforceable CBA
Stadium Decision • Not FCC’s alone, with neighborhood and elected leaders
• With ongoing Communication, Outreach and Partnership
• First Step must be concept proposal and engagement with CPS then neighborhood residents
• Continue to work on other sites respecting need for engagement & public process
ACES Committee Meeting Joint Board and City Council Meeting The Alliance for Community and Educational Success, a joint organization of the Board of Education and the Cincinnati City Council’s Education, Innovation and Growth Committee, met on February 27, 2018, to discuss the proposed FC Cincinnati stadium development.
Several community members spoke about the proposed stadium development, and the elected representatives discussed the matter. 8 Community Meeting
Hearing of the Public The Board of Education held a Community Meeting February 21, 2018 Board Meeting at Taft IT High School on February 21, 2018. Taft IT High School hosts the site for Stargel Stadium, but it’s Individuals that testified important to note that six CPS high school football teams utilize Stargel Stadium. Sterling Rogers Trice Donyae Grant In an effort to make the best-informed decision if a formal Ralph Moon Tim Haines proposal was to be presented by FC Cincinnati, the Board Mwalimu Keita Tia Brown held this meeting to hear directly from the community members, particularly West End students and parents. Alexis Kidd Tabitha Donald Ms. Regina Carswell Russo of RRightNow Marlena Brookfield Joseph Creighton Communications was the facilitator of the event. Ms. Russo kicked off the discussion with a question from a Tom Savoca Gwen Marshall Taft IT High School student. Carol Brown Allie Graff Speakers were asked to direct their comments to the John Donaldson Mark Mussman essential question for the Board: “If the West End is selected as the site for the FC Cincinnati stadium, should Andrea Hale Josh Spring the Board of Education enter into a land agreement to rebuild Stargel Stadium across the street from Taft IT Brian Garry Nick Johnson High School?” Stephen Pryor Joshua Kruer Over 50 individuals provided comments to the Board. Dennis Whitehead Steve Smith
John Walter Barbara Boylan
David Brenner Chris Ostoich
Mark Quarry Margy Waller
Marsha Reese Kelly Pranther
Contina Davis Christopher Griffin
Gerald Bates Colin Hill
Gerald Smith Tom Conlon Jr
Shirley J. Jones Craig Rozen
Keyshai Calloway Earnestine Hill
9 Community Meeting (cont)
The Board of Education, in an effort to make the best informed decision if a formal proposal is presented, is holding this community meeting to hear directly from the community about their questions and concerns about a proposed FC Cincinnati Stadium.
If the West End is selected as the site for the FC Cincinnati stadium, should the Board of Education enter into a land agreement to rebuild Stargel Stadium across the street from Taft IT?
Next Steps How does this impact CPS? 1. Major League Soccer must select Cincinnati for expansion team. How does this impact the schools 2. FC Cincinnati has until March 31 to sign an expansion and programs that utilize agreement with MLS. Stargel Stadium? 3. FC Cincinnati must make a formal legal proposal to CPS Board of Education.
4. Board of Education must deliberate and decide on proposal with openness and transparency that provides the best opportunity for our students and families.
Action Steps 1. Board of Education will release a community survey until 2/25 to get input from others.
2. Board of Education will summarize input from this meeting and share with the community and decision makers.
3. Board of Education will continue to discuss and deliberate this proposal in an open and transparent manner.
10 Survey Summary
The Cincinnati Public School District Board of Education conducted a non-scientific survey to seek additional input from the Cincinnati community about the proposed FC Cincinnati Stadium. The Board appreciates the time that thousands of citizens took to provide input and ask questions about this proposed project.
The Board asked students, teachers, parents, and community members to share their thoughts and comments. In summary, 2,778 individuals replied to the survey. The survey initially opened on February 21st; an additional 1,068 individuals who have replied since February 28th, when the survey was reopened to get additional community input.
Nearly 41 percent of the survey respondents identified as “A CPS Taxpayer.”
When asked “what issues are important to you?” respondents were permitted to check all that applied; the top five responses were:
ot nt o t cono c c nt on nt o nt o t t n o n cono c o o t n t c nt on nt nt c t on o t t n c nt on nt o oo ct o t n t c nt on nt t nt ct n c ct c nt on nt
11 Survey Summary (cont)
When asked “what information could be shared with you?” respondents were permitted to check all that applied; the top five responses were: o n cono c n t o c nt on nt t o ct ct on t t n c nt on nt o oo t nt ct c nt on nt o n occ c nt on nt o o t n t o t nt n n t c nt on nt
Respondents were asked to provide additional comments A full report of the survey results is available at to the Board; 1,285 individuals responded ww.cps-k12.org. with comments.
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