Neighborhood residents who live, work or conduct business in the area are encouraged to participate in the Fifth by Northwest Area Commission public-elections process. Several commission positions are open or available for relection (more details here). Becky Obester, the Chair of the Fifth by Northwest Area Commission, would like to see a greater resident involvement in this year’s election. “Many residents just don’t know that they can run, or come and actually vote for who is on the commission.”

Fifth by Northwest Area Commissions are elected, not appointed. Collaboratively, the Commission acts as a liaison between neighborhood groups, property owners, residents, developers and city officials. Its meetings offer residents a chance to learn about the latest city occurrences as well as directly participate in discussions about zoning and new development within the Commission’s boundaries. Commission meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, 7PM at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2001 Northwest Boulevard (just inside Upper Arlington).