Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes February 20th, 2013 Mission: Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project seeks to improve the quality of life for residents, employees and visitors by enforcing codes on negligent property owners, housing violations, parking violations, disruptive behavior, excessive noise and underage drinking in the Oakland neighborhood. I.
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In attendance: David Manthei, Ehtel DeIuliis, Geof Becker, Mark Oleniacz, Lizabeth Gray, Officer Matt White, Officer Daniel Cox, David Zwier, Brian Hill, Hanson Kappelman, Mary Ballerini, Kathy Boykowycz, Nathan Hart, Bryant Andrews-Nino, Russell Ottalini, Robert Beecher, Nathan Lerner, Barbie Arroyo, Wanda Wilson Introductions; Brief new members (Geof Becker, 5 minutes) University of Pittsburgh Police Oakland crime update / Incident breakdown / Q&A. (Officer Cox, 10 minutes) -
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Officer Cox: Introduced himself, is assigned primarily to bike duty, his shift ends at 11pm. Geof: reiteration of request for quantitative incident report instead of anecdotal information. Categorized “what, where, when” in report. Cox: Pitt News publishes police reports; increase in car break-ins near Centre Ave area and Robinson Street area; Sergeant Mock is reachable during station hours for information and data about incidents. Liz Gray: does the Pitt Police have measures/instructions for students when they leave for Christmas Break, to help avoid holiday break-ins. o Cox: South Oakland is outside of jurisdiction.
Pittsburgh Police Oakland crime update / Incident breakdown Q&A (Officer White, 10 minutes) -
Officer White: Regarding organized/coordinate holiday season break-ins, often a result of lack of safety measures implemented by tenant. Liz: opportunities for increased patrols in Zone 4 area? Officer White: No, understaffed and underfunded. Pitt Police has no jurisdiction in South Oakland and this can’t be changed. Officer White: Two high speed chases which began in Oakland in past weeks. Also recent outbreak of car thefts in the East End (Point Breeze to Greenfield). Police believe this is an organized operation, cars with visible items in them are targeted.
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Resident: parking too tight around many areas such as Oakland Square. Needs enforcement. Liz: Lawn Street has same issue. Submitted complaint to Councilman Kraus who is working with police. Geof: Solution? Officer White: report it to the police so they can tag and tow. Will do so upon community complaint, warned that this will include all parked cars, not just students. Geof: Community would support enforcement of illegal parking. Seconded by group. Officer White: Tag and tows will be recorded as “per community complaint”. Officer White: Enforcement to begin Monday 2/25. When are incidents highest? Nate: Incidents highest overnight on weekdays, weekends: 9pm on. Geof: Proposes adding to next Oakwatch agenda, initially this report on tickets can be anecdotal. Can tickets be tracked by “community complaint”? White: Most likely not, because after tickets are issued, police records are sealed and then taken to the Traffic Court. o Call 911 for any infringements. Including parking violations. Resident: request for stop sign at Dawson and Oakland Square for safety reasons. White: When 911 is called make sure to ask to see an officer so that the issue can be addressed specifically. Parking complaints are put on the bottom of the triage list. Officer White: to find data on incidents reported to 911, see the City of Pittsburgh Community Safety website; numbers are available here. Liz: Will report a house whose tenant is stealing street signs and storing in yard.
Keep It Clean Oakland Report on trash pick-up by court-mandated and student group volunteers; (David Zwier, 5 minutes) -To date in 2012/2013 academic year, 273 bags of trash / 2.5 tons of liter removed. -Next clean up February 23rd @ 10:15-11:30- Contact kico@opdc.org w/questions or target areas -158 court-mandated volunteers sent to OPDC so far vs. 76 last year- most likely because of increased enforcement on the campus of Pitt -Thanks to Pitt representatives for great effort.
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Bureau of Building Inspection Explanation of evidence needed and description of process to execute a search warrant; (Geof Becker / BBI, 10 minutes) -
Wanda: City solicitor has mentioned in past that using warrant process is an option Geof: Can BBI inspectors get a search warrant?
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BBI: Yes, but they have to be life safety issues; but it is hard to prove when it is a lifethreatening issue, therefore hard to obtain. Wanda: Does it go to the same judge? Officer White: Search warrants at this level must be obtained from district magistrate (city court system). Since 2003, a rotating docket of magisterial judges from Allegheny County share responsibility of issuing warrants. Overnight hours are covered by a retired judge. Geof: Could this become a more regular tool for enforcement of housing violations? Officer White: Every search warrant has to meet requirements of 4th amendment. o Compliance with the amendment will make search warrants difficult to obtain unless there is a life safety issue! BBI: Reminder that if people attend housing court, judges are much more likely to level fines against property owners for violations.
Oakland Property Progress Report (Geof Becker, 15 minutes) -
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a. BBI reminder to fax Top Ten list to BBI. 3421 Parkview: Still with CJ, potential for injunction; would lead to cease and desist or to city potentially cleaning it up 253 N. Dithridge: Filed for legal action; BBI tracked three different LLCs from Pittsburgh to Europe to the Middle East, and eventually tracked ownership back to South Hills resident named Daniel Medgaus. 3124 Blvd of Allies: Fagnelli has done some cleanup, should appear in court dockets. 3738/3732-3742/3746 Dawson St: (Peter Terris) o Nate: Lawyer claims they have permit to do work o BBI: To his knowledge, permits have not been issued, potentially they have been filed but not processed. 4512 Center: o David Manthei: traffic down alley, reported 311, drug dealer still there when it is warm out. Residents should call 911. o BBI: potential developer (Polaris) has been in contact with BBI about the state of properties in that row. Officer White: Centre Ave has been a hotspot for years, currently open air drug activity Wanda: Proposes to add the Centre/N Craig corner to the Top Ten list BBI: In past months, four bars have been shut down in Hill District; perhaps a cause of drug activity moving to the area. David: Could cameras be added to the corner? Officer White: There are very specific guidelines for adding camera to corner. It is easier for police, legally speaking, to use video footage by cameras owned/operated by City (not a private entity) However, there is currently a lack of funding for this. 339 Lawn St: o Officer White: Zone 4 has reduced staff addressing these complaints during winter/cold weather. To be increased during spring.
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o Liz: Parties are occurring in the back of the row of houses in this area of Oakcliffe. o Officer White: Complainants should make note of the parties being in back of house when calling 911. 3109 Forbes: Delayed indefinitely, supposed to go to Judge Gallo. o Wanda/BBI: Will discuss this case further with CJ. BBI: Inspectors have received new computers. Allows greater access to data and records.
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Community Announcements & Events (David Zwier/Wanda Wilson, 5 minutes) a. Oakland Green Team monthly meeting: February 21st, 6pm, Oakland Career Center b. Are you planning a renovation? Attend a free Design Consultation: March 6th, 6pm, Oakland Career Center (see flyer) c. Oakland Faรงade Grant Application available at www.opdc.org on Friday, February 22nd. Applications due April 1st. d. Join us at the Oakland Career Center Open House on Wednesday, March 13th, 4pm, Oakland Career Center e. Any other announcements from community partners?
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Next meeting- March 20th, 12pm, Location TBD
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Meeting Adjournment
Remember to keep flooding 311 with calls about the nuisance properties in your neighborhood, and let Oakwatch know when you do! You can submit reports to our email account at oakwatch@opdc.org or call us at 412.621.7863 ext. 27. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!