Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Minutes December 16, 2015
Chairperson Kappelman brought the meeting to order, read Oakwatch mission, and facilitated introductions. The chairs proposed the following revised mission statement: Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project works to improve the quality of life in Oakland by bringing people and institutions together to identify code violations, advocate for their remediation and monitor the outcomes. As there were no objections, this revised statement will be used going forward. Present: Janice Lorenz, Kannu Sahni, John Wilds, Guy Johnson, Shannon Leshen, Tom Pauley, David Shifren, Lawrence Robinson, David Manthei, Michael Medwed, Mark Oleniacz, Carla Spinelli, Hanson Kappelman, Barbara Rudiak, Corey Buckner, Wanda Wilson, Allison Harnded, Alicia Carberry, Neil Manganaro, Julie Reiland, Geof Becker, Lizabeth Gray, Alphonso Sloan, Braden Seese, Steve Cetra, Todd Waller Pittsburgh Nighttime Economy Coordinator Allison Harnden introduced herself. She is new to Pittsburgh but has 20 years of experience in the field working with Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI). She worked with the organization to grow their work beyond working with bars directly to working on issues at a district level to be more strategic. There is a correlation between economic development and safety. She has consulted across the country and in Canada. Her role is to have a strategic eye on trends and make strategic recommendations within city operations. Rather than solving every single problem, she can address major trends and macro scale issues. Q: will you meet with Oakland bars? A: she would love to. She is meeting with South Side. Q: can you describe best practice for addressing our particular issues – large-scale, illegal student-run parties in a residential neighborhood. What can you bring to this to reduce severity and quantity? A: The Oakland community is doing a lot of what needs to be done. She has worked with college areas – it requires constant re-education. The police often have the best handle on social media and identifying problems via that resource. Specifically, she needs to learn more about our particular issues. Allison will reconvene the RHI work groups, evaluate the recommendations, determine what still needs to be done. Q: these student-run events are seen by the hosts as a money-making venture. It is illegal business. A: it is common in college communities. KSahni and AHarnden are serving on a national committee to address the issue of dangerous underage drinking. They hear the same concerns from this group. KSahni: Regarding the connection between sexual assault and alcohol consumption, bystander intervention is important. “Don’t be that guy campaign.”
Q: college students are not always looking to go to a drinking party, but there are few other options. Do you have experience in other cities offering alternatives? A: this issue arises often in her work and recommendations would include offering creative alternatives. When young people are involved in projects, they would provide a lot of information about what they would like beyond drinking events. Q: Pitt is not the only university with students in our neighborhood. Have you been in touch with those institutions? A: yes, through convening the RHI work group. KSahni: the conference re: dangerous and underage drinking hosted this fall was through Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education. Graffiti Squad Officers Sloan and Sleese described their work and they distributed Graffiti Busters forms. There is a new office and systems set up now that the office has been restarted. They reviewed the Tips for Graffiti Prevention handout:
Keep up the neighborhood Remove graffiti promptly Encourage reporting – report everything. The officers need the reports to do their work. If on someone else’s property, call 311. If it is your property, call 911 Create a paint-brush mural Change the environment – limit access, graffiti resistant materials, Monitor graffiti-prone locations – get plate numbers, keep an eye on chronically tagged locations Provide alternatives – graffiti squad will go to schools to talk to artists. Community residents suggested that students talk to community to propose an idea for a real mural. Legal walls are a bad idea – they don’t work
They are establishing the office, they just got computers. Send tips to their email addresses. They have cell phones, not an office phone yet. Q: what are the give-aways to identify a graffiti perpetrator? A: rattily backpack, dark clothes, groups of two or three. You can call and report suspicious activities. They are on “peace, love, happiness.” They know the 8 – 9 guys responsible for those tags throughout the city. They need to get the correct documentation to make the arrest. They will accumulate the reports. That tag is everywhere, but it is not reported. They are playing catch up to get the substantial evidence. Call or email about the location, tag, and a picture. Q: what is the timeline for addressing graffiti? A: property owners need to address it in 48 hours. Graffiti busters will not always do tags over 10 feet, but submit it anyway. It can be public or private property. Profanity is given priority. Assignment for everyone report any and all graffiti. There is a big need for more reporting.
Q: what about mailboxes? A: they will be in touch with the post office about this to discuss permission about painting over the graffiti on mailboxes. Q: surveillance? A: this can be very effective. It is the best way to get the evidence needed for arrests. Property owners with surveillance evidence should call the Police officers. Property Progress Report 244 Dunseith, 3221 Kennet Sq – each will get third notice in January. They will go to housing court. 204 Robinson -- no violations. PLI inspector could not find evidence of over occupancy from the exterior. Q: what about a search warrant? A: Inspector Reiland will ask about this. Q: please do because of the damage to quality of life in our community. 259/261 N Dithridge. DManthei: Owner sold his Centre Avenue properties to Park 7 for $1.2 million. His Dithridge property is notorious for parties. There was a recent ad in the Pitt News for 10 residents. Oakwatch will send this information to PLI. [Oakwatch note: this property has an occupancy permit for 8-person rooming house.] 310 Meyran – permitted. Under construction, as can be seen from Semple Street. They are constructing 9 bedrooms. It is separate single family home with kitchen and living room on first floor, 3 bedrooms on each of three floors above. We need to keep an eye on it once it is occupied. Q: what do you suggest we look out for? A: Mailboxes, trash cans. Q: how did this get approved? Plan examiner has looked at it is all Inspector Reiland can say at this time. NManganaro: rental registry will allow inspectors to enter. 367 S. Bouquet St – police evidence of over occupancy. PLI is looking at the information in order to move forward. 3219 Kennet Sq – overoccupancy issue. PLI has not heard anything on this issue in the last four months. Oakwatch can supply information. Zone 4 Police Report Officer Leshen provided the following report. 16 arrests in November: 300 block of N Craig disorderly conduct. Arson. 2015 Fifth Ave in Uptown. Video surveillance used to make arrest. 300 block S Bouquet. Criminal mischief. Possible burglary. Atwood/Forbes. Drug arrest result of traffic stop.
Fifth and Halket DUI CVS on Forbes. retail theft Rite Aid retail theft Rite Aid retail theft Armed robbery. Boundary Street. 3 known actors. Birthday party. Warrants issued. Arrested 4400 Forbes. Warrant arrest. 100 block Robinson. Armed robbery. Meeting to sell an i-phone, handed over cash, actor ran, officers identified person through social media Forbes/Craft DUI 400 block Oakland. resisting arrest disorderly person Strong arm robbery Edith Place after Halloween party, highly intoxicated victim. Victim not responding now to officers requesting information on perpetrators No Zone 4 Public Safety Task Force this month. Next meeting is Jan. 21 at the JCC in Squirrel Hill. Surveillance cameras – we sent request. Parkview/Oakland Sq arson issue. If there are cameras in that area – let Zone 4 know. Trash lit on fire. 12/15. Ongoing investigation. Increased potential for burglaries during holiday break. Package thefts on the increase. Notifications, pick up at storefronts (UPS) Citizen police academy starting up. Also doing student police academy – Allderdice for teenagers. Weekly crime summary for the whole zone - part 1 crimes in January. Give Officer Leshen your email to sign up (or send to Oakwatch and will we forward to her).
Pitt Police 152 incidents in November 24 arrests 61 citations 2 defined trespass 3 disorderly conduct
Marijuana possession 6 drug violation arrest 5 DUI 1 false ID Prowling 2 arrest 3 city ordinance citations for noise control 2 open container 9 panhandlling 1 resisting arrest 2 simple assault arrests Theft continues to be a big problem on campus, not many arrests unfortunately 24 citations underage drinking 2 public urination 6 warrant arrest 1 scattering rubbish citation 13 judicial board charges separate from any other citation listed above Impact squad shut down 16 parties in November Q: in news, marijuana ordinance. A: too early to tell. Until hash it out. It is federal offense, state offense. The idea is to issue a citation rather than an arrest. Once ironed out, police will go through training on new procedures. It will take time. Labor intensive. Reporting, evidence. The goal is to address the number of young men of color going to prison for small violations. As a result of the bike safety meeting convened by OPDC in early November, Officer Johnson researched traffic enforcement activity. Pitt Police made 4,880 traffic stops in 2015. Red light violations, etc. The number they don’t’ even stop or see is very high. Mayor’s Office Tree of hope – collecting toys for young people who lost a loved one for violence. Resiliency meeting follow up will occur. City Council
NManganaro: rental registration passed. Form changed. Inspection is included – PLI can analyze number of occupants per housing unit. Likely will make this easier to reinspect. Responsible agent on file will be helpful. We will need to see how this gets rolled out, but the framework is in place now. PLI responsible for crafting the procedures. The fee will allow city to hire 5.5, shift 3 from other tasks. Fee annual; inspections tri-annual. 180 days until implementation. Q: open records? Can tenants or the health department access the agent of record information? A: will find out. ACarberry: new food truck regulations passed in council. Also city budget. Q: legislation creating source of income as protected class for housing anti-discrimination. Larry: section 8 issues of large landlords with violations and tenants often avoid . online database. ACarberry – tenants’ rights workshop was held earlier this month. Pitt hosted, OPDC participated, Oakwatch, City Council. Good discussion, rights/responsibilities, over occupancy knowledge as a focus. Next year they will be earlier in the semester – October. Format is good. Worked out kinks. HKappelman: people came into the room thinking they would over occupy and left the room thinking otherwise. Q: did discuss cars/parking? A: yes. Checklist in the student guide is helpful. Community discussion/announcements: RPPP recertification meeting for areas M (South Oakland), B (Coltart), D (Central) on January 19 at Magee. 6:30 – 8:30.