minutes-2-18-15

Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes February 18, 2015 6-7:30pm

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.

In attendance: Jennie Baney, Geof Becker, Camille Burgess, Alicia Carberry, Steve Cetra, Patrick Corelli, Kathy Degler, Joan Dickerson, Stephanie Felton, Carlino Giampolo, Lizabeth Gray, Everett Green, Michele Gorman, Nathan Hart, Sharnay Hearn, Maya Henry, Brian Hill, Shuning Huang, Guy Johnson, Eliza Kaye, Kevin Kerr, Blair Kossis, Bruce Kraus, Holly Lamb, Shannon Leshen, James Loftus, Neil Manganaro, David Manthei, Michael Medwed, Graeme Meyer, Cameron McLay, Caroline Mitchell, Meghan Murphy, Clare O’Sullivan, Mark Oleniacz, Allison Piper, Luke Rodgers, Barbara Ruprecht, Kannu Sahni, Autumn Secrest, Kathleen Sestili, Lara Sullivan, John Wilds, Wanda Wilson.

II.

Law Enforcement in Oakland (City of Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay): The role of police is to reduce crime, fear, and disorder. Not all crimes are created equally.

City Police are increasing their focus on community-oriented policing—Oakwatch is a good model of this.

A good structure exists already for data-driven community-oriented policing, but more to be done.

Police not doing well on effectively putting data to use/ need to help provide context.

One step toward improvement is allocating resources. Then, use data for predictive analyses.

Depth of expertise here in Pittsburgh as far as data goes, among the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Chief McLay has found Pittsburgh community stakeholders embracing roles of community engagement.

Soon, robust data will be available to challenge the perceptions of specific crimes neighborhoods face.

Disruptive Properties: -The Chief has experience with analyzing addresses with more than five calls for service via 911 and creating a density map based on that to focus resources and fix actual problems. If issues travel, a tool like the Disruptive Properties Ordinance will not be as successful.

-From his time in Madison, WI, the Chief is acquainted with the challenges when residential neighborhoods become fraught with student housing.

-With Pitt, proactive, knock-and-talks, resource sharing, and enhance existing programming.

-Found that students respond better to university sanctions than city sanctions.

Geof Becker: We are not seeing the citations/ reports to trigger this tool in the toolbox.

While commanders gather data, effectively minimize harm.

If this is an ongoing problem, the data

The Chief spoke on finding the appropriate tool for the problem: sledgehammer v. screwdriver Ideally, enforcement should be used to gain voluntary compliance.

Caroline Mitchell: Are Police reports publicly accessible?

Chief McLay: 2.0 version can be released, 3.0 is for internal use only.

2.0 report may be had by visiting Zone office and requesting. There may be a fee.

Pennsylvania law is protective of personal privacy rights. The Chief is working with the Law Department to see what can be made available. He has a goal toward more transparency.

A Cato Street neighbor noted that pre-emptive measures have been effective to a point, but the sledgehammer (by way of arrests and citations) needs to be used in order to show it exists.

Zone 4 Commander Degler noted collaboration with Pitt, CMU, Chatham, and Carlow. When Zone 4 officers go to a party, they ask for lease-holders to self-identify. Zone 4 officers send citations to home addresses. Citations are forwarded to the appropriate university as well.

A Parkview neighbor suggested communicating a policy against large parties, say, no more than 20. When 100+ people parties disband, all of those people then flood the streets and wander home loudly.

Council President Bruce Kraus said that living in the South Side Flats (where a number of students reside) has become about establishing relationships with new neighbors as they move in. Kraus noted that other cities have used the angle of tax evasion as a way to enforce pay-to-enter parties. If young people are using online pay sites like PayPal to receive payments, there is a record for those transactions.

A Boundary Street neighbor asked what effective actions can be taken by University administrators to end the problem of disruptive drinking.

John Wilds: Pitt can mitigate party effects by actively communicating the dangers. Pitt plans to host more Be a Good Neighbor Block Parties this year to encourage students to know their neighbors, and continues to deliver letters of community expectations signed by Zone 4 Commander Degler and University Commander Ellies by way of Knock-and-Talks following disruptions.

Pitt is not trying to sabotage the careers of their students, but would rather seek to communicate that residents have lived in Oakland for years.

Boundary Street neighbor posed a question on illegal guns sales and whether or not undercover police were working on operations to intercept illegal gun sales. Although not a high priority for Oakland, ~70% of guns taken from crime scenes are illegally possessed.

Commander Degler reported that following two arrests in West Oakland, no more shootings have occurred.

III.

Oakland Police Partner Crime Reports, Q&A (10 minutes): a. Pittsburgh Police, Zone 4 Community Relations Officer Shannon Leshen

b. University of Pittsburgh Police, Officer Guy Johnson -102 incidents in January. 24 of those were physical arrests, and 43 citations: 10 underage drinking, 10 public urination, 35 marijuana violations, 5 disorderly conduct, 3 physical aggression. 1 Knock-and-Talk.

Commander Degler confirmed that information is shared among police, per a neighbor’s concern.

A Boundary Street neighbor asked if the University’s police reports reach the chancellor, and Barbara Ruprecht, Student Conduct Officer, responded yes.

She also noted that when students are cited and sent through the judicial process, they go through a number of sanctions, which could include alcohol education, marijuana education, and community service.

Recidivism rates are very low, but when an offender repeats, the university seriously addresses the behavior with the possibility of suspension/ expulsion. Monthly reports go to the Dean of Students.

A number of Pitt’s Student Government Board members were in attendance, and the President, Graeme Meyer, was asked to say a few words: The current board will be in place from January 1, 2015- end of spring 2016 semester.

They are focusing on community relationships and how to increase and encourage neighborliness.

They will send regular representation to Oakwatch.

IV.

City Council Update (City Council President Kraus): Rental Registry: the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority asked the city to hold off on passing the legislation, but it is still alive. The nemesis of the bill is the Realtors’ Association. There is a majority of support on council.

A Parkview neighbor asked if any effort would be made to add mandatory inspections to the bill.

Kraus answered that the expectation of inspection is there. The Mayor has described Rental Registry as mandating landlords to get business licenses.

V.

Over Occupancy Project Update (Caroline Mitchell) Introduction to the Over Occupancy Report, to help identify and prioritize properties for enforcement officials.

In January, Magistrate Ricciardi found the owner of 3616 Parkview guilty of over-occupying his property and fined him $300,000. City Solicitor Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge showed at this hearing to show the city’s support for large fines for building violations.

8am on April 7 is the sentencing date for 343 Lawn (before Judge Gallo, Room 821, City-County Building).

3616 Parkview’s summary appeal is the same date and time.

VI.

Oakland Property Progress Report (PLI Senior Inspector Brian Hill) -3421 Parkview: Roofing materials ready for when weather breaks -3101 Niagara: Found guilty at February 10 summary appeal before Judge Gallo -244 Dunseith: Same condition -3616 Parkview: Summary appeal scheduled for 8am on April 7 before Judge Gallo (Room 821 of the City-County Building)

VII.

Disruptive Property Statistics (Maria Bethel by proxy): Oakland submission breakdown -None for Oakland from December 2014, January 2015, or February 2015 so far.

-In 2014, 336 notices of disruptive activity total sent throughout the city. Of those 336, 15 were sent in Zone 4.

VIII.

Meeting Adjournment.

Next meeting: Wednesday, March 18, 12pm at Forbes Tower (3600 Forbes Avenue) Room 11029.

Contact Oakwatch: oakwatch@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 27. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!