Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes March 19th, 2014
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: Geof Becker, Robert Beecher, Maria Bethel, Alicia Carberry, Steven Cetra, Stephen Chase, Alex Coyne, Ethel DeIulius, Shawn Ellies, Grant Gittlen, Ron Jardini, Guy Johnson, Hanson Kappelman, Kevin Kerr, Blair Kossis, Mark Kramer, Shannon Leshen, Janice Lorenz, Michael Medwed, Rebekkah Ranallo, Lawrence Robinson, Blithe Runsdorf, Kannu Sahni, Lara Sullivan, Liz Style, Jason Wald, John Wilds, Wanda Wilson.
II.
Mayor’s Office Update: (Grant Gittlen) Grant Gittlen spoke on the newly-passed Open Data Law. Sponsored by Councilwoman Rudiak, this law is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh. Filing right-to-know requests are no longer required to see information such as building and occupancy permits. In setting up the system, a community platform will launch in order to discover what data is wanted first. The Strategy Manager, Laura Meixell, is interested in community input as far as prioritizing what data is available first. The end goal is to have a region-wide online portal, hopefully accessible by the end of this year. Geof Becker: Could there be a way to view how many parking permits are issued per district? Will crime statistics be available? It is public record when an officer is dispatched to an address-- could we marry these data sets? Mr. Gittlen: There is a precedent for these numerics. We will push for all of those things. Potholes and other updates: Hot mix is in! John Wilds asked if there is a plan in place for distribution. Grant responded yes, and that the city is working on releasing the information on what is getting fixed in which order. Governor Corbett came to town recently to announce that the City of Pittsburgh is still under Act 47: the Financially Distressed Municipalities Act. Mayor Peduto made 45 appointments and nominations to boards, they are under review of council now. 65 city employees took the early retirement offered, translating to about $6.5 million in savings for taxpayers over time. The Mayor’s Office is looking into the underlying issues of community concern regarding how the party at 305 Coltart was handled. Liz Style: I want to reassure everyone that leadership is in place for the turnover. Continue to call 911 and to call your contacts. Janice Lorenz: What happens to the knowledge base when so many people retire? Grant Gittlen: It is passed on through training and through the sharing of contact information.
III.
Social Host Ordinance Update: (Kevin Kerr, Officer Leshen) Kevin Kerr: Short term, the Social Host Ordinance is meant to give the police a tool to crack down on underage parties. Long term, it is meant to improve nightlife. When the nighttime economy manager is hired, he or she will come up with a plan on how best to train and educate those who may use this tool. Councilman Kraus’ office did send a letter to the owners of 305 Coltart to key them in. Officer Leshen: It was through the community asking about the incident at 305 Coltart and why a Social Host