Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes May 21st, 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: Mary Ballerini, Geof Becker, Maria Bethel, Dawn Bowen, Camille Burgess, Alicia Carberry, Steve Cetra, Bill Copetas, Shawn Ellies, Cheryl Fu, Grant Gittlen, Chris Honeywill, Guy Johnson, Hanson Kappelman, Kevin Kerr, Jeffrey Koch, Blair Kossis, Marjory Lake, Kalliope Lardas, Shannon Leshen, Janice Lorenz, Michael Medwed, Alaa Mohamed, Bob McPherson, Mark Oleniacz, Eric Probola, Rebekkah Ranallo, Jonah Rattner, Lawrence Robinson, Oriana Reilly, Luke Rodgers, Tara Sherry-Torres, Mary Sligh, Lara Sullivan, John Tokarsky, Anthony Tripp, John Wilds, Wanda Wilson.
II. Graffiti Taskforce Introduction: (Officer Dawn Bowen) The Taskforce has been active for a little over a month now. They have made one arrest and cleared 32 cases tied to that tagger. The Taskforce operates under the principle that graffiti is a nuisance and are doing their best to clean up Pittsburgh. A brochure guide to the taskforce is currently being drafted, so more publicity surrounding this information will be available soon. Demographics on graffiti taggers vary. Most assume themselves artists. There are many varieties of graffiti tags, including large multi-colored murals and slap-ons/ throw-ups, which include previously-made stickers. Pittsburgh has fewer gang tags than other cities. John Wilds asked if there was a way to track consistent purchases of paint. Officer Bowen: Any craft store has the supplies needed. Taggers will also swap equipment (paint or stickers) with other taggers, sometimes from out of state. Officer Bowen offered the following tips for reporting graffiti: -If you catch someone in the act, do not confront them. Call 911 with a description of the person and their clothing. -If you have graffiti on your property, do not remove it until a police report has been filed. -If the graffiti is on property that is not your own, report it to 311. If a vandal is caught thanks to your report, you will most likely not have to testify. Options for removal: 1) Remove it yourself. 2) Hire a private company to remove it. 3) Contact the Department of Public Works’ Graffiti Busters at 412.255.2872. Hanson Kappelman asked if a photo taken by the police is better than one taken by the owner. Officer Bowen: The graffiti tracking database can upload either. Blair Kossis asked if the Taskforce utilizes security cameras. They do plan to set up stake-outs.
Geof Becker urged the group to counteract the recent explosion of graffiti by consistently reporting occurrences to 311. Lawrence Robinson asked if photos are useful in 311 submissions. They absolutely are. Officer Bowen encouraged the group to take advantage of her 14 years of police experience. III. City Council Update: (District 3’s Kevin Kerr, District 8’s Lara Sullivan) Kevin Kerr: •The dumpster partnership among Environmental Services, OPDC , and the University of Pittsburgh proved successful in alleviating trash overflow when students moved out last month. •The city is close to hiring a Night Time Economy Manager. •Councilman Kraus’ office will ensure that the recently-hired Public Safety Director, Stephen Bucar, will be made aware of the issues unique to Oakland. •Kraus’ Chief of Staff Barbie Arroyo has accepted a position with the Office of Municipal Investigations. Patience asked in the changeover, but continue to call the office with concerns: 412.255.2130. •The Social Host Ordinance is still being reviewed by the Law Department, now to be included as an amendment to the Disruptive Properties Ordinance for the sake of thoroughness. Maria Bethel noted that this change will provide for better case law. Rebekkah Ranallo asked if there is room a conversation about how to change University of Pittsburgh Police jurisdiction so that they can use this ordinance, since they are currently unable to use it. Maria Bethel said she has made everyone aware of this ongoing issue and that it is part of the conversation happening with the Law Department. Everyone is hopeful this will be enforceable by September, but an update will be given at the next meeting. Lara Sullivan: •Councilman Gilman has introduced legislation that will disqualify businesses cited for illegal dumping to do work with the city. •North Oakland is getting a one-way sign for Melwood that will be apparent from the CVS parking lot. IV. Oakland Property Progress Report: (Senior Inspector Bob McPherson) •315 Lawn Street: Inspector Malle sent a notice on 5/19 for the owners to remove the hillside couch within 15 days. •3707 Orpwood: No indication of over-occupancy, which can be tough to prove. Cited for property damage. •3616 Parkview: Visited a few times, found six names on the mailbox. Processing for over-occupancy. •343 Lawn: Long-time landlord produced a three-person lease. •3374 Dawson: Owner wants to convert place to two-unit in order to be compliant with occupancy code. When cited under the Disruptive Properties Ordinance, the owner provided Maria Bethel with a copy of the lease, containing six people in one unit. OPDC will oppose this at Zoning Board, since the neighborhood is zoned R1AH •305 Coltart: Owner present at Oakwatch to hear community concerns regarding over-occupancy and to commit to making his property code-compliant. •3408 Parkview: Plenty of violations, including illegal dumping. Inspector McPherson has set up a site meeting with the owner.
•15 Oakland Square: While awaiting hearing results from the Zoning Board, neighbors noted work continued on the property. The penalty for violating a stop-work notice is $1,000 per day of continued work. Inspector McPherson said the owner had been in touch to say he was installing floors (legal even with a stop-work). If any plumbing work is observed, that can be reported to the Allegheny County Health Department’s Plumbing Division for investigation. When a neighbor notes work going on and reports it to 311, it takes two days to reach BBI. •244 Dunseith: Building permit secured, improvements continuing. •3101 Niagara: Appeals have expired, another notice sent. Owner had tried to sell previously but amount of liens got in the way, and the case was then held up by bankruptcy. The property is not eligible for land bank use. •3421 Parkview Avenue: Commonwealth Court threw out last appeal. Payments due. Mary Ballerini, referencing the Property Progress Report: What does ‘occupancy permit not required’ mean? Wanda Wilson: In Pittsburgh, single-family dwellings are the least intensive land use and do not require occupancy permits. In our neighborhood, we have the issue of more than three unrelated individuals living in single-family homes, which we can enforce with over-occupancy laws. The law is applied equally to both rental properties and owneroccupied properties. Inspector McPherson mentioned a few ways to note over-occupancy: -Leases revealing more than three unrelated individuals. -Number of bedrooms, or rooms converted to bedrooms with deadbolts. Mattress counts. -More than one kitchen. •Lawrence Robinson suggested the city advertise occupancy laws through Public Service Announcements in publications where landlords are advertising these rentals. •Kathy Boykowycz asked if asking the city for more money for BBI would help. Department of Public Safety representative John Tokarsky said the city is aware of this and working on it. Grant Gittlen of the Mayor’s Office mentioned BBI’s new iPhones and email for more effective processing. Geof Becker asked if the group could expect a review of existing over-occupancy regulations, and recommendations for better enforcement. •John Tokarsky asked if the University of Pittsburgh is proactive with occupancy education for students. New Student Guides to Off-Campus Living and Off-Campus Housing Forums do provide this information. V. University of Pittsburgh Police Update: (Officer Guy Johnson) For April: 2 aggressive assaults, 1 defiant trespassing, 11 disorderly conducts, 9 physical arrests for drug violations, 1 arrest for false ID, 1 open container citation, 9 public drunkenness citations, 1 pan handler, and 21 underage drinking citations. VI. Zone 4 Police Update: (Officer Shannon Leshen) For April: 34 physical arrests. -17 drug-related -3 outstanding warrants -3 disorderly conducts
-2 hit and runs -1 aggressive assault -1 theft by deception -1 charge of prostitution -1 theft from business -1 criminal mischief (graffiti) -1 false ID
An alert is out for thefts from vehicles. Officer Leshen reminded everyone to never leave valuables in sight, and to say something if they see something. The next Zone 4 Public Safety Council meeting is June 5th at 6pm at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, Room 307. VII. Department of Public Works Update: (Acting Third Division Supervisor Jeff Koch) •Jeff Koch has moved the Hill District’s street cleaning to a different week so that Oakland has more targeted focus. •DPW is behind on patching potholes, and has more than one thousand 311 reports to handle right now. •Halket and Zulema Streets are getting resurfaced. Schenley Drive was resurfaced out of Regional Asset District funding. •Janice Lorenz brought up the lack of street sweeping on Atwood and that debris is often left after trash days. Environmental Services will need to make those citations. •Kathy Boykowycz voiced that Parkview Avenue and Oakland Square have not been swept since last year. •Mark Oleniacz said that when Atwood Street was paved last year, three utility dig sites were left that could qualify as potholes. •Thank yous were passed along for taking care of potholes on Atwood and Ward Streets. Posed question: how can we work with City Council to change the procedure of the Parking Authority only being able to issue tickets when a street sweeper is in sight? *Post-meeting Update: The Parking Authority issued 653 street sweeping tickets in May for Oakland, down from 1044 in April. VIII. OPDC Updates: (Alicia Carberry): •In efforts to thwart graffiti, OPDC is looking to implement a model of the South Side’s Graffiti Watch, and to hold graffiti paint-outs. Like the South Side, this will be done in collaboration with the Graffiti Taskforce. •The Good Neighbor Campaign will take place again in August to welcome students to the neighborhood and provide them with community information. We will again be asking for community support by way of volunteers for the bagstuffing and door-knocking, and are hopeful for the best year yet in engaging new neighbors to become Good Neighbors. •July’s meeting will be in the form of an Oakwatch Appreciation Luncheon, location pending. •Thank you to the Jewish Federation for hosting and treating us to snacks! -Blithe Runsdorf made the point to thank OPDC for helping to table UPMC’s Master Plan pending community review, and noted a need for help in finding alternative, all-ability accessible poll locations. IX. Next meeting: 6PM on Wednesday, June 18th, at the Career Center.
X.
Meeting Adjournment.
Contact Oakwatch: oakwatch@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 27. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!