Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Minutes June 15, 2016 Present: Hanson Kappelman, Janice Lorenz , Michael Medwed, Officer Johnson, Blair Kossis, Wanda Wilson, Elena Zaitsoff, Mark Oleniacz, Liz Gray, Janice Lorenz, John Tokarski, John Wilds, Allison Harnden, Commander Herrmann, Officer Shifren, Kevin Stiles, Alicia Carberry, Neil Manganaro, Robert Tessier, Kannu Sahni, Lawrence Robinson, Matt Landy, Barbara Rudiak, Officer Wilson, Jeffrey Koch, Viola Garis, Stephen Causo and Bridget Yyas Mr. Kappelman brought the meeting to order, read the Oakwatch mission, and led introductions. Allison Harnden, City of Pittsburgh Nighttime Economy Coordinator Ms. Harnden thanked the group for the opportunity to meet and discuss the community’s concerns. She spoke to her work experience in both the hospitality industry and private consulting, giving her a viewpoint from both sides. She spoke to the impact of the major increase in student numbers in 2009 and in the following years. The impact of this rapid growth has created new problems for communities with higher educational institutes in their midst and no one community has found the answers to new issues that have resulted. Ms. Harnden went on to talk about the various conferences that she and other community partners have attended and the involvement of Mr. Kappelman, Mr. Sahni and Mr. Wild in the local Town & Gown advisory committee. Her main goal is to see what the communities priorities are, what is or isn’t working and how she can coordinate what the community needs with city resources. One of the top issues of concern is the need for standards that landlords must meet, and if they do, a list that students would have access to when it comes to making their rental decisions. Kevin Stiles, University of Pittsburgh's head of the Office of Off-Campus Living, said the university currently surveys students (with Pitt IDs) regarding their landlords and the results are available upon request. He hopes that rental registration via the city will produce more consistent results. John Tokarski asked if the students were making use of the surveys and Stiles said it was down a bit over. A high ranking is something that could be used as marketing tool. Kevin Stiles said the one difficulty they ran into is that when there is a problem, students respond, but when there is no problem, they don’t. It was suggested that there needs to be some kind of incentive for the students to participate in the surveys; possibly rent reductions of some sort. Question is, who wants to be in the business to rate of rating landlord. Could this be done on a partnership basis to include the university, city, OPDCD? Kanu Sahni said Pitt could assist as a partner. The new representative for Councilman Kraus’ office, Robert Tessier, spoke from personal experience as an Oakland resident, “The nature of finding one of these place is that tend to open up very quickly and students don’t always take enough time when renting apartments.” Pitt provides education to students about tenant rights. How students socialize is important issue to focus on. Q: Are there alcohol free events? A: yes. Q: are they well-attended? A: will continue to explore that. Also, alcohol task force. Education about responsible parties is part of the Pitt education outreach. Q:
do we have a sense of how much socializing in Oakland comes from other universities in the area? Coordination with other universities? A: unofficial nighttime economy – is there anything in the business community to educate business owners about the market opportunity for this market demographic? Challenge will be to find a viable business model, space, and far enough away from university because students want to be out of their own school. Space has been an issue. Uptown could be a location for this. ALMONO site. Greenfield Escape Room is an example of an alcohol-free attraction. Q: do you look at social media to identify party locations? A: can certainly ask to have someone assigned to that. A sleuthing task. Does university do this? Zone 4 follows social media, said Cmdr Hermann. Example of garage concerts. Uptick of party complaints from CMU students. Growing enrollment without proactive tools/actions like Pitt uses. Ms. Harnden has a plan to re-engage the college community action group from RHI. Coordinated message will be useful. Q: is this year’s student government committed to continuing community liaison? A: yes. Q: will they be set up for August? A: no, early in semester. Community and Government Relations will meet with them when they return. Oakland will have 8,000 to 10,000 new students in the neighborhood unfamiliar with the place. Over time, hopefully attitude will change, but some amount of new education is necessary every year. Pitt trying to say to students that there are consequences of bad behavior. Multi-layered approach. One thing neighbors can do is “follow the alcohol” and then let police know to check on a suspicious location. Ms. Harnden stated that she is conducting a survey about socializing that will help identify transportation needs, gaps in opportunities. National League of Cities accepted their proposal for a mobile workshop during the conference later this year here in Pittsburgh and will be doing a mobile tour and will include Oakland. Mr. Kappelman thanked Ms. Harnden for attending and for her presentation. Jeff Koch, Department of Public Works Q: trash in streets is a continuous issue on some Oakland streets. A: Call 311 about trash in street. DPW is responsible for that and can send a crew to address debris in street. Q: there is a continual problem with cars parked during street cleaning and the sweeper unable to clean the street. Sweeper was on Bates this morning; tickets on multiple cars. On South Side, knock and talk for garbage violations. District 3 can help coordinate that. Will liaison with Environmental Services to do that. Send target problem areas for this focus. Q: is there any recourse for if cars parked and unable to sweep? A: Nothing beyond the parking tickets. Q: there has been an idea to retrofit sweeper vehicles with license plate readers. A: the idea has not come to fruition. Now DPW has two sweepers and four operators when before had one sweeper. Q: would a higher fine help? A: possibly, but not many alternatives for people to park elsewhere. It is a wide-spread challenge. For certain areas of particular concern, we could try to post signs in certain places that they will tow. Would need police participation. Q: Could we utilize pgh.st to text for moving your car? A: not at this time.
Q: in Oakcliffe, 80% of the streets are cleaned on Wednesday and 20% on Thursday. Residents would appreciate a better proportion so we have more options to park. A: Mr. Koch will look at realigning this. Zone 4 Police 200 block Atwood. 5/13/16. 2200 hrs. Call for burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they found a male assaulting a female. Officers stopped assault. Suspect detained 200 block McKee. Citations. Party host would not say who provided alcohol. Underage intoxicated youth in attendance. 11 citations issued at that location. Q: Did officer cite host for supplying alcohol? A: cannot tell for sure. Could not determine who furnished the alcohol. Q: would fall under social host ordinance? A: send to Maria Bethel who will send them a letter from disruptive properties. If you are interested in receiving the Zone 4 weekly snapshot, send contact information to Officer Shiffren. Residents can do this through Oakwatch – we will forward your information if you email us. He will include tips for avoiding crime. Q: how is South Oakland, Frazier Street? Any further issues? A: no, patrols have not noted any activity. Gorman way homicide still under investigation.
Pitt Police 71 non-traffic citations 21 physical arrests 19 citations issued 1 defiant trespass 9 disorderly conduct 8 citations
2 drug violations 8 DUI 1 prowling 1 open container 2 panhandling 1 public drunkenness citations 3 simple assaults – resulted in 2 arrests 1 underage drinking citations 5 warrant arrests 3 Judicial board citations - alcohol Disruptive Property Report Ms. Bethel sent a report, as she was not able to attend in person. She provided a list of disruptive properties for 2016. A property on Semple Street had four entries. She would be sending notice to owner to pay for services. Property Progress Report Adding Oakland Portal site – graffiti 3101 Niagara. Mr. Slomnicki was arrested in another issue. He is in Allegheny County Jail. It was somewhat cleaned up, but structural issues are main concern. 343 Lawn. Court no update Solick extension Wasserman – warrant issued Craft place – demolition hearing. Dust control. Workers not parking on street. Parking on property or off site. Blvd and sidewalks closed two days. Craft place five days sidewalk. Could not get 24/7 phone number. Mike Scuilli , originally from Oakland,is contractor. He will meet with neighbors directly. Oakcliffe has his phone number. Abatement right now. 4 months for demolition. Schedule depends on utilities. 3221 kennet square – has drawings, paperwork. Housing court end of month. Then Zba 3709 orpwood zba Bates/zulema Oakland gateway ventures housing court tomorrow Frazier dawson – have not heard anything
Removal frenchies, but quiet since we met with him 3616 parkview3319 juliet abated but hedges now overgrowing sidewalk 333 atwood Q: 386 lawn is condemned Lawrence Robinson, Allegheny County Health Department Mr. Robinson distributed flyers about a Health Dept program for low-income people for health and safety concerns. Cleaning, rugs, vacuum, etc. at no cost. Health Department completed mosquito abatement last week into sewers so that prohibits mosquitoes from growing wings. Report sewers that are clogged so that water does not collect. John Tokarski, Department of Public Safety Zone 4 Public Safety Council is going well. Facebook, resident leadership helped take work off of police. Oakland community to request educational programs such as CPR and defibrilators. Feel free to contact him. Citizens police academy will be this fall starting 9/13/16 for 15 weeks. There will be a 10-week program for high school students. Both at Carrick High School. End of month police class recruits swearing in ceremony on 6/30/16 at University of Pittsburgh Alumni Hall, 7th floor. Community is invited. 11 AM. Thank Pitt for partnership on that. Refreshments after. City Council District 3 – Mr. Manganaro introduced Robert Tessier, the new staff person in the office. He is a recent Pitt graduate. Lived on Parkview, McKee, on campus, Ward. Served on student government board. With this background, he will help bridge communication among students and residents in the community. What is best for students is best for permanent residents: clean safe neighborhood. Also, District 3 has several interns – available for special projects. Legwork available. Q: rental registration update? A: codifying the program. Schedules for inspectors, which areas first, launch in 2017. Q: Can Oakland be early on the schedule? A: yes, this is very likely; Councilman Kraus has advocated for this. District 8 – They have an intern this summer making a map of street sweeping in city so it could be part of city app in future. Councilman Gilman introduced and passed legislation that changes the timeframe for permits issued – upon issuance last 365 days rather than a permit season. Councilman Gilman introduced and passed legislation adding victims of domestic violence as a protected class for housing discrimination. Submitted proposal for three intersections for capital improvements including pedestrian countdown signals: Fifth and Bigelow, Fifth and Moorewood,and Bayard and Neville. Updates 311 looking for volunteers to participate in a project to improve 311. Contact Liz at OPDC to volunteer. Maura Kennedy, PLI director, will speak at the next Oakwatch meeting.