minutes-7-20-16

Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Minutes July 20, 2016 Present: Hanson Kappelman, Elena Zaitsoff, Barbara Rudiack, Betty Krip, Jim Daniels, Kathy Boykowycz, Michael Medwed, Blythe Runsdorf, David Manthei, Kevin Zedack, Kannu Sahni, Joan Dickerson, Millie Sass, Hersh Merenstein, Viola Garis, Kathy Gallagher, Brian Ralston, Wanda Wilson, Maria Bethel, Megan Kennedy, Officer Johnson, Officer Pauley, Officer Leshen, Officer Shifren, Commander Hermann, Liz Gray, Sophie Koss, Joann Slomnicki, Dave Panasiuk, Lawrence Robinson, Robert Tessier, Peggy Sedlack, Chris Honeywell, Matthew Madrign, Evelyn Stafford Ms. Zaitsoff brought the meeting to order, read the Oakwatch mission, and led introductions.

Brian Ralston, PLI 3224 Boulevard of the Allies – demo permit has been issued. Plan review to take place; due 8/8/16.

Permit filed to build 100-unit structure. Has to go through planning process.

Q: demo contractor has been pulled off the job. Can building be condemned? A: it is condemned. The owner can submit plan for how to demo.

Q: if demo permit, is it optional for owner to do the demo? A: yes, it is a plan for how they will do it, not that they must do it.

Q: can community push demo ahead somehow? A: not unless it is imminent danger. Collapsing. Q: people going into the building, not imminent danger, then. A: yes, it is a nuisance.

Q: can we request an inspection? A: he will send an inspector out. Cmdr Hermann stated that if residents see people in the building, call 911 and they will go out. Zone 4 has not been able to substantiate people there at the time they go there.

Q: does someone go to inspect projects that are approved? A: In 2008, state passed permit extension law. The permit doesn’t expire. As of 7/2/16, the legislation expired and PLI can now revoke permits.

PLI will verify that plans fit with approvals.

Rooftop parties don’t fall in PLI jurisdiction. Access to roof can help for egress in the case of a fire.

Jake brakes are not PLI. 311 to City Police Traffic Division.

3512 Frazier is under contract to be demolished. Be down within the next week.

Three-unrelated over-occupancy rule. A: rental registration is going to be a way to do that. In court system now. They instruct inspectors to look for this when they can get the evidence -- mailboxes, knock and talk, send notice. Q: you are willing to cite for over occupancy? A: most definitely yes. Q: just telling landlord to take down advertisement is not good enough. A: put it under notice. They need to get in to inspect. If inspector sees sign, that is enough to cite. PLI has to physically see that. PLI will cite and require go through permit process.

Rental registry will give PLI ability to inspect units for life safety issues. Q: will PLI notify the landlord of these inspections? A: owner will apply and then PLI will do inspection to verify.

Q: it’s the number of people in one house. the owner will likely just say single family home. A: during inspection, can count bedrooms. That will be enough.

Q: will inspection requirement be three years? A: working through courts, but will be a term that will expire. Q: will reviewing leases be part of the inspection? A: in other municipalities, it does. Not sure about whether that will be done here.

Q: advertisements posted on Internet, will PLI take those into account? A: he looks at those when they are sent.

Q: Dithridge house, advertised 10 bedrooms. 311 for trash. Did inspector cite for those ads? A: different inspectors for different things. PLI needs to check on their occupancy permit. Q: how does resident know what is the certificate of occupancy? A: not county website. It is the file room in zoning office at 200 Ross Street. Q: what is resident supposed to do? A: file complaint as violation of overoccupancy through 311. Q: if they have a permit for a boarding house, then what? A: PLI will go back to review for how many they are allowed to have. They can research what they filed for when they applied for the occupancy permit. Q: where are applications filed? A: applications are filed by address.

Boarding homes also have to get permission through Health Department as well.

Q: what about uses? Who go to if use other than single family home in R1? A: zoning issue, research occupancy permit.

Q: some properties don’t have occupancy permit. A: single family homes are not required to have a certificate of occupancy on file. All other uses are required to have them. Any other use has to have a certificate of occupancy.

Q: do different inspectors talk to each other? Code inspector and operations inspector. A: yes, they do refer Q: can we know names of our inspectors? A: yes, operations inspector Roberta Bullock; code inspector is Margaret Malley. Joe Motznik is our building inspector.

Q: is PLI willing to address cases where owner files for continuation of multiple units, but often based on fraudulent affidavits? A: zoning department is working on this and investigating this. Some do get denied. Affidavits do get rejected.

Q: what about people doing work without proper permits? No fines? A: no, but we do shut the job down and ask them to get permits. Q: it is barely a slap on the wrist. Are there consequences for breaking code? A: magistrate.

Target list – 3101 niagara. He is aware. When he was inspector, it was on his list then. Q: structural issue remain. A: he will have inspector go out. Judge levies fines, but they get reduced. Owner used to state that lease stated his tenant was responsible for upkeep and since he didn’t have a tenant, there was no upkeep needed. JSlomnicki – people park and create a shield for vandalism and erodes the property. ”we need help” 3103 pothole. Cars park on sidewalk. Asking for evenhandedness. Blinded to facts. Oakwatch co-chair interrupted the outburst to say that in the present, the building is in disrepair. If you cannot maintain it, you should sell it.

343 Lawn St – 7/11/16 petition for appeal denied. Will the city require the owner to pay the fine? A: not PLI. City Law Department. PLI can continue to cite if problem not rectified.

Larry Robinson suggested that in other municipalities, if there is difficulty collecting a fine, that it can be levied against personal assets.

3421 Parkview – cycle of appeals, liens, it was issue when he was inspector. Nuisance property. PLI will take to magistrate court. Q: will this go on endlessly? Usual tactics of owner. How to get beyond the stalling? A: yes. Owner has been given a list of items to complete, Oakwatch is documenting weekly.

Q: can anything be done to get in the property for inspection? Health Dept? A: Health Department officials said that people can live as they wish to live. The need is a social worker. But people have to want that assistance. Q: any movement on hoarding as a public safety issue when there is no water to the house? no electricity. A: can’t cite anything until they can get in the property. Q: If he doesn’t make the 60 days, then what? A: Then the judge will fine him. Q: has anyone removed person from property? A: only in instance of imminent danger, building collapsing.

Q: can renters give PLI access to property? A: yes.

The co-chairs thanked Mr. Ralston for attending.

Zone 4 June 7 non traffic citations 6/5/16 200 block atwood public urination 6/18 300 block meyran ave. group on porch yelling loudly. A guest refused to leave; cited along with resident.

Sennot and atwood open container.

6/20 300 block craft. Impaired individual while intoxicated. Cited.

6/26 3400 block forbes, arby parking lot. Intoxicated male on property. Cited public drunkenness Somewhat quiet in Oakland. Trend of burglaries. In Oakland, four, none of them were forced entry.

Windows that were open. Encouraging vigilance if you see suspicious person. This could be someone casing properties. Also caution about posting on social media that you are on vacation. Cmdr Hermann – stolen bikes. Write down the serial number. Officers can engrave also. Pitt offers bike registration; this is open to non-student residents as well.

Zone 4 will be starting impact squad after the first week of school. Keep it until October. Community suggested starting the weekend prior to the start of classes.

Pitt Police 76 incidents. 24 physical arrests 17 citations 2 aggravated assault 5 disorderly conduct citations 1 citation for marijuana

2 drug 10 dui 1 littering 1 open container 5 panhandler 4 public drunkenness citations 1 public urination citation 2 simple assault. One arrest 5 warrant arrests 3 weapons violations 2 J board 24th/25th 911 parties – knock and talks. Juliet Street, spoke to resident – got more people than they expected after a social media post. 255 Dithridge – involved coordinator of fraternity life. They have brought internal charges against the house: social probation through fall 2016, letter of apology to residents, Greek alcohol awareness program, national risk management seminar, attend and work with OCGR on block party.

Disruptive Property Report Ms. Bethel reported job duties changing. Now a manager of community outreach, Shatara Murphy, a good contact person in Public Safety. Victims’ assistance program – impact teams with social/human services/mental health go with police officers to coordinate supportive services for victims. Not giving up disruptive properties. Disruptive properties ordinance will be part of the training academy. Megan Kennedy, intern, doing research and doing 2015 report. Will do a new brochure. Working to input police data from University of Pittsburgh. Staffer on this was pulled to another project. Need to determine a system. It is done manual now. Working on an electronic method. Working with district attorney office to look at expedited evictions where there is drug trafficking. Community outreach group for parents and child care providers, Promise Beginnings. How to prevent child abuse and domestic violence and children being exposed to violence. Disruptive property presentation for landlords. Will be city-wide.

Lawrence Robinson, Allegheny County Health Department Mr. Robinson – house on dithridge – they have a permit. He can inspect it.

City Council District 3 –Robert Tessier -- water installed at South Oakland orchard. Project looks great.

District 8 – applying for state grant for intersection improvements to Bigelow and Bayard. Sunscreen in city parks.

Pitt block party dates are set. Will share out.