Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 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. In Attendance:, Alicia Carberry, Nasreen Harun, Guy Johnson, Hanson Kappelman, Sophia Koss, Blair Kossis, David Manthei, Michael Medwed, Elaine Zaitsoff, Mark Oleniacz, Tom Pauley, Kannu Sahni, Kathleen Sestili, Evelyn Stafford, John Wilds, Wanda Wilson, Nathan Hart, Kevin Stiles, Sharnay Hearn, Robert Lomax, Maura Kennedy, Matt Landy, Robert Harper, Steve Cetra, Commander Ellies, Tim Zundel, Joan Dickerson, Commander Herrmann. HKappelman brought the meeting to order, reviewed the mission statement, and facilitated introductions. The group reviewed the Oakwatch annual report for July 2014 through June 2015. Oakwatch will conduct citizen observer patrols beginning this weekend. Residents are encouraged to participate. Citizen patrols observe disruptions from a car and notify 911 of issues. The patrol members act as eyes and ears in the neighborhood and assist neighbors who may be the target of retaliation. University of Pittsburgh Initiatives for Fall 2015 (John Wilds, Kannu Sahni): With the student population return, the focus of tonight’s meeting will be on effective enforcement and introducing students to responsible behavior and being part of the community. JWilds introduced the role of the Office of Community and Governmental Relations. Mission of the office is to manage the complex interactions of the university with regional community and local, state, and federal government entities. University-community relationships are under the auspices of this office, including student – resident relationships. Be a Good Neighbor programming is based upon education, engagement, and enforcement. Staff of the office meets new students and discusses off-campus behavior with them including over occupancy, disruptive parties, and the suggestion not to bring a car to Oakland. Pitt received a grant from PA Liquor Control Board to launch a program called Panther Bridge: Campus Community Connections to Address Dangerous and Underage Drinking. One of the benefits of the grant is the requirement to conduct evaluation of outcomes. The program will involve training modules for Resident Assistants (RAs) to train their residents. Activities will include: survey of current usage, education through RAs, use of Panther TRAC, a text-message-based technology proven to reduce binge drinking, Be a Good Neighbor Block Parties, increased Police impact details with follow up “knock and talks,” introducing Buzzkill: Serve Under 21 and the Party’s Over (national campaign of Drug Free Action Alliance). Students are moving off campus earlier than they might have in the past – after sophomore year. The program is to educate them while living on campus so that messages will be ingrained prior to moving off campus. It is relevant to on campus students because many of them attend off campus parties while living on campus. See community activities below for block party dates.