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.
Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 6 -7:30pm
Q: what is the timeline for the text app? A: developing marketing and messaging materials to get it out. But focus now is the survey. In the first year of grant: details, block parties. 2nd year: RA training and Panther TRAC. A: info about Student Conduct Officer about your approach to egregious violations of law. A: illegal behavior goes to office and will be given community service and other sanctions. Goal is to educate. They offer drug and alcohol classes. Recidivism rate is 5% compared to 10+% at other universities. Range of sanctions: reprimand, probation, suspension, dismissal. Also fines, online modules, classes. Sanction depends on the severity of the violation. Q: cross over with Police? Yes – judicial board will get involved from reports from Police. Magistrates can issue community service hours and judicial board will also issue community service hours on top of that. Q: buzzkill program mean shutting down parties or just a metaphor? Is police on board with shutting down parties? Commander Hermann responded that it is the goal to identify the appropriate person hosting the party and cite them. “I’d like to shut them down on the first time.” These are the commander’s guidelines. They plan to implement a zero tolerance policy this year. Are there any additional steps for getting Point Park to come on board? Yes, Amanda McGuire is collaborating with the Oakcliffe block party and thereafter. Q: When a party gets broken down, stressing emphasis on citing the host to address the profit motive. Liquor enforcement officer Zundel described their efforts – two types of speakeasies – college party qualifies as a nontraditional speakeasy. Alcohol can be seized. The traditional type is the basement location that charges at the door. Number to call: they will send young person undercover to try to see if he/she will be made to pay to receive alcohol. They did a couple of traditional speakeasy investigations with Zone 5 earlier this year. They need lead time to set up the undercover details. Oakwatch can work with LCE 412-548-2050. Caller can be anonymous, but it will help the investigation if the LCE officer can contact a resident to get a lot of information. Callers will remain anonymous until something may go to court. No one in the community will know the caller’s identity. It will be nice to see Councilpeople at the meetings. BKossis and ACarberry reported on OPDC’s Good Neighbor bags. Packets of information to distribute to off campus students. OPDC is currently recruiting volunteers to help with distribution. It is fun, there is always food. OPDC is also collaborating with landlords to distribute the bags to their tenants. JDickerson: impressed with Pitt actions. Oakland Police Partner Initiatives for Fall 2015 Crime stats 17 arrests 7/18/15 Atwood criminal mischief – graffiti 7/20 Forbes retail theft arrest, conspiracy to endanger child 7/22 gun arrest 200 block Dunseith
Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 6 -7:30pm
7/24 200 block Atwood false ID underage 7/27 300 block Atwood lewdness 7/28 2000 Deraud pot 400 Semple pot 7/30 Coltart/Louisa heroin possession arrest 8/1 N Craig aggravated assault bar fight 8/4 3200 Niagara bench warrant 8/7 Deraud controlled substances 8/12 400 Semple bench warrant 8/14 DeSoto/Fifth false id arrest, vehicle violations Part 1 3 aggravated assaults 1 strong arm robbery 9 burglaries residence 1 business burglary 24 theft auto 5 theft person 1 theft by deception 11 non traffic citations – urination, underage, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness Q: bar minor patron? LCE A: police report can trigger the LCE investigation. Establishment on Atwood has been looked at closely. It will be $1,000 fine/underage person inside. Underage people will be given opportunity to testify against the bar. If problem bars, work with Police to file report. LCE can use this information and begin investigation. LCE will have uniformed and undercover officers in Oakland Thursday night. Q: at each of last three meetings Police reports included incidents at 300 block N. Craig. Are these bars on watch list? A: yes, Police is aware and on site. Q: any progress on homicide on Ward Street a couple months ago? A: ongoing investigation; no news. Pizza driver? A: arrest was made. Girlfriend lived across street from where this happened.
Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 6 -7:30pm
Pitt Police 77 incidents 27 arrests 23 citations 1 aggravated assault 6 criminal mischief Disorderly conduct 4 citations 8 drug violations 1 false ID 5 open container – 4 citations, off campus 6 panhandlers, 3 were cited 7 public drunkenness – cited 1 simple assault 2 terroristic threats 16 theft, 2 arrest 2 underage drinking, 2 citations 6 warrant arrests 1 judicial board citation issued Indecent assault, arrest News headlines about number of citations at one university in one day more than Pitt in a year Impact detail will begin next weekend News from City Council : ACarberry reported that Councilman Gilman met with residents about the stickerless enforcement for residential permit parking program (RPPP). Lack of faith in enforcement therefore, stickers will remain for a time until new program is fully in place. Also looking at visitor pass usage (number of days per
Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 6 -7:30pm
year) and abuse. Next steps: Councilman meeting with City Planning and Parking Authority to establish a timeline. Noise ordinance passed. Reasonable person 75 feet. Cmdr Hermann stated could cite right away. Pitt Police can enforce as well. Q: who is addressing garbage issues? University of Pittsburgh Student Government Board Update (Nasreen Harun) Met with office of off campus living. Off campus tenants association coordinate with off campus living to fine tune details. Plan is to launch off campus resident association this fall. Updating website. Incorporate app for trash day reminders. Oakland Property Progress Report: MKennedy remarks about what has been happening in the department. Reorganized department into “beats”. Inspector Motznik for construction: building, mechanicals, accessibility, fire. Existing structures - Inspector Lomax: zoning, business licensing, building maintenance. Over occupancy here. Comprehensive training program in partnership with training academy. Checklists for all permit types so standard. Operations local government academy for property maintenance and zoning. Training is underway. In process of redesigning inspection/citation process. Convoluted to issue citation. Utilize technology from 311. Build in strong business rules for inspection to standardize how to cite. Same part of code, same way every time. Three strikes process – then to court. A standardized rule across the city. Partnering with 311 to electronically transmit this info back to the caller. Amount of time to respond depends on the severity of the violation. People will see this entire process including court dockets. Also working to publish this to the public, not only the 311 caller. Last dying days of using paper. Trouble shooting bugs now. Not quite to a target date. Guessing late September. Taking over occupancy seriously. Retooled department. Three new inspectors on quality of life issues. It is not easy. Q: may want to speak to neighbors to gather data. A: appreciate that. They need to observe it. Very different era because previously were told to observe neighbors. Don’t stake out neighbors. Q: issue with completion statement when inspector could not gain entry. Q: what telling inspectors to do to address over occupancy. Knock on door. Knock on neighbor’s door. Mailbox. Oakwatch can help Police identify disruptive property and pass info over to PLI to enforce on number of people living in unit. Q: court training for staff? A: working with new attorney to create training for inspectors. Also a check list to be consistent in presenting a case. Currently 12 courts. Property Progress report 3101 Niagara: cited recently for overgrown weeds, rubbish. Waiting period. 3716 Parkview: cited. Waiting in notice period. 320 Ophelia: cited overgrown weeds, debris
Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 6 -7:30pm
343 Lawn: over occupancy. Could cite again, but now do not have evidence to do so. Residents say it is not over-occupied. 3421 Parkview: citation been issued. Will take to court. 244 Dunseith: cited for overgrowth 3610 Frazier: illegal conversion. Will look again for separate entrance. 3380 Dawson: Box gutter. Cannot prove two units 2843 Blvd of Allies: no more graffiti. Little overgrowth cited for that. 3224 Blvd of Allies: slowly repair status 3126 Forbes: resolved 3219 Kennnett Sq: no one lives there so cannot investigate. Community should resubmit when new people move in. 204 Robinson: overoccupancy. No one there now. He knocked on neighbor’s door, stated six people there. He’s waiting until new move in 3746 Dawson: Overgrowth of vines on lines. 3442 Dawson good condition
Community Announcements & Events: Community Announcements & Events: -Help OPDC hand out welcome bags to new neighbors August 29 and September 12 for the Good Neighbor Campaign! Sign up at opdc.org/goodneighbor -University of Pittsburgh Block party dates are scheduled, email cgrinfo@pitt.edu for info. Tuesday, September 8: North Oakland, at 234 N. Dithridge Street Wednesday, September 9: South Oakland Tuesday, September 22: Oakland Square, in the Square Wednesday, September 30: Central Oakland, the Oakland Career Center -Sign up for a volunteer shift with the Citizen Observer Patrol by calling (412) 621-7863 x27.
Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015 6 -7:30pm
Next meeting: Wednesday, September 16, 12pm at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Please note that because they are hosting us during Rosh Hashanah, which is a time of fasting, there will be no food served and no outside food allowed in. Thank you! Contact Oakwatch: oakwatch@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 27. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!