Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes August 20th, 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: Geof Becker, Maria Bethel, Kathy Boykowycz, Alicia Carberry, Steve Cetra, Vasile Copetas, Alex Coyne, Kathy Degler, Cheryl Fu, Kathy Gallagher, Nathan Hart, Brian Hill, Hannibal Hopson, Bob Kelly, Kevin Kerr, Jeff Koch, Bob Kollar, Blair Kossis, Marjory Lake, Kalli Lardas, David Manthei, Michael Medwed, Mark Oleniacz, Luke Rodgers, Jordan Rothchild, Blithe Runsdorf, Sarah Shea, Lara Sullivan, Michael Thompson, John Tokarski.
II. The Collaborative Approach to Handling Trash in Oakland during Move-In a) Department of Public Works’ Division 3 Supervisor Jeff Koch: -Street sweeping went well during move-in week. Oakland’s street sweeping week was changed from the third week to the first week in the month at the beginning of sweeping season, and a neighbor on Parkview voiced that the change was not advertised well and many people received tickets. The change was made so that Oakland streets could be cleaned more thoroughly. b) Keep It Clean Oakland! Manager Luke Rodgers: -Through this year’s Dumpster Project, we diverted 20 tons of trash. Thanks to all the landlords who helped fund the project. c) Pennsylvania Resources Council’s Environmental Education Coordinator Sarah Shea: -Pennsylvania Resources Council is an environmental nonprofit for resource conservation. -Sarah is the chairperson of the Clean Pittsburgh Commission. The CPC works to improve different quality of life issues in neighborhoods, such as littering, dumping, and recycling practices by bringing community organizations and city representatives together. The Clean Pittsburgh Commission’s Annual Report may be found here: http://cleanpittsburgh.org/2013%20CPC%20Annual%20Report%20-%20final%20draft.pdf -Sarah presented the group with resources for different hard-to-recycle items. The Pennsylvania Resource Council has a webpage with information on how and where to dispose of items as televisions, electronic waste, cell phones, ink cartridges, alkaline batteries, tires and more. Check it out here: http://www.zerowastepgh.org/ZW-PRC-hardtorecycle.html d) Oakland Business Improvement District’s Alex Coyne: -Alex spoke to the group about some of the businesses on Oakland Avenue that have not been properly disposing of trash. Alex mentioned GNC, Gus Miller’s, and Primanti’s as being the worst offenders. -311 and Environmental Services have been helpful, but the process has felt like a ‘whack-a-mole’ approach to trash handling. -It was suggested to contact the corporate office of GNC. Alex has done so, with some success, but the issue is still ongoing. He has met with property owners and tenants on Oakland Avenue, too. -Alex will forward this correspondence to Oakwatch for follow-up. -John Tokarski asked if any of the businesses on Oakland Avenue have security cameras since
the Police can fine for littering. -Geof Becker asked what can be done to remedy the lack of proper trash receptacles in the area. -John Tokarski suggested submitting to 311 so Environmental Services may be alerted. III. Department of Public Safety Update (John Tokarski) -The six Zone Public Safety Council meetings where the public could provide input on the hiring of the City’s new Chief of Police are now over. The new chief will be hired by the end of September. -National Night Out on August 5th was a success, with 58 different community events. -John spoke to 160 University of Pittsburgh Resident Assistants about individual roles in creating safe communities during their RA orientation earlier in the month. This was done in partnership with OPDC, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, and the University of Pittsburgh’s PittServes and ResLife, as part of the Good Neighbor Campaign. -Public Safety will soon implement a federal initiative called Building Communities of Trust, which focuses on developing trust among law enforcement and the communities they serve to address the challenges of crime and terrorism prevention. Invitations will initially be extended to different community groups, and grow from there. Learn more here: http://nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/BCOT_Fact_Sheet.pdf?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 -311 is working to implement new software and is still working out the bugs. -A University of Pittsburgh student living at 340 Atwood Street, Jordan Rothschild, asked what Oakwatch does to protect student renters. He called the Bureau of Building Inspection to who found and cited 15 building code violations. How can we work together to make sure that everyone in Oakland is guaranteed a great quality of life, renters and homeowners alike? Jordan was later asked to speak at the University of Pittsburgh’s Tenants’ Rights Workshops later in November to talk to peers about their rights and resources. IV. City Council Update, Q&A (District 3 Chief of Staff Kevin Kerr) -Kevin started by congratulating Oakwatch on recent news coverage. -City Council is on its month-long recess. -Councilpresident Kraus’ mid-year report showed a 95% success rate in closing cases. Few of these calls came from Oakland and the office credits that to Oakwatch’s efforts. -Do not hesitate to call the office at (412) 255-2130 V. University of Pittsburgh’s Semester Start: (Alicia Carberry on behalf of Kannu Sahni) -Last session of PittStart was Monday, August 18th. -Pitt is providing student programming this coming Friday and Saturday nights until 2am for the purpose of drinking alternatives. -Community feedback is welcomed as to whether this weekend is quieter than previous years' weekend before classes start. -Upcoming Block Party dates: -Thursday, September 4th, 5:30-7:30pm: North Oakland (in partnership with Bellefield Area Citizens Association) at 234 N. Dithridge Street. -Wednesday, September 10th, 4:30-7:30pm: South Oakland/ Oakcliffe (partnership with Community Human Services, Oakcliffe Housing Club, and South Oakland Neighborhood Group) at CHS, 374 Lawn Street.
-Thursday, September 18th, 5:30-7:30pm: Central Oakland (partnership with Oakland Square Historic District Community Organization) in the Oakland Square Park at Dawson Street and Oakland Square. -The second edition of Pitt's Guide to Campus Living has been printed and shared with many students and parents. Additionally, 2014 guides are a component in the 1,500 Good Neighbor Campaign bags that OPDC and many volunteers are distributing thought August and September to new Oakland neighbors. -The guides this year make many city codes known, including occupancy code (no more than three unrelated persons in a single family home). On this note, ads reading: "There's company; four's a crowd" have been running in the Pitt News, under the sports section. -Oakland Forever takes place on October 10th and 11th and will be a celebration of the people, places, and things that have made Oakland a fantastic neighborhood for 175 years. Visit oaklandforever.org to find out how to volunteer. VI. Oakland Property Progress Report (Supervisor Brian Hill) -3247 Ward illegal parking lot: Not charging for parking now, barricaded off. -3408 Parkview illegal dumping: Filed legal for six code violations, including Debris throughout Property, Handrails & Guards Missing From Deck, and No Smoke Alarms. Waiting to be scheduled in Housing Court. -3374 Dawson over occupancy: “No evidence� now that new tenants moved in. -343 Lawn, 3616 Parkview, 3101 Niagara all due in Housing Court August 26th.
VII. University of Pittsburgh Police Update (Officer Cetra): Oakland crime report. -Officers Johnson and Cetra visited 3334 Dawson, 501 Cato, 39 Boundary, and 3624 Bates to give warning letters and talk to the students residing. -Pitt Police assisted Zone 4 Police at 237, 253, and 261 N. Dithridge to break up parties. Crime stats for July from the University of Pittsburgh Police Department:
Incident Aggravated Assault Arson Burglary Criminal Mischief Criminal Trespass Defiant Trespass Disorderly Conduct Disorderly Conduct/MJ Drug Violations DUI False ID
Reported 3
5 3 4 6 2 2 2
Physical Arrest 2
1 1 1
2 2
Citation
3 6 2
Affiliated
Non Affiliated 3
On Campus
1 1 4 6 2 2 2
4 3 3
Off Campus 3
1 1 6 2 2 2
Forgery / Counterfeit Harassment Indirect Criminal Contempt Inst. Vandalism Loitering & Prowling Motor Vehicle Theft Open Container (VCO) Panhandling (VCO) Public Drunkenness Receiving Stolen Prop Resisting Arrest Robbery Sex Offense Simple Assault Terroristic Threats Theft Underage Drinking Urinating (VCO) Warrant Arrest Weapons Violations Judicial Board
2 1
2 1
3 3
3
1
1
1
3
3
2
2
1 1
1 1 1
11 2 2
1
1 2
10 2
2 2
1 1
2
-Officer Cetra encouraged everyone to report disruptive parties to 911, the Pitt Police (412) 624-2121, and Oakwatch (412) 621-7863 x27. -A Parkview neighbor noted that Pitt’s SafeRider made six trips to bring students to a party over the weekend. VIII. Zone 4 Police Update (Zone 4 Commander Kathy Degler). -Commander Degler reminded students, landlords, and neighbors alike to never leave valuables unattended. -The Commander also noted that Craig’s List “can be a bastion of thieves and ne’er-do-wells.” Use discretion and do not pay for anything without first seeing it. -A Baldwin couple was caught and arrested for thefts from autos in West Oakland -U-locks are the best locks for keeping bikes safe. -Some renowned burglars have been apprehended, and a few vandalism arrests were made, too. -The Oakland Impact Squad, a patrol dedicated to Oakland, will begin again August 28. -Zone 4 is paying attention. Call the 911 dispatch to report disruptive parties. -A neighbor on N. Dithridge asked at what point should the police be called, when she sees kegs going in the front door of a house, or after the party becomes disruptive. Commander Degler suggested after the party becomes disruptive.
*Update from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board: To report underage drinking, call: 1-888-UNDER-21 (1-888-863-3721). Use this number to report underage drinking parties—planned or in progress. You can also report establishments that serve alcohol to minors and people who sell fake identification. -Community Relations Officer Leshen will return in September for crime statistic updates.
IX. Disruptive Properties Update (Maria Bethel): -Maria gave the history of the need for the Disruptive Properties Ordinance (http://pittsburghpa.gov/publicsafety/disruptiveproperties) in Pittsburgh. She asked for community involvement in getting the timeframe extended to be considered disruptive to a year. Currently, the timeframe is six months. Call your City Council Representatives: -Council President and District 3 Representative Bruce Kraus: (412) 255-2130 -District 6 Representative R. Daniel Lavelle: (412) 255-2134 -District 8 Representative Dan Gilman: (412) 255-2133 X. OPDC Updates (Alicia Carberry): Oakwatch has received a lot of attention from the press, lately including Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, NextPittsburgh, and 90.5 WESA. Thanks to all the residents for your vigilance in making this project successful and well-recognized across the city. XI. Community Announcements & Events: -The Good Neighbor Campaign has begun! Sign up at opdc.org/goodneighbor to volunteer from 10:30am1:30pm on the remaining Saturdays: August 23rd, August 30th, September 6th, September 13th. Lunch provided. -Volunteers needed as extra eyes and ears in Oakland from 11pm-1am for the following Citizen Observer Patrol dates: Friday, August 22nd; Saturday, August 23rd; Friday, August 29th; Saturday, August 30th. Call Alicia at 412.621.7863 x21 or email acarberry@opdc.org for more information or to sign up for a shift. XII. Next meeting: Wednesday, September 17th, 12pm at the Jewish Federation (234 McKee Place). RSVPS are mandatory. XIII. Meeting Adjournment. Contact Oakwatch: oakwatch@opdc.org or 412.621.7863 ext. 27. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!