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