Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes September 18th, 2013
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: Carlino Giampolo, Megan Fabbri, Janice Lorenz, Hanson Kappelman, Maria Bethel, Shannon Leshen, Steven Cetra, John Wilds, Kannu Sahni, Robert Beecher, Nathan Hart, Mark Kramer, Sally Stein, Henry Cianciosi, Larry Robinson, Carol Mitchell, Michael Medwed, Peg Sedlack, Mark Oleniacz, Bob McPherson, Wanda Wilson, Jody Davin, Lindsey Bumsted, Alicia Carberry, Rebekkah Ranallo.
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Introductions; Brief new members (Hanson Kappelman, 5 minutes)
III.
Disruptive Property Ordinance 2012 Report (Maria Bethel, 15 minutes) History of the Ordinance: based on a Cleveland model and launched in December of 2008. Ordinance requires Dept. of Public Safety to notify landlord when there is an arrest or citation on their property. Landlords can also use notices from Disruptive Properties to evict tenants at magistrate. Nuisance Property Task Force meets once a month. When a property doesn’t meet criteria for Disruptive Properties ordinance, Maria can send to Nuisance Property Task Force to look into enforcement through them. The city works with all 5 Police Commanders and BBI on this. Maria reminded group how process works. Police officers have to check box on report, then supervisor has to approve. A property is declared disruptive after 3 violations of the ordinance within a 180-day period. In Zone 4 for 2010, 6 properties were deemed disruptive. In 2011, only 1 property was. In 2012, 27 properties were deemed such. So far in 2013, 11 properties hold this title. Since its implementation, 1,660 notifications have been sent in all 5 zones. 44% of these were animal control related, 56% were arrests/ citations. Sally: Were property owners in the city notified when ordinance was created? Maria: Yes, and although they were initially resistant to the ordinance, landlords in Lawrenceville are including information on the Disruptive Property Ordinance in leases to alert tenants that violations will not be tolerated. The Disruptive Properties Appeal Board meets the second Wednesday of each month to review appeals. Some landlords have case appealed if they can prove they took necessary steps to solve problem and abate re-occurrence (evict tenant, get rid of dangerous animal, etc).
No cases flagged in Oakland in 2013 so far, only in Hazelwood and Squirrel Hill for Zone 4. Carlino Giampolo: Why would box not be checked? Officer Leshen: It’s an automated system with constant database improvements. Hanson: Is information public? How is it accessed? It becomes public after the owner is notified. To access information, call Maria at 412.255.4789. Hanson clarifies that citation, arrest or summonses are necessary to trigger a strike towards a property being labeled disruptive. If police shut down a party without doing those things, property cannot be flagged. Maria: University of Pittsburgh is often the responder and they cannot yet report on Disruptive Properties. Larry: Can you call a property into District Attorney Stephen Zappala if arrests or citations are not made? Maria: Contact me first, and when can go through the appropriate channels. After calling party into 311, residents can call Maria to ensure proper enforcement measures.
IV.
PLCB Grant Announcement, Q&A (Wanda Wilson, 10 minutes) Wanda announced OPDC received a new grant to combat underage drinking in the neighborhood. The grant will pay for additional enforcement with off-duty officers, data collection, staff, underage and binge drinking education/ outreach, etc. Gave nod to Rebekkah Ranallo and Blair Kossis for securing the grant.
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Oakwatch Citizen Observers Update (Nathan Hart, 10 minutes) Nate: We’ve done two weekends of patrol so far. No interactions, just observation. At each party we’ve reported, police have responded within 5-15 minutes to break up the party. We’re not sure of any citations, summons or arrests. We’ve also sent the list of addresses to Pitt Police. Pitt’s Officer Cetra visited addresses and gave tenants stern talking-tos. Most of these properties have not been repeat offenders. Upcoming patrols on Homecoming weekend and Halloween, volunteers are needed.
VI.
TV/ Electronics Recycling & Keep it Clean Oakland Update (Josh Litvik, 5 minutes) October 12th, in the UPMC Atwood at Sennott parking lot, Southside-based Evolution e-cycling will host a free recycling event from 10a-2p. Completely free to drop off televisions, cell phones, laptops, printers, car batteries, videogames, ink cartridges, et cetera. No single-use batteries, though. First Adopt a Block event of the year is this Saturday.
VII.
Oakland Property Progress Report (BBI, 10 minutes) a. 3746 Dawson Street: BBI said there are no current building violations but to take picture of parties and they can try to cite.
b. 3374 Dawson: No BBI violations. Officer Cetra visited to give tenants a warning about disruptive behavior. c. 3607 Parkview: Officer Cetra to visit. BBI can check occupancy issues, but there are no current violations. d. 244 Dunseith: Owner Eli Wasserman found guilty. Fines never appealed nor enforced. Prompted an arrest warrant, constable is still looking for him. e. 3738 Dawson: Judge Ricciardi dismissed case since owner met minimum requirements and a third-party engineer signed off on work. Nate confirmed we can remove from Top 10 list since there is no further enforcement officials can pursue, though he feels land is still not stable. f. 210 Ophelia: Garbage and debris removed. Newly landscaped/ seeded. Judge Ricciardi dismissed case. g. 53 Lawn: BBI re-cited heir of estate. h. 3109 Forbes: Going to Planning Commission. Wanda can send site plans to Oakwatch list. Encouraged residents to attend Planning Commission hearing. Oakwatch will confirm date/time and distribute notice to Oakwatch list. John Wilds: They will not enforce stealing land from government? Wanda: Unfortunately, no. i. 253 Dithridge: Owner did not show up for two hearings and was fined $10,000. Owner’s attorney contacted BBI saying property went to ex-wife in divorce. BBI got new name and address to re-cite new owner. Tenant went to complain at Ricciardi’s office, became landlord-tenant dispute. Stuck in appeals/ still pending. ACHD will do another internal inspection in October, would be willing to do inspection alongside BBI. Other business: BBI did sweep of 200 block of Dithridge Street along with Pitt on September 6th, and it seemed to work well. j. 3101 Niagara: Judge Gallo needs to enforce fines. Property is still in violation. k. 3421 Parkview: Judge has not made decision. No improvements. 2nd appeal briefs were due 7/31. l. 3124 Blvd (Fagnelli lot): Owner is working with landscaper to plant trees around perimeter. Occupancy permit is contingent on that work. Wanda suggested removing from Top 10, but to keep an eye out. Planting happening this fall. VIII.
University of Pittsburgh Police Oakland crime update / Incident breakdown, Q&A. (Officer Cetra, 10 minutes) 17 underage drinking citations on campus (16 of 17 students). 2 open container citations. 4 aggressive panhandling. 4 public drunkenness (2 of 4 students). 9 disorderlies (2 of 9 students). 2 public urination. 15 physical arrests (DUIs, drug possession, theft, etc.) Warning of woman scamming money from people in Oakland in white vehicle. Daily updates are in online media log (http://www.police.pitt.edu/node/231). Cetra has visited over 20 houses all over Oakland following requests of citizens’ patrol. He was able to get additional info from tenants about other party houses. Cetra is documenting how many Pitt students live in each house and getting cell phone numbers from residents for future issues. Pitt met with Greek life leaders yesterday in order to open communication lines. Learned that many Duquesne students are showing up at Pitt frat houses to party.
Pitt Police respond to ~40,000 calls per year. IX.
Zone 4 Police Oakland crime update / Incident breakdown / Parking update, Q&A (Officer Shannon Leshen, 10 minutes) Michael: Why is Larry and Carol’s still open? Shannon: Under DA jurisdiction now. 20 physical arrests in August in Oakland: 4 DUI, 7 drug, 1 motor vehicle, 2 outstanding warrants, 2 thefts, 1 homicide, 2 disorderly conduct 17 nontraffic citations: 3 disorderly, 3 public drunkenness, 2 underage, 1 false ID, 4 open containers, 4 public urination Sept: so far 82 nontraffic citations, 35 for disorderly, 16 underage, 16 open container. Hanson: do you know how many of these are tied to a particular property? Carol thanked police for responding to call on Friday night within 5 minutes. Zone 4 is 14.5 square miles so they’re not able to do as many preventative patrols as community would like. The Oakland Impact Squad consists of 4 officers and a supervisor proactive patrolling Thurs-Sat, 11p-3a. Officer Leshen reminded everyone of 311’s importance. If you send a disruptive behavior issue to 311, it goes straight from Mayor’s Service Center to the corresponding zone’s Police Commander. Force is very understaffed. Goal is 900 officers. 50 officers have retired this year. Leshen invited residents to come for a ride-along to get new perspective. Call police headquarters to schedule (412) 323-7800. Henry: Was asked by potential new neighbor, “Is Oakland safe?” and wasn’t sure what to say. What would you say? Officer Leshen: Every community has crime, and Oakland is on par with Pittsburgh’s other neighborhoods. Be responsible. Safety is everyone’s concern.
X.
Community Announcements & Events (10 minutes) Free homebuyer workshop: Saturday, Sept. 21st at Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street, 8:30am-4:30pm. Lunch provided. Oakland Town Hall meeting hosted by Coalition of Oakland Residents (COR) on Thursday, Oct. 17th in Alumni Hall, 7-8:30pm. Coffee and home-baked goods provided. Official Halloween trick or treating date is Oct 31--from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Hard to Recycle Event October 5th at the Mall at Robinson. September 28th, 6-9p, Jazz night at The Corner, 200 Robinson Street. Complete with a bake-off. Hanson: Councilman Kraus and RHI Social Host ordinance post-agenda September 19th, at 1p at the City County Building. Legislation seeks to create a more direct link between leaseholders and citations.
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Next meeting: October 16th, 6:00pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street, Pgh, PA 15213.
XII.
Meeting Adjournment
Contact Oakwatch: oakwatch@opdc.org 412.621.7863 ext. 27. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!