8-17-11-minutes

Oakland Code Enforcement Task Force Minutes August 17th, 2011 I.

Introductions: In attendance: Geoff Becker, Hanson Kappelman, Wendy Urbanic, Aftyn Giles, Joan Lally, James Lally, Maria Bethel, Dorothy Wysoczewski, Ethel DeIuliis, Gale McGloin, Henry Cianciosi, Nickolas Solic, Kathy Boykowycz, Peg (Margaret) Sedlack, Evelyn Stafford, Bob Maddock, Blair Kossis, Sam Su, Eric Forsythe a. Group goals & history: Blair reviewed the mission statement, Oakland 2025, participation roles, and issues from previous meetings for new members.

II.

Public Safety brochures a. Brochures were handed out. Hanson reviewed the public safety brochure and the BACA meeting and discussed Pitt Police jurisdiction. i. Unless Pitt Police takes the offender to the county jail, they do not have the option to indicate a Nuisance Property violation. ii. Pitt Police only have jurisdiction 500 yards from Pitt property. iii. Pitt Police cannot enter private property, but can cite students for violation of the Pitt Promise. iv. Can call 911 and Pitt police for incidents

III.

Wendy Urbanic: 311 line a. Wendy encouraged use of the 311 line. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The line was started in 2006; it is a small, under-staffed operation, but currently 95% of calls are answered. b. Most common use of 311 is to report abandoned cars. Car must have expired tags to be considered abandoned. The process to determine and abate issue of abandoned car takes about 1 – 1.5 months. c. All calls get a service request ID#. Keep this ID# for future reference. People can search for calls using name or address if this number is lost. d. Call 911 for criminal activity. e. Public Safety: 311 Center uses City of Pittsburgh codes and other housing codes.

Inspectors go out within three days of a call. A code inspector goes out for outside property issues such as high grass. Building inspectors go out for violations in structure. Neither inspector can go into private property. f. Initial process takes 45 days to process for notice of abatement of issue. Can take legal action if issue(s) not fixed. g. Citations are sent certified mail. A lot of cases are held up because an owner can’t be found. Building inspectors must give 10 days for the mail to arrive; the person then has 15 days to respond. Email Wendy with information to help find property owners.

h. Once the building inspector is sent out, 311 will follow up saying the service request is completed, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that “your neighbor’s overgrown grass is cut.” It just means the city has contacted the necessary people to handle the situation. i. Potholes: usually the city uses hot asphalt (hot patch) during the fall. In the winter they use a cold patch because the asphalt factory is closed, but the cold patch is largely ineffective and just leaves a lot of pebbles and rocks everywhere. j. A request that goes to BBI will be in process even though the 311 center will show it as closed. k. Noise violations are difficult to prosecute. l. Streetlights are usually fixed in 24 to 48 hours. m. Judge Riccardi handles cases for Oakland.

IV.

V. VI.

911/311 Action Flow Chart a. Hanson explained the chart and introduced the Nuisance Property Fact Sheet.

The sheet will be emailed to members. b. We have an email and telephone number through OPDC: oakwatch@opdc.org and (412) 621-7863 ext. 27 Next Meeting date: The next meeting will be September 21st, 12:00 p.m., in Room 11029 at Forbes Tower, 3600 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Meeting Adjournment