Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project Meeting Minutes May 15th, 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.
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In attendance: Russell Ottalini, Inspector Robert McPherson, Josh Litvik, Brian Hill, Ben Carlise, Kannu Sahni, Nathan Hart, Hanson Kappelman, Maria Bethel, Geof Becker, Wanda Wilson, Marian Vanek, Brandon Forbes, Matt Stidle, Judy Feldman, David Manthei, Kathy Boykowycz, Matt Barron, Mark Oleniacz, Bernelle Wood, Councilman Daniel Lavellle, Alex Coyne, Officer Heather Camp, Officer Michelle McDaniel, Officer Matt White, Tara Sherry-Torres, Rebekkah Ranallo Introductions; Brief new members (Geof Becker, 5 minutes) Guest Speaker: Department of Public Works Q&A on special events in parks, park maintenance and graffiti removal. (Ben Carlise, Dept. of Public Works, 15 minutes) Park Permits/Events: Ben Carlise distributed facilities schedule and copy of permit. Wanda: request to reposition speakers at park events. Kathy: Race for Cure was much less intrusive this year. Judy Feldman: request for stronger language in permit itself regarding noise ordinance, lay out time guidelines for noise, etc. Ben: will follow up with Judy on revising language in permit. Street Cleaning: Community request: install new signage for street cleaning and establish regular schedule for park cleaning. Ben: lack of manpower but keep telling 311 or email him directly and he will try to prioritize. Graffiti: Graffiti Busters program does not tackle anything above 10 feet tall. 311 has a line into Post Office to remove graffiti from public mailboxes. Community request: invite them to an Oakwatch meeting. Ben can help connect us. DPW prioritizes profanity, gang-related or threats. They go on private property on request basis. There is a request form private property owners can use but 311 is also good system. Kathy: $600 a gallon for special coating you can apply to wall that makes graffiti removal easy. Is there possibility city can make this more available to residents at lower cost? Ben: Good idea, will take some work.
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Introduction to Councilman Kraus’s Social Host Ordinance and RHI Update, Brief explanation of the proposed ordinance and updates on the Responsible Hospitality Initiative followed by Q&A (Brandon Forbes, Policy Director, Office of Councilman Bruce A. Kraus, 15 minutes) Ordinance is modeled after successful model in Minneapolis. Social Host Liability makes it summary offense for host who knowingly provides alcohol to under-agers, fine is $500 and 72 hours in prison. Positive impact in Minneapolis is highly dependent on increased communications between university and law enforcement.