West Oakland BusinessAlert

Business Community Attendees
George Burtt (2500 Campbell/WOCA), Greg Griffin (Pacific Supply), Debbie Hauser (Bus Alert staff), Michael Herling (Consolidated Cleaning), Donna Miller (Cypress Mandela Training Center), Tim Morse (Bay Alarm Co.), Ellen Parkinson (Parkinson Enterprises), Gary Proctor (Oakland Public Works), Lowell Rice (WOCA), Bob Tuck (Atlas Heating)

Attendees were welcomed by Committee Chair Michael Herling and self-introductions were conducted.  Margot Prado provided a brief overview of BusinessAlert’s mission and activities for new attendees.

After discussion about the BusinessAlert meeting agenda, its format will be changed for future meetings so it is arranged in a more organized and goal-oriented manner.  BusinessAlert staff will make efforts to check availability of OPD officers and NSCs to attend meetings in advance.  Also, BusinessAlert participants will be emailed in advance of meetings to identify any specific questions they may have for  OPD and/or OPW.  Clarified that BusinessAlert meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 3:00 pm.

Donna Miller of Cypress Mandela provided a report on the job training center’s activities.  This nonprofit organization began in 1993 as an outcome of damage to the area from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.  A six-month pilot project was recently conducted and ended in February 2009, part of a 16-week construction trade pre-apprentice program.  The Center completed a graffiti abatement project that involved the work of four students painting over graffiti hot spots along Adeline, San Pablo, West Grand and Mandela.  Although the efforts of the students met with some resistance from business owners, overall the project was a success.  Over 51,000 square feet of area was painted, including over 1,500 gang tags.  Photos of graffiti were taken and forwarded to Gregory Hunter of CEDA, who oversees program management and funding.  It was suggested to Ms. Miller by BusinessAlert that photos also be shared with OPD for follow-up.  Local business owners were notified two weeks in advance of graffiti abatement activities by mail, as well as hand-carried letters.  Fences and abandoned buildings were major focuses of abatements efforts.  Abatement of private property was not allowed.  The pilot program’s funding has now been exhausted, and Cypress Mandela staff is seeking to be re-funded.  Dan Seamans at CEDA is the current City of Oakland liaison for directing work activities, however Donna also scouts corridors where project participants can make an impact.  Suggested that painters make better efforts to match existing colors, if possible, by working with Home Depot’s paint department.  Donna was encouraged to relay status of funding to the group through Margot so that West Oakland BusinessAlert can lend its support to the good work being performed in the community by Cypress Mandela.

George Burtt distributed a spreadsheet detailing local blight conditions, an outcome of a recent West Oakland drive-around that George conducted with Code Compliance staff, Rich Fielding.  The spreadsheet identifies approximately 45 addresses and the disposition of each associated blight violation, including weeds, graffiti, trash, broken windows and debris.  George has set a goal of conducting this type of drive-through each spring and fall.  The general legal steps in expediting Code Compliance violations was discussed by George.  Code Compliance first conducts an inspection to verify the violation and photos are taken.  An inspector verifies current ownership of the blighted property and a violation notice is generated.  A re-inspection is conducted.  If blight is not abated, fees are assessed on the property owner.

Gary Proctor described the City’s graffiti abatement program, also known as Keep Oakland Clean & Beautiful, headquartered at 750 – 50th Ave. near Coliseum Way.  It is the responsibility of the staff of this program to abate the city’s graffiti, Monday through Saturday.  The program is overseen by Arthur Watson, who assigns staff to repaint and/or pressure wash properties, both public and private.  Graffiti is documented with photographs.  Mr. Watson will be invited to conduct a presentation at a future WO BusinessAlert meeting.

George Burtt distributed an email addressed to PWA managers on behalf of West Oakland BusinessAlert Chair Michael Herling, Coliseum BusinessAlert Chair Jim Curtis, and WOCA Vice President George Burtt.    The email conveys concerns of the business community in regards to the constant presence of illegally dumped materials and graffiti.  It also cites a recent KTVU story that highlighted the increased opportunities dumpers have to conduct their illegal activities in light of the implementation of City worker furlough days.  The email asks for the exemption of PWA staff from furlough days so that continuous coverage is in place and the streets of Oakland are not left unattended during furlough periods.  The email will also be sent to key Oakland elected officials.  The email was drafted as a result of George’s recent drives around West Oakland -- he noted that illegal dumping has increased following furlough periods.  Chair approved email to be sent without changes.

Gary Proctor discussed prioritization of paving issues in the city.  Minor paving issues are handled separately from major paving projects.  Gary will provide current contact information for minor paving and other OPW issues at the next meeting.  All paving is now prioritized, with hazardous conditions receiving first priority.  George Burtt discussed the hazardous condition on Mandela and Peralta on 26th from potholes surrounding railroad track.  Gary reported that it is the City’s responsibility to make the street safe by repairing the hazardous condition and then billing the railroad.  Because of liability issues the hazardous condition creates, it is in City’s best interest to expedite repair.  George encouraged engagement of Union Pacific reps located in Long Beach with City of Oakland public works staff.  Efforts to work on these issues with UP in the past have been time consuming but successful.

Tim Morse reported on Bay Alarm’s current patrol schedule – six times per day on weekends and four times a night during the week.  Bay Alarm officers are seeing significant dumping but are not clear about how to report this activity.  Tim was encouraged to have his staff report the dumping to the hotline at 615-5566 and to obtain a case number.  Litter Enforcement Officers will follow up by creating an evidence file and mark the dumped material with red spray paint.  Bay Alarm welcomes the opportunity to work closely with Gary Proctor’s group to assist in expediting the clean-up of illegally dumped materials.  Bay Alarm is 25 days into its pilot patrol program of West Oakland.  Tim is having his customer service staff work on an online report format so that participating businesses can research patrol stats.