July 2010 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE PAC2 JULY MEETING
DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAFF DEVELOPMENT CENTER
July 12, 2010
Facilitators:    Cheryl Shiflett – scjdurham@aol.com
Bill Anderson – TheOcean1@aol.com
The meeting was called to order at 6:08 p.m.
Cheryl announced that Durham Public Schools had given approval for PAC2 to use the facility for meetings for another year (through June 2011) for free.
Self-introductions followed.
Cheryl noted that “Durham, can you spare a change?” pamphlets, Durham One Call refrigerator magnets, and No Soliciting signs are still available.
Bill addressed the issue of CityWide PAC, saying that it was being attended to.  It was originally a meeting of co-facilitators, also providing a single spot for city departments to meet with all of the PACs.  A question was asked about what was going on with all the e-mails and the billboard issue; Bill said to expect clarification of what that was about.
COMMUNITY CONCERNS
A representative of the West Murray Ave/Broad Street community thanked the Durham Police Department for their recent traffic enforcement effort in the area, noting that 8 out of 11 vehicles were stopped for speeding. She expressed concern over the safety of pedestrians in the area and asked if the police could continue their efforts in this area. Capt. Smith said that they would continue as resources permitted.
DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES
Durham Parks and Recreation:  Ann Harrison from Edison Johnson announced the start of a new adult fitness class, yoga class on Thursdays, and Tai Chi on Wednesday.  There are also new morning programs in the pool area for adults, mature adults and school age children.  Audrey Gill announced that third Friday music concerts are continuing.  There will also be a Latino festival at Rock Quarry Park on Stadium Drive on August 7th from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and gardening classes July 17th (blueberry planting) and August 21st (vegetable gardening).  The new Walltown Recreation Center will hold a grand opening on August 21st from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Neighborhood Improvement Services:  Cynthia Mebane-Watts deferred to Rick Hester, who was the program speaker for the meeting.
PROGRAM
Rick Hester from Neighborhood Improvement Services (NIS) spoke about the Minimum Housing Code.  He began by noting that the department had just hired its tenth inspector that day, and that Stacy Crabtree was the inspector in District 2.  He also said the old Howard Johnson’s will be knocked down August 2nd by the owner, so the city doesn’t have to pay for its removal.
The Minimum Housing Code gives Neighborhood Improvement Services the right to come onto an individual’s property for inspections. Some items they deal with are having cars in disrepair towed, and making people clean up their yards. They have had five lawsuits in the past two years from people in District 2.  Most of what they deal with is substandard housing and vacant housing; they will soon be able to give an active sentence for failure to bring housing up to minimum code, but will help if the owner can’t do it.  A new item in the code is no lead-based paint on houses or on the ground around the house.  A tenant can be held responsible for junk in the yard, etc., but the owner has to keep the building in repair.
Violations may be reported by citizens, Citizens’ Observer Patrol (COP), or noticed by an inspector, who will inspect the unit.  Parking in the front yard is not in their jurisdiction but in Zoning (contact Karen Burd).  Nor is lack of grass in the front yard.
NIS must wait 30 days after sending an initial letter; they can then do something else in 30-60 days.  For buildings which are really bad (such as after a fire), they can expedite the paperwork and take the building down in 7 days. Other items take different amounts of time, such as 70 days for an unsafe house, 7 days for abandoned vehicles, and 10 days for weedy lots. The impact team cleans up when the owner won’t, though they are several weeks behind.   A resident can call the office or Hester directly to find the status of a complaint.  Citations can be appealed to the Housing Appeals Board.
NIS prefers to stabilize a house over knocking it down, since that is much less expensive (average of $2,500 to stabilize opposed to $7,000 to $10,000 for house being knocked down).  They will put a lien on the house and foreclose if this is not paid. The owner has the option of donating the property if they cannot or choose not to pay the lien. Minimum Housing Code violators can be taken to Community Life Court, and can get 20 days in jail for noncompliance. NIS has had instances of tenants not wanting to pay rent sometimes calling claiming problems with mold, but they are not qualified to inspect for mold.
Hester was asked if there was a volunteer group which could help the elderly and others with things like lawn mowing. He suggested in jest that PAC2 might want to set up a group for that, which Bill thought might be a good idea and proposed having the group form a committee to help the elderly with these problems.  Mike Shiflett noted that the Seniors Staying Put program in the Trinity Park/Walltown area does some of this type of work, and that people could talk to their neighborhood association about starting something like this.
Hester suggested that some things can be dealt with between neighbors instead of through NIS, if the neighbor is amenable.  Cynthia Mebane-Watts asked him to address boarding of houses.  He said owners can board a house for 6 months (used to be 12 months), and NIS can stencil the boards to look like windows.  He was asked about the Medical Arts building on Gregson and said they were working on it.  He also said the lacrosse house was going to be torn down by Duke.  He was asked what would happen to the Howard Johnson’s property once the building was demolished.  He said that the fire department will use some buildings for training, including the Howard Johnson’s.  He noted that foreclosures can be more of a problem, but banks will quickly make repairs and cut grass once notified.  A question was posed concerning yard waste in rental housing, with particular concern being 2308 Albany where limbs have been thrown in the ditch; he said they would send a letter.  He encouraged people to be a neighbor first, then call the city if that doesn’t work.  Cheryl asked if the commercial code was in place yet, and he said yes, but landscaping falls under zoning. He said that trees falling on the street or sidewalk falls under NIS, but not ones threatening a house; for that you should call a lawyer.
Bill reiterated that you should begin by talking to the neighbor before filing a complaint with the city.  He was also concerned about folks who seem to be intentionally on display on busy streets, such as getting drunk in their front yard, though this was more of a police issue.  A question was asked about a car with a green sticker, and it was noted that this was from NIS and not the police.
Bill said that he wants to take down eyesores, but doesn’t want to lose housing stock, especially antiques.  NIS charges $250-300 to come out and mow the grass, and the cycle often repeats until the owner can’t or won’t pay.  When the bill gets to a certain dollar amount NIS will foreclose, or the owner can sign the property over to the city. Some of these properties will now to be made into affordable housing.  A committee of developers, both profit and nonprofit, has been brought together who will buy the property and develop it into low or moderate income housing.
A question was asked about the property across from St. John’s Baptist church which is covered with trees, and Hester said the trees can be cut down.
Bill thanked Hester for being both entertaining and informing.
David Harris announced the National Night Out kickoff would be July 24th.
A recent graduate of the Citizens Police Academy spoke about how impressed he was with the program, especially how involved Chief Lopez was, and how he now sleeps better at night and understands that police need the citizens.  He noted that this was a good way to learn things about the police department and other departments in the city.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Coulter
Secretary

MINUTES OF THE PAC2 JULY MEETING

DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAFF DEVELOPMENT CENTER


July 12, 2010

Facilitators:

  • Cheryl Shiflett – scjdurham@aol.com
  • Bill Anderson – TheOcean1@aol.com

The meeting was called to order at 6:08 p.m.

Cheryl announced that Durham Public Schools had given approval for PAC2 to use the facility for meetings for another year (through June 2011) for free.

Self-introductions followed.

Cheryl noted that “Durham, can you spare a change?” pamphlets, Durham One Call refrigerator magnets, and No Soliciting signs are still available.

Bill addressed the issue of CityWide PAC, saying that it was being attended to.  It was originally a meeting of co-facilitators, also providing a single spot for city departments to meet with all of the PACs.  A question was asked about what was going on with all the e-mails and the billboard issue; Bill said to expect clarification of what that was about.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

A representative of the West Murray Ave/Broad Street community thanked the Durham Police Department for their recent traffic enforcement effort in the area, noting that 8 out of 11 vehicles were stopped for speeding. She expressed concern over the safety of pedestrians in the area and asked if the police could continue their efforts in this area. Capt. Smith said that they would continue as resources permitted.

DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES

Durham Parks and Recreation:  Ann Harrison from Edison Johnson announced the start of a new adult fitness class, yoga class on Thursdays, and Tai Chi on Wednesday.  There are also new morning programs in the pool area for adults, mature adults and school age children.  Audrey Gill announced that third Friday music concerts are continuing.  There will also be a Latino festival at Rock Quarry Park on Stadium Drive on August 7th from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and gardening classes July 17th (blueberry planting) and August 21st (vegetable gardening).  The new Walltown Recreation Center will hold a grand opening on August 21st from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Neighborhood Improvement Services:  Cynthia Mebane-Watts deferred to Rick Hester, who was the program speaker for the meeting.

PROGRAM

Rick Hester from Neighborhood Improvement Services (NIS) spoke about the Minimum Housing Code.  He began by noting that the department had just hired its tenth inspector that day, and that Stacy Crabtree was the inspector in District 2.  He also said the old Howard Johnson’s will be knocked down August 2nd by the owner, so the city doesn’t have to pay for its removal.

The Minimum Housing Code gives Neighborhood Improvement Services the right to come onto an individual’s property for inspections. Some items they deal with are having cars in disrepair towed, and making people clean up their yards. They have had five lawsuits in the past two years from people in District 2.  Most of what they deal with is substandard housing and vacant housing; they will soon be able to give an active sentence for failure to bring housing up to minimum code, but will help if the owner can’t do it.  A new item in the code is no lead-based paint on houses or on the ground around the house.  A tenant can be held responsible for junk in the yard, etc., but the owner has to keep the building in repair.

Violations may be reported by citizens, Citizens’ Observer Patrol (COP), or noticed by an inspector, who will inspect the unit.  Parking in the front yard is not in their jurisdiction but in Zoning (contact Karen Burd).  Nor is lack of grass in the front yard.

NIS must wait 30 days after sending an initial letter; they can then do something else in 30-60 days.  For buildings which are really bad (such as after a fire), they can expedite the paperwork and take the building down in 7 days. Other items take different amounts of time, such as 70 days for an unsafe house, 7 days for abandoned vehicles, and 10 days for weedy lots. The impact team cleans up when the owner won’t, though they are several weeks behind.   A resident can call the office or Hester directly to find the status of a complaint. Citations can be appealed to the Housing Appeals Board.

NIS prefers to stabilize a house over knocking it down, since that is much less expensive (average of $2,500 to stabilize opposed to $7,000 to $10,000 for house being knocked down).  They will put a lien on the house and foreclose if this is not paid. The owner has the option of donating the property if they cannot or choose not to pay the lien. Minimum Housing Code violators can be taken to Community Life Court, and can get 20 days in jail for noncompliance. NIS has had instances of tenants not wanting to pay rent sometimes calling claiming problems with mold, but they are not qualified to inspect for mold.

Hester was asked if there was a volunteer group which could help the elderly and others with things like lawn mowing. He suggested in jest that PAC2 might want to set up a group for that, which Bill thought might be a good idea and proposed having the group form a committee to help the elderly with these problems.  Mike Shiflett noted that the Seniors Staying Put program in the Trinity Park/Walltown area does some of this type of work, and that people could talk to their neighborhood association about starting something like this.

Hester suggested that some things can be dealt with between neighbors instead of through NIS, if the neighbor is amenable.  Cynthia Mebane-Watts asked him to address boarding of houses.  He said owners can board a house for 6 months (used to be 12 months), and NIS can stencil the boards to look like windows.  He was asked about the Medical Arts building on Gregson and said they were working on it.  He also said the lacrosse house was going to be torn down by Duke.  He was asked what would happen to the Howard Johnson’s property once the building was demolished.  He said that the fire department will use some buildings for training, including the Howard Johnson’s.  He noted that foreclosures can be more of a problem, but banks will quickly make repairs and cut grass once notified.  A question was posed concerning yard waste in rental housing, with particular concern being 2308 Albany where limbs have been thrown in the ditch; he said they would send a letter.  He encouraged people to be a neighbor first, then call the city if that doesn’t work.  Cheryl asked if the commercial code was in place yet, and he said yes, but landscaping falls under zoning. He said that trees falling on the street or sidewalk falls under NIS, but not ones threatening a house; for that you should call a lawyer.

Bill reiterated that you should begin by talking to the neighbor before filing a complaint with the city.  He was also concerned about folks who seem to be intentionally on display on busy streets, such as getting drunk in their front yard, though this was more of a police issue.  A question was asked about a car with a green sticker, and it was noted that this was from NIS and not the police.

Bill said that he wants to take down eyesores, but doesn’t want to lose housing stock, especially antiques.  NIS charges $250-300 to come out and mow the grass, and the cycle often repeats until the owner can’t or won’t pay.  When the bill gets to a certain dollar amount NIS will foreclose, or the owner can sign the property over to the city. Some of these properties will now to be made into affordable housing.  A committee of developers, both profit and nonprofit, has been brought together who will buy the property and develop it into low or moderate income housing.

A question was asked about the property across from St. John’s Baptist church which is covered with trees, and Hester said the trees can be cut down.

Bill thanked Hester for being both entertaining and informing.

David Harris announced the National Night Out kickoff would be July 24th.

A recent graduate of the Citizens Police Academy spoke about how impressed he was with the program, especially how involved Chief Lopez was, and how he now sleeps better at night and understands that police need the citizens.  He noted that this was a good way to learn things about the police department and other departments in the city.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry Coulter

Secretary