[Roll Call: Chair Affa, Mota, Santos]
          [Discussion: Quality of Life Committee Update]
          [00:09:31]
          WITH. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CELEBRATE AT THE END OF IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S 
          [00:09:35]
ONGOING. AND WITH THAT, I'M ALSO GOING TO ADD THAT WE, AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY CITY RESIDENTS, THAT WANT TO TAKE PART IN THIS, TO GET INVOLVED IN THE MANY BOARDS THAT WE HAVE. OR IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND BECOME A POLICE OFFICER, APPLY TO THE ALLENTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HELP US HELP OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE TOGETHER, I THINK WE CAN SOLVE A LOT OF THE ISSUES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD MY 
          [00:10:01]
TIME TO VICKI KESSLER TO SPEAK ON THE PROCESS. THANK YOU CHIEF. DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY FROM THE DAIS? NO QUESTIONS FOR THE FOR THE CHIEF. SO I DO THOUGH, CHIEF. THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSS IN OUR MEETINGS. SO THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OBVIOUSLY IS AWARE AND HAS TARGETED. YOU'RE TARGETING THESE AREAS. YOU'RE HAVING MORE OFFICERS GOING TO THESE AREAS BECAUSE MY DREAM IS TO HAVE A JUST A QUALITY OF LIFE TASK FORCE WOULD BE WONDERFUL. OF COURSE, WE NEED A LOT MORE POLICE OFFICERS FOR THAT. AND I'M HOPING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. SO SOMEDAY THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN. WE HAVE BUILDING INSPECTORS, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING. IT'D BE WONDERFUL IF WE COULD HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT JUST FOCUSES ON QUALITY OF LIFE. AND I WANT EVERYBODY OUT THERE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ON IT. WE'RE THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE'RE. AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THIS COME TO, TO, TO HAPPEN. I BELIEVE WE'RE TAKING THE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THINK WITH THE COORDINATION WITH WITH COUNCIL FOR REVISING THE ORDINANCES TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT AND UP TO DATE, ALONG WITH ALSO POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ON THE STATE LEVEL. I FEEL THAT WE CAN REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT TO NOT ONLY UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OVERALL IN ALLENTOWN, BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I WILL ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IS THAT ANYBODY, REGARDLESS OF YOUR ZIP CODE, DESERVES A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. THEY DESERVE TO BE SAFE IN THEIR HOME. THEY DESERVE TO WALK THE STREETS WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ISSUES. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I FEEL THAT I'M COMMITTED THAT THE OFFICERS ON THE DEPARTMENT ARE COMMITTED, ALONG WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY, TO ARRIVE AT THAT, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT WILL HELP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET SOON, BUT I WILL ALWAYS TALK ABOUT PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OUT OF THAT TRIUMPHANT IS THAT PERSONNEL, OUR EMPLOYEE, OUR INDIVIDUAL OFFICER, OUR INDIVIDUAL KEY WORKER, A PUBLIC WORKS WORKER, EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY IS COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU MAY NOT CARRY A BADGE AND A GUN AND HAVE THE POWER TO ARREST, BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE POWER TO REPORT ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT IN LINE WITH GOOD CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE CITY. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I KNOW OUR CITY IS GROWING, BUT THE FACT THAT WITH THIS CAR MEET, WE GET SO MANY PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN THAT COME INTO OUR CITY AND CAUSE A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT CAR MEET, THEY COME FROM SCRANTON, THEY COME FROM REDDING, THEY COME FROM PHILLIPSBURG, THEY COME FROM EVERYWHERE. WHY ALLENTOWN, I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE. IT PUTS A LOT OF DEMAND ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THIS IS WHY I UNDERSTAND. I RODE ALONG WITH THE POLICE. I KNOW WHAT POLICE PRESENCE MEANS. I UNDERSTAND IT WHEN THERE'S POLICE PRESENCE, THERE'S PEACE, PERIOD. SO SOME WAY, SOMEHOW. WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT. THANK YOU CHIEF. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE ONE POINT YOU MADE. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, MANY OF THESE MEETS ARE ARRANGED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. AND I WANT TO JUST KIND OF SAY SOMETHING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHOOSING TO DO THAT. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING BEFORE YOU ENGAGE IN THAT ACTIVITY. IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THESE ISSUES OCCURRED IN YOUR AREA, KEPT YOUR YOUR MOM AWAKE, KEPT YOUR FAMILY MEMBER AWAKE? WE REALLY HAVE TO BE NEIGHBORLY TO EACH OTHER. SO I THINK IF PEOPLE DEVELOP A SENSE OF GRACE, COMPASSION, AND MERCY IN THEIR APPROACH TO HAVING THESE GATHERINGS, IT'LL BE IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY'RE LEGALLY ABLE TO DO IF THEY CROSS OVER INTO THE NEGATIVE. THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, LOOK IN THE MIRROR, TAKE THAT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REDUCE THAT BEHAVIOR. IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO, WE WILL BE THERE TO TAKE THAT ENFORCEMENT ACTION. THANK YOU CHIEF. NEXT WE HAVE MISS KESSLER, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ON HER REPORT. SHE'S ALSO PART OF THE TASK FORCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS INVOLVED IN QUALITY OF LIFE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAIN FOCUSES. ONE IS THAT THE CITY REWROTE ITS ZONING CODE RECENTLY, THAT ZONING LAWS ARE VERY STRINGENT LAWS ABOUT THE USE OF A PROPERTY. SO IF YOU'RE ZONED TO BE ABLE TO SELL VEGETABLES AND FRUIT, BUT YOU ARE OPERATING AS A RESTAURANT, YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF ZONING. SO ONE OF THE WAYS WE GET INVOLVED WITH THE TASK FORCE IS THAT THE FIRST THING WE DO WHEN WE GET COMPLAINTS IS VERIFY THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT A PROPERTY 
          [00:15:03]
IS REALLY WHAT ZONED TO BE HAPPENING AT THAT PROPERTY. THE SECOND LEG TO THAT IS CODE ENFORCEMENT. SO WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT WHAT WE REFER TO AS PROBLEM PROPERTY. AND THE PROBLEM PROPERTY COMMITTEE HAS MET FOR DECADES WHERE WE REVIEW THE TOP COMPLAINT GETTING PROPERTIES IN THE CITY, AND WE TRY TO CREATE A PLAN FOR EACH OF THOSE PROPERTIES. THOSE PROPERTIES AREN'T EASY IN MANY CASES TO FIX. THEY MAY BE A PROPERTY WHERE THERE WAS A DEATH IN THE FAMILY AND THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN ABANDONED. IT MAY BE A PROPERTY WHERE SOMEONE IS AGING OUT OF THE ABILITY TO CARE FOR THAT PROPERTY, OR THE INCOME IN THE HOUSE HAS NOT PERMITTED THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PUT ON A NEW ROOF OR TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. SO WE TRY TO GET RESOURCES INTO THOSE PROBLEM PROPERTIES. BUT IT'S A LONG PROCESS, AND THAT LONG PROCESS GETS FRUSTRATING TO THE NEIGHBORS WHO REALLY WANT TO SEE AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THAT PROPERTY. SO WE DO THE BEST TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. BUT EVERY CITIZEN HAS THE RIGHT TO AN AMPLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO FIX THEIR THEIR PROBLEM. 
          IF THEY HAVE HIGH WEEDS, WE GIVE SOMEONE THROUGH OUR SWEEP PROGRAM A WEEK TO MOW THEIR WEEDS BEFORE WE INTERVENE AND MOW THEIR WEEDS AND SEND THEM A BILL. SO WE EXTEND COURTESY TO OUR RESIDENTS. BUT WHEN THE PROBLEM PROPERTY BECOMES TRULY A PROBLEM PROPERTY IN A CODE RELATED WAY, THEN WE USE THE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO DO ENFORCEMENT. BUT AGAIN, MUCH OF IT IS BASED UPON WHEN WE CAN GET IN FRONT OF A MAGISTRATE OR A JUDGE TO ACTUALLY ENACT THAT CITATION OR THAT VIOLATION. SO AGAIN, IT MAY BE A LENGTHY PROCESS, BUT WE DO REVIEW ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES. THE OTHER WAY WE GET INVOLVED IS PART OF THE DECLARATION OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE. A PUBLIC NUISANCE DECLARATION HAPPENS WHEN I, AS D C, E D DIRECTOR, GETS INFORMATION PRIMARILY FROM THE DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. SO POLICE ARE GOING REPETITIVELY TO SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RESTAURANT, BUT IS OPERATING AS AN AFTER HOURS BAR OR FIRES, GOING REPETITIVELY TO AN INSTITUTION THAT IS CONSTANTLY OVER ITS FIRE CAPACITY, MAKING A A RISK TO LIFE SAFETY. AND WE CAN DECLARE A NUISANCE TWO WAYS WE CAN DECLARE THE PUBLIC NUISANCE, WHERE WE GIVE THE OWNER OPERATOR, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE, BUT WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL ENGAGE THEIR OPERATOR TO TAKE 30 DAYS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WORK WITH US TO FIND A SOLUTION. STOP DOING WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS CREATING THE PUBLIC NUISANCE AND DURING THAT TIME WE WILL NOT PENALIZE THEM AS LONG AS THEY ARE WORKING WITH US TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER THOSE 30 DAYS, IF THE ISSUES CONTINUE, THEN ANY TIME OUR CITY STAFF, POLICE, FIRE, EMS, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANYONE HAS TO RESPOND TO THAT NUISANCE, WE BILL THOSE HOURS TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND IF THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL NOT OR CANNOT PAY WITH THOSE HOURS, WE CAN EVENTUALLY LEAVE THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S SERVICES WE'VE PROVIDED TO THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY ARE A NUISANCE. THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE CAN DECLARE AN EMINENT PUBLIC NUISANCE, AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARRIVE TO SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SITUATION THAT PRESENTS A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, A PACKED BUILDING WITH FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, THAT IF WE DON'T SHUT IT DOWN, IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE A LOT OF LIVES OR AFFECT A LOT OF LIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A LARGE, HUGE PARTY IN A JUNKYARD WHERE PEOPLE WERE SMOKING, OBVIOUSLY OUTSIDE, SMOKING CIGARETTES NEXT TO CARS THAT CONTAINED GASOLINE THAT WERE ABANDONED IN A JUNKYARD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MASS EXPLOSION. SO AT THAT POINT, IF WE DECLARE THAT AN EMERGENT PUBLIC NUISANCE OR AN IMMEDIATE PUBLIC NUISANCE, WE CAN ACTUALLY CLEAR THAT ESTABLISHMENT AND REMOVE EVERYONE USING, AGAIN, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLENTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CLEAR THE PARKING LOT. SO WE HAVE THOSE TWO TOOLS, BUT WE NEED EVIDENCE THAT COMES TO US THROUGH THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS. SO, AS THE CHIEF SAID, WE NEED CITIZENS TO REPORT WHAT THEY SEE. WE NEED THE POLICE REPORTS THAT GIVE US THE EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THE MOUNTING CASE THAT SAYS WE HAVE A PUBLIC NUISANCE. IN THE CASE OF AN IMMEDIATE PUBLIC NUISANCE, WE JUST NEED THE GOOD JUDGMENT OF A FIRST RESPONDER WHO SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND WE NEED TO SHUT IT DOWN. SO THOSE ARE TWO OF THE WAYS THAT WE USE THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT REGULATIONS. AND WE USE THE PROBLEM PROPERTY AND CODE ENFORCEMENT GROUP TO WORK ON WHAT WE SEE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE CAN'T RATE A BUILDING WITH A CLIPBOARD. THAT'S NOT. AND WE HAVE MANY CITIZENS WHO WANT US 
          [00:20:01]
TO DO THAT WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GO OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, AND CLEAR OUT THE HOUSE THAT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. IT WORKS WITH US PARTNERING WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME IN THESE DECLARATIONS. AND AFTER ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CARLIN, WHO CARLIN MANAGES A PART OF OUR ENFORCEMENT PIECE THAT INCLUDES WHAT WE CALL DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT DCRS. WE THROW THAT ACRONYM AROUND A LOT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT A DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT REPORT ACTUALLY IS. SO I WILL LET CARLIN EXPLAIN THAT. BUT KNOW THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NUISANCE AND DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT IS A DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. RESULTS IN AN EVICTION WHERE A NUISANCE HOPEFULLY RESULTS IN THE NUISANCE BEING RESOLVED. IF NOT, THEN A PENALTY. SO THERE ARE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT AVENUES. SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE NUISANCE PIECE I HAVE? YES MISS SANTELL, THANK YOU. SO I KNOW WE WERE DOING THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT BOARD FOR A WHILE. IS THAT STILL ACTIVE? ABSOLUTELY. WHENEVER WE DECLARE A NUISANCE, IF SOMEONE APPEALS OKAY. YES. THEN THEY GO THROUGH THAT. YES. BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK DURING THE 30 DAYS FOR THEM TO RESPOND. IS THAT WHEN IT GOES TO THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT BOARD, OR IS THE FIRST STEP THE NUISANCE? IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE STRUCTURE THE RESPONSE TO THEM. 
          IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED THEM TO FIX RIGHT AWAY, IT MIGHT BE 7 TO 14 DAYS. 
          WE MIGHT GIVE THEM 21 DAYS, BUT IDEALLY WE TRY TO GIVE THEM 30 DAYS TO FIX WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS MAKING US CRAZY. THEY CAN APPEAL AND THEY MUST APPEAL IN WRITING SOONER THAN THAT TO APPEAL OUR DECLARATION OF THE NUISANCE. AND THEY APPEAL TO CARLIN. THEY SUBMIT TO CARLIN THEIR DECLARATION, AND THEN AFTER THAT WE THEN HEAR THE APPEAL THROUGH THE BOARD AND EITHER UPHOLD THE DECLARATION OR OVERTURN THE DECLARATION. IF IT'S OVERTURNED, THE SLATE GETS SOMEWHAT PUT ON HOLD. IF WE START TO GET MORE COMPLAINTS, WE CAN DECLARE A NUISANCE AGAIN AND PRESENT MORE EVIDENCE. IF THEY'RE UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THE BOARD RULES, THEY CAN GO TO THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS TO OVERTURN THE NUISANCE. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          OTHER QUESTIONS? VICKI, I HAVE A QUESTION. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE FIND A AFTER HOURS BAR OR SOMEONE ILLEGALLY, DO WE OR CAN WE BRING IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING, INSPECTING EVERYTHING. HIT THEM WITH EVERYTHING AND HAVE THERE COULD BE LIKE FOR VIOLATIONS. THERE COULD BE BUILDING. CLOSING DOWN THE FIRE CAN CLOSE THEM DOWN. DO WE DO THAT? DO WE? WE ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS PART OF OUR TEAM RESPONSE. WE ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT HOW IS THIS ESTABLISHMENT FUNCTIONING AMONG ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS? ARE THEY IN COMPLIANCE OR OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS? AND THAT'S ALL TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE DECLARE THE NUISANCE. THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT. HAVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS. YES, YES. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU. YES, ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC? BY THE WAY, I FORGOT TO ASK. ALL RIGHT, CARLIN, YOU'RE ON. HELLO. SO ONCE A DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT REPORT IS TAKEN BY AN OFFICER, THAT REPORT COMES TO MY DESK. 
          DURING THE TIME I REVIEWED THE REPORT. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE, ALL THE DETAILS THAT WE NEED, THE ADDRESS, WHO THEN A NOTICE OF VIOLATION IS SENT OVER TO THE TENANT AS WELL AS TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AND CORRECT THE ISSUE. AND HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T HAVE RECURRING VIOLATIONS. THIS COULD HAPPEN THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. 
          A THIRD SER WILL INITIATE A PROGRESSIVE. MORE ENFORCEMENT, MORE AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT, WHERE WE WOULD THEN ASK THE TENANT TO REMOVE THE PROBLEM, DISRUPT THE TENANT FROM THE UNIT. IF THE THE TENANT REFUSES TO LEAVE, THE LANDLORD THEN HAS THE CAPABILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. THAT'S NOT OFTEN THE CASE. A LOT OF TIMES THESE ISSUES ARE RESOLVED WITHIN THE FIRST OR SECOND NOTICE OF VIOLATION. IF A NOTICE OF VIOLATION HAPPENS, 
          [00:25:06]
A LOT OF THEM DO MOVE OUT VOLUNTARILY. SO SOMETIMES THEY. THE LANDLORD DOES HAVE TO ATTEND THE COURTS TO EVICT SOMEONE FROM THEIR. IF THEY DON'T, THERE IS ALSO SOME OTHER CONSEQUENCES FOR THE LANDLORD FOR NOT COMPLYING. WE DO HAVE SOME LANDLORDS THAT ARE NOT INVOLVED OR ARE ABSENT, AND JUST NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ORDINANCE OF THE DCR. IN THAT CASE, THERE ARE SOME OTHER MEASUREMENTS THAT WE COULD TAKE TO ENFORCE TO ENFORCE THE CODE. 
          THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN ARE THE NUMBERS COLLECTED FOR THIS YEAR. YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR OCTOBER. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE, BUT YOU HAVE THE SEPTEMBER NUMBERS, AND IT SHOWS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GETTING APPLIED TO. SO WE FOR THE FOR THE MONTH, FOR THE YEAR SO FAR, WE HAVE 410 REPORTS THAT WERE GRANTED A VIOLATION AND THEY WERE ISSUED VIOLATIONS, TOTAL SWEEP TICKETS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THOSE VIOLATIONS. YOU HAVE 51 TOTAL APPEALS FOR THE YEAR. WE HAVE FIVE APPEALS, EVICTIONS OR RESOLVED, EIGHT OF THEM. OWNER OCCUPIED DCR, 116 SWEEPS GIVEN TO OWNER OCCUPIED WERE SIX AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WERE 46. I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE GRAFT, JENNA SAID. THIS SHOWS KIND OF THE TOTALS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEARS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD BRING THAT ONE UP. SO INCOME COMPARING FROM TO 2025, 2024, 2023. THOSE ARE THE GRANTS THAT COULD GIVE YOU A VISUAL OF HOW THE DCR ORDINANCE HAS MOVED AROUND. AND IT'S BEEN IMPLIED INTO THE ORDINANCE. IF I COULD ADD, THE IMPORTANT THING TO REALIZE IS THAT THE DCR IS ONLY ON RESIDENTIAL TENANT RENTALS. SO THE DCR PERTAINS TO DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT BY A TENANT IN A BUILDING. AND CARLIN WORKS VERY HARD WITH BOTH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE TENANT TO TRY TO REACH THAT RESOLVE. BUT WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL CALLS IN A REPORT, THEY OFTEN DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTY OR A RENTAL. AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE DCR IN THE OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTY, WHICH THIS PARTICULAR LAW DOESN'T GIVE AN ENFORCEMENT ARM TO. IS THERE A QUESTION? YEAH. SO SO WHAT HAPPENED IF IF THERE'S THREE VIOLATIONS AND YOU TRY TO GET AHOLD OF THE LANDLORD AND AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AHOLD OF THE LANDLORD BECAUSE THE LANDLORD IS, YOU KNOW, GOD KNOWS WHERE IN ANOTHER STATE, THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WE DO HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, LIKE THE RENTAL DEPARTMENT, WHO WOULD HOLD THAT TRACK DOWN THAT LANDLORD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE REGISTER HERE IN THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN. EVERY RENTAL PROPERTY MUST HAVE A RESPONDING LANDLORD. IF THAT LANDLORD IS ABSENT, THEY MUST HAVE AN AGENT OR A MANAGING COMPANY THAT HANDLES THAT. WE COULD SEND OUT INSPECTORS TO TRY TO DO AN IN-PERSON CONTACT WITH THEM. SO THEY ARE DIFFERENT METHODS THAT THE CITY USES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE. IT HAS, YES, IT HAS SEVERAL TIMES, ACTUALLY. YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF ROCHA. WHEN YOUR OFFICERS RESPOND TO A COMPLAINT, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE IF IT'S A RENTAL OR IF IT'S A IF IT'S A PROPERTY OWNER? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN DETERMINE AT THAT TIME? YOU USUALLY CAN. BUT THERE'S SOMETIMES WHEN YOU CAN'T DETERMINE IT, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO A THREE STORY UNIT, WHEN YOU SEE THERE'S INDIVIDUAL LIVING UNITS, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IT'S A RENTAL. BUT IN SOME CASES WHERE YOU HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, IT MIGHT NOT BE READILY APPARENT THAT IT'S A RENTAL AT THAT POINT. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS IF THE OFFICER LISTS IT AS A DCR AND THE REPORT IS PROVIDED TO CARLIN, SHE'LL REVIEW THAT AND NOT PUT THAT FORTH FOR THE DCR PORTION OF IT, BECAUSE THAT'S ONLY FOR TENANT OCCUPIED RESIDENTS. NOW, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE TASK FORCE TO SEE HOW WE CAN ABSOLUTELY QUELL SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR. YOU SAW THERE WAS 116 VIOLATIONS ON 
          [00:30:02]
THE OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES. THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO PUT SOME EFFORT INTO A POTENTIAL ORDINANCE THAT CAN ADDRESS THAT. FROM A POLICE ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN STILL CITE AND WE CAN STILL ISSUE A SWEEP TICKET IF NEEDED. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY I TALKED ABOUT MAKING THAT CHOICE. DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE NOW YOU MIGHT BE HAVING A PARTY, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE PARTY FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET A VERY HIGH FINE. AND I WOULD URGE COUNSEL, IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING THAT, TO HAVE A STIFF PENALTY AS FAR AS A FINE, TO ENSURE THAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF JUST SCOFF AT IT AND SAY, WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE MY PARTY ANYWAYS. WHAT'S THE FINE TEN BUCKS? LET'S MAKE IT SO THAT IT CAN BE IMPACTFUL SO THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL THINK ABOUT IT. WE, WE AS POLICE OFFICERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE DISCRETION AND WE WILL DO THAT. BUT WHEN IT CREATES AN ONGOING COURSE OF COMPLAINTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN THE FOREFRONT. LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE NEED TO BE NEIGHBORLY TO EACH OTHER. MR. NAPOLI WE ALSO HAVE SOME KEY SIGNS. WE LOOK FOR MULTIPLE SATELLITE DISHES, MORE THAN ONE ELECTRIC METER, ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE, MULTIPLE MAILBOXES TRIGGER THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE AT A RENTAL. I WILL ADD ALSO THAT IN OUR MARK 43 RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE OFFICER CAN KIND OF LOOK BACK ON THE HISTORY. HAVE WE HAD CALLS THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION BEFORE? AND WE IF IF WE DID, WE IDENTIFY THAT THE PERSON WE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH IS THE OWNER OCCUPANT OR IS IT A TENANT? SO THERE'S THAT. I WAS LISTENING BEFORE I CAME UP HERE, SO I'M HOPEFULLY NOT REPETITIVE, BUT WHEN WE HAD MET ABOUT THE FINE STRUCTURE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIS, I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT FOR IF IT'S AN OWNER OCCUPANT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO, THAT THE ESCALATION WOULD BE SOMEWHAT DRAMATIC TOWARDS THE THE TAIL END. DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT WITH, WITH LOOKING TOWARDS SOME SORT OF ORDINANCE CHANGE? WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IN THAT IS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS OF WHAT WOULD BE LEGALLY FAIR AND WHAT WOULD BE SOUND TO PROVIDE TO THE, THE ENFORCEMENT PART OF THAT. AND I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE COUNCIL'S PURVIEW TO KIND OF SET WHAT THAT FINE WOULD BE OKAY. I WASN'T SURE WHICH WHICH CAUGHT THE BALL WAS IN. SO I'LL TAKE THAT UP, I GUESS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. 
          I'LL BE QUICK ABOUT IT. MR. BENDER, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I WAS GOING TO BRING THAT UP. 
          WE HAVE SOLUTIONS TO A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE DCR, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED, IS ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE THIS, BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL TOOL AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, AS YOU CAN SEE. HOW MANY INCIDENTS, 410 CALLS TO DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. 
          BUT MY CONCERN IS THE OWNER OCCUPIED. AN OFFICER IS CALLED FOR DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. HE GOES AND HE FINDS OUT IT IS. OR HE MAY EVEN MAKE THE REPORT AND FIND OUT THAT HE CAN'T GIVE A DCR BECAUSE HIS OWNER OCCUPIED. AND THIS IS. AND THAT SEEMS. CARLIN. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT SEEMS TO BE GROWING IN IN THE AMOUNT OF. WHETHER IT'S 116 CALLS TO. THAT IS CORRECT. YES. 
          IT CONTINUES TO GROW. IT'S OVER 20% OF OUR DCR. THEY'RE COMING IN. AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ALLOWED TO GIVE THEM A CITATION. BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON IN OUR TASK FORCE IS HOW WHAT LEGISLATION WE COULD PASS, WHAT LAWS WE CAN PASS, HOW MANY FINES WE CAN GIVE. AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH COUNCIL TO THE POLICE OFFICERS CAN'T JUST GIVE OR THE CITY JUST CAN'T GIVE THESE UNLESS WE PASS SOME LEGISLATION AND MAKE STRICTER LAWS, STRICTER LAWS ACTUALLY ARE FINES, PENALTIES FOR FAMILY OWNED. I MEAN OWNERS, NOT RENTAL RENTAL. IT'S VERY EASY AFTER THREE THEY'RE GONE. BUT WE DO HAVE QUITE A PROBLEM. AND IT'S AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE GRAPH, IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ADDRESSING. AS MR. BENDER POINTED OUT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WE TALKED ABOUT IT. 
          AND THESE AREN'T THESE AREN'T EASY SOLUTIONS TO TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT FINES OR LIENS ON THEIR HOMES OR WHATEVER. BUT I'M PROUD OF OUR TASK FORCE. WE SHOW UP EVERY MONTH. WE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POSSIBLY GOING STATEWIDE. THERE'S A LOT OF LEGISLATION WE CAN'T DO, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME OF OUR STATE LEGISLATORS IN ON SOME OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AND SOME OF OF OUR SOLUTIONS TO HELP US TO PASS LAWS THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO PASS THE LAWS. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE, ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE TASK FORCE, I'LL CLOSE OUT AND THANK, THANK THE THREE OF YOU FOR COMING. 
          [00:35:05]
AND NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE ABOUT REPORT ON SWEEP AND OUR PARK AND REC DEPARTMENT. AND WE DO HAVE OUR LEGAL TEAM WITH US AT ALL TIMES. ANY IDEAS WE CAME UP WITH. AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE COME UP WITH IDEAS AND LEGAL SAID, NOPE, CAN'T DO IT. SO I THANK YOU FOR ALL FOR COMING IN AND, AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN THE CITY. AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. I DID RIDE ALONG WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND LIKE I SAID, POLICE PRESENCE IS EVERYTHING. AND I WOULD LOVE TO DO WHAT THE MAYOR AND REDDING DID GET ALL THOSE BIKES AND HAVE ONE BIG BONFIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA JUST TO THE DIRT BIKES. I DID RECENTLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEY HOLOHAN, AND HE'S ON BOARD WITH SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING DIRT BIKES. FROM THE SEIZURES OF THEM TO THE POTENTIAL DESTRUCTION. BUT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT, AND WE VERY MUCH WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SAFETY. IF TODAY, OUT OF ANYTHING, IF A RESIDENT IS WATCHING THIS AND THEY'RE CHOOSING TO RIDE A DIRT BIKE ILLEGALLY, PLEASE THINK AGAIN. YOU'RE LOVED, YOU HAVE A FAMILY, MAKE A BETTER DECISION, RIGHT? I'D RATHER SEE THAT PERSON APPLY THEMSELVES. MAYBE GOING TO TRY SEE GETTING SOME SKILL SETS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING THIS CITY THE BEST IT CAN BE. YEAH. I SAW THE STATISTICS ON HOW WE'VE GOTTEN HAS GROWN IN THE BIKE, THE PROBLEMS. BUT ISN'T IT TRUE THAT LAST YEAR IT WAS DOWN? IT WAS DOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND AFTER THE LAW WAS PASSED. CORRECT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED, THAT WAS PUT FORTH THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE BY SENATOR THEN SENATOR PAT BROWN, WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN AND OTHER THIRD CLASS CITIES. I BELIEVE THAT LAW CURRENTLY IS BEING LOOKED AT TO GO STATEWIDE TO HELP OUT THE TOWNSHIPS AND THE BOROUGHS OF OUR COMMONWEALTH, BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S CHOOSING TO TO BREAK THE LAW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE CONSISTENTLY IN A MANNER THAT'S CONSISTENT ACROSS THE LEGISLATION. THAT'S WHY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COORDINATING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATORS, ONE OF MY SUGGESTIONS IS TO SPEAK WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS. BETHLEHEM, EASTON, REDDING COME AS A UNIFIED FORCE TO TRULY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN, SO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS CAN BE INFORMED AND EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION CAN BE PUT FORTH THAT MAKES SENSE FOR COMMUNITY, AND ALSO THAT THE POLICE CAN EASILY ENFORCE AND THAT THERE'S A CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DEPRIVING PEOPLE OF FREEDOMS OR MONEY OR THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT ACTUALLY CHANGING THEM THROUGH THAT IMPACT OF GETTING THAT CITATION OR THAT NEGATIVE ACTION. I'D LIKE TO CITIZENS TO KNOW WE ARE WORKING. WE ARE DOING THIS. MISS KISTLER, I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. THE JOB YOU HAVE WITH THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT, IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE HAVE AFTER HOURS CLUBS. THERE'S THERE'S LAWS THAT ARE BEING BROKEN. THE POLICE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK ON AND DO TO CLOSE JUST ONE PLACE. AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE WORKING THE DCR'S, WE'RE WORKING THERE. THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S WORKING REALLY WELL. A NUISANCE ABATEMENT IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER, AND I THANK YOU GUYS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER. BUT WE DO HAVE SIX PARDON ME. WE DO HAVE SIX THAT HAVE BEEN DECLARED PUBLIC NUISANCES. SIX DID YOU SAY SIX. AND WE HAVE ONE ON WARNING. SO REALLY WE'RE GETTING THERE. GOOD JOB VICKI. 
          I MEAN I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR ALL OF YOU AND I, AND I THANK YOU. AND LET'S CONTINUE WITH THIS TASK FORCE. MAYBE WE CAN GET STATEWIDE LEGISLATION TO HELP, LIKE WITH THE BIKE, THE TAKING THEM AND KEEPING THEM WAS PAT BROWN'S LAW, WASN'T IT? HE PASSED THAT LAW. SO THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE GET STATE LEVEL TO HELP US OUT. AND THAT THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE WITH PAT BROWN, AND THAT HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON. AND THANK YOU, THE THREE OF YOU, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU FOR COMING. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER BUSINESS I HAVE, DO I? THAT'S IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.