Tucson Neighbors Building Community (TNBC)/

Alvernon-Grant Initiative (AGI)

Community & Law Enforcement Task Force

March 10, 2009

Meeting Notes

 

 

Co–Facilitators:  Blanche White, Oak/Flower NA and Ronni Kotwica, Palo Verde NA,

 

Tucson Police Department Representatives:  Becky Noel and Lt. Frank Greene

           

City of Tucson Code Enforcement – Rick Seldate

 

Ward III – George Pettit

 

Ronni introduced a special program that TPD is starting with the four neighborhoods bordering Alvernon and Grant.  Becky Noel talked about how police need to be able to pull some of their manpower out of our area, yet they want to have systems in place to help us maintain the progress we have made in fighting crime. We are moving into another phase of the project.  Becky challenges us as a neighborhood to contact neighbors and ask them to clean up weeds, junked cars, trash, etc., but if that does not work that we should contact our neighborhood’s Code Enforcement Officer.

 

Rick Seldate, from Code Enforcement, explained that at least one person in each neighborhood has volunteered to be the Code Enforcement Officer.  This person can become the expert in reporting code violations.  Rick said that if complaints come through only one person his inspectors will be able to work more efficiently.   The Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance addresses problems with weeds, excessive storage, storage in the front yard, abandoned houses, dilapidated houses, too many vehicles parked at a house, businesses being run out of a house, adding to a house without permits, too many storage sheds, excessive trash.

 

We can still call Community Resources and register complaints through the regular channels at 792-CITY.   If we go through the Neighborhood Code Enforcement Officer and Rick, though, our reports will have more credibility and code enforcement will be able to kick up their response a notch.  When an inspector writes up a citizen for a code violation, they write it up in such a manner as to be able to argue it in front of a judge.

 

Becky Noel and Lt. Green reported on the targets from last month:

2632 N Laverne – charges pending.  A number of indictments are pending and the judicial process is in motion.

Desmond and Lee - parking issues from Jumping Castle seem to be better.

3500 and 3700 block of E. Lee lot of activity, especially 3525 E Lee.  Police are monitoring closely.  A woman is still having frequent yard sales.  This may be an indication of criminal activity.  Police have contacted her about the frequency of yard sales.  You are able to have 4 yard sales a year.  There is a code that says you are not allowed to put signs on street poles or set out boxes with signs or sandwich boards.  Palo Verde NA allows people to put up signs if they put a date on them and the signs are expected to be taken down immediately.  3521 Lee –  arrested for possession of drugs.   3700 block of Lee – suspicious activity, driver fled and ran into a citizen.  It turns out the car was stolen, Narcotics paraphernalia found in car.

1401 N Winstel – have served search warrant and arrested 2 people for selling narcotics.

Police are continuing to monitor ice cream trucks.  TPD really appreciate receiving the information and the license plates from ice cream trucks with suspicious behavior.  Twice a month, at the trailer park at 4141Lee, an ice cream truck guy parks and walks into the trailer park.  Seems odd.  Person who reported it has not been able to get a license plate yet, but as soon as she does, she will report it.

Feb. 25  - Shooting at Roberts Restaurant on Grant – gang associations.  One round went into restaurant.  Almost grazed an employee, but no one hurt. Two cars driving a block and a half away were firing at each other.  

 

Reports from Neighborhoods:

 

Tucson Botanical Gardens – no rep

 

Oak/Flower –  2528 Walnut and Palmer - officers were there, and a resident wondered why.  Becky will check into.

 

Dodge/Flower – saw man sitting in a gold 4 door Ford Focus who seemed to be counting a large wad of money.

 

Garden District – Noise Ordinance – 4141 E. Lee loud music at 3:30 am. Neighbor called 911, but operator was dismissive and said that the call was very low priority. TPD is looking into how 911 calls are handled.  There have been some problems in the attitude of some operators lately.  Lt. Greene said don’t accept an inappropriate response from an operator. Ask the operator’s name and ask to speak to a supervisor.  Calls are recorded.  If you do not like the 911 Operator’s attitude, say, “I understand this may not be a high priority call, but it is important to me.  Please make it a dispatched call.”   The 911 operator should tell you if there is something big going on and that they may not be able to get to your call.  Also, an operator may see that there are a lot of calls on hold and feel pressured to hurry through your call. 

Lester between Belvedere and Columbus – lot of traffic and trash suspicious activity  4415, 4416, 4417, 4452 E. Lester

 

Palo Verde – March 5 – a young boy, around 10 years old, got dropped off to sell candy and candles that he toted around in a large bucket. A woman named Trish in a Chevy white van dropped him off around 8 – 9 o’clock at night.  The person who reported this got Trish’s phone number and license plate so police will be able to investigate.

 

A resident asked if you lock your car with your automatic lock can someone then capture your code and get in your car without forcing entry.  TPD are almost100% sure that this is not true and suggested checking it on SNOPES.com, the urban myths website.

 

Catalina High School - New officers complete a project of their choice before their probationary period is over.  A probationary officer is working with Catalina officials and students targeting graffiti and taggers.

 

Residents reported that someone is going around painting over graffiti with paint that does not match and that this is making the neighborhood even uglier.  They asked that if you find these people that you say thanks for their help, but suggest that they either clean up the graffiti or report it, rather than painting over it with a different color.  All that does is provide a clean slate for another tagger.  Remember the aesthetics of your neighborhood.  Residents are trying to locate who is doing this so they can show them how to clean it up correctly.

 

Doolen/Fruitvale – Working on graffiti.  Trying to clean up.

 

Cabrini – no rep

 

Apartments and Businesses –

Nottinghill Apartment – Manager is working hard with Lt. Greene and Becky and has requested TPD come in and help with some problems.  She is really getting the complex cleaned up again.

 

SAAVI – TPD is helping them with people hanging out on their property who should not be there.  They have added fences and locks. 

 

Fry’s has cleaned up a lot and things seem much improved there.

 

 

Priority Targets for TPD for Next Month: 

4400 Block of Lester

4141 E. Lee – loud music

 

 

Next meeting - Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 6:30, TBG