6th Ward Meeting Notes October 24, 2016
6th Ward Meeting Notes
October 24, 2016
Coca Cafe
3811 Butler Street
Approximately 17 people attended
Public Safety Report by Officer Antoine Davis
The report on crime statistics is broken up by wards
Officer Davis gathers statistics on the details of the crime to prevent you from being the victim of one of those crimes. Please see 6th Ward Safety Report.
It includes the police report, safety information for Halloween and Stuffed with Love program for Thanksgiving.
Officer Davis: Part 1 crimes are reported on the safety report. These crimes are serious offenses that lead to a felony violation. Examples are: rape, arson, aggravated assault, vehicle thefts, homicides and drug incidents.
There were five part 1 crimes in the 6th ward this month. Comparatively that is very good. Some neighborhoods have many more felony violations. Any time you see someone suspicious on the street, please call the police. Please keep your vehicle secure. Stuffed with love delivers to anybody who wants it. We delivered 965 dinners in Zone 2 last year and 3000 all together across the City.
Things that may seem innocuous may not be. For example: LU talked to a resident about the recent heroin overdoses in the neighborhood. A resident noticed that someone was going in to the port o john and then someone went in after. This was reported to the police and can be very useful to them. The port o john was being used as a drop site.
The anonymous complaint form is an easy way to report a crime without any identifying information. All you do is put what happened. If you don’t want an affiliation with the police you can mail it in. You can also call Lawrenceville United and we can report it.
Guest presentation from Solar City
Lawrenceville has been an innovative neighborhood in terms of sustainable energy and green buildings. LU has mentioned that the cost of solar panels is a big issue. The solar panels at Solar City are installed for free. Solar City charges a lower price than Duquesne Light for utility. They offset the cost of the electricity bill. Solar City has been around for 9 1/2 years. Tesla just bought the company. The company is going in a positive direction. Panels on the home means that your home will be creating energy. Powering home with the energy you created earlier. Duquesne Light costs have gone up by 67% in the last five years. Solar City’s rate of increase in 2.9%
Cut that in half and that’s whatever the cost may be in five years with Solar City/Tesla.
Homeowners can choose where they’re getting a lower rate. When Solar City does an assessment, they look at your bill, how much energy can be offset for you and how many panels can fit on your roof.
Q&A
Q: Is there a targeted geographic area here you work?
A: Duquesne Light. Solar City moved to Pittsburgh in May, trying to open other utilities as we keep growing but for now Duquesne Light is the area we work in.
The program is a 20 year program, panel removal is an option or you can continue with the same panels for another 10 years.
Q: What’s the average life span of the panels?
A: 35-40 years – decrease a little bit in efficiency
Q: What maintenance is needed?
A: The homeowner has to cover whatever happens to the panel except whatever is covered by warranty. Eight panels are the minimum. Solar City can show what you’re offsetting by using the panels.
Q: How big are the panels?
A: 3×5 Solar City assesses whether or not the roof would be qualified for solar panels.
Q: Does Solar City do large scale commercial contracts?
Solar City is residential only at this time.
Solar City partners with Home Depot
LC’s Matt Galluzzo introduces Coca Café
Public process review: LC and LU meet with new liquor licenses and new developments and then invite them to a community meeting to be vetted by the neighborhood. Owners are invited to present at community meetings on a volunteer basis.
Guest presentation from Coca Café
Coca Café has posted an orange placard to start serving alcohol at the café
Coca Café has been in Lawrenceville for 12 years
Serve breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Saturday. Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days. Anywhere from a 1-2 hour wait on weekends. People from out of town come to Lawrenceville just to come to Coca. We try to use local purveyors and hire staff from Lawrenceville. Now with farm to table, everyone is using local purveyors but 12 years ago no one was doing that.
Started getting a regular crowd with the small plates dinner. Part of what was missing was the liquor aspect. With the alcohol Saturday and Sunday will be our big days. We will serve bloody marys and mimosas for brunch. Current hours are 9-3, with the liquor license we will have a 4-6 happy hour, snack menu and stay open late to sell liquor. Using local people to provide the food. Dessert menu to be paired with coffee and tea cocktails. This is a niche that Coca can fill and it would fit well here.
Suggestion to bring a maple bacon cocktail to the cocktail menu
Will be open until 9 or 10pm through the week, likely Tuesday-Saturday. Sunday and Monday not open in the evening.
Breakfast for dinner is an idea for the future
Q&A
Q: Is there a parking issue at Coca Cafe?
A: Parking is a problem everywhere in Lawrenceville. Coca is very busy now, but people seem to manage. All of the staff at Coca bike to work. There has been no extra parking in the twelve years that they’ve been meeting. Evening is the issue, residents are going to have to turn their roofs in to parking garages.
Matt from LC: Working on a shared public/private parking garage at Arsenal Terminal site (Milhaus) that could be used to relieve pressure on the entire district. Milhaus has agreed to it, but need to make it work.
Dave from LU: Working with Councilwoman Gross’s office to set up a meeting specifically related to parking in the next couple months.
Announcements
Lawrenceville Food Pantry Location Change: will be at St Mary’s until St Aug’s renovates their space. At St. Mary’s for the next 18 months
LOCG Volunteer Days – Wednesdays 6-7 PM at McCandless & Natrona
Tree Park Workday – 2nd Mondays @ 5:30 PM at Stanton & Keystone
Duncan Workday – 4th Mondays @ 5:30 PM at 54th and Duncan, Duncan and Stanton park decommissioned by the City, residents are leading that work.
Doughboy Project Community Meeting #3 – 10/27, 6 PM, Clemente Museum
Community Land Trust meetings in November-December, check website locations
Pet costume awards for the best dressed dog
LU Membership Meeting – 11/1, 6:30-8 PM @ Full Pint
Next 6th Ward Block Watch meeting – Monday 11/28 at 6:30 PM
Mineral Way has been closed for over a year, but should be open this week.
Pints on Penn may be adding new programming, stay tuned for if there is a 6th Ward meeting location change.