Guidelines for handling complaints or dangerous situations
I Complaints
If a UHCA resident complains to a board member about another resident or condition in the neighborhood, that board member should do the following:
1) Determine exactly what the complaint is and ascertain if a city
ordinance has been violated. If an ordinance has not been violated, remind the resident that it is UHCA policy not to get directly involved in disputes with neighbors. Be sympathetic and encourage complainant to talk to the offender directly.
2) If a city ordinance has been violated, inform complainant that he can call 311 or visit the city website to file a formal complaint. If he is unwilling or unable to do so, file the complaint yourself (in the name of the Board), sending particulars to the Board(for the record).
a) Noise - Ask complainant about particulars. Determine whether the noise constitutes an ordinance violation. If it does, encourage complainant to try to work it out with the offenders or file a complaint or contact the police (see Detailed Reporting Procedure, directly below). If s/he is reluctant to do that, file the complaint or contact the police yourself (in the name of the Board), sending particulars to the Board (for the record). In the case of repeated violations, Board members may choose to send a delegation to speak with the offenders, and/or with landlords (if the offenders are renters), asking cooperation, but reminding them of our intention to have ordinances enforced (see Detailed Board Action, below). Also, ascertain whether other ordinances have been violated. If other ordinances were violated, proceed as per section 2. Send particulars to the Board for the record.
II Imminent Danger or Persistent Egregious Violations
3) If a Board member notices or receives a complaint about a situation that constitutes an immediate danger to the resident or neighborhood, he may call the police and send a FYI message to as many residents as possible, by email or posting on the Nextdoor website.
4) A Board member may file a complaint with the city in the name of the Board about any egregious violation of city ordinance. Examples are: improper use of vacant property; rampant grass/weed growth of vacant property; dangerous parking violations (e.g. blocking hydrants); trash blocking road; persistent noise violations, etc. All particulars should be sent to the Board for the record.
Detailed Procedure for Contacting the Police About Noise Violation
1. Call Baton Rouge Police at 389-2000. Ask the Police to call you back with results.
2. If nothing happens within half an hour, call District 2 Police at 389-3863. Ask the Police to call you back with results.
3. If nothing improves within the next half hour, call District 2 again and ask to speak to a supervisor. Ask for Captain Kelly or his alternative, Lieu. Chenevert.
4. If nothing happens for another half hour, call the District 2 number again and ask to speak to a supervisor again.
Detailed Board Action in Response to Noise Complaints
1) If the complaining resident does not feel comfortable handling the noise problem himself, then the UHCA director should contact all the other 8 UHCA directors via text or cell phone and explain what is going on. Ask each director if they are willing to phone into police (mass call in). Agree on which Board member has lead in phone tree.
2) If the noisy residents have been cooperative in the past, two board members should then go over to the offending party, tell them there have been complaints from residents, and ask the offending party to lower the noise or the police will be called. If occupants of the residence have not been cooperative in past, just call police.
3) If the party or loud noise continues, the agreed board members should call dispatch at 389-2000 and follow the detailed reporting procedures.
Other follow-up
4) UHCA directors should designate one of the UHCA officers to send out a message on Nextdoor ASAP (with attached audio file of noise if it is available). Also a follow-up e-mail note to the parents/homeowner about the disturbance should be sent if the parents/homeowner are known. The following morning a UHCA officer should drop a signed form letter in the mail box at the address of the offending party.
Zoning Violations
Dear University Hills Residents,
The University Hills Civic Association Board has received a number of complaints from residents that the A1 zoning code (“Single Family Residential”) is being violated by a number of households in our neighborhood.
As you probably know, University Hills is zoned A1 by the City of Baton Rouge. A1 zoning means that not more than two (2) unrelated people may live in a household. (If the owner lives in the house, then not more than four (4) unrelated people.) For your convenience, here are the relevant sections of the City’s A1 zoning code.
From the Baton Rouge Office of the Planning Commission, Frequently Asked Questions: “Can more than one family live on a parcel zoned single family residential? Chapter 2 (Definitions) of the Unified Development Code (UDC) defines family as an individual or two (2) or more persons who are related by blood, marriage or legal adoption living together and occupying a single housekeeping unit with single culinary facilities; or not more than two (2) persons, or not more than 4 (four) persons (provided the owner lives on the premises) living together by joint agreement and occupying a single housekeeping unit with single culinary facilities on a non-profit, cost sharing basis.” See http://brgov.com/dept/planning/faqs.htm
From the Unified Development Code, Chapter 2, Definitions; Definition of a Family: “Family is an individual or two (2) or more persons who are related by blood, marriage or legal adoption living together and occupying a single housekeeping unit with single culinary facilities; or not more than two (2) persons, or not more than four (4) persons (provided the owner lives on the premises) living together by joint agreement and occupying a single housekeeping unit with single culinary facilities on a non-profit, cost sharing basis.”
See http://brgov.com/dept/planning/udc/pdf/Chapter2.pdf
In accordance with the complaints we have received, which the University Hills Board agrees with, the Board is initiating steps to have the A1 zoning code enforced in University Hills.
If you have any comments or concerns on this issue, please contact Bob Skapura (Board President) or Rick Weil (Board Vice President).
Sincerely,
University Hills Civic Association Board
Robert Skapura, President
Rick Weil, Vice President
CERTIFIED Resolution
by the Board of Directors
UNIVERSITY HILLS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
The University Hills Civic Association Board of Directors has approved making the subdivision of University Hills a No Solicitation/No Peddling Area. This action was taken at the April 6, 2016 Board meeting. The intent of this Resolution is to prevent house-to-house solicitation or sales or any similar activity other than specifically provided for by law or ordinance by the Baton Rouge City-Parish.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 6, 2016
Robert Skapura
President, University Hills Civic Association
Dear Neighbor:
This is a friendly reminder that parking your vehicle on the lawn is against the law, as is parking on the street for longer than 9 hours in a 24 hour span. Both violations could result in a ticket. You might wish to check our neighborhood’s web page for details on parking regulations, as well as on zoning, which lets you know what you may and may not do in an A1-zoned neighborhood like University Hills. (http://uhca70808.net/zoning/)
As representatives of the residents here, we do what we can to keep our neighborhood safe, good-looking, and a pleasure to live in. We hope you help us in that effort. If you have any questions or concerns or if we can help you in any way, please feel free to contact an association board member. Our names and contact information can also be found on the website.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
University Hills Civic Association