HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 12-12 HCMCORRECTED MINUTES
MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS CF THE HOUSING
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA
REGULAR SESSION
DECEMBER 12, 1978
CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular session and was called to
order by Chairman Plummer at 7:41 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chairman Plummer, Commissioners Williams, Duenow, Hastings, Cilke, Weitzel
and Haroldson. Also present was Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman.
Counclmember Fignar indicated he would be unable to attend the Commission meeting
because of a previous commitment. Commissioner Turner was absent and excused.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES 11 -14 -78
Motion by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Duenow to approve
the minutes of the November 14, 1978 Housing Commission meeting as submitted.
The motion passed unanimously.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
v iii rma inforrned the vJmlriiosi.)n that she LLO just ieC. iltij toured w ,ac
Ewing Square and suggested that the Commissioners avail themselves of the opportunity
to tour the project.
Chairman Plummer then requested that the Commissioners review the results of their
neighborhood housing surveys. Commissioner Weitzel indicated that she covered the
west central area of Brooklyn Center and noted there were a number of homes that
seemed to be in need of insulation. Commissioner Hastings noted that she surveyed
the southeast neighborhood and that there was a great need for insulation and rehab-
ilitation in that neighborhood. She also indicated that there were a few homes that
might be considered dilapidated. Commissioner Williams toured the southwest neigh-
borhood and noted that there are a number of empty lots but most probably the lots
were zoned commercial. He also indicated there were some homes in the neighborhood
that could use some rehabilitation work. Commissioner Duenow noted that she sur-
veyed the northwest neighborhood and generally the neighborhood was in good condition.
She also noted there appeared to be a vacant lot at 68th and Zenith in the old creek
bed that had gone to the City for delinquent taxes. Commissioner Haroldson then
noted that he had covered the northeast neighborhood and found that most of the homes
were new and that there is very little rehabilitation work needed in that neighborhood.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF COMMENTS
Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman reviewed the requirements of the Community
Development Housing Assistance Plan. He then reviewed the current available housing
12 -12 -78 -1-
programs. He indicated that there was a Section 8 Existing Program which provided
rental assistance to low and moderate income people. He also indicated that there
was MHFA loan programs and rehab grant programs as well as Section 8 New Con-
struction monies, After reviewing each of the programs he then reviewed the housing
needs of Brooklyn Center as noted by the Metropolitan Council. He also indicated
that the Metropolitan Council had a three year fair assessment goal of 240 subsidized
units for Brooklyn Center. He then noted towards that goal, Brooklyn Center would
anticipate receiving an additional 50 units of Section 8 Rent1 Assistance. He added
that in November, 1978, Brooklyn Center had 190 rental assistance units.
PUBLIC HEARING HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN
The public hearing for housing assistance was opened. A lengthy discussion then
ensued relative to a rehab grant program using Community Development monies.
Commissioner Haroldson recommended that a point system be established to accom-
modate the number of individuals in a household coupled with income. The discussion
then turned to income limits and Administrative Assistant Hoffman recommended that
under the program the limit theoretically is $15,520. He the suggested that the Com-
mission might want to recommend that grant applications be allowed up to the maximum
in order to give the City latitude in the selection of grant applicants. He noted that
by setting a lower income figure, you in theory limit the number of houses that would
be eligible for rehabilitation as well as individual household limits. A discussion
then ensued relative to tying income with the number of people per household.
Chairman Plummer then initiated a discussion of rental rehabilitation. It was noted
that rental units in Brooklyn Center are required to be maintained in a proper manner
t.tt
Vt e ere not �.Ji�. owed tc rent. �'he SocrL.tJry ...t tod th t the Council cil ::ee recently
been rather stringent in its enforcement of such policies and,has recently _denied
licenses to a number of apartment complexes in Brooklyn Center. He added that the
impact of those actions has been to force compliance on the !part of rental owners.
Chairman Plummer indicated her concern that such actions might tend to have an
opposite effect and reduce the number of rental units available in Brooklyn Center.
A discussion followed relative to rehab grant programs. Administrative Assistant
Hoffman recommended that rehab loans be considered only with HRA monies. He in-
dicated that Community Development monies should be used as one time capital ex-
penditures. He stated that he is concerned that the initiation of a loan program with
Community Development monies would create a perpetual tie on the City's part to
the federal government assurances and would create a perpetual administrative cost
for the City.
A lengthy discussion then ensued relative to selection criteria and application criteria
for a rehab grant project. Commissioner Haroldson moved ard Commissioner•Williams
seconded a motion to recommend the rehab grant program with a maximum grant of
$7,500 and income limit to be 80% of the median income of the metropolitan area,
that a graduated repayment schedule be adopted if the rehabilitated home is sold,
that household size be a considered criteria and that all of the other criteria currently
used in the selection of a MHFA grant recipient be adopted. The motion passed un-
animously.
Commissioner Duenow left at 9:11 p.m.
RECESS
The Commission recessed at 9 :11 p.m. and reconvened at 9 :27 p.m.
Upon reconvening, a brief discussion ensued relative to the recommendation that a
contingency fund be recommended to set aside monies for housing projects to yet
be determined. A brief discussion then ensued and it was explained that by setting
aside monies in a contingency fund, the City could develop housing programs based
on the identified needs and use a contingency fund to fund those programs at a later
date. He noted that contingency funds would be spent but would go through similar
public hearings as do the otherCommunity Development projects. There was a motion
by Commissioner Cilke and seconded by Commissioner Hastings to recommend that a
contingency fund be set aside for housing. Voting in favor: Chairman Plummer, Com-
missioners Williams, Hastings, Cilke, Weitzel. Voting against: none. Abstaining:
Commissioner Haroldson. The motion passed. The public hearing was closed at
9:35 p.m.
ADTOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Weitzel and seconded by Commissioner Cilke to adjourn the
meeting. The motioh passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Chairman