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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 11-14 HCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE CF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION NOVEMBER 14, 1978 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Plummer at 7:37 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Plummer, Commissioners Hastings, Duenow and Williams. Also present were Councilmember Bill Fignar and Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman. Chairman Plummer indicated that Commissioners Weitzel, Cilke and Haroldson would be arriving late. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 10-10-78 Motion by Commissioner Hastings and seconded by Commissioner Williams to approve the minutes of the October 10, 1978 Housing Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PRESENTATION Chairman Plummer introduced the first agenda item, a discussion of the large family housing program, sponsored by the Metropolitan Council. The.Secrettary then explained that at the October Housing Commission meeting, the Commissioners had requested further information relative to the large family housing program sponsored by the Metro- politan Council. The Secretary then made reference to a community profile developed by the Metropolitan Council outlining Brooklyn Center's current housing sitnetion and the City's need for large family housing. He further noted that each of the COMMIS- sioners had received a copy of that profile. He then reviewed the seven points of the community profile noting that for the most part, they had been validated by the staff, He specifically stated that item #4 which indicated that Ewing Square would be pro- viding 23 large family units 'n Brooklyn Center was of special interest. He indicated he had spoken with Warren arlson, the owner of Ewing Square, who informed him that he anticipated that the majority of the individual families that would reside in Ewing Square would come from Brooklyn Center or the immediate area surrounding the City. He then reviewed the impact of subsidized housing units on the City's tax revenues. He added that this impact statement had been reviewed by the City Assessor. He then stated that assuming that the house in question was an owner occupied home, the estimated City tax would be $233 as opposed to the $261.89 tax noted in the commun- ity profile. The school tax would be estimated at $778 as opposed to the $876 noted in the community profile. The Secretary then stated that the fiscal impact upon the City would be even less than what is noted in the profile provided by the. Metropolitan Council. He then added that if the house were e rental unit that were subsidized, the City's tax would be considerably less at $210 and the school tax would be $701. He also indicated that if it was a straight rental unit with no subsidies involved, 11-14-78 -1-- the City's tax would be $350 and the school tax would be $1,169. He also indicated that such situations would be more of an exception than the general rule. The Secretary then also indicated that City staff had been looking at a variety of methods of implementing the large family housing program proposed by the Metro- politan Council. He specifically noted that it would be possible to use Community Development funds to acquire land and to write down the cost on that land to build such a home. Mary Flannery then proceeded with her slide show relative to the large family housing program. Following the slide presentation, a brief discussiol followed relative to the impact of the program and the City's role 'in the program. Chairman Plummer then inquired as to the number of handicapped families in the list of 800. Mary Flannery indicated that the Metro HRA did not differentiate in that list and that they were all grouped together. Nancy Reeves indicated that under state law, 5% of the housing must be handicapped which probably reflects the need for handicapped housing. Phil Cohen then added that he had just spoken with Mary O'Hara and that she had indicated the needs assessment would probably be closer to 1 Councilmember Fignar then inquired how item #3 on the community profile was determined. Item #3 indicates that there are 34 families that desire a three bedroom or larger housing unit in Brooklyn Center of which 25 of those families currently reside in the City. Mary Flannery indicated that those statistics come from response to questions on the Commissioner Weitzel arrived at 8 :04 p.m. Phil Cohen from the Metropolitan Council then reviewed the problem and the program. He noted that the most pressing housing problem in the metropolitan area today is the inability to provide housing for large families. Specifically, he noted the shortage of three and four bedroom houses for low and moderate income families. He then indicated that the Metropolitan Council has received funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to construct fifty (50) large family scattered site housing units. He noted that the Metropolitan Council would be the owner of the homes and would administer and be responsible for the maint3nance of those homes. The homes would then be rented to qualifying families and would be charged 25% of their monthly income. He then introduced Nancy Reeves from the Metropolitan Council. Nancy Reeves indicated that large family housing was the greatest need and was least often met through any other sources. She indicated that the Metro politan HRA has the longest waiting list and it was for large family housing. She indicated that there are over 800 families waiting for such housing and that they have not taken names for that list for over one year. She further noted that large family housing is not available in the metropolitan area for low and moderate income people. Commissioner Cilke arrived at 7 :48 p.m. Nancy Reeves then indicated that approximately 2% of the private rental units in the' metropolitan area had three or more bedrooms. She indicated', that there was also a great need for apartments to accommodate the handicapped individuals with large families and that their problems are even more pressing. Following her presentation, she introduced Mary Grace Flannery from the Metro Council who ran a slide show for the Commission. 11 -14 -78 -2- application in which applicants are asked to indicate their preference for location. Councilmember Fignar then inquired if it had been the Metropolitan HRA's experience that a number of subsidized units were damaged more frequently than nonsubsidized ones. Mary Flannery indicated that they had not noticed any significant difference between subsidized and nonsubsidized units. Nancy Reeves noted that she had just met with Norm Chazin, a Brooklyn Center apartment owner, and that he had indicated that there was no difference between the two. Phil Cohen then stated that the con- cerns with the maintenance of the program were valid and that the Metro Council was using a maintenance requirement of the tenants similar to that being used in Dakota County. He indicated that prior to families residing in the rental units that they would be given brief courses on home maintenance and would be required to maintain those homes. A brief discussion then ensued relative to the program and Chairman Plummer thanked the people from the Metropolitan Council for their presentation. RECESS The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission recessed at 8:30 p.m. and reconvened at 8 :45 p.m. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Plummer opened the public hearing on the housing element of the Community Development Plan by requesting each of the Commission members in the next few weeks to contact individuals in the neighborhood advisory committees to help conduct a housing survey within their respective neighborhoods. She then also asked that they provide a brief report and description of the housing needs as they saw them. Commissioner Haroldson arrived at 8 :51 p.m. The Secretary then reviewed what a housing assistance plan was, what was required in the housing assistance plan and its purpose. Following that brief presentation, Chairman Plummer requested that the Commission receive the Metropolitan Council statistics for housing. The Secretary indicated that he would send those out to the Commission. Chairman Plummer then recognized Phil Cohen of 53rd and Humboldt Avenue North. Phil Cohen indicated that he was now speaking as a resident of Brooklyn Center and he stated that the Housing Commission has been studying the housing needs of Brooklyn Center. He noted that there is a need for a rehabilitation program, specifically in the southeast and western sections of the City. He also indicated that there were good lots with very marginal housing which should be cleared. Community Development money could be used to provide write down costs. He also 'reiterated his concerns for the need for large family housing in Brooklyn Center. He commended the Commission for its role as a leader and as a housing advocate in the metropolitan area. Chairman Plummer then recognized Nancy Reeves. Nancy Reeves indicated she is not speaking as a citizen but as a representative of the Metropolitan Council. She indicated the role the housing assistance plan in community development had with the Metropolitan Council review. She noted the need to be in agreement with the housing opportunity plan of the Metropolitan Council, the housing assistance plan, but noted that the bottom line of both was the housing assistance goals. She indicated there are numerous avenues available to obtain those goals such as land write clowns, providing necessary services and utilities or the acquisition and clearance of standard units. She also indicated the Metropolitan Council would be willing to provide data and urged the City to adopt 11 -14 -78 -3- a housing assistance plan geared to the needs of Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Haroldson then inquired if the City were committed to following certain guidelines in the development of its housing assistance plan. Nancy Reeves indicated that was a true assessment of the situation. Chairman Plummer then inquired of the Commissioners if they desire to express their assessment of the housing needs in Brooklyn Center. She noted the need for large family housing and would like to pursue that avenue further. Commissioner Hastings noted that 53rd Avenue North was being widened. She wanted to know whether or not the City could acquire some of the homes along that area to provide large family housing. Phil Cohen indicated the City might want to ask the Highway Department to acquire some of the homes along 53rd Avenue North. A brief discussion then followed relative to the acquisition procedure. A brief discussion then ensued relative to the Commission possibly taking a tour of some of the neighborhoods to come to a group consensus as to the housing needs. Chairman Plummer indicated that there certainly was a need to do rehabilitation work in Brooklyn Center. There was a motion,by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Hastings to close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously and the public hearing was elosed at 9:56 p.m. ADTOTJRNMENT Motion by Commissioner Cilke and seconded by Commissioner Haroldson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the Brooklyn Center Housing Com- mission adjourned at 9:59 p.m. Chairman 1 1 1 i