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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 02-14 HCMCall to Order Roll Call Approval of Minutes 1/17/78 New Commission Member Home Improvement Grant Criteria MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 14, 1978 CITY HALL The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Phyllis Plummer at 7 :47 p.m. Chairman Phyllis Plummer, Commissioners Dolores Hastings, Ray Haroldson, Ronald Turner and Karen Duenow. Also present were Councilman Bill Fignar and Administrative Assistant Ronald Warren. Chairman Plummer reported that Commissioners Magnuson, Beikler, Weitzel and Williams were excused from this evening's meeting. Motion by Commissioner Hastings and seconded by Commissioner Duenow to approve the minutes of the January 17, 1978 Housing Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Plummer announced that the City Council had confirmed Mayor Nyquist's appointment of Clifford Williams, 5736 June Avenue North, to the Housing Commission on February 13, 1978. She stated that Mr. Williams will be assigned to the Southwest neighborhood advisory group to replace her tentative appointment of Commissioner Beikler to that neighbor- hood advisory group. She explained that there were two other applicants for the vacancy on the Housing Commission and recommended that these applications be kept on file in case another vacancy on the Commis- sion came about within the next few months. She also reported that Commissioner Williams was unable to attend this evening's meeting because of a prior com- mitment but that he would assume his seat at the March meeting. Chairman Plummer introduced the next item of business, that of a review of the Home Improvement Grant criteria recommended to the City Council by the Housing Com- mission at the January 17, 1978 meeting. The Secretary reported that the Commission's recommendation had been presented to the City Council on January 23, 1978 and that the Council, following an extensive discussion -1- 2 -14 -78 o..n the program, had unanimously adopted the criteria as recommended by the Housing Commission. _A lengthy discussion ensued relative to the. ranking criteria with the Secretary and the Chairman responding to a variety of questions relating to the program and the criteria to be utilized. The Secretary commented that the grant criteria has been submitted to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for final approval. lie explained-that once the City receives final authorization, the priority- criteria will be applied to eligible grant applications and-that these applications will then be reviewed by the Housing Commis-sion. He pointed out that a procedure similar to the one used by the Commis- sion in 1977 for review of these applications will again be used. He noted that this would involve a staff presentation of each-application which would list the types of improvements to be made, information regarding the eligibility of the applicant., various slides and other information regarding the property. He further stated that the Commission would then have the opportunity to review and comment on how the staff has applied the ranking criteria and to make a recommendation to the City Connell regarding the awarding of these grants. He concluded by stating that hopefully these grant applications would be before the Housing Commission at the March 14, 1978 Commis- sion meeting Chairman Plummer introduced the next item of business on the agenda, that of a discussion and review of the Housing Com- mission's enabling resolution and bylaws. The Secretary reported that the Commission had reviewed and amended its bylaws within the past six months and that if there NA e :e no further questions on the bylaws he would proceed to reviem with the Commission the enabling resolution. There were no questions on the Commission's bylaws. The Secretary proceeded with a lengthy review of the duties and responsibilities of the Housing Commission contained in Council Resolution No. 72-22. During the review a discussion ensued relative to the possibility of providing heat loss infor- mation to the public. Commissioner Haroldson noted that at the time the Commission was developing information for Kalei- doscope 77 there had been much about the possibility of supplying aerial loss•photos that had been tak.en by the State EnergyAgency, eHe-added that perhaps the Commission should pursue this matter to see if these photos can be made available to the public. During the discussion of the Commission's responsibility for studying the feasibility of establishing an occupancy permit program in conjunclion with a housing maintenance code a 2-14-78 -2- Review of Commissio. Enabling Resolution and Bylaws Review of Enabling Resolution Continued discussion developed over the merits of such an occupancy permit program. Commissioner Haroldson commented that one of the advantages of such a program would be that persons buying a home in Brooklyn Center would be assured that it is safe and decent housing. The Secretary stated that a true occupancy permit pro- gram is not necessarily consumer protection, although consumers may well benefit from such a program. He further stated that the concept of an occupancy permit program is to use this vehicle as a means of gaining compliance with the housing maintenance code, in an attempt to preserve and maintain a community's housing stock. He noted that the standards contained in the Housing Maintenance Ordinance are minimal standards which may or may not be consumer protection in the long run. Recess The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission recessed at 8:55 p.m. and resumed at 9 :10 p.m. The Secretary continued to review the duties and responsibilities of the Housing Commission. A discus- sion ensued regarding the Commission's responsibility to investigate new and innovative concepts in housing for the community. Councilman Fignar suggested that the Commission consider having someone from the solar heating industry address the Commission regarding this concept as a future means of heating homes. Chairman Plummer suggested that it might -be beneficial for members of the Commission to tour various homes that have been recently built using solar energy as a source of heat. Commissioner Duenow stated that she felt it would be possible for the Commission to get a. speaker from the University of Minnesota to address: this subject. The Commission also discussed the possibility of developing and recommending various programs which will provide quality housing for low and moderate income citizens. Councilman Fignar commented on the modest cost housing committees advisory report. He suggested that members of the Commission review this report as a source of information regarding modest cost housing. Also during the review of the Commission's duties and responsibilities there was a discussion relating to financial resources available to citizens for obtaining housing. Commissioner Duenow noted that she is familar with Thomas Fitzgivens who is an excellent resource person regarding rehabilitation funding. She -3- 2- 14-78. added that it might be possible for Mr. Fitzgivens to address the Housing Commission regarding this subject. Chairman Plummer stated that for an upcoming agenda item the Commission should discuss the possibility of developing housing information. to be distributed to the local newspaper for informational purposes. Commissioner Haroldson commented on the importance of smoke detectors. He stated that he favors legislation to make these devices mandatory in homes. A discussion ensued relative to this subject with Commissioner Turner commenting that the Fire Department makes information available to the public regarding Smo ke and fire detectors and that possibly the Housing Commission and the Fire Department could jointly promote the utilization of these devices. Commissioner Turner also commented that he felt Shopper's City was an eyesore to the community. He noted that it is located in a residential area and wondered if anything could be done to clean it up.. A brief discussion ensued relative to Commissioner Turner's concernewith Councilman Fignar stating that he would bring this matter to the City Manager's attention. He added that Commissioner Turner Might want to make use of the City Council "Open Forum" to bring this matter to the Council's attention if it is not improved within the near future. Chairman Pl stated that the Housing Commission is next scheduled to meet on March 14 and that possibly the review of home improvement grant applications will be the major item of business. She requested members of the Commission to react and review the first section of the Metlopolitan Council Housing Development Guide by the next Commission meeting and that if time is available on the agenda this matter will be reviewed and discussed in some detail by the Commission. Motion by Commissioner Haroldson and seconded by Commis- Adjournment sioner Hastings to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 3:50 p.m. Chairman March Meeting