HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 10-12 HCMCall to Order
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
9 -14 -76
Home Renovation
Workshop
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
OCTOBER 12, 1976
CITY HALL
The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular
session and was called to order by Chairman Howard
at 7:45 p.m.
Chairman Howard, Commissioners Weitzel, Haroldson,
and Plummer. Also present were Councilman Bill Fignar
and Administrative Assistant Ron Warren.
Chairman Howard reported that Commissioner Hastings
would be late to this evening's meeting and that Com-
missioners Beikler and Magnuson had informed him that
they would be unable to attend this evening's meeting
and were, therefore, excused.
Motion by Commissioner Haroldson and seconded by
Commissioner Weitzel to approve the minutes of the
September 14, 1976 meeting as submitted. The motion
passed unanimously.
Chairman Howard introduced the first item of business
on the agenda, that of discussion on the proposed Home
Renovation Workshop. He referred to a brief informal
meeting held on September 28 at which time a list of
thirteen topics to be presented at the workshop was
decided on. He stated that it was agreed that there will
be four separate workshops to be held one evening a
week beginning the last week in March and ending the
third week in April. He stated that the workshop topics
include: Painting Interior and Exterior; Plumbing;
Siding and Roofing; Insulation and Ventilation; Structural
Aspects to be Considered When Renovating a House;
Wallpapering; Paneling; Installation and Maintenance of
Floors, Ceilings and Tile; Electrical Problems; Land-
scaping; Financing Home Repairs; Refinishing Woodwork;
and Home Safety and Protection.
The Chairman recommended that the Commission be
divided into four committees made up of two Com-
missioners per committee to address at.least three
selected topics. He explained that it would be the
reponsibility of these committees to line up speakers
for various selected topics in addition to coordinating
the planning for the presentation.
Chairman Howard then named four committees com-
prised of the following: Committee 1 Commissioners
Plummer and Ward; Committee 2 Commissioners
Magnuson and Weitzel; Committee 3 Commissioners
Beikler and Haroldson; Committee 4 Commissioner
Hastings and Chairman Howard.
Commissioner Hastings arrived at 8:40 p.m.
A brief discussion ensued relative to the topics each
committee would be responsible for. Following the
discussion it was agreed the committees would be
responsible for the following:
1. The Committee comprised of Commissioners
Plummer and Ward Wallpapering; Home
Safety and Protection; and Structural Aspects
to Consider When Renovating a House.
2. The Committee comprised of Commissioners
Magnuson and Weitzel Plumbing; Siding
and Roofing; and Insulation and Ventilation.
3. The Committee comprised of Commissioners
Haroldson and Beikler Landscaping; Interior
and Exterior Painting; and Electrical Problems.
4. The Committee comprised of Commissioner
Hastings and Chairman Howard Paneling;
Refinishing Woodwork; Financing Home
Repairs; and Installation and Maintenance of
Floors, Ceilings, and Tile.
Chairman Howard explained that he would be able to
obtain a list of prospective speakers for presentation
of the topics. He stated that this list would be dis-
tributed by the next regularly scheduled meeting in
November in order that the various committees could
begin planning their activities,
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The Chairman also suggested that the Commission meet
informally on Tuesday, October 26, for a briefing on
the current status of the workshop. He stated that he,
along with Judy Labon and the Secretary, would be
meeting with Jim Norwick of the Brooklyn Center School
District Community Education Program on Thursday,
October 14, at 3:00 p.m. to review the school's facilities
and to make tentative arrangements for scheduling the
workshop. He invited interested Commissioners to
attend this meeting if they were able.
Further discussion ensued relative to the Home Renovation
Workshop and various methods and techniques that
could be successfully utilized and implemented in the
development of the program. Commissioner Hastings
suggested that advertisements of the Home Renovation.
Workshop be sent to neighboring City Halls in an effort
to publicize the event in the area. Chairman Howard
stated that the League of Women Voters and the Jaycees
should be contacted in an effort to elicit their support
of the program by being hosts and hostesses for the
event.
Chairman Howard reported that the Commission is
scheduled to meet on November 9, 1976 and that he may
not be able to attend that meeting. Commissioner
Haroldson stated that he would be out of town during
the November 9, 1976 meeting and requested to be excused
The Secretary reported that the 1977 HRA Budget was
reviewed and approved on October 4, 1976. He stated
that one -third mill again will be levied in 1977 as
permitted by statutes. He explained that this mill levy
will result in approximately $41,000 in revenue and that
the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Project Fund
will then have accumulated approximately $112,000.
The Secretary further reported that the HRA Director has
proposed, and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority
has agreed, that a portion of these funds be used to
assist residents of Brooklyn Center who can meet Section
8 Rent Assistance Program qualifications but cannot obtain
a certification for assistance because of the established
priorities for certification. He explained that this pro-
gram would involve an evaluation of the Metro HRA Rent
Assistance Program to find eligible Brooklyn Center
residents that otherwise qualify for rent assistance but
have "fallen through the cracks of the program" and are
not able to obtain the subsidy.
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The Secretary next reported that the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority also plans a program along
the lines of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Rehabilitation Grant Program. The Secretary briefly
reviewed the MHFA Grant Program through which the
City will be administering approximately $16,000 in
rehabilitation grants. He stated that the local HRA
proposal would involve a review of the State program
to evaluate the need for additional grants to local
property owners for rehabilitation, energy conser-
vation, and code- related improvements for owner
occupied single family homes.
Commissioner Weitzel left the table at 9 :10 p.m.
and returned at 9:12 p.m.
A brief discussion ensued relative to the Secretary's
report on proposed upcoming HRA programs. The
Secretary stated that it has also been proposed that
the Housing Commission review these HRA programs
prior to their implementation. He further stated
that the Commission would be a reviewing body only
and would not be involved in the implementation of
the programs.
Commissioner Hastings inquired if the financial
institutions used as depositories for HRA funds
participate in various MHFA programs. The Secre-
tary responded that the current HRA depositories
are not listed among financial institutions partici-
pating in various Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
programs. A brief discussion ensued relative to
conveying to the HRA the Commission's concern
that HRA funds be deposited in financial institutions
that participate in various Minnesota Housing
Finance Agency programs. It was the consensus
of the Commission to discuss this matter at an
upcoming Commission meeting to formally convey
the Housing Commission's position prior to the time
the HRA designates depositories for HRA funds.
Commissioner Plummer left the meeting at 9 :23 p.m.
Councilman Fignar reported on the Modest Cost
Housing Advisory Committee to which he had recently
been appointed. He stated that the Committee is
an advisory body to the Metropolitan Council charged
with the responsibility of developing proposals and
recommendations to make housing more affordable
for more people. He explained that the Committee
Modest Cost Housing
Advisory Committee
Adjournment
has been divided into three sub committees to focus
on governmental regulations, financing and taxes,
and industry practices and that each sub committee
is responsible for making various recommendations
related to its area of study. He stated that the
recommendations will be put together in the form of
a report and that public hearings will be held on these
recommendations in November. He further stated that
the Modest Cost Housing Advisory Committee's final
recommendations are to be made to the State Legisla-
ture by January 15, 1977.
A brief discussion ensued relative to the Committee's
study with Councilman Fignar explaining that it will be
recommended to the State Legislature that the Committee
continue reviewing the problem of providing modest
cost housing. Commissioner Haroldson requested
Councilman Fignar to keep the Housing Commission
apprised of the Committee's recommendations and also
requested pertinent reports and minutes of the Commis-
sion's meetings.
Motion by Commissioner Haroldson and seconded by
Commissioner Hastings to adjourn the meeting. The
motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center
Housing Commission adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Chairman