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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 08-05 HCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND PHE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION AUGUST 5, 1975 CITY HALL The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Howard at 735 p.m. Chairman Howard, Commissioners Plummer, Kohrt, Hastings and Haroldson. Also present was Administrative Assistant Ron Warren. Excused from the meeting were Commissioners Beikler and Ward, and Councilman Fignar. Absent from the meeting was Commissioner Magnuson. Commissioner Plummer noted that the statement attributed to her on page 4 of the July 8, 1975 minutes, relating to the discussion of Commissioner Magnuson's absences, was made by Councilman Fignar. Commissioner Weitzel arrived at 740 p.m. Commissioner Hastings noted that her suggestion on page 3 of the July 8, 1975 minutes was to have Commissioners survey their neighborhoods regarding abandoned homes and report back to the Commission on the status of such abandoned homes. Following this discussion, there was a motion by Commissioner Weitzel and seconded by Commis- sioner Haroldson to approve the minutes of the July 8, 1975 meeting as corrected. The motion passed unanimously. The first item of business on the agenda was a review of the City's apartment licensing program that is underway, pursuant to the recently enacted Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Ordinance. The Chairman recognized the secretary who reported that as of August 4, 1975, the City Council has authorized the issuance of 39 rental dwelling unit licenses. The secretary explained that all of these rental dwellings were inspected and reports submitted. He noted that there have been no compliance orders written and that the dwellings are all in general conformity with the provisions of the ordinance, The secretary stated that the Director of Planning and inspection is fitr the most part, pleased with the cooperation his Department has received from apartment owners regarding license applications and inspections. The secretary then presented, for the Commission's review, a map depicting the location of these rental units and the dates the City Council authorized issuance of the licenses. Following the report, a brief discussion ensued with the secretary answering Commissioners questions regarding apartment licensing. The next item of business on the agenda was the continued review of the Housing Commission bylaws. The secretary stated that he had not submitted an amendment to Article IV as he had been directed to do because research on Article IV indicated that this particular section cannot be changed by the normal procedure for amending bylaws, He further stated that the provision the Commission wished to amend was worded verbatim to a provision found in the Housing Commission Enabling Resolution (Resolution Nos. 73-140 and 75-97). He noted that if the Commission wishes to change this article, it would have to approach the City Council and ask the Council to amend the enabling resolution, The secretary recommended not changing Article IV, stating that there was some flexibility in the present bylaws. A lengthy discussion ensued relative to Article IV, with Chairman Howard stating that he felt the wording in Article IV should not be changed, but he felt the order in which the provisions appear should be changed, He further stated that the provision relating to discussion and investigation of a member's absences would take effect prior to automatic resignation, and for clarity's sake, should be stated in this order in the bylaws, It was the consensus of the Commission to rearrange the provisions in Article IV. 8-5-75 -2- Bylaws Commissioner Magnuson's Attendance S ewspaper Articles Concerning Housing Matters MHFA Programs Report Community Education Chairman Howard reported that he had contacted Commissioner Magnuson after the July 8, 1975 meeting about the fact that he had missed three consecutive Housing Commission meetings. The Chairman further reported that Commissioner Magnuson explained that he had not received agendas and minutes for previous meetings and was not aware of the dates and times of Commis- sion meetings. The Chairman stated that he had neglected to formally establish meeting dates prior to the July 8 meeting. He further stated that since that time he has established meeting dates and the secretary has notified Commission members of these dates, The Chairman noted that Commissioner Magnuson was to be at this evening's meeting to formally explain to the Commission his absences, but he was not in attendance. A brief discussion ensued relative to Commissioner Magnuson's absences. Following the discussion there was a motion by Commissioner Hastings and seconded by Commissioner Weitzel to table further discussion of this matter until the September meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Plummer reported that she had clipped newspaper articles about various housing matters and distributed them to the Commissioners for their review. She noted one article that explained that infra- red light equipment can be used to detect heat loss from homes in the winter. She further noted another article relating to a possible state home insulation law that would require certain insulation standards as a condition of sale. She stated that there is some pressure being exerted to make this a law by 1978. Chairman Howard noted that Commissioner Kohrt would present a report on the various programs of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency at the September meeting. The Chairman reported that Jim Norwick, Director of Community Education for the Brooklyn Center School District, had contacted him regarding the possibility of having a community education seminar relating to housing. Commissioner Plummer noted that such a seminar might contain a program relating to saving energy -3- 8-5-75 in homes through proper insulation. A brief discussion ensued relative to a seminar and possible topics which could be incorporated into such a program, such as home improvements and maintenance, plumbing and electrical problems, etc. Following the discussion, Chairman Howard asked Commissioner Plummer, Weitzel and Hastings to work with him and Mr. Norwick on the feasibility of such a seminar. The secretary reported that the Brooklyn Center Housing and Redevelopment Authority had received information relating to the MHFA Home Improvement Program. He stated that 73 financial institutions have chosen to participate in making $7.945 million in below-market interest rate loans for home improvements. He noted that no Brooklyn Center bank had opted to participate in the program, but there would be another opportunity in the spring of 1976 for banks to participate in Phase II of MHFA's Home Improvement Program. A lengthy discussion ensued relative to the Home Improvement Program and participating lending institutions. It was noted that the Brooklyn Center HRA on August 4, 1975, had declared the Brooklyn Center State Bank and the Marquette National Bank as depositories for HRA funds. It was further noted that neither of these banks are participating in the MHFA Home Improvement Loan Program. Following further discussion there was a motion by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commis- sioner Hastings to convey to the Brooklyn Center HRA the Housing Commission's concern that HRA funds be deposited in financial institutions participating in the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's Home Improvement Program. The motion passed unanimously. Motion by Commissioner Plummer, seconded by Com- missioner Haroldson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Chairman MHFA Home Improvement Program Adjournment