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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 11-07 HCMCall to Order Roll Call Approval of Minutes: 10 -30 -73 Proposed By -laws 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 NOVEMBER 7, 1973 CITY HALL The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Howard at 7:31 p.m. Chairman Howard, Commissioners Hastings, Haroldson, Magnuson, Ward, Weitzel, Khort, Nelson and Beikler. Also present were Councilman Bill Fignar, Councilman Maurice Britts, Director of Planning and Inspection Blair Tremere, Administrative Assistant Daniel Hartman, and Administrative Assistant James Lacina. Motion by Commissioner Ward and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the minutes of the October 30, 1973 meeting as corrected. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Howard presented a draft of proposed by -laws for the Housing Commission. He stated that the by -laws committee had met and drafted the by -laws as presented. A lengthy discussion ensued relative to the proposed by -laws. Chairman Howard requested that action on the by -laws be deferred until the next meeting to allow proper time for the Commission to study the proposal. Motion by Commissioner Haroldson and seconded by Commissioner Kohrt to table action on the by —laws until the next meeting of the Housing Commission. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion of HousinL The next item of business was a discussion Needs in Brooklyn Center of neighborhood attitudes and opinions on the housing needs for B noklyn Center. Commissioner Hastings L.,.::.dented that there seems to be a certain amount of housing Course of Action for Housing Maintenance and Occupancy deterioration in the southeast neighborhood. She stated that it is important to correct this type of situation now to maintain Brooklyn Center's high quality of housing. Commissioner Magnuson stated that the use of some type of occupancy permit program would keep a high quality of housing in Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Haroldson commented that the apartment situation in Brooklyn Center is a major concern for most citizens. Commis- sioner Nelson commented that a certain amount of rental property is good in a community since rental property enhances the tax base. Chairman Howard then introduced the next item on the agenda a discussion on the development of a course of action for Housing Maintenance and Occupancy. Chairman Howard presented a petition he had received from the tenants of Brookdale Garden Apartments and stated that this situation dramatizes the need for some type of Housing Maintenance and Occupancy program in Brooklyn Center to pro- tect the general public. Commissioner Hastings commented that the Commission must contact the citizens to find out what their desires are in the area of Housing. Maintenance and Occupancy. The secre- tary then stated that the proper approach would be to develop a proposal and then contact the citizens for their input and reactions. Commissioner Haroldson asked if the City had the authority to enter private homes for the purpose of Housing Maintenance Inspection. The Director of Planning and Inspection stated that it is hard to legally enter a private home unless some type of crime has been committed and a search warrant has been obtained. He stated that in the area of Housing Maintenance there is a need to relate such an inspection to the Health, safety and welfare of the community. Commissioner Nelson then asked if it was the Commission's opinion that a Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code would affect both rental and owner occupied property. Chairman Howard stated that such a code should have the same effect in both areas., Councilman Fignar commented that there is a need to understand the implementations of such a code before the Commission makes a decision. Mr. Tremere followed with a short presen- tation on Housing Maintenance and Occupancy programs. He commented that most rental property is approached through a licensing procedure on an annual basis with the right of inspection. He also stated that the most common approach to inspection of owner occupied units would be through the use of a permit occupancy program. Chairman Howard then stated that there seemed to be a general consensus of the Commission that a Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code should effect three general areas: 1) Rental property; 2) Change in ownership; 3) Owner/ occupied property. Mr. Tremere commented that in most cases housing maintenance codes are written for all dwellings in a community with different approaches used for certain types of dwellings. He stated that the approach used in multiple dwellings is licensing and in owner occupied units is permit occupancy. Comments were then addressed to Mr. Tremere as to a housing maintenance code for Brooklyn Center. Mr. Tremere stated that the City Council had tabled a proposal in 1970. He commented that it was his recommendation for the Housing Commission to start anew in develop- ing a proposal. The secretary then commented that there is a need for the Commission to gain an under- standing of the topic before the proposal is presented by the staff, Recess The Commission recessed at 8:56 p.m. and resumed at 9:15 p.m. Appointment of Vice Chairman Continuation of Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Discussion BC Kaleidoscope 74 Establish Regular Meeting of the Housing Commission Adjournment Chairman Howard appointed Commissioner Nelson as Vice Chairman. Mr. Tremere then made a short presentation on a seminar he had attended at the University of Wisconsin on Housing Maintenance. He stated that housing maintenance is not just a Brooklyn Center problem but exists through- out the nation. Chairman Howard commented that whatever Housing Maintenance and Occupancy program is developed for Brooklyn Center it must involve the total community. Commissioners Nelson and Weitzel left the table at 9:35 p.m. It was the consensus of the Commission that the first step in a course of action for Housing Maintenance and Occupancy be understanding the topic thoroughly. A discussion then ensued relative to the BC Kaleidoscope -74 concept with the Commissioners discussing involvement in the program.. Coun- cilman Fignar commented that BC Kaleidoscope -74 would give the Commission an opportunity to meet the public. Motion by Commissioner Magnuson and seconded by Commissioner Hastings to establish the first Tuesday after the first Council meeting of each month as the regular meeting night of the Housing Commission. Motion passed unani- mously. Motion by Commissioner Magnuson and seconded by Commissioner Haroldson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Secretary