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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 05-20 HCM .i MINUTES OF 'THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMNIISSION OF THE CITY OF BR04KLYN CENTER IN TT� COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MAY 20, 2008 COUNCII. COMI��IISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Vice Chair Lawrence-Anderson at 7:06 p.m. ROLL CALL Vice Chair Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Commissioners Michael Johnson, Judy Thorbus and Joshua Xiong. Chairperson Steve Landis was absent and excused. Also present were Council Liaison Mary O'Connor, Assistant to the City Manager Vickie Schluening, Fire Chief Lee Gatlin, Police Commander Kevin Benner, Code Enforcement Inspector Deb Hanssen-Robinson, Crime Prevention Specialist Becky Boie, Supervisor of Streets and Parks John Harlow, Community Development Director Gary Eitel, and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Xiong to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MARCH 18, 2008 Page 2 of the Mazch 18, 2008 minutes contain an enor in the first paragraph where the word amount was missing after the word significant. There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Xiong to approve the minutes of the Housing Commission meeting as amended. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 15, 2008 Several errors were noted from the April 15, 2008 draft of the minutes including the deletion of the words "to the" in the second sentence after approval of agenda, the 6`� bullet under Council Liaison report should be revised to read that the Judge in the lawsuit between Brookdale Center and Sears ruled that Sears does have authority to approve or disapprove changes to the Brookdale development glan, the 14`� bullet paragraph in this section should add a second sentence stating that "This action was not approved by all Council Members", the last paragraph on Page 2 should have the word housing in front of commission and on Page 4 of the minutes the word he in the second sentence in the last paragraph should be changed to she. There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Xiong to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2008 Housing Commission meeting as amended. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Vice Chair Lawrence-Anderson stated she would defer her report. Page 1 5-20-08 COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember O'Connor reported on a number of actions taken by the City Council at recent meetings including the two Board of Appeals meetings, consideration of a joint powers agreement with Brooklyn Park to establish a youth coordinating board, the Shingle Watershed Survey results and a summary of the activities proposed for Earle Brown Days. PRESENTATION BY RENTAL STRATEGY TEAMS Assistant to the City Manager Vickie Schluening noted that the comments from the Multi-Housing Association had not come back yet regarding the proposed rental strategy items and should be in sometime this week. She explained at the next Council meeting, the City Council will incorporate the Housing Commission's comments on the rental strategy presented this evening. She suggested that the rental strategy team members make their presentation and that questions and comments be addressed at the end of their presentations. Ms. Schluening introduced Becky Boie representing the Communication, Education and Engagement team. Ms. Boie reviewed the team's evaluation and action plan which addressed the issues of communication and citizen engagement efforts. She noted that her team looked at a number of other City's plans for citizen communication and many of the communication documents from the City of Minneapolis appear to be the most complete and well done and could serve as a model for some of the communications proposed by Brooklyn Center. She also reviewed a proposed neighborhood area map which included 17 neighborhoods. This watch group neighborhood map could focus on the needs of each individual area and all of the neighborhoods would be addressed within a three year period which would include meetings with neighborhoods and staff from numerous departments. She explained the purpose would be to prepare a written plan for each neighborhood area. She pointed out that currently the City has 180 watch groups operating. Ms. Boie also reviewed the proposal from her team to conduct trainings with rental license holders which would include translators and translated documents. The next presenter was John Harlow, Supervisor of Streets and Parks representing the Image and Public Perception team. Mr. Harlow reviewed his team's action plan and report which included the following highlights: Mr. Harlow reviewed a map showing the city's public property areas (including other public jurisdictions) which would be included in the property maintenance plan prepared by his team. He noted the city would work to bring other jurisdictions up to standards established for public property by the City of Brooklyn Center. Identify the areas of the city for livability using available data to develop livability quotients. Mr. Harlow noted this included a survey of residents and that the neighborhoods were established using the five patrol sectors to divide the city. Establish a multi-department pre-design team to examine the current process (including environmental review) in place for review of new developments in the city. Establish a system and process to collect positive news and communication and process this for dissemination to the public and media. Mr. Harlow continued his review of his team's recommendations including provide media and communication training for management, establish means of communicating internal Page 2 5-20-08 I messages throughout the organization from the City Manager's office and provide general communication training for positive and effective communications for employees throughout the organization. T'he next presenter was Commander Kevin Benner representing the standards and operations team. Commander Benner reviewed his team's research and recommendations which included the following: Redefine the term rental dwelling. Change the inspection program to an annual inspection and also include random inspections. Discontinue Section 8 inspections contract. Rental complex call tracking. Rental inspection to include all inspection items such as code enforcement and building inspection. Design an application form that has a checklist of items for rental owners to prepare for inspection. Review license fees and consider rebates/incentives. Add information to license application to address group homes and elder care, etc. Training required for owner/agents. Require applicant to specify ownership of rental property. Various recommendations for amendments to Chapter 12. The last presenter was Fire Chief Lee Gaitlin who represented the success standards team. Mr. Gaitlin pointed out that his group was organized to establish base line data to establish bench mazks for a number of items and added that his team's work is dependent on the individual goals of other teams. This concluded staff presentations. Vice Chair Lawrence-Anderson noted that the Housing Commission worked on Chapter 12-913 and wants to assure that nothing will be lost in the revision to Chapter 12. Commander Benner discussed the issue of how to categonze Calls for Service with regard to 12-913. He noted that staff tries to assess whether Calls for Service are founded or unfounded and actually count towards 12-913. He cited an example of a false alarm where, in the ordinance, the call is counted as a Call for Service only if it is intentional and a situation such as cigarette smoke can set off an alarm but this is not an intentional trigger of an alarm. He added that there thousands of call types open to interpretation. He emphasized that the police department needs to verify calls in order for them to count and this has presented a significant problem in administering 12-913. Becky Boie commented that she tracks all Calls for Service and all validated Calls for Service sepazately under 12-913. She also cited the example of 99 calls validated for a particular apartment complex in one month but because of the size of the complex they are still not at .65. She noted that smaller units can receive three calls which could be car break ins, etc. and that they would be very close to a provisional license with simply three calls that may or may not be related to serious tenant behavior problems. Commander Benner pointed out that 12-911 does work well since it is clear and puts a burden on the Page 3 5-20-08 owner to correct the problem. With regard to 12-913, he pointed out too many Calls for Service are ambiguous to owners and managers whereas 12-911 is more straightforward and the problem is linked to a specific unit. Becky Boie commented that 12-911 is not tracked monthly with single family homes and pointed there is currently no method to track 12-911 to single family properties. She added that the department does address this when officers alert them to certain properties. Vice Chair Lawrence-Anderson inquired if there was any way to track smaller rental properties. Becky Boie commented that the TT staff are working to develop a tracking system to address Calls for Service at smaller rental properties. With regard to the goals and standards team, Vice Chair Lawrence-Anderson inquired whether there was any way to address illegal bedrooms in basements. The Assistant to the City Manager commented that over occupancy in residential properties is a national issue and that standards created by municipalities have been challenged in court. She added that new building codes require egress windows even without sleeping rooms designated. Ms. Schluening encouraged the Housing Commission input after tonight's meeting noting that they could send her an email or send one to Tom Bublitz. The rental information will be going to Council as a work session item next week. Commissioner Thorbus inquired whether the definition of a family will be changed in Chapter 12. Commander Benner pointed out that the definition of a family is proposed to be revised in their recommendations. Vice Chair Lawrence-Anderson and Commission Thorbus stated that they thought the Housing Commission would have more time to review the rental strategy material before it goes to City Council. The Assistant to the City Manager pointed out that she would talk to the City Manager regarding the Commission's review pointing out there will likely be more opportunities to comment on the strategies. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Chairman Page 4 5-20-08