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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 01-16 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION JANUARY 16, 2007 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Thorbus at 7:10 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Judy Thorbus, Commissioners Michael Johnson, Kara Kuykendall and Yolonde Lee. Also present were Council Liaison Dan Ryan and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Kris Lawrence-Anderson was absent and excused. Commissioner Joshua Xiong was absent and unexcused. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Kuykendall to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 21, 2006 There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Lee to approve the minutes of the November 21, 2006 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Commissioner Thorbus welcomed Councilmember Ryan and the new Commission members to the meeting and requested that they introduce themselves to Commission members. Commissioner Lee explained she was an 11 year resident of Brooklyn Center and reviewed some of her activities including a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society, working with Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak on the Relay for Life and as a member of a homeless commission. Commissioner has also had experience a director of a homeless shelter. Councilmember Ryan stated he had lived in the city when he was a young child and moved back to the city in 1992 where his parents still reside. He stated he was encouraged to run for the position of City Council member and has a desire to see things improve in the city. Commissioner Kuykendall noted she and her husband grew up in Brooklyn Center and spent some time living in Minneapolis. She explained her and her husband moved back to raise a family. She added she had visited the city's website and noted the need for volunteers and after doing some research, she chose the Housing Commission as her volunteer choice. 1-16-07 -1- Chairperson Thorbus informed Commission members that the City's 96 anniversary would be celebrated on February 3'� and encouraged Commission members to attend. She also discussed a special recognition award to be in conjunction with the City's 96 anniversary and suggested that Mark Yelich, former Housing Commission member and current City Council member, be nominated for the award. After a brief discussion by Housing Commission members, there was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Kuykendall to nominate former Housing Commission member and current City Council member Mark Yelich for a special recognition award in conjunction with the City's 96 anniversary celebration. The motion passed. CO UNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Ryan thanked Chairperson Thorbus and Commissioner Johnson for their volunteer efforts on the Housing Commission and welcomed the new members of the Commission. ANNUAL ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIR In the absence of a Vice Chair for the Housing Commission, Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz entertained nominations from the floor for Chair of the Housing Commission. Commissioner Johnson nominated current Chair Judy Thorbus to continue as Housing Commission Chair. Chairperson Thorbus nominated Commissioner Johnson for the position of Chair. Commissioner Johnson respectfully declined. Hearing no other nominations, the Community Development Specialist closed the nominations. Chairperson Judy Thorbus was reelected Chair of the Housing Commission by unanimous consent. Chairperson Thorbus appointed Commissioner Johnson as Vice Chair of the Commission. OTHER BI�SINESS Councilmember Ryan stated that one of the� items discussed at the Council goal setting meeting was a point of sale ordinance for the city. He noted that this bas been considered before by the city and requested the Community Development Specialist to comment on point of sale. The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the history of the point of sale ordinance in the City of Brooklyn Center noted that it had been rejected by the City Council on two previous occasions to his knowledge. He explained the most recent proposal for a point of sale ordinance was proposed by the Housing Commission several years ago. He explained the ordinance was modeled after the Bloomington City Ordinance which addressed correction of hazardous items only. The Community Development Specialist continued to briefly review the history of point of sale noting that other cities such as Hopkins and St. Louis Park have had point of sale ordinances for quite some time and that Minneapolis has a truth in housing ordinance which was previously reviewed by the Housing Commission. 1-16-07 _2_ Councilmember Ryan requested information on the city's previous consideration of point of sale far the next Housing Commission meeting. The Community Development Specialist stated that he would assemble information on point of sale to try and give Commission members an idea of the previous discussion of point of sale by the Housing Commission and the City. The Commission members entered into a discussion on the merits of a point of sale ordinance for the City. Commissioner Kuykendall noted she had gone through a truth in housing process when she sold her home in Minneapolis. She noted she believed the report generated by the Minneapolis truth in housing ordinance gave some sense of peace of mind to the buyer. Commissioner Lee discussed point of sale as it relates to homeowner vs. landlord situations. The Community Development Specialist noted that currently rental housing is inspected on a regular basis in the city under the City's rental license ordinance. Commission members concluded their discussion of point of sale and agreed to discuss point of sale at their February meeting. Chairperson Thorbus reminded Commission members of the upcoming Remodeling Fair done jointly by the Cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Robbinsdale and other surrounding northwest metro communities. The Community Development Specialist noted the Remodeling Fair will be held in the Crystal Community Center on March 31, 2007. He noted he would provide Commission members with information on the upcoming remodeling fair. Chairperson Thorbus requested that Commission members bring in any articles or information they consider relevant to the Commission's interest for discussion and future meetings. Commission members then engaged in a discussion of issues relative to the city's image, particularly with regard to housing and redevelopment in the city. Commissioner Johnson inquired whether the Commission would again discuss the 2007 agenda at the next meeting. Councilmember Ryan noted that the Council's 2007 goals will be published and that ultimately some of these issues generated from the goals may involve Commission's, including the Housing Commission. He indicated right now the Housing Commission agenda is pending. There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Lee to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:45 p.m. ��h irm 1-16-07 -3-