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Home My WebLink About2007 05-15 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BRUOKLYN CENTER 1N THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MAY 15, 2007 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Thorbus at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Judy Thorbus, Commissioners Michael Johnson, Kara Kuykendall, Steve Landis, and Kris Lawrence-Anderson. Also present were Mayor Tim Willson, Council Liaison Dan Ryan, Council Member Mark Yelich, City Manager Curt Boganey and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioners Yolanda Lee and Joshua Xiong were absent from the meeting. APPRO i�AL OF A GENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Kuykendall and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —APRIL 17, 2007 There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2007 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Thorbus stated that she did not have any items to report but did acknowledge the City Manager's May 2, 2007 letter regarding the status of Housing Commission projects and priorities. DISCUSSION WITH MA YOR AND CITY MANA GER Mayor Willson discussed the Council's goal setting activities noting that some of the goals would fall within the purview of the Housing Commission but presently they are not ready for the Housing Commission to address as yet. In response to a question from Chairperson Thorbus, Mayor Willson commented that the goals for the Housing Commission had not been finalized yet and noted that the City Council is aware that the single family rental issue and the Due on Sale ordinance is important to the Housing Commission. The City Manager briefly reviewed the City Council's 2007 to 2008 goals which included addressing changing demographics, code enforcement, infrastructure, crime reduction, improvement of the city's housing stock, redevelopment, financial stability, and maintaining lower property taxes. He noted the first five of the goals had received roughly the same ranking from the City Council in terms of priority. 5-15-07 Page -1- Commissioner Kuykendall stated that she supports the goals and commented that the Commission is ready to assist the Council with the work of addressing the goals. A discussion ensued regarding the option of the Commission meeting throughout the summer and what issues were ready for the Housing Commission to address. Mayor Willson commented that historically the Housing Commission has done a lot of research on projects including the Commission's past work on a Due on Sale type ordinance. Mayor Willson stated that, rather than having the Commission perform extensive research, he wanted to have more complete information available to the Commission to save time and make sure their input is obtained on complete and correct information. Councilmember Ryan also discussed the importance of the Housing Commission's role to solicit resident input on items which would eventually come to the City Council. Councilmember Yelich stated he was impressed with what he has heard so far this evening and appreciated Councilmember Ryan's information on the Housing Commission's role to receive resident feedback and emphasized the importance of channeling the positive energy of this group on issues that will be addressed by the Council. Commission members continued to discuss the Commission's role in the Council's goals for 2007 and 2008. The City Manager pointed out that it has been his experience in working with Commissions that it is important to bring information that is well thought out to make more productive use of the Commission's time. He also noted that the Housing Commission's role does not have to be limited to simply reacting to staff proposals but that the information brought to the Commission by staff should be as complete as possible when it is presented to the Commission. Discussion continued relative to the Housing Commission's involvement in the Council's goals. The Mayor and City Manager discussed the 2008 budget cycle and how it affects planning and project development. For example, the City Manager discussed a Due on Sale type ordinance that may be a tool to achieve certain housing goals but must be considered and weighed against all other choices in terms of the use of city resources. He emphasized that, if a Due on Sale type ordinance is considered, there will be a need to critically analyze how it will help to achieve housing goals of the city. Commissioner Kuykendall pointed out that the Commission started discussing a Due on Sale type ordinance but that she feels strongly about code enforcement and about Section 12-913 of the city code as it relates to smaller rental properties including single family. She explained the Time of Sale or Due on Sale ordinance dropped pretty quickly in terms of priority relative to 12-913 and code enforcement. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she thinks the community will not be supportive of a Due on Sale ordinance if the single family rental issue is not addressed. She added that she is still waiting for the Council to determine a focus for the Commission and she thinks the single familyrental issue a is the highest priority the Commission can address. 5-15-07 Page -2- The City Manager pointed out that even though the 12-913 Calls for Service numbers are down, the police department would make the point that it does not address enough of the problems at some of the city's rental properties, which means we may have to go beyond 12-913. The City Manager emphasized the need to take a strategic approach on all issues relative to housing. Discussion ensued regarding options for regulating rental properties in the city and the City Manager stressed that the long term viability of the community is .to have residents voluntarily adhere to standards and to not have to do it exclusively with ordinances and enforcement. Discussion continued regarding housing and rental property issues. Chairperson Thorbus noted that the Commission had reviewed the International Property Maintenance Code some time ago and questioned whether this could save time instead of revising Chapter 12. She cited the example of Columbia Heights. The City Manager stated he had looked into the International Property Maintenance Code and is aware that several communities use it including Brooklyn Park. Commissioner Landis pointed out that we have to assume 12-913 has improved the conditions at apartment complexes since the numbers are down. He noted that it should also extend to single family properties. The City Manager commented that one of the issues is that many of the problems people complain about at single family homes are not the ones addressed in 12-913 and is more often a property maintenance issue, not a criminal issue. He also commented that enforcement of current ordinances m�y be the issue, not a need for revised ordinances. He added that it is essential to look at the data and then craft a solution. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she would like to re-examine Ordinance 12-913 and look at bringing the ordinance to units under four. Commission members again discussed the issue of ineeting throughout the summer. Commissioner Kuykendall stated she would like to see where we are at in 30 days out on the staff side and to meet next month and get a report from staff. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Kuykendall and seconded by Commissioner Landis to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 9:07 p.m. LJ L i n 5-15-07 Page -3-