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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 09-18 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE i F BR KLYN CENTER IN THE CITY O 00 T I COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESO A REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 COUNCII, COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Vice Chair Johnson at 7:10 p.m. ROLL CALL Vice Chair Michael Johnson, Commissioners Kara Kuykendall, Steve Landis, Kris Lawrence- Anderson, and Joshua Xiong. Also present were Council Liaison Dan Ryan, Councilmember Mark Yelich and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Yolanda Lee was not present and it was noted that mailings to Commissioner Lee had been returned and that attempts to contact her by phone were unsuccessful. Chairperson Thorbus was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Landis and seconded by Commissioner Kuykendall to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 15, 2007 There was a motion by Commissioner Landis and seconded by Commissioner Xiong to approve the minutes of the May 15, 2007 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES JUNE 19, 2007 I There was a motion by Commissioner Kuykendall and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- I Anderson to approve the minutes of the June 19, 2007 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT in the absence of the Chair, no report was submitted. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Ryan deferred his report to later in the meeting. UPDATE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES The Community Development Specialist distributed a written summary of code enforcement activities in the city between June 1, 2007 and September 17, 2007. He described the process used by code enforcement officers and noted that the officers attempted to make personal contact with as many individuals as they were able and that the personal contact was important to achieving Page 1 9-18-07 compliance. The data presented included single family properties only with no commercial or apartments. The report showed 1,401 complaints between June and September 2007 with 679 closed in that period. Staff distributed an informational brochure on foreclosure, prepared by city staff, which included foreclosure resources for Brooklyn Center residents. Councilmember Ryan discussed code enforcement activities currently underway and stated that he believes that code enforcement officers are doing what the eity council wants. Councilmember Yelich agreed with that observation. DISCUSSION OF COMMISSION FOCUS FOR REMAINDER OF 2007 AND 2008 Commissioner Landis expressed a concern regarding the city's provisional licensing ordinance and how it could address single family properties. He noted specific examples of single family problem rental properties in his neighborhood. I Councilmember Ryan referred Commission members to the document before them titled `Rental Neighborhood Improvement Strategy Development Meeting Notes and Updates August 7, 2007.' He explained this program is an effort to develop strategies to maintain and improve residential rental properties in both single family and multi-family neighborhoods. He also noted the activities of a crime study currently underway in the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. He noted the program is called Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and is intended to be a crime reduction strategy to be undertaken by the two cities. Housing Commission members next discussed new homeowners in the city and property maintenance issues related to them. Commissioner Landis discussed the possibility of the Housing Commission holding workshops for new homeowners. He added he still wants to see a mission for the Housing Commission and does not want to see this turn into a ten year discussion like the last point of sale discussion. He added that he doesn't have time to waste if the Commission does not have specific projects with a specific direction and goal. He expressed disappointment that the Commission does not have any direction and expressed reservations and disappointment coming to meetings month after month with no specific direction. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated that she believes that the Commission does have a purpose and that is to provide a perspective in addition to staff and that is important. Commissioner Landis stated he believes the Commission has largely been overlooked and that it is here to help the community and is not being used. With regard to the rental strategy program, Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson commented that she thought at least two commission members could have been included on the planning of this program. Page 2 9-18-07 1 1 Councilmember Ryan noted that it has not been his or the Council's agenda to ignore the Housing Commission in this process and that he believed there would be a role for the Housing Commission to play in the rental strategy program. Commissioner Kuykendall noted that milestones had already been missed in the program and also thought that the Housing Commission should have been able to participate. Commissioner Landis stated that he believes the Commission is not being utilized and it appears to be a trend. He expressed frustration and disappointment. Councilmember Yelich pointed out that one purpose of the Housing Commission is to serve as a sounding board for Council but that it also can bring information and issues to the attention of the City Council. He stated he believes that the discussion of different views on problems is a good approach and is helpful to the City Council. Councilmember Ryan observed that he suspected the City manager first wanted to create an initial product with regard to the rental strategy program and then present it to Commission members for review. The Commission continued to discuss whether to continue to meet or wait until the Commission has a specific direction and proj ect assigned by the City Council. There was a consensus of Commission members that it would not be productive to meet until such time as a specific or direction is assigned to the Commission. OTHER B USINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Landis and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Chairman Page 3 9-18-07