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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 02-21 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE I CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2006 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Vice Chairperson Mark Yelich at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Vice Chairperson Mark Yelich, Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson and Jean Schuster. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Cannody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Chairperson Judy Thorbus was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Schuster to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES January 17, 2006 June 6, 2005 Special Session It was noted that the January 17, 2005 minutes should be corrected by making Commissioner Lawrence Anderson's absence an excused absence. There was a motion by Commissioner Schuster and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2006 Housing Commission meeting as amended. The motion passed. There was a motion by Commissioner Schuster and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson to approve the June 6, 2005 special meeting minutes as submitted. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Vice Chair Yelich noted he had attended the Brooklyn Center Birthday Party noting that it was a very well attended and enjoyable event. CO UNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Carmody reviewed the January 25, 2006 Opportunity Site public meeting which included a discussion of the Northbrook site. She explained the report of the Opportunity Site Task Force will be presented to the City Council on February 27, 2006. CONSIDERATION OF MEMORANDUM FROM COUNCILMEMBER DIANE NIESEN REGARDING ORDINANCE NO. I2: B UIDING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY Vice Chair Yelich introduced the item and asked for staff comment. 2-21-06 -1- The Community Development Specialist explained the item had been referred to the Housing Commission by the City Council its February 13, 2006 meeting. He suggested that one option would be to send the memorandum to the City Attorney to assess the implications of revising the City Ordinance and to establish some options or parameters for the Housing Commission to work within. The Commission discussed the issue of duplexes including the business aspect of duplexes. They discussed the implications of renting to relatives versus non-relatives. Councilmember Carmody discussed the revisions to the rental licensing fee schedule for duplexes which amended the fee schedule from $300 per two year period to 400 per two year period. The Commission next discussed non-conforming duplexes in R-1 zones and the requirements therefore including material that had been previously considered by the Housing Commission in 2005. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated that it is unclear what the memorandum is requesting. The Commission discussed the memorandum and there was a general consensus that the memorandum seems to create a definition of a"mother-in-law apartment", which would be a new creation not part of the current ordinance. Commission members continued their discussion of the memorandum and the current status of the city ordinance with regard to rental licensing of duplexes. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson su ested that gg unless the problem referenced in the memorandum is a wide spread problem, she does not think the Housing Commission or the City should address the concerns for a small number of people and does not think we should use our resources on this issue. Commissioner Schuster stated she agreed with Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson. Vice Chair Yelich stated he is reluctant to create an ordinance classification based on personal relationships which the "mother-in-law apartment" seems to infer. Commission Members continued to discuss the implications of the issues raised in Councilmember Niesen's ordinance. There was a motion by Vice Chair Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Schuster to rej ect consideration of the memorandum from Councilmember Niesen dated January 20, 2006. The motion passed. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE ROLE OF HOUSING COMMISSION Councilmember Carmody reviewed the list of current housing related concerns and topics which she had prepared and which was based on a list the Housing Commission had prepared in 2005. The list consisted of ten items. The Commission's discussion included the following: 1. With regard to the Opportunity Site, this item addresses projects that are not immediate. 2. The Housing Commission met with the Chair of the Planning Commission in 2005. 2-21-06 _2_ 3. With regard to this item, it was determined that former Commissioner Leino would be contacted regarding his definition of `transitional' housing. It was also noted that this item would require research. 4. Discussion on this item focused on the enforcement of ordinances, which is a staff function, versus recommendations for changes in enforcement policy. 5. It was noted that certain elements of this item are already being worked on. Commissioner Schuster suggested that the Commission could invite Monique Drier from the Police Department to a Housing Commission meeting. 6. It was noted this item had previously been reviewed by the Housing Commission and also by the Council in the recent changes to the city's rental ordinance. 7. The Commission discussed this item as a marketing issue. Commissioner Schuster suggested the use of unpaid interns for work in this area. Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson noted that the City of Crystal uses a message sign to show numerous events occurring in the city. 8. With regard to this item Vice Chair Yelich stated that if the City is trying to raise the tax base, then building additional housing may not result in the maximum tax base if the housing is under valued. Commissioners also discussed the disparity in values between homes in Brooklyn Center and other cities. Councilmember Carmody suggested that using the term under valued is not the best approach and that value is based on the drive of market forces. Vice Chair Yelich stated that values of homes in similar age communities show that Brooklyn Center appears to be under valued. He suggested the need for an analysis to determine reasons why this is occurring and to develop policies to address the issue. 9. Commissioners also discussed the Housing Commission roster noting that apparently 10 at one point the Commission maximum was seven but was increased to nine. Vice Person Yelich noted that he is agreeable to the items on the list except that we would need to clarify the term `transitional housing'. Councilmember Carmody stated that she would try to email former Commissioner Leino regarding this item. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson suggested emphasizing the marketing aspects of No. 7 and No. 8, pointing out that the perception of the City affects the market value of homes. OTHER B USINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Schuster and seconded by Commissioner Lawrence- Anderson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:35 p.m. �w L '�7 .,.,,��t rw...--• Ch irman� 2-21=4� -3-