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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 09-19 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGiJLAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2006 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, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Joshua Xiong and Mark Yelich. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. It was noted that Commissioners Robert Paulson and Jean Schuster had resigned from the Commission. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 16, 2006 There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Yelich to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2006 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Thorbus noted the Commission did not meet in June but did conduct a review of the southeast neighborhood during the summer. Commission members participating in the southeast neighborhood review were Commissioners Yelich, Johnson, Xiong, Paulson and Chairperson Thorbus. Commission members discussed the review of the southeast neighborhood and noted their initial reaction was that they did not see significant problems in the area. The area reviewed by Commission members included 57 Avenue North, south to the golf course and east to I-94. Commissioner Johnson commented that he was not totally clear on what the Commission was looking for and noted that much of the Commission's review was based on their own impressions of the area. The primary comment of Commission members with regard to items that could be improved in the southeast area was the parking of cars on residential lots including the total number of cars. 9-19-06 1 Councilmember Carmody discussed the Council's review of the ordinance relative to parking of cars and noted the difficulty of drafting an ordinance that would address the problem properties without affecting families with a large number of drivers. Additional comments by Commission members regarding their review of the southeast neighborhood included the issue of landscaping and that properly maintained landscaping made a great deal of difference in the appearance of homes. Commission members next discussed the 57 and Logan redevelopment project. The staff liaison reviewed environmental issues affecting the site including both on and off site issues primarily due to the contamination from the former dry cleaner located at the site. Commission members continued their discussion of various issues including: Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel closings, the surmised reasons for their closing and the city actions to acquire the sites. Discussion of the Brookdale Square strip center and the continued vacancies at the center. Commissioner Johnson stated he would like to get at the reasons why the Brookdale Square Shopping Center was not successfuL The Commission discussed the Opportunity Site and the proposed reconfiguration of businesses in the Opportunity Site area. COUNCIL LIASIONREPORT Councilmember Carmody reviewed the following items addressed by the City Council recently: The City Council hired Mr. Curt Boganey as the City's new City Manager. Councilmembers discussed the status of the Community Center and the possible long term analysis of its future. Councilmembers discussed the efforts of the city's police department with regard to the education of new immigrants including the New American's Academy. CONTINUED DISCUSSIONOFHOUSING COMMISSIONNEIGHBORHOOD REVIEW Commission members continued their discussion of the parking of cars on residential lots and discussed the City Council's past actions on this issue and also how other city's address parking in their ordinances. The staff liaison inquired of the Housing Commission whether they would like to make a formal report to the Council on their neighborhood review. Commission members continued to discuss their neighborhood review but did not elect to prepare a formal report. Chairperson Thorbus noted that landscaping was an important feature noted by the Commission's review and Commission Johnson pointed out that landscaping was a salient issue in their review of the southeast neighborhood. Commissioner Yelich suggested that their may be creative ways of encouraging improvements to landscaping and Commissioner Johnson posed the question of how to encourage action LIKE professional assistance with regard to improving landscaping such as discounts at nurseries, etc. 9-19-06 _2_ OTHER BUSINESS Commission members discussed rental housing in Brooklyn Center and Commissioner Yelich stated he would like to discuss the City of Bloomington's approach to rental housing as contained in their administrative plan. He noted he had brought a copy of this to the last Commission meeting in May. The staff liaison noted that there are larger cities such as Bloomington that run their own Section 8 programs and in addition have city owned public housing. Commissioner Yelich noted Bloomington's administrative guide addresses screening of tenants and suggested that it may be helpful in learning how to accomplish screening of tenants in single family homes. Commission members discussed briefly whether to meet or adjourn for the rest of the year. Commissioner Yelich stated he was interested in pursuing a discussion of tenant screening in single family homes. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson stated she would like to address the single family home rental issue pointing out that it is a key issue in the city presently. There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:50 p.m. i irnz 9-19-06 _3_