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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 04-18 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 APRIL 18, 2000 CONFERENCE ROOM B CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing CommissiQn was called to order by Vice Chairperson Lloyd Deuel at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Vice Chairperson Lloyd Deuel, Commissioners Dennis Snook, Kathleen Carmody, Mark Yelich, and Donald Arm. Also in attendance were Council Liaison Bob Peppe, Building Official David Fisher and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Chairperson Erickson and Commissioner Von DeLinde were absent and excused. Commissioner Okoya-Lawal was absent and unexcused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Arm and seconded by Commissioner Carmody to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 21, 2000 There was a motion by Commissioner Arm and seconded by Commissioner Snook to approve the minutes of the March 21, 2000 Housing Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Vice Chairperson Deuel acknowledged the reception held last night for the City's advisory commissions and commented that he enjoyed the reception and noted the turnout was very good from the Housing Commission. HOUSING COMMISSION REVIEW OF CITY ORDINANCES The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the City Manager's memorandum regarding the Housing Commission review of ordinances and noted that the commission's specific charge was to review issues related to junk vehicles, collector cars and recreational vehicle storage. The memorandum also suggested that parking of vehicles in the rear yard and number of collector vehicles allowed in residential areas be reviewed by the commission as they review the items identified by the City Prosecutor and also generally review Chapters 19 and 12. The Community Development Specialist explained he had invited the City Building Official to the meeting this evening to review Chapters 12 and 19 with the Housing Commission. 04-18-00 -1- Commissioner Carmody inquired regarding the code enforcement tracking system the City Prosecutor had referenced in his presentation to the Housing Commission. The Building Official explained that the City of Brooklyn Center will be a test city for the code enforcement tracking system to be used in Brooklyn Center and other LOGIS cities. He estimated the program would be up and running within a few weeks and the program would be able to track code enforcement activiry at specific addresses and also would keep a record of chronic code enforcement offenders at specific addresses. Commissioner Carmody inquired whether the new tracking system would speed up enforcement. The Building Official replied that the program should streamline the process to either resolve the code enforcement issue or to get to prosecution. He noted it depends on the violation and that the usual minimum time to get to the City Prosecutor is 10 days but it depends on the violation. Commissioner Carmody inquired whether there were additional structural things in the ordinance the Commission should be addressing. She noted Mr. Clelland brought up the issue of limiting I the number of collector cars and she inquired if there were any other areas the Housing Commission should address. Commission members discussed parking requirements on improved surfaces with regard to the ordinance and the building official reviewed the existing pazking requirements in the ordinance. The Building Official also reviewed Section 19-103 paragraph 12 regarding the parking of commercial vehicles. He noted this has been a problem in the past and this ordinance provision has been used many times to enforce parking of commercial vehicles. In response to a uestion from commission members the Buildin Official noted that Section q g 12-702 of City Code is used when orders are given for painting. He explained there is no percentage requirements for requiring painting of a structure and it is a judgement call on the part of the code enforcement officer. Commissioner Carmody requested the Building Official to address Section 12-706 regarding fence maintenance. The Building O�cial explained that a six foot fence under the ordinance is not considered a structure but that a 12 foot fence is considered a structure and is regulated by the building code. A six foot high fence or less is not a building code item but if it is over six feet it is a structural issue under the building code. Commissioner Carmody commented on the City Prosecutors remarks on fences where he noted that it is difficult to regulate the aesthetic look of fences. The Building Official noted that some cities have a requirement that the "good side" of the fence must be placed on the outside of the property. Commissioner Yelich noted the Commission had been concerned about parking in the rear yards of residences. The Building Official noted it was his understanding that if vehicles are parked in the back yard they must be licensed. 04-18-00 -2- Commissioner Carmody stated she thought it would be difficult to regulate back yard parking. Commissioner Yelich also expressed a concern that as many as five to six vehicles may be parked on the sides of houses which could also affect neighborhood property values. Commissioner Yelich next addressed the issue of yard cover under Section 12-711. He inquired if there is a requirement that yards must be able to absorb a certain amount of water and not have excessive runoff. The Building Official explained that drainage must be away from the house and not run on neighboring properties. He explained that on a single family lot runoff is rypically not as much of a concern as it is with commercial or multi-family properties. Commissioner Yelich requested the Bui�ding Official to review the 50 guideline with regard to coverage of the lot by driveways. The Building Official noted that this provision is found in I Chapter 19 Section 19-103 paragraph 14 subparagraph a. T'he ordinance states that "authorized driveways and paved or graveled extensions thereof may not exceed 50 of the front yard or yard azea abutting a public street unless approved by the City Council as part of a plan approval for an apartment complex pursuant to section 35-230 of the City Ordinance." The Conunission next discussed the issue of collector vehicle storage and limitations. The Building Official reviewed Section 19-1303 regarding parking and storage. He explained this section of the ordinance requires that licensed but inoperable pioneer, classic or collector vehicles may be stored on the owners property provided that they are screened from public view by means of a six foot opaque fence. Commissioner Carmody left the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Commission members continued to discuss the Housing Commission's review of code enforcement ordinances. It was determined that the Community Development Specialist would follow up on specific items and develop proposed ordinance language for commission review. The specific areas to be addressed included parking on improved surfaces and parking in rear and side yards. Additionally the Communiry Development Specialist would research ordinance language with regard to limiting the number of collector, pioneer or classic cars and also to address the issue of fences required to screen collector cars. The Commission had reached its time for adjournment and elected to defer items 7 and 8 on the agenda to the May meeting. ADJOI:IRNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Arm and seconded by Commissioner Snook to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Chauman 04-18-00 -3-