The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2000 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 REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 CONFERENCE ROOM B I CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners Martin Frawley, Shawn Taylor, Dennis Snook, Kathleen Carmody, Michael VonDeLinde, Mark Yelich, and Elizabeth Aavis. Also present were City Coux��il �,��san Bob Peppe and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Chairperson Ernie Erickson and Vice Chairperson Lloyd Deuel were absent and excused from the meeting. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS The new commission members introduced themselves to the commission. Commissioner Frawley noted he had lived in the City of Brooklyn Center since 1998. Commissioner Davis stated she grew up in Brooklyn Park and left the area for a period of time and has now retumed to the area. She noted she works for a government entity and is interested in the public service aspect of the Housing Commission. Commissioner Taylor explained he graduated from Brooklyn Center High School and is looking forward to working on the Housing Commission. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Snook to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 16, 2000 There was a motion by Commissioner VonDeLinde and seconded by Commissioner Taylor to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2000 Housing Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT Due to Chairpeson Erickson's absence there was no report from the Chair. At Chairperson Erickson's request, Commissioner Carmody chaired the meeting. 09-19-00 -1- UPDATE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES The Community Development Specialist provided the following update on develo ment activit�es P in the City. Existing tenants are moving to new spaces in Brookdale Mall including Wilson Leather, Fanny Farmer and Whitehall Jewelers. Additionally, a new GAP store is under construction. Motel Six is under construction and consists of 102 motel units at Xerxes and 65th Avenue North. A new Brookpark Dental Clinic has begun excavation work at the 6400 block of Brooklyn Boulevard. Building number 2 at the Joslyn site is about to start earthwork. The first building was a Wickes Distribution Center and the second building is a 110,000 square foot office/wazehouse building. The Hennepin County Govemment Center/Library is expanding by approximately 60,000 square feet and this project is under construction. In conclusion the �ommunity Development Specialist nc�tea t�f tYie E�r� had solcf a scattered site lot at 5900 Emerson Avenue for development of a single family raxnbler home similar to the ramblers constructed in the Bellwe Lane project. STAFF REPORT AND COMMISSION DISCUSSION REGARDING REVIEW OF CITY ORDINANCES Commissioner Carmody explained she had taken photos around the City showing examples of issues the Commission is examining with regard to parking, driveways etc. She explained she thought this was a good way to examine each of the issues the Commission will be addressing. The Community Development Specialist distributed copies of ordinance sections from several cities which address the areas the Commission is reviewing with regard to their May 16, 2000 discussion of code items. The Community Development Specialist reviewed the background of the Commission's discussion noting the conunission has been reviewing various code enforcement issues and information on an ongoing basis for several years. For the benefit of the new members, he explained the Commission met with the City Prosecutor several months ago and he reviewed issues relative to the existing City ordinance provisions with regard to parking, storage of vehicles and other code enforcement items addressed by Chapters 12 and 19. He then explained the Housing Commission reviewed Chapter 12 and 19 in their entirety and selected several code areas to review which were summarized in the May 16, 2000 minutes as follows: Requiring improved surfaces on dirveways, I Parking on side of house/garage. �I Improved surface on driveways, side of house and areas visible from street. Eagan Ordinance relative to parking of RV's, sports vehicles, boats etc. Issue of parking vehicles in rear yards. 09-19-00 -2- Limit on number of collector cars as defined by State statute. Chapter 19-103 paragraph 12 parking of commercial vehicles. Chapter 12-706 fence maintenance. Chapter 12-711 yard cover. 50% guideline regarding coverage by dirveway (Chapter 19-103 paragraph 14 subparagraph a). Commissioner Carmody next reviewed her photos in more detail which addressed the code issues the Commission is reviewing. The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the ordinance sections from other cities and explained he would prepare a surnmary of the ordinance provisions from the cities surveyed. for the next meeting so that the Commission could compare the City of Brooklyn Center's provisions with the cities surveyed. .SE?". �O� HOZISING D�SCUSSION The Community Development Specialist summarized the commission's previous consideration of senior housing. He noted this item was brought to the commission by staff in light of the anticipated increase in the need for senior rental housing by the year 2010 when large numbers of "baby boomers" will likely be looking for affordable rental housing. He explained the Commission has been reviewing information related to senior housing and has discussed touring senior buildings in other communities to gather information in assist them in examining what options would be best suited for Brooklyn Center's needs. Commissioner Carmody noted that one of the unportant issues is what rype of senior housing is needed and where space is available to construct senior housing in the ciry. Commissioner Frawley inquired if the Commission is to come up with a specific recommendation with regarding to senior housing. In response to Commissioner Frawley's question, the Community Development Specialist explained, in his estimation the Housing Commission's role is to research what type of senior housing is available including researching what is available or being considered in other cities and what will� be the needs of the Brooklyn Center population and then report the information. He explained it is too early to address a specific role for the City with regard to senior housing. Councilmember Peppe pointed out that senior housing is being considered in conjunction with commercial uses for the City owned property at 69th and Brooklyn Boulevard. Commission members briefly discussed the report title Senior Housing Market Update 2000. Commissioner Frawley inquired when the report was prepared. The Community Development Specialist explained the Maxfield report was done in July of this year. 09-19-00 -3- The Community Development Specialist explained the Maxfield Research organization is one of the primary research firms used by private and public sector organizations for market data including housing market data. He added that if the Commission thought it was useful he could contact the author of the report and invite him to the November Housing Commission to discuss senior housing with the Commission. There was a general consensus of commission members to invite Mr. Rick Fenske, author of the senior housing report published by Maxfield, to the November Housing Conunission meeting. Commissioner Carmody requested staff to contact the City of Robbinsdale to fmd out how much senior housing they have, how it was constructed and how it was financed. Commissioner Yelich commented that many seniors want to remain in their homes as long as they can and suggested that it is important to look at options of assisting persons who choose to stay in their homes. Commissioner Yelich also recommended the Commission review the option uf conve`rting existing apartment buildings to senior housing. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Snook noted he had talked to the Community Development Specialist about the apartment ordinance in Minneapolis regarding trespassing. He explained the Minneapolis program, which is called the SAFE program, allows City of Minneapolis palice to enter private property to enforce a no trespassing ordinance if the owner of the property signs an affidavit and posts a no trespassing sign. Comxnissioner Snook pointed out that the no tresspassing sign in a• window gives permission to the police to arrest if an individual is trespassing on the property. The Commission requested the Community Development Specialist to contact the City of Minneapolis regarding how the ordinance works in the City. Commissioner Snook briefly relayed his personal experience as a property owner in Minneapolis who has participated in the SAFE program. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Davis and seconded by Commissioner Frawley to adjour e meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission a urn :3 .m. �n Cfiauman 09-19-00 -4-