Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 03-18 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 MARCH 18, 2003 COUNCIL COMIVIISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Yelich at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Mark Yelich, Commissioners Ernie Erickson, Mary Barrus, David Johnson, Lloyd Deuel, Stan Leino and Judy Thorbus. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Kris Lawrence-Anderson was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 18, 2003 Councilmember Carmody stated that on Page 2 of the minutes she is referred to Commissioner Carmody in the fifth paragraph. Commissioner Johnson also noted that on Page 1 of the minutes in the 4 paragraph it indicates he is a life-longxesident of the city when actually he has lived here most of his life but not for all of his life. There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the minutes of the minutes of the February 18, 2003 Housing Commission meeting as amended. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Yelich explained the City Council had met recently with the Chairs of the various City Commissions to discuss the status and proj ects currently underway in the various Cammissions and to allow an open exchange of information between Commission Members and the City CounciL He also noted the budget issues were discussed at this meeting. Chairperson Yelich explained he had prepared a written report to the City Council and shared the report dated March 17, 2003, with Housing Commission Members. The report included issues of interest to the Housing Commission, the importance of the rental licensing ordinance amendment currently being considered by the Housing Commission, the goals of the Commission in regard to a revised rental licensing ordinance and a discussion of the process of amending the ordinance as it pertained to the Housing Commission's recommendations regarding the rental license ordinance -1- amendrrients. Chairperson Yelich also noted that at the meeting between the City Council and Commission Chairs, Mayor Kragness pointed out that she beiieves rnany rental property owners are supportive of the idea of an amended rental ordinance. Chairperson Yelich next brought up the issue of the possibility of an information clearing house for owners that would address tenants and inquired whether the City could facilitate something like this. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that several years ago the ARM group had discussed this issue and was advised to be very cautious by the City Attorney with regard to exchanging information about tenants in any public forum. DISCUSSION OF JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed revised calls for service graphs he had prepared showing calls for service for 2001 and 2002 including and excluding domestics. He explained the police department has indicated that at the present time the police department data does not exclude the types of domestics which the ordinance excludes for purposes of calls for service counts relative to a provisional license: Commission members next discussed a list of questions prepared by Councilmember Carmody addressed to the City Manager and dated March 5, 2003, regarding the rental license ordinance. Councilmember Carmod in uired as to the Commission's hi y q ghest pnonty for the ordinance and what should be tied to rental renewal including police reports and code enforcement. Commissioner Erickson stated that his priority for the ordinance is calls for service relative to police and fire. Commissioner Barrus commented that with regard to Item Na 2 on the list, she wanted to make sure the ordinance is addressing the tenant populations living within the building and that the housing code and how it is maintained is a separate item and the calls for service portion of the licensing renewal should be distinct from the property maintenance aspecf. Chairperson Yelich stated the scope of the ordinance is on tenant behavior and housing maintenance is outside the scope of the ordinance. With regaxd to the size of the building to be included in the ordinance, the Commission's consensus was that it should be four units. With regard to Item No: 4 regarding the Commission's preference for a one year licensing period, Chairperson Yelich stated the Commission would most prefer a one year license renewal but points to revising the licensing period is a process that needs more feedback from staff. Commissioner Johnson inquired whether or not a new license is needed if there is a chan e in g ownership of the apartment complex. Commission members pointed outthat change in ownership -2- does require a new license. Commissioner Johnson then suggested that if this is the case, perhaps we should look at all new licenses being provisional: Commissioner Barrus poinfed out that the provisional lieense is a corrective measure used to change certain behaviors and that a provisional license would cost more than a regular license. Commissioner Johnson suggested that the ordinance should address only the worst buildings. Commissioner Erickson replied that there is a need to include all complexes so that all owners are treated equally. Commissioner Johnson suggested one alternative might be to issue new licenses for a one year I period and then if the performance is satisfactory, go to a two year license. With regard to avoiding the recent problems with Summerchase, Councilmember Carmody stated this is a question primarily for staff with regard to how to avoid this situation in the future. The Commission next discussed Item Na 6 on the list which addressed the number of calls for service used to require a provisional license. It was noted thatBrooklyn Park's ordinance uses a base of .49 calls for service per unit in one year and that the current draft ordinance shows over one call for service per unit per year as the point for requiring a provisional license. The Community Development Specialist noted that the one ar more calls for service figure was based on a graphing of the calls for service for apartment complexes in Brooklyn Center where the graph showed a clear break point that would indicate a starting point for requiring provisional licenses at more than one call for service per unit per year The Commission discussed the issue of including a multiplier in the ordinance relative to an increased fee for provisional licenses. Chairperson Yelich indicated that he believed some type of multiplier specifying the increase of a provisional license over a regular license should be in the ordinance: Councilmember Carmody suggested that perhaps the licensing period could remain at two years but that there could be a provision in the ordinance where the license would switch to a provisional license if your calls for service reach the provisional license level. She requested staff to come up with some ideas for this requirement. Commissioner Lieno arrived at the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Chairperson Yelich commented that apartment complexes that are operating within the calls for service limits and other requirements of the ordinance would not see any change in how their license is issued. Councilmember Carmody concluded her comments by stating that she would also like Council input at the April2 meeting on other issues previously considered by the Housing Commission including paving of driveways, limiting collector cars and residential fencing materials and maintenance. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. -3- ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Chairperson Yelich and seconded by Commissioner Barrus to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8;45 p.m. �G�1� �I� Chair�an -4- l