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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 09-16 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 16, 2003 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Yelich at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Mark Yelich, Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Mary Barrus, Lloyd Deuel, Judy Thorbus and Jean Schuster. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody, Public Works Director/City Engineer Todd Blomstrom and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Erickson was absent and excused from the meeting. Commissioners Johnson and Leino were absent and unexcused from the meeting. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Barrus and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 20, 2003 There was a motion by Commissioner Barrus and seconded by Commissioner Thorbus to approve the minutes of the May 20, 2003 Housing Commission meeting. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Commissioner Yelich took a few moments to discuss new residential developments in the city. He pointed out several new projects including the replatting of land near 69 and 252, for a single family development, proposed conversion of the Best Western motel to senior condos, new housing to be constructed at 5900 Emerson and 5912 Camden and approval of a 21 unit townhouse development near the Earle Brown Fann Aparhnents at Humboldt and 69�'. He also brought up the ongoing discussion of senior housing on properiy currently owned by St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Councilmember Carmody noted that the housing project at St. Al's is currently on hold. Chairperson Yelich commented that he was pleased the rental licensing ordinance passed unanimously and posed the question whether the City has guidelines and incentives in place to attract responsible citizens with regard to new housing developments occurring in the city. UNCIL CO LIASON REPORT Councilmember Carmody discussed attendance at Housing Commission meetings and pointed out -1- that Housing Commission Members should call the Community Development Specialist if they are going to be absent from a meeting otherwise their absence would be recorded as unexcused. UPDATE ON RENTAL LICENSING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT Chairperson Yelich briefly discussed the passing of the rental ordinance amendment and invited Commission Members to ask questions about the ordinance and how it will be implemented. Commissioner Deuel stated he had attended several of the ARM meetings where the ordinance proposal was discussed and he observed several apartment owners and managers contending that they should not be held responsible for tenant behavior. He sta.ted the Housing Commission should keep tabs on the ordinance and the apartment owners and managers belief that they should not be held responsible. Commissioner Barrus inquired whether or not the Housing Commission would receive information on the calls for service for apartment complexes. Councilmember Carmody stated that as a Councilmember she would receive the calls for service data and would be able to provide them. i The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed some of the administrative aspects of the ordinance including the new division of the city between east and west and the assignment of a Police Lieutenant to each sector. In addition to the two Lieutenants, Kevin Benner and Curt Lund, the CSO's, BeckyBoie and Matt Knocar will also be assigned a sector and serve as the liaison to apartment complexes in that sector. The Commission continued its discussion on the ordinance amendment and the importance of the amendment to the city. Chairperson Yelich commented that at one of the ARM meetings he attended he did not hear any widespread opposition to the ordinance but did hear opposition coming from a few individual apartment owners. The Community Development Specialist stated he would try to keep the Commission updated on the progress of the ordinance. DISCUSSION: DRIVEWAY PAVING REQUIREMENTS Chairperson Yelich commented that this issue is not a high priority with the City Council based on the April joint meeting between the Housing Commission and Council. He added that Councilmember Carmod had reviousl recommended the Commission work on this issue on our Y p Y own and present something to the Cit Council in the future. Y Councilmember Carmody again emphasized this issue is not a high priority with the City Council and that this is also an issue that is likely to generate a lot of opposition from those persons who do not have paved driveways. Councilmember Carmody then discussed acceptable standards for driveways under the existing ordinance including what constitutes adequate cover for a gravel driveway and what happens if vegetation is growing through the gravel and generally what is an -2- acceptable standard for a driveway. Commissioner Thorbus pointed out that staff indicated that they were going to follow up on getting a count of unpaved driveways. The Community Development Specialist noted that the Spring sweep had already started when this issue came up last year and explained that staff will try to obtain an accurate count of unpaved driveways during the next code enforcement sweep in 2004. The Public Works Director pointed out that during the city's ongoing street project improvement program residents are encouraged to pave their driveways during street reconstruction. Commissioner Yelich inquired of Commissioners if they would interested in pursuing the driveway paving proj ect. There was a consensus among Commission members that they wanted to wait until data was available on the number of unpaved driveways in the city. DISCUSSION: 2003-2004 MEETING TOPICS Chairperson Yelich encouraged Commission Members to discuss ideas for meetings for the coming year. Coxnmissioner Thorbus commented on the construction of senior cooperatives going on in the northwest area including one constructed in Osseo and one in Brooklyn Park, both built by a company called Real Life Cooperatives. Commissioner Lawrence Anderson indicated she would like to look at specific code issues for the upcoming year, how various code requirements are being enforced and what are the code issues in the city. 'I Commissioner Thorbus inquired as to current statis�ics on apartment rental vacancies. Commissioner Yelich noted that the Saturday Star Tribune paper shows vacancy rates in the metro i, area. I Commissiner Thorbus brought up the issue of senior housing and noted that the Commission had discussed in the past, looking at senior buildings built in other cities. I The Public Works Director brought up the issue of how neighborhood improvement projects could I be promoted as street improvements are undertaken throughout the city. Chairperson Yelich brought up the issue of traffic calming designs and devices to promote pedestrian traffic and reduce speed in street improvement projects. Councilmember Carmody noted that this concept was tried on Woodbine and the neighbors did not like the traffic calming devices. She explained people felt cars were too close together. I Commissioner Schuster brought up the issue of commercial garbage pick up at strip malls and noted some problems with the pick up at the strip mall off Humboldt Avenue next to High Crest Estates. -3- Councilmember Caimody addressed the issue of conversion of single family homes to rental properties pointing out that this seems to be increasing in the city. She inquired whether there would be any possibility of regulating this process in the future. Commission Members discussed the October Housing Commission meeting. Commission members agreed that the meeting would be focused on a discussion with the Community Development Director regarding development and other issues currently underway in the city. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOZIRNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Barrus and seconded by Commissioner Thorbus to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. (l.�:n.6'L "N�� Chairr�n -4-