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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002 04-16 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 APRIL 16, 2002 CONFERENCE ROOM A CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Yelich at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Mark Yelich, Commissioners Ernie Erickson, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dennis Snook, Lloyd Deuel, Kathleen Carmody, and Judy Thorbus. Also in attendance were Council Liaison Tim Ricker and Community Development 5pecialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Michael VonDeLinde was absent from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Snook and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -March l9, 2002 The Community Development Specialist noted the March 19 minutes would be available at the next Housing Commission meeting. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT Chairperson Yelich stated the amendment to Chapter 12 regarding rental property was passed by the City Council on March 25"'. He stated he was pleased the City Council passed the ordinance rather than delaying it any longer. Chairperson Yelich acknowledged the Commission Appreciation gathering held on Monday and praised the Housing Commission for their participation in the event. He added that he was happy to be associated with the members of the Housing Commission. REVIEW OF MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES RELATIVE TO HOUSING The Community Development Specialist noted he had provided several ordinances from other cities to the Housing Commission relative to rental property issues. He added that the ordinance I amendment passed by the City Council could be considered phase 1 of a larger effort and explained that the Commission's review of these ordinances is the start of phase 2 of the process to improve the City's ordinances relative to housing. 4-16-02 -1- The Community Development Specialist noted he had attended a meeting in Brooklyn Park, held by the City to meet with property owners and managers relative to the proposed rental housing ordinance in Brooklyn Park. He noted the basic purpose of the ordinance was to address police calls at the various rental properties consisting of 16 or more living units. The Brooklyn Park ordinance proposes to divide the properties into three levels with the first level having approxunately double the residential rate of police calls. The second level is equal to approximately double the level of level one and the third level is anything above level two. The ordinance would create different license fee levels for each complex depending on their performance with level one at 75 of current costs, level two at 150% and level three at 300%. He explained the property owners and managers had several concerns and criticisms of the ordinance including the fact that they felt the ordinance should include all rental properties and not just sixteen units or more. Additionally, the owners and manager present at the meeting indicated there is somewhat of an arbitrary difference between the various levels and they believed this was not equitable. Commissioner Thorbus inquired which of the ordinances included in the Housing Commission packets have actually been passed. It was noted that the Community Development Specialist would followup on this item with each of the cities. Chairper.son Yelich noted that he was impressed with the statement of purpose stipulated in the City of New Brighton ordinance and thinks that New Brighton's statement is very good. He particularly pointed out the language which dealt with the problem of blight being a disincentive to reinvesting in the community. Discussion continued regarding the various ordinances from other cities. The Community Development Specialist pointed out he had made contact with the City of Minneapolis and has obtained some contacts to get information about the SAFE program which he would try to do for the next Commission meeting. The Housing Commission next reviewed a summary of the calls for Police Medical and Fire Service at rental properties in Brooklyn Center, with more than four units, between 1999 and 2001. It was noted that the average calls for service was 1.18 calls per month in 1999, 1.23 in 2000 and 1.41 in 200L The Commission continued to review the calls for service noting that the range seemed to go from less than one call a month all the way up to almost five calls per month at the highest level for 2001. With regard to the City ardinances regulating rental properties, Commissioner Thorbus inquired what category four or five referred to in the state statute reference 244.1890. It was noted the Community Development Specialist would research this and return with a response to the Commission. 4-16-02 -2- Commissioner Erickson inquired as to the status of the Brooklyn Park Ordinance. The Community Development Specialist noted the Brooklyn Park City Council was to have a work session to discuss the ordinance and after that hold a public input session at the regular Council meeting. He indicated he would follow up on the status of Brooklyn Park's ordinance and report back at the next meeting. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson inquired how these ordinances are working out in other cities including the provisional license approach used in the several of the ordinances. It was noted that the Community Development Specialist would research the status of the ordinances in the other municipalities and report back at the next Housing Commission meeting. Chairperson Yelich commented that the calls for service approach seemed to be used in all the ordinances but that the Minneapolis system had a bit more elaborate system than the others. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson noted that she recalled that one of the ordinances from the other municipalities seemed to require background checks on apartment managers. Chairperson Yelich pointed out the St. Louis Park ordinance, an owner or manager could request that police do a background check on managers or tenants. Councilmember Ricker pointed out state law requires that a resident manager have a background check done on them if they have keys to the apartment units. Chairperson Yelich summarized the issues identified, pointing out that background checks are required by Brooklyn Park and that this may be an important issue especially if the City of Brooklyn Center does not require it. Additionally, he pointed out the ordinances seem to focus on the calls for service to complexes in addition to what the Minneapolis ordinance states regarding building condition. Commissioner Thorbus suggested that the Commission should look at the background check and Minneapolis model in particular. Commissioner Lawrence-Anderson suggested that the Commission also look at the provisional license, its length and whether or not the provisional license model is working now in other cities. Chairperson Yelich also addressed the issue of staff time required to administer ordinances and that this should also be addressed in the City's consideration of ordinances. He also added that the potential legal fees related to enforcement of ordinances should also be considered. Commissioner Erickson also raised the issue of whether or not the fee structure in the various ordinances is a deterrent to the kind of behavior the ordinance's are addressing. Commissioner Thorbus noted that the International Property Maintenance code was mentioned in some of the material and inquired whether the Commission could get a copy of the International Code to compare what it says relative to other ordinances. 4-16-02 -3- OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Yelich requested Commissioner Erickson to followup regarding the letter to the City Council on recreational vehicles. Commissioner Thorbus raised the issue of how the Housing Commission co�ld help get the ward out on the Code Enforcement sweep coming up this spring. She inquired whether there could be an article in the POST, defining code items and about the Code Enforcement Sweep. She also inquired whether the sweep was included in the City Watch Newsletter, the City's web site or Channel 12. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Chairman 4-16-02 -4-