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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 10-16 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 OCTOBER 16, 2001 CONFERENCE ROOM B CALL 7'O ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Erickson at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Ernie Erickson. Commissioners Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Dennis Snook, Lloyd Deuel, Michael VonDeLinde, and Mark Yelich. Also present were Council Liaison Ed Nelson, and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioners Kathleen Carmody and Shawn Taylor were absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motian by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yelich ta approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. Chairperson Erickson noted that a discussion of 6318 Unity Ave.nue North would be addressed under other business. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -.September 18, 2001 There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner VonDeLinde to appro��e the September 18, 2001 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSON 5 RF.PORT Chairperson Erickson noted that Coinmissioner Elizabeth Davis has indicated she is moving out of the city of Brooklyn Center and is submitting her resignation from the Housing Commission. He stated a motion to accept her resignation from the Commission would be in order. There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner VonDeLinde to accept the resignation of �ommissioner Davis from the Housing Commission. The motion passed. CONTINUED RFVIEW OF RV ORDINANCES FROM OTHER CITIES Chairperson Erickson noted that staff had assembled data with regard to two areas concerning RVs, one being a police department incident report relative to RVs and the other a count of recreational vehicles received from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Drive and Vehicle Services. Chairperson Erickson explained the police incident or complainr report covered the entire year of 2000 and showed only 15 incidents or complaints, the majority of which were traff'ic related incidents relative to RVs. With regard to the Department of Public Safety's data on registered RVs, he pointed out it shows 195 recreation vehicles are registered in 10-16-01 -1- the City of Brooklyn Center including th.ose registered to businesses including auto dealerships. Cammissioner Lawrence-Anderson inquired whether the Commission's concern with RVs is related to safety or aesthetics. Chairperson Erickson explained the issue with regard to RVs was brought to the Housing Commission from the City Council. He noted the Commission is looking at the issue of both large recreation vehicle parking in addition to smaller recreational related items including boats, snowmobiles, trailers etc. It was noted the one issue relative to RVs initially addressed. by the City Council was a situation where an RV was parked in a driveway and was allegedly blocking the view of the neighbor as he backed out from the driveway onto the public street. Commissioner Snook arrived at 7:25 p.m. Chairperson Erickson explained that the Commission is addressing its assignment from the City Council by first looki.ng at how other cities address RV parking and storage. Chairperson Erickson then briefly reviewed the various ordinances received from other cities with regard to RV parking and storage. The Corrunission entered into a discussion with regard to the various city ordinance provisions from ofher municipalities. At the conclusion of their discussion, the Community Developinent Specialist indicated that he would provide a written report for the Commission on the data r.eceived from other cities in a more readable format so that it woulcl be easier to compare various provisions of the ordinances received. The Community Development Specialist noted that he would also try to get data, on the registration of other recreational items such as trailers, snowmobiles etc. Councilmember Nelson inquired what the City of Minneapolis had for an RV ordinance. The Community Development Specialist noted he would check with Minneapolis to see what their ordinance says with regard to RVs. The Housing Commission continued its discussion of RV parking and general code enforcement items and there was a consensus to table the discussion of RV parking to the next xneeting. There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Snook to table the dfscussion of recreational vehicle garking to next month's meeting. The motion passed. OTHER B USINESS The Commission discussed the status of code enforcement activities at 6318 Unity Avenue North. Staff reviewed the various violations at the address with regard to code enforcement including accumulation of junk/furniture/appliances, illegal parking/storage of vehicles and unlicensed/inoperable vehicles. He explained this address is currently active with regard to the code enforcement process. Commissioner Yelich expressed a concern that this address appears to be a chronic code enforcement problem and believes that something is not working in the system whether it is the lack of ordinances, lack of enforcement or a problem with the courts. The Commission continued its discussion of code enforcement particularly as it relates to problem properties chronically violating the city code enforcement ordinances. 10-16-01 -2- Commissioner Lawerence-Anderson expressed a concern about how inany people inight be occupying the house at 6318 Unity and expressed a concern about proper egress windows and the possibility of people sleeping in the basement area. Chairperson Erickson noted the Housing Commission had reviewed the issue of the number of people occupying a dwelling unit and reviewed other city ordinances with regard to this issue. He noted the City does have a provision in its housing maintenance code relative to limits on occupancy but that this issue is extremely difficult to enforce particularly with regard to immediate family members The Commission continued its discussion of code enforcement and problem properties. The Commission discussed the City acquisition of properties that were in such a condition that they were beyond rehabilitation and warranted demolition. The Community Development Specialist noted the City has had an active progratn with regard to the purchase of single family properties for redevelopinent, the Bellvue Lane project being the largest of these projects. He also noted that the City's focus for the last few years has been on redeveloping some of the larger redevelopment sites in the City and on coinmercial/industrial development. The Commission continued its discussion of code enforcement and deteriorated properry acquisition and Councilmember Nelson suggested that the Housing Commission could address these items at future meetings and suggested that the Housing Commission could play some type of role in review of problem properties. Councilmember Nelson reviewed for cornmission members the status of the city street improvement project program. He explained the street and water and sewer reconstruction pro�ram is 41 complete now with the program starting in 1994 and estimating a 20 year time period to complete tl�e city. He pointed out that the individual costs for the improvements are paid 40% by residents and 60% by the City. He noted that in five years the cash operating fund may not be able to pay at the same percent as today and the City is looking at options for continuing the program. Chairperson Erickson recalled that at the start of the project it focused on problem areas in the City where the infrastructure is deteriorated. He inquired as to the current criteria for selecting project areas. Councilmember Nelson explained that there are sti11 a number of areas where the streets appear to be in good shape but the water and sewer system is worn out. Councilmember Nelson also noted that the City has now established a new street light utility. Commissioner members continued to discuss the street improvement program and code enforcement issues, including problem properties that appear to be chronic issues for code enforcement. The Community Development Specialist commented that on the positive side there are a significant amount of people moving in to Brooklyn Center and remodeling homes including basement remodels and the addition of egress windows. He noted that over the past few years there have been a sigruficant number of basement remodels where families are putting a significant investment into their homes. At the request of the Commission, the Community 10-16-01 _3_ h Development Specialist explained he would try to have a report on the number of permits issued for remodeling over the past few years. includin code enforcement issues Conunissioner Yelich suggested that the issue of housmg, g should be a regular agenda item for the Commission. Chairperson Erickson suggested that the Commission inight want to talk to the Community Development Director regarding this issue when he addresses the Commission for his aimual update. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Comrnissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yelich to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housuig Commission adjoumed at 8:25 p.m. �(�J ''Chair am n 10-16-01 4-