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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 11-14 CDBGM MINUTES`OF THE PRQCEEDINGS OF THE COMMIJNITY DEVELOPMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMI3'TEE OF THE CITY OF BRO.�'iKLYN CENTER IN TIiE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA NOVEMBER I4 I.979 CZTY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Barb Jensen called the Community Development Citizens Advisory Group to arder at 7:25 p.m. ROLL GALL Chairperson Barb Jensen, Committee members Lois Itline and Steve Cohen. Also present was Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman. Chairperson Jensen noted that Committee members Bill Hawes and Doug Perry had asked to be excused. Chairperson Jensen nated that there was not a quorum but because there were mem- bers from the public present for the public hearing that those present would receive their comments. PRCSGRAM REVIEW Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman reviewed the Community Development Program regulations with those present. He noted that the program regulations were the same.as in Year Five and that it was essential that all Community Development acti�ities demonstrate a princxpal benefit to Zow and moderate income individuals. He also reviewed the Housing Assistance Plan noting the gaals that are established for the City and the relationship between their attainment and the Community Development Program. He added that copies of the reguiations and a program des- crigtion was available to the general public. Following Administrative Assistant Hoffman's camments, Vern Ausen, a representative of the Hennepin County Planning Service Area Cammittee, briefly discussed the priorities of the County's citizens group. He noted that priority wauld be given to projects that reflect a concentrated effort within given neighborhoads. Fol-� lowing his comments there was a brief discussion of the new cooperatian agreement between the cooperating municipalities and Hennepin County. It was no�ed that Brooklyn Center would no longer be treated as`an entitlement city but would instead be granted a plalzning amount of money. Administrative Assis*ant Brad Ho fman indicated the purpose of this public hearing and th�t the group should an�icipate receiving approximately $325,000 in Year Six. FIVE STATUS kEPflRT A inistrative Assistant Brad Hoffmari then reviewed the.statu� sub- mi ted for funding in Year Five. He indicated that the housiz�� r�habilitation program was under way and was currently accepting applications. 'He briefly out- lined the general criteria for eligibility for a housing rehab grant. He also noted that approval had been`given �o the use of Community Development monies for the City's matching share of the LAwCON grant for Central Parl�. He stated that activity would not start until the summer of '1980 at the earliest. Eie then stated that the handicapped accessibility prajects had been"given conditional approval and that the City was waiting for final determination of those projects. A dis+cussion then ensued reiative to those projects. Committee member Lois Kline inquired if the City had appropriated sufficient funds for the administration of the projects. Administrative Assistant Hoffman replied that he felt that there was adequate funds for such activities. Cliff Williams, from the Housing Com- mission, indicated that he felt that there was a need for the handica�ped projects that had been praposed. Committee member Lois Kline stated that there was a7.so 11-14-79 -1- p a need for an elevator in the Civic Center so that the faciliti�s that were there would be accessible to the handicapped. C1iff Williams indicated that there is a need for a rubber mat on the ramps going dawn into the pool. A brief discussion then followed relative tc� the possibility of a chair lift as apposed to an'elev�.tor. It was noted that a chair lift would not be allowed under the State Building Cade, Cliff Williams again endorsed the swi.mminq programs available at the City an8 noted that theg were very beneficial to handicapped. PROPOSED PROJEGTS Committee member Lois Kline suggested that the City consider the use of a TV monitor and'speaker`system and the use of an electric door on the lower 3evel of the Civic Center to pravide access to the Community Center facilities on that level for the'handicapped. Sne indicated that such a system could be used that would allow handicapped zndividuals to enter the building on that level and check in with the c7.erks on the upper 1eve1. She stated that she felt that would be significantly less expensive than the installation of an elevator and would solve the access problem bettex than an elevator. A brief discussion then ensued and it was the consensus of the group that such a system`would be bet�er utilized for handicapped accessibility than would an elevatar. Motion by �ommittee rnember K1ine and seconded by Committee member Cohen to appro- priate $20,000 for the installation of a TV monitor and speaker system and electric door to provide the handicapped access to the lower level of the Civic Center. The motion passed unanimously, Discussion then turned to a discussion of a passive solar demonstration project in Brooklyn Center. It was proposed that Brooklyn Center select six (6) homes from volunteer low and moderate income.applicants to retrofit their homes for passive solar heating. it would be the intent af the program to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of such retrofitting. It was noted that the program would be an ongoing program over several years. It was further discussed that the six homes should represent six different but typical problems that would be encountered in retrofitting an existing home for passive solar' heating. Chair- person Jensen indicated that she felt that there would be a need to use funding for a consultant on the project and the committee concurred with that thought. Following a discussion of the solar project, there was a motion by Gommittee member Kline and seconded by Committee member Cohen to appropriate $40,000 to retrofit six existing homes to income qualified volunteers for a passive solar demonstration project. The motion passed unani.mously. Discussion then tur�ed to the housinq rehabilitation grant program. It was the consensus of the group to continue the rehab grant program and to increase the funding to $90,000 in Year Six. The motion by Committee member Kline and seconded by Committee member Cohen was passed unanamously. It was recommended that the remaining monies except for those monies necessary far the administration of the Community Development activities be apprapriated to eliminating architectural barriers to the handieapped throughaut the City's park'system. It was the consensus of the group to endorse that concept. Fol- lowing that discussion, Committee member Lois�Kline indicated she felt that the committee should express their concern with the lack of sidewalks within the �Brooklyn Genter industrial park area and especially within the area of the elderly high-rise. Those present were in consensus with that agreement a.nd asked that 'their concerns be reiayed to=the Gity Council. 11-14-79 -2- 0 ADJOURNMEN� Motion by Committee member Cohen and seconded by Committee member Kline to adjourn the Brooklyn �enter Community Development Citizens Advisory Group. The motion passed unanimously and the group adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Chairman 11-14-?9 -3-