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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 05-25 EBNHACMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EARLE BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA May 25, 1995 Conference Room A Brooklyn Center City Hall CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Jody Brandvold. ROLL CALL Chairperson Jody Brandvold, committee members Everett Lindh, Johanna Mills, Joyce Lindquist, Nancy Carlson and Karen Youngberg. Also present at the meeting were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Committee members absent and excused from the meeting were Robert Torres, Dennis Morrow, Robert Jechorek and Deborah Iverson. Also absent from the meeting was committee member Dolores Hastings. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MARCH 23, 1995 There was a motion by Committee Member Lindquist and seconded by Committee Member Mills to approve the March 23, 1995, minutes, as submitted. The motion passed. DISCUSSION AND FOLLOW -UP FROM APRIL 25, 1995, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING The Community Development Specialist noted that over 180 people attended the April 25 neighborhood meeting to discuss the Hennepin Community Works concept. County Commissioner Mike Opat gave a presentation on the Hennepin Community Works concept and reviewed the issues regarding the Humboldt Avenue Parkway project as part of the Hennepin Community Works Program. Commissioner Opat pointed out that we are now in the "first hour" of the project, and he stated that he would not move forward with the project unless there was support from the neighborhood. Time was allowed for numerous people from the neighborhood to make comments regarding the Hennepin Community Works concept and the Humboldt Avenue Parkway. Residents opposed to the parkway concept spoke against the project and generally pointed out issues such as loss of tax base, loss of revenue for the school district and a general feeling that there was not a clear enough relationship between the cost of the project and the benefit. Additionally, people also spoke in favor of the parkway concept, pointing out the need for revitalization of the southeast neighborhood. Generally, the persons speaking in opposition to the concept outnumbered the persons speaking in favor; however, when Commissioner Opat asked for a show of hands regarding the intent to take the next step in the project, the split in the show of hands was approximately 60% to 40 with 60% in favor of 5 -25 -95 taking the next step. The next step in the project would be to analyze the project from a feasibility, cost benefit and design perspective. The Community Development Specialist then reviewed the legislation that was passed during the last legislative session, which has included $200,000 in planning money for the Hennepin Community Works Program. He pointed out the Governor may line item the $200,000 out of the legislation, but at this point the funding is still in the bill. If the money remains in the bill, the $200,000 would be made available in July 1995, planning and the feasibility analysis would take place over the next few months, and as required by the statute, Hennepin County, working in conjunction with the Metropolitan Council, must report to the legislature by February 15, 1996, with its recommendations regarding the Hennepin Community Works Program. The Community Development Specialist pointed out he would keep the committee informed of activities regarding the Hennepin Community Works Program. DISCUSSION ON ST. LOUIS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING PROGRAM Since the Community Development Specialist had a video to show on this item, the committee deferred consideration of this item until later in the meeting. NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP PROJECT The Community Development Specialist explained he had spoken with the Community Development Director and that if the Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee wanted to conduct a cleanup project, the most effective way of getting it accomplished would be to make it a budget item in the 1996 budget. Chairperson Brandvold commented that she had been in Arizona recently and the City of Apache Junction in Arizona conducted a curbside pickup for residents twice per year, with residents being required to pay $10 to the city for this service. She explained the city even went to the extent of picking up junk vehicles. Committee members discussed various cleanup programs conducted in Minneapolis, Robbinsdale and New Hope. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that the program in New Hope costs in excess of $50,000 annually for a program where people bring materials into a central drop -off location. The Community Development Specialist explained that as he recalls the committee's discussion, one of the reasons for doing a neighborhood cleanup project would be for older residents who are unable to get materials to a drop -off or even to a curbside pickup. Committee member Carlson stated that she believes there are relatively few numbers of people in this situation and that most people are able to get their materials to a drop -off site. Committee members continued to discuss a cleanup project and, in general, the cost of such a program was a major concern of the committee. Committee Member Carlson stated she believed that code enforcement should be emphasized 5 -25 -95 -2- rather than trash pickup. Committee Member Lindquist stated that she believes neighborhood cleanup is kind of an infectious -type thing and that if others in the neighborhood are cleaning up their yards, neighbors will follow in suit. There was a general consensus of the Fade Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee to not make cleanup day or a cleanup project as part of the 1996 budget recommendations and to continue to focus on neighborhood cleanup, but to accomplish it with existing resources. Chairperson Brandvold suggested that perhaps the Crime Watch groups could be looked at to be the lead groups in neighborhood cleanup. The next item the Community Development Specialist addressed was the committee's landscape project. He explained that it has become apparent to him that in order to really see this project move forward, he would recommend that some budget dollars be allocated to accomplish the landscape project. He explained he has not met with a great deal of receptivity in trying to accomplish this project with volunteer assistance. He stated it would be his recommendation to request an amount in the 1996 city budget to accomplish the landscape project. Councilmember Carmody pointed out a related item she would like to look at is options for housing redesign and how to educate residents and committee members on how we can make our housing stock more unique and attractive. Additionally, Councilmember Carmody pointed out the possibility of doing a tour of homes to show various remodeling approaches and also some type of project that would show how to improve a typical Brooklyn Center house with a typical floor plan. Committee Member Carlson stated that she believes we need to address code enforcement first and that we are not at a point where home tours or remodeling projects would take the highest priority. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that a couple of years ago the City had explored doing a project with a local nonprofit to take approximately four to five different home styles in Brooklyn Center and conduct classes using architects and designers on how to accomplish remodeling of these homes. He explained a similar program in Richfield had been comprised of a number of classes with architects, designers and contractors, but that attendance at these workshops was relatively limited, and the program was not entirely successful. In Brooklyn Center's case, he noted that local banks were originally considering funding this project, but the cost benefit could not be demonstrated to the point where they would consider funding it. Committee members continued to discuss the issue of remodeling, code enforcement and a potential home tour. Chairperson Brandvold pointed out that substantial remodeling projects are extremely expensive and that a typical addition would cost $30,000 or more. The committee continued its discussion on neighborhood improvements and code enforcement 5 -25 -95 -3- and, as part of the discussion, the issue of paved driveways came up with Councilmember Carmody noting a number of non -paved driveways in the City appeared to detract from the appearance of the house. The Community Development Specialist noted that at one time the City had been considering an ordinance requiring paved driveways and that he would follow up on what happened to this ordinance. UPDATE ON 1995 PAINT -A -THON The Community Development Specialist pointed out that this year the Paint -A -Thon program has allowed participants to request a specific house if they are able to do so. He noted that he and Dave Fisher, the City Building Inspector and co -team leader for Paint -A -Thon 1995, looked at the houses which had applied to Paint -A -Thon from the southeast neighborhood. He explained that the best candidate, in his opinion, appeared to be the home at 5825 Irving Avenue North and that he had requested this house in the 1995 application. He noted that the team leader meeting for the 1995 Paint -A -Thon will be held on June 28, and that the homes would be matched up with teams at that meeting. DISCUSSION OF NEWSLETTER ARTICLES The Community Development Specialist noted that he was proposing articles for the next newsletter on the MHFA's first -time home buyer program (MCPP), the Household Outside Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) program, and the Hennepin Community Works Program. Councilmember Carmody stated that she would contribute an article on housing improvement programs. Committee Member Everett Lindh added that he would volunteer to write an article on code reminder items and neighborhood cleanup. Committee Member Karen Youngberg noted that she would contribute an article on the City's "Discover the Center" campaign. CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER LANDSCAPE AND GARDEN CONTEST The Community Development Specialist noted that the City's engineering department, and specifically Joyce Gulseth in the engineering department, had created a landscape and garden contest for the City. He noted that individuals can nominate themselves or their neighbors for the contest and that the contest will feature two divisions: residential and business. Awards will be given for flower gardens, landscaping, or both. According to the rules of the contest, a property can win more than one award. Applications need to be submitted by July 17, 1995, and that winners will be notified the first week of August. CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON ST. LOUIS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING PROGRAM Since this item involved viewing a video of the St. Louis Park neighborhood organizing program, committee members agreed to adjourn the formal meeting and view the St. Louis Park 5 -25 -95 -4- video. ADJOURNMENT The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Bublitz Recording Secretary 5 -25 -95 -5-