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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 03-23 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 3 -23 -95 -1- March 23, 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 Robert Torres, Johanna Mills, Joyce Lindquist, Nancy Carlson and Deborah Iverson. Also present at the meeting were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Tom Bublitz, Community Development Specialist. Absent and excused from the meeting were committee members Dolores Hastings, Everett Lindh, Dennis Morrow, Robert Jechorek and Karen Youngberg. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 23, 1995 There was a motion by Committee Member Mills and seconded by Committee Member Lindquist to approve the February 23, 1995, minutes, as submitted. The motion passed. GUEST SPEAKER: JUDIE ERICKSON, CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK The Community Development Specialist introduced Judie Erickson, Planner for the City of St. Louis Park. He explained Ms. Erickson was here this evening to speak on St. Louis Park's program to organize their neighborhoods. Ms. Erickson began her presentation by noting that in many ways, St. Louis Park is similar to Brooklyn Center. She pointed out both cities have an abundance of post -World War II housing, including story -and -a -half structures and some of the "Orrin Thompson" bungalows built in the 1950s. Ms. Erickson pointed out that approximately three years ago, the St. Louis Park council was interested in a neighborhood task force being formed to address the issue of a "loss of community." As a result, the Neighborhood Redevelopment Commission was formed and Ms. Erickson was appointed the staff liaison to the commission. Ms. Erickson explained that St. Louis Park has 34 neighborhoods from those that are very small to more than 2,000 housing units. Some of the neighborhoods had been formed back in the 1940s. In the 1950s, St. Louis Park was the fastest growing suburb in the metro area. She pointed out that at this period in history, women were generally at home and had time to work on neighborhood issues. Now, only 20% of St. Louis Park's households have children in them. She added that more young families are moving in and that neighborhood organizers now tend to be people who have been there a long time or young families with children. Ms. Erickson explained the task force, or the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission, offers guidance on how to start neighborhood organizations. She added that the minimum number of people that is generally required to start an organization is six. She explained every neighborhood in St. Louis Park that has organized has had a positive experience. Currently, ten neighborhoods have organized in the city and the program is in its third year. The Neighborhood Revitalization Commission helps with the city's annual remodeling fair and contributes articles to the city newsletter on an ongoing basis. Also, a couple of neighborhood stories have been put on video and have been broadcast on the local cable TV station. She added that the city does not prepare the newsletters for the neighborhood organizations, but does provide for the printing of them. Generally speaking, she pointed out that a neighborhood's first newsletter usually includes a survey of the neighborhood. Ms. Erickson explained that St. Louis Park has initiated a "children first" program based on studies that have shown that if children display a list of approximately 30 assets in their lives, they would be generally predicted to be successful adults. She added the neighborhoods try to improve the lives of children in the neighborhood and one of the helpful things in this regard is that school boundaries tend to be almost identical with city boundaries. Ms. Erickson explained that some neighborhoods bring in speakers on neighborhood issues. Some monitor local politics and some focus on environmental issues. She explained that neighborhoods determine their own priorities and the city is not involved as an ongoing part of the neighborhood organization. The city generally helps start the neighborhood organizations, and so far the neighborhoods organized to date tend not to dissolve or quit. Other examples of neighborhood organizational projects include a neighborhood directory and children's parade. Ms. Erickson pointed out one important element of the neighborhood organization program is the signage for neighborhoods. She explained a volunteer designer did a prototype of a neighborhood sign which is generally two feet by two feet and then each neighborhood creates their own logo. The city sign shop then produces the sign for the neighborhood. Chairperson Brandvold inquired of Ms. Erickson as to the size of the average neighborhood and how boundaries are decided. Ms. Erickson replied that the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission defined the boundaries using natural barriers, such as railroad tracks, Highway 100, Highway 7 and Excelsior Boulevard. She explained some of the neighborhoods had already organized, and one neighborhood consisted of only 200 houses but had bylaws and a tax- exempt status. She pointed out the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission tried to use logical boundaries. She explained there are a total of 12,000 single family homes in St. Louis Park and that the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission initially set boundaries, but the neighborhood had an opportunity to change them if they preferred, and some neighborhoods did make some revisions. 2 -23 -95 -2- With regard to crime issues in the neighborhoods, Ms. Erickson pointed out that police officers are assigned to specific neighborhoods. Another item which was helpful in creating the neighborhood boundaries was that the city began collecting census data by neighborhoods, beginning with the 1990 census. Ms. Erickson pointed out that one neighborhood is organized to the extent that they have a very efficient "phone tree" system for notifying residents of various issues and information items. Committee Member Mills inquired as to what is the most effective type of neighborhood organization. Ms. Erickson explained that if neighborhood organizations have a board that meets monthly and at least one annual meeting, this is generally an effective approach to organizing the neighborhood. She pointed out that generally, a core group of people in the neighborhood is essential to maintaining the organization. Chairperson Brandvold brought up the issue of the school district's community education advisory board as a resource for neighborhood organization. Ms. Erickson explained that the St. Louis Park city council is corning up with a $20,000 fund for neighborhoods to apply for various projects in their neighborhoods. She added, however, that the City does not pay postage for mailing of neighborhood newsletters and that this must be from dollars raised by the local organizations. Committee Member Carlson asked about housing code enforcement in the various neighborhoods. Ms. Erickson explained that the City of St. Louis Park does have a Point of Sale inspection and a nuisance ordinance which have been generally effective and that these ordinances are handled by the city's inspection services. She explained the Point of Sale ordinance has been very successful overall in maintaining the city's housing stock. She pointed out the individual in St. Louis Park that could provide more information on the Point of Sale ordinances, Mr. Tom Wigfield, who is the St. Louis Park staff person dealing with housing in the city. Chairperson Brandvold stated that she believes it may be helpful to get to know neighbors via a neighborhood organization so that issues such as yard cleanup may be handled in a less blaming and more personal manner. She pointed out that the positive impact of a neighborhood organization could influence housing maintenance and upkeep in the neighborhood. Discussion ensued among committee members regarding some possible divisions of the southeast neighborhood into smaller divisions. There was a general consensus among committee members that smaller areas would probably work better in terms of organizing neighborhoods. Chairperson Brandvold noted that she believes the St. Louis Park directory of neighborhoods is an excellent idea. 2 -23 -95 -3- Committee Member Carlson stated that she believes the "phone tree" concept is also a very good idea. The Community Development Specialist inquired as to the specific role of the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission. Ms. Erickson explained that the commission's purpose is to keep things moving along and to assist neighborhoods in organizing. Initially, she explained that the commission had the city conduct the meetings of the neighborhoods. She added that speakers and neighborhood organizers from other places were invited. As a result of this initial effort, one person was excited enough to organize his neighborhood and this was the goal of the initial effort. Chairperson Brandvold inquired whether a commission like the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission is necessary for successful organizing. Ms. Erickson explained that what is necessary is some type of organizational structure that can transfer leadership in neighborhood organizations. She explained that this is generally accomplished with each neighborhood adopting bylaws so that there is an orderly transition of leaders in the neighborhood. She added that this is an important element of a self sustaining neighborhood organizational structure. Ms. Erickson explained that the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission made a map and put it in the city newsletter and it is included in new resident packets. Ms. Erickson explained that she would send some neighborhood sign samples, examples of surveys done by neighborhood organizations and also some videos of the neighborhood organizations. UPDATE ON HENNEPIN COMMUNITY WORKS PROGRAM The Community Development Specialist explained that there is no new information on the Hennepin Community Works project from that already relayed to the committee other than the fact that there will be a neighborhood meeting held on April 25, 1995, to discuss the Hennepin Community Works Program, along with other southeast neighborhood issues including the neighborhood street improvement program, storm water and street improvements planned for 57th Avenue North and the North Mississippi Regional Trail and Park. The Community Development Specialist noted that mailings will be going out to the entire 2,500 households in the southeast neighborhood for this meeting on the 25th and that Commissioner Mike Opat would be attending the meeting to discuss and explain the Hennepin Community Works Program. 1995 PAINT -A -THON The Community Development Specialist stated that he believes there is a good supply of applicants for the 1995 Paint- A -Thon from the southeast neighborhood, and that he would make every effort to assure that the committee secured a house in the southeast neighborhood this year. 2 -23 -95 -4- He then passed around the sign -up sheet for the 1995 Paint -A -Thon. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Committee Member Lindquist and seconded by Committee Member Iverson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:40 p. m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Bublitz Recording Secretary