Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 03-15 EBNHACM3 -15 -94 MINUTES 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 March 15, 1994 C Barn Earle Brown Heritage Center CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee was called to order by Chairperson Jody Brandvold at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Committee members present at the meeting were Chairperson Jody Brandvold, committee members Dolores Hastings, Robert Torres, Nancy Carlson, Joyce Lindquist and Betty Engdaht. Also in attendance at the meeting were Councilmember Barb Kalligher and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Committee members absent and excused from the meeting were Everett Lindh, June Scofield, Robert Jechorek, Dennis Morrow and Johanna Mills. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DECEMBER 1. 1993 There was a motion by Committee Member Lindquist and seconded by Committee Member Hastings to approve the December 1, 1993 minutes, as submitted. The motion passed. UPDATE ON MARCH 19, 1994 REMODELING FAIR The Community Development Specialist explained preparations for the five city Remodeling Fair are complete and that presently there are over 60 vendors signed up to participate in Saturday's Remodeling Fair. He pointed out the City of Brooklyn Center wi ll be hosting a booth at the fair and he requested committee members to sign up for times when they could be available to be in the City booth on Saturday. He pointed out that Terri Swanson is scheduled to be in the booth between 10:00 and noon, and that the hours of noon to 3:00 were the times when someone needed to be in the booth from the committee. Committee Members Joyce Lindquist and Dolores Hastings agreed to work in the booth from noon to 1:00, Chairperson Jody Brandvold agreed to work in the booth between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., and Committee Member Betty Engdahl agreed to work in the booth between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. UPDATE ON LANDSCAPE PROGRAM As he had pointed out at previous meetings, the Community Development Specialist explained the Hennepin Vocational College had not been able to accomplish as much as they had originally intended with regard to the landscape program in the southeast neighborhood. He pointed out that he had become aware of the fact that the instructor coordinating this project had been spending a considerable amount of time away from work due to a terminal illness of his wife. As a result, he was not able to supervise the students as he had planned, and some of the landscape plans did not achieve what we had hoped. He pointed out that some of the residents who had met with the students indicated they were only looking for a portion of their yards to be landscaped and, as a result, the students were not able to provide a complete landscaping plan for them. The Community Development Specialist explained he had spoken about the project with Brad Hoffman, the Community Development Director, and that staff would still recommend that we pursue the project, but with some other means of accomplishing the landscape plans. He explained the Community Development Director had approved the concept of trying to find an intern who may be able to work to complete an additional portion of the landscape plans for persons who had signed up for the program. He explained that he would try and contact the University of Minnesota landscape program and inquire if there was any interest on their part in doing a project of this nature. Committee Member Engdahl stated she would like to find out what the reaction was of those that received the plans. The Community Development Specialist explained that the instructor coordinating the program at the vocational college had indicated that he would be able to provide the committee with the names of those persons who had received plans, but as of this date he had not responded to that request. Committee members agreed that it would be beneficial to talk to and to actually see one of the plans that had been prepared for one or more of the Earle Brown neighborhood residents. OTHER BUSINESS PROPOSED WELCOMING COMMITTEE FOR EARLE BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD Committee members discussed creation of a welcoming committee for the Earle Brown neighborhood which could, if proved successful, be used in other parts of the City. With regard to information on new residents, the Community Development Specialist pointed out that he had spoken with a representative of the utilities department and was informed that there is no special report that can be generated for new customers; however, new accounts are listed in a separate report but they would have to be reviewed manually to pull off the single family accounts. He explained there is no separate reporting for single family utility accounts and that all new accounts are listed in one report, including commercial industrial, retail, rental, owner- occupied, etc. It was suggested that the committee could advertise for volunteers for this program in its next 3 -15 -94 -2- newsletter. The Community Development Specialist suggested that this might be an item that we should get approval from the Council prior to beginning. Committee members continued to discuss the welcoming committee concept, including the list of information that could be provided to new residents, including information on churches, schools, bus schedules, City information, civic information and police department information. The Community Development Specialist explained he would bring a copy of a new utility account report for the next meeting. Committee Member Torres suggested sending a postcard to new residents informing them that someone from the welcoming committee would be contacting them. He suggested starting with homeowners first and then perhaps expanding to the rental community. The Community Development Specialist explained that he would try to prepare a draft outline of a plan for a welcoming committee and bring this, along with a copy of the new water accounts, to the next meeting. Committee Member Torres stated that he would do a rough draft of a postcard that could be sent to new homeowners. Committee members continued to discuss the welcoming committee concept and they agreed that for the next meeting they would also try to bring names of civic groups and organizations that might be included in a welcoming committee packet. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Committee Member Lindquist and seconded by Committee Member Hastings to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee adjourned at 7:00 p.m. to attend the Brooklyn Center Housing Advisory Commission meeting. Respectfully submitted, Tom Bublitz Recording Secretary 3 -15 -94 -3-