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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 11-05 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 NOVEMBER 5, 1992 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Committee members present were Jody Brandvold, Dolores Hastings, June Scofield, Everett Lindh, Pamela Frantum and Robert Torres. Committee Member Douglas Rossi was absent and excused from the meeting. Council Liaison Phil Cohen had a conflict with another meeting and was not present at the Committee meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES JULY 16, 1992 AND OCTOBER 1, 1992 There was a motion by Committee Member Brandvold and seconded by Committee Member Frantum to approve the minutes of the July 16, 1992 meeting as submitted. The motion passed. Committee Member Dolores Hastings noted a correction in the October 1, 1992 special meeting minutes on page 5 of the minutes. She explained in the last paragraph on page 5, the minutes should read that the City will fill in the gap between the front yard and the street rather than the driveway and the street. There was a motion by Committee Member Lindh and seconded by Committee Member Hastings to approve the minutes of the October 1, 1992 meeting as corrected. The motion passed. UPDATE ON STREET IMPROVEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained he had spoken with Sy Knapp, the Director of Public Works, who explained that the preliminary feasibility study for the southeast neighborhood street improvement project may be complete enough by December to present to the Earle Brown Neighborhood Committee. He explained the preliminary feasibility study which would be presented in December would not be a complete feasibility study but would provide enough information to the Committee to give them a preliminary estimate as to the extent of work that needs to be done. He also pointed out, that after the preliminary feasibility study is completed, the Earle Brown Neighborhood Committee could schedule additional meetings with the neighborhood to discuss the results. Committee members generally agreed and requested staff to present the feasibility study to the Earle Brown Neighborhood Committee 11 -05 -92 -1- prior to submitting it to the City Council. Committee Member Everett Lindh said he would also like to see as much information as possible on the Orangeburg pipe in the southeast neighborhood so correction of this item could be done at the same time the street improvement project is undertaken, if it is approved. Committee members discussed how to inform potential buyers of homes in the southeast neighborhood as to the type of pipe that may be in place connecting their home to the street. It was concluded that it would be very difficult to inform potential buyers of this situation since there are no accurate records as to the type of pipe used in the connection between the homes and the curb for water and sewer. The Assistant EDA Coordinator noted that he would return to the Committee with the results of the preliminary feasibility study as soon as it is completed. NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER The Assistant EDA Coordinator said that he had received a good response on the neighborhood newsletter articles on the Household Outside Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) program and the City's rehabilitation grant program. He suggested that another article on the H.O.M.E. program should be included in the next newsletter since this is a new program and residents may be relatively unaware of it at the present time. Committee Member Brandvold brought up the issue of awarding home rehabilitation grants more than one time to the same property. She also noted that she believed the satisfaction form that is sent to homeowners after the lien period has expired for their rehabilitation grant may encourage people to apply for a second grant. The Assistant EDA Coordinator stated he was not aware of anything in the satisfaction that would encourage a second grant since this is a legal document, but he explained he would look into the exact wording of the satisfaction and report back to the Committee. He also explained the Brooklyn Center Housing Commission had addressed the issue with regard to awarding more than one grant to a household and that the Commission decided not to limit grants to one per applicant, however, an applicant must wait at least five (5) years between grants so that the previous grant lien has expired before they can obtain a second grant. He also noted the City Council is concerned about the type of work done on any second grants and requests staff to research the, previous grant when a new grant is awarded so that the same or similar work is not included in the second grant. Committee Member Hastings stated that she would like to continue to 11 -05 -92 -2- y advocate for neighborhood watch groups in the next newsletter. Committee Member Brandvold suggested that we need to work with groups of volunteers and do some door knocking with regard to initiating some interest in the Crime Watch program. She added that she believes personal contact is necessary in developing a program of this nature. She suggested doing a future article with a sample letter and instructions to individuals on how to start a Crime Watch Block Club in their neighborhood. The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained that he would take the suggestions of the Committee regarding newsletter articles and return to the next meeting with a rough draft of newsletter articles. REPORT ON REMODELING /REDESIGN AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION PROJECTS The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained he had been working with Mr. Bill Schatzlein, who has formed a nonprofit housing corporation to address housing issues in suburban areas. One of the projects Mr. Schatzlein had been working on with the City was the remodeling /redesign and homeowners association projects which have been discussed at previous meetings. Mr. Schatzlein had presented the outline and goals of the projects at a meeting with local banks and followed up with a phone call and letter requesting participation from the banks in the funding of the program. At the present time, Mr. Schatzlein has not been able to secure adequate funding to continue the project and it appears that, for the present time, these projects will not be moving forward through Mr. Schatzlein's nonprofit corporation. The Assistant EDA Coordinator pointed out that the projects are still valuable and needed projects and that there may some other means of accomplishing them in the future. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE PROJECTS Northbrook Shopping Center The Assistant EDA Coordinator noted the issue of redevelopment at the Northbrook Shopping Center was introduced at the October 1, 1992 special meeting of the Earle Brown Neighborhood Committee and at that time it was suggested that it be placed on for discussion at the next regular Earle Brown Neighborhood Committee meeting. He explained he had discussed this matter with the EDA Coordinator and, based on that discussion, it may be possible to have the owner attend a future meeting of the Earle Brown Neighborhood Committee. The Committee members discussed the possible redevelopment of the Northbrook Shopping Center and discussed the possibility of doing some type of neighborhood services survey after the Committee has had a chance to meet with the owner of the center. 11 -05 -92 -3- WELCOME COMMITTEE The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained he had discussed this item with the Chamber of Commerce Coordinator and she noted that there was no Welcome Wagon active in Brooklyn Center at the present time. He explained the Chamber Coordinator indicated an interest in the project but that she did not have time to devote to assisting the Committee in organizing a Welcome Committee. Committee Member Torres stated that his idea for this Committee was that when a new homeowner applies for a homestead, he or she would be informed that people representing a Brooklyn Center Welcoming Committee will be calling in the near future. Committee members discussed the Welcome Committee concept and noted that it is important for the success of any endeavor of this nature to have a great deal of participation from various neighborhoods and individuals who are willing to take responsibility for welcoming individuals into their specific areas. Committee Member Frantum suggested that a newsletter article be done to solicit names for interest in working on a Welcome Committee. The Committee members suggested that the Welcome Wagon international organization be contacted to determine whether or not they can provide some assistance in establishing this type of Committee in the City of Brooklyn Center. It was also suggested that a representative from the Welcome Wagon organization could be invited to a future Committee meeting. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Committee Member Lindh and seconded by Committee Member Hastings to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Bublitz Recording Secretary