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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 08-08 ENBHACMMINUTES 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 AUGUST 8, 1991 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee was called to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Committee members present were Jody Brandvold, Everett Lindh, Dolores Hastings, Robert Torres, June Scofield and Pamela Frantum. Also present were Council Liaison Phil Cohen and Assistant EDA Coordinator Tom Bublitz. Committee members absent and excused from the meeting were Dennis Marrow and John Kalligher. APPROVAL OF MINUTES JUNE 25, 1991 There was a motion by Committee Member Lindh and seconded by Committee Member Hastings to approve the June 25, 1991, minutes as submitted. The motion passed. RESULTS OF NEWSLETTER SURVEY The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained Committee Member Jody Brandvold had tabulated the results of the surveys included with the first housing newsletter, and the results showed that 95 surveys were returned, representing almost four percent of the total surveys mailed out. In general, a four percent return from a mail survey is quite good. The Assistant EDA Coordinator summarized the results of the survey and pointed out the item receiving the most responses in the "very important category" was question number one regarding stricter enforcement of codes and ordinances regulating maintenance of homes and yards. Additionally, he pointed out most of the written comments received on the survey forms were related to code enforcement items. Committee members discussed the results of the survey and agreed it would be important to include an article on the results of the survey in the next neighborhood newsletter. One of the comments received on the survey related to the problems of disposing of household waste, including household hazardous waste and other items that are not to be placed in the normal household garbage. A comment from a homeowner indicated the problems related to disposing of these types of wastes. 4/23/91 -1- The Assistant EDA Coordinator commented he had recently been to the Hennepin County Transfer Station, located in Brooklyn Park, which is intended to accept numerous kinds of household waste that are not to be placed in the regular garbage. He explained he believed the facility in Brooklyn Park was not very "user friendly," especially to older residents. He pointed out the facility seems to be intended for commercial haulers, and individual homeowners may have a difficult time navigating through to the proper location to dispose of their items. The committee discussed what assistance could be given to help with disposal problems of households as they relate to items that are not put in with the regular trash. Council Liaison Cohen suggested possible assistance by the business community through the distribution of flyers and information pieces that would provide detailed information on where and how to dispose of these types of items. He suggested if this were done, it should be a piece that would be worth keeping. Council Liaison Cohen suggested the committee think about how they could get this information to residents. The committee continued to discuss the issue of disposal of household items, and Council Liaison Cohen suggested it might be possible to have some kind of day set aside at the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station for Brooklyn Center residents to make the facility easier to use. The committee continued its discussion related to household waste disposal and considered the issues of education of residents and possible assistance with pick up of certain items. Council Liaison Cohen suggested information should be detailed and should provide as much guidance as possible, such as how to dispose of hazardous waste and other similar items. The committee continued this discussion on the disposal of items at the Transfer Station. Committee Member Lindh pointed out he believed the information on disposal is important to get out to the residents, but he did not want to incur a great amount of expenses and liability on the part of the City, especially in regard to disposal of household hazardous waste. The committee continued its discussion on household waste disposal and asked the Assistant EDA Coordinator to invite a representative from Hennepin County to the next meeting to discuss how the City might be able to better utilize the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station and, perhaps, sponsor a pick -up day for Brooklyn Center residents at the facility. CONTINUE CODE ENFORCEMENT DISCUSSION The Assistant EDA Coordinator distributed a flow chart he had prepared with regard to the housing code enforcement process. He briefly reviewed the flow chart which followed the process taken by City staff when a complaint is received. 4/23/91 -2- The committee discussed what its appropriate role should be with regard to code enforcement. Committee members agreed that one important role of the committee is in the area of education. The committee felt it was important to consistently provide ongoing education with regard to the housing maintenance code and enforcement. Items discussed included preparation of a series of articles on code enforcement for the neighborhood newsletter and preparation of a summary of the City's maintenance code which could be easily read by residents. The committee requested that the Assistant EDA Coordinator work on preparing a summary of the housing maintenance code, which could be used as an educational tool for residents. SELECTION OF ARTICLES FOR FALL NEWSLETTER Committee members discussed possible articles for the fall Earle Brown Neighborhood Newsletter, including highlighting homeowner or rental housing improvements in the neighborhood and a possible interview with a homeowner or rental owner, article on homes which have been acquired and demolished for development of new single family homes, Purchase Plus Program, results of neighborhood survey and comments from first newsletter, code enforcement article, and article on 57th Avenue storm sewer project. The Assistant EDA Coordinator noted he would have rough drafts of the newsletter articles for the next committee meeting. NEXT MEETING DATE The committee agreed their next meeting would be held on Thursday, September 12, 1991. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Committee Member Hastings and seconded by Committee Member Torres to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Bublitz Recording Secretary 4/23/91 -3-