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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990 09-25 HCM J MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA Regular Session September 25, 1990 City Hall BALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Eoloff, Commissioners Robert Torres, Ernie Erickson, Pamela Frantum, Neal Nelson, John Kalligher and Jon Perkins. Commissioners Barbara Jensen and Reynold Johnson were absent and excused from this evening's meeting. Also present were City Council Liaison Phil Cohen, EDA Coordinator Brad Hoffman and Assistant EDA Coordinator Tom Bublitz. Also in attendance at the meeting were representatives from the Southeast Neighborhood Advisory Group. Members present were Planning Commission member Wallace Bernards and Southeast Neighborhood Advisory Group members Everett Lindh, Ben Davidson and Louis Sullivan. APPROV&L OF A GENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Kalligher and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the September 25, 1990, Housing Commission agenda. The motion passed. APPR OF MI MAY 23. 1990 AND XIL 23. 1990 There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commission Frantum to approve the May 23, 1990, and July 23, 1990, Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. FJ,ANN G S ESSION HOUSING ST VOR W SOUT NEIGHBORH Chairman Eoloff requested the Assistant EDA Coordinator review the Maxfield Study and Housing Implementation Plan for the benefit of the members of the Southeast Neighborhood Advisory Committee. The -Assistant EDA Coordinator summarized the elements of the Maxfield Study and Housing Implementation Plan for the commissioners and the Southeast Neighborhood Advisory group members. Councilmember Cohen explained the Housing Commission saw the deterioration of certain housing in various neighborhoods of the City and began a plan to address the problem. The City Council then hired the Maxfield Research group to critique the entire City with regard to its position in the housing market. Publicorp was then hired to determine how to implement the recommendations contained in the Maxfield Study. Councilmember Cohen continued to explain one of the major problems is the shrinking of the home 9/25/90 1 L market in the metropolitan area with three to four homes on the market for each buyer. Both the Maxfield Study and the Housing Implementation Plan were intended to give guidelines to address the problems. Councilmember Cohen emphasized the implementation of the recommendations, and that the plan won't work without community support. With community support, change can be accomplished. He pointed out the City has invested time and money into the effort and now the need is to address community input and support. Chairman Eoloff inquired whether it would be advantageous to establish a nonprofit group at this particular time. The EDA Coordinator explained this may be an issue later on, but now the need is to address how we are going to approach the neighborhoods with regard to development of a housing strategy. Councilmember Cohen expressed the need to establish an advisory committee staffed by the Assistant EDA Coordinator to accomplish things like inventorying of problem homes and reviewing housing programs and policies to help carry out the overall strategy. Additional items to be addressed would include informational meetings to work with the southeast neighborhood, including a liaison with the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. He concluded the goal of the committee would essentially be how to determine the best way to dispense information to the neighborhood and proceed with implementing a program. Chairman Eoloff expressed interest in serving on the committee for the southeast neighborhood. Commissioner Erickson brought up the issue of locating leaders within the southeast neighborhood from such areas as the school district, service clubs and other sources. Councilmember Cohen commented that it would be an excellent idea and pointed out there is the nucleus of a steering committee now in the members from the Southeast Neighborhood Advisory Group. Discussion ensued among commission members regarding the maintenance of homes, acquisition of homes and various problems experienced by people in maintaining their homes, especially if they are single, head -of- households. Councilmember Cohen again emphasized the housing problems have been expressed in the two studies, and the Council is now committed to action. He explained the Council has purchased properties for demolition and rebuilding of single family homes, enforced various housing and building codes and is now looking at expanding their efforts to develop an overall housing strategy for the city. 9/25/90 2 r l Commissioner Erickson commented he believed the Spot RenewalProgram should be a high priority in the housing strategy. Commissioner Kalligher commented from his perspective the highest priorities are multi family housing, Spot Renewal Program and continuation of code enforcement. Mr. Lindh, representing the Southeast Neighborhood Advisory Group, commented on the element of neighborhood pride and emphasized this is a key element necessary in any kind of program developed. Councilmember Cohen asked for the input of the members present from the Southeast Neighborhood Advisory Group. Mr. Ben Davidson commented he was concerned about the negativism from some realtors with regard to the Brooklyn Center and Camden area. He encouraged development of a public relations element in the overall plan and to make notice, for example, of people who have done substantial improvement to their property, including home rehabilitation and landscaping. He explained he was not aware of the City's Spot Renewal Program, and he wondered how many people in the city actually know about the program. Mr. Davidson also inquired whether the Chamber of Commerce has been involved in housing issues in the city. The EDA Coordinator explained the Chamber was involved in the development of the request for proposal for the housing study and is now involved in developing a similar study for commercial and industrial properties. Planning commission member Bernards commented the housing implementation plan should be required reading for all teachers in Brooklyn Center. He commented the plan is particularly important with regard to highlighting the changing demographics in the city and expressed his belief the school is an excellent resource for members of a housing committee. He added he does not think there would be any problem with finding members to establish a committee in the southeast neighborhood. Chairman Eoloff determined it would be appropriate for a subcommittee to be appointed to serve as a steering committee to assist in establishing an ongoing group to address housing issues in the southeast neighborhood. Chairman Eoloff agreed to serve on the committee and to appoint as members, Mr. Louis Sullivan, Everett Lindh, Ben Davidson, Wallace Bernards and Commissioners Pam Frantum, John Kalligher and Bob Torres. Mr. Bernards suggested that Jody Brandvold, June Scofield and Delores Hastings should also be contacted regarding their interest in serving on the committee. There was a motion by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Commissioner Erickson to establish a subcommittee to serve as a steering committee for development of a southeast neighborhood committee and to conf irm the appointments to the subcommittee made by the Chair. The motion passed. 9/25/90 3 4 Commissioner Eoloff appointed Commissioner John Kalligher as chairman of the subcommittee. 0 After a brief discussion, the first meeting of the subcommittee was set for 7 p.m. on October 23 at a location to be determined, with a preference for the meeting to be held at another location from City Hall. USCUSSION ITEM VOLUN ACQUISITI PROG FOR S INGLE- FAMILY HOMES The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained one of the major elements of the Housing Implementation Plan is the planned acquisition of single- family homes under the Spot Renewal Program. He pointed out voluntary acquisition of single- family homes implies acquisition without providing relocation benefits to the owners, and this approach is significantly different than acquisition where relocation benefits are included in conjunction with acquisitions. The cost differential between voluntary versus acquisition with relocation is substantial, and the approach to acquisition through a voluntary basis is significantly different than using relocation. The Assistant EDA Coordinator then reviewed the Voluntary Acquisition Program guidelines developed by the City of Richfield and pointed out a major element of a voluntary acquisition program is the solicitation of homes to be acquired. He explained in a voluntary acquisition program it is not possible to target specific homes in a particular area but that the solicitation must be opened up to all eligible homes in a particular area. He added the acquisition program could set guidelines for the types of homes to be acquired, such as limiting it to substandard homes, those with obsolete or faulty design, or those which are detrimental to the safety or health of adjoining properties. He concluded by recommending the City develop a specified voluntary acquisition program which would define specific goals for the program and would establish specific criteria for selecting properties to acquire. After a brief discussion of various issues related to spot renewal and voluntary acquisition, the Commission tabled consideration of further discussion on a voluntary acquisition program until such time as the staff returns to the Commission with specific recommendations on a voluntary acquisition program for the City. ADJOURN There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Chairman 9/25/90 4