Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 05-14 HCM 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 MAY 14, 1991 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Nicholas Eoloff, Commissioners John Kalligher, Jon Perkins, Neal Nelson and Robert Torres. Also present were Council Liaison Phil Cohen and Assistant EDA Coordinator Tom Bublitz. Absent and excused from the meeting were Commissioners Pamela Frantum, Barbara Jensen and Ernie Erickson. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 2. 1991, AND MARCH 5, 1991 There was a motion by Commissioner Perkins and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the April 2, 1991, Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. There was a motion by Commissioner Perkins and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the March 5, 1991, Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. REVIEW OF DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY'S HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE (CHAPTER 12) The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained the draft ordinance, included in the commission's packets, is a proposed amendment to the City's Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code (Chapter 12). The original recommendation for this ordinance amendment grew out of planning sessions related to the Year 2000 Report. After the Year 2000 Report was finalized, planning sessions, which included City staff, City council members, advisory commission members and other community leaders, were held to develop priorities for the Year 2000 Report recommendations, along with additional planning and implementation recommendations. He explained one of the issues that came out of the planning sessions was a recommendation to include commercial and industrial property under the provisions of Chapter 12. The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained the draft ordinance presented this evening proposes to require commercial and industrial property to meet the same levels of maintenance presently required of residential property. He explained the draft ordinance is being submitted to the Housing Commission for review and comment. Additionally, input from the Housing Commission is being requested to determine if the Commission 5 -14 -91 -1- I T agrees on the merit and philosophy of extending the Housing Maintenance Code to commercial and industrial property. Commissioner Perkins had several questions regarding the proposed amendment to Chapter 12, including a question on Section 12 -502 regarding why the increase in percentage of openable window area in each habitable room was changed from four percent to five percent. The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained this was probably due to a change in the ordinance to comply with the existing state building code requirements. Commissioner Perkins continued his questions, including a question on Section 12 -704, which appears to require bathrooms and kitchens to have a "smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surface." Commissioner Perkins questioned whether this would prohibit people from putting carpeting in bathroom and kitchen areas. The Commission generally agreed people often put carpeting in bathroom and even kitchen areas and questioned whether this ordinance provision would create a problem for homeowners who wish to install carpet in kitchens and bathrooms. The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained he did not know whether this would be required in all residential areas and indicated he would check into the details of this ordinance provision. Commissioner Perkins final specific question on the ordinance addressed Section 804, regarding minimum ceiling height. Commissioner Perkins inquired why the minimum ceiling height was changed from six feet six inches to seven feet six inches, over at least half of the floor area in habitable rooms. Again, the Assistant EDA Coordinator suggested this was probably due to making certain the ordinance complied with the provision of the state building code. Commission members generally discussed the issue of extending Chapter 12 to commercial and industrial property and questioned whether there were any requirements for commercial and industrial property that would be extended to residential property. He pointed out there were references to items in the ordinance that addressed nonresidential property, such as yard cover, where nonresidential buildings are to be maintained in accordance with an approved City landscape plan and shall be supplied with an irrigation system. He pointed out this was a requirement unique to commercial and industrial property. Commissioner Kalligher suggested the ordinance might be easier to understand if it was structured so that items applying to residential properties and items applying to commercial and industrial properties were placed in separate sections. Council Liaison Cohen suggested that one addition to the ordinance amendment should be a definition of a group home. He explained the definitions should have some flexibility, but he would like to 5 -14 -91 -2- t M see a specific definition with regard to group homes and requirements for group homes. In general, the consensus of the Housing Commission was that they agreed in philosophy with the extension of the requirements of Chapter 12 to commercial and industrial property. The primary concerns the Commission had with the ordinance amendment were regarding the structure of the ordinance and whether or not industrial and commercial requirements should be separated from residential requirements where there are differences. There was a motion by Chairman Eoloff and seconded by Commissioner Kalligher to support the extension of requirements for residential properties under Chapter 12 of the City ordinances to commercial and industrial property. The motion passed. Council Liaison Cohen suggested, at some future meeting date, the Housing Commission should review the proposed amendments to the City code regarding residential driveways and the width and surface requirements for driveways. REVIEW OF 1991 COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES ACT. HUMAN SERVICE PRIORITY REPORT The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained that included in the Commission's packet is the 1991 Community Social Services Act, Human Service Priority Report, prepared by the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council. He explained the Community Social Services Act (CSSA) is one of the major sources of funding for human service programs in Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota. Hennepin County is responsible for administering the act and is required to establish a means of gathering citizen input on the recommendations for human service program funding. He explained the enclosed report is the human service priorities established by the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council and serves as a guide plan and funding priority list for human service programs in northwest Hennepin County. He explained the pertinence of the report to the Housing Commission is that many of the issues and concerns expressed in the report address programs that directly or indirectly relate to the City's housing program and strategies. Council Liaison Cohen stated he believes the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council is a very credible group, and their effectiveness is, in part, drawn from the fact they have representation from virtually all of the northwest Hennepin suburbs. He explained the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council has been very effective in making Hennepin County understand the needs of the northwest suburbs and in bringing needed social service programs to the northwest suburbs. 5 -14 -91 -3- r ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Eoloff noted this meeting would be the last Housing Commission meeting before the summer recess. He explained the Commission's next meeting would be in September. There was a motion by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Commissioner Perkins to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Chairperson 5 -14 -91 -4-