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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 03-17 HCM t 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 MARCH 17, 1992 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairman Nicholas Eoloff at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Nicholas Eoloff, Commissioners Ernie Erickson, Pamela Frantum, Barbara Jensen, John Kalligher, Neal Nelson, and Jon Perkins. Also present were Council Liaison Phil Cohen and Assistant EDA Coordinator Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Torres was absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman Eoloff noted that since Commissioner Torres had requested item number 6 be placed on the agenda and since he was not at this evening's meeting he suggested it be removed and placed on next month's agenda. There was a motion b Commissioner Erickson and seconded b Y Y Commissioner Jensen to approve the agenda with the deletion of item number 6 which will be placed on nest month's Housing Commission agenda. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 18. 1992 There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Jensen to approve the February 18, 1992 minutes as submitted. The motion passed. FOLLOW UP PHONE SURVEY OF OTHER COMMUNITIES' HOUSING MAINTENANCE ORDINANCES The Assistant EDA Coordinator briefly introduced this item and reviewed his memorandum to the Commission with regard to the conclusions of the phone survey of municipal housing codes. Generally, he pointed out that all cities interviewed felt that their ordinances were effective in accomplishing the intent of the ordinances which were generally to maintain a certain standard of housing maintenance within the city. Cities surveyed had a wide variety of ordinances, including Point of Sale, Housing Maintenance and Truth In Housing ordinances and the staff interviewed at these cities all agreed that their ordinances were effective. The Assistant EDA Coordinator distributed samples of a real estate 03 -17 -92 -1- i transfer disclosure statement, the St. Louis Park inspection certificate checklist and the City of Minneapolis Truth In Sale Of Housing Disclosure Report. He pointed out these are the three distinct types of programs available for homeowners now, one being the real estate disclosure form, the Point Of Sale Ordinance as used in St. Louis Park and the Truth In Housing Ordinance as used in Minneapolis. Chairman Eoloff pointed out that the realtor disclosure statement is actually used more to address the potential realtor's liability rather than attempting to solve any housing maintenance problems. The Commission discussed the various features of Point Of Sale ordinances, Truth In Housing ordinances and the real estate disclosure form used by realtors. Commissioner Jensen pointed to one of the questions in the Richfield housing inspection program evaluation survey and noted that question 12, which asked how individuals heard about the new housing inspection program, showed that 52.4% of the people became aware of it through real estate agents. She added that this points to the fact that realtors must be aware of Point Of Sale ordinances in the various cities they work in, and that if the City of Brooklyn Center were to implement any type of change in the Housing aintenance Ordinance realtors g should be included in the discussion. Chairman Eoloff stated that he would like to gain some sense of where the Commission stands on the Point Of Sale or Truth In Housing type ordinances. He expressed his opposition to both a Truth In Housing type ordinance and Point Of Sale ordinance and emphasized that if the City had to undertake such programs that major items such as roof repair, furnaces, etc., should be the major focus of these types of ordinances. The Commissioners responded to Chairman Eoloff Is inquiry, and Commissioner Nelson stated that he is opposed to a Truth In Housing or Point Of Sale type ordinance. Commissioner Erickson stated he favors the Truth In Housing type ordinance because he believed it would limit the City's liability by developing such a program as opposed to Point Of Sale. Councilmember Cohen stated that the Commission may want to explore the liability issue with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. He explained that we could, perhaps, discover how much exposure the City would have regardless of the past history of no challenges to the Point Of Sale and Truth In Housing type ordinances. Commissioner Kalligher stated he would be in favor of some type of ordinance, especially to protect potential buyers. Commissioner Erickson agreed with Commissioner Kalligher and stated that one of the goals of the City is to attract young families to the City, and that if there are hidden defects in a property, this could 03 -17 -92 -2- affect a young family's ability to live in the home. Commissioner Jensen expressed concerns about possible risk exposure to the City. Also, she added, a buyer could purchase a private inspector's time to inspect the property, but added this is not likely to happen. She added that she does not favor the Point Of Sale type ordinance. Chairman Eoloff requested that the Assistant EDA Coordinator research the issue of liability and insurance exposure with regard to Point Of Sale and Truth In Housing type ordinances. Commissioner Perkins arrived at 7:45 p.m. RESIDENT SURVEY OF INCOMING AND OUTGOING BROOKLYN CENTER RESIDENTS The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained he had met with the City Assessor to discuss a possible mechanism to develop a survey process for incoming and outgoing residents. The process suggested by the City Assessor was to use the list of property transfers sent to his office each month by Hennepin County to mail a survey form to both the new resident coming into the property and the outgoing resident. Commissioner Perkins suggested that rather than mailing the survey, it may be more advisable to distribute the survey at the time the homestead is filed for new residents. He also suggested creating a form to check off various categories of responses and allow space to write in comments. Commissioner Erickson suggested the format used by the Richfield Housing Inspection Program Evaluation Survey which used a scale of strongly agree, strongly disagree, etc. He also suggested that the survey could be distributed to new residents when the residents pick up a water meter from the City Utility Department. Discussion continued regarding the format of the survey, and it was concluded that the Assistant EDA Coordinator would prepare a draft of a survey for next month's meeting. LANDLORD SEMINAR AND MHFA BLIGHTED PROPERTIES PROGRAM The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale, along with the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council will be sponsoring a seminar for landlords on Saturday, April 11, 1992. He explained the seminar will cover topics such as legal issues, tenant leases, evictions, property management and the police, mediation services, Section 8 and public housing programs, and code compliance and licensing. He also noted that direct mailings will be sent to all rental property owners in the City and that a special effort has been made to target smaller landlords. The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained the City did not receive 03 -17 -92 -3- funding for the MHFA Blighted Property Grant Program. He explained MHFA received forty -eight (48) applications for the program, of which eight (8) were funded. Brooklyn Center's application ranked number ten (10) in the overall ranking. MULTI- FAMILY REDEVELOPMENT ISSUES The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained, over the past several months, numerous nonprofit corporations have expressed an interest in buying multi- family units in the City of Brooklyn Center. He pointed out that, since nonprofit housing corporations have available financial tools which would not be available to "for profit" owners, they have some opportunities for acquisition and rehabilitation of multi- family units that "for profit" groups would not. Also, as a general rule, the nonprofits focus a great deal of attention on management and tenant involvement in the overall management process. He also noted other redevelopment issues that have been discussed with regard to multi family units is the possible acquisition, demolition and redevelopment of some multi- family areas given the oversupply of multi family housing in the area. In general, acquisition and demolition would be considered in areas where the j land could be better utilized in some other use. Councilmember Cohen pointed out there is State legislation being discussed to allow cities to sell general obligation bonds for housing purposes, and that this would give cities significantly more flexibility in developing housing than has been available in the past. The Commission continued its discussion of potential nonprofit involvement in housing in the City, and Commissioner Nelson stated he would like to see more information on the specific nonprofits showing an interest in housing. He stated he was generally in favor of nonprofit involvement, but that he would like more information on the specific track records of nonprofits expressing an interest. Chairman Eoloff suggested that the Commission tour the multi- family units in the City to get a better understanding of the situation with regard to multi family housing in the City. The Assistant EDA Coordinator explained that he would put together some information on the nonprofits that have expressed an interest in working with the City. Commission members were generally in favor of nonprofits working with City staff to maintain and rehabilitate multi family housing. Chairman Eoloff inquired whether the Commission would like to pass a formal motion encouraging nonprofit involvement in housing. There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Kalligher to encourage nonprofit housing corporation 03 -17 -92 -4- involvement in acquisition and rehabilitation of multi family housing in the City and to work with City staff in developing programs for multi housing redevelopment. The motion passed. 53RD AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT Councilmember Cohen explained the City Council has expressed an interest in acquiring property along 53rd Avenue North for potential redevelopment of the area. He added that he believes the City needs a comprehensive plan for this area, and that properties should be acquired as they become available. He explained this is the entrance to the City from the south, and that it should reflect an improved development noting that there are several options for redevelopment of this area, including alternative housing for the elderly or disabled persons. One option to accomplish this is to assemble property in the area and develop and overall plan for redevelopment. Commissioner Erickson inquired whether there was any neighborhood interest in improving the access to Bellevue Park. Councilmember Cohen explained that this is not an issue and the land is currently used as open space and he believes the neighborhood feels comfortable with the access as it is. He pointed out the main issue is the long range plan for housing in the area. Commission members discussed the issue of redevelopment along 53rd Avenue North. There was a motion by Chairman Eoloff and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to encourage the City Council to acquire property along 53rd Avenue North as it becomes available as part of an overall acquisition program and to develop the acquisition program in conjunction with the Housing Commission a long range plan for redevelopment of the area which emphasizes the entrance and gateway nature of this part of the City. Commissioner Perkins stated that he is not opposed to redevelopment in this area, but that he is hesitant to make a recommendation without additional information on whether other areas of the City need similar attention. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Jensen explained that the Community Development Citizen Participation Committee had met last week and recommended a CDBG Program for 1992. She explained the program includes ongoing projects, such as the Home Rehabilitation Grant Program and Scattered Site Acquisition Program and also a new program which would provide limited exterior maintenance for senior citizens. She explained the Citizen Participation Committee recommended $12,000.00 be allocated to the Home Services Project which would be operated by a nonprofit corporation working with Hennepin County and would provide limited exterior maintenance to houses, such as painting, roof repair, soffit and fascia repair and some minor plumbing and electrical repair. She also noted that the Committee recommended $2,000.00 for education purposes 03 -17 -92 -5- related to home maintenance and neighborhood upkeep if it complies with existing Community Development Block Grant guidelines. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Jensen and seconded by Commissioner Kalligher to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Chairperson I 03 -17 -92 -6-