Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 04-19 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 APRIL 19, 1994 CONFERENCE ROOM B CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Robert Torres at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Robert Torres, Commissioners Ernie Erickson, Todd Cannon, Keith Tuttle, Vince Opat, Neal Nelson and Jon Perkins. Also present was Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Kathleen Carmody and Council Liaison Barb Kalligher were absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Tuttle to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MARCH 15. 1994 There was a motion by Commissioner Opat and seconded by Commissioner Tuttle to approve the minutes of the March 15, 1994 Housing Commission meeting, as submitted. The motion passed. FOLLOW -UP REPORT ON MARCH 15. 1994 MEETING WITH BROOKLYN CENTER PROPERTY MANAGERS The Community Development Specialist explained that one of the main items addressed by the property managers at the March 15, 1994 Housing Commission meeting was their perceived lack of enforcement of the City ordinance regarding conduct on licensed premises. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that after the March 15 meeting he contacted the City's Building Official, who explained that he and members of the police department were in the process of preparing documentation and communications for property owners to implement the conduct on licensed premises ordinance. The Community Development Specialist referred commission members to copies of letters which will be sent to Brooklyn Center property managers to administer and enforce the conduct on licensed premises ordinance. He explained the first letter is a cover letter which is included 4 -19 -94 -1- with the monthly report of police activities on a particular apartment complex. This provides the property manager with a complete report on police activity in their complex by unit. If an incident is highlighted in this report, it serves as a first notice of a violation covered by the ordinance. The second letter is sent notifying the property manager of a second violation. With a second violation, the ordinance requires that the licensee must submit a written report to the City Manager within five (5) days regarding the incident and the actions taken by the property manager (licensee) to prevent further violations under the ordinance. If a third violation occurs, the City then has the ability under the ordinance to deny, revoke, suspend or not renew the rental license for the particular property. There are also provisions for a public hearing to be held regarding any denial, revocation, suspension,, etc., of the license. The Community Development Specialist explained the City's Building Official, along with representatives from the police department, will be working with the property managers' coalition at one of their upcoming meetings to review the administration of the conduct on licensed premises ordinance. INFORMATION ITEM: BROOKLYN CENTER REALTORS DAY MAY 11. 1994 The Community Development Specialist pointed out that the City, in cooperation with the Brooklyn Center Chamber of Commerce, will sponsor a Realtors Day for the second consecutive year. He explained the purpose of Realtors Day is to familiarize realtors with activities occurring in Brooklyn Center and to provide them with information that may be helpful to their potential clients. Topics to be addressed at this year's Realtors Day include City programs, services and taxes, opportunities for accurate communication and resident participation, residential development activities and programs, cooperative housing, commercial redevelopment projects and crime prevention programs. These topics will be covered in the morning session. In addition to the information presented, realtors will be taken on a tour of various redevelopment areas in the City and a tour of Brookdale. INFORMATION ITEM: HUD REINTRODUCTION OF 203K PURCHASE /REHAB MORTGAGE PROGRAM The Community Development Specialist explained HUD had recently held a meeting with many of the lenders in the state to reintroduce their FHA 203K purchase /rehab loan program. He pointed out 203K had been around since the 1970's, but that it had not been widely used and HUD was now trying to reintroduce it and make the necessary changes to make it more attractive to lenders and borrowers. He pointed out the basic premise of the 203K loan program had remained unchanged, and it 4 -19 -94 -2- allows individuals to purchase properties in need of rehab and to provide the needed rehabilitation dollars as part of the total mortgage as opposed to obtaining a separate loan for the rehab and a separate mortgage for the purchase of the property. One of the major changes HUD has provided in their new 203K program is the creation of a "consultant" position which would work on the buyer's behalf to develop the necessary remodeling /rehab plans for the property and to work with the contractor and lender in the process. In the past, the 203K loan program has been very difficult for the average individual to work with, and by providing the consultant position it is hoped that the technical aspects of rehab can be directed to the consultant. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), which co- sponsored the lender's workshop on 203K, will also be coming out with a reintroduction of their version of 203K, which is called Purchase Plus. The Community Development Specialist pointed out the reason he brought this to the attention of the commission is that he believes this can be an important tool for housing redevelopment and that given the number of homes in Brooklyn Center in need of substantial rehab, he would hope that this particular loan could be more widely used in the future. He pointed out that he would monitor the progress of 203K and report back to the commission from time to time regarding its potential benefit to the City of Brooklyn Center. STAFF REPORT ON HOUSING /COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, The Community Development Specialist reviewed several activities occurring in the Community Development area, including the following: The City will be working with Habitat for Humanity on providing a lot for construction of a second Habitat for Humanity single family house in the City in 1994. He explained the City provides lots to Habitat for Humanity from properties it has acquired and cleared of blighted properties. The Minnesota City Participation Program (MCPP), the first -time home buyer program from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, has again been a very popular program in the City and it is estimated that 35 single family mortgages will be provided under this program for the 1993 -1994 program. This is the second year the City has participated in the MCPP. The City is currently working with the Maxfield Research Group on two market studies for potential redevelopment. The studies include a market study for a senior housing project in the area of 252 and Willow Lane, just north of 694. The second market study would provide a retail commercial market study for the area in the vicinity of 69th Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard on the east side of Brooklyn Boulevard in the St. Alphonsus area. 4 -19 -94 -3- DISCUSSION ON "COME HOME TO THE PARK" THEME AND COMMISSION PRIORITIES The commission continued its discussion on the "Come Home to the Park" theme. Discussion focused on whether or not a project of this scope is appropriate for the Housing Commission to address. Some members thought that the role of the Housing Commission should be linked more to specific housing issues as opposed to a general kind of project, such as the "Come Home to the Park" type program. The commission reviewed its three established priority areas, which include the number one priority of the creation of a "Come Home to the Park" type program. The second and third priorities are, in order: Reviewing the activities of the existing southeast neighborhood committee and determining whether or not the model should be expanded to other neighborhoods, and a review of the current home rehabilitation deferred loan program to discuss options for improving it. The commission also discussed the fact that new commission members have been added since the priorities were developed and that it may be appropriate to review the commission's priorities again to consider whether or not it wishes to keep the same projects in the same order of priority. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Torres inquired if any of the commission members had any other business. There being none, he entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Commissioner Opat to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Chairperson 4 -19 -94 -4- i