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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 05-17 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 17, 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, Keith Tuttle, Vince Opat, Neal Nelson, and Jon Perkins. Also in attendance at the meeting was Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioners Todd Cannon and Kathleen Carmody and Council Liaison Barb Kalligher were absent from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Erickson to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 19. 1994 The Community Development Specialist stated he would have the April minutes ready for the next meeting. DISCUSSION WITH REPRESENTATIVE FROM BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING COPS PROGRAM Patrol Officer Keith Carlson introduced himself to the commission and began his presentation by reviewing the conduct on licensed premises ordinance, Section 12 -911 in the City- Code. Officer Carlson pointed out that the police department does not police the grounds of any multi family complex and that the enforcement of 12 -911 is based on specific calls. He pointed out the police department differentiates between positive calls such as medicals and negative calls such as loud noise or disturbances, and that the positive calls are treated differently. He pointed out the police department tracks positive and negative calls to a specific address and apartment number. Officer Carlson provided the commission with a general overview of the COPS officer, and pointed out that, in general, the designated COPS officer has more flexibility than an ordinary patrol officer in that he or she is freed from calls and works between 2 and 2 1/2 hours per -1- day exclusively with property managers. He explained COPS officers do not take calls as do street officers. Continuing his explanation of 12 -911, Officer Carlson explained that after a second negative call at a specific address, the property manager at that apartment must send a written plan or response to the City Manager which addresses a solution to the problem at that apartment unit. He explained one of the goals of the COPS program and ordinance 12 -911 is to improve communications between the police department and the property managers. Officer Carlson pointed out the present officers in the COPS program are Scott Nadeau, Frank Roth and himself. Commission members discussed the perceived effectiveness of the COPS program and commission members pointed out the comments of the property managers regarding the perceived lack of availability of COPS officers and their desire to see officers dedicated full time to the COPS program. Officer Carlson pointed out that one present problem is a sergeant has recently retired and was replaced by a promotion, but that the position left vacant by the officer promoted has not been filled, and along with one other vacancy, the department is down two officers. Officer Carlson pointed out that he believes the COPS program has shown a very positive presence in the apartment community and that it has been very well received by both the property managers and the residents. Commissioner Opat inquired as to how the apartment complexes are assigned to specific officers. Officer Carlson pointed out that usually the apartment complexes are addressed by the number of problems and that officers tend to go where the problems are occurring. The commission continued its discussion of the COPS program and Commissioner Erickson suggested the commission consider a motion supporting the COPS program and that it be kept fully staffed to continue support for the COPS officers working with the apartment community and to fully endorse the Housing Implementation Plan's recommendations for the apartment managers coalition and continued full enforcement of ordinance provision 12 -911. The Community Development Specialist suggested that he could talk with the City Manager prior to the next commission meeting to discuss the situation with regard to replacement of officers and the City's commitment to the COPS program. The commission accepted the Community Development Specialist's request and agreed that he would report back to the commission at the next Housing Commission meeting. DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF CITY'S HOME REHABILITATION DEFERRED LOAN PROGRAM The Community Development Specialist explained the City Council met in a work session last evening and discussed several items relative to the City's home rehabilitation deferred loan program. He pointed out the City Council has requested the Housing Commission review the Council's concerns with regard to the program, which consisted of the following three main 5 -17 -94 -2- concerns: 1. The Council is interested in pursuing a residency requirement of one year for all deferred loan applicants. The only exception would be for emergency health and safety issues. 2. The Council also discussed the issue of interior versus exterior improvements and the fact that many times exterior improvements to the home are last on the list of priorities simply because interior improvements take a precedence, such as electrical, plumbing, mechanical problems, etc. Also related to this issue is the issue of "sweat equity" on the home. In this case, "sweat equity" is intended to require the homeowner to do any exterior improvements on the home that are needed and are not able to be accomplished with deferred loan funds. These improvements would be done prior to and separate from the work done with CDBG funds. 3. The Council also recommended extending the current five year lien period to a ten year lien period with a declining lien amount of 10% per year rather than the current 20% per year. I The Community Development Specialist also reviewed the Housing Commission recommendations made in June, 1993, with regard to the program, and also the Housing Commission recommendations made in January of 1989 with regard to the program. He concluded his remarks by indicating that the Council has requested the Housing Commission consider the three issues raised at the May 16, 1994 City Council work session. The commission began its discussion of the issues raised by the Council with regard to the deferred loan program and Commissioner Tuttle suggested that the commission consider the use of only a part of the deferred loan money to address minimum standards. Commissioner Nelson suggested that perhaps $10,000 of the total $15,000 available could be dedicated to the inside improvements and $5,000 be left for exterior improvements. Commissioner Perkins stated that he believes the issue with regard to extending the lien period makes more sense than the issue with regard to establishing a residency requirement. In discussion of the residency issue, commission members generally agreed that they did not want to create a special category of residency to qualify for the program and believe that once an individual becomes a resident, he or she is a resident whether they have lived here for a short time or for a longer period. Generally, the commission felt that a residency requirement should not be imposed and that the waiting list already effectively serves as a residency requirement of at least one year since the waiting period is generally over one year. 5 -17 -94 -3- There was a motion by Commissioner Perkins and seconded by Commissioner Erickson to recommend that a residency requirement not be made part of the eligibility criteria for the City's deferred loan rehabilitation program. The motion passed. Due to an emergency at work, Chairperson Torres left the meeting at 8:45 p.m. With regard to the "sweat equity" issue, Commissioner Opat stated that he supports the Council's concern for a cooperative effort between the staff and owner in terms of providing some "sweat equity and that it is a great idea, but it is a very difficult concept to enforce and make a required part of the program. He suggested that staff should keep approaching the deferred loans on a cooperative approach with the owner, but that the "sweat equity" not be made a requirement. Commissioner Erickson suggested that perhaps the staff could develop a minimal exterior improvement standard instead of requiring "sweat equity He explained this would not have to be a "sweat equity" requirement, but should be done in advance of the deferred loan work if at all possible. Commissioner Perkins suggested that the owner of the property could perhaps meet the minimum exterior standard before the inspection for the deferred loan work is completed. The commission continued to discuss the exterior versus interior improvements and the "sweat equity" issues and generally agreed that the "sweat equity" not be made a requirement of the program, but that staff should develop a minimum standard for the exterior of homes. There was a motion by Commissioner Opat and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to have the staff set minimum standards for exterior improvements in the deferred loan program, to make exterior improvements a requirement of the deferred loan and to encourage, but not require, "sweat equity" prior to the start of the deferred loan improvements. The motion passed. With regard to the extension of the five year lien period, Commissioner Perkins suggested that perhaps the first five years of the lien period could consist of a five percent decrease in the deferred loan amount and the second five years would consist of a 15% percent decrease per year, so that at the end of ten years 100% of the loan would be deferred. He stated that by decreasing the loan in this manner it would reward persons who remain in their homes longer than five years. There was a motion by Commissioner Opat and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to revise the terms of the deferred loan repayment security lien so that it will be increased from five years to ten years and the lien amount shall be reduced 5% per year for years one through five of the lien and 15% per year for years five through ten of the lien. The motion passed. 5 -17 -94 -4- The Community Development Specialist stated he would forward these recommendations to the City Council in the form of a resolution, along with the previous recommendations made by the commission and subsequently adopted by the Council so that all of the current and past recommendations of the Housing Commission would be contained in one resolution. He stated he would draft the resolution and send it to Housing Commission members for their review prior to the next Council meeting and that if any commission members had any comments or concerns they could contact him prior to the resolution going before the Council. SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR HOUSING COMMISSION The Housing Commission agreed that they would recess for the months of June, July and August and convene the next Housing Commission meeting on September 20, 1994, at 7:00 P.M. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Opat and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Chairperson 5 -17 -94 -5-