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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 09-19 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 SEPTEMBER 19, 1995 CONFERENCE ROOM D BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Robert Torres at 7:10 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Robert Torres, Vice Chairperson Ernie Erickson, Commissioners Todd Cannon, Vince Opat, Henry Yang and Amy Gonyea. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen -Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Jonathan Carter was absent and excused from the meeting. Commissioner Maria Olek was absent from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Cannon to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 16, 1995 Councilmember Carmody stated that on page 5 of the minutes the reference to Commissioner Opat in the fourth and fifth paragraphs should be amended to read "County Commissioner Opat so as not to be confused with Housing Commissioner Opat. There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Gonyea to approve the May 16, 1995, Housing Commission minutes, with the amendment described by Councihnember Carmody. The motion passed. DISCUSSION OF POINT OF SALE ORDINANCE The Community Development Specialist explained to Housing Commission members that the City Council had discussed the Point of Sale versus Truth in Housing ordinance at their July work session and at that meeting agreed that the Point of Sale /Code Compliance ordinance would be their preference and directed the Housing Commission to prepare a Point of Sale /Code Compliance ordinance for Council consideration. Commissioner Opat stated he wanted to clarify a friendly amendment that he had offered at the 9 -19 -95 _1_ May meeting with regard to the Housing Commission's action on Truth in Housing and Point of Sale. He explained that his intent in the amendment was to recommend a Truth in Housing type ordinance with the requirement that hazardous items be repaired, and that he had a concern over how the recommendation was presented to the City Council. Commissioner Erickson stated it was his interpretation that the Housing Commission recommendation was to reflect a four to four split in the Housing Commission's preference for Point of Sale and Truth in Housing. Councilmember Carmody reviewed the City Council discussion from their July 17 work session and pointed out the City Council discussed the pros and cons of both Truth in Housing and Point of Sale /Code Compliance ordinances, and the consensus was that the Point of Sale ordinance would provide the most benefit to maintaining the housing stock in the City. The commission members continued their discussion of Point of Sale and discussed the hazardous code items required to be corrected in both Truth in Housing and Point of Sale ordinances. Commissioner Erickson referred commission members to the City of Crystal's code with regard to a description of hazardous items, which included unsafe heating systems, water heaters, electrical systems, plumbing systems, structural systems, and refuse garbage and infestation of rodents and insects. The commission members continued to discuss the process for creating a Point of Sale ordinance and reached a consensus to have staff come back with a most and least stringent type of ordinance for the commission to consider. There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Opat to table consideration of the Point of Sale ordinance to the October meeting to allow staff to prepare a plan of action for adoption of a Point of Sale ordinance. The motion passed. DISCUSSION OF METROPOLITAN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT The Community Development Specialist explained the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act was passed by the 1995 legislature and is the state's major piece of legislation addressing affordable housing. The implementation of the act is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Council, and they have established a mechanism whereby each community in the seven county metropolitan area addresses the issue of affordable housing goals. The Community Development Specialist explained the Metropolitan Council has drafted a housing goals agreement for each community and he reviewed the goals agreement for the City of Brooklyn Center. He explained the city index column specifies the current breakdown of affordable housing in the City and the benchmark column is the goal recommended by the Metropolitan Council for each city. He explained that, according to the draft housing goals agreement, the City of Brooklyn Center currently meets all the benchmark goals set forth by the Metropolitan Council. 9 -19 -95 -2 From a procedural standpoint, the Community Development Specialist explained that Brooklyn Center, along with all other metropolitan cities choosing to participate in the Act, would need to pass a resolution of intent to participate in the Act by November 15, 1995. The next step would be to adopt a housing goals agreement by December 14, 1995. The third and final step in participation in the Act is to prepare an action plan by June 30, 1996, which would set forth the policies and programs the City would use to reach or maintain its affordable housing goals. As a final note of explanation, the Community" Development Specialist noted that the affordability standards established by the Metropolitan Council are set at $115,000 for a single family home, and for rental units a unit is considered affordable if the rent is no more than 30% of the income of a family earning 50 of the area median income as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Councilmember Carmody expressed a concern that the City may be locked into something that may prevent us from doing certain redevelopment activities if we accept the Metropolitan Council's housing goals set for the City. She also expressed a concern that the city index number showing that 46 of the City's rental housing is, affordable may be too low. For example, she inquired whether or not the rental figures would exclude Brookdale Ten because the affordability levels appear to be based on a four person family and Brookdale Ten has only one bedroom units. Councilmember Carmody expressed her preference that the Housing Commission can address these issues and make a recommendation to the City Council. Commissioner Erickson stated that it appears there is the possibility of some funding for the City and that it does appear the City now meets all its housing goals, and that participation in the Act does not appear to create a problem for the City. Commissioner Erickson stated he would be willing to introduce a motion to recommend participating in the Act. The Community Development Specialist suggested that before the commission takes any action, he could come back at the October meeting with answers to some of the issues and questions raised by the Housing Commission. Commissioner Opat also expressed concern about where the funds for the Livable Communities Act would be coming from. OTHER BUSINESS The commission members discussed attendance at Housing Commission meetings and the policy of no more than three unexcused absences being permitted under the commission bylaws. Specifically, the Housing Commission members discussed Commissioner Olek's attendance at Housing Commission meetings. Commissioner Erickson stated he thought the policy was the commission had to contact a person 9 -19 -95 -3- directly before removal from the commission due to absences. Chairperson Torres noted he has contacted Commissioner Olek in the past with regard to her attendance at meetings. The commission also discussed committee membership and the mix of the group with regard to homeowner versus representation by the rental community, etc. Commissioner Opat stated that Commissioner Olek does not now have three unexcused absences and has missed five meetings this year. He suggested that she should be contacted one more time before the commission takes any more steps to remove her from the commission. DISCUSSION REGARDING RODENT HARBORAGES Chairperson Torres expressed a concern about the infestation of rodents apparently coming from the demolition work for the Park and Ride facility along Brooklyn Boulevard. He explained he has noticed at least one rodent in his house since the activity has started at the Park and Ride facility and suggested that perhaps the commission should consider an ordinance addressing this type of situation before any more major redevelopment occurs. HUMBOLDT AVENUE PAVING Commissioner Gonyea expressed a concern that she was not aware of any notices sent out with regard to the paving of Humboldt Avenue which was done on Sunday. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Opat and seconded by Commissioner Cannon to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Chairperson 9 -19 -95 -4-