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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 05-21 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 21, 1996 CONFERENCE ROOM B BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Vice Chairperson Erickson at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Vice Chairperson Ernie Erickson, Commissioners Lloyd Deuel, Henry Yang, Amy Gonyea, Jonathan Carter, Naomi Ische and Rex Newman. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Chairperson Robert Torres and Commissioner Todd Cannon were absent and excused from the meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yang to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 16, 1996 There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Gonyea to approve the April 16, 1996, Housing Commission minutes, as submitted. The motion passed. REVIEW OF ACTION PLAN FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and pointed out that the City elected to participate in the Livable Communities Act by passing a resolution in November of 1995, and, in order to continue participating in the Act, the City must now adopt an Action Plan. He pointed out the Action Plan is a requirement for continued participation in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act, and the purpose of the Action Plan is to communicate to the Metropolitan Council how each city will meet the goals set forth in its Housing Goals Agreement. He noted that, since the city already meets the goals in the Housing Goals Agreement, the outline of the plan presented this evening focuses largely on the maintenance and redevelopment of the city's existing housing stock. Councilmember Carmody asked how many cities in the metropolitan area were participating in the Livable Communities Act. The Community Development Specialist estimated that approximately 100, or the majority of metropolitan communities, are participating. 5 -21 -96 -1- The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the Housing Goals Agreement adopted by the City Council for the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and noted that the city meets or exceeds all of its goals for affordable housing. Commission members discussed the Livable Communties Act and began reviewing the outline for the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Action Plan. Councilmember Carmody pointed out that Section V(c) should be changed to state Community Development Block Grant loan program, rather than deferred loan program, to reflect the changes proposed in the program by Henriepin County. Commission members briefly discussed the changes in the CDBG rehab program which would change the rehab program from a deferred loan program to a loan program with a 30 -year lien period and three percent interest rate for a ten year period for persons at income levels between 50-80% of median. Councilmember Carmody reviewed for commission members the potential redevelopment along 53rd Avenue North which had been discussed at a recent Council work session. She noted that the Council had directed staff to explore the possibilities of using CDBG funds for redevelopment activities along 53rd Avenue North. In discussion of the Action Plan outline, Commissioner Newman suggested that the Plan be drafted so that it does no more than we need to for meeting the requirements for participation. He added that the outline presented by staff this evening looks acceptable, and that the 53rd Avenue project might be a good project to highlight in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Action Plan. Vice Chairperson Erickson asked'whether or not staff would flesh out and add to the outline before it is submitted to the Metropolitan Council. The Community Development Specialist replied that the document presented this evening is an outline and that the complete plan would elaborate on all the sections listed in the outline. There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Newman to approve the outline for Metropolitan Livable Communities Act Action Plan presented by staff and to direct the staff to prepare a complete Action Plan based on the outline presented this evening. CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION OF HOUSING GOALS Vice- Chairperson Erickson introduced the item on housing goals and noted that the commission has been discussing several major housing goals over the last few meetings and the goals were outlined in the January 16, 1996, Housing Commission minutes. Councilmember Carmody reviewed housing goal number 1 to provide move -up housing, and noted that the Willow Lane and Highway 252 site has potential for providing move -up housing. 5 -21 -96 -2- Vice Chairperson Erickson moved on to housing goal number 2, which provided for the targeting of marginal housing areas for redevelopment. The commission discussed the redevelopments of Brooklyn Boulevard, and Councilmember Carmody pointed out that the senior housing project initially discussed by St. Alphonsus Church at the 69th and Brooklyn Boulevard area is currently on hold. She added that a number of homes on Brooklyn Boulevard should be removed in the course of redevelopment as they are nonconforming uses. Vice- Chairperson Erickson addressed the second goal in paragraph number 2, which would be to develop a specific housing plan for the southeast neighborhood that addresses the encroaching deterioration of homes near the Minneapolis border. Vice- Chairperson Erickson questioned whether or not the southeast neighborhood is beginning to show signs of deterioration. The Community Development Specialist pointed out that property values are generally stable in the southeast area -not declining -but they are not increasing as greatly as in other neighborhoods. With regard to the remaining item in number 2, Vice Chairperson Erickson pointed out that the commission has already discussed the CDBG program and has briefly reviewed the H.0.M.E. program. Vice- Chairperson Erickson moved on to paragraph number 3 of the housing goals and noted that the Brookdale Motel is in the process of being acquired and will be gone shortly, so he suggested removing the Brookdale Motel from the goals. Councilmember Carmody suggested that the phrase "develop a plan to" should be removed from the second bullet paragraph in section 3, and begin the sentence with the word "determine leaving the remainder of the sentence intact. Commissioner Gonyea pointed out that many apartments in the city are doing well, and that the Apartment Managers group is very active and having a positive effect on the overall apartment community. She added that the commission does not need to specify a percentage in terms of removing multi family housing stock. Councilmember Carmody suggested that the second bullet paragraph in housing goal number 3 should be changed to delete the term "develop a plan to" and substitute "As the opportunity arises" and leave the remainder of the sentence intact. Vice Chairperson Erickson moved on to housing goal number 4, which provided for encouraging maintenance and improvement of the city's housing stock. The Community Development Specialist distributed a memorandum to commission members regarding the current status of the code enforcement sweep at the end of the first week. He noted that the enforcement effort resulted in the survey of approximately 1,183 properties essentially located in the southeast neighborhood. He added that the survey has resulted in the generation of approximately 135 violation letters to property owners in that area, and a total of over 175 letters which have resulted from citizen complaints throughout the city. 5 -21 -96 -3- The commission members discussed the mechanism by which the housing goals would be submitted to the City Council. They discussed the possibility of including the goals in the city's i Comprehensive Plan discussion, and to send the housing goals to the City Council at an upcoming work session and afterwards place it on the regular Council agenda. The commission members continued discussing the housing goals, and after continued. discussion there was a motion by Commissioner Gonyea and seconded by Commissioner Carter to accept the housing goals specified in the January 16, 1996, Housing Commission minutes, with the following changes: In housing goal number 2, a reference in the second bullet paragraph should be made to redevelopment along 53rd Avenue North. In housing goal number 3, the commission agreed to delete the reference to the Brookdale Motel since this structure was already in the process of being removed. Commission members agreed to delete the words "develop a plan to" in the second bullet paragraph of housing goal number 3. Housing goal number 4 should be left unchanged. The motion passed. OTHER BUSINESS Councilmember Carmody pointed out the City Council appreciated and liked the meeting they had with the Housing Commission regarding Point of Sale, and the Housing Commission was referenced as a model for how to work with the City Council. She added that the City Council has decided to meet with each of the commissions once a year. ADJOURNMENT FOR SUMMER RECESS The Housing Commission members discussed the summer recess and agreed the next meeting would be held on the third Tuesday in September. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Gonyea and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Chairperson 5 -21 -96 -4-