Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 11-19 HCM 4 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 NOVEMBER 19, 1996 CONFERENCE ROOM B BROOKLYN CENTER 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, Vice Chairperson Ernie Erickson, Commissioners Jonathan Carter, Michael desParois, Lloyd Deuel, and Naomi Ische. Also present were Council Liaison Kathleen Carmody and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Absent and excused from the meeting were Commissioners Henry Yang, Mark Yelich, and Todd Cannon. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OCTOBER 22, 1996 The minutes for the October 22 meeting were not yet prepared, and the commission members deferred approval to the next Housing Commission meeting. WELCOME NEW HOUSING COMMISSION MEMBERS It was noted that Commissioner Mark Yelich was out of town and could not be at this evening's meeting. The commission members introduced themselves and welcomed new commission member Michael desParois to the Housing Commission. INFORMATION ITEM: HOUSING CHALLENGE 2020 The Community Development Specialist noted that the North Metro Mayors Association, along with a number of other organizations, are sponsoring a conference titled "Housing Challenge 2020: Preservation and Revitalization Strategies." He noted that Housing Commission members were encouraged to attend, and the City would pay the $10 registration fee for them. He briefly reviewed the agenda for the Housing Challenge 2020 forum and noted that the focus of the forum is on the preservation and revitalization of older housing stock in the metropolitan area. 11 -19 -96 -1- DISCUSSION: COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING COMMISSION It was noted that Chairperson Torres had requested this item to be placed on the agenda. Chairperson Torres addressed the issue of the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project and expressed a concern that the Housing Commission was not informed of the J ro'ect in a P timely way. He added that he was trying to close the gap on information being provided to the Housing Commission on housing projects going on in the city. Commissioner Erickson expressed a concern that there be some type of communication vehicle so that the Housing Commission can be kept better informed of projects such as the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project. He noted that the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project was discussed by the Housing Commission in a general sense as part of the overall housing goals recommended by the commission. Commissioner Deuel also expressed a concern about communications and that there needs to be an improvement in communication, and in this case it fell apart and the Housing Commission was not adequately informed about the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project. Commissioner Erickson noted that the Housing Commission members used to receive the Council minutes on a regular basis. He inquired whether the City could go back and revisit the mailing of Council minutes to all commission members. He added that this would allow the commission to have input at Council meetings on various items of interest. Chairperson Torres was called away from the meeting by a work emergency and left the meeting at 7:30 P.M. Vice Chairperson Erickson took over the chair of the meeting. Vice Chairperson Erickson also stressed that the commission serves as an information source for community residents and the better informed the commission is, the better they can provide that information source for city residents. Councilmember Carmody indicated she was not aware that the Housing Commission was not receiving minutes, and perhaps some type of vehicle could be instituted, such as a newsletter, over the summer months when the commission is in recess to keep the commission better informed. Also, she pointed out, the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project needed to be decided upon over the summer and the commission was not in session during that time. She added that the Council needed to act on the project to get it ready for 1997. Commissioner Carter suggested that mailing of the minutes might be more beneficial than doing some type of newsletter, and would be a less time- consuming task for the staff to perform. There was a general consensus among commission members that better communication needed to be stressed with regard to informing the Housing Commission of housing project activities in the city. is 11 -19 -96 -2- ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Carter and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Chairperson 11 -19 -96 -3-