Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 03-25 HCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 25, 1997 COUNCIL CHAMBERS BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Vice Chairperson Ernie Erickson at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Vice Chairperson Ernie Erickson, Commissioners Lloyd Deuel, Henry Yang, Jonathan Carter and Mark Yelich. Also present were Council Liaison Kay Lasman and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Chairperson Robert Torres was absent and excused from the meeting. Also absent were Commissioners Todd Cannon and Michael desParois. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Carter to approve the agenda, as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 18, 1997 The Community Development Specialist distributed the February 18, 1997, joint City Council and Housing Commission meeting minutes to commission members. In order to allow commission members time to read and review the minutes, it was decided to table the minutes until the April meeting. There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yelich to table consideration of the February 18, 1997, Housing Commission minutes to the regularly scheduled April Housing Commission meeting. FOLLOW -UP FROM FEBRUARY 18, 1997, JOINT CITY COUNCIL /HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING REGARDING TIME OF SALE ORDINANCE The Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the minutes from the February 18, 1997, joint Housing Commission/City Council meeting and noted that there was a general consensus among Housing Commission members and City Council members that staff would prepare a final version of the Time of Sale ordinance, along with other administrative documents required such as evaluator guidelines, inspection forms, etc., and present this to the City Council 3 -25 -97 -1- in January of 1998. Vice Chairperson Erickson inquired if there was some time line that had been developed for implementation of the various tasks needed to develop the ordinance and other documents associated with the ordinance. The Community Development Specialist replied that he did not have a specific time line, but he would confirm a time line with the Community Development Director and report back to the commission at their April meeting. Commissioner Erickson pointed out there would be some lead time needed on education and promotion of the program, along with all the administrative materials needed to implement the Time of Sale ordinance. Commissioner Erickson noted he wants the Housing Commision to review the evaluator guidelines. 1997 FIVE CITY REMODELING FAIR The Community Development Specialist reviewed the agenda for the April 5, 1997, Five City Remodeling Fair and pointed out that there will be approximately 75 vendors displaying exhibits, various "how to" seminars and demonstrations, including a deck building seminar conducted by Clay Larson, the City of Brooklyn Center's Building Official. He also noted city building inspectors and police and fire personnel will be available in separate booths to discuss issues with residents visiting the Remodeling Fair. He noted that in past years the building inspectors' booth has been one of the most popular booths at the Remodeling Fair. In addition to the building inspectors, this year the Remodeling Fair will feature a group of architects from the American Institute of Architects to discuss building and remodeling plans. Residents can bring their remodeling plans and ideas to personally review with the AIA architects. He encouraged Housing Commission members to attend the Remodeling Fair on Saturday April 5, and, at the request of commission members, the Community Development Specialist noted he would obtain a schedule for the demonstrations and seminars and mail this to Housing Commission members. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE HOUSING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Yelich suggested that the commission meet through the summer of 1997. Commissioner Erickson noted history has shown the commission has had difficulty in getting a quorum for meetings in June, July and August. He explained in past years the commission has decided to meet throughout the summer, but was unable to get a quorum at the summer meetings. Commissioner Yang suggested taking off the months of June and July and come back in August. The commission also discussed attendance at meetings and requested that this be an item to be discussed at a future Housing Commission meeting. 3 -25 -97 -2- Y Commissioner Erickson suggested the Housing Commission hold a joint meeting with the Planning Commission; the goal being to discuss housing issues in the city, particularly with regard to bringing in higher -end housing in the city. Commissioner Erickson noted that, in his estimation, the City is restricted on where it can put the move -up housing since the city is fully built. At the request of commission members, the Community Development Specialist briefly reviewed the city's scattered site redevelopment program, noting that the City has done between two to three scattered site projects per year for the past several years which usually resulted in creating higher value homes on various scattered sites throughout the city. Commissioner Yelich raised the issue of how the city can be made more appealing to builders. noting that this was the kind of issue he wanted to address with the Planning Commission. 1-e noted he is also concerned about how traffic flow affects the desirability of neighborhoods. Additionally, he expressed a concern about building standards, construction materials and covenants that might be placed on housing developments that could make neighborhoods and housing more appealing. The Community Development Specialist noted that with specific regard to covenants, these are usually items that are included in private documents related to a housing development and are not enforced by public agencies. He explained that public agencies are bound by building codes and housing codes. As a future agenda item, Commissioner Erickson suggested the commission take a look at the city's building maintenance code, which has not been reviewed by the Housing Commission for some time. With regard to the April Housing Commission agenda, the Community Development Specialist noted that he was planning on having the Community Development Director attend the April meeting to discuss items of interest to the Housing Commission, including the code enforcement program for 1998, current development projects within the city, the status of the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project, and information on the City's Association of Rental Managers Organization. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Deuel brought up the issue of rental housing in the City and inquired as to whether or not the city has a significant number of single family rental units. Vice-Chairperson Erickson noted that in the past, Realtors have rented out single family properties rather than lose money on them, but the goal is to eventually sell the properties. He noted that rental of single family homes is somewhat economically driven, and the number rises and falls with the economy. 3 -25 -97 -3- The Community Development Specialist noted he would follow up on the number of single family rentals in Brooklyn Center for the next meeting. He also reviewed the City's efforts at establishing a rental -to -owner program started a few years ago as a pilot project. He pointed out the effort ran into difficulty because many of the renters desiring to buy the properties they rented did not have adequate credit to convert to an owner- occupied situation. Also, the owners of the properties often encountered very high capital gains taxes and if the properties were cash flowing there was no incentive for them to sell. Commissioner Yelich stated he would like to address the 53rd Avenue Redevelopment and Linkage Project and redevelopment proposals at the April meeting with the Community Development Director. Council Liaison Lasman noted that the neighborhood Adopt -A- Street program will be undertaken on April 26, and there is a need for groups to clean up along Brooklyn Boulevard this year for the Adopt -A -Street program. Commissioner Erickson brought up the issue of Paint -A -Thon and whether or not there would be another Paint -A -Thon this coming year. The Community Development Specialist noted that essentially the Paint -A -Thon program was not pursued after the Earle Brown Neighborhood Housing Advisory Committee was disbanded. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Deuel and seconded by Commissioner Yang to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Chairperson 3 -25 -97 -4-