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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 06-16 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 JUNE 16, 1998 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, Commissioners James Lano, Lloyd Deuel, Ernie Erickson, Michael VonDeLinde, Mark Yelich and Donald Arm. Also present were Council Liaison Bob Peppe, a and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Christopher Russell was absent and excused from the meeting due to a previous work commitment. It should also be noted that the Community Development Specialist has had communication with Commissioner Jonathan Carter and has noted that Mr. Carter does not presently reside in the City of Brooklyn Center and as a result will be resigning from the Commission. It should also be noted that Mr. Carter has indicated that he may be moving back to the City of Brooklyn Center eventually and that he would like to be considered for membership on the Housing Commission if he returns. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Arm and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 19, 1998 The Community Development Specialist noted that the minutes were not ready for this evenings meeting and that he requested the Commission to defer the approval of the May 19 minutes to the July Housing Commission meeting. Commission members agreed to defer approval of the May 19, 1998 Housing Commission minutes to the next Housing Commission meeting. UPDATE ON 53RD AVENUE PROJECT The Community Development Specialist updated the Commission on progress on the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage project. He noted the final plat had been approved and is in the process of being recorded. He explained the final house designs have not been completed yet and when they are finished staff will proceed with a neighborhood review of the designs 6 -16 -98 -1- which may be an informal or formal review of the final plans. He explained he would keep the Commission informed as to any special meetings scheduled with the neighborhood for review of the final house designs. Commissioner Yelich inquired whether any covenants were planned for this subdivision. The Community Development Specialist noted that there would be restrictive covenants placed on the properties. The Community Development Specialist reviewed the plat of Bellvue Lane Addition with Housing Commission members noting the closure of 4th Street contemplated in the plat. Commissioner members inquired as to the status of the utilities under 53rd Avenue North. The Community Development Specialist noted that the water and sewer utilities which had previously served the houses on 53rd will be abandoned and new utilities installed in the new street which will serve the new subdivision. The Commission continued its discussion of the plat and expressed interest in obtaining information as to whether or not any future improvements will be planned for 53rd Avenue North including the issue of undergrounding electric utilities on 53rd. The Community Development Specialist noted that he would keep the Commission updated on the 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project as it proceeds. PLAN FOR BUS TOUR OF CITY Commissioner Arm inquired of commission members as to what the goal of the tour would be, whether it is to see problem areas or look at redevelopment areas or both. Chairperson Torres stated that he would like to focus on project areas either currently under redevelopment or potential areas for redevelopment. He noted several possible development areas including 69th and Brooklyn Boulevard, the proposed movie theaters at 252 and 694 and the 53rd Avenue project. Commissioner Erickson stated that he would like to view the residential properties on Brooklyn Boulevard, noting that the majority of these properties are rental properties. Commissioner Arm stated that he would like to view some areas that had been targeted for code enforcement. 6 -16 -98 -2- The Commission continued to discuss potential areas for the tour and in summary the areas to be included are: 53rd Avenue Development and Linkage Project 69th and Brooklyn Boulevard area 252 and 694 area Scattered site redevelopment projects Habitat for Humanity homes Twin Lakes Manor (formerly Brookdale 10) NOTE: This portion of the tour would include an inside tour of the properties. Code enforcement areas The consensus of the Commission was to conduct the tour on September 15, 1998 which is the Commission's normal meeting date in September and to run the tour from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Commission members also suggested inviting the City's Housing Inspector and Community Development Director on the tour. In conclusion of the discussion of the bus tour commission members discussed elderly residents in Brooklyn Center and how they may identify vulnerable adults and properties. OTHER BUSINESS Council Liaison Bob Peppe brought up the issue of the Time of Sale Ordinance and noted that his concern with the ordinance as proposed is that elderly persons selling homes may find themselves in a situation where they take it off the market and still have to open themselves up to government scrutiny through the Time of Sale Inspection Program. He noted that the number of elderly homeowners may not have the funds to repair the items required to be corrected if the house is taken off the market. With regard to the Time of Sale Ordinance Commissioner Arm inquired how private evaluators are trained. The Community Development Specialist noted that the private evaluators working in the cities with Time of Sale Inspection programs are typically trained through education courses provided by the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis or Bloomington and they also participate in hands on training when cities conduct test house inspections where inspectors are graded on how many items they are able to observe in a specific test house. He also noted that there is a professional organization called the Minnesota Society of Housing Inspectors that does professional development. He also noted that one of the comments made quite often at the public hearings on the Minneapolis Time of Sale ordinance was the inconsistency and the quality of inspections done in the City of Minneapolis Truth in Housing Program. He noted a number of persons testified that there was a wide disparity in the quality of inspections done by various inspectors. Commissioner Erickson also noted that inspectors may have specific areas of concern that they 6 -16 -98 -3- focus on such as electrical or plumbing and perhaps overlook other areas that are not in their areas of expertise. The Commission continued discussion of the proposed Time of Sale ordinance and generally felt that it should be passed with the provision that it could be amended later if there are problems noted with the program as proposed. Commissioner Erickson stated that the first year of the ordinance would be a period where they City could gather information as to how many permits are pulled for correction of hazardous items etc. to learn better as to how the ordinance is operating. Commissioner Deuel commented that he believes the ordinance is a start and that it can be fine tuned after the City works with it for a period of time. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Erickson and seconded by Commissioner Deuel to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Chairperson i 6 -16 -98 -4-