HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 10-10 HRRM'7 _N
Minutes of the Proceedings of the Human Rights
Commission of the City of Brooklyn Center in
the County of Hennepin and State of Minnesota
October 10, 1972
The Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called
to order by Chairman Ordner at 8:07 P.M.
Roll call: Chairman Ordner, Commissioners Zerban, Martinsen,
Hastings;, and Winkelman. Also present was Administrative Assistant
Daniel Hartman.
Motion by Commissioner Hastings and seconded by Commissioner
Zerban to approve the minutes of the May 1, 1072, meeting. Motion
carried unanimously.
Motion by Commissioner Martinsen and seconded by Commissioner
Winkelman to approve the minutes of the June 5, 1972, meeting. Motion
carried unanimously.
Chairman Ordner announced that a seminar in housing will be held
at North Hennepin Junior College in November.
Chairman Ordner also commented that the Minnesota League of Human
Rights Commission will hold their annual meeting in October. He was
concerned as to whether the City was a member of the League. Commis-
sioner Hastings volunteered to attend the annual meeting.
Commissioner Winkelman reported on a meeting he had attended in
the Osseo School District. He stated that the subject of the meeting
was equal opportunity for the children in the school district. He
stated that a Committee was established in the school district to make
recommendations to the School.District to make sure children are
treated equally in the schools.
Chairman Ordner then introduced Mr. James Dalglish, member of the
Minnesota Planning Commission, former St. Paul City Councilman and
former member of the St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Mr. Dalglish presented a short history of the development of Housing
and Redevelopment Authority in Minnesota and also cornaented on the
need for housing in the Metropolitan area. He stated that the basic
question in Brooklyn Center was whether the citizens of Brooklyn Center
want some type of Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Commissioner Kyle arrived at 8:45 P.M.
Mr. Dalglish continued by stating that from the information in
the 1970 census, it showed without a doubt that Brooklyn Center does
have a need for some type of Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
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The Commission recessed at 8:55 P.M. and rcaumed at 9:10 P.M.
Mayor Cohen was then introduced and discussed the recent Metro-
politan Council Housing Committee proposal for a regional Housing and
Redevelopment Authority. He stated that since a Housing and Redevelop-
ment Authority would be quite costly in line with the recent tax
control, the Metropolitan Council is in the process of developing the
regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority concept. He stated that
such a concept would provide each municipality with staff at the
Metropolitan Council level yet would allow each :municipality the
complete control over its own Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
The Mayor stated that even with this concept in practice the local
governments can create their own local Housing and Redevelopment
Authority independent of the Metropolitan Council. He stated that the
Federal Government must subsidize housing due to the high cost of
construction. He stated that the only way a community can get Federal
money is with a Housing and Fedevelopment Authority.
Chairman Ordner then commented that it looked as if Brooklyn Centex
should support the Metropolitan Council's concept of a regional housing
and Redevelopment Authority due to the controls placed on Brooklyn
Center's taxing power.
Mr. Dalglish interjected that such a regional concept would be a
good idea if the purpose of a ,Housing and Redevelopment Authority was
just to obtain Federal Funds. He commented that a Lousing and Rede-:-
• velspment Authority can levy up to 1 mill for its operation as outlined
in the state law. He continued by stating that this levy un uld be
outside of the levy limitation.
Mr. Dalglish commented that if Brooklyn Center should go into a
regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority with the Metropolitan
Council it would be important for the local authorities to review in
depth the proposal to make sure the Metropolitan Council does not take
away power from the local government.
Mayor Cohen then stated that there exists in Brooklyn Center a
need to look at housing in that there are quite a few homes that are
starting to deteriorate. He continued by saying that it would be wise
for the City to prepare now by developing a Housing Authority to solve
the problems as they develop.
It was the consensus of the Hunan Rights Commission that the mem-
bers of the Commission attend the Housing Seminar at North Hennepin
Junior College in November and at the December meeting they would
invite Mayor Cohen to present the final proposal of the Metropolitan
Council on the Regional Housing and Rodevelop~nent Authority. ?-he
Commission would then prepare a xeport with recommendation to the City
40 Council dealing with a Housing and Redevelopment Authority for Brooklyn
Center.
Motion by Commissioner Winkelman and seconded by Commissioner Kyle
to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center
Human Rights Commission adjourned at 10:11 P.M.