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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 09-21 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 SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing, Commission was called to order by Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Kris Lawrence - Anderson, Commissioners Kathy Amdahl, Tracy Groves, Chereen Norstrud, and Ephraim Olani. Also present was Staff Liaison Tom Bublitz. Councilmember Roche was absent from this meeting due to another commitment. Commissioners James Richards and Judy Thorbus were also absent from the meeting. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. APPROVAL OFMINUTES —AUGUST I7, 2010 Commissioner Groves noted a correction in the August 17, 2010 minutes pointing out that in the second bullet on page 2, it should read that all but three households attended. She also noted that the next sentence was not correct noting that there were four vacant properties on her block but that they are no longer vacant. There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2010 Housing Commission meeting as amended. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson stated she had one item to report that being the groundbreaking for the new FBI field office being built in Brooklyn Center. She noted that there will be three structures including a 134,000 sq. ft. office building, 200 car parking structure and a maintenance annex. She also pointed out the federal government will be leasing the property so that it will be on the tax rolls for the City of Brooklyn Center. NEW NEIGHBOR WELCOME PROGRAM UPDATE Commission members discussed their experience in delivering the first bags under the New Neighbor Welcome program. Commission members pointed out that a few of the homes they encountered were under construction with no residents yet but they had a good reception where people were home. Commission members also pointed out that they did leave a bag at the door where people were not at home. Page 1 9 -21 -2010 Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson noted that she has received good feedback from residents but a few of the obstacles encountered included homes still under rehabilitation and language barriers. The staff liaison stated he would try to edit the list of new residents to exclude those properties where construction was still incomplete and the units were not occupied. Commission members discussed the next date for conducting a bag delivery and decided on Saturday, October 2 nd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and that they would meet in the City Hall parking lot to start. POLICE CHIEF KEVIN BENNER PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION Chief Benner noted he had been invited this evening to discuss the department's vision and approach to policing in the City of Brooklyn Center. He explained he has been Chief since July 26 of this year and has been with the department for 21 years. The Chief's presentation is summarized by the following: • In 2008 the department focused on data analysis which was a trend started with the FBI and other agencies. This approach had taken hold in municipalities in approximately 2005. • The department has adopted what is referred to as intelligence lead policing where predictive analysis is done based on an analysis of current crime data and incorporating this into geographic areas and including current crime trends, major cases and related issues such as probation, prosecution and housing standards, etc.. • Brooklyn Center has one of the highest participation rates in the Neighborhood Watch Program in the metropolitan area with 217 active watch groups. One of the techniques in intelligence led policing is to engage the community early and avoid large numbers of crimes. • In 2007 juvenile crime represented most of the crimes in Brooklyn Center consisting largely of curfew violation and truancy. Juvenile and violent crime is down substantially. • The Chief pointed out domestic violence has not gone down and is the largest crime problem in the city presently. • The Chief continued his presentation noting that the Metro Transit Hub in Brooklyn Center is the second highest transit crime area after the Mall of America pointing out it is a hot spot of crime usually involving non - Brooklyn Center residents. • The Chief pointed out that information sharing is a key part of intelligence lead policing including information between cities, between businesses and between residents and the police. • Chief Benner discussed juvenile crime in the City and noted that the youth office in Brooklyn Center often intervenes before crimes are committed and that Brooklyn Center is the only city with a juvenile probation officer assigned to the City. He added that the Brooklyn Center youth officer and probation office work closely together. The Chief fielded questions from Commission members including questions on violent crimes. He noted that the city's violent crime numbers are higher than Maple Grove, Crystal and Robbinsdale but he emphasized that domestic violence accounts for most of this violent crime. Page 2 9 -21 -2010 At the request of Commission members, the Chief discussed the general status of gangs in the city. The Chief reviewed the change in how gangs are formed from the 1990's where they were much more formalized and focused on organized criminal activities. He pointed out the gangs of today are more likely to be young persons with a much more informal organization in a smaller geographical area with much smaller membership of between 10 to 15 youths. The Chair and Commission members thanked Chief Benner for his presentation this evening and invited him back in the future. OTHER BUSINESS Becky Boie, Crime Prevention Specialist for the city, pointed out that on October 9th there will be a watch captain's workshop between 9 a.m. and Noon. She noted the Housing Commission could get a few minutes on the agenda to discuss their Welcome Program. Ms. Boie pointed out that the workshop will be conducted twice a year. The Chair discussed the possibility of the Housing Commission partnering with Neighborhood Watch members who are willing to help out with the New Neighbor Welcome Program. She noted that even a small number, such as six, would help in the delivery. She added that the Housing Commission could help with the Neighborhood Watch such as making new residents aware of the program and work with the Police Department to identify neighborhoods without Block Captains and flier those neighborhood blocks. Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson noted that she will be at the Watch Captain's workshop on October 9 and invited other commission members to attend if they are able. She noted that she may use the October Housing Commission meeting as a work session including interested watch captains. There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Oirman Page 3 9 -21 -2010