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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 02-22 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 FEBRUARY 22, 2011 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson at 7:03 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Kris Lawrence- Anderson, Commissioners Kathie Amdahl, Tracy Groves, Chereen Norstrud, and Judy Thorbus. Also present was Staff Liaison Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Ephraim Olani was absent. Council Liaison Carol Kleven was absent due to a previous commitment relative to City Council activities. Also in attendance was invited guest Mary Pat Black, Parks and Facilities Manager for the City of Brooklyn Park. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. PPROVAL OF MINUTES — JANUARY 18 A , 2011 There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Groves to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONREPORT Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson stated that the March Housing Commission agenda would be primarily devoted to the New Neighbor Welcome program which will begin again in April. She also noted she met with District 286 school representative Jodi Rossi to discuss the addition of high school students to partner with the Housing Commission on the New Neighbor Welcome program. She also ststed she will be attending the Brooklyn Center Business Association meeting this Thursday where City Manager, Curt Boganey will be the speaker. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT In the absence of Councilmember Kleven, the Council Liaison report was deferred. DISCUSSION REGARDING COMMUNITY GARDENS The Housing Commission welcomed Mary Pat Black, Parks and Facilities Manager for the City of Brooklyn Park. Ms. Black gave an overview of Brooklyn Park's Community Gardens program including the following information: • The program started in 2009 at the Eidem homestead with 80 plots. These plots are typically Page 1 2 -22 -11 gone by the end of April. • The plots are 20 ft. by 20 ft. and rent for $50 per plot. • Many Community Garden users are from single family homes and not just from apartments or townhomes. • Ms. Black distributed copies of Brooklyn Park's Community Garden application and rule sheet and reviewed them. • The City encourages organic gardening at the Community Garden plots. Water is provided by the City, either through installation of a water line and faucet or from a nearby hydrant. • In 2010, the program expanded to Fair Oaks School Park with 36 additional plots added. This year the program will expand to Southbrook Park at 63` and Douglas with 73 more plots, some of which will be managed by the City of Crystal. Ms. Black emphasized the "community building" nature of the Community Gardens program and entertained questions from Commission members. In response to a question from Commissioner Norstrud, Ms. Black pointed out the cost of installing a water line at Eidem Farm was approximately $2,000, which included the cost of running lines and installation of a spigot. She added that water from hydrants can be used if available. Ms. Black pointed out additional information regarding the costs of the program including: • Tree Trust was used to install a deer fence around the plots. • The water cost is approximately $650 a year, portable toilets cost $390 a year, garbage pick- up is $320 a year with $150 per container for garbage and waste management is done by city staff. In response to questions from Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson, Ms. Black pointed out that most of the produce is raised for personal use and she is not aware of any large scale sales of produce. Additionally, with regard limiting height of items grown in Community Gardens, growers can't shade neighbor's crops with items such as tall corn, etc. She pointed out that the gardens pretty much manage themselves. She also noted City Staff brought in wood chips and the garden users laid down the wood chips to create a path around the garden areas. Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson inquired as to the time commitment of staff. Ms. Black replied that the program is a small part of her job but that other staff members also contribute including parks maintenance staff and community center staff. Ms. Black went on to explain that people must plant their crops by the end of May and that flowers may also be planted on garden plots. With regard to communication, Ms. Black pointed out that the City has a Facebook page for comments and City Staff calls and a -mails garden users if they need to communicate with gardeners. In response to a question from Commissioner Groves regarding advertising, Ms. Black pointed out that the program is advertised on the City's website, through brochures and on the TV running at Page 2 2 -22 -11 City Hall. In response to a question about parking, Ms. Black stated that parking has not been a problem even where on- street parking is needed. Typically, she pointed out there is not a need for more than a half a dozen parking spaces at a time. In response to a question from Commissioner Groves regarding location requirements, Ms. Black pointed out that the key needs for location are water and soil quality noting that the City did soil testing at $50 per test done by the University of Minnesota. With regard to start up of the program, Ms. Black stated she received information from the City of Minneapolis on their program and received a grant through Hennepin County to do some additional initial work. In conclusion, Ms. Black pointed out gardening activities usually run from May 14 through October of each year. Ms. Black left the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Commission members continued their discussion of Community Gardens. Commission members discussed Community Garden issues relative to Brooklyn Center including, potential locations, pointing out that city parks could be a good location for future Community Gardens. Commissioner Thorbus stated that it would be helpful to know how long a program takes to start from conceptual discussion to the initial start up. Commission members continued to discuss Community gardens and it was decided that Commission members and staff would look into various items relative to Community Gardens in Brooklyn Center including the following: • Commissioner Groves would look further into the City of Minneapolis program. Commissioner Norstrud would investigate Bloomington's program. Commissioner Amdahl stated she would review the documents from Brooklyn Park's program for adaptation to Brooklyn Center. • Staff liaison was to do additional research and report back to the Commission on possible locations in the city and additional information available from the city's previous investigation into Community Gardens. • Commissioner Thorbus will look at location issues and will contact School District 279. OTHER BUSINESS The staff liaison reported on the option of conducting a compact fluorescent bulb drop off at the upcoming Earth Fest. He pointed out he contacted Hennepin County Environmental Services and was informed that, if the Commission conducted a bulb drop off, it would be considered a hazardous waste drop -off which would necessitate various controls in terms of the drop -off site. Also, the bulbs would have to be delivered to a processing site and that it would have to be done Page 3 2 -22 -11 by a licensed hauler and taken to a licensed facility which could not include the County drop off site which is for residential customers only. The staff liaison pointed out that he is also looking into potential liability issues with regard to the city's insurance coverage of volunteers as it pertains to the inclusion of high school students and that he would report to the Chair on his findings. There was no other business. 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. C irm Page 4 2 -22 -11