HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 09-20 HCMMINUTES 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 20, 2011
COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson
at 7:07 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chairperson Kris Lawrence- Anderson, Commissioners Kathie Amdahl, Peggy Lynn, Chereen
Norstrud, Ephraim Olani, and Judy Thorbus. Also present were Council Liaison Carol Kleven and
Director of Business and Development Gary Eitel. Commissioner Tracy Groves was absent from the
meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Thorbus to
approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — July 19, 2011
There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud to
approve the July 19, 2011 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed.
CHAIRPERSONS REPORT
Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson reported on the following:
- The special election to fill the vacancy on the City Council
The Bellvue Neighborhood Meeting held on September 15 commenting on the Police
Chief's report on domestic crimes and the collaborative of efforts of the Brooklyn Center -
Brooklyn Park Youth Council.
Introduced Peggy Lynn, recent appointment by the Mayor to serve on the Housing
Commission.
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT
Councilmember Kleven informed Commission members of recent Council items, including:
- The certification of delinquent sewer and water utility fees and nonpayment of other fees/
fines (nuisance abatement costs, vacant building registration costs) to Hennepin County for
collection as part of the property owners real estate taxes.
- An amendment to the Shingle Creek Crossing Planned Unit Development (PUD) plans that
would separate the Sears building from the Food Court Building.
- The work on the 2012 Budget and certification of a preliminary levy to Hennepin County.
- Councilmember Kleven expressed the Council's appreciation to Tom Bublitz for his years to
the community.
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COMMUNITY GARDENS: REVIEW PRELIMINAR YSITE EVALUATIONS FROM STAFF
The Commission reviewed the staff memorandum on their investigation of the following parks as
potential Community Garden Sites: Centennial, Centennial - West, Kylawn, Northport, Happy
Hollow, East Palmer, West Palmer, Bellvue, and Evergreen and the following criteria that were used
in recommending candidate sites as suitable for gardening:
1. Access to water (hydrant),
2. Parking,
3. Ease of walking access to the site,
4. Proximity to existing residential (i.e. site not located too close to residential).
The Commission reviewed the aerial photographs which identified a potential garden of each of the
three candidate sites identified by staff:
- Centennial —West (an 80'x170' area east if the hockey rink and near Shingle Creek),
- East Palmer (a 50'x220 / area north of the parking lot and running parallel to Oliver Ave), and
- Kylawn (an 80'x140' area south of the parking lot and park shelter).
They also discussed staff investigation on the potential of joining the Cities of Brooklyn Park and
Crystal in their community garden program located at the Crystal Airport.
The following items were discussed:
- A concern was expressed on the Centennial —West site and its proximity to Shingle Creek/
potential flooding.
Application of the review criteria to the three candidate sites,
Public involvement in the review — selection process
- The value of community gardening and potential benefits that would be available if a
program would evolve that would include garden sites throughout the community.
The consensus of the Commission was to rank East Palmer and Kylawn as their initial top two
candidate sites, noting that additional review on these three sites and the Crystal Airport Site should
continue.
The Commission discussed a schedule that could facilitate a March 15, 2012 kick -off for a Brooklyn
Center Community Garden program and identified tasks which should be completed by December:
List of benefits of community gardening,
- Development of conceptual garden plot layout
Development of gardening application, policies, and program rules & regulations, and
- Creating a Mission Statement for a Community Program.
UPDATE ON NEW NEIGHBOR WELCOME PROGRAM
The Commission was informed that there would be no further bag drop offs this year.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business to be addressed by the Commission.
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ADJOURNMENT
There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud
to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission
adjourned at 8:31 ..m.
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