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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 12-20 HCP AGENDA BROOKLYN CENTER HOUSING COMMISSION December 20, 2011 7:00 p.m. Council Commission Room Brooklyn Center City Hall 1. Call to Order: 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes- November 15, 2011 5. Chairperson's Report 6. Council Liaison Report 7. Continued Review & Discussion on Candidate Garden Sites and Establishing a Community Garden Program for 2012: a) Update on the Brooklyn Park/Crystal Community Garden Site at the Crystal Airport. b) Possible Alternate site within the MAC airport property c) Happy Hollow Neighborhood Park 8. Other Business 9. Adjournment: 8:30 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 NOVEMBER 15, 2011 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson at 7:04 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 OFAGENDA Chairperson Kris Lawrence- Anderson requested to place the following items on Other Business: - Expiration/Renewal of Terms of Office for the Commission's Membership - Time Capsule - December Meeting - Commissioner Tracy Groves absenteeism There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Lynn to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — September 20, 2011 There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Norstrud to approve the September 20, 2011 Housing Commission minutes as submitted. The motion passed. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson reported on the following: - A thank you note from Tom Bublitz, retired EDA /HRA Specialist and staff liaison to the Housing Commission, - Notice of the December I Domestic Violence Forum with Police Departments of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and other community groups, - Citizens Academy Program offered by the Police Department ( 4 -1 %2 hr. sessions ) which have included an interesting tour of the police station and information on the City's Domestic Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.) Page 1 11 -15 -11 COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Kleven informed Commission members of recent Council items, including: - The October 24 City Council Meeting which included this year's Random Acts of Kindness Presentation of Recognition and Certificate Ceremony. (Cub Foods and Dana Anderson were nominated by the Housing Commission for their involvement with the New Neighbor Welcome Program) - Update on the Council's discussion on the Shingle Creek Towers HUD foreclosure sales /auction which has been continued to November 10 - The Shingle Creek Crossing Improvements to the 56 Avenue/Xerxes Ave. entrance and parking lot improvements around Applebee's. - A recent Domestic Violence program she attended at the University of St. Thomas. Continued Review & Discussion on Candidate Garden Sites and Establishing a Community Garden Program for 2012 Gary Eitel, Director of Business and Development provided information on the following: • The October 12, 2011 Park and Recreation Commission Meeting and their recommendation on the following candidate sites for community gardening: - Crystal Airport Site (a cooperative agreement with Brooklyn Park and Crystal for approx. 20 -30 garden plots) - Centennial Park West ( a site east of the hockey rink for approx. 50+ garden plots) - Happy Hollow ( a site adjacent to Malborg's Greenhouse for approx. 20+ garden plots ) • A PowerPoint presentation of photographs of the above candidate sites, Kylawn Park, Odyssey School site, and the Hopkins Community garden site to identify design parameters with respect to size /dimensions of the individual garden plots, aisle width, water source, fencing, , sanitation facility, parking areas, composting, and disposal of rubbish. The Commission discussed the following items: The Park & Recreation's No. 1 ranking of the Crystal Airport Garden site, and the potential of a cooperative agreement with the City of Brooklyn Park and Crystal. This option would ensure the availability of garden sites for the 2012 growing season, not require additional capital improvements by the City, and would operate under the guidelines, policies, application process established by the City of Brooklyn Park. The community value of having community garden sites within the City of Brooklyn Center and site features relating to perimeter fencing, location of composting, and end of season garden plot Page 2 I1 -15 -11 clean ups that could provide for a more compatible and complementary land use within a neighborhood or park setting. The option of pursuing a partnership with Malborg's Nursery in the potential development of garden plots within the northwest portion of Happy Hollow Park. The consensus of the Commission was that the opportunity of a cooperative agreement with Brooklyn Park and Crystal for community gardening at the Crystal Airport should be pursued as their 1 St choice. The Commission also discussed the option of providing garden plots at Happy Hollow Neighborhood Park that would operate under the City's guidelines and policies. The Commission recognized that this site has the potential of establishing a foundation for future community gardening opportunities throughout the city. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Lawrence - Anderson commented on the terms of the Commission appointments and asked the Commissioners with terms expiring at the end of this year, if they had an interest in continuing to serve on the Housing Commission. Commissioners Judy Thorbus and Ephraim Olani indicated that they were interested in serving an additional 3 year term. Commissioner Lynn indicated that she was appointed by the Mayor to fill a vacancy and would like to speak to her family before making the continued commitment. Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson indicated that the Housing Commission contribution to the time capsule being buried as part of the Centennial Celebration included articles on the New Neighbor Welcome Program. Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson inquired on the availability of the Commissioners to attend a December 20 meeting. The consensus of the Commissioners was to have a December meeting to continue discussions on the development of a community garden program and tasks to be completed that would enable a recommendation for Council consideration in February, 2012. Chairperson Lawrence- Anderson commented on the City Council attendance policy, noting that Commissioner Tracy Groves has exceeded the number of unexcused absents which will be reported the City Clerk and forwarded unto the Mayor for consideration of a new appointment to fill that position. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Thorbus and seconded by Commissioner Amdahl to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Chairman Page 3 11 -15 -11 MEMORANDUM TO: Chairperson Kris Lawrence — Anderson and Commission Members From: Gary Eitel, Director of Business & Development Date: December 16 2011 Subject: Continued Review & Discussion on Candidate Garden Sites and Establishing a Community Garden Program for 2012 Update on the Brooklyn Park/Crystal Community Garden Site at the Crystal Airport I have been informed that the City of Brooklyn Park has discovered that they cannot expand their garden plot area at the Crystal Airport and consequently, they are not in a position to consider a cooperative agreement with the City of Brooklyn Center to offer any garden plots at this location. Possible Alternate site within the MAC airport property_ I have inquired with the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) on the potential use of a vacant parcel in the Northeast corner of the Crystal Airport which adjoins the City of Brooklyn Center. This site has a security fence along the residential properties to the east and along 63 Ave. N. with approximately two acres of lawn area before the tree line, wetlands, and Twin Creek. The conversation with MAC indicated that they have leased land for gardening, referencing both the Crystal and Flying Cloud airports, and would consider a proposal by the City. The typical agreement is for a 3 year period at a cost of $100 -$125 per acre. I then inquired with the City of Brooklyn Park if they had an interest of expanding gardening opportunities at this location (the site is within their City) or if they would object to our leasing the land from MAC. I received a response from Mary Pat that they presently have a sufficient supply of garden sites and were not interested in expanding the program at this time. Also she indicated the City did not have a problem with the City pursuing the potential of a lease with MAC. I will be an aerial photograph of the site to meeting to review some of the financial considerations associated with the use of this site; water source, new access unto 63` Ave. and securing the site if it is opened for community garden plots. Happy Hollow Neighborhood Park I will have an aerial photograph of the site with a conceptual layout for garden plots at the meeting, Also, I have some slides of the Zanewood garden plots in Brooklyn Park which has rectangular plots vs. the square 20'x20'.