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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 05-15 HCPAGENDA BROOKLYN CENTER HOUSING COMMISSION May 15, 2018 7:00 p.m. Council Commission Conference Room Brooklyn Center City Hall 1) Call to Order: 7:00 p.m. 2) Approval of Agenda 3) Approval of Minutes: March 20, 2018 4) Comprehensive Plan 5) Chicken Discussion 6) New Neighbor Delivery Dates 7) City Council Liaison’s Report 8) Chairpersons Report 9) Other Business 10) Adjournment Tabled Discussion Items: Draft Letter Regarding Housing Commission Responsibilities Page 1 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 April 17, 2018 COUNCIL COMMISSION ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission was called to order by Chairperson Goodell at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson - Mark Goodell - Present David Johnson - Excused Tamika Baskin - Not Present Kathie Amdahl - Present Joan Schonning - Present Michael Stokes - Present Paul Oman - Present Also present was Staff Liaison Jesse Anderson and Council Liaison Marquita Butler. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Oman to approve the agenda as amended. Remove item 4. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Oman to approve the minutes of the Housing Commission meeting on March 21, 2018. The motion passed. LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING HOUSING COMMISSION Tabled discussion for future meeting. NEW NEIGHBOR PROGRAM UPDATE Chairperson Goodell: Passed out some flyers. Staff Liaison Anderson: No new coupons have been received, However we did get approval from the Community Center and Golf Course. Commissioner Schonning: Passed some flyers out, but some didn’t see the free item requirement. Commissioner Amdahl: Dropped off flyers at Slims and Marketplace business. Page 2 Chairperson Goodell: Should we set dates for the next Deliveries? We can wait to schedule at the next Housing Commission Meeting. Staff Liaison Anderson: Staff will try to get volunteers or intern staff to assemble packets. DISCUSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK FOR COUNCIL Community Development Directory Beekman: Provided background on affordable housing. This is in relation to a conversation that is happening regionally and a response from a presentation from ACER and CAPSH on the need for affordable housing and tenant protection. Staff provided recommendations at last Council meeting and the Council requested that it be brought to The Housing Commission for recommendation and review. Broad overview of the topic. Brooklyn Center is experiencing a record low vacancy rate, self-reported vacancy under three (3) percent. Five (5) percent is considered healthy. Rents could go up, and as there is an increase in the market. Units could flip and rents would go up. Landlords can become choosier with tenants. This could result in a reduction in landlords accepting choice vouchers. This also could cause the loss of naturally occurring affordable housing. There are three policies being consitered: Preservation, Tenant Protections and Creation. Section 8 restrictions Staff will be review ordinance and implication. However, staff will continue to monitor the Minneapolis law suit. Tenant Transition Ordinance This is triggered at the sale. It requires 3 month notice or relocation benefits. Inclusionary Housing Require new market rate project to include affordable housing. This is being reviewed for its possible effect on the market and opportunity site. Chairperson Goodell: Are there State or County funds available to offset the cost of new affordable housing units? Community Development Directory Beekman: Yes, and they are highly competitive and the funds favor 100% affordable. Commissioner Stokes: Are they less mixed with the affordable housing? Page 3 Community Development Directory Beekman: Mixed income housing studies. Affective is when lower income have access to support such as education 4D tax break on existing building. When provided a subsidy and provide certified portion as low income, then they can apply for 4D. HC is working on a program to help stabilize rents and staff is working to review EDA fund availability. Commissioner Stokes: Would these new requirements apply to just apartment? Community Development Directory Beekman: That’s up to the city to determine who would be available. Other general identify at risk properties, include in comprehensive plan, educating landlords about section 8 programs and misconceptions. Commissioner Schonning: What are the due dates for policies and comprehensive plan? Community Development Directory Beekman: The City eeds to have comprehensive plan done by October. Chairperson Goodell: How does this affect the housing complaint against Metropolitan council affordable housing policies? Community Development Directory Beekman: It is relating to consideration of poverty and Metropolitan Council’s formula for what each community’s share of affordable housing is. Brooklyn Center’s share was 123 units by 2040. The complaint went to HUD, HUDS response was not to change and we are waiting for Metropolitan Council to respond. The City is required to include numbers in comprehensive plan. Commissioner Oman: Anything for affordable housing purchase? Community Development Directory Beekman: This is specific to rental in an effort to preserve affordable rental housing. There is no discussion on affordable housing for home owners at this time. Chairperson Goodell: What recommendations are needed from the Housing Commission? Community Development Directory Beekman: Tenant protection, Inclusionary Housing, Section 8. Next step is to bring back specifics on those topics for direct input and language. Chairperson Goodell: Waiting for Minneapolis lawsuit, but still examine its ordinance and options. Page 4 Chairperson Goodell and Commissioner Schonning: Agree with Council’s direction on the policies. Community Development Directory Beekman: Any specific concerns or questions? Do you have direct concerns or initial thoughts? Commissioner Amdahl: Would be interested in looking at Minneapolis ordinance and the Saint Louis Park transition ordinance and determine if they make sense for this community. Commissioner Schonning: Interested in inclusionary housing to be reviewed with the Opportunity site. It seems right for the city and Yes to the Transition Ordinance. Chairperson Goodell: Tenant transition is a good compromise to work with both sides and is more enforceable. Community Development Directory Beekman: We will need to get input from landlords. Chairperson Goodell: Let commission know about landlord feedback meetings as we may want to attend. Commissioner Stokes: Is there a lot of new construction? Community Development Directory Beekman: The statuary was affordable housing. But other than that, no, there has not been new rental in Brooklyn Center. Brooklyn Center is going to start to see new housing construction. The opportunity site would be the next project. Chairperson Goodell: Has to leave. Amdahl appointed as Pro Tem Chair. Motion passed. QUESTION OR CONCERNS RELATING TO THE KEEPING OF CHICKENS Commissioner Oman: Bring Minneapolis ordinance as example at next meeting. Commissioner Schonning: Would consider exploring the options of a limited number of chickens. Stacy Wiber - 6425 Freemont Ave N: We view chickens as a pet similar to other birds. But they would be kept outside. We would like a limited number of chickens. Minneapolis allows 4 hens at a single family and no rooster due to noise. Not looking to breed. I moved from Connecticut, which had allowed for up to 4 hens. They would only be allowed at single family home rented or owned. Page 5 COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Council Member Butler provided un updated: The is new construction be considered for a new Luther Mazda Mitsubishi. Walmart remodel for a grocery pick-up area. A new Sprint store has opened. Also there is a new Hair Salon coming to shingle creek crossing. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Goodell reported: Report was not given. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business addressed by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Schonning and seconded by Commissioner Oman to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at 8:00 p.m. __________________________________ Chairman Brooklyn Center Chicken Ordinance Proposal th Presented on May 15, 2018 By: Brooklyn Center Chicken FB Group of 80+ members Table of Contents Ordinance proposal ………………………………….. pg. 2 Advantages ..…………………….. ………… pg. 3-5 Common concerns ………………………………….. pg. 6-10 Definitions Chicken. A chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated type of fowl that serves as an egg or meat source. Clucking. The sound uttered by a hen when laying eggs, brooding, or in calling her chicks. Crowing. The sound uttered by a rooster is the ‘singing’ of the rooster. Roosters crow for many reasons including: reacting to a disturbance, reacting to almost any kind of sound (cars, people, other roosters, other animals, etc.), guarding their territory, feeling threatened, a predator ‘trespassing’ on their territory, or just communicating with other chickens Coop- A chicken coop or hen house is a small house where, typically, female chickens or other fowl are kept safe and secure. There are nest boxes found inside the hen houses for egg-laying, and perches on which the birds can sleep. pg. 1 New Proposed Ordinance It is proposed that chickens be removed from Section 19-104. ‐ If the city feels chickenkeeping needs to be controlled more than is already adequately addressed by the current animal nuisance ordinance, it is proposed that an ordinance pertaining only to chickens be created. The following ordinance pertaining to chickens is then proposed (Proposed Ordinance): 1. Single family homes within the City of Brooklyn Center shall be permitted to keep laying hens for pets and household (not commercial) egg gathering. Those who rent a single or two family residential property is allowed, BUT ONLY IF the property owner provides a written statement to the City, confirming the tenant may have chickens on the property. 2. Roosters and slaughtering are prohibited. 3. Chickens and their enclosures must not be visible from the street. 4. Coops and Runs must be constructed in a workmanship manner, maintained in good repair, and kept clean and sanitary to deter vermin and objectionable odors. Coops and runs may be constructed with wood and. Or woven wire materials to allow chickens to contact the ground. 6. Limit to 6 Hens per household 7. Feed must be kept in a tight lid container and waste must be either composted or discarded appropriately It is unnecessary to require licensing of hens, just as Brooklyn Center does not require licensing of dogs, cats, or any other animals. There is also no need for setback requirements, as outdoor dogs — much more likely to jump on fences or bark loudly at neighbors, as well as produce five times the amount of excrement — are not required to be kept any distance from the property line. And as signatures of consent are not needed for neighbors to own dogs (large or small, noisy or not), it similarly does not make sense to require hen owners to acquire such consent. These types of unnecessary restrictions do not produce better animal owners and in many cases can be struck down as unconstitutional in the face of established property rights. In the unlikely case that an animal owner is neglectful, their animals will be a nuisance (whether that be dogs, cats, chickens, etc). Since Brooklyn Center already has an animal nuisance ordinance in place, Brooklyn Center residents would remain protected. pg. 2 Advantages  Fresh Eggs! This is the obvious reason – you’ll have a supply of fresh eggs on hand. Not to mention the convenience, as you’ll have absolutely no need to get out of your pajamas and head to the store to make a fresh, healthy breakfast.  Organic & Non-GMO- Caged hens are fed a diet of corn, soy and cottonseed meals … three huge GMO crops. If you really take the old saying ‘you are what you eat’ to heart, then you’ll be wary of eggs which come from these hens. By keeping your own, you know exactly what they’re eating and can avoid feeding them engineered and antibiotic laden crops.  Greater Nutrition- Free range eggs from your backyard have been shown to have a far greater nutritional value than nasty battery eggs. There is more than seven times the Vitamin A and Beta Carotene (essential for good eyesight) and almost double the Vitamin E in free range eggs. When it comes to the essential fatty acid Omega 3 (which is necessary for heart health, healthy cholesterol levels and positive mental and behavioral health) the free range variety win again with an incredible 292mg, versus a 0.033mg in store bought eggs. You’ll also get less saturated fat in free range eggs (Left is store bought right is fresh from the coop)  Educational Value- Did you know chickens have a great memory and can differentiate between over 100 human or animal faces? They love to play, they dream, they mourn for each other and they feel pain and distress. They also make great mothers – they talk to their chicks while still in the egg, and turn the eggs about 50 times a day. The term ‘pecking order’ didn’t come out of nowhere – hens have an ordered social structure based on a hierarchy. If you make room for them in your back garden, you and your family will get to learn all about these fascinating creatures up close. pg. 3  Free Fertilizer- Maybe free chicken manure isn’t something to get too excited about, but if you’re proud of your garden it can work wonders. Chicken manure is actually classed as being one of the most desirable manures due to its high nutrient level. Utilizing this is an important part of sustainable and organic agriculture. It’s estimated that having between 5 and 10 chickens should produce enough fertilizer to take care of your entire vegetable garden and yard for the year. It’s also great to add to your compost.  Pest Control- When you get have backyard chickens, you’ll have a great excuse to ditch the pesticides and chemical-laden bug killers. Your chickens will do that job for you. They eat pretty much any bug including beetles, slugs, ticks and grasshoppers.  Cuts down on food waste - Nationwide, food scraps make up about 17% (29 million tons) of what is sent to landfills, and yard waste is slightly more at 33 million tons. Your chickens can help you out here too! In addition to some chicken food, they’ll eat pretty much most kitchen scraps – fruit and vegetable peelings, bread, cooked beans, cooked rice, oatmeal, pasta … and the list goes on.  Weed Control- Chickens may just be the perfect sidekick for every gardener. A source of pest control and manure all in one, they also will rid your garden of those invasive weeds that pop up all over the place. As they scratch and claw the ground, they eat and disperse all those weed seeds that have blown in. Next year, you’ll be amazed at your neat and tidy garden.  The social aspect- Would you believe there are entire communities dedicated to raising backyard chickens? Just do a quick internet search and you’ll see. It’s a great way to share your newfound passion with others, to pick up some tips and tricks, and to brag about how great the new additions to your family are. It’s good for real-life socializing too. Mentioning you keep chickens is a great conversation starter and I’ll bet your kids’ friends want to come over and check out these cool creatures.  Cuts down on food miles- We’ve all heard of food miles – the distance over which a food item is transported from producer to consumer. Well, you can’t cut down on this particular type of environmental impact much more than keeping a source of food in your own back garden. As you also clock up miles getting waste foods away from you and to the landfill, it seems these useful creatures save you miles twice when they gobble up your table scraps too! http://www.naturallivingideas.com/20-convincing-reasons-to-keep-backyard-chickens/ pg. 4 Common Concerns “Chickens are smelly!” Chickens don’t smell bad any more than other pets do. A properly clean chicken coop has no objectionable odors. While it’s certainly true that if your chicken coop is seldom or never cleaned, it will begin to smell, the same is true of a cat box that is never cleaned, or a dog kennel that is never cleaned. There are laws against animal cruelty, animal neglect, animal abuse, and so on that apply to all pets. The bottom line is that responsible people give their pets proper care and provide them with a clean environment. “Laying hens are loud!” The truth is that a flock of laying hens is actually quiet, far quieter than dogs are. A hen will cackle or squawk when she lays an egg. That occurs once a day—or less, depending on the breed and age of the hen, as well as the season. The noise level for the squawk after egg laying is up to 60 decibels at its very loudest, or about the same volume as a normal conversation between two people… and in the same range of noise volume made by an air conditioner, a washer, or a flushed toilet. That’s as loud as they get. Lawn mowers and barking dogs register at around 90 -100 decibels, much louder than a few hens. And roosters can be loud, sure–about as loud as a barking dog–but roosters are not required for egg production. The noise argument is based on basic ignorance about chickens and biology. Many uneducated people think they will hear crowing if their neighbors keep hens for eggs, because they think a rooster is required for egg production… but he’s not. Human women ovulate regardless of whether a male is around or not, and so does a hen. Remember, roosters are only required if you want your hen’s eggs to be fertile! pg. 5 “Chickens will attract wild animals to my neighborhood!” Presuming you keep everything clean and tidy with your pet chickens just as you would when keeping a pet cat or dog, raising chickens doesn’t make rodents or other pests magically appear from thin air. While it IS true that if there are any pests already in your neighborhood, they might be attracted to chicken feed if you spill it or don’t keep it secured, they would be just as attracted to spilled or unsecured cat or dog food, wild bird feed, a koi pond, or even to your family’s food waste discarded in unsecured outdoor garbage cans or compost piles–and all of those probably already exist in most neighborhoods, anyway. Chicken food is no different from any other pet food in that respect. If you do have small rodents in your area, a flock of chickens can actually reduce their number, since some breeds will catch and eat small mice and moles like cats do–chickens will eat small snakes, too. Plus, they eat other pests like ticks, mosquitos, grasshoppers and the like. “Legalizing chickens will negatively affect property values” Not true. Take a few moments to read some old news stories about the legalization of backyard chickens, and you’ll notice that no actual evidence indicating that property values drop due to backyard chickens is EVER cited. Instead, the media will report that opponents simply have a “fear” of reduced property values. It seems to me that reporters should follow that claim up with actual data… but there is none to be had (and you know the media these days). So this argument is like a bogeyman: it’s not real, but is frequently employed to frighten people into a position of compliance and fear. We’ve heard stories about realtors who feel that the right to keep a small flock of chickens could attract people to buy. Especially those of younger families who have a desire to be more connected to their food. Rather than driving neighbors apart, chickens are usually conversation starters, particularly unusual breeds like Polish with their huge crests, or Silkies with their fur-like feathers. And today’s small flock chicken coops are boutique, high-end items designed to look pretty in the yard. Remember, neighbors who want to keep chickens are just that: your neighbors. They care about the value of their homes and the quality of life in their community just as much as opponents of backyard chickens do–maybe more. People who keep backyard chickens are often involved in many other hobbies that add value to your neighborhood, including flower or vegetable gardening, beekeeping, growing fruit trees or berry bushes and so on. Think about it: this is exactly the sort of thing that can enhance community feeling and friendship in your neighborhood. Imagine a neighborhood where your neighbors share berries, fresh eggs, zucchini and tomatoes with you… and you might “lend” a cup of sugar or share a mug of coffee. That’s what good neighbors do. That’s why some of the most expensive and exclusive communities in the country allow small flocks of laying chickens. For example, New York, Portland, Chicago and Boulder–cities with some of the highest property values in the country–allow hens. If keeping chickens negatively pg. 6 affected the property values of the communities that permitted them, surely the communities would be taking steps to repeal them based on this mounting evidence, right? This is not happening. Instead, in some areas with high property values, the regulations are actually becoming more permissive with regard to backyard chickens, presumably because these places have found that the quality of life has improved. For example, in 2010, Seattle went from allowing families 3 hens to allowing 8 hens, a much more reasonable number if your family eats lots of eggs, especially if you don’t want to be limited to getting only the breeds with the highest egg production. The “property value” argument is typically based on emotions and other evidence-less prejudices. There is zero evidence that legalizing pet chickens has affected property values. “People who want to keep chickens should just move to the country!” This is probably the most ridiculous “argument” of all, if it can even be termed an argument. In the United States, no matter where you live, you have basic rights that allow you to enjoy your own property… but that means your neighbors have the same rights to enjoy their property, as disappointing as some may find that to be. If YOU are unduly bothered by your neighbors–when their activities don’t affect property values, produce foul odors, loud noise, excess waste or present other actual problems–then YOU are the one who’ll need to consider moving out of town and into the country. https://blog.mypetchicken.com/2012/07/20/the-6-silliest-arguments-against-backyard-chickens/ “Having Backyard Chickens increases the risk of diseases.” Healthy birds will be active and alert with bright eyes. They will be moving around — pecking, scratching, and dusting — except on hot days when they will find shade. Chickens that are healthy and active will also talk and sing quietly throughout the day. As far as laying and eating habits, each chicken is different, so monitor each chicken to get a feel for her normal production and consumption. Healthy droppings will be firm and grayish brown, with white urine salts. Chickens raised in backyard settings generally stay healthy and are not easily susceptible to diseases. The easiest way to find disease in chickens is to know what a healthy bird looks like. When a chicken isn’t acting normal, for instance if she doesn’t run to the food as usual or she wheezes or sneezes, start investigating. The table below lists some possible causes of illness to chickens. pg. 7 Infectious (invasion by another Noninfectious (nonbiological in origin) organism) Bacteria Chemical poisoning Mold and fungi Hereditary defects Parasites Nutritional deficiencies Viruses Unknown causes http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/smallfarms/livestock/poultry/backyard-chicken- basics/ Avian Influenza A Virus Infections in Humans Although avian influenza A virus that usually does not infect people, but rare cases of human infection with these viruses have been reported. No reports of the Avian Influenza in humans have been reported in the United States. Infected birds shed avian influenza virus in their saliva, mucous and feces. Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when enough viruses gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. This can happen when virus is in the air (in droplets or possibly dust) and a person breathes it in, or when a person touches something that has virus on it then touches their mouth, eyes or nose. Rare human infections with some avian viruses have occurred most often after unprotected contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated with avian influenza viruses. However, some infections have been identified where direct contact was not known to have occurred. Illness in people has ranged from mild to severe. Bird Flu Outbreaks in Birds Outbreaks of bird flu happen among birds from time to time. When deadly bird flu outbreaks happen in U.S. poultry, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) works with industry, state and other government partners to stop the outbreak so that it does not spread to other poultry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works with partners to protect the public’s health during these outbreaks. The risk to the public from bird flu outbreaks is low; however, because other bird flu viruses have infected people, it is possible that human infections with these viruses could occur. Risk depends on exposure. People with no contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces are thought to be at very low to no risk of infection. People with close or prolonged unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated environments are thought to be at greater (though probably still low) risk of infection. pg. 8 Salmonella: Humans do not catch salmonella from chicks or chickens the way you would catch a cold from your neighbor. Salmonella is food poisoning; you get it from eating infected meat or eggs. Even then, in order to get a case of salmonella, the meat and eggs you have eaten must be improperly prepared, that is, not completely cooked through. Or, you can also get salmonella by getting your hands or something else contaminated with feces and then putting that thing in your mouth. People more at risk for contracting Salmonella are very young, very old, and pregnant or have immune systems that are already compromised in some way. The best way to keep your children and family safe from infection is by keeping your own hens whose conditions you can monitor, and by having your family members wash their hands after dealing with chickens. You want to have them wash hands after dealing with any pets, for that matter. Alcohol is an effective sanitizer for salmonella bacteria. But when it comes to issues with Salmonella, contamination is FAR more of an issue with factory farmed birds that produce eggs for grocery stores, not with your backyard pets. This is because the conditions chickens are kept in at factory farms are simply terrible. (You can Google information about this if you have a strong stomach, but to give you an idea, some of the conditions birds are forced to endure in factory farms include having to share cages or space with—and lay eggs on—other dead and rotting birds.) Since salmonella is food poisoning, it isn’t an illness that passes from person to person or hen to hen like a cold. When chickens get salmonella, it is usually the result of hens eating rat droppings or worse in their tiny, dirty spaces at commercial egg farms. Yuck. Presuming you don’t keep your hens in the same inhumane circumstances they are kept in at factory farms---that is, presuming your coop is clean and roomy and you provide fresh food and water for them at all times---it is doubtful your home flock would contract salmonella. Birds in factory farms have immune systems that are already stressed by the terrible conditions they experience every day. At home, salmonella illness in your hens is easy to prevent: keep the coop clean and your hens happy. And most importantly, be alert to sign of illness so that if there is a problem, you can take care of it. But do be aware that your hens don’t have to be sick with salmonella to transmit it to you. Remember, salmonella and other bacteria can be present in small quantities the feces of animals (including dogs and cats) whether they are sick or not. So when you pick up your bird who has been walking in and pecking around poopy litter, just wash your hands… the same way you’d wash your hands if your dog—who has been nibbling on canine-enticing cat poop in the yard—licks your fingers with doggy love. Use common sense. pg. 9 A hen actually sick with salmonella will be immediately obvious: she will be weak, purple-combed, and have watery diarrhea as well as reduced egg production. In fact, it’s hard to imagine that all those sick hens went unnoticed at those factory farms for so long. Even if workers could not manage to differentiate the symptoms of salmonella from all the other symptoms of distress that factory farmed chickens have routinely, surely they would have noticed the big drop in production. After all, even if factory farms don’t care about the welfare of their birds, they DO care about production—it’s what compels them to keep the birds in such terrible, dirty, cramped conditions in the first place. It’s just cheaper. For that reason, it’s rather terrifying to think they just kept selling their eggs when they must have been aware of a potential problem. https://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Is-Salmonella-a-concern- with-backyard-chickens-H19.aspx Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this proposal. pg. 10