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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 10-16 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 October 16, 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 - Present Tamika Baskin —Present Kathie Amdahl - Present Joan Schonning —Present Michael Stokes — Present Paul Oman - Present Also present was Staff Liaison Jesse Anderson and Hamza Hassan, ACER Community Organizer. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Amdahl and seconded by Commissioner Schonning to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed. The amended agenda is to allow Hamza to discuss housing issues. APPROVAL OFMINUTES There was a motion by Commissioner Schonning and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the minutes of the Housing Commission meeting on September 18th, 2018. The motion passed. HOUSING ISSUES Hamza Hassan: We are working with Victoria townhomes. There are extra fees being charged for regular maintenance. Some tenants are being evicted for being late on their monthly rent. Mitigation plan has been approved by City Council. People are being displaced for charges. Housing Commission should involve two ordinances. The Tenant Protection Ordinance that protects tenants for 90 days if a new owner purchases the rental property. Just Cause Eviction Ordinance; the landlord would only be able to evict for just cause. The City Council had proposed that tenants sue. Tenants don't have time to file a lawsuit against owners. Page 1 Commissioner Johnson: Are there State Law provisions for evictions? Hassan: Not for non -renewals. Tenants evicted for not paying fees. Deposited his application fee and was denied. Chairperson Goodell: What are other cities doing for tenant protection? Are you suggesting just cause for non -renewal? Hassan: Eviction and a non -renew are basically the same thing. This would only be for affordable housing. Chairperson Goodell: How would a landlord handle rehabbing a property? Hamza: Tenants should not be evicted on such grounds and 90 days helps with a new development to give 90 days for them. Chairperson Goodell: If you are the existing owner and you want to update the properties and not renewing. Hassan: Should not be non -renewing. Hassan: We want to preserve naturally affordable housing. Commissioner Johnson: Several examples of owner who have purchased a property and renovated it. Now are renting it higher, You're conveying that a landlord can't do that. Hassan: If it's affordable housing then no they can't do that. Commissioner Johnson: I have concerns about preenting the livability of the community and the livability of the apartment. So you are saying if a property is deemed low income. They couldn't make it improved? Hassan: They can make improvements to help the community. Autumn Ridge has done this. However, they shouldn't increase base rent for increased greenery. Commissioner Stokes: Does Victoria townhomes have new management? Hassan: Commissioner Johnson: It seems hard to force them to make improvement but they can't raise rents. Hassan: It would displace people of color. Commissioner Baskin: NOAH is different than low income. If a landlord frequently raises rents it can be difficult for a tenant who is working multiple jobs. Pay isn't increasing, however the cost of housing is increasing. Need to protect affordable housing. Staff Liaison Anderson: Updated on ordinance. Page 2 Chairperson Goodell: Are they month to month? Hassan: I am not sure. Chairperson Goodell: Do you mean for non -renew? Hassan: Just cause non -renew would require them to have a reason to not renew the lease. Commissioner Amdahl: Are a lot of tenants on month to month leases? Hassan: Affordable units are more common to be month to month because of changes, such as employment. Moving a lot has effects on youth. Housing is a right and you need to have a justified reason to not renew the lease. This displaces families and could cause homeless. Commissioner Amdahl: If it's month to month, there is an agreement to be on a month to month between both parties. Commissioner Schonning: If they are looking for stability, are they looking a longer lease? Commissioner Amdahl: In a situation where there isn't a new owner and you have a one year lease, they can't raise your rent during that lease. How are they raising rent with a signed lease? Hassan: The lease doesn't stop a landlord from raising rent. Commissioner Amdahl: They can't raise it during the lease. Hassan: Victoria townhomes tenants are getting their rents raised. Chairperson Goodell: If they have a one year lease they can't raise the rent correct? Commissioner Baskin: One year isn't necessarily a stable home. Hassan: The amount you are being paid isn't increasing. These are people of color who are facing discrimination. They don't know what their job will be so they may not want to sign a one year lease. Commissioner Baskin: Annual leases are not always offered. Sometimes, only a month to month lease is offered. Commissioner Stokes How many units is Victoria Townhomes? Hassan: There are 48, they use the police to kick people off the property and against organizers. Staff Liaison Anderson: Council is moving forward with the tenant protection. But council is not moving forward the non -renew. Page 3 Hassan: This would not prevent them from raising their rent. Just prevent them from non -renewing. Chairperson Goodell: What does a landlord do if they want to renovate a unit? Hassan: Landlord can move tenant to a different unit. Chairperson Goodell: So, if you want to rehab a unit it can still be done? Hassan: Yes. Commissioner Baskin: Has a cap on rent increase been discussed? Staff Liaison Anderson: That isn't being discussed. Hassan: Can share bill of rights. Commissioner Stokes: Do you have a list of complaints? Hassan: Yes, petition for 20 residents. Chairperson Goodell: Do they do legal service at acer? Hassan: They don't, but have contacted Homeline. Commissioner Oman: Will you be involved in the tenant protection ordinance discussion in the future? Hassan: Read tenant protection ordinance. Just need to let them know there are changes. Hassan: Sold out documentary, about Bloomington. Chairperson Goodell: We are an advisory committee and volunteers, not elected positions. What do you suggest the commission do to help convince the landlords to be good citizens? Hassan: Advocacy to pressure the city ordinances to be adopted. Bring this to their attention. Staff Liaison Anderson: Gaughan properties has been Commissioner Baskin: Minneapolis was once affordable as well. Brooklyn Center is affordable. Other cities have had a decrease in affordability. Chairperson Goodell: You can email me inform to forward to the commission. Commissioner Johnson: This is a huge issue. Rents are going up at an unimaginable level. Commissioner Baskin: Is Acer working with the homeless camp? People are going there because of the resources. Commissioner Schonning: Affordable housing is included in the comprehensive plan. Page 4 Hassan: Thank you for being receptive to our concerns. BEEKEEPING Commissioner Oman: Staff Liaison Anderson: Brooklyn Park can deny if there is a documented allergy. Commissioner Schonning: I like the Brooklyn Park Ordinance. Commissioner Johnson: Are honey bees less aggressive? Commissioner Schonning: I like that some cities have provisions to attend a bee keeping class. Chairperson Goodell: I like the Brooklyn Park provisions. I would like to not prohibit bees due to the overall decrease in the bee population and the need for pollinators. Commissioner Johnson: Are there city properties for hives? Possibly allow hives at a city property such as the old tennis courts. Commissioner Oman: Almost all the cities that allow bees have a space requirement that was fairly large. The lots sizes listed are larger than most of Brooklyn Center lots. Commissioner Johnson: Do they collect from a wide area? Commissioner Basking: Citizens must get a permit in Minneapolis. Do they inspect? Commissioner Amdahl: If you have 5 acres, you don't need to register. Andover, you need 2 acres. This suggests RI and R2 districts. Chairperson Goodell: Bees are allowed in Crystal. They are allowed in Fridley with a permit. Brooklyn Park's regulation is close to the chicken ordinance Brooklyn Center already adopted. Chairperson Goodell: There should be some regulation on the keeping of bees. Staff Liaison Anderson: Can the collect honey of resale? Commissioner Amdahl: They should be able to sell but not directly from their home. Could however, sell off-site. Commissioner Oman: This is not likely to be an issue because of the limited amount of honey produced. DUTIES AND RESPONSALITY Commissioner Amdahl: Let's review and bring back at a future meeting. Chairperson Goodell: I agree, Review list of duties and bring them back for review. Page 5 NEW NEIGHBOR PROGRAM UPDATE Goodell: We are done for 2018, the final delivery were mostly completed last Saturday. There were approximately 270 delivered in spring and 135 in fall. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT In the absence of the Council Liaison no report was given. CHAIRPERSONS REPORT Chairperson Goodell reported: Gave packets to the crossings and talked to management. Does the city do a promotion for good rental properties? The crossings won an award. Chairperson Goodell will send info to Jesse about the award to be sent to the Communications Coordinator. OTHER BUSINESS Staff Liaison Anderson: Appeal coming at next meeting When should we have the meeting? Due to the holiday? Commission agreed that they could attend and we should hold the meeting on the usual date and time. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Baskin to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission adjourned at p.m. G Chairman Page 6