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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 28, 2003HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 28, 2003 CALL TO ORDER - The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Heights Housing & Redevelopment Authority (I-IRA) was called to order by Walt Fehst, Executive Director, at 6:36 p.m., January 28, 2003, in the Parkview Villa Community Room B, 965 40~ Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Commission Members Absent: Staff Present: Julienne Wyckoff, Bruce Nawrocki, Bobby Williams, Dennis Ecklund Jr., Tammera Ericson, and Bruce Kelzenberg Walt Fehst, Executive Director Robert Streetar, Deputy Executive Director Randy Schumacher, Comm. Dev. Assistant William Jones, Parkview Villa Housing Administrator Cheryl Bakken, Secretary PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OATH OF OFFICE/ELECTION OF OFFICERS- Nawrocki stated Kelzenberg, and Ericson had not been appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council as listed in the HRA Bylaws. Fehst stated it is in the HRA enabling Resolution that they are automatically on the Board. Ericson read from the City Charter stating the Mayor could hold an emergency meeting at this time to appoint the commissioners and then continue with the HRA meeting. PVyckoff recommended, the meeting continue without the Oath of OJ~qce and Election of Officers until after the next City Council meeting where she would appoint Ericson and Kelzenberg to the Board. Last years Vice Chair, Ecklund, was asked to conduct the meeting from that point on. V~yckoff stated she would like to step down from the HRA board and allow Patricia Jindra to take her place. Fehst stated at the next City Council meeting she could resign from the HRA and appoint Jindra to fill the vacancy. Wyckoff directed staff to keep givihg her an HRA meeting packet. Jindra was present at the meeting and stated she was interested in being on the HIM. She will let staff know if she still wants to be on the EDA prior to the next City Council meeting. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Minutes Approve the Minutes of Regular Meeting of November 19, 2002. MOTION by Wyckoff, second by Williams, to approve the minutes from November 19, 2002, regular meeting as presented in writing. All ayes. Motion Carried. REPORT OF MANAGEMENT COMPANY Jones stated an ad was put in the newspaper for rental of the vacant unit at 4607 Tyler as requested in November. The unit was rented to a non-Columbia Heights resident for $600 per month for February. In the North building, apartments 504 and 905 had vacancies and have been rented out. In the South building apartments l l 8 and 419 have also been rented ottt for February. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes January 28, 2003 Page 2 of 3 Nawrocki asked if Jones had followed the proper procedures for rental of the unit at 4607 Tyler. Jones stated he went through the Columbia Heights residents list, then the non-resident list with no response. Fehst indicated Nawrocki was approached by a resident in regards to her heat not working property and asked Jones to explain how the heating system works. Jones stated that particular resident blocked the cool air vent, which caused problems with the heat flowing through the apartment. The air exchanger never worked at Parkview before and was recently turned on, which moves the air around in the apartments and hallways, eliminating stale air and cigarette smoke odors. CITIZEN FORUM Residents voiced their complaints that their apartments were too cold and when they ask dones to fix the problem, they get no response. Jones stated that at the Resident Council meeting the subject of heating was brought up and no one had any questions. He also offered to go with the residents after the meeting to their apartment to check on their heating problems. Fehst requested residents sign their name and apartment number to a piece of paper that he sent around. The list came back with five apartment numbers on it. He will work with Jones on solving the problems tomorrow. A resident suggested that someone like Bill Gault, Parkview Villa Maintenance man explain to residents how the heating system works and how to adjust it. Fehst stated staff will look into this. Another resident asked why two of the handicap units were rented to non-handicap residents when there are two residents that have the need for the units, but could not change apartments at the time they were available due to the $425 charge set by the HIM last year for changing apartments. Jones stated any resident that is interested in the handicap units should come to his office and he would see what can be done to accommodate their needs. Pat Bush, Unit 206, asked if Ecklund being on the HIM and President of the Resident Council was a conflict of interest, as he is on the HIM Board to represent the residents of Parkview. Ecklund stated he didn 't feel it was a conflict, but if the residents felt that way he would resign from his position of President of the Residents Council. Nawrocki stated Ecklund was selected by the City Council and HIM to be on the board per HUD regulations. Ecklund suggested this be discussed further at the Resident Council meeting in February. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION PARKVIEW VILLA SOUTH RENT STRUCTURE Streetar stated staff was directed to review the current rent structure for Park:view Villa South. The Capital ,rmprovement Plan completed by TK_DA shows $162, 000 in necessary updates over the next seven years. Staff reviewed rents from two perspectives: 1) senior buildings in Anoka County and 2) housing complexes available to all age groups. The average senior Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes January 28, 2003 Page 3 of 3 apartment in Anoka County is $595 without a garage space. The average one bedroom apartment for all ages is $719. Staff suggested a $30 per month increase for current residents and any new vacancies be charged $600 per month, effective January 1, 2004 to help differ the upcoming building improvement costs. Nawrocki asked what the current rents are in the South building. Jones stated there are thirty- nine, one bedroom units with a $250 minimum and $425 maximum rent and four, two bedroom units with a $325 minimum and a $500 maximum rent fee. Streetar stated the 2003 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom is $811 with out utilities and $911 with utilities. Nawrocki remembered that years ago when the South building was built the rent structure was set at $100 above the highest rent paid in the North building and requested staff look for documentation of this. Fehst indicated that staff has looked for the documents but have not found anything. Fehst directed staff to look one more time. Motion by Nawrocki, second by Williams to table this item until the next meeting when staffcan provide more information on the rent structure set and revenues for the South building. All ayes. Motion Carried. Fehst requested Shirley Barnes and Mark Nagel be present when the motion comes before the board again to answer any questions the commissioners may have. Other Business Nawrocki stated he read that a resident was reimbursed for a vacuum cleaner that staff signed for and was lost. He requested to see the procedure that Crest View staff was foilowingfor receiving packages that was recehtly discontinued, asked who authorized the change in policy and felt that Crestview staff should be responsible for receiving packages. Streetar stated he authorized the payment and change in procedure. He also stated if the procedure was put back into place, there would have to be a determination of who would be responsible for lost or stolen packages. Fehst requested Jones write up a policy and provide to the board at the next meeting for review. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Nawrocki, second by Williams to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m. All ayes. Motion Carried. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Bakken Recording Secretary H:XHRAMinutes 2003\1-28-2003 LLI II II