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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 26, 2005 HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 26, 2005 CALL TO ORDER - The Regular Meeting of the Columbia Heights Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) was called to order by Chair, Bruce Nawrocki at 7:00 p.m., April 26, 2005, in the Parkview Villa Community Room B, 965 40th Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Bruce Nawrocki, Tammera Ericson Diehm, Bobby Williams, Dennis Ecklund Jr., Patricia Jindra, and Bruce Kelzenberg PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Minutes Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Williams, to approve the minutes from January 25 and March 7, 2005, meetings as presented in writing. All ayes. Motion Carried. REPORT OF MANAGEMENT COMPANY Welke stated in January there were seven police calls, with 19 local applicants on the waiting list from Columbia Heights for the north building. The South building had 13 Columbia Heights residents on the list. In February there were 4 police calls and more unit turns. In March there were four police calls with the waiting list larger. Nawrocki askedfrom the February and March waiting lists, how many were Columbia Heights residents and what is the reason for people not taking the openings available for the south units. Welke stated some of the waiting list people for the south building were not residents of Columbia Heights and the reasons why people aren't taking the openings she will get the information to him. Nawrocki expressed his unhappiness with Welke's work at Parkview Villa and wanted to know what actions are being taken to alleviate the problems. Welke stated she is taking some classes and has been spending more time talking with residents. Williams commended Welke on her efforts to connect with residents and to straighten out all of the problems in the building. Lyn Miner, unit 202, stated that all of the issues she has asked Dana to deal with have been handled in a timely matter and was very happy working with her. Marge Bruczenski, unit 410 stated she has seen big improvements to the building, it is cleaner, the garage area is clean, and the maintenance problems are handled promptly and efficiently. When she had water coming in from the electrical box at night, she called Walker and within a matter of 20 minutes the maintenance staff was there to deal with the problem. Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Kelzenberg, to approve the minutes as written. All ayes. Motion Carried. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes April 26, 2005 Page 2 of6 RESIDENT COUNCIL MINUTES Jindra stated she was not available to come to the April meeting as she was in the hospital. She was concerned with the emergency pull cords not working. Nawrocki stated the minutes say walker hired a security company, what was thatfor? Welke stated she did hire the service as they had problems with people streaking in the building. The police could not identify them so the security service was hired to monitor over an 8-hour period, for one weekend. Citizens Forum Lynn Miner, unit 202, asked why the cable companies are allowed to violate federal laws, they charge different people in the building different amounts, how can the City allow this. Nawrocki stated no one has come before the City Council to provide this information yet. The original cable service, the City went out for bids for a couple of years before we actually signed an agreement. In 1996 the government gave the cable companies the right to basically steal from residents, the federal government said they passed this so that they could open this us for competition. Com cast is trying to work out some kind of deal with Time Warner, if this goes through, it will be even more of a monopoly. Miner asked if they were allowed to have dish tv in the building. Fehst stated he didn't know for sure. Williams stated other cities have an agreement that everyone has to have cable and only pay a small amount a month of like $10.00. Nawrocki asked if walker had any experience with this. 0 'Donnell stated this is possible, but everyone has to have the cable set up and pay for it if they want it or not. Nawrocki suggested this be brought up at the resident council meeting for discussion. Priscilla Cross, unit 303, with the noise in the alley she was told to call 911. The earliest she heard noises was 4:30 am, which was a garbage truck. She asked if there is anything the City can do about this. Fehst stated the garbage service is hired by the business and we should send a letter to the owner of the business in regards to this matter and that there is a noise ordinance that this should come under. Cross also stated she was one of the organizers for the dinner the Sun Focus article addressed stating the chicken and pop were provided by Mr. Williams and that she did not realize this was provided during the campaign period and did not feel this was considered a bribe. Ruth Hillestad, unit 310, stated things are improving and that the new maintenance man is wonderful to work with. However, residents do not understand why the maintenance man has his office in with the Dana. The old maintenance person did not have their office there. She also wanted to pass along a message from Pat and Rueben Baker saying thanks for making their party so wonderful. Elvira Stieren, Unit 421, asked why something couldn't be done with the music from Star Central, as she has called the police, but nothing has changed. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes April 26, 2005 Page 3 of6 ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION Adopt Resolution 2005-03. South Duildin!! A!!e Consideration Bob Alsop, Kennedy & Graven, stated the resolution tonight is for a revision in the A COP Policy to change the age requirement of residents entering the south building. The current policy only states one member has to be of 62 years of age. Therefore, this would allow children to occupy the building. The board needs to decide: 1) Do you want minor children in the building; 2) What age would you like to specify: 3) Do you want the seniors living with minor children or extended family members and 4) What do you want to do in the meantime. Right now we have an administrative hold on rentals in the south building. Williams asked Ecklund, as resident council president, what has he heard the residents in the south building would prefer. Ecklund stated they would like 62 years of age and up. Ecklund asked how many times has this situation come up. Welke stated she has a half a dozen people on the waiting list that this falls under. Ericson Diehm stated we could set the policy at 55, with the methods a little more comfortable for us, like specifying no children or grandchildren. Alsop stated ifwe chose 55 and over that would eliminate the children occupying the units and therefore, you would not have to specify no children or grandchildren in the policy. Kelzenberg stated he didn't feel it was a problem to rent to the 55 year olds and over. O'Donnell stated all of the Walker units are 55 and over and they would never restrict only to spouse under a certain age, they would be setting themselves up for a law suit. Williams polled the residents from the south building in attendance to raise their hand if they preferred the 62 and over- 15 ayes, 55 with spouse-O ayes, or 55 and over- 1 aye. Ruth Hillestad, Unit 310, stated a lot of people don't want to come into this building because of the north building being attached with younger residents in it. Ericson Diehm asked if we put in place 62 and over, would we have 100% compliance. Alsop stated we would. Nawrocki polled the board on having the policy at 62 and over with no exemption- Ericson Diehm-nay, Jindra-nay, Kelzenberg-nay, Williams-nay, Ecklund Jr.-yes, Nawrocki-yes. Nawrocki polled the board on having both residents being over 55 years of age-Ericson Diehm- yes, Jindra-yes, Williams-nay, Kelzenberg-yes, Ecklund Jr. yes, Nawrocki-nay. Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Ecklund Jr., directing staff to develop a policy for 55 and over and to call for a special meeting next month to review and adopt the policy. Upon Vote: Ericson Diehm-yes, Jindra-yes, Williams-nay, Kelzenberg-yes, Ecklund Jr. yes, Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes Apri126,2005 Page 4 of 6 Nawrocki-nay. Motion Carried. Annual Planned Maintenance Aereement Welke stated this is bec.ause we have no generator maintenance plan in place in the building and due to problems with the generators, and need extensive repairs. Staff recommends approval of the contract with Cummins Npower. Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Kelzenberg, to Approve the proposal from Cummins Npower an amount not to exceed $1,325.44 per year, for the Planned Maintenance Agreement at Parkview Villa; and furthermore, to authorize the Chair and Executive Director to enter into an agreement for the same. All ayes. Motion Carried. Summer Lawn Care Contract Welke stated she obtained three bids for 6 treatments to the lawn for crabgrass and fertilizing of the lawn. Staff recommends approval of the contract with TruGreen Chemlawn in the amount of $536.76. Motion by Kelzenberg, second by Williams, to Approve the lowest proposal in the amount of $536.76 (not to exceed that amount) to TruGreen ChemLawn for six (6) fertilization applications for the spring, summer and fall. All ayes. Motion Carried. Emereencv Pull Cord System Welke stated we have had a problem since January with the emergency pull cords and have spent a total of $3,891.69 with the Simplex Grinnell Company not being able to find the problem. At this time, staffis askingfor direction from the board. Simplex has stated it could be due to the electrical system in the building, but it would be very labor intense cost to determine this. Greg Oppegard looked into a base line system that would provide a minimal system and asked if the board would like to have two in each unit, or just one in the bathroom, or just one in a central location in each unit. Parkview Villa currently has a wired system, the new system could be wireless. Nawrocki asked if it would be possible to disconnect and wire to individual apartments and has staff checked with other businesses that do this kind of system. Oppegard stated it would be possible to disconnect and wire individual units, but it would be very costly. Welke stated she has not checked with other businesses for consults as staff is recommending a wireless system and is asking for direction from the board. She also stated that she has organized presentations from Lifeline, Health East Health Alert and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office for different options to provide this kind of service to residents. O'Donnell stated Walker is involved with another building that they are only considering the wireless system as the wireless cell provides much faster assistance to residents. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes April 26, 2005 Page 5 of6 Williams stated the Anoka County Sheriff's Office could provide the wireless phones, but wasn't sure if they could provide enough phones for all units. Welke stated she would check into this. O'Donnell stated he would recommend the board directing staff to look into the cost of a wireless system and bring back the bids to the board for approval. Nawrocki requested other businesses like Simplex Grinnell to take a look at the current system also. Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Kelzenberg, to direct staff to look into costs of a wireless system and the option of getting free phones from the County. All ayes. Motion Carried. Release of Liability to the Parkview Villa Manaeement Welke stated this policy was in place at the time Walker started managing Parkview and at the request of the board she has brought this item to the board for further review. Nawrocki felt it would be a common courtesy to call the resident when a package is received in the office. Williams asked why do we need a release of liability. Welke stated this came up because a resident received a package that was addressed to Lisa at Parkview Villa's address, she assumed it was for her boss, Lisa Toms and put it into her basket. It sat in her mailbox until she opened it the following week, as she did not know it was for a resident. Lisa Lindahl, Unit 705, stated this was her package, the ups man stated it had her name and address on it, she went down to Dana for the package, but was told she could not get the package until next week. Ericson Diehm asked Nawrocki if the wording was changed in paragraph two and five to read "we will call you", would this satisfy his concerns with the policy. Nawrocki stated it would. Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Jindra, to Approve the Release of Liability to the Parkview Villa Management office with the amendment to change the second and fifth paragraphs to read as listed above. All ayes. Motion Carried. North Duildine Exit Door Repair Welke stated during the REAC inspection in February preformed by HUD, they detected the North Emergency Exit Door off of the first floor was sighted as a deficiency due to the rust decaying the frame and creating holes on the inside of the building and the outside of the building. Staff received bids from Gardner Hardware at $2,462.45, Construct-All Corporation at $3,980 and Watson-Forsberg at $10, 342for removal of the door, installation of the new one, re- use the panic bar and removal of all debris and caulking around the new frame. Staff recommends approval of the proposal from Gardner Hardware in an amount not to exceed $2,462.45. Motion by Ericson Diehm, second by Ecklund, Jr., to Approve the proposal from Gardner Hardware Company not to exceed the amount of $2,462.45 at Parkview Villa; and furthermore, to authorize the Chair and Executive Director to enter into an agreement for the same. All ayes. Motion Carried. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes April 26, 2005 Page 60f6 Miscellaneous Nawrocki stated in the packet the there was a thank you card from the bakers, they will be missed. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Williams, second by Jindra, to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 p.m. All ayes. Motion Carried. Respectfully submitted, ~~ Cheryl Bakken Recording Secretary H:\HRAMinutes 2005\4-26-2005