PL 02/04/1976 - 30437:�
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PI.AldNING COMMISSION hiEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
FEBRUARY 4, 1976
PAGE 1
CALL TO ORDER:
Cha�irma�� Harris called �he meeting �o order at 7:50 P.M.
ROLL CALL:
Mem�ers F'resent:
Members Absent:
Others Fresent:
Scott, Bergman, Harris, Wahlberg, Langenfeld
Peterson
Jerry Baaf^dman, City Planner
Ray Leek, Planning Interne
Pat 6rennen, LeaguE o-F Women Voters Representative
M.07'JOr' by Scott, seconded by Langenfe.id, that the agenda be amended to
a11oT� a yrnup of ynung people to make a presentation to the Planning Commis-
z-.ion. Ul^^^ :z •�?'ce r�te, a11 voting aye, the motion carried unanimo�aslye
Mr. t�•ta rk Ts�euenfel s, 524�8 F{ori zon Dri ve N. E. sai d he woul d 1 i ke to pre-
sQnt a�roposal sc�r a Teen Center. The proposal was presented to Chairman
Narris.
Mr. TrEU2nfels said tha•� the results of a survey by the Fridley Youth
; Pr�ject Committc:e indir_ated a desire for a teen center by Fridley teenagers.
�I'his �een r_enter w��uld serve as a meeting place for youth where social con-
-- tact al�uld be possible. This would be an alternative to present facilities,
���- -- sup�lyi��� recrea�ion a� a minimal cost.
-�,� 41e� s�1i 11 ash tf�e Ci ty Counci 1 to grant the usage of the unoccupied 1 i brary
spac� across from zhe nolice sta�:ion. If the space was obtained, we propose
to s�oc� it with the following facilities: 2 coin operated foosball tables,
2 ping-pi�ng tahles (park departmer�t), pinball machine (coin operated), furni-
ture, a�h�icl� «culd include tables and chairs, carpeting, and possibly a used
TV (i:a be donated), and a movie screen and proj�ctor, to be borrowed from the
Fridley Lit7rary when needed.
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1"o qe� this organized, a�emporary board,consas�tinq of Mike Marsnik, Pat
0'Neill, l3erriie and Pat K1ein, Ned Storla, Mark Treuenfels, and Sr. Elizabeth
of Gg�acEy fliyh School, tivould draw up a charter providing for the means of elect-
ing a permanent board. We would also promote public interest by advertising
in local sch�ol and Cii:y newspapers, putting posters up in schools and writing
n.A, announcements. The temporary board will then be in charge of organizing
the �lfct.�ion af the permanent board, and will disband.
7he ��cr�nanent board will write rules and regulations which will govern the
use ot the youth cen�er. Th� board will be available to the membership and
ti,esp��7siti�e La requests, it ►rrill be in charge of finances and funding. Upon
drafting a charter, it will be submitted �o the City Council for approval.
As 4'0�• i�gaY responsibility, we would ask for the Council's advice and assist-
ance, !de intend to get some funding from donations from Fridley businesses,
corem«nit,y° eciuc«tion, a smali membership fee ($.50 ?), and profit from the coin
��erate� ft7cilities. We in�end tG have ��aiunfieer counselors, mainly frQm the
Fr�clley r.i��r°ches. He said that St. Williams Church had already guanteed five
counsc� 1 ar-e ��4r. Tre��enfel s as ked i f there v,�ere any questi ons .
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 4, 1976 Page 2
Mr. Treuenfels said the proposal he had presented to the Planning Cor�tis-
siori was much more detailed than what he had presented a� this meeting. He
said they may be hiring a part time director for this teen center if it was
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r necessary.
Mrs. Wahlberg said it was mentioned that they hoped to get funding from
the Fridley businessmen and from the coin operated machines. She asked if they
had any estimate of how much funding they would need. P�1r. Treuenfels said there
was no way of estimating the-funding they might need at this time. He said
that if they hired a professional director, this would make a difference in
the funding requirements. Mrs. Wahlberg asked if they were asking ihe City
to donate this space free for your use, i�ncluding the heat, electricity, etc.
Mr. Treuen-Fels said they would be able to take care of the maintenance of this
room.
Mrs, lJahlberg asked Mr. Boardman if the City had anticipated any use of
this li�r•ary space? Mr. Boardman said they were doing a util�zation study at
tne preser�t time, to see if we need any additional staff space. He said this
st��dy shuuld be completed in early March, so that at this time he'c�uld ;�ot
make a det�rmination as to whether or not we do need that space. Mrs. Wahlb�rg
said she i.new ihat some of the staff were using that space at the present time.
C4r. Boardman said it was being used by the Planning internes and Planning aides
at the present time on a 1:emporary basis.
� Mr. Boardman asked Mr. Treuenfels what hours of operation they were think-
ing of with this praposal, and how would they conflict with the normal City
business hours. Mr. Truenfels said he didn't think it would interfere with
�� the norm�l operations of the City. They intended'�.to have it open after school
and ��aeek-ereds. It wou�d probably be open six to 3 hours.
Mr. Boardman said he could see some conflict in having a teen center so
close to the op�ration of City government. There would be a certain amount
of noise being gerierated from this area, especially with jute boxes. Game
tables and other uses of this room would generate noise. WP have had a
similar problem with the foosball table and the ping-ponc�. tables in the Parks
and Recreation Department. The Parks and Recreation Deparment has had to
linit the use of these facilities quite sevErely due to noise which has hindered
City operations.
Chairman Harris said it might be well to send this proposal down to the
member Commissions so they could study i� and come up with some recommendations.
Mr. Scott said this item was on the Human Resources Agenda for February
5, 1916. He said this Fridley Youth Project Committee was a project corr�nittee
of the Human Resources Commission. Chairman Harris said he was thinking more
of the Parks & Recreation Commission taking a look.at this. Perhaps they could
come trp with an alternate iocation.
h1r. Scott said that many proposals for teen centers fail,:and for this rea-
son the Youth Project Conunittee had been in liaison with the University of
��9innesota Cent.er for Youth Deveiopment and kesearch for advice and assistance
t�ith this proposal. This Center has agreed to provide professional staff
� support f�e� activi�ies th�e Youth Project Cor�mittee would want to take on this
matter. Mr, Treuenfels said they were studying successful teen centers in other
c9ties. �
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 48 1976 Page 3
Mr. Bergman said that it would s�� that this group had spent some time
on this proposal. Ne asked Mr. Treue�f�ls i� �heir group felt that they could
� adequately control such activities. N� said h� was referring to overly-active
customers, noise, etc. �
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Mr. Treuenfels said they. had th�ught abau� that, and this was the reason
they were seeking volunteer counsel�r�g and t�i� would give them adult super-
vision if it was needed. .
Mr. Boardman said he didn't know �he re�a��onship �etween the police and
youth, but he wondered what effect the�e wau�� be to having the police depa�t-
ment across the hall from the teen ce���r, a� far as at�endance. ��tr.�Treuenfels
said they had already anticioated t�is a�d i� surveying t�e youth, they found
that 20 out of 25 didn't mind this at �11.
Mrs. �elen Treuenfels said this �as a twa way relationship. She thouQht she
should find out how the police felt �b��t hay�n� a_teen age center across f�rbm their
department. She said she talked to �gt. Ker�.�d� and he thou�ht it was ter��ific
and said he would be willing to appe�r before i�e City Council on this proposal.
MOTION by Bergman, seconded b� ��enfe��, that the Planning Coirmtission
receive the proposal for developing a Fridle� Youth Center. Upon a voice
vote, a11 voting aye, the motion carra�� unarz.a�ously.
Mr. Bergman, chairman of the Co�u�zty �e�elopment Commission and Mr.
Langenfeld, Chairman of the Enviror����al Qua�ity Commission both said they
��rould like their commissions to lo�k a� this p��posal. Chairman Harris said it
� could be sent to all the member corr�aiss�ons ��e�. Mrs. Wahlberg said the
� Appeals Commission would look at i� ��d �ake ���e comments, but she didn't
-�hink they would be coming up with a�y �peci�fc recor�nendations.
MOTIDN by Bergman, seconded bg �arsgenfe�d, that the pro�osal for develop-
ing a Fridley Youth Center be sent ta �Ii th� member Commissions for their
review and .comments. Upon a voice vo�ea a1Z v��ing aye, the motion carried
unanimously.
APPROVE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES: �RNUARY 2�, 1976
Mr. Scott said that on page 16 �� these minutes, he had made the motion
to alter the order of the amended agenda to allow Councilman Starwalt to speak
instead of Mr. Bergman. Mr, Bergma� �greed with this.
MOTION by Scott, seconded by Ber�n, tha� �he Planning Corrm�ission approve
the Planning Commission minvtes of t�� Janvar� 21, 1976 meeting as correcfed.
t"r. Langenfeld said he realized the secre�ry and Planning staff had been
busy because of having three Planning Co�nissi�� meetings in a row and also
making changes in the Comprehensive ���sing Pl��s but the fact that they had
only received these minutes this eve���g, he ����d it difficult to approve them.
Mr. Scott said the members could take t�� t� read them. Mr. Harris said
he had already delayed the start of th�s meet��g 20 minutes to g.ive the member�
�,-, a chance to look over the minutes, but there ��s a lot of reading.
�r�. Bergman asked if it wasn't t�e �orma� pr�cedure for the Planning Commission
to g�t their agendas prior to the week e�d, and t�is included the minutes. Mr.
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 4, 1976 Page 4
Boardman said this was normal procedure, but ]ast �riday the only item ready for the
agerida was the Planning Co�nission minutes of the January 21st meeting. We
� were waiting for the Community Development minutes because we wanted their
recommendations on the Comprehensive Housing Plan. The secretary for that
Commission expected tQ complete these minutes on Monday. Instead of this
happening, the secretary became ill and has been hospitilized all of this
week. By that time, the Planning Commission secretary was working on the
minutes of the January 28th Planning Commission meeting, which weren't com-
pleted until this morning. It was due to this set of circumstances that the
agendas were no� delivered at the normal time. Ne said he wanted the January 28th
minutes ready for this meeting. We did not have any other items for the age�da
i because the Comprehensive Housing Plan was a separate book.
Mr. Scott said this was the first time the Plann�ng Commission hadn't
received their agendas well in advance of the Planning Commission meeting, and
it was due to unusual circumstances.
MOTION by Wahlberg, seconded by Langenfeld that the Planning Commis:ion
minutes of January 21, 1976 and January 28, 1976 be tabled until the next maeting.
Chairman Narris said ihat a motion to table superceded the motion for approval.
Upon a voice vote, Wahlberg and Langenfeld voting a�e, Scott, Bergman, and Narris
voting nay, the motion failed.
Chai�nan Harris said that they could now go back to the main motion.
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'' �r. Langenfeld. said it wouldn't be in the best interest of the Planning
- , Commission to approve these minutes when they hadn't been completely read through.
Mr. Scott said Mr, Langenfeld should speak for himself. He had read the minutes and
and was familiar with them.
Upon a voice vote, on the original motion made for approvaZ of the minutes, a11
voting aye, the rnotion carried unanimously.
APPROVE PLANNING COMMIS�ION SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES: JANUARY 28, 1976
P10TION by Scott, seconded by Wahlberg, that the PZanning Commission approue
the Special Pub�ic Ffearing minutes of January 28, 1976. Upon a voice vote, a11
voting �ye, the motion carried unanimously.
R�COMMENDATION ON THE �DOPTI�N OF THE COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING PLAN
MOTI'�N b� Sc.ott, seconde� by Wahlberg, that the PZanning Commission recommend
to Council a�option of the Comprehensive Housing P1an as written. �� �
��r. Boardman said we have changed the format so that it was more readable.
We did make the change that Bill Drigans suggested by having the goals and
objectives in the front of the book. We have taken the guess work out of the
maps by putting each section on one map. We have reduced the maps so they are
the same size as the bal�nce of the bouk. L�e did group all the charts together
r,-, under �he ap��endices. The maps �vere grouped together the same way and the
housi�g data ��d in�ormation along with the population data and information
werP also in the ap��ndices.
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Mr. Boardman said it should be �o�ed that under Policy Development
�n.r{ I�plementation Plan on page 14,: ���did add the housing maintenance
��`�'`° '�~`=' -�� �i,i�c: �-��Thi s had been 1 eft out, and �� w�s not �ur i ntenti on to 1 eave thi s
out of the plan. (A,2). Under A, 4g we did have just the continuation of
l'�`� the biketivay/walkway plan and we havc� added the study of other transportation
�� forms. !�!e felt it was necessary to study these also to increase accessibility
_:.- ._. in the City. He said they also mad� an� addition under E. on page 16. We
� added "The City must realize that its zoning policies have a great impact
r. on the::?ong-range d'eveiopment of Fridley. It should therefore examine and judge
4., _� each proposal for future development for its effects on the environment, the
: �"� Metrn region and the quality of life in Fridley."
�``"` � Mr. Boardman said those were t:i� �ajar changes in the plan. They also
=°�`���� >�� "��>`�'���-' ���wt in both the figure and percenta�g� where possible. He said that in their
-•-�•• low-to-moderate income level housir��, th�y had to change the figures because
�-_-• � ----� �these figures had been based on th� str�tc��are value only and Metro-Counci l
�`�"� bases �:heir figures on market value�a We r�juggled our figures to agree
'�*'s��'�� � wi'ih Metro Council and HUD figures,� �.� t�e only have 349 owner occupied units
_ �• •-=— i nstead of the previ ous 745 uni ts . I��e nou� have 138 probl em uni ts out of the
'349 instead of ::28 out of the 745 ur�=�ts.
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Mr. Scokt said he would Zike ta �end the motion, seconded by Wahlberg,
!� - to request the staff to identify b� tit.Ze what the charts consist of, and
�:�-_�=' - identify the rRap series by what tFie �aps pertain to, and include these in
m_�`=v��'-`�:::-._•.:��=.. �`L1���.�:�:�ble of contents.
Mr. Qoardman said they intended t� have an expanded table of contents
,e�:. �:�-:,��_:. ;.��3.when thi s pl an was pri nted.
-� Mr. Bergman said the motion on �� �loar was a very encompassing mot�on, and
"�, he woul-d like to test a part of i�:. �ie sa�d that on page 15 of the Plan he
�- said the three proposals to apply f�� f��c�s which were to make application to
� �=-��►�UD for Community Development funds� �a �nake application for Minnesota Housing
___ Finance �►gency funds and to make ������at�on for Section 8(rent subsidy) funds.
�= r: :�!�.said he was a little bit concerr��d a� our last meeting. He said we all
�'�� `' �"' �� r�ecngnize the benefits to our commu�itgr ar�d cer�ainly to selected applicants.
However, there �vas a nega�ive sid�d €�e s:a�id that as he understood it and
�:,�. �.; ... recal led Prom the last meeting, fdt� �11 bc�t Section 8� housing, the property
involved was not taxed at the goir�g; �°at�-. In o�her words, the rest of the
community subsidizes the property t�. Th:is was the property involved in
��th the Minnesota Finance Agency���d �r�munsty Development funding, so we
are recorn�nending a tax subsidationa �e°�g�°a�n:. Nfr� Scott said we were not. No
._ where in this document were we rec.��d;i�g su�Er a program. Mr. Bergman said
- '�he agreed with P1r. Scott in that �:� �s ��t sa stated in this document, but
we are iri eff�ct `reconunending sub�,i�� �a��g�ams that were not going to be taxed
�� �� 3• •- � 1• �at the going �•aie. Mr. Scott agai;� s.aid� r�o. Mr. Boardman said the only
__ property that �vould not be taxed w�, ���� the F�deral Government owned that
housing. or the Housing Authority ��d�°�:�at howsing. Mr. Bergman said that
under 236 Fiousinq t�c assessment �� w��.�n�� 50%. Mr. Leek said that they
-- �-� ha� ��:o bc�ar in mind th�t the Compw�nsi:or� Noustrig'Plan was not recommending
thai they �pply for Section 236 ha����ng.. Mr. Bergman said they were recom-
me�ding Chat tllnnesota Finance Agen��r f��e� be applied for. Mr. Leek said
�- -�-�- ° �.���L had nothir�g to do with the tax. s��s��dation program that Mr. Bergman was
, :a..�-- _ . _�. ref,n,.x'rinc� to.
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t�ir. ��arclman said that Minnesota �Iousir:�g Fi�ance agency was a subsidy to
. �__,�,.�,�b� used i���king l�w interest housir�g r�habilitation loans. It was a subsidy
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 4, 1976 Page 6 __
on mortage loans and has nothing to do with the tax situation. He said that
� on page 16 under G, they did state that "It is further recommended that the
City continually review existing federa.l, state and local programs for commun-
ity development funds. The City should make application to those programs
for which it is eligible." In this case, he said they would have to keep
a continual watch on what federal programs were available, and not just
limit ourselves to t��se three programs.
Mr. Sergman said that another thing that bothered him was the person pre-
senting the availability of these funds obviously was in a very positive
frame. She talked about the 13 eommunities which k�ere already under Section
8 housing. She said this w�as a great program and that next year they plan
on having 26 communities participating in this program, and more the follow-
ing year. He said that someone else mentioned that we had already paid our
way. He said he had no quarrel with thaL, but where was the line between
what we have paid for and requesting programs that wiTl raise the federal
taxes.
Mr. Boardman said that he thought that you would find that in a deterior-
' ating community that if some action was no� taken, this deterioration will
tend �o con�inue, if not exhilarated, Steps have to be taken and monies
have to be provided from somewhere, i� not fram the Federal government,
then either State or local government. How much would local governments
be willing to spend for the preservation of neighborhoods. He said it was
pointed out during the pre�rious meeting that if Fridley did not apply for
-� Federal funds, how much difference would that make in Federal taxes, as far
as their spending goes, He:said that whether Fridley curtailed asking for
" funds or made application for funds, it would not stop the Federal govern-
ment �rom allocating funds for certain projects.
Pat Brennen said there had been studies made, and it cost a lot more to
rehabilitate areas that were in a bad state of deterioration than it cost for
programs of preservation, so if you were balancing these programs, it was
much better to apply for preservation funds than to finance a full scale
program for deteriorafied housing. She said this was ihe League of Women
Voters stand.
Mr. Scott said he shared Mr. Bergman's concern the way Federal funds were
circled�around in�ever�increasi�g amounts, and communities trying to get their
shar•e of these furids. He thought this problem was best addressed at the ballot
box. Ne thought we had sufficient problems in our correnunity s� that we should.
take advanta�e of federal programs that had already been funded. He said we
shouldn't deny the people of Fridley the use of these funds just to prove a
point.
Mrs, Wahlberg said that as long as there are governmental agencies which
are out selling these programs to the communities, whether we care to join
them or not would not affect the amount of money that we were going to pay
into these programs. If we chose not to join these pragrams, we are s�ill
going to be taxed equally as much. If we don't buy it, they will go out and
sell it tn someone else, and we will still end up paying for it'no matter what.
This was the vicibus circle the �overnment has placed us in, and in self-defence,
we ha�e to tr°y sorneway to get our money back. She said she thought this YJdS
the leverage they have been using in many places.
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Planninq Commission Meeting = February 4, 1976 Page 7 _
Mr. Bergman said that he agr�ed with many of the things that had been
said, and this was why he had brought up the subject so it could be discussed
�'`� in this way. He said he did noi mean to imply that he had taken one side
or the other as a firm position. He said he agreed with Mrs. Wahlberg,
but he did get tired of politicians saying that the public was demanding
more'services, therefore, we need money for these programs. He felt that
with these recommendations that we were part of that public who were
making these demands. He said we were an awfully small fish in the stream,
but we were joining.
Mr, Harris said that Mr. Bergman had a valid point, and someday the
government was going to have to sit down and work out some priorities. He
said he was also concerned about what they had been discussing, but the
alternatives, and he was thinking about the deterioration of the City, was
not very promising, and we would like to help provide the City with well-
kept homes.
Mr. Bergma,� said that private enterprise or personal initiai,ive were not
mentioned as alternatives. Mr. Harris said there was an alternative by which
private enterprise coi�ld do the job, but that would need help from the
legislature and that was tax incentives. He said it was his feeling that
you could do away with all rehabilitation programs if we went to a sys.tem
of tax incentives.
Pa� Brennen said that the Michael Servetus Church had some property which
they would like to develop as senior citizen housing. She asked if anyone
,., could tell her how they could get federal funding help with this. Mr. Boardman
�' said she should get in touch with �he State HUD office, and see what type of
-- �funding r�ras �vailable for private developers of housing for the elderly.
Mr. Scott said there was a 1976 Area Plan for Programs for the Ageing under
Title III. He said she should check into that program also. He said it was
before ihe legislature at the present time.
Mrs. Wahlberg said the program she had mentioned last week which was a
self-help neighborhood plan was developed by the Northeast Kiwanis Club.
They applied for federal fur�ding, and the City of Minneapolis gave matching
funds. There was a slide presentation that was available if anyone was
ini:erested in this.
Mr. Bergman said the proposed Comprehensive Housing Plan was very well
done. It was very well orga�ized. It has been-greatly improved since the
ori�inal draft was presented. He said he thought the administrative staff
should be commended on the many hours of effort and organization and talent
that have gone into this Plan.
Mrs. Wahlberg said she thought it was terrific that for the first time
FridlEy has an understanding of where they're really at. She thought this
was something that as a City we have needed for a long time. She felt this
was really going to be a help to the Appeals Commission. Mr. Boardman said
_ said that when all the goals and objectives had been developed, then they
would really knocv where they were at. Mr. Scot'c said the Human Resources
,'�'1
Co�nission had given their plaudits at the last meeting.
�_ Pat Brenne•n said that maybe the P1etro Council had done Fridley a service
b�r requiring this Housing Plan for funding applications. Mr. Boardman said he
took a different view. He said this Plan had been coming for a long time whether
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Nianning Commission Meetinq -�February.4, 1976 � Page 8
Fridley was pressured into it at this time or not. It was a matter of priorities.
He said the prime issues that were at hand right now were the goals and objectives.
�He said it was just a matter of putting the program to �ther and getting it
� go�ng. He said it might take two or three years longer, but we will get there.
UPON a voice vote on the motion as made and amended,. a1I voting aye, the
motion carried unanimous2y.
Mr. Boardman said the Public Hearing on the EomprehensiVe Housing Plan
before the City Council would be on February 23, ]976.
Mr, Boardman said he wanted to commend Ray Leek on his work on this plan.
He said he had been working 40 hours a week on this plan since last July.
Chairma� Harris said he _did a very good job. Mr. Scott agreed that it wa�
a beautiful job.
DISCUSSION OF CON9NUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS
Mr. Bcardman said the deadline for Community Development Block Grant
applications was March 15th. We do have to have two public hearings on
this application. The Public Hearing by the Planning Commissian will be
on February 18, 1976. We are getting it pretiy well organized and should
have it ready by the beginning of next week. Mr. Boardman said he felt
this Community Development Block Grant applicati�on would be in line with a
lot of things that were in the Comprehensive Housing Plan, so the Planning
Commission could probably handle this without sending it down to the member
Commissior��, part of the reason being time. He said we have to get the
�� tw� public hearings in so we can make app1ication, and the City Council could
p' have its public hearing on March 8th. This way we wou1d have time to make
any changes before the deadline of March 15th.
Chairman Harris asked about the Housing Maintenance Code. Mr. Boardman
said it was included as a recommendation but it would not be going along with
the Plan. It will be coming early in March. It will be sent to the Planning
Correnission and from there down to the member Commissions, probably. He said
the Comprehensive Plan was just a recommendation and as those recommendations
were implemented they would be coming to the Planning Commission.
Mr. Boardman said he would have Ray Leek give some background on these
Community Oevelopment Block Grants.
Mr. Leek said he had a couple of Federal registers that outlined the act
that sets up CorrBnunity Develvpment Block Grants if anyone was interested in
looking at them. He said that essentially what the Community Development
Block Grant Program was, was a new approach to allocating funds that were
already existing. As one part of the Housing and Community Development Act
of 197A, this Grant Program consolidates numerous special purpose programs
into a single package. In other words, funds can be used for a wide range
efcortmunity improvement programs. The program was administered by HUD. .
The�list of e1lgible activities for Block Grants that each community receives,
i�clu�es land acquisition, the making of public improvements which can include
such things �s instiallation of storm sewers where appropriate, building com-
,,..� munity facilities for the elderly,or for the community's young. Another
� a�tivity �haL was �ligible was housing rehabilitation, which was a recommenda-
tia� inciuded in the Plan. Code enforcement was another eligible activity.
An� unit of local government can apply for funding. What happens in the State
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Planninq Commission Me�ting - February`4, 1976 � �Page 9 ___
of Minnesota was that from the basic amount that was available, certain entitle-
ment cities and urban counties (Minnesota only has one urban county and that
� was Hennepin County) get a certain percentage of those funds. These funds are
taken off the top and what was left were called discretionary funds, which every
�. other local unit of government may apply for. That means that whoever makes.
application was in competition for the �^em�inder of those funds. He said the
funding would be about two million dollars �his year.
Mr. Leek said that each com�nunity had to make a preapplication which goes
to their regional development commission, which in our case was Metropolitan
Council, for review. Metro Council sends their reviewal comments v�ith the
applicatian on to HUD. This was reviewed by HUD, and if it was found to con-
form to the general guidelines and the program was found to be warranted, then
that community was invited to make a final application, which would include
a housing systems plan, in our case the Comprehensive Housing Plan.
Mr. Leek said this was basically the w�y Corrununity Development Block Grant
applications were handled and he would try to answer any additional questions
th� Planning �ommission might have.
(�lr. Scott said that last year HUD received 100% more applications than they
had money, so there was a lot of competition for these funds.
Mr. Baardman said that in the metropolitan area there were three entitlement
cities which were Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. These and other en�itle-
ment cities in the state receive automatic funding off the top of the money
availables to continue certain�prograr�s that they already have. After these
�, entit1ement cities it goes down to u'rban counties. Hennepin County was the
;. only urbara county in our area. He said that last year most of the entitlement
-� cities.made application, and it ended up that all the communities in Nennepin
Countiy blockPC1 together under Hennepin County's urban county portion. They
couldn't �et any money by going it alone, so they grouped together under urban
county, and they all got funded under urban county. Mr. Leek said that after
the top had been taken off the funds by enti�lement cities and urban counties,
it left 1.2 million dollars in'discretioriary funds for the entire state. He
said that meant that only 16 communities ouiside of the metropolitan area
received any funding. I� was expected that there wouldn't be much more in
discretionary funds this year, maybe 20% more.
Mrs. Wahlberg asked who would make the decision on how much money wouid be
anplied for and what it would be us�d for.within the City of Fridleye
Mr. 6oardman said that the administration was writing out certain progr�ms
that we feel would be eligible for application. This would be subject to the
recorr�nenda ti on of the Pl anni ng Corr�ni ssi on and approval by the Ci ty Coanci l.
Mr. Boardman said he didn't know if they had any chance of getting any funding
but they woulei have made a start. Mr. Langenfeld asked if Mr. Boardman could
explain then �vhat they meant when they said at the last meeting tha� �ridley had
a top priority rating. �
Mr. Boardman said this vras�tvro different things. We are in the top priority
� as far as housing gaes, but as far as any HUO Community Development Biock Grants
go, a�e were probably sitting pretty low on the totem po7e. Applications are
given higher prtior'ity if they relate to housing as to over crow�!ing and the
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Planning Commission Meeting -�ebruary'4, 1976 Page 10
deter�oration of the housing stock. These are the two criteria that they judge
all applicati�ns.
Mr. Scott said he thought there was more than that and that they�had alm�st
as complicated rating system as the �letropolitan Council.
Mr. Leek said he had been to a:-.workshop which pertained to applications
being made by communities in the Metro area. The Metro Council in evaluating
the applications that come before them have actually three criteria they use,.
One was that there was a concentration of iow to moderate income groups in
the community. Another was that the applications address residential needs
in terms of rehabilitation. The third was that there be a stimulation of
reinvestments in blighted areas, so that programs would not only be govern-
ment subsidized but would have funding.
Mrs. Wahlberg said she didn't see ho�v Fridley could meet the criteria
far over crowding or for deterioration of housing to get these funds. Mr.
Qoardman said that was the pro�lem. He said that with these criteria it
�vas easier for �mall towns to meet these criteria than first ring suburbs, but
that did not mean that the �rirst ring suburbs weren't having a problem with
housinc� starting to deteriorate. He said these smaller towns were older than
Frid1ey, so their housing stock was older and there was over crowding so
they met the criteria set down by HUD.
Mr. Boardman asked Mr. Leek to re1ate some of the programs that would
be mentioned in Fridley's Hud Block Grant application.
Mr. Leek said that one of the programs they were talking about in our
'�- ap�lication was the establishment and implementation of the.struc�ural. and
exteriar h�using maintenance code:, and systematic enforcement ofi that code
in primary target or prir�ary focus areas that were talked about in the Housing
Plan. We are also applying far the iiUD money for purpose of housing rehabil-
itation. In other words the money would be used to help make home�'rehabilitation
ioans witE�in the City. We are also talking about using that same HUD money
to establish counseling or a referral service, whereby there would be.a central
file c�f resaurePs of who to go �� and where to.go.if you u�ant heTp in rehab-
ilitating your home or ma�ing home repairs. This was the major thrust of the
application that we are det�elop�ng. We did talk about a couple of other
things. We talked about the developing and helping to implement�an information
and referral service that services Fridley, this wo�ld not preclude helping
an existing service. Another type of program ihat we were.making application
for was the continuation'of tE�e Ci�y bikeway/walkway system and a.study of
any other form of transporaf�ion and implementation plan for a transpartati�o.n
system ►,�iihin the City of Fridley. We were talking about the construction
of a senior c�itizen center tc�:provide the necessary services for the .City's
elderly �opulation. Mr. Boardman said another thing they had discuss.ed was
�he acquisition of land in the Riverview Heigh�s area. This was in the flqod
plain area.
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Mr. Scott asked about the downtown area. Mr. Leek sa:id that when you talked
about dotianto6vn rehabilitation programs and industrial oriented programs, you
were talking about �wo different things. Mr, Scott said he was talkin� about
helping tlie commerc�al cen�cers in Fridley. He said that an internal transporta-
tion sys�em in Fridley vrouldn't do any good if you didn't have any place to
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 4, 1976 Page Y�1
.Mrs. Wahlberg asked if there was any sing�e proposal in,; this application
that was for senior citizen housing? Mr. Boardman said that at this t�me.,
"�'�, he was not all that convinced that we need a sp�cific senior cltizen housing
program. He said he would like how the Section 8 subsidized housing prvg�ram
� affected the senior citizens in our community.
Mr, Scott said that Wyman �mith had already approached the Numan Resources
Commission about senior citizen 'tiousing on part of the Michael� Servetus property.
Mr. Scott said that at the present time, only 2.1% of the p.opulation in Fridley
were senior citizens.
Mrs. 6dahlberg said that as she had mentioned a�. the last meeting, the
Appeals Commission was concerned about senior citizen F�ousing, and that
ali:hough the senior citizen popula�ton probably did�`t warrant a separate
housing program at this time, mast of the land in Fridley was already in
use, and she thought that land �could be set aside for this purpose, and
be used at a later date. She felt that senior citizen housi.ng, in orde� to
be effective, should be close ta shopping and other facilities. She sai�
thai a lot of citizens in Fridley had parents who were senior citizens
and would like to have them live in Fridley.
Mr. Boardman said you would have to have a Housing Authority to provide
senio� citizen housing, and this was still some where down the line.
Mr. Scott said he thought the items that Mr. Leek had mentioned that
would be in the application for HUD Community Development Block Grant funds
sounded good. Chairman Harris said the only problem would be to get HUD
�f�'" to give us the money.
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PLANNING AND ZONI(VG INSTITUTE: FEBRUARY 25 & 26, 1976: "THEY NEVER LISTEN TO US"
Mr. Boardman said that as'many members of th� P7anning Commission who could
arrange �o attend this Institute sessivn should try to do so.
Chairman Harris said he would try to arrange to attend. Mr. Bergman said
he would try to do so also. The other members said they would see what they
could do about attending. Mr. Boardman said they shoul`d let him krrow by
February 13, 1976 so that all the reservations could be made at one time.
ADJOURNMENT:
AtOTION by Bergman, seconded by Scott, that the meet.ing be a8journea�.
Upon a voice vote, a11 voting aye, Chairman Harris dec;�ared the Planning
Commission meetinq of February 4, 1976 adjourneaT at 10:02 P.M, by unanimou�
vote. �
Respectfully submitted,
�T hM� ^�i'-��n.�
�orot y Evenson, Secretary
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