Minutes from January '08 meeting

Minutes from the Northside Homeowners’ Association Meeting of Jan, 12, 2008

The goal of the meeting was to review the data that Rob Johnson has been collecting from MPHA on housing in the community but the Sec 8 voucher MPHA staff person failed to get the data to him on time (since has been received). We reviewed the data form MPHA on scattered site housing. North has 29.8% of the city scattered site public housing.

Voucher data and responses to the following questions will be addressed at next meeting in Feb.

• What education do section 8 voucher recipients receive before they are given the opportunity to live in a single-family home?
• On maintaining the property?
• Upon being a responsible neighbor?
• Upon city garbage refuse services, recycling?
• Upon general home maintenance or repair?

We have seen the MPHA handbook—is this the only information they receive?

• Are there plans to implement "Moving to Opportunity Programs" in Minneapolis or other ways or plans to end dependency on section 8 vouchers?

• What is the procedure for addressing problems with section 8 voucher recipients, criminals, or housing violations? Is the City inspections, zoning, and city police departments the only way in which problems can be addressed?

• What is the overall percentage of subsidized housing on North Minneapolis?

• Does MPHA have any guidelines on the amount of housing allowed in Neighborhoods that are considered at the poverty rate?

MPHA data is available by emailing northsidehomeowners@gmail.com

Rob Johnson stated that he would appreciate your aid and hope that we, as an association, can develop a relationship to ease minds and address the problems that homeowners in this Association have identified.


Robert from 3500 James Ave brought the year-end crime statistics per neighborhood that he had converted to a bar graph, a humbling reminder of the summer time problem.



The orange stickers on foreclosed homes:
In an attempt to prevent more crime, squatting or vandalism it is recommended that neighbors shovel the sidewalks in front of foreclosed homes. Yes it would be nice it the city would do that, but good luck there. The ruling is that after 31 days or after the property has been vacated the stickers can be removed, they look unsightly and are big signs that say, “Break in and steal stuff”. Making the property look lived-in makes a difference in deterring a potential crime.


We reviewed the new sex offender alerts that have came in to north.
This raised the question of how many sex offenders do we have in north?
Are we oversaturated? We will look into those figures.


Minneapolis Plan — go online and make your comments
Share your ideas on how Minneapolis should look, feel and function in 2030. The City of Minneapolis invites the public to provide input on “The Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth”, a major update to the City’s comprehensive plan. The draft plan is available online now at http://www.minneapolisplan.info and in all Minneapolis public libraries. For additional information, contact Haila Maze at 612.673.1098.

Foreclosure Assistance Information
Contact the Minnesota Home Ownership Center to find free foreclosure prevention counseling to help you explore options, including negotiations with a mortgage lender. Call 651.659.9336 or Toll Free 866.462.6466 or visit www.hocmn.org. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity: 612.377.2271; Minnesota Housing Finance Agency: 651.296.8215; Don’t Borrow Trouble: 612.312.2020 and 311.

The Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth
There are four ways to participate in the update to the city’s comprehensive plan—The Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth. First, you may read the plan on-line at www.minneapolisplan.info and fill out the on-line survey. Second, you may view a copy of the plan at one of the city’s public libraries or at the Planning offices at Room 210 in City Hall. Third, you may attend one of five open houses scheduled during the month of January. (Look for details on the website: www.minneapolisplan.info .) Fourth, you may utilize the 45-day public review period for the plan, which runs January 1 thru February 15, 2008, to communicate your comments. The email address for the comprehensive plan is planupdate@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.



2008 North Housing and Home Improvement Fair, Saturday, March 15
The 3rd Annual North Housing and Home Improvement Fair will provide an excellent opportunity for North Minneapolis homeowners and renters to connect with contractors, real estate agents, lenders and community organizations. Attendees can learn about home buying programs, including programs only available on the Northside. The Housing Fair will attract individuals from the entire city to provide a one-stop-shop for residents.

Topics will include:
Homeownership opportunities
Financial resources available for prospective homebuyers
Transitioning from renter to homeowner
Resources for home improvement and maintenance
Learning how to avoid predatory lending and purchasing
Foreclosure Prevention
Community reinvestment

The event, free and open to the public, will be on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North Community High School, 1500 James Avenue North in Minneapolis.
Day of event: Enter through the southwest corner of the school (14th Avenue at Knox Avenue) through doors 1, 28 or 29.

Last year, the housing fair is sponsored by the Center for Energy and the Environment, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, Community Planning and Economic Development, North Community High School, Wells Fargo, TCF and the Northside neighborhood organizations: Cleveland, Folwell, Harrison, Hawthorne, Jordan, Lind-Bohanon, McKinley, Near North, Shingle Creek, Sumner-Glenwood (Heritage Park), Victory, Webber-Camden, and Willard-Hay.

For information about exhibit requirements and applications, please contact Kristin DeGrande at the Center for Energy and Environment at kdegrande@mncee.org or at 612-335-5881.