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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-08 HRA Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Pearson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Chairperson Gary Pearson Commissioner Josh Richter Commissioner Joy Tkachuck Vice-Chairperson Beth Ulrich Present Present Absent Present Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand. Citv Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented by consensus. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. June10, 2009 Commissioner Ulrich moved to approve the minutes of June 10, 2009 as presented. Commissioner Richter seconded The motion passed. Ayes - Pearson, Richter, Ulrich V. COMMUNICATIONS a.Request by Paul Ruby of Rolling Hills Manufactured Home Park-Lot Rate Increases Planner Tom Ekstrand explained that Paul Ruby and Justin Bell will give a presentation on lot rent increases for Rolling Hills Manufactured Home Park. Paul Ruby, of Rolling Hills Manufactured Home Park (RHMHP), gave a presentation to the commission to request the city's involvement/assistance in helping to control the lot rent increases at the Rolling Hills Manufactured Home Park. Justin Bell, of All Parks Alliance for Change (A PAC) , explained possible solutions to curtail the unreasonable rent increases at RHMHP. Mr. Bell said the Metropolitan Council's current report shows that Maplewood will need between 144 and 492 units of affordable housing from 2011 to 2020. Mr. Bell explained that Maplewood has a natural system of affordable housing in manufactured homes. Mr. Bell said that Rolling Hills Manufactured Home Park is at the top of the rent increase list compared with other mobile home parks in the area. Commissioner Ulrich explained that she contacted Ramsey County to check on the property taxes for these parcels and she found that RHMHP property taxes have increased more than 100 percent since 2005. Ms. Ulrich asked if the Attorney General has been contacted regarding the rent increase issue. Housing and Redevelopment Authority -2- Minutes of 07-08-09 Mr. Bell explained that they have contacted the Attorney General, who has a hands-off approach and referred them to other agencies, which ended up being a dead end. Mr. Bell said the next step is to talk with municipalities. Commissioner Pearson encouraged Mr. Bell to contact state representatives and the legislature, since the legislature developed Statute 327(c). Commissioner Pearson explained the history of the RHMHP development within the city. Commissioner Pearson suggested it would be a better proposition for APAC to organize and work to purchase RHMHP. Commissioner Pearson said he does not believe it is the city's position to develop ordinances to control or interpret what "reasonable" is. Mr. Pearson said that is a legislative decision. Commissioner Ulrich agreed saying she also believes it is a state law that governs this and a state law that needs to be better defined. Ms. Ulrich said she recommends that the city does not take action on defining "reasonableness" or setting up some kind of rent control board. Mr. Ulrich said this is not the city's role. Commissioner Ulrich said her mother is a resident of Rolling Hills. Commissioner Ulrich moved to recommend that the city council not take any additional action. Commissioner Richter seconded Ayes - all The motion passed. b. HRA Bylaws Revisions Planner Ekstrand reviewed the staff report concerning the revision of the by-laws to add "Visitor Presentations" to the HRA agenda. Mr. Ekstrand said he researched the HRA bylaws and gave the commission examples of several typical agendas. Planner Ekstrand said the position of "executive director" and the reference to holding an "annual meeting" are not used or needed. Commissioner Ulrich said she would like to leave the executive director position in the bylaws as a possibility in the future if funding would become available. Commissioner Richter moved to revise the HRA bylaws to reestablish the agenda format and to delete the reference to annual meetings. Commissioner Ulrich seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all c. Quarterly Code Enforcement Status Report Update Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report explaining the responses to commission questions on the code enforcement status report update at the last meeting. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Commissioner Ulrich asked staff for a response to her question regarding whether the city has problems contacting the owners of foreclosed or vacant homes on code enforcement complaints. Planner Ekstrand said he will get this information from the code enforcement staff and bring it to the next meeting. VII. NEW BUSINESS None Housing and Redevelopment Authority -3- Minutes of 07-08-09 VIII. DATE OF NEXT MEETING August 12, 2009 IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.