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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-14 HRA Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Pearson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Je Moua Chairperson Gary Pearson Commissioner Colleen Thompson Commissioner Joy Tkachuck Vice-Chairperson Beth Ulrich Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand. Senior Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Tkachuck moved approval of the agenda as presented. Commissioner Ulrich seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. March 10, 2010 b. April 14, 2010 c. May 12, 2010 Commissioner Tkachuck moved to approve the minutes of March 10, April 14 and May 12, 2010. Commissioner Ulrich seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VI. NEW BUSINESS a. Presentation by Mikeya Griffin of the Twin Cities Community Land Bank Mikeya Griffin introduced Shawn Huckleby, vice president of the Land Bank. Mr. Huckleby gave a presentation explaining the history of the Twin Cities Community Land Bank. Mr. Huckleby said they are a subsidiary of the Family Housing Fund of the Twin Cities and deal with moving foreclosed houses back into the community as affordable housing. Mr. Huckleby explained a home is acquired and then purchased by a developer for rehabilitation and sold back into the community as affordable housing. Housing and Redevelopment Authority -2- Minutes of 07-14-10 Ms. Griffin gave a presentation on the specifics of this program. Ms. Griffin said the Property Acquisition Program of the Land Bank is the community coordinator for the National Community Stabilization Trust, which is the organization that works with the banks. Mr. Huckleby explained this program offers an outside source of capital and an outside source of developers who can work with the city on identifying and acquiring properties and rehabilitating them to get them back into private home ownership. Mr. Huckleby said a small fee is charged at the sale of the home to sustain this program and they are not looking to local government for financial support. Ms. Griffin and Mr. Huckleby answered questioned from the commission. Mr. Huckleby asked the commission to give them a call with questions, if they see problems or have issues with houses in Maplewood. Chair Pearson said if they should have problems or questions with properties in Maplewood, to give the city a call as well. b. Housing Program-Discussion, Ideas Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report explaining staff's wish to establish discussions toward reestablishing a housing replacement program within the city. Planner Ekstrand noted the concern of a single dwelling deteriorating and becoming an eyesore in a neighborhood, particularly with the current home foreclosure situation. Planner Ekstrand reviewed the goals of the previous housing replace program and explained that this program ended due to lack of funds. Planner Ekstrand said that staff wants to be proactive about this issue and begin discussions on reinstating a similar program with the goal of maintaining the city's housing stock. Commissioner Thompson suggested that the HRA do a levy to fund this program. Commissioner Pearson said at times the county has tax-forfeited properties that might be used to create funds if targeted homes were designated for the funding. Mr. Pearson said it is difficult to get the council to go forward with a project that adds a tax burden or if a specific property is not designated for the funding. Commissioner Thompson responded that in order for this housing authority commission to move forward there needs to be funding. Ms. Thompson said the ability for the commission to levy was given by the legislature. Ms. Thompson said if the housing commission is going to become proactive it needs to have money and this issue should be discussed. Commissioner Ulrich said the issue of a levy was discussed with the city council within the last six months and was not received by the council favorably. Ms. Ulrich said she will continue to be in favor of pursuing funding. Other commissioners agreed the need for funding would be a positive step to pursue. Planner Ekstrand noted staff's willingness to continue discussing and pursuing the reestablishment of a housing replacement program, but that ultimately this would be a city council decision. Housing and Redevelopment Authority -3- Minutes of 07-14-10 VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None VIII. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Oath of Office-Commissioners Thompson and Pearson This item was tabled due to the need for signature sheets. b. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Request Consideration for The Shores Senior Housing Development-Joint Meeting between the HRA and Planning Commission on July 20 Planner Ekstrand invited the commission to attend the July 20 Planning Commission meeting to review the TIF funding request for The Shores Senior Housing Development. c. Excel Energy-Energy Efficiency Programs Planner Ekstrand said a representative of Excel Energy will attend the next HRA meeting to discuss their efforts to work with homeowners to do repairs through their energy efficiency programs. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:52 p.m.