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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 09-24-2020APPROVED MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY September 24, 2020 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Michelle Soderberg, Commissioners Jeff Kulaszewicz, Robert Huddleston, Aqueelah Whitfield, and Lucas Larson. STAFF PRESENT: HRA Executive Director Steve Juetten, HRA Manager Jim Barnes, Community Development Coordinator Matt Lupini, Support Services Manager Denise Whalen, and Permit Technician Tina Beckfeld. OTHERS PRESENT: Council Member Jim Davis, Cathy Capone Bennett of Bennett Community Consulting, and Joel Spoonheim Plymouth resident and representative of Outreach Development Corp. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Soderberg called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Chair Soderberg opened and closed the Public Forum as there was no one present to speak. 3. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Huddleston, to approve the Agenda. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. (Chair Soderberg, Commissioners Whitfield, Larson, Huddleston, and Kulaszewicz). MOTION passed unanimously. 4. CONSENT AGENDA 4A. Approve proposed August 27, 2020 minutes 4B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept monthly housing reports 4C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept monthly housing reports MOTION by Commissioner Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Huddleston, to approve the Consent Agenda. 5 Ayes. (Chair Soderberg, Commissioners Whitfield, Larson, Huddleston, and Kulaszewicz). MOTION passed unanimously. 5. NEW BUSINESS 5A. Strategic Plan. Review and discuss HRA strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat analysis (SWOT) Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 24, 2020 Page 2 Cathy Capone Bennett of Bennett Community Consulting updated the board on her progress of holding stakeholder engagement meetings with a Summit Mortgage banker, a local realtor, a resident who used to work in banking and currently works in affordable housing, Interfaith Outreach, and the Outreach Development Corp (ODC) board. She stated she would provide the board with a summary of those meetings once she completes her interviews with Plymouth faith leaders and Wayzata School staff. In addition, she stated a Flash Vote survey was sent out earlier in the week, with results received just before this meeting. She said results would hopefully be shared prior to or at the next HRA meeting. Council Member Jim Davis asked what the ODC board is. Ms. Bennett replied the ODC is a housing developer, and the board is comprised of approximately 20 business leaders: people in affordable housing, corporations, and representative of the health sector that drive the work of Interfaith Outreach. They also provide funding for affordable housing. Chair Soderberg asked Ms. Bennett to clarify if the ODC is a corporation separate from IOCP. Ms. Bennett confirmed that the ODC is an affiliate that works in the interest of Interfaith Outreach. Commissioner Larson asked if any residents were interviewed. Ms. Bennett said yes, she interviewed a resident that was recommended to her who used to work in banking and currently works in affordable housing. The Flash Vote was done since in person interviews with residents is prohibitive during the Coronavirus pandemic. Survey results were just short of 1,200 responses. Commissioner Larson asked if the responses were all Plymouth residents. HRA Manager Barnes replied the majority of the responses were from Plymouth residents. Ms. Bennett presented a color coordinated compilation of the board members’ thoughts for the SWOT summary. She stated she wants to confirm she captured everything and address some conflicts between the strengths and weaknesses that were provided. HRA Manger Barnes added he would like to see a concerted platform from the board using one voice going forward to present to the City Council. Commissioners Larson and Kulaszewicz asked for clarification if the SWOT is about the city of Plymouth in general or is it specific to the HRA. Ms. Bennett replied the intent of the SWOT is to specify what the goals and mission of the HRA are in regard to the city. She said the HRA cannot be isolated from the community because it Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 24, 2020 Page 3 serves the community, and that strengths are the work that the HRA does well for the community and the weaknesses are the things the HRA can do better for the community. HRA Executive Director Juetten stated the SWOT analysis gives us a basis of what we want to put into the strategic plan; to pull out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. He said we must identify those things in the city as a whole that the HRA can make better and ultimately develop a strategic plan that makes the strengths stronger, and lessens the weaknesses. The Board discussed the conflicts in the SWOT matrix and came to a consensus on the revisions. Ms. Bennett stated she would make the changes and provide the board with the final SWOT analysis at the October 13th meeting. She also asked the Board to review her compilation of best practices that was distributed earlier in the week and be ready to discuss them at the next meeting. Joel Spoolheim of 11710 28th Ave N, resident of Plymouth and member of the ODC addressed the board. He mentioned barriers in Plymouth for affordable housing: the amount of land guided or zoned for affordable housing and density with respect to affordable housing – for work force homeowners/tenants. He stated he appreciates the work the HRA is doing with the strategic plan and extended an invitation to the commissioners to continue the conversation. Chair Soderberg asked Ms. Bennett if they should each have one to three ideas of focus areas prepared for the next meeting. Ms. Bennett suggested the commissioners introduce idea(s) they want included in the Strategic Plan as a presentation so everyone is taking the information in at the same time. 5B. HRA Budgets. Review and approve the 2021 budget Support Services Manager Whalen gave an overview of the Housing Choice Voucher portion of the 2021 budget staff report. Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked how many vouchers Plymouth is currently administering. Support Services Manager Whalen replied a little over 300 vouchers, 230 of which are for Plymouth including five new Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. VASH vouchers serves veterans. She added that there are also 95 port-in vouchers that Plymouth administers. HRA Manager Barnes gave an overview of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HRA General Fund portions of the 2021 budget staff report. Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked if we have looked at the interest rates of our bonds. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 24, 2020 Page 4 HRA Manager Barnes replied yes - every year our financial advisor Ehlers reviews the entire portfolio of bonds and makes recommendations. Ehlers recommended paying the Plymouth Towne Square bonds off with an inter-fund loan through the city to reduce costs by approximately $30,000. Vicksburg Crossing will be looked at in the first or second quarter of 2021. Council Member Davis stated the budget documents are hard to follow and requested a summary going forward. HRA Manager Barnes said he would work with Finance staff to make the transmission of budget information easier to understand. Council Member Davis asked if the levy includes funds for new initiatives. HRA Manager Barnes answered no. MOTION by Commissioner Huddleston, seconded by Commissioner Larson, to recommend that the City Council approve the 2021 HRA budgets. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. (Chair Soderberg, Commissioners Whitfield, Larson, Huddleston, and Kulaszewicz). MOTION passed unanimously. 5C. HRA Accessible Home Program – Consider purchase of 3315 Garland Lane N HRA Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report. Council Member Davis asked what would happen to the rented property if the occupant passed away or had to move to a facility. HRA Manager Barnes answered at that point staff would bring options to the board for their consideration. Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked why there is such a discrepancy between the purchase price and the appraisal. HRA Manager Barnes stated the occupant is very grateful for what the program has provided, and wanted his asking price to reflect such. Commissioner Huddleston asked if the book value is $185,000 plus $65,000 loan forgiveness. HRA Manager Barnes answered yes. Commissioner Huddleston asked if there will be a tax obligation for buying the property at a significantly lower market value. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 24, 2020 Page 5 HRA Manager Barnes answered no. MOTION by Commissioner Huddleston, seconded by Commissioner Whitfield, to provide staff the authority to draft a purchase agreement and make an offer to purchase 3315 Garland Lane N, Plymouth, MN 55447 in the amount of $185,000. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. (Chair Soderberg, Commissioners Whitfield, Larson, Huddleston, and Kulaszewicz). MOTION passed unanimously. 6. UPDATES Elements Cranberry Ridge Four Seasons Mall Fernbrook Lane site Vicksburg Crossing Magic Packs 7. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Soderberg, with no objection, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.