HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 04-13-2000MINUTES
PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
April 13, 2000
PRESENT: HRA Chair Brad Brown, HRA Commissioners Susan Henderson, Leon Michlitsch,
Dick Abel, Tim Bildsoe
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Executive Director Anne Hurlburt, HRA Supervisor Ed Goldsmith, and
Senior Clerk/Typist Barb Peterson
OTHERS PRESENT: Planning Commission Liaison Sarah Reinhardt
1. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority was called to order by Chair Brown
on April 13, 2000 at 7:00 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Abel, seconded by Commissioner Henderson, to recommend approval of the
March 16, 2000 meeting minutes and the March 28th special meeting minutes.
Vote. 4 Ayes. Motion adopted unanimously.
3. OUTLOT D BASS LAKE HEIGHTS ADDITION
Supervisor Goldsmith explained why the HRA is recommending discontinuing its efforts to acquire
Outlot D. As a result of the neighborhood meeting, staff looked at a number of issues beyond those at
that meeting and felt that because of the easements on the property it would require condemnation that
would be very expensive. Also, the issues raised by the neighbors to the site posed uncertainty of
obtaining rezoning. The amount of HRA time, effort and funds that would need to be expended do not
warrant further consideration of this site. Chair Brown asked for questions from the Commissioners.
There were none. He then opened the floor to comments from the public. The following persons spoke:
Carole Rydberg, 3225 Wellington Lane, thanked the Commissioners for their work on this great need in
the community. She said she can relate to the homeowners because this could have happened to her, but
she also has compassion for other folks as well. She explained there was time when the homeless were
primarily men. Now many are families and the supply of rental units are at a premium. She is asking that
the City do all they can to help the homeless.
Michael Ohnam, 410 Zircon Lane N., spoke in support of the project. He feels there is a real need for this
in the community. He can understand issues of the immediate owners but the interest of Plymouth overall
has to be considered.
Clover Truax, 300 Inland Lane, stated that she is upset this opportunity is being lost for affordable
housing. She said it's time for people to think about other people.
Anne Dorweiler, 17035 9"' Ave. N. served on the Planning Commission in Edina for 11 years. She was
optimistic about this project because it is so badly needed. The people would not be strangers, they are
just like the people who live in the neighborhood now. Life changes can drastically alter people's lives
and they need a second chance. If the HRA decides against this project, she hopes they double their
efforts for similar projects.
Teresa Tawil, 5700 Quinwood Lane, lives adjacent to the property and has worked with homeless. She
feels the point is not who is going to live there but they want it to remain green space. She feels that
moderate cost housing should be worked into new developments being built elsewhere.
George Maldonado, 12705 58th Ave. N., thanked the Commission for their concern for the neighbors and
for holding the neighborhood meeting. He believes they made the right decision and the homeowners
support the resolution.
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
April 13, 2000
Page 15
Andrea Brennan, Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, coordinates the Community Housing
Coalition at Interfaith Outreach. They provide emergency assistance, and long term counseling and
human services referrals for people in the community. She said this proposal would have provided
housing for five families. She thanked the HRA and staff for doing what they always hope can be done
and also encouraged people to double the effort for affordable housing. She remarked about how at the
neighborhood meeting there were some ugly comments and mis-information brought up by some of the
neighbors to the site and how the Board and Community needs to work together.
Michael Weber, 12715 58th Ave. N., an immediate property owner spoke in favor of the proposed
resolution and against building on the property. He feels we do have a responsibility to provide
affordable housing but this was a default process. He wasn't opposed to the type of homes and just wants
the site to remain open space. He doesn't think it is the sight for affordable housing.
MOTION by Commissioner Abel, seconded by Commissioner Henderson, recommending that the HRA
Board adopt the resolution attached to the staff report discontinuing efforts to acquire the site and
advising Hennepin County of this decision.
Chair Brown asked if there was any discussion of the motion. Commissioner Henderson said she is in
favor of this because of the technical difficulties involved in the project. Planning Commission Liasion
Reinhardt stated that she felt good about the amount of notices sent out and the vast number of people
showing up which means that members of the community had an opportunity to participate and did.
However, the very negative comments about the modest cost homes proposed and the persons who would
purchase them, made her embarrassed and she wanted people to think harder about the need for
affordable housing and the people who need it. She hopes there will be another project soon to
accommodate people who desperately need these opportunities in our community.
Chair Brown said it was a difficult decision for him. He said the homes would have blended well and the
people would have been good neighbors. The need will not go away even though this project will not be
done. He accepts the challenge to double their efforts and will pursue other projects to develop.
Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. HRA Resolution 2000-04 adopted unanimously
4. HRA STRATEGIC PLAN
Supervisor Goldsmith reviewed the discussion at the March HRA meeting regarding the Result Area
Priorities. He recommended that the term "Priority" be deleted and that "Result Area" alone be used and
that the ranking order remain as outlined. Commissioner Henderson said she favors Result Areas. He
then spoke about some unresolved issues. The Board should review the following issues as they relate to
the Strategic Plan: 1) Utilization of local funding, condemnation powers, and involuntary relocation of
residents and businesses if necessary to achieve an objective. 2) Use of the Plymouth Economic
Development Revolving Loan Fund once it has been funded from the Value RX DTED loan repayments.
3) The relationship of the HRA Strategic Plan to the City's Comprehensive Plan. 4) The communications
function. 5) The HRA's on-going relationship with HUD. 6) Identification of funding sources to
implement the Plan. There was a consensus that local funding, condemnation powers, and involuntary
relocation should be used very sparingly and decided upon in a project -by -project and case-by-case basis.
The other items could be addressed through an Action Plan component to the Strategic Plan.
Commissioner Henderson asked if the Objective Preferences would be the tools necessary to achieve the
specified results. Chair Brown said he would consider them to be strategies. Commissioner Henderson
suggested voting on the priorities. Chair Brown moved that the language be changed from objectives to
strategies and the strategic plan language should be amended accordingly.
The Mission Statement was reviewed. Supervisor Goldsmith shared input from staff recommending
Revision B. Revision B was found to be a more concise statement. It was brief enough to be
remembered and used by the officers, board members and employees. Supervisor Goldsmith thanked
Commissioner Henderson for Revision A as he used that as the basis for drafting Revision B.
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
April 13, 2000
Page 16
Commissioner Henderson had modified the current Vision Statement to make it sound more positive.
Supervisor Goldsmith shared a further version that HRA Specialist Stoen drafted. Commissioner Bildsoe
said we could spend a lot of time coming up with various wording, we should adopt this with little
additional discussion and review it every year. Commissioner Michlitsch asked if it would be a public
document. Supervisor Goldsmith said it is used by the HRA and disseminated to the public.
Chair Brown asked Supervisor Goldsmith for recommendations on the action plan. He responded that
currently a number of documents, such as the annual CDBG plan and HRA Budgets, serve as annual
action plans. Director Hurlburt said the first step would be to gather these documents together and then
flag them for more discussion. She suggested looking through the housing plan in the comprehensive
plan. Supervisor Goldsmith said he would try to pull this material together for next month if possible.
5. STATUS OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE - VERBAL
Director Hurlburt said that since our last meeting a public meeting was held. April 25th is set for the next
review and that will be at the regular City Council Meeting. The plan is now being reviewed by other
adjoining jurisdictions and by May 1St will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council. Planning
Commission Liasion Reinhardt asked if Metro Council will take longer than 60 days. Director Hurlburt
said the Council could delay its review on a technicality.
6. PLYMOUTH TOWNE SQUARE MONTHLY REPORT
Supervisor Goldsmith stated that the budget is running according to plan. Plymouth Towne Square
Manager Burnham is working on maintenance issues within the building. She is having contractors look
at the roof and also the ventilation on the third floor. There may be a way to tie the stairway doors into an
alarm system so that the doors can be held open and automatically close if the fire alarm goes off which
would help the circulation. The acoustics are being looked at in the dining area. There was some damage
from the last windstorm. Director Hurlburt inquired about the request in the newsletter for a hot tub.
This was a request from one resident for a new building amenity. Commissioner Abel asked why they
had seven requests for rodent control bids. Supervisor Goldsmith replied that a variety of companies are
asked for bids, but not all of may respond.
7. AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOUR — VERBAL
The Board has selected a date to tour the city and look at affordable housing projects for May 18th
Supervisor Goldsmith suggested inviting Congressman Ramstad or a member of his staff to join the tour.
They would not be available on May 18th. July 6th was the first available date for him. A member of the
staff was available the 30th and 31St of May. Chair Brown asked whether we should wait for the
Congressman or not. Supervisor Goldsmith said it would be important for him to see the use of federal
resources. Commissioner Henderson suggested two tours, one for only commissioners and another for
invited guests and the public. Commissioner Bildsoe suggested July was a bad time. Commissioner
Henderson suggested doing the Commissioner's tour on May 18th. Director Hurlburt suggested checking
open meeting laws before setting a time. The commissioners may need to divide up into two groups. If
necessary, the HRA would meet on May 25th for its next regular meeting.
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Supervisor Goldsmith explained the handouts regarding letters sent to Congressman Ramstad, Senator
Grams and Senator Wellstone and e-mails sent to Plymouth's state legislative delegation in support of a
variety of federal and state legislative initiatives.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.