HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 10-18-2001MINUTES
PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
October 18, 2001
PRESENT: Chair Susan Henderson, Commissioners Sandy Hewitt, Steve Ludovissie, and Leon
Michlitsch.
ABSENT: HRA Commissioner Tim Bildsoe, HRA Specialist Melissa Carnicelli and Planning
Liaison Mike Stulberg
STAFF PRESENT: Executive Director Anne Hurlburt, Housing Manager Jim Barnes, and
Office Support Representative Patty Schaffer
OTHERS PRESENT: None
1. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority was called to order by Chair
Henderson on October 18, 2001, at 6:58 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Michlitsch, seconded by Commissioner Hewitt, to recommend
approval of the September 20, 2001, meeting minutes.
Vote. 4 Ayes. Minutes approved unanimously.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION was made by Commissioner Hewitt, seconded by Commissioner Ludovissie, to
approve the Consent Agenda that included the following items:
A. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept Monthly Housing Report
B. Metropolitan Council. Accept report on Metropolitan Council 2001 Housing Performance
Score.
Vote. 4 Ayes. Motion adopted unanimously.
4A. UPDATE ON PLYMOUTH TOWNE SQUARE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AND
2002 BUDGET. (Verbal)
Executive Director Hurlburt explained staff is working with Grace Management, Inc. to draft a
contract for their management of Plymouth Towne Square.
Commissioner Ludovissie said it was his understanding that Grace Management Company
wanted to be named insured on the property. Executive Director Hurlburt stated that the
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
October 18, 2001
Page 2
property is insured by the League of Minnesota Cities and she did not believe we could add
Grace to this policy. Director Hurlburt also commented that the language in the contract needs
to be reviewed and the type of reports the City will need is yet to be reviewed.
Housing Manager Barnes stated he would like to see a format showing how the finance staff
actually handles the money; who authorizes expenditures and generally the nuts and bolts of how
all of this is going to work. He asked for input from the board as to what kind of reports they
would like to see on a monthly basis and what changes they would like to see. Housing Manager
Barnes also stated that Walker Management Company should have been submitting reports
and/or spreadsheets giving a narrative of expenses and that we should not have to dig for
information.
Commissioner Hewitt stated this should be standard practice.
Director Hurlburt said she would like to see YTD compared to last year at the same time.
Commissioner Ludovissie expressed concern regarding maintenance that has not been taken care
of. He questioned why 4 units were being held in reserve and he felt there should be no problem
in keeping these units occupied. Housing Manager Barnes commented on the roof problems,
which are the cause of maintenance issue in several units and stated Walker Management
Company assured him that a contractor would be hired so this issue can get resolved. He still
had concerns as to when this would be resolved and how it was going to be taken care of.
Commissioner Hewitt stated she would like to see an overview report and not a report of the day
to day activities. Commissioner Ludovissie stated he liked the newsletter. Grace Management
had asked if the newsletter was to be continued after they took over and Director Hurlburt
responded "yes". Housing Manager Barnes stated he would like to see a narrative explaining
how things are going financially and the progress of maintenance items that are of concern to the
residents.
Housing Manager Barnes gave an overview of the meeting he had last week with Grace
Management and the on-site staff He indicated that the meeting was the first time Grace had
met the on-site staff and they basically wanted to get to know the staff and what their respective
responsibilities are.
Discussion followed regarding Plymouth Towne Square personnel issues. Commissioner
Ludovissie stated that this is not a typical project as it is government owned and it should not be
the responsibility of the Board to oversee the progress of the day to day activities, however he
felt the Board should have the ability to have input if things are not going well. Director
Hurlburt cautioned that the City should not micro -manage Grace Management, Inc. She said that
a positive working relationship was being established with Grace Management.
411. UPDATE ON PROPOSED STONE CREEK VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT.
Housing Manager Barnes gave an overview of the proposed Stone Creek Village Development,
which Dominium Development began in the fall of 2000 and was originally going to have 140
units, 30 of which would be affordable. He reminded the HRA that they had already approved
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
October 18, 2001
Page 3
366,000 in funding to cover a portion of the "gap" in this project as well as contributing three
Section 8 Project Based Vouchers. Barnes continued by informing the Board of the funding
secured by the developer to date including funds from Hennepin County and the MHFA. He
also indicated that the developer has submitted a TIF application to the City. Housing Manager
Barnes informed the Board that after the meeting packet had been sent to the Commissioners,
Dominium revised their plan once again to cover higher than expected construction costs.
Dominium increased the number of units from 116 to 130 and also increased the number of
affordable units from 27 to 34
Executive Director Hurlburt indicated that this project presents some challenges, regarding
developing this land due to poor soils and wetlands on three sides. She indicated that by
providing TIF we were simply leveling the playing field for this site to be developed.
Director Hurlburt pointed out that Dominium did revise the design of the building taking into
account wetland issues and the poor soil conditions and all of these changes are in accordance
with City regulations. She stated that the form of tax increment financing would be pay as you
go and 34 units of affordable housing will be provided. The term of the district would most
likely be between 10-12 years, which would generate approximately 1.2 million in increment.
The City will move forward in reviewing the TIF application from Dominium.
4C. PROPOSAL FOR TAX FORFEITED PROPERTY ON SOUTH SHORE DRIVE.
Verbal).
Housing Manager Barnes stated that staff had been approached by a developer (Managed Assets)
who was interested in developing a piece of tax forfeited land on South Shore Drive. He
indicated that this piece of land is not controlled by the county, rather the state has control due to
the wetlands that are on the site. He also stated that a bill would have to be by the State
Legislature in order for this piece of property to be sold. The developer introduced a bill last
session but it was not addressed because the state and county would rather sell the property to a
local unit of government such as an HRA. Their reason for this is because they already have a
process in place, where as they have never transferred a property such as this to a private citizen.
Barnes continued by stating everyone is waiting to see if the HRA has any interest in pursuing
this project. If they do not, the bill will probably not go through in the next session.
Director Hurlburt reported that Kathryn Loeb has spent one year on researching this project and
she would like to get HRA input to see if the City of Plymouth is interested in this project.
Director Hurlburt expressed her concern that this project might dilute the City's ability to help
with other on going projects such as Stone Creek Village. Commissioner Ludovissie stated he
was concerned about the soils in that area, and given the close proximity to the Stone Creek
Village project this might require higher subsidy levels to correct the soils.
Commissioner Hewitt expressed concern for the amount of low-income housing that already
exists in this concentrated area. The other Commissioners agreed that the perception of a high
concentration of affordable housing in one area could make it difficult for this development to
proceed and it could also hinder existing efforts to bring more affordable housing to the area. It
was her opinion that this development is too small to expend time and energy on.
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
October 18, 2001
Page 4
Commissioner Hewitt commented that the City has already cast our line for the Stone Creek
Village Development and efforts should be focused on finishing that project.
It was the consensus of the Board that the development of the tax forfeited property located on
South Shore Drive was not feasible at this time and that the HRA should focus its energy on
completing other projects currently in the pipe -line.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.