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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 04-10-2003MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY April 10, 2003 PRESENT: Commissioners Susan Henderson, Steve Ludovissie, Leon Michlitsch, Tim Bildsoe and Jenny Hibbard ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Housing Program Manager Jim Barnes, Office Support Representative Barb Peterson OTHERS PRESENT: Grace Management Representative Jodi Boedigheimer 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henderson called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order April 10, 2003 at 7:05 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Ludovissie, seconded by Commissioner Bildsoe, approving the February 20, 2003 minutes. Vote. 5 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously. 3. CONSENT AGENDA A. Plymouth Towne Square — Accept monthly housing reports. The Commission moved this item to 5C. 4. PUBLIC HEARING — No public hearing. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Election of Officers The Commissioners discussed the election of officers for the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. MOTION by Commissioner Ludovissie, seconded by Commissioner Hibbard, electing Commissioner Henderson as Chair, Commissioner Bildsoe as Vice Chair and Commissioner Michlitsch as Secretary. Vote. 5 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously. Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority April 10, 2003 Page 2 B. Revised 2003 HRA budget for Grant Awards & Marketing Housing Manager Barnes began by presenting an overview of the Stone Creek Village apartment project and said it has been delayed due to a complicated finance package. Housing Manager Barnes explained that staff had allocated $130,000 from the HRA general fund's Grant Awards to this project. Due to the delay the project did not close prior to the end of 2002 so the funds were put into the HRA's reserve account. Because this assistance will now be structured as a loan the funds will be placed in line 7755 (Housing Loans) instead of 7744 (Grant Awards). He stated there will not be an additional financial impact on the HRA as a result of transferring the funds. Housing Manager Barnes explained the second change to the 2003 budget which is for an increase in postage, printing and publishing. In order to start using outside resources such as the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's Fix -Up Fund additional marketing will need to take place. He said the Information Technology Department did a run of properties in the City older than twenty years and found almost 8,000 properties. Only certain areas or neighborhoods will be targeted for the mailing. In conversations with the Center for Energy and Environment it was determined that an extra $2,000 for each category will be needed. He explained the involvement which the Center for Energy and Environment will have in this project, and said we will probably enter into a contract with them to administer the program at no cost except the marketing piece, which they will share in as well. The additional $4,000 will be coming out of the HRA's reserve account, which has a fund balance of $746,526. MOTION by Commissioner Bildsoe, seconded by Commissioner Hibbard, to adopt the revised 2003 HRA General Fund budget. Vote. 5 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously. C. Plymouth Towne Square common area redecorating options Chair Henderson asked for questions regarding the Plymouth Towne Square monthly reports. Commissioner Ludovissie requested an update on the marketing side of financials and asked what the status of rentals is at this time. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer stated that there are two two-bedroom units vacant at this time and there will be three more available soon. Commissioner Ludovissie asked how long they stay on the market. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer said it usually takes one to two weeks to turn them. They are usually vacant about three weeks to a month. Housing Manager Barnes said the wait list for two-bedroom units is receiving a number of turndowns. He said 50 applicants were accepted on the wait list when it was last opened and the list may need to be reopened again soon. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer said postcards are sent to people on the wait list to see if they are still interested and then followed up by phone calls. Housing Manager Barnes presented background information on the recent changes at Plymouth Towne Square for the benefit of Commissioner Hibbard. Grace Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority April 10, 2003 Page 3 Management Representative Boedigheimer asked if we will address the rents again next year. Housing Manager Barnes replied affirmatively. Housing Manager Barnes said that staff had asked Grace Management to assess the areas in need of redecorating at Plymouth Towne Square. He said some items will be coming up under replacement reserves such as appliances. He presented various options of approaching the redecorating. Chair Henderson asked what the dollar amount is in reserves right now. Housing Manager Barnes said that figure would not be in the Plymouth Towne Square financial information but would be an internal account. Commissioner Ludovissie questioned if it would make sense to do the redecorating floor by floor, possibly a floor each year. Commissioner Bildsoe felt that would not be fair for all the residents and stated he does not feel there is a budget issue. He feels it is a marketing issue in which the decorating needs to be kept up for future renting and investment purposes. Commissioner Ludovissie asked about the replacement of appliances. Housing Manager Barnes said dishwashers are another item to think about as units do not have them at this time. Commissioner Hibbard suggested we could hold off on inside apartment repairs and do projects that would impact the residents all at one time. Commissioner Ludovissie stated he is not so concerned about competing with other apartments in the area, but is concerned that we have a very nice place for elderly people to live. Commissioner Michlitsch asked if there is a substantial reserve for the units themselves. Housing Manager Barnes stated there is approximately $200,000.00 in reserve accounts. Housing Manager Barnes said that by trying to keep this project within budget when the building was constructed, some materials were not of the best quality. Windows, for example, are difficult to open and close. He said the ultimate solution will be replacement of windows. He said we need to be aware of those items which will expire before their life is over. Discussion was held on replacement of the furniture. Commissioner Bildsoe suggested carpeting the whole building at one time. Commissioner Bildsoe brought up other accessories such as a new speaker system. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer spoke about the Activity Room and discussion took place on how changes could be made in that room. Housing Manager Barnes asked the Board if they would be comfortable letting staff put together some suggestions for the redecorating. Chair Henderson suggested looking at the whole facility. It was suggested that the next meeting be held at Plymouth Towne Square so the Board can look at the facility. Discussion was held on the hiring of a designer. Housing Manager Barnes suggested possibly the designer could pick out three color boards and present them to the residents. Chair Henderson summarized the plan. D. City Center Update Housing Manager Barnes stated that staff has met with all existing property owners that have vacant property in City Center at this time. He spoke about the property behind Cub Foods, which is owned by Carlson Companies, and said they basically build office space and if the city were interested in going forward they would probably sell the property as opposed to being the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority April 10, 2003 Page 4 developer. John Day, another owner, has one and a half sites incorporating six acres on 37th Ave. which has the library on one side and the funeral home on the other. He doesn't have any plans for the land at this time, but the land is very expensive at about $9.50 a foot. The biggest issue is the funeral home across the street. The site would be surrounded by retail and commercial uses so it would basically be housing on an island. The fourth lot is where Comcast has their tower right now. It is on the corner of Vicksburg and Cty. Rd. 9. It would be a good site for a housing development to occur, however, their tower is in the center of the property. Housing Manager Barnes said Comcast would look at the cost of moving their facilities if the City were interested in developing that site. Discussion occurred about the Carlson site. It could incorporate mixed-use development but would also require a subsidy. Commissioner Bildsoe said Carlson Companies is used to doing commercial, not residential. Housing Manager Barnes said another area to look at would be the Dana Spicer building which is south of Hwy. 55. The City Council has had preliminary discussions regarding this property. Right now it is zoned industrial and is approximately 27 acres. Housing Manager Barnes said if the Council wants to move forward on mixed-use development for this site we will bring options to the HRA at a later date. Commissioner Bildsoe encouraged the Commissioners to attend the Council meeting on April 29th when CSM will be presenting a plan for the Dana Spicer site. 6. APPROVE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF RELATED DOCUMENTS BETWEEN THE PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE STONE CREEK VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. Housing Manager Barnes stated that the HRA entered into a Cooperation and Initial Agreement with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority to allow 13 Holman units at the Stone Creek Village apartment project. As part of this process, the HRA will need to enter into additional documents consisting of the Housing Development Agreement, Regulatory and Operating Agreement, Property management Agreement, Disbursing Agreement and Subordination Agreement. Commissioner Ludovissie asked if they are going to start construction soon. Housing Manager Barnes said they have environmental issues and soil corrections which need to be addressed prior to actual construction. MOTION by Commissioner Bildsoe, seconded by Commissioner Michlitsch, authorizing the execution of related documents between the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment authority and the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority for the Stone Creek Village development project. Vote. 5 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously. Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority April 10, 2003 Page 5 7. NEW BUSINESS Commissioner Bildsoe said that one of the goals of the Strategic Plan is economic development. He stated that he has worked with the City Council regarding the Governor's initiative to support bio -science or bio -tech companies in Minnesota, of which Plymouth, Eden Prairie and Maple Grove have the largest number. He has been working informally with state legislators to try and obtain financial support through partnership with the private sector. On May 12th the Governor is holding a bio -science conference. Commissioner Bildsoe has spoken with Senator David Gaither to see if there was a way to bring money to Plymouth. He also talked with another person who creates business incubators in Columbia Heights and Brooklyn Center and he has also created about 50 companies in the bio -tech industry. Commissioner Bildsoe would like to bring this issue to the HRA as he gets more information and would like the person who creates business incubators to speak at a meeting. Commissioner Bildsoe also spoke about an organization called Medical Alley which is starting a venture capital or seed fund to help companies start businesses. Commissioner Ludovissie commented that these types of companies like to be close to each other. Commissioner Bildsoe concurred and added they also do not move their locations. Commissioner Bildsoe said the timing is right from the State standpoint. Motion by Commissioner Bildsoe, seconded by Commissioner Michlitsch to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. HRA/Minutes/041003