HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 08-16-2007MINUTES
PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
August 16, 2007
PRESENT: Chairman Steve Ludovissie, Commissioners Jim Kovach, Jeff Kulaszewicz
and Bob Stein
ABSENT: Commissioner Jenny Flansburg
STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Steve Juetten, Housing Program
Manager Jim Barnes, Support Services Manager Denise Hutt and Office Support
Representative Barb Peterson
OTHERS PRESENT:
1- 0 M 111XII:1 D]
Chair Ludovissie called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to
order at 7:05 P.M.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve July 19, 2007 HRA Meeting Minutes
B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept monthly housing reports.
C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept monthly housing reports.
Commissioner Ludovissie asked to pull Item 2C, Vicksburg Crossing, from the Consent
Agenda and make it Item 3A.
MOTION by Commissioner Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Kovach, to
approve the consent agenda excluding Item 2C.
Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
3. NEW BUSINESS
A. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept monthly housing reports.
Commissioner Ludovissie stated he is concerned about the marketing aspect of the
Vicksburg Crossing. He inquired about the one bedroom units which seem to be slow to
lease up. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer said most people prefer the
one plus den units or the two bedroom units.
Commissioner Ludovissie stated he is concerned because the slow rental season will begin
soon. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer said the original interest list
contained over two hundred names and about 80 of those were on the affordable list.
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
August 16, 2007
Page 2
Those on the affordable list thought Vicksburg Crossing would be like Plymouth Towne
Square which is subsidized. Housing Program Manager Barnes discussed the differences
between the two buildings.
Discussion took place regarding additional marketing suggestions. Commissioner
Ludovissie asked if some type of incentive might help convince those who have put down
deposits to sign a lease and move in. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer
said most apartment complexes are currently offering some type of incentive. Discussion
took place regarding what type of incentive to offer. Housing Program Manager Barnes
said if the Board decided tonight what type of incentive to offer it could be implemented
immediately.
Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer stated that staffing at Vicksburg
Crossing is an issue. She stated it is difficult for one person to manage the property and be
effective with marketing at the same time. Housing Program Manager Barnes suggested
staff could put some ideas together for getting extra help in the office so the manager can
spend more time doing off-site marketing.
Commissioner Ludovissie brought up the fact that the building is only 63% leased. Grace
Management Representative Boedigheimer feels that this is not unusual for market rate
senior buildings. She said based on the first interest list they felt the building would fill
right away. Commissioner Stein asked whether feed -back has been received from the
people who expressed an interest and then backed out. Grace Management Representative
Boedigheimer said most of them were not ready to make a move yet. She addressed the
fact that people seem to be expecting more amenities to be offered at the building. She
recommended that Vicksburg Crossing set up its own web site.
Commissioner Stein asked what the difference was between number of units rented and
physically occupied. Grace Management Representative Boedigheimer said they have a
500 deposit for the number of units rented. Commissioner Stein asked if the people who
have deposits on the 15 units have homes to sell. Grace Management Representative
Boedigheimer stated there are ten that they know of.
Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked if other units could be turned into affordable units.
Housing Program Manager Barnes said there would be a problem with unit size and it
would require a policy shift for the HRA to be able to subsidize more units. The funding
would have to come from the tax levy. Commissioner Ludovissie feels we need to pursue
the market rate rentals for a longer period.
Support Services Manager Denise Hutt suggested doing a mailing to people on the original
interest list informing them of the incentive which will be offered. Discussion occurred
regarding the type of incentive to offer. The Board decided to offer one month's free rent
to a new tenant that signs a 12 -month lease.
The Board also requested that Grace Management identify additional marketing activities
that could be undertaken and report back to the Board in September with a revised
marketing plan including potential costs.
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
August 16, 2007
Page 3
MOTION by Commissioner Ludovissie, seconded by Commissioner Kovach, allowing
staff to explore additional marketing activities for Vicksburg Crossing and offer one month
of free rent to a new resident that signs a 12 -month lease.
Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
B. Plymouth Towne Square. Re -roofing project — Consider Change Order #2
Housing Program Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report. He reported that
during the recent heavy rain the roof showed no indication of water intrusion.
MOTION by Commissioner Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Kovach, approving
Change Order Number 2 in the amount of $11,111.
Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
C. 2008 and 2009 Draft HRA Budgets.
Housing Program Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report and also explained
the two year budget process. He clarified the fact that the Board is preliminarily adopting
the 2009 budget.
Commissioner Stein inquired about Fox Forest Apartments. Housing Program Manager
Barnes explained that Fox Forest received a housing bond issue a number of years ago and
did not wish to meet the bond policy providing 15-20% of their units at affordable rent
levels. In lieu of offering affordable units the City required a payment of $30,000 per year
which is now being satisfied.
Support Services Manager Hutt presented a brief overview of the Section 8 budget. She
explained how difficult it is to predict the allocation amount that will be received from
HUD for 2008 or 2009. Section 8 just got the additional allocation for 2007. She said they
will be purchasing additional software to complement the software package they purchased
last year.
Commissioner Ludovissie inquired about the allocations and why they had been reduced.
Housing Programs Manager Barnes stated that the finance department had done a
comprehensive review of all of the city allocations and made adjustments reflecting their
review.
MOTION by Commissioner Ludovissie, seconded by Commissioner Kulaszewicz,
recommending that the City Council adopt the 2008 and 2009 HRA preliminary budgets.
Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 P.M.