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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 09-20-2007MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY September 20, 2007 PRESENT: Chairman Steve Ludovissie, Jeff Kulaszewicz, Jenny Flansburg and Bob Stein ABSENT: Commissioner Jim Kovach STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Steve Juetten, Housing Program Manager Jim Barnes, Support Services Manager Denise Whalen and Office Support Representative Barb Peterson OTHERS PRESENT: None CALL TO ORDER Chair Ludovissie called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. 2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve August 16, 2007 HRA Meeting Minutes B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept monthly housing reports. C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept monthly housing reports. MOTION by Commissioner Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Stein, to approve the consent agenda. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 3. PUBLIC HEARING A. Section 8 Program. Proposed changes to the PHA Administrative Plan. Housing Program Manager Barnes introduced Support Services Manager Whalen. Ms. Whalen presented an overview of the proposed changes to the PHA Administrative Plan and asked the Board to approve the attached resolution which provides authorization to submit the plan to HUD. Commissioner Ludovissie asked if the changes staff is electing to make follow the same trend seen around the state or country. Support Services Manager Whalen said the changes are mostly to clarify existing statements in the plan. She said one change, which is being recommended by staff is in Chapter 12 regarding reporting of interim changes. Staff is proposing to change the reporting amount from $40 to $200 because there are so many Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 20, 2007 Page 2 changes. This action will save sufficient staff time. She said that is happening throughout the metro area. Commissioner Ludovissie opened the Public Hearing. Commissioner Ludovissie closed the Public Hearing as no one was present to speak. MOTION by Commissioner Flansburg, seconded by Commissioner Stein, approving the update to the Public Housing Agency Annual Plan for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2008. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Comprehensive Plan. Draft Housing Chapter. Housing Program Manager Barnes presented an overview of the staff report. He said that the Metropolitan Council established an advisory panel to assess and make recommendations relating to each community's share of affordable housing. Plymouth's goal is 1,045 units of affordable housing between 2011 and 2020. Housing Program Manager Barnes said that one change in the Housing Plan is the way that we account for or allocated our share of affordable housing in the Metropolitan area. In past plans it was always a negotiated percentage with the Met Council. The issue of whether the Met Council can force cities to construct the affordable units has always been a debate. Currently, the Met Council does not enforce this issue, but ties certain funding opportunities to a cities commitment towards meeting affordable housing goals. For instance, Plymouth in our current plan we have negotiated goals of ownership housing, 21 % of all housing built between 2000 and 2020 should be affordable for households at 80% of median income or below. On the rental side, 35% of the units developed would be affordable to households at 50% of median income or below. Commissioner Stein asked if the 1,045 units would be rental or owner. Housing Program Manager Barnes said they do not distinguish between rental and ownership in their new goals. They simply have said that the new units must be affordable to households of 60% of median income. Commissioner Ludovissie stated that it raises the question of the credibility of the number they have assigned Plymouth. It also raises the question of what happens to communities that don't accept this number. Housing Program Manager Barnes said that it is staff's understanding that if we do not accept this goal that we would not be eligible for funding under some of the Met Council programs. Commissioner Ludovissie said his point being is does it make more sense to use a lower number, perhaps half of the Met Council's number, and have a goal that is obtainable rather than establish a goal that is not realistic. Housing Program Manager Barnes said there is no punitive damage set in place for this that if we don't obtain the number besides the loss of funding opportunities mentioned. Commissioner Ludovissie asked about the criteria for establishing these goals. He asked if Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 20, 2007 Page 3 they are double counting when they do a radius for a communities proximity to low wage jobs? Housing Manager Barnes stated that the radius is ten miles from the center point of a city and there most likely would be overlap in many communities based on what he knows of how the process was conducted. Commissioner Ludovissie stated that a large portion of Plymouth's undeveloped land does not include guiding for commercial uses that will produce jobs and there is very little transit options in the Northwest section of the city. He asked if they take all of these things into consideration for all communities. Housing Program Manager Barnes said not necessarily. He believes that they used the center of Plymouth to establish our goal. Commissioner Stein asked if the figure was based on the high cost of land in Plymouth. Housing Program Manager Barnes said they do not take that into consideration. Commissioner Stein asked if the Metropolitan Council audits us. Housing Program Manager Barnes said they do not, but they do track our progress through various data collection methods. Commissioner Ludovissie said he has concerns with the legitimacy of the goal established by the Met Council and by putting it in the report, we in effect have agreed to it. He asked if everyone else feels comfortable with it and if they do, that's OK, but to him it seems a little arbitrary and subjective. Housing Program Manager Barnes said staff had struggled with how to address the new affordable housing goal. Although the Met Council does not approve our Comprehensive Plan, they do have an opportunity to review the plan and provide comments on the content. If we do not acknowledge the goal or provide a lower goal we might open the city up to criticism by the Met Council and other interested housing groups. Commissioner Stein said it is a goal and try to work with developers as they come in. Commissioner Ludovissie said he doesn't have a problem with that part of it if all we are doing is acknowledging what the Metro Council is requiring. Commissioner Ludovissie asked what efforts are going to be made internally to make the City a better, more user friendly towards the development of affordable housing. He mentioned all aspects including the cost of building permits to the review, to the regulations. Commissioner Ludovissie mentioned at one time discussion was started with other departments regarding this and it's sort of gone away. Nothing in this plan brings that up and maybe it is not being considered anymore. It's just that it's one of the barrier's he feels towards the development of affordable housing is the role the City plays. Commissioner Stein said it's being subsidized by a hidden tax on the taxpayers. Housing Program Manager Barnes explained what has been done in the past. He stated that when the entire plan goes before the Council it will include the implementation section, which details what the City will do to encourage and assist affordable housing. Commissioner Stein asked what will happen to all of the large houses that are or will be built as our demographics change. He mentioned houses in excess of 2,800 square feet. Housing Program Manager Barnes said there is not a definite answer for that as of now. Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked if attaining the goal has any financial benefit from the Metropolitan Council. Housing Program Manager Barnes said that by recognizing the goals and making efforts to achieve the goals we will be eligible to compete for Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 20, 2007 Page 4 Metropolitan Council funding. Housing Program Manager Barnes stated that Plymouth has been fairly aggressive in providing affordable housing opportunities but he said the Council needs to balance housing needs among other City needs. He said staff meets with every developer and tries to encourage them to provide some level of affordability in their projects. MOTION by Commissioner Flansburg, seconded by Commissioner Kulaszewicz, recommending that the Housing Plan be forwarded to the Planning Commission and the City Council for consideration. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. B. Vicksburg Crossing. Review Marketing Plan. Housing Program Manager Barnes presented an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Ludovissie asked how the Section 8 program works at Vicksburg Crossing. Housing Program Manager Barnes explained the program. Commissioner Flansburg feels that the recommendations suggested by staff are excellent. Commissioner Ludovissie asked whether the activity room could be rented to outsiders for various activities. Housing Program Manager Barnes said that it would be difficult and may make the residents uneasy to have strangers in their building, which is their home. Commissioner Flansburg asked about additional activities for the residents. Housing Program Manager Barnes said that would be covered by the proposed part-time additional staff person, which will be discussed at the October meeting when the Board discusses the 2008 operating budgets. Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked where Vicksburg Crossing Manager Monahan would go to market the building. Housing Program Manager Barnes replied at senior clubs, senior centers, churches and other places where there are high concentrations of seniors. Commissioner Ludovissie said he feels it is important to keep the building in the forefront and look at other facilities for ideas. Commissioner Stein asked if Grace Management has looked at other buildings to see what they are doing to get leased up. Housing Programs Manager Barnes said they have begun this and will continue to look at other comparable buildings. Discussion occurred regarding discounted rents. Housing Programs Manager Barnes indicated that the notice went out about 2 weeks ago to over 300 interested people. Staff will keep the Board abreast of this effort. Commissioner Ludovissie wants to see definite figures for funding the building over the next six months. Housing Program Manager Barnes said that in October the Board will be presented with a budget. Commissioner Kulaszewicz asked if they could get the September figures in October. The Board also requested that the rental chart be redone in a different format. Commissioner Stein suggested using the Sun Sailor and having a flyer inserted. Housing Program Manager Barnes said additional information regarding marketing will be brought before the Board at the October meeting. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.