Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 03-23-2023APPROVED MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MARCH 23, 2023 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Michelle Soderberg, Commissioners Wayne Peterson, James Williams, Aqueelah Whitfield, and Ronald Kelner ABSENT: Commissioner Joel Spoonheim STAFF PRESENT: HRA Executive Director Grant Fernelius, Support Services Manager Denise Whalen, Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer, Permit Technicians Jenny Bailey, and Michelle Bast. OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor Jeffry Wosje and Jody Boedgheimer of Grace Management 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Soderberg called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Chair Soderberg opened the public forum. Patrick LaCombe of Outreach Development Corporation in association with I.O.C.P and advocates for affordable housing. He stated they have worked with the city for two decades to promote affordable housing. With new members on the HRA they are looking forward to continuing building partnerships with the HRA. He stated their organization would like to edit and suggest alternative language on the draft moderate income housing policy before it comes back to the HRA for consideration. He requested that item 4.5 – Resolution Decertifying Tax Increment Financing District 1-2 be removed from the Consent Agenda. He stated he is not certain that decertification needs to take place tonight. He stated his colleague, Ed Goldsmith, can address this in more detail. He reinforced working together and continuing the relationship between the HRA and Outreach Development Corporation. Chair Soderberg stated the moderate-income draft policy has been tabled due to staff turnover and will be revisited in the future. At that time, the policy will become an agenda item and will be open for comment. Chair Soderberg asked for a motion to move item 4.5 on the Consent Agenda to New Business as item 6.5. MOTION by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Peterson to approve the Consent Agenda. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. Chair Soderberg closed the public forum. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 23, 2023 Page #2 3. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Williams to approve the agenda as amended. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 4. CONSENT AGENDA 4.1. Approved minutes from December 1, 2022. 4.2. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept Monthly Housing Reports. 4.3. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept Monthly Housing Reports. 4.4. Appoint HRA Executive Director Grant Fernelius. 4.5. Resolution Decertifying Tax Increment Financing District 1-1. MOTION by Commissioner Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Kelner to approve the Consent Agenda. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 5.1. Program Year 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer gave overview of the staff report. Chair Soderberg opened the public hearing. Ellen Timmerman-Borer, Chief Development Officer of Hammer Residences, Inc. expressed her thankfulness for the support of the HRA to make the homes accessible and provide staff with resources. She said it is the 100th anniversary of Hammer Residences, Inc. They have recently acquired a business on the east side of the metro. She expressed that because of their work with the City of Plymouth they are positioned to do more work. She repeated her thankfulness for the support of the HRA. Chair Soderberg closed the Public Hearing. MOTION by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Peterson, to approve Resolution 2023-01 approving the application and allocation of fiscal year 2023 Community Block Grant funds. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1. General Amendment to the 2022 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan – Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 23, 2023 Page #3 Senior Community Services Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer gave overview of the staff report. Commissioner Kelner asked the dollar amount of the funds to be allocated. Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer responded $15,200. MOTION by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Whitfield, to approve Resolution 2023-02 allocating an additional $15,200 from the2022 Community Development Block Grant funds to Senior Community Services. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 6.2 General Amendment to the 2022 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan - Administration Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer gave overview of the staff report. Commissioner Kelner asked what the initial amount allocated was. Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer responded $22,410. Commissioner Williams asked why the expenses were exceeded. Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer stated the recommendation has been to allocate $20,000 to free up money for other programs. However, now a spend down is needed to pay costs that have already been incurred. Chair Soderberg added that they had been using HRA money to cover costs and she encouraged the HRA to pull the money from CDBG where expenses should be accurately reflected. MOTION by Commissioner Kelner, seconded by Commissioner Williams, to approve Resolution 2023-03 allocating an additional $50,000 for program administration for the 2022 Community Development Block Grant Program. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 6.3 General Amendment to the 2022 Community Block Grant Annual Action Plan – HOME Line Housing and Economic Development Coordinator Kenny Niemeyer gave overview of the staff report. MOTION by Commissioner Kelner, seconded by Commissioner Whitfield, to approve allocating an addition $4,050 from the 2022 Community Development Block Grant funds to HOME Line. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 23, 2023 Page #4 6.4 Election of Officers. Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary. MOTION by Commissioner Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Williams, to nominate Commissioner Soderberg as Chair. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. MOTION by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Soderberg, to nominate Commissioner Peterson as Vice-Chair. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. MOTION by Commissioner Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Williams, to nominate Commissioner Whitfield as Secretary. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 6.5 Resolution Decertifying Tax Increment Financing District 1-1 HRA Executive Director Fernelius gave an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Peterson asked if the TIF District is not related to a particular parcel. HRA Executive Director Fernelius stated the TIF District was for one 28-acre parcel of land. There is a geographic boundary where the TIF was collected. There is flexibility under state law to pool money for affordable housing and the maximum threshold has been reached for that and for infrastructure improvements. Commissioner Peterson asked if there is an advantage for the HRA to have a TIF in place to assist with projects. HRA Executive Director Fernelius responded that there is a requirement by law to decertify the TIF District when the bonds and obligations have been paid in full and all other costs of the project have been paid. He added that the pooling capacity for the district has been maximized. Commissioner Williams asked if there is a specific time frame to decertify the TIF District and if the Board must act on it immediately. HRA Executive Director Fernelius responded that it is not necessary to approve the decertification immediately; however, it does need to be done by the end of 2023 to stay compliant. He stated the analysis has been done and the recommendation has been made. Commissioner Williams asked if the recommendation was made by Ehlers and Associates. HRA Executive Director Fernelius replied affirmatively. Chair Soderberg summarized the district is done, the improvements have been made, and the pooling capacity maximized and recommend the board move forward with decertifying TIF District Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 23, 2023 Page #5 1-1. MOTION by Commissioner Kelner, seconded by Commissioner Whitfield, to approve Resolution 2023-5 decertifying Tax Increment Finance District No. 1-1. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 7. UPDATES Staffing Vacancy HRA Commissioner Vacancy 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Soderberg, with no objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:33 p.m.