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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 02-10-2003MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Stakeholders Meeting February 10, 2003 PRESENT: Chair Susan Henderson, Commissioners Steve Ludovissie, Leon Michlitsch, and Jenny Hibbard ABSENT: Commissioner Tim Bildsoe. STAFF PRESENT: Executive Director Anne Hurlburt, Housing Program Manager Jim Barnes, HRA Specialist Tracy Jones, HRA Specialist Kristine Aritt, Office Support Representative Barb Peterson OTHERS PRESENT: 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henderson called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order February 10, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. 2. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 3. DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN PRESENTATION Housing Manager Barnes presented an overview of the Draft Strategic Plan. 4. BREAK 5. DISCUSSION Chair Henderson explained the timing of the Strategic Plan and said the Plan will be approved at the next HRA meeting on February 20, 2003. She asked if anyone had comments or questions. Barbara Brooks, representing MICAH, said they were very pleased with the Plan. She was pleased with the section of the Vision Statement acquiring additional resources to address affordable housing and redevelopment issues. She commented that MICAH's comments are based on thirteen recommendations MICAH presented at the Housing Forum, in March of 2002, to make the creation and preservation of affordable housing a more proactive focus of the HRA, City Council and Planning Commission. MICAH's recommendations for the Strategic Plan would be to use action verbs and stronger wording. She suggested including stronger language in the Strategic Plan to use when approaching residential developers at the initial point of contact with the City. She presented ideas that Minneapolis is using such as regulatory relief, government funds and density bonuses. Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority February 10, 2003 Page 2 Housing Manager Barnes explained how the HRA functions and stated it is a separate entity from the City, however, the law requires the City to approve certain actions for the HRA. He stated that the HRA is more limited than the City in what they can do. John O'Donnell, representing MICAH, thanked the HRA for holding this meeting and commended the staff He requested that the HRA try to help more than five first time homebuyers. He suggested letting Hennepin County administer more of the burden. He encouraged use of the rehab programs. Pat Murray, representing MICAH, also thanked the HRA and presented specific recommendations. He concurs with the objective in the development of new housing units to increase the supply of affordable and lifecycle housing within the City. Mr. Murray made two comments regarding mixed use projects. He believes that "mixed income" should be included within the mixed use objective. He also felt the language should be changed to seek multiple developments within the City. He suggested looking at two or three developments rather than just one. Mr. Murray said that regulatory policies would be at the top of the priority list for MICAH. He would like to see the timeline earlier than 2004 for this work. They are recommending that the City resources be refocused and begin work on regulatory policies immediately. Mr. Murray suggested adding an additional Action Item under the development of new housing units which would state that the HRA should purchase land or acquire more property. Housing Manager Barnes asked if he was referring to owning and managing or owning and eventually selling. He replied either would be okay. Mr. Murray suggested that maintaining affordability under First Time Homebuyers be a separate Action Item. MICAH suggests it should be made clear that all affordable housing is included — not just the housing subsidized by the HRA. Under Redevelopment MICAH feels that two concepts were missing. The first would be that redevelopment should include affordable or workforce housing. The second would be that redevelopment be sensitive to the elimination of affordable housing. Emily Harding, representing Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, questioned whether the affordable life -cycle housing choices dispersed throughout the City are only for residents and people who work in the community. Director Hurlburt stated that they are not, however, there are programs, such as the Section 8 program, which give preference for working in Plymouth. Plymouth Towne Square has a preference for people who live in Plymouth. Ms. Harding inquired what the median income levels are based on. She asked if we used the Met Council's definition of affordable housing. Housing Manager Barnes replied that the HRA uses 80% of median income. She does not want the very low incomes to be forgotten. Ms. Harding also would like a main focus to be placed on transportation. Cork Ornburg suggested that possibly businesses with vacant land could use that land to build housing for lower -wage workers. He also sees a need for another Plymouth Towne Square project where residents of the City might have first chance at housing. Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority February 10, 2003 Page 3 Commissioner Ludovissie addressed the complication of working with different agencies and stressed the amount of cooperation it takes within the City. Chair Henderson said that some of the Commissioners had visited companies in Plymouth and they did not seem to think they were experiencing staffing problems due to where their employees lived. Emily Harding inquired about the Project Based Section 8 vouchers. Housing Manager Barnes said the program has been advertised for three weeks in the Sun Sailor. These are vouchers which are attached to the building rather than a person. Commissioner Ludovissie thanked everyone for coming. He also invited them to attend the HRA meetings. Emily Harding stated that she hoped they can also be of help when presenting ideas to the City Council. 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. HRA/Minutes/2003/21003