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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 03-26-2015APPROVED MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY March 26, 2015 PRESENT: Chairman Jeff Kulaszewicz, Commissioners Toni Jelinek, Michelle Soderberg, and Katie Black. ABSENT: Commissioner Jim Willis STAFF PRESENT: HRA Manager Jim Barnes, Specialist Spencer Agnew, and Office Support Representative Tina Beckfeld. OTHER: Grace Management Representative Jody Boedigheimer 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kulaszewicz called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Kulaszewicz presented Commissioner Toni Jelinek with a certificate of appreciation plaque for her years of service on the HRA Commission. 2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve HRA Meeting Minutes for January 22, 2015. B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept Monthly Housing Reports. C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept Monthly Housing/Marketing Reports. D. Amend Responsible Bidder Evaluation Policy. MOTION by Commissioner Jelinek, seconded by Commissioner Black, to approve the consent agenda. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 3. PUBLIC HEARING A. Community Development Block Grant. Consider 2015 Action Plan. Housing Specialist Agnew gave an overview of the staff report. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked if we reach out to agencies or if applicants solicit us. Housing Specialist Agnew answered applications are sent directly to agencies the HRA has worked with in the past or that have programs in Plymouth that are eligible for funding. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 26, 2015 Page 2 Commissioner Black asked if the staff report list is an exhaustive list. Housing Program Manager Barnes answered that not every non-profit or social service agency that serves Plymouth is on the list. The HRA does advertise grant availability through a public hearing notice and information on the city website. Chairman Kulaszewicz added funding recommendations for HRA administered programs must demonstrate and document service provided to Plymouth residents. Commissioner Jelinek asked what the funding allocation was for 2014. Housing Specialist Agnew stated in 2014 the funding allocation was a combination of new CDBG funding of $39,000 and reallocation of money from the previous year totaling $42,000. Commissioner Black asked if any agencies were denied funding. Housing Specialist Agnew said a few agencies that were funded in the past were dropped because they did not serve enough Plymouth residents to justify the funding. HUD requires documentation of benefits to Plymouth households and a few agencies could not meet the required goals. Housing Program Manager Barnes added all the agencies listed have a long history working with Plymouth. Some agencies cannot meet the HUD requirements of servicing Plymouth residents; other agencies feel the documentation required for such a small amount of funding is not worth their time. Chairman Kulaszewicz opened the public hearing. Six organizations were present: Senior Community Services (SCS) represented by Jon Burkhow; People Responding in Social Ministry, (PRISM) represented by Michelle Ness; Home Line represented by Beth Kodluboy; Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) represented by Carol Watson; Tree House represented by Jill Pautz; and Hammer represented by Ellen Timmerman-Borer, all of whom thanked the HRA for their continued support. Each gave a presentation about their respective agency summarizing their mission and gave specifics regarding their support provided to Plymouth residents. Commissioner Jelinek asked Jon Burkhow from SCS how many Plymouth seniors SCS serves each year. Mr. Burkhow answered 48. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked Jill Pautz from Tree House if transportation is a component of their program. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 26, 2015 Page 3 Ms. Pautz stated Tree House has three 12-passenger vans that cost $10,000 a year to operate providing transportation to-and-from meetings and events that some teens may not have been able to attend without the provided transportation. Commissioner Jelinek asked how teens know about Tree House and if there are criteria to participate. Ms. Pautz replied over two-thirds of participants are referred by a friend, others are referred by schools, hospitals, or the court system. There are no criteria to participate. Commissioner Jelinek asked if mentors are staff or volunteers. Ms. Pautz said the majority of mentors are staff with bachelor degrees in psychology, social work or youth ministry with prior experience working with youth. Volunteers are asked to commit 1-3 years for stability. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked Ellen Timmerman-Borer from Hammer if the fire suppression systems are being upgraded. Ms. Timmerman-Borer answered that they are replacing the systems changing over from tank systems to systems that connect directly to the city water supply for better pressure and a more reliable water source. Chairman Kulaszewicz closed the public hearing. Members of the HRA Commission complimented Housing Specialist Agnew on this thorough and informative staff report. MOTION by Commissioner Jelinek, seconded by Commissioner Black, to adopt the resolutions providing a recommendation to the City Council for adoption of its 2015 CDBG program funding. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Election of Officers. Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary. Housing Program Manager Barnes gave descriptions of the job duties for the open office positions. Commissioner Black nominated Chairman Kulaszewicz to continue as the HRA Chair, seconded by Commissioner Soderberg. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority March 26, 2015 Page 4 Chairman Kulaszewicz nominated Commissioner Soderberg for the position of HRA Vice-Chair, seconded by Commissioner Black. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. Chairman Kulaszewicz nominated Commissioner Black for the position of HRA Secretary, seconded by Commissioner Soderberg. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 5. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chairman Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Jelinek to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 p.m.