HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 09-24-2015APPROVED MINUTES
PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
September 24, 2015
PRESENT: Chairman Jeff Kulaszewicz, Commissioners Kira Vanderlan, Michelle Soderberg
and Katie Black
ABSENT: Commissioner Jim Willis
STAFF PRESENT: HRA Manager Jim Barnes, Support Services Manager Denise Whalen,
Housing Specialist Spencer Agnew and Office Support Representative Tina Beckfeld
OTHERS: 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.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve HRA Meeting Minutes for August 13, 2015.
B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept Monthly Housing Report.
C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept Monthly Housing Report.
MOTION by Commissioner Black, seconded by Commissioner Soderberg, to approve the
consent agenda. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously.
3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Proposed changes to the Housing
Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and submission of HUD-50077CR.
Support Services Manager Whalen gave an overview of the staff report.
Chairman Kulaszewicz asked why the change to local preference deleting community roots.
Support Services Manager Whalen stated the HRA is to be proactive and help prevent any
discrimination claims. The change from community roots in Plymouth to live or work in
Hennepin County increases the diversity which should satisfy HUD.
Chairman Kulaszewicz disagrees with changing the preference from Plymouth to Hennepin
County but will defer to staff’s recommendation.
Approved Minutes
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
September 24, 2015
Page 2
Commissioner Soderberg asked what the majority of the proposed changes to the administrative
plan are.
Support Services Manager Whalen stated there are mainly two areas of substantive changes: The
Violence against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) and Absent Family Members.
The VAWA section was changed to conform to the current law. The Absent Family Member
days absent was reduced from 180 days to 60 days.
Chairman Kulaszewicz asked about the financial hardship waiver affecting minimum rent.
Support Services Manager Whalen replied staff is proposing to delete the minimum rent for
Section 8. Many housing authorities are doing away with it. Challenging a minimum rent by
requesting a financial hardship requires staff time that we do not have.
Housing Program Manager Barnes added the minimum rent will remain for the senior buildings.
Chairman Kulaszewicz opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to
speak on the issue.
MOTION by Chairman Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Vanderlan to accept the
proposed changes to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and adopt the attached
resolution. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously.
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. HRA Budgets. Review and approve 2016 HRA Budgets.
Housing Program Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report, Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HRA General Fund budgets.
Support Services Manager Whalen gave an overview of the Section 8 budget.
Discussion revolved around raising the HRA tax levy $10,000 verses using reserve money from
the HRA General Fund.
Chairman Kulaszewicz reminded the Board that a few years back there was a surplus of $30,000
and instead of refunding it back to the taxpayers, it was allocated to HRA General Fund Reserve.
Commissioners Black, Soderberg and Vanderlan could see both sides ultimately agreeing to
increase the tax levy citing the tax levy has not been increased in seven years, setting policy
precedence, upcoming expenses for new projects and following staff’s recommendation.
Approved Minutes
Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority
September 24, 2015
Page 3
MOTION by Commissioner Black, seconded by Commissioner Soderberg, recommending that
the City Council adopt the 2016 HRA preliminary budgets. Vote. 3 Ayes, 1 Nay. (Chairman
Kulaszewicz voted nay.) Motion passed.
5. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Chairman Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Soderberg, to adjourn the
meeting at 7:48 p.m. Motion approved unanimously.