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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.