HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 05-05-1988ti111,/1?. •; •- -
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MAY 5. 1988
The Regular Meeting of the Housing and Redevvelopnent Authority of PlymO uth. was
called to order by Chairman Neils on the 5th day of May, 1988, at 6:40 p.m. in
the Council Chambers in the City of Plymouth, Minnesota.
The fol -lowing members of the Authority were present: Chairman Neils,
Comissioners Outzman., Iudovissie and Crain. Also present were Executive
Director Willis, C amity Development Director Blair Tremere, Housing
Specialist Milt Dale, and Community Development Coordinator Chuck Dillerud.
Commissioner Hillstrom was absent.
NCTICN was made by Commissioner Crain, seconded by Commissioner Outzman, to
approve the minutes of the March 17 Regular Meeting as presented.
Motion carried, 4 ayes.
Housing Specialist Dale reported that he rived an invitation from HUD to
make application for Section 8 vouchers. If the City applied for and received
the 5.0 vouchers, an additional part-time person would likely be needed to
administer then.
Chairman Neils questioned the need for a part-time person to administer 50
additional Section 8 vouchers. Commissioner Crain. stressed there was a need
for staff to do a thorough study of the voucher program and its feasibility in
Plymouth.
Commissioners also agreed that the Mousing Authority Board should have made
the decisial on whether an application for Section 8 vouchers should have been
made to the siUD office. Staff was setting policy by making that decision and
that a spacial meeting should have been called prior to the deadline for
voucher applications. Director Tremere stated that several dates were set for
meetings and were then cancelled for lack of a quorum. The HUD proposal had a
tight time frame for response. It would have been appropriate for staff to
send an "alert" mems. Since the City provides management services to the
Housing Authority, the Council should also be made fully aware of the
implications of adding additional Section 8 vouchers and an additional
workload.
Regular HRA Meeting
May 5, 1988
Page 2
Commission Gutzman stated that the St. Paul and Minneapolis Housing
Authorities receive adequate administrative money for their Sectinn 8 programs
to make those programs "self-supporting". He believed this cast: should also
be true in Plymouth.
Commissioner Ludovissie believed there should be a breakdown of costs provided
by staff indicating what it costs to administer the Section 8 program in
Plymouth. He stated that the commission should do what it could to provide
low- and moderate -income housing for people who wished to live in Plymouth.
Commissioner Clutzman i.)-Aieved the most efficient use of federal resources in a
suburban community, such: as Plymouth, is the use of Section 8 certificates and
vouchers. He felt the voucher was especially applicable to the Plymouth
situation where apartment rents are high. He stated that, while it my be
t' to fill. out HUD required application forms, federal programs
are meant to serve the people and not the bureaucrats administrating the
programs. HE felt the process, in this case, got out of hand and we need now
to thoroughly discuss HRA policy as to applying for vouchers or eertif icates
whet, they next became available. He was strongly in favor of making such an
apple -lotion in the future.
Commissioner Crain felt that an application would not be that difficult to put
together as much of the work was probably duplicative.
Chairman Neils reiterated that staff had made a policy decision relative to
the voucher program and this was a board function. The Housing Authority
should not necessarily attempt to make application 'or every possible
certificate or voucher that it could receive; there is a limit to how many low
income iardlies/persons that. Plymouth can serve. Commissioner Gutzmn agreed
that he did not want Plymouth to go "overboard" as to housing subsidy
programs.
At approximately 7:10 p.m. EXecutive Director/City Manager Jim Willis entered
the meeting, City Manager Willis stated he and the Planning Director had
discussed the HUD voucher program offer. They both agreed that it should
first be discussed with the City Council prior to making any application for
additional vouchers. Commissioners further discussed making a realistic
evaluation of what it costs to administer the Section 8 program and whether it
I eeded additional City funis to properly administer this program.
Commissioner Ludovissie believed the board should be kept updated well in
advance of when additional Section 8 vouchers or certificates become available
from HUD.
MMIGN was made by Chairman Neils, seconded by Commissioner Crain, to:
1. Provide a detailed evaluation of staffing needs and costs for the
current Section 8 certificate program.
2. State the advantages and disadvantages of expanding the Section 8
program, to include additional certificates and/or vouchers.
Regular HRA Meeting
May 5, 1988
Page 3
3. Indicate the relationship of administrative fees and costs of rhe Section
8 program. The objective is to have information for evaluating programs
before going to the City Council.
Motion carried on a roll call vote, 4 ayes.
Further discussion took place as to the Housing Assistance Plan for the
Section 8 program , the City's damming Policy and Assistance Plan, what
constitutes affordable housing in Plymouth, and when does the City have
enough" subsidized housing. City Manager Willis said City staff would detail
what are the costs to administer housing programs for the next Housing
Authority meeting. Director Tremere suggested the HRA review the Housing
Policy.
Housing Specialist Dale presented the Union City Mission master plan progress
report as submitted by Pat Murphy, Executive Director.
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City Manager Willis indicated he had conversations with Arkell CaTanies who
wish to develop housing for persons over 55 on the vacant site near the Four
Seasons ball shopping venter. He believed that if this site were to develop
for senior housing, there would be a lessened need for housing for seniors on
the downtown site. (Xamissioner Ludovissie mentioned that he was familiar
with the cottages concept proposed by Arkell Developnent Company.
Cantnissioners discussed what should be done on the downtown senior housing
site in tight of the County deadline of September, 1988. Chairman Neils
believed the dousing Authority and City have several options. The first
option would be to do notiin7 and allow the County to take action to recover
the land and the money from the sale of the land. He said another option
would be to buy the land end have a developer put market -rate senior housing
on that site. All commissioners were in agreement that "mothballing" the
project ,for now would be appropriate. Chairman Neils expressed concern that
no further funds from the CDBG program be expended on the senior site.
Housing Specialist Dale provided a letter from Gen Busch requesting assistance
from the HRA in finding property for developing low invane family housing. Ise
noted the staff response.
Recent re-mtal and vacancy information on Metro area eommmmities was presented
showing a slight decline in rents in the Plymouth area over the past year.
Regular HRA Meeting
May 5, 1988
Page 4
Updated demographics on Section 8 participants was submitted as requested.
A letter was received from Grace Norris, Greater Minneapolis Day Care
Association, reporting on the families who have received daycare assistanoe in
Plymouth.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
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