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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 09-28-2017APPROVED MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY September 28, 2017 PRESENT: Chairman Jeff Kulaszewicz, Commissioners Michelle Soderberg, Katie Black, and Robert Huddleston ABSENT: Commissioner Marty McCarthy STAFF PRESENT: HRA Manager Jim Barnes, HRA Executive Director Steve Juetten, Support Services Manager Denise Whalen, Finance Manager Jodi Bursheim, Accountant Maari Berg, and Office Support Representative Tina Beckfeld OTHERS: Grace Management Representative Jody Boedigheimer, Plymouth homeowners Monica and Brian Flavin, and their realtor Julie Hubbell 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kulaszewicz called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. HRA Manager Barnes changed the order of New Business moving 4C to 4A, 4A to 4B, and 4B to 4C. 2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve HRA Meeting Minutes for August 24, 2017. B. Plymouth Towne Square. Accept Monthly Housing Report. C. Vicksburg Crossing. Accept Monthly Housing Report. D. 3325 Garland Lane North. Return escrow fund. MOTION by Commissioner Soderberg, seconded by Commissioner Black, to approve the consent agenda. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 3. PUBLIC HEARING A. Housing Choice Voucher Program. Proposed changes to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and submission of HUD-50077-CR. Support Services Manager Whalen gave an overview of the staff report. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked if any changes need to be discussed. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 28, 2017 Page 2 Office Support Manager Whalen stated the biggest change being made is to the subsidy policy. The voucher size will be changing to two people per bedroom. This is consistent with other Housing Authorities in the area. Payments for rent assistance continue to increase so the goal is to conserve dollars to serve more people. The change affected six families that currently have a three-bedroom voucher with three to four tenants. Letters were sent to invite them to this meeting. Staff received a few phone calls. One client had already renewed her three-bedroom lease early because she will be out of the country. She was granted a waiver until her next annual review when her voucher will change to a two-bedroom. Commission Soderberg asked about the change affecting minor children below the age of six. Support Service Manager Whalen responded the mandatory change was simply renaming Environmental Intervention to Elevated Blood Lead Levels. The HRA has a plan in place with the State of Minnesota on data sharing and reporting and have shared their plan with neighboring HRAs. Plymouth has not had any cases of elevated blood levels. Commission Black asked if there were any changes to Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Support Service Manager Whalen stated most changes were already in place but Legal Aid sent a notice asking for some minor changes that were done. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked how many vouchers we have. Support Service Manager Whalen stated the HRA has 225 vouchers along with 150 port-in and 20 port-out vouchers. It is difficult finding affordable units in Plymouth – actually all over. A few times waivers have been granted for tenants who cannot fulfill the one-year residency requirement. Support Service Manager Whalen also made the HRA aware that the Housing Choice Voucher Wait List will be opening; the last time was in 2014. Housing Link, surrounding HRAs, and social services have been notified of the Wait List opening October 7-8, 2017. Chairman Kulaszewicz opened the public hearing and closed the public hearing, as no one was present to speak on the item. MOTION by Chairman Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commission Soderberg, to approve HRA Resolution 2017-05 to be effective immediately. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. First Time Home Buyer Program. Consider request for loan forgiveness. HRA Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked if forgiveness has been granted in the past. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 28, 2017 Page 3 HRA Manager Barnes stated yes, in limited cases, usually due to financial circumstances outside of the control of the homeowners such as health conditions or loss of a job. Other times forgiveness has been denied if the request is more of a want than a need. In staffs’ opinion this case is a need and recommends forgiveness. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked what the Flavin’s current living situation is. Homeowner Brian Flavin stated that they have moved into apartment. The Flavin’s realtor, Julie Hubbell, said she has been working with Habitat for Humanity to secure a home for the Flavins. Commissioner Huddleston asked if staff made a recommendation relative to the real estate commission. HRA Manager Barnes answered that staff feels that Ms. Hubbell has gone above and beyond to help the Flavins and for that reason staff is not requesting a reduction in her commission. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked if there were any restrictive covenants. HRA Manager Barnes answered no. MOTION by Chairman Kulaszewicz, seconded by Commissioner Black to approve the Housing and Redevelopment Authority forgive the loan for the property located at 9900 54th Place North, #2. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. B. HRA Budgets. Review and approve 2018 and 2019 Budgets. HRA Manager Barnes noted that on page 2 of the staff report, first sentence of CDBG (250), the year should be 2018. HRA Executive Director Juetten reminded the commission that the budget is for the calendar year January 1 – December 31 but the CDBG budget year is July 1 – June 30. Commissioner Soderberg asked about the line item of $80,000 on page 15, expense item 9900 - Miscellaneous. HRA Manager Barnes stated that money is an expenditure of tax increment financing. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked what percent is the HRA of the city levy. HRA Executive Director Juetten stated the HRA budget is 1.69% of the total city budget. MOTION by Commissioner Soderberg, seconded by Chairman Kulaszewicz to approve the HRA budgets and recommends that the City Council adopt the 2018 and 2019 (in concept) HRA preliminary budgets. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. Approved Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority September 28, 2017 Page 4 C. HRA Senior Buildings. Reserve Analysis. HRA Manager Barnes thanked Finance Manager Jodi Bursheim and Accountant Maari Berg for their expertise and time spent on revising the Senior Building Replacement Reserve spreadsheets to provide the most accurate accounting of future HRA expenditures. HRA Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report and explained how the spreadsheets work. The spreadsheets will be continually updated with the most current information. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked what big expenditures are anticipated. HRA Manager Barnes stated the larger expenses at Plymouth Towne Square would be carpet and paint in the common areas, and appliances. Vicksburg Crossing may need to replace windows and the roof. HRA Executive Director Juetten stated that in 2023 the Plymouth Towne Square building would be paid off so substantial revenue would be available. Chairman Kulaszewicz asked if the Replacement Reserve Schedule could be shared to the board. HRA Manager Barnes stated he would send it out to the Board. Commissioner Soderberg asked if staff wanted the Board to take any action on this item tonight. HRA Manager Barnes said not at this time. He will have more information after an October 17 meeting with the various entities and will bring a recommendation back to the Board. 4. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Kulaszewicz adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Vote. 4 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously.