2012-05-15_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

HRA Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Page 3 1 Member Majerus suggested that the Strategic Plan not be too narrow, with the intent to 2 “create” and “maintain high quality” housing options enough, with “unique” and “invest” 3 being too restrictive. Member Majerus suggested similar revisions to the Heading for Goal III 4 5 Chair Maschka concurred with Member Majerus’ observation; noting that there were other 6 ways to achieve the same goal. 7 8 Goal III – Create, and Maintain High-Quality, Sustainable Single-Family Invest,Unique, 9 Housing Options 10 Ms. Raye duly noted Member Majerus proposed changes to the title, removing “invest” and 11 “unique,” to allow more flexibility. 12 13 Chair Maschka sought to ensure that Member Lee’s idea of neighborhoods was incorporated 14 into Goal II and/or Goal III. 15 16 Ms. Raye responded that it was actually incorporated into Goal IV. 17 18 Chair Maschka questioned if the HRA wanted to concentrate on rehabilitating housing stock, 19 as it had done so somewhat unsuccessfully in the past. 20 21 Ms. Kelsey responded that the previous program was the Senior Regeneration Program 22 concentrating on rehabilitation of existing homes. Ms. Kelsey referenced her discussions with 23 staff at the City of Richfield, and their success with purchasing one home in a neighborhood 24 and realizing the reinvestment of other private homes in the neighborhood, affecting the entire 25 neighborhood. Ms. Kelsey clarified that the intent was to demolish an existing home and make 26 the lot available for infill, with the City (HRA) not getting into rehabilitation itself. 27 28 Member Majerus questioned if the HRA would foster demolition and infill or do it itself; with 29 Chair Maschka opining that each situation could have different circumstances. 30 31 Mr. Trudgeon reminded the Board that interviews and discussions with various stakeholders 32 had indicated a strong suggestion that the HRA start using the “R” for redevelopment in the 33 HRA’s title. Mr. Trudgeon noted that, as the proposed Strategic Plan filtered up to the City 34 Council, any controversy would be clearly identified at that level. However, Mr. Trudgeon 35 noted that staff had heard from the majority of the Board that the “redevelopment” step was the 36 next step. 37 38 Member Majerus opined that the HRA Board needed to make it clear to the City Council their 39 intended to head in that direction to get their participation and support. 40 41 Member Lee noted that this was just one tool in the toolbox. 42 43 Ms. Kelsey clarified that, while the City may not recoup 100% of the cost of a lot and home 44 demolition under this concept, the City would benefit from increased property taxes, not 45 directly reflected in the HRA Budget, but in the City’s Budget as it was further evaluated. 46 47 Ms. Raye clarified that the intent was not for the HRA to supplant the market; with Chair 48 Maschka noting that this would apply to homes that were beyond rehabilitation and needing to 49 be demolished for the benefit of the neighborhood and the community as a whole. 50 51 Goal #IV- Prevent and Eliminate Blight on Individual Properties, Physical and Social 52 Neighborhoods and the Entire Communities 53 While understanding the definition of “physical” blight, Member Quam requested a definition 54 of “social” blight. 55