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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,February 9,2015 <br /> Page 21 <br /> businesses, and other agencies and neighboring communities were all involved as <br /> part of that process. <br /> Chair Maschka noted preliminary discussions on starting a project and coordina- <br /> tion by the Roseville HRA and Police Department, and School District, along <br /> with Legal Aid and others, in addressing funds for educational opportunities to <br /> address the high rate of English illiteracy among the community's adult popula- <br /> tion. <br /> Councilmember McGehee concurred with and personally shared the priorities <br /> outlined by Chair Maschka; and clarified that despite her comments regarding <br /> Twin Lakes, she was not afraid to put funding forward, including bonding versus <br /> TIF as a potential to address the blighted southeast corner of Roseville. Coun- <br /> cilmember McGehee opined if taxes were generated through a bond in combina- <br /> tion with additional housing, it became a much more palatable package. Coun- <br /> cilmember McGehee expressed her interest in Chair Maschka's approach for the <br /> City Council and HRA to work in partnership, opining that both bodies had been <br /> too uncoordinated in the past in what they were trying to accomplish. Coun- <br /> cilmember McGehee expressed her excitement in potential bonding to address <br /> housing needs and increase the tax base, while not become burdensome to tax- <br /> payers. <br /> Chair Maschka noted his request to HRA staff to have the City's bond counsel <br /> available at their next HRA meeting to address potential general obligation bond- <br /> ing options to address the blight in southeast Roseville that qualified the City for a <br /> number of different programs, and the need for further exploration of those op- <br /> tions. <br /> Councilmember Willmus noted past discussions and his ongoing concern with <br /> how much the HRA has on its plate and the scope it encompassed. Councilmem- <br /> ber Willmus noted the heavy emphasis on residential housing, and the ongoing <br /> lack of addressing the "R" for redevelopment of commercial properties as well. <br /> Councilmember Willmus expressed his appreciation that the HRA was stepping <br /> back to review and revisit their current strategic plan. As a councilmember, <br /> Councilmember Willmus stated that he'd like to hear how involved the HRA <br /> wanted to be in looking at commercial areas; and sought HRA input in the near <br /> future as to whether an EDA or the City Council using its port authority powers to <br /> assemble certain parcels. <br /> As part of the HRA's strategic plan, Councilmember Willmus encouraged the <br /> HRA to look at what it was currently undertaking and what things could be <br /> dropped off, such as the annual Home and Garden Fair, given the amount of HRA <br /> and other department staff time and resources involved, creating a big hold in the <br /> annual budget. Councilmember Willmus suggested there may be a different way <br />