2015-04-21_HRA_Agenda_Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

HRA Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, March 31, 2015 Page 2 1 Nays: 0 2 Motion carried. 3 4 c.NEW AGENDA ITEM – Staff Update after City Council Strategic Planning Efforts 5 At the request of Chair Maschka, Community Development Director Bilotta reported on the 6 status of various activities in the Community Development Department. 7 8 Mr. Bilotta reported that the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) and Business 9 Enhancement Program (BEP) would be starting this spring, and increased focus would include 10 garbage collection and how containers are stored on site, with an effort to address the number 11 of that type of common code enforcement complaint. Mr. Bilotta noted that the normal spring 12 written reminder to business owners about various code enforcement issues was being sent. 13 14 Mr. Bilotta noted that this year’s rental licensing would start soon for those properties that 15 were graded “D” and have to have a month re-inspection. 16 17 Mr. Bilotta advised that the new home at 1840 Hamline Avenue was close to its framing 18 inspection. 19 20 Mr. Bilotta briefly reviewed the City Council’s first phase of strategic planning follow-up and 21 focus on approximately 15 items under the five categories of: civic engagement, housing and 22 redevelopment, effective governance, organizational effectiveness, and infrastructure 23 sustainability. Mr. Bilotta noted these are focus areas and there are, of course, many other 24 responsibilities of the City Council that are not on the list. 25 26 The Council placed a focus on housing and redevelopment in the community, Mr. Bilotta 27 outlined their four target initiatives in this area: SE Roseville, as already championed by the 28 HRA, the Twin Lakes Redevelopment Area, emphasis on move-up housing, and overall 29 residential housing values in Roseville for owner-occupied and/or rentals as well. 30 31 Specific to the Twin Lakes Redevelopment Area, Mr. Bilotta noted the simultaneous 32 engagement with the neighborhood and some of the ongoing initiatives in redevelopment 33 areas. He indicated that at the last City Council meeting, the City Council discussed a possible 34 new project for the HRA to concentrate on the area east of Fairview Avenue and south of 35 Terrace Drive. During the public input process, Mr. Bilotta noted that there was generally 36 higher levels of satisfaction with that area, but which may call into question the historic 37 perspective that this area would eventually be demolished. Mr. Bilotta noted the City 38 Council’s indicated the HRA may be a good choice to pursue the planning and development of 39 the revitalization program for this area including improving building facades, looking at 40 improved stormwater treatment options, pedestrian lighting and increased green areas as 41 possible examples. Mr. Bilotta noted that this was an opportunity for converting these 42 buildings from their current nonconforming uses to conforming uses such as office, retail, or 43 incubator space. Mr. Bilotta asked that this be taken into consideration as part of the HRA’s 44 strategic planning process. Mr. Bilotta also advised that staff would be pursuing code 45 enforcement issues at the Dorso site off Cleveland Avenue, a long-term eyesore for the city for 46 decades. 47 48 In the SE area of Roseville, while the HRA has already led the charge for some of these 49 efforts, Mr. Bilotta noted the City Council’s recognition of the complexity of social, economic, 50 cultural and physical considerations of this area may call for a large planning and economic 51 development planning effort. Mr. Bilotta noted the interagency group now working jointly 52 including staff from multiple departments and communities, representatives from the 53 International Institute, the KOM, School District, other agencies and now the neighborhood 54 association. Mr. Bilotta recognized that this effort had initially started with a single problem of 55 potentially illegal evictions, and had evolved into something much larger and effective.