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HRA Meeting <br />Minutes – Tuesday, April 21, 2015 <br />Page 4 <br />1 <br />2 <br />a.Acceptance of HRC Monthly Reports for March 2015 <br />3 <br />b.Abatement Report (No activity for the period of January 1 through April 13, 2015) <br />4 <br />Mr. Trudgeon advised that there had been no activity during the winter months, but several <br />5 <br />abatements would be coming before the City Council in the near future. <br />6 <br />7 <br />Motion: Member Majerus moved, seconded by Member Masche to approve the Consent <br />8 <br />Agenda as presented. <br />9 <br />10 <br />Ayes: 7 <br />11 <br />Nays: 0 <br />12 <br />Motion carried. <br />13 <br />14 <br />7.Public Hearings <br />15 <br />None. <br />16 <br />17 <br />8.Presentations <br />18 <br />None. <br />19 <br />20 <br />9.Action / Discussion Items <br />21 <br />22 <br />a.Home Improvement Loan Program Deviation Action – 557 Woodhill <br />23 <br />City Manager Patrick Trudgeon briefly summarized the request for consideration of a <br />24 <br />deviation from recently modified loan requirement criteria as detailed in the staff report dated <br />25 <br />April 21, 2015. Mr. Trudgeon noted the request was for a home addition, and the deviation <br />26 <br />from program guidelines was less than 1% over the maximum property value allowed in the <br />27 <br />program. Mr. Trudgeon advised that staff thought the improvement from the home addition, <br />28 <br />and small difference in estimated market value of the property from program guidelines, made <br />29 <br />a deviation worthwhile, and recommended HRA approval. <br />30 <br />31 <br />Discussion included verification that there was sufficient funds available and no other loan <br />32 <br />applications would be negatively impacted if a deviation was approved; the need to stay firm <br />33 <br />with program guidelines and the goal to target median or below level homes for improvement, <br />34 <br />especially since those guidelines were so recently revised; and how to ensure application of the <br />35 <br />program remained consistent and did not create multiple requests for deviation and where to <br />36 <br />draw that line. <br />37 <br />38 <br />Member Lee noted the need for the HRA to remain in place as gap financing and not compete <br />39 <br />with private financing currently available at low interest rates. Member Lee expressed her <br />40 <br />interest in making sure the program criteria was based on income or hardship to benefit those <br />41 <br />eligible properties; and continue targeting households based on income parameters matching <br />42 <br />median or below. <br />43 <br />44 <br />Recognizing that there was no written policy or standards addressing this potential deviation, <br />45 <br />City Manager Trudgeon advised that was the purpose in staff seeking approval by the HRA. <br />46 <br />Mr. Trudgeon suggested that the HRA create such a policy to address certain deviations on a <br />47 <br />case-by-case basis, since there was currently no guidance in place. Mr. Trudgeon suggested <br />48 <br />that the HRA consider this specific case; and then take separate action if they wanted to set a <br />49 <br />policy and parameters for future guidance, still based on a case by case determination <br />50 <br />depending on each proposal. <br />51 <br />52 <br />Further discussion ensued regarding whether the recent revisions in this loan program would <br />53 <br />prompt increased interest; how and when the county updated median income figures; and the <br />54 <br />HRA’s interest in promoting quality development and property improvement. <br />55 <br /> <br />