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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 15,2015 <br /> Page 19 <br /> Visitor's Association Julie Wearn, there were unique things happening to address <br /> problem properties, whether through direct City purchase or not, as well as other <br /> solutions to consider. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte noted that the Living Smarter Home & Garden Fair was <br /> also on her list as needing evaluation and thanked Chair Maschka for considering <br /> its future. Councilmember Laliberte questioned the considerable staff hours for <br /> something that should by now be boiler plate. If the big draw is for presentations <br /> and workshops, Councilmember Laliberte noted the HRA was already doing more <br /> of that in other areas, and suggested evaluation of those compared to this one-time <br /> event, as well as evaluating whose time and the value of that staff time being de- <br /> voted to those efforts compared to using it in other areas. <br /> In the HRA's redevelopment efforts, Councilmember Laliberte spoke in support <br /> of the HRA working with developers to re-envision current warehouse uses to <br /> other opportunities. <br /> Chair Maschka responded that a lot of work toward that effort had already been <br /> done, but it should prove an easy fix to coordinate those efforts further. <br /> As a member of the HRA and City Council, Councilmember Etten opined it was <br /> really important for the HRA and City Council to work together. Councilmember <br /> Etten opined that otherwise the functionality and service to residents was de- <br /> stroyed; and suggested stepping back from the perception of having gloves on in <br /> the ring. <br /> Chair Maschka clarified that he had not intended his concerns to come across that <br /> way. <br /> To restate his position and concerns, Councilmember Etten opined that the only <br /> way to proceed was to have the City Council and HRA work together. Coun- <br /> cilmember Etten recognized that the HRA had separate funds targeted at areas be- <br /> yond those of the City Council, and agreed with Councilmember McGehee that <br /> the HRA was doing super-important work, with more needing to be done based <br /> on their unique abilities. <br /> Councilmember Etten opined that, before using the HRA's bonding authority, <br /> more legal information was needed; and he expressed his agreement with Coun- <br /> cilmember Etten that any such bond issues would come to the City Council for <br /> approval similar to that of the HRA levy. Councilmember Etten opined that this <br /> provided a reasonable movement between the work of the HRA and reception by <br /> the City Council. <br /> Chair Maschka noted bonding authority would be intended to address blighted <br /> properties and for economic development opportunities as per his understanding <br />