2015-06-30 HRA_Special_Meeting_Minutes

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HRA Special Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Page 12 1 At the request of Member Elkins, Member Etten clarified that the area around the former Linders 2 Greenhouse site had been redeveloped into a wetland area. Member Etten noted the involvement of 3 many groups in this effort, including area sports organizations or associations, the school districts; with 4 many pieces still to come together. However, Member Etten opined that the HRA can help in the 5 future, but the specific pieces were not yet refined enough at this point to really identify exactly where 6 any one group fit in. 7 8 Ms. Raye encouraged more ideas to add to the list already available on the flip chart. 9 10 Member Wall suggested the “business retention” priority be broadened to include “and recruitment,” 11 and include talking to bigger developers about their clients and those looking to expand or add new 12 operations. 13 14 Not intending to restrain the HRA, but Member Majerus questioned where the line was between 15 economic development and HRA goals. which Member Etten agreed was a fair question. 16 17 Member Wall proposed taking on that economic development role and allocating resources toward it. 18 19 Member Raye suggested the HRA continue or expand individual property owner education/support 20 moving forward. 21 22 Member Elkins spoke in support of continuing efforts for first-time homebuyer education. 23 24 Chair Maschka and Member Etten noted the HRA had expanded their educational workshops beyond 25 the annual Living Smarter Home & Garden Fair to a year-round offering, which had proven very 26 successful to-date. 27 28 As a first ring suburb, Ms. Raye noted that its smaller footprint ramblers were available for first-time 29 homebuyers as seniors downsized; and asked the status of the previously-created remodeling handbooks 30 and its application for millenials seeking more green space; and options available for them. Ms. Raye 31 sought to clarify if the demand for them continued, or if they needed updated or resources allocated to 32 maintain them. 33 34 Member Elkins noted the available of the Green Remodeling Plan Book as well as the Rambler and 35 Split Vision idea books on the HRA’s website for reference. 36 37 As part of the revised HRA loan program, Chair Maschka opined that young families would be putting 38 more money into those homes and use the revolving loan program as now improved. 39 40 Member Lee questioned how high the blight areas needed to percolate up. 41 42 Chair Maschka noted blighted warehouse areas, which were also under the HRA’s authority to address. 43 44 Specific to the annual Living Smarter Home & Garden Fair, Chair Maschka opined that needed to be on 45 the list to decide whether to continue, contract out or discontinue in its current format. While it was a 46 wonderful program, Chair Maschka noted it was n incredible drain on staff; and if continued, a better 47 way to accomplish it needed to be identified. 48 49 Chair Maschka noted the need to identify sub-issues under “assembling parcels for development;” and 50 the specific involvement or role of the HRA: whether developing RFP’s; how to develop the parcels; 51 and identifying opportunities for the community’s benefit. Chair Maschka expressed concern that the 52 first effort of the HRA at redevelopment – the Dale Street Project – ended up with interest only from 53 non-profit developers. 54