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HRA Special Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Page 7 1 specific information, whether it be related to deadlines or financial situations, but to have regular 2 reminders of the HRA’s authority in advance of a specific project and receive legal counsel to allow the 3 HRA to make informed choices on projects. 4 5 Member Etten noted that, in addition to such flags, it was evident that everyone wanted more 6 information in a timely manner, but as staff brought things forward, it was also up to the HRA to ask 7 questions at meetings and discuss issues fully at board meetings, or hold extra meetings as indicated in 8 order to make those decisions in advance. 9 10 Ms. Raye questioned if the HRA needed more information, or needed a conversation about the 11 HRA/City Council role; or if this discussion prompted sufficient background for lessons learned to 12 avoid similar situations in the future. 13 14 Member Wall suggested the need to address what model was being worked with, and developing an 15 organizational model that best served the HRA and City interests. Member Wall opined that the current 16 model did not accomplish that, particularly with the Executive Director position as presently set up with 17 that position not being an HRA employee, and having a foot in both the City and HRA as an employee 18 of the City and the proposed contract clearly stating that they were accountable to the City Manager and 19 the City Manager had sole authority to direct their activities. Member Wall questioned how that could 20 possibly work for the HRA as it put that employee in an impossible situation. 21 22 Member Wall opined that discussion would be part of another category coming up, under SWOT 23 opportunities. 24 25 Member Wall opined that the HRA’s organizational structure led in part to the Dale Street Project 26 debacle. 27 28 Member Lee opined it was plausible there may have been conflicting issues as well. 29 30 Ms. Raye suggested further discussion in how to work better with the City Council in the future as part 31 of discussions going forward. 32 33 Member Wall opined that bridge had already been crossed. 34 35 Chair Maschka and Member Elkins agreed that enough discussion had been held. 36 37 Ms. Raye suggested there may be a difference of opinion on the City Council as to how and why the 38 situation happened; opining that she didn’t see very many people satisfied with the process itself. 39 40 Member Wall opined that he walked away from the joint meeting with the City Council with the 41 impression everyone was basically in agreement. 42 43 In the last plan and defining what to carry forward and lean from such a big event, Ms. Raye noted this 44 had been the HRA’s first major redevelopment initiative, and it should serve as an opportunity to learn 45 and take risks, and think outside the box. Ms. Raye asked that the HRA reflect on that as it thought 46 about the next four-year strategic plan. 47 48 4.SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) – What are our strengths and 49 challenges as an HRA? 50 Strengths 51 From his personal perspective, Member Wall opined that the City had a really good staff, and a good 52 City Council who worked hard and understood things needing done in this great community, with good 53 companies making it even better. 54