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HRA Special Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Page 13 1 Executive Director Kelsey corrected that statement, noting that there was one for-profit developer that 2 submitted and RFP. 3 4 As far as helping neighborhoods strengthen their own connections, Ms. Raye questioned if that 5 remained a goal going forward or if it was being done already; or if there was still a need to educate 6 people about new options or legislation with more information allowing them to maximize the 7 opportunity. 8 9 Under the 2014 work plan goals and the revised loan program, Member Etten noted it included updating 10 the Welcome Packet. As people move into a home in Roseville, Member Etten opined that having that 11 packet available sends a positive message and highlights different parts of the City; and could also 12 highlight the HRA loan program(s) encouraging them to make a significant investment in their older 13 single-family residence. Member Etten suggested also pushing that loan information out to area realtors 14 in order to capitalize on those available programs. 15 16 Member Etten suggested those packets include a collaboration of all citizen advisory commissions 17 working in Roseville as well. 18 19 Member Etten agreed; noting the amount of work put into it already by Ms. Kelsey and her staff, 20 including maps and information from other departments. While a lot of that information is now 21 available on the website, Member Etten suggested simplifying it and driving people to the website as 22 part of the information packet, including things available to residents through the HRA; and including 23 rentals, such as educating tenants as to what the City of Roseville expected from them, their rights, and 24 enticing them with the potential for home ownership as well. 25 26 On the loan issue, Chair Maschka noted that some cities forgive the loans under some circumstances, 27 but admitted he was unsure how they financed that, but suggested looking into a forgivable loan after a 28 certain number of years, referencing such a program in St. Louis Park. 29 30 Member Elkins noted that would work into “work force housing.” 31 32 At the request of Member Etten, Ms. Kelsey advised that were other new programs that were not 33 necessarily tied to workforce housing that staff had recently acquired information on. 34 35 Member Elkins clarified that workforce housing usually involved contributions from businesses for 36 their employees, whether $500 or $5,000 to apply to a down payment, at which the City kicked in 37 additional funding. 38 39 At the request of Ms. Raye, Member Etten stated the community did indeed need more workforce 40 housing. Member Etten spoke in support of pursuing other programs available as referenced by 41 Member Elkins. 42 43 Member Wall observed that, if the HRA did a good job with business recruitment, it would certainly 44 need more workforce housing. Member Wall noted that other HRA’s were doing great and innovative 45 things that this HRA didn’t know about, including Ramsey County’s HRA; and suggested staff provide 46 that research for the body for comparison. 47 48 Member Majerus suggested the additional information should serve the purpose as a conduit, and not to 49 reinvent the wheel. 50 51 Ms. Raye questioned if that should be a future learning session for the HRA agenda; or if it would be 52 more efficient and effective to assign subgroups to make site visits to obtain that information. 53 54 Member Wall suggested opening communication with the Ramsey County HRA to see what they have 55 available and how it could meeting the needs of the Roseville HRA or vise versa.