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HRA Special Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Page 18 1 study. Member Roe suggested bringing that under the general goal of “residential investment,” as well 2 as “infill projects,” and determining which work in which spot and how to develop that initiative. 3 4 Chair Maschka noted the biggest problem was in financing gaps, without involving the HRA in market 5 rate units, since those were viable without any assistance. 6 7 Ms. Raye advised that she would work with staff to better narrow and refine goals before the next 8 meeting, and how to rank projects or initiatives with each bucket. 9 10 What information do we need for the next meeting in order to narrow the list (if any)? 11 Ms. Raye asked for input to guide staff in how to build a budget according to the updated goals. 12 13 Member Etten suggested having staff speak to the various areas at this point, even though in draft 14 format, including any of their ideas to explore for programming. 15 16 Member Maschka suggested one area of consideration may be to hear from Community Development 17 Director Bilotta what the City was doing toward economic development that the HRA is not doing. 18 19 From an economic development perspective, Mr. Bilotta responded that, like the HRA, the City is still 20 trying to define it since it no longer had dedicated economic development staff as it did in the pas with 21 restructuring due to the recession and that position subsequently eliminated. Mr. Bilotta advised that he 22 and Ms. Kelsey currently worked together on economic development activities with his work basically 23 dealing with prospects in getting projects more feasible and addressing them from a planning 24 perspective. Mr. Bilotta advised that Jeanne’s work was more on the business outreach side, including 25 monthly/quarterly meetings of those businesses, and meeting with individual businesses. However, Mr. 26 Bilotta advised that those efforts were not fully functioning at this time, with internal restructuring in 27 the Community Development Department underway to reallocate staff time and assignment of that staff 28 to economic development efforts where possible. Mr. Bilotta advised that part of that restructuring is 29 pending to see what happens at the HRA and City Council levels; and the desire to do more especially 30 focusing on the Twin Lakes Redevelopment Area, and further defining what that will look like moving 31 forward. 32 33 Ms. Raye reiterated Member Majerus’ question regarding to what extend business retention and 34 expansion be part of the HRA. 35 36 Mr. Bilotta responded that this is one issue involving both the HRA and City Council to define how 37 much recruitment was done. One of the nice and unique things about Roseville, as well as one of its 38 challenges, was that everyone knew the community well, but no major properties being marketed by 39 major brokers versus activities in outer ring suburbs. Mr. Bilotta opined that one of the big economic 40 development issues is determining what was holding back the community, whether seen as needing to 41 do more (e.g. events, developer or user focus groups, or one-on-one contacts), or making sure the focus 42 remained on what the community needs. Mr. Bilotta noted there were a lot of other groups and 43 partnerships involved with the City toward those efforts, including two different Chambers, the Greater 44 MSP as examples; but there needed to be more flesh on the bones. Mr. Bilotta noted that Ramsey 45 County was also restructuring how they looked at development, and a lot of people were asking the 46 same questions and doing so for the same reasons as Roseville. 47 48 Chair Maschka asked if Mr. Bilotta was aware of something others were doing since the economy had 49 picked up or good opportunities that may be overlooked in Roseville. 50 51 Mr. Bilotta deferred to Ms. Kelsey to respond, noting her research and work in looking at best 52 management practices from other HRA’s, including those related in some extent to the SE Roseville 53 issue. Mr. Bilotta noted that one unique situation in Roseville was the Karen population representing a 54 large number of people, and their clan-based culture having large families in an apartment. Mr. Bilotta 55 suggested part of future housing considerations may be how best to address the type of unit best for