2015-08-03_HRA_Special_Meeting_Minutes

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HRA Special Meeting Minutes – Monday, August 3, 2015 Page 8 1 At the request of Member Lee, Ms. Kelsey reviewed the communities currently involved in the 2 Blaine joint option; as well as those communities previously but no longer involved, but 3 considering coming back. 4 5 Member Lee suggested the City of Roseville creating its own club of cities for a Fair rather 6 than joining an already established one. 7 8 Member Kelsey addressed reasons other communities had pulled out of joint efforts based on 9 whether they felt they were getting any or sufficient benefits from their involvement; how 10 much relationship building was realized as pointed out by Member Etten; and identifying who 11 would staff the Fair. Ms. Kelsey noted that currently the City of Falcon Heights and 12 Lauderdale in cooperation with the University of Minnesota put on a joint Fair during the 13 winter specific to sustainable issues; and noted the City of Roseville could partner with them if 14 sustainability was the focus they wished to pursue. 15 16 Member Lee clarified that her intent with her last suggestion was that with Roseville preferring 17 to be a leader, would it be better for the HRA to tap into other resources versus being a 18 resource for others to offload some of the current staff responsibilities. 19 20 Member Etten suggested that may be possible, following the suggestion of Member Masche, if 21 the HRA sought a recommendation to the City Council from the CEC for other ways to get the 22 HRA to more actively get out in the community, whether using opportunities throughout City 23 departments, not exclusively coordinated by the HRA. Member Etten noted that would require 24 the City to make a decision on an option for more ways to interact with City staff beyond just 25 the HRA, but with involvement by the HRA as a “department.” 26 27 Ms. Kelsey concluded her understanding of the HRA’s direction to staff was that the HRA 28 desired to get out of planning and running the annual Living Smarter Home & Garden Fair; 29 and ask the City Council to charge the CEC with making recommendations for other options 30 going forward. 31 32 Given the timing and August preparations for the 2016 Fair, Ms. Kelsey advised that she 33 would included that discussion on the joint meeting agenda, allowing for a subsequent formal 34 decision at the HRA’s August regular business meeting following that joint discussion. 35 36 Member Etten noted that, while some vendors fit with the focus of the HRA, many involved 37 City functions outside the HRA function, thereby opining that the HRA no longer belonged in 38 that job, but that the Fair provided a valuable opportunity for the community as a whole. If the 39 City Council was seeking to be more accessible to its residents, Member Etten opined that this 40 discussion was a great thing to have on the joint agenda to get City Council feedback. Member 41 Etten noted this would allow the HRA to decide on whether to spend resources on the Home & 42 Garden Fair, with the City Council able at that same time to choose whether or not to task the 43 CEC in reviewing the current Fair and options moving forward. 44 45 Member Wall noted the City Council had a broader perspective than that of the HRA, and may 46 decide not to eliminate the program. 47 48 Member Etten reiterated that this would be a good discussion for the joint meeting, and a 49 formal decision by the HRA at their subsequent August meeting. 50 51 At the request of Member Wall, Ms. Kelsey clarified that the joint meeting of the HRA and 52 City Council typically was for discussion and as a communication forum, with action not taken 53 th by the HRA or City Council during that discussion. Ms. Kelsey advised that the August 18 54 HRA meeting would be soon enough for a decision as long as it was no later than that meeting. 55