2015_0914_CCpacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

If a city wanted to maintain different boards far housing and economic development activities, then it would make sense to keep the entities separate with clear definitions as to where one entity is supposed to stop its activity in arder to prevent duplication of efforts. This is particularly true in redevelopment activities where there is substantial overlap between HRAs, EDAs and Port Authorities. Many cities, find that maintaining multiple entities and managing the overlap of authority to be challenging and instead concentrate all of the authority in either an EDA or Port Authority because they have the ability to assume all of the authority of lower authority entities. This � prevents duplication of activities and provides the levy limit benefits mentioned previously. It would be especially unusual for a city to maintain both an EDA and a Port Authority since there is so much overlap of authority and purpose. Other �overnmental layers It should be noted that the City of Roseville's HRA is not the only HRA that has authority within the city limits. This limits some of the powers of the Roseville HRA in comparison, for instance, with HRAs in outstate Minnesota. The Metropolitan Council is considered the HRA far the entire region and runs programs in the City of Roseville, such as Section 8. Ramsey County also has an HRA which is designated as the entity to receive CDGB funding, so that source is not available to disperse directly to the Roseville HRA either. Of course, as a city within Ramsey County, Roseville can access these funds on a competitive basis. Far instance, recently the Roseville HRA staff has been able to secure $90,000 of CDBG funds (and $60,000 of County funds) for the construction of a trail along Larpenteur Avenue in 2016 in Southeast Roseville. With the two HRAs at higher levels of government absorbing those key federal funding sources, the primary funding source for the Roseville HRA is the annual levy and grant funding. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Since this is an informational agenda item for the City Council, no formal action is being - requested. If the City Council desires to become more involved with economic development activities, �� operating through the City's Port Authority provides the most authority and flexibility to accommodate a wide range of economic development activities, including those that can't be accomplished through an HRA. The Port Authority can assume all the authority of both an HRA and an EDA, if desired. There are no statuatory advantages to creating an EDA when a Port Authority already exists. �� If the City Council desires to maintain a housing program that is separate from the economic �� development activities, this can be accomplished by maintaining a separate HRA focused only on housing issues. In this scenario, staff would recommend clarifying where the HRA boundaries should be because it is not recommended to have two local entities with overlapping �� economic development responsibilities. Having two entities trying to be responsible for economic development would lead to inefficiency and confusion in the marketplace. � If the City Council desires to consolidate both housing and economic development programs into �� a single entity in order to streamline and coordinate activities, the Port Authority would be the �� appropriate entity to accomplish this consolidation due to its greater flexibility and authority. Page 3 of 4