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REDA Meeting <br /> Minutes—Monday,May 15,2023 <br /> Page 4 <br /> is not earmarked for anything else going forward. However, the one thing she <br /> also knows is that there were conversations long ago about each City getting <br /> funds for affordable housing and putting that towards it. If those bills end up <br /> passing the way they look now, the City will have, maybe, even a possible <br /> annual amount from the sales tax the Legislature is looking at initiating. She <br /> noted that will take a year of sales tax before the City to finally get it and then <br /> working through the process with Minnesota Housing in order to get the <br /> allocation. <br /> Member Groff thought the presentation was good and he liked the overall idea <br /> of what is being talked about. <br /> President Roe offered an opportunity for public comment with no one appearing <br /> to speak to this issue. <br /> President Roe explained there is the question in terms of the continuation or <br /> discontinuation or pausing of the down payment assistance for first generation <br /> home buyers. He asked the EDA if any member would like to see this paused <br /> or discontinued for the time being. <br /> Member Etten indicated he was personally leaning to pausing the program after <br /> finishing off the money available at this time. He would think at that point the <br /> City would be looking at how the State would be funding it going forward and <br /> the City could add to that,if needed. He explained the County's first-generation <br /> home buyers' program is quite significant at twenty-five percent of the cost of <br /> the home. He noted if the City can target its loans where there is a different <br /> need, that would be a good thing to do. <br /> Member Strahan indicated her preference would be to keep the program in place <br /> until the City knows what the State is planning to do. She thought this could <br /> always be paused in the future, but she felt like this is in line with the City's <br /> commitment to equity, their Just Deeds commitment, and the other <br /> commitments along the line of undoing the damage of redlining. She stated it <br /> took so much time to get it there that she is hesitant to take it out. If in the future <br /> though, there is no need to move forward with it or less need. She would prefer <br /> to leave it there. <br /> President Roe indicated he incorrectly stated Member Etten's proposal. His <br /> proposal was to use the existing funding for one more loan but not to add the <br /> additional seventy-five thousand dollars. The idea is that the program would <br /> continue through the existing funding but not add additional funding at this time. <br /> Member Groff agreed with Member Strahan in the sense that he would rather <br /> have the State or County in place as the City knows what they are for sure and <br /> their timelines. He would hate for someone to use the one up and then not have <br /> anything available for someone who actually would qualify. He did not think <br />