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HRA Meeting Minutes – Monday, July 27, 2009 Page 5 document, and was simply aspirational in nature; but that the budget itself needed to be determined on its own merits. Mr. Trudgeon advised that, by the HRA approving the strategic plan, it provided staff with ongoing indicators of the HRA’s priorities, as well as providing opportunities for staff to pursue funding sources as they came up and continued monitoring. Mr. Trudgeon noted that the strategic plan was a four (4) year plan, and not limited to accomplishing all goals within one (1) year. Chair Maschka cautioned potential deterioration of the City’s multi-family housing complexes without beginning to finance this initiative, with problems currently being experienced in the southeast corner of the community, and continuing to escalate in other complexes. Chair Maschka opined that the need was obvious for some solution, and further opined that initial funding still didn’t get the City to a position to address situations, without further consideration for public/private partnerships similar to the Har Mar Apartment project, and that suggested by Member Masche with Ecumen. Chair Maschka noted that the HRA had achieved consensus that there was a definite need to pursue this issue; however, he further noted the need for the HRA to bring the City Council into the picture acknowledging the need and determining how best to accomplish the funding, whether through levy or bonding authority. Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 Motion carried. 2010 Preliminary Budget Comments/Feedback Chair Maschka opined that the preliminary was realistic; however, questioned if it was realistic in this economy. Member Pust suggested that last year’s HRA budget was also realistic; however, suggested that the HRA seek limitations from the City Council specific to budgetary increases to get a sense of how to present a preliminary budget request; whether at zero percent of at 3.9% as a cap; and leaned toward a zero percent increase. Ms. Kelsey noted the need for the HRA’s Finance Subcommittee to meet to further refine the preliminary budget request before the August 31, 2009 HRA regular meeting. Chair Maschka questioned if the City Council was prepared to consider anything other than a zero percent budget and levy increase; noting the ramifications experienced from past actions in not even meeting inflationary increases. Member Majerus suggested that the City Council may have expectations of the HRA. Chair Maschka suggested that additional discussion should be driven on where the City Council wanted the HRA to go and how to fund projects effectively to continue. Chair Maschka provided comments based on his financial expertise of the current economy and several opinions and projections as to the next 12 – 18 months and how economic recovery may proceed. Chair Maschka further suggested that many of the goals outlined in the strategic plan could be initiated without substantial funds (i.e., energy efficiency, selling Roseville) and could be accomplished in a budget similar to that presented in 2009. However, Chair Maschka spoke in support of exploring available private/public/non-profit funding opportunities for potential multi-family projects, even without intending to initiate a funding situation at this time. Member Pust suggested that the HRA agree that the goals of the strategic plan are approved, that the HRA “lay low” yet in 2010 until more firm economic recoveries are indicated.