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HRAM 01/02/2014 CITY OF FRIDLEY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY COMMISSION January 2, 2014 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Pro Tem Gabel called the HRA Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: William Holm Pat Gabel Stephen Eggert Gordon Backlund MEMBERS ABSENT: Larry Commers OTHERS PRESENT: Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director ACTION ITEMS: 1.Approval of Expenditures MOTION by Commissioner Holm to approve the expenditures. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2.Approval of December 5, 2013 Meeting Minutes th Commissioner Eggert noted on page four, item 5, second paragraph, 8 line should read compact “ fluorescent light bulbs”. MOTION by Commissioner Holm to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Backlund. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MINUTES APPROVED AS AMENDED 3.Approval of Resolution Designating Official Depositories Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, said that the City and HRA annually designate an official bank. Wells Fargo has been the official bank for the both the City and HRA for a number of years. Wells Fargo is responsive, easy to work with and flexible with investment management. Staff recommends approval of the resolution designating Wells Fargo as the official depository for the Authority. HRA Meeting of January 2, 2014 2 Commissioner Backlund noted on the resolution under “be it further resolved” it should read “any two of the following individuals”. MOTION by Commissioner Holm to approve the resolution designating official depositories as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4.Approval of Resolution Designating Official Newspaper Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, stated that the City and HRA designate an official Newspaper. The Fridley Sun Focus News and the Minneapolis Star Tribune have been the official newspapers for a number of years. Both are available locally and meet the requirements found in MN Statutes. Staff recommends approval of the resolution designating these official newspapers. Chairperson Pro Tem Gabel asked if the notices were also on the website. Mr. Bolin replied yes; and they are also posted by both entrances of the doors to City Hall. Commissioner Backund noted that the newspaper is Fridley/Columbia Heights Focus and should be changed on both sides of the resolution as well as Minneapolis Star and Tribune. MOTION by Commissioned Backlund to amend the resolution to reflect Fridley/Columbia Heights Focus and Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Seconded by Commissioner Holm. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY MOTION by Commissioner Backlund to approve the designating official newspaper. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 5.Approval of 2014 Mowing Contract Extension Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, said that last winter HRA participated with the City in soliciting bids for mowing services and Passau Lawn Care had the lowest pricing. Passau Lawn Care has been providing mowing services to the Authority since 2011 and was awarded the contract for the 2013 mowing season. HRA Staff was pleased with Passau Lawn Care’s work this past summer. The rates are relatively low and the service very reliable. Passau Lawn Care has agreed to a contract extension to provide mowing service for the same rate as last year. Staff recommends that the Authority contract with Passau Lawn care for the 2013 summer season. MOTION by Commissioner Holm to approve the 2014 Mowing Contract Extension. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. HRA Meeting of January 2, 2014 3 UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Chairperson Pro Tem Gabel noted that the amount should be less because a lot of properties have been sold since last year. Mr. Bolin replied yes, the amount should go down about 30% or so on the total cost for next year. rd 6.Public Hearing – Sale of Lot at 5725 3 Street MOTION by Commissioner Eggert to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Holm. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:15 P.M. Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, stated that this is one of three lots left. Home Detail sent in a lot reservation in early December. Home Detail has built three properties to the th north and the existing home on the corner of 57 Place and Third Street. Once this is lot is sold to Home Detail there will be two lots left and both Home Detail and Regal Homes would like to purchase them. There is already a buyer for this lot and they are working out the details of the home. This home will be similar to what is built in the area and will fit into the neighborhood. The home will have about 2000 sq. ft. and four bedrooms. Staff recommends approval of the sale to Home Detail. The proposed home will be consistent with HRP guidelines and if not, staff will not close on the lot. The plans should be in place in the next week or so. Chairperson Pro Tem Gabel asked what the selling price would be. Mr. Bolin replied over $240,000. Commissioner Holm asked if this home was larger than the other homes Home Detail has built. Mr. Bolin replied that it is about the same. Commissioner Eggert asked when staff would close on this lot. Mr. Bolin replied the middle of January. The development agreement is ready to go and has been delivered to the title company. Staff is waiting for plans and building elevations. Commissioner Backlund said that it is good to see more upscale housing being built in Fridley. Fridley has some of the highest levels of affordable housing in the County and this will help Fridley bring more upscale housing to the city. Mr. Bolin stated that the housing replacement program is bringing in a good mix of housing. HRA Meeting of January 2, 2014 4 MOTION by Commissioner Eggert to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Backlund. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:21 P.M. rd MOTION by Commissioner Backlund to approve the sale of 5725 3 Street to Home Detail. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARE THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 1.Gateway Northeast Update Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, stated that the Lyons/Trident Group have further developed the site plan for their vision of the GWNE property. The Trident Group has submitted plans and application to the City for the land use approvals necessary to develop the site. Trident has proposed 265 market rate multi-family housing units spread across the site in three different buildings. The buildings would have three stories of living area and above ground level parking. Mr. Bolin said that the past few weeks HRA and City Staff have spent a lot of time working with Trident, their surveyor, title company, MnDOT and Anoka County to identify and clean up issues associated with plats that were recorded over 130 years ago. Staff expect all of the issues to be resolved in time to allow for a transfer of property this spring. Staff will continue to provide updates as the project moves through the City’s land use approval process. Chairperson Pro Tem Gabel asked about page two of the letter where it talks about the parking off the street is below the minimum standards but is allowed in a TOD; she asked how much lower it is than the standard and is underground parking considered in the calculation. Mr. Bolin replied that the code is assuming this is built in R3, multi-family residential zoning and it is not meeting that standard. R3 would need 2 or more stalls per unit but because this is in the S2 zoning district it does not need to meet those standards. In the TOD overlay district they are encouraged to not meet those standards so people are more likely to take advantage of busses, rail, walking and biking opportunities. The goal is to make this oriented toward alternative transportation modes that serve this area. Commissioner Eggert recalled that there were underground pipes making underground parking difficult to do; so there will be first level parking inside. Mr. Bolin said that is correct and from the exterior you won’t know the bottom level is for parking. The plans say underground parking but it is covered parking at grade level built into the building. Commissioner Backlund asked if the parking is considered enclosed. HRA Meeting of January 2, 2014 5 Mr. Bolin replied yes; it is completely enclosed on first floor. Commissioner Holm asked how close to the fence line the building will be. Mr. Bolin said that the existing fence will be at the western edge of the sidewalk. From the curb line it could be as close as 35’. Staff is still working this out with the last of the survey work to see how close they can get. Commissioner Backlund noted that 130 years ago this lot was surveyed; he asked how accurate the survey was. Mr. Bolin replied that it was platted 130 years ago and there were no gaps in this plat. The work was accurate but many changes have happened over the past 130 years. 2.2013 Year in Review Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, reviewed highlights from 2013. HRA Approved the sale of 10 lots; 7 are built or under construction and 3 are in process. It was a great year for selling lots and building homes but not a great year to purchase lots. Investors are starting to buy up properties that should be torn down and are paying more than the asking price. Staff will purchase homes when it makes sense. The HRP is a great program. Mr. Bolin stated that another highlight was the approval of the master plan for 5601 East River Road. This is in the TOD development overlay district; the JLT site. Development should start on this site in 2014. The last parcel was acquired to move forward with the GWNE area; the veterinarian clinic that was taken down in early December. The Northern Stacks Industrial Park is coming along and created and certified the first hazardous sub TIF district in Anoka County’s history. The first grant was issued for the project last week. Also, since last month’s meeting, staff was notified Paul Hyde has received two more grants for this project ($1.9M). A small lighting project, as part of repairs to the City Hall police garage was completed. Thank you Commissioners for a busy, rewarding 2013. Commissioner Holm said that on behalf of the Authority he would like to thank Paul Bolin for his hard work in 2013. There were some big projects that will pay off very well for the City in the coming years. He is looking forward to the coming year. HRA Meeting of January 2, 2014 6 3.Housing Loan Program Update Paul Bolin , HRA Assistant Executive Director, said that there were no loans closed in December and one remodeling advisor visit. He reviewed the following summary: HRA Loans Total Loans (CEE) 2006 8 22 2007 8 17 2008 15 18 2009 16 18 2010 14 21 2011 9 13 2012 10 15 2013 9 10 CEE is scheduled to attend the February meeting to provide an overview of their programs. Also the North Metro Community Home and Garden Show is taking place January 25 from 9-3 at the Sport Expo Center in Blaine. Information can be found at http://northmetrohomeandgarden.com. This event usually creates interest in our loan programs. Mr. Bolin said that Scott Hickok asked to mention that the City of Columbia Heights contacted him about holding a free business education seminar for anyone interested in starting a business. This will be held at the Islamic Center in Fridley on January 25 from 11-1. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Commissioner Eggert to Adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Holm. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM GABEL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:00 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Krista Peterson Recording Secretary