HRAM 12/07/2017
CITY OF FRIDLEY
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY COMMISSION
December 7, 2017
Chairperson Gabel
called the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting to order at 7:00
p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Pat Gabel
William Holm
Stephen Eggert
Kyle Mulrooney
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Gordon Backlund
OTHERS PRESENT:
Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director
Wally Wysopal, City Manager
Jim Casserly, Development Consultant
Shelly Peterson, Finance Director
Julie Jones, Planning Manager
Action Items:
1.Approval of Expenditures
MOTION
by Commissioner Holm to approve the expenditures. Seconded by Commissioner
Eggert.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GABEL DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2.Approval of November 2, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Chairperson Gabel
asked for the following corrections to be made:
th
Page 6, 4 paragraph from bottom, change “Mr. Bolin stated that the agreement that was
singed signed”
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Page 7, 4 paragraph, 4 sentence, change “There are more jobs that than”
MOTION
by Commissioner Eggert to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded by
Commissioner Holm.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GABEL DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3.Approval of Final 2018 HRA Budget
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting of December 7, 2017 2
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Shelly Peterson,
Finance Director, stated that on November 2 staff presented the 2018
proposed budget general fund and housing loan program fund. No revisions were recommended
by the Authority. Staff has reviewed current projections and does not recommend any
modifications.
MOTION
by Commissioner Eggert to approve the 2018 HRA Final Budget. Seconded by
Commissioner Mulrooney.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GABEL DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Informational Items:
1.Metropolitan Council Affordable Housing Allocation
Tara Beard
, Housing Analyst, stated that the housing element requirements provide adequate
housing opportunities to meet existing and projected local and regional housing needs. It also
provides tools to implement land use plan housing elements that will meet the local unit’s share
of the metropolitan area need for low and moderate-income housing. The allocation for
affordable housing need for 2021-2030 for low and moderate-income housing takes into
consideration the forecasted growth, existing affordable housing and ratio of low wage jobs to
low wage workers. The local need for affordable housing by band, below 30% AMI, 31-50% of
AMI and 51-80% of AMI. Fridley’s allocation of affordable housing need for 2021-2030 is 258.
Affordable housing is needed due to income-restricted vs. naturally occurring affordable
housing, existing residents are cost burdened and more low-income households are coming.
Fridley’s share of future affordable housing need is less than a quarter of its expected growth.
Cities must only guide enough high-density land such that their share could be built.
Commissioner Holm
asked what that would translate to monthly payments for housing of the
median income affordable housing.
Ms. Beard
replied $65,700 annual income, affordable home ownership price of $238,500 or rent
of $1,100.
Commissioner Holm
asked how many persons were in the household.
Ms. Beard
replied that she could run the numbers, but it gets complex. The focus needs to be on
the median income. Right now, it isn’t known how many households are coming but we do
know they will come and space needs to be set aside to build when they come.
Commissioner Holm
agreed that Fridley has a large number of financially stressed people in the
community. Low income people will need the type of housing that will need government
assistance. He asked for the definition of housing affordability verses housing assistance.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting of December 7, 2017 3
Ms. Beard
replied that housing assistance comes with other services. The comprehensive plan
will talk about those that would represent projects that require services, but it is hard to build
housing to fit those guidelines.
Commissioner Holm
asked what kind of role the Met Council had in enforcing this information.
Ms. Beard
replied that when the comprehensive plan comes in and it doesn’t meet the criteria,
the plan would be inconsistent with the policy plan.
Chair Gabel
asked if there were communities that don’t participate in the manner prescribed.
Ms. Beard
replied yes, 120 of 181 cities are eligible and 90 participate in the livable
community’s act.
Chair Gabel
asked if distressed households are taken into account for the livable community’s
act.
Ms. Beard
replied that there are different kinds of programs within the livable community’s act
and they are based on the housing performance score.
Wally Wysopal,
City Manager, asked if the city’s base number of affordable units are factored
into the calculation.
Ms. Beard
replied no, the allocation number is tied to the projected growth and only addresses
the people who don’t live here today.
Mr. Wysopal
noted that the number of cost burden households keeps increasing over the years.
It doesn’t seem like Fridley’s housing value is growing like the other metro areas.
Ms. Beard
replied that they can track and run that data.
Julie Jones
, Planning Manager, stated that Fridley does have an ample amount of land set aside
to build the homes.
Commissioner Eggert
was interested in seeing the history of median income as homeowners are
becoming more financially stressed.
2.Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Chapter
Julie Jones,
City Planner, presented the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan future land use chapter.
She reviewed what’s changed in the last 10 years. Many potential redevelopment areas
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improved (Northern Stacks & Central/53), Construction of Northstar Train Station, Housing
changes (New senior housing options - Landmark & White Pines), New market rate apartments
(Cielo) and Locke Park Pointe. The following Plans were Adopted Since 2009:
2012 East River Road Corridor Study
2013 Active Transportation Plan
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2013 North Park SRTS Plan
2014 Northstar TOD Master Plan
2016 Osborne Road Study
2017 ISD 14 SRTS Plan
Locke Park Pointe Development Plans
Ms. Jones
stated that the anticipated future impacts include traffic increases, population
increases, and diversity increase. The affordable housing needs include Urban classification by
Met Council, Climate Change, Focus on Equity, and Safer Roads & Services for All Users. The
BRT is scheduled for 2021 and will include 22 Proposed Redevelopment Areas. These areas are
selected due to anticipated change in use or zoning. Land use actions steps will be to study
parking requirements at the University Ave Corridor Study & an East/West Corridor Study and
will require 2 trees/R-1 new construction. EV stations will be encouraged along with solar
gardens in industrial zoning by SUP, considering community gardens/orchards, monitoring the
impacts of AVs and autonomous vehicles.
Chair Gabel
said that this is great material and will help the HRA with planning.
Commissioner Holm
asked about the proposed central line bus rapid transit if it is only one
example of what it may look like.
Ms. Jones
clarified that this is University avenue. There are several bus transit routes slated to
be put in place and this is the only bus rapid transit line that is scheduled at this time on their list
and they are building as they get funding. The prediction is to have enough funding by 2021 to
build this one.
3.Housing Improvement Areas
Paul Bolin
, HRA Assistant Executive Director, stated that the 1996 Legislature adopted Statutes
428A.11-428A.21 which defined a housing improvement area as a designated portion of the City
in which housing improvements are financed with public funds. Funds are recovered through
fees imposed against the befitting housing units, that get paid early with their taxes. This process
is similar to collecting special assessments.
Mr. Bolin
noted that a petition must be received from at least 50% of the affected property
owners and given to the City Clerk to create a HIA. City Council must hold a Public Hearing to
discuss improvements, affected housing units, and costs. Affected home owners may testify at
the Public Hearing or may object in writing, and if the city agrees, may be excluded from the
area or fee imposed. The ordinance must be adopted within six months of the hearing. If 45%
of the residents file an objection, the HIA will not be established.
Mr. Bolin
said that improvements can be financed by advancing funds available to the
HRA/City and recover costs by charging the property owner fees or issuing bonds and then
imposing fees to repay the bonds. The homeowner has 60 days after legislation is passed to pay
the amount in full and there is no option to pay in full after the resolution is in effect. Is there a
need for HIA’s in Fridley? There are 18 homeowners’ associations, 626 townhome units, and
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting of December 7, 2017 5
360 condominium units. A large percentage of units were built in the 70s and 80s. There are
limited options for homeowner associations to make necessary improvements without an HIA.
Staff anticipates seeing requests in the coming hears. This program is truly meant to be a “last
resort” if no private financing is available.
Jim Casserly,
Development Consultant, noted that once you are into this it will require
discipline as enough funding needs to be set aside for capital replacement. They are creating a
program for capital replacement in addition to setting up a finance plan to ensure enough capital
investment is in the project going forward for replacement reserves. The Council has to
authorize this as they are imposing what amounts to a fee which is a special assessment. Only
elected bodies can impose fees like this. They would ask Authority to manage the program
because this is what you do with all the housing programs.
4.Locke Park Pointe
Paul Bolin,
HRA Executive Assistant Director,provided abrief update on Locke Park Pointe.
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The patio home RFP went out November 22 to 12 parties. Responses due back a week from
tomorrow. Staff is expecting 3-4 proposals. Last month the Authority also talked about the next
round of RFP for phase 2. This will go out mid-January.
5.CEE Housing Programs Update
Paul Bolin,
HRA Executive Assistant Director, reported that year to date there are 15 total loans,
5 remodel advisor visits and 43 home energy squad visits.
Mr. Bolin
said that the Home and Garden Show is Saturday, January 27 form 9am-3pm at the
Schwan’s Center.
Adjournment:
MOTION
by Commissioner Eggert to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Mulrooney.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GABEL DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT
9:07 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Krista Peterson
Recording Secretary