Loading...
HRA 04/07/2005 - 29591�, CITY OF FRIDLEY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APRIL 7, 2005 �CALL TO ORDER: �Chairperson Commers called the Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to ��rder at 7:30 p.m. IROLL CALL: �Vlembers Pesent: John Meyer Virginia Schnabel Larry Commers Pat Gabel William Holm ��thers Present: Paul Bolin, Assistant HRA Director Scott Hickok, Community Development Director David Harvet Gary Harvet Kathleen Harvet � ��hairperson Commers announced that the Harvet purchase agreement has been ��dded under Action Items on tonight's agenda. t�ONSENT AGENDA: • Claims and Expenses IJPON A UNANIMOUS VOTE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE �ONSENT AGENDA APPROVED. �1PPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 3. 2005 meetina PAOTION by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by Commissioner Schnabel, to approve the minutes. The following corrections were requested: Page 6— midway through the first paragraph — change the sentence that reads "The public is currently public.." to "The property is currently public" n HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Apri17, 2005 Page 2 of 5 � Page 9— the last paragraph. Change the sentence that starts with "However" to read as follows: "However, to the extent that not all of the existing properties are in terrible condition that keeps the assessed value base deducted from your taxes to keep your tax increment. That ends up being pretty high which can eat into the tax increment and reduce revenues." UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MINUTES APPROVED AS CORRECTED. CONSENT AGENDA: • Consider claims and expense. MOTION by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by Commissioner Gabel, to approve the minutes as amended. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ACTION ITEMS: • Purchase agreement for Kathleen Harvet �"� Mr. Bolin explained that Kathleen Harvet signed the purchase agreement just yesterday. The agreement was based on the HRA's original offer plus the agreement to pay closing costs on the seller's new home. Closing date has been set for April 27. This was the final parcel necessary to move forward with the Gateway West project and staff recommends approval of the agreement as presented and asked that Chairperson Commers sign the agreement immediately after its approval. The Harvets are present and would like a signed copy for their records. Chairperson Commers asked if there is anything unusual about the purchase agreement of which the HRA should be aware. Mr. Bolin stated this is a standard purchase agreement used for other acquisitions. There is a provision to cover the closing costs for the seller's new home and for moving expenses. Commissioner Schnabel asked if Ms. Harvet was able to purchase a home in Fridley. Mr. Bolin explained she found a new town home in Coon Rapids. MOTION by Commissioner Schnabel, seconded by Commissioner Holm, to approve the purchase agreement as presented and authorize signature execution. �"� HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING —Apri17, 2005 Page 3 of 5 � UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. � INFORMATION ITEMS: • Southeast Quadrant Parking Study Update. Mr. Bolin reported that a contract has been awarded to the engineering firm of Bonestroo, Rosene & Andrelik (BRA) to conduct a future parking needs analysis for the SE quadrant of Mississippi and University Avenue. BRA has been conducting parking counts over a number of days to identify peak demand times and locations. Additionally, BRA has engaged in a number of conversations with the representatives of all four properties to further analyze their potential parking needs. He commented that staff has found the City parking lot half full even when City offices are closed which shows how the parking problem has creeped into the City Hall lot. BRA expects to finish the parking counts early next week and expects to provide staff with a draft report of the study by the middle of April. Staff will bring the study results and recommendations forward at the HRA's May 5�' meeting. It is hoped that this study will aid the HRA in determining if an early sale of the Target NOC parking lot is desirable. • Gateway West Update Mr. Bolin reported that a closing was held for the Hogenson property at 5955 3rd Street on March 31 St. The final price with closing costs and title work was $277,422.50. The property owner did agree to the HRA's original price offer as well as the agreement that the HRA would pay his outstanding water bill. The final water bill came to $383. He added that over the next couple of months until the buildings are demolished, the Fridley Police will be doing some training exercises in the buildings, such as room-to- room sweeps. Chairperson Commers asked if the Police will indemnify the HRA and/or reimburse for any damages incurred during the training. Mr. Bolin stated they will. • Home and Garden Fair Update Mr. Bolin stated the Home & Garden Fair was held March 5 of this year at the newly constructed Schwan Center in Blaine. There were 1,300 attendees which set a new record and was nearly double the amount that attended in 2004. Based on door prize information and surveys completed by attendees, staff believes that approximately 130 �, Fridley residents attended this year's event. The new location at the Schwan Center allowed for a total of 75 vendors and 3 seminars and there was actually a waiting list of HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING —Apri17, 2005 Page 4 of 5 ,� 15 vendors who wanted to participate. The seminars were well attended, well received and very informative. Most of the comments received were positive with rave reviews for the venue and the vendors. The most frequent suggestion or request was for more flowers and landscaping vendors in the future. Though the 2005 show has just passed, planning for the 2006 show has already begun. Commissioner Gabel asked how much it costs the City to put on the Home and Garden Show. Mr. Bolin stated it runs befinreen $7,500 and $9,000 but all those costs are covered with the vendor fees charged. Also the costs are split four-ways with all the cities involved. Commissioner Meyer commented that the Schwan Center was very nice but he thought it would be better to have the show all on the same level. • Monthly Housing Report Mr. Bolin stated the year is starting out very slow for the loan program with only 2 loans issued in March totaling $15,543. Chairperson Commers questioned if there were very many inquiries at the Home and Garden Show regarding the City's loan program. � Mr. Hickok explained that the City's booth was very well attended with our remodeling expert and finance people available. He stated he is optimistic that their presence will bring more applicants to the City. Mr. Bolin stated the 77 loans currently in the program brought in $8,532.35 and there is a total of $3,111.15 currently delinquent. For March, Mr. Bolin stated he was disappointed that no one contacted the Operation Insulation and only one family contacted the Remodeling Advisor. In an effort to improve the participation in these programs, an article promoting the City's loan program was in the most recent City newsletter. He also met with two representatives Center for Energy and the Environment trying to come up with some new marketing ideas to promote the City's programs. One suggestion is to do a direct mailing to Fridley residents to host an open house in May in the Council Chambers. CEE will put on the open house and will have representatives present to answer questions. Mr. Bolin stated he's also working with the City Manager to get information in the City newsletter on a regular basis. He addressed questions regarding using these funds to improve apartment buildings in Fridley but the loan program is restricted to housing units of four or less. In his meeting with CEE, he discovered that they do offer programs for apartment owners so they will be doing a direct mailing to the larger apartment buildings. �--. HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING —Apri17, 2005 Page 5 of 5 ,� ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Commissioner Schnabel, seconded by Commissioner Gabel, to adjourn. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:05 PM. Respectfully submitted by, ��'�e��-- �� i��'� Rebecca Brazys Recording Secretary � � � CITY OF FRIDLEY SIGN-IN SHEET HOUSING 8� REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING �1�"��� °�/, � � � � � Name and Address � � � ��� E. Agenda Item of lnterest ��,n � � �` �r�,-.--%- � `� �� :� -� ���-°�', -, F �� � � �.� ��. ���.�:� � i � i � i i i