HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-20 HRA Work Session Minutes MINUTES
WORK SESSION
OF THE EDINA HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
DECEMBER 20, 2016
5:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hovland called the HRA meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
11. ROLLCALL
Answering rollcall were Commissioners Brindle, Staunton, Stewart, Swenson and Chair Hovland. Also
attending the meeting was Council Member Elect Mike Fischer.
Edina City Staff attending the meeting: Kelly Dumais, City Management Fellow; Debra Mangen, City Clerk;
Chad Millner, Engineering Director; Scott Neal, City Manager; Bill Neuendorf, Economic Development
Manager; and Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager.
111. DISCUSSION ITEM 5-2016 — USE OF VACANT PARCEL AT 71ST AND XERXES
Economic Development Manager Neuendorf explained the City of Edina owns a 0.51 acre vacant parcel
immediately south Hennepin County's property at 7001 York Avenue. The County intends to consider
proposals to redevelop their 8-acre site in summer 2017. The intended outcome is a new regional library
facility that is well integrated with additional revenue-generating development that creates a successful and
desirable destination for the communities served.
The City-owned parcel is currently vacant but has a configuration and location that is nearly unbuildable. The
parcel could possibly serve as a green space that connects the Hennepin County site to Adams Hill Park and
Promenade Park. Alternatively, it could serve as a linear park configured with new landscaping and trees.
Would the HRA allow this vacant parcel to be included in the preliminary site concepts and identified in the
• RFQ/RFP to be issue in Spring 2017. Consensus was to allow inclusion in the RFQ/RFP but make sure it
cannot be counted as part of the developer's green space.
IV. PUBLIC FINANCNG OPTIONS— TAX ABATEMENT
Economic Development Manager Neuendorf explained Minnesota statutes provided a few options for public
financing. Edina has used Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) on a few occasions. A lesser known tool was Tax
Abatement. An overview of this tool was provided in case there was interest in considering using abatement in
the future. The HRA and staff discussed the types of projects where using tax abatement would make sense,
the challenges of potentially using abatement. Staff will prepare a draft tax abatement policy for review in the
first or second quarter of 2017.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
S ott Neal, Ex'eqCtivebirector
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