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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-11 Regular HRA Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY JANUARY 11, 2024 7:30 AM 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Hovland called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m. then explained the processes created for public comment. 11. ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Chair Hovland, Commissioners Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, and Risser. Absent: None. III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. MEETING AGENDA APPROVED - AS AMENDED Motion by Commissioner Agnew, seconded by Commissioner Jackson, approving the meeting agenda as amended to include discussion of the upcoming worksession agenda topic regarding the 2024 State Legislative Agenda: Affordable Housing Financing after Reports and Recommendations. Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. The HRA discussed the impacts of moving the worksession topic to the regular meeting which removed the opportunity for public comment. Executive Director Neal noted that public comment typically did not occur at worksessions. The HRA discussed the intent of amending the agenda was to allow an open, televised discussion and make the process easier for people to see. Discussion was held about waiving the rules regarding community comment and continue the worksession topic in this room which would address the concern. HRA consensus was to allow community comment on the topic. V. COMMUNITY COMMENT Andy Brown, 5512 Park Place, shared concerns regarding Items 2.4 and 2.5 of the proposed state legislative agenda regarding deed tax and tear down tax, especially regarding impacts to seniors who need the equity when they move which was disappointing after a lifetime of support of this community through property taxes. Molly Cronin, 10 Merry Lane, said she was disappointed the HRA and Council were attempting to sneak through the deed and tear down tax without public comment. She commented that adding more taxes to homeowners was because they were the easiest to bully and how the proposed strategy to build this fund would instead bilk the single-family homeowners by adding taxes to hurt homeowners and make Edina less attractive for future residents. She said the City was working to create new low-income housing opportunities but not protecting current homeowners then spoke about the lack of response to crime through the two additional officers in the Southdale area and how that was not enough and how homeowners were exploring hiring their own individuals to address crime. David Frenkel, 4510 Lakeview Drive, commented about the deed transfer tax and the huge expense it would incur then noted this effort would affect realtors and said the realtors' association would lobby against this action. He shared concerns about the Grandview pedestrian bridge and how Page 1 Minutes/HRA/January 11, 2024 people were ignoring the chain barrier and going under the bridge and that the City needed to address this safety concern. V.A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY COMMENTS Executive Director Neal said there were no past Community Comments. The HRA shared comments regarding the work and transparency around the proposed legislative platform and the goal to obtain community input as best they could while working to best serve the community. VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED Motion by Commissioner Risser, seconded by Commissioner Agnew, approving the consent agenda as amended to remove VLA and VLD: VA. APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TL1E LIRA VI.B. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-01; DESIGNATING OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER VI.C. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-02; DESIGNATING OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES VI ►l APPROVE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR M30,2023, AND SPECIAL MEETING OF DECEMBER S-, 2023 Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA VI.A. APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HRA - POSTPONED The HRA stressed the need for transparency and process and how the Council did not follow through on January 3 and review the City Manager's contract. Since the item was rescheduled to January 16, they suggested the appointment item be tabled until the review was complete so actions were done in a sequential manner. Discussion was held on reasons for the postponement of the manager's contract and felt an exception could be made for this appointment. Mr. Neal confirmed the City Manager's contract auto renewed and included the duties of the Executive Director which carried over unless materially changed by the Council. Motion by Commissioner Risser, seconded by Commissioner Pierce, to postpone to appointment of the Executive Director of the HRA to the January 25, 2024, meeting. Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. VI.D. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 30, 2023, AND SPECIAL MEETING OF DECEMBER 5, 2023 — APPROVED The HRA shared concerns about how minute content and discussion was reduced to asked questions and provided feedback and how this did not capture concerns of Commissioners or Council. They commented how this process could silence their voice for the public and how actions could be interpreted to be done without analysis or support. Discussion was held regarding how decisions made were binding regardless of documented feedback and could actually weaken the strength of the resulting vote and if we wanted to change the format and level of content of minutes that this should be a separate discussion with staff and decided upon later. Communications Director Bennerotte explained the purpose of minutes and how the recordings were the official record and that minutes paraphrased an item's outcome. Page 2 Minutes/HRA/January 11, 2024 Motion by Commissioner Jackson, seconded by minutes of the Regular Meeting of November December 5, 2023 as presented. Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. Commissioner Pierce, to approve 30, 2023, and Special Meeting of VII. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS VII.A. ELECTION OF OFFICERS — APPROVED Executive Director Neal said bylaws of the HRA required the annual appointment of officers. The officer positions were Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary and officers must be nominated by members of the HRA then approved by majority vote. He noted the nomination and approval could be done individually or by slate. Motion by Commissioner Risser, seconded by Commissioner Jackson, approving the election of officers as follows: Mayor Hovland as Chair; Council Member Jackson as Vice Chair; and, Council Member Pierce as Secretary. Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. VII.B. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE, CHANGE ORDER #1 FOR GRANDVIEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, AWARDING THE BID TO THE RECOMMENDED LOW BIDDER, KIMLEY HORN, $70,000 —APPROVED Director of Engineering Millner said this change order was to update the contract amount to reflect changes encountered during construction that required additional engineering review. The additional engineering review was required to ensure the improvements were structurally safe for users. Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Agnew, to approve a Request for Purchase; Change Order #1 for Grandview Pedestrian Bridge, awarding the bid to the recommended low bidder, Kimley Horn, $70,000. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Hovland Nays: Risser Motion carried. VII.C. REQUEST FOR PURCHASE; CHANGE ORDER #2 FOR GRANDVIEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ENGINEERING SERVICES, AWARDING THE BID TO THE RECOMMENDED LOW BIDDER, PEMBER COMPANIES, $269,489.20 —APPROVED Mr. Millner said this change order is to update the contract amount to reflect changes encountered during construction. Member Jackson made a motion, seconded by Member Agnew, to approve a Request for Purchase; Change Order #2 For Grandview Pedestrian Bridge Engineering Services, Awarding the Bid to the Recommended Low Bidder, Pember Companies, $269,489.20. Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Hovland Nays: Risser Motion carried. VII.D. 2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA: AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCING — DISCUSSED Mr. Neal shared staffs work to refine discussions around the legislative item thatwould be presented to the Council for approval January 16. He noted the time before a session was important to get Page 3 Minutes/HRA/January 11, 2024 topics and issues confirmed for inclusion on the legislative agenda and requested action by the HRA on this topic. The HRA shared background on the work and progress for the past year to help identify potential funding for the sizable gap for additional forms of housing affordability. They spoke about how previous focus was on rental housing and the shift to focus more on affordable ownership and how the Council brought a group of residents together with a consultant to research and review data on how to solve these two challenges. They said the result was sharing work product with the Council that included review of potential funding sources that ranged from $40-$100 million and how Items 2.4 and 2.5 were removed from the legislative agenda after community input was received and how the items were still included online to keep continuity and transparency during the agenda review process. They said while the items had been removed this still did not solve the problem and said staff will continue to review data points with the intent to determine what type of approach can be made for progress towards these important goals. Affordable Housing Development Manager Hawkinson shared at the December 19 Council worksession the 2024 Legislative Platform was reviewed and how at this time, two items that would require seeking legislative authorization to pursue to create a sustainable housing fund were removed in order to have a separate conversation as an HRA. The two items were: 1) seeking authorization to impose a demolition fee, and 2) authorization to impose a single-family transfer tax. She said if the State Legislature granted authorization to pursue these two funding sources, then the City would commence with the public process to gather public input prior to the fee and tax being implemented, if so approved. She explained how this was not the group's intent to have these items be part of this legislative agenda but first discussed and decided upon by Council which concepts to bring forward for further consideration. Ms. Hawkinson confirmed there was no voting on new taxes and how this was part of the process which could have been done differently procedurally to avoid some confusion. She clarified no Council or HRA member had directed this topic be formally included in a legislative agenda before more conversation or public input had been gathered then shared specific data points regarding affordable housing stock under which showed by how housing affordability was greatly at risk with the median value projected to be greater than $1 million in 10 years. She shared change in rent expense versus household income comparisons then outlined current funding of $2.5 million which only supported 8 single family homes or one smaller multifamily project because of the huge gap. Ms. Hawkinson said the task force reviewed assessment and planned sources for review to generate more funding that could result in $100 million if all was implemented. The Commission asked questions and provided feedback. Motion made by Commissioner Agnew, seconded by Commissioner Pierce, to exclude Item 2.4 seeking authorization to impose a demolition fee, and Item 2.5 authorization to impose a single-family transfer tax from the proposed legislative agenda. Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. The Commission agreed about the need and commitment for continued public discussion surrounding life cycle housing and clarity on the making a commitment to more discussions about life cycle housing and affordability which would include opportunities for public comment regarding life cycle and affordable housing. Vlll. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS — Received IX. HRA COMMISSIONER COMMENTS — Received Page 4 Minutes/HRA/January 11, 2024 x ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Agnew, seconded by Commissioner Pierce, to adjourn the meeting at 9:09 a.m. Roll call: Ayes: Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser, and Hovland Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Scott Neal, Ekecutive [Director Page 5