Title
Approval of the May 22, 2013 AMENDED HRA Meeting Minutes
Body
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Bostrom, Carter, Lantry, Stark, Thune, Tolbert
Absent: * Brendmoen
CONSENT
1. Approval of the May 8, 2013 HRA meeting minutes.
Commissioner Carter moved approval.
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
2. Approval of the May 15, 2013 HRA Continuation meeting minutes.
Commissioner Carter moved approval.
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
3. Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds for Higher Ground Academy Project under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 through 469.1651 and Approving Related Documents.
Ms. Cecile Bedor, Executive Director for the HRA, stated that Mr. Bill Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of Higher Ground Academy, as well as a former member of the Saint Paul City Council, was present at the meeting.
Commissioner Carter moved approval. Approved as set forth in resolution RES 13-754
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
PUBLIC HEARING
4. Resolution Approving the Sale of Land and Conveyance of Parcel 22 Douglas Street under the ISP Program, West Seventh, District 9
Ms. Bedor stated that the HRA purchased 22 Douglas Street for $1.00 in July 2007 with Invest Saint Paul dollars. The property is a two-story, 1,330 square foot home with two-bedrooms and two-bathrooms; it was built in 1880, and had been converted to a duplex.
Ms. Bedor explained that the rehabilitation was completed for $145,588, which included converting the duplex back into a single family home. Staff is proposing to sell this property to Mr. Juan J. Fuentes and Ms. Brittney M. Schuller for $165,000; gap assistance was negligible, and program income is estimated at $152,500. As previously committed by the HRA Board, all sales proceeds from ISP-funded homes in the Smith Street Development Area, up to $2 million, will go back to ISP under Smith Street to be used to address additional properties.
Chair Thune announced the public hearing. There being no testimony, Commissioner Lantry moved to close the public hearing and adopt the resolution. Approved as set forth in resolution RES PH 13-106
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
5. Resolution Approving the Sale of Land and Conveyance of Parcel 286 Harrison Avenue under the ISP/NSP Program, West Seventh, District 9.
Ms. Bedor stated that the HRA purchased this property in July 2009 by the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation for $66,900; the HRA purchased it from the Federation later that month with ISP funds. This two-story, 1,960 square foot home with three-bedrooms and two-bathrooms was built in 1896. The property is being sold to Michelle Ross for $195,000. Rehab totaling $150,126 was completed with NSP funds. Gap assistance is $49,300; program income is estimated at $182,500.
Ms. Bedor further explained that the program income will be split between ISP and NSP; the ISP portion, approximately $58,500 will be targeted back to the Smith Street Development project. With the sale of this property and the Douglas property, a little over$1.0 million in the program income has been generated towards the $2.0 million commitment for the Smith Street Redevelopment project.
Chair Thune announced the public hearing. There being no testimony, Commissioner Lantry moved to close the public hearing and adopt the resolution. Approved as set forth in resolution RES PH 13-107
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
DISCUSSION
*Commissioner Brendmoen arrived.
6. Resolution Approving and Authorizing Execution of: 1) A Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Saint Paul and the Metropolitan Council Regarding Redevelopment of the Central Station Block in Downtown Saint Paul; 2) An Easement Agreement with the Metropolitan Council Related to Bus Waiting Improvements on the Central Station Block; and 3) An Operations and Maintenance Agreement with the City of Saint Paul and the Metropolitan Council for the Stair and Elevator Tower on the Central Station Block.
Chair Thune expressed his appreciation to both PED and Public Works for their work in getting a vertical connection from the skyway to Central Station constructed.
Ms. Bedor stated that Mr. Martin Schieckel from PED, Ms. Nancy Homans from the Mayor's office, and Mr. John Maczko from Public Works were responsible for the great work on this project.
Commissioner Tolbert asked where the funding was coming from for the operating costs.
Ms. Bedor stated that the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) estimated the annual operating costs of the vertical connection to be $75,000. The City/HRA is agreeing, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be executed by the Met Council, City of Saint Paul, and HRA, to pay one-half of the maintenance costs; the City/HRA portion cannot exceed $37,500.
To facilitate LRT construction, the Met Council removed an HRA-owned parking lot on the eastern half of the block; the Met Council is paying to rebuild the parking lot. Staff is recommending that the HRA's commitment towards the City/HRA's 50% maintenance cost obligation of the vertical connection be limited to the eligible net revenues from this parking lot. (A portion of the parking lot revenues must be deposited back into our CDBG account.) The source to pay the balance of the maintenance costs will be determined through the annual City budgeting process.
Ms. Bedor stated that the City Real Estate department will likely manage the contract with Met Council. She noted that the parking lot will not generate $37,500, and therefore the balance will need to be made up by another city funding source.
Commissioner Lantry stated that the vertical connection is important, providing access to the skyway system for people with disabilities, and helps serve those using mass transit. In order to bring costumers to the businesses along the sky way, the City needs to provide access.
Commissioner Lantry moved approval. Approved as set forth in resolution RES 13-757
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Lantry moved adjournment. The HRA meeting was adjourned.