Title
Approval of the July 23, 2014 HRA Meeting Minutes.
Body
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Bostrom, Stark, Thao, Thune, Tolbert
Excused: Commissioners Brendmoen and Lantry
CONSENT
1. Approval of the July 9, 2014 HRA Meeting Minutes.
Commissioner Thune moved approval. The HRA meeting minutes were approved.
VOTE: Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
2. Authorization to Acquire Tax Forfeited Properties at 667 Lafond Avenue and 632 Edmund Avenue in Ward 1, Thomas Dale District 7, 675 Aurora Avenue in Ward 1, Summit-University District 8, 77 Congress Street West in Ward 2, West Side District 3, 674 Rivoli Street and 978 Desoto Street in Ward 5, Payne Phalen District 5, 1863 Montana Avenue East in Ward 6, Greater East Side District 2, 1000 Jessamine Avenue East in Ward 6, Payne Phalen District 5, 1644 Reaney Avenue in Ward 7, Sunray-Battlecreek-Highwood District 1 and 983 Minnehaha Avenue East, 1111 McLean Avenue and 1372 McLean Avenue in Ward 7, Dayton's Bluff District 4.
Commissioner Thune moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 14-251.
VOTE: Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
DISCUSSION
3. Approval of a Forgivable Loan from the Neighborhood Commercial Parking Program to the Oromo Center of Minnesota at 465 Mackubin Street, District 8, Ward 1
Patty Lilledahl, Acting Interim HRA Executive Director, briefed the Commissioners on the Commercial Parking Program. She stated that this was a program to assist businesses on University Avenue that were impacted by the loss of on street parking due to the construction of the Green Line. The parking program review committee recommended providing a loan of up to $200,000 to the Oromo Community of Minnesota, Inc. to develop a private parking lot, on land they own, at Aurora and Mackubin. The committee also recommended that the shared parking requirement be waived. The adjoining businesses do not want to participate in the sharing of this lot. They feel they have sufficient parking. Commissioner Bostrom had concerns about the City providing a forgivable loan to provide a business with a parking lot, so off street parking can be freed up. He questioned the precedence we that would be set. Commissioner Thao stated that this is an investment in the area where parking is limited. This will encourage businesses to stay longer, if they have the infrastructure such as a parking lot. Commissioner Stark reminded the board members that this was a program that was started a few years ago to help businesses that were experiencing parking loss due to the Green Line. Commissioner Thune stated he also supported waiving the requirement of the shared waiver. Commissioner Bostrom stated that this loan seems to only benefit one business since the two adjoining businesses feel they don't need the additional parking. Though he doesn't feel it is the City's responsibility to assist a business in this way, he will support it. Ms. Lilledahl reminded the Commissioners that this is a pilot program and was funded from unique source. Craig Blakely, administrative assistant from PED, stated that when this program began, this area was studied and was determined it was a critical area in need of additional parking. He said this is an assumable loan if the business was sold.
Commissioner Thao moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 14-1255.
VOTE: Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Tolbert moved adjournment. The HRA meeting was adjourned.