Title
Approval of the October 26, 2011 HRA meeting minutes.
Body
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Bostrom, Carter, Harris, Helgen, Lantry, Stark, Thune
CONSENT
1. Approval of the September 28, 2011 meeting minutes.
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
2. Authorization to Accept a Grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program.
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in Resolution Number RES 11-2002
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
3. Authorization to Participate In Round 5 of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program Administered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) and Acceptance of a Grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) for the Purpose of Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Counseling.
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in Resolution Number RES 11-2121
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
4. Technical 2011 Budget Amendment for the Lofts at Farmers Market Spending.
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in Resolution Number RES 11-2117
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
5. Resolution Authorizing Approval of 1) $500,000 in HOME Funds; 2) The Restructured Terms of Two Existing HRA Loans; and 3) Issuance of $7,300,000 in Tax-Exempt Revenue Bonds for the Northern Warehouse Project, District 17.
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in Resolution Number RES 11-2105 and Resolution Number RES 11-2106
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
6. Approval of Amended and Restructured Loans for the PPL West 7th Housing Project Located at 2242 West Seventh Street, Planning District 15, Highland.
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in Resolution Number RES 11-2111
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
7. Resolution Approving an Extension of the Maturity Date on a HRA Deferred Loan and Subordination Request for the Frogtown Family Lofts, District 7
Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in Resolution Number RES 11-2119
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
Commissioner Helgen stated that great work is being done in PED within the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program. The work should be highlighted, and staff should be recognized because of the important work provided to the community.
Ms. Cecile Bedor, Executive Director of the HRA, stated that Michelle Vojacek is leading PED's foreclosure prevention efforts. Ms. Bedor noted that there is no one more knowledgeable, more committed and more passionate than Ms. Vojacek on this topic. Ms. Vojacek has built strong relationships with banking institutions and other lenders, and as a result is very successful working with these lenders on behalf of at-risk homeowners.
Commissioner Carter stated he would second the comments made by Ms. Bedor and added that Ms. Vojacek has been incredibly impactful and helpful in saving home after home in Ward 1 and across the City of Saint Paul.
Ms. Bedor stated that Ms. Barb Carr and Ms. Laura Carroll are also foreclosure counselors for PED and as a team, with Ms. Vojacek, they are the best and the brightest working on this issue.
PUBLIC HEARING
8. Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Development Agreement, Obligate NSP Funds and Approve the Conveyance and Sale of Land to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc. for Properties Located within ISP/NSP Neighborhoods Identified as:
(1) 1150 Edgerton Street, Payne-Phalen District 5
(2) 730 Jessamine Avenue, Payne-Phalen District 5
Chair Thune announced the public hearing. There being no testimony, Commissioner Bostrom moved to close the public hearing and adopt the resolution. Approved as set forth in RESOLUTION NO. RES PH 11-1141.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
9. Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Development Agreement, Obligate NSP Funds and Approve the Conveyance and Sale of Land to Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation, Inc. for Properties Located within ISP/NSP Neighborhood Identified as:
(1) 543 Blair Avenue, Thomas-Dale, District 7
(2) 482 Charles Avenue, Thomas-Dale, District 7
(3) 567 Edmund Avenue, Thomas-Dale, District 7
(4) 648 Thomas Avenue, Thomas-Dale, District 7
Chair Thune announced the public hearing. There being no testimony, Commissioner Carter moved to close the public hearing and adopt the resolution. Approved as set forth in RESOLUTION NO. RES PH 11-1142.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
10. Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Development Agreement, Obligate NSP Funds and Approve the Conveyance and Sale of Land to SPERO Properties LLC, for Properties Located within ISP/NSP Neighborhoods Identified as:
(1) 1053 Charles Avenue, Thomas-Dale, District 7
(2) 864 Fuller Avenue, Summit-University, District 8
(3) 827 Iglehart Avenue, Summit-University, District 8
Chair Thune announced the public hearing. There being no testimony, Commissioner Carter moved to close the public hearing and adopt the resolution. Approved as set forth in RESOLUTION NO. RES PH 11-1143.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
11. Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Development Agreement and Approve the Conveyance and Sale of Land to Parkway Little League Baseball, Inc. for Property Located at 1160 Conway Street within Dayton's Bluff, District 4 ISP/NSP Neighborhood.
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 NO. RES PH 11-1144.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
12. Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Development Agreement, Obligate NSP Funds and Approve the Conveyance and Sale of Land to Stephen P. Filing for Property at 635 Edmund Avenue Located within ISP/NSP Thomas-Dale, District 7.
Chair Thune announced the public hearing. There being no testimony, Commissioner Carter moved to close the public hearing and adopt the resolution. Approved as set forth in RESOLUTION NO. RES PH 11-1145.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
Ms. Bedor stated that most of the action taken on the public hearings was due to the work of Ms. Sheri Pemberton, Mr. Al Carlson, and the ISP/NSP Team in PED.
DISCUSSION
13. Reservation of 2012 Low Income Housing Tax Credits for Saint Alban's Park, District 8.
Ms. Bedor stated that the Board had approved the revisions to the selection criteria for Low Income Housing Tax Credits in May 2011. Staff issued an RFP and received two proposals, one from Saint Alban's Park, and one from Rolling Hills. Based on the scoring, the HRA must award the tax credits, and staff is recommending award of 2012 tax credits, to Saint Alban's Park. While Saint Alban's is a critical project, staff will continue to also prioritize Rolling Hills.
Commissioner Helgen stated that this is an example where the scoring process worked and appreciates that the administration will continue efforts to stabilize the Rolling Hills project.
Ms. Bedor recognized Mr. Al Carlson and stated that the entire HRA agenda today was his team's work. Mr. Carlson oversees the Mortgage Foreclosure Program, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, all of the ISP/NSP activities, and the multi family redevelopment projects. Mr. Carlson has a big job and does a great job for the City. Ms. Bedor also recognized the good work of Joe Collins in overseeing the tax credit allocation process.
Commissioner Carter moved approval. Approved as set forth in RESOLUTION NO. RES 11-2134
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Lantry moved adjournment. The HRA meeting was adjourned.