Title
Accepting grant funds, authorizing execution of a grant agreement (with indemnity obligations), and amending the Operating Budget with respect to the Metropolitan Livable Communities Fund a Local Housing Incentives Account Grant Program for 680-694 Minnehaha Ave E (District 4 Ward 7).
Body
WHEREAS, in an Acknowledgement of Receptivity letter signed on June 11, 2025 by Planning and Economic Director Nicolle Newton, the City of Saint Paul (the “City”) authorized for the benefit of the site’s tentative developer, JB Vang Partners, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“JB Vang”), a Local Housing Incentives Account (“LHIA”) Grant application to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency related to the Hamm’s Brewery rehabilitation project located at 680-694 Minnehaha Avenue E. (“Application”); and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council accepted the Application and awarded the City a $600,000 LHIA grant for the benefit of Hamm’s Brewery East End affordable housing project located at 680-694 Minnehaha Ave E in the City of Saint Paul (“Grant Funds”); and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act (“LCA”) Local Housing Incentives Account grant contract (“Grant Agreement”) requires the City to indemnify Metropolitan Council; and
WHEREAS, by this Resolution, the Council authorizes acceptance of the Grant Funds, amends the 2026 budget, and authorizes execution of a grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council and other related agreements; and
WHEREAS, the mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the Saint Paul City Charter, does certify that there are available for appropriation funds of $600,000 in excess of those estimated in the operating budget; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Saint Paul City Council, that:
1. Upon the recommendation of the mayor that $600,000 is available for appropriation in the Operating Budget, the City Council hereby authorizes and approves said budget, as heretofore adopted by the City Council, to be amended as outlined in the attached financial analysis.
2. the City Council hereby authorizes and approves entering into the Grant Agreement with the Metropolitan Council which includes an indemnification clause to accept and implement the Grant Funds consistent with the Application and applicable compliance requirements.
3. the City Council hereby authorizes and approves the City entering into a subgrant agreement(s) or loan documents with the redeveloper of the site, JB Vang (or another entity owned and controlled by it that has an interest in the subject property), for the disbursement of the Grant Funds consistent with the Application, the Grant Agreement, and applicable compliance requirements.
4. the City Council hereby authorizes and approves City staff to take all actions necessary to carry out the activities authorized by this Resolution, including finalizing all documents and agreements necessary to effectuate the activities to be undertaken by this Resolution, subject to approval by the City Attorney’s Office.
5. Proper City officials are hereby authorized and approved to execute any and all documents in connection with this Resolution, subject to approval by the City Attorney’s Office.
6. This Resolution does not constitute a binding legal agreement; rather, the action taken herein shall not be effective until said documents are executed by the appropriate official(s) of the City.