Title
Approving the minutes of the May 13, 2015 HRA meeting.
Body
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Bostrom, Finney, Stark, Thao, Thune, Tolbert, Chair Brendmoen
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approving the minutes of the April 22, 2015 HRA meeting. Approved as set forth in Min 15-31.
Approved
2. Resolution Approving Amended and Restated Tax Increment Financing Plan for East 7th & Bates Senior Housing Project Tax Increment Financing District.
Commissioner Finney moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 15-842.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
PUBLIC HEARING
3. Resolution Approving and Authorizing Action related to the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s (HRA) Disposition Strategy and Work Plan: 1) Sale and Conveyance of the Parcel 924 Jessamine Avenue East, Payne Phalen, District 5, Ward 6.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is a sale of an HRA owned property to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc. for the construction of a new home that will meet affordability requirements.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES PH 15-127.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
4. Authorization to Acquire Vacated Property Owned by the City of Saint Paul in the Area of Platted-But-Unimproved Phalen Avenue lying South of 1444 East Shore Drive and Subsequently Convey Same to James W. Waldo for Use as a Side Yard. Payne Phalen District 5, Ward 6.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated that this proposal is for the HRA to acquire from the City of Saint Paul a vacated portion of Phalen Ave and to convey it to the neighbor for use as a side yard.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES PH 15-133.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
5. Resolution Authorizing the following: 1. Acquisition of Tax Forfeited Properties at 1268 Desoto Street in Ward 5, Payne Phalen District 5, 658 Hawthorne Avenue East in Ward 6, Payne Phalen District 5, 2216 Reaney Avenue in Ward 7, Greater East Side District 2 and 1102 Geranium Avenue East in Ward 6, Payne Phalen District 5, and Authorization to Convey Same to Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services; and 2. Acquisition of Tax Forfeited Properties at 715 Cook Avenue East, 717 Geranium Avenue East and 831 Jessamine Avenue East, All in Ward 6, Payne Phalen District 5 and Authorization to Convey Same to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.; and 3. Acquisition of a Tax Forfeited Property at 774 Minnehaha Avenue West in Ward 1, Thomas Dale District 7 and Authorization to Convey Same to Frogtown Community Development Corporation.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is a conveyance of eight tax forfeited parcels to three different groups for the construction of affordable housing in the city and is based on Ramsey County’s policy from 2013 in passing tax forfeited lots on for affordable housing at a discount and follows the policy the HRA board passed in 2014, Tax Forfeit Property Hold Policy and Sales Procedure.
Commissioner Stark asked what the expected timeline is for any work, rehab, or new construction of these properties.
Cindy Carlson, Planning and Economic Development, stated there is a commitment from all of the developers to complete the process within 18 months from the time PED receives the deed from the county.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Thao moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES PH 15-134.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
6. Resolution giving preliminary approval to the proposed issuance of conduit revenue bonds for the Twin Cities Academy Project under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 through 469.1655, District 1, Ward 7.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is the issuance of $17,250,000 in conduit charter school lease revenue bonds and there is no indebtedness to the HRA.
Chair Brendmoen asked if there is an administrative fee on conduit bonds. Mr. Sage-Martinson stated there is.
Betsy Lueth, Executive Director of Twin Cities Academy, East Side of St. Paul, explained that they are outgrowing their space and look forward to the ability to expand and have ball fields for the kids. She thanked the council for this opportunity.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Finney moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES PH 15-128.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
7. Resolution authorizing the issuance of conduit revenue bonds for the HealthPartners Obligated Group Project under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 through 469.1655 and approving related documents, District 17, Ward 2.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is a conduit health care facility revenue refunding bond for $525,000,000 that refunds a variety of series of bonds for HealthPartners.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Thune moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES PH 15-129.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
FOR DISCUSSION
8. Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Conduit Housing Revenue Obligations (2700 University at Westgate Station Housing Project), District 12, Ward 4.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is a terrific mixed income project near the Westgate Station area, issuing $9,000,000 in bonds to help that project move forward and doesn’t incur any indebtedness to the HRA.
Commissioner Stark thanked staff for their hard work on this project.
Chair Brendmoen asked if there is a limit to how much conduit bond work we do. Patty Lilledahl, Planning and Economic Development, stated that there is a CAP for housing revenue bonds with 4% tax credits, but our current allocation stands at about $63,000,000.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Stark moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 15-843.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
9. Resolution Authorizing Designation of a Tentative Developer Status for Design Lab Properties, LLC for the Property at 1192 East 7th Street, District 4, Ward 6.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is granting a 180 day period of tentative developer status for a business that is next door to an HRA owned property while they pursue plans to acquire and build an office building at 1192 East 7th Street.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 15-840.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
10. Resolution Approving and Designating Rondo Community Land Trust and Community Housing Development Corporation as Tentative Developers for the HRA-Owned Parcels Known as 838, 840, and 940 Selby Avenue, District 8, Ward 1.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated this is a request to grant tentative developers status to Rondo Community Land Trust for three HRA owned parcels for an 18-month period.
Greg Finzell, Rondo Land Trust, explained that this project has been in the works for two and a half years with a plan to build two multi-family, multi-story buildings existing of affordable senior housing, as a tax credit project. The first floor will consist of retail and commercial space.
Commissioner Stark asked if the senior housing will be independent housing. Greg stated the senior housing will be independent, however; services will be provided and partnerships will be built with Neighborhood Network for Seniors, Neighborhood Development Center and Walker West Music Academy.
Commissioner Thao shared his appreciation of this project and thanked Greg and PED for their hard work on this project.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Thao moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 15-868.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
11. Resolution Endorsing and Approving the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Housing Finance Board’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit Procedural Manual and Qualified Allocation Plan for 2016, Citywide.
Mr. Sage-Martinson stated proposed changes to the Tax Credit Procedural Manual or Qualified Allocation Plan are endorsed by the HRA to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Housing Finance Board. Today’s action consists of one change to the maximum fee guidelines for multi-unit rental projects, pursuant to HRA Board Resolution 14-1038.
Chair Brendmoen announced the public hearing. Commissioner Bostrom moved approval. Approved as set forth in RES 15-738.
VOTE: Yeas - 7 Nays - 0
STAFF REPORT
12. Downtown Parking Management Strategy.
Hilary Holmes, Planning and Economic Development, gave an overview presentation of the Downtown Parking Management Strategy.
Commissioner Thune expressed his satisfaction with Hilary’s work and shared his concerns regarding handicap and motorcycle parking, creating online applications to use with computerized meters, overnight parking, marketing, diagonal parking, a downtown circulator trolley system, and transit incentives.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Thune moved adjournment. The HRA meeting was adjourned.