Title
Approving the February 28, 2018 HRA Board Meeting Minutes
Body
ROLL CALL
Present 5 - Commissioners Brendmoen, Henningson, Noecker, Prince, Stark, and Chair Tolbert
Absent 2 - Commissioners Bostrom and Thao
SWEARING IN OF SAMANTHA HENNINGSON
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Resolution appointing Secretary of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Adopted as set forth in Min 18-352
2. Approving the February 14, 2018 HRA Board meeting minutes
Adopted as set forth in Min 18-6
3. Resolution approving and authorizing the execution of signage and encroachment easement agreement, District 17, Ward 2
Adopted as set forth in Min 18-367
Moved by Commissioner Henningson, Consent Agenda is Adopted
VOTE: Yeas - 5 Nays - 0
FOR DISCUSSION
Commissioner Thao arrived
4. Resolution approving and authorizing an HRA Business Assistance Fund loan of up to $200,000 to Techstars Farm to Fork, District 17, Ward 2.
Dr. Bruce Corrie, HRA Executive Director, stated that RES 18-163 refers to the authorization of a loan of up to $200,000 to Techstars Farm to Fork from the HRA Business Assistance Fund.
Techstars is a Colorado based company that operates worldwide. Techstars chooses promising high tech startups and provides a portfolio of services and resources for them to launch their business in a short period of time. Companies are recruited worldwide and to date they have accepted over 1000 companies and raised over $3.3 billion and created more than 10,000 jobs. In the Minneapolis retail Techstar sponsored by Target 2 companies launched in Minneapolis.
Techstars St. Paul is sponsored by Ecolab and Cargill and will focus on agriculture tech based startups. The program is called Farm to Fork and will be based in the Osborne 370 building where other tech companies are located.
PED’s support for Techstar follows the Fullstack initiative of last year which aimed at improving the presence of tech based companies in St. Paul. With Techstars located in St. Paul, not only will we get some great companies and entrepreneurs visiting the city but also the possibility of them locating here and engaging with us to enhance our local high tech ecosystem.
Staff recommends approval. Staff Marcq Sung can answer questions if needed.
Chair Tolbert thanked Dr. Corrie and Marcq Sung for their work on this and shared his enthusiasm for this project.
Moved by Commissioner Noecker, Resolution Approved as set forth in RES 18-363
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
PUBLIC HEARING
5. Authorization to acquire a tax forfeited property at 0 Minnehaha Avenue East and subsequently convey same to Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services for development and use as a community solar garden in the area of the Rivoli Bluff Development in the Railroad Island area. Payne-Phalen District 5, Ward 5
Dr. Bruce Corrie, HRA Executive Director, stated that RES PH 18-70 requests authorization to acquire a tax forfeited property at 0 Minnehaha Avenue East and subsequently transfer it to Dayton Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services for development and use as a community solar garden in the area of the Rivoli Bluff Development in the Railroad Island area. The solar garden will be the first in Saint Paul and will be developed with Xcel Energy and will be used to service over 120 houses of very low income residents in the Railroad Island area. A youth training program for disadvantage youth to learn about solar panel installation and maintenance is also part of the program.
Staff recommends approval; Staff Cynthia Carlson Heins can answer questions if needed.
Moved by Commissioner Brendmoen, Resolution Approved as set forth in RES PH 18-70
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
STAFF REPORT
6. Staff report on the Housing and Land Use chapters of the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Lucy Thompson, PED Principal City Planner, presented the commissioners with a brief background of the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Anton Jerve, PED Senior City Planner, presented the commissioners with an overview of the Land Use chapters of the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Jamie Radel, PED Senior City Planner, presented the commissioners with an overview of the Housing chapters of the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Received and Filed as SR 18-18
ADJOURNMENT
HRA Board Meeting is Adjourned