07-17 Joint CC and HRA Work Session CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
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ha,ntlometuevn Work Session
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July 17, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
The joint work session was called to order by Chair Supple at 7:22 p.m. in the Bartholomew
Room.
Council Members Pat Elliott, Mayor; Edwina Garcia; Maria Regan Gonzalez, and Michael
Present: Howard
Council Members
Absent: None
HRA Members Mary Supple, Chair; Pat Elliott; Michael Howard; Doris Rubenstein, and Sue
Present: Sandahl.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager/Executive Director; John Stark, Community
Development Director; Julie Urban, Housing Specialist
Item #1 AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIES
Community Development Director Stark presented staff and attorney feedback on the
affordable housing preservation tools that were presented at the joint City Council and Housing and
Redevelopment Authority work session on April 25, 2017. Director Stark suggested that goals be set
and also shared data on the city's current affordability status.
Discussion followed on the need to focus on helping existing families stay in the community
and on providing quality, stable housing for everyone.
Director Stark reviewed the status of identifying the buildings that are at risk of becoming less
affordable. He reviewed the issues relating to requiring building owners to provide advanced notice of
any sale. City Attorney Tiejten explained the legal concerns of balancing property rights and city rights
and the difficulty of enforcing and monitoring such a requirement. Director Stark explained that this
strategy can be implemented immediately by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority through
Development Agreements.
Director Stark affirmed staff's commitment to help preservation buyers buy at-risk buildings
when possible and suggested that the right of first refusal tool would be better dealt with at a state
level.
Discussion followed regarding the use of Economic Development Authority funds for
apartment rehabilitation. Mayor/Commissioner Elliott suggested that the City has many needs and
that all need to be weighed before funding is committed to any one item.
City Manager/Executive Director Devich explained the process that would be undertaken to
prioritize EDA funding and establish the budget.
Director Stark continued his presentation, reviewing the tools of 4d property tax classification
and prohibiting Section 8 discrimination. City Attorney Tiejten explained that there were no clear legal
Special Joint Work Session Minutes -2- July 17,2017
answers regarding the Section 8 discrimination prohibition. Director Stark recommended that any City
action on this prohibition wait until the lawsuit filed against the City of Minneapolis progresses.
Director Stark reviewed staff recommendations regarding Just Cause Eviction, Incentives to
address landlord concerns, Inclusionary housing, Increasing local leverage through zoning, rental
assistance, the Comprehensive Plan, and building permit fee deferment.
Council Member/Commissioner Howard asked staff to also explore using the City's rental
licensing program to require that landlords provide 60-day notice to tenants and reminded staff of the
urgency of the issues.
City Manager/Executive Director Devich offered a reminder that staff and the city are limited in
how much can be done and encouraged everyone to focus on identifying the right things to do and
then doing them well given limited resources.
Director Stark explained that staff would identify a short list of tools and strategies to focus on
at a future study session.
ADJOURNMENT
The joint work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:10 p.m.
Date Approved: August 8, 2017
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