05-21 Joint CC and HRA Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Joint City Council and Housing
and Redevelopment Authority Work
Session
May 21, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by Chair Supple at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Michael Howard; Maria Regan Gonzalez;
Present: and Simon Trautmann
Council Members Pat Elliot; Mayor; Edwina Garcia
Absent:
HRA Members Mary Supple, Chair; Michael Howard, Sue
Present: Sandahl.
HRA Members Erin Vrieze Daniels and Pat Elliot.
Absent:
Staff Present: John Stark, Community Development Director; Julie Urban, Housing
Manager; Steve Devich, City Manager
Item #1 NOAH UPDATE
Community Development Director Stark and Housing Manager Urban presented on tools and
strategies for preserving and strengthening the City’s naturally occurring affordable rental housing.
In response to Director Stark’s request that they prioritize the tools and strategies, Council
Member Howard suggested staff work on items that can be moved forward sooner. He recommended
prioritizing the identification of buildings at risk and tenant protection measures, including a 90-day
tenant protection ordinance and an inclusionary housing policy ordinance.
HRA Chair Supple added that we should move on a fair housing ordinance or policy so we
don’t lose out on financial opportunities.
Council Member Trautmann suggested we also study the 4-D tax break and use it as leverage
to improve the quality of our apartments. He also encouraged renters to apply for City Commissions.
Council Member Regan Gonzalez added that we should partner with schools as we work to
identify at-risk buildings and that we should do further study on just cause mass non-renewal.
Chair Supple invited members of the public to speak:
Special joint Council&HRA Work Session Minutes -2- May 21,2018
Lee, renter, stated that there is a need in the community for accessible units with zero-
threshold showers.
Donna Paulson, Richfield Towers, expressed concern that there have been multiple police
calls to the building and felons living there.
Dave Snyder, 70th and Harriet, encouraged the Council to adopt tools and strategies to
prevent displacement of tenants.
Santos, Season's Park, stated that he has lived at this complex for many years and that there
have been multiple owners. Aeon now owns it, and he hopes that they will make improvements.
Alan Lundberg, renter, stated that providing 90 days' notice to vacate is better.
Jay Tindell, Richfield Towers, stated that there are drugs, alcohol, crime and gangs in the
apartment building.
Ben Whalen, renter, expressed support for valuing renters, and he pointed out that
concessions were made to landlords and that tools were taken off the table because of landlords.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:58 p.m.
Date Approved: June 12, 2018
:If•tt
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ed Voto Olt en L. Devich
Executive Aide/Analyst City Manager