01-21 Concurrent CC and HRA Work Session
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Concurrent City Council and Housing and
Redevelopment Authority Work Session
January 21, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by Chair Supple at 5:30 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple; Simon Trautmann, and Ben
Present Whalen.
Council Members Edwina Garcia.
Absent:
HRA Members Mary Supple, Chair; Maria Regan Gonzalez; Sue Sandahl; and
Present: Erin Vrieze Daniels.
HRA Members
Absent: Pat Elliott.
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; John Stark, HRA Executive
Director/Community Development Director; Julie Urban, Housing Manager;
Melissa Poehlman, Assistant Community Development Director; Neil
Ruhland, Communication and Engagement Manager; Kate Aitchison,
Housing/Communications Specialist; and LaTonia DuBois, Administrative
Assistant.
Others Present: Stephanie Ahles, HueLife; members of the community.
Item #1 FACILITATED WORKSHOP ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS
Chair Supple explained this is an interactive workshop and audio may be difficult at times.
Housing Manager Julie Urban provided background information on affordable housing and
introduced Stephanie Ahles of HueLife.
Stephanie Ahles of HueLife explained the agenda and some objectives for the evening.
Stephanie asked Policy Makers to introduce themselves and what type of housing they grew up in
and asked them to describe what affordable housing looks like to each of them.
Housing Manager Julie Urban provided a data review on affordable housing and presented
data on affordable housing in Richfield. She explained how current policy is working, discussed
accessibility and how affordability is determined by the Met Council.
Concurrent Council and HRA Work Session -2- January 21,2020
Stephanie explained the process for the evening and asked Policy Makers to answer several
questions about what affordable housing looks like. Policy Makers discussed thoughts on the current
affordable housing situation in Richfield and future goals and challenges. Policy Makers broke into
groups and brainstormed and came up with similar objectives and areas of concern. Policy Makers
came back together and shared their ideas and had conversations regarding housing goals and
policies. Objectives were placed on a board and grouped into categories of similarity. A visual of the
City Council and HRA affordable housing goals was pieced together and displayed on the board.
Policy Makers discussed how to build on the goals with current policies and which objectives would
have the biggest impact on the community and which of these they would consider of most
significance. The themes agreed on were: preserve, protect and improve the quality of NOAH; have
plenty of diverse options within affordable housing for all residents; fully integrate affordable housing
into community and provide equitable access to all its amenities; and create proactive policies and
tools to reach our vision for affordability and small business ownership.
Chair Supple invited members of the community to join the Housing and Redevelopment
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:00 p.m.
Date Approved: February 18, 2020
Mary B. Sipple
Chair
LaTo � � Jo • tar
Administrative Assistant E ecuti - Director