10-19-2020 EDA Complete AgendaE C O N O MIC D E V E L O P ME N T AU T H O R IT Y ME E T IN G
V IR T U AL ME E TIN G H E L D V IA W E B E X
O C TO B ER 19, 2020
7:15 PM (I MME D I AT ELY FO L L OWI NG THE HRA ME ETI NG)
C all to Order
A ttendance
Open F orum: Opportunity for C itizens to address the E D A on items not on the current A genda; dial phone number 612-
861-0651. A s you call in, a moderator will assist you.
Approval of the Minutes
A pproval of the minutes of the regular E conomic D evelopment A uthority meeting of S eptember 21, 2020.
AG E N D A APPR O VAL
1.A pproval of the A genda
O T H E R B U S IN E S S
2.A n amendment to the guidelines for the K ids @ Home P rogram to expand participation in cases of unforeseen
events causing financial hardship.
S taff Report No. 17
E D A D ISC U SSIO N IT E MS
3.E D A D iscussion Items
E X E C U T IV E D IR E C TO R R E P O R T
4.E xecutive D irector's Report
C LAIMS
5.C laims
6.A djournment
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. Requests must be made at least 96
hours in advance to the City Clerk at 612-861-9738.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
September 21, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President Supple at 7:28 p.m. via Webex.
EDA Members Mary Supple, President; Maria Regan Gonzalez; Sue Sandahl; Erin Vrieze
Present: Daniels; and Pat Elliott.
EDA Members None
Absent:
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; John Stark, Executive Director; Julie Urban,
Housing Manager; and LaTonia DuBois, Administrative Assistant.
OPEN FORUM
President Supple provided the phone number and instructions to call in for open forum. No
callers.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Vrieze Daniels to approve the minutes of the regular Economic
Development Authority meeting of August 21, 2020
Motion carried 5-0
Item #1
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Sandahl, S/Vrieze Daniels to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 5-0
Item #2
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Executive Director Stark presented the consent calendar.
a) Consideration of a resolution correcting the Economic Development Authority Proposed
Property tax levy for payable 2021. (S.R. No. 15)
EDA Meeting Minutes -2- September 21, 2020
M/Sandahl, S/Vrieze Daniels to adopt a resolution correcting the proposed tax levy for
payable 2021.
RESOLUTION NO. 26
RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPOSED 2021 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY BUDGET AND CERTIFYING THE 2021 TAX LEVY
Motion carried 5-0
Item #3
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
None.
Item #4
CONSIDERATOIN OF A RESOLUTION CREATIGN A SECOND ROUND OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ADMINISTERED COVID-19SMALL
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE FORGIVABLE LOANS AND AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LEGAL
COUNSEL TO MODIFY THE TERMS OF ALL COVID LOANS (BOTH ROUNDS).
(S.R. NO. 16).
Executive Director Stark presented Staff Report No. 16. Executive Director Stark explained
how staff notified businesses about the first round of Covid loans and provided some background
information about businesses that received the first round of Covid loans. Executive Director Stark
mentioned some revisions to the qualifications for the second round of Covid loans and explained
that businesses who received the first round of Covid loans would not be exempt, but they would
not be given priority over first time applicants.
Commissioner Regan Gonzalez thanked staff for the program and the support of small
businesses.
Executive Director Stark stated how gratifying it has been to work with the business
community.
Commissioner Vrieze Daniels inquired about recipients who received one of the first round
of Covid loans.
Executive Director Stark explained that businesses would not be ineligible, but they would
not receive preference over first time applicants.
M/Regan Gonzalez, S/Vrieze Daniels to approve a resolution amending the terms of the
Economic Development Authority administered Covid-19 Small Business Assistance Forgivable
Loans and authorizing a second round of loans.
RESOLUTION NO. 27
RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTING A COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
FORGIVABLE LOAN PROGRAM.
Motion carried 5-0.
EDA Meeting Minutes -3- September 21, 2020
Item #5
EDA DISCUSSION ITEMS
President Supple welcomed KMNV La Raza radio station to the City of Richfield.
Item #6
EXUCTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Stark reported on the EDA energy efficient business grant, that
the first grant was awarded in August and invited commissioners and the public to reach out with
questions.
Item #
CLAIMS
M/Vrieze Daniels, S/Sandahl that the following claims be approved:
U.S. BANK 9/21/2020
EDA Checks: 20484-20501 $16,649.21
TOTAL $16,649.21
Item #8
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:50 p.m.
Date Approved: October 19, 2020
Mary B. Supple
President
LaTonia DuBois John Stark
Administrative Assistant Executive Director
AGENDA SECTION:OTHER BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM #2.
S TAFF REPORT NO. 17
E CONOMIC DE V E LOP ME NT AUT HORIT Y
MEET ING
10/19/2020
RE P O RT P RE PA RE D B Y: J ulie Urban, Housing & Redevelopment Manager
O THE R D E PA RTM E NT RE V IE W:
E X E C UTIV E D IRE C TO R RE V IE W: J ohn S tark, E xecutive D irector
10/13/2020
I T E M F O R C O UNC IL C O NS ID E RAT I O N:
An amendment to the guidelines for the Kids @ Home Program to expand participation in cases of
unforeseen events causing financial hardship.
E X E C UT IV E S UM M ARY:
The Kids @ Home Program (Program) is a shallow rent subsidy program designed to help families with
children in Richfield schools attain a stable housing situation, as studies show this is a key factor in
educational success. The Program is now celebrating its fifteenth year of serving the community. To date,
over 150 families have benefited from the Program.
Under the current guidelines, the Program provides four years of rental assistance and requires a member of
the household to be working a minimum of 30 hours per week. The proposed revisions would offer some
flexibility to these requirements in the case of an unforeseen event that imposes a severe financial hardship to
the family.
Unforeseen events could include, but would not be limited to:
unexpected job loss by adult family member;
housing loss due to fire or natural disaster;
death of an immediate family member;
pandemic; and or
major illness.
Under the revised guidelines, participation in the Program could be extended up to one year in length. The
family would need to continue to meet other criteria of the Program guidelines. Work hour reduction amounts
would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
RE C O M M E ND E D AC T I O N:
By motion: Amend the guidelines of the Kids @ Home Program to expand participation and/or allow
flexibility in the work requirement due to unforeseen events that cause financial hardship.
B AS IS O F RE C O M M E ND AT I O N:
A.H IS TOR IC AL C ON T E X T
The Kids @ Home Program began on December 1, 2004.
The Program provides four years of rent assistance.
B.P OL IC IE S (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, etc):
The Kids @ Home Program provides a shallow rent subsidy and supportive services to families
with children attending a Richfield school. The Program provides housing affordability and school
stability to families with children earning less than 50% of the Area Median I ncome.
C.C R IT IC AL T IMIN G IS S U E S:
The guideline change would be effective immediately.
Currently the Kids @ Home Program has two families where their participation in the Program is
set to expire December 31, 2020. During the C OV I D-19 pandemic, one family has experienced a
job loss and another has had their hours reduced. Both families have not returned to work but
continue to strive to make the goals they established during their four years on the Program.
Granting them an additional year on the Program will help to alleviate the anxiety and stress they
are currently facing from the impending loss of rent assistance at the end of the year.
D.F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
There are sufficient funds to cover the proposed guidelines revision.
E.L E GAL C ON S ID E R AT ION:
Kids @ Home is funded solely by the Richfield Economic Development Authority (E D A), and the
E D A has the authority to make guideline revisions.
ALTE R N AT IV E R E C O MME N D ATIO N(S):
Do not amend the guidelines.
Continue the item to seek further information or clarification.
P R IN C IPAL PAR TIE S E X P E C TE D AT ME E TIN G:
None
AT TAC H ME N T S:
D escription Type
Guidelines B ackup Material
Kids @ Home – Rental Assistance Program
Kids @ Home is a 48 month rent assistance program. Families must fit the criteria to enter the program and maintain this
criterion to continue to receive rental assistance under the program.
Criteria for families:
♦ must currently be housed in unsubsidized rental housing in Richfield (no shared housing)
♦ have a child or children in Richfield schools (K – 12)
♦ child or children need to be enrolled and attend a Richfield school
♦ one parent (or adult in family) is employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week (pay checks stubs for 2 months
of work needed to provided verification of this income)
♦ not receiving any other housing assistance
♦ annual income must fall at or below income guideline (priority given to applicants who have income that falls
below 50% of AMI)
♦ rental payments must be current or no more than one month’s total rent owed to landlord
♦ Families must be willing to attend 10 Parent Share meetings a year (Parent Share meetings are held Thursday
evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield. Families must attend 5 of the
Parent Share meetings by June 30th of each year and the remaining 5 must be completed by December 15th of
each year) Families must be willing to attend 10 Parent Share meetings a year (Parent Share meetings are
held Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield. Families must
attend 5 of the Parent Share meetings by June 30th of each year and the remaining 5 must be completed by
December 15th of each year) For 2021 it is anticipated meetings will be held via phone, tablet and computer on
ZOOM.
♦ Reductions in the work hours and/or an exception to the four year program limit may be granted in cases of
unforeseen events that cause financial hardship, including but not limited to unexpected job loss, housing loss
due to fire or natural disaster, death of an immediate family member, pandemic, or major illness.
Income Limits Effective 04/01/2020
60% of Area Median Income (AMI) 50% of Area Median Income (AMI)
Persons Income Limit Persons Income Limit
2 $49,600 2 $41,400
3 $55,800 3 $46,550
4 $62,000 4 $51,700
5 $67,000 5 $55,850
6 $72,000 6 $60,000
For families with family members of 7 + please contact Richfield HRA at 612-861-9773
Occupancy Standards – Family Size determines the
Occupancy Size (bedroom size for your family) and the bedroom
size determines your rent assistance. You may live in a unit that
is larger than the Occupancy Size determined by Richfield HRA,
rent assistance in that case will be determined by actual family
size. If your family lives in a unit smaller than the occupancy
standard the assistance determined by Richfield HRA is the
bedroom size of the unit.
Number of Persons
Bedroom Size
2 - 4 2
5 -7 3
8 -10 4/5
Rent Assistance (effective 9/1/2020) – Families receive rent assistance based on the following flat payment. Each year
rent assistance decreases, families responsibility will increase)
Bedroom Size
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
4th Year
One $450 $400 $350 $250
Two $550 $500 $450 $350
Three $650 $550 $500 $450
Four/Five $750 $700 $650 $550
The Kids @ Home Program will open in October 2020 for applications. Interested individuals will need to download an
application from the City of Richfield’s website (www.cityofrichfield.gov). There will be a link on the first page of the website
that will direct you to the application. The application will be available for download from 10:00 a.m. Tuesday October 27, 2020
through 4:00 p.m. Friday November 13, 2020. Complete the entire application and return it along with a copy of your current
lease and paystubs that reflect 6 – 8 weeks of payment (check stubs must be dated September 2020, October 2020 or
November 2020). If you are currently not working 30 hours a week due to Covid-19, please contact our office at
section8@richfieldmn.gov and put in the subject line of that e-mail Kids @ Home Covid 19 Work Waiver. In the body of your e-
mail please give your name, street address and tell us a little bit about your most recent work history. A waiver form will be e-
mailed to you for completion to submit with your application. The application, current lease and appropriate paystubs (or
waiver form) must be submitted to Richfield HRA no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday November 23, 2020. (FAX AND E-MAILS
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED)
If there are more qualified candidates than openings available Richfield HRA will conduct a random lottery drawing.
Letters/E-mails for the qualified candidates who have been pulled for the lottery will be sent out no later than December 1,
2020. Those applications not selected in the lottery draw will have their applications shredded. Applicants selected from the
lottery draw must complete the required process to become participants on the Kids @ Home Program as well as attend a
scheduled phone briefing in December of 2020. Rent assistance for qualified candidates who have successfully completed
the application process will begin January 1, 2021 or February 1, 2021.