04-19 HRA Regular
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
April 19, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Supple at 7:05 p.m. via Webex.
HRA Members Mary Supple, Chair; Maria Regan Gonzalez; Sue Sandahl, Lee Ohnesorge
Present: and Erin Vrieze Daniels.
HRA Members None
Absent:
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; John Stark, Community Development
Director/Executive Director; Julie Urban, Housing Manager; and LaTonia
DuBois, Administrative Assistant.
Others Present: None
OPEN FORUM
Administrative Assistant DuBois provided instructions to call in for the open forum.
No Callers.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
M/Sandahl, S/Vrieze Daniels to approve the minutes of the joint City Council and HRA work
session of February 16, 2021, the regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting of
February 16, 2021 and the joint City Council, HRA, Planning Commission and Human Rights
Commission work session of March 15, 2021.
Motion carried 5-0
Item #1 AGENDA APPROVAL
M/Sandahl, S/Vrieze Daniels to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 5-0
HRA Meeting Minutes -2- April 19, 2021
Item #2 CONSENT CALENDAR
Executive Director Stark presented the Consent Calendar:
A. Consider approval of revisions to the First Time Homebuyer Program Guidelines. (Staff
Report No. 11)
Executive Director Stark explained the reasoning for the changes, to increase the base loan
amount and allowing the Executive Director to grant approval of additional funds under special
circumstances.
Commissioner Vrieze Daniels noted an error in the Guidelines; corrections were made to
the Guidelines.
M/Sandahl, S/Vrieze Daniels to approve the Consent Calendar with the corrections.
Motion Carried 5-0
Item #3 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
Item #4 CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING REVISIONS TO
THE INCLUSIONARY AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY (S.R. NO. 12)
Housing Manager Urban presented Staff Report No. 12.
Chair Supple asked Housing Manager Urban to go over the Affordability Level and the
Average Median Income table again.
Chair Supple and Commissioners clarified with Housing Manager Urban the Affordability
Levels being proposed are as follows:
Affordability Level % of Units
RENTAL
60% of Area Median Income (AMI) 20%
50% of AMI 15%
30% of AMI 10%
OWNER‐OCCUPIED
115% of AMI 20%
100% of AMI 15%
80% of AMI 10%
Commissioner Vrieze Daniels inquired about how people would know they can request grab
bars.
HRA Meeting Minutes -3- April 19, 2021
Executive Director Stark explained the reasoning for the flexibility with the grab bars
component and future plans to post accessibility information and resources on the city website.
Commissioner Ohnesorge inquired about the percentages of roll in showers.
Housing Manager Urban explained that Type A units would require 5% to have a roll in
shower and if they have fully accessible units 3% would be required.
Chair Supple asked for Housing Manager Urban to explain the rationale behind the 5% and
3%.
Housing Manager Urban explained it is thought to be an incentive to encourage developers
to provide fully accessible units.
Commissioner Regan Gonzalez asked for explanation of the decision offer the 3% and to
not require 5% for all.
Housing Manager Urban explained the difference between Type A and fully accessible
units and current needs based on data and incentives to developers to offer more fully accessible
units.
Executive Director Stark explained the city is working to learn more to develop expertise
around accessibility.
Chair Supple inquired about putting information on the website to make residents aware of
when accessible units are available.
Executive Director Stark discussed challenges with knowing when accessible units are
available and the ability to obtain them and thoughts about possible future solutions.
Housing Manager Urban stated that people are currently referred to housing link for
information on accessible units.
Commissioner Regan Gonzalez thanked residents and staff for all their work on this policy.
Chair Supple echoed Commissioner Regan Gonzalez’s comments.
M/Vrieze Daniels, S/Regan Gonzalez to approve a resolution approving revisions to the
Inclusionary Affordable Housing Policy.
Motion Carried 5-0
RESOLUTION NO. 1391
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENTS TO THE INCLUSIONARY AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO TAKE STEPS
Item #5 TO DISCHARGE DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS FROM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY-OWNED PROPERTY (S.R. NO 13)
Housing Manager Urban presented staff report No. 13.
HRA Meeting Minutes -4- April 19, 2021
Chair Supple inquired about this being specific to HRA-owned property and if a similar
resolution would be coming before the City Council for city owned property.
Housing Manager Urban stated that a similar resolution would be coming before the City
Council for city owned property.
Commissioner Vrieze Daniels mentioned that the form is up on the website and inquired
about what outreach is being done.
Housing Manager Urban explained different staff groups that are working with different
entities, along with the Human Rights Commission, to get the information out and welcomed any
input.
Commissioner Regan Gonzalez mentioned how this is a great opportunity to talk about
what the city is doing to be more accessible and equitable and the importance to look at planning
and developments with an equity lens.
Chair Supple inquired if people could be notified about a possible covenant on their
property at the time of purchase.
Housing Manager Urban explained plans to provide information with the point of sale
inspections and that this would also be mentioned to realtors during the upcoming realtor
workshop.
M/Sandahl, S/Vrieze Daniels to adopt a resolution condemning the use of discriminatory
covenants and authorizing staff to discharge discriminatory covenants on all existing and future
Housing and Redevelopment Authority-owned property.
Motion Carried 5-0
RESOLUTION NO. 1392
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE USE OF DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS
AND DISCHARGING DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS ON HRA-OWNED PROPERTY
Item #6 HRA DISCUSSION ITEMS
None.
Item #6 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Stark reported special legislation being introduced around Tax Increment
Finance pooling. Executive Director Stark also reported that the state emergency rental assistance
program is expected to open up at any time and that VEAP is currently assisting with rental
assistance with the help of funds from the HRA.
Item #7 CLAIMS
HRA Meeting Minutes -5- April 19, 2021
M/Vrieze Daniels, S/Regan Gonzalez that the following claims be approved:
U.S. BANK 3/15/2021
Section 8 Checks: 132592-132670 $173,276.08
HRA Checks: 33973-33986 $80,079.32
$253,355.40
TOTAL
U.S. BANK 4/19/2021
Section 8 Checks: 132671-132755 $187,040.56
HRA Checks: 33987-33998 $10,952.85
$197,993.41
TOTAL
Motion carried 5-0
Item #8 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:03 p.m.
Date Approved: May 17, 2021
Mary B. Supple
HRA Chair
LaTonia DuBois John Stark
Administrative Assistant Executive Director