1993-11-16MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - NOVEMBER 16, 1993
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM. Members present:
Councilmembers Liz Jensen, Phyllis Jessen, Andrea Ahrens and Ken
Smith. Absent and excused: Mayor Johnson. Also present: City
Manager Ed Shukle and Bruce Larson of West Hennepin Human Services
Planning Board.
Bruce Larson, Assistant Director, West Hennepin Human Services
Planning Board, and President of Community Builders, was present to
discuss with the City Council a resolution of support for a Lease
to Purchase program that would be sponsored by Community Builders,
an arm of West Hennepin Human Services. Community Builders would
like to apply to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) on
behalf of the City of Mound for funds from the Community
Rehabilitation Fund Program of MHFA. The amount of funds being
requested are $150,000. These funds would be used to implement a
Lease to Purchase Program for low to moderate income families in
our community to purchase their own homes. He explained that
Community Builders is a 501 (c) (3) housing corporation established
to increase the supply of long term affordable housing in suburban
Hennepin County for low and moderate income families. He further
stated that Community Builders is affiliated with West Hennepin
Human Services Planning Board, a 20 year old community based
organization established through a joint powers agreement of its
member municipalities. He further stated that because of the need
for affordable housing is throughout the west Hennepin suburban
community, Community Builders is planning to work with other cities
as well. Currently, they are discussing a program with both St.
Louis Park and Minnetonka. MHFA community rehabilitation fund
program provides grants to cities to be used as loans or grants to
eligible recipients for various activities related to single or
multi-family housing. These include acquisition, demolition,
rehabilitation, permanent financing, refinancing and gap financing.
The program must be targeted to a specific neighborhood or other
geographic area within which the grant must be used. The city is
permitted to submit more than one application, but not for the same
area. The application must be submitted by December 6th,
applicants will be notified no later than January 7, 1994. After
some discussion, the City Council consensus was to have a
resolution prepared for approval at the next regular council
meeting in support of an application to MHFA.
Mayor pro-tem Liz Jensen then reviewed an updated list of goals
that has been discussed at each of the last few COW meetings. She
indicated that this will be an ongoing discussion and items will be
noted as being completed, underway or deleted from the list. There
may also be additions made to the list as time goes on. Concern
was expressed by Councilmember Ken Smith regarding economic
development issues under the "thriving downtown business center"
item. He asked that the city manager provide some information on
economic development authorities and other possible grant programs
that might be available for economic development.
Minu~e~ - Committe~ of the Whole - November 16, 1993 - P~g¢ 2
Performance evaluation systems were discussed.
will be available on this item at a later date.
More information
The Economic Development Commission meeting of November 18, 1993
was discussed. The city manager indicated that the city council
had stated that they wanted to be invited to the November EDC
meeting for the purpose of discussing economic development goals
with the commission. Council briefly discussed what they felt was
important to discuss with the EDC at that meeting.
The city manager indicated that Curt Pearson, city attorney, and
other city staff met with representatives of the Woodland Point
Area, dealing with the lawsuit that is currently under way against
the City by residents of Woodland Point. The meeting was held to
discuss issues related to the lawsuit as they affected non-abutting
home owners in Woodland Point. The non-abutting homeowners present
at the meeting felt that they needed to discuss possible
involvement with the lawsuit with more of the non-abutters that
would be affected. Therefore, another meeting of the Woodland
Point Homeowners is scheduled for Tuesday, November 23rd, at 6:30
PM, prior to the City Council meeting which begins at 7:30 PM.
Other business discussed was the light at the end of Highland
Boulevard as it pertains to the LMCD's ordinances on lighting.
The next meeting of the Committee of the Whole is scheduled for
Tuesday, January 18, 1994, at 7:30 PM.
Upon motion by Smith, seconded by Jessen, and carried unanimously,
the meeting was adjourned.
uklctfully submitted,
City Manager
ES:is