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<br />Commissioner Elvig asked how many Ramsey residents qualify or apply for this type of housing <br />unit, and how they can get the most bang for the buck for the residents. <br /> <br />Mr. Batalden indicated there were two orientation sessions held for interested families who <br />wanted to apply to the program. There was not as much of a turnout from the Ramsey residents <br />as they were hoping for. There were five differentAnoka County communities that had families <br />come to the event. The one family that came from Ramsey was a single mom with two kids that <br />did not have a big enough family to qualify for the size oftownhome in this project. That is not <br />to say if a smaller house were to be built somewhere else in the Twin Cities there would not be <br />an opportunity for the family to purchase that home. <br /> <br />Commissioner Elvig commented that is a good point that there are other opportunities for <br />Ramsey residents with Habitat for Humanity, other than this project. He has seen the HRA look <br />at different projects that were very expensive. He would be of the opinion that this is one of the <br />least expensive, most bang for the buck opportunities for affordable housing that tax dollars can <br />be put into. He may be willing to support more than the $6,000 as long as they monitor the <br />number of units in relation to the goal. <br /> <br />Mr. Batalden explained the $6,000 figure was determined based on the partnership that has been <br />formed with a contribution towards volunteers. This isa preliminary discussion. He would <br />suggest giving this a go, and seeing if everyone likes what they are doing. They could revisit the <br />discussion next year and discuss a larger amount at that point. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gamec indicated they should look at the City as a whole. With the ACCAP <br />project going in and with this project they are meeting a lot of the demands in several different <br />ways. The City is meeting the goals in a lot of ways, and giving people more of a choice with <br />houses from over $1 million down. <br /> <br />Commissioner Dehen requested further information regarding the Metropolitan Council <br />requirements. <br /> <br />Ms. Cathy Capone Bennett, Housing Master Plan Consultant, explained Ramsey and the <br />Metropolitan Council negotiated goals in 1995 that go until 2010. Whatever is developed in <br />between that time meets those goals. At the next HRA meeting she will provide information on <br />the number of units that were negotiated. The 1,143 number is what the Metropolitan Council <br />has calculated are the City's future goals from 2011 to 2020. <br /> <br />Commissioner Dehen asked what the Metropolitan Council can do to force affordable housing <br />on the City if he and his constituents do not agree that it needs to be addressed in Ramsey. <br /> <br />Ms. Capone Bennett indicated she does not think it can be forced on the City, but how the City <br />tries to achieve those goals may affect the scores the City receives on an annual basis. Those <br />scores are taken into consideration when the City applies for funds for any Metropolitan Council <br />type projects. The City needs to make an attempt to try to balance the housing style in its <br />development. The Metropolitan Council is not going to put down the iron hammer if by 2011 <br /> <br />Housing and Redevelopment Authority / September 4, 2007 <br />Page 3 of 7 <br />