Agenda - Council - 07/25/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I i I I I i I I I I i CASE ANOKA COUNTY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY By: Ryan R. Schroeder, City Administrator Background: Recently, Anoka County created a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). Under Minnesota 469.033, the County HRA has the authority to create taxing districts to finance the activities of their HRA. At its July 18, 1995 meeting, the County HRA decided to provide cities wiih HRA's, or EDA's with HRA authority, the option of consenting to a special levy to stipport County HRA activities. Pursuant to the attached, in Ramsey this levy is projected!to be $65,386 in 1996. The cities of Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids and Spring Lake Park all meet this consent option. We have inform~ the County that Ramsey does as well. Ham Lake is in the process of creating an HRA. The County inten~ls to use their levy to support housing rehab projects and to fund County- owned Senior Housing projects, County Staff has represented that ail communities involved will bo assured that the locally raised funds will be spent to their benefit (supposedly read "to be spent within the community"). Also, involved communities will be the decision-~akers for the fund allocations. They have also represented that if all the consent communities opt out, the program will not work. This levy is separate from the County general operating levy and will result in a $6.42 tax increase on a $72,000 home. The intent of the program is to provide a funding source to stabilize housing stock throughout the County. The theory is that problems in Columbia Heights or Fridley (for example) will only spread and deteriorate the entire County if not taken care of on the front end. Therefore, it is to Ramsey's benefit to play its part in this program. The decision of Opting out or opting in is an annual decision. Therefore, if Ramsey chose to opt out for 1996, it could do so and opt back in for 1997. This direction would allow the City the oppoi'tunity to review the success of the program prior to committing taxpayer dollars to it. It is my understanding that the decision regarding City participation in the County HRA needs to be madeby August 18, 1995. Council Action: Motion to direct the City Administrator to inform the County that, at present, Ramsey does not consent to a Special benefit levy for 1996. Further, that the City may reconsider this action at such time as there appears to be a greater direct benefit of programming to Ramsey taxpayers. Reviewed by: City Administrator Finance Officer CC: 07/25/95 /jmt