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ECONOMIC GARDENING, ANOKA COUNTY, Q & A <br />WHAT IS THE BALANCE OF RAMSEY HRA FUNDS AT THE COUNTY? <br />The fund balance is over $811,000 <br />WHAT CONTROL DOES THE CITY HAVE OVER THEIR HRA MONEY? MORE SPECIFICALLY, HOW MUCH <br />MONEY CAN WE TRANSFER FROM THE HRA TO THE EDA (IF WE ELECTED THE EDA POWERS)? <br />The city has great control over the funds it has been our practice to place the collected Lucy [money] into a <br />fund that is then made available for eligible projects selected by the city. Typically staff makes a request to me <br />and I confirm that the project meets the requirements laid out in state statute. The next step requires the city <br />council to pass a resolution requesting $xxx of funding to undertake xxx project. The ACHRA board approves <br />the request and the money can be accessed. The only time a project was denied the city did not consult with <br />our HRA staff and requested a project prohibited by statute. <br />Because we do not levy separate taxes for the HRA and the EDA all funding can be used for either purpose as <br />long as the city has opted into the economic development portion of the ACHRA. At this time Ramsey has not <br />opted in and would have to do so by city council resolution. Once this is done the city can use all funding for <br />housing, redevelopment or economic development. There are no caps or limits on how the city decides to <br />allocate their projects. <br />WHAT CITIES IN ANOKA HAVE ELECTED THE EDA POWERS? <br />Originally it was the smaller communities like St. Francis, Nowthen, Columbus, Lexington and Hilltop to name a <br />few. Ramsey opted into the HRA for the purpose of developing senior housing. Once economic powers were <br />added Columbia Heights joined both the HRA and the EDA as did Spring Lake Park. I will be visiting with all <br />cities in the county this summer and anticipate more cities will opt into the EDA for two reasons. First, there <br />are no additional taxes levied. We were formed with explicit direction to only have one levy not both. The <br />second reason I anticipate more cities opting is to take advantage of the economic gardening program. <br />WHAT ARE THE KNOWN DRAWBACKS AND/OR COMMON CONCERNS CITIES HAVE FOR ENTERING <br />THE COUNTY EDA JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT? <br />The question on concerns cities have had with our program is interesting. To date (I've worked here 11 years) <br />there was only one city that decided to drop out of the program. A new city council wanted full control of <br />activities. Outside of this city I believe you would hear very positive things from our participating cities. We <br />provide technical assistance, respond to your cities funding requests and make periodic presentations as the <br />city requests. <br />For a city already working with us in the housing and redevelopment area, adding the ability to fund economic <br />development activities is extra value added. It opens up the types of projects a city can undertake and there <br />are no additional taxes levied. <br />