Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 07/22/2002

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CONSIDER CREATION OF AN EDA HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE By: James E. Norman, City Administrator CASE Background: The EDA discussed the creation of an EDA Housing Subcommittee during the meeting of June 10, 2002. Staff was directed to research other cities' Housing and Redevelopment Authorities and their mission statements. The Anoka HRA's mission statement provides a good synopsis of common HRA goals: "To promote access to quality life cycle housing for households of all types and economic levels". While 164 Minnesota cities have already created HRAs, the City of Ramsey currently does not have the need to create a full-fledged HRA. Ramsey is facing significant housing issues, however; as parts of Ramsey continue to develop, the City needs to monitor existing and future development from a housing policy perspective. Observations: State Statute enables cities to create economic development authorities with a number of responsibilities. State Statute 469 includes the language that economic development authorities are. created "in order to promote the economic, commercial, housing, and industrial development and redevelopment of the City.. ." The City Council is occupied with other City business; the EDA is the most logical board to advise the Council on housing issues. While past practice of the EDA has been to focus primarily on industrial and commercial development, housing is clearly among the responsibilities of the EDA. The relationship between housing and economic development is obvious because if the EDA is in the business of creating jobs, it should also be in the business of creating housing for the people who fill those jobs. Since the EDA's focus has been primarily on industrial and commercial development, staff recommends that the EDA create a subcommittee that can focus more directly on housing policy issues. An EDA subcommittee would be able to take an in-depth look at current and future housing issues in the City of Ramsey and report findings to the EDA, which in turn would make policy recommendations to the City Council. This would free up the EDA to focus on industrial and commercial development and redevelopment. The City has immediate need for a citizen's advisory board to look at housing policy and development in the City of Ramsey. Current projects include the land on the eastern side of the City Hall campus where the soon-to-be constructed Helium Street extension will connect with Alpine Drive. A second project is the recently purchased property between Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Sunfish Lake. The EDA directed Staff to advertise in the Ramsey Newsletter asking for interested residents to participate in a Housing Subcommittee. Staff was able to advertise in the July/August RamSey Resident. We have received calls from three interested residents to date. Authority Action: Based upon discussion. Reviewed by: City Administrator Community Development Director EDA: 07/22/02