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Ms. Geisler responded, if houses of a certain age were targeted, assumptions could be <br />made regarding structural issues, for example. <br /> <br />Member Strommen agreed and asked "why not target all housing dated from the 1970s." <br /> <br />EDA Member Gromberg noted two different projects were being discussed, indicating <br />one project was to locate funding to repair dilapidated housing and the other was to <br />determine the housing needs of the community. He added advantage should be taken of <br />available funds and stated outreach should not be limited to a certain area. <br /> <br />Member Kurak stated only one house in a neighborhood might need attention. She asked <br />how that homeowner would be found. <br /> <br />Ms. Wald :responded staff had "no hard and fast answers now." She noted the project <br />should start using a small area as its target. <br /> <br />Member Osterhus agreed it would be wise to begin with a small, finite population, <br />opening the guidelines "as we get better." <br /> <br />Member Gromberg noted the funding would drive the guidelines, as more people would <br />be found who met the guidelines as the program became more successful. He added <br />some homeowners would see the results obtained by other residents. <br /> <br />Member Kruger noted the City of Minneapolis used housing inspectors to inform <br />homeowners, who could go to the Housing Authority to apply for funds. He added the <br />Authority would make a recommendation regarding what the homeowner needed. <br /> <br />Member Kurak indicated residents would say "me too" when they saw the help their <br />neighbors received. <br /> <br />Member Strommen inquired if the purpose of survey would be to identify housing needs, <br />which would include repair needs rather than types of housing. <br /> <br />Ms. Wald indicated the needed information was the condition of a resident's home. <br /> <br />Member Dvorak questioned if residents would be honest about the condition of their <br />homes because of assessment issues; therefore, she wondered if the collected information <br />would be reliable. <br /> <br />Ms. Wald suggested homeowners would be asked if they were interested in being <br />considered for rehabilitation projects. <br /> <br />EDA Chairperson Riley suggested the City put together a packet explaining the necessary <br />criteria for consideration if funds were available. <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority / Housing Committee / January 12, 2004 <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />