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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />Topic Report: Housing & Redevelopment <br />Authority <br />By: James E. Norman, City Administrator <br /> <br />: <br /> <br />Background: <br />The topic of I-lousing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) has come up recently in the <br />strategic planning session and staff wou. ld like to provide a better explanation of an HRA <br />and why thc City of'Ramsey should consider creation of an kIRA. <br /> <br />Elements of ',tn lIRA <br />An l-[ILk is a public corporation with power to undertake certain types of housing and <br />redevelopment or renewal activities. While state legislation "creates" a housing and <br />redevelopment authority in each city, it is up to the city council to formally establish'an <br />HRA bel:ore it can do business and use its powers. Once a council legally establishes an <br />HRA, it may undertake certain types of planning and community development activities <br />on its own, with council approval. <br /> <br />PoweFs <br />An I-IRA is primarily responsible for the planning and implementation of redevelopment <br />and/or low-rent housing assistance programs within its area of operation. An HRA has all <br />the powers necessary to carry out the state HRA Act, but not the power to levy and <br />collect taxes or special assessments except with respect to certain redevelopment projects <br />including, but not limited to, the following powers: <br /> · To sue and be sued; <br /> · To employ staff and an executive director; <br /> · To undertake projects within its area of operation and to provide for the <br /> construction, reconstruction, improvenqent, extension, alteration, or repair of <br /> any project or part of a project; <br /> · To sell, I~uy, own, and lease property by any means necessary, including the <br /> power of eminent domain; <br /> · To cooperate with and use state and federal financial assistance programs; <br /> · To develop rehabilitation and code enforcement techniques; <br /> · To issue bonds for any of its corporate purposes backed by thc- pledge of <br /> revenues, grants, or other contributions; <br /> · To implement renewal or redevelopment programs using tax increment <br /> financing; <br /> · To own, hold, improve, lease, sell, or dispose of real or personal property; <br /> · To designate substandards, slum, or deteriorating areas needing <br /> redevelopment, and unsafe, unsanitary, and overcrowded housing; <br /> · To make necessary expenditures to carry out [he purposes Of the I-IRA lavv; <br /> and <br /> <br /> <br />