Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/14/2016

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April 29, 2015 Metropolitan Council Attn: Adam Duininck, Chair 390 Robert Street N St. Paul, MN 55101-1805 RE: Draft Housing Policy Plan (2015 Amendment) Chair Duininck- Thank you for the opportunity to review the regional Housing Policy Plan 2015 Amendment. Please include our comments from our September, 2014 submitted comments as well. Some of our broader policy comments are repeated in this response, with our revised comments in the bullet list below. The City supports the Metropolitan Council's goals in promoting its housing goals. However, the City wants to ensure that it does not result in mandates that might be in conflict with our existing land use goals. The following comments are compiled of consensus of our Planning Commission and City Council. General Assumption • The following comments are based on the assumption that no changes to our Future Land Use Map nor our Housing Assistance Policy will be necessary in order to achieve the standards contained within the proposed amendment to the Housing Policy Plan. Statement of Support • Ramsey Appreciates the flexibility granted in the Housing Performance Scores that recognizes variation in new construction levels and acknowledges policies that encourage affordable housing even if actual construction not experienced in a given year. Ramsey supports the multiple thresholds, including the threshold of up to 80% AMI, where this was previously 60% AMI. Finally, Ramsey supports points awarded for all local tools provided and acknowledgment of other county, city, non-profit, and state programs that provide tools to the City. • Ramsey supports the clarification on existing statutory requirements and submittal requirements versus recommended strategies as it relates to the requirement to create a Housing Plan at the local level. Priority Areas of Concern • Regarding language on page 8 and 13, regarding the utilization of the Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) as a tool to promote affordable housing, the City desires to clarify that SAC policies should not result in limitations in future expansion of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA). If this language is to be interpreted in such a way that future MUSA expansions may be limited if the City does not achieve its affordable housing goals, then the City objects to this language. If the language allows only for the utilization of SAC as a financial tool, then the City is fine with the language.