Agenda - Council - 05/27/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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commends that cities be permitted to do less than substantial rehabilitation so long as the multi- family structure is located in or could qualify as a redevelopment project under the tax incre- ment statute. Redevelopment officials indicate that the pri-- rate sector is unwilling to construct multi-family new construction rental housing in a volume sufficient to meet housing needs, particularly family rental units. In order for cities to act as a catalyst, the League recommends that such hous- ing projects be removed from the limitations con- tained in Chapter 462C and be separately author- ized. An increasing number of communities are at- tempting to deal with deteriorated housing on a scattered site, spot ba.sis. It would be of assistance to renewal efforts if single family mortgage reven- ue bond programs could be operated in conjunc- tion with acquisition and resale. Financing would be available for new housing constructed on pro- perty which is publicly owned as a result of a spec- ific redevelopment and revitalization effort. Currently, cities have the power to carry out these programs for Iow and moderate income per- sons or families. The League recommends that middle income families (200% of HUD median income) be included within redevelopment areas. The League further recommends that the legis- lature continue to provide funding capability to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, but not to the exclusion of the locally developed and fund- ed programs. Industrial revenue bonds The League supports the policy of the state to facilitate and encourage action by local units of government through the use of industrial revenue bonds to prevent or remove blighting influences m their communities; to retain existing businesses and attract new businesses, thereby creating new jobs and retaining present employment oppor- tunities within the state; and to maintain and strengthen the tax base of local units of govern- ment. The League should create a task force to study and prepare a policy on industrial revenue bonds in light of the legislation enacted in the 1980 session. Minnesota cities economic, physical and social conditions study Each biennium the legislature passes a number of laws concerning levy limits, municipal state aids, property taxes, and other factors related to the fiscal relationship of the various municipalities. Because of the extreme variety of municipalities in Minnesota, however, as to size, age, demogra- phics, services offered, levels of service, methods of paying for various activities, etc., these laws and the resulting implied state policy have a dras- tically different impact, both economic and soc- ial, on the various cities depending upon those cities' existing characteristics. It seems logical that to develop effective and responsible policy and law concerning cities, characteristics and vary- ing conditions of cities should be well known and documented for the lawmakers. Therefore, in the same manner that the legislature .initiated an in- depth objective analysis of the cities of Minnea- polis and St. Paul by the State Planning. Agency, the study should not have to include a detailed analysis of all 855 Minnesota cities, but could include a sample number from each general cate- gory (i.e., older developed suburb, developing suburb, metropolitan rural, metropolitan free- standing, outstate older city, outstate rural city, outstate newer city, etc.). The League requests that the State Planning Agency carry out a state local fiscal study and provide a detailed assessment of the economic, physical and social conditions of all Minnesota cities so that effective and realistic legislation and policies concerning those cities may be developed. If the present staffing, funding, and time con- straints prevent the completion of such a report, the legislature should extend and expand this study so that a comprehensive analysis can be carried out. In addition, the League requests that the State Planning Agency establish an advisory committee for this study composed of local officials. Hazardous buildings The hazardous building law, providing a pro- cedure for repair or removal of hazardous build- ings and the filling or protection of hazardous excavations, has been useful to cities in elimi- nating blight and upgrading neighborhoods. The law should be retained in its present form, with minor changes to clarify and simplify the process where possible without impairing the protection -7-