Agenda - Council - 10/13/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Income Verification: Staff will be responsible for verifying the recipient's income and household size for any of the home - improvement programs. This commonly -accepted way of doing this is to examine the recipient's most recent tax returns. Some jurisdictions rely on a "self reporting" form, but that would become extremely time -intensive should allegations of fraud be made. Administering Payment: Staff will be responsible for paying the recipients of the funds and then verifying that the money is spent for its intended purpose. Our program will pay the contractors directly —both down and final payments. The attached resolution authorizes staff to take the applications and administer payments directly, without going to Council for approval. This is so that urgent repairs can be handled quickly as well as to prevent publicly exposing our vulnerable residents. The Council will be able to see the checks cut on the Bills List on each Council agenda. Admin Fees: Right now, cities cannot use any of the money to cover staff time in administering these programs. There may be some legislation introduced this year to allow cities to tack on an administrative charge for the grants or loans. Repayment of Loans: Staff does not have the capacity to process monthly loan payments. Our program is structured as a no- interest/forgivable-after-X-years program (essentially a lien on the home) so that the money is not used to "flip" a house or build resale value instantly before selling. Should it sell before the specified time, the money is paid back at the time of closing in full or by a reduced amount. Not Using the Funds: The funds are meant for helping our residents or potential future residents. Should the money not be used, it will go back to Minnesota Housing and used in other communities. Notification: None required. Once approved, staff will begin marketing the program. Funding Source: Funding for the program will come from a sales tax. Staff time to process the applications is currently not covered by the sales tax, though time spent reviewing the applications and preparing the necessary paperwork is expected to be minimal Additionally, most of the authorized improvements are required to obtain building permits and those costs are authorized. In May, the Council provided consensus on the proposed initial allocations: 2026 Interior Improvements — $40,000 2026 Exterior Improvements — $0 (applications to begin in February 2027) 2027 Interior Improvements — $100,000 2027 Exterior Improvements — $100,000 Recommendation: Staff recommends adopting the LAHA program. Outcome/Action: Motion to Adopt Resolution #26-227 Authorizing City Staff to Process, Authorize, and Execute Documents Necessary to Implement and Administer the Ramsey local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) Program. Attachments Resolution #26-227 LAHA Policy Form Review Inbox Reviewed By Date Brian Hagen Kathy Schmitz 10/08/2026 03:45 PM Form Started By: Todd Larson Started On: 09/30/2026 10:23 AM Final Approval Date: 10/08/2026