Minutes - Council Work Session - 07/31/2007

Home

Mayor Gamec commented it is nice to use joint money, but he imagines this would involve cases of presenting projects to the Board who would decide the right ones to spend money on. Ms. Skepper replied economic development activity has been granted to the HRA, and the County HRA program is where they should look for patterns of spending. Any tax levy generated in the Ramsey community goes into a fund balance for their community. That is how the senior housing project was built here, and about one year ago the City Council passed a resolution requesting that HRA reserve funds be used for an ACCAP housing project in this area. The City Council directed those funds, Councilmember Jeffrey asked if the EDA funds will work the same way as the HRA funds have worked. Ms. Skepper replied the policy and procedures are in the process of being worked out. She cannot speak with any certainty on how that would be administered. The County is hoping to take a regional approach on things like feasibility studies. Mayor Gamec requested clarification that the City of Ramsey would receive funds raised in their community. Ms. Skepper replied that is how the HRA program works. Councilmember Dehen stated he likes the fact that there is a regional approach to things, but he is not clear on how the existing gaps in programs and services that have been identified apply to Ramsey. Ms. Skepper replied Ramsey is in a very good position with a growing community and an economic development staff. Many of the gaps identified probably do not pertain directly to Ramsey. However, they believe the County can bring the community an opportunity to provide additional resources to help get projects done much more timely. Mayor Gamec asked if the County EDA would have more opportunities to use funds than the City EDA. Ms. Skepper replied a project would have to meet any of the Statute definitions, whether it is a housing or redevelopment project using HRA funds or an economic development project through the EDA. There would be the same limitations as through the City EDA or HRA. Councilmember Elvig observed that with the County HRA the City puts funds into a pool and the funds are held there for projects, and that this EDA would be another piggy back on the existing HRA. He commented if the policy and procedures are not known at this time it is difficult to opt into something. His real issue is that if the City puts into a pool they want to see that come back. He agrees with the regional efforts and would like to know more about what the regional opportunities might be. They may need to explore that more, but without knowing the policy, how the funds would be pooled, and the format of the funds going back to the community, it is hard to envision putting another levy back on the people. City Council Work Session / July 31, 2007 Page 3 of 18