Laserfiche WebLink
<br />market improves and they can once again put it on the market to sell. She stated that she does <br />not think just because some people choose to rent homes that it is creating a trend. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he would like to see the City be more aware of working with the HRA <br />to possibly take over areas that need help and work with them to upgrade. He stated that he <br />worries that if there is a certain type of housing in one area and it becomes dilapidated it will <br />bring the entire area down. He stated that he feels the City needs to be on top of things and make <br />sure things are well maintained and taken care of. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated he lives near some rental houses and some of the people who have <br />moved in are not taking care of their properties. He stated that his economic background tells <br />him that the City should let the market decide things and not try to force the issue. He stated that <br />he fears if the City starts looking at creating goals for a "balanced" supply of housing, Ramsey <br />will end up like Brooklyn Park. He stated that Brooklyn Park started trying to force a balanced <br />supply of housing and now they have people rapidly leaving the City. <br /> <br />Housing Consultant Bennett stated that she provided information on how the City met their goals <br />between 1996 and 2010. She stated that the Met Council is taking another look at goals and has <br />set the affordable housing goal at 60% of the median income. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he feels putting in controls are key. He stated that, for example, <br />homeowners associations need to be updated and re-signed after 25 years. He stated that he feels <br />these associations help maintain areas and keep them looking good. He stated that most people <br />want their neighborhoods to look nice and cited the example of how the trailer park is getting <br />cleaned up because of the Youth First program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated that he agrees that there needs to be some kind of controls no matter <br />what the policy is. He stated that he struggles with low income housing because usually there is <br />not the same pride in ownership that you see with other types of housing. He stated that he did <br />not anticipate the affordable housing moving from $230,000 to $152,000 and feels the goal of <br />affordable housing being 60% of the median income, is a completely different policy change <br />than the Met Council has had in the past. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he feels it is a question of what the residents want, not what <br />Met Council wants. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated that his fear is that this will create a pocket environment that is far <br />off of the other market in the City. He stated that even our ACCAP market doesn't meet the <br />threshold set by the Met Council. <br /> <br />Housing Consultant Bennett stated that some of the ACCAP housing would meet that threshold. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig left the meeting at 8:08 p.m. <br /> <br />Housing Consultant Bennett noted that the goals between 1996 and 2010 are a split between 80% <br />ownership and 50% rental for AMI. She stated that in 2010, whatever goals that are unmet will <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / October 16, 2007 <br />Page 3 of8 <br />