Ready? Here we go. Well, good morning everybody. It is Thursday, August 28th, 2025, 7:30 in the morning, and this is the uh gathering and meeting of the Atlanta Housing Redevelopment Authority. This is an example of life going on. Um, highways are congested, people are moving about doing the things they have to do in life. But yesterday was pretty tragic day in the Twin Cities, particularly in Minneapolis and particularly for the parents and the kids at Annunciation Church in South Minneapolis. And last night, my wife and I went over to Lynhurst Park, part of that gathering over there, that candle laid vigil. heard many of our uh leaders, including the mayor of Minneapolis, uh articul articulately express their emotions around this uh terrible tragedy where, as the principal of the grade school said, a couple of angels uh were created yesterday. An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old whose identities we don't not we do not yet know. And of course, people in our town are worried, too. But uh uh we've tried to assure them uh folks have wondered whether this is something that's anti-atholic uh by circumstance that happened here over the last few days. So we've been coordinating with Our Lady of Grace and other private schools uh about security and uh this is not to um indicate that this is something new. This is something that we do on a regular basis. Uh and with our public schools, um emails coming in about whether first floor windows in our schools are adequately protected because we used to think that trouble happened inside and now it can happen from the outside too. And so um even though this phenomenon of life going on, we know that presidents get assassinated as we did as it h happened with John Kennedy. Life just kept moving on and life will move on here too. But for a moment this morning and um I think for a while yet we'll hit that pause button and think about these families. uh the staff at uh Annunciation Church uh our first responders and in that regard I want to I want to commend the uh city vina police department. Uh they were some of the first to respond. Our chief was over there helping coordinate things for the city of Minneapolis. We had about four or five officers there as well as we learned uh from our city manager yesterday who tried to keep us informed what was going on. So, uh, we sent yesterday afternoon, uh, to the broad public a note of, uh, empathy and support, and, uh, that was, uh, earnest and heartfelt, and we will be there and stand with the people of Minneapolis and the, uh, the congregation and people at Annunciation Church to help them any way that we can as good neighbors. And our thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. So, uh, on we go here, uh, turning to the, uh, work of the day. Uh, keeping in mind all of those, uh, people that that need our special thoughts and prayers. So, thanks for that, uh, that moment. And let's just have a moment of silence. Thank you everybody. Thanks to the folks that are here this morning with us to talk about uh things that are housing related. Uh as people know, we're doing these meetings on a hybrid sort of basis. Uh folks can watch us online. Uh some folks come into the uh actual meeting and can testify. We've got a couple opportunities usually for people to testify. So, um, uh, there's a phone number on the screen if anybody's watching and wants to call in. We welcome you calling in with any concerns that you have to address with the commissioners. I'll now call the meeting to order and ask our executive director and our city manager, Scott Neil, to call the role. >> Commissioner Risser, >> here. >> Commissioner Jackson, >> here. >> Commissioner Pierce, >> here. >> Commissioner Agnu, >> here. Chair Hufflin >> here. Next is the pledge of >> allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We've got a form of meeting agenda that was published for this morning's meeting. Uh, is there any anyone on the council or from a staff standpoint that wishes to modify the meeting agenda in any form or fashion? Is there a motion to approve the form of meeting agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Commissioner Jackson moves Commissioner Pierce seconds the adoption of the meeting agenda. The meeting agenda as published. Any further discussion? All those in favor of approval of the meeting agenda say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. >> The meeting agenda is approved and uh we will now turn to that meeting agenda. And the first thing we have in that meeting agenda is community comment. So if there's anyone in the audience here that wishes to address the council on a matter of concern to them or the HR I should say. Um please feel free to come forward. I don't see anybody coming forward. I'm going to check with our communications director Jennifer Benerat to determine whether we have anybody online that would >> Good morning. I don't have anyone online, but um because there is a slight delay in the broadcast, I would recommend that we wait about a minute before moving on, making sure we're giving people adequate time uh to dial in. My clock shows that it's 7:37. I'll come back to you at 7:38 or when I have a caller, whichever's first. It's been a minute and I still don't have a caller. So, I think it's safe for you to move forward with the agenda. >> Okay. Thank you. Our usual practice after community comment, whether it's us sitting as the HA or the city council, is to turn to our city manager or executive director when we're in an HR meeting to see if there were any responses to community comments made in the prior meeting and I don't think there were any that you needed to we had no community comment at the last H meeting. >> Very good. We've got about a half a dozen items on the consent agenda. Is there anyone on the H that wishes to remove an item from the consent agenda for individual discussion? Is there a motion to adopt the items on the consent agenda in a single motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Mr. Jackson moves. Commissioner Pierce the adoption of the items on the consent agenda in a single motion. Any further discussion? All those in favor of adoption of those four items on the consent agenda and a single motion say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Those items are adopted and approved. Um we are next going to turn to kind of the heart of the meeting and that is uh incidentally the um the documents that we're going to prepare relating to 3400 Parkland 510 Summit Avenue. Uh some nice work there over you know it's going to be a a great restoration or improvement of that of those two properties and I think we're all keen on on seeing what's happening there. >> Right. It's very exciting. Um the it took a while as with a 100% affordable housing developments o um happens whether their rehabilitation or new construction multiple years of funding cycles before all the money comes together. But the money's together. They're hoping to close soon. And so now we need to get the documents ready so they can get the work done. And just so people know, those are longtime affordable housing units for people with disabilities and seniors that are what close to 130 units I think total between the two buildings and and we're going to help with the rehabilitation of those buildings. And >> that is correct. >> And and get them in good shape for a couple decades to come. >> Yes. >> Very good. uh on the reports and recommendations portion of the agenda. This is the Stephanie Hawinson show this morning and uh we're going to have uh uh her recommendations here on what we call local affordable housing aid. That was something passed by the legislature. She's going to walk through all of that. And uh we are getting a certain amount of I think sales tax proceeds uh from law as so many acronyms in government. Uh that's our one of our newest ones, local affordable housing aid, and she's got some recommendations on how to use those funds. So, welcome member Stephanie Hawinson. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh you took away a little bit of the wind for my sales to explain. >> Um yes, this is the second year that we have received the funding. Um, this is a quarter percent sales tax that's applied metrowide and to help preserve affordable housing within different all the jurisdictions um in order to keep families from losing housing and to help those experienced homelessness find housing. That was the original intent of these funds. So they have to be spent on a qualifying project and uh in addition to helping with homeless prevention. So, emergency rental assistance is like the what instigated the passage of this funding, but it's financial support for nonprofits, um, affordable housing providers, construction, acquisition, rehab, demolition of affordable housing, um, financing operations and management for distress properties, and operating emergency shelter facilities. Those are some of the larger buckets um, for how these funds can be used. In 2025, this year we are receiving 875,381.99. I am happy to throw in that extra penny if that helps make difference. This is an increase over the 2024 allocation which was $339,000 plus change because it was a partial year last year. Um this is the amount that each city receives is based on a distribution factor related to housing cost burden. So they take housing cost burden across the metro and they give there's a percentage of what portion of what we are experiencing housing um cost burden relative to everyone else. So our distribution factor was for what it's worth um 0.0211 last year and this year it is 0205. So we have slightly less housing cost burden than we had last year. So in coming up with this list of how the money should be spent, I did um make uh come up with uh this plan and I shared it with the values viewfinder just to make sure that since one of our budget pillars um we look through the values viewfinder lens, I wanted to make sure that this aligned with how the process and how this was being allocated aligned with what they envision. And so we have met and what I am proposing is what you see here is 200,000 to VEP for emergency rental assistance. Um close to 582,000 for our affordable ownership preservation program and then 935 for Mount Olivet rolling acres for rehab of their two facilities in Nidina. So, as stated, $200,000 for VEP for their emergency rental assistance program. This is a short-term aid to households who are experiencing an event that causes them to fall short of funds for paying rent, such as illness, gap between jobs, etc. It is not intended to be long-term rental assistance. It's a short-term emergency fund. This aid helps people remain in their homes and wards off homelessness which was fundamentally the reason for this funding. Um today in the audience we have Jennifer Harrison VEP's vice president of advancement in case there are questions. As a reminder, VEP stands for volunteers enlisted to assist people. They are a local nonprofit organization that's been serving the community for over 50 years. We do have a history of giving to them starting when COVID hit. Um when COVID hit, as we are well aware, many people were forced to stay home from work. That would a lot of service industries, gig workers, a lot of folks had to stay home. Yet rent was still due if um they are able to pay it. there was an emergency moratorum that people can be evicted but people that run rental properties needed to pay their bills and so you know helping with rental assistance helped the whole chain. Um so we had allocated a portion of our federal ARPA money and CARES funds to support the Adina residents that required rental assistance. Since then most of the federal funds have gone away but people are still at risk of losing their homes. Last year with the inauguration of Laha, we granted a portion of our allocation to VEP due to the ongoing need and because the service seems to best align with the primary purpose of this funding. As stated too, this is emergency, not long-term rental assistance. It is not section 8. It is not something that people can um rely on month after month. It helps households through a life-changing event. It's typically allowed for three months, but we have learned through experience that sometimes people when they are facing illnesses or job losses, three months may not be enough. And so we want VEP to have the authority to assess um situations on a case-byase basis and if someone needs that fourth month or even that fifth month to allow for it instead of just cutting them off and having it be too much of a short-term band-aid, but really help them get over the crisis. Um we're saying that 25% of the word may be used for staffing and administration. Uh one thing that VEP is um experiencing is there's this huge need but someone needs to process those applications. They need people to go through them to meet with folks to find out what the situation is to meet with the landlords and so that takes financing. And our portion of the LAA that we give to VEP will serve Edina residents. It does not go into a general pool to serve anyone that asks that is allocated for a dino residence in this practice. Accordingly, VEP like many other organizations is experiencing extreme hardship due to the loss of federal funding. This is not a revenue-based organization. They provide for people who really have no place else to turn. They provide food free of charge and rental assistance as grants. Their primary source of revenue came from programs that were established as safety nets, including the federal government. And these safety nets have gone away. VEP no longer receives any money from the formerly federally funded family homeless prevention assistance program nor emergency food and shelter programs. And although the community development program still exists, has been gutted. And they um so they receive a small fraction of what they used to receive. So they are highly dependent on private donations and cities now where they were previously got a lot of their money from the feds. Even though they um have experienced budget cuts, VEP has still served EDA residents. They have to a lesser extent than previously in part due to all these cuts on the federal level. Um they also um in 2025 the numbers dropped in part due to staffing. There's some staffing issues that have been resolved. Um and the they have had to reorganize where they only allow applications at the be couple um days of the beginning of the month. So the staff that they do have have time to process the applications they get. So they do shut off the stream of applications in order to process some of them just because of the staffing. Um, and so what they're changing the process a little bit to be more focused and they're they've been talking about maybe having one day a month and the school community services or at our new fire station too where they can meet people where they're at to help process some of those applications to try to really target the Adina money to the Adina residents and getting some of these numbers back up. So only Adina residents are served with the Adina based funding but 654 households have in Edina have been served between April and July of April 2020 and July. Um it's households with incomes up to 50% of AMI. Um but mo majority have incomes under 30% of AMI. It's a lot of seniors and a lot of families with children. Um there are individuals as well, but they're not the vast majority. And it's households that range between one and eight people that are being served. So that is program number one. And again, Jennifer is here. Um if you want me to go through the whole slide deck and then ask questions or if you if you do, you know, I can move on. But I just wanted to let you know >> questions. Yes. Commissioner, >> thank you. Um if you could just go back a slide as well. Um I I think that this is great, right? Helping nine additional residents than we would have otherwise is amazing, but like you had said as well, we would like to see this number increase. Um, so can you speak to and I I know you're not going to be able to hypothesize, you know, what the increase necessarily will be, but how can we be assured that the increase in funding that we're providing this year, because I do think it's an increase year-over-year that that will go and result in an increase in the number of Edina residents specifically that we're supporting. One of the issues in 2025 was there um they thought the grant had ended and so they stopped processing Edina applications using this money. Um there was a misunderstanding of the grant terms and so it was halted for three months. So there is now the um the LAA money is uh three years and so they there's now a clear understanding to not halt the program. Um and then there was a very serious illness amongst senior staff and so it's just scrambling. They figured out a plan. So the there's like a perfect storm that occurred this year um that really halted applications from Redina residents being um processed during a three-month time sp period. And then I called them and I'm like no the grant. And so then we talked about that and it's like it's not over. And I'm like, "No, you still have money." So then it the wheels started turning again. So that issue is no longer. Um, with the re the outreach, they're really just hoping that they will be able to get more people through the door. Um, we will, time will tell, you know, but there there is need out there. They have a waiting list. They are getting calls from Einer residents. they just weren't able to get them processed. >> Okay. So, what I'm hearing is that you're confident that for this next year, the resourcing challenges are going to be covered from a human capacity perspective. And so, the only constraint maybe moving forward will be the number of families that we're able to support is going to be because of the $200,000 component. >> That is that is correct. >> Okay. >> That is correct. um as an organization, you know, they're they're doing a lot of having to figure out how to deal with these massive cuts on the federal level. So, it's going to be hard. I mean, this is not this is not a fix. This is a um small ability to keep going um with hopes that other cities will follow suit. Um, but it is clearly not enough to really address the issues that they're facing, but we're hoping that it will help, you know, with our residents. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Jackson. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the presentation. I'm pleased to be supporting VEP. Even though things are bad, it's be better than than nothing. And um in your presentation there were 654 families and you talked about how it's primarily seniors and families with children. Can you give us the individual numbers or you don't have those? >> I don't have those on hand. I have them in my report. I receive with a draw when they ask for money um for reimbursement. It's a reimbursement basis. So they let me know how much money went out the door and I fulfill a draw. They include uh stats um of family size, age, demographics. I have that in my computer, >> but I don't have that with me right now. >> So, just do you have a rough approximation of what that is? No, I just I just know that I was um alarmed by the number of seniors and that there were a lot of there um the ages were from zero to mid 80s. >> So the reason I ask is we're going to be talking about um our housing policy later on and it's really important for us to understand what the need is based on data as opposed to just sort of feelings and anecdotes. So, >> I can I can get that for you. >> That'd be awesome. Thank you so much. >> Mr. Rer, did you have a question or two? >> If you could go back to the slide that shows the reduction in um money from Yeah, that one. Um, I'm just curious how this allocation of funds compares to last year's and um, specifically thinking about that 200,000 which is probably going to go pretty fast. I don't know. But um with the affordable ownership preservation program um that's getting the vast majority of the funding and I'm wondering how many people will be will benefit from that and then also if this allocation of funds is pretty similar to the breakdown in previous years for the LAA money. Uh, chair, commissioners, last year we um provided VEP with $100,000. So, it's twice what we gave them last year. Um, but it is on par. Um, so during COVID, we gave them in 2020 uh a total of 500,000. Um, in 2022, we gave them 466. So, uh, with the loss that we're not making up for the deficits from these federal sources with the 200,000, >> but I I don't I don't think we have the capacity to do that. >> Okay. And I um the the one thought that entered my head is would it make sense to lower the amount of money going into the affordable ownership preservation program so we could bump up the amount of money going to VEP >> chair commissioners I think that is a decision that you all can make or you can see how the 200,000 goes this year is it's twice what you gave last year and we still have some a little Due to that pause, we still have a little bit remaining from last year's allocation. >> If we could get information on how many people will likely benefit from the money going to the preservation program, that would be super helpful. Thank you. >> This is more of a general overarching question. How did you go about deciding uh how you would recommend to us we allocate the totality of the funds? Um, that is a good question and sometimes it's an art rather than a science. So with Mount Olivet rolling acres, >> we trust your feelings. >> With Mount Olivet Rolling Acres, that was concrete number. They had bids. They said this is how much or if not bids they had um professional estimates of how much the work that is needed on those two buildings how much that cost was a concrete number here it is with VEP it was twice what we gave last year. Um, so I thought that was re reasonable without, you know, I I felt like going above twice was a large leap um for us to get our heads wrapped around uh for even though the need is there, but they still have to work through some of the capacity, they still have to get it out the door. Um, so and since there was money remaining from this year, I felt like 200,000 was reasonable to get out the door. Um, and that left the affordable ownership preservation program, which when we went through our work sessions, that was one of the priorities that was listed by all of you, is to try to preserve Noah homes and create affordable ownership opportunities. And so since that was a priority of the HA um that's why they and because GAP per home is about $300,000 um that seemed like it was two homes roughly and that's how I came up with that distribution. >> Commissioner >> um I'm confused. Was the total allocation last year less than it was this year? The total allocation last year chair and commissioners was 339,000. So last year we gave a 100,000 to VEP and 239 to the ownership preservation program. So it was about less than half of what we're getting this year. >> So we're essentially keeping pace with what we gave last year because now we have twice as much. >> We have a little bit more than twice as much. Correct. um with the um allocating resources in terms of the workshops that we have. I do want to say missing from those workshops was a breakdown on the number of people who would benefit. It was not really part of the equation. And when we did the final exercise for the third meeting, we didn't know that we would be doing that going in. And so I I really I understand the logic of listening to or taking that into account. But I also especially in this particular climate where federal funds are being reduced, just want to put that out there. things are changing and and we also weren't really in a situation where we could have prepared for that. So I just I want to say that >> Mr. Jackson. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So next year when we're in this position, um I think it would be really interesting to hear from VEP. We had this many applications and we were only able to uh you know meet this need. Um, I think that'd be really helpful for us. I know there was this was a tough year. Uh, and I I appreciate that. But next year hopefully things will go smoothly and everybody will stay healthy and we'll we can say, you know, we gave 200,000 but there was need for 500,000 or just some um benchmark to to think about. Um, I think going on last year's as a as a first time thing is a good idea because you know that's the data we have. Uh but in the future I think we would really want to know how many people we had to turn away. So >> absolutely I I agree fully. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Wondering if it might be helpful for us uh to hear from Miss Harrison about just anecdotally some of the ways that we've been able to help with over a million dollars that we provided of V or rental assistance over the past four and a half years or so. >> Yep. Well, good morning. Um, you know, one of the things that I want to share is that the city of Vina was one of the first to step up during the pandemic, um, when we really needed the support and you really led led the charge, um, you know, in front of the other in front of all three cities that that we serve, uh, primarily. And so, I want to thank you for that. Um, you've been a leader for us. Um it very much shows that um you put your residents first and and we're thankful to be able to be um you know one of the organizations that's able to get these funds out into the community especially when it comes to keeping people in their homes. Um we really prioritize the rental assistance because keeping people in their homes is is easy compared to the alternative. when folks become homeless, that that becomes a whole another issue and quite frankly becomes a lot more expensive. And so, um, allowing us the opportunity to do this has been wonderful. Um, as I said, you know, we've been able to to, um, disperse, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars into the community. And we've been able to do it really effectively. when the pandemic hit, we were able to pivot and bring on staff to be able to to process the applications and get these funds out the door. Obviously, in 2025, we've had a few issues at the, you know, in first quarter where we had a little bit of a hiccup, but going forward, um, we are hopeful to be in the new fire station. Our goal is to be there at least two or three days a week to meet uh, your community members where they are at and to let folks know that we're here. Not only are we seeing more seniors, but we're also seeing new people. The the economic environment has changed and folks that may not have needed services before are coming to us uh or need us and don't know that we're here. Um if you're new to needing services, you might not always know where to go. And so we want to be in the places where the people are in order to be able to access, you know, their needs and fulfill their needs through through these funds. And um we've done it well before with your partnership. And thank you so much for I mean truly truly thank you. You have been an absolute leader in this process for us over the last five years and and we are grateful. >> Thank you. Thank you for that. Hold on a moment. just >> Oh, okay. I guess you you can sit down. >> Um >> I just wanted to make sure that Commissioner Pierce had a chance to visit with you if that was what he intended. >> Thank you, um Mr. Chair. So, I really appreciate those comments. my um the the thing that is a I'll say challenge uh for me and particularly in this space is when you have dollars and you have to figure out how to allocate them and you're trying to answer the question where do we get the most value as a community versus um and you didn't do this but I'm going to use the word arbitrarily kind of spread across multiple good programs, right? And so we're not doing it in an arbitrary way, but back to the comment from um Commissioner Jackson, it would be good to have the data that suggests one is more value to the community than the other. So hearing the comment of keeping people in their homes versus helping them come back from homeless into a home is more expensive to to deal with folks that are homeless. um because I think that might give us some insight into how we might want to appropriate, not just these funds, but other funds that we may have the opportunity to um um kind of appropriate to those types of programs. And so I think having that would be um would be awesome. And I want to reiterate, I know we didn't arbitrarily assign dollars. Um, but it definitely would be good to have that that data so that we know which of these programs is providing our community the best benefit because that may shift over time, right? >> I think, you know, as we get through the other two, you'll see that there's a somewhat of a continuum. VEP helps keep people in their homes by giving them the financial assistance to pay the rent. MOA is fixing up the homes to preserve the homes that people are in that are also as um stated as a criteria population. And I'll get more into that in that. And then the home ownership preservation helps get people into home ownership. So there is somewhat of a continu continuum of how these funds are being allocated to get the spectrum. But I do hear what you're saying and I will be I have the data. I just didn't share it. comments by Miss Harrison and the follow on uh observations by Commissioner Pierce caused me to think about several years ago at a US Conference of Mayors meeting. Sam Licardo, who was then the mayor of San Jose, was talking about this very issue in San Jose and uh discovered the same thing that it was it was much less and uh draining on on available resources uh to try to keep people living where they were living as opposed to providing them with new housing where the cost per door for a new apartment in San Jose was $750,000. It was a lot more efficient and effective to be using those funds to keep people that were, you know, going through a divorce, kids. I mean, there's a multitude of different reasons. It's it's the analysis that led them to think, yeah, we got to have a program that keeps them where they are, and it's much less draining on public resources than providing them with new housing. So, member Risser, Commissioner Risser, >> would it make sense to table this so we could get that data and use that before we vote or and also hear from VE? The one thing that I keep thinking about is a new space in the fire station. It'd be um kind of hard to set this up and then discover that, you know, 7 months out we're no longer able to, you know, finance things for people. >> Yeah. and then explain why you were thinking that it might be better to table >> so we could make a more informed decision and have that information that we're asking for right now. >> Well, but this um >> we know we've got 800 and some thousand to deal with here. >> Um >> yeah, you might have a comment. I interpreted the data to help with future years since this was an anomaly year. Um I mean it's up to you clearly it would not be able to come back until end of October or November. Um if it were if we were to table it and I do know that um with the other two programs and even with VEP um the need is probably prior to November. Um and then we have to um draft the grant applications and those such items which delays it even further. That said, um I can either report back on data to help with next year's allocation or um we start, you know, we just incorporate that for next year's allocation or it's however you want to proceed. >> Commissioner Jackson, >> I'd like to hear the other presentations before we make any decisions. also thinking about uh the fact that you've made recommendations in three different areas that are critical and that probably need immediate attention, but let's let's finish up and then we'll have that conversation. >> So, number two, um is our affordable preservation ownership program. Um this is a program that we have that's in partnership with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and Homes Within Reach. Today we have in the audience is Brenda Lana Wilkkey and I Noah is not here. Um this is you know from the work sessions um it was the highest priority is to preserve Noah mo our modest homes in Edina and get them into affordable ownership. The land trust program um creates ownership for 99 years. So as number with regards to number of people served you know on turn there's a new family. So, it's not just the initial family, it's the families that keep moving into that home for the next 99 years. So, it's um it retains community and ownership wealth within those homes. Uh it enhances residential stability because it allows these homeowners to live in a home that they can afford. Um and then the long-term affordability and it serves the working folk that are in the city. We have given and supported this program over the years. Um it is the gap per home is not insignificant. Um again if we were to calculate it back per year over 99 years you know it's a little more impalatable it's a couple thousand dollar but over um it's $300,000 at the front end. Um and that is attributed to the land that is placed into the land trust and th this value could increase. This is what we established in 2021. Um so that could see some changes over the next couple years is where the land we're going to have to attribute more because incomes are not keeping pace with land values. So we may have to you know be somewhat flexible in what is available and what people can afford. um in exchange for being able to buy a home below market value. You know, you take a $450,000 home and you're able to buy it for a little over 200,000 or about 200,000. For that, being able to do that, the buyer agrees to a limited equity when they go and sell the home. So, of the funds that we have um contributed to this program, it's it's going, you know, it's dwindling. Um we're we're almost out of some sources. They have completed the homes within reach has completed that 3.3 million that's out the door. Um we have some of the la left, but they have it earmarked. There's homes right now. They're still looking for homes. Um they're some closings are pending. They're out in the future. And so this we some of this money that's left has already been earmarked. So how does this work? Well, we've sent postcards to all home owners of homes valued up to $425,000. Um some of these are out ofstate investment homeowners. Some of them are local. Um interested home sellers contact the city. I had someone who lives in Indiana who's still dealing with her mother's home that is in Edina wondering if she wants to sell it through this program. She's contemplating other pe there are a few people like that who are dealing with their aunts that her parents' home it's in the trust they are trying to figure out and working with their siblings on what to do with these homes. Um if they want to go on this program I get permission from them to share their contact information. I share it with Habitat and Homes Within Reach. They decide, you know, who has the capacity at that time. It's what's great about having two organizations. Um, they go and inspect the home to see if it fits within their program guidelines. Then they work with the seller on buying the home. Uh, then they rehabilitate the house. They draw money from us, you know, to buy it. They rehabilitate it. They go through their vetting process for how they find an eligible buyer. Um they have two different processes. They're working together to get their processes more aligned because they ultimately end up in the land trust with homes within reach and then they remain and the land trust is always there. So if someone if they come up with issues that they're facing um they the land trust doesn't go away. They're a they're a continual party into this deal. So, since 2021, we there have been 22 homes that have been bought through this program. I'm pretty excited by that with three pending. Um the houses were sold to end buyers for roughly $200,000. Uh 17 homes are owned and occupied, many by young families. Again, there's some pending. This is a continual process. um they're researchers, educator, utility worker, chef, family advocate, people that work in the school district. There are a lot of folks that have been able to benefit from this program and then as I said that 99 years. So that's that program. Um Brenda is here if you have any questions for her or I can go on to uh Mora. Keep going. Okay. Um, so the third is for Mount Olivet Rolling Acres. They are a nonprofit founded in 1965. They provide residential services. This was also stated as a priority during our work sessions to serve household people with um disabilities. This is affordable housing for people with disabilities. They are licensed by the state of Minnesota and they operate two homes in Adina that serve roughly eight people. one can fluctuate between having four residents or five residents. Um the two homes, one was acquired in 2015. They have four residents who are the originals. Um and they serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The second home was acquired in 2001. It house um eight people since opening and they are people that are facing mental health challenges. I would like to say these homes were acquired with the assistance of the Adina Housing Foundation. One mortgage has been completely repaid and satisfied. The other one they are they have never missed a payment since I've been here. So when I get the monthly reports on the um Edina um foundation, they're right there making their monthly payments. So all the residents qualify for medical assistance with incomes below 80%. Um there is an annual income and asset review to make sure they still income qualify to live there and their this is this program and their assistance is being threatened because of um but federal budget cuts. Um their overall cuts to medical assistance could impact the residents that live in these homes. Um like I said they are acquired with financing from the Adina Housing Foundation. Um the state funding provides minimum increases for um upkeep but not for major rehab projects. Um and the money that pays for the rehab is from private individuals, private donations. And since these houses are getting older, some of the needs are surpassing individual contributions. Um then 2025, the capital cost for all their homes, not just an eina, was $1.6 6 million. So that far exceeded individual contributions. So for the two homes, one needs $36,000 for repairs and the other one needs 575. So that's how I came up with that number. Um it was a combined total of um 935. And it's to make these homes safe, you know, to get rid of tripping hazards, to get um to refortify decks, to address some of the issues, to make it a more livable place for their residents and to be able to do it all at once. That's them. And why we have representatives from Mora as well. So, thanks for being here. Thank you for having us. All right. Thank you. Uh questions. Commissioner Jackson. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, we also have a program to help repair homes um whether they're condominiums or single family homes. Um so, that with income qualified people. Does that does the LA do the LAA funds not qualify for that or >> uh Commissioner Jackson? That program is funded through our affordable housing trust fund and there are still funds remaining and part of that program is those funds are recycled because we are hoping that we could make it self-sufficient. Um but there are funds still remain in that program and some have been repaid. um not to the degree that refortifies the original but um where there's still capacity in that program from the original funding. >> Okay. So these are the ones with the highest need. I mean obviously more this is the first time and and I'm very supportive of of it's wonderful to keep these properties usable and safe and um better to to preserve it now than to worry about it down the road. So >> they're different. The home rehab program we have now is for um home owners. This is rental. So people they pay rent to live there. So we don't have a rental rehab program. Um >> right. I I I'm not meaning to conflate those. It's it's a fourth bucket that I'm thinking about. So but these three buckets are in your estimation the highest need because there's still money in the home repair um bucket. So this is where we need to be putting the money. >> Uh chair commissioners that is correct. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Rizzer. >> Um, just real basic, can we get this presentation up on the website? >> Um, chair, commissioner, all presentations will be uploaded to the website. Yes, >> it'd be great if we could have it before the meeting. I think one question I'd like to have answered is how does a Lutheran church in the home repair business end up with a name that sounds like it came out of the greater Minnesota. Rolling Acres. I want all of it. Rolling Acres. >> I cannot answer that. >> So we are an affiliate. >> You have to come up to the microphone >> and identify yourself. And >> so my name is Katie Ellas. I'm the senior director of advancement at Mount Oling Acres. We were started in 1965 by a group of parents who came out of the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church who had children that they were raising with disabilities and wanted something more than a state institution for their child. So, and we were on Rolling Acres in Victoria, Minnesota, which is where one of our offices are located. >> All right, that makes more understand sort of. Commissioner Commissioner Pierce. >> Thanks, uh, Mr. Chair. Um, so I, you guys know I I work for an organization, uh, Minnesota Diversified Industries and we hire 200, we have about 500 employees and half of them have a disability. And so these types of housing, um, housing is typically one of the biggest challenges because they need transportation to be able to come to work. Um and so I definitely support um organizations who are playing their part in that that supply chain, if you will, um to support this uh community. Um, and so I just wanted to circle back to the I when we look at the data, right, it feels great like what what we're able to have what we've accomplished with the dollars that we've had um in all three programs. But I still don't like I don't know if we're having the best impact for the community or not. um cuz we're looking at the numbers and 22, right, for the homes that we've um taken over and remodeled and resold, 22 is better than five. But if we made a different if we made a different choice in how we appropriate funds, could 22 then be 30? Like I don't know. Um, are there other homes? So, if we gave more uh $75,000 more, are there other opportunities to to provide more housing? Um, and so that's like what's running around in my head, but I don't you're closer to it than any of us are. Um, and so we do have to trust that you're taking that that input and ensuring that we get the best value out of these dollars. Um, I am not suggesting that I know enough to tell us what appropriation is better than the other. Uh but it would be good for you to be able to say to us, yeah, this is the and I maybe I'd word it this way. This is the greatest need in Edina and here is how we're going to appropriate funds to go after that particular need. Um and then right we do that each cycle. you come in and you tell us how well we've done or in some instances we haven't been able to appropriate all the we haven't been able to use all the funds that have been appropriated because maybe houses aren't available or whatever. Uh but that's the thing that is is missing for me and I say all of that. I still would not I wouldn't table making this appropriation. Um but having that insight to know that yeah we are having the be the best impact for our community uh moving forward would be awesome to have that insight. >> May I respond to that? >> Um >> yes >> chair commissioners um I believe this is the best value for the money that we have. Um I I'm apologize if I have not given you the proper insight. I um I was responding in part due to your priorities that I have heard stated over the past years of where what you want to focus on in the area of affordable housing. So it was in response to that. um VEP was not listed as a priority, but I think um I mean clearly your response to it, everyone's response to it, it it seems like it's like an assumed priority um to help people remain in their homes and not lose their homes. Um and it was also because it was a priority of the funding sources. So yes, and I also believe that some of this some cities do um bank this money and have it acrew over three years and don't spend it uh annually. I believe that our needs that are current and now can't wait for a three-year growing a bucket to be a $2 million bucket that would maybe be support a new development um and provide gap financing for a new development because well with the affordable preservation program we're losing our modest homes on a regular basis. um they're they're the supply of them that has remains in the community is dwindling. Um that and so I I believe the time is now to be able to act on being able to acrew those homes and I that was true with Mora is that the needs were now and it seemed like it felt um fit the priorities that I had heard. So, I do have confidence um that based on the calls I received, no, if I had $10 million, I would have a lot of additional items on this list, but I would have these items on the list. Um but the need out there is far greater than this um based on the calls I get. >> Thank you, Commissioner Agnu. >> Thank you. Um, I just want to add that I I have full confidence in the analysis that you've put into this. I I know that you are, as James said, a lot closer to all of the ins and the outs. Um, but also to echo what Sorry, Commissioner Pierce um said, uh, I just want to see a little bit more of your work, right? Um, to help us, even if we just think about it, like answer all of these questions for us up front so we're not having the conversation. Um, but I think it's just about understanding like there's definitely a logic to having it spread across these three rather than, you know, snowballing it into one particular bucket because of the components of the continuum that each one target, right? It it targets a different need. Um, so I understand that, but yeah, just bring a little bit more that shows um, even if you just do the the calculation of we served nine families through VEP with $100,000 and so this was the relative cost for every family through VEP and here's the relative cost for um, the houses that we're supporting through more like a little bit of that I think would just close the loop on it. Um, but I also am not recommending that we table it. I I'm definitely supportive of this and really appreciate all the analysis and work that I know you did um to come up with this recommendation. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Jackson. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, I want to thank you also. You've been listening very carefully. The problem is we're sending you mixed messages. Um we it's very this is complicated and it's cloudy and as public servants we see the want and we express things in terms of the want and you see things in terms of the need and so um you know it's very complicated um and I think you've done a very good job of listening to us and thank you and you've put a lot of time and effort into that. Um, I just want to acknowledge that the the need and want are two different things. And um, the need is so great that we just have been focusing more on the want because we can never meet all the need and and I I just wanted to say thank you for listening and thanks for uh, your analysis. >> Like to make a decision this morning. >> Oh yeah, >> tableling. Okay, Commissioner Roser. Any further thoughts? >> Um, I see the logic of not tableabling this. Um, another idea, maybe instead of the 581, we go to 381 and put 200 aside so that if it appears um the impact from all those federal cuts is even greater than we thought, we would have a little wiggle room. But that's the last little curveball I'll throw out. I don't want to speak for you, Commissioner Rister, but I I think what you're thinking is um this is my interpretation is that we've got another item coming up here where we're going to be asked to approve a million dollars from the South Tiff fund being moved into this Edina Heroes program for down payment assistance. and that because we've u got this money in the affordable housing affordable ownership preservation program there might be some room to kind of navigate but with two separate buckets I think it's a little bit tricky you got lawa money in one bucket and you got tiff money in another bucket and for me I feel like we need to think about it that way unfortunately and that the recommendations that we're seeing here are are compelling and I think we need to trust our staff analysis and the things that have been presented to us this morning in terms of making this decision. Commissioner Mercer, you had a follow on. >> Just that part of this decision was really driven by the workshops that we had and the exercise where we put the little red dots on different things. So I um I I have said what my concerns are. >> All right. Okay. Um the U recommended motion from Manager Hawinson is that we approve the recommendation authorized staff to engage uh council to prepare agreements that would reflect that staff recommendation of $200,000 going to the V emergency rental assistance program. Uh $581,881.99 going into the affordable ownership preservation program. and that 93,500 be allocated to the Mount Olivet rolling acres home repair program. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Commissioner Jackson moves. Commissioner Pier seconds the motion as stated. Further discussion. All those in favor of adoption of the motion as stated say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Uh those allocations are approved with the Lowa money. Thanks for being here this morning with us folks and uh we know you've got uh challenging work ahead of you here. It's been an interesting time. Thank you for being here. And then the next matter, we've got two more matters on the agenda this morning. One is the so-called the Dina Heroes Down payment assistance program and manager Hawinson has this matter as well. >> Yes. This is um this idea for this program also came about from the work sessions um focus on affordable housing. During the third meeting it was stated that an area focus should be for people who work in the city generally and more specifically for people who work in the city and serve eina residents. Another interest was helping own homeowners buy modest housing stock in the city rather than the buyer being a developer. This program is designed to help people buy homes in the city closer to their work by providing a deferred down payment second mortgage to reduce the amount needed to borrow from the first mortgage lender, making the home affordable for those income ranges. For example, if a worker can afford to qualify for a $400,000 mortgage, but the house is listed at $500, the $100,000 difference can become from a second mortgage with a principal not due until the house is sold. This helps make buying a home in Edina more affordable. This really is parallel to the come home to Edina program but for quote unquote heroes. Um the maximum loan size is a little larger with at $100,000 but it's no more than 25% of the home value or 25% of the gross income applied to PITI principal interest taxes. um co it will be co-terminous with the first mortgage. So if both are 30 years um with the principal deferred until term or sale the loan would be a shared appreciation. They could we could also um include the interest only shared appreciation is used about 95% of the time by come home to adina borrowers. The income limit and this is um due to the funding source is 115% of area median income. So about 137,000 for a household of three or more or 100% AMI for a one and two person household. Again, I have no control over that. It's based on funding source requirements. Maximum home value up to 600,000 and proof of employment within the city at the time of the loan. Uh, and then the first generation buyers could get an um qualify for an additional $20,000 that you had granted to the Adina Housing Foundation. Um, so, you know, truth be told, this income level may not be sufficient to buy a $600,000 home, but we're thinking there may be those that that was the um the amount that was stated at those work sessions. Um, but if someone has saved for a long time, received an inheritance plus this down payment assistance, that's why we'll I still propose keeping that cap at that um for those one-offs. Eligibility health care professionals all active nurses, doctors, surgeons, specialists, technicians, lab techs, anyone that works in the healthc care field. uh in Edina. Um teachers and educators, all active teachers, daycare workers, people who work with our children in some capacity, custodians, lunch room lady, school district folks, and municipal employees, firefighters, um EMS, law enforcement. So, um, people that serve the Adina residents, they can live closer to their job so they can be there at work and it it has an environmental aspect as well. Keeps fewer cars on the street. So, the funding request is a million dollars in Southdale 2 um Southdale 2 pulled tiff. Um, if you recall, the HA sought legislative authority to use the South Dale 2 fund specifically to assist in affordable housing which was granted. I think it took two years to get it through the legislation to allow these funds to be used for affordable housing. Um, using the authority to grant funds to the Adina Housing Foundation purposes of this down payment assistant met fit within those guidelines. I have met with um Jay Lingren and Nick Anhut a lot about this program um to help structure it in a way that would fit within the program the legislative authority and um tiff guidelines generally. So there are approximately $6 million in that pool for affordable housing um but it's a restrictive how those funds can be used is fairly restrictive different than the LAA funds. If granted, 1 million would for the heroes program, 5 million would remain for um other affordable housing endeavors. Um we elect I'm suggesting this source because it is restrictive and as this is a qualifying use for it. Um and because the if we looked at the trust fund, there's just not enough money remaining in the affordable housing trust fund to support this program. the grant would go to the adina housing foundation who would own and implement this program as they do with the come home to adina program. So they or um they would operate in the same way. They do the underwriting. They'd work with the serer. The mortgage and the notes would be in their name. So they would track them and then they also work with CE to do the servicing. And so on the right hand side of the slide shows the um the checklist of all the things that is required to get a come home to Edina. It'd be the same checklist, but we'd have proof of employment within the city. So, who is the Adina Housing Foundation? For those people watching, not you all. I think you're fairly familiar with them. It's created in 1985 to administer um a second mortgage program and it was actually the funds that were used at that time were also tiff um for the creation of Centennial Lakes and Edinburgh. Um they've been the current iteration of come home to Adina has been in effect since 2007. They originated 183 loans. They have vast experience in knowing how to do this. Um the amount they've lent out is 8.9 million. Um they've leveraged over $40 million in home purchases and they own the notes and mortgages as stated. So the fact that the heroes program would be using this funding source is again somewhat parallel to the origins of the come home to edina program in general. Similar to the come home to adina program the adina housing foundation review the application underwrite the loan prepare a note and mortgage and then those will be recorded. Um the foundation will work with CE to track the loan satisfy the mortgages when repaid. Um there are two type of mortgages I mentioned shared appreciation and um interest only and this helps with the if people can't afford the full price of a home. It's because they don't have the monthly income to be able to so this the both with both these the principal's deferred so they don't have to pay on the principal. So that's allows them to get this higher priced home. Um but they can elect which they want as shared appreciation or interest only. 95% choose the share appreciation model because then there's zero monthly payments during the time they live in that home. So the next steps I sorry I clicked too far. Um would we would prepare a grant agreement that I would come back for approval. Um and we would modify the current and existing come home to Dina notes and mortgage to reflect this program and the foundation would then implement it and they'd qualify the program participants. >> Questions for manager Hawinson? Yes. Uh, Mr. Jackson, >> Mr. Chair, so we'll be giving a grant to the Adina Housing Foundation. Um, it sounds like maybe this is a much more limited type of program than what they've done in the past. Will they be reporting back to us the success of this program? Because I'd like to make sure we're funding something that that's useful. Um, what's the reporting process for this? >> Chair, commissioners, we could definitely have that be a requirement. There is a close relationship with the Adina Housing Foundation. So I think that could be requested at any time, but we can also have it a condition of the grant agreement. >> Yeah, I think that'd be good to get it something regular that sort of because people forget. Um, but I would I would love to hear whether this is successful or not. This I think really reflects Thank you and thanks to the housing foundation for uh creating this program. It reflects the need that we're hearing or the desire of the community to house people who work here and help people. So, that's a good program, but I'd like to know whether we're successful or not. >> Most definitely. Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Rego. >> Thank you, chair. Thank you so much for presenting on this. I know this is something that we've talked about a few times of how can we specifically target populations of people that are already a part of the Adina community. Um, so I love seeing a program like this and I love how throughout you kind of sprinkled in at least some visuals of programs like this that exist in other locations, right? So it's not like we, you know, designed a new wheel and tried to figure out like how can we do something. There are other examples um of success in this area it seems like across the United States that we then leaned into, learned from, and are attempting to implement a similar program. So, just kudos to you for all of the work that you did and then yeah, not redefining the wheel and just kind of looking at what else has been successful. Um, I do have a couple like specific questions. Um, you talked a little bit about the $600,000 home price maximum. Can you speak to me again about like how we arrived on that? Cuz I I did pull up Zillow. Um there are currently 13 houses that are for sale in the boundaries of Edina that are at 600 or below. Um so I'm just kind of curious like how did we align on that number and does that ensure that there's enough um market to have this be successful? Chair commissioners um the number came about in a couple of different ways. One was from you all. Um I think it was just thrown out. I grabbed on to it. So um the median home price in Edina is over 700,000. So it is below the median price. Minnesota housing and the come home to Edina have a maximum um home value of 515. So this is a little greater than what is allowed through the come home to Edina and state down payment assistance programs. Um, anything greater than this because we have an income cap based on the funding source would be the the numbers don't work. If you if you take that income, you take 30% of that income roughly, you factor in interest rates, you factor in all those things, having them be able to afford, I think even 600 is going to be a reach. And that's why I said with 600 there, I'll keep that because it was a number that was stated, but there there would have to be they would have to have a gift in addition to our 100,000, an inheritance, a family gift of some sort in order to increase that down payment because the mortgage that they would qualify for would probably be roughly about 400,000. And you have to factor in their credit score. there's so many I mean home buyers you know that there's so many things that determine how much you can afford in a home. So that's how we came up with 600. Um I still think it's a little bit of a reach but it was a number that um had been repeatedly stated for something to try to achieve too for home ownership here. >> Yeah cuz I'm just trying to make sure that we make a program that's attainable right like both that they are able to afford the monthly. So, I appreciate the analysis that you did on that side, but I also want to know that there's supply within our market for them to find homes that fit into this that are not just tear down quality. Uh, chair, commissioners, um, truthfully with the afford affordable ownership preservation program, there have been alignments where there have been buyers into that program that have utilized the come home to a dinina program and one was actually a police officer. So, um, you're right, supply is limited. Um I am not limiting this to um houses. Um where a lot of the come home to a diner program has been condominiums as well and town homes. Um we but historically with the come home to a dinina program lately since we increased our cap of the down payment assistance when it was 60,000 we saw more condominiums. When that increased to 90 we saw more houses. So, by having a cap of a hundred and increasing the cap on the housing value, I thought that helped offset it um because then they only need to borrow 500 only 500,000 and then if there's other streams. So, you're right, the supply it's a challenge because there's not much on the market >> and we do that analysis. Um Mary Kay, who's on our foundation board, she's a former loan officer, she looks at Zillow all the time and tries to do those analysis and she says, "Yeah, it's it's it's going to be a challenge because there's just not much housing stock." >> Yeah. And that's why I'm just thinking, I don't know. I'm supportive of approving this and moving forward and and beginning to understand like is this utilized? Are there gaps? You know, I'm thinking of this first year as being really ripe for learning and opportunity. Um, but just thinking that might be something that we need to tweak of is there a possibility to to increase somehow? I know that there are certain caps, right? Um, but just something to think about because I I do want this to be attainable for folks. Another data point chair and commissioners that I could share was in 2024 we closed on 25 come home to Edina mortgages and so this would be if people maximize this would be 10. So I was feeling confident that we could get 10 closings um since we're um diminishing the pool of applicants to be people that work in Edina. Well, there's a lot of jobs in Edina. So, um, and with some marketing, I will be talking to the communications department, um, about that. I I I'm confident they may not all be single family homes, truthfully. >> And then, are we going to get a fun logo, too, or I saw the logo from the Florida >> um, program, >> South Carolina? Yeah, there's a lot of logos out there. Um, I just was assured by our communications director that we can come up with a logo. That's fun. >> Wonderful. Thank you. That might be green. >> Anyone else have anything here? You know, I like this program uh a great deal. It did give me pause when I was looking at the healthc care professionals category and wondering whether doctors and surgeons ought to be in that category. um seems to me like they uh they'd be at an income level even starting out where they didn't need to worry about this. But affordability issue. I also liked it so much that I thought well we've got six million in that um tiff pool fund. uh maybe we should allocate a little bit more to it, but I think particularly Commissioner Agnu's uh inquiries this morning have caused me to think about just put our toe in the water and see how this works and uh I know we can use those funds for a variety of purposes, but uh let's just hold back. So, I'm pretty comfortable personally with the approval at $1 million and and being able to do up to 10 units with that money and see and we we'll see how it goes. So, >> um, we've got a, uh, recommendation from, uh, manager Hawinson that the motion read as follows. Approve a million dollar grant from the Southdale TIF pool fund for the Heroes Down payment assistance program and authorize staff to engage the city attorney to draft a grant agreement with the city with the Adana Housing Foundation and to modify loan documents to reflect the program parameters. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Second. Commissioner Agnum moves. Commissioner Pier seconds the motion as stated. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor of adoption of the motion as stated say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Off we go. >> Thank you. >> And I'm sure Director Benod will find help you find a really good logo for it. Um all right. We got one more matter here um to deal with this morning and that is a potential adoption of res resolution adopting the proposed budget for the HR for taxable levy year 2026 handling that matter. Yep. >> I don't see our finance director out there. So, >> thank you Mr. Chair, members of of the commission. uh we're proposing to what we're proposing to you today is the to is asking you to establish the uh preliminary tax levy uh for the HRA. We're HAs and cities are on slightly different uh schedules as it goes to setting the preliminary levy, but this will be uh the the final opportunity you have as an HR before uh September 16th to uh to approve a levy. So that's why we're asking you to do it today timing wise. Um we we have had a custom over the last uh six years, three budget cycles to uh to approach our our H uh levy as an incremental with incremental growth of 3% uh each year. That's what we're proposing uh this year as well. The 2025 uh levy was $259,300. We're proposing a 3% increase to two $267,100. That's a $7,800 increase or or 3%. We will blend this into the overall total tax levy proposal that we'll make to you on on September 16th. >> Yeah, thanks for that. It's a relatively modest increase uh explanation I think is satisfactory. Are there questions for uh our executive director on this matter? on this request. Is there a motion to adopt resolution 2025-06 adopting the proposed budget for the HA and establishing the proposed tax levy payable in 2026 for the HR? >> So moved. >> Commissioner Jackson moves. >> I second. >> Mr. Agnu seconds the adoption of the resolution 202506. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor of adoption of resolution 20250? uh say I >> I >> I opposed carried the resolution 202506 is approved and adopted. >> Uh and that's it for the uh work of the H this morning on the August on August 28th, 2025. Anybody have anything for the good of the order? Commission. Risser. >> Um, just more thoughts about yesterday and I appreciate your comments this morning opening the meeting. I've also received um emails from people asking that we do something um that we take action and I did reply that on our last legislative platform we did have um an item the possession of firearms and municipal facilities and school that have school-like use and being able to have some control over that. And I don't know where that ended up if it even got launched, but if it didn't pursuing that, but I um this hit hard. Uh our first house was two blocks from annunciation and I was actually supposed to go over to that area yesterday morning. So, uh but thinking about what can we do? Um what can a municipality do? So we, you know, all need to work in some way to reduce gun violence. It has just become too pervasive and children need to be safe in schools. Thank you. >> Yeah, thanks for that. Uh, manager Neil, >> just to follow up on that a little bit and it's related to the call I had to step out to take. Um we had pretty quick contact yesterday with OOLG and with leadership at OG and leadership at Adina public schools. Uh today uh the department is going out and having contact with u other kind of church there's a number of church-based daycare centers are all over the community including uh the kind of the for-profit daycare centers as well. So, we are going to reach out to them, have a contact, make sure they know who we are and we know who they are. Uh, so that if we do have some some concern in the future, we can address them quickly. >> And um I don't know if you care to comment about the ongoing work we do with the public schools in terms of uh uh active shooter exercises and other things that are um public safety related. some of the matters I think that that have been taken or some of the actions that have been taken particularly by the school district in terms of security they prefer to keep confidential. >> They >> but uh nonetheless I think u people should be assured that we're we're on top of this. >> They they should we've had a long positive working relationship with the school district public schools. It's the only school district that has facilities in Adina. Um, but they we've our police, our fire, our EMS, our dispatching staff. Uh, we spend we spend a considerable amount of time with them during each year to make sure we've got a plan not just to address what happens during an event, but after when like that's where a lot of kind of traffic snares and concerns happen is how do I get my kid at the end of an event like this. So, we do have uh connections with them. We used those connections yesterday just to reaffirm where we are. Uh school districts have their own requirements in state law about what kind of training they have to provide their own staff and what kind of plans they have to have. Uh but we assist them with that to to the best to the best of our ability. I had dialogue with the um superintendent last night and and we did do a as I mentioned earlier a press release from the city yesterday with regard to our ongoing support and empathy. Uh we did talk about some you know to what commissioner Mercer is raising releasing some kind of a a joint press release today and I think um director Benerrod I'll stay in touch with you on that and send you the the text that I got from the superintendent. Um, that may be something we want to do on a follow-up basis to the issue of of gun violence to I think Commissioner Mercer was getting at. What could we as a municipality do about gun violence? Um, you know, at the at the park last night, of course, our attorney general was talking about automatic weapons and the reauthorization of the use of automatic weapons weapons. I guess it was actually the ban lapsed several years ago and manufacturers went into active manufacturer of those types of weapons, but I'm not sure you know what we can do other than be a voice if we if we decide we want to be Commissioner Jackson. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, with these types of events, there's always a before and an after. So, my before was yesterday morning waking up thinking about um the economic future of the Twin Cities. Um, so I'm going to go to before for a little while. The um, uh, greater MSP met, I believe, two weeks ago and um, and the mayor was there and and I believe uh, Mr. Neil was there. Were you there? >> Um, and Evan Ramstead of the Star Tribune wrote about it. And as the economic development board um for the city of Edina, I just want to um raise the issue that growth has slowed in Minnesota and um I think the when we look at the cost of housing and um how difficult it is to develop wealth um with a high cost of c housing from you know coming out of poverty to develop wealth. people who have expensive homes, their value has gone up dramatically. Um, but I just want to sort of put that alert out there that growth has slowed in the Twin Cities. The decrease in the value of commercial property in um, downtown Minneapolis is affecting the way the taxes are spread out over and it's more burden on residential single family residential owners. Um, so I just wanted to alert people to that um, problem that's out there and hope that we can be part of the solution. >> Thanks for that. All right. Um, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> I second. >> Got a motion by Commissioner Jackson. The meeting of the >> housing redevelopment. >> Thank you. Thank you. uh during the meeting of the Adana Housing and Redevelopment Authority this Thursday, August 28th, 2025 at 9:00 in the morning. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor of adjournment say I. >> Opposed? Carried. We stand adjourned.