Roseville City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Election of Economic Development Authority (EDA) Officers
Roseville Sustainable Steward Award Recognition
Funding Request for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Land Acquisition
EDA Housing Programs and Future Funding Strategy
Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program
Votes (4)
Election of Officers to the EDA
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Bower [0:04:15] · Seconded by Member Stron [0:04:18]
The annual election for EDA President, Vice President, and Treasurer was held. President Row noted the tradition of the Mayor serving as President and Acting Mayor as Vice President. Member Strong was nominated for Treasurer, and the roles were filled per nominations.
Recognize Recipients of the Annual Roseville Sustainable Steward Award
Jeannie Kelsey provided an overview of the program's realignment in 2022 and the outreach efforts. Three primary awardees (James and Kristen McCon, Kevin Krauss, Anna Fu and Will Bonan comp) were highlighted for their diverse sustainable practices, including energy efficiency upgrades, pollinator gardens, and shoreline restoration. No awardees were present.
Consider a request for a one-time source of funding for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Strong [0:23:44] · Seconded by Member Grath [0:23:47]
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity requested $197,000 in upfront funding for land acquisition for three community land trust homes. This differed from the usual down payment assistance due to complications with a Ramsey County grant (prevailing wages, timeline). Staff recommended using LAHA funds, which was confirmed by the city attorney as a suitable source. Discussion also touched on the potential use of other EDA fund balances.
EDA's Housing Programs and Ongoing Funding Strategy
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Grath [1:07:34] / [1:25:21] · Seconded by Member Strong [1:07:37] / [1:25:24]
Janice Gunlock presented a detailed overview of EDA housing programs, their HRA origins, current funding status, and the introduction of LAHA funds with their associated restrictions (e.g., income limits, anti-supplanting rule). Staff sought direction on continuing existing programs (Revolving Loan, Senior Deferred Loan, Community Land Trust) and funding them through reallocations from Fund 724 and 725, as well as terminating the Manufactured Home Loan program. Urgent discussion on an eviction and foreclosure prevention program using LAHA funds also took place.
Notable Quotes (8)
The past practice has been for the president, vice president to be very boring and just be the mayor and uh acting mayor.
In 2022, we realigned the whole um uh EDA program, which was the green award program. We worked with the public works staff in order to re um up it as the Roseville Sustainable Steward Award.
I think we can all agree that it's impressive to see these efforts uh that are going on by uh people in the community and their homes and their properties. It gives a lot of ideas to people as well as things that they can be doing.
For that reason, we're requesting that you consider providing the up one-time upfront. Normally, we do not provide funds upfront. It normally is provided similar to like a DPA. We provide the $80,000 per home upon acquisition of a new home owner into a house.
The goal of this tax was to fund and create and sustain affordable housing projects and initiatives.
Funds cannot supplant existing affordable housing efforts but they can supplement.
The needs there and um we are partnering with St. Michael's right now doing the best we can and um the requests are coming in a lot and strong and fast and we're doing the best we can and um this would definitely help and it's not going to go away when metro surge goes away.
I'd be very interested in us providing maybe like $5,000 grants to seniors... to make improvements to their homes so they can be able to live in you know live in place or stay in place...
Ordinances & Resolutions (5)
Appoints the Secretary (Executive Director Pat Trean) and Assistant Treasurer (City Finance Director Sam Maganu)
Staff's conceptual ideas for LAHA spending, including eviction prevention
Allots a cross-department team to explore LAHA programming
Required for informing decisions on new programs
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity's intent to purchase land