6.0. HRSR 02-02-2004 ITEM # 6.
• City of
Elk -�-�
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development f-[,)
DATE: February 2, 2004
SUBJECT: Housing Work Plan: Housing Availability/Affordability Survey Results
Attachment
• Housing Availability and Affordability Survey,January 2004
Background
In early 2003, the HRA accepted a Housing Work Plan,which included presentations each month
• from several cities/organizations in order to gather information and examples of housing programs
and partnership possibilities. The HRA heard presentations from the MN Housing Finance Agency,
City of Fridley, St. Cloud HRA, the Central MN Housing Partnership,Tri-CAP, and Habitat for
Humanity.
In September, a housing stock inventory/analysis of Elk River was presented by the Planning
Department as the final Housing Work Plan session. The analysis corresponded with the
anticipated completion of the Comprehensive Plan. Both documents should be used by the HRA to
determine if the current housing balance in Elk River is satisfactory.
Following the presentation and discussion, the HRA directed staff to conduct an informal/non-
scientific survey of Elk River manufacturers and retail/service businesses regarding housing
availability and affordability issues. The survey was sent in October.
In November, the results of the survey were presented to the HRA. The HRA directed staff to
resend the survey to the retail/service businesses in order to receive a better response. The survey
was resent in January 2004.
Response Rate
The survey was sent to all Elk River manufacturers and just a sample of retail/service businesses.
The following is the response rate:
• 39% manufacturers
• 28% retail/service
Housing Survey Results
Page 2 of 3
• Survey Results
What percentage of your employees live outside of Elk River?
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Responses Responses Responses
0-25% 2 17 19
25-50% 4 11 15
50-75% 3 15 18
75-100% 5 10 15
Other than Elk River, in which communities do your employees live? Check all that apply.
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Responses Responses Responses
Elsewhere in Sherburne County 11 40 51
Minneapolis/St. Paul area&its suburbs 9 19 28
Other (Manufacturing):
Anoka, Isanti (2), Hennepin County, Mille Lacs County (2), Stearns County, Princeton, New York
State,Milaca,Anoka County, Ramsey County, Monticello,Buffalo, and St. Francis
Other (Retail/Service):
• Watertown, Milaca (2), Zimmerman, Ramsey (2),Buffalo (2) , Monticello (2) ,Anoka County (4) ,
Mille Lacs County (3) ,Wright County (4), Stearns County, Isanti, Coon Rapids, Hennepin County,
Princeton (2), Rogers, Otsego, Isanti (2), and Big Lake Township
On average, how many miles do your employees commute to work? Only retail/services
businesses were asked this question.
Retail/Service
Responses
0-10 miles 23
10-20 miles 21
20-30 miles 6
30-40 miles 3
Is Elk River meeting the housing needs of your employees?
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Responses Responses Responses
Yes 9 35 44
No 2 12 14
Not Sure 2 3 5
Not Applicable 1 3 4
4110
Housing Survey Results
Page 3 of 3
• If not,which items do you believe are the reasons? Check all that apply.
Manufacturing Retail/Service Total
Responses Responses Responses
Availability of rental housing 1 4 5
Avail. of single-family non-rental housing 1 3 4
Availability of affordable housing 3 14 17
Condition of multi-family housing 0 0 0
Condition of single-family housing 0 0 0
Analysis
• 66% of the sample of retail/service employers who responded to the survey feel that Elk
River is meeting the housing needs of their employees.
• 64% of manufacturing employers feel that Elk River is meeting the housing needs of their
employees.
Recommendations
• Utilize existing city plans, such as the Comprehensive Plan and the Economic Development
Strategic Plan, to guide housing decisions.
• Utilize workforce data (updated quarterly by the State of MN) to analyze the types of
workers and wages in Elk River and compare it to housing affordability/availability in Elk
River.
• Continue to consider the appropriate housing balance for Elk River.
• Consider conducting an informal housing survey to manufacturers and retail/service
businesses on a biannual basis.
•
. .//
tik
River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
In November 2003, the Elk River Housing&Redevelopment Authority (HRA) asked city staff to contact
Elk River retail/service businesses regarding Elk River's housing availability and affordability. Due to the
small amount of responses received, the HRA has asked staff to resend the survey. If you have already
completed this survey,it is not necessary that you do so again. Thank you for your time!
1. What percentage of your employees live outside of Elk River?
0-25% ❑ 25-50% ❑ 50-75% ❑ 75-100% ❑
2. Other than Elk River,in which communities do your employees live?
❑ Elsewhere in Sherburne County
• ❑❑ Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area& Its Suburbs
Other
On average, how many miles do your employees commute to work?
0-10 miles ❑ 10-20 miles ❑ 20-30 miles ❑ 30-40 miles ❑
3. Is Elk River meeting the housing needs of your employees?
Yes ❑ No ❑
1
If not,which items do you believe are the reasons? Check all that apply.
❑ Availability of rental housing
❑ Availability of single-family non-rental housing
❑ Availability of affordable housing (rent/house payment should be 30% of gross income)
❑ Condition of multi-family housing
❑ Condition of single-family housing
Please fax your completed survey by January 26, 2004 to Heidi Steinmetz at (763) 635-1090.
IDand/or contact Heidi at (763) 635-1042 with any questions.
Phone:763.635.1000
Fax:763.635.1090
www.ci.elk-river.mn.us