05-22-2018 HRA MIN SPECIALSpecial Meeting of the Elk River
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Members Present: Chair Larry Toth, Commissioners Denny Chuba, Michelle Eder, Louise
Kuester (11:22 a.m.), and Nate Ovall (11:07 a.m.)
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Economic Development Director Amanda Othoudt, Economic
Development Specialist Colleen Eddy and Sr. Administrative
Assistant/Recording Secretary Jennifer Green
Others Present: Ryan Hardin, Broker, Hardin Companies; Frank Galli, owner of Pompeii
Pizza, 315 Jackson Ave.; Steve Johnson, Owner of Antiques Downtown, 309
Jackson Ave.; Debra Leedahl, owner of Kemper Drug, 323 Jackson Ave.;
Lance Lindberg, realtor; Jennifer Wagner, Ward 4 City Council Member
I . Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Housing and
Redevelopment Authority was called to order at 11:01 a.m. by Chair Toth.
2.1 Proposed Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. She provided a real estate sell sheet for the former
school district office property currently for sale. Ms. Othoudt indicated LHB would add the
additional building at 708 Main Street to the proposal, which would allow for inspection of 7
buildings and increase the amount of the proposal to $12,900. She noted this cost could
eventually be recouped from a developer.
Various business owners from Jackson Avenue and realtors from the Elk River area were
present to participate in a discussion with the HRA and ask questions.
Commissioner Eder asked questions regarding the proposal, inspections, and the possible
substandard issues and concerns with the building after an inspection is completed and
would the property owner be required to fix any issues.
Ms. Othoudt explained the inspection would only be used to determine if the area would be
TIF -eligible and the city could not require property owners to make any building
improvements that an inspection would reveal. She indicated if the area became a TIF
district, property owners could be eligible for increment funds to make needed
improvements depending upon how the TIF increment was set up.
Housing and Redevelopment Minutes
May 7, 2018
Page 2
Frank Galli asked questions regarding TIF and how it would benefit property and business
owners.
Steve Johnson stated it made sense to include all buildings on the Jackson block and didn't
feel there was a downside in doing so. He supported redevelopment of the area and
expressed concerns with preserving parking.
Debra Leedahl asked for information regarding the criteria for determining a substandard
building and how would the improvements be defined.
Jennifer Wagner expressed concerns with unintended consequences of the outcome of an
inspection and requiring property owners to fix the concerns. She stated she was happy to
see the business owners in attendance as she felt this to be an enormous project. She asked
questions regarding how TIF funds would be distributed. She also asked the HRA if they
feel this route is the right thing to do.
Lance Lindberg commented about his participation in the he Mississippi Connections Plan
committee and discussed the future Highway 10 MnDOT plans for the area.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the HRA to authorize staff to proceed with
obtaining permission from the property owners in the project area outlined in the staff
report, to include the 708 Main Street building, and authorize LHB to begin inspections as
outlined in their proposal for the purposes of a possible redevelopment TIF district. Ms.
Othoudt stated she would contact LHB to revise the proposal to include the additional
buildings and the proposal would be approved at the next HRA
3. Adjournment
Chair Toth adjourned the meeting at 11:59 a.m.
Minutes prepared by ennifer Green.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
to , Chaff
Housing & Redevelopment Authority