05-05-2025 HRA MINJ
City of
Elk = _
River
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Meeting of the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Monday, May 5, 2025
Commissioner Dennis Chuba, Commissioner Nate Ovall, Commissioner Lynn
Caswell, Commissioner Mel Beaudry, Mayor John Dietz
None
Staff Present: Economic Development Director Brent O'Neil, Economic Development Specialist
Joshua Mollan, and Recording Secretary Jennifer Green
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting was called to order at 5:30 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. CONSIDER AGENDA
Commissioner Dietz asked to add a discussion topic during 6.4 to discuss the downtown small area
plan and the HRA's role in it.
Moved by Commissioner Caswell and seconded by Commissioner Dietz to approve the
agenda with the addition noted above. Motion carried 5-0.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by Commissioner Ovall and seconded by Commissioner Beaudry to approve the
following consent items as outlined in their respective staff reports. Motion Carried 5-0.
4.1 Draft HRA Minutes -April 7, 2025
4.2 Check Register
4.3 Balance Sheet
4.4 Revenue/Expenditure Report
5. OPEN FORUM
No one appeared for open forum.
6. GENERAL BUSINESS
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Minutes Page 2 of 4
May 5, 2025
6.1 Furniture Placement at 724 Main Street
Mr. Mollan presented the staff report.
Moved by Commissioner Dietz and seconded by Commissioner Beaudry to approve the
Memorandum of Understanding as outlined in the staff report allowing placement of
outdoor furniture at 724 Main Street by the Downtown Elk River Business Association
(DERBA) for public use. Motion carried 5-0.
6.2 Consider Elk River Garden Gem Awards
Mr. Mollan presented the staff report.
Commissioner Caswell asked if this program worked on nominations.
Mr. Mollan stated it would, along with self -applications.
Chair Chuba asked if the award covered all city properties and who would be judges.
Mr. Mollan stated it would be all city properties would be eligible, and judges would include members of
the Beautification and Public Art Committee and some members of the Sherburne County Master
Gardners group would also assist.
Commissioner Beaudry asked what the annual expense of the program would cover, and how people
are nominated.
Mr. Mollan explained what the budget funds would cover and that community members can nominate
someone as well as self -nominations. He stated the landscaping and gardens should be visible to the
public.
Moved by Commissioner Dietz and seconded by Commissioner Beaudry to approve the
creation of Elk River Garden Gem Awards, a new landscape and garden recognition
program, in partnership with the Economic Development Authority as outlined in the staff
report. Motion carried 5-0.
6.3 Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program Update
Mr. Mollan presented the staff report.
Commissioner Dietz asked if the Housing and Redevelopment Authority could be referenced in the
newspaper advertisement. The consensus of the HRA was to reference the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority on future advertisements.
6.4 General Updates
Mr. O'Neil presented the staff report and highlighted the following items:
- Downtown flower baskets have been placed.
- A member from Habitat for Humanity will present at next month's HRA meeting.
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May 5, 2025
Page 3 of 4
- Can the HRA provide feedback if there was interest in stacking the HRA and EDA meetings on the
same evening each month? Potential earlier start time to accommodate both meetings. Work sessions
could potentially run longer and would have to work with the city council meeting start time by
beginning earlier. Mr. O'Neil asked if the HRA would provide feedback at a future meeting.
Commissioner Ovall preferred having the meetings distinct and separate.
-The draft Downtown Small Area Plan was released, and an open house gathered input with the
Planning Commission also reviewing. The plan will then be reviewed with the steering committee to
discuss the feedback gathered and next steps. After that meeting, the Planning Commission and City
Council will review for possible adoption.
Commissioner Dietz asked if the HRA would be asked for funds to be used towards the improvements
outlined in the downtown plan, since the HRA is looking to fund future projects. He expressed
concerns about where the funds would come from to fulfill the plan. He explained he wanted to use
HRA funds to continue acquiring and converting the properties after the railroad tracks along Main
Street to Highway 169 into commercial properties. He expressed concerns with parts of the plan
dictating what would go on in particular areas and how that would be guided.
Mr. O'Neil stated the HRA would be an appropriate entity to take the lead on acquiring properties for
redevelopment. He felt one big driver of this plan was the notion of Main Street and Jackson requiring
some modifications to the infrastructure, and this plan was a precursor to guide development when it
occurred. The parking lots will also need reconstruction and the plan helps determine if some
redevelopment should go there. It can also be a vision to the redevelopment community to show what
the city hopes will go there, but it also opens the door for the level of public participation that should
guide it. The HRA seems to be the most natural entity to help with the financial lead. He didn't feel the
plan was directing who or how to spend improvement funds, but rather provide an idea of possible
additions with both the city and other outside entities assisting with funding.
Commissioner Caswell stated he was the HRA representative on the steering committee and noted the
street improvements would need to be done soon, and felt the area north of the railroad had some
possibilities that the HRA could help redevelop by obtaining those properties.
Commissioner Ovall explained how the HRA could be more proactive and assertive in driving property
acquisition, but that would change the current direction of this commission. He stated budgeting
decisions would need to be modified if that were the case.
Mr. O'Neil stated there were fewer negative comments at the open house than the online comments,
with a more constructive balance and feedback. The main concerns heard were the timing, staging and
impact of the street and parking lot improvements and the impact on the businesses and traffic when
those areas were closed for reconstruction. A second concern was the long-term impact on parking
spaces being lost.
Chair Chuba asked what the objection to parallel parking was.
Commissioner Dietz stated if the sidewalks were widened, there would be a loss of some parking
spaces.
Chair Chuba brought up concerns about the cost of the highway realignment and where those funds
would come from.
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May 5, 2025
Page 4 of 4
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The HRA discussed other pieces of the proposed plan and the long-term vision this plan can provide.
Commissioner Caswell stated one of his concerns was the width of Main Street and Jackson if the
sidewalks are widened.
Commissioner Dietz felt the open house was well attended but would have liked larger exhibits.
Commissioner Ovall commented about the challenges with the city getting involved in this type of
redevelopment.
The HRA discussed whether the sidewalks will be reconfigured when the roadway is resurfaced, and
the public works director will review the plan and provide feedback.
MOTION TO ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING
Moved by Commissioner Caswell and seconded by Commissioner Beaudry to adjourn the
meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 P.M.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Green.
n
Denny Chuba, Chair
Tina Allard, City Clerk