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01-26-2009 HRA MINSPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009 Members Present: Chair Wilson, Commissioners Kuester, Lieser and Toth Members Absent: Commissioner Motin Staff Present: Community Development Director Jeff Gongoll, Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich, Recording Secretary Debbie Huebner Also Present: Mayor Klinzing, Heidi Peper of S.E.H., Inc. and Dan Roberts of Tri -Cap Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Wilson. 2. Consider January 26, 2009 HRA Special Meeting Agenda MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LIESER TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 26, 2009 HRA AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Discuss HRA Grant Application for Neighborhood Stabilization Program (Foreclosure Recovery Funds Mr. Gongoll reviewed the letter to the City of Otsego which proposes a split in the $715,446 funding for the 55330 zip code as follows: Otsego foreclosures: 48 Otsego 17% of funding $121,626 Elk River foreclosures 228 Elk River 83% of funding 593,820 Total foreclosures 276 Total NSP Funds in 55330 zip $715,446 Commissioner Lieser asked what would happen to Otsego's funds if they did not use them. Heidi Peper, S.E.H., Inc., stated that the MN Housing Finance Agency will be monitoring use of the funds at 6, 9 and 12 months. If adequate progress is not being made, the funds would be put back into a statewide pool. Chair Wilson asked if the city could apply for those funds. Ms. Peper stated she would expect that the high need cities could apply for the pooled funds. Mr. Gongoll noted that Elk River has only one zip code, and Otsego has three zip codes. Chair Wilson asked if Otsego would be able to use monies for all three zip codes. Ms. Peper stated yes. Ms. Peper explained how the targeted neighborhoods were chosen and the three types of assistance that would be offered: downpayment assistance, purchase rehab, and acquisition rehab. Partners in the program include Tri -Cap, Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, area realtors and lenders, and MHFA/GMHF. Ms. Peper also discussed income limits for eligibility and possible assistance scenarios. She noted that Connexus Energy has offered to partner by donating Energy Star appliances for buyers under 80 percent of the median Housing & Redevelopment Authority January 26, 2009 Page 2 income (approximately $1,200 in value) Ms. Peper stated that Elk River Municipal Utilities is checking to see if they may be able to offer a similar program. She explained that award of the funds will be announced the end of February, and the city will have 18 months to use the funds from the time HUD signs for their release. Dan Roberts provided information regarding Tri -Cap's process (i.e., inspections, bidding, licensing and bonding of contractors, lead certification, etc.) Commissioner Kuester asked if money could be used for finishing units at the Bluffs of Elk River, since it is a new project. Ms. Peper stated that the work would be considered rehab and would be eligible for funding. Commissioner Kuester asked for clarification on administrative costs. Ms. Peper explained the general administration will be handled by city staff, and work that Tri -Cap does with the homeowner is considered field administration and is funded by the project budget and not administration. She stated that 8.7 percent of the total 4593,000 request would be for general administrative costs as documented and handled by the city. Commissioner Toth asked who would determine qualified applicants. Mr. Roberts stated that Tri -Cap staff would complete the income verification process, which is part of the field administrative costs. Commissioner Kuester asked if applications would be taken in Elk River. Mr. Roberts stated that most of the process can be done by mail, and that application can be made on-line. He noted that income information is obtained via income tax returns and employer verification. Commissioner Toth asked if there is a cut-off date for additional homes to be included in the program. Ms. Peper stated that if other homes are foreclosed in the target area, they can be included. She noted that it may be possible to provide assistance for a home outside the area, if the target area has been completed and there are funds remaining. Chair Wilson asked what is the estimated turnover time. Mr. Roberts stated that it depends on how aggressively the prices are set. He explained that in order to have a quick turnover time, prices must be set low enough. He anticipated a 1-2 month turnover time after a home is rehabbed and is ready to sell. Ms. Peper explained that a home may be sold at a price significantly lower than what is invested (i.e., $150,000 acquisition/rehab cost, sell for $100,000 — value gap of $50,000). Commissioner Lieser asked if the value gap is only on acquisition/rehab. Ms. Peper stated yes, that the value stays in the house. She explained that alien is placed on the home for 10 years at zero percent, and if the loan is sold in less than 10 years, the homeowner would have to pay back a portion of the grant. Ms. Peper stated that she would recommend the city allow a shorter lien term than 10 years for smaller amounts of assistance. Commissioner Toth asked for clarification on the city's administrative costs. Ms. Mehelich stated that staff proposes they would be able to handle the general reporting. She stated that Tri -Cap would provide the field administration and work directly with the households and programming. Ms. Pepin noted that the costs would be clearly spelled out on the deeds. She recommended a five-year recapture term for assistance of $10,000 and under, and ten years for assistance over $10,000. Mayor Khnzing noted that she strongly supported focusing on using local builders and realtors. She noted that the foreclosure problem is not a short-term issue and that a new wave of foreclosures is expected in the spring, and in 2010 when ARM's will reset. She Housing & Redevelopment Authority Page 3 January 26, 2009 ----------------------------- stated that although the HRA has not had much involvement in rehab in the past, she encouraged the HRA to take on this major role. Mayor Klinzing stated that all city departments will work together to track abandoned homes. She stated there needs to be a coordinated process to have water shut off and winterization completed to prevent damage and vandalism from occurring. She thanked the HRA for their work on this project. Al Sakry, Mortgages Unlimited, 231 Main Street — suggested having a committee to monitor homes for possible abandonment. He stated that there have already been instances of broken water pipes, and extensive damage may make financing impossible. He noted that his business has worked with MN Housing Cost Initiative, a low interesting financing program. He explained that they mainly service ethnic markets, but are looking for low income head of household families. Chair Wilson asked if the funding could be used to cover preventative costs such as turning off the water, if the city were allowed into the homes. Ms. Peper stated that only rehab is eligible in the application. He stated that a neighborhood advisory committee or watch group could help identify homes to address prevention. Mr. Gongoll stated that once the city began focusing on the NSP application, they found more issues were out there. She stated that the police and building inspectors are identifying and reporting properties that may be empty or abandoned. Mr. Gongoll stated that disconnections have been stopped for non -payments on homes that are possibly vacant. He stated that they are also working with CenterPoint Energy and Connexus for a list of "non-payment" homes. Ms. Mehelich stated that staff is collecting information from the sheriff's sales monthly, as well as suspected homes as identified by building inspectors. Commissioner Toth stated that he felt the city should be able to take action to prevent damage from occurring. Mark Urista stated that there is a major problem getting into foreclosed homes. He stated that banks are trying to use local agents to see if homes are occupied. He explained that after the sheriff's sale on foreclosures, the homeowner has six months to apply for redemption. He stated one of the challenges is that local agents' requests for water shut off are often denied by utility companies as it needs to come from the property owner. He suggested finding a way for the city and utilities to work with local agents to take care of winterizing up front, by working with the city to get the water shut off when a property is known to be vacant. He stated that whenever possible, they do go into the property, complete the winterization, get the keys changed, and switch the billing of utilities. Mayor Klinzing stated she would support putting together a process to prevent future problems. She stated that the HRA could be the advisory resource. Ms. Mehelich stated that other cities such as Brooklyn Park and Isand are establishing monitoring programs for this purpose. She indicated staff will research the issue and advise the Council and HRA as soon as possible. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Page 4 January 26, 2009 MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TOTH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LIESER TO AUTHORIZE SUBMITTAL OF THE APPLICATION TO THE MN HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD STABLIZATION PROGRAM (FORECLOSURE RECOVERY) FUNDS. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 4. Update on Downtown Redevelopment Study Mr. Gongoll stated that the City Council has authorized reconvening the Mississippi Connections Task Force. He noted that no work will be started until the FAST study is completed, anticipated in June. Staff will be contact the previous members for interest in serving on the committee. Mr. Gongoll stated that staff will be making inquires as to the cost of a facilitator for the Task Force. Mr. Urista will return as the chair for the group. He noted that Councilmember Zerwas has expressed interest in serving on the Task Force to represent the City Council. Chair Wilson noted that the February 2, 2009 HRA meeting will be cancelled and a notice will be sent to the Commissioners. Adjournment There being no other business, Chair Wilson adjourned the meeting. The meeting of the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Minutes pr aced by Debb* uebner. Tina All rd ?Ci, t y, e k Stewart Wilso Chair, Housing and Redevelopment Authority