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Home My WebLink About2002 [06] Jun 24 I I I June 24, 2002 Page 1 of2 I Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council and Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met in joint session on Monday, June 24, 2002 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Larry Hosch, Councilors Bob Loso, Cory Ehlert, AI Rassier, Kyle Schneider. Administrator I Clerk Judy Weyrens. Plannina Commission Members Present: Chair Gary Utsch. Commissioners Marge Lesnick, Michael Deutz, Members Absent: S. Kathleen Kalinowski, Kurt Schneider, Jim Graeve. Others Present: Kevin Kluesner, Rev. Greg Miller, Andy Imholte, Elaine Imholte, Dan Finn, Tom Sibley, Nancy McDarby, Madeline Beaumout, Wayne Tjomsland, Tim Magnuson, Mike Slavik, Frank Loso, Marie Loso, Richard Carlbom, Bernie Evans, Kari Irwin, Jeremylrwin, S. Lisa Kittock, 5, Michelle Schumacer, S, Paula Revier,S, Arlene Hynes, S. Nancy Hynes, S. Renee Domeier, 5, Miriam Ardolf, Ellen Wahlstrom, Diane Moeller, Ernie Diedrich, S, Sheila Rausch, S. Kara Hennes, Marge Kalinowski, Melisa Dick, Margy Hughes. Mayor Hosch opened the meeting at 7:00 PM and stated the purpose of the meeting is to allow the City Council and Planning Commission to discuss the proposed Affordable Housing Ordinance as submitted by the drafting committee, The drafting committee is comprised of a representative from each of the five area cities, (St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Joseph) and select members from community groups such as the Builders Association. Hosch stated that no action will be taken at this meeting, rather input will be gathered from the Council and Planning Commission and forwarded to the drafting committee for further review, Hosch further clarified that before St. Joseph adopts an Affordable Housing Ordinance a public hearing will be conducted and input will be received from the public. Ehlert stated that while he understands the meeting at this time is not a public hearing he would encourage receiving input from those present. i Kevin Kluesner requested authorization to present the City Council and Planning Commission with a petition encouraging the City Council to enact an Affordable Housing Ordinance, Mayor Hosch stated that the Council would receive the petition, but will not take action on the petition at this time. Kluesner presented the City Council and Planning Commission with a petition stating the following: We, the undersigned, citizens of St. Joseph, encourage and support our Planning Commission, Mayor ad City Council to enact an Affordable Housing Ordinance, It may include: a) a percentage of affordable homes in each new development; 2) a density bonus for developers. The petition contained 252 signatures including St. Joseph City residents, business owners, service groups and residents of the surrounding area. I Mayor Hosch read a letter from Planning Commission Member Jim Graeve who could not be present at this meeting, In the letter Graeve encouraged the Council and Planning Commission to support the proposed Affordable Housing Ordinance with two modifications: 1) Change the five (5) year period for single family homes to three (3) years; 2) Include a mechanism that would, require mandatory affordable housing units for any City not voluntarily providing the required ' affordable housing units. The following is a summary of the discussion items: . I i I · The proposed Affordable Housing Ordinance should include provisions for rental' property including the percentage of occupants that qualify for assistance, and at what income level an apartment unit is affordable, · The proposed Ordinance does not include an implementation section, The guidelines are clear but goals for implementation are not included. · What is the definition of median income and rent in the St. Cloud Area? What guidelines are used? June 24, 2002 Page 2 0[2 · Dan Finn provided the following statistical data regardin!g qualification for affordable housing: a) total household income not grea!erthan $ 45,050; b) apartment rent not greater than $ 600.00 per month, · Concems were expressed with the mandating of Affordable Housing. · The proposed Ordinance is not binding. A City may at any time rescind or modify the Ordinance without the consent of the area cities. · Line #97 of the proposed Ordinance should include the following language: ·...which is a party to this agreementformally states that it may move....· · Reduction of hookup fees or development costs is an alternative to provide affordable housing, · Affordable housing is not the same as low income housing. · The City of St. Joseph should determine the cost of the proposed Ordinance and determine if the proposed Ordinance will have a negative impact to the City budget. · Recent development in St. Joseph has provided the community with affordable housing without the implementation of an Ordinance. · St. Joseph's tax base consists of 80% residential and 20% commercial. The St. Joseph EDA was presented with information that a healthy community has a tax base mix of 60% residential and 40% commercial. The potential affect of the proposed Ordinance needs to be reviewed so that residential growth does not exceed faster than commercial growth, creating a greater disparity and having a negative tax impact. · The Central Minnesota Builders Association questioned how the homes are valued and priced, Further, the Ordinance should be consistent with the IRS Section 42 Tax Credit. The Council and Planning Commission agreed the following five items need to be resolved before St. Joseph would consider moving forward with a public hearing for the possible adoption of an Affordable Housing Ordinance. 1. Clarification on the 80% household median income and U,e qualification for rental units with regard to determining affordable housing. 2. Verify the proposed Ordinance is consistent with IRS Section 42 Tax Credit regulations. 3. Clarification as to when the Ordinance will take affect. 4. Clarification on the assessed value and selling price. 5. Determination as to the cost of the Ordinance to St. Joseph. The Ordinance cannot have a negative tax impact. Adiourn: The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:05 PM ~dy:t1y~ ud Weyrens A inistrator I Clerk I I I