City Council Meeting Date: February 13, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Review and Discuss the Draft Land Disposition Policy proposed by the Northfield Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
Body
Action Requested:
No formal action is requested.
* Staff would appreciate specific individual commentary on Section I. Core Principles and Section IV. Policy (specifically the timeframe); and within Section V. Procedures, specific commentary on No. 4.
Summary Report:
The Northfield HRA’s mission is to be a partner in providing a sufficient supply of affordable, adequate, safe and sanitary dwellings in Northfield.
Our goal is to create a community with housing opportunities available along the entire housing spectrum: from renters to homeownership, first-time homeowners, to senior living, workforce housing and empty-nesters. We strive to create affordable housing opportunities and strengthen our neighborhoods utilizing:
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Partnerships
• Community Input
Throughout the years, the HRA has come to own Real Property through various means: foreclosure, tax forfeiture, purchase, etc. The HRA has also sold to and partnered with developers for the development of land owned by the HRA: Including, but not limited to: Spring Creek I & II, Hiley-Neff development, and the Cannon River Community Land Trust.
As the HRA contemplates the future of housing in Northfield, and the impact of a well-documented growing housing supply issue, the board and staff agreed it was time to establish criteria for the disposition of HRA-owned land, with the understanding and belief that establishing such a policy would provide clarity to project proposers, the public, and afford the board a framework for decision-making. Staff first reviewed current City and Department policies to determine if there was an existing policy and/or procedure for selling property. Staff determined that there was no existing policy in place that addresses the disposition of Real Property. In the absence of a formal City policy, staff consulted with City Attorney and the HRA convened a subcommittee to develop a disposition policy.
The subcommittee comprised of Commissioner Crow, Commissioner Nystrom, Commissioner Zuccolotto, and former Commissioner Dee and former Commissioner Gerdes.
The subcommittee-drafted policy is attached (Attachment 1). A staff-recommended draft policy is also attached (Attachment 2). The staff-recommended policy includes edits for grammar, formatting, clarifying terms, and connection to the Northfield Comprehensive Plan.
Background on HRA Authority and Council Review
The HRA is a public body of the City of Northfield, corporate and politic created by City Council Resolution on December 17, 1968 and reactivated by Resolution 90-250 in order to carry out stated desires and needs specific to housing opportunities for all economic levels. The HRA is legally independent from the Council and funded by multiple sources, including primary funding of property tax levy dollars but also some funding from County, State, Federal, and grant sources. The City Council authorizes funding annually to the HRA for housing and redevelopment (including the ability to fund commercial) initiatives, the HRA operates independently, yet it is important for work plans to align with city policies, strategic plan and other goals of the City Council. The HRA board in effect exists because of the City Council authorization and therefore should be working as an instrument to advance overall City goals. Additionally, personnel policies and staffing is under the overall City authority and there are many other areas that the connection is and should be aligned.
This item comes to the City Council, following a request by Mayor Pownell, so that the Council may review and offer feedback on the draft policy. The item is intended to be informational only. Individual comments or questions will be taken into consideration and brought forward by staff to the HRA as they review the policy further.
Alternative Options:
The City Council can provide additional direction to staff as necessary on the proposed policy.
Council could direct staff to develop a resolution to come back to the Council at a future meeting if Council members determine that more complex feedback or direction is appropriate. Staff would based that input from discussion and any motion of the City Council.
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
February 13- City Council review of Land Disposition Policy
March 7- HRA adoption of Land Disposition Policy