03-13-2024 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA MARCH 13, 2024 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 13th day of March, 2024 in the Conference Room of the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: ROLL CALL: In attendance were Mayor Fischer, City Council Members T. Miller, Gutierrez, Kwapick and D..Miller. Absent: None. ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Chris Heineman, Community Relations Manager Laura Linehan, Public Works Director Bill Dircks, Community Development Director Corrin Wendell, City Engineer Eric Seaburg and City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller. DISCUSS 0.25% METRO AREA SALES AND USE TAX FOR HOUSING The Community Development Director explained that the 0.25% Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing was adopted by the 2023 Minnesota legislature and started on October 1 of 2023. She stated that it applies to retail sales made in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties, and is dedicated sales tax revenue that is earmarked specifically for housing initiatives, and will enable municipalities to fund affordable housing projects, combat homelessness, and enhance housing stability within their communities. She noted that it is anticipated that Little Canada will receive approximately $160,000 each year from this sales tax. The Community Development Director reviewed the primary objectives of the new 0.25% metro area sales tax: Affordable Housing: Allocating fiends to support the development and maintenance of affordable housing projects within city limits; Homelessness Prevention: Implementing programs and services aimed at preventing and addressing homelessness, ensuring a safety net for vulnerable populations; and Housing Stability: Enhancing housing stability for residents by investing in initiatives that promote long-term residency and community engagement. The Community Development Director stated one of the most important factors needed to determine the most appropriate use of this funding source is a broad understanding of the current housing stock and conditions for Little Canada. She explained that comprehensive housing studies are typically conducted by local municipalities every 5-10 years to track current conditions and address the following questions: Provide a thorough inventory of your housing stock and conditions; Analyze market demand and development dynamics around housing development across a broad range of price points and building formats; Facilitate a dialog around housing goals and needs, factoring in the perceptions and values of your community stakeholders and elected officials; Develop a range of strategic approaches that have the potential to reduce barriers. The Community Development stated that there have been conversations about housing and demographic trends, but the City has not conducted a formal housing study over the past 30 years. She stated that due to this funding source for housing initiatives, it would be timely to conduct a