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DRAFT <br />TO: <br />Housing and Redevelopment Authority <br />Commissioner Janice Rettman, Chair <br />Commissioner Tony Bennett <br />Commissioner Susan Haigh <br />Commissioner Jim McDonough <br />Commissioner Rafael Ortega <br />Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt <br />Commissioner Jan Wiessner <br />FROM: Judy A. Karon, Director <br />Community and Economic Development <br />DATE: August 27, 2002 <br />SUBJECT: Proposed HRA Levy Calendar Year 2003 <br />This memorandum is a follow up to earlier discussions on this topic and provides <br />Commissioners with information for deliberations on September 3, 2002. <br />Interest in an HRA levy surfaced as discussions occurred with respect to supporting <br />projects which cannot be financed with existing resources. <br />Three primary issues arose at that meeting which were addressed in a memorandum dated <br />July 31, 2002, and sent by Commissioner Rettman to all suburban mayors, city <br />managers, and community and economic development staff. These issues included (1) <br />Governance (2) the Dakota County Cluster Model, and (3) Potential uses of an HRA <br />levy. A copy of that memorandum is attached (A). <br />On August 20, 2002, at the regularly scheduled budget hearings for calendar year 2003 <br />four communities addressed the Board with their perspectives on the issue. <br />GOVERNANCE <br />There is a general concern on the part of many communities as to how decisions may be <br />made with respect to this resource. In the memorandum of July 31 we advised that the <br />intent of the legislation was to provide for the seven elected county commissioners to <br />serve as the commissioners of the HRA. The legislation does provide for other options, <br />including the use of an advisory role. The staff has indicated to our counterparts within <br />communities that it is our recommendation to the Board that they retain the final decision <br />making authority with respect to a tax which they might levy. However, a formalized <br />way of seeking input into priorities for uses would be most appropriate and valuable to <br />Commissioners in developing a meaningful program for use of such dollars. <br />At the August 20 meeting the representative of White Bear Lake indicated a desire for <br />their community to be able to "opt out" of the levy should it be enacted. We see no <br />