05-13-2026 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA MAY 13, 2026 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 May 2026 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 6:05 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Fischer, Council Members Kwapick, Malone and Miller. Absent: None. ALSO PRESENT: Assistant City Administrator Laura Linehan, Community Development Director Ben Harrington, and City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller. CONSIDER HOUSING MAINTENANCE LOAN PROGRAM WITH NEIGHBORWORKS Beth Hyser, Chief Program Officer with NeighborWorks, explained what NeighborWorks is and stated there is a big need for funding housing improvements, particularly for manufactured homes. She reviewed the potential home improvement loan product that is proposed for Little Canada. She noted that the city can choose to make certain specific changes or requirements to the program. The Community Development Director explained that the Council will customize the program and decide how much funding to put towards it. The Community Development Director explained that the Local Affordable Housing Account (LAHA) program serves as a dedicated funding source for the city to address localized housing needs. He explained it is funded by a 0.25% metro -area sales tax, and the program allows cities and counties significant local discretion to utilize these dollars for qualifying projects such as the rehabilitation and stabilization of existing housing stock. He reported that the Council has had a strong interest in starting a home improvement loan program for residents for several years, so staff worked with NeighborWorks Home Partners to create a targeted manufactured housing home improvement program for the Council to consider. There was Council consensus to move forward with establishing a housing maintenance loan program. DISCUSS REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL AT 39 WEST VIKING DRIVE The Community Development Director explained that 39 W Viking Drive is a 0.52-acre lot located near the intersection of Highway 36 and Rice Street. The property is zoned C-1 (General Commercial) and currently used as a nonconforming single-family home that is blighted. He noted that city records indicate the site has also been used for a drywall contractor and shop. He reported that the property has been listed for sale for more than two years. He explained that -there is an interested buyer who has a proposal -for a new business. - - -