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1 <br /> <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE <br />AGENDA ITEM 3A <br /> <br /> <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br /> <br />EDAC MEETING DATE: October 1, 2020 <br /> <br />TOPIC: Livable Communities Act Reenrollment <br /> <br />REQUEST: Discussion <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The Livable Communities Act (LCA) was adopted by the Minnesota Legislature in 1995. The <br />Metropolitan Council administers the Livable Communities program. The LCA provides <br />funding for communities to invest in local economic revitalization, work force housing <br />initiatives, and development or redevelopment that connects different land uses and <br />transportation. The program is a voluntary, incentive-based approach to help communities grow <br />and redevelop, and to address the region’s affordable and lifecycle housing needs. <br /> <br />From 1996 through 2018 the Metropolitan Council awarded 1,086 grants totaling about $401 <br />million in Livable Community funds. To participate in the program, communities must agree to <br />long-term affordable and lifecycle housing goals and develop a Housing Action Plan. <br />Participation is also required for certain grant opportunities from the Minnesota Department of <br />Employment and Economic Development. <br /> <br />The City of Lino Lakes has participated in this program since 1996 and has benefited from four <br />grants totaling $1,645,000 in funding for past projects. Reenrollment is now necessary for <br />participation in the program from 2021 through 2030. Participation has three primary <br />requirements: <br /> <br />1. Establish a Housing Action Plan <br />2. Spend an affordable and life-cycle housing opportunity amount (ALHOA) <br />3. Adopt Affordable and life-cycle housing goals <br /> <br />Additionally, the community must adopt its 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update to participate. <br /> <br />Housing Action Plan <br /> <br />The City currently has a Housing Action Plan, put in place with the last LCA reenrollment in <br />2011. The plan is based predominately on the goals, policies, and implementation strategies <br />outlined in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. This plan would need to be updated to reflect policies <br />outlined in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan which are nearly identical. <br />