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<br />WS – Item 5 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 5 <br /> <br /> <br />Date: September 7, 2021 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Re: Livable Communities Act Participation <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The Livable Communities Act (LCA) was adopted by the Minnesota Legislature in 1995. <br />The Metropolitan Council administers the Livable Communities program. The LCA <br />provides funding for communities to invest in local economic revitalization, work force <br />housing initiatives, and development or redevelopment that connects different land uses <br />and transportation. The program is a voluntary, incentive-based approach to help <br />communities grow and redevelop, and to address the region’s affordable and lifecycle <br />housing needs. <br /> <br />From 1996 through 2018, the Metropolitan Council awarded 1,086 grants totaling about <br />$401 million in Livable Community funds. To participate in the program, communities <br />must agree to long-term affordable and lifecycle housing goals and develop a Housing <br />Action Plan. Participation is also required for certain grant opportunities from the <br />Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. <br /> <br />The City of Lino Lakes has participated in this program since 1996 and has benefited <br />from four grants totaling $1,645,000 in funding for past projects. Reenrollment is now <br />necessary for participation in the program from 2021 through 2030. Participation has <br />three primary 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 <br />participate. The Metropolitan Council authorized the City to put the plan into effect in <br />October of 2020. The plan was accepted by the Metropolitan Council in November of <br />2020. <br /> <br />Housing Action Plan <br /> <br />The City’s housing element of the 2040 Plan serves as the Housing Action Plan for <br />purposes of the LCA participation.