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Mounds View EDA September 27, 2010 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br /> <br />Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz explained that after several meetings and much 46 <br />discussion the Council directed staff to develop criteria for a new, one-year pilot program of 47 <br />various loan options. Staff worked with Suzanne Snyder and Marie Malrick of the Greater 48 <br />Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) to develop the proposed loan criteria. She then 49 <br />presented four proposed loan options being the Demolition Deferred Loan, the General Home 50 <br />Repair Deferred Loan, the Code Enforcement Deferred Loan and the Emergency Deferred Loan. 51 <br />Each of these options are zero-interest deferred loans. Three of the four options were for low 52 <br />income residents. 53 <br /> 54 <br />Commissioner Mueller requested further information on the General Home Repair Deferred 55 <br />Loan. She questioned if the loan had a set timeframe in which it must be repaid. Economic 56 <br />Development Specialist Steinmetz stated the loans do not have a timeframe and would not be 57 <br />paid back until there is a title transfer. The main goal of the program was to encourage residents 58 <br />to invest in their homes and stay in the community. The lien would be in the City’s name against 59 <br />the property. 60 <br /> 61 <br />Commissioner Mueller expressed concern on how the program could continue and how the funds 62 <br />would be replenished if the loans did not have to be paid back in a timely manner. 63 <br /> 64 <br />Commissioner Mueller requested staff review the debt to equity ratio with the Commission. 65 <br />Suzanne Snyder, GMHC, reviewed the maximum debt to equity ratio should not exceed 50% of a 66 <br />residents income. At times, there is no debt to income limit as the proposed home improvement 67 <br />loans were deferred and required no additional payments. 68 <br /> 69 <br />Commissioner Mueller asked for further information on the income requirements for this 70 <br />program. Ms. Snyder explained the demolition program would be offered to all. She then 71 <br />indicated the other programs were targeted to lower income households. The limit was set to 72 <br />households at 50% of the median area income, which would be around $42,000 annually, 73 <br />dependent on the household size. This area was up for discussion. 74 <br /> 75 <br />Commissioner Mueller recommended the demolition loans be paid back in installments. She 76 <br />then questioned if the General Home Repair Loan could be used for a down payment on a 77 <br />manufactured home. Ms. Snyder stated this was not written into the current criteria but the 78 <br />Council could revise the language. Economic Development Specialist Steinmetz recommended 79 <br />that down payment assistance be provided for single-family homes, townhomes or land. 80 <br /> 81 <br />Commissioner Hull asked if the loans would be repaid if the home were to go into foreclosure. 82 <br />Ms. Snyder stated the deferred loan would only be paid after the first mortgage. The lien would 83 <br />guarantee that it would be repaid when the property were sold. Installment loans would be an 84 <br />option for the City, but would not serve the lower-income residents as well as the deferred loans. 85 <br /> 86 <br />President Flaherty suggested the equity value of homes be evaluated or reviewed further with 87