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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 11, 2016 Page 2 1 Mayor Faust opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. 2 3 1. Review Closure Statement 4 5 Mayor Faust stated Section 111.092 of the St. Anthony City Code requires that the City “hold” a 6 public hearing within 90 days of receiving a closure statement. Subdivision 3 of the Park Closure 7 Statute also requires the Council hold a public hearing upon receipt of a closure statement in 8 order to initiate a process for compensating home owners displaced by the closure for the cost of 9 relocating their homes. Subdivision 4 requires the public hearing accomplish the following tasks: 10 • Review the closure statement; 11 • Review the impact of closure on home owners and the Park owner; 12 • Inform affected home owners of their potential eligibility for compensation from 13 the Minnesota Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund; and, 14 • Appointment of a neutral third party to make compensation recommendations and 15 apply for relocation payments from the Fund on the residents’ behalf. 16 17 Mayor Faust reviewed since September 8, there have been three significant developments that 18 have clarified the Park closure and home owner and Trust Fund compensation issues raised by 19 the lawsuit. 20 21 First, the Hennepin County Court issued an order decisively ruling that the sale of the Park, and 22 The Village’s ownership of it, will not be disturbed, even if the Court ultimately decides the sale 23 of the Park violated the statute. Thus, the Hennepin County Court has unambiguously declared it 24 will not prevent the Park from closing. 25 26 Second, the City Council has received a letter from The Village stating unequivocally that it will 27 close the Park in March 2017 and that it wants to help with relocation as soon as possible so that 28 residents are not forced to try to relocate during the dead of winter. 29 30 Third, the City Council has received The Village’s signed, written agreement 1) to reimburse the 31 Trust Fund for all relocation payments made from the Fund in connection with relocations 32 caused by the closure of the Park; and, 2) not to interfere or oppose in any way with 33 compensation paid to home owners and residents from the Fund for any reason, including any 34 future decision that may be issued in the lawsuit. 35 36 Mayor Faust stated on October 10, the City received a letter from the Department of Housing 37 and Urban Development (HUD) stating they have a pending fair housing complaint for Lowry 38 Grove residents and HUD plans to start an investigation. The developer has been requested to 39 take no further action while HUD investigates. Mayor Faust noted the HUD action is directed 40 towards the residents and the developer and not toward the City. HUD has not, to the City’s 41 knowledge, obtained a restraining order against the developer. It is not clear how long the HUD 42 process will take or what the outcome will be. The City’s role is to ensure there is a fair market 43 evaluation process and to appoint a third neutral party to help make fair valuations decisions. 44 45 City Attorney Phil Steger stated he spoke with the author of the HUD letter, John Mead, to make 46 sure he understood the role of the City. A complaint was filed, but was incomplete and did not 47 2