CC PACKET 09092025 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 26, 2025 Page 2 1 Programming Funded by HRA Levy, Investing in St. Anthony Village, Looking Ahead, and 2 Small Business Support Programming. 3 4 Ramsey County approved the HRA area of operation (excluding North St Paul) and approved the 5 2022-2023 budget with levy for the HRA. Ramsey County was the last metropolitan county to 6 levy from its HRA. The 2025 approved HRA Levy was $13.6M. 7 8 Commissioner Xiong reviewed Increasing the flexibility of HRA funding, 2025 Legislative 9 Request, Increasing the flexibility of HRA funding, Looking Forward. 10 11 She noted Ramsey County is short of 15,000 units of affordable housing. The wages of Ramsey 12 County residents need to be raised. Currently, General Levy supports $345,000 in business 13 programming. Cities have the choice to opt in to spending on economic development authority 14 (EDA) eligible activities. Cities are being asked to submit resolutions stating they would like to 15 opt in to the programming. The HRA Levy-funded Business Programming will start in January 16 2027. 17 18 Councilmember Doolan asked about the small business reimagination resource grant and when 19 the next RFP process would be available. Mr. Olson stated that since the first version of the RFP 20 was federally funded, this was a one-time RFP for this program. It is estimated to be 2027. 21 Councilmember Doolan asked if there was a list for communicating these programs and grant 22 opportunities. 23 24 Councilmember Jenson asked if St. Anthony is part of this, and Mr. Olson stated that St. 25 Anthony is already part of the Ramsey County HRA. Other cities expressed a desire to opt in. 26 The opt-in process would allow the County to provide programming. There is no action at this 27 time necessary, and before July, the City will get information on the opt-in process. 28 29 Commissioner McGuire noted this gives St. Anthony more options to use the HRA Levy. 30 31 Councilmember Doolan asked if St. Anthony opts in, what is the process? Mr. Olson stated they 32 are already doing projects in St. Anthony. In some cases, residents reach out personally. There 33 are existing programs for businesses that businesses can reach out to Ramsey County directly. 34 Mr. Olson provided details about specific programs for businesses. 35 36 Mr. Olson reviewed Local Affordable Sales Tax (LAHA), Funded Programming, Local 37 Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA), and Acronym Key. Ramsey County’s 2024 aid amount was 38 $6M, and the 2025 aid amount is approximately $15.9M. 39 40 Councilmember Doolan asked about the LAHA and noted there is a large number of old housing 41 stock, multi-family housing stock, and if some of the complexes are looking to bring their 42 facilities up to be more energy efficient, would this help to keep this affordable? Mr. Olson 43 stated that it is the purpose of some of the funding. It does not work in all instances. If some 44 aging properties could use some refurbishing. The spring is the time for those types of projects. 45 Those building owners should contact Ramsey County directly to determine which type of 46 funding is appropriate for a particular project. 6