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Housing and Redevelopment Minutes Page 2 <br />September 3, 2019 <br />----------------------------- <br />6. Public Hearings <br />There were no public hearings. <br /> <br />7.1 HRA Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program Update <br /> <br /> Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Eder asked if loan payments are reported to credit reporting agencies and if <br /> so, which agencies. <br /> <br /> Ms. Othoudt stated CEE reports loan payments to one credit reporting bureau, TransUnion. <br /> <br />7.2 2020 HRA Budget and Resolution Establishing HRA Levy <br /> <br />Ms. Othoudt presented the staff report. She asked the Authority for direction regarding <br />inclusion of funds for the watering and maintenance of hanging planters in downtown Elk <br />River beginning in 2020. She indicated the estimated cost received from Parks and <br />Recreation staff totaled $8000 and includes staff maintenance of the planters for 24 weeks at <br />2 hours a day for weekdays at a rate of $14.00/hr., and a weekend rate of $46.05/hr. <br />Ms. Othoudt asked if the HRA would consider including an additional $8,000 to cover this <br />cost and include it in the 2020 budget. <br /> <br />Chair Toth asked who is paying for the hanging planters, the city or the Downtown <br />Association. <br /> <br /> Ms. Othoudt indicated the Downtown Association will be raising funds to purchase the <br /> hanging planters. <br /> <br />Commissioner Ovall explained the thought process and context of the HRA adding these <br />funds to the HRA budget in support of maintaining the downtown hanging planters. He <br />explained events held downtown, such as concerts and the Farmers Market, draw people <br />into Elk River from outside the community, and part of the culture they want to incorporate <br />is having a vibrant and well-maintained downtown. He stated it also aligns with elements in <br />the Mississippi Connections Plan. He stated he has heard discussion from the downtown <br />group and while Elk River Municipal Utilities recently helped with installation of the light <br />poles, it was asked if the city can also help out with the cost of maintaining the planters. He <br />stated the second concern is inconsistent maintenance of the planters and placing that <br />burden on the downtown businesses. He also feels it is for the betterment of the entire city <br />and not just the downtown. Commissioner Ovall stated he is supportive of including funds <br />in the HRA budget for 2020 and asked the Authority to consider it since it seems to fall into <br />their authority. <br /> <br />Chair Toth thinks the downtown would benefit from this and likes seeing well-maintained <br />hanging planters in other downtowns. <br /> <br />Commissioner Eder agreed with Commissioner Ovall’s comments and asked questions <br />regarding the breakdown of the cost of maintaining the planters, wondering if the hanging <br /> <br />