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Housing and Redevelopment Minutes <br />November 1, 2021 <br />Motion carried 5-0. <br />S. Open Forum <br />No one appeared for Open Forum. <br />6. Public Hearings <br />There were no public hearings. <br />7.1 HRA Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program Update <br />Mr. O'Neil presented the staff report. <br />Page 2 <br />Commissioner Swenson asked if there could be an update on improving the marketing of <br />Elk River's rehabilitation loan opportunities. <br />Mr. O'Neil stated he will add marketing to the topics discussed with CEE. <br />7.2 Main and Gates Update <br />Mr. O'Neil requested to remove this item due to the closed session being held after this <br />meeting. <br />7.3. DERBA Expense Request for HRA Consideration <br />Mr. O'Neil explained he had been in discussions with the Downtown Elk River Business <br />Association (DERBA) group, who is proposing with the HRA a joint purchase of 22 pre -lit <br />holiday wreaths for display on the light poles along Main and Jackson Streets. He stated the <br />HRA has a $5000 budget line item for downtown decorations. He indicated the DERBA <br />group would provide $2,000 of their funds for this joint effort and were asking for financial <br />support from the HRA. <br />Mr. O'Neil further explained the logistics that still needed to be worked out determining the <br />size and electrical components, where the wreaths will be stored off season, and <br />coordination with ERMU for the annual hanging and removing the wreaths. He distributed a <br />flyer with the details and photos of the proposed wreath. <br />Commissioner Wagner further explained the DERBA group ordered one wreath to <br />determine if the size and wattage would be appropriate. She indicated in talks with ERMU <br />that the wreath would have to be 15 watts or under. She stated the wreath as presented in <br />the flyer uses 18 watts of electricity but the lights on the bows could be removed to lower <br />the wattage. She is working with ERMU to ensure their guidelines will be met before <br />purchasing and stated ERMU will charge $220/hr. for installation and removal. She stated <br />the timeline is critical in ordering for this holiday season, which is why the item was <br />presented tonight. She stated DERBA member Tamara Ackerman stated other <br />municipalities use these same wreathes and have worked with the same vendor, noting the <br />