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Housing and Redevelopment Minutes Page 2 <br />October 2, 2023 <br />6.2 Budget Workshop Follow-Up <br />Mr. O’Neil presented the staff report and reviewed the HRA Balance Sheet with the commission. <br />When reviewing the report with the finance manager, he noted it raised some questions for him on <br />how to clarify the reporting and follow-up on what’sbeing represented in the report. He went <br />through the Assets, Liabilities, and Equity accounts line byline for the commission. <br />6.3 Main and Gates Update <br />Mr. O’Neil updated the commission on the sale of the Main and Gates property, stating the purchase <br />agreement the city had with Ron Touchette expired on September 30. He indicated Mr. Touchette <br />continues to work with that tenant and he still has some optimism for them and isn’tready to give <br />up making that work. He stated unless the HRA has other thoughts that itwould make sense for Mr. <br />Touchette to continue working with the potential tenant. <br />Chair Chuba asked if the HRA should wait for Mr. Touchette or put the property back on market. <br />Mr. O’Neil stated staff never took the property off the market and only noted on the listing that itwas <br />under contract. He stated they will remove that note. Mr. O’Neil does foresee a deeper conversation <br />with the HRA at the November meeting and asked if the HRA is still willing to pursue this <br />transaction with Mr. Touchette. The HRA did not oppose having Mr. Touchette continue working on <br />this property sale. <br />Commissioner Ovall stated he didn’tfeel they were still no better or worse off and continued to feel <br />hopeful on a future project. He noted the need to have one person to control the project and tobe <br />consistent on that front. <br />6.4 General Updates <br />Mr. O’Neil updated the HRA that heattends the meeting of the Sherburne County EDA and noted <br />the county will beupdating their housing study. He indicated he’s discussed the possibility to partner <br />with them, the cost, and benefits of joining in their housing study. Matt Mullens with Maxfield will be <br />at their next meeting. Sherburne County will be hosting a housing forum next month. <br />Mr. O’Neil stated the City Council will have a future discussion regarding abandoned properties in <br />the community regarding safety and potential HRA involvement for redevelopment opportunities. <br />Mr. O’Neil stated the City Council is considering adding reconstruction of Main Street in the city’s <br />Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The topic led into conversations regarding redevelopment and the <br />CIP project would include a resurfacing of the King Avenue parking lot. He stated they’ve discussed <br />a small area development plan spearheaded by the Planning Division, similar to the Mississippi <br />Connections Plan. This plan will look atthe bigger picture of the greater downtown area, zoning <br />districts, and the synergy ofthe area around Main Street beyond the core historic downtown east to <br />the Highway 169 connection. He stated they will also look atthe HRA acquisition fund and determine <br />more opportunities with targeted acquisitions, identifying where those properties are and prioritizing <br />where the HRA wants to put their focus.