05-05-2025 HRA MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Housing and Redevelopment Authority Minutes May 5, 2025 Page 3 of 4 - Can the HRA provide feedback if there was interest in stacking the HRA and EDA meetings on the same evening each month? Potential earlier start time to accommodate both meetings. Work sessions could potentially run longer and would have to work with the city council meeting start time by beginning earlier. Mr. O'Neil asked if the HRA would provide feedback at a future meeting. Commissioner Ovall preferred having the meetings distinct and separate. -The draft Downtown Small Area Plan was released, and an open house gathered input with the Planning Commission also reviewing. The plan will then be reviewed with the steering committee to discuss the feedback gathered and next steps. After that meeting, the Planning Commission and City Council will review for possible adoption. Commissioner Dietz asked if the HRA would be asked for funds to be used towards the improvements outlined in the downtown plan, since the HRA is looking to fund future projects. He expressed concerns about where the funds would come from to fulfill the plan. He explained he wanted to use HRA funds to continue acquiring and converting the properties after the railroad tracks along Main Street to Highway 169 into commercial properties. He expressed concerns with parts of the plan dictating what would go on in particular areas and how that would be guided. Mr. O'Neil stated the HRA would be an appropriate entity to take the lead on acquiring properties for redevelopment. He felt one big driver of this plan was the notion of Main Street and Jackson requiring some modifications to the infrastructure, and this plan was a precursor to guide development when it occurred. The parking lots will also need reconstruction and the plan helps determine if some redevelopment should go there. It can also be a vision to the redevelopment community to show what the city hopes will go there, but it also opens the door for the level of public participation that should guide it. The HRA seems to be the most natural entity to help with the financial lead. He didn't feel the plan was directing who or how to spend improvement funds, but rather provide an idea of possible additions with both the city and other outside entities assisting with funding. Commissioner Caswell stated he was the HRA representative on the steering committee and noted the street improvements would need to be done soon, and felt the area north of the railroad had some possibilities that the HRA could help redevelop by obtaining those properties. Commissioner Ovall explained how the HRA could be more proactive and assertive in driving property acquisition, but that would change the current direction of this commission. He stated budgeting decisions would need to be modified if that were the case. Mr. O'Neil stated there were fewer negative comments at the open house than the online comments, with a more constructive balance and feedback. The main concerns heard were the timing, staging and impact of the street and parking lot improvements and the impact on the businesses and traffic when those areas were closed for reconstruction. A second concern was the long-term impact on parking spaces being lost. Chair Chuba asked what the objection to parallel parking was. Commissioner Dietz stated if the sidewalks were widened, there would be a loss of some parking spaces. Chair Chuba brought up concerns about the cost of the highway realignment and where those funds would come from.