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Housing & Redevelopment Authority <br />May 16~ 2005 <br />----------------------------- <br />Page 2 <br />Mr. Hanson provided a demographic profile of the type of residents that are living in a <br />Monticello affordable housing project that MetroPlains recently completed. He stated there <br />are 24 residents in the building and it has a combination of young and old with some middle <br />stratification. He stated 14 residents are employed exactly as prescribed at the wage <br />determination for Wright County; three residents are pan time employees on a pension and <br />social security; two residents on pension and social security; and one resident on a pension, <br />social security, and some form of public assistance. <br />Commissioner Motin stated he is surprised about the provision limiting residents to <br />individuals that are below a certain income level. He stated he is concerned about the ability <br />of individuals to use public assistance for this project. He stated that people on <br />governmental benefits don't fit into the profile of the type of resident the city would like to <br />see moving to the downtown area. He stated there are other places in Elk River that allow <br />Section 8 housing. <br />Mr. Hanson explained the difference between a building project that has Section 8 housing <br />and individuals that have Section 8 vouchers. He stated that people who have vouchers tend <br />to be individuals in the work force or seniors on a fixed income. <br />Commissioner Toth stated that the nature of this type of rental system was not explained <br />(since the beginning of the project) to the Commission very well. <br />Mr. Errigo clarified the difference between Section 8 rental buildings and Section 8 <br />vouchers. He stated that residents in their buildings have to complete extensive background <br />checks. Mr. Errigo stated that MetroPlains would be a long time owner and manager of the <br />Jackson Place project. <br />Commissioner Kuester stated she feels that Jackson Place will be a good project and she is <br />comfortable with MDI Limited Partnership #70 managing the building. <br />Commissioner Lieser stated she completed some research on Section 8 vouchers in <br />Sherburne County. She stated there are 37 Section 8 vouchers in Sherburne County and 10 <br />in the Elk River area. She stated the history of residents that have Section 8 vouchers is that <br />they tend to move at least once a year. She further stated that applicants for Section 8 must <br />complete background checks. <br />Mr. Errigo stated there are no new Section 8 vouchers available and there hasn't been for a <br />few years because there hasn't been any federal funding for them. <br />Mr. Hanson stated that because someone has a Section 8 voucher, it doesn't mean they are <br />automatically allowed into Jackson Place. He stated they would have to pass the extensive <br />background checks of MDI Limited Partnership #70, including rental history, credit history, <br />and criminal background checks. <br />Commissioner Lieser stated she compared rental rates listed in the Star News paper. She <br />stated that 10 units fall under the rent that MetroPlains will be requesting and 2 fall over the <br />amount. <br />MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LIESER AND SECONDED BY <br />COMMISSIONER KUESTER TO APPROVE THE SCDP LOAN AGREEMENT <br />TERMS WITH MDI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP #70 IN THE AMOUNT OF <br />