Illinois meeting in Milwaukee. Um, and so >> welcome to the monthly meeting of the Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. For any of you joining, make sure you're in the right place. This is Cook County, Minnesota, not Illinois. It's July 15th and uh we have I know the
presence of a quorum in commissioners Olsen, Hansen, Le Moore, and O'Brien. and our county one of our county commissioner ex officials Gary Commissioner Gamble is here. Uh so we're
ready to move on to our agenda. Uh first is approval of the agenda. It's put been put in front of us. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> I'll move. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Any comments or concerns?
Hearing none. We'll uh with all those in favor say I. I. opposed. Uh on to approval of the uh last meeting meeting minutes uh from uh June 17th. Uh
hopefully we've all read them and uh is there a motion to approve the minutes or any corrections? No corrections. Do I hear a motion? >> I'll move. >> It's moved. And is there a second? >> Second. moved and seconded. Any further
discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Uh, number three on the agenda, opportunity for public comments. Anyone want to make a public comment? Uh, see,
it might be best to mic. You had a microphone. There you go. >> There we go. All right, please introduce yourself and let her let it let it rip. >> Yeah, I'm Angie Robinson. I live here in town. Um, I've just recently joined the
um Star Skies >> uh organization. I went to my first meeting last night. Um, so I'm in the process of educating myself about the issues and and where our community is at. So I'd like to hear from you. you
know where is it H with us? Has any action been taken? Do you intend to take action? Um uh particularly with the new developments that have been going in um as far as compliance with dark sky, the
gunflint view is pretty good, but the new birchwood and heights are not. Um, so, um, I'd like to know what we as a community can do to ensure that any new developments are compliant, uh, with
dark sky. >> Any reactions or thoughts from commissioners about dark sky and the impact? >> Well, um, can can you educate us a little bit on what the violation on what ways heights and and members?
>> Yeah. and and I actually um spoke to uh the people from One Roof um when they were in town looking at the project and I they were nice enough to talk to me about it and um there's there's five principles that they need to comply
with. Um one is you can't shine light upwards. Um it's uh you have to have a warm color. It has to be 23,00 or 2700
Kelvin or less. Um, it needs to um not go above the horizon. It needs to not uh trespass. It needs to not go beyond its intended lighting area. So, it needs to
stay within their property and not shine into other people's properties or even just um like not shine in the apartment windows because then that would be trespass. It's not intended to go in the windows. It's intended to be in the
parking lot or the sidewalk or something like that. So, um and then there was another one I don't remember. Um but it it's those kinds of uh criteria that that need to be met. And so like with the heights and uh with birchwood,
the lights are very white. Um they're much too white. They they should be yellow looking or warm looking. Um and and there's a lot of trespass. The light
is shining too far out. Um, >> it's shining in the apartment windows, but it's also shining outside their their property. >> Um, so I noticed it because I live right next door to the Birchwood apartments and it's shining in my yard. Um um
>> if I may ask a clarifying question, these uh lighting related concerns are related to uh new work that is uh Okay. So this is a uh new issue or largely new issues uh not necessarily related to just old um
>> correct my concern right now is any new stuff. You know, I understand that it can be difficult to retrofit and expensive or whatever, but if we're putting in new projects, new projects should be compliant. Um, you know, do it
from the beginning. Um, that should be easily easily done. I mean, the solutions are there. It's not hard. You just have to pick the right light, you know. So um so my question for the HA is you know are you taking any steps to
ensure that this happens that um it actually gets implemented because it feels like there's a lot of kind of talk around it. Oh yeah that sounds great but then it doesn't happen. it doesn't get implemented and each new
project we have and I know there there are more coming will just add to more and more light pollution. Um so I think you know we as a community need to be more proactive about ensuring that things actually get implemented
especially if public money is going towards it. You know, it would it's pretty frustrating to have public money going towards these projects and then not not getting what we care about and what we want. >> Well, at least one comment, knowledge is
a great thing. And uh if you have guidelines that you could share, uh if they're, you know, universal or even specific to Cook County, >> that'd be helpful and we could take a look at that and >> Okay. And I saw a hand from Commissioner
Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, thank you for bringing it to our attention. As a commissioner, uh not speaking on behalf of the the board, but as a commissioner, uh we've been mindful of the having, you know, dark skies up here
as a value. And uh so when the highway department comes before us and they're changing lighting or they're going to install lighting um we are always recommending that they look at the recommendations that come from maintaining a dark sky
>> and uh so that is downcast and then the lumens and the type of light that is used. >> I think that um as a community because it's not a legislative requirement for compliance. It is a value that is shared and if we say that we would like as a
community to protect that value then those that have um the ability to do so be it lighting for the highway department be it you know construction on behalf of county or on the HR or other developments sharing that value
and providing the directives that help us to do that in the context of what is achievable is appreciated. Um but um how we measure and you can measure light and and lumens
and distance and things um to the extent that it's not cost prohibitive I think our intention is to share that value as long as all the people that are contributing to development within our community do that. Mhm. >> But a land owner that chooses to put up
a light because they're concerned about safety or whatever else, uh, they may or may not choose to comply with it, but the more that we share that value, the more you're going to see it protected. >> Yeah. I what I would like is to have a little more
some sort of oversight or or something because you know I'm I'm just starting to learn about this but from talking to um at the meeting at the Starry Skies meeting yesterday is like with the Heights the owners
you know did want dark sky and they talked about it but then it didn't happen. So somewhere along the line there's there's a disconnect and things are just not happening. If there's some sort of oversight or some way to like
verify, yep, that that will be compliant. Yes, you you should you should do that. >> Commissioner Olsen, >> um I appreciate uh your your concerns. I have I share them. Um there I don't know
if the city of Grammaray has an ordinance about dark sky. >> I don't think they do. It was discussed but I don't think it ever passed. >> But that would be one measure that you guys could maybe pursue to get this enforcable. >> Yeah. >> Right. We don't This is not our
department if you will. >> I I think that the values are shared here. I can't speak for everyone but like Gary said if there are specifics your group may be able to help us >> if we if we are giving public money
>> do can we say well this is a requirement >> you have to comply with this because this is something our communities want and if we're paying for it this is what we want to get >> gamble >> yeah
um accountability or compliance is is usually something that is if if you want to bring more structure to it, it has to be an ordinance or a rule of law or in state statute. If it's a shared value,
we can say that as HR that um in building construction, we wanted to make them environmentally uh friendly and and the people that have the money and make are making the investment. We can make suggestions just
like your organization can, but if there isn't anything that is going to back that up by rule of law or ordinance and precedent that has tested it, it it is a value that you just hope that people see the value of that. And so we we now
speaking for the H that that if we say we would like you to use these environmental you know materials because it'll be more energy efficient and contribute da da da da da da it's something hoped for and a value but the determinator they're not restricted by
those things that they share the value they might do that and there are organizations that will spend the extra money to make it happen. It's not always an issue of money. It's an issue of being aware of it. That's why you bring it to this board's attention is important because the more that
>> we are aware of it and share it, we can give it as a directive, but it isn't mandated because it isn't supported by rule of law. So, are you suggesting I go to the city council >> or >> uh you could you could um
my recommendation would be that you would research what other communities have done in that regard >> and when you find out how they approached it that it might come as a resolution um and um you would
>> what you hope for could be informed through your exploration of the topic and how other communities that have tried, not just necessarily within the state of Minnesota, but anything that you can learn on it, how you can bring more accountability to a requirement.
You reference public dollars. Um, if there was something that said anytime, for instance, when you apply for grant monies, anytime that grant monies are used, there's some contingencies that go with those monies that you have to comply with. And if it was something
like that then there would bring the structure to the accountability but otherwise it's just something that you hope for. >> So how do those get applied? How how do you >> that's where those that's why I recommend that that a value let's just
say that everything that we do in Cook County in development we would like it to be environmentally friendly and and that is a value that we can communicate and hopefully people share that value but if they find that it is either cost restrictive to their project or
something we can't force it on them unless it's something in state statute or through the city or whoever has jurisdiction, the county or the state or federal, that we have to comply with the rule of law. And if it's wetlands and we want to protect the quality of our
water, then before development happens and it's on our agenda today, we have to do a wetland study to make sure that we're protecting the environment. So, I would do some research. I think that your enthusiasm for this and your participation last night is is something
that's commendable, but I would advise that you try to find more information so that when you come before the groups, you'd be able to tell them this is how it works here or this is how I've seen it there. And um I don't have that research, but I'm going to go back and
take a look to to see how you bring structure to a value. >> Commissioner O'Brien. >> Well, I think that there's we're I think we may be talking about two different scopes of of um scopes here. One is how do we fix this for all new construction
in the county? and and that's you know and and that would be you know I think that the approach would be you know we could say voice our support for these ideas and values and so forth and that and that would be something that we would ultimately be working and through
an ordinance work to uh have something that applies to all new projects in the county. I think the other the narrower scope is which projects is the HR specifically financing and and and for those projects the it seems to me the leverage we have as a development
agreement and we we have a devel and whether or not there's a whether or not there's an ordinance in place we have the leverage in those negotiations to say you know here's the condition conditions upon which we will give you the money to do this project and you know and um and I think that there where
it would be helpful would be to have specific you know, same research, but but but say this is this is the you know, these this is what's been this is the standard that has been demonstrated in other communities. This is not this is not cost prohibitive d. But our
expectation is that if you're taking our money then that then this is you know this this is something that you um agree to comply with and and and that's not you know so that applies to the H finance projects doesn't apply you know we're not trying to solve a bigger problem than that right now.
Well, I'd like to get back to my original suggestion. If there are guidelines as to what would make something dark sky compliant, we'd like to get those because we can certainly start with those and and take some action beyond that. But without knowing
what it is, we we're not in a position to do that. Uh but we would like to know and once we know, we can take action. So, if you could help us with that or just refer us to some place that sets those kind of criteria, that'd be great.
>> Yep. >> And Mr. Sure, if I just quick comment that that how that practically works out is the uh is the fact that when the highway department uh MIDOT was going to put lighting in that somebody with dark
sky value came before and said could you be mindful of that when you put them in and they they took that information and as a result that's what they did. >> Yes. And the city was deeply behind that. >> Yeah. as were the subcommittees and and the focus groups. Everybody was okay.
And it did work >> because yeah, because a lot of areas in town are are quite good, >> you know. Um there's a few trouble spots, but um my concern was these new trouble spots that are, you know, getting added. Um yeah,
>> Commissioner Lamour. >> Um by way of a uh a quick um closing uh point, uh unless there's other commentary, I guess I don't mean to uh close that prematurely. Um I think the question of prescriptive versus elective, as you can tell, has a lot of
um you know, baggage to it. Um but I think that the prevailing opinion in in my observation tends to be that there's a very strong um opinion about elective uh choices right there's there's no requirement that Mandot install uh dark
skies uh sensitive lighting but they opted to do that because there was a request to do so um in the sense of um uh you know existing uh lighting that's you know broadcasting light over too far of a distance and um broadcasting unnecessary light upwards. Um, you know,
there are perhaps some uh elective uh modifications that could be made by the property uh manager uh to address some of those concerns. I'm thinking possibly of a shroud or a cover over the light and that's uh probably quite a bit more cost effective than replacing lighting
altogether. So, um I I I can sense a desire for a a strong prescriptive answer to this problem. Um I believe that that's possible. I don't know the path to making that happen sitting here right now, but I think that in the meantime,
>> you know, the elective argument would probably have a lot of a lot of weight in it. >> In my experience, it at least so far um elective means it doesn't happen. You know, if there's no followup, there's no
requirement, there's no then it simply doesn't happen. >> Well, we appreciate your being here. We appreciate your comments and uh at this stage we'll move on, but >> any help you can give us, we're willing to listen. >> Yep. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Uh we have new business, uh resolution 26-23. Uh Jeff, would you walk us through that, please? >> Yep. I was just going to give her my card so we can connect offline and continue the conversation. Thank you for
being here today. Um, so we're on to new business and I'm just trying to get my notes up here cuz I was also looking at this. It's interesting. There's a couple of um county zoning things that um come into play here too that we're going to have to discuss at some point as well.
But um um authorizing 26- 26-21 is a resolution for a contract with CK Wetlands for the purposes of wetland delineation. We acquired some property last year from the uh from from Cook County through the county commissioners and thank you for that. Uh that we are
in the process of still handing off to Hamilton Habitat for the purposes of housing in Cook County and Grammaray uh just north you uh it's between Gunflint Trail and the high school. So just north of the high school ballfields and we're in the process in a later
resolution of talking about uh doing an Ir application. We'll do one thing at a time here. So I understand that. But first thing we have to do is we have to understand better where the wetlands are on this parcel so we can determine how many parcels we can subdivide for the
purposes of housing on that parcel. And so um I've had a conversation with CK wetlands Kurt Kle and had him um draw up two proposals for us to look at today. Resolution 26-21 is for the first one
and that's that Creechfield Road property. Um and um uh my recommendation is that we we follow through with this so we can get a better understanding what's on site and that way we can better articulate to our contractor that's or developer rather that um that
this property can hold x amount of houses and start working on trying to get that ready for the trip application. >> Any uh questions from commissioners on the resolution? Let's take them one at a time.
26-21. Uh, >> do we have a cost estimate? >> Yeah. Uh, $3500. >> Yes. That would be on page uh >> that's got it. >> Uh, nine. >> Page nine. Yes. $3,500 for this specific
contract. >> Any other questions? Is there a motion to approve resolution 2621? >> Councel move. I'll second >> and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor of the motion say I.
>> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Resolution 26-22. Uh again authorizing wet line delineations uh for uh Birch Grove phase 2 site.
>> Yeah. So you remember again there is a parcel of 64 acres that we acquired from the county this year um next to the Birch Grove um 29.3 acres that we have previously acquired at that school there on the west end of Cook County and we
had previously done a land delineation on that parcel but looking forward to the future in which we're developing more housing on that 64 acre parcel the same issue applies we need to be able to understand where the uplands are where the wetland lands are. We need to be able to figure out where we can put
houses if we can put houses on that property. My assumption is yes, but we uh need to have the scientific folks that know how to do this stuff go out there and actually articulate that that to us uh which will help us articulate that to a developer for building homes.
And so 26-22 um is another contract with Kirk Kle and CK Wetland Services. That price on this one is 9500 $9,750. And that'll give us an estimate or give
us an idea of what we're looking at for that property. Um I'm also working with Northshore Land Surveying to get that property surveyed. Um and then also uh behind the scenes working with the title team to figure out where the easements are on that parcel. Um, so that will
eliminate where we can't build so we can get to the meat and potatoes of where we can build on that site. And so today I'm asking uh recommending that we uh we approve the $9750 um resolution here resolution 26-22.
>> Any other questions or concerns from the commissioners? >> Is there a motion? >> I'll move to approve 2622. I'll second. >> Moved and seconded. All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same calls.
>> Motion carries. Uh on to uh 26-23. Yeah. at 26-23 is a resolution um for grant funding through the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation um
department for the construction of single family homes at that location that we previously talked about with 26-22. Uh there was an error in the uh resolution and so I printed off a brand new resolution. Um I the only thing I
can think of is it autopop populated the word Bjorkberg. I it makes no sense that otherwise was in there. So, I'm just racking my brain trying to figure this out. But, um, with different parts of the city and different projects all together, different developers, >> back room partnerships,
>> and yeah, Commissioner O'Brien was the only person that caught that amongst all you commissioners. So, you're on watch for next time. No, I'm teasing. Uh, but at the end of the day, I want to make sure it was clean. So, in front of you, you have a new one, and you'll notice Be Spirit Brigg is no more on that piece of
paper. Um um and also I have provided you with a letter from Hamilton Habitat on Hamilton Habitat um letterhead. I met with Anna uh yeah Anna Hamilton last week um and also Mary Somnis um to she's
going to be working with Anna to create part of the grant and we'll be working with um Mary as well to make sure that that grant gets submitted off to the R. it was something that she wanted to volunteer her time and uh creativity to and so we appreciate that wherever
possible. The letter is in front of you and I signed that after our meeting on last Thursday and what it does is it gives um the the idea that we're looking to build approximately 10 homes on that property. Again, depending on what the wetland delineation comes back with, we don't
know for sure. Um the the interesting thing about that property is that apparently at one point or another somebody had gone in and then somebody had gone in a different time and I think um Kurt told me there were flags that weren't matching flags indicating two
different times somebody had gone through there trying to kind of flag out where the wetlands were but there was nothing scientific that's what we passed that first resolution for and Mitch Travis over in land services kind of articulated that Anna as well We don't really know exactly where those wetlands
are. You should get that done. So, that we're doing. We've been in the process of getting that scheduled and and ready to go. So, we'll get a report back very soon. Um I think it's on the schedule. I mentioned that to to Kurt and he said, "Okay, we'll get it on the schedule. We hope that we can get that work done."
So, um I'll give him the thumbs up later today that please go ahead and do so as fast as possible. Um and so 26-23 is for an ITR um application. Um last year we were successful with the Norris
Skogan project over on the northeastern corner of Grammaray. Um uh in 2024 we were fortunate enough to get an ILR grant with the um Hamilton Habitat folks for the Homestead houses that were built
on the Homestead um acres there um in Grammaray. Two homes were built and the infrastructure was was created out of that grant of $112,000. the Norogen project was 350,000 with the
match of 100,000 from us um for um ARPA funds and so we're looking to do the same. The ITR just had their proposal request for proposals for housing um July 1st and so I have got that information in front of us that's been
sent off to Anna and also to uh Mary so she can create the grant um and develop that. Now, if the timing doesn't, and this is I want something to articulate as well, if the timing doesn't align that we can get the report back and we can get the grant drafted and everything
works out from the developer standpoint to being able to create these homes on site. Um, Anna does have another parcel in the community that she's also thinking about doing. At some point, the ship leaves the dock. We want to make sure we get an application into the
triple R. We don't want to lose that opportunity to get some funding for Cook County for housing. This is a great opportunity for us to get Cook County funding for housing through the triple R. And so, um, my hope is that we get this with this parcel that we're talking
about, um, conveying to them anyway. If not, we'll have to cross that bridge. >> Any questions? >> Yeah, I'm a little confused. So, so what do so we are approving I I u approving going forward with an
application tor for Hamilton Habitat as the developer uh the specific site is not explicit is not uh determined yet. It it will you choice A would be the place that we haven't delineated yet and choice and plan B would be a different
site and that would they both be for the same number of houses? is what they I'm just a little confused about what the um what is it that we're approving here? >> Good question. I don't want to be loosey goosey with this. I'd like to be as prescriptive as possible. Um um the goal
is to have the those those houses up to 10 on each of the sites, but primarily they're looking for the Creechville site. Um >> what is the second site, Jeff? >> Uh on Fourth Avenue is my understanding. um would be East 4th Avenue, I believe.
So, that would be behind the IGA and to the north. >> Okay. >> The IGA grocery store here in town. >> Okay. >> And I'm not sure that she has acquired that property or anything like that. That's just something that she had >> had mentioned as an alternative site.
But um primarily what we're looking at is the site that we currently have possession of that we're attempting to convey to Hamilton Habitat. Uh she's got an idea to build up to 10 homes. I don't have the site sketch with me, but one was provided to me. Looks like the lots are a little bit larger. There could be
a little bit more density if there needed to be from the standpoint of lot size. Um, and so if the wetlands are taking too much of that property than what was imagined initially, those lots could go down in size and still, I believe, have that nexus for having up
to 10 sites available. Um, and I think density is an important consideration in housing in Grammar, especially going forward, because of, of course, the city limits are only so large and within that there's only so many parcels that are available for development. And um
>> what's the deadline for this round of uh grant apps tor? >> Good question. I just want to make sure I answered all the the questions that you had as well, Commissioner O'Brien. >> Yeah, I I well just so what I'm understanding then is we go forward with the application on the assumption that
the um Creekville site is preferred site. >> Yes. Um, do we is having the wetlands delineation completed and confirming that there's 10 sites there prerequisite to submitting the application or is it possible we apply for it and then find
out after the fact that we can't that it's not feasible. We have to find another site with >> correct. Yep. And it's really >> it's important that we get the wetland delineation and that's going to >> so it is prerequisite to to getting the application in. Correct. >> Yep. And that's why we're we should have the report here very soon within the
well within the the time frame. To answer your question, Commissioner Hansen, uh it's indefinite. However, u um applications are first come first serve and of course it's a very competitive $6 million and that goes to economic development as well as housing
and some other things as well. And I don't want to wait till October to submit this because there will be no money left. Um, I do know that the if it's anything like last year's schedule, this is the way it'll go. Um, they'll take applications until the first part
of August. They'll review, they'll recommend, and then they'll be meeting in early September. Um, and the board will make the recommendation for funding and we'll have missed that opportunity for 2026 and we'll have to look at 2026. I guess if it if we apply for the grant,
the ILR grant and both sites fall through, we can just withdraw. >> Absolutely. >> At that point, yeah, >> certainly. >> Well, I think we've had a lot of success with the triple R in the past by being first in >> and uh that goes back to the first time we ever applied for anything and so I
think that time is of the essence here. >> Thanks for clarifying. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. as so listening to the conversation that uh you said that when the wetland delineation is completed we would know for sure that
the 10 will fit in there. However, we could reduce the lot size in order to accommodate that 10. And and the point is is that because of the timeliness, first serve, first come, first serve, >> that first if the uh gentleman doing the
delineation is aware of that and so he's going to push it >> to try to get in as quick as we can. Yep. >> The other option is in what we're stating in the grant is that if we have the option to resize and we're comfortable enough based upon what we
know, then it would be a legitimate application >> certainly and that would be up to the developer to make that decision and she's not ready yet to make a decision one way or another until we get the wetland delineation back. Yeah. It
would. Yeah, it would make sense that they would reapproach the size of the lots versus scrapping the project, I believe. >> Any further discussion on the motion? Is there a motion? First, >> I'll move in support of uh resolution
2623. >> It's moved. Is it seconded? >> I second. >> It's been seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. uh under 20 resolution 2624
uh a subsidy a subsidy agreement with the uh Cook County Real Estate Fund and for the Heights. Uh Jeff, you want to take us through that also? >> Yes. Uh 26 uh-24 is a resolution
allowing that 60% subsidy that we passed last year uh in resolution 25-09 last July, so a year ago. Um um right now the heights is in this situation in which they're looking to
um well they're they're full. They've got all of the their their renters in and they're starting to look at how do we get paid on the 60% AMI rents that we're subsidizing through the Cook County HR and uh we have an agreement in
place with the 80% but we actually didn't have one in in the 60% and so that was an oversight that is being corrected with this resolution. What it allows for is that up to $40,000 like we had discussed before uh in 25-09
to be spent on the 60% AMI rents. Um and in the packet that is online there is an errand it was 20,000 a year for 2 years but it's actually 40,000 a year for 2 years. Um and so you have uh an amended
version before you that articulates that as well as um the heights is asking us to do um every 6 months um having an invoice and then sending out a reimbursement for those EMI rents instead of every year as we have for the
80% AMI. And so we're happy to do that. We have that drafted. That's before you as well. And that's for those nine apartments that we have at the Heights. Um, sorry about that. It was a hard time for us to get together, but we wanted to
make sure that um, both myself, but also uh, Gary Latz were in agreement on everything. And once the once our lawyer uh, our lawyer legal team was able to put together the the draft back in, you know, um, I think it was the 9th of
July around the time this packet came out. It was before we had the opportunity to get together and visit with that. And so, um, that's the changes before us and that's what we're looking for adoption with today. >> Any other thoughts or questions on
resolution 2624? >> Just um, the amended version. >> Okay. I'm just confused. The the article one purpose and background says 40,000 per year. Mhm. >> Um, article three
says disperse subsidy in 20 Oh, that that's every 6 months. That's just 20,000 per month. Uh um got Okay, got it. That I said the 20,000 and I was a little confused. >> Yeah. And good for clarification and I hope you all understand that that that that it was initially 20,000 and 10,000.
That was just a drafting error by Chris Fera. Um and and we had it replaced with 40,000 per year and 20,000 again just a drafting error going back to the original 25-09 resolution.
And then so our first payment would come due September 18th. This is with our Saha funds that we received from the state of Minnesota through the department of revenue to help subsidize rents in Cook County and across the state. Um, and these are funds that are
passed through from our our county um to the HRA HR to the developer for um being able to offer these rents at a lower cost to renters. Um, so September 18th, we will get a certification filled out
and completed by um the folks at um Bashand and we will get some information as well that will be auditable. Of course, you know, our auditors look at all of this stuff. They looked at it with the gunflint view as well. So, we'll have all of that information and we really appreciate having that as
well. >> Um, sure. >> And um, so with go switching to every six months, which I think is really helpful to the developer. >> Yeah. >> Um, are they doing their compliance check with the tenant every six months then as well? >> Absolutely.
>> Which is also advantageous to us. So if somebody suddenly comes into a windfall, we don't wait a year to >> right >> to change their also. Did they did you talk to them at all about the issue of switching some apartments out of the 60% and some others into it and so it
continues to or do they have the ability to do that anyway? >> Yeah, we passed a different resolution allowing for that flexibility and so they have that within that they have to meet that $40,000 threshold. I can't go over that. So, that was our our prere.
>> Just talking to Gary, you know, uh, personally, he was saying they had a little trouble with the 60% subsidized efficiency apartments because they're really only a couple hundred bucks or less than $200 cheaper than the non-subsidized ones, >> but you have to qualify with low income
to get them. And so, it shrinks the the pool of tenants down to basically to next to nothing. So, he was saying he wanted to move some of the like one-bedroom apartments into the subsidy because um then it would be more useful to to the community. But that if they
can do that, if that's they have the ability to do that, that's great. >> So, that's a different I think that that is something that'll be before you next month and I've got our I've got Chris Verto working at Fryburg. >> But in any case, we we have a 40,000. So, yep. That's up to them if they want
to or hopefully we'll rule to have that >> that flexibility available to them because >> yeah, >> I think it was one apartment they were having trouble renting just because it was the the pool of potential applicants was tiny and they just were having trouble
finding somebody. But sounds like they got it rented anyway. But >> um >> Well, you're pointing out >> the difference between housing need and housing market. Yeah. And that those two things have to be synced. That's our
job. So, thanks for raising Dun Flint View. And I mean, any new project, you're going to have things that come up like the like the uh dark skies and things that we >> we didn't think about or missed or got lost in the between the cracks and we can always constant improvement. So,
>> we're here to learn. >> Yeah. >> Is there a motion on resolution 2624? I'll move. >> Moved. Is there a second? >> Second. A second. >> Moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say I. I.
>> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. At this stage in our agenda, this timing is everything. Mhm. >> Uh we're looking for a market a presentation by uh Whipley uh on the
senior living market study that they we we helped fund and the EDA helped fund and >> uh so if they're ready to go, this would be the time. >> Yeah. Um unfortunately they are not quite online. Patrick Carroll from
Whipley is um in a meeting in he's also presenting at the same time uh at a meeting in Milwaukee to some folks from Leading Age Illinois. Leading Age is a senior um organization, senior advocacy organization across the nation and also
each state has their individual one. Um he said he was going to be delayed until about 3:45 and so we're we're right at 3:45 3:46 it looks like on that clock over there. So, expect him to be logging in here very soon. Um, in the meantime, maybe we can go to the executive
director's report and go back. >> Please do. >> Okay. We talk about financials and stuff, too. >> I think he's just trying to join. >> Is he? Well, that would be serendipitous. >> Well, we maybe give it a moment and see if Patrick can hop on because I know he's excited to talk to us about this
report and I'm excited to listen. There he is. Okay, I'm going to uh let's see here. Uh unmute myself here. Then I'm going to be using my speaker to
make sure uh turn audio on. Okay. Hey Patrick, can you hear us? Okay, >> I can hear you. Can you hear me? >> I think so. I'll just make sure my volume is turned up all the way so everybody can hear and then if that's
the case, >> take it away. >> Yeah, go ahead. You can start your presentation. >> All right, we'll share my screen. Okay, >> maybe you want to start with just an introduction so everybody knows in the
room who we're talking to. Absolutely. Just want to make sure that technology is going to work for you, >> right? >> Can you see that? Okay. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Great. Well, um, thank you for
having me this afternoon. I appreciate you accommodating my schedule. I just finished up a a presentation at the annual conference for Leading Age Illinois. I am a senior manager that
works for Whipfley. Whipfley is a CPA and consulting firm that has uh different in industries that they specialize in. I work specifically with senior living providers and organizations like yourselves and assist
them with planning for future needs of um aging population and how to best serve their community and how to um identify the greatest areas of needs related to the senior living industry. So, I've been doing this work for about
18 years and uh this is kind of what I do daytoday. So, I'm excited to walk through the report with you. The approach that I'll take today is to talk through different um the different approach that
we took the underlying data that's driving the results and then get into the results themselves. So the data that drives the results is going to be kind of your base information so that you ultimately understand the findings that
we're arriving on. If you have any questions on a specific slide, I feel free to interrupt me and um ask me about it. It's I'm okay with it being conversational. If you as a board would prefer to hold questions until I'm through the presentation, that is
completely fine as well. So the first slide that we're going to look at is what's the objective of of this study and what's the methodology that we used to approach this study. So there's um an identified need for senior housing and
senior care options for the aging population within Cook County and HA has an initiative that they undertook that reflects their commitment to ensure that aging adults can continue to live sa safely, comfortably, and affordably
within the county. So to assist H as well as the county in understanding what types of senior housing and care services would best support the county's aging residents, we work to prepare an independent living assisted living and
memory care assisted living market demand assessment. So to prepare this assessment, we defined uh two different market areas and pulled demographic data for those defined market areas. We reviewed the information that's
available on other facilities, other providers that are within the market areas as well as the county. And then we prepared demand assessments that estimate and quantify the number of units by service option that the market
can support or potentially not support current day and then 5 years down the road. Those assessments were focused on the private pay market. So that being individuals that are estimated to be able to afford to pay out of pocket, pay
privately for services for at least a period of time. So in other words, when we're talking assisted living, memory care assisted living, these findings exclude potential Medicaid waiver participants. And we'll talk about that further later on.
Looking at the very first step which is defining the market area. We typically define a primary market area or PMA as well as a secondary market area. The two of which combine to compose a total market area. Typically the PMA is going
to be responsible for generating a vast majority of any senior living facilities or any senior living options residents. But we know that there's also going to be residents that will originate from a surrounding area and that's why we look
at findings for a primary market area as well as a total market area. Lastly, we know that residents will originate from outside of those geographic locations. So we also factor into the demand analysis and in migration factor. So
that could be um mom and dad may live elsewhere and want to take a or want to find a senior living option that's near their adult children or maybe they left an area that they had lived in for years and want to return there for their
senior living services. That in migration factor captures that influx of population that may not be within the demographic data that we're going to look at today. So the primary market area was defined
as a 30 minute drive time basically from the center of Grand Marray. The green shaded area reflects the geographic area that that 30 minute drive time covers. So when we're pulling the demographic
data, it's being pulled specific to this 30 minute drive time, that green area. The total market area was defined as a 45minute drive time represented by this orange or yellow shaded area. And
essentially that 45minut drive time keeps us within the county but captures a reasonable distance that people might be willing to travel to receive senior living services. Uh, I'll also point out that it does uh
include the reservation to the north there and stays outside of um Canada. So when we're looking at kind of a holistic picture, thinking about national data, the baby boom generation,
those individuals, the front end turned 75. January 1 of 2021, which means January 1 of 2026, the very first baby boomer turned 80.
And nationally speaking, for 10 years, there's approximately 3.4 boomers that will turn 75 each year. Then you look at the subsequent period of another 10 years, that number actually increases to 4.3 million annually.
When you think about any given senior living setting, the average age an individual takes residency of independent living, assisted living, etc. ranges from 79 to 82. So when you think on this national basis with the
first boomer turning 80 uh January 1, 2026, the senior living industry as a whole is at the very front end of a significant increase in the need for senior living services. When we talk about the specific service
line that's dedicated to serving memory care uh residents, uh those are people with Alzheimer's dementia. You look at a significant number of Americans that are
estimated to have Alzheimer's in 2025 with a projection of a significant increase in those number of individuals driven by incident rates of disease as well as that aging population again over the next 15 to 20 years.
So when we look at when we think about that and we look at the demographics specific to the two market areas that I referenced, you have the primary market area and the total market area and referencing that population aged 80 and
older. In both instances over this 5-year period of 2026 to 2031, we're looking at approximately a 25% increase in that age cohort. When we look at the population aged 85
and older, which is when you when you reach the age 85 and older, the utilization rates of senior living services increases dramatically compared to individuals aged 80 to 84 or even 75
to 79. So that age 85 and older cohort is a significant in uh indicator of the need for additional senior living services. And you can see that in the primary market area over this 5-year period a 35% increase total market area
30% increase. So actually uh your area this geographic area is ahead of what we're seeing in most markets. So most markets you're seeing that bubble that
30 plus% bubble in the 75 to 84 um age range which looking at the primary market area and total market area that increase is still significant at over 18% as well as uh in terms of numbers almost
100 individuals aging up into that age cohort over this 5-year period. But also really you're already there in terms of individuals that are reaching the age where they're going to have a significant increase in need for senior
living services. The other item that we look at in terms of demographics is household income. And that's because when we're thinking about a potential operator of a senior living facility, they want to have an
understanding of how many people can afford to pay out of pocket for services because the related revenue and cash that's generated by that private pay population is desirable from a bottom
line perspective and is necessary for those providers to be able to operate. their facilities pay for the cost of care. Most significant cost of care being uh wage rates and benefits for staff, particularly direct care staff.
Again, when we look at the primary market area, generally we focus in on that private pay population as being individuals a um earning 50,000 or more annually. And there's a healthy increase in householders aged 75 and older that
are earning 50,000 or more annually over this 5-year projection period. Also, when we look at total householders aged 75 and older and total householders aged 75 and older earning 50,000 or more
annually, 70% are earning 50,000 or more annually. That's a very favorable finding compared to almost any other market that I look at. So often we'll see that 70 that 50
to 70% at the 35,000 or more annual annually. Um and then maybe 30 to 40% at the 50,000. So it means that of those individuals aged 75 and older, a vast majority of
them have annual income that would indicate they would have the ability to pay out of pocket for senior living services for again at least a reasonable period of time. So that's a favorable finding and this factors into the demand
analysis that we'll get into. This is more supplemental information, but is another uh important factor when you're assessing a market and the ability to pay for services. So, we know
that particularly in an assisted living and memory care assisted living setting, those residents don't rely solely on annual income to pay for services. that annual income is also supplemented by a
spend down of an asset base or their net worth. So when you look at again that 75 and older uh age group, the median net worth within the total market area is almost $400,000.
When you think about an average assisted living rate for a baseline for elderly assisted living resident and you assume a monthly rate of 6,500, if you look at just that $400,000 median
net worth number, that equates to that individual being able to pay for services just by spending down their net worth for over 5 years, which is significantly less than a traditional average length of stay in a sing in an
assisted living setting. So this is another favorable finding uh in terms of ability to pay for services. This last demographic slide looks at what we refer to as the worker ratio. So
in addition to looking at demand and the number of units that are estimated to be supported or needed from a demand perspective, another significant consideration particularly within the senior living
industry is the ability to find the appropriate level of staff to provide services and care services to those residents. uh with the most significant challenge being related to direct care staff, your RNs, LPNs, and CNAs.
So, we like to present this slide as uh information that should also be considered when thinking about your potential project size, your number of units, number of beds. So, we look at the worker ratio, which is not anything
fancy. It doesn't uh include workforce participation or anything like that because you don't really need to do that to see the story that we're telling here. So, it's just looking at the number of your traditional age working
population, those aged 20 to 64, compared to the number of individuals 85 and older. And you look at current day, many senior living providers are experiencing challeng challenges with finding the appropriate number of staff
needed to take care of the number of beds or units that they offer. So a worker ratio of 19 current day looking forward 5 to 10 years down the road you see that ratio decrease
16 18 13%. Uh which is fairly consistent with the state of Minnesota as a whole although Cook County does lag the state uh benchmark. So again it does not this information is not included in the
demand analysis. itself but is another factor that should be considered. Yes, there's a need for these beds but can we find the appropriate number of staff to provide these services. So next we look at existing options
within the market area and we within the demand analysis we included the first two independent/ senior housing options that are within grammar. Uh first one being homestead
cooperative which is designated for individuals or res residents aged 55 and older. uh maintenance services are provided but there aren't any care or
care related support options available. We decided to include this in the demand analysis because it can directly or indirectly compete with a traditional
independent living um or age restricted type option where that serves uh individuals that are independent but don't want to do the maintenance and want to have some sort of amenities available to them.
The second um provider that was included in the independent living demand analysis was Sawtooth Ridge Apartments operated by Ebenezer 27 units. A portion of these are uh rent restricted. Uh they
operate under a HUD contract. It's restricted to individuals age 62 and older. However, they do market that some level of care or support services are available to their residents uh such as skilled nursing visits, medications
setup, etc. uh through Cook County Health Department and Social Services. The last um age restricted facility that we considered including but ultimately determined to exclude from the analysis
is Grand Ray Apartments. That rent is limited to 30% of the resident's growth gross monthly income and was deemed to ultimately not be directly comparable to the type of
independent living product that we understand is under consideration for um your development. When we look at senior living care options within the county, there are no licensed assisted living, no licensed
memory care assisted living providers within the county. Obviously, you're aware of the skilled nursing facility within Grammar. Um, it's 37 beds. It's likely that the facility is serving some
residents that could also be appropriately served in a higher acuity assisted living setting or maybe they're serving some um memory care residents that have uh needs of dedicated memory care program.
It's that's an assumption. It's uh a situation that we see often in markets that have a skilled nursing facility and no or limited assisted living options, but in general, what I'm referencing is
is on a pretty limited basis. So, it's unlikely that an assisted living facility would be a direct or a significant competitor to the existing skilled nursing operations. And then our understanding is there's no other senior
living projects that um are planned or will be entering the market. If there were, those beds or units would also be considered and included in the demand analysis. So getting into the demand analysis itself
when we do these assessments we run three different calculations. The gross market penetration rate, net market penetration rate, project penetration rate. Each three has industry standard benchmarks that are indicators of
whether a market has too many units about the right amount number of units or would be able to absorb additional units. So gross market penetration rate looks at any existing units
plus any planned units which would be a new project and then looks at a target population which is um population that's determined based on age and income eligibility. We'll talk about that next.
But the industry standard benchmark is 20%. So above is unfavorable. That means there's too many units compared to demand. Below means there's demand is exceeding supply and at 20% means the
market or around 20% means the market is approximately at equilibrium. Rate number of units for demand. >> Market penetration rate. >> Can I can I ask you to ask a question? >> Yes, please. >> Commissioner Hansen. Uh so market
penetration of 20% of what? >> How do you find the market? >> So I'll get to that next. >> Okay. Just so I can understand because I don't I don't understand. >> I'll get to that. Okay. >> On the very next slide.
>> Um so net market factors in a turnover rate. So we know on an annual basis a certain percentage of residents that are with within the facility will move out and need to be replaced. So on average
nationally in independent living about a third of your residents move out and need to be replaced. So net market penetration rate is an assessment to indicate how easy will it be to fill those vacated units. 10%'s the
equilibrium benchmark on that again above um indicating saturation below indicating unmet demand. Project penetration rate is we're talking about a specific project maybe it's 40 units
how easy would it be just to fill those 40 units that benchmark is 5%. So when we're talking about those percentages, we have to define the target population. So that target population for this
independent living analysis was defined as individuals aged 80 and older that have annual income of 50,000 or more. And then we apply to that population and
income cohort um use rates of skilled nursing incident rates of Alzheimer's and dementia. We estimate those that might need uh assistant assistance with activities of daily living. In other words, for
elderly assisted living residents. And after we back back out those populations, we're left with a group that's estimated to be age el eligible, income eligible, and independent and
therefore a candidate for an independent living option. >> Okay. So, when we're talking about the those percentages, it's that target population. what percentage of that target population
needs to be captured under those various um kind of benchmark scenarios that we talked about the gross the net that factors in turnover and then what do we need to capture just to fill our project itself. Okay.
We also prepared a sensitivity analysis. So if we lower that income threshold from 50,000 to 35,000, what's the impact on demand? You know, by basically picking up individuals aged
80 and older earning 35 to 49,000. How much does that increase demand? So, I'm going to have you focus on the findings related to the $50,000 level, but also wanted to provide an understanding of
what's the impact if we lower that threshold. So, to put the 50,000 in context, uh again, industry standard assumption is that independent living residents will spend about 60% of their annual
income to pay for rent. and independent uh related services and 40% on outside expenses, whatever that might be. And so, as an example, if you're assuming a monthly rate of 2500, prospective residents would need at
least 50,000 or more of annual income under that 60% calculation to be able to afford to pay for independent living, rent, and whatever other independent living uh services they're receiving. So that that gives you an idea of the
monthly rate that could be potentially achieved or at least the bottom line rate that could be achieved at that 50,000 or more level. And at the 35,000 or more using the same calculation that's about monthly rental rate of
1,750 again at the baseline of that 35,000. Um lastly I referenced we assumed an inmigration factor. So in this calculation we assume that 10% of the potential independent living residents
would originate from outside of the defined geographic areas we looked at. Um that being where wherever just an assumption that 10% of the residents will come from outside of this area. Is that hopeful or any questions on
that? Thanks very quick. >> We have one question. Okay. >> Thank you. Um this is Commissioner Gamble. I just have a question. when you're using your your income and your affordability, if you take statistics that are um
directly related to the area, in other words, the cost to live in California and the cost to live in Minnesota and the cost to live in Minneapolis as opposed to the cost to live in Grand Marray. So when you're looking at figures that you're projecting, are you
calculating in the factors that affect livability? >> We're more more so looking at it so that I understand the question. I think that would come into play from more of a
financial analysis perspective. And the reason I answer it that way is what is thinking about your goal into of attracting an operator or somebody to develop uh senior living
option. What they want to understand is from an expense perspective, what does it cost to operate, you know, whatever independent living, assisted living, etc. in this specific market. And that that's where the cost of living
and affordability would come into play because it would drive those or at least impact that expense forecast, the forecast and the buildout of the expense projections and that would guide what they need to
charge to operate profitably. So when I do the demand analysis, I'm more so looking at it from the perspective of what sort of rates can be achieved based on these income levels rather than
affordability because it provides a guide. Okay, if we have an individual uh earning 50,000 or more annually, we're estimating that that person should be able to pay 2500 a month for rent. and
anybody earning 75,000 or more or 100,000 or more annually, they might be able to afford to pay a higher level of rent for maybe a two-bedroom unit. So, when I'm doing the market demand analysis, I'm more so coming at it from
the perspective of what does this mean in terms of what can be charged? uh because that provides them with an understanding of is that adequate to cover our expense projections.
>> Does that make sense? >> Yeah. Yeah, it makes sense. But >> so basically it's tailored to Cook County and its environments by the uh income surveys of the people that live here. And that would be different in
Minneapolis uh for example. and and so I think it probably answers Commissioner Gamble's uh query to a degree at least. But >> thank you. >> Yes. >> Yep. The income levels are specific to your market. >> I have a couple of questions.
>> Go ahead. >> Uh one that the assumption of 10% residents that'll originate from outside the defined market area. How do you where does that assumption come from? What's that based on? >> Well, so that is being conservative.
So obviously you do not have any historic operations of a senior living facility where I can analyze historic uh resident origin patterns but it is driven by all the other studies that
I've conducted as well as industry standards. So, if I'm working with a provider that has historic operations, my first request when I do a market demand analysis is
by service type, independent living, assisted living, if they have skilled services, I want to know for a 5-year period, where did your current residents live? where was their primary residence prior to taking occupancy within your senior
living community on a zip code basis. So that will give me from zip code A X number of residents originated from zip code zip code A over this 5-year period. Zip code B, how many came from there?
And really what you're trying to ultimately get to is to define a geographic area that represents 70 to 90% of historic resident admissions because
therefore you can make the assumption unless we're making significant changes to operations. You can make the assumption that in the future that same geographic area will generate 70 80 90% of your residence in
the future. So really the sweet spot is 80%. And if I land at a geographic area between 70 to 90, I know I have solid data behind it. I'm comfortable with that market area definition cuz we don't
have that data. You know, you could make the argument to assume 20% because you see that in a lot of cases of senior living operations. I went on the conservative end and bumped that down to 10%. So that that's just based on
experience with working with other providers that do have uh historic operational data that I could reference. So, one concern I have with that is that that Cook County is significantly different in its population patterns
than almost any other county in the nation. Uh certainly in Minnesota, in that 65% of the homes in Cook County are owned by second homeowners, many of whom are here 6 months or 9 months a year,
but they're homesteaded in somewhere else. um but feel like part of the community, you know, want to be included in the community, contribute economically to the community, and you know, so it it to me there's a little bit of skew in the statistics there. And
that if we look at the homesteaded population base, that's a small number compared to who's here on any given night during the during the summer or during the winter, too, at any time of year. And um and by limiting ourselves
to that data, we're we're grossly un underestimating the potential for people to uh to choose this for senior housing even if their children don't live here because they have that strong connection to the community. They want to live here and this is a proven destination for
people in retirement uh wanting to live here for whatever whatever their reasons might be, but a variety of reasons. So I I have that concern. I just wanted to I don't know how you capture that data. It's it's uh that's what I'm always worried about with these with these uh
uh you know demand uh studies is that I it feels to me like we're underestimating the potential. Um >> yeah, >> then that's just my feeling and anecdotal and I understand that you know you're the expert on this and and by the way, excellent well done analysis here.
I'm not criticizing. I'm just throwing that out for something for you to think about. Yes. We are we are different here. >> Yeah. I and I hear and understand what you're saying. Um
the way to one way to address that and this can be a follow-up item is, you know, we're running a sensitivity analysis based on income levels. You can run a sensitivity analysis based on in migration.
>> So we bump that from 10% to 30%. what does that mean to the results of the penetration analysis and provide you with those numbers uh so that you have a range. Um the other thing I will say is
I I did think about that. Um and if I have if I'm not entirely comfortable I always air on the side of being conservative. But the other thing I will say is that
where people travel for retirement housing or retirement enjoyment, retirement travel patterns is different than travel patterns when it is time to
choose a senior living option. Uh those are two very different things. >> Yeah. Let me be clear here. I'm not talking about the hotel guest. I'm talking about people that own a home here and spend a significant part of their lives here. We're seeing a lot, you know, we still kind of tend to think of the snowbird
>> uh paradigm >> doesn't really exist anymore. We have lots of people that live here that live two places. They're here back and forth or three places year round. Uh that's really changed. So I just I just I'm just kind of planting a seed in your mind that you might think about that a little bit and try to look at the data
in Cook County to see if uh obviously hotel guests different different thing altogether. It's also a huge population here and we might pick out a few of those but um my other question to you is going back to the worker ratio because this is another thing that's thwarted us
in the past so it's on my mind and I just want you to be aware that it's the classic Cook County catch 22. We don't have enough workers. The reason we don't have enough workers is that we don't have housing for the workers. And the reason they can't afford housing is that
child care is too expensive for them to be able to afford a house. Therefore, they don't come to work. So, we have a work work shortage and on it goes. So, we are making every effort as the HA to insert ourselves in that catch 22 and break that that vicious cycle. And this
will be part of it. And of course, by offering senior housing, that will free up some housing locally for young families >> to move in. And if we are able to crack the child care nut, I think then we've really got something going here that
might might work for everybody. But it would hinge on hinge on I'm I'm just concerned that if we now when we take this study out to to developers, they're going to look at it and say too small, too far, no thank you. which is kind of what's happened in
the past, frankly. Um, so I'm, you know, I don't want you to skew or or fake it, but I'm not that's not what I'm implying. Just >> just really take a hard look at the unique situation here because it is very unique >> here. >> Yeah. >> And um
>> well, go ahead. >> And from that, that's another statistic I think would change if the jobs were available and housing was available and child care was available, people would move. I talk to people every single day. I'm I deal with tourists every day who want to move here. I had a couple this
morning I talked to at length. She's uh just finishing up her lensure for to be a licensed electrician and he is a financial uh has a degree in economics and finance and currently works online
and they really want to move up here and they're like we looked into it. There's no way we can afford it. There's nothing available for us. And so I was telling them about the apartments and how they can move here and network. And then they were like, well, what about schools and what about child care? And I was like, yeah, if you're going to have children,
you're in trouble. So, and of course, they want to have children. So, just an anecdotal example there. That was today. And I I basically have that conversation almost every day. >> People that want to move here and and uh so again, I know we're talking senior
housing here, but it's all it's all connected. So, That's my soap. >> It It certainly is all connected. And actually, it's uh funny you bring up child care because the presentation
I just did um we got on to the child care topic. one, you know, the housing um affordability uh ability for younger individuals or your CNA type
worker who's um earning you know not the best wage compared to um you know maybe an RN. That's that's a significant challenge. And um I did flip to this housing value slide because this
although this is supplemental information, you know, again these numbers are high and uh support exactly what you were just referencing. One thing that could be considered for
the child care just the child care situation is to maybe build out space. I don't know if you have a local uh child care operator that's already operating, but to build out a space to expand those
child care operations, offer that to that existing operator to rent out that space under very favorable terms, essentially covering the expenses.
Because in turn, if you're able to solve that problem >> and solve the child care problem for the staff that you're trying to attract and retain to operate this senior living
option, that in itself is a significant financial benefit to the operations, the senior living operations. So, that's one solution that we actually just chatted about today during our session. Um I understand the you unique challenges
related to affordability, lack of child care options and um I the one thing I'll say is the workforce challenge again really relating to CNAs
is an issue across the senior living industry and in every single market that I work in. Um, so it's not intended to be a skew specific to Cook County. It's intended to call out the reality that
has been a big challenge for the industry in general. And any operator that looks at this study um is not going to be surprised by that data, >> which by the way is the exact same problem for childare workers. >> Yes, exactly. Yes, it is. Y again,
>> which is why if you offer that space under favorable terms, that's an attractive option to, you know, an existing provider um to take you up on that offer. It reduces their expense and maybe they can um move that money into
increased wages. >> Okay. Thanks for your thoughtful response. >> Welcome. Okay. Any other questions on the um target population definition? Okay. So the findings
under the assumptions that we discussed um and under both income eligibility scenarios unfortunately suggest that due to the existing units that are already available in the market both current day
and 5 years down the road um the size of that estimated independent population that's 80 and older and earning 50,000 or more, 35,000 or more is not large enough to support the development of additional units.
So that's uh quick and sweet on the independent living demand findings. Um but the the findings are different for the assisted living side. So I'll transition to that. So when we look at an assisted living
and memory care assisted living demand analysis, we're looking at the same three benchmarks, 20%, 10%, 5%. On the turnover side for assisted living, on average, approximately half
of the residents will move out annually. On the memory care side, about 40% of those residents will move out annually. So really 40 to 50% of those beds that are filled need to be refilled on an annual basis. So that's factored in
specific to the assisted living and memory care assisted living analysis. Otherwise, um really the same approach as we discussed on the independent living side. Target population for the frail elderly assisted living. Your traditional
assisted living population um target was 80 and older. Started with 50,000 or more annually and again ran a sensitivity at 35,000 or more annually.
For memory care, the age eligibility is 75 and older with annual income of 75,000 or more annually was with a sensitivity of 50,000 or more annually. The reason we have a higher income
eligibility for memory care is because though it requires a uh higher staffing rat ratio >> which therefore means it's more expensive and the rates that you need to charge are significantly more expensive
compared to the frail elderly assisted living. We also lower that uh age threshold because specific to the memory care analysis, we're applying actual incident rates of Alzheimer and dementia disease by 5-year age cohort.
>> So it increases significantly from 75 to 79 to 80 to 84 and then 85 and older. Um, and then again on the frail elderly assisted living side, we I would point you back to that uh initial slide that we looked at with the average age of the
entry into a senior living setting ranging from 79 to 82. So we set that at 80. When you look at this 50,000 uh income level and you do that math of
a monthly rate for assisted living services of 6,500 and you use the assumption where in an assisted living setting that residents going to spend 80% of their annual income to pay for services, 20% on
outside services. If you do that math, that indicates that that resident would need to have almost $100,000 of annual income to be able to afford to pay for assisted living services. So, I point that out because obviously that doesn't
jive with the 50,000 or more annually. That being said, we know that in independent living settings, residents of independent living generally are um wanting or planning to
rely on income to pay solely income to pay for independent living services. When you get into those care settings, assisted living, memory care, skilled, that's when the spendown of that net asset base starts to occur. So they're supplementing their annual income with a
spendown of a net asset base. We we know that. So that's why, you know, if you do the math and you say, you know, 100,000 is the calculation, you're at 50,000. That's the explanation as to why.
Any questions on this? Okay. um same approach where you know to get to the assisted living population we're removing estimated skill population estimated independent population estimated um Alzheimer's and dementia
population to arrive at a target population that meets the income and age eligibility and is also estimated to need some level of support with activities of daily living. And again, we're looking at that 10% inmigration factor, which um is something we can
note and potentially run a sensitivity at a higher uh inmigration factor as a follow-up. So under uh those assumptions and looking at the benchmarks that we
referenced specific to 50,000 or more frail elderly assisted living current day an 8 bed project the results are significantly below the net market saturation benchmark
significantly bel or the gross significantly ly below the gross, significantly below the net, but eight beds puts us at about the 5% benchmark for the project penetration rate. When you look at that eight and you
contrast it to 18, you're still units or beds, you're still significantly below the gross and the net benchmarks, but then you're essentially double the project penetration rate. Looking forward down five years down the
road, if we're going to stick with that 5% benchmark, you know, that suggests the need or the demand for assisted living beds increases from 8 to 12. So, it's not 8 + 12, it's 8 + 4 to get to
12. Okay. What is unique about Cook County in this analysis is that the project penetration rate is intended to look at what do we need
to capture just to fill our project and excluding existing bets that might be within the market. The gross market includes all existing providers. What do we need to capture? Um, when we factor in all these number
of units that are already out there in your situation, there is no existing independent living providers. So, you could make an argument that you could be a little more aggressive with the number of beds that you might look
at for a potential project because you're not competing against anybody else. So this 5% is under the assumption that you're competing against others to capture these residents. That's not the case. So I have the 8 bed and the 12 bed
projects highlighted because that's essentially where you hit the benchmark threshold. But if you look at the two other uh benchmarks, you know, 18 beds is significantly below. So again to be
conservative I quoted current day total market area can support 8 to 12 beds. In reality that finding is not relevant because we're not opening a facility today. So the number I would point you to is the 2031 number. And under that
scenario that suggests a frail elderly specific um need of about 12 to 18 beds. So that's for the total market area to have an understanding of how many residents would come from that 30 minute
drive time, the primary market area. You know, 12 to 18 of those units, 8 to 12 of them would be filled or estimated to be filled by residents that originate from within that 30 minute drive time.
So before I keep going, I'll pause there for questions or any clarifications that are needed. And you do you have a uh sort of a guideline or estimate as to at what number of beds a project becomes
feasible or I mean >> in terms of financial? >> Yeah. in terms of I mean given the so the overhead that you that any project would have is there um a you know I mean is does it need to be 25 beds, 50 beds,
five beds? Uh I mean the general very high level answer uh when you're talking assisted living is 30 to 40. Um,
but you know, we're talking 12 to 18 here for feral elderly. >> On top of that, you potentially have the memory care assisted living, and we haven't gotten to those numbers yet. >> Um, but to go back to the financial
answer, the general answer is 30 to 40, >> but that's highly dependent on so many factors. um what is cost of construction for the area and
that's actually a number I can provide you with an estimate. What is the financing mechanism or how you know will the construction be paid for? Um is are
we borrowing at 6 7%? Is there some sort of incentive being included? What's the equity contribution? You know, those financing and the cost of construction numbers really
are needed to give you a good answer on that. Um, it's a hard one to say without those assumptions because they're >> so s significant and can vary so significantly, but bank financing standard cost construction probably 35
to 40. >> Great. Thanks. >> Y >> any other questions on this? >> Yeah, I I had a question in your years of experience on the in migration factor. >> Yes. that just as we experience up here
because we have an attractive area that there are people with wealth that choose to purchase second homes or to retire here and that that is an inmigration of people because of the attractiveness of the area. So when we're looking at this
relative to assisted living or you know end of life care um there might be people who from a psychographic standpoint choose to want to be here because this is where they'd like to spend the last years of their life. You
can look at the market that exists here that have lived here generationally that want do not want to leave. But the immigration figure you you rounded that down or estimated at 10% uh where normally you might put it at 20% but
because of the uniqueness of who we are in your experience have you seen an immigration because of the area that has skewed those numbers to be an advantage? >> That's a good question.
Um, I would say in my experience, not specific to Cook County, but just generally speaking, I often see people choose their senior living
options based on travel patterns from their primary residence. Where did they go shopping? Where did they go out to eat? What area are they the very most familiar and comfortable
with? And not necessarily driven by desiraability of the what any given community might offer
in terms of services, activities. um you know, nature thing things like that because particularly when you're choosing an assisted living facility, you're not driving anymore. You're not
going out into the community anymore. It's driven by where do I feel the most comfortable and familiar with because my health and mental acuity is declining and that's what drives where people want
to be. A lot of folks that might retire in Florida, snowbirds or whatever often choose to go back home wherever that might be for their senior living services. >> And it seems that Other big the other
big op factor is PE when people do move from their home or primary residence um you know place that they've lived for years the biggest factor in that choice is moving to be close to adult children.
>> Sure. >> Yeah. And I I was going to say that I think that that's probably the most influencing factor where it exists that family being close to the you have access to family. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Yes.
>> Y any other questions? >> Okay. Um next slide. We're looking at, you know, that sensitivity of 35,000 or more annually. And really, you know, you can
see, you can contrast the benchmark results from this slide to the previous slide, you can see that the project numbers are the same. Uh, the reason that typically when I run this sensitivity, you see these numbers
go up go up by a healthy amount. Um, I was surprised when they did not when I ran this analysis and they did not. The reason is there's really not a whole lot of individuals age 75 and older and 80 and older that are earning in your area
that are earning 35 to 49,000. Most of the people again if you look at that income table that we looked at that demographic table most of your people 70% or more are earning 50,000 or more annually and a lot of those are earning
a 100,000 or more annually. So actually in contrast to what I usually see lowering that income threshold from 50 to 30 didn't really have a material impact. Um, so you know, I would wanted
to include this asformational so that you're aware that we considered various scenarios, but really I would point you to the findings of the 50,000 or more analysis. When we look at the memory care assessment,
um, it's flipped. So actually I'm focus here first. So when we look at that 75,000 or more um income threshold, it's really the same story as we
discussed with the assisted living. So what I have highlighted is where we kind of hitting that 5% threshold. Current day, six dedicated memory care beds, 5 years down the road, eight. But again,
current day, you look at the six versus the 12, 11%'s comfort comfortably below 20% comfortably below 10% at the net and essentially doubles at the project. So
although I have the six and the eight highlighted, it'd be pretty reasonable to consider, you know, going on the upper end of this at 12 beds. So, if you think about the frail elderly findings of 18 beds with a dedicated
memory care unit of 12 beds, you know, that gets you to your 30 units. Okay? And there's one more factor that I'll hit on um before we end this, but you know, you have 12 dedicated memory care, 18 to 20 dedicated frail elderly
assisted living. Now you have a 30 to 35 bed project that can serve the private pay population. Again, if we drop that income threshold to 50, you know, a slight uptick in the numbers, but nothing material. Um,
here's what you can expect to generate from the primary market area compared to the total market area. Um but again because of the high income levels that that are being earned in your market area not a material impact.
>> Lastly um this is third bullet point is what I want to hit on. Um the the findings focus on the private pay market because that's the desirable market from a uh perspective of attracting a potential operator. Most
assisted living facilities serve some level of Medicaid waiver. So if you're in skilled nursing um and you need it, Medicaid will reimburse you there. On the assisted living side, it's a Medicaid waiver
program. So, say that you add Medicaid waiver to that 30 bed project. Then you're picking up maybe six, seven, eight additional beds that are dedicated to serving uh lowincome individuals and then you're getting close to your 40 bed
project. So, with that, I will pause for uh further questions or comments. >> Patrick, could you would you just explain to how the Medicaid waiver works? I don't I'm not familiar with that. >> Basically that is
basically that is a program for lowincome individuals. So, if you think about the Medicaid program in a skilled nursing setting, it's a statef funded reimbursement methodology
for individuals that don't have the income or assets available to pay for those services, >> but they need the services and therefore the state pays for them. >> Medicaid waiver is the same program.
It's funded by Medicaid, but it's for assisted living services as well as well as other types of home and community based services. But in this situation, Medicaid waiver would pay for a resident who couldn't afford to pay for assisted living services but needed it.
>> The reimbursement is low and undesirable and generally doesn't cover expenses, but it can cover overhead. So sometimes you see providers either from a mission perspective or from an overhead perspective accept Medicaid waiver
residents um at like a level of 20 to 25% as an example. >> Got it. Thanks. >> Yep. Patrick, we'll take this opportunity to thank you >> and uh the presentation was fairly
complete and we've got the data uh now in front of us to work with and uh just I I really appreciate it and I've been in this business a long time in terms of what people need to look for. So uh the
next job is making sure we understand it all and then going forward finding someone who might be interested in uh pursuing this. And if you know of any such people by all means let us know.
>> Well, I planted the Ebenezer seed to Jeff. I don't know their interest level, but they have an independent living product that they're managing already in the area. Um, I' I'd have them on the list for sure and would be happy to uh help you
brainstorm on on further options, individuals or um organizations that might make sense to reach out to. And I appreciate the comments. You're very welcome. >> Thanks. Well, I think we'll move back to the
rest of the agenda and finish up uh the meeting. So, but thanks for being with us. >> Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. And um I'll follow up with Jeff after the meeting and potentially follow up with um you know another analysis
that increases that in migration factor. >> Thank you, Patrick. I appreciate it. >> All right. Thank you. Have a great evening. And >> well, Jeeoff, that takes us back to the director's report. And >> yeah, let me go ahead and mute
everything here. Um, so, uh, from a standpoint of the director's report, the first thing on our list here is local housing trust fund status. was about a year ago. We had strategic planning session in July and and June and we identified five new
priorities. Local housing trust fund I thought was going to be the lowhanging fruit. So, I'm sorry I kind of mischaracterize that one a bit, but I think we're getting close to the end here. Um, I've instructed our legal folks over at Fryburgger to put together a local housing trust fund resolution
that passes guidelines that I have had vetted through the Minnesota Housing Partnership last year. Um, and um, we should be I just talked to Chris the other day about this. We should be getting that here very shortly. Um, what I will do is give that
resolution to our county attorney for review and start the clock at about 30 days and have, you know, by this time next month in August. Um, I'm hopeful that we will have that before us to have a conversation about passing and
starting that process to actually establish the local housing trust fund that we've set out to accomplish. Um, which will mean new resources for our community when it comes to housing, new opportunity for housing in our community. So, >> I'm sure I speak for the rest of the
board to wish you well and keep that August date in mind, please. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Um along uh with that same thinking um um the future of the 1800 West Highway 61 project is our next
point of discussion today. Um you remember that um the EDA and the HA set a path to find a new developer for that project at 1800 Highway 61 about an acre of land that's owned currently by the city. Um, the city is interested in
finding some housing in that area and the EDA had previously received a $1.3 million grant through the Minnesota Housing uh Minnesota uh Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. My gosh, these acronyms sometimes they do
get the best of me. Um, to pursue new housing, workforce housing in Cook County. And so that has a clock that ticks every day closer to January 1st, 2028. and we need to find a new developer that
could potentially meet that goal. Um, I have received information today from a developer that previously worked to build the the Gunfl View here in the community, Vision, uh, Incorporated, and they are very interested in giving us,
um, the ability to get this accomplished before January 1st, 2028. Um they gave us a timeline. We requested some information. Uh we requested timeline and we requested who the developers. They're going to be the
general contractor on the development. Just as previously, um they gave me a rundown of what they're looking at financially with a letter of um support from um financial banker that's very interested in supporting this project as with previous projects. And so, uh, no
doubt there is equity in previous projects and they're able to secure the financing, but time will tell if that's accurate. The last thing was design and they sent me some design things as well uh for the project. Now, at 7:00 tonight, I'll be uh moving across town
to the uh the Grammar City Council Chambers, and we'll be giving them an update uh about this uh as well. But all indications are that we're moving closer to um a timeline in which in the next 30
days the county or the city rather is giving approval to sell that property to us for a dollar and that we're receiving that and uh conveying that property off to a new developer with the intentions and this is very aggressive but I do
believe it is still something that we can get accomplished having a groundbreaking sometime in September of this year on that project. Um, and so, um, I'm definitely very interested in keeping that bus or that
train or that airplane going on time to make sure that we can meet that January 1st, 2028 deadline, uh, as well. So, um, that's >> is the meeting tonight the planning commission or the council? >> It's the full council. >> Yeah. And it's not to take any action.
It's to give them an update. I have already drafted a memo to kind of give them the full of what's going on, the rundown of what's going on with that project. Our hope is that they will continue to want to see housing on that 1acre site as they had previously indicated and I do believe that that still is the case.
I have not heard any other indications otherwise. Um, and we will continue to keep moving forward to get 16 new units of workforce housing in Click County in Grammaray specifically. Uh, excuse me.
And with that, I just wanted to give you an update on Norris Skogan, the project at the northeastern corner of Grand Marray. And I just need to take a drink of water. Sorry. Even radio personalities and TV personalities have to do that once in a
while. So, but um I drove through there last week. There was a a buck in in in Velvet out that way. um a beautiful creature and they're still in development out there. They're still processing um the
the 12 units are getting them ready for sale. Um there's going to be a culde-sac back there and the road is nowhere close to looking like a road quite yet, but it's very much better looking than it is was uh um when they started project last
November. Last November is when the ILR was able to sign the contract with us and we were able to tell the developer go ahead and start doing what you can before winter and they were able to accomplish some things and then hard stop for winter.
Spring really took its time to come to the point where it wasn't mud season anymore but once that hit we were able to get work done over there. We were able to submit invoices to the ITR for May and June and um July and hopefully
the final bill will be coming here soon. Um there's about 93,000 left in the ILR and about uh that much left with our contribution as well, our matching contribution. Um, what I would say is that they have sold, I believe, their
first, we're just about to sell their first of the 12 parcels for uh, development uh, to a family living in Cook County. It's renting right now. So, a unit will be not rentable anymore
because those those family members will move on to the new home or at least at some point and then um, somebody else will come into Grammar and have an opportunity to rent here while somebody else is living here in community. So, it's really neat to see this happen in lifetime. Um, just another project
that's working its way through the course of development in in Grammaray, especially with bedrock challenges and and hauling materials back and forth and that sort of thing, but to see it um take place is is really impressive. So, uh, KTM's done
a great job of working on that site so far and watching their progress and, um, they're they're on track to get things accomplished here. Um, one other thing I just wanted to quickly point out before I I passed it off to financials, I just kind of wanted to give a little bit of
my perception of what this study that we just looked at, what it is, what it isn't, and that sort of thing. So, if you'll bear with me for a few minutes, just a couple of thoughts ahead. Uh the study really what does it mean? It means now that we have something physically in
our hands that shows empirical data about the fact that between 30 and 40 units of assisted living and memorary care are possible for cookout. Um it validates what many residents and
families and health care providers and community leaders have experienced over the years. Uh, and this this is I think something I just want to bring home. There is a shortage of senior housing. I just talked to a gentleman today who he and his wife are on the list to move out
of the community. It's a two-year long waiting list for that location that they're moving to. Um, because we don't have anything here in the community that competes. And again, as we talked about before, some folks want to go where their family is, their adult living children and grandchildren are. And so
that's something we'll always have to compete with. But by having um facilities in county, we're giving something to compete with to keep and hold uh community members who have given a lot to the community over the years that continue to make contributions and
time and resources and um support in the community. So, it's really important um that we at least have some numbers and that sort of thing. Um having objective data strengthens our ability to engage developers. Now, um,
if that's something we want to do, operators of course to operate the facilities once they're developed, funding part, uh, partners and of course our policy makers both locally and at the state and federal level as well in partnership. Um, you know, so I think
it's really important. What it doesn't mean though, and I just want to articulate this, and I'll do my best to articulate this with the local media, it doesn't mean that, um, you know, this is a commitment that we're going to build a living facility tomorrow. There's a lot of steps in the process to get us to
that point. We're going to be very thoughtful and intentional about that process. We're going to bring community into that conversation. Obviously, um it does not identify any developer. Um there was conversation about one name that already exists in the community,
but um you know I think that um we still have a lot to go with looking at financial packages and developers and site and that sort of thing as well. And it also doesn't eliminate any of the challenges that we have from the standpoint of constructing anything in
this county with the bedrock issues and the wetland issues, >> the housing stability, the the staffing stability, the child care stability that exists in our community. I'm glad all were kind of discussed in this process as well because it really does bring home why
we're here and what is we're doing here for the county as well. >> So, can I can I make a comment? >> Certainly. Um, you know, I've been open about my u doubts about this study and they were unfortunately confirmed and I don't mean to impugn Patrick's
professionalism. He did a good job, great job and and brought up things that I hadn't thought of and so I appreciate that, but I do think it's flawed to the point of being uh unhelpful actually. Um, and I, you know, at the end of the
day, I think the only way we're going to get, uh, any kind of senior housing is if a developer kind of sees the big picture and takes a leap of faith, which I think would be a very safe leap of faith. And that's just my opinion. But, um, u, you know, we've been round this
road before. That's why I bring this up is that uh we were very very close with u with an an assisted living memory care and assisted living facility years ago and they backed off because it wasn't quite big enough and they didn't think
they could find help and those are the two things points that came forward in this study. So >> showing this to a developer at this point will probably lead them to that similar conclusion. And so I think we need to come up with a new narrative and if he can get in there and tweak the in
migration a little bit that'll help. Um this actually just because we've moved farther into the future and farther into the baby boom the numbers do look a little better this time. So we're getting closer but um I strongly believe that we have the capacity to fill these
these beds especially with zero competition you know um which he did bring up. Um, but I think we need to really work that narrative and at at some point we're going to be asking a developer to take a little bit of a leap of faith. But I think if they really come and understand the community,
they'll they'll understand that it would work here. So that's >> again my my uh >> I would have rather spent that money given it to Anna Hamilton to >> subsidize one of her houses. But >> I'd compliment Commissioner Hansen on
raising the issue of child care along with the paniply of issues here because at every meeting I've been to in the community, the community leaders groups or whatever, >> the focus on child care has become overwhelming
>> to the employers and uh and so that's a reality here that we need at least we're facing we're addressing and that that's another thing that it's there's no magic solution. >> I disagree. >> Okay.
>> I think we have a solution easily within our grasp. We're just missing the opportunity. And child care is a housing issue and unemployment issue. It's just a matter of inserting ourselves at the right most efficient place. But I think we can do it. The actual subsidies that we'd have to give to have full universal
childcare in Cook County would be subsidies to between 60 and 80 kids of varying degrees. 60 to 80 kids. It's not that much money, people. We can do this easily, I think. But just don't get me started on that subject. That's a whole
new that's a whole different >> I'm sorry that I did. There are discussions along those lines and where we get the money. Yeah. And that's the key. So, >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah. just a a quick statement and and that is is that I think that Cook County prides itself on resourcefulness
and innovation >> and I think that's what we need to tap into that resource. We need to see that and I'm not saying it doesn't exist. We have examples of it where it exists. It just we pride oursel in that we have an
opportunity to use two those two assets to accomplish something that don't follow ordinary patterns. >> I agree. >> Well put. >> Yeah. So now we have something that we can share with our our neighboring local governments,
healthcare providers, um potential operators and of course um developers along the way. So I'm looking forward to continuing this as we have discussions about where we go from here. I would suggest that we um would be bu u well served by having a strategic planning u
meeting here and something I've previously articulated to you all but maybe in the next month or so to talk about next steps specifically in this process um to also give me uh give you a couple of updates on some of the other priorities that we had previously identified and how we're moving forward
on those as well. So, um, I'll reach out to you and look for some calendar times that work. >> And maybe it goes without saying, but do we get a copy of that? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Yep. Um, so I sent it out 1:30 this afternoon, 1 1 something this
afternoon. Still, it was very fresh, >> off the press when I got it this this morning or this early this afternoon. Yep. So, um, and I sent it out to all the county commissioners as well. I sent it out to our our our city of Grammaray um elected officials as well. Uh folks
that represent on the tribal side and trying to get this information out to all of our local elected leaders so they have a copy of it as well. and the EDA. >> Absolutely. The EDA also has it as partners of ours in the not not just the the financing of this this report, but
also just because it's um it's as much economic development as is housing related and so they have a copy of it as well. Y >> do you have any further thoughts on a special meeting of the board for the
1800 idea? >> Oh yes. And so right now our goal is to have a special meeting on the 29th of July, 3 p.m. It sounds like we have a quorum of folks now that have committed that 29th will
work. 3:00 it'll be u meeting just to discuss um certain aspects of the development agreement that we are entertaining right now between ourselves and vision incorporated for that that um that project at 1800 West Highway 61. The
initial talk of that was meeting at 11:00 to have a strategic planning beforehand. >> Correct. >> Is that still the case or >> unfortunately um I didn't hear enough of people were able to make that work and so I proposed that we have strategic planning in August where maybe we can
get more people to be able >> So the 29th meeting now starts at 3 >> 3 >> here. >> Yep. Well, >> um actually I'll double check on that. I'll send an email. I'll make sure it gets it'll get noticed and all of that. Yeah, >> it looks like um the commissioner's room
um they'll be having uh the planning commission and that's right at like starting at 3:30. So, but the ITV room would be available. >> ATV room. >> That's fine. >> Depending upon the tenants that you might look at the city. >> Uh yes. >> Yeah.
>> Yep. I believe I actually had talked to the city about doing that. So, I just need to double check on my email. I just don't remember off the top of my head if I figured that that was the best location at the time. But um yeah, if it I'll get notice out to to Janet to post online and then also to all of you so you're well aware of the the timeline on
that. But it's to specifically uh discuss developers agreement for 1800 highway 61. >> Then it's incumbent on the commissioners to read the new material from uh vision and get get very familiar with it by the
time we need discuss the uh memorandum of understanding potential. >> Certainly. Thank you. >> Yes. And with that, that concludes my reporting. >> Commissioner O'Brien, anything to say on the uh financials at this stage? >> Sure. Um, well, I took the occasion to
uh take a look at the uh the overall the the financials and then compare our uh H1 actuals to our budget for the year. Um, and I'd say no major issues to flag. There were a couple of um negative
variances. Rent's a little high. Rent is somewhat higher, but that's because of the um uh agreement that we made to pay an additional $200 per month. Uh professional services is about 15. It's about 51 versus 36 for the in the budget. And I think that's attributable
to the fact that the audit came in more expensive than we expected. Uh and we've, you know, with the amount of project activity that's underway, we've u uh been leaning on Jason and you you and relying on some of so there's been a higher higher than budgeted expenses
there. Um and then of course with the um what we didn't budget for is you know project development revenues and and and expenses and those are substantial uh with the one roof and with Norris Goan. Uh but those are passed through. we've gotten income from grants and and that
money has gone out. Um I will say that you know we did there were several um accounting entries where we had to you know things were entered in the wrong categories and so forth and had to had to make those fixes and so and and it's
it's somewhat of an arduous pro process to map our actuals to our budget. And so I think that remains a a challenge and um to try to uh find a just a way that that should you should be pretty pretty
simple but the categories don't map directly. So um uh continue to work on that. >> Well, thanks. And an issue there is ch potentially changing our budget request to the county those line items versus
changing the other side of it. I mean, it's worth at least considering and talking to county board a bit. Uh, and you know, this is what we've done historically since we were formed in 2021, but is there some magic that we,
you know, have to adhere to the specific items that we're requesting project development? There's some practical aspects to it, but >> is there just for clarification matching uh, you know, line items? Mhm.
>> Is there a narrative that informs categories so that you have a clearer understanding how you match those things so that we're dropping them in the right buckets? >> It's it it's it's not a huge problem is it's it's it's not it's pretty straightforward. We have more detail in
our in our budget category for example for for you know for for legal services for you know we have the professional services all broken out and then the um in our actuals it comes out they all get lumped in under professional services. Um, so that there's there's just not not
quite a one to one map matching mapping. >> And often times when an organization gets running and then you find out the rhythm that it's going to be, so to speak, that >> you can tighten things up a bit so that you know >> and and there are things that you find
we need to track this independently from this group so that >> you can make decisions based upon known information. >> Yeah. No, I think that that's a good point. And I think it's a >> it's also complicated by the fact that we can't really recognition recognize
grants until >> they're spent. And so we have to have our own tracking of g whiz, we got X from the ILR >> and that's coming in and we're going to spend that and then we can recognize the grant
>> and that that's >> you can talk to Brady. I mean he's been in the position 35 years and continues to be a nightmare. Yeah, it is. >> When we get money and is always explained to commissioners, well, that PIP money, we don't see that yet. We don't know. I mean, >> yeah, we don't want to outstrip the
grants, but uh we got to keep track of it. Anyway, uh any other committee reports? I think we're >> there are no other committees. So, uh how about commissioner items? Anyone have something specific they'd like to
talk about? >> I'll just say I'm eager to dive into the local housing trust fund and um but we need to have it first. >> Well, thanks for the work you're doing on that also. >> Yeah, I'm continuing to talk it up, but
yeah, it has to happen soon or we're going to >> Yes. >> people are going to start to doubt that >> it's real. And and with that, if I might just uh you know put a plug in for what we do have that 1% money that we are getting. It's voluntary
uh fee from the Cascade Vacation Rentals is huge. >> I can't underscore that enough how huge that was, how much of a voluntary program that was. Those dollars will actively at the discretion of the board to be transferred to the local housing
trust fund which will trigger the matching dollars from the state of Minnesota. Magic is going to happen with those dollars going to double the the the size of what that the amount is which is approximately or just over $100,000.
That's not small change. And I think that it's really um it's kind of a visionary thing for a place like Cook County to have happen. And we continue to get monthly checks in the mail and we continue to put them in the bank and we continue to track them as well each of
those dollars. And so um any additional organization or entity that's we've had conversations with a lot of them already whether through the chamber or chamber organizations or whatever it might be. anybody that's willing to and and curious to know more about that program
really um we would love to have more conversations about that. Those dollars specifically go towards housing in a way that is different than state dollars which require a se separate match and um
different requirements. These are dollars that can be used specifically to help people who live in Cook County with their housing needs as outlined in those five different criteria that are in the guidelines that we'll be hopefully adopting by this time next month.
>> So, thank you. >> With that, uh, is there a motion to adjourn? >> I'll move. I'll >> second and seconded. Any discussion on the motion? If not, all those in favor of the motion to adjurnn say I. I
opposed. >> But this meeting in the in the baby book, it seemed like it's a little longer than normal. >> Yeah. >> Well, that was I mean it was a good presentation. took about an hour.