like to call the Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting of April 20th, 2026 to order. Um staff will note uh attendance tonight. Uh first item on the agenda is our open
forum. Uh participants can share their comments in person by voicemail or email and may also request to participate virtually. Uh for more information on submitting comments, refer to the housing and redevelopment authority agenda and minutes page on the city's
website. Uh is there anyone present here tonight who would like to address the uh the H? Okay. if you'd like to um go up to the um to the stand over here and
please state your name and address and we do request you keep your comments to three minutes and and just to clarify this this is the open forum so generally it's items that are not on the agenda. There will be a public hearing a little bit later that
will be about the lot sale. Okay, great. >> Okay, thank you. Thank you for that uh clarification. Uh is there anyone else who would like to uh address the uh H tonight? Did we receive any emails or other communications from anyone?
>> We did not chair. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh like to u have a motion for approval of the agenda. >> I move approval of the agenda. >> I second that. >> Okay. Okay, a motion has been made and seconded. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? And is there a motion for approval of the minutes of the regular housing and redevelopment authority meeting of March 16, 2026? >> I will move approval of the minutes.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. Okay. Motion has been made and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Uh, tonight we don't have any presentations and it looks like we have
nothing on the consent calendar. Uh, we do have a public hearing, a public hearing on the sale of 632614th Avenue South and consideration of a contract for private development for the development of a new two family home
through the Richfield Rediscovered Program. And with that, I will ask for the staff report. Thank you, Chair Hansen. Uh, housing specialist Hillary Love Lace will present the staff report tonight. >> Thanks so much.
Derjsi and Basa Gabber Hat, who are both here tonight, are applying to purchase the lot at 6326 14th Avenue South from the HR for the construction of a duplex. The buyers are working with Benjamin
Akabj of Bay Homes, uh, who will probably be here momentarily to construct the home. The buyers are currently living in Richfield and would like to live in one unit of the duplex while renting out the other unit of the newly constructed duplex. The duplex
will feature four finished bedrooms in each unit, and each will have an attached onecar garage. Each unit will have approximately 3,350 finished square feet. We've been working on the development of this lot for a while. In 2021, the HR
purchased the substandard home at 63261 14th Avenue South for 155,000 through the Ridgefield Rediscovered program, which aims to replace smaller blighted homes with market rate housing that supports city goals such as higher
density with duplexes or ADUs, accessibility, and energy efficiency. A duplex proposal approved by the HR in 2023 did not move forward due to rising cost and the contract expired in 2024. The RFP remained open and in 2025 staff
reviewed additional proposals including the current proposal from the buyers. The lot is being sold for $81,000500. The amount is a reduction from the appraised value because the proposed home is meeting several HR goals,
including constructing a duplex, installing sound attenuation measures due to airport proximity, and installing energy efficient features. We ask that tonight uh you conduct and close the public hearing and by motion adopt a resolution authorizing the sale of 6326
14th Avenue South to Dera and Basa and authorize execution of a contract for private development between the HR and the buyers for the redevelopment of 6326 14th Avenue South. >> Thank you. I will uh I will open the
public hearing. Uh any resident wishing to participate in the public hearing tonight, please proceed to the podium uh one at a time and provide your name and address prior to your comment. Uh the H will hear your comment. If you would like the staff to follow up, please
include your name and phone number or email on the signin document located at the podium. Uh to ensure everyone has time to speak, each comment uh will be limited to three minutes in length. And as a reminder, uh the public hearing is
an opportunity uh for the H to listen but not respond. If questions are asked, they may be addressed as part of the uh H discussion on the same issue or the staff will follow up after the meeting. And with that, anyone who would like to
speak, I uh invite you to uh approach the podium. >> Hi, excuse me. Hi, my name is Enriqueeta Roachcha and I live in uh 62 632713 Avenue and um the 14th Avenue property
damaged my fans on 6327 and I would like that that that will be clean up um the rem and removal of the stems and weeds that damaged the fence. I haven't been able to um do the project. I was um
planning to do a new fence, but uh I had to stop it because it's no reason to put a new fence when the wits are going to grow up and damage again the fence. So, I would like that to be removed before I
start my project. Uh and my I have been coming here several times to talk about that and they did cut the trees but they left the stems which uh they are grow the trees are going to grow up again and damage my
new fence. So that's why I haven't put the new fence again. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. Is there uh anyone else would like to address the H I'm Gabriel Flores. I'm the son of
Enriquetto Roachcha who lives there at 632713th Avenue. Um just a couple things too. um the the trees that were present at one point there um they didn't completely cut down all the trees around the
property line and so it's also damage well some of them are touching some of the power lines so that's also why we don't really touch those or mess with those and uh some of the fence um plates are already down and we asked someone to
come look at that and they said that they can um come put it up. But that's why they decided not not to come put a new fence because the the the tree stumps are there's weeds and stuff that are actually growing to the size of
actual trees and um kind of pushing our fence over to the side. And um I have two nephews that are one's a newborn and one's a one's a 5-year-old. and they come over quite often to visit and they like to play in the backyard. So, that's
also like something that we would want to take care of pretty soon so that um we could take care of that fence and not have uh any issues with um there being any accidents. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone else would like to uh address the H tonight? Roger Swanson, 64114th. I'm about a 100 yards away from this property. I'd like to know what it's going to look like since there's no
pictures or no nothing and the announcement never said it was going to be a duplex that's going to be in our neighborhood, which we do not have duplexes at the present time. Um, I guess I'm more want looking for information that you're not providing
here yet. So, are you providing more informations or pictures or something of what this may entail? If each unit is over 3,000, four bedrooms, it's larger than what we have in the neighborhood now. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Would anyone else like to address the uh the HR this evening? One final call. Anyone else? I guess seeing no one else approach the podium, I would uh entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
>> So moved. >> Okay. >> Second. A motion has been made and seconded to close the public hearing. Uh all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Uh with that I will open it to the uh
the board here to uh for questions or comments. Commissioner April. Um, I don't know if staff could provide a response or if they're aware of this tree issue on the site plan. It looks like the trees in question might
actually be on the other property unless they're not reflected in that tree item or I don't know if you've had a chance to look into that complaint. >> Uh, Chair Hansen, Commissioner Hayford, we removed some of the trees along the edge of the lot uh, but did not dig out
the roots at late last year. Um, that's most of the update I have to provide about the trees. >> Sure. I think that we can go back and take another look at those if there are volunteer trees uh and and are they're affecting the fence. I think we can take
another look at that uh this spring. >> So, the city would do that prior to selling the actual land. >> Typically, we ask the buyer to clean up the lot, but um I think the first step is going out and taking another look at it. um if we had the trees removed last fall. Let's go and see what the
situation is now and take another look at the fence. >> Okay. Thank you. Um and then uh we're not able to receive any more public input at this time, but I will say to the gentleman who asked about site plans, they are all in the digital packet. I understand that may not have been mailed out. Um but if you haven't had a chance to look at that, we could
look at that at the end of this meeting. Um it is larger than the structure that is there before by quite a lot. I will say this, we wanted duplexes. have asked for this and I think that they are meeting what we've asked for both for new uh homes with lots of space and getting a duplex in one lot. So I'm
pretty happy with the proposal and I will be supporting it tonight. >> Chair Hansen, uh Commissioner Hayford to that to that comment. Um Roger, I'm sorry I missed your last name. the um there is a paper copy of
the packet that is available right there on that table and there are images in there. You could look at them tonight. Um and staff will make themselves available following the meeting. >> Thank you. That sounds sounds like a good response. Uh Commissioner Young.
>> Thank you, Chair Hansen. Uh a couple questions. Could staff review the requirements for the buyer to live in the property for some period of time, whatever that is, and also uh what are the affordability requirements for the unit that is rented out?
>> Chair Hansen, uh Commissioner, there are no affordability requirements for Richfield Rediscovered Properties. Um the homeowners and the buyers are uh planning to live in the home. There is no requirement for a certain amount of
time that they live in the home. Um, but it in talking with the the buyers of this property, they want this to be their long-term home. >> Thank you. >> Any additional comments or questions? >> Commissioners.
>> Yeah, I'm excuse me. I'm supportive of it. I'm excited to see um a proposal for a duplex on the lot. I am curious given that we've that this H has approved a duplex on this lot once before if we're um more confident that this one will
actually be able to be built um or if there's any comment on that. Chair Hansen, Commissioner Strusa. Um, in the previous application for this lot, there were financial issues as costs to build the home rose over time.
Um, this applicant has shown a strong financial backing in order to complete this. We are still waiting on a final appraisal of the um home to be completed. There there is a challenge in building um housing types that have not
been built in the area before and appraisers are slow um and reticent to um value properties that they haven't seen sold in the area before. There aren't a lot of new build duplexes
um either in South Minneapolis or in Richfield. So, there continue to be issues. We're feeling more confident this time. All right. Any uh any additional thoughts or questions? Okay. Uh with that, I see in our agenda
packet, it's it's broken out into two separate uh statements. Would you like uh two separate motions, staff, or would you recommend we do them as one? Chair Hansen, could you act on them separately in this instance?
>> Okay. All right. Well, I will um item number one for recommended actions. I will uh entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion, Chair Hansen, to adopt a resolution authorizing the sale of 6326th Avenue South to Dur Desi and Biza
Gabberwat. I'm sorry for misprononunciation. Second. >> Okay, a motion has been made and seconded. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed?
>> All right. And then acting on the second item. >> I will make a motion, Chair Hansen, to authorize execution of a contract for private development between the housing and redevelopment authority with Der Desi and Biza Gabberat for the redevelopment of 6326 14th Avenue South.
>> Second. A motion has been made and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, those two items have passed. See, tonight we we don't have any resolutions.
Uh so that will bring us to the executive director's report. >> Thank you, Chair Hansen, members of the board. I just have a a small update tonight and that's regarding the bring it home launch. Um uh a couple of meetings ago. I believe in February we mentioned to you that we are planning to
launch the program in May. Due to the delay in the release of census data and therefore um revised income limit calculations, we're now planning to launch that program in June. So, um just
just a couple of weeks behind where we had hoped to be, but I wanted to make you aware that we're now um planning for a June launch of Bring It Home. >> And that's all I have tonight. >> All right. Thank you. Uh H discussion items.
Yes. Seeing none tonight, we will then move to approval of claims. >> I move approval of claims. >> Second. >> Okay. Okay, the claims have been uh motion has been made and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? >> And that brings us concludes our business for the H8 tonight. So the meeting will be adjourned. for the audience for the >> and for the audience I just want to mention that we're going to be uh
starting another meeting for the economic development authority uh so you're certainly welcome to stay and to listen. Uh but just would ask kind of hold conversations down as we start the meeting. And at this time, I will call to order the Richfield Economic and Development
Authority meeting of April 20th, 2026 to order. Um staff will note uh attendance tonight. That moves us to the open forum. Participants can share their comments in person, by voicemail, or email, and may
also request participate virtually. Uh, for more information on submitting comments, refer to the economic development authority agenda and meeting minutes on the city's website. Um, looks like we don't have anyone present here in the chambers tonight who
uh would be coming to address us. Did anyone contact us via any other type of communication? >> We did not receive any comments. President Hansen. >> Thank you. I at this time then will ask for approval of tonight's agenda.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. A motion has been made and seconded for approval of the agenda. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? And then uh approval of the minutes of the regular economic development
authority meeting of March 16, 2026. Uh, is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of the March 16th meeting. >> And is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, a motion has been made and seconded. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> I. Any opposed? And that will bring us down to the uh consent calendar. We do have uh one item on the calendar tonight. So, I will uh ask for the staff report. >> Thank you, President Hansen, members of the board. The consent calendar can can
contain several separate items which are acted upon by the economic development authority in one motion. Once the consent calendar has been approved, the individual items and recommended actions have also been approved. No further EDA action on these items is necessary. However, any EDA commissioner may
request that an item be removed from the consent calendar and placed on the regular agenda for discussion and action. All items listed on the consent calendar are recommended for approval. The single item on your consent calendar tonight, item A, is a resolution supporting an application for Henipin
County Business District Initiative Program grant funds for way fun wayfinding and placemaking projects in downtown and authorizing the executive director to execute any associated agreements. And I submit this item for your consideration.
>> Um, I move approval of the consent calendar. >> I second that. All right. A motion has been made and seconded for approval of tonight's consent calendar. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, that uh brings us actually right
down to the executive director's report. >> Thank you. I just have a single item here and also economic development manager Jan Youngquist is here um if I miss anything but I wanted to let you know that we have launched the small business resiliency fund. Uh that was
the program aimed at helping businesses impacted by the federal imig immigration um operations here in Richfield. It open for applications on the 9th and it closes next Monday the 27th. So if you
um are speaking with business owners in Richfield um who you think might qualify, all of the information is on the website or they can reach out to staff um and we encourage them to apply. So far, we've received 26 applications.
Staff is doing the initial pre-screening for eligibility and then those that make it through that initial pre-screen are sent on to next stage, our partner who will collect the financial documents and ultimately um do a secondary screen and
process those loans. So, uh excited to have a number of applications. Um we've really been doing our best to get the word out. Economic Development Manager Youngquist has been out um personally handing out flyers uh to make sure that
that Richfield businesses know that that there is um there are funds available for help. And uh that's all I have for you tonight. >> All right. Well, that sounds like a great effort to be actually out there personally handing out flyers. It's great uh great to reach people where
they are located. So, I thank you for that. Uh that brings us to uh uh economic development authority discussion items. Does anyone have any >> uh paper? >> Well, we already acted on it. I just
want to say the item on the consent calendar. I'm very excited that we're applying for that and thank thanks to staff for their initiative, especially given that they they came up with some pretty lowcost ideas in our plan. I think that amount of money would have a really significant visual pop. So, thank you for seeking that and fingers crossed
for that grant. Uh, Commissioner Young, >> President Hansen, uh, Sean stole my thunder. I Great job. I'm really excited about it. It's good work. Thank you. >> All right. Any uh anything else?
Hearing nothing, we will move on for approval of claims. >> I move approval of claims. >> Second. >> All right. A motion has been made and seconded for approval of the claims tonight. All in favor say I. I. I. >> Any opposed?
Concluding tonight's business, the meeting stands adjourned.