Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />January 28, 2020 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson <br /> Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Mary Burg <br /> Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br /> Councilmember Paul Jacobsen <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Brenda Davitt, Craig Schlichting, Ben Gozola <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: Kari Collins, Ramsey County and Max Holdhusen, Ramsey County <br /> <br />Presentation from Kari Collins, Community and Economic Development Director at Ramsey County <br /> <br />Kari Collins, Community and Economic Development Director at Ramsey County, provided the Council with <br />a presentation on affordable housing. She reviewed the team members she works with at Ramsey County and <br />reported Ramsey County has had a big year. She discussed how the County was working to strength the region <br />with respect to economic development and described how Open to Business had been taken on by the County. <br />She encouraged the Council to visit RamseyCountyMeansBusiness.com. She reviewed the purpose of CDBG <br />funds and how these grants can be used to remove blight or assist with creating low income housing. She <br />described another program offered by the County which was the Home Investment Partnership. <br /> <br />Ms. Collins commented further on the assistance provided by CEO Next and Open to Business. The benefits <br />of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program were discussed. She reported the Environmental <br />Response Fund (ERF) was available to assist with cleaning contaminated soil. The Corridor Revitalization <br />program was described as well. <br /> <br />Gozola reported the City applied for a $25,000 Corridor Revitalization Grant and was waiting to hear back <br />from the County. <br /> <br />Ms. Collins described the County’s vision plan for the future. She reported the County’s purpose was to <br />position Ramsey County through its economic development programs and services to strengthen the regional <br />economy and fulfill the County’s vision of building a community in which all are valued and thrive. The goals <br />of the County were to strengthen individual, family and community health, safety and well-being. In addition <br />the County wanted to cultivate economic prosperity and invest in neighborhoods with concentrated financial <br />poverty, enhance access to opportunity and mobility for all residents, and while also modeling f iscal <br />accountability, transparency and strategic investments. She noted Ramsey County was the most diverse <br />County in the State of Minnesota. She reviewed he partners that were working with the County on the vision <br />plan. <br /> <br />Max Holdhusen, Interim Manager of Housing Stability with Ramsey County, introduced himself to the <br />Council and stated he worked in health and wellness for the County. He reported 50% of the County’s budget <br />was spent on health and wellness initiatives, which included housing services and homelessness. He stated the