2026-09-23 - Housing & Redevelopment Authority

00:10♪

00:15♪

00:20♪

00:25♪

00:30♪

00:38♪

00:43♪

00:48♪

00:53♪

00:58♪

01:03♪

01:08♪

01:13♪

01:18♪

01:23♪

01:28♪

01:33♪

01:41♪

01:46♪

01:51♪

01:56♪

02:01♪

02:06♪

02:11♪

02:16♪

02:21♪

02:26♪

02:31♪

02:36♪

02:41♪

02:46♪

02:51♪

02:56♪

03:01♪

03:06♪

03:11♪

03:16♪

03:21♪

03:26♪

03:31♪

03:36♪

03:41♪

03:46♪

03:51♪

03:56♪

04:01♪

04:06♪

04:12♪

04:17♪

04:22♪

04:27♪

04:32♪

04:37♪

04:42♪

04:47♪

04:52♪

04:57♪

05:02♪

05:07♪

05:22♪

05:41Roll call, There are 7 Cousins

05:540 absent.

06:03>> item number one for

06:06discussion resolution R E S 26

06:07dash 1, 5, 3, 6, authorization

06:11to designate and JB thing as

06:14development partners or

06:15another entity that is

06:16affiliated with and controlled

06:17by DC Commercial in JB evening

06:21tentative developers, 0

06:22Jackson Street District 6.45?

06:26>> The next few items we've

06:30had staff reports on in

06:31previous weeks discussion. And

06:31so their action items front of

06:32us, some peace. Well, most

06:34likely go a little bit more

06:36quicker. I'll take a motion

06:38from Councilmember Kim to

06:39approve any discussion. Are

06:45seeing none? All those in

06:46favor. 7 i favor. 0 opposed.

06:49The resolution is adopted

06:52item. Number 2 is resolution

06:55various 26 dash, 1, 6, 0, or

06:58resolution of the housing

06:58Redevelopment Authority. A

06:59jury board of commissioners

07:02approving a 2027 maximum tax

07:04property tax levy for the

07:07injury, citywide read, this

07:08will be the first of several

07:09tax of the votes that will be

07:13taking today.

07:14>> put out, headed over

07:14recommend a visit. you want to

07:15share, just suffer. And just

07:17that and anything that maybe

07:20we need to know partnered

07:21vote. Thank you. Chair

07:25commissioners, Minnesota law

07:26allows the jury to levy up to

07:290, 1, 8, 5%, of the city's

07:30total estimated market value.

07:31So in 20.

07:34>> 26 they turn levee was a

07:35maximum allowable by state

07:36law. And this action does the

07:38same for 2027 which would

07:40result in a 1.2%. A jury levy

07:42increase. And that is a total

07:44dollar increase of $77,000.77.

07:46and 31. $77,031. Thank you

07:55today.

07:59>> I appreciate all the work

08:00that went session, I'll take a

08:05motion from vice chair just to

08:06approve and all those in

08:07favor. I oppose. 7 of favors

08:12or oppose. The resolution is

08:15adopted item. Number 3 is

08:16resolution R E S 26 dash 1, 6,

08:200, 6, resolution approving the

08:22use of downtown vitality

08:25funds, economic development

08:25for Endicott arcades,

08:27restoration.

08:28>> And first floor bill,

08:29though, and activation

08:30projects in District 17. More

08:31too. You have a beautiful

08:36support us and even heard from

08:38several of the projects that

08:39are here under item. And

08:40again, this is 2 million

08:40dollars being invested.

08:42>> I'm here in our downtown

08:46community, through our

08:46economic development dollars

08:47put towards downtown fatality.

08:50This is truly in on the

08:51presentation required the

08:54overall review process

08:55required any projects that

08:56were substantial the above a

08:59certain financial threshold to

09:00come before us. So this is

09:01related to the IndyCar kid

09:04Ministration overall really

09:05appreciated hearing from folks

09:07especially around this

09:08project. And I look forward to

09:10to see what comes of that

09:12investment. So thank you again

09:14to our partners who are making

09:14this possible, but also how

09:15important and how incredibly.

09:20Eager we are to continue to

09:21invest and support our

09:23downtown businesses council.

09:24President maker, thanks, Madam

09:25Chair. I just want to echo

09:26your appreciation to staffs

09:27where applicants

09:29congratulations. This really

09:29shows. I think that when we

09:32Putin minds to it, w can

09:33design programs that respond

09:35to the needs were seeing and

09:37get those dollars out the

09:37door. And I'm really, really

09:40excited for the tangible

09:40results of these investments

09:41that we will be seeing.

09:42>> In the near term. And I

09:46also just think this is part

09:46of the momentum we're seeing

09:49downtown it. It does not

09:49escape notice that this is

09:50happening the day before we

09:51have a ribbon cutting of

09:52algae, a ribbon cutting at the

09:54Stella and opening of Waukesha

09:57Park. All of these are these

09:58are combinations of retail,

10:02residential and public

10:04investments. All that early on

10:05one day and then combined with

10:05this public investment. I just

10:07think it says a lot about how

10:08we're all coming together to

10:09revitalize downtown. So could

10:10not be more excited, too. Move

10:11this forward. And I just want

10:15to clarify with folks as well

10:16and we vote this will have

10:18both they and the kind arcade

10:19restoration and the first

10:20floor bailed out.

10:22>> Activations. We also heard

10:23from the with club team, too.

10:23So it's all in one action

10:27today and super excited about

10:28all of the projects, all the

10:30investment. So thank you,

10:30council president as well for

10:33being really internal part

10:35just the development of the

10:36fine and then thank you to the

10:37rhetoric, man and all the

10:38planning and economic

10:38development, economic

10:40development team for your work

10:41as well. And the reviews and

10:42all of although long nights

10:46that you've been spending on

10:46those projects are really

10:47appreciate it. I'll take a

10:52motion from Councilmember

10:53Garcia's me, commissioner

10:53maker to approve a further

10:54discussion. Seeing none all

10:58those in favor. all opposed. 7

11:02in favor 0. Fosun resolution

11:03is adopted.

11:06>> Item number 4 is resolution

11:08public hearing Arias pH 26

11:09test 2.70, resolution

11:13authorizing the issuance and

11:16sale conduit. Multifamily

11:16housing revenue block bonds

11:19for the hand building located

11:20at 408, Saint Peter Street

11:22adopting a housing program and

11:25authorizing the execution of

11:26related documents and district

11:2717 war. 2. So this is a public

11:33hearing portion of the agenda

11:34for the next 2 items will be

11:35doing public hearings. And for

11:39folks that are joining us for

11:39the first time, if you're here

11:40to testify on an item or to

11:42give.

11:42>> Testimony to an item,

11:43you'll have 2 minutes. This is

11:47a this is your opportunity

11:48shoe that at this time. So

11:49we'll start the public

11:49hearing. Seeing so many people

11:55running up just getting

11:55actually not necessarily

11:56seeing one from the ions

11:57coming up, too, give public

12:00testimony today. All right,

12:01seeing what coming You'll have

12:062 minutes. Please state your

12:07name. And don't forget to sign

12:07it. soon as you're done.

12:08Johnson members.

12:12>> Injury and Joe Spencer,

12:13president of the Saint Paul

12:13Downtown Alliance. I just want

12:16to just take a minute to talk

12:18about how excited I am about

12:18this project and how it how

12:20important this A piece we've

12:21been waiting for. Her for

12:23quite some time and to see

12:27this moving forward is really

12:27just another really important

12:29step forward for downtown

12:30Saint Paul. It's a critical

12:31location I think the

12:33opportunity really. Help us

12:38accomplish our population and

12:39housing goals is really,

12:39really important. And again,

12:40just to really beautiful

12:42signature building critical

12:43for the health of downtown

12:44Saint Paul. So really

12:46appreciative of the

12:47development teams come

12:48together and put this

12:48together. I know there's a lot

12:50of work done on the

12:51administrative side and even

12:54some policy making to make it

12:55happen. So I'm sure my support

12:56and my enthusiasm for the

12:57project. Thank you.

13:00>> Well, thank you, Mr.

13:01Spencer and we appreciate you

13:03getting up and also sharing a

13:05little bit more updates for us

13:06as well. And thank you for

13:06your testimony today. Seeing

13:13no other folks being willing

13:14to come up today to talk about

13:17this item. Take a motion

13:17commissioner maker to close

13:18the public hearing. All those

13:20in favor. Aye all posts. 7 and

13:26favors or close. The pblic

13:28hearing is closed. All right.

13:29Thank And now take a motion

13:31from Commissioner Nick Carter.

13:32Prove. Any discussion.

13:36Commissioner maker, thank you,

13:38Madam Chair, just to echo,

13:41just fencers enthusiasm for

13:41this project to thank.

13:43>> Mr. Happens here and his

13:45team. It is really exciting to

13:48see this happening. And again,

13:49this is going to more it's

13:51pretty boring language,

13:52multifamily housing, revenue,

13:53bonds for him building what it

13:54means. More people getting to

13:55live in downtown Saint Paul

13:57and experience this amazing

13:58place. And in a particularly

13:59exciting part of downtown

14:00where we haven't seen a much

14:02residential development

14:02before, which I think just

14:05helps build that vibrancy

14:06really want people doing all

14:07kinds of different things in

14:08different places and getting

14:09away from the segment to

14:10downtown where we have

14:13government here your team in

14:13here and commercial here and

14:15residential here are really

14:16starting to enter weave them

14:18together through a project

14:19like this. And that's the kind

14:20of vibrancy that we really

14:20need so excited to be

14:21supporting us today. Thank

14:22you. Commissioner maker. And

14:25they no All those in favor.

14:29Aye, all opposed 7 and favors

14:32or oppose. The resolution is

14:33adopted. Item. Number 5is

14:37public hearing resolution R E

14:40S?

14:40>> Ph 26 dash 2, 7, 1,

14:43resolution authorizing the

14:45sale in advance of property to

14:46Dayton's Bluff neighborhood

14:47Housing services and

14:48authorization to amend the

14:50development agreement for the

14:52Village on Rivoli Project

14:52District 5 or 2. All right. So

14:55this is a part of one of the

14:56last conveyance pieces of this

14:58property.

14:59>> We also heard a staff

14:59report on update and heard

15:03from from didn't dance

15:04neighborhood Housing Services.

15:08Last week, I believe. And then

15:09we were able to get a little

15:10bit more information around

15:11the project can even hear from

15:12those from those that are

15:13involved. So now we will hold

15:17a public hearing folks are

15:18wanting to come up and speak

15:19to it again. You'll have 2

15:20minutes to be able to do so.

15:27All rght, seeing none. I'll

15:27take a motion from from

15:28commissioner maker too close

15:30public hearing and approve ay

15:31discussion. Seeing none in

15:37favor. Aye. All opposed.

15:42>> 7 favors or opposes

15:43resolution is adopted. The

15:44public hearing is closed.

15:47number 6, a staff report SR 26

15:48dash 2, 2, housing read

15:52redevelopment Authority, fun

15:53transfer to the Department of

15:55Human Rights and People

15:55Economic Opportunity

15:56presentation. And this item is

16:00a part of the ongoing segments

16:02that we were doing with all

16:05jury transfers.

16:05>> That are coming in and out

16:07of the jury any reason. So for

16:09the next couple of weeks,

16:10they'll be presentations from

16:10any department. Those

16:12receiving the jury transfers

16:14of the from the Housing Trust

16:15Fund for Nature. Elon fun from

16:17the injury. General Fund from

16:17the parking fund pretty much

16:18any a jury dollars that are

16:20leaving the jury and going to

16:23a different aartment in prt

16:25because we have statutory

16:26requirements that we have to

16:27abide by as well. And this

16:29body as far as our authority

16:31and being able to allocate

16:33resources that fall within the

16:34statute limitations of what

16:35the House and redevelopment

16:35authority for us to find. And

16:37so we were supposed to have

16:41hero here And a Miss Ledger

16:44was supposed to be here and is

16:45unfortunately be lane over

16:46this matter for 2 weeks

16:50because will not have a

16:51meeting on the. 30th director

16:53of an FS and jet. We can. But

16:58to the next one or she can be

17:01available and here in about 10

17:02or 15 minutes, if we'd like to

17:04recess momentarily and then

17:05come back and proceed with

17:06that at your discretion.

17:08>> We have confirmation of the

17:09fact that you here in 10, 15

17:10minutes. Okay. We would choose

17:15to I will choose to do that.

17:16Then we'll recess shortly. And

17:17then please let us know when

17:18she is able to be here. Just

17:23before we recess going back to

17:23the previous item quickly, I

17:26meant to thank Mister Chill

17:26has now left the room, but I

17:27wanted to at least take the

17:28chance to acknowledge him and

17:29the hard wrk tat he and it's

17:33about bird housing services do

17:35and know that this has been

17:36many, many years in the

17:37making. Some didn't vote came

17:38so quickly that I lost the

17:39opportunity to say that.

17:40wanted to make sure to say

17:41that on the record. Thank you,

17:44Commissioner Nick or I should

17:44have the close public hearing

17:46and a vote separate. want

17:49>> To them together because I

17:50thought that you didn't have

17:51comments, but I apologize. But

17:51that completely understand. I

17:54you know, we want to thank

17:55Mister for their continued

17:56work, an investment in or

17:57city. It was great to hear

17:58from him last time and to be

17:59able to give a little bit

18:02accolades directly to them.

18:03But I do appreciate your words

18:05yes, chair.

18:10>> We would be able to

18:11reconvene at 2.30 and

18:13anticipate director electro be

18:14here at 2.30, to be able to

18:14present.

18:17>> Okay. Wonderful. We will

18:18take a recess and will

18:19reconvene at 2.30. Appreciate

18:19director fan.

20:26♪

20:31♪

20:36♪

20:41♪

20:46♪

20:51♪

20:56♪

21:01♪

21:06♪

21:11♪

21:16♪

21:21♪

21:26♪

21:31♪

21:36♪

21:41♪

21:46♪

21:52♪

21:57♪

22:02♪

22:07♪

22:12♪

22:17♪

22:22♪

22:27♪

22:32♪

22:37♪

22:42♪

22:47♪

22:52♪

22:57♪

23:02♪

23:07♪

23:12♪

23:17♪

23:22♪

23:27♪

23:32♪

23:37♪

23:42♪

23:47♪

23:52♪

23:57♪

24:02♪

24:07♪

24:12♪

24:17♪

24:22♪

24:27♪

24:32♪

24:37♪

24:42♪

24:47♪

24:52♪

24:58♪

25:02♪

25:07♪

25:12♪

25:17♪

25:23♪

25:28♪

25:33♪

25:37♪

25:43♪

25:48♪

25:53♪

25:58♪

26:03♪

26:08♪

26:13♪

26:18♪

26:23♪

26:28♪

26:33♪

26:38♪

26:43♪

26:48♪

26:54♪

26:59♪

27:04♪

27:09♪

27:14♪

27:19♪

27:24♪

27:29♪

27:34♪

27:39♪

27:44♪

27:49♪

27:54♪

27:59♪

28:04♪

28:09♪

28:14♪

28:19♪

28:24♪

28:29♪

28:34♪

28:39♪

28:44♪

28:49♪

28:53♪

28:57♪

29:02♪

29:07♪

29:12♪

29:17♪

29:22♪

29:27♪

29:32♪

29:37♪

29:42♪

29:47♪

29:52♪

29:58♪

30:03♪

30:08♪

30:13♪

30:18♪

30:23♪

30:28♪

30:33♪

30:38♪

30:43♪

30:48♪

30:53♪

30:58♪

31:03♪

31:08♪

31:13♪

31:18♪

31:23♪

31:28♪

31:33♪

31:38♪

31:43♪

31:48♪

31:53♪

31:58♪

32:03♪

32:08♪

32:13♪

32:18♪

32:23♪

32:28♪

32:33♪

32:38♪

32:43♪

32:48♪

32:53♪

32:58♪

33:03♪

33:08♪

33:13♪

33:18♪

33:23♪

33:28♪

33:33♪

33:38♪

33:43♪

33:48♪

33:53♪

33:58♪

34:03♪

34:08♪

34:13♪

34:18♪

34:23♪

34:38♪

35:22Moment Just. Maker here. Yang

35:31chair down some fear there, 6

35:32present one apps and that

35:32being Commissioner believe,

35:34join us shortly.

35:37>> And item number 6. As the

35:41staff report Sr. sure to

35:44housing 30 fun transfer to the

35:46Department of Human Rights and

35:48Equal Economic Opportunity

35:49presentation. All right. So

35:52>> for those that are

35:53rejoining us will be having a

35:53series of different transfers

35:54coming in and out of the

35:56eatery that or be will be

35:58called into just present on

35:59what it's going for. So

36:03director ledgers here today on

36:04behalf of the human rights

36:06equal Opportunity.

36:08>> Bickal economic opportunity

36:10departments department has are

36:11getting big little bit this is

36:12the first time we've had about

36:15another department outside APD

36:15present and just kind of what

36:17they are using a Tory funds

36:19for. We will have other

36:22departments like Parks and

36:23Recreation coming in front of

36:24this body as well and future

36:25weeks to come. So Director

36:28Ledger, thank you for taking

36:29the time to come in today. And

36:31we are. It's a it's both here

36:33a little bit more about the

36:34small business contracting

36:35piece is that this covers

36:37unjust as folks go longer as a

36:39presentation goes along their

36:41questions, simply I have

36:42written and commissioners will

36:43be able to go to war. 2,

36:45whether that is or anything

36:45else that you'd want to share.

36:47All right, seeing Director

36:48Ledger, welcome.

36:51>> And thank you for your

36:55patience today.

36:57>> This is chance for, as you

36:58noted, from the HRA to support

36:59small business contracting.

37:03And just at that out said, I

37:03want to say this is small

37:06business contracting with the

37:07city. And so it's distinct

37:09from some of the HRA programs

37:12related to supporting small

37:13businesses that are not

37:14contracting directly with the

37:14city.

37:18And just as a reminder, I

37:21procurement is based in I

37:22think you all know that at

37:23this pint. But procurement is

37:25all the purchasing and

37:27contracting done by the city

37:28of Saint Paul, HRA and the

37:29same regional water services.

37:32Additionally, we have the

37:33contract compliance division

37:34and Hero which supports not

37:37just procurement projects, but

37:39also a number of economic

37:41development that includes

37:43prevailing wage had section 3,

37:47vendor outreach, which is a

37:50subcontracting goals prop

37:50program for small minority and

37:51women business enterprises as

37:55well as our affirmative action

37:56and equal economic opportunity

37:58compliant. So those programs

38:00are all located with hero. So

38:06this fund supports connecting

38:07those small and emerging

38:08businesses were contracting

38:09opportunities generated by the

38:10city. Anything from purchase

38:12of equipment or supplies all

38:14the way up to our

38:15multimillion-dollar

38:15construction projects. These

38:20are this is the work that

38:24funding has has supported in

38:25the past. Some of it is

38:27ongoing. Some of was more one

38:30time.

38:30>> The disparity study, some

38:31of you may be familiar

38:32>> with the disparity study is

38:36a study that.

38:39>> Benchmarks use of small

38:40women, minority businesses and

38:43a geographic area.

38:45>> It's kind of at outgrowth

38:47of a Supreme Court decision

38:48from the 1980's. And so

38:51>> often time public agencies

38:52will undertake the studies

38:53about every 5 years we

38:56undertook one last year in

38:57conjunction with the state of

38:58Minnesota. There is a fee to

39:01do it as you might imagine. We

39:02have to hire a consultant.

39:04There's a lot of data analysis

39:05that goes into it. And so last

39:08year, some of money from this

39:09fund went toward the

39:10disparity. that we can see the

39:1525% goal for vendor outreach.

39:16That's a subcontracting

39:18program. And that's all

39:21citywide procurement and

39:24development projects. Certain

39:26certification search is a

39:26program that we are. And with

39:293 other agencies, Hennepin

39:30County, Ramsey County and the

39:31city of Minneapolis that

39:34provides a certification to

39:35small women, minority and

39:36emerging small businesses.

39:38That's a collaborative that's

39:39been in existence for, I think

39:42a little over 10 years at this

39:44point. It predates me. it

39:46gives us a concrete measure by

39:53which to evaluate businesses.

39:53So I would use the example of

39:55like I could form a small

39:56business today and say it's

39:57Andrea Ledger consulting. I

40:00pride provide construction

40:03consulting services as the

40:03city. We wouldn't have any way

40:06to know whether I actually

40:07owns that business or maybe

40:07it's actually my husband's

40:08business. But I just have my

40:09name on it.

40:11>> We wouldn't have any way to

40:12now. If true, small business

40:15or maybe like I'm making like

40:1550 million dollars a year. And

40:19so, sir, is the program by

40:19which we do that

40:20certification. These are the

40:24kinds targeted small business

40:26outreach. We do our annual

40:29supplier. Fair outrage with a

40:34number of our partners that

40:37provides targeted small

40:38business outrage. Certain

40:39workshops to help connect

40:41those businesses directly to

40:41city departments and

40:43contracting opportunities. And

40:44finally, a small business

40:45retention he is saying that

40:49certain certification to help

40:50keep small businesses engaged.

40:53Our goal as always. We service

40:56ice is generally to grow out

40:57of sir. We want them to not

40:58just live in emerging small

40:59business or small business

41:00world forever by but to help

41:01them grow. So that you can see

41:07this is not a member from the

41:10disparity study. 61 1% of our

41:12city contract dollars over the

41:14past 7 years went to small

41:15businesses, which is on the

41:16high and 4 agencies and the

41:18state of Minnesota. I think

41:20that's a number. We should all

41:21be proud of. What to the tune

41:24of 1.0, 4, 2 billion dollars.

41:29We also through the number of

41:29search certified firms over

41:30the past several years by 40%

41:33alone in 2025, a lot of that

41:37was due to work that we did to

41:41encourage our existing

41:42businesses to get crtain

41:44certified. That effort that we

41:48all made across those 4

41:49partner agencies to encourage

41:50businesses that may already be

41:52doing business with our cities

41:53or counties too, go through

41:55the certification process. So

41:59this is what the transfer is

42:03from HRA to hand. You can see

42:05this is how that the funding

42:07is dispersed. It's mostly

42:09person. Now it's mostly

42:11procurement staff contract

42:12compliance staff. Searches and

42:16lead agency expenses. We do

42:18service the lead agency

42:19first-serve, which means we

42:19have additional administrative

42:22responsibilities.

42:24>> The only money that comes

42:24in Dysart is the money that we

42:27all contribute amongst

42:29agencies. And so that is the

42:30way that it is funded. And

42:33then finally BTG. Now it's a

42:35database that we use for

42:35vendor outreach program.

42:38Again, the majority actually

42:41of those projects and up

42:41development projects.

42:48>> so we've actually built out

42:49a new role using this funding.

42:51This funding has been around.

42:54Predates me. I think it goes

42:54back to 2009 and that's how

42:58long this transfer has been in

42:58existence. And so we were able

43:03finally and you saw this in my

43:04budget presentation last year

43:05to hire a small business

43:08contract coordinator, which is

43:10overall we've really been

43:10Somebody who could put a real

43:14focus lands onto working,

43:16doing small business

43:17contracting. So connecting

43:19those are certified businesses

43:20with our procurement team. He

43:22has been in place now for

43:24about 8 months we're going to

43:27be bringing some additional

43:28items forward to you. Probably

43:31in 2027 related to ways that

43:33we want to expand our small

43:34business contracting work.

43:40Okay. So again, I showed you

43:41this one already. This is just

43:43kind of a snapshot at the end

43:45of what the totals transfer

43:48looks like. How many contract

43:48dollars go to small businesses

43:51and then?

43:52>> The number of certified

43:52firms that we have. I think

43:58answer I don't yet a couple

44:00questions, of course, as well

44:01for it. As I appreciate you

44:03being able to give kind of an

44:03overview of this transfer.

44:05>> Along with the history, I

44:06believe just for my colleagues

44:09that one of the reasons why I

44:11this is really important to

44:12bring tortoise because it is

44:13one of the larger transfers.

44:14over half a million dollars

44:17that we do have consistently

44:18leaving the injuries, funding

44:19sources going to to the City

44:24General fund to fund this

44:25work. Come with your room. And

44:29so because it has been a

44:31current since 2009 unchanged.

44:32But this amount since 2019,

44:35you know, I think I'll just

44:36start with one of my questions

44:37that I have for you is like.

44:40This seems like I say

44:42operations expense that's

44:43continuously using a jury

44:44funding through which I'm

44:48surprised night. None of those

44:49positions have been

44:49transferred onto the general

44:50fund, not of the a really been

44:52absorbing some way with the

44:53city. Could you share of like

44:56how much more of this work is

44:58that are we as the 539,000

45:02vote, the holistic cost of

45:04what this is like? city

45:05general fund contributing to

45:06the small business work that

45:07we do at all. What is the what

45:09if the split there? Yeah, I

45:10didn't break it out. I

45:11apologize. I have it in my

45:14budget presentation for you

45:14all but break breaking out.

45:15Kind of like how much of each

45:17position

45:18>> goes toward this work? I

45:21don't I can't exactly quantify

45:23what I can say is that a lot

45:25of this work is for

45:28development projects like a

45:29lot of our small business

45:29numbers and a lot of our. Work

45:33with small minority and women

45:34business is comes from our

45:36development work and that P

45:37programs for them and our

45:37outreach program.

45:42Additionally, I that things

45:44like the disparity study

45:45tracked all of those projects

45:47as well. We do a procurement

45:50for the HRA. And so any time

45:51there's a contract that is an

45:52HR, a contract.

45:55>> That spends a trade dollars

45:57on a consultant or on

45:58something related to the HRA

46:00that's being done by our

46:03procurement division.

46:04>> There's a fair amount of

46:04back and stuff that goes into

46:06Sirte and to our procurement

46:09data that also overlaps. But I

46:11can't break it out

46:13specifically by dollar amount

46:14for But that's I can say like

46:16there is a significant portion

46:17that is hre related.

46:20>> And with these fundings as

46:21they're like a specific amount

46:23of Fike when you do get to

46:26requests like how do how do

46:28you have a jury Spain forward

46:29their portion or paying for

46:31our of the puck airmen and

46:33small bsiness contracts. How

46:34do you prioritize and request

46:35may be from all of the

46:37different procurement request

46:38that you receive.

46:41>> How do we prioritize? Yeah,

46:42I mean, the same way that we

46:42do with any city department. I

46:45think it's, you know,

46:47processed according to our

46:48procurement policies and

46:48procedures. It doesn't get

46:52assigned to a particular

46:53person or anything like that.

46:56And this is like a theme for

46:58your service likeness to other

46:58departments in the city. Also

46:59contribute to heroes.

47:04>> government program in a way

47:05that good question and the

47:06only other department that

47:07contribute are the same par

47:08regional water service that

47:10does pay a fee for

47:11procurement, although the

47:11procurement that they do that.

47:15>> The service that we provide

47:16them is a little different

47:16than it is for the HRA because

47:17again, of the development

47:19work, the development work

47:22incur encompasses not just

47:23procurement, but all of that

47:24contract compliance work as

47:27well. So that's a little

47:28different with same regional

47:29water service and then we also

47:33send bills to the river center

47:36and sometimes to the port

47:37authority. Those relationships

47:38are a little different.

47:41>> Okay. And did commissioner

47:44makers can and I Commissioner

47:45boy's hands of local

47:46Commission acre that.

47:46Commissioner Bowie, thanks,

47:47Madam Chair and thanks,

47:49director and curious if can

47:51give preference to or if not

47:53preference to at least track

47:54how many of the small

47:55businesses in this program are

47:55located in Saint Paul.

47:57>> Chair Johnson commissioner,

47:58acre you may remember that

48:05when we passed the common sent

48:07find that we prioritize and

48:10gave additional points. An RFP

48:11scoring criteria for Saint

48:14Paul businesses. And so I do

48:15have some numbers on Saint

48:16Paul businesses from that

48:18program overall in

48:19procurement. We can't give

48:23local business. We can't give

48:24additional. Credit for local

48:28business for things like

48:29construction projects. The

48:29state law prohibits us from

48:31doing that. We are exploring

48:34other ways that we can

48:36potentially encourage more of

48:37our dollars to go to local

48:40business as and I'm happy to

48:41explore that further. To the

48:41extent that we can.

48:44>> I think one thing I would

48:45just be helpful even if we

48:46can't give preference wuld be

48:47to do that tracking and

48:49reporting out to us of hw

48:50many of those are local. Just

48:50because I think that helps

48:54draw attention and maybe even

48:54raise awareness among our

48:55local businesses. Yeah. But

48:56the program.

48:57>> Johnson commissioner, acre.

49:01One of the challenges we have

49:02is businesses that maybe have

49:03P o box or something as their

49:07actual address. And so it does

49:09require some additional

49:10scrutiny, which is not say

49:11that we can't do it, but we

49:13have run into those issues and

49:16sort and looking or because of

49:17the way that that the Postal

49:19Service works. There may be

49:21businesses that are located

49:23and say I'm a fall like that.

49:24Have a Saint Paul address. I

49:25don't know if you've ever

49:26noticed that on male before

49:28south. It's a little bit

49:30challenging and that round.

49:31But I think we could give you

49:31an idea at least.

49:35>> And just for clarity could

49:37you share of candor to ledger

49:39or even icy and not to put

49:41Deputy Director Green on the

49:42spot? But the 539,000 comes

49:43from which specific eatery

49:50>> not sure I know the answer

49:51to

49:54>> I think that could be

49:56really important followed by

49:58curious, which funds the 539.

50:00mean, this is we use, but

50:03that's a hero. so I'm not

50:04actually I'm sorry. I don't

50:07actually now.

50:07>> No. And I know your

50:09department is also coming in

50:10front of the city council to

50:10talk about the budget pieces.

50:13>> But I do want to say that I

50:15really do think that it's

50:15important for the jury. 2

50:20we're finding some Europe

50:20Department, not the only one

50:22of the departments that we've

50:23consists of a funded for over

50:2520 years, almost 20 years. I

50:28think it's really important to

50:30understand like that impact of

50:32that transfer are. And just

50:32since it i reoccurring year

50:33after year, and I think often

50:34even advocated fr.

50:35>> To continue it would just

50:38be really helpful to

50:39understand like why we think

50:421000 redevelopment authority,

50:43fun versus a moving some of

50:45the it moving think positions

50:47that clearly been beneficial.

50:50Having that conversation of

50:51what it looks like the

50:52transferred over to north. And

50:52I think it's going to be

50:53really important. Deputy

50:55Director Green that you have

50:56an answer for us around the

50:56Fund Inc.

51:00>> Thank you. Thanks, I think

51:02is most of funding is

51:05supporting personnel. This

51:06coming out of the HRA General

51:09Fund. believe that's the case

51:10going forward. I don't know

51:11that we played any transitions

51:12are reallocations of that

51:14funding. But most of us coming

51:15out of the attorney Okay.

51:16Thank you. Commissioner

51:23>> think you thank you. Chair

51:24Johnson also Director Ledger.

51:27>> I love and I please lt me

51:29know if we're going to gt

51:30another part of this

51:32presentation in the budget

51:33proposal using the budget

51:33meeting but, you know, just

51:37want to have some background,

51:39particularly around this

51:40transfer. I particularly

51:43around just no. Is this part

51:47of them knowing that this is

51:49part of the mayor's proposal

51:50like, is this something, you

51:53know, led by here or is this a

51:58action is coming before u?

51:59That's led by OPD director.

52:00I'm just trying to understand

52:00clarity around the context you

52:04know, what is this actually

52:04helping to solve?

52:08understanding, you know, going

52:09through contracts and also

52:11with other programs that come

52:15through HRA. That's because

52:16tracked it through I

52:16understand from like the years

52:19ago that there are some

52:22complications sometimes when

52:23it's siloed in different

52:24directions, our direction

52:24skews me different

52:25departments. But if you can

52:28just talk about like what was

52:30the process leading up to this

52:31decision? And this proposal?

52:34>> Chad Johnson, Commissioner

52:37Bowie, again, this transfer

52:38has been around since I think

52:402009, I think even in this

52:42amount it was when I started

52:43in 2019.

52:47>> And the it has evolved

52:48since I've been with the

52:50department and overseeing

52:52procurement and contract

52:53compliance and I've tried to

52:54be a more deliberate about

52:55making proposals around,

52:57particularly our small women

52:58and minority business

53:01contracting programs. And so I

53:02believe when I first started

53:05like this, I can't actually

53:06remember what it was all

53:07paying for. It was paying for

53:08contract compliance staff

53:09largely I think, but I really

53:12tried to get more granular

53:14over the past several years as

53:16we thought about how can we

53:18create a more robust small

53:20business program?

53:21>> For contracting on city

53:22contracts and so I would say

53:26largely the genesis for it

53:29came from that apartment what

53:29the support of the previous

53:30administration and this one as

53:31well.

53:35>> And I just have because

53:37also just thinking about this

53:39around like outcomes and kind

53:42of like what performance

53:43metrics we can anticipate with

53:45this transfer, which, you

53:46know, and you mentioned kind

53:47of like your party and the

53:49focus women and minority

53:51businesses, would you say with

53:52this transfer would help

53:53sustain will see more increase

53:56in

53:57>> contracting with small

53:58business owners are would just

53:59better managed. Wondering if

54:04you like have idea of what

54:06those like metrics and

54:07outcomes could look like Chair

54:08transcend Commissioner

54:12>> I would say it's a little

54:14bit one of the issues that we

54:16have had since I've been with

54:18the department and with the

54:19city is that there really

54:20hasn't been anybody to

54:21coordinate this work. We've

54:22had a procurement division.

54:25That process is all the

54:26contracts and purchasing for

54:28the city. And we've had a

54:29contract compliance division

54:30which enforces those programs

54:31that are mandated by

54:33ordinance. And there hasn't

54:35been a person that can help

54:38connect spending that the city

54:39does with our outrage too

54:40small minority businesses. And

54:43that's why I wanted to hire

54:44somebody to be able to do that

54:45work. So that's number one. We

54:48did see an increase in the

54:49disparity study. It was not

54:51significant and are

54:52contracting with women and

54:54minority businesses are small

54:55business numbers, frankly

54:55looked way better. I think

54:59there are things that we can

55:00do and procurement to be able

55:04to increase those numbers

55:06further. I think that Hennepin

55:06County is really the model for

55:08that. We're also working with

55:10and the legal constraints that

55:11we have both from the federal

55:12administration and from the

55:14courts and making sure that

55:16we're doing and a way best,

55:19you know, and slates the city

55:19from potentially any harm. But

55:23I think we have options

55:26related what's called

55:29sheltered market programs,

55:30which would allow contracting

55:31to only a certain group of

55:33businesses serve businesses at

55:34a certain dollar threshold. I

55:36think there are initiatives we

55:37can press for the state

55:38legislature that can give us

55:41more ability to be able to do

55:42some of that contracting work.

55:43So. We have gone up and I

55:47think the seal it. I don't I

55:48don't think we've reached our

55:49ceiling by any means. Thank

55:53questions. Commissioner Bowie.

55:57>> Director Ledger just wanted

55:58share with you as well. So the

56:00teacher, the Housing

56:01Redevelopment has been working

56:03with the plan, economic

56:04development team to make sure

56:05that we have quarterly budget

56:06to actuals that are accurately

56:08reflecting on the financing

56:10that we have in place and the

56:10money that we do support and

56:11all of our funds PT has been

56:15incredibly responsive whatever

56:16leads to just how those

56:17resources or funds have been

56:17spent. One of the things we'll

56:22be talking about. This year's

56:23also for transfers. And it's

56:23more of as a courtesy was well

56:26for you to include those that

56:27are receiving transfers to be

56:29able to share just how much is

56:30actually being spent for her

56:33after general fund transfers.

56:34Often we don't have insight to

56:35what's being spent, what's not

56:36being spent and a lot of our

56:39resources are limited either

56:41to the tax base for general

56:44fund, our president for the

56:45special funds depleting

56:45resources that truly need to

56:46be spent. And it's to tell a T

56:49how do you currently track of

56:50like the transfers that you're

56:52receiving? If you're spending

56:53the 539,000, every?

56:58>> helps and tights damage

56:59because the majority of it

56:59goes to staff. It's pretty

57:02easy to And then additionally,

57:07it's our our dues to certain

57:09are associated expenses with

57:09search and

57:17>> College Eyes B B to G now

57:20have. So those expenses are

57:22pretty You know, have staff

57:27estimate basically how much

57:29time they're spending, for

57:29instance, on development

57:30projects with regard to pay. I

57:33don't have them track their

57:35hours by department. We've

57:37tried that before. It's fairly

57:38cumbersome and fairly hard to.

57:43And so I do have them

57:46generally estimate. So I do

57:47have a slide and our upcoming

57:50budget presentation that

57:51breaks it down and more

57:52detail. And I'd be happy to

57:53send that along to like after

57:56today's meeting. So you can

57:57see at a more granular level.

57:59Yeah, and that would be really

57:59great I think just to the

58:01peace Morant. We also want to

58:02make sure that the planning

58:03economic development team

58:05>> are able when they present

58:06quarterly budget axles are

58:09able to account for the

58:10transfers as well. And that

58:12requires additional, you know,

58:13touch point between

58:15departments and I'm hoping can

58:16happen outside of this body

58:17requesting them. But like

58:18really for RPD finance and

58:21operations teams to be able to

58:23get that report back from

58:25directors of department that

58:28do receive the HRA transfers

58:29to be able to come back to us

58:31with accurate numbers. When we

58:31do get our quarterly budget to

58:33actuals has that something

58:35that we've instituted this

58:36year, we plan to continue have

58:37that kind of reporting

58:38reporting mechanism. So I

58:41really appreciate the

58:43cooperation heroes Department

58:44as well. And just being able

58:45to share with us how much of

58:47the 539,000 that's transfer

58:50from fiscal year 2026. Is

58:51being expended to the best of

58:53irresponsibility, recognizing

58:55that our budget to actual

58:56numbers are changing. We get

58:56an audit and finance is here

58:59as well. But it's just helpful

59:02to track. And since a

59:03majority, our and database

59:03pieces and spend agency says

59:07that he says it sounds like it

59:09won't be as challenging for

59:10hero to be able to report back

59:10to the team on that. Church on

59:13tonight. Happy to work with

59:14director McMahon on that.

59:15>> That would be great. we do

59:21appreciate you coming in as

59:22well. You know, for the sake

59:23of being able to to get

59:26presentation, I think it's

59:27super You know, when I joined

59:29as the vice chair and the

59:32chair of that, there was a lot

59:32of of financing pieces that I

59:34was actually surprised that he

59:37fund and or inadvertently fire

59:39find a way to find. And this

59:39is just one that has been

59:40reoccurring for quite some

59:42time. And to clarify the staff

59:44that are there, the personnel

59:45staff that are funded, those

59:47total positions are funded

59:48through these funding sources

59:48rate. Pardon me. The 3.2 5 fte

59:52personnel staff like the

59:54total, their total salaries

59:55are funded through this

59:58allocation.

59:58>> The parsed parts of their

1:00:01salaries. So yeah, I can send

1:00:02you that breakdown following

1:00:03today's meeting. I'd be happy

1:00:04to do that. jst add is Walter

1:00:07Johnson that? It really and I

1:00:11hope we'll see it on our

1:00:12budget presentation as well.

1:00:14We're doing a concert. We are

1:00:16Leadership team is during a

1:00:18constant evaluation of success

1:00:19measures. I think we are.

1:00:21>> Haven't come a long way in

1:00:22terms of what we're tracking,

1:00:23how we're making data informed

1:00:24decisions and then also being

1:00:28really deliberate about how

1:00:30are signing work, how where

1:00:31staffing each division and

1:00:32apart. And each of that that

1:00:36different pieces of work that

1:00:38we do. And so I appreciate

1:00:40that. You're putting a lens to

1:00:42it as well because it kind of

1:00:44fits with with how we've been

1:00:45thinking about things. So

1:00:46happy to any feedback or

1:00:46additional questions. You

1:00:49have.

1:00:49>> Thank you so much, Director

1:00:50Thank you. OK, so That is the

1:00:56last item on our agenda for

1:00:57today. Our next meeting will

1:00:58be October 7th as next week as

1:01:01a 5th Wednesday and will not

1:01:01be meeting at that time. We

1:01:05will have 2 back to back

1:01:06meetings and then followed up

1:01:08with the 3rd meeting in

1:01:09October. So more things to

1:01:11come. But with that at this

1:01:12time, we are adjourned.