St. Paul HRA delays release of housing-trust contingencies after staff responses deemed inadequate

The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority on a brief agenda approved its July 2025 meeting minutes and postponed any release of two contingencies in the Housing Trust Fund tied to tenant-protection and permitting staff until the board receives clearer responses from city directors.

Chair Johnson said members had received memos and a response from Director Wiese but that the response was inadequate and that the board would follow up when Wiese returns. "I did find the response to be inadequate," Johnson said, adding that the board will not release contingency funds until every condition in the memos is answered.

The discussion centered on two contingencies the HRA placed on funding for new positions: one for tenant-protection staffing related to a tenant-protection ordinance the board previously approved, and one for permitting staff. Commissioner Provostki said he supported funding the positions. "I'm supportive of the positions that are sort of earmarked for... the tenant protection staffing, the permit staffing, both of those things," Provostki said.

City staff explained that the contingency money has not left the Housing Trust Fund and that, because no accounting unit was created, some work could not proceed. Director Newton clarified: "It's still in the housing trust fund. It's it's never left the housing trust fund." That accounting issue was part of the board's concern about how to move funds and measure spending once positions are hired.

Board members described confusion about the contingency process itself and about whether directors had been given clear deadlines. The chair said the deadline had been communicated multiple times in writing and in person and expects follow-up discussions during the week when Director Wiese returns. Staff indicated there is likely time through the end of August to address outstanding questions.

Separately, staff told the HRA that non-contingent budget amendments over $100,000 must be moved by resolution under an HRA policy enacted in 2017. Rhonda, a staff member working on the paperwork, told the board that an itemized resolution for non-contingent amendments will be brought forward and that it will exclude items still held in contingency.

No formal action was taken to release the contingencies at the meeting. The only formal vote recorded was the approval of the July 2025 HRA meeting minutes (4–0). The board directed staff to prepare a detailed resolution for non-contingent budget movements and to return with fuller responses from department directors before any contingency funds are released.

The meeting was short; the chair indicated the HRA would reconvene to consider contingencies only after directors supply the requested information.