Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Award Contract # 20210015 for the Affordable Housing Disposition Plan to Community Land Trust (CLT) of Palm Beach County, Inc.
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Submitted By: Jason Bezak, CPPB, Procurement Agent II, Procurement Management Department (PMD).
Strategic Plan Link: The City’s Mission to be responsive to our community.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Jason Bezak, PMD.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, Inc.
3. Purpose: This RFP is to establish a program for the disposition of affordable housing that follows best practices from the State of Florida. Staff is recommending to have professionals design and launch a model that supports and sustains permanent affordability of select properties helping the City achieve more of its long-term housing objectives. This pilot program would demonstrate how the City can positively impact the affordable housing stock in our City in the future compared to past practices.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: New.
5. Duration: The Contract period shall be for one (1) year with an option to renew for seven (7) 1-year periods as budget appropriations allow.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: Have experienced and proven Community Land Trust partner under contract to assist the City in creating a shared-model program of affordable housing.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): Estimated annual expenditures are $50,000.
Presentation Information: N/A - Alessandra (Alex) Tasca from Neighborhood Services, Cindee LaCourse-Blum Executive Director of CLT of Palm Beach County, Inc., and Kimberly Spence Technical Advisor from the Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) are available for questions, as needed.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council award Contract # 20210015 for the Affordable Housing Disposition Plan to Community Land Trust (CLT) of Palm Beach County, Inc.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and award Contract # 20210015.
2. Move that the Council not award Contract # 20210015 and provide staff with direction.
Background: The City’s Neighborhood Services Department was seeking to obtain a Housing Professional or Group of Professionals with extensive experience, skills, and a vision to develop a comprehensive, detailed program for the disposition of homes that the City dedicates to its affordable housing portfolio. The selected professional(s) will design and launch a housing plan to establish a program that follows a shared equity model so that homes dedicated by the City to its affordable housing portfolio remain affordable in perpetuity. The first year of the program shall incorporate a planned model for the awarding of 6 affordable units, built by the City with Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds, to approved residents who are in the 80% AMI income category or below. The program shall follow all State and Federal rules and regulations when dealing with homes built with certain types of State and/or Federal funding. After the initial first pilot year with the program Neighborhood Services will analyze, together with the City’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) what additional projects can be added to the City’s affordable housing portfolio and whether or not to continue with the program and with what scope. Additional optional services have been priced by the bidder and are available to the City in the future as part of the further development of our affordable housing analysis and objectives.
An Electronic Request for Proposal (eRFP) was issued on December 4, 2020 to 1,505 potential suppliers. There were 15 plan holders with 2 proposals being received on December 29, 2020.
Issues/Analysis: Staff reviewed Community Land Trust (CLT) of Palm Beach County, Inc.’s submittal and finds it responsive and provides the best value to the City. This model program is highly supported by the Florida Housing Coalition.
Financial Information: Funds are available from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP 1 and 3) Grant and the Housing Fund.
Special Consideration: The Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) began a program in January 2000 entitled the Florida Community Land Trust Institute (Florida CLT Institute) http://www.flhousing.org/community-land-trusts.
FHC is the authority on housing in the State of Florida and is responsible for the distribution, management and audit of the State’s Housing Initiative Partnerships (SHIP) grant program through which the City receives funding annually. Strategies must be specifically designed to respond to local market conditions, identified housing needs, and available funding. The Florida CLT Institute provides training, technical assistance, and consulting services to develop an effective strategy based on location. The Florida CLT Institute further advocates for the inclusion of permanent affordability preferences or requirements in local affordable housing programs and regulations. As interest in community land trusts and other shared equity models grows, the Florida CLT Institute focuses on promoting industry standards and best practices all over Florida.
Staff worked with FHC technical advisors to assess the best strategies for the City of Port St. Lucie. They were instrumental in the development of the RFP and have prepared a presentation outlining our assessment and the best practices recommended by the State, including case studies to better illustrate. The City’s technical advisor is available to present the PowerPoint or answer any technical questions, upon request.
Location of Project: Throughout the City of Port Saint. Lucie.
Attachments:
1. Bid Tabulation Report.
2. CLT of Palm Beach County, Inc. Contract.
3. CLT of Palm Beach County, Inc. Submittal.
4. RFP Documents.
5. Notice of Intent to Award.
6. Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) Presentation City of PSL 2/8/2020.
7. Subsidy Retention & Subsidy Recapture FHC Policy Brief.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 5644.
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Ella M. Gilbert, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.