Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Submission and Approval of the 2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report
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Submitted By: Alessandra “Alex” Tasca, Deputy Director, Neighborhood Services Department
Strategic Plan Link: The City’s Mission to be responsive to our community.
Executive Summary (General Business): As a recipient of funding through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program, the City is required to convene an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) every year. The AHAC must review the housing incentive strategies mandated for review by the State and make recommendations to the City Council for incorporation into the City’s Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP). The committee was appointed through Resolutions 21-R58 & 21-R62, has had meetings per the required schedule and has provided the attached report of recommendations.
Presentation Information: Alex Tasca will provide a brief overview and will be available for questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council accept the recommendations and approve the 2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report, which will be incorporated into the 2022 LHAP.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the 2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report, which will be incorporated into the 2022 LHAP.
2. Move that the Council not approve the 2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report and provide staff direction.
Background: An Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) is required to be appointed by the governing board of each local jurisdiction receiving SHIP funding pursuant to F.S. Section 420.9076. The purpose of the AHAC is to provide recommendations for strategies to reduce regulatory barriers to developing affordable housing in the community. The statute requires that the recommendations be presented to the local governing body, which upon approval by the board must amend the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) to incorporate Local Housing Incentive Strategies. These strategies must be adopted within one year of adopting the LHAP. The jurisdiction must convene an AHAC for review of the incentives on a yearly basis. The AHAC must review the housing incentive strategies in the LHAP to ensure that those strategies are being implemented and to recommend, if necessary, any additional incentives that may prove to be beneficial to affordable housing. The 2021 AHAC Report was presented, discussed, and approved by the AHAC at a public meeting on 10/21/21. Once the 2021 AHAC Report is approved it will be submitted to the State’s Florida Housing Finance Corporation (aka Florida Housing Coalition).
Issues/Analysis: The 2021 AHAC meetings were conducted between June and October 2021. The committee has been discussing the eleven affordable housing initiatives listed in the attached report, ranging from expedited permitting to development of affordable housing near major transportation corridors. A copy of the 2021 AHAC Report is attached for review. The 2021 AHAC has recommended changes and/or updates to 7 of the 11 incentives. Per new State Legislation an elected official is required to be on the AHAC. Mayor Martin was appointed and served as our elected official representative on the 2021 AHAC. The committee meetings were organized in close coordination with the Planning & Zoning Department, the Building Department, the Clerk’s Office, and the City Attorney’s Office.
Financial Information: N/A
Special Consideration: This report is required to be submitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation before the end of the 2021 calendar year.
Location of Project: City of Port St. Lucie, FL
Attachments: The 2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report.
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: N/A
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Amber Moseley, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.