Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
title
Approval of the 2022 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report
body
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 Resolution 22-R54, has had meetings per the required schedule and has provided the attached report of recommendations. This report is a summary of the review of the eleven affordable housing incentives and Committee recommendations as mandated by State of Florida legislation. A Public Hearing was advertised for November 10, 2022 for AHAC approval of the report, however it was postponed until November 17th because of Hurricane Nicole. After the approval of the report by the AHAC and incorporation of public comment, if applicable, staff is submitting the report to the City Council for approval on November 28, 2022. Once approved by City Council, the report will be officially transmitted to the Florida Housing Coalition on behalf of the City of Port St. Lucie by the December 31, 2022 deadline.
Presentation Information: Staff available for a brief overview and questions, if needed.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the City Council approve the recommendations as stated in the 2022 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the City Council amend the recommendations as stated in the Report and approve the updated version of the 2022 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report.
2. Move that the City Council not approve the 2022 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report and provide staff with 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 an annual 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 2022 AHAC Report was presented, discussed, and approved by the AHAC at a public meeting on November 17, 2022. Once the 2022 AHAC Report is approved, it will be submitted to the State’s Florida Housing Finance Corporation (a.k.a. Florida Housing Coalition).
Issues/Analysis: The 2022 AHAC meetings were conducted between May and November 2022. 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 2022 AHAC Report is attached for review. The 2022 AHAC has recommended changes and/or updates to 8 of the 11 incentives. Per new State Legislation an elected official is required to be on the AHAC. Councilman Bonna was appointed and served as our elected official representative on the 2022 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 2022 calendar year.
Location of Project: City of Port St. Lucie, FL.
Attachments:
1. 2022 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report.
2. 2022 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Presentation.
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: 9247
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Ella M. Gilbert, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.