Placement: Other Public Hearings
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
title
Approval of the 2024 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report & Opening of the Public Hearing for Public Comments
body
Submitted By: Alessandra “Alex” Tasca, Deputy Director, Neighborhood Services.
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) annually. 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, appointed via Resolution 24-R20, 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. The AHAC approved the report on November 13, 2024. Staff are now submitting the report to the City Council for approval and opening a Public Hearing for public comments. Once approved by City Council, the report, together with any public comments received, will be officially transmitted to the Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) on behalf of the City of Port St. Lucie by the December 31, 2024, deadline.
Presentation Information: Staff are available for an overview and questions upon request.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the recommendations stated in the 2024 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report and authorize staff to make any amendments, as necessary, to the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) consistent with the 2024 AHAC Report and submit the 2024 AHAC Report to FHC to with any public comments received during the public hearings.
Alternate Recommendation:
1. Move that the Council not approve the 2024 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report and provide staff with direction.
Background: An Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) is 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. The jurisdiction must convene an AHAC for review of the incentives annually. The AHAC must review the housing incentive strategies in the LHAP to ensure that those strategies are being implemented and to recommend any additional incentives that may prove to be beneficial to affordable housing.
Issues/Analysis: The 2024 AHAC meetings were conducted between April and November 2024. 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. The 2024 AHAC has recommended a new detailed review of all 11 incentives in 2025 considering the delivery of the Housing Needs Assessment, the City’s scheduled Comprehensive Plan update and the kick-off of the Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Grant. The Committee supports the development of a workforce housing program initiative through these plans.
Financial Information: N/A
Special Consideration: In order to comply with regards to the City’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funding, this report is required to be submitted to the Florida Housing Coalition before the end of the 2024 calendar year.
Location of Project: City of Port St. Lucie, FL.
Attachments:
1. 2024 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Report.
2. Housing Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan.
3. HUD Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Work Plan.
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: 24325-04
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Russell Ward, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, Interim City Attorney.