SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Appoint 11 members to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, including Councilmember Kathleen Beckman as a locally elected official, and adopt Resolution 23-12.
Body
SUMMARY:
Florida Statute Section 420.9076 states that counties and cities receiving State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program funds are required to establish annually an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) and prepare a Local Housing Incentive Strategy (LHIS). The statute further provides that the committee be made up of 11 members appointed by the City. The 11 members must represent a specific industry or a specific group.
The required groups and recommended individuals are listed below:
• Banking industry/mortgage: Robyn Fiel
• Area of labor engaged in home building: David Harder
• Advocate for low-income person: Linda Byars
• Not-for-profit provider of affordable housing: Kevin Chinault
• Real estate professional engaged in affordable housing: Lindsay Dicus-Harrison
• Representative of employers: Camille Hebting
• Clearwater resident: Carmen Santiago
• Essential Services representative: Jacqueline Rivera
• Residential home building: Pierre Cournoyer
• Member of the local planning agency: Bruce Rector
• Locally elected official: Councilmember Kathleen Beckman (At the September 5 work session, there was council consensus to appoint Councilmember Beckman.)
The duties of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee shall include reviewing policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations and the City’s adopted comprehensive plan and shall recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value.
The LHIS must be submitted to City Council by December 31, 2023, and will encompass the definition, vision, strategic focus areas, and action plan (including potential amendments to procedures and existing regulations) in order to facilitate the development of affordable housing in the city.
The AHAC will sunset upon acceptance by Council of the 2023 Local Housing Incentive Strategies report.
At the September 5 work session, Economic Development and Housing Assistant Director Chuck Lane reported that Bruce Rector, member of the Community Development Board (Local Planning Agency), has agreed to serve on the Committee.