§ 17.5-25. Affordable housing advisory committee.

(a)

The affordable housing advisory committee, (the committee), created by Resolution 93-186 is hereby ratified, confirmed and established. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

(b)

Resolution 93-186 defines affordable housing as applicable to the City in a way that is consistent with the adopted local comprehensive plan.

(c)

The committee shall consist of 11 members; six members shall constitute a quorum. The committee should include the following, which individuals may be members of the local housing partnership:

(1)

One resident who is actively engaged in the residential building industry in connection with affordable housing.

(2)

One resident who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage industry in connection with affordable housing.

(3)

One resident who is a representative of those areas of labor engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing.

(4)

One resident who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing.

(5)

One resident who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing.

(6)

One resident who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing.

(7)

One resident who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing.

(8)

One resident who actively serves on the local planning agency pursuant to F.S. § 163.3174, which is the City's Planning and Visioning Committee.

(9)

At least one other resident.

(10)

One resident who represents employers within the City.

(11)

One citizen who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan.

(d)

Members shall be appointed for three-year terms and may be reappointed for subsequent terms. All members shall serve until their respective successors have been appointed and qualified. Each appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term.

(e)

The committee shall comply with the Government In The Sunshine Law, the public records law, and the special provisions regarding notice of affordable housing incentive plan considerations found in F.S. § 420.9076.

(f)

The committee shall annually elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and such other officers as it deems necessary. The chairperson shall conduct meetings in a manner consistent with law.

(g)

The committee shall review the established policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, and adopted local comprehensive plan of the City triennially, and shall recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value.

(h)

Recommendations on strategies may include the modification or repeal of existing policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions. At a minimum, the committee shall submit a report to the City Council that includes recommendations in the following areas:

(1)

The affordable housing definition in the appointing resolution.

(2)

The implementation of processing of approvals of development orders or permits, as defined in F.S. § 163.3164 for affordable housing projects that is expedited to a greater degree than other projects.

(3)

The modification of impact-fee requirements including reduction or waiver of fees and alternative methods of fee payment for affordable housing.

(4)

The allowance of flexibility in densities for affordable housing.

(5)

The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing for very low-income persons, low-income persons, and moderate-income persons.

(6)

The allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning districts.

(7)

The reduction of parking and setback requirements.

(8)

The allowance of flexible lot configurations, including zero-lot-line configurations.

(9)

The modifications of sidewalk and street requirements for affordable housing.

(10)

The establishment of a process by which the City considers, before adoption, procedures and policies that have a significant impact on the cost of housing.

(11)

The preparation of a printed inventory of locally owned public lands suitable for affordable housing.

(12)

The support of development near transportation hubs and major employment centers and mixed-use developments.

(i)

The committee recommendations may also include other affordable housing incentives identified by the committee.

(j)

The committee shall be cooperatively staffed by the City department or departments having authority to administer local planning and housing programs to ensure an integrated approach to the work of the advisory committee.

(k)

To the maximum extent feasible, the approved affordable housing incentive recommendations submitted to the City must quantify the affordable housing cost reduction anticipated from implementing the specific recommendation.

(l)

Recommended strategies and any additional housing incentive strategy recommendations by the committee shall be approved at a public hearing. Notice of the time, date, and place of the public hearing of the committee to adopt final affordable housing incentive recommendations shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. Such notice shall contain a short concise summary of the affordable housing incentive recommendations to be considered by the committee. The notice shall also state the public place where a copy of the proposed committee recommendation can be obtained by interested persons. The recommendations shall be reported to the City Council and thereafter be reviewed and submitted triennially on December 31 of the year preceding the submission of the local housing assistance plan.

(Code 1992, § 17.5-7; Ord. No. 90-G, § 1, 4-15-1993; Ord. No. 878-G, § 1, 6-5-2008)