07/19/2005
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NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 19, 2005
Present: John Sabatier
Lisa Hughes
Laurel Braswell
Donald Brackett
Peggy M. Cutkomp
Josephine Carbone
Doug Booher
Also Present: Howie Carroll
Michael Holmes
Patricia O. Sullivan
Chair
Vice-Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member - arrived 9:04 a.m.
Assistant Director of Housing
Housing Manager
Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
3 - Approval of Minutes - May 17, 2005 meeting
Member Carbone moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May
17,2005, as recorded ann submitted in written summation to each member. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
. 4 - FY2005-2010 Consolidated Planninq Document - Public Hearing
Assistant Director of Housing Howie Carroll reviewed the FY (Fiscal Year) 2005 -
10 Consolidated Planning Document. HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development) requires communities that receive entitlement, i.e. CDBG (Community
Development Block Grant) & HOME funding, prepare a comprehensive five year
Consolidated Planning document that evaluates the needs of the community and sets
forth strategies to address those needs. The new Consolidated Plan is mainly a
continuation of the existing Consolidated Plan, with few changes to existing strategies,
goals, and objectives.
In addition, the City IS required to create and implement an annual statement
identifying the sources and uses of federal money for housing, community, and
economic development. This annual plan, referred to as a Consolidated Action Plan,
provides HUD with the City's housing, community, and economic development budget
and proposed expenditures based on the entitlement funds and estimated program
income that the City will receive in the upcoming fiscal year.
Funds are to be used to develop viable communities and sustain existing ones.
In addition, the funds will be used to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to
assist extremely low to moderate-income households. This year's Action Plan allocates
federal and state funds to provide housing opportunities for extreme-low to moderate-
income households for new and existing homes, homebuyer education, construction,
and/or renovation of public facilities, and to fund programs that assist the homeless,
single parent households, the elderly, the physically challenged, and children, to name a
few.
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Neighborhood & Affordabie Housing 2005-07-19
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In FY 2005/06, the City is estimated to receive federal funds in the amount of
$1,079,985 through the CDSG, $577,115 through the HOME Investment Partnership
Program, and $820,105 from the State of Florida through the SHIP (State Housing
Initiatives Partnership) Program. Funds provided through the HOME and SHIP Programs
are limited to housing activities and administration. Funds provided through the CDSG
Program may be used for housing, community and economic development, public
services and facilities, acquisition, demolition, and administration. Additional funding for
the FY 2005/06 budget will come from estimated program income funds (loan
repayments, loan payoffs, recaptured funds, etc.).
A Review Committee, comprised of professionals in the social service and grants
community, and one member of the City's NAHAS (Neighborhood and Affordable
Housing AdvisorySoard) reviewed the applications, scored them, and setforth a
strategy to maximize the number of applicants that will receive a portion of allocated
funds. Applicants Were given an opportunity to speak to the Review Committee and
. NAHAS regarding their programs on the day of the bus tour and presentations in late
March. Staff reviewed each application to ensure it met HUD's baseline requirements.
On May 17, 2005, NAHAS unanimously approved the recommended allocations
contained in the FY 2005/06 Consolidated Action Plan.
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Each year, the City may allocate up to 15% of its CDSG allocation for Public
Services organizations. Under the Public Services category, agencies competed for
approximately $161,998 in CDSG funds. The City's Housing Division received requests
for Public Service funding in excess of $451,000. NAHAS has endorsed a sliding scale
funding system for Public Service applicants that allows the top two scorers to receive
60% of their request; the second two receive 50% of their request, and others receive
40% of their request until all allowable funds are allocated. This allowed all Public
Service applicants to receive some funding rather than some agencies not receiving any
funding.
All organizations that will be receiving an allocation and/or are participating in the
City's Housing or Housing Education Pools, will have agreements prepared and
executed by October 1 , 2005.
Mr. Carroll reported the City received 40 responses to its solicitation of input from
117 organizations and groups. Recommendations were made to focus on the affordable
housing crisis, as the City's inventory of affordable housing is diminishing quickly.
Salaries are not keep!ng pace with rapidly increasing housing costs. Meanwhile, funding
for these programs has been reduced by 25% from two years ago, 15% in the last year
alone. The City projects its funding levels will be lower next year, at the same time costs
to obtaining housing increases. It is important to preserve the current stock of low to
moderate housing. The Governor's Affordable Housing Study Commission is doing a
two-year focus on the issue of preservation. More data will be collected to determine the
scope of local need and help the City carry out its mission regarding affordable housing.
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Mr. Carroll reviewed legislation that reduced funding levels. Concern was
expressed that the City needs to find other revenue sources to replace lost funding. Mr.
Carroll suggested letters to the City's legislative delegation requesting full funding of the
trust funds for affordable housing would be helpful.
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Discussion ensued regarding the State definition of special needs, which
includes HIV, frail-elderly, mental health issues, etc. The City does not use the entire
State listing of special needs when rating applications. The document will include the
State and Federal definitions of "special needs." Concern was expressed that the board
had not used the State and Federal definitions of "special needs" when reviewing
applications.
Discussion ensued regarding outdated references. During the next fiscal year,
the document will be updated regarding partnering organizations, adding the East
Gateway revitalization area, and projects. Mr. Carroll explained the term "holistic
approach," as it relates to housing.
It was recommended that the City's administration address the lack of affordable
housing in Clearwater and that new projects be required to include affordable housing,
as redevelopment of the downtown core replaces affordable housing. The importance of
including affordable housing in the downtown core was stated. It was recommended
that affordable housing be dispersed throughout the City. It was stated this issue is
paramount and requires immediate attention, as no investment is being made to
construct affordable housing downtown. It was stated that developers are building high
return projects and can afford to give back to the community.
6 - Next meetinq
Meetings will be scheduled in September and November, 2005.
7 - Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
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Ch Ir
N ghborhood & Affordable
Housing Advisory Board
Neighborhood & Affordable Housing 2005-07-19
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