08/09/2016 NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 9, 2016
Present: Chair Michael Potts, Vice Chair Kevin Chinault, Board Member Peggy M. Cutkomp,
Board Member Linda Kemp, Board Member Empty Seat
Absent: Board Member Lisa Hughes, Board Member Carmen Santiago
Also Present: Denise Sanderson — Economic Development& Housing Director, Diane Durr—
Housing Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
3 —Approval of Minutes
3.1. Approve minutes of the July 19, 2016 Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory
Board Special meeting as submitted in written summation.
Member Chinault moved to approve minutes of the July 19, 2016 Neighborhood &Affordable
Housing Advisory Board Special meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4—Citizens to be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda
5—Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Action Plan FY 2016/17
5.1. Habitat for Humanity Project
Housing Manager Diane Durr said a substantial amendment to the FY (Fiscal Year) 2016/17
Consolidated Action Plan would be forwarded to HUD (Housing & Urban Development)
Department. The Garden Trails 2 project was cancelled during the 30-day comment period. The
amendment will replace that project with a Habitat for Humanity project.
Habitat for Humanity in Pinellas County CEO Mike Sutton said its project will construct 14
energy efficient, 3 - 4 bedroom single-family homes at the Garden Avenue/Eldridge Street
intersection and partner with Clearwater Gas.
Habitat for Humanity was complimented for providing families with great homes at reasonable
prices.
6 — Pinellas County Housing Trust Fund Plan — FY 2016-19
Ms. Durr reported the City needed to renew its Pinellas County Housing Trust Fund Plan
agreement every 3 years. The City supported the 2016-19 agreement which was required to
continue receiving housing funds from Pinellas County.
7 —State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Annual Report - FY 2014/15
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Housing Coordinator Terry Malcolm-Smith presented the Annual SHIP report
In 1992, the Florida Legislature enacted the William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act,
creating a dedicated revenue source for housing trust funds for state and local housing
programs and to assist local governments meet resident housing needs. The act created the
State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.
Through SHIP, Economic Development and Housing provided funding for: 1) down payment
and closing costs assistance for existing structures; 2) construction of new dwellings; 3)
rehabilitation of owner-occupied single-family dwellings; and 4) acquisition/rehabilitation of
rental properties. During FY 2014/15, the City assisted 31 households and encumbered funds
for 12 additional households through its strategies.
By September 15, every local government receiving SHIP funds must submit an annual report
to Florida Housing Finance Corporation. SHIP funds were important to the City's economy.
During FY 2014/15, the City spent $431,000 in SHIP dollars to leverage more than $2.7 million
in other funds.
8 — New Project Overview— Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Economic Development& Housing Director Denise Sanderson anticipated Southport Financial
Services would submit an application for a LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) to construct
apartments on an 8.5-acre lot under contract at 826 Woodlawn Street. Staff will request the City
Council to approve a commitment for a $75,000 grant from the General Fund for the project.
The application, due October 6, 2016, must include the City's commitment. If the State awards a
LIHTC to the project, the City's commitment would be funded with SHIP funds, if available at the
time of project award.
The LIHTC program would provide the developer a dollar-for-dollar reduction in federal tax
liability in exchange for new construction of low and very low-income rental housing units (60%
of Area Median Income and below with a set aside for 40% of AMI and below).
In response to a question, Ms. Sanderson said it was premature to consider the development's
impact on the community. The Planning & Development Department supported amending the
property's zoning to allow denser development. The City would not provide tax credits for the
project. It was noted Habitat for Humanity once planned to develop the site.
Four people spoke in opposition to the project.
Mr. Sutton, with Habitat for Humanity, said his organization was excited for the opportunity to
develop the property and respected CSF (Community Service Foundation) and other partners
with ties to the area. He said Habitat started focusing on the Garden Street property because it
could be developed faster. He said Habitat was still interested in developing the Woodlawn
Street property.
Southport Financial Services Vice President Peter Leach said the development would not be a
Section 8 project. He said the tax credit required 5% of tenants to be families with a 40% AMI or
less and 95% of tenants to be families with a 60%AMI or less. He said 2-story apartments were
planned at a density of 10 units per acre. He said the apartments would have modern amenities
and rent for about$720/month for 2 bed/2 bath units and $829/month for 3 bed/2 bath units. He
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said his company, which had developed similar projects since 1986, was required to maintain
the property's physical condition or lose the tax credits.
9 — Old /New Business: None.
10 — Next Meeting — September 13, 2016
11 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
(Chair
Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board
( v (C 5
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