05/10/2022 Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes May 10, 2022
Housing Advisory Board
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory
Board
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City of Clearwater
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes May 10, 2022
Housing Advisory Board
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Camille Hebting, Vice Chair Kevin Chinault, Board Member
Peter Scalia, Board Member Lindsay Dicus-Harrison, Board Member
Carmen Santiago, and Board Member Robyn Fiel
Absent 1 - Board Member Gaby Camacho
Also Present - Denise Sanderson — Economic Development & Housing Director, Chuck
Lane — Economic Development & Housing Assistant Director, Patricia
O. Sullivan — Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the April 12, 2022 NAHAB Meeting Minutes.
Member Santiago moved to approve the minutes of the April 12,
2022 Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board
meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Approve staff recommended funding allocations among applicants for Fiscal Year
2022/23 Community Development Block Grant funding.
Assistant Economic Development & Housing Director Chuck Lane provided
a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed the allocation formulas and staff
recommended funding allocations for CDBG (Community Development
Block Grant) funding. The City is waiting to hear from HUD (Department of
Housing & Urban Development) re exact amount of this year's allocations.
Administration allocations pay for salaries and consulting services.
Member Scalia moved to approve staff recommended funding
allocations among applicants for Fiscal Year 2022/23 Community
Development Block Grant funding. The motion was duly
4.2 Recommend City Council approval of the Substantial Amendment to the 2021-2022
Annual Action Plan.
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City of Clearwater
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes May 10, 2022
Housing Advisory Board
Mr. Lane provided a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed the need for a
Substantial Amendment to the 2021/22 Annual Action Plan to reprogram
$355,939 in CDBG funds. A Public Notice in the newspaper will advertise a
30-day public comment period from May 4 to June 2, 2022 and public
hearings will take place at today's NAHAB meeting and at the June 2, 2022
City Council meeting.
Mr. Lane said during a local funding resource call lead by a consultant,
major needs were identified: 1) development of affordable housing; 2) rental
assistance; 3) homeless presentation, and 4) domestic violence victim
assistance. He reviewed the City's work with local agencies to meet the
major needs. The County is doing a great job releasing rental assistance
funds. A recreation pier is planned for Lake Bellevue. In response to a
question, he said the new North Greenwood CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) will have a dedicated funding source through Tax
Increment Financing. Next year the City may transfer property to the CRA
which will have more flexibility to repurpose commercial zoned property.
Member Santiago moved to recommend City Council approval of
the Substantial Amendment to the 2021/22 Annual Action Plan.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Provide feedback to the Board Chair in preparation of the Chair's presentation to City
Council on behalf of the NAHAB.
Recommendations were made for the Chair's presentation to recap Board
challenges during the last year, the board's evolution, a plan re what the
board is trying to accomplish, and a recommendation to schedule a
community symposium. No date has been scheduled. The Chair will draft
the presentation for Board review. It was suggested the Board work to
transition homeless individuals to affordable housing. It was stated the Board
needs to recognize challenges posed by the current economy.
In response to a question, Mr. Lane said increasing housing density can be
effective but densities greater than 35 units per acre require expensive
structured parking. Future Code updates may simplify the process for
permitting development on corners,ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) also
will be considered. It was noted that public transportation was a huge issue
requiring a countywide conversation.
5. Director's Report
Mr. Lane reviewed the schedule for 4 public input meetings to establish
strategies for the City's $22.5 million allocation from the American Rescue
Plan Act. He encouraged members'attendance.
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City of Clearwater
Neighborhood and Affordable
Housing Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes May 10, 2022
In response to Mr. Lane's request for suggestions for presenters on topics
related to the Board's mission, a presentation on public transportation as it
relates to affordable housing was recommended. Suggestions were made
for a Forward Pinellas representative to address the Board and for the Board
to meet with counterpart boards in local municipalities and the County to
share ideas.
Mr. Lane will raise that suggestion at his next jurisdictional meeting.
6. Board Members to be Heard
7. Adjourn
Member Chinault referenced a recent letter from a concerned business
owner in North Greenwood. Mr. Lane said he had spoken with her,
welcomed her questions, and recommended she attend the upcoming public
input meetings. It was noted the size of grants received by nonprofits seems
large without considering the services provided and the number of people
served.
Member Scalia recommended the City's Public Communications Department
increase its messaging re the good work done by the Economic
Development & Housing and Police departments. It was recommended that
Board members also share information about the City's and Board's
accomplishments. The importance of engaging the public was noted.
Member Dicus-Harrison recommended scheduling a tour of projects funded
through the Board. Mr. Lane said he would target cooler months for a tour
and invite media participation.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 a.m.
Chair
Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater