11/14/2023 DocuSign Envelope ID:A6D997B1-21 D8-44DD-84E0-EA4B05279C52
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Housing Advisory Board
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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y
s 4
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory
Board
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City of Clearwater
DocuSign Envelope ID:A6D997B1-21 D8-44DD-84E0-EA4B05279C52
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Housing Advisory Board
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Kevin Chinault, Vice Chair Robyn Fiel, Board Member Camille
Hebting, Board Member Linda Byars, and Board Member David
Harder
Absent 2 - Board Member Lindsay Dicus-Harrison, and Board Member Carmen
Santiago
Also Present— Denise Sanderson — Economic Development & Housing Director, Chuck
Lane — Economic Development & Housing Assistant Director, and
Rosemarie Call - City Clerk
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
Unapproved
1. Call to Order— Chair Chinault
The meeting was called to order at 9:20 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the August 8, 2023, NAHAB Meeting Minutes.
Board Member Hebting moved to approve the August 8, 2023,
NAHAB meeting minutes. 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 Recommend City Council approval of the Real Property Transfer Agreement for the
donation of Real Property by the City to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, Inc.
(Habitat).
In response to a question, Real Estate Services Coordinator Dylan
Mayeux said the restricted covenant requires the property be sold to an
income eligible buyer.
Board Member Harder moved to recommend City Council approval
of the Real Property Transfer Agreement for the donation of Real
Property by the City to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, Inc.
(Habitat). The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
DocuSign Envelope ID:A6D997B1-21 D8-44DD-84E0-EA4B05279C52
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Housing Advisory Board
4.2 Recommend City Council approval of the Substantial Amendment to City of Clearwater's
Fiscal Year 2021/2022 Annual Action Plan, which includes the HOME-ARP Allocation
Plan, and authorize the City to modify existing agreements and enter into new
agreements with organizations approved for funding. (APH)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided a one-time
allocation of$1,637,567 in HOME-ARP (America Rescue Plan) funding to the City of
Clearwater. HUD requires HOME-ARP funding to be used to assist Qualifying
Populations defined as populations experiencing homelessness or at-risk of
homelessness and others requiring supportive services or assistance for homelessness
prevention. A Substantial Amendment is required to reprogram funds in excess of 25%
of the HOME-ARP allocation.
In June 2022, the first Substantial Amendment (SA-1) was approved by Council to add
HOME-ARP funding to the City's FY 2021/2022 Annual Action Plan by inclusion of the
required HOME-ARP Allocation Plan. Previously, the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan
allocated funding to Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), Development of Affordable
Rental Housing, and Administration and Planning by means of multiple specific project
categories.
This second Substantial Amendment (SA-2) is to allocate HOME-ARP funding to a new
Supportive Services project category and to reprogram funding across several new and
existing consolidated project categories. SA-2 also eliminates multiple project specific
categories and consolidates the HOME-ARP funding into four (4) broader project
categies: Supportive Services, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), Affordable
Rental Housing, and Administration/Planning.
SA-2 amendments to the FY 2021/2022 Annual Action Plan and HOME-ARP Allocation
Plan are summarized as follows:
1. Supportive Services - Add new project category and allocate $691,938;
2. Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) - Add new project category and allocate
$200,000;
3. Affordable Rental Housing - Add new project category and allocate $500,000;
4. Administration/Planning - Retain existing project category and increase from
$139,137 to $245,629 (+$106,492) which is equivalent to approximately 15% of the
HOME-ARP allocation;
5. Blue Sky Communities/Blue Dolphin Housing Project- Eliminate specific project
name and corresponding Development of Affordable Rental Housing category funding
from the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan and FY 2021/2022 Annual Action Plan and
reprogram funding to new project names by category (-$875,000); and
6. Pinellas Opportunity Council, Homeless Empowerment Program, Homeless
Leadership Alliance, Hope Villages of America, and St. Vincent de Paul Community
Kitchen and Resource Center- Eliminate specific project names and corresponding
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) category funding from the HOME-ARP
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City of Clearwater
DocuSign Envelope ID:A6D997B1-21 D8-44DD-84E0-EA4B05279C52
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Housing Advisory Board
Allocation Plan and FY 2021/2022 Annual Action Plan and reprogram funding to new
project names by category (-$623,430).
Deadline for expenditure of HOME-ARP funds is September 30, 2030. This item will be
presented to City Council on November 16, 2023.
2.4 - Supports equitable housing programs that promote household stability and reduce
the incidence of homelessness within Clearwater.
Board Member Hebting moved to recommend City Council approval
of the Substantial Amendment to City of Clearwater's Fiscal Year
2021/2022 Annual Action Plan and authorize the City to modify
existing agreements and enter into new agreements with
organizations approved for funding. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
4.3 Discuss the option to increase the maximum sales price of a single-family home up to
$481,176 as authorized by the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program.
The Board recessed from 9:32 a.m. to 9:33 a.m.
In response to a comment, Mr. Lane said for a 2-person household,
based on the income, the maximum monthly payment they can make is
$1,390, providing the ability to purchase a $173,462 home through a
conventional loan. Habitat for Humanity has access to zero-interest
loans, allowing individuals to afford a home at a higher value. He said
Habitat now provides 40-year mortgages. Ms. Sanderson said Habitat
does not currently provide loans over 80%AMI.
Discussion ensued with concerns expressed that it is difficult for people
to find affordable housing in Clearwater, that individuals who need
affordable housing cannot afford more than $350,000, and that the
income requirements for SHIP are not being modified. A comment was
made that a large family with a greater income may be able to afford
$400,000 house.
In response to a question, Habitat representative Sean King said if there
is any governmental funding involved, there will be a land use restriction,
which restricts the resale of the property. Habitat also includes a shared
equity provision that does not allow the buyer to flip the home or acquire
an equity mortgage immediately. He said these provisions ensure the
land remains affordable.
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City of Clearwater
DocuSign Envelope ID:A6D997B1-21 D8-44DD-84E0-EA4B05279C52
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Housing Advisory Board
Discussion ensued regarding financing options available to
individuals seeking affordable housing with a comment made that if
increasing the home sale price helps non-profit affordable housing
organizations continue their work to help the community and create more
affordable housing in Clearwater, it is worth considering. Concerns were
expressed that the community may get the impression that the Board
believes $481,000 is affordable and that selling property at a lower value
will impact the appraisals of other properties. It was stated that buyers can
accept gifts from family members to leverage their financing and reduce
the amount being mortgaged. A comment was made that if a buyer
secures a 0% mortgage, the principle is being paid form the beginning,
no matter the term of the mortgage.
Ms. Sanderson said at the maximum purchase price, the city's
downpayment assistance to get to 20% will be $92,500. Given the limited
funding, the Department wants to make sure it is producing and
preserving as many units as possible. She said staff will need to take a
look at the unintended consequences for adjustment the downpayment
assistance. When looking at housing costs, staff is looking at principle
interest, taxes, and insurance. She said as it relates to creating policy that
influence the affordability to buyers, the City cannot influence taxes or
insurance; and in some cases, the City cannot influence the interest rate.
Ms. Sanderson said staff will share comments heard today with other
jurisdictions and come back to the Board at a later date to look at real
numbers. The numbers provided today considered presumptions in the
current market, such as escrow, median sales price, and conventional
mortgage rates.
It was stated that other jurisdictions in Pinellas County provide higher
downpayment assistance than Clearwater; St. Petersburg provides a
maximum of$60,000 and Largo and Pinellas County provide $75,000.
Ms. Sanderson said some of the information provided showed how
household size may change the purchasing power because of the
different income caps. She asked is there is board interest in exploring tiered
system based on household size. There was no board consensus on the
matter as more information on the proposed system was needed to make a
determination.
One individual spoke in opposition and suggested letting the market
decide.
5. Director's Report
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City of Clearwater
DocuSign Envelope ID:A6D997B1-21 D8-44DD-84E0-EA4B05279C52
Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Housing Advisory Board
Mr. Lane said the Board will meet in December and stressed the need for
quorum as the Board will approve the year-end report for HUD. The
report is due to HUD by December 31, 2023. Members who are unable to
attend were advised to contact staff as soon as possible.
Ms. Sanderson said there was a recommendation earlier this year for
staff to report the performance of the public services and facilities
projects. She said the report will be included in the CAPER. Staff will
present the performance of the individual non-profits at the December
meeting. She said staff hopes to review the changes being implemented
to the competitive grant cycle for public services and public facilities.
6. Board Members to be Heard
Board member Hebting asked what can NAHAB and former AHAC members
do to make sure the Department is fully staffed.
Mr. Lane said there is an open recruitment for a Housing Specialist,
which was approved by Council this fiscal year. Ms. Sanderson said the
Department is blessed with retaining wonderful employees. Since 2020,
the Department has added a Senior Real Estate Services Coordinator
and a Housing Coordinator. Many of the AHAC recommendations
include increasing the Department's marketing and outreach efforts;
NAHAB and former AHAC members can advocate for additional staff
when the request is presented by the Department.
Chair Chinault thanked staff for their efforts through the AHAC process
and said the next meeting will be on December 12, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:24 a.m.
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City of Clearwater