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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 07-23-2008 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes-July 23, 2008 Attendees Stephanie E. Morgan, All About You Diana Wesloski, St. Lucie County Citizen Don Green, St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity Skeet Jernigan, Community & Economic Development Council of South Florida Mike Smith, Riverside National Bank Ken Fuchs, SDZ Construction Scott Wingfield, Realtor’s Association of St. Lucie Colleen Jeeves, Workforce Development Board Al Rivett, St. Lucie INTACT Staff: Peter W. Jones, St. Lucie County Growth Management Jessica Parrish, St. Lucie County Community Services Jennifer Hance, St. Lucie County Community Services Heather Young, St. Lucie County Assistant County Attorney Others In Attendance: JP Gellerman, Growth Management Agent Beth Ryder, St. Lucie County Community Services Stefanie Myers, St. Lucie County Community Services Excused Absences: Rick Carreno, St. Lucie County Fire District Louise Hubbard, Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council Minutes Beth Ryder opened the meeting by introducing the employees of Saint Lucie County to the members of the committee. She asked everyone in attendance to introduce themselves. Jessica Parrish explained that the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee has always been a part of the 1992 Sodowski Act, but legislation has now made it a requirement. Statutorily the committee must appoint members that are involved in different aspects of housing and is required to review documents that were included on the CD. The committee is also required to draft a recommendation report to the Board of County Commissioners by December 31, 2008. The recommendations are required to be approved via public hearing and public comment. Every meeting that is held must be conducted under the Sunshine Law requirements. The packet also includes the Ordinance passed and Resolution Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Minutes from the July 23, 2008 Meeting Page 1 appointing members. Mrs. Parrish also stated that the Ordinance specifies items the committee must review. Heather Young stated that the committee meeting will be subject to the Sunshine Law. All of the meetings will be posted and available to the public. Ms. Young stated that committee members must refrain from discussing items up for a vote outside of AHAC meetings. Ms. Young also let the committee know that they could contact her if they had any questions about the Sunshine Law. Skeet Jernigan asked if he could talk about meeting topics to other committee members outside of the committee meetings. Ms. Young stated that she would be more comfortable with having discussions only at the meetings so all committee members could hear each others opinions. Ms. Young stated that items of general knowledge, such as the state of the housing market are okay to discuss as opposed to a document or project that is being discussed at a committee meeting. Mrs. Parrish went into items that were included on the CD, and stated if there were any questions about the documents or suggestions of other documents that would be helpful to the committee members to let her know. Mrs. Parrish stated that Peter Jones drafted a summary of the Comprehensive Plan and Land Codes for anyone who is not familiar with them. She asked that Peter Jones review his Housing Strategy with the committee. Mr. Jones stated that in 1985 the state legislature adopted the Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, which ultimately resulted in St. Lucie County’s Comprehensive Plan. He stated that the elements listed in the County’s Land Development Code were listed at the bottom of his memo to the committee. Those elements lend themselves to how we live and work and how we can make better use of our resources to provide the housing that our County needs now and will need in the future. Peter stated the County would be adding a school facilities element that is being transmitted to Department of Community Affairs. He stated that the county is in its seven-year evaluation and appraisal report in which they address issues that have to do with housing. He also stated that the idea was to come up with a multifaceted approach to housing. Beth Ryder than shared with the Committee her Housing Update memo to the Board of County Commissioners. Ms. Ryder stated that since 2004 the housing division has been doing mainly housing rehabs and demolition rehabs and that housing is currently constructing nine homes. Ms. Ryder stated that with the interest rates being the way they are and the housing inventory available that it is a good time for housing to offer down payment assistance. Beth Ryder then asked Stefanie Myers to speak about how the N-TEAM works, Ms. Myers stated that the N-TEAM was presented by a county resident and is being modeled by the St. Petersburg program to help residents that have code Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Minutes from the July 23, 2008 Meeting Page 2 violations that they cannot complete, either because they are elderly or cannot afford to do the work. A group of volunteers from the homeowner’s neighborhood will get together to do the work to correct the code violation. Ms. Myers also spoke about Individual Development Accounts (IDA). She stated that the program allows people to save funds in a custodial account for three goals. The goals are the purchase of a home, starting a business, or for post-secondary education. The account holder saves money and the funds they save will be matched dollar for dollar. All Rivett stated that he had a post mortgage program that is ready to roll out, but needs to be funded. The program would give homeowner’s hands on training as well as group training on how to maintain there home. Mr. Jernigan stated that his group recently worked with Gold Coast Builders Association and the Realtors Association of Palm Beach to produce a report for Palm Beach that analyzed all the properties for sale in Multiple Listings in that county. They discovered that 58% of the properties listed currently meet the affordable housing requirements. Skeet asked what the total number of properties for sale in St. Lucie County was. Scott Wingfield stated that 6400 was the total number of properties for sale. Mr. Jernigan asked whether the My Safe Florida Home Program was for condos as well. Stefanie Myers stated that originally the statute was written that way, but for whatever reason the legislature has backed that out. Mr. Jernigan stated that bulk purchase of foreclosed properties would be something that the county should think about. He also asked whether the funds available have time limits on when they need to be spent. Mrs. Parrish stated that CDBG DRI has to be expended by April 2009, HOME has to be encumbered by April 2009, and HHR has to be expended by June 30, 2009. SHIP funds have to be spent depending on which allocation year it is, and funds are given every year as of this year. Mr. Jernigan asked whether we could create a report about funds available and history of funds. Mike Smith said he could provide other sources of down payment assistance, such as Federal Home Loan Bank and the First Time Buyer Program. Mr. Wingfield stated that the Realtors Association has a foundation set up that gives grants of 2,500.00 to homebuyers for down payment or closing costs. Mrs. Parrish stated that the statute requires the committee to elect a chair and vice chair, and that Mr. Jones and herself were support staff. Mrs. Parrish first asked if anyone would like to volunteer to be chair. Mr. Jernigan nominated Stephanie Morgan to be chair. The committee agreed. Mrs. Parrish asked for volunteers for Vice Chair. Diana Weslowski volunteered to be Vice Chair. The committee agreed. Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Minutes from the July 23, 2008 Meeting Page 3 Mrs. Parrish stated that the deadline for the report to the BOCC was December 31, 2008. She stated that the committee could meet every 2 weeks if they needed to review the documents so they become familiar. Mr. Jernigan suggested that at the next meeting we discuss how in depth the committee wants to get on each topic that needs to be reviewed. He suggested that the meetings ndth take place the 2 and 4 Tuesday of every month. The committee agreed. Colleen Jeeves asked if the City of Port Saint Lucie and City of Fort Pierce were involved in the St. Lucie County committee. Mrs. Parrish stated that each entity was required to have a AHAC committee and this group is only for the unincorporated area of the County. With no other business noted, Ms. Morgan adjourned the meeting. Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Minutes from the July 23, 2008 Meeting Page 4