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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 10-22-2008 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes-October 22, 2008 Attendees Skeet Jernigan, Community & Economic Development Council of South Florida Louise Hubbard, Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council Diane Wesloski, St. Lucie County Citizen Stephanie Morgan, All About You Mike Smith, Riverside National Bank Staff Jessica Parrish, St. Lucie County Community Services Jennifer Hance, St. Lucie County Community Services Peter Jones, St. Lucie County Growth Management Heather Young, St. Lucie County Assistant County Attorney Others In Attendance Beth Ryder, St. Lucie County Community Services Excused Absences Don Green, St. Lucie County Community Services Rick Carreno, St. Lucie County Fire District Mike Smith, Riverside National Bank Scott Wingfield, Realtors Association of St. Lucie County Minutes The meeting was opened at 2:00 with discussion about the timeline for getting the report due to the commission. Stefanie Morgan stated we would review items 2,9,10, and 11. Heather Young stated that the questions from the last meeting were passed on to her. The questions were whether impact fees could be waived, whether interest generated from impact fees could be used to pay for impact fees, and whether administrative fees could be used to pay impact fees. Ms. Young stated that impact fees could not be waived. They are based on the need and the impact of the residents. The interest gained in impact fees trust funds is included in the project budgets. The administrative fees are geared towards administering the impact fee program. Ms. Young stated deferral programs, grants, and loans could be alternatives to charging impact fees up front. Ms. Young also stated that the Planning and zoning reviewed impact fee revisions and it has been continued to April. There was discussion amongst the committee on how to incorporate the impact fee alternatives into the report to the commission. Jessica Parrish stated that impact fee alternatives could be written as a strategy into some of our current programs. Skeet Jernigan stated that in the report, it should be stated that the county has nothing in the comprehensive plan that allows for impact fee alternatives, and that alternatives should be investigated, reviewed, and developed. Jessica Parrish stated that she received an email about a $200 million appropriation for counties or municipalities that reduce their impact fees 25% within 12 months of this legislation. Stephanie Morgan asked if there is anywhere else that fees could be reduced or waived. Mr. Jernigan stated that the City of West Palm Beach has a program that where if an affordable unit is being built, there is a fee reduction that is applied to that build. There is also a staff person who is solely dedicated to moving affordable projects through the system. Mike Smith asked whether there were features in that plan that make sure the savings are passed on to the borrower vs. just the builder who applies for the permit. Peter Jones reviewed items 9, 10, and 11. He stated he interpreted item number 9 to mean that before rules are made the idea is to make sure that the rules do not increase costs or have a negative effect. Peter stated that he is putting together an agenda request for the approval by the BOCC of the Affordable Housing Strategy that was presented at the informal th meeting to be presented at the November 25 meeting. Louise Hubbard asked if the committee has the capacity to recommend that certain policies outlined in Peter’s memo be expedited. Skeet Jernigan stated that the focus of items 9, 10, and 11 aren’t on affordable housing and they have not been followed through on or implemented. He stated that the comprehensive plan has a housing element, but not an affordable housing element and when the plan gets amended someone will have to be watching to make sure all the elements will complement each other. Mr. Jernigan asked that a motion be made to incorporate items 9, 10, and 11 into our report and recommend that the committee review those items in the 3 year study period. Stefanie Morgan stated that we did not have a quorum and would not be able to make a motion until the next meeting. The committee asked whether staff could prepare a draft report and whether the committee could prioritize the eleven items. The committee decided the next meeting date would be November 6, 2008 at 4:00 in conference room 3.