§ 90-71. Creation of the affordable housing council.

(a)

The affordable housing advisory committee (AHAC) is hereby created and established. The members of the council shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners in its entirety as "at-large appointments" as defined in subsection 2-213(2).

(b)

The AHAC shall consist of eleven voting members, their terms shall begin July 1. The affordable housing council must include the following as voting members:

(1)

One county resident who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing.

(2)

One county resident who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage industry in connection with affordable housing.

(3)

One county resident who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing.

(4)

One county resident who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing.

(5)

One county resident who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing.

(6)

One county resident who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing.

(7)

One county resident who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing.

(8)

One county resident who actively serves on the local planning agency pursuant to F.S. § 163.3174.

(9)

One county resident who resides within the jurisdiction of the local governing body making the appointments.

(10)

One county resident who represents employers within the jurisdiction.

(11)

One county resident who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan.

(c)

If the board is unable to appoint a citizen actively engaged in these activities in connection with affordable housing, a citizen engaged in the activity without regard to affordable housing may be appointed.

(d)

Members shall serve for two-year terms and may be reappointed for subsequent terms.

(e)

A simple majority of the currently appointed voting members shall constitute a quorum. The AHAC may not take formal actions unless a quorum is present, but may meet to hear presentations if duly noticed.

(f)

The AHAC shall meet at a minimum of six times annually and comply with the government in the Sunshine Law, the public records law, and the special provisions regarding notice of affordable housing incentive plan considerations found in F.S. § 420.9076. Minutes of the meeting shall be kept by the housing and human services department.

(g)

The AHAC shall annually elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and such other offices as it deems necessary. The chairperson is charged with the duty of conducting meetings in a manner consistent with law.

(h)

Staff, administrative and facility support for the AHAC shall be provided by the housing and human services department.

(i)

As representatives of the county housing partnership, the council will also make recommendations to the board on the allocation of funds from the state SHIP program, the federal HOME Program, and other federal and state funds which allow the county discretion in the determination of housing priorities.

(j)

Triennially, the AHAC shall review the established policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, and adopted comprehensive plan of the county, and shall recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value. The recommendations may include the modification or repeal of existing policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations or plan provisions; the creation of exceptions applicable to affordable housing; or the adoption of new policies, procedures, regulations, ordinances, or plan provisions, including recommendations to amend the county comprehensive plan and corresponding regulations, ordinances and other policies. At a minimum, the AHAC shall submit a report to the county board of county commissioners that includes recommendations on, and triennially thereafter evaluates the implementation of, affordable housing incentives in the following areas:

(1)

The processing of approvals of development orders or permits, as defined in F.S. §§ 163.3164(7) and (8), for affordable housing projects is expedited to a greater degree than other projects.

(2)

The modification of impact-fee requirements, including reduction or waiver of fees and alternative methods of fee payment for affordable housing.

(3)

The allowance of flexibility in densities for affordable housing.

(4)

The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing for very-low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons.

(5)

The allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning districts.

(6)

The reduction of parking and setback requirements for affordable housing.

(7)

The allowance of flexible lot configurations, including zero-lot-line configurations for affordable housing.

(8)

The modification of street requirements for affordable housing.

(9)

The establishment of a process by which the board of county commissioners considers, before adoption, policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions that increase the cost of housing.

(10)

The preparation of a printed inventory of county owned public lands suitable for affordable housing.

(11)

The support of development near transportation hubs and major employment centers and mixed use developments.

The AHAC recommendations may also include other affordable housing incentives identified by the advisory committee.

(k)

The approval by the AHAC of its local housing incentive strategies recommendations and its review of housing and human services department's previously recommended strategies must be made by affirmative vote of a majority of the membership of the AHAC taken at a public hearing. Notice of the time, date, and place of the public hearing of the AHAC to adopt final local housing incentive strategies recommendations must be published in a newspaper of general paid circulation in the county. The notice must contain a short and concise summary of the local housing incentives strategies recommendations to be considered by the AHAC. The notice must state the public place where a copy of the tentative AHAC recommendations can be obtained by interested persons.

(l)

Within 90 days after the date of receipt of the local housing incentive strategies recommendations from the advisory committee, the board of county commissioners shall adopt an amendment to its local housing assistance plan to incorporate the local housing incentive strategies it will implement within its jurisdiction. The amendment must include, at a minimum, the local housing incentive strategies required under F.S. § 420.9071(16). The board of county commissioners must consider the strategies specified in subsections (h)(1)—(11) as recommended by the AHAC.

(m)

The AHAC may perform other duties at the request of the board of county commissioners, including:

(1)

The provision of mentoring services to affordable housing partners including developers, banking institutions, employers, and others to identify available incentives, assist with applications for funding requests, and develop partnerships between various parties.

(2)

The creation of best practices for the development of affordable housing in the community.

(n)

AHAC members shall receive no compensation for their services.

(o)

AHAC members shall abide by and be subject to the provisions of F.S. ch. 112, art III, pertaining to the code of ethics for public officers and employees.

(Ord. No. 93-03, § VI, 3-2-93; Ord. No. 94-012, § VI, 4-19-94; Ord. No. 99-37, § VI, 5-25-99; Ord. No. 08-16, § VI, 5-20-08)

Cross reference

Boards, commissions and authorities, § 2-156 et seq.