Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

City of Deltona 2345 Providence Blvd. Deltona, FL 32725 Minutes Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Tuesday, August 17, 2021 4:00 PM 2nd. Floor Conference Room * In an effort to reduce the possibility of exposure of residents to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meeting will be held in the virtual environment via Webex and can be accessed by the following methods: 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 4:03 pm. 2. ROLL CALL: Also present: Angelia Briggs, Community Development; Ron Paradise, Planning and Development; Damaris Miranda, Community Development; Jessica Entwistle, Community Development; and Don Hoppa, Community Development. Present: 8 - Chair Jodi Pena-Castaldi Member Eric James Member Commissioner Avila-Vazquez Member Terri Ellis Member Dolores Guzman Member Cassie Landron Member Manny Rodriguez Member Michael E. Williams Excused: 1 - Vice Chair Patricia Ulicny-Hoback Absent: 1 - Member Sylvia Hayes 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES & AGENDA: A. AHAC Minutes of July 20, 2021 Motion by Manny Rodriguez, seconded by Dolores Guzman, to approve the Minutes of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Meeting of July 20, 2021, as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 4. PRESENTATIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS: City of Deltona Page 1 Printed on 9/10/2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Minutes August 17, 2021 Committee None. 5. PUBLIC FORUM: Time permitted, public comment shall be permitted at the end of agenda items only and shall not exceed two minutes. Chair Pena-Castaldi opened and closed public forum, as there was none to speak. 6. OLD BUSINESS: None. 7. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Chaney went over the next meeting dates for the Committee and explained there are 11 strategies discussed to help the Committee make incentives for affordable housing. Mr. Chaney stated Cody Blazer with Florida Housing Coalition will attend the next meeting to give extra incentives for the Committee to consider. B. 2. Strategy: Surplus lands inventory Member Ellis joined the meeting at 4:12 pm. Mr. Chaney spoke regarding surplus lands inventory, stating reducing or eliminating the cost of land decreases the cost of developing affordable housing. He explained the Committee can leverage City owned land for affordable housing to make it feasible. He also stated City owned land can be sold and the profits could be utilized for affordable housing. Member Williams spoke regarding builders wanting to buy City owned parcels, but not for affordable housing. Mr. Chaney stated there was a link given in the slide for the surplus land guidebook, which has feedback from different cities in Florida who have given surplus land away or sold to offset costs to have affordable housing to be built. He stated the Committee can recommend a method to use surplus land in Deltona. Mr. Paradise explained Deltona has a lot of publicly owned land, but very little is suitable for affordable housing due to the property being a wetland or otherwise constrained. He explained Deltona's Public Works facilities take up some of the lands, but the City bought a lot of homes to make way of the 100-year flood plain. There are a lot of smaller lots that are unsuitable to be built on due to issues with drainage or soils. Mr. Paradise stated the City may receive properties through Code Compliance, although the process for potential acquisitions may be problematic, and they may be re-purposed for affordable housing. He spoke regarding foreclosing on properties with Code Compliance which could be rehabbed through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), but the City Commission would decide what would happen to these properties. City of Deltona Page 2 Printed on 9/10/2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Minutes August 17, 2021 Committee Commissioner Avila-Vazquez asked if staff has spoken to developers to see if they would build affordable housing. Mr. Paradise stated conversations have been initiated. Member James stated developers need our business and they need to start contributing to affordable housing. Discussion occurred regarding inclusionary zoning structure, affordable housing incentives for developers, and SHIP income limits. Member Williams asked if there is a model to building affordable housing for the City to follow. He requested to meet with staff. Discussion occurred regarding the strategic plan. C. 3. Strategy: Reservation of infrastructure capacity Mr. Chaney explained the City can reserve infrastructure capacity like power lines and roads for affordable housing to help offset some of the costs. Ms. Briggs spoke regarding the reservation of infrastructure and having a map for sewer lines. She stated that any new multifamily, residential subdivisions, or commercial buildings coming into the City are required to connect to central sewer. Ms. Entwistle stated the Committee could find the Proposed Projects Map on the Planning and Development page, under maps to see where sewer will be expanded. Mr. Chaney stated reserving infrastructure capacity reduces transportation costs, which lowers the overall housing costs resulting in an increase housing affordability. Discussion occurred regarding the new infrastructure bill passed by Congress and septic tanks versus sewer. A. 1. Strategy: Transportation hubs, transit-oriented development, and mixed-use developments. Mr. Chaney spoke regarding requirements of having affordable housing development around centers of opportunity. Discussion occurred regarding Votran stops and transportation opportunities. D. 4. Strategy: Other recommendations of the Committee Member Williams stated places are making affordable housing happen, the City needs to follow their lead. City of Deltona Page 3 Printed on 9/10/2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Minutes August 17, 2021 Committee Member Ellis asked if Habitat for Humanity could help with building affordable housing and explained their success. Ms. Briggs spoke regarding past experiences with Habitat for Humanity. 8. STAFF COMMENTS: Chair Pena-Castaldi asked if anyone else had comments for Mr. Chaney. The Committee thanked him for his time. Ms. Briggs explained the importance of a quorum. There will be two (2) meetings in one month to ensure the AHAC Report is complete. Chair Pena-Castaldi asked if a calendar invitation could be sent to all members in advance. Ms. Briggs stated she would work with staff for the City inventory of land to be send out. She explained Mr. Paradise has been working with developers to advocate for affordable housing. Member James spoke regarding having affordable apartments. Ms. Briggs explained the housing market is booming right now, and nothing is affordable. Ms. Briggs spoke regarding the Florida Housing Coalition Annual Affordable Housing Conference. Member Ellis asked if some Cities or Counties have used these incentives. Mr. Chaney explained there are examples in the agenda each month for the incentives. 9. BOARD/COMMITTEE MEMBERS COMMENTS: Member Landron stated she is currently at a conference and spoke with a developer who is similar to Habitat for Humanity. She explained they are starting a project in Sanford for affordable housing. She stated the developer would like to speak with the Committee at the public hearing. Mr. Chaney stated staff would add the developer to the agenda to ensure they have plenty of time for a presentation. Member Guzman, Ellis, and Rodriguez stated they had no comments at the moment. Member Williams thanked the staff and Committee for all of their hard work. Commissioner Avila-Vazquez stated she spoke with the Acting City Manager regarding the search for developers to help the City with affordable housing. She stated she believed if anyone can help, it would be Mr. Paradise. Member James stated this is a unique opportunity for the Committee. Chair Pena-Castaldi stated there is a lack of affordable housing everywhere. She spoke City of Deltona Page 4 Printed on 9/10/2021 Affordable Housing Advisory Minutes August 17, 2021 Committee regarding rental assistance events she has been working. She stated she would share the upcoming event with staff to forward to the Committee. Discussion occurred regarding having a rental assistance event in Deltona. Multiple members of the AHAC asked if they could assist in any way. Mr. Paradise stated the event would need to be advertised due to multiple members attending and to get word out. 10. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 6:23 pm. __________________________________ Jodi Pena-Castaldi, Chairperson ATTEST: _________________________________ Damaris Miranda, Board Secretary City of Deltona Page 5 Printed on 9/10/2021