Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 400 NW 73RD AVE PLANTATION, FLORIDA 33317 THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Planning & Zoning Director Dan Holmes at 4:45 p.m. Roll call was conducted by the Clerk. A quorum was present. He stated the first order of business should be to name an acting Chair for the meeting due to the absence of both the Chair and Vice-Chair. Jon Auerbach moved to name Mayor Nick Sortal acting Chair for the meeting; seconded by Edwin Cordova Motion passed: 6-0 Present: Jon Auerbach, Robbi Auerbach, Edwin Cordova, Mayor Nick Sortal, and Roderick Spencer Absent: Chair Katie Edwards-Walpole, Vice Chair Maude Bruce, James Hackman, and Maggie Zalamea Also Present: PZED Director Dan Holmes; PZED Assistant Director Michael Alpert; City Attorney Kerry Ezrol; Carl Buehler; Jeff Katims, TranSystems; Kaitlyn Forbes, TranSystems; and Chris Wallace, Munilytics. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES May 4, 2023 Meeting Minutes The minutes of the May 4, 2023 meeting were approved as presented by unanimous consent. 2023-05-04_AHAC_Minutes__Final_.pdf

NEW BUSINESS 1. Comp Plan Roundtable Discussion with TranSystems Mr. Holmes introduced the consultant working on the update of the Comprehensive Plan, Jeff Katims and Kaitlyn Forbes of TranSystems, along with affordable housing consultant Chris Wallace. Ms. Forbes provided a brief introduction. She discussed the work completed in Phase one (1) of the project and stated they were conducting a series of roundtable discussions with stakeholder boards to gather opinions on the overall vision and objectives. She explained a public survey was being launched, and shared information on how to find the information online at the project website, planplantation.org. Chris Wallace, President, Munilytics, updated on preliminary findings of the affordable housing analysis. He discussed the parameters of the analysis and methodology for forecasting. He stated there is a gap in very low income and low income, and moderate income housing is also an issue. He discussed current construction, as well as initiatives at the County and State level to address very low income and low-income housing needs, and explained tools available would be addressed in detail in the report. Ms. Forbes asked the Board to share their list of top things to tackle related to affordable housing in the City over the next 10 years. The Board discussed as follows: • Permitting expedited • Incentives for public and private side • Projects that will provide affordable housing in a thoughtful manner (i.e., good land use policy) • Define objectives cooperatively to allow developers to move forward with confidence • Educating public more on housing and associated rules • Parking improvements • Education regarding high costs to build housing at Broward Mall • Correct misconception regarding what affordable housing is and who needs it (including impact on crime rates and property values) • Broad approach with a specific target • Integrate transportation and housing plans Mayor Sortal noted that the City has a problem with housing, not just affordable housing, and it is not all on the developers. Ms. Forbes asked the Board to consider the next 5-15 years and comment on what a successful affordable housing program would like. The Board discussed as follows: • Thoughtful mixed-use development, looking at land use of existing spaces in a different way • Understanding what it takes to make a new project successful at all affordability levels • Identify areas of the City where development should be going and prepare the playing field to execute that vision (20-30 year vision, not 1-2 projects) • Opportunities for homeowners to finance with subsidies

• Building generational wealth through ownership • Integration of County solutions as opposed to City solutions • Consideration of the affordability of staying in a home versus getting into a home Carl Buehler agreed with comments shared and discussed funding programs and insurance issues. He stated 40 percent of Plantation residents would not qualify for current rentals based on 2021 Census data. Continuing, he discussed Code considerations for parking regulations in residential areas and smaller apartments. He stated getting developers to build owner-occupied units would also be a challenge. Mayor Sortal commented briefly on the Code rewrite in progress and improvements to the permitting process. Ms. Forbes asked the Board the major challenges and hurdles facing Plantation in accomplishing the goals shared. The Board discussed as follows: • Developing programs for assisting qualified buyers with down payments and closing costs to increase homeownership, as well as with coming up with advance costs when renting (first, last, security) • Every project requires variance or relief in some form, puts Council in political cycle due to lack of long-term strategy • Rising construction costs make affordable construction difficult • Need for Comprehensive Plan in order to make consistent decisions • Focus not just on ownership, but on helping people have a place to live – consideration of every possible option and developing new things Discussion ensued regarding lack of recent condominium projects, the sales volume requirements for a viable project, and condominium associations. Mr. Katims noted the part of the discussion which addressed local policy and legislation, and asked the Board if there were specific things members of the Board would do if they had unilateral power to do so. Ms. Auerbach stated she would revisit land use, but she did not have the information to make specific recommendations. Discussion continued. Mr. Katims asked whether there were programs or models the Board had seen elsewhere which they would like to see replicated or investigated in Plantation. Mr. Cordova discussed a program to entice builders by offering reduced taxes and improved credits. He stated it was dependent on working with government money and posited that programs using private funds should be explored. He noted a program in California which had been brought to the attention of the Board previously and discussed the need to break the issue into many small problems to attack. Mr. Buehler added that short-term rentals are also taking properties off the market. He suggested more conversations with developers to better understand that angle of the issue. Roundtable Outline.pdf

2. Live Local Act Summary Assistant Director Michael Alpert shared documents outlining the Live Local Act and other legislation from the most recent legislative session. He provided a brief overview. Discussion ensued regarding the act, discretion within the City Code, improvements being looked at to parking and other regulations, density, and preemptions. Mr. Holmes stated that Staff was conducting an analysis of areas in Plantation the Act was applicable to, and counsel would be providing additional direction. Overview of the Live Local Act PowerPoint.pdf Memo - Senate Bill 102 - Live Local Act (00565167xC4B6A).pdf SB 102 Staff Analysis.PDF 2023 Session Overview FINAL.pdf SHIP- Distribution-Estimates-SB-102-3-9-23.pdf OLD BUSINESS 1. Strategies for Developing a Community Education & Outreach Team Consensus was to hold the item for discussion with a more complete Board OTHER BUSINESS/DISCUSSIONS Jon Auerbach distributed a handout outlining the 2023 income limits and rent limits for Multifamily rental programs and the CWHIP Homeownership Program. J Auerbach - 2023 Income Limits and Rent Limit.pdf PUBLIC COMMENTS Carl Buehler shared brief public comments regarding high rise development and public records. ADJOURNMENT @ 6:11 p.m.