September 23, 2024

CITY OF TITUSVILLE

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

4:30 P. M.

The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meeting was held at the Harry T. Moore Social Service Center, 725 S. DeLeon Avenue.

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The members present were Council Member Joe C. Robinson, Member Gary, Member Coles, and Member Manning. City Staff present were Tracy Davis, Neighborhood Services Grants & Contracts Compliance Manager, Sheila Martin, Neighborhood Services Special Projects Coordinator, Eddy Galindo, Principal Planner. The members of the public present were Michael Medici.

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I.          Meeting was called to order at 4:40 p.m.

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II.         Roll Call

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III.       Quorum established by roll call.

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IV.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

Motion to accepts minutes as is made by Member Gary; seconded by Vice Chairperson Manning. 

Motion passed by unanimous voice vote of yes.

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V.        OLD BUSINESS

A. Incentive F: Reduction of Parking and Setback Requirements for Affordable Housing

Chairman Robinson reviewed that last meeting, the AHAC had concerns regarding Incentive F. Vice Chairperson Manning stated that her concern was that last year’s recommendation only applied to ADUs and that the recommendation for this incentive should be to include the language that it “applies to all affordable housing units.” Vice Chairperson Manning recommended that Incentive F include that language that “regarding the reduction of size and quantity of parking spaces for affordable housing.”

Motion to accept Incentive F with amended language that the reduction of size and quantity of parking spaces be applied to affordable housing made by Member Gary; seconded by Member Coles. Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of yes.

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Chairman Robinson spoke to the Committee regarding the need for the City to be concerned with potential financial impacts that new policies and ordinances can have on affordable housing. Chairman Robinson suggested that Incentive I should have language regarding that any proposed ordinances and/or policies for housing must have the cost effects considered by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.

Motion to accept Incentive I with additional language that any new proposed policies or ordinances for housing must have the cost effects considered by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee made by Member Gary; seconded by Member Coles. Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of yes.

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VI.       NEW BUSINESS

Chairman Robinson discussed how the list has grown, and while the City would prefer that these properties be acquired by an entity, each lot is awkward in some sense which can present challenges. Member Gary asked how these properties can be acquired. Tracy Davis explained that a request for proposal can be submitted by an organization which must include, amongst many other requirements, the organization’s intent which the City uses to determine that it will be used for affordable housing projects, and that agreements for these properties generally require a twenty (20) to thirty (30) year agreement with the City. Mr. Medici asked if it would be possible for someone to acquire one of these properties and put a tiny home on them. Tracy Davis answered that as of this time, tiny homes can only exist within eligible zoning areas. Chairman Robinson stated that a request for proposal can be drafted, submitted, and presented to the City, so long as the organization exists as an eligible owner and understands the requirements of the agreements associated with the property. Eddy Galindo suggested that if the Committee wanted to grow the inventory list of properties, they could consider the additional public lands owned by other public entities, such as the county and state, and work with these entities to compile a list of all the land to thereby maintain a more comprehensive list of publicly owned properties that would be suitable for affordable housing.

Motion to accept Incentive J with the recommendation that the City investigate partnering with Brevard County and the State of Florida to compile a full list of publicly owned properties within the City limits of Titusville that are suitable for affordable housing made by Member Gary; seconded by Member Coles. Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of yes.

Chairman Robinson stated that Incentive K consists of language that is already part of the criteria for a housing project that receives public funding and that there has already been an increase in the stops located throughout Titusville and incorporated technology that allows bus passengers to track their bus and its location so that they don’t have to stand and wait too long. Chairman Robinson stated that his recommendation for Incentive K is to include language that brings the Incentive up to date, such as the usage of modern technology by public transportation, which is available to the public, for the convenience of its riders. 

Motion to accept Incentive K as is made by Member Gary; seconded by Member Coles. Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of yes.

Tracy Davis informed the Committee that the City has hired a consultant to perform a housing assessment regarding an inclusionary zoning housing policy and linkage fee program to address the affordable housing needs of the City, which will include a presentation to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee at some point in the near future, and that the consultant would not complete the study until September of 2025. Tracy Davis also provided the Committee with an overview of inclusionary zoning and the Committee’s previous recommendation from last year, which was to keep Incentive L as is with an additional recommendation that the City research additional requirements for inclusionary zoning such as unit size and set aside requirements, and income guidelines, which could continue to be the recommendation of the AHAC until the completion of the study by the consultant. 

Motion to accept Incentive L as is and including the recommendations from last year, made by Member Gary; seconded by Member Coles. Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of yes.

Chairman Robinson provided the Committee with an overview of a community land trust.  Vice Chairman Manning added that do create a community land trust, the entity must take the required course to thereby be certified to do so. 

Motion to accept Incentive M as is made by Member Gary; seconded by Member Coles. Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of yes.

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VII.      PETITIONS AND REQUESTS FROM THE PUBLIC PRESENT (OPEN FORUM)

Mr. Medici addressed the Committee about how the AHAC does not give any special attention to disabled and elderly tenants, which is very important. Mr. Medici also spoke about how difficult it is to find information about housing for the disabled and how he only recently learned that the Titusville Housing Authority is a separate entity from the City of Titusville, and how many people are unaware of this. He also spoke about ADA information was not readily available throughout the City, until recently.  Mr. Medici also stated that including information from the Section 504 of the Disability Act within the AHAC recommendations would be extremely beneficial.

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VIII.     REPORTS

Chairman Robinson spoke to the Committee about how he will be stepping down from the City Council when the new Council is seated and will be stepping down from the AHAC as well.

Member Gary stated that the AHAC meets as an open forum, but he does not see anyone else discussing this outside of the AHAC. Tracy Davis stated that as City Staff, we see generally see more discussions about and interest in affordable housing.

AHAC participation in the Inclusionary Housing & Linkage Fee Study.

Tracy Davis reminded the AHAC that the consultant, named Strategic Planning Group, for the Inclusionary & Linkage Fee Study will need to meet with the AHAC, with one meeting happening before this December. Tracy also informed the Committee that the application for the new AHAC member would be going before City Council at the next meeting and the other two AHAC applicants will not be considered until the new City Council has been seated.

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IX.       ADJOURNMENT

With no further business and discussions, Chairperson Robinson adjourned the meeting at 5:36 p.m.