11 members appointed to Manatee affordable housing advisory board
MANATEE -- An advisory board tasked with reviewing Manatee County codes for any barriers to developing affordable housing in Manatee County took shape Tuesday.
Eleven members were appointed to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee by the county commission during Tuesday's meeting.
The advisory committee, which is mandated by Florida Statute, will review the county's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code for any obstacles that exist to develop affordable housing in the county, said Denise Thomas, the county's housing and commu
nity development coordinator.
"It is required of every local government in order to receive state funding," she said.
The board last met on Nov. 17, 2014, to "adopt the final local housing incentive strategies recommendation on affordable housing incentives," according to Thomas. These recommendations were provided to the commission in December of that year and then transmitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corp.
The statute only requires the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to meet every three years.
"Monthly meetings are not required unless requested by the chairman of the AHAC or as the need arise," Thomas said.
With the topic of affordable housing on the forefront, it is important for the committee to meet, Thomas said.
"The activeness of this committee in reviewing changes to the land development code and the comprehensive plan and making recommendations to the board of county commissioners is an important component to incentify developers in the creation and development of affordable housing throughout Manatee County," she said.
The members are:
Richard Bedford, who was appointed for the engaged in residential home building industry seat.
Junie Benson, who was appointed for the engaged in banking or mortgage banking industry seat.
Brando Fetzak, who was appointed for the representative of areas of labor engaged in home building seat.
Donald Hill, who was appointed for the engaged as an advocate for low income persons seat.
Loretta Ortiz, who was appointed for the engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing seat.
Diana Shoemaker, who was appointed for the engaged as a not-for-profit provider seat.
Mike Faber, who was appointed for the engaged as a real estate professional seat.
Michael Rahn, who was appointed for the actively serves on a local planning agency seat.
Shaun Robert Koby, who was appointed for the resides with the jurisdiction of the local governing body seat/
Samuel "Andy" Reasoner, who was appointed for the represents employees in Manatee County seat.
Michelle Hange, who was appointed for the represents essential service personnel seat.
The commission also:
Authorized the execution of an agreement with Manatee Community Foundation to accept an anonymous donation for $200,000 to hire and fund a county health care services manager for two years.
Authorized the issuance of up to $36 million transportation debt, which is part of $92.4 million that is anticipated. The debt is for the beginning phases of capital improvement projects such as design and engineering. The debt will be repaid through impact fees. "These are all growth initiatives," said Jan Brewer, county financial management director.
Adopted a no parking ordinance on 75th Street Northwest between Eighth Avenue Northwest to Ninth Avenue Northwest. Parking will no longer be allowed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays on both sides of 75th Street Northwest.
Approved an economic development incentive grant and a transportation impact fee incentive for Project BRAVA, an infotech company expanding in Manatee County. The company is projected to create 46 quality jobs over five years with the company paying a minimum of 115 percent of the 2014 county average annual wage plus benefits.
Approved an economic development incentive grant for Project NAUTILUS, which will locate an aerospace facility in Manatee County. The company is projected to create 29 quality jobs over five years.
Approved a budget amendment transferring $1 million from reserves in the Northeast Road Impact Fee Capital Projects fund for putting traffic signals at the intersections of Mullholland Road and Golf Course Road at Fort Hamer Road.
Set a public hearing for May 10 to consider decreasing the speed limit on Rye Road from County Road 675 to State Road 64 to 45 mph from 55 mph.
Directed the County Attorney's Office to draft a resolution to change public comment on future agenda items. The change the commission will consider at a future meeting would be having a 30-minute period near the beginning of the meeting for public comment on future agenda items. Any public comment over that time would be heard at the end of the meeting. This comes just more than two months after the commission voted to move public comment on future agenda items to the end of the meeting.
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.
This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 11:21 PM with the headline "11 members appointed to Manatee affordable housing advisory board ."