Belleair Beach Asked to Consider Adopting Countywide Ordinance Regarding "Affordable Housing"By Kari Jo M. RodgersThe first hot topic of the meeting started when County Commissioner Karen Seel asked the mayor and council members to support an ordinance, which would require having affordable housing in their area. She said that "there were many ways of supporting affordable housing," and that she wanted them to consider adopting (participating) the countywide ordinance. Seel explained that she wanted to "take this issue out to the cities and ask for feedback." She informed council members that 54 apartment communities were lost to condos in 2001, and that 23,000 mobile home parks were also lost to condos that same year. She later stated, "The average median income for a Pinellas County resident was about $36,000. She also told council members that affordable housing did not mean public housing, but instead meant housing that service people in the community could afford. The ordinance would require that affordable housing be provided in developments with 20 or more units. Councilmember David Dumville wanted to know "if they would be required to comply in the event that a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, hit a condo structure. Seel responded by saying, "Yes, 20 or more houses would have to comply, or pay the required fee." Members of the council said that although they would discuss the matter further, they would most likely "opt out," and not adopt the plan. Another issue addressed appertained to "rental and or residential properties" in the area. The proposed ordinance stated that homes could be rented to individuals if the renting of the property was for three months or longer. Renting rooms, or "portions of any home" would be excluded from this ordinance, as well any type of "fractured ownership." Tenants would be required to register at City Hall when first occupying the property, as well as having to register at City Hall when their rental period ceased. In regards to the matter, Councilmember Mitch Krach inquired about what would happen if a family were to go on vacation, and further asked if board members could add something in the ordinance pertaining to family members staying on one's property during such an event. City Attorney Paul Marino replied by saying that "this would not apply, because it's not a rental." Vice Mayor Stan Sofer also asked about how the ordinance would work if a person were to be paid to take care of one's property, while away. City Attorney Marino responded by saying, "We tried to come up with the right combination of words," and later said that they could add something that stated family members, or another individual could watch the property, while the person was away. After it was agreed to add these amendments, the motion carried. The city also plans to have "Ameri-Pride trim "Bayside Park's mangrove and coastal vegetation areas with "exotic and or invasive plants to be removed." The cost for the trimming will be $3,500. Lastly, "The City of Belleair Beach," was given an award for being in good standing with their budget by the "Government Finance Association!" 2.5 million dollars was put in the general fund, and 2.4 million dollars of that amount was budgeted!
|