Miami, FL Green Affordable Housing

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 11/3/08

Source File: http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/LegistarWeb/Legistar.asp?XSLT.UserSession.@dspMotion=108813&

Text:

File ID 08-01252
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A COOPERATION AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO PROMOTE GREEN BUILDING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE GREEN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.

WHEREAS, Enterprise Community Partners ("Enterprise") has a created a Green Communities Initiative which provides funding for affordable housing developers and criteria for green building in affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") desires to forward the Mayor's commitment to promote affordable housing, restore and enhance the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce financial and health costs of building operations, and conserve natural resources by encouraging the construction of green affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, Enterprise as a national intermediary providing financing, grants and technical assistance to create housing, revitalize communities and provide life opportunities for low-income families and individuals, desires along with its partner to focus resources in Miami to encourage and support the construction of green affordable housing that will have significant health, economic and environmental benefits to low-income families and communities in the City; and

WHEREAS, the City and Enterprise ("Parties") seek to forward their mutual goal by acting cooperatively, through the attached Cooperation Agreement, to encourage the development and construction of "Green Affordable Housing" (as defined herein) developments in Miami through the "Miami Green Communities" initiative, and in cities across the country through outreach to local officials, including through the United States Conference of Mayors; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Cooperation Agreement is stated as follows:

"The Parties shall work collaboratively, through their respective programs, to promote the development and construction of Green Affordable Housing in Miami. For purposes of this Agreement, "Green Affordable Housing" shall be defined as housing developments which (i) if multi-family developments, include 25 or more rental units to be occupied by households with incomes at or below sixty percent (60%) of area median income; (ii) if multi-family developments, include 25 or more condominium units to be occupied by households with incomes at or below sixty percent (80%) of area median income; (iii) if single family developments, include units to be occupied by households with incomes at or below eighty percent (80%) of area median income; and (iv) meet the features specified under the "Green Communities Criteria," jointly developed by Enterprise, Natural Resources Defense Council, and other national experts. In addition, the Parties will work collaboratively to promote "Green Affordable Housing" and the "Green Communities Criteria" among other public officials, including mayors and members of Congress;" and

WHEREAS, under the Cooperation Agreement, the City commits to perform the following:

1. Incorporate the Green Communities Criteria across the City's housing and community development programs by, at a minimum,:

a. Including the Green Communities Criteria in the evaluation criteria for program activities supported by the City's affordable housing trust fund and state and federal entitlement funding.

b. Examining property disposition initiatives and redevelopment opportunities for ways to encourage greener affordable housing.

2. Work with Enterprise to identify and provide targeted funding to support three to five developments located in Miami that can serve to demonstrate how the Green Communities Criteria can be cost-effectively integrated into affordable housing.

3. Promote its collaboration with Enterprise through a variety of measures, including:

a. Press releases and advertisements in any appropriate publications;

b. Participating in promotional events;

c. Promoting the partnership via the City's website; and

d. Educating federal officials, including members of Congress;" and

WHEREAS, under the Cooperation Agreement, Enterprise commits to the following:

1. Support the City's use of the Green Communities Criteria by providing technical assistance and training to City staff;

2. Provide support and technical assistance to the City in its effort to refine programmatic guidelines to include the Green Communities Criteria into its portfolio of housing programs;

3. In partnership with the City, deliver training to area developers on green affordable housing methods;

4. Lead evaluation efforts regarding the costs and benefits of meeting the Green Communities Criteria in the three to five demonstration developments referred to above using a data collection tool developed by Enterprise for this purpose.

5. Assist the City in the identification of additional resources and partners to expand its Green Affordable Housing efforts; and

WHEREAS, under the Cooperation Agreement, the City and Enterprise commit to "jointly to promote Green Affordable Housing and the Green Communities Criteria with public officials," through:

1. Direct advocacy with other public officials, including mayors;

2. Events, activities, and publications associated with the United States Conference of Mayors;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.

Section 2. The City Manager is authorized¹ to execute a Cooperation Agreement, in substantially the attached form with Enterprise, to promote green building in affordable housing through the Green Communities Initiative.

Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.²

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¹The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all requirements that may be imposed by the City Attorney, including but not limited to those prescribed by applicable City Charter and Code provisions.
² If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.