Clearwater NAHAB recommends council approve FY 2023–24 CAPER; board votes to forward report to council

The Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Board voted to forward the City of Clearwater’s fiscal year 2023–24 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to city council for approval, after a presentation from Dylan Mayhew, acting housing manager.

Mayhew told the board the CAPER “provides a comprehensive overview of how we’ve used our federal funds over the last year,” and described the report’s structure and key accomplishments. He said the CAPER pulls data from HUD’s Integrated Disbursement and Information System and includes both federal fund tables and narrative summaries that incorporate state and local funding activity.

The report lists program outputs for FY 2023–24, including assistance to 64 applicants with housing-related services, construction of 14 rental units, rehabilitation of 179 rental units (including asbestos removal at Palmetto Preservation in North Greenwood), and completion of 48 security-related units at Norton Apartments using SHIP funding. Mayhew also reported 19 down-payment assistance awards (7 using ARPA, 10 with SHIP and 2 with HOME), and cited $1,675,939 expended for 15 public facility projects (10 completed, 5 ongoing). He said $292,765 was expended for operational support for 11 public services and listed several nonprofit recipients and program types supported by CDBG and CDBG-CV funds.

Mayhew acknowledged disruptions during the CAPER period, including hurricanes Helene and Milton and a staff illness that prompted HUD to grant an extension for submission. “This was my first time navigating a CAPER season, and I will tell you, it was an absolute beast,” he said, describing the additional workload and the later HUD extension to submit the report.

Board members asked about disaster impacts. Mayhew said staff temporarily paused some programs and reallocated funds to disaster response, noting an initial SHIP reallocation of about $300,000 that was reduced to $160,000 after reassessment; he said the full effects on next year’s CAPER remain to be seen.

The board moved and seconded approval to forward the CAPER to city council. The motion carried. Mayhew said that once council approves the report next week, the city will upload the CAPER to HUD for formal submission.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve and forward the City of Clearwater FY 2023–24 CAPER to city council for approval and HUD submission. Mover: not specified. Seconder: not specified. Outcome: approved/motion carries. (Transcript: motion, second, “Aye,” “Any opposed? Motion carries.”)

- Motion to approve minutes of the July 9, 2024 meeting. Mover: not specified. Seconder: not specified. Outcome: approved/motion carries. (Transcript: motion, second, “Aye,” minutes approved.)

Background and significance

Mayhew summarized several ongoing and pipeline projects: use of revolving loan funds to pursue multi-family rehabilitation and acquisition (including an approved CDBG funding commitment for acquisition of Indigo Apartments, an expected 208 units); an 81-unit tax-credit project called Clearwater Gardens on Cleveland Street currently in construction; and a competitive procurement for a 1.3-acre city-owned lot to support 24 workforce and affordable town homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Santa Fe Neighborhood Housing Services. He also noted Section 3 compliance activity attached to Clearwater Gardens and the city’s monitoring procedures for subrecipients.

The board’s recommendation will go to city council for final action; Mayhew said council review is scheduled for next week and that HUD submission will follow council approval.