Boca Raton shortens AHAC, aligns committee with state housing statute

The Boca Raton City Council on March 26 adopted Ordinance 56-91 to amend city code governing the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) so the committee aligns with recent changes to chapter 420 of the Florida Statutes.

Theresa McClurg, the city’s community improvement administrator, said the ordinance reduces AHAC membership from 11 to 9, requires one locally elected official serve a one-year term, sets the remaining eight members for three-year terms and requires the committee to conduct an annual review only in years when the state SHIP allocation exceeds $350,000. "Ordinance 56 91 is administrative in nature, and it makes amendments to section 23 1 10 of the city code of ordinances pertaining to the affordable housing advisory committee," McClurg said.

McClurg reviewed the committee’s statutory purpose — to review policies, land-development regulations and incentives aimed at encouraging affordable housing — and noted the state statute allows jurisdictions flexibility by letting them choose six of the enumerated categories for membership rather than filling all 11 slots. She added the AHAC had not been active in recent years because state allocations did not trigger the review requirement; the committee last met in 2015, she said.

McClurg also estimated the city’s fiscal-year 2025 SHIP allocation would likely fall between $700,000 and $740,000, which would trigger the annual review requirement. Council members discussed whether some appointees should be residents and how the appointments will be handled; staff recommended making the elected-official appointment at the organizational meeting.

Council adopted Ordinance 56-91 by unanimous vote, 5-0.