Title
Community Land Trust (B)
This item involves a summary of the process and substance related to staff’s recent ranking for proposals associated with the City of Gainesville, FL - Community Land Trust RFP.
Explanation
One of the recent City Commission equitable development referrals directed to staff was to prepare and process an RFP designed to facilitate a partnership with a Community Land Trust (CLT) in order to deliver affordable housing units throughout the community.
On February 4, 2021, the City Commission approved a staff drafted Scope of Services associated with the RFP to be issued seeking Community Land Trust services. The approved RFP was drafted to emphasize that the City sought a CLT partner and requested responders to provide their assessment of what would be most beneficial in terms of the City’s contributions to a CLT program.
The RFP was released on March 11, 2021 and processed through the evaluation process in the subsequent ninety (90) days.
There were two respondents and staff provided the following ranking;
1) Bright Community Trust, Inc.
2) Alachua Habitat for Humanity
The staff evaluation committee (representing GCRA, HCD, DSD and CAPER) was unanimous in its ranking. Staff’s recommendation was based upon the number one (1) ranked firm’s many years of experience and capacity operating as a CLT in several parts of the State of Florida; the impression provided by the CLT staff regarding organizational sustainability and approach to engagement; the ability to hit the ground running; and, providing a proposed exit strategy.
There was a sixty (60) delay in bringing the recommendation to the City Commission because a bid protest was filed by the 2nd ranked entity. The bid protest was subsequently withdrawn, thus clearing the path for this item to be presented to the City Commission for direction.
At the February 10, 2022 General Policy Committee (GPC) meeting, the City Commission determined that additional contextual information regarding the City’s approach to affordable housing should be provided to the City Commission by staff and this item should be reconsidered at the March 17, 2022 City Commission meeting. The contextual affordable housing information is provided in the back-up to this item.
Fiscal Note
The City’s proposed financial participation in this effort had not been explicitly defined at the time. The number one (1) ranked firm did provide a proposed five (5) year operating budget at approximately $216,000 per year for staff/operating support but it was suggested that this was subject to modification based upon the City’s proposed level of participation and performance objectives.
Strategic Action Plan
Goal 3: A Great Place to Live & Experience - Affordable Housing Strategy
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a brief presentation and direct as deemed appropriate.