Title
Resolution and Housing Program Establishing the General Fund Displaced Mobile Home Owner/Tenant Assistance Program (B)
This item proposes to create a program for displaced mobile home owners/tenants, of low and moderate incomes, who are relocating outside of the corporate limits of the City of Gainesville but within Alachua County.
Explanation
At the August 13, 2007 City Commission meeting, the City Commission instructed the City Manager to investigate the possibility of using General Fund monies to assist Buck Bay residents who were relocating outside of the corporate City limits of the City of Gainesville. In accordance with the City Commission directive, staff contacted the City Attorney to find out if Florida Statutes or other applicable laws prevented the City from using General Fund monies to provide assistance to residents who were relocating outside of the City limits.
On October 15, 2007, the City Attorney issued a legal opinion stating that he had “not come across any State law which expressly prohibits the City from providing relocation assistance to mobile home owners and tenants in the City”. And, “since such a program is likely to be considered a municipal purpose, and no law expressly prohibits such a program, then the program likely is a lawful use of public funds”. In addition, he recommended that “the City Commission make findings as to the specific municipal health, welfare and safety concerns addressed by the program”; and, that program participation be limited to low and moderate income households.
Through its efforts to locate additional funding options to assist Buck Bay residents, staff has identified unrestricted funding from the Cedar Grove II foreclosure acquisition reserve fund. At the September 9, 2002 City Commission meeting, the City Commission authorized the establishment of a Cedar Grove II foreclosure acquisition reserve fund to protect the development from potential purchases by investors for conversio...
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