Title
An Ordinance Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Amending Chapter 40 Of The Code Of Ordinances, Entitled "Emergencies", To Provide For The Use Of Temporary Housing During Declared Housing Emergencies; Providing For A Repealer Provision; Providing For A Severability Clause; And Providing An Effective Date.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of attached Ordinance.
Explanation:
A housing emergency could occur in Hollywood, if a significant portion of the City's housing stock were declared uninhabitable in the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. The range of conceivable events includes hurricanes, tropical storms, tornados, floods, explosions, large-scale transportation accidents, and civil disorder. Events of this nature could impact housing stock over a widespread area, or the damage could be more concentrated. Broward County Emergency Management Division is encouraging municipalities to permit the use of emergency temporary housing units as part of a comprehensive post-disaster housing recovery solution.
City codes currently authorize the declaration of a state of emergency within the boundaries of the municipality by the appropriate elected or administrative officials. Staff believes it is prudent to also recognize the potential for a housing emergency and to recommend a policy to address the situation. The proposed ordinance authorizes the City Commission to declare a housing emergency for all or any part of the City of Hollywood in conjunction with a declaration of a state of emergency. The housing emergency shall be evaluated by the City Manager, or his/her designee, ninety (90) days after its declaration and every ninety (90) days thereafter to determine whether additional formal action by the City Commission is necessary.
City codes currently restrict living or sleeping in any vehicle or part of vehicle designed or adaptable for human habitation, at any time, outside of a properly licensed trailer park, automobile tourist park or campground. The code does not envision an extraordinary event impacting a significant portion of the city's housing stock. Staff recommends amending the code to allow the limited use of emergency temporary housing units in conjunction with a housing emergency declaration.
The ordinance further proposes allowing citizens whose dwelling is declared uninhabitable by the Building Official to apply for a permit to place an emergency temporary housing unit at their property during a declared housing emergency. Examples of temporary housing units include camping trailers, travel trailers, motor homes and similar types of recreational vehicles. Manufactured homes, mobile homes and tents are not included.
The use of emergency temporary housing requires proper permitting and regulation in order to ensure that residents, neighborhoods, and the general public are protected during a state of housing emergency. As proposed, an application for a permit to repair the permanent dwelling must be submitted to the Building Department no later than sixty (60) days after issuance of a permit for an emergency temporary housing unit. An emergency temporary housing permit shall be issued for no more than ninety (90) days. Extensions may be allowed up to a maximum of eighteen (18) months from the date of issuance. Emergency temporary housing units will be inspected by the Building Department to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and the permit may be revoked, if necessary.
The proposed ordinance restricts emergency temporary housing units to single family and duplex properties. Properties located within a flood zone or evacuation zone are restricted from utilizing emergency temporary housing units. The ordinance does not authorize emergency temporary housing absent a housing emergency declaration. Therefore, it is not applicable in an isolated situation involving only a single dwelling. It also does not permit the placement of so-called 'group sites' containing clusters of temporary housing units.
Housing emergencies in other locations have contributed to a permanent loss of population. Permitting the limited use of recreational vehicles for emergency temporary housing could discourage citizens from relocating permanently and help the City of Hollywood cope with a housing emergency.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark, City Manager
Davon Barbour, Director, Community & Economic Development