The City of Bradenton Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision and encourages its citizens to participate in the implementation of the plan. The plan places particular emphasis on participation of very low and moderate income residents living in the CDBG target areas. The plan includes a one-year action plan for spending some $594,000.00 of Community Development Block Grant and Program income funds to address many of the needs, i.e., housing, recreation and to improve the overall conditions in the target areas.
The Consolidated Plan provides for and encourages citizen participation. The Plan has placed special emphasis on participation by very low, low and moderate income families/ persons living in the target area. The participation for public minority based neighborhood organizations, and nonprofit organization during the development process of the Plan was very helpful throughout the process. Three Public hearings were held after being publicized in the local news media. Before the second hearing a copy of the Consolidated Plan were made available for public view. On July 12, 1995, the City Council approved by resolution the filing and execution of CDBG Program funds, also on that date Council adopted by resolution the Consolidated Plan 1995-1997.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
Bradenton is a rapidly growing community of about 40, 000 people and is located in Manatee County, south of Tampa Bay on Florida's Gulf Coast. Along the north side of the City is the Manatee River, an estuary of lower Tampa Bay. Near the eastern boundary of the City the Braden River joins the Manatee. To the West of the City are Anna Maria Island and the Gulf of Mexico.
Major highways serving Bradenton are Interstate 75, located three miles east of the City limits, and U.S. 301/41 that bisects the City both highways are north-south arteries. State Road 64 and 684 are the major east-west arterial.
The City is governed by a Mayor and five-member City Council. The City was incorporated in 1903, and the City of Manatee merged with Bradenton in 1943.
The boundaries of the incorporated area are highly irregular because the City has expanded eastward and westward over the years through annexations at the request of individual property owners. The present boundaries extend from Perico Island in Palma Sola Bay on the West to about one mile beyond the Braden River on the East. The southern boundary is highly irregular.
Much of the land surrounding the City is urbanized, though unincorporated. As the population center of Manatee County, Bradenton represents 21% of the County's population, but only 1.5% of its land area. In 1986 Manatee County had an estimated population of 175,893 and an area of 747 square miles, while Bradenton had 37,374 people (est. 5000 seasonal population) and area of 11 square miles. Bradenton is Manatee County's governmental seat and its largest city. According to the 1990 census Bradenton has a population of 43,729 with an ethnic breakdown of 14.4% Black,.2% American Indians,.6% Asians or Pacific Islanders, 5.4% Hispanics and 79% White.
The area growth is attributable primarily to the in-migration of people attracted to the coastal location and subtropical climate.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.
MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and
unemployment levels.
Government, i.e., City, County and State along with Florida Power & Light, General Telephone and Tropicana Products are the top employers in the Metropolitan Statistical Area. In addition there are a variety of service industries that helps to infuse the local economy. Unemployment is constantly below the National average.
The Planning & Redevelopment Department of the City of Bradenton has prepared its population projections through period 2010 to be 58,900, an increase of 12,800 people over the estimated 1990 population of 46,100. At a projected occupancy of 2.2 people per unit, some 5, 000 units will be needed by year 2010. The additional 5,000 units will bring the total units within the City from approximately 22,065 in 1990 to 27, 000.
About half the needed units will be constructed on vacant land now approved or propose for residential development and half through infill and redevelopment. Approximately 850 acres will be needed for the construction of new units. Over 1, 000 vacant acres suitable for development are available. The Community Redevelopment Area that extends from 15th Street West to 15th Street East between the Manatee River and 9th Avenue, is anticipated to experience redevelopment for multi-family housing during the 1990's. The construction of housing in the downtown area is one of the three goals of the Community Redevelopment Agency's plan adopted under the Chapter 163 Florida Statutes.
There are various components that speak to the projected/future housing needs of the City of Bradenton. The first area to address is the preservation of the existing housing stock that can remain in the inventory. This can be accomplished by estimating the number of dwelling units that cannot be rehabilitated to be replaced with a standard unit to maintain the housing inventory at its present rate. Second, the contributing component to the future housing needs is the projection of new units needed to accommodate the expected growth in the total households and to allow for a reasonable vacancy rate.
The size of households in the City is expected to continue in a downward trend, reaching an average of two persons per unit by the year 2010, down from 2.4 at the 1980 Census. The reduction stems from an increase in the number of one and two-persons households and a decline in the number of households with six or more persons. The demand for housing for families with 3 to 5 members is expected to remain steady.
The type of housing is also expected to continue its present trend toward higher percentages of multi-family units. By 2010, unit types are expected to be evenly divided between single family and multi-family units, with the overwhelming majority of new units being multi-family.
While the private sector is meeting the housing needs of middle income to affluent retired family households, it is not sufficiently addressing the needs of low income households, particularly mid to large households and the elderly. Manatee County has estimated that 64% of the housing needs will be met by the private sector. The private sector is expected to supply 70% of the needed housing units, based upon developments new approved or proposed. These units will no address the lower rent ranges. The deficiency is anticipated to be approximately 600 units with a projected maximum monthly rent of $375. This is total of 1500 units. Even with units being built to address the housing needs, household with incomes at or below 50 percent MFI have the greatest housing burden. There is a continuous need for rental assistance and/or affordable options. Additionally, down payment assistance for low and very low income first time homebuyers must continue to be available.
The present trends in the City of Bradenton indicate that the market for housing is on the climb. There is a renewed interest in housing with special emphasis placed on homeownership, i.e., first time homebuyers for the very low, low and moderate income category. This appears to be the case with existing units as well as new construction.
With the creation of Manatee Bankers for Affordable Housing, the State of Florida (SHIP program) and a Liaison group for affordable housing, the demand for affordable housing as ownership is increasing at a much rapid pace than the supply. More low/moderate income families/individuals (female head of households) are qualifying themselves to become homeowners in both the existing and the new construction housing market.
The condition of existing dwelling units on the market has been found to be most acceptable. However, it has been noted that there are minor problems that can be easily corrected upon inspection for HQS standards. The City of Bradenton CDBG program's housing activity is currently involved with the inspection of the unit for conditions not to standard. There have been a number of sales in the target area where there was a requirement that the dwelling unit meet HQS.
The cost of housing varies depending on who is doing the selling and/or buying as well as the area and/or section of the City. For this recipient (SHIP) State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program designated a maximum cost of $75,500 for a first time homebuyer (new construction or existing dwelling). The idea here is to have a fairly comfortable range for very low and low income families/individuals to become homeowners. The cost of existing dwelling that meets and/or above the HQS has a maximum buying rate of $76,410, which is in line with the SHIP program. This range lends itself to the low income family group that is in need of two and three bedroom units. Generally, two bedroom units sell at a faster pace than the other categories. However, lesson learned indicated that those very low, low and moderate income families/individuals becoming first time homebuyers are buying three bedroom units because of family size and genders.
In addressing the homeless needs in the City of Bradenton, the CDBG staff will be working with the Mayor's Community Coalition on homelessness. This 15 member organization was established to serve as a vehicle to target and deinstitutionalize homeless individuals, homeless families with children, homeless individuals with mental disabilities and other handicapped homeless persons. The awareness of the need and continuous support is expressed by two current operating sites. These sites are: The Coffee House with 14 beds and the Gregg House with 14 beds. These two sites are providing emergency shelter and services with social skills, medical and nutritional care, along with some job counseling to its residents.
Gaps in services are most evident as indicated in the most recent public hearing. The providers spoke of their particular service with a desire to better serve those at-risk with the various needs and coming together of the agencies providing the services. Emergency shelters for families, individuals, (male/female), the mentally ill, runaway youths and in some cases' victims of domestic violence appear to be the most sensitive issues.
The agencies in the City/County are are trying to gear themselves up to offer more transitional housing for homeless persons. There are little if any identifiable toward special need's population such as veterans persons, with mental illness and for individuals with substance abuse problems. A critical need exists for permanent supportive housing for homeless and non homeless with special needs, such as the frail elderly, persons with disabilities and persons with HIV/AIDS.
Bradenton has 318 total public housing units located on four separated sites in the City. The majority of these units are occupied. The exceptions are those units that are going through the on-going rehabilitation process. There are many low and very low income individuals and families on the waiting list. With the continued growth for the need of assisted housing by low and very low income, the majority of the private rental complexes are utilizing the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program. The Section 8 Program has 294 certificates and 30 vouchers. The jurisdiction has no unused certificates or vouchers, with a waiting list of roughly 2 1/2 years. The private sector is providing the City with 300 section 236 assisted units, 96 Section 8 new construction and with 200 state and federally sponsored units. Even with the present inventory of assisted housing, the need and/or demand far exceed the jurisdiction's ability to deliver.
Service providers have indicated that the following gaps exist in addition to affordable housing in the homeless and at-risk-population.
The lack of affordable housing in the City of Bradenton is indeed a critical problem. The most common barriers include but not limited to credit problems, the way financing is done, discrimination, the accessibility of lending institutions, the lack of trust, and more importantly, the lack of finance.
Other barriers to affordable housing are caused by government regulations, policies and procedures. The City has addressed some of the areas, i.e., a review of the building permits process, cost, connection impact fees, zoning, fire, and public works activities. This review has been developed into an affordable housing incentive plan that would streamline the process in the delivery of affordable housing.
The City, through its CDBG Attorney has begun the procedure of developing a fair housing ordinance that would be substantially equivalent to the Federal Housing Regulation. There are no court orders consent decrees or HUD imposed sanctions against the City.
During FY 1994-95 the Bradenton Housing Authority advertised a (Request for Proposal (RFP) to begin its lead based paint abatement testing program on those units identified as containing lead-base paint and/or asbestos. During the past year, records indicate that the Department of Epidermiology conducted blood level lead screening or 612 youth/children of this number 44 tested positive (above the acceptable level) and 558 tested negative (well below the acceptable level). There is no other known data available.
The Community Development needs continue to be additional housing units for
the at-risk population in the City of Bradenton. This includes home-ownership,
rental units for very large and large families as well as housing assistance for
the very-low and those with special housing needs. In addition to housing needs
to housing, there is a continuous need for employment opportunities' education/
job training business development, neighborhood development (associations -
community based organizations) and more public facilities. The strength of the
community is associated with the mentioned needs.
All neighborhoods within the Community must be integrated into the existing economic development, safe decent and sanitary housing, and social programs that can respond to the ever changing conditions. Housing priorities and strategies is the first basic ingredient to consider for this mix. Therefore, the Community Development primary objectives are to revitalize the residential neighborhoods utilizing housing rehabilitation programs Code Enforcement, first time homebuyers (New Construction and existing) and to encourage participation in the economic development activity. These programs are designed to enhance opportunities for very low, low and moderate income residential (families and/or individuals). There will be a focus on affordable sales on the vacant lots in the target area. It is anticipated that an affordable lot can translate into an affordable dwelling unit.
Priorities for affordable housing must include increasing the supply while at the same time working to keep the cost down. For the cost-burden for low and very low income households to be within an acceptable range construction cost must be at an affordable level. Assisted public housing residents becoming more self-sufficient, provide more choices for low and very low income families.
Priorities for homelessness alleviation include providing sufficient transitional and permanent housing alternatives for the homeless population provide adequate emergency shelter as well as the supportive network and services to ensure assistance to this population.
The priority for non-homeless person with special needs - is to provide supportive housing that is designed to support the special needs of the elderly, elderly frail, persons with HIV/AIDS, and others with special needs.
Priorities for mixed use areas - were possible, such designated will be in the best interest of the neighborhood as well as the total community and its service areas. This will include residential infill and neighborhood type stores or many of the small vacant lots throughout the target area.
Priorities for economic development activities include assistance in the development of business ventures in the CDBG target areas. Economic Development activities will enhance the target areas as well as provide an interconnection to the down-town development authority.
The City of Bradenton recognizes the need for continued support of existing programs. There is a network of the local social organization that tends to support the many services oriented systems throughout the Community.
In Bradenton, Manatee County, there are many resources, i.e., Federal, State and Local that serve as resources for the residents of the City of Bradenton as well as Manatee County. The resources operated by the City include: CDBG and Section 8 (existing). Public Housing is and extension of City government and the City is supportive of there needs. There are private resources that have come together to provide affordable housing programs, local lending institutions, Habit for Humanity and many others that have joined the wonderful task of doing what they can to better the life and environment of the citizens of Bradenton, Florida.
The City of Bradenton is responsible for implementing every component of the consolidated plan. There are no social agencies, taxing agencies or service agencies involved in administering the plan. There may be some agencies receiving funds in supporting the delivery of services to such programs that benefits the special needs population.
There will be a coordinated effort to fulfill the objectives of the Consolidated Plan.
That is to:
All activities included in the Consolidated Plan will require a continuous
effort to ensure the implementation of the plan.
The City of Bradenton's One-Year Plan clearly outlines the proposal use of the entitlement funds received: $578,180. The following is a list of the activities that will take place in the designated target area.
I. Public Improvement - $60,000.00
A. Recreation - provide additional playground equipment in parks - target area $30,000.B. Street lighting - install additional street lights in target area community dark spots reducing possible criminal activity $10,000.00
C. Street improvement - Construction of sidewalks, street paving, curbs and gutters $20,000.00
II. Homeless Shelter - $31,700.00; provide for $1,000.00 per individual for shelter assistance.
III. Code Enforcement - $86,137.00; Comprehensive Code Enforcement to assist in eliminating blighting influences, physical decay throughout neighborhoods in the target area.
IV. Housing - $155,000.00 (low, very low/moderate income persons or individuals).
A. Paint Refund Program - Paint exterior of home-owners residential dwelling unit $10,000.00.
B. Rehabilitation owner occupied single family dwelling unit $100,000.00.
C. Down payment assistance 1st time homebuyer $45,000.00.
D. Housing Rehabilitation Inspector/Coordinator $32,280.00.
V. Community Service Coordinator $39,260.00 - Salary for staff person to live in Rogers' Garden Complex to assist and increase Law Enforcement in public housing. To work with housing management to improve living conditions of tenants and their environment. To have educational activities and involve to tenants in their total welfare.
VI. Special Economic Development $24,504.00 for economic development loans for businesses requesting assistance in the target area. Also creating jobs for low and very low income persons or individuals.
VIII. Administration (20%) $109,296.00
All activities listed in the consolidated will be carried primarily in the target areas shown to have at least 51% low moderate income persons. The exception in those activities meeting the case by case criteria.
The actual number of low and very low income persons or individuals the proposal funds will assist, cannot be given at this time. The performance will be measured by the need on a first come, first served bases at the end of the program year given the amount of funds allocated to the City of Bradenton.
