To help developers facing a difficult economic climate get their projects going again, Homestead lengthened the time builders have to meet public facilities and services standards and to start construction.

Builders will be able to apply for a six-month extension -- in addition to the year they already have -- to meet concurrency standards, which ensure that enough services are available or planned to support new development.

Developers also will be able to apply to have up to two one-year extensions on top of the existing 12-month period to begin construction after their site plans are approved.

The City Council approved the changes 6-1 at a meeting Monday, saying developers had requested the change at a workshop earlier this year when construction began to slow down.

''This came out as a response to try to assist the builders,'' Mayor Lynda Bell said.

There was talk of deferring the measure after an attorney for the Alger family raised questions about how the changes might affect a mixed-use project styled like a town center that the Algers are planning for the corner of Lucy Street and Southeast Sixth Avenue.

As a condition to build on the site that is now farmland, the family agreed to pay for on-and-off ramps for Florida's Turnpike at Lucy Street.

Attorney Santiago Echemendia said he did not oppose the changes and just wanted clarification on them. Bell and City Manager Mike Shehadeh said the project was not linked to Monday's measure and should be dealt with separately.

Council member Judy Waldman voted against the extensions, saying perhaps there were issues the board had not considered.

''If there's a problem and I didn't know about it then, I think we should go back and look at it,'' she said.

Also at the meeting, the Council hired Alberni, Caballero & Castellanos as the city's internal auditor on a temporary basis.

The job has been vacant since late 2006 after a controversial draft audit of the Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency became public.

That controversy might be scaring off some candidates for the position, said Bell, who is still interviewing applicants to permanently fill the post.

''I didn't want to wait any longer,'' she said of the temporary hire.

The city had offered the job to Laura Hoa Burrows in June, but she turned it down, citing concerns over travel and other issues.

In other business, the council again hired Robert M. Levy & Associates and The Wren Group -- with $30,000, one-year contracts for each -- to serve as the city's lobbyists in Tallahassee.

Another firm, Alcalde & Fay, also will continue lobbying for Homestead in Washington for $60,000 for one year.

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