AHAC Minutes 01/10/2022MINUTES OF
THE COLLIER COUNW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
)anuaty 10,2022
8:30 A.t\,4.
Na ples, Florida
LET lT BE REMEMBERED that the Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee met on this
date at 8:30 A.M. in a WORKING SESS/O/V in the Human Resources Conference Room in Naples, Florida,
with the following Members present:
Present:Mary Waller - Chair (arrived at 8:43)
Steve Hruby - Vice Chair
John Harney
Joe Trachtenberg
Litha Berger
Jennifer Mitchell
Rick LoCastro
Gary Ha ins
Janet Miller
Jessica Brinkert
Excused: Bernardo Barnhart - Resigned l/10/22
Unexcused
ALSO PRESENT:Jacob LaRow, Manger Housing & Grant Development CHS
Susan Golden, 5r. Grants Coordinator - CHS
Hilary Halford, Sr. Grants Coordinator - CHS
Barbetta Hutchinson, Operations Coordinator - CHs
OTHERS PRESENT: Katrina Lin, Clerk's Office; Michael Puchalla, HELP; Elizabeth Radi; Lauren Czarnecka;
Geor8e Danz, WINK News; Naples Daily News
1. CALI To ORDER
Steve Hruby called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. He read the procedures to be followed and led in
the pledge to the flag.
2. Ro[L CALL - CoMMrrrEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
There were 10 active members present when the meeting started, therefore a quorum was
esta blished.
3. APPRoVAL oF AGENDA AND MTNUTES
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Packet Pg. 10 Attachment: AHAC Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 10, 2022 (21448 : Affordable Housing Advisory Committee - February 7, 2022)
b. A motion was made by Litha Berger to approve the minutes from the meeting on December
6,2o2Land wasseconded by iennifer M itchell. The motion was passed with a vote of L0-
0.
4. INFoRMATIoNAI. ITEMs
a Quarterly Apartment Survey -Jake reviewed the chart, stating rent increaseswere trending and
vacancies remain low making it very difficult for people under 60% to find a place to live. He
said that next time we would include a column for year vs. year. The group discussed the need
for senior and low-income housing. The following developments are very close to becoming a
reality - Bembridge (Shovel ceremony in February); Allegra (closed Friday bringing 160 units);
Blue Coral a nd Golden Gate Golf Course in the fall of this year.
5. PUBIIC CoMMENT
Elizabeth Rade spoke about being a single parent and her trouble with finding a place she can afford. She
alsostated thatthe rental amounts reported on theApartment Surveywas incorrect. Commissioner
Locastro said maybe he should get us a ghost phone so as not to tip the renters off to who we are. Jennifer
Mitchell said we should have a hot line to report landlords who take advantage or falsely accuse people of
wrong doing to get them evicted so that they can charge more rent. She also said that hotpads.com and
apt.com could be resources. The AHAC discussed holding a housing workshop with the Commissioners, the
Naples CRA, and the Planning Commission in March. When the AHAC meets in February they will discuss the
agenda for the workshop. Elizabeth asked for support to form a Tenant Union.
Lauren Czarnecka spoke about her apartment going from S1,200 2 years ago to 51,900 now. She sald we
need to hold property owners accountable for driving out the service industry staff from Collier County.
6. DTSCUSSTON tTEMS
Nomination and Voting in a Chairperson and Vice-Chair. John Harney nominated Steve Hruby. Litha
nominated Joe Trachtenberg and Jennifer Mitchell. Jennifer declined as she is afraid she would not be able
to give the job the attention it d€serves with her other commitments. Therewas discussion about brin8ing
new people intothe spotlight. ThevotewastakenwithTvotesforJoeand3votesforSteve. Therefore, Joe
is the new Chair and Steve will be the vice-chair.
7. STAFF AND GENERAT COMMUNICATIONS
a) Training from Michael Chaney from the Florida Housing Coalition. He reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation, giving the group a vast amount of information about the Coalition and the
responsibilities ofthe AHAC in regard to the SHlP lncentive Program and their responsibilities. .loe
Trachtenberg asked Michael if the AHAC has any authority to make policy decisions. Michael replied
that the AHAC can only advise the Board. There are some examples in the presentation materials of
some suggestions that the AHAC has made in other counties that have been approved by elected
a. Litha Berger made a motion to approve the agenda which was seconded by John Harney.
The motion passed by a vote of 10-0.
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Packet Pg. 11 Attachment: AHAC Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 10, 2022 (21448 : Affordable Housing Advisory Committee - February 7, 2022)
officials. Michael also told the group that the Commissioner must take ZOOM training. Michael
commented on our membership roster. He said that we can only have 2 in each category and should
have a member of the Planning Commission on the committee.
b) At the BCC meeting being held on January 11, 2022, there will be discussion regarding the LC sal€s
tax. Joe Trachtenberg volunteered to attend the meeting and speak to the BCC about putting the
S20 million into the Housing Trust Fund right away. Hilary Halford will sendacopyoftheoriginal
resolutiontoJoeforhisreference..lakeLaRowisworkingwithDirectorsfromvariousdepartments
and Real Property on a list of surplus land inventory to go to the BCC in the Spring.
c) The Trust Fund Su b-committee will holdaspecial meeting to fina lize the list oftrustfund resources
and have it available for approval by the AHC at their meting in February.
d) Bernardo Barnhart sent in his resignation letter effective immediately
e) Paul Shay from the Planning Commission has shown interest in becoming a member of the AHAC>
The Planning Commission will discuss this at their next meeting.
f) Commissioner Locastro said he has addressed the affordable housing issue at all of his town hall
meetings. He said he feels it is important to let everyone know what affordable housing is so NIMBY
will not be a problem. He says that affordable should be the same quality as market rate housing.
g) John Harney said he got a list of high-density unitsfrom Laura DeJohn. Hewill send the list to H ilary,
who will send it out to the members of the committee.
8. ADJOURN
There being no further business for the good of the County, Jennifer Mitchell motioned to adjourn the
meeting at 11:31 a.m.; Litha Berger seconded, and the group agreed with a vote of 10-0.
NErr MEETTNG: stNcE THE couNTy wtu- BE cLosED FoR NEw yEARs oN THE FtRsr MoNoAy tN JANUARv, THE NExr
MEETING WII.I, BE HEI"D ON THE FIRST MONDAY ON FEBRUARY 7, 2022, AT 8:30 A.M.
Location: Training Room located in Euilding 8, 3303 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, Florida
CoTLIER CoUNTY AfFoRDABI.E HoUSING ADvIsoRY
Joe Trachtenberg, Chairman
The foregoing Minutes were approved by Committee Chair on
submitted" [_1OR "os omended" l_).
2022, "os
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Packet Pg. 12 Attachment: AHAC Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 10, 2022 (21448 : Affordable Housing Advisory Committee - February 7, 2022)