AHAC Minutes 08/16/2022MINUTES OF
THE COLLIER COUNTY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
August 16, 2022
8:30 A.M.
Naples, Florida
LET IT BE REMEMBERED that the Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee met on this
date at 8:30 A.M. in a WORKING SESSION in the Human Resources Conference Room in Naples, Florida,
with the following Members present:
ALSO PRESENT:
Present: Mary Waller
John Harney
Steve Hruby —Vice Chair
Jennifer Mitchell
Rick LoCastro
Paul Shea
Janet Miller
Gary Hains
Excused: Joe Trachtenberg —Chair
Jessica Brinkert
Litha Berger
Unexcused:
Jacob LaRow, Manger Housing Grant Development &Operations-CHS
Julie Chardon, Operations Coordinator-CHS
OTHERS PRESENT: Michael Puchalla, HELP; Megan Phillips, Collier Clerk; Betty Schwartz, LWV; Debrah
Forester, CRA; Michele McLeod, Candidate for Commissioner; Susan Golden; Daniel Zegarac; Ted
Blankenship, City of Naples; Andrew Cribbs; Katerina Pelic, Inspector General, John Raymond, National
Development of America, Rick Miller, National Development of America.
1. CALLTO ORDER
Steve Hruby—Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. He read the procedures to be followed
and Steve Hruby— Vice Chair led in the pledge to the flag. Due to a personal matter Joe Trachtenburg-
Chair did not attend. Steve Hruby will act as acting chair.
2. ROLL CALL -COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
There were 7 active members present when the meeting started, therefore a quorum was
established.
Jennifer Mitchell, An AHAC member, arrived shortly after the meeting started bringing the members
present to 8.
Ted Blankenship from the City of Naples will be attending AHAC meetings as anon -voting member.
He will apply for a full-time seat in October when vacancies arise.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES
a. Steve Hruby made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Paul Shea. The
motion passed by a vote of 7-0.
b. A motion was made by Steve Hruby to approve the minutes from the meeting of June 6, 2022 and
was seconded by Mary Waller. The motion was passed with a vote of 7-0.
c. Jennifer Mitchell made a motion to Amend the minutes pertaining to the section 'Collier County
Public Schools'. The minutes brought up a section that mentions 'The plan is to pick'. Jennifer
Mitchell wanted to clarify that what was discussed is not a 'set plan'. Jennifer Mitchell made a
motion to amend 'the plan is to have'. Mary Waller seconded. The motion passed 8-0.
4. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATION
a. Apartment Survey- Julie Chardon conducted an apartment survey to view the trends in rental
rates across Collier County. The survey had four new apartment complexes added and Jacob
LaRow highlighted Rental Concessions that were being offered at certain locations; Waived
application fees, decreased rent for certain units, daily pricing. Commissioner Rick LoCastro wants
to see more transparency and confirm with these apartment complexes that they're housing
essential personal and not saying yes to appease the public. Jacob LaRow mentioned that GMD is
adding language to help developers that are building Affordable Housing that there is a
compliance monitoring team overlooking the process. Jacob LaRow brought up that future
language in amendments is shifting from only serving first responders to assisting anyone that
falls into the AM[ income area that the county will be able to help. These new affordable housing
developments do need to provide rent rolls and report back to the county annually to verify
compliance. Monitoring these apartments and possibly outsourcing the process was discussed
since the current monitoring team is already heavily engaged in prior commitments. Mary Waller
brought up that the AHAC Committee should take the monitoring outsourcing discussion seriously
to keep these developments truthful. John Harney brought up providing another table that can
show what's in the pipeline. Wants to how many units in each category and when are expected to
come online. Wants to see how AHAC is making progress with developers and the county. Jacob
LaRow is working on developing a list and pull information to provide an accurate report. Once he
has more information available, he will provide it to the AHAC.
b. National Development of America, INC-John Raymond and Rick Miller gave a presentation on a
property in Immokalee they would like to secure funding for. They been developing affordable
housing for 45 years; they focus on 60% AMI. They currently have six projects underway and
want to fund a project in Immokalee. They want to build 80 units to help provide affordable
housing to the 28% and 60% AMI. They funding they requested is first the road that is next to the
development site is county owned and requested the county help pave the road due to immense
flooding occurring. They also requested a million dollars from the county. When they go to Florida
Housing to apply for sale funds, they feel having the county provide a commitment for the funds
could help them up provide a better chance of securing the funds and having a competitive
application. Jacob LaRow mentioned the Grant cycles opening in September 13h that this project
could apply for. The pot of funds is roughly around 3 million.
S. PUBLIC COMMENT
a. Michael Puchalla, HELP —Michael Puchalla mentioned the housing trust fund can help entice
developments and support the gap developments need with local dollars. The presentation by
National Development of America, INC would be a great project to help support with this fund. He
will be attending an affordable housing conference that will be discussing our land trust and how we
are supporting affordable housing projects. lust wanted to bring attention to the committee that he
will be address those topics that have sparked an interest in the Florida Housing Coalition.
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Committee Vacancies -Jacob La Row has three applications so far for the upcoming vacancies
happening on the committee. He requested the next meeting (September 20th) the committee
make a recommendation. On October 111h the CA will bring their agenda to the board and then
October 1811 there should be a full committee with the new members. Three vacancies are
available, and Jacob LaRow will bring a chart that explains how we are in compliance with the
members required and have geographic distributions. Ted Blankenship brought up how the City of
Naples could have a liaison to AHAC, a non -voting member, to encourage collaboration.
b. AHAC Incentive Strategies Report- Jacob LaRow mentioned this is something the AHAC can use
that can help them advise the board. He highlighted how on previous reports there was no
recommendations taken. Asked if they can select one or two and revisit/expand on. The
Committee is allowed tQ.pick.other strategies that are not listed in the report. Steve Hruby
mentioned this can be an,ongoing agenda item in the upcoming AHAC meetings and asked Jacob
to let AHAC know if any rules and regulations from the Housing Trust Fund can be utilized to the
new fund being created to hold the $500,000,00, Jennifer Mitchell made an initial motion that the
same parameters be established for the Housing Trust Fund as with this new line item. Steve
Hruby restated the motion to direct staff to consult with county attorney and county managers
that any allocation of funds go into the Housing Trust Fund and administered with the same rules
and regulations. Jennifer Mitchell seconded the motion. The motion passed 8-0.
c. ULI Study discussion- Steve Hruby asked for an update on the ULI Study. Jacob LaRow will provide
more information to the committee after his meetings he will be having regarding using other
firms and staff recommendations for a more targeted plan. A discussion about breaking up the
amendments into four components to help them have a better chance of passing with the board.
A motion was made that AHAC is encouraging that these amendments get broken up when it gets
presented to the board. Steve Hruby addressed it, Jennifer Mitchell moved it and John Harney
seconded. The motion passed 8-0.
7. STAFF AND GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
a. Permitted Use Table -This was discussed at the previous meeting and a discussion did not commence.
b. AHAC meeting location, date, and time- Jacob LaRow will be moving over to GMD and brought up
moving the AHAC meeting to GMD and allow GMD staff to participate. A calendar will be created just
like the previous Agenda topic that'll hopefully provide more availability to schedule the meetings for
AHAC. Each committee member will send their conflicting dates and will work on providing an
accurate table to reflect all the information.
8. ADJOURN
There being no further business for the good of the County and no quorum remained, the meeting was
adjourned at 11:13 a.m.
NEXT MEETING: THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE FIRST MONDAY ON SEPTEMBER 20TH,
2022, Ar 8:30 A.M.
Location: Board of County Commissioners Chambers, Third Floor, Collier County Government Center
3299 Tamiami Trail E.
HOUSING ADVISORY
�ear�S. � Vtoo eN�.t�•+�
The foregoing Minutes were approved by Committee Chair on �T � , 2022, "as
submitted" [)j OR "as amended" [_j.