AHAC Minutes 12/20/2022MINUTES OF
THE COLLIER COUNTY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
December 2otn 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 Conference Room 609/610 located at 2800 North
Horseshoe Dr. Naples, FL 34104, with the following Members present:
Present: Mary Waller
John Harney
Joe Trachtenberg — Chair
Comm. Chris Hall
Paul Shea
Jennifer Faron
Aro) Buntzman
Stephen Hruby
Excused: Gary Hains
Jessica Brinkert
Todd Lyon
Unexcused:
Jacob LaRow, Director Economic Development and Housing Division-GMD
Michael Bosi, Director, Planning &Zoning
Jamie Cook, Director, Development Review
Donald Luciano, Manager Federal & State Grant Operations-CHS
Chris Montolio, Operations Analyst, Economic Development & Housing
Julie Chardon, Operations Support Specialist - CHS
OTHERS PRESENT; Louise Jarvis; Kelly Green, GMD; Michael Puchalla, HELP; Katerina Pelic, Clerks Office;
Betty Schwartz; League of Women's Voters; Ted Blankenship, City of Naples; Chris Watson, GMD;
Michael Dalby, Naples Chamber of Commerce, Samantha Roesler; Gulf Shore Business.
1. CALLTO ORDER
Joe Trachtenberg called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. He read the procedures which was
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. ROLL CALL -COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
Julie Chardon led with Roll Call.
There were 7 active members present when the meeting, therefore a quorum was established.
One member
(Commissioner Chris
HaII)
arrived at 8:46 am bringing the final total to 8 members
present.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES
a. Joe Trachtenberg made a motion
to approve the
agenda.
The motion was seconded by John
Harney. The motion passed by a
vote of 7-0.
b. A motion was made by toe Trachtenberg to approve the minutes from the November 15'h, 2022,
meeting of and was seconded by Steve Hruby.
c. A Motion to amend the minutes was requested by Mary Waller. Wanted to include the list of
properties that has been requested in previous meetings. Joe Trachtenberg seconded;
Motion passed 7-0.
4. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATION
a. AHAC Incentives- Mike Bosi addressed AHAC on what he believes are the key components AHAC
should be focusing on. Four initiatives were brought up that were part of a housing plan created
more than five years ago but has had no clear structure on how they should be developed. The first
initiative is an increase in housing units within the county's activity centers from 16 units per acre to
25 for affordable housing projects, the second is the process of converting commercial zones to
residential to not require a public hearing, the third involves providing developers incentives to
build along transit lines near major traffic arteries, and lastly focusing on strategic opportunity sites
near big corporate companies which could benefit from having multifamily units near their
campuses. Out of these four initiatives that need to get brought before the BCC, Mike Bosi feels the
one with the most benefit for affordable housing is the increase in housing units within the county's
activity centers from 16 units per acre to 25 for affordable housing projects. Due to the nature of
developers building out and a shift to more online shopping, the 22 activity centers designated in
the county to be shopping centers can be relooked at. Increasing to 25 units which would only be a
four-story building can help incentivizes private developers. Mike Bosi asked if Chris Hall, at the
January10'h BCC Meeting, can address the commissioners on when they can have a discussion of
the four initiates. Joe Trachtenberg wanted to provide an unpaid advertisement to a forum that is
taking place on January11th, 2023. Major city organizations such as the Sheriffs office, Naples Daily
news, and Arthrex will be voicing their concerns on the Affordable Housing crisis going on in our
community.
Jacob LaRow provided the email to the committee that he had previously sent. This email contained
the Vacant Property list and links to maps that show what could happen if the four initiatives were
adopted.
toe Trachtenberg brought up difficulties trying to get the board to look at the McDowell Housing
Project that was presented at the November 1511' AHAC Meeting. He wants to get county staff
started on looking at a process on how to develop the 20 million surtax funding that lacks structure.
Mike Bosi clarified that the 20 million needs to be spent on land and wants to know what's the land
acquisition strategy. Jamie French and staff are in the beginning stages but noted how can we
identify the right acquisition process? And how much jeopardy will be caused having to rezone and
present it to the BCC? Jacob LaRow brought up house bill 1339 that can provide affordable housing
without rezones. There will be more conversations with this topic on further development of this
process.
Chris Hall wants to get something done and has been listening to both sides of the stories. He wants
viable options and viable solutions presented to the BCC. Chris Hall expressed how he knows about
the struggles of long commutes because he too couldn't afford to live close to where he worked and
wants to help Collier County,
Joe Trachtenberg and Mary Waller would like if Jamie French and Mike Bosi come back to next
months AHAC and propose some rules on how the 20 million should be utilized and call for
proposals to see projects.
AHAC Charter -Joe Trachtenberg presented an item in the beginning of the meeting on creating a
charter for AHAC. He will bring this item up at the January 17`h, 2023, meeting but asked Julie
Chardon to reach out to the Housing Alliance group and get sample charters from other AHAC to
have available for the next meeting. At our next AHAC meeting Joe Trachtenberg will appoint an
AHAC Committee,
Mike Bosi notified AHAC that Jacob LaRow is leaving the county and that this will be his last meeting.
Joe Trachtenberg and AHAC members thanked him for all his efforts and for all that he did for the
Committee.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
a. Michael Puchalla- Executive Director with Collier County Community Land Trust and with HELP. HELP
is a local nonprofit organization that help individuals gain housing. He just wanted to make a quick
note that he is here to be part of the solution and make sure with acquiring land and working with
developers the land that's slated to be affordable doesn't get phased out. He tasked himself with
creating an income certification process that builders can come forward and utilize. He will share
the Income Certification process with the group.
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. 2023 AHAC Calendar -Joe Trachtenberg questioned if a vote should be taken to have the next
meeting be for New Member Orientation or have a separate meeting for it. He wants to include staff
from Growth Management and AHAC members. Joe Trachtenberg asked Mike Bosi to purpose an
orientation schedule with what AHAC should know from GMD and what members who should be
there. Mike Bosi did advise the meeting may take place in late January into February. It was agreed
that the January meeting will be a regular working meeting and a separate orientation meeting will
be held later.
b. 2023 Grant Cycle Update- Donald Luciano, Federal and State manager for CHS gave an update on
the two Grant Cycles. They're finishing up one cycle and have new HOME -ARP funding which has
five applicants with seven projects. One of the included projects is the Rural Neighborhoods Golf
Course ($2.3 million). For 2023, CHS just sent their new application to their software vendor and will
have the applications opened on January loth. Looking towards the first week of March after the
process has been done to have projects listed for the 2023 cycle.
7. STAFF AND GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
Update on Rural Neighborhoods Golf Course -Jennifer Faron requested an update on the progress of
the project. She noted its rare to see a non -for profit handle a project of this size, usually it's for profit.
Jacob LaRow clarified that Steve Kirk is awaiting more funds that will make its way to the BCC in
February/ March. Jamie Cook gave an update on issues that County staff are working on. Since land
was previously a golf course, they are making sure the land is not contaminated due to chemicals used
in the past. GMD staff is also awaiting a site development plan from the developers.
Jennifer Faron questioned if we picked the right
developer since large
amounts of money has been
donated and
invested in this process and no plan
has come forward from
the developer.
Steve Hruby
mentioned a Non -Profit developer
was used due to fact
a for -profit developer would
potentially take advantage of making a profit. Jennifer Faron brought
up looking into the 990's of
some largest
Non -for Profits housing developers.
Donald Luciano will follow up with Steve Kirk to see if they can get the site development plan moving.
8. ADJOURN
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
NEXT MEETING: THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE THIRD TUESDAY ON JANUARY
17TH, 2023, AT 8:30 A.M.
Location: Conference Room 609/610-Growth Management Department 2800 N. Horseshoe
COLLIER COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Joe Trachtenberg, Chairman
The foregoing inutes were approved by Committee Chair on _t�t 2023, "as
submitted" [_] OR "as amended"