AHAC Minutes 09/17/2024TheAffordable HousingAdvisory Committee met on September 17,2024, at 9:00A.M. in REGULAR
SESSION AT Growth Management Community Development Department, Conference Room
6091610,2800 N. Horseshoe Drive, Naples FL 34104 with the following members present:
CHAIR: Steve Hruby
VICE CHAIR: Jennifer Faron
Arol Buntzman
Gary Hains
Commissioner Chris Hall
Hannah Roberts
Paul Shea
Mary Waller
Todd Lyon
Thomas Felke
Andrew Terhune - present remotely
Bob Mulhere, DSAC liaison (nonvoting member)
ALSO PRESENT:
Cormac Giblin, Director of Housing Policy & Economic Development
Mike Bosi, Director of Zoning & Planning Department
Sarah Harrington, Manager-Planning of Housing Policy & Economic Development
Priscilla Doriq Ops Support Specialist II of Housing Policy & Economic Development
NOtC: ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ONANYAGENDA ITEM MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO
SPEAKING. ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERSWILL RECEIVE UP TO THREE (3) MINUTES UNLESS
THE TIME IS ADruSTED BY THE CHAIRMAN. DURING COMMITTEE DISCUSSION,
COMMITTEE MENBERS MAYASK DIRECT QUESTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS. PLEASE WAIT TO
BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CHIRMAN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE
RECORD BEFORE COMMENTING.
Any persons in need of the verbatim record of the meeting may request a copy of the audio recording
fromthe Collier County Growth Management Department.
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September 17,2024 -AHAC Meeting Minutes
1. CaU To Order & Pledge ofAllegiance
Vice Chair Faron called the meeting to order at 9:00a.m., and the Pledge ofAllegiance was
recited.
2. Roll call
Rol1 call was taken by Cormac Giblin and a quorum was established.
a. Mr. Andrew Terhune is present remotely. He is able to participate and vote. He is not
counted as IN-ROOM quorum.
3. Approval ofAgenda and Minutes
a. Agenda approved unanimously. 7-0
b. Minutes for June 18, 2024 AHAC Meeting approved unanimously. 7-0
4. Information Items and Presentation
a. Update of IFIIA
Arcl Buntzr'nan shared the following:
. Cunent projecl is 128 units on 9.5 acres. All 128 units are being built in 8, 2 story
buildings. Each building with 16 apartments. Half are 2 bedroom and the other
halfare 3 bedroom. This includes a community center, computer lab & library, a
meeting area.
o The classroom and computer lab are use for early childhood education and after
school programs.
o The meeting area is for residents and also for partnering organizations who
provide wraparound services for the tenarts. People providing wraparound
services includes healthcare network, mobile supermarket, education and
everything that residents could need or use.
. Also being developed is the children's playground with a soccer field.
o An infrastructure is in place for the entire complex with roads, sewers and
utilities brought to 8 building sites.
. The first building with 16 apaxtments is virtually complete. Final inspections are
in the process ofbeing completed, and the close out certification is being
prepared.
o The l6 famities, future residents are residents ofthe community, farmworker
families, tandscape service workers, Arthrex employees, Collier County
employees.
o Most households eam in the S30,000 and $40,000 range with only I family
eaming $80,000.
. Example of impact to the residents: One family is currently paying 52% oftheir
household income in rent; after moving into a three bedroom apartment, rent will
be 30% oftheir household income.
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September 17 ,2024 -A}JAC Meeting Minutes
. The footers for the second building have been put in, so construction has now
started. It should take 12 to 14 months to complete, unless we have any more
supply chain issues. We're hoping construction on the 3d building will be able to
start within October and November
. Construction has also started on the first playground.
o Not all 8 buildings are funded. "We are funded for where we are". Funding is in
place for the first 3 buildings, and money is being raised for the community
center. We have no debt. It's all donations and grants and this is why we are able
to keep the rents down at 30% to 40 o ofAMI.
AEAC Question and Ansh,e6i
o How do you determine who ends up with a unit and who doesn't?
. How do you handle income restrictions?
o How do you decide if someone is hitting the income restriction levels?
o How does the construction cost differ from the first building, to the second and 10 the
third?
Arul Buntzman replies:
o The infrastructure is not the same on each building. It depends upon the way the building
is funded.
o All of the families in the first building are at 30% to 60% ofAMI.
o We have a density bonus agreement that is done with the county. It requires to set aside
70% ofunits for families with household income at 60% of AMI or less, and then 300/o of
market. Our board has decided we're doing 100%o at 600/o ofAMI or less, with a focus on
trying to optimize or maximize the number of households that can do 30olo to 40%.
o All of the families in the first building are between 3 0%o and 600/o of AML
o There were probably 1,000 families that could qualify for the first 60 apartments. Over
200 applied within 2 weeks, and ofthose at least 100 were qualified.
o Families were selected with a numerical rating system, as approved by the county giving
preference or higher scores to families that live in lmmokalee, with families with
children that currentty live in Immokalee and are paying the highest portion oftheir
household income yet living in the worst conditions.
o After having as many families as possible with AMI in lhe 30o/o to 40yo range, we then
determine how many families are needed al slyoto 60yo lo balance out.
o When not paying more than 30% of income, there is money left over for food, medicine,
clothing and to spend in the community.
o The third building was partly funded with a $750,000 grant from Federal Home Loan
Bank in Atlanta. The sponsor being Finemark Bank. They require you to have all ofthe
units at 50% of AMI.
o The first building was about 30% down, the second building went up a bit and the third
building will probably cost as much as the first did.
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September 17, 2024 - AIIAC Meeting Minutes
5. Public Comments
Persons wishing to speak must register prior to speaking. All registered speakers will receive up
to three (3) minutes unless the time is adjusted by the Chairman.
Michael Puchalla - CEO & Executive Director ofThe Housing Alliance
. Spoke about workforce housing stabilization loan program
. Board members discussed possibilities with Mr. Puchalla
6. Discussion Items
a. Final SHIP incentives Report and Executive Summary (5, Harington)
. Edits to the report were explained as the committee read though the report;
Additional edits were suggested for incorporation.
Mary lYaller motioned to approve the SHIP Incentives Report and Execative Summary based on the
recommended edits and adjustments made toda!. Motian passed unanimously 7-0
b. AHAC Member Selection (3 t€rms expiring)
. Arol Buntznan, Gary Hains and Thomas Felke have terms that expire October
1,2024
o Mr. Arol Buntmran and Mr. Gary Hains have asked to be reappointed. Mr.
Thomas Felke has not.
. Applicant Catherine Meyers shared her background and why she is interested in
joining the committee.
Chairman Steve Hruby arrived at 9:46 A.M.
Commissioner Chris Hall motioned to approve all three candidates into the committee as of October 1,
2024. Arol Bantzman, Gary Hains and Catherine Mlen have all been voted in to lhe commitlee.
Motion reached unanimously 7-0.
Jennifer Faron thanked Thomas Felke for his service as a committee member.
c. Tenant annual income increase
Bob Mulhere shared information regarding the increase of income for tenants- the small
pay increase compared to the large rent increase ifa tenant has to move based on a raise
that places them slightly above the threshold to stay in the community. He used the
potential pay inuease for teachers, that is coming up.
o The committee discussed different scenarios and risks in allowing a window of
pay, allowing a tenant in this circumstance to stay for a certain length of time so
that they may begin making arrangements and saving money for new living
accommodations, and the challenges staffwill face in monitoring this type of
flexibility.
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September 17, 2024 - AHAC Meeting Minutes
. A decision was not made; committee still in discussion regarding this and will
continue discussion as a smaller sub-committee to discuss a solution.
o Mary, Bob, Cormac and Hannah will be the sub-committee for this solution.
7. Staff and Committee General Communications
a. CCPS Site / Essential Ilousing (C. Giblin)
o Cornac Giblin provided an update and spoke about the discussion at the school
board meeting.
b. July 2024 Rental Apartment Inventory Survey
o Cormac Giblin intoduced the spreadsheet. HighJevel take-away: at the time of
the survey, there was one available apartment in the lowest level income. There
were 2 apartments available in the low-income category. There were almost 800
available ifyou were in the median level income category.
c. Impact Fee Deferral FY 23 & f"Y 24 (YTD) data (C. Giblin)
o Adjustments made to the deferral were discussed; there is a process issue.
Commissioner Chris Ilall exited the meeting at 10:40 A.M.
o The committee discussed: the interest, the impact fee, funding and what is not
working, offsetting or eliminating some aspect ofthe impact fee, and
incentivizing the impact fee.
d. 2024 Website Highlights
c Cormac Giblin spoke about website trafTic and statistics.
. Stew Hruby asked about social media presence.
e, Update on Regional Housing Study Reports 1&2.
Regional Housing Study Reports 3&4
o Sarah Hanington provided an update; Iessica lzrzer provided additional
information on data collection.
. A draft of the final report for the housing study is in the process ofbeing
completed.
8. New Business
o Cormac Giblin shared information about the Surtax Committee validation.
o Developments being approved by the board:
o The Elanto is a 310-unit apartment property that has been approved for rental
to very low income. These are horizontal multifamily rental units.
o JLM Living East is another new development discussed. This is coming to
the board of commissioners soon. It is 305 rental units of which 30% will be
affordable housing, at the 80o and l00o/o levels.
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September 17 ,2024 - AJIAC Meeting Minutes
o Mattheson is another new development that is coming to the Board of
County Commissioners soon. This is 150 units total of which 30% will be
affordable available at the 80o/o and 100% levels.
o Fiddler's Creek is proposing 750 additional units, ofwhich 225 will be
affordable. This is 30% oftheir total at the 80o/o and 100% levels.
. Thomas Felke was again thanked for his service on the AHAC.
Adjourn
Meeting motioned to adjoum at 10:52 A.M
NEXT MEETING DATE AND LOCATION: November 19,2024, at 9:00 A.M.
Conference Room 609/610 - Growth Management Community Development Department
These minutes approved by the committee/ Chairman on "
lt, /4 ,ou,
As oresented V or as amended
^
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September 17,2024 _ AHAC Meeting Minutes
Collier