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HAAB Minutes 02/26/2009 R February 26, 2009 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD Naples, Florida, February 26,2009 LET IT BE REMEMBERED that the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board, in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 6:00 PM in REGULAR SESSION in Building "F," 3rd floor, of the Government Complex, Naples, Florida, with the following Members present: Chairman: Valaree D. Maxwell Luis Alejandro Bernal (Absent) Raymond Cabral David Correa Renato F. Fernandez Manuel Gonzalez Cosme Perez Ernesto Velasquez ALSO PRESENT: Mike Sheffield, Assistant to the County Manager Collier County HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD Meeting Agenda February 26, 2009 6:00 PM County Government Complex Boardroom NOTICE: Persons wishing to speak on any Agenda item will receive up to three (3) minutes unless the Chairperson allows more time. Please wait to be recognized by the Chairperson, and speak into a microphone. State your name and affiliation before commenting. During discussion, Committee Members may direct questions to the speaker. Please silence cell phones and digital devices. There may not be a break in this meeting. Please leave the room to conduct any personal business. All members participating in the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board meeting are to observe Roberts Rules of Order. Please wait to be recognized by the Chairperson before speaking. Please speak one at a time into the microphone. The Meeting Reporter will record all statements. I. Call to Order - Chairperson Valaree Maxwell II. Approval of the Meeting Agenda III. Approval of Minutes from January 22, 2009 Meeting Public Speakers V. Old Business A. Law Enforcement Report-Manny Gonzalez B. Affordable Housing Report-Ernesto Velasquez C. Continued Discussion Regarding "Topics of Interest" for 2009 VI. New Business A. Brief Overview of the Collier County Dept of Housing and Human Services Homebuyer Assistance Programs-Margo Castorena B. Recommendation (to the BCC) for Appointment of a new member to the HAAS VII. Member and Staff Comments VIII. Action Item(s) to Board of County Commissioners (if any) Adjourn-the next HAAS meeting will take place on March 26, 2009 February 26, 2009 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairman Valaree Maxwell at 6:02 PM and a quorum was established. Chairman Maxwell read the procedures to be followed during the Meeting. A member questioned how to address the new Chairman, i.e., as Chairperson or Chairwoman? It was pointed out she is to be addressed as "Madam Chairman." II. Approval of Agenda David Correa moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Manuel Gonzalez. Carried unanimously, 5-0. III. Approval of the January 22, 2009 Meeting Minutes Approval was deferred to later in the meeting for discussion. IV. Public Speakers (None) A suggestion was made to a/low Margo Castorena from Housing and Human Services to make her presentation before other business was conducted. (Raymond Cabral and Ernesto Veldsquez arrived at 6:08 PM.) VI. New Business A. Brief Overview of the Collier County Dept. of Housing and Human Services' Homebuyer Assistance Programs - Margo Castorena, Grant Operations Manager Ms. Castorena stated her presentation would focus on the "Neighborhood Stabilization Program ("NSP"). . $7.3M has been earmarked for Collier County . Goal: to acquire, rehabilitate and re-sell foreclosed properties . Additional program components: demolition, land-banking and rental units . Mandated to provide safe, affordable housing for the Community . Eligibility: household earnings from 50% to 120% of Collier County's Average Median Income ("AMI" - $64,000) or between $32,000 to $76,800 . All applicants must also meet Federal requirements and are required to provide their down payments . Legal Resident Aliens will be eligible to apply . Target area: East Naples, Golden Gate City, and Golden Gate Estates . Advertising will be in Spanish, English and Creole utilizing newspapers, the County's web site, and the Collier County Educational Cable Channel . Funding must be obligated within 18 months after receipt Ms. Castorena explained the qualification process will follow SHIP and Federal guidelines. While Collier County will control the funding, it will not hold the loans, the houses will be owned by participating banks. If a qualifying applicant did not make mortgage payments as required, the property could go into foreclosure again. 2 February 26, 2009 She stated the following: . Purpose of the Program is to create a "stock" of affordable housing that will be available for the long-term. . "Flipping" (selling the property when the market goes back up) will not be allowed. Investors cannot participate. . The properties that will be rehabbed will be in communities without Homeowner Associations and HOA fees to keep payments as low as possible for prospective buyers. . The subsidy (i.e., reduced purchase price) will remain in the house for 15 to 20 years but if a home-owner sells the property after a certain period of time (approximately 5 years), the homeowner will be permitted a certain percentage of increase (profit) on the investment. . The percentage has not yet been detemlined. . Properties will be available on a "first come - first served" basis. . There will be at least 5 to 10 properties to choose from at any time. . The County plans to rehab a total of 60 to 70 houses. The County will be working with two non-profits: . The Empowerment Alliance ofSW Florida (in Immokalee) and the Collier County Housing Development Corp. (in Naples). . Business owners can register with the County to become approved vendors. . The County's Real Estate Department will handle the purchase of the homes from the banks and the Purchasing Department will award contracts to approved vendors. Income from the Program will revert back to the County for re-investment into the Program until 2013 when the funds will be retumed to the Govemment. Committee Members questions: "What type of grant did the County receive? . It is a one-time-only grant. "Why is the 'target area' so limited? Why not include all of Collier County?" . The selected locations have the highest rates of foreclosure in Collier County and were chosen to help stabilize the neighborhoods in the areas. "Is Ms. Castorena's salary paid through the grant?" . Ms. Castorena is employed by Collier County's Department of Housing and Human Services and her salary is paid from the General Fund. "How do candidates qualify for the program?" . Qualification will be done by trained H&HS Staff. "What about individuals with credit problems? " . We will try to be flexible and help them as much as possible, but they must have a fairly decent credit score 3 February 26, 2009 Concern was expressed for the "first come/first served" method of sale, but it was pointed out properties listed by real estate companies are on the market for inspection by the public until each has been sold. "Will the County/H&HS provide down payment and closing cost assistance?" . Buyers will pay their own costs. The subsidy provided is the significantly reduced purchase price. "What will be offered to those who cannot afford to save for down payment and closing costs?" . Multi-family rental units will be included in the program. Apartments will be rehabbed and rented to income-eligible individuals/families . There are tenant Based Rental Assistance programs for farm workers Concern was also expressed for the role of the Hispanic Community in the process. Ms. Castorena reiterated all advertising will be done in multiple languages to reach every community. She also suggested Committee Members alert the Hispanic Community through their personal participation in other associations and/or social groups. She further stated she is available to make presentations about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to any group or association that contacts her. Ms. Castorena stressed all details of the Program have not been finalized, pending further instructions from the Government. She offered to present an updated presentation in approximately 3 to 4 months. Mike Sheffield stated he would contact Margo Castorena to schedule another presentation in approximately six months. V. Old Business B. Affordable Housing Report - Ernesto Vehisquez . Attended the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meeting on January 2"d and will attend as many of the AHAC monthly meetings as possible . He contacted Ms. Castorena to ask her to make a presentation to the HAAB . The Latino population is not aware of these programs and he was pleased to learn that the advertising will be done in Spanish and Creole A. Law Enforcement Report - Manuel Gonzalez . Attended the Minority Task Force meeting; presentation was made by the Special Crimes Bureau ("SCB") . SCB focuses on cases of missing, abused and neglected children as well as investigating child abuse complaints . Partnered with the Department of Children and Family ("DCF"), and the SW Florida Regional Children's Advocacy Center . Works in conjunction with the FBI and ICE . Area of interest: sexual deviants 4 February 26, 2009 . There are over 400 registered sex offenders in Collier County . SCB Investigators average caseload is 318 cases each . There is no specific profile or common socio-economic component to identify a sexual offender . The SCB monitors all known sexual offenders and predators and also determines the relative risk to the community Mike Sheffield stated he will email the Sheriffs Department web site link to the members. C. Continued Discussion Regarding "Topics of Interest" for 2009 The previously assigned Topics are: . Health/Mental Health - Chairman Maxwell . Communications - Ernesto Velasquez and Cosme Perez . Education - Chairman Maxwell . Law Enforcement - Manuel Gonzalez . Jobs/Economy - Luis Alejandro Bernal . Housing - Ernesto Velasquez . Safety (open) . Elections - Raymond Cabral . 201 0 Census - David Correa Mike Sheffield reminded the Committee that one of its goals was to ensure that government is communicating effectively with the Hispanic community. He suggested a member could investigate various outlets in the Spanish media and the information could be provided to the County. He also stated members could suggest other areas of interest to be included. He further stated reports are not required to be given on a monthly basis. When a member emailed that a report was ready, Mr. Sheffield will add it to the next available meeting agenda. III. Approval of the January 22, 2009 Meeting Minutes Cosme Perez moved to approve the Minutes of January 22, 2009 as submitted. Second by David Correa. A member stated the Minutes from the January meeting indicated the discussions were inappropriate and suggested future members appointed to the HAAB should be screened to determine their understanding of the Ordinance. He further stated HAAB is an "Advisory Board" not an independent, activist group. He stated the purpose of the HAAB was to represent the Board of County Commissioners. A member suggested the HAAB could send a recommendation to the BCC to schedule a Workshop with the HAAB and existing non-profit organizations to discuss ways to better communicate with the Hispanic Community. A member suggested the recommendation could only alert the BCC to the problem of lack of communication with the Hispanic Community and suggest the BCC consider holding a Workshop with the HAAB and non-profit organization. If the BCC indicates interest, the HAAB will provide additional information. s February 26, 2009 Chairman Maxwell reminded the members a Motion was on the floor to approve the Minutes. It was decided to continue the discussion concerning the HAAB's responsibilities to the March meeting. Motion carried, 6 -"Yes''!1 -"Absention." (Mr. Gonzalez abstained because he was excused from the January meeting.) VI. New Business B. Recommendation (to the BCe) for Appointment of a New Member to the HAAB Mike Sheffield announced the candidate had withdrawn her application from consideration and the vacancy remained. (David Correa and Renata F. Ferndndez left at 7:39 PM A quorum remained.) (Mr. Correa stated he may be out of town/or the March meeting.) VII. Member and Staff Comments VIII. Action Items(s) to the Board of County Commissioners (if any) There was further discussion concerning concept of the "Action Item." An example was cited: Ifthere is a vacancy on an Advisory Board/Committee, the Board reviews and approves an application membership and then sends a letter to BCC stating it was recommending the BCC approve the application for the vacancy. The BCC then make its decision based on the Advisory Board/Committee's recommendation. An "Action Item" is to have a clear, specific purpose - it is not a general request for the BCC to do something. IX. Next Meeting: March 26, 2009 There being no further business for the good ofthe County, the meeting was adjourned by order ofthe Chair at 7:48 P.M. COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Valaree D. Maxwell, Chairman These Minutes were approved by the Board/Committee on as presented or as amended 6