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AHAC Minutes 09/12/2011 September 12,2011 MINUTES OF THE COLLIER COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING RECEIVED JAN 0 9 2012 September 12, 2011 Naples, Florida Board of County Co m tssioners LET IT BE REMEMBERED that the Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 3:00 PM in REGULAR SESSION in Administrative Building "F," 3rd Floor, of the Government Complex, Naples, Florida, with the following Members present: Fiala ! CHAIRMAN: Stephen Hruby Hiller ,� Vice Chair: Cormac Giblin Henning John Cowan Coyle s Coletta Christian Davis -- Gina Downs (Resigned) Patricia Fortune Christine Jones (Excused) Sally Masters (Resigned) Bradley Schiffer Misc. Corres: Stuart Warshauer (Absent) Date: 3 lV 3\\2. \�S 2.1=4 (Vacancy—Alternate) Item#: Czpies to: ALSO PRESENT: Kim Grant, Interim Director—Housing, Human& Veteran Services Frank ("Buddy") Ramsey, Housing Manager Priscilla Doria, SHIP Loan Processor— Staff Liaison Commissioner Jim Coletta—BCC (Absent) County Attorney, Office of the County Attorney (Absent) 1 September 12,2011 1. CALL TO ORDER—CHAIRMAN: Chairman Steve Hruby called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM and read the procedures to be observed during the meeting. 2. ROLL CALL—COMMITTEE MEMBERS/STAFF: Roll call was taken and a quorum was established. Six members were present. 3. AGENDA AND MINUTES—CHAIRMAN: a. Approval of Agenda Christian Davis moved to approve the Agenda as submitted. Second by John Cowan. Carried unanimously, 6—0. b. Approval of Minutes—June 13,2011 John Cowan moved to approve the Minutes as submitted. Second by Vice Chairman Cormac Giblin. Carried unanimously, 5—0. (Note: Patricia Fortune could not vote because she did not attend the June 13th meeting.) 4. INFORMATION ITEMS—STAFF: a. NSP-1/HUD Monitoring Close-out Letter: Buddy Ramsey (A copy of the HUD letter was distributed the Committee.) • HUD's performance evaluation/on-site monitoring began on May 18, 2011 • Purpose: to determine program compliance and analyze the community's continuing ability to carry out the program • Result: there were no concerns or findings Chairman Hruby noted HUD usually tries to find some"fault" and for the report to be blemish free was an achievement. b. Inventory of NSP Properties • Total Inventory: 60 properties • Land Bank— 10 vacant, single-family lots (17%) • Multi Family— 17 buildings/36 units (28%) • Single Family—33 properties(55%) (County owned) o 6 houses—"Ready for Sale"—no buyers, but construction is complete o 10 houses—"Reserved for Purchase"but not yet ready for occupancy o 17 houses—construction has not begun It was noted that 20 properties have been sold. Buddy Ramsey explained eligible,pre-qualified buyers were given a list of County- owned properties and they "reserved"the properties that best suited fi 'their needs. These 2 September 12,2011 properties are being renovated while the buyers are in the process of obtaining a mortgage and completing a Sales/Purchase contract. • The multi-family units will be rented to individuals who earn less than 50%of the Area Median Income ("AMP'). • HUD requires that the County develop a plan to utilize the land-banked lots within ten years of acquisition. c. Securing NSP Properties • Site visits were conducted in late August and increased security measures were implemented for 14 properties, including: o Replacement of damaged dead bolt locks o Installation of dead bolt locks where necessary o Locks were installed on sliding glass doors o Door knobs have been replaced o Broken/damaged windows have been replaced o Properties will be monitored by Staff on a weekly basis, especially in low- traffic or remote areas • Lawn maintenance—continuing to be provided by a landscaping company d. Status of NSP-1 and NSP-3 Funds NSP-1: • Total allocation received by the County: approximately $7.3M • Spent: approximately$7.8M • Program income: approximately$1.4M o generated by sales of rehabbed properties (20) • Additional income: approximately$430,000 o The revenue is not currently recognized—income has not yet been approved by the Board of County Commissioners • Obligations/Commitments: approximately$310,000 o for lawn service, construction contracts—not yet spent • Balance: approximately$177,000 • Met 18-month obligation deadline in September, 2010 • Met expenditures deadline (ahead of schedule) • Currently working solely from program income NSP-3: • Allocation: approximately$3.8M o funds available but will not be spent or obligation until directed to do so o funding will be utilized for eligible activities outlined in the Action Plan o may also be used to support NSP-1 programs if necessary o 50%of the funding must be spent by 2013 3 September 12,2011 e. Disaster Recovery Enhancement Funds ("DREF")Application • July 26, 2011 —Board of County Commissioners approved the application through the State's Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") • Allocation: approximately$3.3M • Funds awarded as the result of damage from a named storm (Tropical Storm Faye)and no funds from FEMA were available • Approved projects: o Immokalee CRA—flood/drainage improvement—$2,073,344 o Collier County Housing Authority—install impact resistant windows in 100 units in Farm Worker Village—$832,519 o Bromelia Place Apartments—low-income senior rentals—purchase and install generator for back-up power—$300,000 o Esperanza Place Apartments—low/moderate income—complete construction of swale to improve stormwater drainage system - $35,000 o Housing, Human &Veteran Services—for planning and administrative costs - $83,099 (approximately 2 %2%) • Some activities (installation of impact resistant windows, installation of a generator) are eligible because they mitigate against future storm damage • 51%of the grant funds must benefit low-income individuals, and 14%of the grant funds must be used tgr for affordable rental housing 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Kathy Patterson,Executive Director—Housing Development Corporation ("HDC"), announced that a Foreclosure Prevention Benefit breakfast will be held at the Hilton on Wednesday, October 19th from 7:45 to 8:45 AM. The donation is $35.00. Proceeds will help fund a joint program with Legal Aid. • The HDIC is a HUD-approved counseling agency and the majority of counseling has been to individuals at risk of losing their homes. Clients are referred to Legal Aid as appropriate for further counseling and assistance. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS: STAFF a. NSP Discussion: Options, Considerations, and Comments Kim Grant,Interim Director,provided the following background information: • July 26, 2011 —at the Board of County Commissioners' meeting—discussion took place concerning how some of the elements of construction were being managed under the NSP, specifically related to billing procedures • Dwight Brock, Collier County Clerk, announced that he had begun to conduct audits of the NSP billing procedures • Housing, Human & Veterans' Services received a preliminary audit from the Clerk's office and has responded • The results of the audit process are confidential until finalized • The BCC asked Staff and the County Manager to evaluate existing options for the NSP-1 and NSP-3 Programs, i.e.,possibility of partnering with community organizations 4 September 12,2011 Ms. Grant asked the Chair and the Committee to consider establishing a subcommittee to vet any suggestions made and to present recommendations to the BCC on December 6, 2011. Buddy Ramsey presented the following: • Common Considerations o Treatment of Program Income o Monitoring requirements—remain constant o Reporting requirements—remain constant o Record Keeping o Eligibility of activities and clients • Outstanding Decisions o Financial support to Partners—what will be required? o NSP-3 Funds o Procurement needs and methods o Implementation of Policy (Staff issue) o Staffing requirements o Impact on Housing Element of the Land Development Code ("LDC") • Definitions o "Opportunity"when setting policy—eliminate properties where no construction has started—place with community partners to benefit public rather than remain dormant o "Challenge"—when construction is needed and securing funding He noted the County owns 60 properties, separated into three categories: • Homeownership—single family - 33 total properties o 10 properties are reserved for purchase • 5 —construction completed; • 2—under construction; • 3 —construction has not begun o 23 properties are not reserved • 6—construction completed; • 17—construction has not begun • Rental housing—multi-family. o 17 buildings • 6 duplexes were reserved by a non-profit organization but construction has not begun; • 11 —not reserved (4 buildings have been completed, 2—under construction, 5—construction has not begun) • Vacant land o 10 properties • none have been reserved • one property requires demolition He suggested the proposed Subcommittee could discuss in greater detail/depth suggestions made during discussion. 5 September 12,2011 Discussion ensued. • During the BCC meeting,the County Manager was instructed to stop purchasing properties. Buddy Ramsey stated the program is in "rehab mode"and the purchase of additional properties would not be appropriate until the current inventory was depleted. • The focus of the Clerk's audit is the manner in which construction draws were managed, i.e.,procurement means and methods. • Active contracts will be completed. • New work will not begin until directed to do so by the BCC. • Payments to contractors will be processed unless there are deficiencies. Ms. Grant stated since the audit was on-going, Staff was unable to discuss/disclose information due to confidentiality restrictions. The specific information requested would be provided as appropriate. Bradley Schiffer noted there are several architects on the Committee whose expertise and experience in dealing with construction draws will be helpful. Buddy Ramsey stated all properties will be maintained in the interim. Chairman Hruby outlined the"best practices" currently being utilized under the program: • Complete control exercised by a municipality to administer the Program; • Funds are allocated to non-profit community agencies to purchase/rehab properties while monitored by the municipality. Bradley Schiffer moved to approve forming a Subcommittee to vet the issues discussed and devise recommendations to present to the Board of County Commissioners on December 6. Second by Christian Davis. Carried unanimously, 6—0. It was noted Christine Jones indicated her interest to serve on a Subcommittee. Chairman Hruby, Bradley Schiffer, and Christian Davis also volunteered to serve. Buddy Ramsey will confirm Ms. Jones' availability by email and will devise a schedule of meeting dates and times. 7. STAFF/COMMITTEE MEMBERS: GENERAL COMMENTS • Resignations: o Gina Downs o Sally Masters • Bradley Schiffer noted the Committee has been mandated to review its procedures every four years and this is a review year. Buddy Ramsey will review past practices and inform the Committee at the next meeting. NEXT MEETING: Monday, October 10,2011 at 3:00 PM 6 September 12,2011 There being no further business for the good of the County,the meeting adjourned at 4:21 PM by order of the Chairman. Collier County Affordable Housing . M Committee I 4/ St: , Chairman The foregoing Min es were approved by Board/Committee Chair on , , 2011, "as submitted" [ 1 OR "as amended" [ 1.