[Call to order at 3:00 pm]
[00:00:03]
>> HEY, SO WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. DO WE NEED TO DO A
MARY? >> PLEASE. >> HOW DO WE PLAN TO GET THIS?
>> IF WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL THAT'S EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. >> BRITTANY CORONADO.
[1) Introduction of AHAC Members and SJC staff]
>> HERE. TRACY HAYES. ARE YOU MUTED?
>> HE'S HERE BUT >> GOT YOU. >> OKAY.
JAY KALTER. >> STEVE LADRIDO. >> BILL LAZAR.
YOO YES, MA'AM, ALEX MANSER. HARRY MAXWELL, MEAGAN >>
>> KARL VIERCK. >> HERE. >> AND JAY BRAXTON.
>> SO BASED ON YOUR MATH SKILLS, DO WE HAVE >> WE DO.
>> ALL RIGHT. HARRY SAID HE CAN'T DIAL IN. STEVE SAID HE WAS GOING TO TRY
AND ZOOM IN AND SOME POINT. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE OTHERS. >> JERRY CAN'T MAKE IT.
AND JAY CANNOT MAKE IT. I THINK STEVE WILL BE ZOOMING IN.
[2) Approve Minutes – July, 2020]
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL ROLL ALONG. FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IF EVERYBODY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE JULY 20TH MINUTES THAT MARY SENT.IF YOU HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES TO THOSE. JUST TO KEEP MARY BUSY, PLEASE SPEAK UP. OTHERWISE WE WILL HAVE THEM APPROVED.
AND THERE'S MR. LADRIDO. >> SORT OF. I KNOW HE CAN'T SIT THAT STILL.
DOES ANYBODY, IF NO ONE HAS ANY CHANGES TO IT, WILL SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES
FROM LAST MEETING. >> PROVE TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED FROM
JULY 22, 2020. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.
>> MARY, DID YOU GET BOTH OF THOSE? WE'RE DEALING WITH TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT WE WILL GET THROUGH IT HERE JUST A MOMENT. I WILL LET MARY HUSTLE BACK TO
>> SO THAT WAS CARL AND >> MEAGAN. >> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ANYBODY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE DONE WITH THE MINUTES. THE NEXT ITEM IS JUST ODDLY PHRASED COMMITTEE WORK PLAN
[3) Committee Work Plan Discussion]
DISCUSSION. THIS IS SOMETHING IN TALKING TO JOE A LITTLE BIT AND I WAS TALKING TO KARL NOT VIOLATING SUNSHINE, MARY, WE WERE TALKIN THE AHAC COMMITTEE HAS A ONCE EVERY THREE YEAR REQUIREMENT TO CREATE THE TRIENNIAL INCENTIVES TO WORK ON ANYTHING THAT WE SEE AS IMPORTANT THAT FITS WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUIDELINES.>> BILL, CAN I INTERRUPT YOU? >> WHAT DO WE WANT TO WORK ON OVER THE NEXT YEAR? NOT NECESSARILY JUST MAKING JOE COME UP AND GIVE US REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.
ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN DO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP WAS JUST IN TALKING, I HAD SEEN RECENTLY THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HAD LIKE A SERIES OF COMMUNITIES STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETINGS OF SOME SORT, THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WE SENT Y'ALL A COUPLE PDFS. ONE FROM PENSACOLA, ONE FROM ST. PETE AND THE OTHER ONE I'M FAMILIAR WITH IS OVER IN THE ORLANDO AREA WHY THEY HAVE CREATED A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING STREAM. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S GENERATED FROM.
SO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ADDITIONAL FUNDS THEY CAN USE TO PLAN TO CREATE MORE HOUSING.
WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS JUST HAVE AN OPEN-ENDED DISCUSSION WITH ALL OF Y'ALL.
IF THERE ARE IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE. PART OF OUR THOUGHT IS THAT YOU KNOW OUR COMMITTEE CAN BE SORT OF ADVOCATES FOR OTHER KINDS OF INITIATIVES OR THINGS THAT SHOULD GO ON, WE HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT EXIST HERE IN ST. JOHNS, JOE WITH ANY SORT OF FUNDING SOURCE THE COUNTY GETS, THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF STRATEGIC PLAN, THE LHAP IS ONE.
[00:05:05]
THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR THE CDGB THEY HAVE TO LIST GOALS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE NOTICED WITH THE OTHER CITIES THAT HAD DONE THINGS, WHEN YOU LIST A GOAL BEING YOU EITHER HIT IT OR YOU DON'T. AT A CERTAIN POINT OF TIME, IF YOU SAY WHY DIDN'T WE HIT IT, THAT'S A REASON WHY WE WANT TO CHANGE THE INCENTIVES. WE HAVE INCENTIVES ON THE BOOKS.THEY DON'T ALL GET USED. SOME ARE STILL A LITTLE CONFUSING AND NO ONE IS SURE EXACTLY HOW TO KICK THEM OFF, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR THOUGHT WAS, DO WE WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH EVERYBODY ABOUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE? KARL HAD SUGGESTIONS IN THE PAST ABOUT YOU KNOW OPTIONS THAT MIGHT ATTRACT MORE DEVELOPERS INTO DOING SOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHETHER IT'S A PARTIAL OR FULLY -- EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT.
THE COUNTY JUST SET UP AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER LAY WHICH DR HORTON IS USING.
WE JUST USED IT A LITTLE RENTAL PROJECT WE WERE DOING. IF THERE'S NOT A LOT GOING ON AND MOST OF US FEEL THERE'S NOT A LOT GOING ON, NOT TO GO EXTENT THAT WE NEED IT, WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE LOOK AT? JUST SO WE CAN BECOME MORE ADVOCATES WHETHER IT'S AN ENCOURAGING THE COMMISSIONERS OR TALKING TO THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
AND GETTING IMPACT FROM PRIVATE BUSINESS. KARL AND TRACY MAY TALK TO A LOT OF BUSINESS FOLKS WHO SAY I WOULD DO IT EXCEPT FOR THIS. ARE THOSE EXEMPT FOR THIS ISSUES THINGS THAT MAY BE WE COULD GET CHANGED THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THESE FOLKS TO CREATE MORE HOUSING THAT'S WITHIN THE RANGE OF OUR WORK FORCE. SO, WE JUST SENT Y'ALL A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE LAST E-MAIL TO LOOK AT. JUST WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WOULD Y'ALL BE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT YEAR? THINGS WE CAN TRY AND TACKLE TO LOOK MORE SUBSTANTIALLY AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR
COMMUNITY. SO ANYBODY WANT TO CHIME IN? >> CAN I CHIME IN REAL QUICK
BILL OR CHAIRMAN. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE THERE FOR. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT TO YOU AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT TRYING TO THROW A CURVE BALL INTO THE CONVERSATION, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE THERE'S A RECENT OUTCOME IN JULY AND QUITE A FEW MEASURES ADDRESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AND OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT HOUSE BILL WILL BE DEBATED AS TIME GOES ON.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BILL TALKED ABOUT WAS THE REQUIREMENT OF THE L HAP, I'M SORRY, NOT THE L HAP, THE AHAC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT GO BEFORE THE BOARD EVERY THREE YEARS.
KIND OF LAST TIME WE MET WE ALL TALKED ABOUT OUR LHAP, THE GUIDING DOCUMENT OF THE SHIP PROGRAM THAT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO, HOUSE BILL, THE NEW HOUSE BILL REQUIRES THAT WE DO THAT PRESENTATION ANNUALLY. SO I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, WE COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVES, VIRTUALLY EVERY MEETING WE COULD DO THIS.
BUT YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT REQUIREMENT WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED PROBABLY IF I HAD TO GUESS, MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BILL AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT TOO AND I WILL LET BILL EXPOUND ON THIS BECAUSE IT ORIGINATED FROM HIS ORGANIZATION AND IT WAS PRIOR TO MY BEING HERE, IS THE PLAN OR THE I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT THE ANALYSIS OF OUR LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY AND HOW IT WAS SERVING SPECIAL NEEDS, ELDERLY FOLKS, AND JUST YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM LOW TO MODERATE INCOME. AND YOU KNOW THAT'S CERTAINLY THAT I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED IN TODAY'S PAPERS, SOME OF YOU HAD SEEN THAT DOCUMENT
BEFORE. IT'S THE HOME >> YES, SIR.
>> YEP. >> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY BRING BACK TO THE BOARD OR HAVE MARY SEND IT OUT TO EVERYONE. I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN IT THREE OR FOUR TIMES. I JUST WANTED TO THROW BOTH OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS OUT, BILL AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE AHAC REPORT ANNUALLY INSTEAD OF
EVERY THREE YEARS. >> OKAY. THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT US TO REWRITE IT EVERY THREE YEARS AS THEY WANT TO HAVE A REVIEW OF THINGS?
[00:10:05]
>> I HAVE NOT REALLY PICKED APART THE HOUSE BILL AS MUCH AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE CARES PROGRAM ALL THIS YEAR, BUT I WILL TELL YOU
THAT I GET THE IMPRESSION THEY WANT A REPORT EVERY YEAR. >> OKAY.
>> AGAIN, I JUST THINK -- AT A CERTAIN POINT -- >> I'M SORRY GO AHEAD.
>> MR. WILLIAMS IS HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO -- >> ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING A
TRI-ANNUAL REPORT? >> I THINK IT APPEARS IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME FORMAT WE USE IN
TRI-ANNUAL REPORT. >> I THINK THAT, KARL, THAT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS JUST SAYING IF WE HAVE INCENTIVES, ARE WE USING THEM? IF NOT, WHY NOT? IF THEY DON'T RING ANYBODY'S BELL, THEY'RE NOT DIRECTED THE RIGHT WAY OR SUBSTANTIVE ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> JUST CHANGES THE DISCUSSION. IF THAT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT, WE TAKE THAT REPORT, START THE NEW YEAR LOOKING AT THAT REPORT, PICK APART WHEN WE THINK IS OR ISN'T NEEDING TO BE ATTACKED THAT YEAR AND USE THAT AS OUR AGENDA MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TIME TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THE BASIC PARAMETERS OF THAT REPORT UNLESS WE DECIDE TO ADJUST
SOMETHING AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR, SUMS UP AT THE END. >> GIVEN THE FACT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHO YOU KNOW, TO BE COMMENDED FOR SENDING OUT UNFUNDED MANDATES ON A DAILY BASIS, JUST BECAUSE THEY TELL US THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING, WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY OF DOING IT THAT MAKES SENSE. WE HAVE INCENTIVES THAT ARE THERE.
I THINK IF WE START LOOKING AT ARE THEY WORKING OR WHAT GOT ACCOMPLISHED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROBABLY A LOT OF US DON'T REALIZE, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO JOE AND HIS STAFF, THEY GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED WITH SOME OF THEIR DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT. THINGS TO BUY A COUPLE UNITS THAT THERE ARE WORKING ON WITH THE HOMELESS COALITION. THOSE DO CREATE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS.
THEY MAY NOT CREATE 500 BUT THERE'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, MAYBE A DOZEN IN A YEAR.
THINGS IF WE START SUMMARIZING WHAT GOT ACCOMPLISHED AND SEE WHICH OF THOSE INCENTIVES HELPED, THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, ALONG WITH LIKE OKAY, LET'S TWEAK THE INCENTIVES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WRITE A WHOLE NEW REPORT UNLESS JOE WANTS TO BECAUSE HE HAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO. I WOULD LEAVE THE REPORT ALONE AND HAVE A REVIEW AND SAY THIS IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING. IF IT'S NOT, WORKING, HERE'S SUGGESTIONS, WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT AS FORMAL BEATING THE LIST OF INCENTIVES INTO THE GROUND.
IT'S MORE OF ARE THOSE INCENTIVES ENOUGH TO MOTIVATE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO STEP UP? BECAUSE AGAIN I KEEP SAYING, IF THE BIGGEST PRODUCERS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE LOCAL
NON-PROFITS, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG. >> WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO
ATTRACT THE FOR-PROFIT SECTOR TO STEP UP. >> THE COUNTY, I WAS JUST READING TODAY, THEY HAD ON YESTERDAY'S AGENDA, APPROVING ONE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT WILL BE FUNDED WITH THE HUD CBGBDR MONEY. THAT'S BETWEEN THE 80 AND 132 UNITS OF APARTMENTS OFF 207. 51% OF THEM HAVE TO BE BUILT AND RENTED TO PEOPLE UNDER 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THAT'S A SIZEABLE INCREASE TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL SUPPLY AND WILL BE THERE FOR THE NEXT 30 PLUS YEARS. THAT'S KIND OF A ONE-TIME THING BASED ON THE HUD MONEY. THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STEP UP FROM WHAT WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING TO FIND NOW. SO, TO JOE'S POINT, IF THERE'S A HOUSE BILL TELLING US, I THINK IT MAYBE THE SAME HOUSE BILL THAT WAS ALSO TELLING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THEY OUGHT TO WAIVE IMPACT FEES. IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT, I'M WILLING TO SPEND MORE TIME WRITING THE REPORT. IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO ONE PART AND NOT THE OTHER, WE DO WHAT MAKES SENSE TO US WERE THE HOUSING MATTERS OR HOME MATTERS REPORT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSING PARTNERED WITH FLORIDA TO DO A SENT OF ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND SAY HERE ARE THE HOUSING ISSUES THAT IMPACTED FLORIDA, HOMELESSNESS TO FIRST RESPONDERS WHO CAN'T RENT OR
[00:15:07]
BUY. WE CONTRACTED WITH THE HOUSING COALITION TO WRITE ONE FOR ST.JOHNS COUNTY, I THINK IT COST US $3,500. BUT IT WAS A FULL REPORT STAFF WAS ABLE TO USE. WE USED IT AND SHARED WITH FOLKS.
JOE'S POINT IS IT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO GET THAT UPDATED AND USE THAT AS PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. I WILL LOOK INTO WHETHER THEY WILL DO IT.
HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE AND THAT SORT OF THING. THEY WENT AROUND AND TALKED TO SEVERAL OF US ABOUT WHAT ISSUES DO YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD INCORPORATE INTO THIS REPORT. THEY WILL TAILOR IT WITH WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT TO DO.
>> BRITTANY, THAT'S THINGS THAT PROBABLY YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT OF DATA THAT IN THE PAST THEY HAD TO SORT OF EXTRAPOLATE. YOU PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF DATA THAT'S MUCH MORE CURRENT THAT REALLY COULD HELP MAKE THE CASE FOR WHAT WE NEED FOR HOUSING FOR OUR VERY LOW INCOME POPULATION.
>> WE DO AND JUST SO EVERYONE IS AWARE, WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A MATRIX RIGHT NOW TO KIND OF START DIVING INTO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH PEOPLE THAT AREN'T ABLE TO REMAIN IN HOUSING AND YOU KNOW, PRICING OF COURSE IS A BIG PIECE OF IT OF THE ALSO JUST LOOKING AT EACH PROGRAM TYPE AND WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF IT? WHAT IS THE TARGET POPULATION? WHAT IS THE INTENDED OUTCOME? OUTPUTS AND HOW WE MEASURE THINGS. THIS WILL HELP US IDENTIFY THE ACTUAL NEED IN THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO A LOT OF OUR POPULATION IS RENTAL UNITS. AND NEEDING THOSE TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE.
SO, DEFINITELY HAVE SOME DATA THAT COULD BE SHARED. I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR AND IF WE NEED TO CAPTURE GOING FORWARD. WE CAN PLACE ELEMENTS IN THERE THAT ARE MISSING. THAT WE COULD USE IN THE FUTURE. IF WE'RE ACTUALLY MISSING
CERTAIN INFORMATION. >> OKAY. WELL, I WILL LOOK MORE INTO THAT JUST TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE STILL DOING. THAT JUST ADDS MORE MEAT TO THE STRUCTURE OF WHAT WE WANT TO TRY AND GATHER. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THOUGHTS
OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THINGS WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON? >> IF I COULD JUMP IN REAL QUICK. MR. WILLIAMS IS HERE. FRANK WILLIAMS WHO ADDRESSED THIS BOARD A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO
SAY SOMETHING? >> IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE.
SO THE VIEWERSHIP AT HOME CAN HEAR YOU. >> TWO POINTS.
ONE ANOTHER SOURCE OF RESEARCH SIMILAR TO THE HOUSING MATTERS IS THE ALICE REPORT.
THE LAST ONE FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY WAS DONE IN 2018. I DON'T SEE THE NUMBERS ARE THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN TODAY. ANOTHER ISSUE, I WAS HERE AT LAST MEETING AND PASSED OUT A LETTER ABOUT CREATING HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY. AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING THE BOAT BY NOT EXPLORING THAT MORE. SO, I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COMMITTEE AND THE ROLE OF THE ADVOCATE COULD LOOK INTO THE CREATION OF A HOUSING AUTHORITY, IN FACT, I HAD WRITTEN THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BACK IN 2017, I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE FROM THEM.
THE CAUSE -- >> I HAVE BEEN KIND OF UNDER THE WEATHER AND OUT OF POCKET.
I'M ALMOST 100% NOW. I'M GOING BACK ON MY STUMP AND START PUSHING FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ESPECIALLY THE CREATION OF A HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IN FACT, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN SALT LAKE CITY.
WHEN I WAS IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA, I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THERE FOR FIVE YEARS. DAN NACRAMEN WAS MY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND HE HAS VOLUNTEERED
[00:20:08]
TO BE A RESOURCE AND WE COULD ZOOM HIM IN FOR A COMMITTEE MEETING OR SOMETHING AND HE COULD IN MY LETTER, I OUTLINED SOME OF THE BENEFITS BUT, HE'S BEEN A PRACTITIONER FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND HE'S VOLUNTEERED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY AT NO CHARGE. SO -->> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WOULD BE ONE OF YOUR WORK PROJECTS.
>> THAT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP. IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN. >> GLAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING TO JOE ABOUT, I ASKED HIM AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE ANYBODY VOTE ON IT, BUT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE START SENDING OUR MINUTES TO THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY AND ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD SHARE THEIR MINUTES WITH Y'ALL BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TWO, OUR AHAC AND THE FHA ARE THE TWO GROUPS GETTING HOUSING ISSUES WORKED ON IN THE COUNTY AND I THINK FRANK'S POINT ABOUT A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AT ONE POINT WAS IN THE PURVIEW OF THE HFA. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE IT GOES.
I THINK I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A BETTER SHARING OF INFORMATION SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT EACH OF US ARE DOING AND THE SIMPLEST WAY IS JUST TO PASS MINUTES BACK AND FORTH.
SO I'LL CHECK WITH JOE AND MARY ABOUT THAT. I THINK THOSE KIND OF IDEAS FRANK'S SUGGESTION IS A GOOD ONE. WE HAD THAT COME UP ON AND OFF OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. WHETHER SOMEONE NEVER CHAMPIONED IT OR DIED FOR SOME OTHER REASON, I DON'T KNOW. WE CAN AT LEAST LOOK INTO IT AND SEE.
>> I THINK WHAT MR. WILLIAMS IS SAYING, TYPICALLY, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH HOUSING AUTHORITIES. WE DID HAVE ONE IN MY PREVIOUS PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT BUT TYPICALLY IT BRINGS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING, DIFFERENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PERTAIN TO HOUSING. THE ONE IN OCALA HAD A BIG PROGRAM, A VETERANS HOUSING TYPE GRANT SUBSIDY THEY WORK ON QUITE A BIT. IN SOME CASES THEY EVEN HAVE TROUBLE FINDING VETERANS TO TAKE THE VASH VOUCHER. WHEN WE HAD SOMEBODY COME TO OUR OFFICE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAD, WE WOULD SEND THEM OVER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO
UTILIZE THE VOUCHERS. >> I WILL ADD ONE OTHER THING. ONE THING ABOUT HOUSING AUTHORITY, YOU KNOW THEY ISSUE THE VOUCHERS. WHETHER THERE'S A THING CALLED PROJECT BASE VOUCHERS. WHERE THE VOUCHERS GO TO A CERTAIN UNIT.
SAY YOU, BILL SAY YOU WANT TO BUILD A HUNDRED UNITS. >> YES, SIR, I WOULD LIKE TO,
TOMORROW. >> IF YOU COULD GET SAY 50 TO 60 PROJECT BASE --
>> RIGHT. YOU COULD GO TO A BANK AND BORROW ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU
WANT BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE GUARANTEED RENT FOR 30 YEARS. >> THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.
>> THAT WOULD HELP A LOT OF FOLKS. >> I KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
WE JUST HAVE TO CREATE AN AGENCY. >> WELL, AND I'LL SAY TOO, FROM THE COC, SO FOR THE HOMELESS SIDE OF THINGS, WE HAVE BEN TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH DUVAL COUNTY BECAUSE THEY ARE, OF COURSE, THE OVER SEER OF ST. JOHNS WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. AS FAR AS ALL OF THE SSVF FUNDS, THE HOUSING FORCE VOUCHERS, I WILL GO THROUGH DUVAL, IT IS TRUE THAT YOU KNOW, EVEN US AS A CONTINUUM, IF WE HAD EVEN THE COLLABORATION WITH OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A LOCAL ONE, AND HAD THE COLLABORATION WITH DUVAL COUNTY, WE ACTUALLY OPEN UP THE ABILITY TO BRING IN SEVERAL POTS OF MONEY AS WELL. SO, WE DID CIRCLE AROUND WITH THEM AT ONE POINT BECAUSE THERE WAS A PILOT PROGRAM. IN THE TIME CONSTRAINT WE HAD, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FULFILL AN AGREEMENT BUT WE HAVE AT LEAST OPENED THAT DOOR OF COMMUNICATION.
[00:25:03]
SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PUT BACK ON OUR AGENDA AS FOR HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MOVE WITH THAT BECAUSE IT DOES DEFINITELY OPEN THE DOOR FOR FUNDS. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS WITH OUR FUNDING THAT WE CAN DO SIMILAR THINGS WITH PROJECT BASED HOUSING. I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIESOUT THERE. >> I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SOMETIMES IS THESE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES COME BEFORE ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE GROUPS IF WE DON'T SHARE WITH ONE OR THREE OF US, THEY SAY WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE USE OF THAT.
THEY HAVE A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT WOULD BE JUST RIGHT. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP ALL THIS IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AT THE SAME TIME AND PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER ON IT.
WE MIGHT JUST GENERATE MORE UNITS OUT OF IT. I KEEP HOPING WITH ALL THIS CARES ACT MONEY, AT SOME POINT THEY WILL SET ASIDE SOME TO CREATE NEW RENTAL HOUSING UNITS.
SO FAR THE STATE HASN'T SHOWN ANY WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT. IT'S ALL GOING FOR CRISIS RELIEF
AT THE MOMENT. >> YEAH, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN HERE TOO EVEN THOUGH I TOLD YOU WOULDN'T DO TOO MUCH OF THAT TODAY. JUST A POINT ABOUT THE AHAC REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS, TYPICALLY, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I HAVE WORKED ON FOUR OF THESE COMES HARD TO BELIEVE. THERE ARE BETWEEN NINE AND 12 DIFFERENT INVENTORY ITEMS IF YOU CALL IT THAT, THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND TYPICALLY, WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND BILL YOU TELL ME IF YOU THINK I'M WRONG HERE. WE HAVE KIND OF TAKEN AN OVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE LIST OF THINGS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THERE ARE TYPICALLY A FEW THINGS ON THAT LIST THAT YOU, THAT THE BOARD'SOR THE HFA BOARDS SUGGESTED WOULDN'T GET TOO MUCH TRACTION FOR WHATEVER REASON WITH THE BCC.
I'M NOT JUST SPEAKING TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'M SPEAKING TO WHERE I CAME FROM. WE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THEY WERE CERTAIN THINGS I DON'T THINK THE BOARD WAS INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING, WHETHER DENSITY OR DIFFERENT PARKING REQUIREMENTS. THOSE ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT BEARS TO TAKE ON BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIAL LAND USE AND ZONING TOO. THOSE ARE TWO EXAMPLES.
SO THERE'S THIS LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU KNOW WON'T GAIN TOO MUCH TRACTION WITH OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THERE'S ANOTHER LIST OF THINGS THAT COULD PROBABLY BE TWEAKED AND THE AHAC BOARD IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO LEND OUT ADVICE ON THOSE PARTICULAR LIST OF THINGS.
THEN THERE'S USUALLY TWO OR THREE THINGS THE BOARD REALLY LIKES TO TACKLE AND I THINK IN THE PAST WE HAD PEOPLE COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THOSE THINGS. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
PRIOR TO COVID WAS KIND OF A HOT BUTTON ITEM NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES BUT EVEN FOR THE COC, SERVICES WE OFFERED AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING.
THERE ARE THINGS TO ADDRESS BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT GET THROWN IN WITH THE BATH WATER. WHETHER IT'S IMPACT FEES, I THINK OUR AT ST. JOHNS IS TRADITIONALLY LONGER THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES. IN OTHER COMMUNITIES ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE ALWAYS ADDRESSING THE ITEMS THEY HAD TO ADDRESS AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT. BUT WITH US, INSTEAD OF DOING 11 THINGS, THE FIRST REPORT I WORKED ON WHEN I GOT HERE, WE DID ABOUT 25 ITEMS. THERE'S A LOT OF OPINIONS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND WE CAN CERTAINLY KIND OF WEED THROUGH THOSE.
I GUESS KIND OF MINIMIZE IT OR EXPAND ON IT IF YOU WANT TO TO SPEAK TO THAT POINT
>> THE SECOND THING TOO WAS THE HOME MATTERS REPORT. I'M A BIG FAN OF THE REPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE WE HAVE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY IS A LITTLE BIT DATED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP AS PART OF THE COC PRESENTATIONS THAT ESSENTIALLY LED TO ANOTHER LAND USE OR PLANNING ZONE I SHOULD SAY THAT ALLOWED FOR GREATER DENSITY GIVEN A CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT MEETS CERTAIN PARAMETERS, MAINLY A PRICE POINT FOR CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNITS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARRIVED OUT OF THAT DISCUSSION WAS THAT MR. CAMERON DID SUCH A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDING SOME NEWER NUMBERS, USER PRIMARILY THE ALICE NUMBER TAT IS MR. WILLIAMS MENTIONED. WHEREVER WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S ALWAYS A QUESTION OF WHAT ARE THE CURRENT NUMBERS? WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?
[00:30:04]
TYPICALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT NUMBERS THAT ARE DATED BETWEEN TWO AND THREE YEARS, AND YOU KNOW, MORE DATED THE NUMBERS ARE, THE MORE SUSPECT THEY ARE FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.TO DO A NEW HOME MATTERS REPORT I THINK WOULD BE JUST A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO BOTH THE COUNTY AND FOR THE POINTS OF DISCUSSION FOR THIS BOARD FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE YEARS.
I WILL TELL YOU TOO, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ALTHOUGH IT IS ONLY A PLAN AND ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS, DOES CALL FOR AND TYPE OF HOUSING INVENTORY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY PLAN. IT'S ONE SENTENCE WHAT IS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS, YOU KNOW AGAIN IT'S A PLAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS PROBABLY IN THE PLAN THAT DON'T NECESSARILY GET ADDRESSED.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE STAFF TIME OR RESOURCES OR ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT TAKE PRIORITY OVER THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE COULD USE IT FOR TO SAY, HEY, WE MET ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLAN.
SO IT'S JUST, I DON'T KNOW BILL IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLY HOW THE FUNDS COULD BE GENERATED TO DO THAT OR NOT. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> I SENT AN E-MAIL OFF TO THE HOUSING COALITION TO CONFIRM THEY ARE STILL ABLE AND WILLING TO DO THAT AND WHAT THEY CHARGE. AS SOON AS I HEAR BACK FROM THEM, I WILL LET EVERYBODY UPON.
IT'S NOT A LOT AND WOULD GIVE US A LOT OF YOU KNOW, SORT OF INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO HOLD AND SHARE. WHETHER WITH THE CHAMBER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNTY.
WE HAVE AND IN THE LINCOLN AREA WITH THEIR FUNDS TRYING TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE MAY TO GET MORE CURRENT INFORMATION. MALYNDA AT HABITAT COULD GIVE US MORE INFORMATION. AND SOMEONE APPLIES GET THEM IN A HOUSE.
THE MORE WE CAN IDENTIFY LIKE THAT, I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE'RE GOING TO SEE OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC WHERE OUR LOWER END WORK FORCE HAVE FINALLY SAVED UP ENOUGH MONEY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T PAYING RENT OR GOT STIMULUS MONEY AND THEY'RE LEAVING TOWN AND MOVING SOME PLACE CLOSER TO A JOB THAT PAYS THE SAME BUT RENT IS 15 TO 20% LOWER. I'M SEEING HOUSES IN WEST AUGUSTINE NOW THAT ARE FOR SALE THAT HAVE I MOVE ANYWHERE OUTSIDE ST. JOHNS, THEY WOULD BE WORTH $40,000 LESS FOR THE SAME HOUSE. IT'S JUST WHAT THE APPRAISALS ARE DOING.
THE HOME MATTERS REPORT COULD HELP AND ALL OF US, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INCENTIVES WE HAD, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE, THE INFERRING WE SENT YOU THE OTHER DAY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE REPORT THAT JOE MENTIONED JERRY CAMERON PUT TOGETHER. IT JUST SAYS WE WANT TO CREATE 600 UNITS OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME. 600 IS NOT AN AWFUL LOT.
LESS THAN 1% OF THE NUMBER OF NEW HOMES PERMITTED LAST YEAR. SO THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT. THAT WAS YOU KNOW NOT NECESSARILY SAYING RENTAL OR HOME OWNERSHIP, BUT SAYING BOTH. BUT I THINK THE MORE WE CAN DO TO DEFINE SOME CONCRETE PATHS AND SAY WHY DIDN'T WE ACHIEVE THAT. THE ST. PETE PLAN I WAS READING ABOUT. THEY SAID THEY WANT TO SEE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. WHY NOT? THE COUNTY IS A LITTLE MORE RECEPTIVE TO THAT NOW. THEY ARE LOOKING AT MAYBE MAKES CHANGES THAT WOULD MAKE THAT MORE AMENABLE. WE'RE GOING TO TRY THAT ON THE NEXT COUPLE LOTS WE BUILD ON JUST IT SEE WHAT THE INTEREST IS AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO DO THAT.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE COME UP WITH IDEAS AND FIND TRACTION THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE.
GIVE MORE THOUGHT TO THAT. SEND YOUR NOTES TO MARY. SHE CAN FORWARD THEM TO EVERYBODY IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS HOW TO DO THIS. I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
[4) HHS COVID-19 Response-Housing Staff]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH I GUESS JOE, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL US ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL HAVE BEENDOING WITH THE COVID RESPONSE? >> SURE. AS OF TODAY WE HIT OR THIRD WEEK OF THE PROGRAM IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. IT SEEMS LIKE A WHIRLWIND.
[00:35:09]
FOR ANYONE EFFECTED BY COVID AS WELL AS BEEN IMPACTED BY THEIR ANNUAL SALARY I GUESS, WE KIND OF LOOK AT IT BOTH MOVING FORWARD WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A PROJECTION AS WELL AS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. IF THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY UP TO 25%, WE ARE PAYING VENDORS DIRECTLY UP TO $5,000 FOR THEIR RENT, THEIR MORTGAGE, THEIR UTILITY BILLS AND ALSO COVERING CELL PHONE BILLS. I THINK THAT'S IT. SORRY, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY TODAY. SO FAR AS OF FRIDAY, WE SEVENED UP TO 37 HOUSEHOLDS, $116,000 GIVE OR TAKE A LITTLE BIT. WE HAVE ADD ADDITIONAL STAFF TO PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS AT A GREATER RATE. RIGHT NOW I HAVE I BELIEVE FIVE AMP EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE BUILDING. THEY ARE NOT HAVING THEATER OR CONCERT AND TWO TEMPORARY STAFF WORKING RIGHT NOW TOO. THEY ARE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.JUST TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE NEED. AND FOR SOME OF YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR LISTENING ON YOUR RADIO, THIS COMES BACK TO THE CARES FUNDS THAT BILL MENTIONED EARLIER AND I THINK THE COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THE MONEY IS OUT THERE. TO GO BACK TO THAT POINT.
WE DID A VERY SIMILAR PROGRAM UTILIZING SHIP FUNDS AND I THINK I WANT TO SAY WE KICKED THAT OFF IN MARCH. WE RAN THAT PROGRAM FROM MARCH TO JULY.
AND THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WE RECEIVED THE SAME NUMBER OF INQUIRIES OVER THE THREE TO FOUR MONTH PERIOD. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT AT ALL. OR HAVE PEOPLE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS VIA E-MAILS OR USING THE ONLINE PORTAL OR REACH OUT TO US IN DIFFERENT WAYS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO EXPEDITE THEIR SUBMITTAL OF THEIR APPLICATIONS.
SO, YEAH, IT HAS BEEN A VERY OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM.
ALSO, FOR THOSE OF WHO YOU REMEMBER THE COUNTY ALSO AND THE PROGRAM CLOSED LAST WEEK OR AT LEAST WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING THE FIRST ROUND OF IT. WE REOPENED THE BACK TO BUSINESS PROGRAM. OUR DEPARTMENT RAN THE BACK TO BUSINESS PROGRAM WHEN WE DID IT IN THE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER, WE'RE CURRENTLY NOT DOING THAT. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IS DOING THAT. THEY HAD A HUGE RESPONSE TOO. I WANT TO SAY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 300 TO 500 APPLICATIONS AND THEN I THINK IT'S EITHER ON GOING OR IT WAS JUST RECENTLY OPENED, WE'RE ALSO BILL, YOU MAY KNOW BETTER THAN I DO ACTUALLY, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO ASSIST WITH CARES FUNDS THE NON-PROFITS. OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IS HEADING THAT UP RIGHT NOW. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROGRAM.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE HOUSEHOLD NUMBER MAY SEEM A LITTLE LOW IN THREE WEEK PERIOD.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE DO IS INCOME VERIFY FOLKS. MAYBE SURE THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR INFORMATION AND THEN WE ISSUE THE VOUCHERS THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TIMELY PROCESS. HAVING BEEN ABLE TO ADD MORE STAFF, I FULLY SUSPECT THAT THE NEXT TIME I COME TO YOU, I WILL BRING A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS RESPONDING TO THE COVID CHALLENGES. WE ARE, IT HAS BEEN A REALLY STRANGE YEAR FOR US. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR WE RESPOND TO A DISASTER AND THE WAY OF A HURRICANE. LOOKING AT THE CURRENT HURRICANE MAP, THAT MAYBE THE CASE.
THERE'S, WE HAVEN'T DONE REALLY ANYTHING ALL YEAR AS FAR AS WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP OUR SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE. I HAVE EXCITING PROJECTS WITH THE FHA. THE PROJECT OFF 207. THEY ARE TRYING TO DO A BOND WITH OUR HFA. THEY HAVEN'T DONE A BOND PROJECT IN FOREVER AND A DAY.
[00:40:04]
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT THAT ARE GOOD THINGS, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE ALL PROBABLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY BAD THINGS. THAT'S MY REPORT TODAY.>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CARES FUNDING ON THE PREVENTION SIDE.
SO RIGHT NOW I KNOW IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THIS WITH THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT ARE FLOODING THROUGH, BUT THERE ISN'T ANY FORM OF PRIORITY, RIGHT, AS FAR AS PEOPLE COMING IN SEEKING SERVICES. IF YOU GET THROUGH, YOU GET THROUGH GREAT.
IF NOT, THEN LIKE THERE'S NO ACTUAL PROCESS AS FAR AS RANKING ON WHO IS IN MORE NEED OR LIKE
VULNERABILITY, CORRECT? >> YEAH. I MEAN UNFORTUNATELY, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO RUN THE PROGRAM THAT WAY. IT'S A TOUGH CALL.
OUR STAFF TAKES THE HITS ON THOSE MORE THAN ANYBODY. WE JUST CAN'T PRIORITIZE.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT BRITTANY, I KNOW YOU TALK TO PEOPLE FACE-TO-FACE OR AT LEAST ON THE TELEPHONE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING BACK AND FOLLOWING UP ON, WE'RE USING A NEW PORTAL SYSTEM TO TAKE APPLICATIONS.
IT'S NOT MY FAVORITE BUT NECESSARY WITH COVID. A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T HITTING SUBMIT. SO, WE ARE FINDING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE IN THE QUEUE, I HAVE SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW WHO IS FOLLOWING UP ON THE APPLICATIONS BUT IT'S QUITE A BIT AND THEN IN SOME CASES, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY DIDN'T HIT A BUTTON.
IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS.
IN ADDITION TO IT BEING FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, IT'S HEY, CAN YOU GET US THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK. FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, THIS IS A FIRST TIME THEY REALLY HAD TO DIG THROUGH THEIR FINANCES TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE SURE NO FRAUD OCCURS.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES. WE DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR
BUREAUCRATIC MOTIONS TO ISSUE THE FUNDS. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TOO, WE KNOW JUST ON OUR END, LOOKING AT THOSE THAT ARE VULNERABLE ARE TYPICALLY THE ONES THAT AREN'T VERY TECH SAVVY. AREN'T REALLY GOOD AT PUTTING THINGS THROUGH THE PROCESS AND YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY GETTING THE CASES THAT DO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. OR ARE A LITTLE MORE FAMILIAR WITH NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM.
SO HOWEVER WE CAN HELP ESPECIALLY WITH THE COC, WHEN IT RELATES TO FUNDING THROUGH THE COUNTY AND TRULY JUST COLLABORATING ON HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T MISSING THIS AREA OF PEOPLE, OR HOW DO WE MAKE IT BETTER AND EASIER FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE THIS DIFFICULTY? I WILL TELL YOU JUST SYSTEM WISE AND BEING A PART OF THIS WHOLE DATA WORLD, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THAT CREATE PORTALS AND DO ALL OF THESE TECHIE THINGS AREN'T THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE PORTALS AND YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THIS TERMINOLOGY AND LANGUAGE THEIR TECH BRAIN. THEY JUST PUT THINGS OUT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO EVEN MYSELF SOMETIMES I STRUGGLE. I'M LIKE MAN, YOU SHOULD HAVE WORDED IT THIS WAY BECAUSE THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE. ANY WAY WE CAN HELP, COC OR CARE CONNECT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EFFECTS ALL OF US HEAVILY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MORATORIUM IS OVER AND THERE'S A NEW C.D.C.
GUIDELINES ON THIS MORATORIUM. HOWEVER WE CAN HELP AND GET THE FOLKS AND NOT MISSING ANYONE IN
THE MIDDLE. >> YEAH. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. I WILL TELL YOU TOO, I HOPE THAT ANY IMPRESSION THAT I GAVE ABOUT THE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A RAT RACE OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
THE WHOLE ARE WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH ALL FOLKS. WHETHER THEY HAVEN'T SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION WITH US, WHETHER THEY HAVE OR THEY'RE JUST MISSING A DOCUMENT, AGAIN THE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF, I WILL CALL IT LIMBO JUST APPEAR TO HAVE NOT, LIKE YOU SAID, MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TECH SAVVY OR MISSED PRESSING THE BUTTON. EVERYONE THAT HAS GONE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM HAS PROBABLY TALKED TO A HUMAN AT LEAST ONE TIME EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM IS
DESIGNED MORE TO SUBMIT EVERYTHING >> OKAY.
[00:45:03]
>> BRITTANY. THAT'S SOMETHING, WE RAN INTO IT A LOT WITH ALL THE DISASTER RESPONSE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, FOLKS ON PREPAID CELL PHONES OR OLD PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET, I DON'T GET HALF THE TECHNOLOGY SOMETIMES. AND YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR OFFICE AND CALL THE BANK AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DOWNLOAD THEIR BANK STATEMENTS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DO IT. I DON'T KNOW, JOE, IF THERE'S AN EASY WAY TO TRY AND TELL YOUR FOLKS ANSWERING THE PHONES, WHEN THEY RUN INTO PEOPLE HAVING THOSE PROBLEMS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK YOUR INTAKE FOLKS IS THERE A WAY WHERE THEY COULD REFER SOMEBODY IF SOMEONE WAS WILLING TO TRY AND HELP PEOPLE DO THAT.
Y'ALL ARE PROCESSING THEM AS FAST AS YOU CAN. THE FOLKS THAT ARE SLOW, I IMAGINE THEY JUST KIND OF STAY THERE UNTIL SOMEONE HAS TIME TO LOOK AT IT OR WORK HARDER.
BUT MAYBE SOME OF US COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP THEM PROCESS THEIRS MORE QUICKLY.
>> ACTUALLY BILL, WE DO THAT. WE CONTACT THESE FOLKS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SOME OF THEM ARE IN DIRE STRAIGHTS. WHEN THEY RUN OUT OF PATIENCE OR HAVE DEBT COLLECTORS GET A HOLD OF THEM, THEY'RE GOOD ABOUT CONTACTING US AND LETTING US KNOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO IT ON EXPEDITE IT. WE FULLY TAKE THE TIME TO CONTACT PEOPLE AND HELP THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN. IT'S JAMMED UP MY E-MAIL SERVERS A COUPLE TIMES. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SENDING US STUFF.
>> JOE, STAFF HAS PEOPLE COME IN THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE ELECTRONIC PORTAL AND THEY WILL WALK THEM THROUGH TIME AND AGAIN, THEY WILL MEET WITH THEM. MASKS AND ALL.
THEY WILL HELP THEM FILL OUT THAT PAPER APPLICATION. >> BUT PLEASE, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. I AM TRYING TO DO BECAUSE OF COVID, TRYING NOT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME TO OUR OFFICES. WE ARE TRYING AS BEST WE CAN TO HANDLE EVERYTHING OVER THE PHONE ARE VIA COMPUTER, EVEN IF IT TAKES US EXTRA TIME. I WOULD RATHER INTO THAT.
WHERE WE SHARE THAT BUILDING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE BUILDING RIGHT NOW AND THE LAST THING I NEED TO DO IS JUST YOU KNOW, HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE OVER THERE AS WE CAN. WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THAT AS
BEST WE CAN. >> WELL, IF THERE'S FOLKS LIKE US TO UPLOAD AN E-MAIL, MAYBE WE
CAN HELP FOLKS DO THAT FOR NOT HAVING TO COME TO YOUR PLACE. >> THANK YOU, BILL.
I MIGHT TAKE YOU UP ON THAT OFFER. MARY IS TAPPING ME.
ONE THING SHE WANTED ME TO LET YOU KNOW. IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS, HAVE BEEN PROMOTED. ON MONDAY I BECAME THE ASSISTANT HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTOR.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MY PLATE IS QUITE FULL RIGHT NOW. >> THAT'S GREAT.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON OUR COVID RESPONSE? WE OKAY? WE WANT TO MOVE ON TO MARY
[5) Vacancies]
TELLING US ABOUT >> SURE. >> MARY.
DO YOU HAVE, CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE NEED OR DON'T NEED?
>> YEAH, BRITTANY AND STEVE, THEIR POSITIONS ON THE BOARD, BOTH EXPIRE IN OCTOBER.
IT THEY WERE POSTED FOR A MONTH. I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO REPOST. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT BY THE OCTOBER MEETING THAT WE WOULD HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR YOU TO VOTE ON.
>> YEAH. ALSO THAT THE THE HOUSE BILL THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT APPEARS ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN THE LEGAL CLARITY ON IT, THAT WE WERE SEEKING THAT A COMMISSION MEMBER OR I THINK WHAT IT SAYS, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL, I'M SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL ON THE BOARD. I THINK SOME TIME AFTER OCTOBER OR MAYBE EVEN OCTOBER MEETING, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SORT ALL THAT OUT. I THINK OUR FIRST READ OF THE HOUSE BILL BACK IN JULY WAS THAT ALL THIS WENT INTO EFFECT ON 2021, BUT WE HAVE SENSE FOUND OUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR THE THAT PARTICULAR POSITION. AGAIN IN ORDER TO BE ON THIS BOARD, WE HAVE 12, 13 POSITIONS THAT ARE MANDATORY. ALL OF YOU ARE EITHER CITIZENS OR THE WORK THAT YOU DO PERTAINS TO A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY WHETHER IT'S MORTGAGE INDUSTRY, A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE, A NON-PROFIT BUILDER, NOW THERE'S A NEW POSITION ON THE BOARD DUE TO
[00:50:03]
STATE STATUTE THAT REQUIRES AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. >> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE DON'T GET TO PICK THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL. THEY WILL BE PICKED FOR US.
>> THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CURRENT INTERPRETATION OF THE BILL, HOWEVER NOTHING HAS BEEN
FINALIZED. >> OKAY. BRITTANY, STEVE, I HOPE BOTH OF Y'ALL WILL RE-SUBMIT. WE WILL LIKE TO KEEP YOU ON AND KEEP YOUR INPUT.
MARY WILL CONTINUE TO NAG EVERYBODY UNTIL THERE'S TIME TO GIVE MORE.
>> I FINALLY SENT IT IN. I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE THAT'S AWFUL UNLESS IT'S A CALENDAR INVITE AND REMINDED ME EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY, I WILL BREEZE THROUGH IT.
IF I DON'T RESPOND, ABSOLUTELY. SEND ME ANOTHER E-MAIL. >> AND BRITTANY IS THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDER AND STEVE LADRIDO REPRESENTS EMPLOYERS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
>> YEAH, I THOUGHT I WAS DONE. I TURNED BY APPLICATION IN ANYWAYS.
SEE IF I GET APPROVED. >> THANKS STEVE. >> WE APPRECIATE YOU BOTH.
THAT'S GREAT. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANYTHING
ANYTHING WANTS TO SHARE IN ANYONE ON THE CALL? >> NO PUBLIC COMMENT VIA THE PHONE. MR. WILLIAMS, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? OKAY. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THAT IT? YES, SIR. THAT'S IT. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 21ST. SAME TIME. JOE, MARY, CAN Y'ALL CIRCLE BACK WITH THE FHA AND SEE ABOUT US SHARING MEETING MINUTES TO GET EVERYBODY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING
ON BOTH COMMITTEES? >> YEAH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR BOARD, I WILL LET THEM KNOW AS
PART OF THE REPORT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR DIALING
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.