HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2023 Minutes Orange County Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) Minutes
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Whitted BOCC Meeting Room
Members Present: Dion Graham,Andrew Robinson, Hasan Abdullah, Matthew Ferguson, Sarah Adams,
Lynn Nilson, Matt Arlyn, Mary Towell, Mariela Hernandez
Members Absent: Keith Cook, Ehmu Ra Ho,Tim Woody, Mae Mclendon,Jenn Sykes, Paul Voss, Holly
Meschko, Hunter Beattie, Kelx Kexel, Holly Meschko, Hunter Beattie, Paula Kotarakos
Staff Present: Erica Cormack(Community Development Manager, Housing),Alma Alegria (Community
Development Specialist II, Housing)
I. Call to Order—Erica Cormack, Community Development Manager 6:08 PM
II. Introductions, Icebreaker(15 minutes)
a. Name
b. Why you're on AHAB?
c. How long you've been on AHAB?
d. Favorite thing about fall
III. Updates(10 minutes)
a. Board Members
i. No updates from board members
b. Staff
i. New staff member, Alma Alegria (CD Specialist)
ii. Corey Root (Director, Housing) is on leave until November 2023
iii. Five million dollars in bonds for affordable housing from Capital Improvement
Funds
IV. Recap of retreat (30 mins)
a. Understand reasons why people are on AHAB
i. Maximize skill set in AHAB
b. Collaborate and work together and set attainable goals
i. Research
1. What has worked?What has the county done?What projects have
been supported?Where are HOME funds spent?
2. What hasn't worked? What projects have not been supported?What
projects were discontinued?
3. Data that shows the importance of having a plan
ii. Advocacy
1. What's the role of the board?
2. Funds
3. Policies
4. Attend county commissioner meetings.
iii. Statement that the board will be working towards
c. Discussions on what Affordable Housing is and what it is not
d. Obstacles in affordable housing
e. Chair is open
V. Economic Development
a. Land use planning
b. AHAB has already been consulted
i. Members are concerned about lack of accurate representation
c. Commissioners Board gets feedback from 232 boards.
VI. Suggestions
a. Lynn suggested to meet outside the monthly meeting.
b. Hasan suggested to gather opinions from the community.
VII. Officer nominations and vote (20 mins)
a. Clarity on chair role responsibilities
b. Matthew Ferguson volunteers to become chair.
i. Lynn and Sarah motion Mathew Ferguson to be chair.
ii. All in favor
c. Lynn volunteers to vi-chair
i. Matthew motions Lynn to be vicechair.
ii. All in favor
Vill. Meeting adjourned at 7:14 PM