Housing Commission

MINUTES HOUSING COMMISSION PURPOSE OF MEETING: The five-member Commission is appointed by the City Council for three-year terms. The Housing Commission maintains awareness of housing needs and opportunities, including affordable housing; proposes housing policy initiatives and changes; investigates fair housing complaints and conciliates these complaints; mediates conflicts relating to the Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act and offers reconciliatory services in conflicts relating to other housing laws. DATE OF MEETING: February 12, 2013 PLACE OF MEETING: The Oak Room, East Wing, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chairman Sprague AT 6:40 pm THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Steve Sprague, Chair ___X___ Dana Lewis: _____X_________ Julio Idrobo, Vice-Chair ___X___ Sue Richter _________ Donald Brobst _______ Kevin Denton ___________ Tori McKinney_______ M.T. Gutmanis _____X______ OTHERS PRESENT: ___________________________________________________________ TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: ______________________________________________________ Approval of Minutes The minutes of the January 8, 2013 meeting were approved with one change. The draft memo to the Affordable Housing Policy Work Group will be prepared on behalf of the Housing Commission and will be included in the minutes. Housing Commission Annual Report – Chair Sprague Chair Sprague is preparing a draft of the Housing Commission Annual Report. Once the draft version is complete it will be reviewed prior to being finalized. The format for the report will be a more succinct version that still includes all of the commission’s accomplishments. It will cover two years. Chair Sprague asked staff Lewis to provide examples of how the Affordable Housing Policy will be carried out, including: goals, objectives and actual actions. He would like compressed minutes for the past years. Please send to commissioners if possible. Affordable Housing Policy Work Group – Update – Commissioner Idrobo The Affordable Housing Policy was adopted at the City Council meeting on February 11, 2013. Commissioner Brobst and Commissioner Idrobo made presentations on behalf of the commission. Commissioner Idrobo thanked the Affordable Housing Policy Work Group and in particular, the staff for their commitment and dedication during the many work sessions. The Commission will work to plan a get together to celebrate the completion and adoption of the policy. Page 2 Minutes February 12, 2013 Affordable Housing Fund – Staff Lewis Staff Lewis discussed the Affordable Housing Fund which may be used for production, preservation or to acquire property. Falls Church could set a goal to build up the available funds and set a goal of possibly a million dollars for preserving units at Merrill House or Lee Square. It could also be used to help a non-profit acquire units. At the next meeting lets put together a fact sheet for the use of the funds. The group felt the fund is too small to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the funds. Northern Virginia Housing Expo – Staff Lewis The Northern Virginia Housing Expo will take place on March 16, 2013 at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School from 10 am to 2 pm. The expo will feature workshops and exhibits designed to educate the attendees about location options, buying or renting and more. Volunteers will be needed to help with the event. Idrobo volunteered. CDBG Quarterly Reports Update – Staff Lewis As of this date, Habitat for Humanity has not spent any of their grant money. Chair Sprague suggested that goals might need to be set on a quarterly basis in the future. Chair Sprague will not be at the next meeting and is unable to attend the Expo as he will be out of town. The meeting was adjourned on the motion of Commissioner Gutmanis, seconded by Commissioner Idrobo. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: ________8:20 pm________________________________ SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: ___M. T. Gutmanis__________________________________ The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703 248-5005, (TTY 711). DATE: ______________________________ MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: PLEASE SIGN IN FOR THE RECORD. Thank you. 1 16 2 17 3 18 4 19 5 20 6 21 7 22 8 23 9 24 10 25 11 26 12 27 13 28 14 29 15 30