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: September 9, 2014 PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Training Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: ___Julio Idrobo AT ____6:30 PM____ THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Vice-Chair ____X___ Dana Lewis: ______X______ Donald Brobst ___X____ Sue Richter _________ Tori McKinney___X____ Kevin Denton ___________ M.T. Gutmanis __X__ Council Liaison FCHC Liasion Mary Beth Connelly – Council Liaison x Thomas Vaccaro _____ ______ Visitor Ron Brousseau - citizen x TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: Approval of Minutes: The August minutes were approved with three changes. Commission comments on two separate Broad & West development plans – Chair Idrobo The link to make comments did not work. The group felt that they should focus on the affordability of housing. Negotiations should strive for more than 6% with incomes being between 50-80%. There should be a mix of unit sizes. Ron Brousseau, a citizen, came and shared his comments. He will send his comments to council. He has been following affordable housing and was a part of the affordable housing policy group. He passed out a letter to the group. He then left for another meeting. The commission wants the ability to negotiate. This is not the area the City is most aggressive with. Chair Idrobo State of Virginia Commission appointment – Staff Lewis Commissioner Idrobo has a state level appointment from the governor and all cheered and were happy for him. Housing Data Charts – Staff Lewis Housing staff is working on these and the intern developed them with housing statistics. Miller House Update – Staff Lewis Miller House is scheduled to go before council for the last time on October 8 where council will be asked to give approval to move forward with issuance of an RFP to build a group home on the Miller House site. Commissioners are asked to come and show support. CDBG Applications due September 19 2014/Non-profit Recruitment As our numbers are low, it is imperative that all four commissioners s attend both public hearings. Status of Recruitment of new Housing Commission member - Chair Idrobo Chair Idrobo has identified someone and so McKinney. The goal is to get them to apply. Staff is also working on a potential candidate. National Association of County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) conference Sept. 28 – Oct. 1st, Arlington County – Staff Lewis Staff Lewis shared information about this upcoming conference. Sprague Liaison Report - All Commissioner Gutmanis - Things are remaining the same at Merrill House Council Member Connelly – At the Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting, they asked where in the City the best place to locate a group home is. She is the EDA Council Liaison. This is a different way for us to think about Miller House and that project. Madison Park might possibly be a better location. Commissioner McKinney shared that she is the Real Estate Agent of the year in Falls Church for the third consecutive year according to the Falls Church News press. All cheered. She is currently presenting five offers on one property. In the last two weeks of August people were traveling and it is now beginning to pick up. School enrollment seems to have leveled off. She would like to see us ask for down payment assistance funds again. Chair Idrobo agrees with the Down Payment Assistance comment Commissioner Brobst has nothing to report. Staff Report CDBG/HOME Update – Staff Lewis Staff Lewis shared that outreach has occurred at some new agencies this year for FY 2016 including: Casa de Maryland, the Women’s Center, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation and the Boy Scout House. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: ______8:30 PM_____________________ SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: _____Dana Lewis________________ 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).