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: December 16, 2014 PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Training Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: ___Julio Idrobo AT ____6:00 PM____ THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Chair ____X___ Dana Lewis: ______X______ Tori McKinney Vice Chair ___X____ Sue Richter _________ Don Brobst ___ X____ Nancy Vincent ______X_____ M.T. Gutmanis __X__ Council Liaison FCHC Liaison Mary Beth Connelly – Council Liaison x Thomas Vaccaro _____ ______ Visitor FCPS Student Representative Tommy Goodwin Camile Borga ___X__ Laura Hicks Katheline Louisa TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: Approval of Minutes: The approval of minutes for November 19, September 9, October 14 and October 21 were approved. Commissioner Brobst made the motion and Commissioner Gutmanis seconded. Approval of ADU Prices and Rents for FY 2015 – Staff Lewis The updated ADU prices and rents were presented and approved. Commissioner Brobst made the motion and Commissioner Gutmanis seconded. CDBG Consolidated Plan & Community Forum Debrief – Staff Lewis Commissioner Idrobo and Staff Lewis gave an overview of the two community forums and shared the feedback from both. This information will be used for HHS planning and incorporated into the Consolidated Plan. The Commission would like us to share this information with the public. There were also other suggested ways to get community feedback including: • Attend the Giant grocery store community meeting • Make use of the Falls Church City Schools (FCPS) school system media • Send the information home in the FCPS kids weekly communicator • Have the FCPS staff make a morning announcement on the intercom to students urging them to have their parents come out to forums  • Attend back to School Night Update – Status of Housing Commission Applicant - Chair Idrobo Tommy Goodwin shared that he has applied and now needs to be interviewed. This will happen the third week in January. Commissioner Brobst also needs to be interviewed again. Sprague Liaison Reports – All Commissioners and FCHC Don Brobst – He will follow up on his interview that needs to happen. M.T. Gutmanis – They have not heard much from Merrill House management staff. They are still waiting to hear more information about the coming renovation. The new manager on site is Ashley Dorric. Staff Vincent said she would let Gutmanis know if she hears anything about this from City staff. Tori McKinney - The housing market has been consistent in the region. Multiple properties are going to contract. She invited us all to come out to Watch Night in January. Camile Borga - Borga has nothing to report. Julio Idrobo – The Commission should have a discussion on how to protect housing affordability in the City at the next meeting. Since the loss of rental housing has come up in the forums, we need to talk about how to stop this from happening. The two city residents, that were visitors to the meeting, shared that they too felt that this was necessary. Housing Update – Staff Lewis This will be the last meeting for Staff Lewis as the Liaison. She will be taking over as the Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. Housing staff Kevin Denton will be the new Housing Commission Liaison. The group left the meeting and went out for a Holiday get together. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: ______7:30 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).