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: April 24, 2015 PLACE OF MEETING: Laurel Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: ___Julio Idrobo AT ____3:30 PM____ THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Chair ___x____ Dana Lewis: _____X_ ______ Tori McKinney, Vice Chair __x_ ___ Paul Stanford: ____x_ ____ Don Brobst ___ ____ Nancy Vincent:___________ M.T. Gutmanis __X__ Council Liaison Tommy Goodwin ___X______ Mary Beth Connelly – Council Liaison __ FCHC Liaison Planning Commission Liaison Thomas Vaccaro (phone) ____X_ ______ Lindy Hockenberry _____X__________ FCPS Student Representative Visitors Camille Borga ___x___ Laura Hicks ____X___ TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: This was a special meeting to discuss the Mason Row developer offering Cash in Lieu of units. The purpose was for the Commission to discuss and prepare a recommendation for or against to submit to council. Chair Idrobo called the meeting to order. Overview of Mason Row offering Cash in Lieu of Units – Dana Lewis gave an overview from the last meeting where the developer for Mason Row (the Spectrum) shared that it was only feasible for them to give cash and how much they were willing to give. A handout describing how they developed their formula was distributed. Overview of City’s cash formula and other localities – Staff Stanford then showed what the City Assessor’s office felt would be an acceptable and realistic cap rate along with the average rents. Staff then passed out a memo that was prepared in the past that gave an overview of other localities. Commissioner Goodwin shared some points form this memo. Review of Affordable Housing Policy – Commissioner McKinney shared points from the Affordable Housing Policy. Most persons in the room were a part of that committee. Virginia Village - Liaison Vaccaro, who called in for the meeting, shared that he supported units instead of cash; he also indicated that it seems the purchase of Virginia Village may not be viable. Development of Housing Commission recommendation – All present debated the pros and cons of cash or units. Commissioner McKinney felt that we should not give up units as this is what is stated in the policy even though we should be getting more. Commissioner Gutmanis agreed that units were the best way to go. Chair Idrobo felt that cash should be considered as it may be invested and used for a larger project down the line. He has done some research and there is interest in this. Commissioner Goodwin saw the value in cash but decided that units should be the say to go. He wants to see language form the policy used. The group developed language to go in a memo. Chair Idrobo will prepare and send to commissioners incorporating this language. Staff Lewis will put on stationary and submit to council. Planning Commission Liaison Hockenberry supported the need for units. Student Liasion Borja felt that units should be advocated for. At the next meeting we will discuss the Broad Falls tenant meeting, Chair Idrobo adjourned the meeting. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: ______5:00 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).