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: August 11, 2015 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: ___Julio Idrobo AT ____6:40 PM____ THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Chair ___x____ Dana Lewis: _____X_ ______ Tori McKinney Vice Chair ___X ___ Paul Stanford: _____X ____ Don Brobst ___ _X___ Nancy Vincent:___________ M.T. Gutmanis __X__ Tim Wildman _____X_____ Tommy Goodwin ___________ Council Liaison FCHC Liaison Mary Beth Connelly – Council Liaison _X_ Thomas Vaccaro ____ x_ ______ Planning Commission Liaison FCPS Student Representative Lindy Hockenberry ____X_____ Camille Borga ____x_ Visitors Laura Hicks ____X___ Kathleen Louisa ____X__ TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: Approval of Minutes: The minutes for June were approved with one change. CDBG/HOME FY2017 Process – Staff Lewis reviewed the process for CDBG applications. The schedule and budget was distributed and discussed with Commissioners. Affordable Dwelling Unit Updates – Commissioners had a discussion about the best way to show numbers of affordability burdened households in the City. Liaison Thom Vaccaro shared demographics he has been compiling. Council Walking Tour of West Broad Area Plan September 8th – Councilwoman Connelly shared that this has been cancelled and she will let us know when or if it will take place. Affordable Housing Fund Overview – Chair Idrobo gave an overview of the City’s Affordable Housing Ffund and how the Commission works with the Affordable Housing Fund committee. During the discussion the group also discussed the need to educate City residents about the need for affordable housing. Commissioner Goodwin suggested the group ask the public for ideas on what the fund should be used for. Staff Lewis shared that there is currently $289,000 in the fund that may be used for development, predevelopment or loans. The group discussed the land that is being prosed for development near George Mason High school. Commissioner McKinney shared that if there was another downpayment and closing cost assistance program using the fund she estimates she would be able to serve possibly 20 families and allow them to put 3.5% down. Councilwomen Connelly shared that the school has documents that might show where persons that need affordable housing may live. Liaison Hockenberry stressed that we have been averaging 6% ADUs with all new development including Mason Row. Housing Trust Fund - Staff Stanford gave an overview of a potential HHS project application for Virginia Housing Trust funds that would require Commission report. The idea was to use the funds for a rental program but the Housing Commission ultimately felt like there was not enough time to put the proposal together. The goal is to focus on getting organized to apply for funds in the following year. Broadfalls Tenant Meeting Update – Broadfalls Tenant Representatives came to give the Commission a status update on how things are going at Broadfalls. Things are better and the relationship between tenants and the management office has greatly improved. There have been improvements with the maintenance and many things discussed at the tenant meeting have been addressed. Comprehensive Plan Research – Intern Tim Wildman gave an overview of the current Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter outline. He also shared some demographics which commissioners felt might be great if could be broken up by age ranges. Sprague Liaison Reports – All Commissioners and FCHC Tommy Goodwin - No report Don Brobst – No report MT Gutmanis – She has been trying to get information on proposed updates to Merrill House to no avail. Camille Borga – No report Tori McKinney – Spring quarter sales are not as brisk as last year. The fed is raising the rate which will impact people’s payments. OTHER The next meeting will postponed to September 15 at the same time. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: ______9:00 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).