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: May 10, 2016 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chairman Idrobo at 6:40 p.m. THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Chair _____ Dana Lewis __X_ Tori McKinney Vice Chair __X__ Visitors M.T. Gutmanis __X___ Kathleen Luisa __X__ Tommy Goodwin __X___ Laura Hicks __X___ Don Brobst __X___ Council Liaison Mary Beth Connelly – Council Liaison _ _ Letty Hardi – Council ___X__ Phil Duncan - Council___ __ Planning Commission Liaison Lindy Hockenberry ______X___ Approval of Minutes: Minutes of March 8, 2016 were approved with one correction. Old Business Miller House - Lincoln Group Home Tour & Update - Staff Lewis Lewis informed the Commission that we are currently waiting for the comprehensive agreement to be finalized between the City and the developer. In the mean time she has scheduled a tour that will take place on May 24. HHS is arranging transportation and all commisoners are invited. Housing Expo Update – March 19 Prince William Freedom High School The Expo was well attended with over 700 participants. Chair Idrobo served as a translator for the event. Several Falls Church parents of adult children with disabilities, attended to look for housing. New Business Comprehensive Plan – Community Engagement – Staff Lewis The commission discussed how the plan is still in draft form but that community feedback needs to be collected. HHS would like to have a community forum and the commission felt that this would be a good idea. Liaison Vaccaro offered Winter Hill as a location. There will be a regular commission meeting from 6-6:30 pm followed by a community forum. City employees and teachers will be invited. Schools will be asked to ask their staff to provide feedback. The forum will take place next month during our regular commission meeting. Fair Housing Testing – Staff Fair Housing Testing for the protected classes of race and national origin was completed in April. Testers went to many properties in the City and there were no findings however one property was recommended for staff to discuss their intake procedures. Falls Church Parents of Children with Disabilities – Parent Support meeting - The commission members were invited to attend one of their meetings. Elaine is the parent and we will come up with a date to attend one of the monthly meetings. Sprague Liaison Reports • Liaison Hockenberry shared that Camile Borja has been reappointed a student liaison to the commission for the next two years. All commissioners were pleased. She is now in the 11th grade. • Commissioner Gutmanis shared information about the property that was off record. Also it smells that something has died in the building and the smell is coming from the pipes. • Liaison Borja shared that we should invite students to come see the commission in action. There could be a possible question and answer about affordable housing. Then a possible workshop on affordable housing could possible take place at the school in the fall. She is willing to help organize. Paretns could also be invited. • Commissioner Brobst had nothing to report. • Commissioner McKinney shared that the real estate market is insane. The City is one of the hottest markets in the region. She receives multiple offers on properties. The price ranges are $700,000 to 850,000 for 3 to 4 bedroom homes. • Liaison Vaccaro shared that inspections are happening at Winter Hill. The heating and cooling center reception was well attended. He attended a workshop were attendees seemed to be confused about what is affordable housing. • Liaison Hardi shared that the City budget passed on a 4 to 3 vote to hold the tax rate flat. There are still a lot of capital projects and the rate will probably increase in the future. People should prepare for the future. There was an editorial in the paper about granny flats/cottage buildings and the tiny house movement. Zoning is an opportunity to allow  this. Hockenberry shared that we need to figure out the zoning. Hardi also meet with Habitat for Humanity to discuss development in the City. Staff Report Housing Development Update Staff Lewis shared this was reported earlier in the meeting. SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: ___Dana Lewis__ _______________ 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)