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: November 14, 2017 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chairman Idrobo at 6:35 p.m. THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Chair ___ __ Dana Lewis __X_ Tori McKinney, Vice Chair __x___ Council Liaison M.T. Gutmanis __x ___ Letty Hardi – __ x_ _ Don Brobst ___ x__ Planning Commission Liaison Brenda Heffernan __x___ Lindy Hockenberry ___ FCHC Liaison _ Student Liaison Thom Vaccaro__ _ x__ Katherine O’Neil The meeting was facilitated by Vice Chair Tori McKinney in Chair Julio Idrobo’s absence. Approval of Minutes - The minutes were approved. Old Business Steve Sprague Award – The group discussed this again and decided that they will have a reception on January 9th and wait and present the award at the council meeting when the new Council is on board. McKinney will inform Home Stretch Executive Director Christopher Fay that he has won the award. This will give an opportunity to meet the new council and show that affordable housing is important. FCHC has offered to get the award and we will have the reception at Winter Hill Apartments in the club house. Affordable Housing Policy timeline – Vice Chair McKinney shared that the Human Services Advisory Council meeting went well. She spoke to them about the policy and our plans for it and how the process went the last time. The Commission asked Housing Staff to prepare some data on other policies from other jurisdictions so we can have this information when we go to Council to ask that the workgroup become chartered. The commission will also use it for research. Housing Commission Annual Report – Vice Chair McKinney asked that this be put on the agenda for the next meeting as the Chair Idrobo is not present at this meeting. New Business: ADU Lottery, November 30, 2017 - 1Bedroom 1 Bath Pearson Square – Staff Lewis shared that the Lottery will be at 6:00pm in the Dogwood room. Whoever can come please let her know? Housing Commission Holiday Get Together – Vice Chair McKinney and the group discussed and decided that we will go out immediately after the December 12 Commission meeting. There will have a brief meeting where we will talk about the reception, the housing report and research for the Affordable Housing Policy. Approve New ADU Sales Prices and Rents for 2017 – Staff Lewis passed out the new prices and explained how they are calculated. The group voted to approve. They also asked Lewis to Double check the Home sale prices. Staff Report – Staff Lewis gave an update on the Miller House project and shared that it is moving forward. Community Residences staff is meeting with City staff to begin to work on the grading plan. The comprehensive agreement is almost finalized. The first reading of Broad and Washington was approved. The Commission needs to make comments on the Broad and Washington Project. Sprague Update Council Liaison Letty Hardy - There is a new Virginia State law that is limiting the development of ADUs. She suggested that when we go to council on the Affordable Housing Policy let’s make sure we have our research especially on Arlington. The Broad and Washington project was approved on fist reading. There will be new class A office space. There is a trend of smaller units. MT – Merrill House residents have not heard anything regarding the AIMCO development plan for the property. McKinney – The Rock the House community outreach event at Mad Fox was well attended and went well. Staff Lewis said that next year the City will be there. There was a $1,000 credit to all teachers to cover closing cost. 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).