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: January 9, 2018 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 _x__ __ Dana Lewis __X_ Tori McKinney, Vice Chair __ ___ Council Liaison M.T. Gutmanis __X ___ Letty Hardi – __ x_ _ Don Brobst ___ x__ Planning Commission Liaison Brenda Heffernan __ ___ Lindy Hockenberry __X_ FCHC Liaison _ Student Liaison Thom Vaccaro__ _X __ Katherine O’Neil ___X_ Visitors Joshua Shokoor __X___ The meeting was facilitated by Chair Julio Idrobo. Approval of Minutes The minutes for the November 14, 2017 and the December 12, 2017 meetings were approved. Sprague Award for Affordable Housing Advocacy for 2017 The group spent some time planning for the event that will happen on February 12, 2018 at the Winter Hill community center at 6:00 pm and will go to 7:00 pm. This will be followed by the council presentation at 7:30pm. Tori and Julio will make the presentation. Thom will order the award and host and Tori will provide the food which will include cake pops. Christopher Fay, the recipient is available this evening and he will invite guest to come. Housing Article Series The series will begin in January and will run in the below order. All articles will mention that we will be updating the Affordable Housing Policy this year. Joshua Shokoor’s article will say that he is a former Housing Intern for the City, a City resident and current NHP employee. There was discrepancy on if the number of words allowed each article is 600 or 800. We will get clarity. 1. January - Intro to the series – Letty Hardy and Affordable Rental Housing – Joshua Shokoor 2. February – Affordable Homeownership - Tori McKinney  3. March – Millennials and Housing – Don Brobst 4. April – Fair Housing – Brenda Heffernan 5. May – Senior Housing- Thom Vaccaro 6. June – Importance of Affordable Housing and Conclusion - Julio Idrobo Affordable Housing Policy Housing staff will ask Council to appoint a representative to the Affordable Housing Policy Workgroup. The group asked if we can add zoning to the policy. All of past suggestions will be looked at. In the next meeting we need to decide who the actual persons will be that will serve as the representatives the Commission agreed upon. MLK Day Holiday and Tiet Festival Invitation Commission Participation Staff is invited to attend at Winter Hill on Friday February 9, 2018. Upcoming Change to Commission Meeting Locations As City Hall is under construction meeting will now be held at Winter Hill in the Board room at the regular time. The group adjourned at 8:00 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).