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: September 11, 2018 PLACE OF MEETING: Winter Hill Apartments – Board Room MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chair Brenda Heffernan at 6:33pm THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Brenda Heffernan, Chair _ X__ Dana Lewis _X_ Tori McKinney, Vice Chair _X_ Nancy Vincent __ M.T. Gutmanis _X____ Alex McMillen _X_ Don Brobst _ _ Council Liaison Jordan Hicks _X__ Letty Hardi X__ FCHC Liaison Planning Commission Liaison Thom Vaccaro__ __ Lindy Hockenberry __ Visitors Student Liaison Joshua Shokoor __X__ Katherine O’Neil _X__ Paul Brown Kaylee Stillwagoner _X_ Debra Roth_____ Phil Duncan ___ Approval of Minutes: Approval of July minutes will happen at the next meeting in October. Housing Articles: There are three articles ready to be published (Don’s, Thom’s and Julio’s). Don’s article, concerning millennial housing, will be published first. • Additionally, the Commission wants to ask a poll question in the FCNP to gauge the importance of housing to City residents. o One possibility: “Would you be in favor of a food tax increase to meet housing affordability needs in the City?” New Commissioner Recruitment: Tori and Don will be leaving the Commission at the end of October. Therefore, there will be two empty spots. Craig Cheney has expressed interest in joining the Commission and Josh Shokoor may be interested as well. Regardless, try to reach out to people about potentially joining the Commission as the spots should be filled as soon as possible. Housing Survey & Community Forums: Staff presented a housing survey report and a public engagement report. Major findings were discussed, they include: • Survey respondents felt the City was inclusive, while community forum participants overwhelmingly felt it is not. • Both reports concluded the City was not affordable to live in. • Affordable housing was seen as the number one housing need for the future of the City. • Survey respondents specifically wanted to: limit tear downs that turn into mansions, increase the ADU stock, increase workforce housing stock, and use taxation methods to meet affordability needs for vulnerable populations. • Survey respondent demographics were roughly parallel to City population demographics. • A total of 272 people participated in the public engagement process. • See reports for other findings. Comprehensive Plan and Affordable Housing Plan Updates: Staff is going to go in front of Council with the survey report, public engagement report and Comprehensive Plan draft in mid-October. Additionally, the chapter is waiting for the demographics information that the City has contracted out to come in, which should be soon. The first reading of the Affordable Living Policy was approved by Council this last Monday, September 10, 2018. The document will now be sent out to Boards and Commissions as well as the School Board. Housing Commissioners are encouraged to come to these meetings to lead conversation, record feedback and answer questions. Staff will work on a schedule of Boards and Commissions presentations and distribute it to Housing Commission members. CDBG Process for FY2020: Staff distributed a packet containing CDBG and HOME funding information and guidelines. The schedule for the process is also attached. Staff will distribute proposals to Commissioners on October 2, in preparation for public hearings on the proposals on October 9 and 16 (if necessary). Housing Update: Staff proposed moving from a lottery to a waiting list for the ADU program. Commissioners seemed to be in agreement that this move was well-intentioned but that details of the waiting list should be hashed out more meticulously. Staff will make changes to proposal and talk about them at next meeting. Sprague Liaison Reports: No reports. Meeting Adjourned at 7:51 pm The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in an alternate format upon request. Call 703-248- 5005 (TTY 711).