Housing Commission

MINUTES HOUSING COMMISSION City of Falls Church 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 8, 2019 PLACE OF MEETING: Winter Hill Apartments – Board Room MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chair Brenda Heffernan at 6:30pm THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Brenda Heffernan, Chair _ X__ Dana Lewis _X_ Jordan Hicks, Vice Chair _ _ Alex McMillen _ _ M.T. Gutmanis __X_ Planning Commission Liaison Joshua Shokoor __X__ Lindy Hockenberry __ Peter Davis __X__ Student Liaison FCHC Liaison Katherine O’Neil _X__ Thom Vaccaro____ Kaylee Stillwagoner _X_ Council Liaison Visitors Letty Hardi _ X__ Phil Duncan __ __ Allison Brown ____ Minutes approved from November meeting. Comprehensive Plan & Affordable Living Policy-- The Affordable Living Plan is moving along towards adoption for Jan 14 2019. Commissioners made suggestions and seemed to approve. Councilwoman Hardy suggested putting all the recommendations on one page. Staff continues to work on the comprehensive plan. There will be housing and demographic information that the City recently received from a consultant. Staff is currently working with the Planning department to create a first draft. The Commission will work on a plan for the Fields at the next meeting with suggestions that the commission might be able to advocate for. They would like for staff to invite a City Planner to come to talk about zoning options. Some suggestions for Comp Plan metrics include: • Percentage of school students receiving free or reduced lunch. • The percentages of units by income break down. • Compare how we have done in the last 5 years. • What are the best practices outside of this area? Next Housing Article- Former Commissioner Don Brobst article on millennials will be next. Kate and Kaylee may also write an article with their teacher about how housing issues affect school families. Steve Sprague Affordable Housing Champion Award-The HC voted and Julio Idrobo, former Commission Chair, who was nominated for the award, along with two others, was the top vote getter. The award will be presented in either: February, March or April in a ceremony at Winter Hill. The Falls Church Housing Corporation will purchase the award. ADU Ordinance Next Steps - The Commission was in agreement that the whole ordinance should be updated. They asked that Staff Lewis give a copy of the whole ordinance to each commissioner. There are many changes that need to happen. Don Beyer Outreach on Affordable Housing – Commissioner Davis said that he would reach out and ask Beyer to come to one of our meetings. Sprague Housing Report Nothing to report Meeting ended at 8:30 pm