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: June 11, 2019 PLACE OF MEETING: Winter Hill Apartments – Community 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 _X_ Alex McMillen _ _ M.T. Gutmanis __x _ Nancy Vincent Joshua Shokoor __X__ Planning Commission Liaison Peter Davis __X __ Lindy Hockenberry __ FCHC Liaison Student Liaison Thom Vaccaro____ Katherine O’Neil _ __ Council Liaison Kaylee Stillwagoner _X_ Letty Hardi _ X__ Minutes approved from the May 16th, 2019 meeting. Proceedings: Meeting called to order by Chair Heffernan at 6:35 PM VHDA Grant Dana Lewis discussed the VHDA Grant for $20,000 dollars as well as updating the Housing Preservation Study from 2008 and reducing permit fees. Affordable Housing Priorities Brenda Heffernan talked about more suggestions for affordable housing being put out at the leadership level and “breaking through that barrier”. Pete Davis suggested that precedents of how affordable housing in other cities has been tackled should be analyzed, and 3 to 5 options should be picked and shown to the City Council. The Commission discussed Wesley Housing and their commitment to preserving the Fields as well as their potential need for more city money. Pete Davis cited an example from Minneapolis of getting rid of single family zoning, as well as more students in different economic classes in the Falls Church school system being an outcome of improved social and affordable housing. Staff Lewis shared they also talked about this at the recent Leckey forum in Arlington. Kaylee Stillwagoner suggested focusing on one housing issue at a time. The Commission refocused and discussed a possible Meals Tax for affordable housing: What is the goal of it? What will be done with the money from it? The Discussion included putting the proceeds towards the Fields, how to get it passed and comparing the Alexandria Meals Tax to the Falls Church Tax. It was decided that this proposal would be good coming from the Housing Commission. Housing Plan suggestions Councilwoman Hardi suggested that a 2-3 year plan would be the most likely route of potential action in regards to Accessory Dwelling Units. Commissioner Shokoor suggested that we need to come together with concrete policies along with our top proposals and reach out to organizations that have formulated similar housing policies Staff Lewis discussed setting up a meeting with Kettler to talk about the Fields, Staff shared that there has been a complaint about a mice problem at the Fields. Fairfax County Health inspectors have being called and they will inspect the property. Chair Heffernan talked about putting future CDBG fund allocations on the list of things to discuss, and to keep a full list of policies and mark which ones are prioritized A suggestion was made to have someone not from the Government or Council to connect with City Churches. Christ Crossman Church next to the group home could be targeted. Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM