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: July 9, 2019 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room – City Hall 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____ Kaylee Stillwagoner _X_ Council Liaison Guest Letty Hardi _ X__ Phil Duncan ___ Shelly Mastran ___ Shaina Schaffer____ Minutes approved from the June 11, 2019 meeting. Proceedings: Meeting called to order by Chair Heffernan at 6:35 PM Housing Chapter - City Planning staff Shaina Schaffer and Shelly Mastran gave a presentation to the Commission on the Housing Chapter of the Comprehensive plan. The commission reviewed a hard copy of the plan in track changes and gave feedback. Suggestions included: • Include a definitions page • Expand AMI • Talk about the cost burdened workforce • Change the vison to “ensure that pace of affordable housing keeps pace with the growth of housing”  • Talk about market rate affordable and committed rental and the difference • Include the message that we are losing ADUs and include how many we have lost All commissioners will send their priorities to Chair Heffernan by Friday so that she can send to Council. Commissioners made the suggestions that HHS invite Council to visit some stand-alone affordable housing projects that are well done. The intern Thomas will research. He will also do research on the meals tax for affordable housing and Alexandria. Is this something we can do? Is the City similar to Alexandria? Housing Commission Bi-annual Report – Chair Heffernan will compose a draft after Staff Lewis sends her background information such as how many years to include. Summer Schedule for Housing Commission – Chair Heffernan spoke to the members about if they planned to take a summer month off. The plan was to take of August and return in September. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM