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: February 11, 2020 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room – City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chair Jordan Hicks at 6:30pm THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Brenda Heffernan, _ X__ Dana Lewis _X_ Jordan Hicks, Vice Chair _X_ David Huaman _ _ Joshua Shokoor __X__ Planning Commission Liaison Peter Davis _ X __ FCHC Liaison Student Liaison Thom Vaccaro____ Kaylee Stillwagoner_x_________ Council Liaison Guest Letty Hardi _ X__ Patricia Hickerson Mary Alice Hendrick Virginia Hendrick Ann Miller Minutes approved from the January 2020 meeting were approved. Proceedings: Meeting called to order by Chair Hicks at 6:33 PM New Business New Business  Affordable Housing Tour – Staff Lewis shared that Housing Specialist David Huaman is planning the tour and has identified about seven sites that comprise a variety of different types of affordable housing. The goal is to educate Council about what the possibilities are.  Sprague Housing Champion Award Planning – Commissioner Shokoor talked about how we have done the award in the past and who the past recipients were: Christopher  Fay, Homestretch Inc., and Julio Idrobo past chair of the Housing Commission. The commission will get to work on this with a hopeful presentation to be made in the spring or fall. The group discussed who possible awardees could be Hannah Jordan or pastor Dave from Dulin Church.  Tenant Sub–Committee Planning – Commissioner Davis talked about starting a 2020 tenant initiative. The Commission will come up with nominations of tenants to invite and put an ad in the News press. The meeting could be quarterly and this group could report back to the commission. Suggestions for the group include: a. universal e-mailing – a website that tenants can send complaints to: Housing Commission.com b. provide answers to frequently asked questions including: bedbugs, water damage, tenant law and mold c. Information about the group and website could be put up in apartment buildings. d. There could be representatives from all of the apartment buildings in the City e. HHS clients f. Provide information in Spanish. g. Put this group on the agenda every 3rd meeting Old Business  Merrill House follow UP Tenant Concerns – Some residents came and brought examples of their electricity bills They also feel like AIMCO is not doing proper maintenance of the building. They will still make a spreadsheet of tenant bills as promised at the last meeting. The group talked about how it might be good to have this same information for the Fields tenants. They have actually gone down since the last meeting but tenants still have not received an explanation of why and an itemization of their bill.  Housing Commission Annual Report Follow-up – Commissioner Hicks talked with the group and they would like to push for more City Committed affordable units for persons at 40% of AMI in the City budget. They would also like to get some data on ADU demographics.  Housing Consultant and Community Impact Grant VHDA Update – Staff Lewis shared that both consultants will make presentations at the next meeting.  Commission Member Recruitment – Interim Chair Hicks and the rest of the group will try to continue to recruit.  Sprague Liaison Reports – None Meeting Adjourned by Chair Hicks at 8:15 pm.