Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS®

Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS®

Public Policy Report

“THE MONITOR”

 Spring 2018

 

 “When you get together in a group, it becomes like a family, with the different personalities and the politics that comes along….It’s different than bringing something in by yourself.”

—   Albert Hammond, Gibraltarian singer, songwriter and record producer

 ELECTION RESULTS

CONGRATULATIONS to all winners in the May 1^st elections in Hampton and Newport News! The Public Policy Committee interviewed, over the course of two days, nearly all of the candidates seeking re-election/election to City Council in Hampton and Newport News, and Mayor in Newport News. The following were elected:

(*denotes VPAR/RPAC endorsement)

HAMPTON CITY COUNCIL

Eleanor Brown*

Steve Brown*

Jimmy Gray*

 

NEWPORT NEWS MAYOR

Dr. McKinley Price*

 

NEWPORT NEWS CITY COUNCIL

Dr. Saundra Cherry*

David Jenkins*

Sharon Scott*

 

VPAR looks forward to continuing to work with these public servants on important issues related to housing, land use, zoning, planning, economic development and transportation.

 

Local Issues

Hampton Permitting Process

The Public Policy Committee met with Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck, at the Mayor’s request, to provide input into how the City can incorporate streamlining and best practices in the permitting submission and approval process. The Mayor will use the details provided by VPAR into a meeting with Hampton officials in early May.

 

Hampton Zoning Amendments and Recurrent Flooding

Terry O’Neill, Director of Community Development, has asked for VPAR’s input into potential amendments to the zoning ordinance regarding recurrent flooding. VPAR’s Legislative Consultant and Public Policy Committee member (and Hampton Neighborhood Commissioner) Peggy Todd will meet with Mr. O’Neill and his team in late May.

 

Ft. Eustis/City of Newport News AICUZ

VPAR’s CEO and Legislative Consultant has provided input into the development of Ft. Eustis Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ). Personnel from the installation will be meeting with VPAR again in the coming weeks to review the details and the language. An educational program is in development for VPAR members.

 

Ft. Eustis Joint Land Use Study

VPAR’s Legislative Consultant reviewed the Ft. Eustis Joint Land Use Study and provided feedback to City staff on issues related to housing, recurrent flooding and economic development. The report can be found here. https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/3a99a7_58423e7847ce4078af32aceafeb6489f.pdf

 

Newport News Boys & Girls Club Placemaking Grant

VPAR is working with Anderson’s Garden Center in reigniting stalled efforts from two years ago to improve the grounds of the Boys & Girls Club Pinedale Branch in Newport News.

 

Newport News Rental Inspection Program

Newport News Codes Compliance Director Harold Roach and his team will be meeting with VPAR members on June 21^st to provide an update of the rental inspection program and receive VPAR feedback on potential challenges and inefficiencies.

 

Poquoson REALTOR® Day on June 13^th

On June 13^th, VPAR will return to Poquoson for the annual REALTOR® DAY IN POQUOSON event! The tour of “Bull Island” will be by boat, and again will feature a host of guest speakers from the City to inform VPAR members of all that us unique to Poquoson. More details coming soon!

 

ONGOING ADVOCACY ISSUES

• Hampton Housing Market Assessment and Future Housing Needs Study
• Newport News Comprehensive Plan
• Hilton 100/VPAR Collaboration

 

State Issues

 

2018 GA Adjourns (Sort of)

The 2018 General Assembly Session adjourned in March, and the REALTOR® Legislative Agenda saw a 100% success rate on all of our legislation! BIG THANKS TO VPAR PPC MEMBER SANDRA HOOD FOR INITIATING THE LEGISLATION REGARDING LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS IN THE PRACTICE OF REAL ESTATE. BOTH BILLS PASSED and BECOME LAW IN VIRGINIA ON JULY 1^st!

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+ful+CHAP0087+pdf

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+ful+CHAP0039+pdf

 

State Budget

Continuing toward crafting an approved budget, VPAR has weighed in with key elected leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia on comprehensive issues including Metro Funding and the grantors tax.

 

2019 Legislation

Looking ahead to the 2019 Session, if you have concerns or issues that require a legislative fix, now is the time to let VPAR know! Contact Susan Gaston, VPAR’s Legislative Consultant, at 757-871-1445 or at susan@gastongroup.com. You also may go directly to VR and complete the legislative issue request form found here: https://www.virginiarealtors.org/advocacy/get-involved/legislativeagenda/ DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS JUNE 5^th to VPAR.

 

Federal Issues

EPA Proposes Regulatory Science Reforms

U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule to strengthen the science used in regulations issued by EPA.

 

Coalition Letter in Support of CFPB Structure Change

NAR signed onto a joint trades letter in support of H.R. 5266, the “Product Safety Commission Act of 2018,” a bill that would transition the leadership structure at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) from a sole director to a bipartisan commission.

 

NAR Supports Seller Financing Bill

NAR sent a letter to Representatives Pearce (R-NM) and Heck (D-WA) thanking them for introducing H.R. 5287, the “Preserving Access to Rural Installment Transactions for Years (PARITY) Act of 2018.”

 

ASC Rejects Appraisal Waiver Request

The Board of the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) decided in an open meeting to reject Tri-Star Bank’s request for a waiver of commercial appraisal requirements for the Nashville, TN area.

 

Change to USDOT Transportation Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a Notice of discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program.

 

VPAR’S LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT IS “OUT AND ABOUT!”

RECENT MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH:

• John Knapp, District Director, U. S. Senator Tim Kaine
• Drew Lumpkin, District Director, U. S. Senator Mark Warner
• Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
• Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck
• Newport News Mayor McKinley Price
• Poquoson Economic Development Director Dave Callis
• York County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sheila Noll
• York County Board of Supervisors Member Jeff Wassmer
• Mamie Locke
• Monty Mason
• Tommy Norment
• Gordon Helsel
• Mike Mullin
• Brenda Pogge
• Cia Price
• Jeoin Ward
• David Yancey

 

Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS®

Public Policy Report

“THE MONITOR”

 SPRING 2018

 

 

SPECIAL LOCAL ELECTION EDITION

 

The Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS® (VPAR) has made the following endorsements in the upcoming Hampton and Newport News City Council and Mayoral election that will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

 

Receiving the endorsement of the Association are the following candidates:

 

HAMPTON CITY COUNCIL

James Gray

Teresa Vanasse Schmidt

Eleanor Brown

Steve Brown

 

NEWPORT NEWS MAYOR

Dr. McKinley Price

 

NEWPORT NEWS CITY COUNCIL

Sharon Scott, North District

David Jenkins, Central District

Dr. Saundra Cherry, South District

John Eley, South District

 

The endorsements were based on in-depth written surveys submitted by the candidates. The surveys covered a broad range of issues relevant to the housing and real estate industries, the business community in general and the quality of life in both Hampton and Newport News and here on the Peninsula. Specific topics included providing for increased housing opportunities and relevant pro-housing policies that will produce housing options at a variety of prices, protecting our communities from rising seas and subsiding lands, improving access to quality education — a major driver in housing choice, strengthening our economic base, protecting our military and federal installations, redevelopment and reuse of vacant properties, and rental inspection programs.

 

In addition to the written questionnaires, candidates participated in 30-minute individual, personal interviews conducted by VPAR’s Public Policy Committee, a highly respected Association Committee that is comprised of well-informed and well-connected REALTOR® professionals who are engaged at all levels of government. The vast majority of candidates in both cities participated in the interview process.

 

“It is the Association’s distinct pleasure to endorse these capable, hard-working and supportive candidates for local office,” said Carl Burt, President of the Association.  “VPAR has very strong relationships with all of our elected officials, and that relationship begins at the time when a candidate first appears before the Committee. Our outreach and advocacy efforts with them lead to more informed decisions being made at the City Council level. We provide a resource in the form of data and policy information that no other organization can generate, and that leads to good public policy outcomes for all of us as residents.”

 

“The Public Policy Committee takes the matter of interviewing and endorsing candidates very seriously,” stated Committee Chairwoman Lori Carlson. “Every Committee member, every VPAR member, has a vested interest in the outcome of these important election endorsements, both as REALTORS® who sell the region, and as members of the community who live here. They know the issues. They know the people. They know the Cities. They know that endorsing candidates is perhaps the single most important task that they undertake as a Committee.”

 

Burt added, “This is the strongest slate of candidates in both Hampton and Newport News that we have seen in many, many years. We applaud all of the candidates who are running for Mayor and for Council. Their willingness to step up to the plate and serve the public is to be commended.”

 

“We were very impressed with the talent, qualifications and ideas brought forward by newcomers to the election process, especially by a number of young, millennial candidates. They are very creative and are so dedicated to our communities. With these young candidates immersing themselves into the election process, it is reassuring to know that our future is in good hands.”

 

“It is a rare occasion, and this may be the first time ever, that VPAR has endorsed more than one candidate in a district, or has endorsed more candidates than there are available seats. But this is a strong field of both incumbents and challengers, and we are excited about the prospect of working with everyone, both those who serve now, those who want to serve and those who at some point may be elected. We hope to work with them to increase their understanding of housing and real estate issues, business issues and economic development issues both now and into the future.

 

“The Peninsula is going to be well-positioned moving into the next generation of leaders. We all should be proud of the many men and women who are willing to take on their roles as elected officials and decision makers.”

 

Endorsements include campaign contributions from the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) of Virginia. Funding and endorsement decisions are based on support of the housing and real estate industries only; political party affiliation is not considered.