Capitol conference attendees advocate for balanced housing policy: NAA members voiced their concern about the need for a balanced housing policy and other issues affecting the multifamily housing industry during visits with Members of Congress and their staffs as part of the annual Capitol Conference.

Tewana Wilkerson, staff director for Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), led the Colorado apartment associations delegation into the senator's offices to listen to and discuss the concerns of the rental housing industry. High on the list were the block grant initiative of the Section 8 voucher program; the need for tort reform and bankruptcy reform; changing the depreciation schedule; Low Income Housing inspection procedures; mold; and Colorado water conservation and storage.

Melanie Murphy, Regional Vice President for Region 8, told her representatives, "We are concerned that block grants could go to housing authorities that are not well run." While praising the Colorado Housing Authority, Murphy noted that many other housing authorities are not run as well and the money would get tied up in processing, leaving residents without the benefits they need and owners without their rental payments.

Terry Feinberg, Association Executive of the Arizona Multihousing Association, said that his delegation's meetings with Congressional staff went well. With some people in his group visiting Capitol Hill for the first time, he said it was a good experience for his members.

"Our main message was the importance of taking steps toward a more balanced housing policy," the experienced Capitol Conference attendee said. "A couple of the people we met with commented that they had not heard that before, but seemed receptive."

These were among the nearly 200 Hill visits made by attendees at NAA's annual Capitol Conference, held March 20-23 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City hotel in Arlington, Va. The event drew a record 400 attendees, including 85 first-time registrants.

Bobby Davis, of the Florida Apartment Association, attended the Capitol Conference for the first time.

"Everyone in our group had a good chance to explain our views and talk about what's going on in the apartment industry," he said.

Realizing the importance of making Hill visits, Davis commented that "Hill visits are totally valuable because they build up a relationship year after year. Even if we don't have crucial issues now, we might have something crucial in a few years from now and they [Senators and Representatives] will know who we are. You can't just walk in and tell them how to vote."

Before venturing out to Capitol Hill, conference attendees reviewed the top industry issues in a briefing delivered by NAA/National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) Joint Legislative Program staff, led by Jim Arbury, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs.

As part of the four-day event, attendees also heard from industry expert speakers on the topics of creating and maintaining healthy advocacy groups, strategies for polling and winning local ballot initiatives, low income housing tax credits and FHA and ADA design requirements.

They were entertained by the political comedy troupe Capitol Steps, networked and socialized at a reception at NAA headquarters, and spent an evening at the Washington National Cathedral at a NAA Better Government Event. Some attendees lunched on Capitol Hill at the exclusive Capitol View Conference Center with sweeping views of the nation's Capitol.

The Industry Forums offered discussion and question-and-answer opportunities about the new rules and penalties in effect for Do Not Call/Do Not Fax/CAN SPAM and the implications of the Service Members Civil Relief Act as it applies to breaking leases.

NAA would like to thank the sponsors of the four-day event: Apartment Guide, For Rent, Mac-Gray, Network Multifamily and RENTNET.

Government Roundtable Speakers

The Ninth Annual Government Affairs Roundtable featured discussions focused on overcoming obstacles and navigating the political environment.

Steve Gallagher, Assistant rice President for State and Local Affairs from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Jamie Glonek, Government Affairs Director for the Colorado Apartment Association, and Terry Feinberg, Executive Director of the Arizona Multifamily Housing Association, discussed the pros and cons of coalition building when it is unwise or impossible to enter the legislative foray on your own.

Gallagher also discussed NAIOP's and NAA's involvement as founding members of the Real Estate Advocacy Group for the States (REAGS), a coalition of nine national trade associations who lobby at the state level.

National public opinion researcher and political pollster Paul Fallon also gave a presentation titled, "Meeting the Challenges of Growth and Land-Use Politics in the Public Arena," explaining how voters feel and what they think about growth issues.

Fallon outlined ways to position associations to be poised to react and respond to political challenges, and techniques for managing political challenges to minimize their impact on the apartment industry and members.

Both discussions shed important light on effective uses of allies, both natural and unorthodox, in combating legislative and political issues that arise across the country.

Builders, Owners and Developers

The Builders, Owners and Developers Forum welcomed two speakers. Christopher B. Hanback, Esq., Holland & Knight, LLP, addressed the Forum on New Aggressive Posture of Department of Justice on FHA and ADA Design Requirements, and Garth B. Rieman, National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), spoke on low income housing tax credits.

Taking Action on Impact Fees

Impact fees continue to be a heated topic across the country. As such, the 2003 Legislative Committee and BODF determined during their Capitol Conference meeting that a model methodology was needed so that states faced with impending enabling legislation would have an industry accepted document from which they could pull for amendments to unfavorable propositions.

It was further determined that there was a greater need for more consistent methodologies to allow developers to more accurately estimate the lees they can expect to be charged and decrease the opportunities for fee-charging bodies to take advantage of developers.

A consistent methodology would also save the municipalities and local government money as they would no longer need to hire outside consultants to develop a methodology. Because methodologies had to be a part of the model bill, a study should be conducted to examine currently used methodologies and either choose or develop a methodology most favorable to the apartment industry. The proposal from Virginia Tech for the study and development of model impact lee methodology was approved by the Committee and the NAA Board of Directors.

NAA Partners on MITS Initiative

David Cardwell, NMHC Vice President of Housing and Finance, briefed the Board of Directors and Assembly of Delegates during the Capitol Conference on the MITS initiative to standardize data and data change throughout the industry.

NAA has joined the National Multi Housing Council to support the use of data standards to promote software integration and services for the apartment industry. NAA will help provide broader awareness of the Multifamily Information and Transactions Standards (MITS) initiative and will host one of the semi-annual meetings of the MITS Governance Committee and Working Group.

Formed as an independent initiative open to all apartment firms, technology providers and others, the objective of the MITS initiative is to foster standardization of data and information elements used in the exchange of data for a wide range of business activities and transactions.

MITS members will continue to develop data sets to improve automated data exchange and refine and improve current standards. New areas of focus under consideration for 2004 and beyond include, but are not limited to, improving business application, such as: property maintenance and supply-chain management, general ledger accounting, financial services industry standards interface, and affordable housing compliance reporting and accounting.

For information, visit the MITS Web site at www.MITSproject.com.

Capitol Conference at a Glance

Who Came? A record 400 attendees visited Washington, D.C., and made nearly 200 visits to Capitol Hill, where they discussed key topics, such as the block grant initiative of the Section 8 voucher program; the need for tort reform and bankruptcy reform; changing the depreciation schedule; low income housing inspection procedures; and mold.

What Was Discussed? Industry experts spoke on Do Not Call/Do Not Fax/CAN SPAM, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, FHA and ADA Design Requirements, Meeting the Challenges of Growth and Land Use Politics in the Public Arena, and Coalition Building.

New Members NAA approved affiliate charters for the Iowa Apartment Association and Greater Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Apartment Association.

Did You Hear? NAA joined the National Multi Housing Council to support use of data standards to promote software integration for the apartment industry through the MITS initiative; NAA approved Virginia Tech's proposal for the study and development of model impact lee methodology.

How Fun Attendees were treated to the Capitol Steps political Comedy troupe, a tour of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and a reception at the NAA offices in Alexandria, Va.

Next Year Capitol Conference is scheduled for Sunday, March 6 through Wednesday, March 9, 2005, giving members a better opportunity to meet with Congressmen during the week.