USDOT_Patricia McCauley LetterU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
* *
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Omaha Field Office
Executive Town Centre
10909 Mill Valley Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68154-3955
Honorable Roy D. Buol
Mayor of Dubuque
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
Dear Mayor Buol:
Subject: Consolidated End-of-Year Review - Program Year 2007
HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development has sought to establish partnerships
with state and local governments. The focus of our partnership has been to work with communities to
ensure that our joint efforts result in housing and community development programs and policies that
benefit and serve low- and moderate-income persons. These efforts occur within the framework of the
statutes we administer and the regulations and emerging policies that are designed to improve program
performance.
The provisions of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and the
National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, require the annual submission of performance reports by grant
recipients receiving federal assistance through programs covered under these Acts. Additionally, these Acts
require that a determination be made by the Secretary, that the grant recipient is in compliance with the
statutes and has the continuing capacity to implement and administer the programs for which assistance is
received.
Traditionally, these determinations were made through the review of annual reports submitted by
grantees for each individual program receiving assistance. With the implementation of the Consolidated
Planning Regulations of January 5, 1995, the Department is required to conduct a comprehensive
performance review of your overall progress at least annually (24 CFR 91.525). The review consists of
analyzing your consolidated planning process; reviewing management of funds; dete:~nining the compliance
of funded activities with statutory and regulatory requirements; determining the accuracy of required
performance reports; as well as evaluating your accomplishments in meeting key Departmental objectives.
We congratulate you on your many accomplishments during program year 2007 on achieving
Deparhnental objectives. Some of these accomplishments occurred in the area of housing. Twelve first -
time homebuyers were assisted using CDBG funds. The City invested more than $257,252 in homeowner
improvement projects. Twenty-one units were completed or are in the process of rehabilitation using
$50, 554 in CDBG funds and $77,939 in HOME funds which was matched by $140,727 in owner/lender
financing. Forty-four low and moderate income homeowners received rehabilitation assistance. The city
has provided HUD funds to subsidize rents for 1080 tenant households. There were 145 initial housing
inspections and 279 re-inspections of housing units. Additionally 32 weekly code enforcement inspections
were conducted in the Bee Brance Drainage area. Training and certification classes were provided to 85
contractors, workers and property owners for a total of 280 hours of both classroom and on-site training by
the Department inspection staff for lead-based paint. A total of $280,976 was expended on lead
remediation.
Public service accomplishments included:
315 persons received services from Mental Health Outpatient
768 persons received assistance from Child Care Resource & Referral
4078 persons were assisted at the Information and Referral agency
5034 participants participated in the open gym and after school program
175 children participated in the Day Camp Program
363 persons participated in the Neighborhood Recreation Program swimming classes.
10329 were assisted by the Neighborhood Support grant
1198 senior citizens were assisted at the Senior Center
484 persons benefited from the Washington Tool Library
4444 students received training from the Community Partnership Program
374 persons were seen for case management & social needs through Community Partnership
We commend the city in it working relationship with a number of State-wide housing providers and
local agencies, including: Iowa Finance Authority, State Department of Economic Development, Des
Moines Federal Home Loan Bank, HUD Offices, Project Concern, Maria House, Hillcrest Family Services
and Manasseh House.
The city certified that it would provide overall benefit to LMI persons for program years 2005
through 2007 of at least 70 percent. The actual principal benefit for the period was 100 percent, which is in
compliance with the regulatory standard.
The city has continued to obligate and disburse its CDBG funds in a timely manner. The city had a
balance of 1.32 years of funds unexpended 60 days prior to the end of its 2007 program year. This meets
the statutory standard for timeliness at 24 CFR 570.902. The standard for timeliness requires that no more
than 1.5 years of funds remain unexpended 60 days prior to the end of the program year.
In addition, there have been no major findings in the city-wide audit reports concerning the CDBG
program, nor during any on-site reviews conducted by HUD staff. Again, we congratulate the city on its
continuing effort in carrying out Departmental objectives.
In conclusion, as a result of our analysis, we have determined that your overall progress in
2007 was satisfactory. This determination is based upon the information available to this office and does
not reflect a comprehensive evaluation of specific activities.
Sincerely,
Patricia M. McCauley
Director
Community Planning and
Development Division
cc: Mr. David Harris