Minutes_Housing Commission 12 17 19 Copyrighted
January 6, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 12/16/19; Civil Service
Commission of 12/19/19; Housing Commission of
11/26/19, 12/17/19; Library Board of Trustees of 11/21/19
and Council Update No. 193 of 12/19/19; TransitAdvisory
Board of 11/14/19; Zoning Board of Adjustment of
12/19/19; Proof of publication for City Council Proceedings
of 12/2/19; Proof of publication for List of Claims and
Summary of Revenues for Month Ending 11/30/19.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 12/16/19 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 12/19/19 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 11/26/19 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 12/17/19 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Minutes of 11/21/19 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Council Update No. 193 of Supporting Documentation
12/19/19
TransitAdvisory Board Minutes of 11/14/19 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustrnent Minutes of 12/19/19 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
12/2/19
Proof of Publication for List of Claims/Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues ME 11/30/19
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, December 17, 2019
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6`h Street, Room 250; Dubuque, IA 52001
Vice Chairperson Gail Weitz called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Michelle Becwar Janice Craddieth (arrival 4:15 p.m.)
Amy Eudaley (left 4:55 p.m.) Suzanne Stroud
David Wall Gail Weitz
Sam Wooden
Commissioners Absent: Rick Baumhover Brad Cavanagh Coralita Shumaker
Staff Present: Alexis Steger (left 4:31 p.m.) Teresa Bassler
Tonya England Jerelyn O'Connor
Cate Richter
Public Present: Margie White
Certification of Minutes — November 26. 2019 Housinq Commission Meetinq
Commissioner Amy Eudaley moved to approve the Minutes for the November 26, 2019 Housing
Commission Meeting with the following revision:
Under New Business, Item B, Indicator#11, change "Pre-contract Houring Quality Standard (5 of 5)
— This makes sure that rental assistance is not paid for units that have not inspected yet." to Pre-
contract Housing Quality Standard (5 of 5) —This makes sure that rental assistance is not paid for
units that have not been inspected yet."
Commissioner David Wall seconded. Roll call. Six (6) in favor. Motion passed.
Correspondence/Public Input
None
New Business
a) Resignation of Brad Cavanagh I
Commissioner Weitz stated Commissioner Brad Cavanagh announced at the last Housing
Commission Meeting that he was resigning from the Housing Commission due to being
elected to serve on City Council.
b) Public Hearing to Review Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Commissioner Eudaley moved to open the Public Hearing to Review Analsysis of �
Impediments to Fair Housing. Commissioner Michelle Becwar seconded. Roll call. Seven
(7) in favor.
Alexis Steger, Department Director, explained the City hired an outside consultant to write
the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. The consultant looked at the last Analysis of
Impediments. Highlights of the report are contained in the Executive Summary. Of the
seven (7) goals, the consultants felt the City met two (2) of them and partially handled a third
goal. One hundred thirty-seven (137) units will be built in the next two (2) years; seventy-
seven (77) of those are outside the concentrated areas of proverty. Twenty-two (22) are in
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
census areas with zero (0) Housing Choice Vouchers and zero (0) rentals. The consultants
would like to see more progress on Source of Income for they did not feel enough education
and outreach had been made. Also, they indicated the Human Rights Commission should
have more influence in policy changes.
Steger stated the comments will go into another draft of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing. The new draft will be provided at another Housing Commission Meeting. It is
tentatively set to go to City Council on January 21, 2020. The City has spent approximately
$24,000 on the 5-Year Consoldiated Plan thus far.
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Comments i
What is the Analysis of Impediments of Fair Housing Choice 2019? The City Council �
adopts the plan and staff work on the long term goals for the next 5 years. City Council
mostly focuses on ordinances and policies for which they have control.
Education of the landlords are needed in order for them to understand the process for the
Housing Choice Voucher program. The landlords are afraid to rent to participants on the
Housing Choice Voucher program because there is no way for them to recuperate their
losses for damaged property except through the rent deposit. Participants do not have to
attend training like new landlords do when they obtain a rental license. The source of
income will be a battle because the landlords will not want to be forced to do something.
There are landlords that do not want to have anything to do with federal government
money.
Is it possible to make training for participants mandatory?
Educate landlords and tenants on their respective responsibilities in a respectful
enviroment through the use of a video utilizing landlords and tenants.
The water bill insert may be used to publicize information.
On the Executive Summary under Goal 4, Item 2, ". . .stress on the brain; develop . . ."
should be changed to ". . .stress on the developing brain; develop. . .".
Is it possible to have outside groups provide assistance with helping renters learn about
renting units? i
Commissioner Sam Wooden moved to close the Public Hearing to Review Analsysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing. Commissioner Suzanne Stroud seconded. Roll call. Seven
(7) in favor. Motion passed.
Commissioner Eudaley asked for Review Ana/ysis of lmpediments to Fair Housing be added
to the next Agenda under Old Business.
c) Family Unification Program Grant
Teresa Bassler, Assisted Housing Supervisor, handed out a copy of the completed draft
application submitted today for the Family Unification Program Grant (FUP), which is a new
grant for the Department. Bassler reported they will be partnering with the Department of
Human Services to target families that have inadequate housing that could be a factor in
placement of children in out-of-home situations or discharging children currently in an out-of-
home situation back into the home and for youth aging out of foster care who may be
homeless or at risk to becoming homeless. Families will be provided a minimum of 12
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
months of supportive services and youth may be provided up to a maximum of 36 months of
support services. The youth may receive up to 36 months of rental assistance. The FUP
application is requesting $294,600 in funding for 50 housing vouchers.
Reports
a) Community Development Advisory Commission Report
Commissioner Janice Craddieth stated she did not have a report for the Community
Develoment Advisory Commission due to her not attending the last meeting..
b) Rehab Report
There was no discussion
c) Neighborhood Services
Jerilynn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist, O'Connor discussed the
redevelopment of Comisky Park; the City budgeted for the improvement and also received a
$500,000 federal grant. The kickoff for the redevelopment will be on January 9, 2020 from 6
p.m. to 8 p.m. at Audubon Elementary School.
O'Connor shared handouts for The North End Neighborhood Association Annual Christmas
Dinner, the Point Neighborhood Association Christmas Drive for Sunnycrest Residents, and
the Washington Neighborhood. She spoke about the holiday activities sponsored by formal
and informal neighborhood groups. Orange Park Neighbors sponsored their 10"' year for
holiday giveaway baskets and donations. The Point Neighborhood reached out to
Sunnycrest Manor.
d) Assisted Housing Waiting List Statistical Summary
Bassler explained the Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List has not experienced much
change from last month. There is not a lot of selection from those that are applying because
there is not much need due to the response of those who had previously been pulled from
Waiting List. Next year, the lottery selection may be larger based on the need. I
e) Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary I
Bassler reported there has been a decrease in the number of vouchers due to other Public
Housing Authorities (PHAs) absorbing clients into their respective programs.
f) Denial/Termination Meeting Results
Cate Richter, Assisted Housing Coordinator, there has not been much change since the last
meeting.
g) Equitable Poverty Prevention Plan Update
Bassler stated there has been no update at this point. The consultants are focusing on the
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and the 5-Year Consolidated Plan.
Information Sharinq
a) Bassler announced she will be retiring effective January 31, 2020; this will be her last
meeting because she will be on vacation when the January Housing Commission Meeting is
held.
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Stroud moved to
adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Becwar seconded. Motion passed by voice vote. Meeting
adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
T'onya n�
Recording Secretary
Respectfully Submitted:
C/" �' �
Alexis Steger, Department Director
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