Minutes_Housing Commission 02.02.22Copyrighted
April 18, 2022
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council proceedings of 3/29 and 4/4; Housing Commission of 2/22;
Library Board of Trustees Update of 3/24; Resilient Community Advisory
Commission of 4/7; Zoning Advisory Commission of 4/6; Zoning Board
of Adjustment of 3/24; Proof of publication for City Council proceedings
of 3/21, 3/22, 3/23, and 3/24.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 3/29/22 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 4/4/22 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 2/22/22 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Update of 3/24/22 Staff Memo
Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
4/7/22
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 4/6/22 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 3/24/22 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/21/22
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/22/22
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/23/22
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
3/24/22
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 61h Street; Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Rick Baumhover called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Gail Weitz
Hilary Dalton Margie White
Amy Eudaley Sam Wooden
Commissioners Absent: Janice Craddieth
Staff Present: Alexis Steger Tonya England
Gina Hodgson
Public Present: None
Certification of Minutes — December 14, 2021, Housing Commission Meeting
Commissioner Hilary Dalton moved to approve the Minutes for the December 14, 2021 Housing
Commission Meeting. Commissioner Amy Eudaley seconded. Roll call. Six (6) in favor. Motion
passed.
Correspondence/Public Input
None
New Business
a. Set Public Hearing for Annual Plan Review to take place April 12, 2022 — moving up the
next regularly scheduled Housing Commission meeting in order to take Annual Plan to City
Council on 4/18/22 and in time to send to HUD by the 4/30/22 deadline.
Gina Hodgson, Assisted Housing Supervisor, stated the Annual Plan has to be posted for
review at least 45 days prior to the Public Hearing. The Housing Department would like to
request for the Public Hearing to be set for Tuesday, April 12, 2022 so that there will be time
to submit the Plan to City Council for approval. It will be due to Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) by April 30, 2022.
Commissioner Eudaley moved to approve the Minutes for the December 14, 2021 Housing
Commission Meeting. Commissioner Gail Weitz seconded. Roll call. Six (6) in favor.
Motion passed.
b. Local Preference for HCV Program
Alexis Steger, Department Director, explained HUD's Office of Fair Housing was sent a
request to institute preference points. The amount of port -out payments increased from
$40,000 annually to approximately $433,000 this past year. HUD suggested that local
preferences be instituted as a solution to reduce the amount of port -outs.
The Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) stated the issue with the preference points
was in the way they were implemented, which caused a disparate impact. The Department
is looking to propose one (1) preference point if the person is living in the city of Dubuque
and one (1) preference point if the a person is on the coordinated entry list for
homelessness.
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Steger also stated the Department is waiting for a new software to be implemented so the
demographics may be tracked. A plan will be submitted to City Council in April for approval
and, if approved, implemented in May. Individuals will show proof of residing in Dubuque
through leases, bills, and/or utilities.
c. Resignation of Janice Craddieth
Hodgson announced Commissioner Janice Craddieth called and verbally provided her
resignation from the Housing Commission due to her moving to another area.
Reports
a. Continuum of Care Special Needs Assistance Program
There was no report.
b. Community Development Advisory Commission Report
Commissioner Hilary Dalton spoke about the Community Development Advisory
Commission meeting that was held on Janaury 19, 2022. The Commission was asked to
review/approve funds for an elderly person that were in excess of $5,000 for the homeowner
accessibility program; a bathroom renovation was going to cost close to $13,000. Secondly,
the Commission reviewed the Consolidation Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
report for the Public Hearing.
c. Rehab Report
Karla Escobar, Financial Specialist, spoke about the properties that are currently being
rehabilitated. She highlighted 2407 Queen Street and 2414 Windsor, which are anticipated
to be completed in March/April.
d. Assisted Housing Waiting List Statistical Summary
Hodgson stated there were 443 applicants that applied for the Housing Choice Voucher
(HCV) program on February 8, 2022. Two hundred fifty (250) applicants were randomly
selected to be placed on the waiting list. In April 2021, nine hundred twelve (912)
households were being served; this number has decreased to eight hundred six (806)
households due to HUD ceasing the issuance of vouchers to prevent overspending.
Information Sharing
a. Happy Pro HCV Software Update
Hodgson reported a new software, Happy Pro, is in process of being implemented. The
data conversion will take place at the end of March 2022. Staff will be training with Happy
Software in April. The contract with Emphasys will remain in effect for one additional year.
b. FSS Grant Awarded for CY2022
Hodgson spoke about the Family Self -Sufficiency (FSS) program, which was awarded a
FSS Grant for $133,507 for calendar year 2022 in January. LaMetra Murdock, the new FSS
Coordinator, is working to rebrand the program; it will be called the Next Level Savings
Program.
c. Waiting List Status Update
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Hodgson explained it will be at least May 2022 before the waiting list is reopened with the
new software, Happy Pro.
d. CoC/SNAP Grant Application Status
Hodgson stated the Department applied for a grant to fund the CoC SNAP program for the
upcoming year, which starts in July. The City of Dubuque is the grantee and Community
Solutions of Eastern Iowa (CSEI) manages the casework. The City of Dubuque has sent a
letter to CSEI to notify them of the intention to not reapply for the grant for July 2023. The
program has only had one family to move to the Housing Choice Voucher program since its
inception in 2016. The current clients on the program will be issued tenant protection
vouchers.
e. Moderate Rehabilitation Grant Status
Steger stated the Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab) program contract will not be
renewed. Although HUD dropped the program twenty (20) years ago, HUD allowed the
participants to remain in the program. The two (2) landlords who have units in the Mod
Rehab program are not situated well to convert to the Rental Assistance Demonstration
(RAD) program offered by HUD. Tenants who are on the Mod Rehab program when the
contract terminates will be be issued tenant protection vouchers. The landlords may market
the units to anyone including Section 8 participants.
f. Steger will be presenting the budget for Housing & Community Development Department to
the City Council on March 9, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Dalton moved to
adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Weitz seconded. Motion passed by voice vote. Meeting
adjourned at 5:14 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
Toriya En land
Recording Secretary
Respectfully Submitted:
Gina Hodgson
Assisted Housing Supervisor