Com. Outreach Partner.Pr. LorasCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
May 17, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris is
recommending support of a Loras College application to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development for a community development project in Dubuque.
Part of this support will include $15,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds
for purchase of a dwelling to be renovated by project work crews.
Working in partnership with the City and a number of area non-profit agencies,
neighborhood groups, Northeast Iowa Community College and Clarke College; Loras
College is preparing an application for funding under the Community Outreach
Partnership Centers Program. Available is $400,000 for a three-year program of
community development activities designed to promote university-community
partnerships and an improvement in the quality Of life for Iow and moderate-income
neighborhood residents.
t concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milliggen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
~ David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
Housing Services Department
1805 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3656
(3~.9) 589-4244 FAX
(319) 589-4239
30 April 01
To: Mike Van Milligan, City Manager
From: David Harris, Homing and Community Development Department
Re: Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council's endorsement of an
application, sponsored by Loras College, to the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for a community development project in Dubuque. As part of the
City's support of this program, also requested is commitment of $15 000 in CDBG funds
for purchase ora dwelling to be renovated by project work crews.
Discussion
Working in partnership with the City and a number of area non-profit agencies,
neighborhood groups, NICC and Clarke College, Loras College is prepariag an
application for funding under HUD's Commtmity Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC)
Progranx Available is $400 000 for a three-year program of community development
activities designed to promote university-community partnerships and an improvement in
the quality of life for low- and moderate-income neighborhood residents.
Needs assessments and discussions with residents at a series of neighborhood meetings
have produced a list of ideas for activities. Included in these are a program for education
and skills training of homeowners to better-maintain their homes; and a youth
employment program for young persons referred from the juvenile justice system, to
make repairs to these homes. These young adults would be enrolled in a joint program
of classroom and on-site training, to further beth their education and work skills.
Other ideas now in development include a year-round program of youth empowerment
activities; and a program of health screening and outreach for women and children,
administered through Clarke's nursing school.
As part of the program of housing rchab'tlitation activities, thc project plan includes
purchase of an older home in poor condition, renovation by the work crews and re-sale to
an income-qualifying family. Thc City will be asked to partner in this venture, by
supplying the home, providing a rehabilitation loan and, at re-sale, providing a
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
downpayment assistance ban to the new buyer. Currently, the Housing and Community
Development Department's CIP budget carries an annual $15 000 line item for purchase
of derelict buildings. Other CDBG allocations in the C[P budget provide sufficient
funds to offer rehabilitation and home purchase loans. Consequently, it is not envisioned
that additional funds will be needed to achieve the desired City matte
At such time (in year two or three of the grant) as the crews have been adequately
trained, the project plan calls for purchase of a selected house from the City. Typically
for transactions ofthis type, the City would purchase the dwelling and subsequently
write-down all or a part of this price, as needed, to make the renovation financially
feasible. Accordingly, for purposes of the Loras/COPC application, this request is to
commit as much as $15 000 in City CDBG funds for subsidy of purchase ora selected
dwelling. This expenditure would be committed in the Fiscal Year 2003 CIP budget; it is
understood that such commitment can be made only to the extent that Community
Development Block Grant funds would be available to the City at that time.
A synopsis of COPC requirements is attached.
Action Step
The action requested of the City Council is to endorse the application to HUD,
conditionally commit CDBG fimds in the amount of $15 000 and to authorize the Mayor
to execute rehted documents, including a certification of consistency of proposed
activities with the City's Consolidated Plan.
RESOLUTION NO.204-01
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING AN APPLICATION FROM
LORAS COLLEGE TO THE US DEPARTMlgNT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP CENTERS
(COPC) PROGRAM
Whereas, the Housing and Commtmity Development Department has been
working with Lores College in preparation of an application to HUD for funding under
the Community Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC) Program; and
Whereas, funds under the COPC Program are available to encourage tmiversity-
community partnerships in community development activities which improve the quality
of life for residents of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods; and
Whereas, Loras College has committed to submitting a COPC application in
partnership with the City of Dubuque, Clarke College and Northeast Iowa Community
College; and
Whereas, this application is consistent with the current Consolidated Plan for the
City of Dubuque.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. The City endorses and supports the application of Loras College to
HUD's Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program~
Section 2. The City agrees to commit up to $15 000 in Community Development
Block Crant funds as a local match for the Loras application, for purchase and subsidy of
a dwelling to be sold to the COPC project for renovation and subsequent resale to an
income-qualifying household. This commitment is made dependent on availability of
CDBG funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in the City's
Fiscal Year 2003 budget.
Section 3. The Mayor is authorized to execute a certification of consistency of
the COPC application with the current Consolidated Plan for the City of Dubuque.
Passed, approved and adopted this 21st day of May, 2001
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest: Karen M. Chesterman, Deputy City Clerk
Certification of Consistency
with the Consolidated Plan
U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
I certify that the proposed activities/projects in the application are consistent with thc jurisdiction's cunmnt, approved Consolidated Plan.
(Type or clearly print the following information:)
Applicant Name:
LORAS COLLEGE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
CITY OF DUBUQUE IOWA
TERKANCE M. DUGGAN
MAYOR
Pro~ct Name:
Location of the Project:
Name of the Federal
Program to which the
applicant is applying:
Name of
Certifying .Jurisdiction:
Certifying Official
of the Jurisdiction
Name:
Title: Mayor
/s/ Terrance M. Duggan
Signature:
Date:
21 MAY 01
Page I of 1
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Funded by the Department of Housing and Urban_Development
3-YEAR GRANTS AVAILABLE, FOR UP TO $400,000
TO PROMOTE UNIVERSITY - COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
PURPOSE:
To assist in carrying out research and outreach activities
addressing problems of urban areas
Focusing on problems associated with such areas as:
Housing, Economic Development, Neighborhood Revitalization,
_?. Health Care, Education, Crime Prevention. Planning,
Community. Organizing
KEY CONCEPTS:
Should provide outreach, technical assistance and empowerment
to neighborhood - based organizations
Community - based organizations should be partners with the
lead educational institution throughout life of the project
3. The "applied research" should have practical application
Assistance to neighborhoods should be provided primarily
by college faculty and students
COPC program should be part of the college's broader effort
to meet it's "urban mission"
COPC CENTER REQUIREMENTS:
3.
4.
5.
6.
Employ research and outreach resources of the college to
solve specific "urban problems" identified by the community
Establish a "Community Advisory Committee"
Coordinate outreach activities
Facilitate public service projects
Act as clearinghouse for dissemination of information
Develop instructional programs, convene conferences and provide
training for community leaders
Exchange information with other COPC centers