Minutes_Housing Commission 01.28.25 Copyrighted
June 2, 2025
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of May 19, 2025; Airport
Commission of March 25, 2025; Equity and Human Rights
Commission of April 8, 2025; Historic Preservation
Commission of April 17, 2025; Housing Commission of
January 28, 2025; Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission of March 19, 2025; Mayor and City Council
Compensation Task Force Minutes of May 21, 2025; Park
and Recreation Commission of April 7, 2025; Zoning Board of
Adjustment of April 24, 2025; Proof of Publication for City
Council Proceedings of April 24, April 28, and May 5, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTAC H M ENTS:
1. 5 19 25 City Council Minutes
2. Airport Commission Minutes
3. Equity and Human Rights Commission Minutes
4. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
5. Housing Commission Meeting Minutes
6. Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes
7. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes
8. Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes
9. Proof_4.24.25
10. Proof 4.28.25
11. Proof 5.5.25
12. 5.21.25 Compensation Task Force Minutes
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6th Street; Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Rick Baumhover called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Ross Janes Rick Merfeld
Cathy Dickens Renee Kehoe (arrived at 4:16 pm)
Amy Eudaley Julietta Scott (left at 5:13 p.m.)
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: Gina Hodgson Hollie Ohnesorge Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch
Tonya England Allie Kutsch
Public Present: None
Oath of Office — Renee Kehoe
Renee Kehoe read and accepted Oath of Office at 4:19 p.m.
Oath of Office — David Wall
David Wall was not present for the Housing Commission Meeting.
Certification of Minutes —October 22, 2024, Housinq Commission Meetinq
Commissioner Rick Merfeld moved to approve the Minutes for the October 22, 2024 Housing
Commission Meeting. Commissioner Cathy Dickens seconded. Six (6) in favor. Zero (0) not in
favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
Correspondence/Public Input
There was no correspondence nor public input.
Old Business
a) Adopt PHA Conflict of Interest Policy— revised policy is not yet completed. It will be sent out
to Housing Commission when available.
Gina Hodgson, Assisted Housing Supervisor, stated the revision of the PHA Conflict of
Interest Policy has yet to be received from the Legal Department. If it is received prior to the
April 2025 Housing Commission Meeting, a notification will be sent to the Commissioners by
email.
New Business
a) Introduction of new FSS Coordinator: Allie Kutsch
Hodgson introduced the newest member of the in Assisted Housing team—Allie Kutsch. She
formerly worked in Leisure Services and Americorp. On January 13, 2025, Kutsch started as
a Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator in the Housing & Community Development Department.
b) Election of Housing Commission Chairperson
The Housing Commission discussed appointing a Housing Commission Chairperson.
Commissioner Ross Janes moved to appoint Commissioner Rick Merfeld as the Chairperson
for the Housing Commission. Commissioner Amy Eudaley seconded. Six (6) in favor. Zero
(0) abstained. Motion passed.
(Commissioner Merfeld presided over the meeting from this point.)
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
c) Election of Housing Commission Vice Chairperson
The Housing Commission discussed appointing a Housing Commission Vice Chairperson.
Commissioner Eudaley moved to appoint Commissioner Cathy Dickens as the Vice
Chairperson for the Housing Commission. Commissioner Julietta Scott seconded. Six (6) in
favor. Zero (0) not in favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
d) Appointment of Liaison to Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee
The Housing Commission discussed appointing a Liaison to the Housing Trust Fund Advisory
Committee.
Commissioner Janes moved to appoint Commissioner Amy Eudaley as the Liaison to Housing
Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Commissioner Cathy Dickens seconded. Six (6) in favor.
Zero (0) not in favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
e) Appointment of Liaison to Long Range Planning Commission
The Housing Commission discussed appointing a Liaison to the.Long Range Planning
Commission.
Commissioner Dickens moved to appoint Commissioner Julietta Scott as the Liaison to Long
Range Planning Commission. Commissioner Eudaley seconded. Seven (7) in favor. Zero
(0) not in favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
f) Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Presentation
Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch presented a summary of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing 2025-2030, which had been previously approved by the CDBG Advisory Board.
During her review of the goals and actions, she indicated some of the goals and actions were
vague; she and Hodgson had spoken about who would possibly take ownership of the
individual goals.
Corken-Deutsch also indicated the entire staff of the Housing & Community Development
Department along with community partners would have a role in addressing Goal #3. She
explained community gardens would be used to revitalize our community.
Hodgson added that some of the goals and actions may be utilitzed to create key performance
measures in the PHA 5-Year Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher program. In the last five
years, the arrest records were taken out of the background checks; background checks now
show the convictions only.
g) Recommendation to City Council to approve and adopt the Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing 2025-2030
Commissioner Scott moved to recommend to City Council to approve and adopt the Analysis
of Impediments to Fair Housing 2025-2030. Commissioner Dickens seconded. Seven (7) in
favor. Zero (0) not in favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
h) PHA 5-Year Plan Discussion — Housing Goals & Objectives
Hodgson spoke about the goals and actions for the Impediments to Fair Housing and the key
performance measures during the discussion regarding the PHA 5-Year Plan. She requested
that the commissioners bring ideas to the Public Hearing, which will be held in April 2025. (A
draft of the 5-Year plan had to be posted by February 15, 2025 for review by the public.)
It was requested that landlord education information be added to the Plan.
i) Proposal to move April Housing Commission Meeting up to 4/1/25 to meet PHA 5-Year Plan
submission timeline
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Hodgson explained the Public Hearing needed to be scheduled prior to next scheduled
regular meeting date in order to submit the PHA 5-Year Plan to City Council for approval and
HUD by the deadline.
Commissioner Dickens moved to recommend for the regular Housing Commission Meeting be
moved to Tuesday, April 1, 2025 to meet the PHA 5-Year Plan submission timeline.
Commissioner Eudaley seconded. Six (6) in favor. Zero (0) not in favor. Zero (0) abstained.
Motion passed.
Reports
a) Community Development Advisory Commission Report
Commissioner Renee Kehoe did not provide a report on the last meeting for the Community
Development Advisory Commission.
b) Assisted Housing Waiting List Statistical Summary
Hollie Ohnesorge, Assisted Housing Administrator, asked if the Commission had questions
regarding the report; there were no questions. Ohnesorge did not have additional information
to add regarding the report for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) requested that voucher issuances cease.
c) Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary
Ohnesorge did not report additional information related to the Household Composition Report.
Information Sharinq
a) The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a pause of financial
assistance.
b) A suggestion was made for an evaluation be completed on upstairs units that are located
downtown that are not currently utlized.
c) A suggestion was made to create landlord videos that include the success of clients going
from rental assistance to homeownership.
d) Place information about housing programs in the utility billings was another suggestion offered
to increase awareness.
e) Opening of waiting list is posted on Facebook and City of Dubuque's website.
f) For the next meeting, the Commissioners would like to know what sources are available that
may be used for items that are not fixed in units. They would also like to know what
procedures are followed when items are not fixed. (Hodgson offered to invite Ben Pothoff to
the next meeting to address questions.)
g) The budget meetings with City Council will be held in April 2025.
h) St. Vincent de Paul, in conjunction with other non-profit organizations, works to provide
assistance to those in need. St Vincent de Paul's hotline telephone number is (563) 584-
2226.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Rick Baumhover
moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Renee Kehoe seconded. Motion passed by voice
vote. Meeting adjourned at 5:33 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
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Tonya England
Recording Secretary
Respectfully Submitted:
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
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Gina Hodgson
Assisted Housing Supervisor
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