Minutes_Housing Commission 04.01.25City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
August 4, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of July 21, 2025; Community
Development Advisory Commission of June 25, 2025;
Historic Preservation Commission of June 17, 2025; Housing
Commission of April 1, 2025; Zoning Board of Adjustment of
June 26, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 7 21 25 City Council Minutes
2. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
3. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
4. Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes
5. Housing Commission Minutes
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6' Street; Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Rick Merfeld called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Renee Kehoe (arrived at 4:14 p.m.)
Cathy Dickens Rick Merfeld
Amy Eudaley JuIietta Scott (left at 4:45 p.m.)
Ross Janes
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: Gina Hodgson Ben Pothoff
Tonya England Hollie Ohnesorge (arrived at 5:02 p.m.)
Public Present: None
Certification of Minutes — January 28, 2025 Housing Commission Meeting
Commissioner Amy Eudaley moved to approve the Minutes for the January 28, 2025 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 — tabled until July meeting
Gina Hodgson, Assisted Housing Supervisor, reported there are still no updates on the PHA
Conflict of Interest Policy.
New Business
a) Tenant Accountability Q&A — Ben Pothoff
Ben Pothoff, Deputy Code Official, answered a variety of questions. He provided the
following information:
• Tenant/Landlord responsibility is guided by the International Property Maintenance
Code (IPMC). Landlords must provide a unit that is fit for occupancy and free from
pest infestation.
• Once tenants take possession of the unit, the tenants are responsible for maintaining
the space they control in a clean, safe and sanitary condition.
• Tenants are responsible for the replacement of light bulbs and batteries in smoke
detectors. As the moved is made to permanently sealed batteries in smoke
detectors, the responsibility of smoke detectors will shift to the landlordss.
• Landlords can enforce what is listed on the lease for the respective unit.
• Sanitary conditions that are health hazards may be enforced by inspection staff.
• The requirments for appliances depends on adequate space for storage and cooking
and the type of unit.
• If the landlord is not meeting obligations, the tenant is asked to notify the landlord and
give the landlord a chance to resolve the issue prior to contacting the office. With
Assisted Housing complaints, they are obligated by the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) to respond to all complaints; sometimes, the
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
response may be in the form of a follow-up to make sure there was closure on the
issue.
Stoppage of leaks is a landlord's responsibility unless the landlord is able to prove it
was caused by the tenant.
Utilities are verified if tenant is responsible for the payment of the respective utility or
if there is a complaint.
The software used by residents and landlords to report concerns to the City is being
replaced with Catalysis. Pothoff indicated he will have someone to present
information on the new system at a later Housing Commission Meeting.
b) PHA 5-Year Plan (FY 2025-2029) Presentation
i. Public Hearing to be held at 4/7/25 City Council Meeting
Commissioner Merfeld informed the commissioners that the City Council will hold a
Public Hearing on Monday, April 7, 2025 for the PHA 5-Year Plan. Hodgson continued
the discussion on the PHA 5-Year Plan with a presention.
She explained the process behind submitting the PHA 5-Year Plan to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development —which includes the following:
• Holding a meeting with the Resident Advisory Board (RAB) and receiving
recommendations
Placing the draft of the Plan (which includes Minutes from the RAB Meeting) on
the City's website for the public to review
Presenting the information to the Housing Commission and obtaining a
recommendation for City Council
Receiving an adoption of the Plan from City Council during a Public Hearing
The 5-Year Plan, which has a broad scope, is updated every five (5) years. The Anuual
Plan is more specific and provides an update on how the Department is doing on
meeting the goals and objectives stated in the PHA 5-Year Plan on a yearly basis.
Hodgson shared the mission statement for the Housing & Community Development
Department. She also explained of the goals and objectives; some of the highlights
included the following:
• Increasing homeownership program participation through coaching via the Next
Level Savings Program; obtaining tenant and homeownership education
programs; and issuing two (2) additional vouchers for homeownership
• Supporting childcare initiinatives in the community in filling the need for childcare
for parents working on third shift jobs
• De -concentrating areas of poverty by closing the gaps in public transportation,
reviewing Voucher Payment Standards (VPS) and updating so tenants may
move to zip codes 52002 and 52003; updating landlord education video, meeting
monthly with the Landlord Association
In the Progress Report section, Hodgson explained over the past 5 years the
International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) for building inspection complaince was
adopted; the voucher payment standard increased to 120% of Fair Market Rent (FMR),
Assisted Housing implemented a new software for rental assistance, the Office of
Shared Prosperity was created through work in the communities, documents were
translated into Spanish and Marshallese, and the Department was awarded an USDA
Grant to increase food access.
Hodgson also reviewed the goals for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Fair
Housing.
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Amy Eudaley moved to recommend for City Council to approve/adopt the
PHA 5-Year Plan. Commissioner Rick Baumhover seconded. Six (6) in favor. Zero (0)
not in favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
c) Recommendation for Removal from Housing Commission - David Wall
Hodgson reported David Wall applied for a position on the Housing Commission. City
Council approved for Mr. Wall to be a Housing Commissioner; he did not sign the Oath of
Office. Also, Mr. Wall did not respond to multiple requests from staff. Hodgson went on to
explain the process for removing an individual from the Housing Commission once the
person is appointed to the Housing Commission.
Commissioner Baumhover moved to recommend the removal of David Wall from the
Housing Commission to City Council. 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
Hodgson explained there were over 1,000 participants on the housing assistance programs
when HUD took away the reserve funding. Currently, there are between 970 and 980
vouchers that need to be maintained.
The waiting list for the Housing Choice Vouchers will remain closed for the remainder of the
year. Staff will be pulling from fifteen (15) to twenty (20) applicants from the waiting list each
month. At this time, only ten (10) of the twelve (12) HUD — Veterans Affairs Supportive
Housing (HUD — VASH) vouchers are currently being utilized; staff are working with the
Department of Veteran Affairs to determine why no referrals have been received.
c) Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary
Hodgson reported seventeen (17) vouchers for the Project Based Voucher program are
being utilized; there are no vouchers currently available for the program.
Information Sharing
a) The Housing Trust Fund has exhausted all of their 2022-23 funding. They are beginning to
utilize funds for 2023-24. There are plans to build an accessible house.
b) Continuing resolution has been passed to provide funding through the end of the year for
the Housing Choice Voucher.
c) The next meeting Housing Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Renee Kehoe
moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Cathy Dickens seconded. Motion passed by voice
vote. Meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
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Recording Secretary
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Respectfully Submitted:
Gina Hodgson
Assisted Housing Supervisor
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