Minutes_Housing Commission 07.22.25Copyrighted
February 2, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of January 20, 2026; Civil Service
Commission of August 13 and October 8, 2025; Community
Development Advisory Commission of November 19, 2025;
Historic Preservation Commission of December 18, 2025;
Housing Commission of July 22, 2025; Human Rights
Commission of December 9, 2025; Park and Recreation
Commission of November 18 and December 10, 2025;
Zoning Board of Adjustment of December 18, 2025; Proof of
Publication on City Council Proceedings of January 5, 2026;
Proof of Publication For Expenditure Reports presented at
the January 5, 2026 City Council meeting.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1 20 26 City Council Minutes
2. Civil Service Minutes 8/13/25
3. Civil Service Minutes 10/8/25
4. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
5. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
6. Housing Commission Meeting Minutes
7. Human Rights Commission Minutes
8. Parks and Recreating Advisory Commission Minutes —November
9. Parks and Recreating Advisory Commission Minutes —December
10. Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes
11. Proof —City Council Proceedings 1.5.26
12. Proof Expenditure Reports from 1.5.26 Meeting
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, July 22, 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 4:02 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Renee Kehoe
Cathy Dickens Rick Merfeld
Amy Eudaley (arrived at 4:15 p.m.) Julietta Scott
Ross Janes
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: Gina Hodgson Hollie Ohnesorge
Tonya England
Public Present: None
Certification of Minutes — July 22, 2025 Housinq Commission Meeting
Commissioner Rick Baumhover moved to approve the Minutes for the April 1, 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. This is a policy on which Alexis Steger, former Director of
Housing and Community Development Department, was working.
New Business
a) Input for City Council Goal Setting
Hodgson continued the meeting by reviewing the Housing Commission's successes and
issues listed during the prior planning period. The Commissioners mentioned several
successes for 2024-2025 including attendance at community neighborhood association
meetings, National Night Out, and community outreach programs; continued attendance
with sub -committees; involvement with the budget planning prcoess for the City; no
cancelled Housing Commission Meetings; answers on subject matter for constituents; and
input on PHA 5-Year Plan.
Some of the short-term issues and projects included: encouraging landlords to accept the
Housing Choice Voucher program; promoting the Next Level SavingsProgram (also known
as Family Self -Sufficiency Program and FSS); walking through the corridor on Central
Avenue to see if top levels may be renovated into housing units; attending the Successful
Rental Property Management class; assisting with obtaining rent comparisions and looking
at whether the rents are reasonable; and forming a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Commissioner Renee Kehoe moved to recommend the acceptance of the Board and
Commission 2024-2025 Successes and 2025-2026 Initiatives (Short-term Issues and
1
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Projects). Commissioner Julietta Scott seconded. Seven (7) in favor. Zero (0) not in favor.
Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
Reports
a) Community Development Advisory Commission Report
Commissioner 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, reported the Housing Choice Voucher
Waiting List will be reopening on August 12, 2025. Approximately one hundred (100)
applicants will be randomly selected to be placed on the Waiting List.
Currently, the office is waiting for around one hundred thirty (130) applicants to submit their
information for determination of eligibility. Seventy-five (75) applicants are still on the
Waiting List.
Ohnesorge also provided the following statistcs for July 2025:
• 357 applicants applied for the Housing Choice Voucher.
• There are 83 participants in the Family Self -Sufficiency (FSS) program.
c) Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary
Ohnesorge did not provide additional information beyond the report that was submitted for
the Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary.
Information Sharing
a) National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at Comiskey Park.
b) The 2025 City of Dubuque Boards & Commissions Annual Picnic will be held on September
9, 2025 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Eagle Point Park.
c) Training requirements for those new to the Boards and/or Commissions was implemented
on July 1, 2025. The City Clerk's Office will be sending out information.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Dickens moved to
adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Amy Eudaley seconded. Motion passed by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
o ya En4land
Recording Secretary
Respectfully Submitted:
Gina Hodgson
Assisted Housing Supervisor
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