Minutes_Housing Commission 01.27.26 Copyrighted
May 18, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of April 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 20, 21,
22, 28, 2026 and May 4 and 12, 2026; Housing Commission
of January 27, 2026; Zoning Advisory Commission of April 1,
2026; Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of
April 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 2026; Proof of Publication
for Expenditures Reports presented at the April 6, 2026,
meeting
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 4 6 26 City Council Proceedings -Regular
2. 4 7 26 City Council Proceedings - Budget Hearing 1
3. 4 9 26 City Council Proceedings - Budget Hearing 2
4. 4 13 26 City Council Proceedings - Budget Hearing 3
5. 4 15 26 City Council Proceedings - Budget Hearing 4
6. 4 16 26 City Council Proceedings - Budgegt Hearing 5
7. 4 20 26 City Council Proceedings- Special and Regular
8. 4 21 26 City Council Proceedings - Budget Hearing 6
9. 4 22 26 City Council Proceedings - Budget Hearing 7
10. 4-28-26 City Council Proceedings - Final Budget Hearing
11. 5-4-26 City Council Proceedings - Special and Regular
12. 5 12 26 City Council Minutes
13. Housing Commission Meeting Minutes.2026-01-27.Approved 2026-04-28
14. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.06.26
15. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.07.26
16. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.09.26
17. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.13.26
18. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.15.26
19. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.16.26
20. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.20.26
21. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.21.26
22. Proof of Publication - City Council Proceedings 04.22.26
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6t" Street; Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Rick Merfeld called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Ross Janes
Cathy Dickens Rick Merfeld
Amy Eudaley Julietta Scott
Commissioners Absent: Renee Kehoe
Staff Present: Gina Hodgson Hollie Ohnesorge Michael Belmont (arrived at 4:40pm)
Tonya England Corinne Rothblum
Public Present: None
Oath of Office— Rick Merfeld
Rick Merfeld read and accepted the Oath of Office.
Oath of Office— Rick Baumhover
Rick Baumhover read and accepted the Oath of Office.
Certification of Minutes—July 22, 2025 Housinq Commission Meetinq
Commissioner Amy Eudaley moved to approve the Minutes for the July 22, 2025 Housing
Commission Meeting. Commissioner Rick Baumhover 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 the April 2026 meeting
Gina Hodgson, Assisted Housing Supervisor, explained that due to travel delays Crenna
Brumwell, City Attorney, would not be able to attend the meeting to discuss the PHA Conflict
of Interest Policy; therefore, the discussion will be tabled until the April 2026 meeting.
New Business
a) Status of HCV Waiting List
Hodgson stated the budget for the Housing Choice Voucher program has been expended.
The waiting list will not be reopening until there is budget funding available. Many housing
authorities are not absorbing clients that are porting to their respective jurisdictions;
therefore, the Housing & Community Development Department continues to pay for the
voucher through a billing process until the voucher is absorbed.
Action: Hodgson will reach out to Cori to see what happened with legislative priorities
regarding housing.
b) Voucher Payment Standards (VPS)
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
Hollie Ohnesorge, Assisted Housing Administrator, discussed the Voucher Payment
Standard (VPS).
Last year, the Housing Commission approved a 120% waiver. This year 52001, 52002, and
52003 is 110%--holding 52002 and 52003 harmless. The office has spent more funding
while helping less families.
c) Voucher Issuance Timeline
Ohnesorge indicated the minimum voucher issunce is 60 days and City of Dubuque is 90
days. (VASH & FUP are already at 120 days.) There is a 70% lease up success rate.
Ohnesorge's recommedation was to extend the voucher exipiration from 90 days to 120
days.
Commissioner Cathy Dickens moved to recommend the extending the voucher expiration
from 90 days to 120 days. Commissioner Rick Baumhover seconded. Six (6) in favor. Zero
(0) not in favor. Zero (0) abstained. Motion passed.
d) Annual Plan — Draft Review
Hodgson defined the PHA Annual Plan as a source for locating the PHA's mission, goals,
and objectives along with the basic policies and rules that govern the programs and
services. She explained the process behind submitting the Annual Plan to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—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
The goals (which included increasing homeownership program participation, supporting
childcare initiatives, and de-concentration of poverty) and objectives from the 5-Year Plan
were reviewed. She also provided the Housing Commission with a progress report on
meeting the objectivies: collaborated with community partners to reduce childcare barriers,
which led to the opening of multiple daycare centers; reached full utilization of vouchers
while expending all alotted funding from HUD; offered a Security Deposit Assistance
program; rise in the voucher lease-up success rate from 40% to 70%.
Commissioner Julietta Scott moved to recommend approving the draft of the Annual Plan.
Commissioner Ross Janes 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 was not present; therefore, a report on the last meeting for the
Community Development Advisory Commission was not provided..
b) Assisted Housing Waiting List Statistical Summary
Ohnesorge reported the number of applicants on the 2022 HCV Waiting List for the report
dated 10/23/25 did not change on the the report dated 1/21/26; the only numbers that
changed were the averages.
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MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
c) Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary
Ohnesorge explained there were two summaries—the one dated 10/23/25 was created for
the October 2025 meeting, which was cancelled, and there was one dated 1/21/26. The
commissioners did not have any questions.
Information Sharinq
a) New Units Under Construction Update from Mike Belmont
Michael Belmont, Assistant Director of Housing & Community Development/Code Official,
provided the following information to the Housing Commission:
Communit Address Units
Union at Mariana—Workforce Housing 1860 Hawthorne Street 201
Fox Hill Behind AMC; end of Plaza Drive 390
Iron Works (Condos) 333 e.Tenth Street 34
Cedar Lake apartments Lake Ridge Drive 42
799 Main Street Apartments 799 Main Street 36
1301 Central Ave. Apartments 1301 Central Avenue 30
1706 Central Apartments 1706 Central Avenue 11
Habitat for Humanity Rosalynn Carter Place 19
The Landings at Cedar Cross 380 Cedar Cross Road 180
Bridge Lofts (mixed use) 35 Locust Street 106
Fifth & Main St.Apartmentss (mixed use) 5th Street& Main Street 102
Mill Works Flat 1065 Jackson Street 76
b) 2026 Meetings for Point Neighborhood Association — Rick Baumhover
Commissioner Baumhover said that he received the flier in the mail; it referenced the
upcoming meeting dates. He and Commissioner Dickens are on the Agenda for the
meeting being held on Tuesday, Feburary 3, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity.
c) Hodgson indicated they anticipate having a Director of Housing & Community Development
by the next Housing Commission meeting.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Julietta Scott
moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Cathy Dickens seconded. Motion passed by voice
vote. Meeting adjourned at 5:14 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
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Recording Secretary
Respectfully Submitted:
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Gina Hodgson
Assisted Housing Supervisor
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