HUD Program Year 2000 Review~xecutive Tower Centre
10909 Mill Valley Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68154-3955
Urban DeveJopment
October 22, 2001
Honorable Terrence M. Duggan
Mayor of Dubuque
City Hall
50 West 13t~ St.
Dubuque, IA 520014864
Dear Mayor Duggan:
Subject: Consolidated End-of-Year Review - Program Year 2000
HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development has sought to establish partnerships with
state and local governments. The focus of our partnership has been to work with communities to ensure
that our joint efforts result in housing and community development programs and policies that benefit and
serve low- and moderate-income persons. These efforts occur within the framwork of the statutes we
administer and the regulations and emerging policies that are designed to improve program performance.
The provisions of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and the
National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, require the annual submission of performance reports by grant
recipients receiving federal assistance through programs covered under these Acts. Additionally, these Acts
require that a detennination be made by the Secretary, that the grant recipient is in compliance with the
statutes and has the continuing capacity to implement and administer the programs for which assistance is
received.
Traditionally, these determinations were made through the review of annual reports submitted by
grantees for each individual program receiving assistance. With the implementation of the Consolidated
planning Regulations of January 5, 1995, the Department is required to conduct a compreliensive
performance review of your overall progress at least annually (24 CFR 91.525). The review consists of
analyzing your consolidated planning process; reviewing management of funds; determining the compliance
of funded activities with statutory and regulatory requirements; determining the accuracy of required
performance reports; as well as evaluating your accomplishments in meeting key Departmental objectives.
We congratulate you on your many accomplishments during program year 2000 on achieving
Departmental Objectives. Some of these accomplishments occurred in the area of housing. The city
assisted 79 households with its owner-occupied rehabilitation loan program. The Sewer Connection Loan
Program provided loans to 12 households. Operation Paint Brash assisted 8 households with paint for
houses. Five loans were made through Operation Upkeep. Emergency code enforcement loans were made
for 17 units. Rental rehab loans were made for 4 units of low-income housing with an additianal 31 units
of single room occupancy assisted. The First Time Home Buyer Program provided down payment
assistance to 15 first-time home buyers.
Other accomplishments included handicap curb cuts which were made in 54 different locations,
providing wheelchair access by way of incline ramps. Handicap accessibility work was also completed at 2
rental housing units for tenants needing modifications to accommodate physical disabilities. Sidewalk
repair was completed for 28 low-income households.
Public service accomplishments included:
44 households were assisted in the Family Self Sufficiency Program
750 low-income persons were assisted by the 24 hour hotline information referral service
53 households benefited from the Child Care Resource and Referral program
5 neighborhood and 2 non-profit organizations benefited from Neighborhood Support Grants
294 youth benefited from funds awarded to the Boys and Girls Club
168 youth received self esteem development in the Day Camp Program
5,815 youth participated in various functions of the Neighborhood Recreation Program
A computer lab with eight computers was established in the St. Mark's Community Center to
provide an intergenerational computer program. A stair glide and handicap door was installed at the
Kennedy Manor for elderly and disabled residents. These achievements in the various program areas are
only some of the city's accomplishments for the year.
Approximately 68 percent of the city's CDBG funds were used for the benefit of low- and moderate-
income persons. We want to remind the city that it has certified that it will used CDBG funds in the
aggregate for the three year period 2000, 2001, 2002 so that at least 70% of it principally benefits low and
moderate income pemons. Please be aware that the city will need to expend over 70% for the benefit of low
and moderate income persons for the remaining two years so that the aggregate will be at least 70%.
The city had 1.76 years of funding available as of May 1, 2000. Because of this, the city failed to
meet the timeliness test, and is currently under a workout plan. The city continues to revise the workout
plan, aggressively adding additional proposed expenditoms. This has made the latter part of the workout
plan heavily dependent on substantial expenditure of funds, requiring an average of $401,314 per month for
the remaining seven months of the plan. We expect the city to meet the timeliness test as of May 1, 2002,
or additional actions may be required which could include the recapture of funds.
In conclusion, as a result of our analysis, we have determined that your overall progress in 2000 was
satisfactory except for the timeliness issue. This determination is based upon the information available to
this office and does not reflect a comprehensive evaluation of specific activities.
Sincerely,
CCi
Mr. David Hams
Gregory A. Bevirt
Director
Community Planning and
Development Division