Minutes Housing Trust F 5 10 02MINUTES OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION
TRUST FUND COMMITTEE
DATE: May 10, 2002
TIME: 7:30 a.m.
PLACE: Housing & Community Development Department
1805 Central, Dubuque IA 52001
Chairperson Jim Holz celled the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m. following staff assurance
of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Committee Members Present: Jim Holz
John Walsh
Doris Hingtgen
Harry Neustadt
John Henning
Public Present:
Dave Kapler
Char Eddy
Staff Present:
David Harris
Jean Noel
Joleen Pafferson
Review and Certification of Minutes of 22 February 2002 Meeting
John Walsh moved to approve the 22 February 2002 Housing Trust Fund Committee
minutes. John Henning seconded. Roll Call. All present in favor. Motion passed.
Correspondence I Public Input
None.
Old Business
Discussion/Proposal: Factors Influencing Rental Vacancies
Dr. Len Decker, Loras Center for Business & Social Research
David presented a proposal prepared by Len Decker from the Center for Business and Social
Reseamh of Loras College, addressing the issue of the high vacency rates in the downtown
area. The City of Dubuque Utility Department provided a list of approximately 220 names
and addresses of renters who moved out of the downtown area last year. Staff prepared a
list of all the downtown property managers and owners of 6 or more units. Dr. Decker's
proposal recommended that we conduct focus groups to talk with owners and managers
separately to get their input and suggest ways the units and/or problems cen be improved to
increase occupancies in this area. He also proposed to contact the renters by phone for a
survey regarding their experiences and reasons for leaving rental units in the downtown area.
The cost for this project is $10,200.00, Jim Holz suggested we cut costs by doing the focus
groups ourselves or send out a written survey with questions provided by Len Decker to the
tenants. John Walsh made a motion to empower the staff to set up focus group interviews
and investigate the possibility of raising the funds to do the rental survey and make a
decision at the next meeting. Harry Neustadt seconded. Roll Call. All in favor. Motion
passed.
New Business
Mortgage Lending Policy
Discussion: Predatory Lending Guidelines
John Walsh commented on issues he had with inconsistent Predatory Lending/Mortgage
Broker practices such as, interest rates, points, purchase prices, pre-payment penalties and
false or misunderstood information given to homebuyers. He felt the City needs to enforce
participation guidelines for lenders such of those prepared by Kelly Larson of the Human
Rights Department. David suggested that John Walsh, Dave Kapler and Kelly Larson draft
up a list of fair lending guidelines for legal review and present it to all lenders who want to
participate in Housing programs and help educate the public about predatory practices and to
see consistency to customers who are provided mortgage lending.
FY 2003 Trust Fund Allocation
Discussion: Potential Users
David announced the FY03 Trust Fund Allocation of $52,000 available July 1, 2002. Doris
Hingtgen recommended a motion to allocate the funds to Iow income households in the Five
Points area doing rehabilitation and/or historical preservation to their homes. John Walsh
seconded adding that he would like to see historical improvements made as grants and
regular rehabilitation made as loans. Roll Call. All in favor. Motion passed
Information Sharing
Home Program Award for Five Points Rehab
David announced the Home Program Award in the amount of $202,500 for rehabilitation of
approximately 15 rental properties in the Five Points area.
Local Housing Assistance Program Award for SRO
David announced the Local Housing Assistance Program Award in the amount of $250,000
to Scott Potter for a newly constructed Single Room Occupancy (SRO) unit on Garfield
Avenue.
Joleen shared that we have placed our first Section 8 tenant in a new home under our
1St-Time Homebuyer/Section 8 Homeowner program.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Committee, John Walsh moved to
adjourn. Doris Hingtgen seconded. Roll Call. All present in favor. Motion passed. Meeting
was adjourned at 8:50 a.m.
Minutes taken by:
Jean Noel
Housing Secretary
Respectfully submitted by:
David Harris
Director, Housing & Community Development Department