Minutes_Housing Commission Copyrighted
August 6, 2018
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 7/23, 7/30; Housing
Commission of 7/11; Housing Commission Work Session
of 7/10; Human Rights Commission of 6/11 ; Investment
Oversight Advisory Commission of 7/26; Library Board of
Trustees of 5/24; Zoning Board of Adjustment of 7/26;
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 7/2,
7/9; Proof of Publication for List of Claims and Summary of
Revenues for Month Ending 6/30
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 7/16/18 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 7/23/18 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 7/10/18 Supporting Documentation
Human Rights Commission Minutes of 7/11/18 Supporting Documentation
InvestmentOversightAdvisory Commission Minutesof Supporting Documentation
7/26/18
Library Board of Trustees of 5/24/18 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 5/24/18 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
7/2/18
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
7/9/18
Proof of Publication for List of Claims/Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues for ME 6/30/18
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
DATE: Tuesday, July 10, 2018
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6`h Street, Suite 312; Dubuque, IA 52001
Vice Chairperson Dorothy Schwendinger called the Work Session to order at 4:05 p.m. There was
not a quorum for the Work Session.
Commissioners Present: Amy Eudaley Coralita Shumaker (4:17 p.m.)
Anna Fernandes Gail Weitz
Dorothy Schwendinger
Commissioners Absent: Adam Babinat Janice Craddieth
Nicole Borovic Shane Hoeper
Staff Present: Tonya England
Public Present: None
Old Business
a) Goal Setting Input
Commissioner Schwendinger stated that after a discussion with Commissioner Amy Eudaley
it was decided she would facilitate the Work Session. Commissioner Schwendinger
provided the group with copies of information regarding the initiatives and the role of the
Housing Commission; a working paper for the successes of the Housing Commission; a
working paper for the recommendations to City Council for the initiatives, projects, and
outcomes; and a news article from the Te/egraph Herald.
The following recommendations were made by the Housing Commissioners:
Board and Commission Successes 2017-2018
Success
Monthly the Housing Commission received the Rehab Report, the report from
Neighborhood Services, and a summary of the Wait List and a statistical summary of the
Housing Choice Participants. The Commission also receives a report of the Continuum
Care Special Needs Assistance Program as well as reports from the Crime/Nuisance
Property Report and from the CBDG Advisory Commission.
Impact
This information enabled the Commission to be informed of initiatives taken by the
housing staff, to give input, to offer commentary, and to monitor the activities of the
department. Without this kind of regular information, the Commission could hardly
offer advice, give input, or perform its responsibilities/powers.
Success
Commission Members receive the terminations of inembers and participate in the Oath-
Taking of new members. In 2017-2018, it added Nicole Borovic, Shane Hoeper, Janice
Craddieth, Adam Babinat, and Gail Weitz. It received the resignations of Robert
McDonell, David Wall, Wesley Heimke, and Rick Baumhover. Brett Shaw was elected to
the City Council and so the Commission also received his resignation.
1
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Impact
Change in the make-up of the Commission is to be expected and adding new
members can bring fresh perspectives. Commission members have the opportunity
to recommend new members. If persons stay on the Commission for a longer time,
then members gain a sense of the history of the work and learn much over time. It is
important to have some turn-over but not too much. The Commission strikes a pretty
good balance and it is a tribute to the citizenry that people do step up, as needed, and
take on the task.
Success
The Annual Plan of the Housing Department is presented to the Commission and the
members of the Commission give input and offer possible changes. The staff is most
receptive to considering changes. The Commission also holds a public hearing to
receive input before giving its approval. The Commission is very positive about the work
of the department to prepare the plan.
Impact
The PHA Annual Plan is the guiding document of the department and cooperation
from the Commission is vital. Good communication between the department and the
commission is essential to both.
Success
The Housing Commission has taken on several initiatives of its own including: receiving
a letter(by way of information sharing) from Davis Place related to a problem with bed
bugs and it wrote a letter of support and mentioned the public health nature of the issue.
The Commission also wrote letters of appreciation to those who gave time to the
Commission. In addition, the Commission worked on a rather long-standing effort to
dedicate the conference room to Ann Michalski. A plaque was proposed and fund-
raising is in progress. This action is still pending and hopefully will be completed soon.
The NAACP also sends a representative to each meeting. Visitors to Commission
meetings are welcomed and introduced, as are members of the public. The Commission
is open to supporting initiatives of other groups who support housing, raise issues,
monitor housing quality etc.
Impact
These initiatives are well within the parameters of the powers listed in 2-5B-13 of the
policies governing the Housing Commission. Outreach to the public, collaboration
with other entities, efforts to establish the visibility of the Commission's work, and
recognition of the current and past efforts of Commission members are laudable and
they serve the overall efforts of the Commission and the Housing Department.
Success
The Commission is aware of the disparities between the public perception of persons
who benefit from subsidized housing, crime rates in the community, diversity as
enhancing the community's ability to develop and enlarge employment opportunities,
and the benefits that the community enjoys because of housing grants to more people.
Negative comments in the press and/or on the street often come from perceptions which
are not based in reality. The Commission does read the crime data provided at each
meeting and data shows that voucher holders and those who do not have vouchers are
similar in the # of infractions. The Commission believes that this data should be more
widely known.
2
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Impact
It is important to base perceptions on real data. The Housing Department and the
Commission do make efforts to make visible the benefits of rental units which are
inspected, monitored, kept up to standards, and it encourages stories of positive
outcomes. Both the Housing Department and the Commission wants to enhance
positive visibility. There is more to do in this area and efforts toward that remain a
goal.
Initiatives for 2018-2019
1) Increase the development of decent, affordable and accessible housing in the City of
Dubuque- especially keeping in mind housing for families. It seems that efforts to find
more affordable housing for elderly and special needs are more visible.
2) Review the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (City of Dubuque Action Plan
2010). Publish the review on progress or lack of progress and send a member to report
to the Housing Commission in 2018-19.
3) Monitor the development of Central Avenue with a special eye toward keeping and/or
developing affordable housing. This development could result in a
loss/change/increase of housing that is affordable.
4) Move forward with approving the "Source of Income Resolution" pending before the
2017-2018 City Council.
5) Consider the needs in the community for transitional housing for homeless young men--
ages 14 to 17.
6) Continue to work with partners to change the perception of Dubuque as unfriendly to
cultural minorities
After discussion, the Housing Commissioners came to a consenus to recommend the above
Board and Commission Successes 2017-2018 and Initiatives for 2018-2019 at the next
regular meeting for the Housing Commission.
Information Sharinq
a) Commissioner Schwendinger provided a copy of a letter from Tom Lo Guidice and Lynn
Sutton, Co-Chairs of Dubuque Chapter NAACP, and asked that it be shared with Housing
Administrators and added to the Housing Commission Agenda.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Shumaker moved
to adjourn the Work Session. Commissioner Gail Weitz seconded. Motion passed by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
��G���
Tonya England
Recording Secretary
3
MINUTES FOR HOUSING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Respectfully Submitted:
��
Teresa Bassler, Assisted Housing Supervisor for
Alexis Steger, Acting Department Director
4
_ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ .
BOARD AND COMMISSION SUCCESSES
2017 - 2018
Dubuque, Iowa
.rune zois
BOARD/COMMISSION: �lousin� C�afl�r�n�P�;^��;���;
Please list your Board/Commission's 3—4 most significa�t accomplislunents during t6e last year 2017—2018.
Success: Monthly the Housing CoiYunission received the Rehab Report, the report frotn
Neighborhood Services, and a summary of the Wait List and a statistical suininaiy of
the Housing Choice Participants. The Commission also receives a report of tlte
Continuum Care Special Needs Assistance Program as well as reports from the
Crime/Nuisance Property Report and fi-om the CBDG Advisoiy Commission.
Impacts: This infoimation enabled tl�e Conunission to be iilformed of initiatives takcn by the
housing staff, to give input, to offer cotnmentary, and to monitor dte activities of the
department. �Vithout this kind of regular infonnation, the Corrunission could hardly
offer advice, give input, or perfonn its responsibilitiesi powers.
Success: Cominission Members receive the tenninations of ineinbers and participate in the Oath-
Taking of new meinUers. In 2017-2018, it added Nicole Borovic, Sllane Hoeper, Janice
Craddieth, Adam Babinat, and Gail Weitz. It received the resi�iations of Robert
McDonell, David Wall, Wesley Heimke, and Rick Baumhover. BretY Shaw was elected
to the City Council and so the Coimnission also received his resignation.
Impacts: Change in the make-up of Ylie Conunission is to be expected and adding new ineinbers
can bring fresh�erspectives. Coinmission inembers have the opportunity to recotnmend
new members. If persons stay on the Conunission for a longer time, then ineinbers gain
a seilse of tlie history of the work and learn much over time. It is imporCanY to have
soine hirn-over but not too mtiich. The Coimnission str-ikes a pretty good balance and it
is a ri-ibute to the citizenry that people do sYep up, as needed, and take on the task.
Success: Tlle Amnial Plan of the Housiug Department is presented to the Commission and the
memUers of the Commission give input and offer possible dlanges. The staff is most
receptive to consideriug changes. The Conmlission also holds a public heanng to
receive input before giving its approval. Tl�e Coinmission is very posiCive about the
work of the department to prepare the plan.
Copyri�ht OO 2018: Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc. Project 180601
Impacts: The PHA Amlual Plan is the guiding docutnent of the department and cooperation fi�om
the Commission is vital. Good communication between the department and the
commission is essential to both.
Success: The Housing Cominission has taken on several initiatives of its own including:
receiving a letter(by way of infonnation sharing) from Davis Place related to a problem
with bed bugs and it wrote a letter of support and mentioned tlle public health nature of
tlle issue. The Commission also wrote letters of appreciation to those who gave time to
the Cominission. In addition, the Commission worked ott a rather lottg-sYaiiding effort
to dedicate tlie conference room to Aiui Michalski. A plaque was �roposed and fimd-
raising is in progress. This action is still pending and hopefully will be completed soon.
The NAACP also sends a representative to each meeting. Visitors to Commission
meetiugs are welcomed and introduced, as are members of the public. The Commission
is open to supporting initiatives of other groups who support housing, raise issues,
moiutor housing quality etc.
Impacts: These initiatives are well within the parameters of the powers listed in 2-SB-13 of tlie
policies governing the Housing Coimnission. Outreach Co tlie public, collaboration with
other entities, efforts Co establish the visibility of the Cominission's work, and
recognition of the cun-ent and past efforts of Cotnmission members are laudable and
they serve the overall efforts of the Conunission and the Housing Departinent.
Success: The Commission is aware of the disparities betweetl the public perception of persons
who benet3t fi'om subsidized housing, crime rates in the cominunity, diversity as
enhancing the coimnunity's ability to develop and enlarge employment opportunities,
and Yhe benefits that the communiry enjoys because of housing grants to more people.
Negative coirunents in the press and/or on the street often come from perceptions which
are not based in reality. The Conunission does read the criine data provided at eacl�
meeting aud data shows that voucher holders and those who do not have vouchers are
similar in the�'of infractions. The Coinmission believes that this data should be more
widely luiown.
Impacts: It is iinportant to base perceptions on real data. The Hottsing DepartmenC and the
Commission do make effoits to make visible the benefits of rental units which are
iuspected, inonitored, kept up to standards, and it encourages stories of positive
outcomes. Botlt the Housing Department and the Commission wants to ei�liance
positive visibility. There is more to do in this area and efforts toward that remain a goal.
Copyright OO 2018: Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc. Project 180601
BOARD AND COMMISSION INITIATIVES
2018 - 2019
Dubuque, Iowa
June Zois
BOARD/COMMISSION: �Ia��K�ar�� �'�at���� �7 �dz�r, � t
Please list issues or projecCs Yhat yo�u�Board/Coirmiission plan to address durinQ tl�e next year 2018—2019.
1 Increase the development of decent, affordable and accessible housing in the City of
Dubuque- especially keeping in mind housing for families. It seems that efforts to find
more affordable housing for elderly and special needs are more visible.
2 Review the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (City of Dubuque Action Plan 2010).
Publish the review on progress or lack of progress and send a member to report to the
Housing Commission in 2018-19.
3 Monitor the development of Central Avenue with a special eye toward keeping and/or
developing affordable housing. This development could result in a
loss/change/increase of housing that is affordable.
4 iVlove forward ��ith approvin,= the Source of Income resolution put forth to tlte 2017-
2018 CiCy Couilcil
5 Consider the needs in the coinmunity needs far transitional housing for 1lomeless young
men ages 14-17.
6 Continue to work with partners to change the perception of Dubuque as unfriendly to
culhu-al �ninorities
Copyright O 2018: Lyle Sumek Associates,Inc. Project]80601