Minutes_Housing Commission 2 26 19 Copyrighted
March 18, 2019
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUM MARY: Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission of 2/26;
Cable TV Commission of 3/6; City Council proceedings of
3/4, 3/7, 3/11 ; Civil Service Commission of 3/7; Community
Development Advisory Commission of 1/16; Housing
Commission of 3/8; Historic Preservation Commission of
2/21; Human Rights Commission of 3/8; Library Board of
Trustees Minutes of 1/24 and Council Update#180 of
2/28; Long Range Planning Advisory Commission of 2/25;
Resilient Community Advisory Commission of 3/7; Zoning
Advisory Commission of 3/18; Zoning Board of Adjustment
of 2/28; Proof of publication for City Council proceedings
of 2/18, 2/21 .
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission Minutes Supporting Documentation
of 2/26/19
Cable N Commission Minutes of 3/6/19 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/4/19 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/7/19 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 3/7/19 Supporting Documentation
Community De�lopmentAdvisory Commission Minutes Supporting Documentation
of 1/16/19
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 2/21/19 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 3/8/19 Supporting Documentation
Human Rights Commission Minutes of 2/18/19 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Minutes of 1/24/19 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Council Update#180 of Supporting Documentation
2/18/19
Long-Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
2/25/19
Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
3/7/19
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 3/18/19 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustrnent Minutes of 2/28/19 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
2/18/19
Proof of publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
2/21/19
Minutes
HOUSING COMMISSION
(UNAPPROVED)
DATE: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Conference Room, Third Floor of
the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6�h Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA.
Vice Chair, Dorothy Schwendinger, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m., following
staff assurance of compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Adam Babinat, Michelle Becwar, Nicole Borovic, Brad Cavanagh,
Dorothy Schwendinger, Coralita Shumaker, Gail Weitz, Sam Wooden
Commissioners Absent: Janice Craddieth, Amy Eudaley
Staff Present: Alexis Steger, Teresa Bassler, Kris Neyen, Lisa Barton, Scott Koch
Public Present: Amanda Hohmann (ECIA), Kathy Sutton (NAACP), Allison Wong and Charles
Grant (KCRG TV)
Certification of Minutes
Motion by Weitz to approve the November 27, 2018 meeting minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Babinat. Motion carried 7-0.
Commissioner8orovic arrived at 4:03 p.m.
Old Business
The memorial plaque for Ann Michalski is ready. The Commission would like to present
the plaque when they dedicate the Housing and Community Development Conference
Room to Ann following the Housing Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April
23, 2019. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Schwendinger reported the Commission previously wanted to complete an evaluation of
their goals and would like the topic to be added to the agenda for March's meeting.
New Business
Review of FY19 PHA Annual Plan Draft and Set Public Hearing
Teresa Bassler, Assisted Housing Supervisor, explained that a new Public Housing
Authority (PHA) Annual Plan is required annually. Bassler provided a draft and reported
the plan must be submitted to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by April 12�h (75
days before the end of the fiscal year). Prior to this date, the plan needs to go before the
Resident Advisory Board (RAB) for comments. The plan also requires a public hearing
1
and council approval. Bassler reported she is planning to present the plan to RAB on
Wednesday, March 20�h and will add any comments received. The Commission needs
to set a public hearing for the March 26�h Housing Commission meeting for public
comment before submitting the plan for council approval.
Bassler asked Commissioners if there are any strategies or goals they would like to add.
Alexis Steger, Housing and Community Development Director, explained the City is
focusing on two important strategies: affordable housing - working on getting to rents that
are reasonable for low-income population. Steger reported they are encouraging
reasonable rents with Urban Revitalization which are guaranteed to be affordable; and
secondly, awareness— being aware of the number of people in need and getting the word
out there. Steger stated they are also looking to apply for small grant opportunities geared
toward helping veterans and foster families.
Schwendinger reported the Commission did not receive the new Source of Income report
that was previously promised due to the cancellation of December's meeting and not
having quorum for January's meeting. Steger reported as soon as they knew they didn't
have quorum in January, an email was sent out letting the Commission know the report
was going to City Council that same night and stating if they had any questions to attend
the meeting. In the future, Schwendinger would like all council items to come before the
Commission earlier before being submitted to council for approval.
After discussion, motion by Babinat to receive the PHA Annual Plan and set a public
hearing for Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Seconded by Becwar. Motion carried 8-0.
Reports
Crime/Nuisance Property Report
Corporal Scott Koch, Investigator, reported that due to a request from the Commission,
the crime report on the Housing Choice Voucher Program was updated and is now in a
more narrative manner. Schwendinger stated there appeared to be more voucher related
arrests than normal and Koch responded that it is about average, running around 4.5°k.
Koch reported that monthly statistics showed 4.6°k program related arrests in November
2018 and 5.03°k in December 2018 which results in a .43°k increase. Dubuque and
Dubuque County had 326 arrests in November and 358 arrests in December.
Koch provided a Nuisance properties report. Koch explained that over the last several
years the police department is looking at properties that have quality of life calls for service
such as loud music complaints on the police side and trash complaints on the Public
Works or Housing side. Koch reported the police department is looking for quality of life
issues that cause problems for others and patterns, such as the number of calls received
for a certain address. When complaints are received, Landlords are contacted first to see
if the problems can be resolved.
All City Departments are now required to report complaints in the City's Web QA program
as the City wants to capture all information and by doing so, it will help the communication
among all departments.
2
Rehab Report
Kris Neyen, Rehabilitation Program Supervisor, reported the rehabilitation of 2407 Queen
Street is now underway and bids were received and contracts signed for 2320 Mineral
Street.
Neyen explained that Community Housing Initiative (CHI) and True North properties are
eligible to receive $25,000 for homebuyer assistance. Neyen also reported that CHI and
True North can receive up to $30,000 per unit to help purchase and rehabilitate properties
as part of their partnership with the City.
Assisted Housing Waiting List Statistical Summary
Bassler reported the department has begun pulling from the Housing Choice Voucher
waiting list heavily in February and will continue through March. Still waiting for the budget
amount for this year, but anticipating the amount to be the same as last year, if not a little
higher. Bassler reported applicants will be pulled from the current waiting list first. When
the waiting list reaches 250 participants, Bassler reported they will consider opening the
waiting list and accepting new applicants.
Housing Choice Voucher Participant Statistical Summary
Bassler explained that the Waiting List Statistical Summary details all the applicants on
the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list. Bassler reported there are approximately 806
participants on the waiting list for December; however, the December report was not
available. Bassler stated there were quite a few participants that ported out to Cook
County and City of Chicago Housing Authority. The Chicago Housing Authority absorbed
City of Dubuque vouchers which took them off the City's program and placed them on
their own. Due to the large number of portability applicants, the Housing Department will
see a drop in the number of Housing Choice Voucher participants and this is the reason
the department is currently pulling so heavily from the waiting list.
Continuum of Care Special Needs Assistance Program
Amanda Hohmann, Regional Homeless Coordinator, with East Central Development
Corporation (ECDC), presented information on the Continuum of Care Specials Needs
Assistance Program. Hohmann reported that the numbers don't usually change much
because people are known to stay on the program. Hohmann reported that participants
with zero income has decreased.
Hohmann also discussed the Rapid Rehousing Program, a program to assist people to
get set up in a rental unit. Hohmann reported that we can't fund anyone living in a
subsidized unit; however, if it is not subsidized, then assistance could be provided.
Hohmann reported when terminating assistance, we have to follow the Housing First
model, so we can only terminate based on a lease violation.
Bassler reported we were awarded a Special Needs Assistance grant in January that will
begin on July 1 , 2019 in the amount of$84,739, a slight increase from last year.
3
Information Sharinq
Denial/Termination Meeting Results
Bassler provided a new "draft model" report of Denial and Termination Results to the
Commission. Bassler explained as the Housing Department looks at our rules to deny or
terminate an applicant, they have the caseworkers work with the Family Self Sufficiency
(FSS) Coordinators to see if there is anything they can do before denying or terminating
a participant. The information included in the report was tracked back to 2018. There
are separate reports for applicants and participants. Steger explained they want the
Commission to get familiar with the report and recommend any changes deemed
necessary. This report was created to be sure we don't have a disparate impact on
individuals/families that are denied or terminated. Reviewing the report, there is no
disparate impact. We are looking to provide this information to the Board, who is
comprised of individuals with different backgrounds, to provide input to make sure we
continue to not have a disparate impact.
FSS Grant Announcement
Bassler reported the City was awarded an FSS Grant for this calendar year in the amount
of a little over $133,000 for two coordinators. A new Self Sufficiency Coordinator will be
hired to replace Ermina Soler's position.
Circles Initiative
Cavanaugh requested an update on Circle Initiative. Steger gave an overview of the
rebranding of the formerly known Circles Initiative and reported that National Circles didn't
provide anything to our Initiative. We were only paying for the use of the name so a
decision was made to put the money to a better use. Pieces of Circles will still exist, but
we will be adding case management that we decided was missing. Circles is not going
away, it is just being renamed to Gaining Opportunities, which will be performing at a
higher level.
Housing Commission Goals
Housing Commission's upcoming suggested goals will be added to March's agenda.
Adiournment
There being no further business, Becwar motioned to adjourn at 5:04 p.m. Seconded by
Shumaker. Motion carried 8-0
Minutes transcribed by:
Lisa Barton
Housing Financial Specialist
Respectfully submitted by:
Alexis Steger, Department Director
4