Minutes_Housing Commission 2 23 10MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: 23 February 2010
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6 Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Vice Chairperson Eddy, following staff assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law, called
the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Staff Present:
Correspondence/Public Input
None
Linda Frommelt Lynn Sutton
William Helling Char Eddy
Judie Root (via telephone)
Sister Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Dorothy Culbertson
Jim Holz
David Harris
Jessica Kieffer
Aggie Tauke
Public Present: Terry Mozena
David Kapler
Janet Walker
Cpl. Mike Kane
Review and Certification of Minutes of 26 January 2010 Commission Meeting
Commissioner Schwendinger moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Sutton seconded.
Commissioner Helling abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
Old Business
Election of Vice Chair
Commissioner Helling nominated Commissioner Schwendinger for Vice Chair. Commissioner
Schwendinger accepted the nomination. Commissioner Frommelt seconded. All present in
favor. Motion approved.
New Business
FY2011 -2015 Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Aggie explained that the Consolidated Plan is required by HUD for communities receiving
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and certain other federal grants. It is a five year
plan that is designed to be a collaborative process whereby a community establishes a unified
vision for housing and community development actions. The Plan contains an analysis of
housing and homeless needs, barriers to affordable housing, community development needs,
special needs population, antipoverty strategy and other community needs. An outline of
priorities, objectives and outcomes was attached to the Plan for review. Commissioner
Schwendinger motioned to accept the Plan. Commissioner Helling seconded. Motion passed.
Commissioner Root joined the meeting via telephone at 4:10pm.
Aggie explained that the Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing is required in conjunction
with the Consolidated Plan to ensure that local communities are partners in affirmatively
furthering fair housing. Alta Vista Research conducted an AI to identify the extent to which
certain impediments continue to exist and to identify additional potential impediments. The
study found several impediments to fair housing in Dubuque. These included a lack of diverse
stock of accessible, affordable housing, a limited number of minority role models, the perception
that Dubuque is not a welcoming and inclusive community for outsiders and particularly
minorities, the failure of victims of housing discrimination to file complaints, the absence of a
deterrent for subtle housing discrimination, and the limited amount of minority homeownership.
The Commissioners received a list of the impediments as well as objectives and recommended
actions to improve these issues. Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to approve the Analysis.
Commissioner Helling seconded. All present in favor. Motion approved.
Discussion: Safe Community Task Force Enforcement Sub - Committee Minutes
David presented a response the January Safe Community Task Force Enforcement Sub -
Committee minutes.
At 4:16pm Terry Mozena from the Safe Community Task Force Enforcement Sub - Committee
joined the meeting.
Commissioner Root questioned why other government agencies that offer various public
assistance programs are not under scrutiny as well. Why is it always Section 8? Mr. Mozena
responded that the minutes of the meeting may only account for one person's opinion.
Commissioner Schwendinger stated that there are ways to make the minutes more accurate. That
perhaps they should be reviewed by several people before they are distributed to the public. She
explained that the way the minutes currently read creates misunderstandings about what was
discussed and it would be helpful if words like `some people', `one person' `half the people' etc
were added.
Mr. Mozena discussed that the perception of Section 8 is not correct and that the public needs to
be better educated about the Section 8 Program. Commissioner Eddy commented that educating
the public is an on -going effort and that the Taskforce could assist in that education.
Policy Approval: Closing the Waiting List to all applicants except those that qualify for local
preference points for the City of Dubuque
Janet explained that the City Manager has recommended to reduce the number of Vouchers to
serve 900 families (currently there are 1063 Vouchers) and that staff is also requesting approval
for further closure of the waiting list in an ongoing effort to maintain a waiting list to ensure that
vouchers are issued in a reasonable amount of time. The waiting list would be closed to all
households except those providing verification of "City of Dubuque" local preference points for
residency. Commissioner Frommelt motioned to approve the policy changes. Commissioner
Helling seconded. All present in favor.
Discussion: New Article: "I'm off Section 8"
The commissioners received a memo outlining the facts of the case as staff had researched them.
Janet discussed staff verified that for one month the electric bill for the unit was in the landlord's
name. The remaining months that the landlord claimed were in another individual's name were
verified by staff to be in an authorized household member's name Commissioner Sutton
commented that the landlord made allegations of stolen appliances and damages to the unit but
did not file any charges or actions against the tenant, the landlord just went right to the Telegraph
Herald and as of the date of the meeting, still had not filed any charges.
Additional FY2011 Program Proposals:
1. FSS Caseworker
2. Expansion of Getting Ahead Program
David shared that these items were presented at the City Council Budget Hearing for FY2011.
Amendments to Administrative Plan:
1. Additional requirements for Proof of Residence
Janet explained that staff is requesting a change in administrative policy that would require
applicants to provide two verifications of proof of residency. These items could be a lease
agreement, rent receipt or utility bill.
2. Requirements for transfer of drivers license and vehicle registration to maintain
residence preference
Janet stated that this request is under review and may be requested for policy change at a later
time.
3. Prohibition against use of assisted unit as a furlough address or residence for
persons released from incarceration
4. Termination for additional drug- related activities
Janet explained that if a member of the household or guest engages or has engaged in any drug -
related activity in the unit as evidenced by admissions to law enforcement, evidence of drug
activity in the unit or on the person witnessed by police, or removal of children from the home
for exposure to illegal drugs as documented by Department of Human Services, assisted
household benefits will be terminated
Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to approve all of the amendments to the Administrative
Plan. Commissioner Helling seconded. All present in favor.
Information Sharing
Opinion: Fixes for the Section 8 Program
For informational purposes only.
Complaints Received
David explained that staff has been recording every complaint that the Section 8 department
receives and is keeping a spreadsheet. He discussed that complaints come from various sources
such as tenants, landlords, anonymous callers, staff and the City of Dubuque website.
Commissioners received a summary of the number of complaints received, the outcomes of the
complaints and the information pertaining to the complaints.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at
5:16pm. All present in favor.
Minutes taken by:
Jessica Kieffer
Recording Secretary
Respectfully submitted by:
David nanis
Department Director