Minutes_Community Development Advisory Commission 6 2 20MINUTES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION
(UNAPPROVED)
DATE: Tuesday, June 2, 2020
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
PLACE: Virtual GoToMeeting due to social distancing guidelines related to the COVID-
19 Pandemic
Chair Gerald Hammel called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., following staff assurance of
compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Dean Boles, Janice Craddieth, Hilary Dalton, Kelly Fox, Gerald
Hammel, Michelle Hinke, Tom Wainwright, Julie Woodyard
Commissioners Absent:
Staff Present: Alexis Steger, Christopher Lester, Lisa Barton
Certification of Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Craddieth to approve the May 28, 2020 Commission meeting minutes
as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Wainwright. Motion carried 8-0.
New Business
a) Public Hearing for FY2020 Annual Action Plan Amendment #3, regarding reallocation
of $100,000 from Broadband Project to Short -Term Rental/Mortgage Assistance
Program
Chair Hammel inquired if there was a motion to open the public hearing. Motion by
Commissioner Woodyard to open the public hearing for FY2020 Annual Action Plan
Amendment #3. Seconded by Commissioner Hinke. Motion carried 8-0.
Chair Hammel asked if there were any public present on the call; no public were present to
comment. He then inquired if there were any comments from the Commission. Commissioner
Boles was hesitant about moving the funds from Broadband as it was designed to help low-
income students to connect virtually. He questioned the second agenda item and asked if the
schools and the City had a plan that would help all K-12 students to have access to tablets
and internet since the funding from CDBG would no longer be available.
Heather Satterly, AmeriCorps Director, reported that Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) could not facilitate and use funds for actual technology devices. Satterly stated she
was unable to confirm with the school district their plans to provide tablets/computers for
students as the district has not yet released that information.
Alexis Steger, Community Development Director, responded that Broadband is still important;
however, Covid-19 related funding needs to be spent now and stated that other CDBG funds
could be reallocated in support of Broadband at a later date.
Commissioner Woodyard inquired if the original funds allocated to Rental/Mortgage Assistance
program were already exhausted. Steger commented that applicants are still being qualified,
so no funds have been spent. The original funding of $20,000 can only assist six
applicants/families and Steger reported we have already exceeded that number.
Motion by Commissioner Dalton to close the public hearing for FY2020 Annual Action Plan
Amendment #3. Seconded by Commissioner Craddieth. Motion carried 8-0.
Motion by Commissioner Woodyard to approve FY2020 Annual Action Plan Amendment #3
reallocating $100,000 from Broadband Project to Short -Term Rental / Mortgage Assistance
Program. Seconded by Commissioner Hinke. Before Roll Call was taken, Steger addressed
the Commission stating they should consider agenda item #2 prior to approval and stated the
motion could be amended.
Commissioner Woodyard inquired what AmeriCorps, the next agenda item, is requesting.
Slattery responded that they are requesting $15,425 to be reallocated to support the program's
efforts to transition tutoring virtually. Funding would be utilized to set up an AmeriCorps Impact
Suite, pay an instructor to prepare and adapt curriculum to be used online, and to equip
AmeriCorps Tutors with Office 365 licenses with City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Tutor emails.
Commissioner Boles asked what Staff recommendations were. Steger reported there are
$41,695 funds available from Covid-19 diagnostic testing and an additional $84,000 from
Broadband that could be reallocated to support the Short -Term Rental/Mortgage Assistance
Program.
Motion by Commissioner Woodyard to amend her original motion and approve FY2020 Annual
Action Plan Amendment #3 reallocating funds of $41,695 from Diagnostic Testing Facility for
Covid-19 and $84,000 from Broadband Project to Short -Term Rental / Mortgage Assistance
Program. Seconded by Commissioner Boles. Motion carried 8-0.
b) AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program Funding Requests
Chair Hammel asked Heather Slattery from AmeriCorps to restate her request. Slattery
reported they are requesting $15,425.
After receiving additional information on the program, there was a motion by Commissioner
Woodyard to approve the reallocation of CDBG program funds in the amount of $15,425 to
support the AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Programs effort to provide virtual services.
Seconded by Commissioner Dalton. Motion carried 8-0.
Adjournment
There being no further business, motion by Commissioner Fox to adjourn at 5:55 p.m.
Seconded by Commissioner Craddieth. All in favor, motion carried.
Minutes transcribed by:
sibtatht,
Lisa Barton
Housing Financial Specialist
Respectfully submitted by:
\1J\
Christopher Lester
Community Development Specialist