Minutes_Housing Commission 3 23 10DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:
Chairperson Kapler, following staff assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law, called the
meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
Commissioners Present:
Correspondence/Public Input
None
Old Business
None
MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
23 March 2010
4:00 PM
Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6 Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Linda Frommelt
Char Eddy
Dorothy Culbertson
Jim Holz
Commissioners Absent: William Helling
Staff Present: David Harris
Jessica Kieffer
Public Present: Lisa McAllister
Lynn Sutton
Judie Root
David Kapler
Sister Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Janet Walker
Cpl. Mike Kane
Review and Certification of Minutes of 23 February 2010 Commission Meeting
Janet explained that the Housing Commissioners approved the closing of the waiting list to all
applicants except those that qualify for local preference points for the City of Dubuque however
at this time HUD is not allowing for the change in administrative policy. Legal council is
researching and staff will keep the commissioners up to date on the implementation of the policy
change.
Commissioner Schwendinger moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Root seconded.
Commissioners Holz and Kapler abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
New Business
Public Hearing: To Receive Public Comment Regarding the PHA Five Year Plan for Fiscal
Years 2010 — 2014 and the Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2010
Commissioner Holz motioned to open the public hearing. Commissioner Eddy seconded. All
present in favor. Motion approved.
Commissioner Kapler thanked staff for all of their hard work and efforts. Commissioner
Schwendinger asked staff if there were any changes to the PHA Plan from previous years. Janet
responded that the information was taken from the Consolidated Plan and that the significant
changes were the administrative policy changes. Janet also shared that the notes from the
Resident Advisory Board (RAB) meeting held on Monday, 8 March 2010 were included with the
PHA Plan. She explained that the board members who were present provided a lot of feedback
and the group will meet quarterly. Ms. McAllister commented that the board members were
listened to well and were able to state their concerns. Some of their concerns included the RAB
members feeling that some landlords are charging higher rents to Section 8 participants than the
open market rents. Ms. McAllister suggested that the briefing appointment for applicants be
redesigned and presented in a different manner. Currently the one and a half hour long
presentation in a crowded room was not effective. More emphasis on explaining the Family
Self- Sufficiency program and how a participant can better themselves was discussed as well.
Janet explained that staff does have a follow -up in place and will begin to implement the changes
recommended by the RAB members.
Commissioner Holz moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Eddy seconded. All
present in favor. Motion approved.
Approval of PHA Five Year Plan for Fiscal Years 2010 -2014 and approval of the Annual Plan
for Fiscal Year 2010
Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to approve the PHA Five Year plan and the Annual Plan.
Commissioner Holz seconded. All present in favor. Motion approved.
Discussion: Exception Rents
Janet explained that a request for approval of exception rents to deconcentrate lower income
households and Section 8 occupancies in the downtown was approved. Janet also explained that
implementing the new rents will require reaching out to landlords with properties outside of the
downtown area. Commissioner Eddy suggested that to assist in educating landlords and the
public about the Section 8 program, staff could include a "myth a month" or short educational
piece in the City's Focus Magazine. Commissioner Frommelt suggested that staff could try to
come up with an incentive for the Landlords to upkeep their properties. Commissioner Eddy
suggested the agenda for next month include ideas for landlord incentives, public
relations /educational ideas for housing and an update on the Resident Advisory Board (RAB).
Commissioner Kapler added that perhaps landlords could be invited to meet with the RAB
members. Commissioner Frommelt feels that 2 or 3 landlords should be invited to attend the
Housing Commission meetings each month to discuss issues and get feedback from the
landlords.
Information Sharing
Complaints Received
Commissioners received a summary of the number of complaints the Housing Department has
received since the last meeting, the outcomes of the complaints and the information pertaining to
the complaints.
Letter to Mayor Buol and City Council
The Commissioners received a copy of the letter submitted by the Housing Commission to
Mayor Buol and the City Council regarding the Enforcement Subcommittee of the Safe
Community Task Force minutes of its meeting on January 20, 2010.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at
5:1 1pm. All present in favor.
Minutes taken by:
Jessica Kieffer
Recording Secretary
Respectfully submitted by:
David Hams
Department Director