Minutes_Housing Commission 7 27 10MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: 27 July 2010
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6 Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Kapler, following staff assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law, called the
meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
Commissioners Present:
Lynn Sutton Judie Root
Dorothy Culbertson David Kapler
Sister Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Commissioners Absent: William Helling Linda Frommelt
Lisa McAllister Jim Holz
Staff Present: David Harris Cpl. Mike Kane
Janet Walker Jessica Kieffer
Public Present: Carol Copeland from Executive Management
Margie White from Genesis Two Management
Review and Certification of Minutes of 25 May 2010 Commission Meeting
Commissioner Schwendinger moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Culbertson
seconded. Commissioner Root abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
Correspondence/Public Input
Carol Copeland from Executive Management and Margie White from Genesis Two Management
attended the meeting to discuss the Section 8 Administrative Plan change allowing participants in
good standing the right to request portability to lease a unit outside of the PHA jurisdiction
within the initial lease term (the family must receive a mutual rescission agreement from the
landlord). Carol stated that she feels allowing a Section 8 participant to break their lease is unfair
and a poor policy. She feels all tenants, regardless of if they are Section 8 participants or not
should be required to fulfill the lease agreement that was signed. Margie and Carol stated that
the landlords go through the process of getting a tenant approved and ready to move into a unit
with the expectation that the tenant will live there for at least a year. To perform all of that work
and have the tenant move before the lease expired would be a waste of their time. Commissioner
Root stated that unless the landlord agrees to allow the move, the participant may not move from
the unit. After a lengthy conversation, it was discussed that the policy may change in the future.
Old Business
Finance Report
The commissioners received a spreadsheet showing unaudited HAP expenses for the fiscal year.
Janet explained that the HAP reserve is an estimate until year -end paperwork is completed.
David discussed that at the May Commission meeting there were several issues discussed,
including HUD's recommendations that a termination policy for participants be adopted in the
event funds would run out; implementing a minimum rent policy; and to consider adjusting the
participant family's rent payment anytime during the year, in the event of an income increase.
David told the commissioners that there will some recommendations on the next month's
agenda.
Section 8 Management Plan
Included in the May agenda meeting was the Section 8 Visioning Project which has now
morphed into the Section 8 Program Management Plan. This plan was distributed to the
commissioners. David explained that goal #4 is to increase public advocacy role for Housing
Commission. He told the commissioners that this relates to another agenda item regarding
Housing Commission training
New Business
Amendment to Section 8 Administrative Plan
Adding "on the premises" and "immediate vicinity" as locations where illegal
participant activities will result in termination of benefits
Adding calls for service and civil charges (municipal citations) as documentation of
participant activities causing termination of benefits
David explained that the proposed changes are in response to the general statement that we must
hold participant households more accountable for behaviors. Corporal Kane discussed that
sometimes there are calls for service for behaviors like disturbance of the peace, disorderly
conduct and creating a public nuisance and the police often deal with these offenses by issuing
municipal citations which is a civil infraction. Corporal Kane stated that just because charges
were not filed, shouldn't mean that the persons aren't held accountable. Commissioner Root
motioned to approve the policy changes. Commissioner Schwendinger seconded. All present in
favor.
Commissioner Root and Corporal Kane left the meeting at 4:53pm.
Housing Commission Training
David suggested that the Commission consider opportunities for training, with a particular
emphasis on raising the Commissions visibility as an advocate for the Section 8 program. The
commissioners received an outline on training workshops from Paige Community Coordinators,
LLC. The commissioners felt that the training that was outlined would be redundant as most
have already had workshops that cover that information. Commissioner Kapler suggested that
the information be reviewed more and discussed again later.
Commissioner Kapler left the meeting at 5:17pm
Safe Community Task Force Recommendations
The commissioners received a list of the recommendations from the Safe Community Task
Force. David shared that the Enforcement Sub - Committee's report contains a number of the
goals and measurable that have been developed in the Management Plan.
Liaison to Community Development Commission
David reminded the Commission that there is still an open position on the Community
Development Commission for a Housing Commission liaison.
Information Sharing
Complaints Received
Commissioners received a summary of the complaints the Housing Department has received
since the last meeting.
Project Concern fmancial assistance programs
The commissioners received a memo from Jenny Manders, Information and Referral Director for
Project Concern, explaining their homeless assistance programs.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at
5:30pm.
Minutes taken by:
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Jessica Kieffer
Recording Secretary
Respectfully submitted by:
MACH
D vid Harris
Department Director