Minutes Housing Comm 11 3 03MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
TIME:
PLACE:
3 November 2003
4 p.m.
Housing and Community Development Department Office
Chairperson Kapler called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present:
Gina Bell Dorothy Culbertson Char Eddy
Danita Grant Jim Holz Dave
Kappler
Harry Neustadt
Commissioners Absent: Bill Helling
John Plein
Joe Suarez
Staff Present:
David Harris
Tusdee Blus
Janet Walker
Public Present:
Holly Boche, Clarke College
Cody Chamberlain, Clarke College
Update on John Plein's Condition
Tusdee Blus provided the Commission with an update of Commissioner Plein's medical
condition. He is at home recovering from heart surgery and is unable to drive for at
least a 6-month period. When he feels able, he will again begin attending the
meetings. Tusdee will keep everyone updated as to any changes in his condition.
Review and certification of Minutes of 22 July 2003 Commission Meeting
No changes to minutes suggested. Commissioner Grant moved to approve the 22 July
2003 Commission meeting minutes as is. Commissioner Culbertson seconded. Roll
Call. Commissioners Bell, Eddy and Neustadt abstained. Commissioners Culbertson,
Grant and Kapler in favor. Commissioner Holz not yet present. Motion passed.
Correspondence / Public Input
No public correspondence or input.
Commissioner Holz arrived at 4:30 pm.
Old Business
Predatory Lending Policy
Two handouts from HUD were presented. Per Commissioner Kapler, the appraisers
will be monitored more closely to ensure that homes are being appraised at a correct
value. Discussed articles about predatory lending published by HUD, warning
consumers about the pitfalls some lenders present. It is an ongoing issue that
consumers must be made aware of.
Downtown Plan
The "Residential Living'' element of the Master Plan was included in the mailing packet.
There are six elements involved in the plan, including Commerce, Cultural Activities,
· - ... ;..I , ,,e ,.,.,..,,,own Plan
Residential, Transportation, Open Spaces and Comm~,c,=,. -r~. r, ..... ,
~ .................... available
,..u,,,,,,,~ ,o ,.u,,o,,.y .,.,, ,.,, ,~ on an Action Plan Matrix .,~;,.h ,~ill k~ mo~4a
for review once it has been finalized.
New Business
New Markets Tax Credit
The New Markets Tax Credit program stimulates private reinvestment in blighted areas.
Congress is asking companies to partner with their communities to target
commercial/residential development projects in Iow income census tracts in their
communities. If the application is successful, a tax credit is awarded to the company
and then a developer gets a price break on the project. DB&T has applied for
$75,000,000 in partnership with the City of Dubuque.
Community Development Commission Report
Amendments to FY'04 Annual Plan
The Community Development Commission will be amending the Community
Development Block Grant budget, for which a public hearing will be held.
Approximately $442,000 additional funds will be reallocated. Approximately 20
agencies were in attendance at an October 15th public hearing.
FY'05 Budget Planning
The Community Development Commission will hold the first hearing on the
FY'05 Operating Budget on 19 November. The Commission members would like
to be notified of the dates and times of the public participation process.
Housing Trust Fund Committee Report
Ordinance Amendment
The Committee has met three times in three weeks· To qualify as a trust fund
for purposes of application to Iowa Finance Authority, a local Housing Trust Fund
must be established as a separate and independent governing body. The
amendment presented will allow this. The Trust Fund Committee then will not be
advisory to the Council in regard to applying for these funds and also to
disbursing or awarding them to sub-grantees. Commissioner Holz moved to
recommend approval of the amendment. Commissioner Culbertson seconded.
Roll Call. All present in favor. Motion passed.
Applications for State Housing Trust Fund
There were nine applications submitted to the Housing Trust Fund Committee
and those have been short-listed to three: 4 Mounds/Gronen Properties, Mid-
America Housing Partnership and Scott Potter. All three applicants presented
their proposals to the Committee. There is $100,000 in funding available for a
single application. Commissioner Grant moved to approve a $100,000
application to be submitted by the Trust Fund Committee for assistance to one of
the applicants to be selected at a later date. Commissioner Neustadt seconded,
Roll Call. All present in favor. Motion passed.
Request from Jasmine Fallen for Appeal Hearing
Commissioner Culbertson will handle this appeal, date and time to be determined.
Information Sharing
Des Moines Federal Home Loan Bank Advisory Council
David Harris distributed application information for Commissioners who might be
interested in serving on the council.
Stewart Case
Everyone named individually on the case has been removed and it is now solely
against the City of Dubuque.
Housing Commission Vacancies
As it appears now, Joe Suarez will be vacating his position on the Commission. Sister
Dorothy Schwendinger has applied to fill the vacancy.
Commissioner Appeal Decision: Noonan
Both Commissioner Neustad and David have heard Mr. Noonan's case and both have
denied his request for assistance. Commissioner Neustadt upheld David's decision
based upon six months of reports from Carbondale that treatment was not completed.
Staff offered him information on how to complete treatment, but no financial assistance
is available to him until August 4, 2004, at which time he can reapply for housing
assistance. Mr. Noonan also had presented a letter from HUD indicating he had filed a
Civil Rights complaint. HUD rejected the request on the basis that they had requested
information that was never received. Commissioner Kapler has now received a letter
from Mr. Noonan asking for more time to assemble evidence in favor of his position.
The Commission noted that he has been awarded sufficient and required time for this
already, and determined that the current regulations would stand and he would not be
awarded any additional time or appeals.
Commissioner Holz departed at 5:25 pm.
Commissioner Culbertson noted the appeal policies, and asked if they should be
addressed and possibly changed to allow less appeal opportunities than are currently
given, The "Appeals Hearing" section of our Administrative Plan will be included in the
next Commission meeting packet.
Next Commission Meeting
The next Housing Commission meeting will be held December 9th at 4:00 pm at the
Housing and Community Development Department.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the commission, Commissioner Eddy
.... '~ to adjourn, r,,. - - . ~_. ,., ,~ ,~ ~ ..,~..,. · ~....
..... e,~ ~,,~mmlss~one, ~,a,,, secon,~e,~. M.,,,,~,, passed by a vo,,.~ vote.
~,~,~,,,, ,A,o~ oa~,, ,r~,~a at 5'30" ~'
Minutes taken by:
Tusdee Blus
Housing Department Secretary
~?e~.pe.c,ffu!!y submitted by:
David Harris
Department Director