Minutes Housing Comm 12 9 03DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:
MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
9 December 2003
4p.m.
Housing and Community Development Department Office
Chairperson Kapler called the meeting to order at 4:06 a.m. following staff assurance of
compliance with lowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present:
Bill Helling
Danita Grant
Harry Neustadt
John Plein Char Eddy
Jim Holz Dave Kapler
Commissioners Absent:
Gina Bell Dorothy Culbertson
Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Staff Present:
David Harris
Annie Tauke
Joleen Patterson
Tusdee Blus
Officer Chris Gorre!l
Janet Walker
Officer Scott Simpson
Public Present: None
Review and certification of Minutes of 3 November 2003 Commission Meetin.q
'"----'--',.,,~,,,,,,~ss~oner' ,_,~,~yc'~'~,, "*,, ,oved, to ap~,,,v,."-" ,,, th..-, 3 November 2003 Commission meeting minutes.
Commissioner Holz seconded. Roll Call. All present in favor. Motion passed.
David Harris requested that discussion of the Trust Fund Committee be added to the agenda
under Old Business, Item C. This was done with the agreement of the Commission.
Welcome: Dorothy Schwendin.qer, OSF, as New Commissioner
It was noted that Commissioner Schwendinger could not be present.
Correspondence / Public Input
C.J. Noonan has requested a response to his letter to Chairperson Kapler. Chairperson
Kapler stated that he has responded and will provide staff a copy of his response letter.
Old Business
Community Development CommisSion RepOrt: FY'04 Amendment /FY'05 Budget
Aggie Tauke provided a packet of information for the Commission's review. Over $1 million is
allocated for Housing activities, as well as several new programs.
The Commission discussed the allocation of funding for historic directional signage in the
downtown area. Commissioner Neustadt moved to recommend transferring the monies
slated for historic directional signage in the amount of $19,500 to the Homeowner
Rehabilitation Program. Commissioner Holz seconded. Roll Call. Commissioner Helling -
Nay. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
Staff was asked to compose a letter regarding this recommendation for Chairperson Kapler to
sign. This will be delivered to the CD Commission meeting, with the recommendation to
approve the recommended budget with the one amended item.
Review of Appeals Process
Janet Walker explained the Section 8 appeals process, first stating that the Section 8
Administrative Plan is our policy document. There are also federal regulations that must be
adhered to regarding formal and informal review. We always allow ietters to be written by
participants / applicants to the Commission to ask for exceptions to our policies.
The Commission has raised the issue of the number of appeals allowed to participants.
Janet stated that there are three opportunities for appeal currently: appeal to Janet; hearing
with David; hearing with a Commissioner. In some instances, there may be an appeal to the
full Commission. The question was raised as to how many times the Commission reversed
David's decisions, and the answer is not very often. Commissioner Holz motioned to table
the issue until the next meeting so that further discussion can be made with all
Commissioners present. Commissioner Eddy seconded. All present in favor. Motion
passed.
Trust Fu_n_d Discussion
There were two applications chosen as the final candidates - Four Mounds/Four
Oaks/HEART project and the MAHP/Fondell project. The Trust Fund Committee decided to
move forward with the Four Mounds project. The application for the funding in a total of
$100,000 is due to the Iowa Finance Authority on December 15, 2003. The Committee is
expecting to have a decision on their request in February 2004.
New Business
Section 8 Management (SEMAP) Program Rating
SE.MAP is HUD's grading system for housing authorities. This is the second year in a row
that Dubuque's Section 8 Program has received a 100% rating. Congratulations to all staff
for their hard work.
Proposal to Expand Operation Up-Keep Target Area and Increase Dollar Amount
Joleen Patterson proposed 1) expansion of Operation Upkeep to be city-wide, based upon
the income of applicants; and 2) an increase from $2,000 to $5,000 per household. The
soume of the funds is a Block Grant; however, applicants will only be able to get funding from
one source (either a Historic grant or this). Commissioner Holz moved to approve Joleen's
proposal. Commissioner Plain seconded. All present in favor. Motion passed.
Information Sharing
Jasmine Fallen
Commissioner Culbertson met with staff for the appeal hearing for Jasmine Fallen. Jasmine
did not appear at the stated time, but arrived a half-hour late. She was therefore provided a
letter of termination for having unauthorized persons living with her. However, Ms. Fallen has
stated that she felt she was not late and that the meeting had actually been scheduled for the
time she arrived. She has requested another chance for a hearing. The Commission asked
if she had been asked to provide a copy of the written notification of her hearing, stating the
later time, and staff assured the Commission that she had. HoWever, at this time, Ms. Fallen
has not provided the documentation David also assured the Commission that he had made
Ms. Fallen aware of the December 9 HoU~ n~commission Meeting at Which her request for
another hearing would be heard. Commissioner Eddy stated that although meetings are
~,-,,' ~ Fa!!en ~n
sometimes missed, it appears this one should have been ,.pu, to, ,t ..... ~'
make sure that she did not miss it.
Commissioner Grant moved to deny Ms. Fallen's request for another appeal hearing.
Commissioner Helling seconded. All present in favor. Motion passed.
Officer Scott Simpson
Officer Simpson stated there have been a very Iow number of calls for service in the
downtown area recently.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Eddy moved
to adjourn. Commissioner Holz seconded. Motion passed by a voice vote. Meeting was
adjourned at 5:06 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
Tusdee Blus
Housing Department Secretary
~rtespe~,uu~y ou,~mltted ,~.
Da'~d Harris
Department Director