Minutes_Housing Commission 2 22 11Commissioners Present:
MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: 22 February 2011
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6 Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Vice Chairperson Schwendinger, following staff assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting
Law, called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.
Lynn Sutton
Lisa McAllister
Judie Root
Commissioners Absent: Jim Holz David Kapler
Dorothy Culbertson
Sister Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Ricardo Woods (via telephone)
Staff Present: David Harris Cpl. Mike Kane
Jessica Kieffer Cpl. Scott Koch
Public Present: Jerry Maro
Review and Certification of Minutes of 25 January 2011 Commission Meeting
Commissioner McAllister moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Woods seconded.
Commissioner Root abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
Correspondence/Public Input
Cpl. Kane announced that he has accepted a position as a Criminal Investigation Detective. He
stated that he has appreciated all the Housing Commission has done to maintain the integrity of
the Section 8 program and all they have done for the community. Cpl. Scott Koch has accepted
the position as the investigator for the Housing Department and was introduced to the group.
Old Business
Review of NIU crime and poverty report and recommendations
The Commissioners received a summary prepared by Kelly Larson, Human Rights Dept Director
and a summary of the Section 8 program findings prepared by David Harris.
Review of Safe Community Task Force report and recommendations
David explained the Safe Community Task Force has re- affirmed their prior recommendations
that were forwarded to the City Council along with revisions and additions based on the NIU
study. The Commissioners received a copy of the potential recommendations and the Housing
Department response.
Jerry Maro commented that he has been hearing a lot of negative response from landlords about
the new ordinances regarding mandated background checks. He stated that the crime study did
not show a lot of issues with rental units so the landlords do not feel mandatory background
checks are necessary. Why are landlords taking all of the blame? Jerry explained that landlords
can set up their own criteria for accepting a tenant, if a landlord accepts criminals, then what
good is a background check? Jerry shared that he has a meeting scheduled with the City
Manager to discuss the landlords' concerns.
New Business
Request for proposals: project -based vouchers for assisted living facility
Letters of Commitment: Evergreen Development assisted living facility
David explained that as discussed at the previous meeting, Greg McClenahan, with Evergreen
Development in Minneapolis is attempting to develop an `affordable assisted living facility' in
Dubuque. He is interested in the possibility of project - basing vouchers in connection with the
facility. At the previous Housing Commission meeting, Commissioners voted in favor of
proceeding with the steps to sponsor up to 25% of the units as project -based vouchers. An RFP
has been established for interested developers and Commissioners were asked to review the RFP
and Letter of Commitment and accept. Commissioner McAllister motioned to approve issuing
the RFP and forwarding the preliminary Letter of Commitment. Commissioner Root seconded.
All present if favor.
Information Sharing
Complaints Received
Commissioners received a summary of the complaints the Housing Department has received
since the last meeting.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at
4:59pm.
Minutes takenby:
( (kftIA-
'Jessica Kieffer
Recording Secretary
Res • ectfully submitted by:
Davi • Harris
Department Director