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Minutes_Housing Commission 8 23 11MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING DA'Z'E: 23 August 2011 TIME: 4:00 PM PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department 350 West 661 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: Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF Ricardo Woods Jim Holz Judie Root Mitzi Krey David Kapler Amy Eudaley Regine Ronek Commissioners Absent: Lisa McCallister Dorothy Culbertson Staff Present: David Harris Janet Walker Ericka Lessears Cpl. Scott Koch Public Present: Attnys Alex Koryna and Todd Schmitt from Legal Aid Welcome New Commissioners Mitzi Krey was sworn in by Commission Chair David Kapler. Review and Certification of Minutes of 26 July 2011 Commission Meeting Commissioner Root moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Eudaley seconded. Commissioners Holtz, Woods, and Krey abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed. Correspondence/Public Input None Old Business Administrative Plan Amendment: Requiring Satisfaction of Outstanding Warrants for Applicants Cpl. Koch stated that as part of the background checks that he does for the Section 8 program, he runs them through NCIC and has discovered many with warrants, from misdemeanors to felonies. With the proposed amendment, he would like for the applicants to satisfy the warrants. He explained that there are three ways for people to satisfy the warrants. Commissioner Schwendinger asked if most warrants will keep people off the program. Cpl Koch says that most warrants would not. Commissioner Kapler asked if there is a Federal guideline concerning warrants. Janet stated there is not one for the Section 8 program but there is one for the Public Housing Program. Commissioners Holz motioned to approve the amendment as proposed. No second. Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to change the language as follows: "If the applicant or any household member has an active warrant in the NCIC system for any disqualifying offense, the applicant will be deemed ineligible to receive a Voucher until the warrant has been satisfied." The applicant file will be held for 60 days to allow satisfaction of the active warrant. Commissioner Eudaley seconded. All others present in favor. Motion passed. New Business Report on Housing —Human Rights- Transit Summit Commissioner Root gave a report on the Summit held with the Housing and Human Rights Commissions and Transit Board on August 15. Administrative Plan Amendment: Preference Points for Veterans Janet proposed adding local preference points for Veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. military service. Commissioner Woods motioned to approve. Commissioner Holz seconded. All others present in favor. Motion passed. Section 8 Management Assessment Program ( SEMAP) Rating Janet explained what SEMAP stands for and what she has to do to conduct our rating evaluation. Commissioner Root motioned to send to HUD. Commissioner Eudaley second. All others present in favor. Motion passed. Report Housing Voucher Utilization As of the 1s` day of August we were at 817 vouchers leased. It was explained that the number of applications have gone up since we opened the waiting list. We are leasing at a 50 -60% lease up rate. There are fewer available units to lease. It was explained that the staff is developing an initiative to recruit more landlords though convening small group "dialogues ". Appointment to Housing Trust Fund Committee David explained that the Housing Trust Fund Committee is short one person. The Committee needs three Housing Commissioners and currently there are only two. Commissioner Schwendinger stated that she would be willing to serve. Commissioner Root motioned for Commission Schwendinger to be appointed to the Housing Trust Fund Committee. Commissioner Woods seconded. All others present in favor. Motion passed. Information Sharing Complaints Received Commissioners received a summary of the complaints the Housing Department has received since the last meeting. Wall Street Journal Article David shared the article and said that he is writing a response to be sent to the Wall Street Journal. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 4:58pm. inutes take , by: Ericka Lesse: s Recording Secretary espectfully submitted by: --'\'1C*4%, David Hams Department Director