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