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Six Month Report - Housing Action Conference CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM September 14, 2000 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Six-Month Report on Housing Committee Activities Housing Services Manager David Harris is transmitting the Annual Performance Report of the Housing Services Department from the Housing Action Conference. ~kA]l Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM/dd Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager David Harris, Housing Services Manager Q CJ C:J CJl.<,::"- U1 :-u (~... r"j C ...0 ITl .;:- c-; ."c' n '.'A -0 --- I" '\ -- \..' ITl ../ N y ~ --.~ 0 (')" CD (J1 31 August 00 To: Housing Action Conference participants From: David Harris, Housing Services Department SIX MONTH REPORT ON COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES Six months have passed since the February Action Conference. The work of several committees has continued during that time; many exciting things are in planning stages. Many Conference participants and other, newly-recruited individuals have continued to volunteer their time and energies to develop these ideas into actions. The chairs of the connnittees have also continued to meet, monthly, to share ideas and to up-date each of the others on their progress. We agreed that, at a six month anniversary date, we would compile a progress report on activities and send it to all of you. That anniversary is now, and the report which follows tells you what's been happening. National Award First is news of national recognition of our two-year planning and community participation effort, beginning with the "Housing Summit" held at Sinsinawa in the Spring of 1999. For those of you who were with us from the beginning - the planning for the Summit actually started in July 98 - you'll recall that we originally embarked on a course to improve relations with the "customers" of the Housing Department. This initiative eventually combined with the Intercongregational Housing Project- under the direction ofSr Helen Huewe - and the consulting services of Lave me Webb, and became the basis for an "Affirmative Customer Service" project that produced more than 200 'appreciative' interviews and a shared community vision at the Summit. The 2000 Action Conference was the second phase, producing action steps to implement the vision. An application was submitted to the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for recognition of this community-based project. In July, NAHRO announced that we had received a National Award of Merit, for administrative innovation. Congratulations to all of you who have contributed and made this effort a resounding success. Downtown Planning Committee This committee's mission was to create a comprehensive plan for Dubuque's downtown. The first objective was to form a partnership with the Long Range Planning Commission (LRPC), in order to access city staff resources. The process for this included a request to the city manager, approval by the City Council and action by the LRPC. That has all finally transpired and a sub- committee of the Planning Commission and Downtown Planning Committee members has now been officially formed, chaired by Dave Rusk. A report from this group will be presented to the LRPC in October, proposing a process for this planning effort, including a timeline and budget. What the committee is discussing at this time includes a process modeled after the successful Vision 2000 effort done ten years ago. This process would provide an opportunity for all citizens to participate in creating a vision for housing, employment, transportation, parking and cultural and recreational opportunities contributing to a healthy and vital downtown. After completion of the visioning phase, work on the actual comprehensive plan will commence. Active members include Art Roche (chair of the former* Downtown Planning Committee), Rep Pam Jochum, Aid Ann Michalski, Jim HoIz, Rich Russell, Jim Giesen, Dan LoBianco, Jim Burke, Doris Hingtgen, Ruth Nash, John Walsh; and Dave Rusk, Mary Lynn Neumeister and Steve Cooper from the Planning Commission. Staffing is provided by Laura Carstens and David Harris. (*The Downtown Planning Committee formed at the Housing Action Conference has been integrated into the LRPC subcommittee.) You are welcome to attend the monthly meetings of this committee, which meets the second Tuesday, at 11 :30 at the City Hall annex, 13th and Main Streets. Mixed Neighborhoods The focus ofthis committee's efforts has been to develop and strengthen ways for neighborhood residents to form associations and represent their interests. Many initiatives have surfaced from the work of this group. One was to create a ''formal'' process for neighborhood recognition, including an application and approval by the City Council. This proposal was submitted to the Community Development Commission, in August, with an ordinance expanding the Commission's role in assisting neighborhoods. Another proposal submitted to the CD Commission was to establish a "neighborhood outreach" office - downtown - for use by City staff, local service agencies and neighborhood volunteers. The idea behind this is that some people would be more willing to request city program assistance outside of City Hall - just a more informal place to meet. Plus city staff from the Housing, CD and Health Departments - and the COP officers - could use an outreach office to be more accessible to neighborhood people. The Lead Paint Program staff from Housing want to use it as a tool lending library for their specialized equipment: a "one-stop lead shop." The CD Commission expressed support for both these initiatives and asked that staff provide more research on feasibility and costs. A major planning effort from this committee has been development of a tenants association - which was originally part of the workplan of the Improving DowntownlReducing Vacancies Committee (which went out of business). Several tenant meetings have been held at St Mark's Community Center. A "Renter's Roundtable" is now scheduled to be held there on 26 September. A brochure, designed by one of the tenant participants - Jeremy Austin - is now being mass circulated. The agenda for the Roundtable includes introduction ofthe city-wide tenants association proposal, plus presentations from staff from several city departments and a representative from the landlords group. The idea behind forming an association is to create a support group for tenants, to hook up families with resources such as mentors, to educate tenants about their rights and responsibilities and to develop a working communications link with the landlords association. Active members of this active committee include co-chairs Karen McCarthy and Janet Walker; and Sr Jeanne Wickham. Tenant association steering committee members, in addition to Jeremy, have included Joe and Melissa Hopkins. Our thanks to Karen, who has recently left her employment with the CD Department as the neighborhood development specialist. For more information on the tenants association, call: JoelMelissa 582-9225 Janet 589-4230 Jeremy 582-4185 Kelly Larson, at the Human Rights Department, is coordinating the Roundtable event. She can be reached at 589-4190. Information Clearinghouse The goal statement for this committee was to "have all services accessible through a clearing- house to those in need." Members have been busy, designing a campaign to promote this idea. And, importantly, they have found a natural partner in Project Concern's "Information and Referral" Program, which provides many similar services currently. Meetings have been held between Clearinghouse Committee members, I&R staff and the Marketing Committee of Project Concern's board of directors. Now in development is a power-point presentation, to be submitted to Project Concern, probably in late-2000. The idea ofthis campaign is two-fold: to promote citizen use of the services which Information and Referral provides, to a wider audience, city-wide; and to better educate area agencies - and businesses - to use I&R as a referral source for their own customers and clients. The marketing campaign now in design will have a unified theme, including use of a logo, bill boards and media advertising. What is envisioned is a kind of "one-stop" resource, where people with needs for information about any kind of service or program - whether it be housing-related or other - can call and receive a quick referral. First chaired by Donna Bauerly, and now by Laura Roussell, committee members include Mike Muir, Bob Klein, Maggie Norby, Barb Moran and Marie Lorenz. ,. . Livable Neighborhoods While this committee has not been active, a major goal - to find a "solution" to the problem of vacant and abandoned buildings in neighborhoods - has remained an active initiative of the Housing Department. All in the current inventory of these structures - some thirty in total - have been reinspected this summer, with notices sent to all owners. In one case to-date, demolition orders have been issued. All owners have been notified that the city is prepared to hire outside contractors to perform the repairs necessary to restore the exterior appearance of these derelict houses. This campaign also includes requirements for the removal of boards and repair of all windows and doors, on the side of the building facing the street. Costs for this work will be assessed against the property when authorized under city contract. In a more innovative approach, Kathy Lamb, the senior inspector at Housing, has been working with Sr Inez at the St Mark's Center and with volunteers at St Joseph the Worker in preparation for "Servant Day," to be held on 23 September. On that Saturday, volunteers will be assigned community service projects throughout the community. Kathy is arranging for some of these volunteers to work with owners of several of the most derelict properties, to perform painting and light repair work. If you or someone you know is interested, call her, at 589-4231, and sign up. Affordable Housing The first goal of this committee was to research the inventory of available housing and rehabilitation programs, then to compare this with current city efforts and determine ifwe're taking advantage of all the opportunities. That has been accomplished. Next is to better promote these programs to all potential users (does this sound like a natural link with the Clearinghouse?) This committee, with co-chairs Jane Steele and Joleen Patterson, accomplished the first phase of its work and then took a summer vacation. Members will reconvene in September, including Kelly Larson, Pat Thies, Tom Goric, Dennis Tressel and Peter Eck. Youth ParticipationlW orkforce Retention Chair Pam Myhre reports that planning is in final stages for "Rock Around the Clock," a teen dance to be held on the Plaza, September 16th. This event is being coordinated through the efforts ofSr Inez, with help from Michelle Brown and Joe Hopkins. St Mark's teens have actively been involved in putting this dance together, including soliciting corporate donations - particularly from DuTrac - and securing assistance from Dan LoBianco at Main Street Ltd. Football players from area colleges will provide security; live music has been signed up. This will be a ''really big" event. Another goal of this committee is developing a concept for a "Youth City Council." As a start, Pam is meeting with Thorn Determan from Dubuque Community Schools, plus others involved in the annual Youth in Government Day series of events. It is hoped that the Council idea could evolve from this, with sponsorship from the School District, City of Dubuque and the County Board. . . . . Summary What's your evaluation? Are we making progress, are we still on track to accomplish our vision and our action steps? Are there ways you might be able to make a contribution to these efforts? Has the time you've already contributed been justified? How does the 'six month report' measure up to your expectations? From this viewpoint, it appears that much of our work is still "on the drawing board" - in the planning stages. The downtown planning effort, after six months of referrals and considerations, will be "formally" considered for staffing and funding, by the Long Range Planning Commission, in October-November. The Community Development Commission has received proposals for a neighborhood recognition process and an outreach center, and expects to reconsider these, with staff analysis, also within the next two-three months. The Renters Roundtable will be held next month; this will give us a good indication whether there is support for a city-wide tenants association. The Clearinghouse Committee expects to make its presentation, to Project Concern, for its information campaign, by the end ofthis calendar year. The Housing Department's campaign to reduce the blighting influence of vacant and abandoned housing is scheduled to have an impact by the end of this building season. The Affordable Housing Committee will re-gear its efforts, next month, to promoting available assistance programs to a wider audience. And the teen-sponsored and -planned "Rock Around the Clock" event will also be held in September, hopefully a significant first effort in encouraging youth to take more initiative in advocating for youth interests. That's an impressive inventory of initiatives and campaigns; by the end ofthe year, we'll know how successful we will be in their implementation. That will depend on your continued involvement in this ambitious process of community-based advocacy and participation. ~r Laverne's "law:" where you think you are going is where you end up. The images we create of our future determine how and if we get there. Keep that vision.