Fair Housing Analysis Consultant Contract
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RESOLUTION 576-00
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SELECTION OF A CONSULTANT TO
PREPARE A FAIR HOUSING ANALYSIS OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN APPROPRIATE
CONTRACT FOR SAID ANALYSIS.
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, Iowa is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development to complete a Fair Housing Analysis~ and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, Iowa, as part of the overall Community Development
Block Grant program, is interested in identifying impediments or barriers to fair housing in our
community~ and
Whereas, a Request for Proposals solicited consultant services to prepare the Fair Housing
Analysis~ and
Whereas, The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center is
recommended to complete the Fair Housing Analysis.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the selection of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal
Support Center as the consultant to prepare a Fair Housing Analysis of the city of Dubuque is
hereby approved.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the
City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, a contract with The John Marshall Law School Fair
Housing Legal Support Center for consultant services not to exceed $15,000.00.
Passed, approved and adopted this ~th day of December, 2000.
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne Schneider
City Clerk
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
October 26, 2000
TO: David Harris, Janet Walker, Pam Myhre, Kathy Sturm
FROM: Kelly Larson
SUBJECT: Consultant Selection for Analysis ofImpediments to Fair Housing
As you recall, we requested proposals to perform an update to the City's Analysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing 'earlier this summer. When we did not receive any bids, we
re-submitted the request with a second bid deadline of October 20. We have received one
bid, from the John Marshall Fair Housing Legal Support Center. A copy of that bid is
attached. Please take a moment to review the bid and call me with your comments by
November 3. If anyone has concerns about awarding the contract to this bidder, I will
schedule a meeting so we can discuss the issue as a group. Thanks for your time.
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THE JOHN MARSHALL LAW SCHOOL@
315 South Plymouth Court Chicago, Illinois 60604 www.jrnls.edu
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CENTENNIAL
1899-1999
October 2, 2000
FAIR HOUSING
LEGAL SUPPORT CENTER
TEL: 312.987.2397
FAX: 312.427. 9438
T1rY:312.427.3066
http://fairhousing.jrnls.edu
Ms. Kelly Larson
Human Rights Department
City of Dubuque, City Hall Annex
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Dear Ms. Larson:
I am transmitting to you a copy of our proposal to do an analysis of impediments of fair
housing in the City of Dubuque.
This analysis will look at both private and public housing markets and the legal, social,
political, and economic factors that affect the selection of housing in Dubuque. The
analysis will include a brief history of fair housing practices in Dubuque and an
examination of the demographics of the community. Barriers and impediments to fair
housing in Dubuque will be identified and remedies proposed. Census information,
HMDA data, and state and local laws and ordinances will be analyzed; key players in the
housing market will be identified; statutes, ordinances, and regulations that impact on fair
housing will be cataloged; and community leaders and residents will be interviewed in
person or by telephone.
The final report will set forth the work undertaken and a summary of findings and
recommendations. The final report will provide a blueprint for the City of Dubuque and
its residents to move into the Twenty First Century as a community without barriers to
housing choice because of sex, religion, race, creed, color, national origin, age disability,
or familial status.
The project will be completed by May 2001. Professors Michael P. Seng and F. Willis
Caruso, co-executive directors of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal
Support Center, will supervise the project. Law students will be utilized to do the
interviewing and analysis, and experts from other disciplines will be consulted as needed.
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PROPOSAL TO DO A FAIR HOUSING IMPEDIMENTS ANALYSIS
OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
Submitted by
The John Marshall Law School
Fair Housing Legal Support Center
Chicago, Illinois
Title of Proposal:
AN ANALYSIS OF FAIR HOUSING IMPEDIMENTS IN THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
Name and address of Applicant:
The John Marshall Law School
Fair Housing Legal Support Center
315 South Plymouth Court
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Telephone:
Fax:
(312) 987-2397
(312) 427-2397
Name of Authorized Contact Person:
Michael P. Seng, Professor of Law
Date:
October 5, 2000
Cost:
$15,000
SUMMARY OF PROJECT
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center proposes to do
an analysis of fair housing barriers and impediments in the City of Dubuque, Iowa. This
analysis will look at both private and public housing markets and the legal, social,
political, and economic factors that affect the selection of housing in Dubuque. The
analysis will include a brief history of fair housing practices in Dubuque and an
examination of the demographics ofthe community. Barriers and impediments to fair
housing in Dubuque will be identified and remedies proposed. Census information,
HMDA data, and state and local laws and ordinances will be analyzed; key players in the
housing market will be identified; statutes, ordinances, and regulations that impact on fair
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housing will be cataloged; and community leaders and residents will be interviewed in
person or by telephone.
The final report will set forth the work undertaken and a summary of findings and
recommendations. The final report will provide a blueprint for the City of Dubuque and
its residents to move into the Twenty First Century as a community without barriers to
housing choice because of sex, religion, race, creed, color, national origin, age disability,
or familial status.
The project will be completed by May 2001. Professors Michael P. Seng and F.
Willis Caruso, co-executive directors of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing
Legal Support Center, will supervise the project. Law students will be utilized to do the
interviewing and analysis, and experts from other disciplines will be consulted as needed.
PROFILE OF THE CONTRACTOR
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The John Marshall Law School was founded in 1899. It has an emollment of
approximately 1,300 students. It offers a general J.D. program, as well as LL.M.
programs in Intellectual Property, Tax, Real Estate, Computers and Privacy, International
Trade, and American Law for Foreign Lawyers. It is located in the South Loop of
Chicago.
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center was
established in 1992. It carries on a variety of activities to educate the public and to assist
in fair housing enforcement. The Center has received HUD FHIP grants and grants from
the Fannie Mae Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, and the Woods Fund, among
others, to carry on its educational programs.
The Center conducts three conferences each year to educate fair housing
practitioners about the law. It prepares booklets, pamphlets, and videos on fair housing
issues. Center staff is available to lecture throughout the country on fair housing legal
issues. They have successfully participated in fair housing programs in all areas of the
country, including California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas,
Nebraska, Iowa, Washington, the District of Columbia, Kansas, South Carolina,
Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee, Connecticut, Florida, Alabama,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, and Colorado. The Center has also
established a computerized research program that is accessible to attorneys and advocates
throughout the country. In addition, the Center staff is available to answer questions on
strategy and the law for persons and groups supporting fair housing efforts.
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The Center completed a Fair Housing Impediments Study for the City of Dubuque
in 1996 and for the City of Davenport in 2000. It has also written a zoning ordinance
concerning the establishment of group homes for the City of Hammond, Indiana and
regularly consults with personnel from state and local human rights agencies on questions
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of fair housing enforcement. This past year the Center has conducted an extensive
training for all investigators employed by the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development. It conducted these one-week training programs in Kansas City,
Atlanta, and Chicago. This July it organized and presented a program for the National
HUD FHIPIFHAP Training Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Over 800 federal, state,
and private fair housing workers attended this training. It had previously presented a
similar training for HUD in Birmingham, Alabama in 1997.
The Center also staffs a fair housing clinic to teach students the law and to assist
persons who claim violations of their fair housing rights. Students take a two-hour class
in Fair Housing Law and Practice and can earn up to ten hours of academic credit by
working in the clinic. The clinic also has a testing program to monitor and disclose
practices that violate the fair housing laws. Students work under the supervision of an
attorney and represent clients in HUD, state, and local administrative proceedings and in
federal and state court. The clinic maintains an active caseload of approximately 50
cases.
The project will be coordinated through The John Marshall Law School Fair
Housing Legal Support Center by Professor Michael P. Seng and Adjunct Professor F.
Willis Caruso, Co-Executive Directors ofthe Center.
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Professor Seng has extensive experience litigating civil rights cases, including
housing cases. He teaches in the areas of constitutional law, civil rights, national security
law, federal courts, and comparative law. He has written extensively about civil rights
and housing discrimination. He headed a civil rights and legal services proj ect in the
1970s in Cairo, Illinois. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Notre
Dame Law School.
Adjunct Professor F. Willis Caruso teaches Fair Housing Law and Practice and
supervises the Fair Housing Clinic. He has litigated over a thousand fair housing cases,
including several landmark cases in the United States Supreme Court. He is the former
general counsel of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities in
Chicago and of the Chicago Housing Authority. He is the author of many articles on fair
housing law and the only published casebook on Fair Housing and Fair Lending Laws.
He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Northwestern Law School.
The Fair Housing Legal Support Center will consult with a demographer and
other land use planning experts to complete portions of the analysis, if that becomes
necessary. Second and third year law students will work under the supervision of
Professors Seng and Caruso in devising the interviewing questionnaires, in writing the
final report, and in doing the interviews. Many of these students will have completed the
fair housing course and have worked in the clinic. It is envisioned that many of the
interviews will be able to be conducted by telephone from Chicago.
The resumes of Professors Seng and Caruso are attached hereto.
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SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Fair Housing Impediments Study ofthe City of Dubuque will follow the
format recommended in the Fair Housing Planning Guide, vol. 1, published by HUD. It
will include the following:
a. A description of the methodology used in the study;
b. Relevant data on the availability of housing in the City;
c. An analysis of how discrimination against the classes protected by the Fair
Housing Act affects the sale and rental of housing in the City;
d. An analysis of insurance and mortgage lending discrimination in the City and
its affect on the availability of housing in the City;
e. Public policies and laws that affect sites and buildings that are available for
low income housing in the City;
f. Administrative policies that affect community development and housing for
protected classes under the fair housing laws in the City;
g. An analysis of the effectiveness of existing laws and procedures to fight
discrimination in housing in the City;
h. Proposals for eliminating any impediments found that limit fair housing
choices by protected classes in the City.
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In the course of the study, the Center will examine relevant data and information
from both the private and public sectors regarding the availability of equal housing on the
basis of sex, religion, race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability, and familial
status. This will include information concerning zoning and site selection, neighborhood
revitalization, low-income housing, property taxes, lending and insurance, transportation,
municipal services and other conditions that affect housing availability for protected
classes under the fair housing laws.
The Center will identify key players in the community as well as city residents
and interview them for their views on impediments to fair housing that may exist in the
community and their recommendations for their elimination. The Center will hold at
least one open meeting in the City so that residents and officials can comment and make
recommendations about what should be included in the report.
TIME TABLE
First Month:
Identify tasks and assemble needed personnel to perform these
tasks.
Second Month:
Begin work on assembling demographic data.
Begin work on identifying historical sources.
Identify leaders and persons in the community that should be
interviewed.
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Third Month:
Fourth Month:
Fifth Month:
Sixth Month:
Continue to work on assembling demographic data.
Continue to work on assembling historical data.
Assemble questionnaire forms to aid in the interviewing process.
Begin work on assembling statutes, ordinances, and regulations
that may impact on fair housing in Dubuque.
Begin interviews of community leaders and residents.
Write report on demographics.
Write history section of the report.
Analyze statutes, ordinances, and regulations that affect fair
housing in the City.
Continue interviews of community leaders and residents.
Make final revisions in historical and demographic sections of the
report.
Analyze information obtained through interviews.
Identify barriers or impediments to fair housing in the City and
recommend solutions to these problems.
Complete final report.
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City of Dubuque~ Iowa
Budget
Analysis of Impediments Study Proposal
Project Director:
Michael Seng 125 hrs. @ $45 hr. $ 5~625
Fair Housing Director:
F. Willis Caruso 35 hrs. @ $45 hr. 1~575
Consultant :
Land Use Expert 10 hrs. @ $45 hr. 450
Contractual Service:
Lending Practices Report with findings and
Recommendations 2~500
e Law Students: 120 hrs. @ $10 hr. 1,200
Transportation and Lodging
In Dubuque Four (4) trips @ $336 1 ,344
T elephone Calls~ supplies~
Photo copy ~ and postage 806
Indirect Costs: 1.500
TOTAL COST:
$ 15,000
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MICHAEL P. SENG
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Michael P. Seng is a professor of law at The John Marshall Law School.
He teaches, among other courses, Constitutional Law, Federal Jurisdiction, and
Public Law Litigation. He is the Co-Executive Director of The John Marshall Law
School Fair Housing Legal Support Center and The John Marshall Law School
Fair Housing Legal Clinic. He formerly practiced law at Jenner & Block and was
the directing attorney of the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation in
Cairo, Illinois from 1972 to 1976. He is a graduate of the University of Notre
Dame and the Notre Dame Law School. He has litigated a number of civil rights
and public interest cases, including Kirby v. Illinois, O'Shea v. Littleton, Spomer
v. Littleton, and Carey v. Brown in the United States Supreme Court. He has
taught law as a Fulbright professor in Nigeria, and in 1996, he was a visiting
professor at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. He has co-authored a
book on Eyewitness Testimony as well as many articles on civil rights and fair
housing law. He is a member of the Illinois Residential Mortgage Board, an
appointed body to advise the State of Illinois Office of Banks and Real Estate.
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F. WILLIS CARUSO
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F. Willis Caruso is co-executive director of The John Marshall Law School
Fair Housing Legal Support Center, the clinical director of The John Marshall
Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic, and adjunct professor of law at The John
Marshall Law School. Mr. Caruso is a graduate of Northwestern University and
the Northwestern Law School. He formerly practiced law with Sidley & Austin;
Caruso & Caruso; Isham Lincoln & Beale, and Keck, Mahin & Cate. He served
as the General Counsel of the Chicago Housing Authority from 1991 to 1994 and
the General Counsel of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open
Communities from 1970 to 1991. He has litigated over 1,000 fair housing cases,
including the Village of Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development
Corporation, and Gladstone Realtors v. Village of Bel/wood. He has also
authored many articles and a textbook on fair housing law.
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Contact List for Analysis of Impediments RFP
Matt Lorenz and Associates
Michael Seng, John Marshall Law School
Dr. Richard Anderson, Chair, Department of Sociology, Loras
Ms. Emily Kearns, Chair, Department of Sociology, Clarke
Department of Sociology, University of Dubuque
Iowa Social Science Institute
123 N. Linn St.
Suite 130
Iowa City, IA 52242
UI Center for Human Rights
236 International Center
University ofIowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
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Institute for Social and Economic Development
1901 Broadway, Suite 313
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dr. Gene Lutz
Director
Center for Social and Behavioral Research
221 Sabin Hall
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0402
Department of Sociology
Iowa State University
107 East Hall
Ames, IA 50011
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
SECOND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING
L INTRODUCTION
The City of Dubuque, Iowa, is conducting a repeat solicitation of proposals from
contractors to conduct an Analysis ofImpediments to Fair Housing. Attached is
information relating to minimum specifications of services, data to be included in the
proposal, evaluation criteria, and selected information relating to the City of Dubuque.
ll. BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque is located on the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, adjacent to
Illinois and Wisconsin. It is approximately 25 square miles in area, with a population of
approximately 60,000. As a recipient of Community Development Block Grant funds,
the City is required to regularly analyze impedi,ments to fair housing in the City. The
most recent Analysis of Impediments (AI) was completed in February 1996. The City is
now soliciting proposals to conduct a new analysis.
ID. OBJECTIVES
e The Fair Housing Law of the City of Dubuque protects equal housing opportunities on
the basis of sex, religion, race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability or familial
status. The purpose of the Analysis is to identify the impediments and barriers to fair
Housing in the City of Dubuque. The Analysis will then be utilized to establish an action
plan for the elimination of said barriers and impediments.
IV. INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN PROPOSAL
In order to simplify the review process and to obtain the maximum degree of
comparability, the proposals shall include the following items and be organized in the
manner specified below.
Letter of Transmittal
A letter of transmittal briefly outlining the contractor's understanding of the work and the
name, address, telephone number and fax number of the contractor's primary and
secondary contact persons for this project.
Profile of the Contractor
Contractors are required to present material that demonstrates their experience and
expertise in completing this type of study.
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Provide abbreviated resumes (1 to 2 pages each) of the key personnel who will be
working on the study, describing their education, specialized and technical competence,
and experience in relation to the type of work required for this study.
Scope of Services
Include a detailed scope of services addressing Section V, Scope of Services, below.
Although the City attempted to identify the work and services required, this should not
constrain the scope the contractor believes to be necessary to meet the City's objectives.
Include any ideas to improve the study and recommend any scope of work not identified
in this RFP considered essential. The Fair Housing Planning Guide, Vol. I, published by
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Fair Housing and
Equal Opportunity, is a useful reference. Copies can be obtained from the Fair Housing
Information Clearinghouse by calling 1-800-767-7468.
Proposed Proiect Schedule
Request for proposals distributed on September 5,2000.
Proposals due by 4:00 p.m. on October 20,2000.
Contract anticipated to be awarded in November 2000.
Study completed and submitted to selection committee by May 2001.
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v. SCOPE OF SERVICES
1. Analyze the availability of fair housing in Dubuque, as it regards:
a) The sale or rental of housing;
b) The financing of housing;
c) The provision of brokerage services;
d) Public policies and actions that affect the approval of building sites for
publicly assisted housing and any other building requirements that affect the
construction;
e) Administrative policies concerning community development and housing
activities that affect opportunities for minority households to select housing
inside or outside areas of minority concentration;
t) The provision of renter' slhomeowner' s insurance; and
g) Actions which could be taken to help remedy any discriminatory condition
where there has been a determination of unlawful segregation or other housing
discrimination by a court or a finding of noncompliance by HUD regarding
assisted housing.
2. Examine the existing conditions as regards housing and housing choice in Dubuque
and answer questions regarding the availability of equal housing on the basis of sex,
religion, race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability and familial status. This will
e include census information about demographic characteristics, income, employment,
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transportation, ethnic or racial concentrations, housing characteristics, public policies and
current city laws/ordinances/programs regarding fair housing/equal opportunity, and
human rights cases involving housing.
3. Identify key players in the local housing arena and investigate the role they play
including, but not limited to:
Tenants
Non-profit housing providers
Realtors
Legal Services
Community Development Advisory Commission
Human Rights Staff/Commission
City Council
Insurers
Landlords
Banks
Developers
Neighborhood Associations
Housing Staff/Commission
Planning/Zoning Staff/Commission
Other Community Institutions
4. Select key player interviews to elicit information and/or perceptions regarding
housing, housing choice, access to housing, etc. in Dubuque that would help provide
answers to the seven required areas of analysis identified in 1. above.
5. Discuss and analyze issues identified from research/interviews, which may include:
a)
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c)
d)
e)
t)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
1)
What housing development patters have occurred historically?
Is there segregation by class?
Is there discrimination against protected classes?
What housing choices are available?
Does every citizen have equal access to housing?
How much mobility exists? What limits mobility from one neighborhood to
another?
Where are the "poor" neighborhoods?
Are there "minority" neighborhoods? What interracial issues are involved?
Do neighborhoods have a perceived image by outsiders? What public attitudes
exist?
Have public policies or institutional practices influenced housing and
neighborhood development?
Does assisted housing development face NIMBY - Not in My Back Yard -
resistance?
How have banks responded to Community Reinvestment Act requirements?
Does redlining exist locally? What lending patterns exist?
6. Identify barriers/impediments to fair housing in Dubuque.
7. Recommend actions/strategies (both public and private) to overcome and/or eliminate
the identified barriers or impediments.
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VI. EV ALUA nON CRITERIA
Proposals will be screened to ensure that they meet the minimum requirements of the
proposal format. A review of the qualifying proposals will identify potential contractors
that most closely meet the needs of the City of Dubuque. Proposals will be evaluated by
the selection committee based upon:
Qualifications and experience of the contractors - achievements and completion of
similar studies with characteristics similar to Dubuque's.
Study team - qualifications and experience of the principal consulting staff proposed to
work on the study.
Grasp of the study requirements - the contractor's analysis, preparation and level of
interest.
Design approach/methodology in completing the scope of work and services - technical
alternatives, creativity and problem solving ability.
Responsiveness - compatibility between contractors and the City of Dubuque, general
attitude, ability to communicate.
Local economic impact - ability to incorporate local contractors
Schedule evaluation - time required to complete the project.
Cost evaluation - cost of each task as a percentage of the total project cost.
The RFP committee will rank the responsive contractors according to the above criteria.
Negotiations with the highest ranking contractor will commence until a satisfactory scope
of work and cost proposal are agreed upon. However, the City of Dubuque reserves the
right to reject any and all proposals, reserving the right to negotiate with more than one
contractor simultaneously. Further, the "scope of services" of the actual study contract
may be adjusted to include or exclude tasks if the tasks are deemed essential or
unessential, whichever the case may be.
The City of Dubuque is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Vll. FEES AND COMPENSATION
Provide a proposed compensation structure for the completion of the proposed scope of
services, with cost breakdowns for each component of the study. Quotation offees and
compensation shall remain firm for a period of ninety (90) days from the proposed
submission deadline. Separate the portion of the Fees and Compensation proposal
(separate enclosure) from the other portion of the RFP submittal. Initial screening will be
done by the selection committee without the benefit of knowing the contractor's proposed
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fee schedule. A contract will be negotiated after the selection process has been
completed.
The City reserves the right to terminate the contract for convenience.
vm. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
An original plus five (5) copies of the proposal shall be received in the office of the City
of Dubuque's Human Rights Department, City Hall Annex, 1300 Main Street, Dubuque,
Iowa 52001 by 4:00 p.m. CDT on October 20,2000.
Each contractor assumes full responsibility for delivery and deposit of the completed
proposal package on or before the deadline. The City of Dubuque is not responsible for
any loss or delay with respect to the delivery of the proposals.
The City of Dubuque is not liable for any cost incurred during the preparation and
presentation of proposals by any contractors prior to the execution of an agreement or
contract, nor shall the City of Dubuque be liable for any costs incurred by the contractors
that are not specified in any contract.
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All questions and correspondence regarding this RFP should be directed to Kelly Larson,
(319) 589-4190, City of Dubuque Human Rights Department, City Hall Annex, 1300
Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, or by fax at (319) 589-4299.
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
November 30, 2000
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Fair Housing Analysis Consultant Contract
Human Rights Director Kelly Larson is recommending approval of a contract with the John
Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center to conduct a Fair Housing Analysis of
the City, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
November 20, 2000
TO:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director ~
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Fair Housing Analysis Consultant Contract
Introduction
This memorandum transmits for City Council consideration a resolution authorizing a contract for
consultant services to perform a Fair Housing Analysis of the city. This analysis is required by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part ofthe Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
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Background
The City receives approximately $1.4 million annually as an entitlement community under the
CDBG program. As part of the planning requirements for the program, the City was required to
complete a local Fair Housing Analysis by February 6, 1996, and is expected to update the
analysis at least once every 3 to 5 years. This analysis must identify any impediments or barriers
to fair housing in Dubuque and make recommendations to eliminate such impediments or barriers.
The primary elements of the analysis have been stipulated by HUD and must cover the following
areas:
the sale or rental of housing;
the financing of housing;
zoning and land use policies, tax assessment/abatement practices;
administrative policies concerning community development and housing activities that
affect opportunities for minority households to select housing inside or outside areas of
minority concentration;
the provision of renter'/homeowners' insurance; and
patterns of occupancy in Section 8, Public and Assisted Housing, and private rental
housing.
Ten (10) organizations or individuals, including four locals, were sent a Request for Proposals to
complete the required Fair Housing Analysis. Initially, no proposals were received. The request
was sent a second time to the same organizations, with an extended deadline, and one proposal
was received. Given the limited timeline for completion of an updated Analysis, the Selection
Committee, which consisted of staff from the Human Rights, Housing, Community and Economic
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Development and Finance, was satisfied with the response. A copy of the Request for Proposals
is attached.
Discussion
The Committee feels that the proposal from The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal
Support Center provides the necessary experience, meets the project requirements, and quotes an
appropriate fee for services. The proposal is attached for your review.
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center, has a proven track record in
the field of fair housing, offering coursework for law students and operating an education and
research center dealing with fair housing. The project leaders are well-known in the field offair
housing and bring a level of expertise and available research staff to the project that staff could
not provide in-house.
A task force composed of staff and several members from the Human Rights Commission,
Housing Commission and Community Development Commission are expected to oversee the
consultants' work during the course of the Analysis and review final recommendations.
Recommendation
The Selection Committee recommends that The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal
Support Center be hired to perform the Fair Housing Analysis. The consultants' fee is quoted at
$15,000. An amount sufficient to cover the cost of this consultant contract has been allocated in
the Community Development Activity within the City budget.
Action Step
The action step for the City Council is to adopt the attached resolution approving the selection of
a consultant to perform the Fair Housing Analysis and authorizing the City Manager to execute a
contract for consultant services not to exceed $15,000 on behalf of the City Council.
attachments