Crime Free Multi Housing Landlord Training Program UpdateMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
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All-America City
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2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Crime Free Multi- Housing Landlord Training Program
Update and Recommendation from Safe Community Task Force
DATE: December 14, 2011
Neighborhood Development Specialist Jerelyn O'Connor and Crime Prevention /Public
Information Officer Lt. Scott Baxter are transmitting an update on the City of Dubuque's
Crime Free Multi- Housing Landlord Training Program, with specific emphasis on
changes that have been made to respond to the Safe Community Task Force
recommendations.
In 2011, the following enhancements were made to the Crime Free Landlord Training
Program.
1. The training manual which is provided to all attendees of the program was
completely revamped and updated with current ordinance requirements. The
power point presentations for all sessions were incorporated into the training
manual. This manual is available on the City of Dubuque's website as a
resource for all landlords.
2. The curriculum was expanded to include a presentation on City of Dubuque
rental code enforcement, as recommended by the Safe Community Task
Force. The Cable TV Division, Housing, and Legal Department created a
video on rental housing codes. A DVD of the video is provided to all
participants of the training and is also available on the City's website.
3. The frequency of training sessions was expanded three -fold. In 2011, a
training sessions were held in March, October and November.
4. The CFMHP incorporated a resource table to the training session to provide
information on community resources for landlords and their tenants. The
March 2011 training session included information on the Dubuque Area
Landlord Association, Four Mounds Energy Center, the Multicultural Family
Center, Utility Billing, Solid Waste, Housing Department programs and other
City of Dubuque resources such as the yard lighting initiatives, historic
preservation resources and neighborhood association information. In the fall
session there was also information on the Dubuque Dispute Resolution
Center, GDDC Newcomers program, and Green and Healthy Homes.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
Lt. Scott Baxter, Crime Prevention /Public Information Officer
2
THE CITY OF
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
Lt Scott Baxter, Crime Prevention/Public Information Officer
DATE October 3, 2011
SUBJECT Crime Free Multi- Housing Landlord Training Program
Update and Recommendation from Safe Community Task Force
Dubuque
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All-America City
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2007
INTROD UCTION
The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on the City of Dubuque's Crime Free Multi - Housing Landlord Training
Program (DCFMHP), with specific emphasis on changes that have been made to respond to the Safe Community Task
Force recommendations
BACKGROUND
In the mid -'90s, the Police Department had officers trained as trainers for the Crime Free Multi- Housing Training Program
modeled after the Mesa, AZ program Initially the program had three components, 1) Landlord attends a day -long training
program with an emphasis on steps the landlord can take to keep crime out of his/her property such as crime prevention
through environmental design, screening prospective tenants, use of the crime free lease addendum, etc„ 2) Police conduct
a physical inspection of the rental property and make recommendations to landlord of physical changes which will improve
safety such as lighting improvements and locks, and 3) police conduct a meeting with the building's tenants to discuss
strategies to reduce crime Although many landlords attended the training program, very few followed through with the
property inspections and tenant meeting In recent years, the Police Department has focused on the day -long training
component of this program
The Police Department and other city departments (Housing, Human Rights, Fire, Legal) have continued to offer the training
program at least once per year since the mid '90s The training program also includes two sessions taught by local pnvate
attorneys on lease agreements and evictions For many years, the City offered graduates of the DCFMHPthe benefit of
receiving free local criminal background checks That benefit no longer applies since Dubuque landlords now receive free
national criminal background checks
The CFMHP is managed by the Crime Prevention Unit of the Police Department with assistance from the Community
Policing Unit In addition, the Neighborhood Development Specialist provides assistance with organizing the workshops
DISCUSSION
In July, 2010 the Safe Community Task Force made the following recommendation to the City Council
"Develop and offer frequently atraining program on code enforcement and property management for all landlords Require
all landlords to attend the program, issue only temporary occupancy permits/licenses until training has been completed "
InJanuary,2011 the City Council amended the City Code of Ordinances to include the requirement that Dubuque rental
property owners/managers must perform criminal background checks on all rental applicants and attend mandatory training
for rental property owners/managers Owners /managers who manage over 10 rental units must attend the City's CFMHP by
February 7, 2012 Those who manage between five and nine rental units must complete the program by February 7, 2013,
and those who manage between one and four units must complete the program by February 7, 2014 Licensed real estate
professionals and /or property owners or managers who have completed the CFMHP are exempt from this requirement Only
a temporary rental license may be issued until this requirement is met
In 2011, the following enhancements were made to the Crime Free Landlord Training Program
1 The training manual which is provided to all attendees of CFMHP was completely revamped and updated with current
ordinance requirements The power point presentations for all sessions were incorporated into the training manual
This manual is available on the City of Dubuque's website as a resource for all landlords at
www citvofdubuaue ora /DCFMHP
2 The curriculum was expanded to include a presentation on City of Dubuque rental code enforcement, as
recommended by the Safe Community Task Force The Cable TV Division, Housing, and Legal Department created a
video on rental housing codes A DVD of the video is provided to all participants of the training and is also available on
the City's website
3 The frequency of training sessions was expanded three -fold In 2011, a training sessions were held in March There
will be two additional training sessions this year on October 13, 2011 and November 19, 2011
4 The CFMHP incorporated a resource table to the training session to provide information on community resources for
landlords and their tenants The March 2011 training session included informational tables on the Dubuque Area
Landlord Association, Four Mounds Energy Center, the Multicultural Family Center, Utility Billing, Solid Waste,
Housing Department (Family Self Sufficiency, Bridges, Section 8 Voucher Program, Rental Rehabilitation program,
Lead Program,) and other City of Dubuque resources such as the yard lighting initiatives, historic preservation
resources, neighborhood association information, etc) This fall, the Dubuque Dispute Resolution Center, GDDC
Newcomers program, and Green and Healthy Homes will also participate
The course evaluations from the March 2011 session were extremely positive Following are some of the written comments
from attendees
• "instructors were very knowledgeable"
• "effective and clear delivery of pertinent information"
• "good handouts"
• As far as classes go -this one kept on track and on time Very nformative"
• "having multiple presenters that are absolutely the experts on what they were talking about"
• "very well organized and informational I appreciated that they positioned it as a way to help us out Great event!"
There are 1,323 landlords in Dubuque Our records indicate that 429 landlords have attended the training program since
2000 Some landlords have attended multiple times Some property owners hire a management service to manage their
rental properties so they are not required to attend Also, some property owners are licensed realtors and are exempt It is
estimated that another 600 landlords need to attend the training by February, 2014
The March 2011 Training session had the largest enrollment ever - 109 landlords Staff is currently monitoring the enrollment
to ensure that an adequate number of training sessions are offered Staff has also recommended a mix of weekday and
weekend training sessions to accommodate different schedules
The City is charging $30 /person for the registration It is a bare -bones budget to cover the cost of lunch, room rental, and
printed materials We have attempted to coordinate DCFMHP information distribution with Housing Department mailings to
reduce postage costs We are making every attempt to keep the training cost at a reasonable level
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
No action is needed at this time This is provided for informational purposes