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Minutes Housing Comm. 10 25 05 MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING DATE: TIME: PLACE: 25 October 2005 4p.m. Housing and Community Development Department Vice-Chairperson Eddy called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. following staff assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law. Commissioners Absent: Harry Neustadt John Plein Angie Mozena Char Eddy Danita Grant Jim Holz (by phone) Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF Bill Helling Dorothy Culbertson Dave Kapler (by phone) Commissioners Present: Staff Present: David Harris Joleen Patterson Janet Walker Cate Richter Tusdee Blus Kelly Larson Public Present: Julie LeClere Sara Davidson Todd Bagby Steve Drahozel Zamira Merdonovic Matthew Mago Shea Schreiber John Gronen Len Sandler Commissioner Grant arrived at 4:02 pm; Commissioner Mozena arrived at 4:05 pm; Chairperson Kapler arrived at 5:35 pm. David Harris requested on behalf of Legal Aid to have their clients' appeals be heard as the first items on the agenda. Review and Certification of Minutes of 27 September 2005 Commission MeetinQ Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to approve the 27 September 2005 minutes with noted change to heading to read "Minutes of Housing Commission Meeting." Commissioner Plein seconded. Roll call. Commissioner Holz abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed. Correspondence I Public Input None Old Business LeClere Loan; Request for Co-Signer Shea Schreiber of Legal Aid spoke on Ms. Leclere's behalf, asking for the Commission members to review her request for a co-signer and approve it. Commissioner Holz asked if Randy Theobald, the co-signer, is a household member, to which Ms. Schreiber responded that he is not. Commisioner Holz stated that he does not see the benefit of a co-signer, and Ms. Schreiber stated that he would take over the loan if Ms. LeClere could not pay. David explained that it is standard practice to allow a co-signer option, and then to make the determination if it is feasible for that particular loan. Commissioner Grant asked why it is before the Commission at this time if this is normal practice. Chairperson Kapler stated that he wanted the Commission to be informed and .if it were to be determined to be within normal guidelines, it would be referred to staff. Commissioner Grant stated that she would support sending it to staff for their decision. Commissioner Holz stated that once it has gone through the co-signer due diligence process with staff, it will then need Commission approval to exceed the normal limits. Commissioner Grant motioned to send it back to staff to perform the due diligence and to make a recommendation to the Commission for final approval. Commissioner Neustadt seconded. Roll call. Commissioner Eddy - Nay. All others present in favor. Motion passed. Request for Hearing: Zamira Merdanovic Ms. Schreiber spoke on Ms. Merdanovic's behalf, stating that she is a Bosnian refugee who speaks limited English. When Ms. Merdanovic received a notice of termination of her benefits from the Housing Department, she called and was told of her rights to an appeal of the decision. In the opinion of Legal Aid, she did not understand and failed to file her appeal in the allotted timeframe. Commissioner Holz asked Janet Walker to explain the circumstances of the termination. Janet stated that it was due to unreported income. Cate Richter, Ms. Merdanovic's caseworker, provided further clarification. She said that in the conversations she had with Ms. Merdanovic she made no mention of not understanding and did not ask for clarification from staff. Ms. Schreiber then referenced Kelly Larson and the City's compliance with the Department of Justice requirements to explain the process to her in her native language. It was further noted by Cate that at this time, Ms. Merdanovic has still not reported any change in income. Ms. Schreiber stated she felt that since the termination, Ms. Merdanovic did not understand she should provide any additional information, further indicating a lack of understanding. Janet made the request of Legal Aid to in the future, make their request letters clearer so that Staff may understand and address the issue prior to it being necessary to be heard by the Commission. Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to allow the appeal. Commissioner Plein seconded. Roll call. All in favor. Motion passed. Item 4b was moved to the end of the agenda. New Business Request from Young Lawyers Association, Dubuque County Bar for Seminar Sponsorship Chairperson Kapler provided an overview of the proposal for outreach sessions for 2006, and asked for the Commission to provide their thoughts on co-sponsorship by the Housing Commission. They would work with Housing, Human Rights and Legal Aid to make these seminars more substantial and to hopefully increase attendance. Commissioner Grant expressed concern for staff time, and Chairperson Kapler stated that it is not required. Communication from Historic Preservation Commission Regarding Prescott School Parking Alternatives The Commission discussed the request from the HPC to address proposed parking options for the new downtown school. Commissioner Schwendinger stated that the decision should remain with the School Board and there be no involvement from the Commission. The other Commission members agreed and no action was taken. Set Public Hearing for HOME Program Application for Step by Step Residential Project for Persons with Disabilities David introduced Sarah Davidson as the inspiration for this project and then noted the letter sent to Dan LoBianco for the Main Street Challenge Grant, which explains the project in a conceptual form. We would seek HOME Program funds from the State Department of Economic Development, which will require us as a City applicant to hold a public hearing, which would be held by the Housing Commission for that purpose. He suggested we, the City, be the applicant and we schedule the public hearing for the November Commission meeting. Commissioner Holz motioned to set the public hearing for the next Commission meeting. Chairperson Kapler seconded. Roll call. All present in favor. Motion passed. Request for Additional Loan Amount for Henry Stout Place - Accessibility Rehab Program An accessibility loan in the amount of $11,871.26 for retrofit of a kitchen at Henry Stout Place for tenant Sarah Davidson was discussed. David stated that we expect to share this cost with MetroPlains, but if we can't, then the action before the Commission is to make an exception and grant the entire amount less the amount for the appliances. The loan is a 5-year forgivable and for one unit only. Sarah spoke to the current needs of disabled persons, referencing the kitchen specifically. Hers is galley shaped and is not 5' wide in any point in the kitchen. She actually had her stove removed because it was not accessible to her. At this time, she cannot use her kitchen at all because she cannot us it in her wheelchair. Commissioner Holz motioned to approve up to the $11,871.26, and to go ahead with the project and loan. Chairperson Kapler seconded. Roll call. All present in favor. Motion passed. Consideration of Resolutions in Support of HOME Program Applications for Women SRO Housing at 21st and Elm Streets; and Davis Place IV on Garfield Avenue David provided information, stating that there will be two HOME applications prepared by the private developers, Michelle Mihalakis for women's housing and Scott Potter for Davis Place. David explained that the Council is requested to pass a resolution of support, which is needed for the processing of their application by IDED. It will be on the November Council agenda. He provided this information to the Commission for their input. Commissioner Holz motioned to recommend to the Council the approval of the resolutions of support. Commissioner Grant seconded. Roll call. All present in favor. Motion passed. Casket Company; Presentation by Len Sandler, Director, University of Iowa Clinical Law Program Universal Design Project Todd Bagby, Matt Mayo and Len Sandler were present from the University of Iowa Clinical Law Program to present their review of the schematic designs for the Casket Company. They described their mission to determine new and innovative ideas to make the project exceed minimum requirements to ensure whatever disabilities an occupant may have, their ability to use their living space would be maximized. They gathered input from around the state to determine how livable the project would be, developing a universal design check-list. The issue of parking was addressed and after discussion with the Commission, it was determined that additional stalls would be required due to the number of tenants and health clinic clients. Commissioner Grant left meeting at 5:02 pm; Commissioner Mozena left meeting at 5:17 pm. Adiournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Schwendinger moved to adjourn. Commissioner Culbertson seconded. Motion passed by a voice vote. Meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m. Minutes taken by: :ku/ee 8k Tusdee Blus Assisted Housing Secretary Respectfully submitted by: ~\~ ~\ \\,~\ D'avid Harris Department Director