HUD Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant
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MEMORANDUM
May 10, 2006
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
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FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
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SUBJECT: Application for HUD Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris is
recommending that the City apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for $2,763,117 for the continuation of the Lead-based Paint Hazard
Prevention Program.
Since January 1992, the City of Dubuque has addressed childhood lead poisoning, first
in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Health, and then by conducting its
own Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. In 1997, Dubuque was awarded a
Round 4 HUD lead-based paint hazard control grant and in 2003, a Round 11 HUD
lead-based paint grant, for a combined total of $6 million. Seven hundred twenty-five
properties occupied by very low to moderate-income families have been made lead
safe. This program initiated many cost-effective measures to prevent and eliminate
childhood lead poisoning in Dubuque and has built local capacity through informed
citizens, trained contractors, workers, and educated landlords and property owners.
This grant application is for the continuation of this primary lead-based paint poisoning
prevention program for an additional 36 months.
The City of Dubuque has committed $498,032 in Community Development Block Grant
funding since the beginning of the Lead Hazard Reduction Program. A $135,130 owner
match was contributed and $720,403 in other City match - committed in employees'
salaries, office space, equipment, contracted nursing services and training. This
represents a commitment of $1 ,353,565 in matching funds contributed to the lead
program since 1992.
This application is for a HUD Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant totaling
$2,763,117 to be jointly administered by the Health Services and Housing and
Community Development Departments. Proposed is the continuation of the primary
lead-based paint poisoning prevention program, for inspection and lead-based paint
hazard reduction in an additional 300 units in the target area.
If funded, this grant would be awarded in October 2006, with work commencing
immediately. This program will require a 25% time commitment from the Senior
Housing Inspector for the first six months of the grant and a 12.5% time commitment
from both the Public Health Specialist and the Senior Housing Inspector, as Project
Directors for the remaining thirty months, as well as $180,000 in Community
Development Block Grant funds for lead-hazard reduction activities - $60,000 per fiscal
year for FY2008, FY2009 and FY2010 and $30,000 in FY2011. The Community
Development Advisory Commission will vote on this action at their May 17, 2006
meeting.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Mllhgen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
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MEMORANDUM
May 8, 2006
To:
From:
M~ Van Milligen, City Manager
Davi~is, Housing and Community Development Department
Re:
Application for HUD Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant
Introduction:
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council to authorize an
application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for
$2,763,117 for the continuation of the Lead-based Paint Hazard Prevention
Program in the low/moderate portions of Census Tracts 1, 5, 6,7.01,7.02,
101.01 and 101.03.
Backaround:
Since January 1992, the City of Dubuque has addressed childhood lead
poisoning, first in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH),
and then by conducting its own Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
(CLPPP). In 1997, Dubuque was awarded a Round 4 HUD lead-based paint
hazard control grant and in 2003, a Round 11 HUD lead-based paint grant, for a
combined total of $6 million. 725 properties occupied by very low to moderate-
income families have been made lead safe. This program initiated many oost-
effective measures to prevent and eliminate childhood lead poisoning in
Dubuque and has built local capacity through informed citizens, trained
contractors, workers, and educated landlords and property owners. This grant
application is for the continuation of this primary Iead-based paint poisoning
prevention program for an additional 36 months.
Grant Accomplishments:
· Health - Housina Partnership Dubuque has approached the problem
of childhood lead poisoning as a joint endeavor between the Health
and Housing and Community Development Departments. Both
Departments bring significant expertise to this complex problem of
improving childhood health and establishing healthy homes and
neighborhoods. The inclusion of lead hazard reduction activities in the
Consolidated Plan requires lead-safe renovations as part of the
Housing Department's Rehabilitation programs, increasing the funding
allocated to the development of lead-safe housing.
. Development of communitv partners The additional development of
community partnerships in the elimination and control of childhood lead
poisoning is vital to the success of this preventable health problem.
The Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association, the Economic Development
Department, the Dubuque Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Coalition, the Iowa Workforce Development Program, the various
neighborhood associations and civic groups all are involved in the
process of building an established infrastructure and capacity for lead
hazard reduction activities.
. Dubuaue's financial commitment - The City of Dubuque has
committed $498,032 in CDBG funding since the beginning of the Lead
Hazard Reduction Program, representative of the City's commitment to
the ongoing success of the program. $135,130 in owner match was
contributed and $720,403 in other City match - committed in
employees' salaries, office space, equipment, contracted nursing
services and training. This represents a commitment of $1,353,565
in matching funds contributed to the lead program since 1992.
. Financial commitment in the form of arants to create lead-safe housina
- Grants of $5,000 - $6,000 per unit (on average) are offered to owner-
occupants and rental unit owners to make properties lead safe. Units
are made lead-safe using certified lead contractors and workers.
Tenants are relocated to lead-safe housing while the work is being
done and pre- and post- dust sampling is conducted to assure that the
unit is lead-safe before the tenants are moved back to their unit.
. Public education and awareness Increased education and awareness
has occurred through use of billboards, busboards, newspaper articles
and ads, presentations and community fairs.
. Specialized trainina and education Contractor, worker, visual risk
assessor and inspector/risk assessor and safe work practice courses
are offered within the community by the Lead Hazard Reduction staff.
The City of Dubuque is one of the most active certified training
providers in the State of Iowa providing training for 95% of all lead
professionals state-wide.
· Easv access to specialized tools - Specialized lending programs have
been developed to put HEPA vacuums and specialized lead paint
removal tools in the hands of those who need them.
. Blood screenina - Initiatives have been developed to increase blood
lead screening of area children.
· Tenant education and empowerment A Healthy Homes intervention
program has also been piloted to provide interim cleaning methods and
education to tenants.
· Lead-safe unit Iistina - A lead-safe unit listing has been developed and
circulated to various community-based agencies to address an
increasing need for lead-safe housing. The lead safe unit listing is also
listed on the City's website.
. Quick response to hiah blood lead levels - A comprehensive system of
medical and environmental case management for children with
elevated blood lead levels has been developed.
. Inspectina and identifvina lead hazards - Since 1997, Lead Hazard
Reduction Program staff has inspected over 1,016 units, identifying
lead hazards for renovation and has made grants to property owners to
make 725 units lead-safe. 120 of these units were made lead safe in
partnership with the Housing Rehabilitation program, during the course
of major rehabilitation work.
. Trained and certified contractors and workers have added to the local
capacity. Of the original 172 certified contractors, 160 have retained
their lead contractor certification. 277 workers have been certified
through a 24-hour worker certification process. Further, 142 people
have been trained in an eight-hour safe work practice course.
Additionally, 76 sampling technicianslvisual risk assessors and 64
Inspector/Risk Assessors have been trained. 222 sampling
technicians and inspector/risk assessors and108 contractors and
workers have been given refresher training.
. Lead screenina rates among area pediatricians are among the best in
the State of Iowa. Lead levels among children from birth to 6 years of
age with blood lead levels greater than 10 mg/dL have decreased from
13.98 to 11.9% since 1992. This rate is still twice the national average
of 5.9% but lower than the State average of 14.8% for the percentage
of children under the age of six who are lead poisoned. Fifty-six
percent (56%) of children with blood lead levels greater than or equal
to 20 ug/dL drop below that level in six months. (This percentage
increases to 77% in twelve months.)
All these statistical accomplishments provide some tangible measure of the
outcome of the Lead Hazard Reduction Program. Additional accomplishments
that have occurred in the building of local capacity to respond to childhood lead
poisoning include the following:.
. In the area of public education and awareness, the community has been
exposed to print media, billboards and bus signs, community conferences,
demonstration projects, and how-to information. Lead poisoning and
problems that the City faces have been kept at the forefront of community
consciousness and the public has changed in the way residents look at
the dwelling in which they live and the way they do home repairs. The
results have been an informed public, an informed medical community and
informed families about how to prevent lead poisoning and how to treat
children who have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead in their
environment.
· Ongoing educational materials are distributed through educational
displays located at the Housing and Community Development
Department, Library, WIC, VNA, Keystone and the Dubuque Community
Schools early childhood development centers. How-to information is also
distributed at local hardware stores and wherever paint products are sold.
. In the area of development of community partners, the Health and
Housing and Community Development Departments have established a
partnership that is the envy of many other communities, states and
organizations. Believing that lead poisoning prevention is both a housing
and a health issue, collaboration between these two departments has
been essential to improving childhood health and establishing healthy
homes and neighborhoods.
. The Lead Hazard Reduction Program has become a clearinghouse of
information and expertise on lead hazard reduction techniques, providing
training and how-to proficiency to area property owners about how to
safely remove, enclose or cover lead paint hazards.
. All work done under the program by the property owners, contractors and
city staff is protected under an insurance pollution liability policy, providing
protection in the event that an environmental pollution exposure occurs.
. The Lead Hazard Reduction Program also provides inspection and dust
sampling services to the Section 8 Assisted Housing program, to comply
with the HUD lead paint regulations. HEPA vacuums and expertise are
offered to participating landlords to assist them in meeting the lead paint
and dust clearance requirements.
. In addition to preventing childhood lead poisoning, the Lead Hazard
Reduction Program staff has responded to cases of childhood lead
poisoning, completing environmental investigations and offering financial
incentives for repairing units in a lead-safe manner.
Units Completed:
725 units were made lead-safe using a lead hazard reduction strategy of abating
friction, impact and chewable surfaces that tested positive for lead and any other
deteriorated lead-containing painted surface that tested positive for lead.
Additionally, 1,016 units were inspected, with 1,015 units found to contain lead
hazards. An additional 51 units were made lead-safe using an interim control
method of control.
DISCUSSION
This application is for a HUD Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant totaling
$2,763,117 to be jointly administered by the Health Services and Housing and
Community Development Departments. Proposed is the continuation of our
primary lead-based paint poisoning prevention program, for inspection and lead-
based paint hazard reduction in an additional 300 units in the target area.
BUDGET IMPACT
If funded, this grant would be awarded in October 2006, with work commencing
immediately. This program will require a 25% time commitment from the Senior
Housing Inspector for the first six months of the grant and a 12.5% time
commitment from both the Public Health Specialist and the Senior Housing
Inspector, as Project Directors for the remaining thirty months, as well as
$180,000 in CDBG funds for lead-hazard reduction activities - $60,000 per fiscal
year for FY2008, FY2009 & FY2010 and $30,000 in FY2011. ($30,000 of CDBG
funding has already been committed to the Round 11 Lead-based Paint Hazard
Reduction grant.) The Community Development Commission will vote on this
action at their May 2006 meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
The comprehensive lead paint hazard reduction program described in this grant
application provides a significant benefit to the City of Dubuque. In addition to
directly assisting owners and tenants of dwellings containing lead hazards, it will
provide employment to area contractors and related labor totaling $2,763,117.
An additional benefit of the program is to continue the training of area landlords
and qualifying trades people under state legislation to perform lead hazard
abatement.
Equally important is the building of local capacity, through partnership with the
VNA, and through a comprehensive advertising effort and educational programs
designed to inform area landlords, realtors, homeowners, tenants, health
professionals and others of the hazards of lead poisoning and safe methods of
hazard reduction and removal. While 300 additional lead-safe units will be
produced through this 36-month effort, thousands more will remain in need of
identification and treatment. This program is designed to further the community
foundation - through capacity enhancement, partnerships and public education -
for the continuation of those efforts for many more years.
ACTION STEP
The action requested of the Council is to authorize the Mayor to execute a
standard application and supporting certifications to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, in response to a Notice of Funds Availability
for Lead-Based Hazard Control, in the amount of $2,763,117. The grant
application will be submitted on June 7, 2006.
Prepared by: Kathaleen Lamb, Senior Housing Inspector
cc: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist