Minutes Housing Comm. 6 27 06
MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:
27 June 2006
4p.m.
Housing and Community Development Department
Chairperson Kapler called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. following staff assurance of compliance
with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present:
Danita Grant
Bill Helling
John Plein
Dave Kapler
Char Eddy
Jim Holz
Dorothy Culbertson
Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Commissioners Absent:
Angie Mozena
Harry Neustadt
Staff Present:
David Harris
Joleen Patterson
Janet Walker
Tusdee Blus
Public Present:
Rhonda Anderson Amanda Koopman Devin Nelson
Review and Certification of Minutes of 23 Mav 2006 Commission Meeting
Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to approve the 23 May 2006 meeting minutes as submitted.
Commissioner Eddy seconded. Roll call. Commissioners Grant and Plein abstained. All others
present in favor. Motion passed.
New Business
Amendments to Section 8 Administrative Plan: Rent Adjustments Due to Income Change
Janet Walker stated that staff has been monitoring income changes for the past 10 - 15 months. It
was observed that many take place earlier in the month; however they are not reported to us until late
in the month, therefore resulting in staff's inability to make the change effective the first of the following
month. If this policy is adopted, these changes in income will not be retroactive, and all participants
will be notified of the change. Participants also have the right to dispute any decision to which they do
not agree.
The proposed change to the policy is as follows:
All decreases in income must be reported in writing and verifications must be received on or
before the 2dh of a month to be processed with an effective date the following first (1&) of the
month. Any decreases in income that are reported after the 2dh of a month will be processed
with an effective date the first day of the second month following the date reported provided the
change was received in writing and verifications have been received.
Commissioner Grant commented that she would recommend that the phrase "with an effective date
the following first (1st) of the month" be changed to "the first day of the following month".
Commissioner Eddy motioned to approve the policy change with the noted change. Commissioner
Holz seconded. Roll call. All present in favor. Motion passed.
Request for Appeal: Rhonda Anderson
Janet provided a brief summary of Ms. Anderson's case. She stated that on 24 July 2003 staff notified
her of her denial of rental assistance. She was given 20 days to appeal; however, she did not do so.
Therefore, she was ineligible for the program until 18 January 2007. The original denial was based on
Ms. Anderson's criminal record.
Ms. Anderson provided the Commission with an explanation of her situation, stating that her apartment
is part of the Bee Branch acquisition project. She would prefer to move now, into a larger unit. She
alleged that although she has received mail from staff, she never received a letter from this office
offering her an appeal. Janet stated that procedure is to send mail to last known address and if it is
not returned, we have no verification as to whether or not they've received it. We do not utilize
registered mail for standard correspondence with our clients. Ms. Anderson stated that the mailing
address she would have supplied on 24 July 2003 would have been 579 Arlington. Janet was asked
by the Commission to verify where her notification was mailed. Janet stated we had used the
Arlington address on some prior correspondence, but when the notification to terminate and appeal
paperwork was mailed, it was sent to the incorrect address of 394 E 16th.
Commissioner Holz motioned to grant Ms. Anderson's request for a special appeal hearing.
Commissioner Grant seconded. Roll call. Commissioner Culbertson - Nay. All others present in
favor. Motion passed.
Request for Appeal: Amanda Koopman
Janet provided a brief summary of Ms. Koopman's case. She stated that Ms. Koopman did not take
possession of her unit and that subsequently an article from the 27 April 2006 Telegraph Herald
newspaper provided information that she may have had dual residency. On 4 May 2006 we proposed
termination. Ms. Koopman's deadline to appeal was 25 May 2006; however, she failed to appeal
within the required timeframe.
Ms. Koopman stated that she did not receive the letter of termination and appeal paperwork from her
mother (where our letter was mailed) until it was too late. She said that she does not have stable
address and her mail was going to her mother's address. Ms. Koopman also stated that she was not
aware that we were paying for her rent on Rhomberg. Janet said that on 5 April 2006 we notified her
that we were paying rent at 508 % Rhomberg and that the lease had been signed by the landlord on 1
April 2006, with a copy mailed to the tenant (Ms. Koopman). Commissioner Eddy asked when Ms.
Koopman received the letter stating we were paying from her mother, to which Ms. Koopman stated
that they were living in a hotel but did not give a date. She also stated that the landlord told them that
we were not paying for the rent yet. Upon further review, Janet stated that no mail was retumed to us
that had been sent to the Rhomberg address, and we were never notified by either tenant or landlord
that they had not moved into that address. Commissioner Grant stated that she felt that there may
have been some miscommunication between the landlord and Ms. Koopman, to which Commissioner
Holz agreed.
Commissioner Holz motioned to approve Ms. Koopman's request for appeal. Commissioner Grant
seconded. Roll call. Commissioners Culbertson, Eddy, Kapler and Plein - Nay. All others in favor.
Motion failed due to lack of majority.
Housing Trust Fund Committee Report: IFA Housing Trust Fund Application
David Harris stated that the grant application must be approved by the Housing Commission.
Commissioner Schwendinger motioned to approve the grant. Commissioner Plein seconded. Roll
call. All in favor. Motion passed.
Loan Policy Discussion: Washington Revitalization Strategy
David provided an overview of the project and progress made over the past 10 months. He stated that
it is important to improve the marketability of homeownership in the neighborhood. We are working
with Jan Powers to do this. She will provide a proposal to us the end of July, which will need to be
reviewed by the Commission.
David explained that this is a neighborhood in transition, with issues of drugs and street crime an
everyday problem. There has been an increased COP presence. He then reviewed suggested
conceptual ideas that Rehab staff discussed as possible "creative" applications of our lending policies,
in the interest of increasing participation. Joleen Patterson provided a hand-out on the progress made
thus far.
Commissioners Eddy and Holz stated that they did not support suggestions for increasing loan-to-
value limits and loosened credit. David suggested that we wait until Jan's proposal is received to
make a final recommendation, to which the Commission agreed.
Rehab Loan Policy Exception for Washington Neighborhood
Two second Mortgage Purchase Assistance: $15 000 Loans
The first loan is for additional funds. The property is located at 1605 Jackson, which is owned
by DB&T. A single person is interested in purchasing the property for $40 000 "as is". She is a
first-time homebuyer and qualifies for the below 50% income IFA funds. The request is to
provide a $15 000 additional Due on Sale loan. The estimated rehab cost is $57 000.
Commissioner Helling motioned to approve the waiver for the $15 000 additional Due on Sale
loan. Commissioner Schwendinger seconded. Roll call. Chairperson Kapler abstained. All
others in favor. Motion passed.
The second loan is for a property located at 1855 Elm Street. It has been completely rehabbed
by the developer. A disabled veteran is interested in purchasing the home. He is a first-time
homebuyer and qualifies for the below 50% income IFA funds. The request is to provide a
$15000 additional Due on Sale.
Commissioner Culbertson motioned to approve the waiver for the $15 000 additional Due on
Sale loan. Commissioner Holz seconded. Roll call. All in favor. Motion passed.
Infonnation Sharina
Expiring Terms of Commissioners Holz, Grant, Culbertson and Plein
David reminded all Commissioners to reapply with City Clerk Karen Chesterman at City Hall to renew
their terms.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Holz motioned to
adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Culbertson seconded. Motion passed by acclamation. Meeting
was adjourned at 5:06 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
~.Bk
Tusdee Blus
Assisted Housing Secretary
Respectfully submitted by:
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David Harris
Department Director