Loading...
Hud report 2005 ~ "itJl,ENTol" ~'f-<?- ~ ~ ""0 ( JIIOI~I~ * ) ~ IIII if V~ , S"'IVDEIJto'-O U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Omaha Field Office Executive Tower Centre 10909 Mill Valley Road Omaha, Nebraska 68154-3955 November 22, 2006 '_., Honorable Roy D. Buol Mayor of Dubuque City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque,IA 52001-4864 Dear Mayor Buol: Subject: Consolidated End-of- Year Review - Program Year 2005 HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development has sought to establish partnerships with state and local governments. The focus of our partnership has been to work with communities to ensure that our joint efforts result in housing and community development programs and policies that benefit and serve low- and moderate-income persons. These efforts occur within the framework of the statutes we administer and the regulations and emerging policies that are designed to improve program performance. The provisions of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, require the annual submission of performance reports by grant recipients receiving federal assistance through programs covered under these Acts. Additionally, these Acts require that a determination be made by the Secretary, that the grant recipient is in compliance with the statutes and has the continuing capacity to implement and administer the programs for which assistance is received. Traditionally, these determinations were made through the review of annual reports submitted by grantees for each individual program receiving assistance. With the implementation of the Consolidated Planning Regulations of January 5, 1995, the Department is required to conduct a comprehensive performance review of your overall progress at least annually (24 CFR 91.525). The review consists of analyzing your consolidated planning process; reviewing management of funds; determining the compliance of funded activities with statutory and regulatory requirements; determining the accuracy of required performance reports; as well as evaluating your accomplishments in meeting key Departmental objectives. We congratulate you on your many accomplishments during program year 2005 on achieving Departmental Objectives. Some of these accomplishments occurred in the area of housing. The city invested $371,000 for homeowner improvement projects. The city's inspection staff inspected 2718 rental units including Section 8 units, performed 2727 re-inspections and inspected 330 units for lead-base paint hazard. A total of$901,700 was expended on lead remediation. The city held it's 4th annual "Road to Success" jobs fair, which provides counseling on financial independence and possible homeownership. The city worked with the Des Moines Federal Home Loan Bank to provide $44,000 in grants to II very low- income families to purchase and improve their first homes. The City's Section 8 Program received their tIfth consecutive "High Performer" housing authority rating with a score of 100%. The City's Housing Department received an award from the Governor's Office for service to persons with disabilities. 2 Public service accomplishments included: 11851 people received resources for neighborhood improvements and cleanup 2859 individuals received assistance from Information and Referral Services 1269 individuals benefited from the Child Care Resource and Referral program 855 people were given free food from the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest 54 elderly persons were provided dental care through the Home-based Dental Program 650 senior citizens received services from the Senior Center 446 people benefited from Literacy Program for preschool through second grade 945 people benefited by working with the Multicultural Center 596 persons benefited from the Washington Tool Library 204 individuals received assistance from the Gannon Center for Community Mental Health 5519 people have benefited from the Neighborhood Infrastructure improvements The city is working with Mid-America Housing Partnership on the City's first "affordable housing subdivision" in Eagle Valley. Eight town homes were sold to first-time buyers, lower-income families, eight others will be purchased by moderate-income households. The city certified that it would provide overall benefit to LMI person for program years 2005 through 2007 of at least 70 percent. The actual principal benefit for the year was 100 percent, which is in compliance with the regulatory standard. The city has continued to obligate and disburse its CDBG funds in a timely manner. The city had a balance of 1.30 years offunds unexpended 60 days prior to the end of its 2005 program year. This meets the statutory standard for timeliness at 24 CFR 570.902. The standard for timeliness requires that no more than 1.5 years offimds remain unexpended 60 days prior to the end of the program year. In addition, there have been no major findings in the city-wide audit reports concerning the CDBG program, nor during anyon-site reviews conducted by HUD staff. Again, we congratulate the city on its continuing effort in carrying out Departmental objectives. Recommendation from our Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Division is as follows: An August 4, 2004, memorandum for Nelson R. Bregon, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development and Carolyn Peoples, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity provided guidance to be shared with state and local entitlement jurisdictions receiving funding through the Consolidated Plan process. The memorandum states, "Once the jurisdiction completes the AI, it must report on its implementation by summarizing the impediments identified in the analysis and describing the actions taken to overcome the effects of the impediments identified through the analysis in its Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). Although AIs are not submitted or approved by HUD, each jurisdiction should maintain its AI and update the Al annually where necessary. Jurisdictions may also include actions the jurisdiction plans to take to overcome the effects of impediments to fair housing choice during the coming year in the Annual Plan that is submitted as part of the Consolidated Plan submission." The City's FY05 CAPER indicated the City currently has an AI. However, the CAPER did not address the activities conducted during the program year or evaluate the results of those actions. The City should include a yearly evaluation of its plans in its CAPER and its Annual Plan. 3 Please contact our Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office if you have any questions at 402-492- 3109. In conclusion, as a result of our analysis, we have determined that your overall progress in 2005 was satisfactory. This determination is based upon the information available to this office and does not reflect a comprehensive evaluation of specific activities. Sincerely, ~/h,>Jt~ Patricia M. McCauley 7 Director Community Planning and Development Division cc: Mr. David Harris