HUD Lead Hazard Reduction GrantTHE CITY OF Dubuque
DUB E AlMmerlcaCily
1 C
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Grant
DATE: December 10, 2007
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris recommends
City Council approval of a contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for administration of a Lead Hazard Reduction grant in an amount
to be negotiated between $2.1 million and $2,982,769. The required City match is
$180,000. This grant will fund athree-year program to remove lead-based paint from
400 units, train 240 contractors and workers and, working in partnership with the Visiting
Nurse Association and the Lead Coalition, continue to disseminate public information
and raise awareness about lead poisoning prevention.
In a partnership between the Housing and Health Departments, the City of Dubuque
has received two HUD grants to reduce the incidence of lead-based paint in older
housing, totaling $6 million. These were received in 1997 and 2003. With those funds,
the City has made more than 700 units "lead-safe," trained over 400 contractors and
workers in safe remediation practices and reduced the incidence of blood lead
poisoning in Dubuque children from 12.8% to 8.6% in the targeted downtown
neighborhoods area.
The Lead Hazard Reduction Program is targeted for the seven lowest-income
downtown Census Tracts. In particular, it is an essential part of the Washington
Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy, as it provides significant financial incentives to
low-income homeowners and to landlords renting to income-eligible tenants, to improve
homes and rental units. Lead paint hazards are eliminated, properties are rehabilitated,
real estate values are enhanced and, most important, the incidence of elevated blood
levels is reduced. While the City has made notable progress toward that goal, the lead
poisoning rate in Dubuque is still more than five times the national average. This
program accomplishes multiple objectives in improving the quality of life in our
downtown neighborhoods.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
/~~
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
THE CITY OF _~
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
6 December 07
MEMORANDUM
To: Michae an Milligen, City Manager
i
From: David arris, Housing and Community Development Department
Re: HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Grant
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council's approval of a
contract with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for
administration of Lead Hazard Reduction grant, in an amount up to
$2 982 769.
Background
In a partnership between the Housing and Health Departments, the City of
Dubuque has received two HUD grants to reduce the incidence of lead-based
paint in older housing, totaling $6 million. These were received in 1997 and
2003. nth those funds, we have made more than 700 units `lead-safe,' trained
over 400 contractors and workers in safe remediation practices and reduced the
incidence of blood lead poisoning in Dubuque children from 12.8% to 8.6% in the
targeted downtown neighborhoods area.
Discussion
In October, HUD announced that Dubuque's application for Round 14 funding
was approved. Contract negotiations will determine the final amount, at between
$2.1 and $2.9 million. This grant will fund athree-year program to remove lead-
based paint from another 400 units, train another 240 contractors 2nd workers
and, working in partnership with the Visiting Nurse Association and the Lead
Coalition, continue to disseminate public information and raise awareness about
lead poisoning prevention.
A commitment previously approved by the Community Development Commission
and the City Council requires a match of funds from the CDBG program, in the
amount of $180 000, over the three-year program. The Council will receive a
request for amendment of the FY08 CDBG Annual Plan in January, to reflect that
obligation.
The Lead Hazard Reduction Program is targeted for the seven lowest-income
downtown Census Tracts. In particular, it is an essential part of our Washington
Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy, as it provides significant financial
incentives to low-income homeowners and to landlords renting to income-eligible
tenants, to improve homes and rental units. Lead paint hazards are eliminated,
properties are rehabilitated, real estate values are enhanced and, most
important, the incidence of elevated blood levels is demonstrably reduced. While
we have made notable progress toward that goal, our lead poisoning rate in
Dubuque is still more than five times the national average. This program
accomplishes multiple objectives in improving the quality of life in our downtown
neighbofioods.
Action Step
The action requested of the City Council is to authorize the Mayor's execution of
a contract, when received with an anticipated start date of 1 January 2008, for
administration of a HUD Round 14 Lead Hazard Reduction grant.
cc:
Mary Rose Corrigan, Health Services Department