Minutes_Housing Commission 3 22 16 DATE: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 61 Street, Suite 312; Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Rick Baumhover called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. following staff assurance
of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Amy Eudaley
Anna Fernandes Jill Kedley
Sister Dorothy Schwendinger David Wall
Commissioners Absent: Bob McDonell Coralita Schumaker
Staff Present: Alvin Nash Erica Haugen
Tonya England Scott Koch
Mary Rose Corrigan Jerelyn O'Connor
Public Present: None
Review and Certification of Minutes of January 26, 2016 Commission Meeting
Commissioner Eudaley moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Commissioner
Schwendinger seconded the motion. Roll call. All present in favor
Correspondence/Public Input
None
Old Business
None
New Business
a) Resilient Community Advisory Commission
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist of the City's Health Services, spoke about
the idea of a Resilient Community Advisory Commission and requested input from the
Commission. She provided the background of the idea of the Commission. Last August,
City Council was working on setting their goals when it was decided they wanted to form
a Resilient Commission and wanted input; therefore, a process was developed to obtain
input. She gave the commissioners two evaluations--demographic and process--to
complete. She asked the commissioners the several open-ended questions, including
the following:
How would you define resilency?
What do you think are some of the topics on which this commission can work?
If there was a Commission, how involved would the members of the commission want
to be in granting research, community engagement, and evaluation and
assessment?
b) Receipt of Draft PHA Annual Plan
Alvin Nash explained the purpose of the PHA Annual Plan. He asked the commissioners
to read the draft and address any questions. A special meeting will be held on May 3,
2016 to adopt the final PHA Annual Plan; a quorum will be needed for the adoption. It
was recommended that discussion of the PHA Plan be added to the agenda for the April
meeting. Janet Walker will highlight the important areas and changes in the Plan and he
will have her to create a "cheat sheet"for the Plan for the next meeting.
c) Discussion of Special Meeting at 4 p.m. on May 3, 2016 to adopt final PHA Annual Plan
Nash spoke about a special meeting that will be held on May 3, 2016 to adopt the final
PHA Annual Plan; a quorum will be needed for the adoption.
Reports
a) Crime/Nuisance Property Report
Scott Koch presented the Nuisance Property Report. He explained that the numbers are
down 1.13% from December(1.63%)to January (2.76%). There were 307 arrests
December 2015 and 326 arrests in January 2016 in Dubuque County. He went on to
explain that with the nuisance properties ordinance 9 properties have been added to the
list. There are now a total of 87 properties listed since the start of the ordinance in 2014.
Scott completed 388 background checks in 2015. For 2016, he has completed 262
background checks as of March 22, 2016.
b) CDBG Advisory Commission Report
In Erica Haugen's CDBG Advisory Commission Report, she stated that the Commission
is working with the State of Iowa to get plans, documentation and certifications together
for federal funds for the Resiliency Grant. They have also been working on the Annual
Action Plan for CDBG that outlines their goals, trends for community needs, and how
resources are used to address community needs. City Council held a public hearing
during the budget process for the budget portion of the annual plan.
The City will receive an additional $9,000 allocation for block grant funds; the budget
remained the same for CDBG. During the Community Development Advisory
Commission input session, they voted to recommend funding for 3 of the large
neighborhood grants out of City Manager's Office—newsletter project, the historical Bluff
neighborhood—a proposal for a neighborhood garden, and the Valley View
Neighborhood Cleanup.
There was discussion about the Resiliency Grant. Nash asked that a presentation on
the details of the Resiliency Grant be added to next month's agenda.
c) Rehab Report
None
d) Neighborhood Services
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Division Specialist with the City Manager's Office,
spoke about problems with rental properties, nuisance properties and enforcement by
the Police Department. The City is offering the Successful Rental Property Management
Program for new and newly licensed landlords, which will educate landlords on
resources available in the community and help them be in compliance.
The City Council approved the 11 reading of International Property Maintenance Code.
(The Council has to go through a total of 3 readings; if approved, it goes into effect July
1, 2016.)
She discussed the small neighborhood grant programs—community gardens,
beautification projects, and cleanups.
Information Sharing
None
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner Schwendinger
moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Wall seconded. Motioned passed by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 5:11 p.m.
Minutes taken by:
Yecor
Jny ngland ing Secretary
Respectfully Submitted:
Alvin Nash
Department Director