Minutes_Community Development Advisory Commission 11 22 16 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION
MEETINGMINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, November 22, 2016
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 W. 6t" Street, Suite 312, Dubuque IA 52001
Chairperson Michelle Hinke called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., following staff
assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law.
Commissioners Present: Rick Baumhover Theresa Caldwell Tom Wainwright
Dean Boles Michelle Hinke
Sara Burley Rev. Lindsay James
Commissioners Absent: Rob Blok II, Julie Woodyard
Staff Present: Erica Haugen Sarah Bennett
Jerelyn O'Connor
Public Present: None
Certification of Minutes
Commissioner Baumhover moved to approve the September 28, 2016 Commission
meeting minutes as submitted. Commissioner Boles seconded. Roll call. All present in
favor. Motion passed.
Correspondence / Public Input
Erica Haugen, Community Development Specialist, announced that one application had
been received for Community Development Block Grant Funds. Haugen will discuss
details at the next meeting.
Old Business
Commissioner Boles provided several handouts regarding the 3rd Grade Reading
Initiative he discussed at the last meeting. Boles stated the data shows that at
Audubon, only one out of three kids are reading at third grad proficiency. He stated the
kids in economically challenged areas are experiencing horrible conditions and more
needs to be done to increase what is being done. Boles said that CDBG dollars could
be used to help the kids read better. Haugen confirmed educational support activities
could be a public service activity under CDBG. Boles also distributed an email he sent
to City Council detailing poverty increase of 40% in the City and third grade reading
proficiency going down.
Oath of Office
Sara Burley read Oath of Office.
New Business
FY 2017 Annual Action Plan Amendment 1 — Review, Comment, and Set Public
Hearing
Haugen requested the Commission review and set a public hearing for Amendment 1 of
the FY 2017 Annual Action Plan. Haugen introduced the proposed amendment
regarding FY 2016 carry-over funds. The amendment re-allocates $20,000 from
Purchase of Services to St. Mark Youth Enrichment, as awarded in the FY2017
Purchase of Services Grant Competition.
Commissioner Caldwell asked about additional funds being allocated to rental
rehabilitation were already obligated. Haugen stated those funds have not been
allocated to specific properties at this time and there will be a program developed for
rental rehabilitation.
Commissioner Boles requested an explanation of the microenterprise assistance
program. Haugen explained this program was awarded funding in 2016 and the
program did not really get off the ground in that year. The program is for loans to small
businesses with five or fewer employees, one of which is the low/moderate income
owner of the business.
Commissioner Boles said he did program management for the Pentagon and the Air
Force as a contractor. One of the things they looked at was obligation rates and
expenditures. Boles distributed handouts showing how funds are distributed by the
federal government and moves to local governments to commit to categories. After
they are committed, they must be obligated. Boles stated HUD gave us money last
year and we did not spend it. Boles stated we are not spending the funds we have
been allocated and that the City has an obligation problem and funds are being
committed and not obligated. Boles asked how the City monitors obligation and
expenditure rates. Haugen explained every year, HUD tests the City for timely
expenditure of CDBG funds. The program rule for timeliness is that a grantee cannot
have more than 1.5 times their annual entitlement amount sixty days prior to the end of
the grantee's current program year. The City has passed the timeliness test. Haugen
explained that various projects stall for various reasons. The CDBG expenditures are
laid out in a five year plan. The City met the expenditure regulations for the first year of
the five year plan and is on track to meet the expenditure obligations for the second
year. Boles said he would advocate for spending all of the money every year and be
more helpful to residents and we could set a different goal than what HUD requires.
Commissioner James asked if CDBG provided funding for staff support in Economic
Development to run the microenterprise assistance program. Haugen stated CDBG did
not provide any administrative dollars to Economic Development. James asked if the
Economic Development Department was ready to proceed with the funds for this year.
Haugen said that there were two applicants interested and the program requirements
needed to be finalized. James asked if we needed to reallocate funds towards third
grade reading initiative or some poverty reduction programs. Boles said funds should
be allocated to those programs or other activities that expend funds quickly such as
"shovel-ready" programs where everything is planned but they just need funding.
Haugen reminded the commission there are limits on spending for certain CDBG
programs, such as public service activities, which are limited to 15% of previous year's
income and current entitlement.
After thorough discussion, Commissioner Baumhover moved to set the Public Hearing
for January 17, 2017. Commissioner James seconded. Roll call. All present in favor.
Motion passed.
FY 2018 Annual Action Plan ® Review, Comment, and Set Public Hearing
Haugen provided the proposed FY2018 Annual Action Plan for use of the Community
Development Block Grant Funds, along with a summary of the program and activities
for FY2018. Haugen then discussed the guidelines and process the City uses to create
each Annual Action Plan, along with any proposed amendments. Commissioner Boles
requested obligation plans to check if programs are behind or ahead of their obligation
rates and recommended the commission evaluate spending and move the funds to
programs that can spend the funds. Commissioner Boles asked if more funds could go
to Purchase of Services. Haugen referred the commission to the sheet in their packet
that showed the caps for Administration and Public Services. Haugen explained the
Public Service cap is based on the previous year program income plus the current year
entitlement, so we always know exactly how much can be expended in that category
and at this time we have reached the cap. Commissioner Boles stated he felt there was
a large amount of funds that will be unspent because of obligation rates that are low.
Commissioner Wainwright stated he did not think we should start funding for the
schools when there are housing needs. Boles requested to revisit the obligation rates in
the spring.
Commissioner Boles moved to set a Public Hearing for January 17, 2017.
Commissioner Caldwell seconded. Roll call. All present in favor. Motion passed.
CAPER- Reschedule Public Hearing: Tuesday December 20, 2016
Commissioner Baumhover moved to reschedule the Public Hearing to Tuesday
December 20, 2016. Commissioner James seconded. Roll call. All present in favor.
Motion passed.
Reports
Housing Commission Report
Commissioner Baumhover shared a letter he received as chairman of the Housing
Commission recognizing the City of Dubuque Housing and Community Development
Department as a High Performing Housing Authority. The City of Dubuque received a
96% score on the Section 8 Management Association Assessment leading to the
recognition from our Regional Housing and Urban Development Department in Kansas
City, MO.
Housing & Community Development Reports
Kris Neyen, Rehabilitation Programs Supervisor was not available to discuss the
monthly report she provides in the packet. Haugen went over an additional handout
updating the Commission on upcoming initiatives and projects the Housing Department
has been involved in. These initiatives and projects include: Source of Income Working
Groups, Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Projects, Inclusive Dubuque Housing
Sector Group Goals, National Disaster Resiliency Grant, Imagine Dubuque, and the
International Property Maintenance Code.
Neighborhood Development Reports
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist provided an article she found
in the Cedar Rapids Gazette titled "Busting Myths about affordable housing and the
people how live there." O'Connor discussed how this article aligned well with the
struggles Dubuque faces regarding affordable housing and provided a different
perspective on the issue.
Information Sharing
Haugen invited the Commission to attend The Boards and Commissions Orientation on
January 18, 2017 5:30 PM located in the City Council Chambers.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner
Caldwell moved to adjourn. Commissioner boles seconded. Motion passed by voice
vote. Meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Mi Utes taken by--
u
y'
arah Bennet
Recording Secretary
Respe tfully submitted by:
dZ
Pa Mau en
City of Dubuque Community Development Specialist