HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-18-2014 Housing and Community Development CommissionAGENDA
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
DALE HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
6:30 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Approval of the June 19, 2014 Minutes
3. Public Comment of Items Not on the Agenda
4. Staff/Commission Comment
5. Nomination and Election of Officers
6. Fair Housing Presentation by the Human Rights Department
7. New Business
• Public Hearing & Approval of the FY14 Consolidated Annual
Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER)
(Located at www.icgov.org/actionplan)
• Selection of Projects to Monitor in FY15
• Timeline for the Annual Review of CITY STEPS
8. Adjournment
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-a 4:a --mlan milk MEMO�RANDUM
Date: September 11, 2014
To: Housing and Community Development Commission
From: Community Development Staff
Re: September 18 Meeting
The following is a short description of the September agenda items. If you have any
questions about the agenda or if you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact Tracy
Hightshoe at 356-5244 or by email at tracy-hightshoe@iowa-city.org.
Nomination & Election of Officers
Every September, the commission nominates and elects a Chair and Vice Chair. The
commission will nominate and vote for these two positions at this meeting.
Presentation on Fair Housing
The Human Rights department will present on issues related to fair housing.
New Business
• Public Hearing & Approval of the FY14 Consolidated Annual Performance
Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The CAPER is a HUD required document that the City must submit to HUD within 90
days of the end of the plan year. The report describes the federally funded activities
undertaken by the City and its partners, and the accomplishments for federal fiscal year
2013 (City FY14). A draft of the CAPER is online at www.icgov.org/actionplan for your
review and comment. At this meeting, we will be asking HCDC to approve the document
for submission to HUD.
Selection of Projects to Monitor. This year there are 10 projects to monitor.
Commission members will need to choose a project (one member will have two projects
to monitor). A list of projects, with the agency's contact information, is included in the
packet. Please review and indicate at the meeting which project(s) you would like to
monitor during FY15.
Timeline for the Review of the FY16-20 Consolidated Plan (CITY STEPS)
We will discuss next steps for the review/development of the FY16-20, 5-year plan.
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
JUNE 19, 2014-6:30 PM
DALE HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Bacon Curry, Andrew Chappell, Cheryll Clamon, David
Hacker. Dottie Persson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Jim Jacobson, Peter Matthes, Christine Ralston, Rachel
Zimmermann Smith
STAFF PRESENT: Tracy Hightshoe
OTHERS PRESENT: Steve Rackis
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:
The Commission voted 4-1 (with Hacker opposed) to recommend approval of the
changes to the Administrative Plan as noted in the memorandum from the City
Attorney's office.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Chair Andrew Chappell.
APPROVAL OF APRIL 17, 2014 MINUTES
Bacon Curry moved to approve minutes with minor corrections.
Clamon seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
None
Chappell reminded Ralston, Jacobson and Bacon Curry that they had until July 23`d to apply for
another term on the Commission.
Review of the FY16-20 Consolidated Plan Project Schedule
Hightshoe said the consultants were in Iowa City June 9-11. Hightshoe described the meetings
the consultants attended with major City departments, Neighborhood Council representatives,
school district, and affordable housing, economic development and social service providers.
She said the City has an open public comment period until June 30 h for written comments. In
July the consultants will provide a written summary of the comments received from the
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
June 19,2014
PAGE 2 of 5
stakeholder interviews and meetings. A first draft will be submitted in October that will start a
30 day public comment period. HCDC will provide comment. After updating, the revised Plan
will be sent to Council for review/approval on December 2. The consultant stated that due to
major cuts to the programs in the last 20 years, this new process will focus federal funds on
narrowly defined needs. The City will advertise its priorities, which may be limited given the
funds available, and request applications that address those identified needs. Hightshoe stated
this will create a problem for our CDBG portion of Aid to Agencies. Applications are due in late
summer/early fall, but we won't establish our priorities until December. Further discussion
warranted.
Rackis presented the proposed changes. He said that the City Attorney advised they should
also add a denial for use of synthetic marijuana. This was a late modification and not in the
memo submitted to HCDC. He said currently HUD doesn't address synthetic marijuana in its
regulations. He said before they go to Council, they will work with the Police Department to add
a denial if someone is engaged in selling or utilizing synthetic marijuana.
Rackis clarified that currently they can deny an application for use of a controlled substance.
Chappell asked how they enforce the use provision. Rackis said it's based on charges or an
admission. He said what HUD is concerned about is someone being engaged in drug related
activity, not the charges. Rackis said what they want to do is extend that to apply to synthetic
marijuana.
Bacon Curry asked what, if any, action is taken with other mind -altering activities, like sniffing
glue or abusing OTC drugs. She wanted to know if an issue if it's not illegal.
Rackis said that a drug is defined as a controlled substance per HUD. Currently, synthetic
marijuana has not been labeled as such. Chappell said he would be comfortable with applying
whatever is legal or illegal in the State Code.
There was much discussion about legality, admission, and criminal activity. Persson said she
thought that until it's codified, the Commission should not make a policy decision.
Commissioners agreed that they would like to see the language before recommending it to City
Council.
Hacker asked Rackis to clarify the language that refers to the periods of ineligibility for housing.
Rackis said they go back five years and gave the example of someone who was arrested three
years ago for possession of a controlled substance. At time of eligibility for housing assistance,
criminal records are reviewed. The Housing Authority may deny the application at that time for
a prior offense. Depending on the reason for denial, the period of ineligibility would run from
one to three years from the Housing Authority's denial date, not the date of the arrest/conviction.
He said adjustments in ineligibility are also possible on a case by case basis.
Hacker said he's uncomfortable with this whole thing from the due process point of view and
wants to know the goal of this. He asked what they are trying to accomplish by telling someone
they can't have low income housing for a period of time because they did something in
particular.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
June 19,2014
PAGE 3 of 5
Rackis explained that HUD requires denial or termination due to certain acts — violence, drug
activity. He said there are acts that HUD states the Housing Authority must terminate or deny
and some acts that are based on local decisions in the administrative plan.
Hacker said he agrees with that but he is curious about an articulated reason for why changes
are made and what they are supposed to accomplish. Rackis explained that there are so many
more applicants for low income housing than there are vouchers. The Housing Authority
decided to make certain types of criminal behavior reasons for denial. He said in terms of due
process applicants are afforded a hearing and can challenge the results in district court. He said
the Housing Authority's program is based on being provided with true and complete disclosure
of information from applicants.
There was not a consensus among the Commission members to recommend approval of
adding synthetic marijuana to the list of controlled substances for which the Housing Authority
can deny eligibility for the Housing Authority programs.
Hacker asked about the eviction of children. Rackis replied that he doesn't recall one case in
which denial led to immediate homelessness. There was a discussion about the definitions of
harassment. Rackis said they would determine harassment on a case by case basis so
mitigating circumstances would be considered. Rackis said participants have a higher level of
protection than do applicants per HUD regulations.
There was discussion about the other updates and amendments that the Housing Authority was
asking for per the memo provided in the packet. There was consensus to approve the language
as stated in the HCDC packet, but not to include synthetic marijuana as the language to be
used was not included.
Bacon Curry moved to recommend approval of the changes to the Administrative Plan as
noted in the memorandum from the Iowa City Housing Authority.
Persson seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 4-1 with Hacker opposed.
Review Allocation Process — Aid to Agencies
Persson said the subcommittee will meet one more time before they come back to the full
Commission with a report. She said they have had some good discussions and received good
information.
Monitorina Reports
• FY14 Housing Rehab — Hightshoe provided an update regarding housing rehab.
projects completed during the fiscal year. 29 CDBG/HOME projects completed with the
average median income of homebuyers of 49%.
• FY14 Economic Development Fund — Hightshoe stated one business opened in FY14
Max Effect, two applications were denied or withdrawn and one application approved for
funding —Butter, a breakfast/lunch restaurant to be open in FY15. Four fagade
improvements approved and completed — Quintons, Bo James, Active Endeavors, and
Atlas.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
June 19,2014
PAGE 4 of 5
• FY14 Charm Homes LLC — Hightshoe stated Charms purchased 909 Sandusky and is
currently in the process of leasing. The single family home with 4 bedrooms will provide
affordable rental with supportive services to 4 persons with disabilities or frail elders.
• FY14 Mayor's Youth — Hightshoe reported that the upper renovation is complete.
Administrative offices moved upstairs and increased programming for those 16 and older
with disabilities provided on the main, accessible level.
• FY14 Neighborhood Centers — Hacker reported that improvements underway to be
completed by end of June to the outside play area.
• FY13 Habitat for Humanity _Matthes provided a written report. Habitat acquired two
homes and rehabilitated them. Sold to income eligible homebuyers. They were unable
to purchase third home and funds reallocated to another project.
• FYI Housing Authority TBRA — Hacker reported that funds used for rental assistance
based on referrals from DVIP. Funds have not all been utilized due to limited referrals.
Hightshoe stated that one more tenant will be assisted and then the project will close on
or before June 30, 2015 as they have reached the end of the statutory period to use the
funds. Any funds not utilized by the end of FY15 will be reallocated to another HOME
eligible project.
ADJOURNMENT:
Bacon Curry moved to adjourn.
Hackerseconded.
Motion to adjourn carried 5-0.
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