The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2020-03-19 Info Packet# � 1 'p- CITY OE IOWA CITY ww.icgov.org City Council Information Packet March 19, 2020 Council Tentative Meeting Schedule March 24 Work Session Work Session Agenda Pending City Council Work Session Topics Miscellaneous Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: Affordable Housing Action Plan Update - Security Deposit Assistance March 19, 2020 City of Iowa City Page 1 Item Number: 1. March 19, 2020 Council Tentative Meeting Schedule ATTACHMENTS: Description Council Tentative Meeting Schedule rfi City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule _ Subject to change CITY IOWA CITY March 19, 2020 Date Time Meeting Location Tuesday, March 24, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, April 7, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Monday, April 13, 2020 4:00 PM Reception City of University Heights 4:30 PM Joint Entities Meeting TBD Tuesday, April 21, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, May 5, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, June 9, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, June 30, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, July 21, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, August 4, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, August 18, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting March 19, 2020 Work Session Agenda ATTACHMENTS: Description Work Session Agenda Item Number: 2. : Ili Elk CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa S2240-1 826 (3 19) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www-iCgov.org Electronic City Council Work Session Agenda Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Emma J. Harvat Hall 5:00 PM Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8) An electronic meeting is being held because a meeting in person is impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of council members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19. You can watch the meeting on cable channel 4 (118.2 QAM) in Iowa City, University Heights and Coralville, or you can watch it online at any of the following websites: https://citychannel4.com/live https://youtu.be/VUEevmh6og https://facebook.com/CitVoflowaCity If you have no computer or smartphone, call us at 356-5048 for information on how to attend by phone. For your safety and the safety of others please explore all available opportunities to attend by phone or computer. If you are unable to attend by computer or phone, you man come to Emma J. Harvat Hall in City Hall and you will be provided with electronic access to the Council. Social Distancing will be required. • COVID-19 Update • Clarification of Agenda Items • Information Packet Discussion [March 5, March 12, March 191 • Council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees Item Number: 3. March 19, 2020 Pending City Council Work Session Topics ATTACHMENTS: Description Pending City Council Work Session Topics �t CITY OF IOWA CITY UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE PENDING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION TOPICS March 19, 2020 Other Topics: 1. Evaluate need for a Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) 2. Consider a plan for rubberized surfacing at park playgrounds and develop strategies to address equity gaps noted in the Parks Master Plan and plan for the equitable distribution of destination parks within an easy and safe distance of all residents. 3. Discuss alcohol usage policies in City parks 4. Discuss possible changes to residential zoning classifications to allow and/or require a greater diversity of housing types (i.e. missing middle) Item Number: 4. �r -4 "m ot r4" N CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org March 19, 2020 Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: Affordable Housing Action Plan Update - Security Deposit Assistance F -11A ETIJ:ILTA 14ILkI&I Description Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: Affordable Housing Action Plan Update - Security Deposit Assistance 1 r ,.®-4 NI. ®,. k, CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: March 16, 2020 To: Geoff Fruin, City Manager From: Tracy Hightshoe, Neighborhood and Development Services Director Re: Affordable Housing Action Plan Update — Security Deposit Assistance This past summer City Council reviewed changes to the Affordable Housing Action Plan and the distribution of Affordable Housing Fund dollars. One of those changes included a change in the distribution of the Affordable Housing Fund. There is now a 10% set aside for programs that assist low-income households secure housing. In FY20, this set-aside totals $100,000. City Council budgeted $70,000 for a security deposit program and $30,000 to initiate a landlord risk mitigation fund working with the Johnson County Local Homeless Coordinating Board. At the end of February, the City entered an agreement with CommUnity Crisis Services (formerly the Crisis Center) to administer a security deposit program for low-income households. The agreement provides $70,000 for the program, $7,000 for administrative expenses and $63,000 for direct financial assistance to households with incomes below 50% of the area median income secure rental housing. Preference is provided to those households with incomes under 30% of the area's median income. CommUnity will work through Johnson County's Coordinated Entry system to provide security deposits to eligible households living in Iowa City. People seeking assistance with security deposits who appear to meet the eligibility criteria will be referred to the Coordinated Entry System. The committee will discuss individuals and families seeking assistance and what level of service is compatible with their needs with a focus on not duplicating services among providers. The unit being rented must not cost more than 125% of the area's fair market rent and assistance is limited to security deposits only. CommUnity will not send payment to the landlord until they verify a signed lease and the tenant pays their portion of move -in fees required by the landlord such as first month's rent. CommUnity will continue operating a Housing and Utility assistance program that provides assistance with past -due rent, energy and water bills, first month's rent, security and utility deposits. The average amount of assistance for this program is $100 but can be up to $300. If a household does not qualify for the new security deposit program, is not selected or refuses to participate in the Coordinated Entry, they would still be eligible for this program. CommUnity started attending Coordinated Entry weekly meetings and are getting trained on accessing the State's system for Coordinated Entry. They hope to begin advertising the new program to other agencies by the end of March. With the emerging Coronavirus pandemic, their schedule may be delayed. CommUnity hopes to get this program started and assistance provided as soon as possible. The Johnson County Local Homeless Coordinating Board continues to work on the Administrative Plan for a landlord risk mitigation fund. Once finalized, staff will provide a Council update.