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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-03 Info Packet1 - 1 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET CITY OF IOWA CITY July 3, 2014 www.icgov.org IP1 Council Tentative Meeting Schedule MISCELLANEOUS IP2 Memo from Asst. City Manager: Parking Meter Donation Program IP3 Analysis to Impediments to Fair Housing Choice - 2014 IP4 Report from Blue Zones Community Program Manager Shannon Greene: Results of Walkable and Livable Communities (WALC) workshop I135 Letter from Mediacom: Non - Sufficient Fund Fee DRAFT MINUTES IP6 Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee: June 23 it CITY OF IOWA CITY Date Tuesday, July 15, 2014 City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule IP1 Subject to change Time 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting July 3, 2014 Location Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Monday, July 28, 2014 4:00 PM Joint Meeting /Work Session Tiffin TBA Tuesday, August 5, 2014 CANCELLED Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall CANCELLED Formal Meeting Tuesday, August 19, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, September 16, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, October 7, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, October 21, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall r *nr CITY OF IOWA CITY 1P2 & A O '=0 M -" MEMORANDUM Date: June 25, 2014 To: Tom Markus, City Manager From: Geoff Fruin, Assistant City Manager Re: Parking Meter Donation Program Background In the spring of 2010, Iowa City implemented the Parking Meter Donation Program in the downtown area. This program was modeled after other programs in various communities across the country and aimed to offer an alternative to giving to panhandlers. The program received significant publicity when it was started, which aided in the collection of donations. In recent years, the program has not been actively promoted and donations are noticeably declining. The following is a history of collected donations: • 2010: $815 (7 months) • 2011: $597 • 2012: $1,064 (approximately %2 of revenue was donated by small businesses as part of the Small Businesses Have Big Hearts campaign) • 2013: $335 Donations received through this program are distributed equally to six agencies that work with homeless or near homeless individuals. The agencies include the Shelter House, Free Medical Clinic, Free Lunch Program, Community Mental Health Clinic, United Action for Youth and the Crisis Center. While there are certainly positive outcomes that stem from the funds raised through this program, there are challenges as well. Vandalism and the age of the meters necessitate frequent repairs to keep them operational. Coin inserts are frequently blocked with chewing gum, paper or other debris to prevent people from using the stations. Additionally, the Police Department has noted instances where donations can lead to escalated tensions between panhandlers and people making donations. Next Steps The decreasing revenue collected through this program has led City staff to reconsider our options going forward. One option is to continue the program and divert more resources to promoting it, including adding signage and developing promotional materials. These efforts may lead to a greater number of donations, which would positively impact the six local agencies that receive the funding. It is unclear how much time and financial resources will need to be put into the program marketing in order to sustain its success. However, it is likely increased efforts will cost a couple hundred dollars annually in addition to staff time. A second option is to discontinue the program in 2014 and explore other ways to support the agencies that serve the local homeless population. Before making a recommendation I sought input from the Police Department, the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board. All three groups reached the same conclusion that removal of the meters was the best option. Simply stated, the community costs and efforts to maintain the donation meters is not worth the small amount of revenue that is collected. June 25, 2014 Page 2 Recommendation I am recommending that the City discontinue the parking meter donation program, effective immediately. All remaining funds in the meters should be disbursed to the aforementioned agencies in accordance with past practice. Homelessness is a complex problem that requires effective partnerships between the social service agencies, the private sector and local, state and federal government agencies. My recommendation is not intended to signal a withdrawal from this issue, but rather it is acknowledgement that the existing program is not efficient and does not contribute to long -term solutions in a truly meaningful manner. As you are aware, the Local Homeless Coordinating Board is actively discussing a number of initiatives that are important for our homeless population. As those projects more fully develop I expect that various Johnson County local governments, including Iowa City, will be asked to partner. I believe that these types of well - planned collaborative partnerships are where we should focus our attention and resources. Additionally, I would like to explore how the City and the ICDD can utilize existing job training programs to supplement our cleaning and maintenance efforts. I trust these types of partnerships have the potential to have a more profound impact on the community in the long -term. I want to thank the ICDD, Local Homeless Coordinating Board and the Police Department for their input. With your concurrence, I recommend forwarding this memo to the City Council. I will hold off on the removal of the meters until the City Council has an opportunity to review the recommended action. Cc: Sam Hargadine, Police Chief David Schwindt, Police Officer Chris O'Brien, Transportation Services Director Kent Ralston, MPOJC Interim Director Analysis to Impediments to Fair Housing Choice —2014 City of Iowa City Neighborhood and Development Services 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 319.356.5230 www.icgov.org The 2014 Analysis to Impediments to Fair Housing for the City of Iowa City consists of three documents: A. Letter from Thomas M. Markus dated January 15, 2014 that lists the corrections to Report of the University of Iowa Public Policy Center Final Draft dated January 6, 2014; B. The Report of the University of Iowa Public Policy Center Final Draft dated February 2014 (excluding pages 77 -88); and C. Conclusions, Impediments, and Recommendations. The February 2014 Report addressed most, but not all, the issues and factual errors detailed in the January 15, 2014 letter from Thomas M. Markus. To the extent that there are inconsistencies between the February 2014 Report and the January 15, 2014 letter, the January 15, 2014 letter shall apply. Pages 77 -88 of the Report of the University of Iowa Public Policy Center dated Final Draft February 2014 are deleted in their entirety, and the attached "Conclusions, Impediments, and Recommendations" is substituted in lieu thereof Note that Conclusions I, II, III, and V found on pages 77 -81 are identical to the substituted Conclusions I -IV. By my signature I certify that the 2014 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for the City of Iowa City is in compliance with the intent and directives of the Community Development Block Grant program regulations. C­ /L �- T go- irds M. Markus, City Manager Date January 15, 2014 Peter Damiano, D.D.S, MPH Director, Public Policy Center 209 South Quadrangle University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 Dear Dr. Damiano: l r � CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 -1826 (3 19) 356 -5000 (3 19) 356 -5009 FAX www.icgov.org The City of Iowa City contracted with the Public Policy Center to prepare a study report on the analysis of impediments to fair housing within the City. City staff have reviewed the "Final Draft January 6, 2014 — Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing in Iowa City, Iowa 2013" ("AI's, authored by Jerry Anthony, Director of Housing and Land Use Policy Program. Although members of my staff disagree with some of the conclusions and recommendations in the Al, that is not the reason for this letter. On issues such as fair housing, it is not surprising that opinions may differ. The purpose of my letter is rather to convey to you the concerns of my staff with these six ,.t.. r+1.e A T• 1 the '4;-. „t - . -1... �f F ntn 1 inannnrori c d notable omi sinns• h) its aJ1JGl.W V1 "1V A aj .ue s.r.....vcuu u"uavvi a...,..a..0 ..............e., an.. •- ...�.. -- S..- ...- -, . -- emphasis on affordable housing rather than fair housing; c) its failure to describe the City's residency preference; d) the late submission of the first and final drafts; e) its criticism of the Affordable Housing Location Model; and f its failure to disclose Jerry Anthony's role in the Scattered Site Housing Task Force in 2004. Factual Inaccuracies and Notable Omissions Staff informs me of the following factual inaccuracies and notable omissions: Page 1. The page numbers listed are incorrect for sections D, G, and H. Page 2. Paragraph CTar.'D A. In the last paragraph, the AI states that the "report presents the City of Iowa City's assessment... and the impediments to fair housing..." The report is the assessment of the Public Policy Center, not the City. Page 6 -Par. D. Stefanie Bowers' name is spelled incorrectly. Page 7 -Par. G. The Al lists as a "main data source" the "Building Bylaws." There are no "Building Bylaws." Presumably what is meant is the Building Code, which is a City ordinance codified at Section 17 -1 of the Iowa City City Code. Page 7 -Paz. G. The Al lists as a "main data source" the "Scattered Site Policy," but there is no "Scattered Site Policy." In November 2005, City Council in a work session reached consensus to use the fair share matrix discussed by the Scattered Site Housing Taskforce, but City Council never adopted a "Scattered Site Policy," which is referred to many times in the Al. The City Council did adopt an affordable housing location model that uses GIS software in 2011, and I am enclosing for your information a copy of Resolution No. 11 -51 adopting the model. Page 2 Page 7 -Paz. G. fhe correct name of the City department is the Planning and Community Development Department. Page 8. The first sentence states that the "report is the City of Iowa City's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing...." The report is the assessment of the Public Policy Center, not the City. Page 9. The last sentence recommends that a plat would not be recorded by the County Recorder's Office unless the City had approved private subdivision covenants. That statement reflects a misunderstanding of how plats are recorded under Iowa law. Chapter 354 of the Iowa Code governs the recording of plats, and the City cannot impose further legal duties on the County Recorder in addition to those required by Section 354.18. Page 11 -Par. A. The Al states that the City is one of three "World" Cities of Literature. The City is one of seven UNESCO Cities of Literature. Page 23. The Al states that the Housing Authority "owns" the public housing units. The City of Iowa City is the owner. The Housing Authority is not a separate legal entity, as it is in many localities, but a department within the City, such as Public Works or Parks & Recreation. Page 35. The Al states that the Housing Authority is an "agency," but it is not. See comment above. for Page 23. Page 43. In the last paragraph, the AI states that the "City implemented this restriction [of a maximum occupancy of three unrelated persons] in response to so- called `party houses'...." Although the City has in the last ten to fifteen years stepped up enforcement of occupancy due in part to "party houses," the City first enacted occupancy limits nearly fifty years ago. In 1966, the City Code limited occupancy in single - family dwellings either to two or three unrelated persons depending.on the available parking. Page 44. In the first paragraph, the AI states that the "City adopted a policy for the location of affordable housing for low- income residents funded by HUD, CDBG and HOME grants." That is not accurate. Resolution No. 11 -51 states as follows: 1. The attached Affordable Housing Location Model is hereby approved and adopted for use in all programs and projects funded with CDBG, HOME, and discretionary City funds as follows: a) The model is applicable to rental housing projects for new construction and acquisition excluding assisted rental housing projects for the elderly or persons with disabilities; b) The model is not applicable to new construction or acquisition of owner- occupied housing; and c) The model is not applicable to projects to rehabilitate existing rental housing or owner- occupied housing. Page 3 Page 44. In the last paragraph, the Al states that the "Scattered Site policy could prevent the location of additional ... housing...." As stated previously, the City has never adopted a Scattered Site Policy. Page 45. Again, the last paragraph again incorrectly attributes certain matters to the non - existent "Scattered Site Policy." Page 46 -Paz. b. The AI fails to include two very important City programs that revitalize neighborhoods, the UniverCity program and GRIP. Through the UniverCity program, the City has purchased rentals, rehabs them and sells them as owner- occupied housing. Since 2010, the City has purchased 46 houses, sold 31 to income eligible families, and is currently rehabilitating 15. The GRIP (General Rehabilitation and Improvement Program) is offered as a complement to the federally- funded CDBG/HOME rehabilitation program without the same level of income targeting. GRIP is designed to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods through the broader applicability of our Housing Rehabilitation and Historic Preservation programs. Page 46 -Par. c. The Al incorrectly states that the Housing Authority `owns" the public housing units. Page 46 -Par, c. The Al states that the "waiting list for these units was closing in October 2012," but does not state that it was opened on October 11, 2013. Jerry Anthony acknowledged being aware of this in an email to Steve Rackis dated 11/19/13, a copy of which is included. Page 48. In the third full paragraph, the Al states the "664 new vouchers were issued...." That is not correct. 664 initial (also referred to as "new ") and moving vouchers were issued. This information was provided in an email from Steve Rackis dated 11/19/13, a copy of which is enclosed. Page 48. In the third full paragraph, the AI states `only 88% [of the vouchers] were utilized" from 7/1/11 to 6/13/12, but that is not correct. In an email from Steve Rackis to Jerry Anthony dated 11/8/13, Steve states that "88 %" were utilized. However, after reviewing a draft AI, Steve Rackis subsequently clarified that statement both in an in person meeting on 11/19/13 and in an email to Jerry Anthony. When Steve referred to an "88 %" utilization rate, he was referring to the rate of the 664 new and moving vouchers, which represent only approximately one -half of the vouchers. HUD's utilization rate is based on all vouchers, meaning new vouchers, moving vouchers, as well as participants' vouchers. In an attachment from an email from Steve Rackis to Jerry Anthony dated 11/19/13, Steve clarified that 88% was not the utilization rate of all vouchers and stated that the "Housing Authority's utilization of HCV and VASH vouchers (1,250 total vouchers) from 7/1/2011 - 6/30/2012 was 101 %." Despite the email. from Steve Rackis, the language in the draft email was never changed and remained 88 %. The utilization rate is also available in a report published by the highly respected Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, which lists the Iowa City utilization rate as 96% for 2011 and 102% for 2012, a copy of which is also enclosed for your reference. One wonders whether the information provided was ignored because Jerry Anthony had already concluded that the City should make it illegal for landlords to deny renting to someone based on the use of a voucher (See Recommendation b to Page 4 Impediment IV on page 84); further, if vouchers are fully utilized, then there is no empirical basis to support the recommendation. Page 48. Also in the third full paragraph, the Al omits three common reasons that persons are unable to utilize a voucher, bad landlord reference, bad credit, and lack of a security deposit. In footnote 19, the AI references an email from staff on 11/8/13. On 11/19/13, Jerry Anthony met with Steve Rackis to discuss the first draft of the Al, and Steve also emailed him that day to discuss among other matters bad landlord references, bad credit, and lack of security deposit as reasons why persons with vouchers are sometimes denied tenancy. Not only did Jerry Anthony choose not to add those reasons in the final AI, but he cited the 11/8/13 email. In doing so, he clearly implies that staff suggested no other reasons why a landlord may deny a voucher. Again, one wonders whether this information regarding why a landlord may decide not to lease to a person with a voucher was ignored because it did not support Jerry Anthony's recommendation. Page 50. The Al states that the "preference categories 3 thru [sic] 6 are primarily based on residency." That is not correct; the categories 2 through 6 are based on residency. Page 50. The Al states that the "ICHA does not have demographic data on the two groups of 814 and 4,952 applicants in the waiting list." That is not accurate; the City has the data but it is not easily accessible. See my comment below regarding Page 82. Page 50. The Al states that there is a "residency requirement." Residency is not a requirement, but a preference. A residency requirement is illegal. Page 50 -Table 8. The table incorrectly includes many units that are not privately assisted units and should be removed. The Citizen Building Apartments have been released from compliance requirements, and the units identified as Peninsula Neighborhood are not privately owned, but owned by the City of Iowa City. Page 52. In the fourth paragraph, the Al states that a "property tax is levied on all real property." That is not correct. For example, the University does not pay tax on property it uses for educational purposes, and taxes are not levied on affordable housing providers such as The Housing Fellowship. Page 67- footnote 27. The correct citation for the list of protected classes in Iowa City is to Iowa City Code Section 2 -5 -1, not to a consultant's study. Page 68. In both the third paragraph and the last bullet point, gender identity is omitted from the list of protected classes. Page 69 -Paz. b. The last bullet point refers to the Iowa City Housing Authority as a "social service agency," whereas it is a department within the City. Page 72. The first paragraph again uses the word "bylaws." Page 76. The first paragraph again incorrectly refers to "bylaws." Page 5 Page 79. The second paragraph's reference to 88% is not correct; see comment above regarding page 48. Page 79. The AI states that "[a]ccording to [the December 4, 2013 issue of the Iowa City Press - Citizen], one reason for these layoffs was reduced program income because of a 94% voucher utilization rate...." Not only is that a misstatement of the article, it is not true. The layoffs are the result of the "sequestration" of federal funding as outlined in a Memorandum from City staff to me dated November 20, 2013, a copy of which is enclosed. I am also enclosing a copy of the newspaper article, which does not state that the utilization rate is a reason for the layoffs. The article reports that a council member inquired whether increasing the utilization rate would increase federal funding sufficient to prevent the layoffs, and the answer was no. Page 79. The third paragraph notably omits three common reasons that persons are unable to utilize a voucher, bad landlord reference, bad credit, and lack of a security deposit. Page 82. The Al states that "[w]e were informed that ICHA does not have this information." That is not correct. The Housing Authority has the information but it is not easily retrievable as Steve Rackis states in an email dated 11/20/13 ( "the data regarding the P2 waiting list is a custom report I create just for the annual report. It is time consuming, hand counting exercise, as it is data that HUD does not require us to maintain and report. "). Page 88. After staff reviewed a draft of Appendix 1, Karen Howard wrote Jerry Anthony a detailed email dated 11/21/13 and provided him with the 2013 Planning and Zoning Annual Report explaining that land is often rezoned to multi - family. Despite the data and information provided, Appendix 1 was never changed and fails to discuss that property may be, and often is, rezoned to multi- family. As it is, Appendix 1 implies that no other property can be developed for multi - family zoning except for the locations listed. This is another instance where one wonders whether the information was ignored because it did not support Jerry Anthony's conclusion (See Conclusion IV on page 78). Page 92 and Page 96. The implication based on footnotes 53 and 54 is that the information contained in Appendix 3 is different than Appendix 6, but they are the same. Appendix 6 is the exact language found in the City's Building Code (Section 17 -2 of the Iowa City City Code) whereas Appendix 3 is a paraphrase of the Code section. Additionally, there are many typographical errors throughout the report. Emphasis on Affordable Housing Much of the Al centers on affordable housing, and affordable housing is without a question an issue facing Iowa City, as it is in many communities. However, the City contracted with the Public Policy Center for a study in fair housing, not affordable housing. This distinction is clearly set forth in the contractual agreement with the City, and an excerpt from "Scope of Study" in Appendix A of the agreement reads as follows: Page 6 Contractor also notes that the notion of 'fair housing" is sometimes conflated with that of "affordable housing. " "Affordable housing" refers to the ability of persons/ households /families to buy or rent housing, based on income; the term is also used to describe housing for low- income households. Thus the two concepts of "fair housing" and "affordable housing" while intertwined are distinctly different. And an Al study is not a study ofaffordable housing. (emphasis added) The Fair Housing Act is defined in the agreement, as well as on page 2 of the Al, as " a condition in which individuals/ households /families of similar income levels in the same housing market ... have a similar range of housing choices available to them regardless" of race, color, national origin, age, creed, and other protected categories. (emphasis added) Although it discusses affordable housing at length, the Al does not examine barriers that are actually protected by the Fair Housing Act. For example, in the last year or so, there has been much discussion among advocates of immigrant communities regarding issues they face in Iowa City. There is no indication that those advocates were contacted as part of the study to inquire about housing issues even though discrimination based on "national origin" is a fair housing issue. Similarly, there is no indication that International Programs was contacted about possible housing issues faced by the 3,400 international students attending Iowa.. The Al also did not delve into possible barriers to housing that persons with disabilities and the elderly may be encountering. Affordable Housing Model Staff finds it ironic that the Al is critical of the Affordable Housing Model given that it is nearly identical to a policy contained in HUD's model Al. For your information, I am enclosing copies of pages 3 -13 and 3 -14 of HUD's Fair Housing Planning Guide. In Example 3, an impediment to fair housing for a hypothetical state is described as follows: The State does not have an enforceable site selection policy for affordable housing that will compel its major cites to select sites for affordable housing located outside of minority or low- income areas or allocate such housing on a metropolitanwide basis. HUD's sample action in response to this impediment is stated as follows: Enact legislation by X date mandating site selection policies for affordable housing for all localities of 50,000 or more in population. The goal is to deconcentrate communities by race and income and encourage the construction of affordable single - family and multifamily housing throughout the jurisdiction. The City's Affordable Housing Model is exactly what HUD proscribes, namely it has an enforceable policy for affordable housing with a stated goal of deconcentrating poverty. Two of the three goals of Resolution No. 11 -15 are that "the City does not want to further burden neighborhoods and elementary schools that already have issues related to a concentration of poverty" and the "City desires to have diverse neighborhoods in terms of a range of income levels." Page 7 It is not surprising that other communities have contacted City staff about the model, including Danville, Illinois; Boise, Idaho; Charlottesville, Virginia; Davenport, Iowa; and Palm Beach County, Florida. Additionally, staff have been informed that the City of Austin, Texas is using our model as a starting point for a similar project. I also want to note that "Planning," the magazine of the American Planning Association, featured the model in its March 2013 issue, and I am enclosing a copy of the article for your information. Additionally, the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University has told staff that HUD is moving in this direction and that the City's model could be used as a national model on deconcentration. Lack of Timeliness The agreement provides that a first draft of the Al was to be provided to the City by approximately June 15 and the final report by August 1. A first draft (without any conclusions or recommendations) was not provided to City staff until November 7, and the preliminary final draft was not provided until December 19. Residency Preference The Al does not fully explain the residency preference used by the Housing Authority. Importantly, the AI does not describe how the waiting list is constantly in flux. For example, Tenant A lives in Des Moines and submits an application for a voucher on 6/11/13. Tenant A (who is single and disabled) goes to the bottom of the waiting list of non - residents, who are also single and disabled. Tenant A moves to Coralville (or some other place in the service area) a few months later and provides the Housing Authority with a change of address on 12/19/13. Tenant A immediately moves up the waiting list and jumps in front of all the applications of residents who are single and disabled and who submitted applications after 6/11/13. In other words, an applicant who moves into the service area after applying is treated as if he or she resided in the service area his or her entire life. Furthermore, the AI does not explain why the residency preference was adopted. The reason for adding a residency preference was a combination of staff resources, low lease up rates, people wanting to port ( "port" is the HUD term meaning to transfer the voucher to another service area), and wanting to assist those living in the service area. Without a residency preference, the applications that the Housing Authority staff processed were primarily of folks who did not live in the Housing Authority service area (Johnson County, Iowa County, and the northern part of Washington County) and who did not want to live in the Housing Authority service area. These persons wanted to get their vouchers and live elsewhere, but HUD regulations do not allow a tenant to port during the first 12 months of the voucher. Therefore, staff would do all the paperwork necessary to issue the voucher, but the person would not use the voucher because he/she did not want to live in the Housing Authority service area, and the voucher would go unused for a period of time. It is also important to note that the percentage of blacks who participate in the voucher program, as well as those who are elderly /disabled, has increased slightly since the adoption of the Page 8 preference and HUD staff who monitor the Housing Authority are fully aware of our residency preferences. Lack of Disclosure .In Conclusion IV on page 75, the AI contains a series of rhetorical questions following reference to the Scattered Site Housing Task Force report from 2004. The AI should disclose that Jerry Anthony was a member of the Task Force and that he voted against the adoption of the final .recommendations with one exception (namely, the recommendation to adopt inclusionary zoning). In conclusion, the City is not requesting any changes to the final draft of the AI or any follow -up by the Public Policy Center. Given the failure of the Public Policy Center to provide the services described in Paragraph 1 of the agreement as detailed in this letter, the City does not intend to make the final payment of $3,499 and will use the funds to complete the Al as provided in Paragraph 13 of the agreement. Q'-11omas M. Markus City Manager Enc. Copy to: Jerry Anthony -w /enc. Steve Rackis -w /o enc. Stefanie Bowers -w /o enc. Tracy Hightshoe -w /o enc. Steve Long -w /o enc. Doug Boothroy -w /o enc. City Council -w /o enc. Housing and Community Development Commission -w /o enc. SECTION VI: Conclusions, Impediments, and Recommendations The City of Iowa City is committed to providing fair housing choices for all residents of Iowa City. The Code of the City of Iowa City has a very broad definition of discriminatory behavior, a very inclusive definition of protected classes and is clear in its lack of tolerance for discriminatory behavior in the housing market. The City's Comprehensive Plan envisions a city with a variety of housing options for the city's diverse population. The City's Zoning Ordinance allows for construction of a variety of housing types at difference price points. And the City's Building Code does not impose conditions that could restrict fair housing choice for protected classes. Yet in spite of all of the above, there are impediments to fair housing. Conclusions 1. Spatial concentration of minorities. Maps depicting residential location by race and the index of dissimilarity calculations both show high degrees of spatial concentrations of Blacks and Hispanics. While some of the spatial concentration of the minority populations is likely a consequence of personal and household preferences exercised by minority persons and families, most of it cannot be explained away by such preferences alone. Information gleaned from the survey of assisted renters and from interviews of local non- profits engaged in providing housing and related services, corroborate the findings from the spatial concentration maps and dissimilarity calculations. Across the country, discriminatory attitudes of individuals and institutions in the housing market create impediments to fair housing choice that cause minorities to be spatially concentrated in certain geographic areas. In 2013, they seem to do so in Iowa City as well. The Black -White Index of Dissimilarity (IoD) scores for Iowa City have consistently and significantly increased over time from 1990 to 2010. Cities with a score less than 30 are viewed as well integrated, those with a score between 30 and 60 as moderately segregated, and those with scores above 60 as very segregated .44 With a Black -White IoD score of 55 in the year 2010, Iowa City is quite close to being very segregated. In the last two decades, the level of racial segregation across the country has declined significantly. A recent report by the Manhattan Institute that analyzed segregation in the US using data from the last 13 US censuses, concluded that: "As of 2010, the separation of Blacks from individuals of other races stood at its lowest level in nearly a century ." 41 The study also states that: "In 657 out of 658 housing markets tracked by the Census Bureau, segregation is now lower than the average level of segregation marked in 1970." 46 Some large Midwestern cities, such as Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis, experienced significant decreases in racial segregation between 2000 and 2010. Dramatic decreases in segregation occurred even in Iowa. For example, Waterloo, the most segregated city in the state in 1970 with a Black - Non -Black IoD score of 87.5 in 1970, saw its 2010 IoD score drop to 61.6 by 2010.47 Against this backdrop of decreasing racial segregation, the high Black -White IoD score in Iowa City in 2010 and its increasing trend over the past two decades stand out in stark contrast. m Massey, Douglas & Nancy Denton. 1993. American Apartheid. Harvard University Press. 45 Glacser, Edward & Jacob Vigdo. 2012. 'The End of the Segregated Century: Racial Separation in American Neighborhoods, 1890 -2010. Manhattan Institute; available online at http: / /www. manhattan- institute.org /html /cr_66.htm. m Ibid. 47Ibid, Table 4 The city's Affordable Housing Location Model is a well - intentioned move to de- concentrate low - income populations and minority households 48; however, by itself its potential to allow minorities to locate in widely dispersed locations across Iowa City is small. The reasons we so conclude are as follows: the Index of Dissimilarity calculations indicate that for Blacks to be well - dispersed in the city, 55% of either the Black or the White population of the city would have to relocate. Likewise for Hispanics to be well- dispersed, 41% of either the Hispanic or the White population would have to relocate. Since relocation is practically impossible, regulating the location of future development is the only way to achieve population dispersal. Between 2000 and 2010, minority populations increased at much higher rates than the White population and the overall population of the city (see Table 2). In absolute terms, between 2000 and 2010, the number of Black households increased by 570 and the number of Hispanic households increased by 515, at an average annual rate of 57 and 52 families, respectively. Assuming that about half of these households49 would need housing assistance, to accommodate just the new minorities households, about 55 new assisted units would have to be made available each year. However, the supply of new assisted housing in recent years (2011 -2013) has been much short of that. Between 2011 and 2013, only 51 new assisted CDBG /HOME assisted units were built, at an average rate of 26 per year. This high rate was possible only because of unusually high program income in Fiscal 2011 for the CDBG /HOME programs. Program incomes in future years are not anticipated to be this high; hence future production levels are likely to be much lower than in 2011 -2013. Not all of the CDBG /HOME assisted units are accessed by minorities. Of the HOME assisted units (across all HOME assisted programs) in fiscal 2013, 60% of the units were accessed by non -White households. Thus, presumably 16 of the 26 new units produced through CDBG /HOME programs each year are accessible to non -White households. The Affordable Housing Location Model can at best disperse the 26 units produced annually through CDBG /HOME programs. Of these, as noted above, only 16 are likely available for minorities. But the presumptive demand for assisted housing from new minority households being added to the city's population each year is 55 units per year.50 Thus the Affordable Housing Location model, if implemented correctly, will only have a small (though measurable) effect in dispersing minority families. To make a meaningful difference in ensuring that spatial concentrations of minority populations in Iowa City does not continue to increase, more impactful polices need to be adopted. IL Planning and zoning documents. City planning and zoning documents generally allow for the development of a wide variety of housing types in diverse locations across the city. However, over the last decade or more, developers and builders have either not made use of these opportunities (or have been unable to make use of these opportunities) to build affordably priced housing in diverse locations across the city. Indeed almost a decade ago, the City of Iowa City's Scattered Site Taskforce concluded that assisted housing is concentrated in certain sections of the city. That taskforce also noted that the zoning ordinance in force at that time allowed for development of multi- family housing only in certain parts of the city. The zoning ordinance currently in force allows for construction of multi - family housing in more locations than prior zoning ordinances. But even so, if developers choose not to build affordably 48 Because of the high correlation between low income and minority status. 49 We make this assumption for two reasons. One, because 53% of the resident waitlisted applicants on the Public Housing waitlist on February %, 2013 were non -White and 51% of the resident applicants on the HCV waitlist on February %, 2013 were non - White. And two, because 71 % of Black families and 49% of Hispanic families in Iowa City in 2010 were at or below 80% AMI and thus income qualified for most housing assistance programs. "In addition, there is very large backlog of unmet affordable housing need among minorities. priced owner and renter housing units that are accessible to minorities and other protected classes in diverse locations across the city, then such flexible zoning guidelines have limited effect in increasing fair housing opportunities. This problem is compounded when the few developers that are willing to try building affordably priced owner and renter housing units (with or without public assistance) in diverse locations are thwarted by the NIMBY attitudes of neighbors. III. Affordable Housing Location model. Acknowledging that assisted housing in Iowa City is concentrated in certain locations in the city and recognizing the social dis- benefits from this situation, the City of Iowa City created an Affordable Housing Location Model that is aimed at dispersing most types of new assisted rental housing. This is laudable. However, in practice it seems that the use of this model has reduced the supply of new assisted rental housing. The major reasons for this unintended consequence are that there are far fewer locations now where new assisted rental housing can be built, and land prices and NIMBY opposition at these locations are reportedly higher than at places where the model disallows development. IV. Residential lending. Our analysis of residential lending in the Iowa City metro area shows that Blacks, Hispanics and Asians have lesser access to residential lending than Whites. We also found that Black and Hispanic home loan applicants experience higher rejection rates than Whites. Since loan applications are adjudicated on multiple criteria, including credit scores and credit histories of the applicants that were not available for our analysis, we cannot definitely conclude that Blacks and Hispanics have unfair access to residential lending. Nonetheless, the large differences in rejection rates do raise some concerns in this regard. Likewise, the fact that in some banks the rejection rates for Black and Hispanic applicants are similar to those of Whites while in other banks they are not, also raise concerns. Recommendations I. Impediment: Racial and ethnic concentrations exist in Iowa City Recommendation to overcome this impediment: Iowa City should adopt a land development policy that would make housing options available at diverse locations across the city. To this end, we recommend that Iowa City consider adopting a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy that would apply to all new ownership and rental housing development. While the generally understood benefit of a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy is an increase in the number of reasonably -priced owner and rental units that families with incomes below 80% AM can afford, an equally important but less well- recognized benefit is the scattered locations at which these new housing units get built. This would create housing units for low and moderate income minority families at diverse locations in the City without using any public subsidies or taxes. H. Impediment: The Affordable Housing Location Model is a well- constructed effort to disperse certain types of assisted housing; however the model may significantly reduce the parcels of land where new assisted rental housing may be built or acquired. Recommendation to address this impediment: For projects that require compliance with the Affordable Housing Location Model, the City should provide land and locations permitted by this model at prices comparable to land at locations not permitted by this model. Alternatively, the City could provide cash supplements from non- CDBG/HOME sources that offset land cost differentials to such projects. III. Impediment: African Americans and Hispanic may experience unfair treatment in home mortgage loan denials and high cost loans. Recommendation to address this impediment: a) Further research is warranted to determine what standard measures should be reviewed to determine if there are unfair lending practices. Based on the outcome of this research, the City should adopt a linked - deposit policy wherein only those banks that clearly provide fair access in residential lending to protected classes are considered as potential recipients of the City's banking business. b) The City should encourage lenders to attend and participate in yearly trainings sponsored by the Human Rights Commission that educate on discrimination and fair lending practices. IV. Impediment: There are barriers to mobility and free housing choice for protected classes and persons of low income. Recommendations to overcome this impediment: a) To address landlord -side problems regarding HCV recipients search for housing, the City should expand existing landlord education programs aimed at busting the myths about HCV tenants and the HCV program. b) To address tenant -side problems that result in failed searches, the City should encourage local- nonprofits involved in the provision of housing and related services for low- income persons to help HCV recipients in their search for housing. c) Consider the legality of adding Housing Choice Voucher status as a protected class under the City's Human Rights ordinance. V. Impediment: Fair housing violations go unreported because of opinions /attitudes that things will never change and /or lack of knowledge of available resources to address fair housing for those in protected classes. Recommendations to address this impediment: a) Increase level of public awareness concerning fair housing to improve knowledge of fair housing laws. Expanding awareness to include more prominence on City webpage, social media sites, increased 0 distribution of materials to nonprofits, educational institutions and agencies that work with diverse consumers, through electronic media, advertisements, trainings to the general public, and training to specialized groups and key market actors. i) Respondents of the survey conducted as part of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice cited "didn't know what good it would do" when asked why they chose not to file a complaint of housing discrimination. Increase level of public awareness must include pointing out what good it does to file a complaint of discrimination versus doing nothing. Additionally more information about possible remedies and outcomes to a fair housing violation will be beneficial to the public and may encourage more complaints to be filed. ii) The survey conducted as part of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice should be repeated in the next few years to survey whether the expansion of public awareness on fair housing has an effect on the knowledge of available resources and an increase in fair housing complaints filed. b) Perform yearly tests /audits on protected characteristics to collect additional information on the extent and nature of discrimination in Iowa City. i) Tests /audits serve as opportunities to require compliance and educate landlords, management companies and those who rent or sale homes on fair housing laws. ii) Tests /audits allow identifiable information as to what specific populations disproportionately receive unfair treatment leading to better targeted education and outreach to those specific populations as well as agencies, organizations and businesses that have contact with those populations. c) Continue to explore the feasibility of HUD determining that the City's ordinance is substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act. Funding may be available to further knowledge and educational pursuits. r TSITY OF IOWA Policy Center by Conducting Research malysis of pediments to Fair Housing Choice City of Iowa City Final Draft February 2014 Contents SECTION I: Introduction and Executive Summary of the Analysis.............. ..............................3 A. Introduction ............ ............................... 4 B. Definitions .............. ............................... 4 C. Study conducted by ....... ............................... 7 E. Funded ................. ............................... 8 F. Scope of the Analysis ...... ............................... 8 G. Methodology used ........ ............................... 8 H. Executive Summary ....... ............................... 9 SECTION II: Profile of Iowa City ........................13 A. Background ............ ............................... 14 B. Census Geography ......... ............................... 15 C. Demographic Data ......... ............................... 15 D. Income ................ ............................... 20 E. Employment ............ ............................... 23 F. Housing Profile .......... ............................... 24 Section III: Evaluation of Iowa City's Current Fair Housing Status................ .............................27 A. Charges or findings of discrimination by the Secretary of the US Department of Housing & Urban Development or fair housing discrimination suits filed by the US Department of Justice or private plaintiff .................... ............................... 28 B. Fair Housing Complaints filed with the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) .. ............................... 29 C. Fair Housing Complaints filed with the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission ........... ............................... 30 D. Fair Housing Concerns, Patterns, & Problems ................ 31 SECTION IV: Identification of impediments to Fair Housing Choice............... .............................44 A. Public Sector ...... .............................45 B. Private sector ........... ............................... 58 C. Public and Private Sector .. ............................... 67 SECTION V: Assessment of Current Public and Private Fair Housing Programs and Activities in Iowa City ...........72 SECTION VI: Conclusions and Recommendations .........77 Back to Table of Contents 1 2 Back to Table of Contents SECTION VII: Signature Page .......................... 89 APPENDICES .......... .............................90 Appendix 1: Properties zoned multi- family and available for funding for affordable housing in Iowa City . ............................... 91 Appendix 2: Summary of Iowa property tax relief programs available to residents of Iowa City ......... ............................... 93 Appendix 3: Accessibility Requirements of the Iowa City Building Code ...95 Appendix 4: Basis for the housing complaints, 2009 to 2012 ........ 97 Appendix 5: Sample fair housing poster ......................... 99 Appendix 6: Survey Forms .... ............................... 100 Appendix 7: List of acronyms used in the report ................. 115 SECTION I: Introduction and Executive Summary of the Analysis A. Introduction B. Definitions C. Study conducted by D. Participants E. Study funded by E Scope of the analysis G. Methodology used H. Executive Summary Back to Table of Contents 3 A. Introduction The Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title VIII, commonly known as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601) states that it is the policy of the United States to provide fair housing throughout the country. This Act prohibits discrimination in the sale or renting of housing, the financing of housing, or in the provision of brokerage services, including or otherwise making unavailable or denying a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status. Nationally, fair housing and impediments to fair housing are monitored by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). HUD's fundamental fair housing goal is to make fair housing choice a reality through proactive planning and intervention. HUD mandates fair housing planning through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) requirements. Each grantee that receives CDBG /HOME funding under Tide I of the Housing & Community Development Act is required to further fair housing and fair housing planning by conducting an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice in areas within its jurisdiction. The grantee is also required to take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified and maintain records that record and reflect the analysis and actions taken in this regard. This report presents the City of Iowa City's assessment of the nature and extent of fair housing concerns, and the impediments to fair housing choice that the residents of the city encounter. The city's last Analysis of Impediments was conducted in 2008 in conjunction with the preparation of the Five -Year Consolidated Plan for the period 2010 -2015. B. Definitions The Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title VIII (Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S. S., 3601) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing, including the sale, rental, negotiations for, terms and conditions, and services related thereto. Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex and gender (added in 1974), physical or mental disability (added in 1988), and presence of children in families (added in 1988). The 1988 amendments also provide people with disabilities the right to "reasonable accommodations" (defined as a change in policy, practice or procedure, needed by a person with a disability because of their disability) and a right to "reasonable modifications" (defined as a change of the physical structure, when such modifications are needed because of the person's disability and which would enable the person to fully enjoy the home they occupy). Back to Table of Contents In the State of Iowa, the Iowa Civil Rights Act (Iowa Code 216) prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, mental disability, physical disability, and familial status (presence of children in the home). The City of Iowa City Code contains clear directions banning discrimination in housing. Tide 2, chapter 5 of the code states that: It shall be an unlawful or discriminatory practice for any person to: A. Refuse to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, refuse to negotiate or to otherwise make unavailable, or deny any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion or interest therein, to any person because of the age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income of that person. B. Discriminate against any other person in the terms, conditions or privileges of any real estate transaction because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. C. Directly or indirectly advertise, or in any other manner indicate or publicize in any real estate transaction that any person is not welcome or not solicited because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. D. Discriminate against the lessee or purchaser of any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion or interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or against any prospective lessee or purchaser of the property or accommodation because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents, or public assistance source of income of persons who may from time to time be present in or on the lessee's or owner's premises for lawful purposes at the invitation of the lessee or owner as friends, guests, visitors, relatives or in any similar capacity." (Ord. 95 -3697, 11- 7-1995). Fair Housing Defined In the light of various pieces of fair housing legislation at the federal, state and local level, throughout this report fair housing is defined as follows: Fair housing is a condition in which individuals of similar income levels in the same housing market having a like range of housing choices available to them regardless of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, Back to Table of Contents Back to Table of Contents marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents, or public assistance source of income. Impediments Defined Within the legal framework of federal and state laws and based on the guidance provided by the HUD Fair Housing Planning guide, impediments to fair housing are defined as: 1. Actions, omissions or decisions that have the effect of restricting housing choices or the availability of housing choices on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents, or public assistance source of income.' 2. Policies, practices, or procedures that appear neutral on their face, but which operate to deny or adversely affect the availability of housing to persons because of race, ethnicity, disability, and families with children may constitute such impediments. 2 3. Impediments to fair housing choice include actions or omissions that: a. Are counterproductive to fair housing choice, such as: Community resistance when minorities, persons with disabilities and /or low- income persons first move into white and /or moderate- to high- income areas Community resistance to the siting of housing facilities for persons with disabilities because of the persons who will occupy the housing. b. Have the effect of restricting housing opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.' Protected classes defined Federal: Race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and disability.' State of Iowa: Race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity religion, national origin, disability or familial status ofsuch Berson. s US Department of Housing & Urban Development's HUD Fair Housing Planning Guide Volume 1, p. 2 -17; Iowa Code section 216.8 and Code of the City of Iowa City, Title 2 (Human Rights), Chapter 5 (Fair Housing). ' US Department of Housing & Urban Development's HUD Fair Housing Planning Guide Volume 1, p. 2 -17. 3 US Department of Housing & Urban Development's HUD Fair Housing Planning Guide Volume 1, p. 2 -17. ' Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) s Iowa Code section 216.8. Iowa City: Age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents, and public assistance source of income or retaliation.' Fair Housing and Affordable Housing: The notion of "fair housing" is sometimes conflated with that of "affordable housing." "Affordable housing" refers to the ability of persons /households /families to buy or rent housing, based on income; the term is also used to describe housing for low- income households. Thus the two concepts of "fair housing" and "affordable housing" while intertwined are distinctly different. And an Analysis of Impediments (AI) study is not a study of affordable housing. C. Study conducted by This study was conducted by the Housing and Land Use Policy program of the University of Iowa's Public Policy Center. This program conducts research on land use and housing issues within the city, state and country. More details about this program and the center are available at: htto: / /1212c.uiowa.edu /housing. All of the secondary data collection and analysis was performed by the following graduate students of the School of Urban & Regional Planning at the University of Iowa: Jeremy Endsley, Evgeny Chavanin, Michael Saponaro, Kwame Owusu, Stephanie Schrader, Andrew Bassman, Emily Ambrosy, Dana Bartolomei, Kehla West, Gloria Wenman, Ellen Johnson, Travis Kraus, Misty Rebik, Elizabeth Macias, Brendon Smith, Tuya Zorig, Dan Carroll and Thomas Ten Eyck. Of these, three students made exceptionally noteworthy contributions to this report: Jeremy Endsley — who single- handedly did all the HMDA data analysis; Evgeny Chavanin — who did all the segregation maps; and Andrew Bassman. Two primary surveys were conducted by the City of Iowa City's Housing & Community Development Department. The project was supervised by Dr. Jerry Anthony. D. Participants During the course of this study, information was sought and received from: Tracy Hightshoe, City of Iowa City Steve Long, City of Iowa City Kris Ackerson, City of Iowa City Karen Howard, City of Iowa City Steven Rackis, Iowa City Housing Authority Stefanie Bowers, Iowa City Human Rights Commission MaryAnn Dennis, The Housing Fellowship Regina Crooks, Family Relations Coordinator, Systems Unlimited 6 Code of the City of Iowa City, Tide 2 (Human Rights), Chapter 5 (Fait Housing). Back to Table of Contents Danielle Bailey, Case Manager, MECCA Services Pat Meyer, Facilities Coordinator, Successful Living Jessie Henry, Program Coordinator, Builders of Hope A draft of this study was presented at the November 21, 2013 meeting of the Housing & Community Development Commission of Iowa City. This meeting was attended by the members of the commission and the public. The latter group consisted of John Sewell (University of Iowa— Geography), Maryann Dennis (The Housing Fellowship), Steven Rackis (Iowa City Housing Authority), Bob Welsh (citizen), Andrew Sotheby (University of Iowa— Sustainabiliry), Tiffeni McClair (citizen), Josh Kasey Befeler (citizens). A draft of this study was posted on the City of Iowa City website and made available for public comment from November 8, 2013 to November 21, 2013. Various organizations and individuals concerned about local housing issues or involved in provision of housing as a lender, developer or landlord were notified about the draft and the public comment period. Comments were received from Mark Patton (Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity). E. Funded The study was funded with CDBG and HOME administration funds. I F. Scope of the Analysis This Al provides an overview of the laws, regulations, conditions or other possible obstacles that may affect an individual's or household's access to housing. The geographic scope of this study is the City of Iowa City. G. Methodology used This analysis used quantitative and qualitative research techniques to examine a variety of local housing issues. Special attention was given to statistical data associated with population, household income, race, residents, citizens with disabilities, and family status in an effort to understand the current demographic conditions in the city. A number of housing issues associated with lending for housing, segregation by class, accessibility and visitablilty were also examined to understand social and economic issues that may influence a person's ability to secure fair access to housing. The following are the main data sources used in this analysis: US Census data (1990, 2000 & 2010) American Community Survey data (various years) • Iowa City Human Rights Commission Annual Reports • Iowa City Housing Authority data Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Back to Table of Contents City of Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Building Code, and Affordable Housing Location Model • Proprietary data on housing sales and prices provided by the Boxwood Means Co. through PolicyMap. Data from public sources was supplemented with information from two targeted groups: persons living or seeking assisted rented housing, and renters in the general population. To get input from the former group of persons, survey forms were mailed out to persons on the mailing list of the Iowa City Housing Authority. A total of 820 forms were mailed out in September 2013; responses were requested within two weeks via reply paid envelopes. Two hundred and ten responses were received. To get input from the latter group, a web -based survey form was designed and made accessible from a link at the City of Iowa City's webpage. This latter survey was advertised on the city government TV channel and through press releases. The survey was kept open for 16 days and 164 people provided responses. To avoid duplication, the survey link was IP tagged, so only one response could be provided from a computer. Information was also gleaned from open -ended interviews with representatives of agencies and organizations involved in the provision of assisted rental housing and human rights in Iowa City, specifically the Iowa City Housing Authority, the City of Iowa City Planning & Community Development Department, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and The Housing Fellowship. H. Executive Summary This report is the City of Iowa City's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, required by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development. This Al report is based on review and analysis of relevant public policies and practices, census information and census data -based mapping, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, surveys and interviews with people involved in all aspects of fair housing. Overall, the City of Iowa City is actively trying to further fair housing choice for all. In spite of these efforts, there is good reason to believe that impediments to fair housing choice do exist in Iowa City in 2013 -2014. The report identifies four impediments to fair housing choice and provides recommendations to overcome them. Impediments and Recommendations 1. Impediment: Spatial concentration of minorities in Iowa City is high and requires serious policy attention. A well - accepted measure of spatial on Back to Table of Contents 0 10 Back to Table of Contents concentration is the Index of Dissimilarity. An Index of Dissimilarity score above 60 is widely acknowledged in policy and academic literature to indicate a high degree of segregation. With a Black -White Index of Dissimilarity score of 55 in the year 2010, Iowa City is quite close to being very segregated. Furthermore, Black -White segregation in Iowa City has increased over the last two decades whereas nationwide it has decreased. Recommendation: Iowa City should adopt a land development policy that would make housing options for minorities available at diverse locations across the city. To this end, we recommend that Iowa City adopt a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy that would apply to new ownership and rental housing development. This would create housing units for low- and moderate- income minority families at diverse locations in the city without using any public subsidies or taxes. 2. Impediment: The Affordable Housing Location Model used by the City of Iowa City is a well - constructed effort to disperse certain types of assisted housing units across the city. However, this model significantly reduces the parcels of land within the city where new assisted rental units can be built Furthermore, parcels where new assisted rental units are permissible are reportedly priced higher than parcels where new assisted rental housing cannot be built. In effect then, the well - intentioned Affordable Housing Location Model is constraining the supply of new assisted rental housing. Since assisted rental housing serves large numbers of minority families, the constraint on new assisted rental housing imposed by the model reduces housing options for minority populations. Recommendation: For projects that require compliance with the Affordable Housing Location Model, the city should provide land at locations permitted by the model at prices comparable to land at locations not permitted by the model. Alternatively, the city should provide cash supplements to such projects to offset land cost differentials. 3. Impediment: A survey of renters receiving housing assistance showed that landlords discriminate against renters using Housing Choice Vouchers and engage in many illegal practices. Such behavior adversely affects Housing Choice Voucher recipients' search for housing and the quality and location of housing they find. In turn, it affects Housing Choice Voucher utilization rates. Recommendations: a) Iowa City Housing Authority should expand existing landlord education programs to reduce discriminatory behavior. b) Iowa City should modify its City Code to make illegal discrimination based on use of a Housing Choice Voucher in the housing search process 4. Impediment: Two surveys of renters showed that many violations of fair housing laws are not being reported because of the fear of retaliation or ignorance about how to report such violations. Recommendations: a) The Iowa City Human Rights Commission should expand its education programs regarding fair housing laws. b) Iowa City Human Rights Commission should set up a mechanism for easy and confidential reporting of fair housing violations, perhaps using a web - based format or smart phone technology. Other issues of concern i. Minorities in the Iowa City area may not have fair access to residential lending. Analysis of HMDA data showed that the share of home loan applications from minorities are much lower than their share in the population, and that applications from Blacks and Hispanics were being denied at higher rates than applications from White applicants. We did not have access to credit score, credit history, and income and asset information of loan applicants and therefore cannot conclusively state that minorities are being discriminated against. However, we found large variations in the denial rate differences across the five or six banks that receive the most loan applications from minorities. Recommendation: While more research is needed to conclude that minorities are being discriminated against in residential lending, the city could implement policies to ensure that banks with which it conducts its business do not discriminate against minorities. To that end, one policy we recommend that the city adopt is a linked - deposit program wherein only those banks that clearly provide fair access in residential lending to minorities and protected classes are considered as potential recipients of the city's banking business. ii. The residency preference used by the Iowa City Housing Authority in its Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing programs may have a disparate impact in denying or delaying access to those programs for certain protected classes. Local housing authorities are allowed to use a residency preference, so long as use of this preference does not delay or deny access to protected classes. The Iowa City Housing Authority was unable to furnish data to make this determination. Recommendation: The Iowa City Housing Authority should conduct a rigorous, third -party review of the impacts of the residency preference Back to Table of Contents 11 every year, and modify or eliminate this preference if disparate impacts on protected classes are found. Back to Table of Contents SECTION II: Profile of Iowa City A. Background B. Census Geography C. Demographic Data D. Income Data E. Employment Data E Housing Profile Back to Table of Contents 13 1 11 Back to Table of Contents A. Background The city of Iowa City is a diverse community in the southeastern part of the state of Iowa. Located on rolling hills on the banks of the Iowa River, it is home to the University of Iowa and headquarters of the educational testing company, ACT. It is well - connected by roads to the rest of the Midwest and is served by two airports — the Eastern Iowa Regional airport in Cedar Rapids (about 20 miles from Iowa City) and the Quad Cities Regional Municipal airport (about 50 miles from Iowa City). The backbone of the city's economy is the university. The 32,000+ students served by the university create and support numerous jobs within the city and the region. The city has been able to leverage the availability of highly skilled local labor to create a healthy, diverse and booming economy that weathered the Great Recession of 2007 -2010 rather well. While many of the jobs are in the service sector — primarily education and health sectors — there are many jobs in the city in the manufacturing sector, too. Iowa City has a vibrant cultural dimension. It is home to the internationally - renowned Iowa Writers Workshop, hosts writers and artists from all over the world and has been named a UNESCO City of Literature by the United Nations — one of only seven such designations worldwide. The city has many amenities and services that are commonly found in cities of much larger populations. And it has excellent public schools and low levels of crime. For all these reasons, Iowa City is often placed on lists of best places in the country to live. Iowa City's diversified economic base, the range of cultural activities, and access to high - quality amenities and services, attracts a large and diverse number of people. It is the fifth largest city (by population) in the state, one of the fastest growing cities in the state among those with more than 20,000 people, and has one of the highest proportions of non -White persons of any city in the state. Its real estate market can be termed "hot" and did not experience very significant negative effects during the housing market collapse of 2006 -2010. The housing stock of the city has many options for owners and renters; it also has a higher proportion of rental units — given the large number of students — than most cities in the state. Iowa City has engaged in development planning and planning for housing for many decades. It was one of the first cities to adopt zoning and comprehensive planning in the state and has been a CDBG entitlement community since the inception of the CDBG program. Thus, the city has the institutional capacity to engage in planning, and an informed citizenry that participates actively in planning endeavors. B. Census Geography Iowa City has 17 census tracts, which are shown in the below map by tract number. Seven census tracts (1, 4, 5, 14, 17, 104, and 105) fall partially outside the city limits. A subset of the tracts that comprise Iowa City — tracts 6, 11, 16, 21 and 23 — are often referred to as the Pentacrest tracts. Figure 1: Iowa City's Census Tracts Iowa City Census Tracts 2010 52 .4.. �- 1B 5 9 1W � 111112 P N A ���... �T PnOaNeY S4M�•Y RM1�e. o °e � v apni n,mo C. Demographic Data Population Iowa City's population in 2010 was 67,682. The city has experienced a steady population growth in every decade since 1950 with the largest percentage increase of over 40% occurring in 1960 -1970 (see Table 1). The period 1990 to 2000 witnessed the lowest percentage increase in the city's population in the last 60 years. However, population growth rebounded in the 2000s and the city's 2010 population was over 9% above its 2000 population. In the two most recent decades, Iowa City's population growth rate has been well below Johnson County's population growth rate but well above the state of Iowa's growth rate. Back to Table of Contents 15 Table 1: Population Trends 1950 -2010 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. Total Population: SF1 data. Households The population of an area can be classified into family households and non - family households. The US Census defines family households as those that have related persons or married couples, and non - family households as those that consist of either non - related persons living together or a single person living alone. In 2010, there were a total of 27,657 households in Iowa City. Of these, 11,743 (42.5 %) were family households. Over 10,600 of the family households had one or more children under 18 living with them. Married couple households were the largest sub -group comprising 32.5% of total households. Female - headed households were a significant presence and their numbers are trending upwards. In 2010, 1,984 households (7.2 %) were female- headed households, and the majority of those households (1,282 households, or 4.6 %) had related children in the household. In 2010, there were 15,914 (57.5 %) non - family households in Iowa City. Of these, 9,488 (or 34.3% of all households) were one - person households while the rest (6,426 or 23.2% of all households) had more than one person in the household. Students are believed to comprise a significant portion of non - family households, though precise numbers are unavailable. Over the past two decades Iowa City has seen a declining trend in the proportion of family households, from 49.4% of total households in 1990 to 44.4% in 2000 and to 42.5% in 2010. The largest driver of this change is the decline in the proportion of married couple households; this shrank from 40.6% in 1990 to 35.2% in 2000 and to 32.5% in 2010 (Figure 1). Conversely, non - family and one - person households rose from 50.6% in 1990 to 55.6% in 2000, and again to 57.5% in 2010. Back to Table of Contents Iowa City Johnson County Iowa us Year Population % Change Population % Change Population % Change Population % Change 1950 27,212 45,756 2,621,073 152,271,417 1960 33,443 22.90% 53,663 17.28% 2,757,537 5.21% 179,325,675 17.77% 1970 46,850 40.09% 72,127 34.41% 2,825,368 2.46% 203,210,158 13.32% 1980 50,508 7.81% 81,717 13.30% 2,913,808 3.13% 226,545,805 11.48% 1990 59,738 18.27% 96,119 17.62% 2,776,755 -4.70% 248,709,873 9.78% 2000 62,220 4.15% 111,006 1 15.49% 2,926,324 5.39% 281,421,906 13.15% 2010 67,862 9.07% 130,882 1 17.91% 3,046,355 4.10% 308,745,538 9.71% Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. Total Population: SF1 data. Households The population of an area can be classified into family households and non - family households. The US Census defines family households as those that have related persons or married couples, and non - family households as those that consist of either non - related persons living together or a single person living alone. In 2010, there were a total of 27,657 households in Iowa City. Of these, 11,743 (42.5 %) were family households. Over 10,600 of the family households had one or more children under 18 living with them. Married couple households were the largest sub -group comprising 32.5% of total households. Female - headed households were a significant presence and their numbers are trending upwards. In 2010, 1,984 households (7.2 %) were female- headed households, and the majority of those households (1,282 households, or 4.6 %) had related children in the household. In 2010, there were 15,914 (57.5 %) non - family households in Iowa City. Of these, 9,488 (or 34.3% of all households) were one - person households while the rest (6,426 or 23.2% of all households) had more than one person in the household. Students are believed to comprise a significant portion of non - family households, though precise numbers are unavailable. Over the past two decades Iowa City has seen a declining trend in the proportion of family households, from 49.4% of total households in 1990 to 44.4% in 2000 and to 42.5% in 2010. The largest driver of this change is the decline in the proportion of married couple households; this shrank from 40.6% in 1990 to 35.2% in 2000 and to 32.5% in 2010 (Figure 1). Conversely, non - family and one - person households rose from 50.6% in 1990 to 55.6% in 2000, and again to 57.5% in 2010. Back to Table of Contents Figure 1: Iowa City Household Type — Decennial Trends in Household Types Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. Population distribution by Age and Sex Population distribution by age and sex are commonly depicted using population pyramids. Iowa City's 2010 population pyramid shows a clear "youth bulge" - 25.7% of the male population and 23.6% of the female population in Iowa City in 2010 was between 20 to 24 years old (Figure 2). This bulge is not unexpected in a college town. What is perhaps surprising is the absence of a "retiree bulge ", given Iowa City's many amenities for retirees and its frequent placements on lists of towns to retire. Figure 2: Iowa City 2010 Population Pyramid Note: Only alternate age groups are labelled on the vertical axis. Population Density With a population density of 2,804 persons per square mile in 2010, Iowa City is one of the densest urban areas in the state. Among Iowa City's 17 census tracts, tract 16 has the highest population (7,267), as well as the highest population density (over 17,500 people per square mile). No other census tract is as densely populated as tract 16. Tracts 21 and 11 are the next most densely populated, with 8,000 to 12,000 people per square mile (Figure 3). Tracts 4, 104, and 105 on the city's periphery are less densely populated, with 500 (or fewer) persons per square mile. Back to Table of Contents 17 Figure 3: People per Square Mile, by Iowa City Census Tracts Population Density by Census Tract -5q 5 -PiR� iZ Race and Ethnicity n M A Ym Pimsed M'.5 Thrk 4M1�dn ApY 15, IDI] In Iowa City in 2010, out of 27,657 total households, 23,631 households (85.4 %) were White. Asians were the second largest racial category with 1,762 households (6.4 %), Blacks the third largest group with 1,321 (4.8 %) households and Hispanic or Latino ethnicities of any race were the fourth largest group with 1122 (4.1 %) households. Over 17.5% of Iowa City's population in 2010 was non - White. Since this ratio is about twice that of the state of Iowa (8.7 %), it is fair to say that racially, Iowa City is significantly more diverse than the state. Minority households have grown at a higher pace than white households. From 2000 to 2010, White households only grew 6.2 %, whereas Hispanic or Latino households grew 84.8% (see Table 2 below). Thus the number of White households in the city is increasing at a lower rate than the population of the city, while Hispanics households are increasing at a much higher rate than the city's growth rate. Likewise, African- American households (grew 55.2% between 2000 and 2010), households of other races and households of two or more races grew much faster than the city's overall population growth rate. Back to Table of Contents Table 2: Iowa City 2010 Households by Race and Hispanic Origin Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Pac[6nder. Back to Table of Contents 19 2000 2010 2010 Margin of Error Percent Change Total Householders: 25,202 27,657 +/ -625 9.7% White 22,233 23,616 +/ -620 6.2% African American 851 1,321 +/ -206 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native alone 87 58 +/ -60 -33.3% Asian 1,454 1,762 +/ -182 21.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 9 +/ -17 50.0% Other Race 257 412 +/ -96 60.3% Two or More Races 314 479 + / -151 52.5% Hispanic or Latino 607 1,122 +/- 178 84.8% Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Pac[6nder. Back to Table of Contents 19 ID. Income In Iowa City in 2010, the median household income (MHI) for all households was $42,694. White households had a median income of $45,293, Blacks /African Americans $25,010, Hispanics $39,000 and Asians $49,938. Compared to 2000, median household income for the city increased significantly; median incomes of all racial and ethnic groups (except one — American Islanders and Native Americans) also rose though at unequal rates (Figure 5). Other race households and Asian households posted the greatest percentage increases, well over that of the entire city and of White households. Hispanic households experienced higher income gains than the city average while African- American households experienced income gains lower than the city average. Figure 5: Median Household Income Trends • 2000 • 2016 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 MITI for All Whits 6lark American &,inn mher Yw or Iliepanic or Ilnusnh Mds Indun end Mom Rnem L"nn Alaska Matlae Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Fact6nder; 2010 ACS 5 -Year Estimates. As can be expected, there is spatial variation in median household income across the city (Figure 6). City neighborhoods contained within census tracts 13 & 14 have the highest median income levels - over $63,000 - in the city, followed by those within tracts 1, 12, 104 & 105. The Pentacrest area (census tracts 6, 11, 16, 21, and 23) has the lowest median household income in the city - between $12,000 to $27,000 - well below the citywide average. 20 Back to Table of Contents Figure 6: 2010 Iowa City Median Household Incomes Iowa City Median Household Income by Census Trot n film n 16 11Ot ]OIOY.OYn XerMtlE Ineem. �tBto,mMao -HY01 WM]p -HAM- �WAA..n rL�W. A WppiVmo, f,fphfn,i hi v Ap11 p5 M3 In 2010, the poverty threshold (determined annually by the US Census Bureau) for a family of four was $22,314. The ACS 2007 -2011 five -year estimates show that 26.4 % of households in Iowa City had incomes below this threshold. This was one of the highest poverty rates of any city in the state of Iowa in 2010. The highest levels of poverty in Iowa City existed in census tracts 11, 16 and 21 — three Pentacrest area census tracts. The lowest levels of poverty were found in census tracts 13 and 14 on the east side of the city. High poverty concentration areas are classified by HUD as Qualified Census Tracts! In 2010, four census tracts in Iowa City met this definition: tracts 6, 11, 16, and 21 — all of which are in the Pentacrest area. The highest poverty rates are for those whose race is "other", averaging 45.7 %, followed by Hispanic /Latino, then Blacks /African Americans. In census tract 21, 100% of the minorities were below the poverty level. A HUD - defined Qualified Census Tract is "any census tract in which at least 50% of households have an income less than 600N, of Area Median Gross Income or the poverty rate is 25°bb or higher. Back to Table of Contents 21 Table 3 has information on poverty rates by race and location in Iowa City. The largest percentage of Whites living in poverty lived in census tracts 16 (74.3 %) and 21 (79.4 %). For Blacks /African Americans, the largest percentage living in poverty were in census tracts 23 (100 %) and 6 (83.7 %). For Asians, the largest percentage living in poverty were in census tracts 15 (100 %) and 21 (100 %). Finally, Hispanics and Other races both had the highest percentages of poverty in census tracts 16 and 21. Table 3: Iowa City Poverty by Race, 2010 Census Tract Population% for whom poverty status is determined White Black Native American Asian Hispan- is or Latino origin Other 1 22.1 23.1% 0.0% * 16.2% 36.3% 4 27.3 14.2% 79.0% 0.0% 29.6% 16.8% 54.5% 5 19.7 16.9% 72.9% 0.0% 8.3% 18.0% 54.4% 6 29.8 31.0% 83.7% * 9.5% 51.7% 11 60.0 58.6% 15.9% * 92.5% 73.0% 12 12.8 11.7% 0.0% 0.0% * 40.0% 13 2.1 2.2% * 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 14 5.7 4.8% 34.3% * 0.0% 0.0% 15 15.9 14.2% 0.0% * 100.0% 76.3% 41.9% 16 70.7 74.3% 36.4% 10.0% 49.0% 97.8% 100.0% 17 13.8 13.8% 0.0% * 0.0% 0.0% 18.01 16.2 13.9% 0.0% 0.0% 10.3% 25.3% 28.6% 18.02 1 16.7 12.7% 141.2% 0.0% 0.0% 39.5% 25.6% 21 80.8 79.4% * 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 23 27.3 25.4% 100.0% 100.0% 25.4% 52.9% 104 10.8 10.3% 13.2% * * 13.3% 0.0% 105 5.0 3.3% 62.3% 0.0% 13.7% 5.3% 5.9% Average: 25.7 24.1% 35.9% 21.0% 30.3% 36.0% 45.7% Source: ACS 2007 -2011 5 -year estimates.. ** indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were availahle to compute an estimate. Since a large student population exists in Iowa City, it is prudent to examine poverty by age. Census tracts 16, 11, 21, and 1 had the highest percentages of persons under age 25 living in poverty (from 22 %- 42.3 %). For persons age 25 and over, poverty rates are much lower; the highest rate, 12.4 %, was found in census tract 4. The average poverty rate for those aged 25 and over is just 6.5 %. Since most students are under age 25, these numbers suggest that the student population has a strong influence on poverty rates in Iowa City. Back to Table of Contents E. Employment Iowa City has a vibrant and diverse economy, anchored by the University of Iowa, the largest employer in the state. However, the Great Recession of 2007 -2009 did impact Iowa City and has reduced economic development and employment options. And lack of employment could be a barrier to fair housing access. Since 2000, unemployment rates in Iowa City have risen and fallen a couple of times, peaking in 2003 and 2004, falling in 2006 and 2007, then rising again to new peaks in 2009 and 2010 (see Figure 7). From 2011 onwards, these rates have been falling though are still higher than those of 2000. Johnson County has also experienced similar trends, though from y 2005 onward county unemployment rates have been marginally higher than those of Iowa City. Figure 7: Regional Unemployment Rates Iowa City and Johnson County •Iowa City Percent Unemployed Unemployment Rates ■Johnson County Unemployment Rate 5.0% 4.5% 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 0.5% 0.0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20OS 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: Iowa Workforce Development. Information Network. Unemployment rates. Labor Force Data_ Both in 2000 and 2010, the male unemployment rate was marginally higher than the rate for females. Between 2000 and 2010, the unemployment rate for almost all race and ethnic groups increased — Asians were the only exception to this trend. Back to Table of Contents 23 F. Housing Profile In 2010, there were 28,568 housing units in Iowa City. This represents an 8.8% increase from 2000. Of these 28,568 housing units, 14,626 (51.2 %) were single - family attached or detached units. Multi - family housing units (with two or more units per structure) numbered 13,141 housing units (or 46% of all housing units). Iowa City has a greater percentage of housing units in multi - family structures than the county or the state. This pattern is quite consistent with an urban college town that is home to many student households. Tracts 4, 5, 6, 11, 16, 21 & 23 had higher proportions of multi- family units than the city average. There were about 800 mobile homes in the city in 2010, a sharp decline from the 1,200 in 2000. These were located in eight of the 16 tracts in the city with significant concentrations in tracts 104 & 105. The proportion of mobile homes in the city is much lower than in the county and the state. Table 4: Units per Structure by Census Tract - 2010 Tract Total Units Single family units (de- tached& attached) Multi- family units 2to4 5to9 10 to 19 20 or more Total 1 2,555 62.0% 13.0% 4.2% 8.8% 2.0% 28.0% 9.9% 4 3,032 45.7% 7.5% 19.9% 11.7% 15.2% 54.3% 0.0% 5 3,410 49.5% 9.8% 8.3% 22.8% 9.4% 50.3% 7.0% 6 1,801 20.2% 6.3% 12.8% 16.9% 43.3% 79.3% 10.0% 11 1,691 33.8% 19.2% 21.0% 21.6% 3.4% 65.2% 1.1% 12 883 82.1% 9.3% 0.0% 4.1% 4.5% 17.9% 0.0% 13 1,237 94.1% 0.0% 5.9% 0.0% 1 0.0% 5.9% 1 0.0% 14 2,034 79.6% 5.5% 1.7% 7.8% 5.5% 20.5% 0.0% 15 1,300 87.0% 7.8% 0.8% 4.5% 0.0% 13.1% 0.0% 16 2,964 17.6% 9.8% 20.5% 28.6% 23.3% 82.2% 0.0% 17 1,343 86.6% 3.5% 6.3% 2.8% 0.8% 13.4% 0.0% 18 (part) 1,558 63.1% 7.1% 2.4% 15.5% 3.8% 28.8% 8.1% 21 774 6.20% 8.4% 12.8% 134.6% 36.6% 92.4% 1.4% 23 1,192 49.2% 8.0% 15.9% 17.4% 1 9.6% 50.9% 1 0.0% 104 2,624 62.3% 5.9% 3.0% 4.3% 7.0% 20.2% 27.5% 105 1 3,112 59.0% 5.0% 1.7% 4.6% 7.7% 19.0% 22.0% Iowa City 28,568 51.2% 8.5% 10.1% 15.7% 11.7% 46.0% 2.8% Johnson County 55,508 59.1% 7.0% 8.6% 12.5% 7.3% 35.4% 5.5% Iowa 1,332,487 77.4% 6.0% 3.7% 3.8% 5.0% 18.5% 4.1% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010 Back to Table of Contents Owners and renters: As of 2010, 13,092 occupied housing units (48.8 %) were owner - occupied and 13,728 (51.2 %) were renter - occupied. Owner- occupied housing units increased by 2.2% since 2000. However, in 2010 a majority of households still lived in rental units — a fairly common situation in small college towns across the country. Census tracts 4, 6, 11, 16, 21, and 23 contain a higher percentage of renter- occupied units than the citywide average of 51.2 %. Most of these high renter- occupied census tracts are all mostly located about the city center where the University of Iowa is located. Housing values and rents The median housing value of Iowa City in 2010 was $179,300 which is a 32.3% increase from 2000 when the median housing value was $121,400. The census tract that experienced the largest increase in median house value was tract 23. Iowa City (like much of the United States) saw a decline in housing values due to the Great Recession of 2009. Figure 8 illustrates the housing boom from 2007 to 2008 and then a nearly $10,000 decline in the median housing value in 2009. After 2009, median housing values have risen but at a much slower rate than had been seen prior to 2008. Figure 8: Housing Value 2006 - 2012 190000 j 185900 m c 180000 3 0 x 175000 c R 17UODU v � 165000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: American Community Survey 2011 The median gross rent of Iowa City did not see any decline because of the recession. However from 2008 to 2009, rents stayed almost flat. Figure 9: Median Gross Rent 2006 - 2012 „ 850 C p� 800 c v 750 v � 700 e 650 600 T �� 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: American Community Survey 2011 Back to Table of Contents 25 ■r' 10 Cast- burdened households: The US Department of Housing and Urban Development considers households who pay more than 30% of their income for housing to be housing cost- burdened. Such households experience difficulties affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care, and if they own homes, often have less money to spend on maintenance and upkeep of their homes. Iowa City is home to nearly 2,495 housing cost- burdened homeowner households. Census tracts 1, 6, 11, 15, 17, and 21 have higher rates of cost- burdened owners than the city rate of 28.3 %. Of the 13,163 renter households in Iowa City, 63.5% pay 30% or more of their income on monthly housing costs. Age ofhousingstock: Older housing units tend to be of poorer quality than more recently constructed ones. Of the owner- occupied housing units in Iowa City, about 28% (3,692 units) were built before 1959. Census tracts 6, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 23, and 104 contain the highest percentages of these older units. Of the rental housing stock, 23.5% of the units were built prior to 1959. This makes the city's rental housing stock marginally older than the county's (since only 21.3% of the county's stock was built prior to 1959). Census tract 16 had the highest percentage of units being built before 1959 (64.4 %). Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers: The Iowa City Housing Authority (ICHA) manages 81 public housing units. As of February 8, 2013, there were 539 resident applicants on the waiting list for public housing. An additional 2,728 applicants were also on this list, but they were either non- residents or single, non - elderly, non - disabled families.' ICHA also provides about 1,215 vouchers through the Housing Choice Voucher program and 50 units through the Veterans' Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. As of February 8, 2013, there were 814 resident applicants on the waiting list for Housing Choice Vouchers. An additional 4,952 applicants were on this list, but were either non - residents, or single, non - elderly, non - disabled families. ' From the 2013 Annual Repots of the Iowa City Housing Authority, dated April 22, 2013- Back to Table of Contents Section III: Evaluation of Iowa City's Current Fair Housing Status A. Fair housing complaints or compliance reviews where the Secretary has issued a charge of or made a finding of discrimination on a fair housing discrimination suit filed by the Department of Justice or private plaintiffs B. Fair Housing Complaints to the Department of Housing & Urban Development C. Fair Housing Complaints to the Iowa City Human Rights Commission D. Fair Housing Concerns: Patterns and Problems a) Residential location of minorities in Iowa City b) Measure of racial segregation in Iowa City c) Other concerns E. Survey Results Back to Table of Contents 27 Back to Table of Contents A. Charges or findings of discrimination by the Secretary of the US Department of Housing & Urban Development or fair housing discrimination suits filed by the US Department of Justice or private plaintiff No such suits, charges or findings have been made in Iowa City. B. Fair Housing Complaints filed with the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) From ,January 2008 to May 2013, HUD received a total of 43 housing discrimination complaints from Iowa City residents. Of these 43 complaints, about 46% were disability -based discrimination, and 34.9% were race -based complaints. Alleged discrimination based on disability or race were the two most common reasons for filing a complaint (see Figure 10 below). The rest of the complaints were based on a combination of disability and race (7.0 %), familial status (4.7 %), sex (4.7 %), and national origin (2.3 %). The largest number of complaints were filed in 2010 (12 complaints), closely followed by 2009 (11 complaints). Figure 10: HUD Housing Discrimination Complaints by Type of Complaint for 4.7% • Disability ■ Familial Status • National Origin ■ Race • Disability & Race • Sex Settlements were negotiated for 15 of these 43 complaints, a 34.8% settlement rate. Of these 15 complaints, eight cases involved discrimination based on disabilities alone, three cases involved race only, two cases involved discrimination based on disabilities and one or more other factors, and one case each involved discrimination based on familial status and national origin. These numbers show a concentration in complaints based on discrimination due to disabilities. In the 2008 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, housing advocates for persons with disabilities had claimed that many landlords in Iowa City refuse to provide reasonable accommodation for tenants.9 Five years later, clearly much more still needs to be done to ensure fair housing for persons with disabilities. 11 M a 9 Ibid., 49. Back to Table of Contents 29 N 30 Back to Table of Contents Fair Housing Complaints filed with the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission The Iowa City Human Rights Commission ( ICHRC), founded in 1963, is responsible for the enforcement of local anti - discriminatory laws. Housing discrimination complaints can be filed with the ICHRC on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, retaliation, age sex, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, presence or absence of dependents, disability, gender identity, or public assistance source of income.10 Between 2009 and 2012, there seem to be no drastic changes in the number of housing complaints filed with the ICHRC. Figure 11: Housing Complaints Filed with the Iowa City Human Rights 16 14 9 CD X 12 9 w to a E g 0 V w 0 6 4 a E 4 a 2 Commission 2009 -2012 2409 2010 2011 2012 Year Source 2009 -2012 Iowa City Human Rights Commission Annual Reports For each housing complaint received, ICHRC staff conducts a neutral investigation of the allegations contained in the complaint. Both parties to a housing complaint can expect the complaint to be handled by competent professionals in a timely fashion." Complaints are resolved in a variety of different ways: mediation, conciliation, right to sue, administrative closure, no probable cause, probable cause, satisfactorily adjudicated, or public hearing. Mullin & Lonergan Associates, Analysis of Impediments To Fair Housing Choice, 43 " For specific information on the process please see Tide 2 Chapter 5 of the City Code at http: //w ...sterlingcodifiers.com /codebook /index.php ?book_id =953. D. Fair Housing Concerns, Patterns, & Problems a) Residential location of minorities in Iowa City Race is a significant factor in housing markets across the nation. Despite the relatively large proportion of racial and ethnic minorities in Iowa City, there are clear spatial concentrations where these populations are located. Figures 12 and 13 show the proportion of Blacks and Hispanics in all census blocks of Iowa City in 2010. One can see that there is clear spatial concentration by race. Spatial concentration of minority populations may occur for various reasons, many of which indicate no malicious or unjust intent. However, the nature and degree of concentration poses challenges for justice and equity especially in the provision of fair housing opportunities for all. Figure 12: Percentage of Blacks in Iowa City Census Blocks, 2010 Back to Table of Contents 31 Figure 13: Percentage of Hispanics in Iowa City census blocks, 2010 b) Measuring racial segregation in Iowa City While there are several well - accepted measures of spatial concentrations of minority populations, one commonly used measure is the Index of Dissimilarity. The Index of Dissimilarity (IoD) measures the evenness of distribution of two groups across the spatial units of a geographic location. For example, an IoD for Blacks /Whites would measure the degree to which Blacks live in exclusively Black spatial areas and Whites live in exclusively White areas. The index score indicates the proportion of either group that would need to move around the city or locality for there to be an even distribution of both groups within the total population. An index score close to zero presents an ideal distribution while an index score closer to 100 presents complete racial segregation. The mathematical formula used to compute the IoD Black /White is (1/2) X 100 X SUM (bi /B) — (wi / W) I where: bi = the black population of the ith spatial unit, e.g. census tract B = the total black population of the large geographic location for which one calculates the index. wi = the white population of the ith spatial unit, e. g. census tract W = the total white population of the large geographic location for which one calculates the index of dissimilarity Back to Table of Contents We employed census blocks as the spatial unit of analysis in calculating the index to get as fine - grained an analysis as possible and permissible with cen- sus data. We calculated the IoD for Blacks versus Whites for 1990, 2000 and 2010 and for Hispanic versus non - Hispanics for 2000 and 2010. In 1990, Iowa City had 57,590 whites and 1,539 blacks. The IoD Black/ White score for 1990 was 44. This score implies that about 44 percent of blacks or whites living in Iowa City in 1990 needed to move to make the city have an even distribution of Black and Whites across census blocks. In 2000, Iowa City had 55,45412 Whites and 2,297 Blacks; the IoD Black/White score in 2000 was 52. In 2010, Iowa City had 56,861 Whites and 3,928 Blacks and an IoD Black/White score of 55. The IoD Black /White scores indicate that between 1990 and 2010, even though the number of Blacks in Iowa City increased from 1,539 to 3,928 — a 155% increase — Blacks became increasingly concentrated. We computed IoD scores for Hispanics for the years 2000 and 2010.13 In 2000, the Hispanic population of Iowa City was 1,870, and the IoD score was 42. In 2010, the number of Hispanics in Iowa City increased by 95% to 3,643; the IoD score in 2010 was 41. Thus Hispanics in Iowa City are also spatially concentrated; however, they are less concentrated than Blacks. c) Other concerns As a part of this study, we conducted interviews with staff of a few non- profit agencies that provide housing or housing- related services in Iowa City. The interviews were conducted by phone over a two week period in May, 2013. The interviews were semi- structured with questions regarding the housing services the organizations provide and tenant selection procedures. Interviewees were also asked about their perception of housing discrimination in Iowa City, whether they have heard of fair housing complaints from the populations they serve, the challenges they face in providing housing for the people they serve, and whether the organization faces any sort of constraints (budgetary, legal, or community) in providing housing for the people the population they serve. Most interviewees believed that housing discrimination was prevalent in Iowa City. However, only one interviewee knew of a client filing a fair housing complaint based on perceived discrimination because of a disability. The 12 The NRGIS data used for 1990 and US Census Bureau for 2000 suggest a decrease in the total white population in Iowa City though the overall total population for the city increased between the two periods (63,011 in 1990 to 63,653 in 2000). Unfortunately, 1990 race data available from the Census Bureau only provides numbers for the population aged 18 years and above for localities. The NRGIS data for 1990 - though an approximation of 731 blocks from GIS clipping- proved more accurate when compared to another 1990 damet from the National Historical GIS ( NHGIS). From the NHGIS 1990 race and total population dames we selected 730 blocks from the total blocks for Johnson County that fall within the Iowa City boundaries. Only 620 blocks of the 730 successfully joined in GIS with the following population breakdowns: total - 62,781; white 57,352 and black— 1,548. 13 1990 census data on Hispanics has several well -known measurement errors, so we chose not to compute a 1990 IoD for Hispanics. Back to Table of Contents 33 interviewee was not sure of the outcome of the complaint, but the client was able to find housing through a church. Another interviewee felt that the reason clients do not file complaints is that their life is complicated enough already. The top issue identified for clients transitioning out of substance abuse or homelessness programs was trouble finding landlords that will accept Housing Choice vouchers. Most interviewees said the most effective method of procuring housing for their clients is to build personal relationships with landlords throughout the city. One strategy a nonprofit has used is to go to the complex and meet the property manager with the client seeking housing, and mention nothing about the voucher. Many times, after meeting the client, they will accept them as a tenant. However, the respondent noted that the landlords have always made it a point to say that they were making an exception. Some of the clients have a criminal record or have a history of not paying rent, so another nonprofit provides housing references and letters of recommendation. These positive references seem to make it a little easier to find housing. Most interviewees also expressed concern about the size and location of the housing that their clients find. One respondent brought up the issue of apartment size for clients with disabilities. Because of their disabilities, these clients need more space; however, the apartments that they can afford are not large enough to accommodate their needs. Additionally, most respondents expressed concern about the location of the housing their clients find. The populations served by these nonprofits may be vulnerable, and the neighborhoods that accept Housing Choice vouchers may not be safe for these populations. In addition, some landlords will not accept tenants if they have previous substance abuse issues, no matter how long ago the issue occurred. One respondent mentioned that the neighborhoods where these clients can find housing may threaten the client's substance abuse recovery efforts. Respondents also identified other barriers to housing their clients. One respondent mentioned that some of their clients would not get calls back from landlords because of the way they sounded on the phone, either because they spoke with an accent or spoke a language other than English. Another respondent noted that landlords screen tenants. Up front they will state that they have no units available, but then they will ask the client about themselves anyway. This implies that they do have units available, but are looking for a particular type of tenant. Another mentioned the application fee. Generally, property managers have application fees that the clients pay, generally $20 -$30, and are then immediately notified that they will not be considered. Most of the clients served by these nonprofit organizations are on limited incomes, so application fees can be a major setback. Back to Table of Contents One nonprofit identified opposition from neighbors and community members as the group tried to purchase land, build new homes, or rezone land for the purpose of more dense building. Because of this opposition, the group either builds on land within its current zoning designation or attempts to acquire existing housing, as these two options attract less attention from the community and thus are less likely to draw criticism. Finally, in these interviews, we solicited opinions on issues like the greatest obstacles in the provision and /or availability of affordable housing and whether and how city policies could be modified to encourage affordable housing development. Three common concerns voiced are noted below. These concerns were reinforced through comments received during public discussion of a draft version of this report. a) There is very little land zoned for multi - family rental and it is very difficult to get land rezoned for affordable multi - family developments. b) The Affordable Housing Location Model is more of a barrier than an aid. This model prohibits the use of HOME and CDBG funds for development of new affordable rental housing in specific areas of Iowa City. The model exempts housing for elders and persons with disabilities from location restrictions; also rehabilitation of existing rental housing (whether subsidized or not) is not restricted by the model. The model was adopted to encourage the construction of low - income housing in parts of the city that have very few such units; but many housing advocates say that it has made development of affordable housing even more difficult by limiting the areas where such housing can be built. Housing advocates also say that land prices are too high in many of the areas to which the City is trying to redirect affordable housing development. This decreases the number of new units that can be built. c) Inclusionary zoning should be adopted to increase the supply of affordably - priced units. Inclusionary zoning would require developers to set aside some units for low- income families in exchange for additional density or some other concession in new subdivisions and apartments." Housing advocates constantly encounter "NIMBYism" (Not In My Back Yard) behaviors - where it is difficult to get properties rezoned for multi - family or transitional housing because of community opposition. Having a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy would help organizations identify affordable properties and begin the development process without having to spend time and money in administrative and judicial litigation. 14 Iowa City Scattered Site Housing Taskforce, Scattered Site Housing Taskforce Final Recommendations. fl 4 41 Back to Table of Contents 35 d) Survey Results Information gleaned from survey of assisted renters A fairly large number of assisted renters (210) completed and mailed back the survey forms that they received. A copy of the survey form that was used can be found in Appendix 6. Regardless of whether they themselves experienced a discriminatory act or not, 34% of these respondents believed that housing discrimination was a problem in Iowa City today. Discrimination based on use of a Housing Choice Voucher was believed to be the most common form of discrimination (31 %), followed by receiving other forms of public assistance (28 %), and race, national origin or color (27 %). Please note that use of a Housing Voucher is not a protected class under federal, state or local laws. So even if persons with a voucher may feel discriminated against, such discrimination is not illegal. 79% of the assisted renters that responded to the survey reported not experiencing a discriminatory act in the last three years; 21% of the respondents felt that they had been discriminated against Among those who noted experiencing discrimination, an overwhelming majority felt that they had experienced multiple incidents in a three -year period: 62% felt discriminated against between two to five times and 22% recorded experiencing over five separate incidents of discrimination. The two most perceived reasons for discrimination were both related to receiving some form of public assistance: 28% for using a housing choice voucher and 19% for receiving some other form of public assistance [see Figure 14 below]. It is worth noting that Race and Color were not the most commonly perceived reasons for discrimination. Gender, Marital Status and Sexual Orientation were not perceived to be major reasons for discrimination either. Back to Table of Contents Figure 14: Perceived Reasons for Discrimination 3% ■ Race • Color • Religion • National Origin • Gender • Marital Status ■ Sexual Orientation ■ Age • Family Status • Children • Public Assistance • Housing Choice Voucher • Disability Many respondents provided brief comments about their experiences. Below are a few of these comments. "Managements and landlords in Iowa City do not accept Section 8 Housing. Many Managers and landlords don't want to even consider it. Why do they have Section 8 Vouchers in Iowa City if no one wants to accept it." "They get rude and tell you they don't accept section 8. They hold their hands up & just say No'. Even when you explain that it's due to disability. They will still say no, you can prove you're a good tenant but it is s0000 hard to find a place that isn't in a slum or a landlord extorts you." "They told me -- Your family is too big -- although these houses are 4 bedroom for 8 household members." I went to see the apartment and I was the first person to see it. When I called back to find out if he would rent it to me, he said the landlord was looking to rent to someone older." I would set up viewing for an apartment or housing They would meet me before the showing. Seeing that I'm black they ask me are you on any housing assistance. I say yes. They say Sorry we don't accept that. And they will not want to show the apartment they had listed." "Quite a lot of property management companies would stop A dd Back to Table of Contents 37 T7 Back to Table of Contents communication with me, or lose their friendliness toward me when I told them I was in the section 8 program." "Since I am disabled, the landlord felt I couldn't keep unit clean" "One woman in whole building complained of draft at windows - she got all new windows. Everyone else complained but no one else got them, although new windows were purchased 4 or 5 years ago and never installed - her apt. only - rest of windows still in storage. One woman had severe mold around her bedroom window 3 or 4 years and finally they painted over it - gets rental asst. Comment by management: I take care of my kind." "By never calling me back, after I may have called 4 to 5 times leaving messages about the place. I am black American and I have, a white friend, he told me that, most landlords won't rent to blacks because they tear up the units, they are always fighting and are ignorant. I understand but not every Black American person are not like that." An overwhelming majority (72.5 %) of those that felt discriminated against did not report the discriminatory incident(s); only 27.5% did. The most common reason provided for not reporting the discriminatory incidents was: "Didn't know what good it would do." The next most common reasons were: fear of losing a housing opportunity, not knowing how and where to file a complaint and not realizing that the specific acts of discrimination they experienced were illegal (see Figure 15). Thus, helplessness, fear and ignorance are the major reasons why those discriminated against do not report discriminatory incidents in Iowa City today. Figure 15: Reasons for not reporting perceived discriminatory incidents ■ Didn't know what good It would do ED Idn't know where to file a complaint ■Didn't realize q was a violatiart of the law S Afraid of losing a housing opportunity ■ Didn't understand the process 1A1raid of retaliation ■ Wanted help to file but didn't receive any ■ Desrrlptfon of the process was not in my language to Process was not accessible to me as a a result of my disability ■ Missed the deadline for reporting the incident The entity most commonly contacted by those reporting discriminatory incidents was the Iowa City Housing Authority (by 44% of those reporting), followed by the Iowa City Human Rights Commission (19 %). That the Iowa City Housing Authority is the most common contact is not surprising since all respondents of this survey received some form of housing assistance. What is surprising though is that less than a fifth of those reporting discrimination chose to report to the Iowa City Human Rights Commission. When reporting discriminatory incidents, 53% reported within a week of the incident; only 18% waited over 6 months before reporting (see Figure 16 on the next page). Figure 16: Time elapsed between occurrence and reporting of discriminatory incidents ■ Less than a week ■ Between a week and a month • Over a month, but less than six months IS Over six months Many respondents offered comments on how to reduce housing discrimination in Iowa City. The suggestions can be grouped into three categories: increasing awareness about housing discrimination; increasing compliance monitoring and improving methods for reporting of violations; and increase penalties for proven discriminatory incidents. A few suggestions from each category are listed below. a) Better education: "Stop judging people because they need help." By informing landlords about housing discrimination and the consequences they have to face if they practice it." "Public education regarding the truth, not myths of specific areas in which discrimination occurs. [For example, one myth is that] Black people are loud, always play loud music or people on disability are lazy and /or crazy." Back to Table of Contents 39 II= 40 Back to Table of Contents b) Better enforcement: "Continuing to monitor all potential discriminatory practices. Just because I have had no problems doesn't mean they don't occur. My opinions are based on hearsay." Enforce the rule of Law for the voucher. A Housing authority staff should not say to us: "Ok "go and search for another house with the Landlords who agree to accept our vouc[h]ers." "This type of form, or a questionnaire sent, as this has beery after renewal agreement. Also, potential renters [should] be informed of rights and to whom or where to report any discrimination" c) More meaningful punishments: "Keep pursing the ones that are doing this to people and continue issuing fines if necessary lock them up in prison now! "... tough penalties, a discrimination hotline, ability to complain anonymously." "Creating a specific authority to file complaints..." Information gleaned from survey of unassisted renters 164 renters completed the online survey form for unassisted renters. The survey form that was used can be found in Appendix 6. 38% of the respondents in this group believed that discrimination was a problem in Iowa City today — regardless of whether they themselves experienced any discriminatory act or not. 13% believed that discrimination was not a problem in Iowa City today and 50% were unsure whether it was or not. Among all respondents, 24% percent believed that race -based discrimination was the most common form of discrimination. Discrimination based on use of public assistance (other than housing vouchers) was believed to be the next most common form of discrimination — 20 %. The vast majority — 88% — of the respondents in this group reported not experiencing any discriminatory incident personally in the last three years. Among those who noted being discriminated against, an overwhelming majority (74 %) felt that they had experienced just one discriminatory incident in the three year period; 13% felt discriminated against between two to five times and another 13% recorded experiencing over five separate incidents of discrimination. This is in sharp contrast to responses from assisted renters where the majority felt that they had experienced multiple acts of discrimination. The three most commonly perceived reasons for discrimination were family status, age and presence of children (see Figure 17 on the next page). It is worth noting that in this group also, race and color were not the most common perceived reasons for discrimination — on the contrary, these were among the least perceived reasons for discrimination. Figure 17: Perceived Reasons for Discrimination • Race ■Color •Gender Identity ■ Marital Status ■ Age • Fanniiy status • Presence or absence of children • Public assistance source of income iother than using a Housing Choice Voucher) • Using a Housing Choice Voucher ■bisability An overwhelming majority (92 %) of those that felt discriminated against did not report the discriminatory incident(s). The most common reason provided for not reporting the discriminatory incidents was: "Didn't know what good it would do." The next most common reason was: "Didn't know where to file a complaint" (see Figure 18). Thus, helplessness and ignorance are the two most common reasons why non - assisted renters in Iowa City today do not report discriminatory incidents. Unassisted renters that reported discriminatory incidents contacted either the Iowa City Housing Authority and /or landlords /property managers. 100% of them reported the incidents between a week and a month. However, in the survey, only a small number of respondents revealed the agencies they contacted and the time taken to report incidents, so too much cannot be inferred from the above findings. ir Back to Table of Contents 41 PI 11 42 Back to Table of Contents Figure 18: Reasons for not reporting perceived discriminatory incidents III know what good it would do ■ Didn't know where to file a complaint ■ tlidnt realize it was a violation of the law ■Afraid of losing a housing opportunity IN Didn't understand the process IIAfraid of retaliation K issed the deadline for reporting the Incident Similar to assisted renters that responded to the survey, many unassisted renters also provided suggestions on how to reduce housing discrimination in Iowa City. A few of these suggestions are listed below. a) More education: "Educate the public about discrimination laws; stop landlords from listing de facto preferences (`perfect for students) in advertisements" "Increased access to and awareness of the ability to complain about it. Potentially, legally forcing landlords to provide information on how to report discrimination. This may already occur through posted signs at rental offices, but a small contract acknowledging that tenants know their rights might be offered at every housing showing" "more education of landlords and property managers about not discriminating and more education for renters about their rights" b) Better enforcement: "many landlords feel they can get away with it particularly because many tenants are uninformed and don't fight back" "People need to be more proactive about reporting discrimination when it happens. Maybe having a hotline to call to report discrimination and other complaints about landlords would help people" c) Meaningful punishment: "Find ways to seriously enforce fair housing opportunity laws. I have been told that many of the thousands of cases reported to HUD every year never get reviewed so I think the property owners aren't worried about actively" "Hold landlords in the city accountable - provide an avenue for renters to easily file a complaint and make it well advertised so people know it exists" Back to Table of Contents 43 SECTION IV: Identification of impediments to Fair Housing Choice A. Public Sector a. Zoning and Site Selection b. Neighborhood Revitalization, Municipal and Other Services, �i Employment- Housing - Transportation Linkage c. Iowa City Housing Authority: Housing Options and Tenant Selection Procedures d. Sale of Subsidized Housing and Possible Displacement �i e. Private Market Affordable Housing f. Property Tax Policies g. Planning and Zoning Boards h. Building Codes regarding Accessibility B. Private Sector a. Private Restrictive Covenants b. Residential Lending C. Public and Private Sector a. Fair Housing Enforcement b. Informational Programs c. Visitability in Housing 44 Back to Table of Contents A. Public Sector a) Zoning and site selection We reviewed the city's zoning code to attempt to identify provisions that could potentially restrict housing choice in Iowa City. We used the following guidelines from HUD's Fair Housing Guide in our review: • The opportunity to develop various housing types (including apartments, housing at various densities) • The opportunity to develop alternative designs (such as cluster and planned residential developments) • If mobile or modular homes are treated as stick -built single - family dwellings • Minimum lot size requirements • Dispersal requirements for housing for persons with disabilities in single - family zones • Limits on number of unrelated persons in a unit based on the size of unit or number of bedrooms The city's zoning code features five single - family residential zones: RR -1 (Rural Residential), RS -5 (Low - Density Single - Family), RS -8 (Medium - Density Single - Family), RS -12 (High - Density Single - Family), and RNS -12 (Neighborhood Stabilization). The City also has six zones in which multi- family dwellings are permitted: RM -12 (Low - Density Multi - family), RM -20 (Medium Density Multi - family), RNS -20 (Neighborhood Stabilization) RM -44 (High - Density Multi- family), PRM (Planned High Density Multi- family), and MU (Mixed Use). The city's zoning code permits detached single- family dwellings in all single - family residential zones. The RS -5, RS -8, and RS -12 zones provisionally allow detached zero lots, attached single - family, duplexes and group household dwellings. None of these single - family zones allows new multi - family units. The zoning code permits detached single- family units in all multi - family zones, except in the RM -44 and PRM zones. The zoning code allows attached single - family, detached zero lots, and duplex units provisionally in the RM- 12, RM -20, and RNS -20 zones. Multi - family housing could also be located in commercial zones if located above the street level floor of a building. The provisional requirements mentioned above would be expected to impose limited costs to developing housing, except for attached single - family units in RS -12, RM -12, RNS -20, RM -20, and MU zones, where if four or more units are attached, a certain percentage of the facade must be constructed with brick, stone or masonry. Overall, the zoning code facilitates the production of diverse housing options, a goal that is also stated in the city's Back to Table of Contents 45 I I 46 Back to Table of Contents Comprehensive Plan. Indeed, from 2011 to 2013, the City of Iowa City issued 384 single - family permits and permits for the development of 690 multi - family units; and these multi - family units are located citywide. Iowa City allows alternative designs through its Planned Development Overlay Zone (OPD) regulations. An OPD may be requested for any properties zoned residential or commercial, as long as the property contains an undeveloped area of two acres or more, or between one to two acres if certain features, like environmentally sensitive areas, are present. Planned developments must fall into one of the following categories: sensitive areas development, conservation development, neo- traditional development, mixed -use development, infill development or alternative ownership developments such as manufactured housing parks and condominium development (multiple units on the same lot). The OPD regulation allows higher densities and other variances from the zoning code, and can lead to a mix of incomes. The zoning code's definition of mobile home allows mobile homes to be classified as a detached single - family dwelling if converted to real property and taxed as a site -built dwelling. The zoning code treats a modular home as a detached single- family dwelling, too, as long as it is placed on a permanent foundation or slab, and is not mobile. While the zoning code does not appear to be overly restrictive for these low- income housing options, the code does not account for terms included in covenants for new subdivisions (see discussion about restrictive covenants in a subsequent section). Minimum lot requirements for single - family housing in Iowa City appear to be reasonable and not directed at excluding protected populations from owning homes (see Table 7). Table 7: Minimum lot requirements for single - family housing in Iowa City Type of unit Detached, single- family RS -5 RS -8 RS -12 RNS -12 5,000 5,000 RM -12 I RM -20 I RNS -20 8,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 Attached, single - family 6,000 4,350 3,000 N/A 3,000 1,800 2,500 Duplex 12,000 8,700 6,000 6,000 6,000 3,600 5,000 Source: City of Iowa City Zoning Code. Note: Detached, single- fatnily includes zero lot dwellings The city has no dispersal requirements for housing for persons with disabilities in single - family zones. The zoning code provisionally allows group households in all single - family zones, as long as the residents of the home live as a family or household (for disabled, the "family" means up to eight persons with verifiable disabilities) and the development does not contain separate apartments. The city's definition of family limits the number of unrelated persons allowed to reside in a housing unit to a maximum of three. Use of this definition of family could prohibit low- income persons that are unrelated by blood, marriage or adoption, from pooling resources to share a house. Affordable Housing Location Model In February 2011, the City adopted a policy for the location of affordable housing for low- income residents funded by CDBG, HOME and discretionary city funds. The process of crafting this policy began with three specific objectives regarding the location of affordable housing in Iowa City: • to not increase the burden on neighborhoods and elementary schools that already have issues related to concentration of poverty; • to make neighborhoods more diverse in terms of household income levels; and • to incorporate the views of the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) about the location of affordable housing. Based on these three goals, seven factors for locating affordable housing were identified: • Distance to existing subsidized and assisted housing (namely transitional, rental, shelter and public housing units) locations excluding projects developed for the elderly and disabled persons. New assisted rental housing needs to be located at least 400 feet (or roughly one city block) away from existing subsidized and assisted rental housing; • Median household income based on US Census data; • The change in residential sale prices based on Iowa City Assessor records; • Mobility, as represented by rate of annual turnover at each elementary school from ICCSD data; • Elementary school academic performance, as indicated by Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS); • ICCSD data for percentage of students on free and reduced lunch at each elementary school; Crime density based on service calls to Iowa City Police Department pertaining to drugs, alcohol offenses, property crimes and personal injury. Using these factors, Iowa City created an Affordable Housing Location Model (Res. No. 11 -51). The model weights these seven factors differently - 40% weight to distance from existing rental housing, 20% for the mobility rate, 10% for household income, 10% for change in sale prices, 10% for Back to Table of Contents 47 crime density, 5% for ITBS performance, and 5% for free and reduced lunch rate. The entire area within the city was divided into 80 foot by 80 foot squares and each square assigned a score based on these weighted factors. Using this, an Affordable Housing Location Model map was created and a threshold score for funding was established; if a rental project sought funding at a square with a score below the threshold score, it would not be funded. In effect, the Affordable Housing Location Model map could prevent the location of additional assisted rental housing in almost the entire southeast quadrant of Iowa City. In the rest of the city, there is very little undeveloped land zoned for multi - family uses. In places where multi - family zoned land exists, there are two possible problems: a) NIMBY attitudes that would impede future affordable housing development and b) high land prices that preclude construction of affordable housing. Assisted rental housing projects for the elderly and disabled, projects for rehabilitation of existing rental (private market or subsidized) housing and projects for new construction or acquisition of owner- occupied housing are excluded from the model. When the model was adopted by the city in February 2011, housing projects approved for funding that had not identified a site were required to find one that conformed to the model. To quantify the impact of these new policies on multi - family development, we decided to document all of the land that was, as of April 2013, zoned for multi - family where funding would be available. To do this, we overlaid the Affordable Housing Location Model map with the city's zoning map (current as of April 22, 2013). All of the land currently zoned for multi - family residential (RM -12, RM -20, RM -44, MU, and PRM zoning) where funding would be available for assisted rental housing was first identified and then measured for area using the Johnson County Property Information Viewer.15 The land area identified as multi - family does not include public right of way or land with a rezoning application in progress. Nor does the total land area reflect the current land use of the property it is simply noted as developed, undeveloped or partially developed as judged by aerial photos from the Johnson County Property Information Viewer. What we found was this: Iowa City is approximately 24.4 square miles (15,616 acres) in size. There were 581 parcels covering roughly 299.24 acres (or about 1.91% of the total land area of Iowa City) zoned for multi -family residential use that are eligible for funding based on the Affordable Housing Location Model map. There were 287 parcels covering about 226.55 acres zoned for multi - family use and eligible for affordable housing funding located outside of the Central Planning District. Of these 287 parcels, 259 parcels 15 We did not include RNS -12 or RNS -20 zoning. 48 Back to Table of Contents (150.5 acres) appear to be developed, 24 parcels (59.1 acres) appeared to be partially developed, and four parcels (16 acres) to be undeveloped. There are 294 parcels covering 72.69 acres zoned for multi - family and eligible for funding located within the Central Planning District, although all of these appeared to be developed. (See Appendix 1 detailing all of the sites available for multi - family housing funding and zoned for multi -family use). A study from December 2007 titled "Affordable Housing Market Analysis" for the Iowa City Metro area stated, "There is an absence of developable land zoned for multi - family housing and available for purchase in Iowa City." The Affordable Housing Location Model map seems to have made development of new assisted rental housing even more difficult. b) Neighborhood revitalization Neighborhood revitalization is a phrase that brings to mind rebuilding of dilapidated structures or replacement through gentrification. Iowa City does not have any dilapidated or gentrifying neighborhoods. However, neighborhoods that are not dilapidated or being gentrified can also be revitalized. The City of Iowa City works through various city offices, councils, and commissions to build, maintain, and invigorate the diverse population and residential sections of the city. The Department of Planning and Community Development administers and coordinates activities related to local, state, and federal community development program funding. This office also coordinates many community activities aimed at assisting low to moderate income households, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. For example, it oversees the Housing Rehabilitation program that provides financial assistance to homeowners to maintain and update their homes with CDBG /HOME funds. Another program it oversees, the Targeted Neighborhood Improvement Program, is a CDBG /HOME program that provides funds to low- and moderate- income homeowners for maintenance and repairs of homes. A unique feature of the program is that half the loan amount is forgiven after five years. The program targets certain older neighborhoods in the city. Participants that meet CDBG /HOME income guidelines and live in targeted neighborhoods qualify for higher assistance amounts. Two other city programs help revitalize communities — the UniverCity program and the General Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (GRIP). Through the UniverCiry program, the city buys rental homes in certain neighborhoods, rehabs them and sells them as owner - occupied units for households below a certain income threshold. Since 2010, the city has purchased 46 houses, sold 31 and is currently rehabilitating 15. The GRIP program complements the CDBG /HOME programs without the same level of income targeting and helps implement the city's Housing Back to Table of Contents 49 Rehabilitation and Historic Preservation programs The City of Iowa City works with formalized and organized neighborhood associations. While not all Iowa City neighborhoods are included in a neighborhood association, this community device is a good way to maintain community cohesion. Many of the neighborhood associations have regular meetings and newsletters adding other avenues of interaction for social capital building and cohesion. c) Iowa City Housing Authority: Housing Options and Tenant Selection Procedures The Iowa City Housing Authority (ICHA) is the local Public Housing Authority (PHA). ICHAs jurisdiction is all of Johnson County and Iowa County and the portion of Washington County that is north of Highway 92. ICHA manages a small portfolio of public housing units and administers a large number of housing choice vouchers. ICHA Public Housing Units: The ICHA, as noted earlier, currently manages 81 public housing units. As of February 2013, 79 of the 81 public housing units were occupied. The waiting list for these units was closed in October 201216, and opened on October 11, 2013". The majority of those on the waiting list are families with minor children or individuals with disabilities. When a unit becomes available, wait - listed applicants for public housing are first sorted by bedroom size, preference category, and date of application. ICHA conducts a five -year criminal background check through the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to the ICHAs website, ICHA uses the following preference categories': 1. Displaced: Individuals or families displaced by government action or whose dwelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster declared or otherwise formally recognized pursuant to federal disaster relief laws. This preference is only for disaster victims in the State of Iowa; 2. Families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction 24 CHI 982.207(b)(1): 3. Adult families (2 or more household members) with no children under 18 years of age who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 4. Elderly, or disabled families who are not residents (do not have a legal domicile) in 16 Iowa City Housing Authority Annual Report 2013, p. 10. 17 Whether it is still open in February 2014 is not known. 18 Iowa City Housing Authority, Preference Categories Waiting List Information. Available at: hup: // www.icgo¢org / ?id -1194. Last accessed on December 10, 2013. s0 Back to Table of Contents the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 5. Families with children under the age of 18 or who are not residents (do not have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 6. Adult families (2 or more household members) with no children under 18 years of age who are not residents (do not have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 7. Single, non - elderly, non - disabled families with no children under 18 years of age regardless of residency. From the ICHA website, it is not very clear if the preference categories are prioritized as listed in the list above; i.e., are displaced persons (list as #1) prioritized over elderly or disabled families that are not residents in ICHAs jurisdiction. Email communication from ICHAs administrator indicated that ICHAs primary preference category is: "Families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction "." ICHA provides applicants their position number on the waiting list. However, wait times cannot be predicted and so are not indicated to the applicants. ICHA Housing Choice Voucher Program: ICHA manages two voucher programs — the Housing Choice Voucher program and the Veterans' Affairs Supportive Housing program. The ICHA manages 1,215 vouchers through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Demand for vouchers far exceeds supply and ICHA has a long waiting list of voucher applicants. The waiting list for the HCV program was closed in October 201220, and opened on October 11, 2013. Wait- listed applicants for the HCV program are first sorted by local preference category, then by date of application. Then, just as in the case of Public Housing, ICHA conducts a five -year criminal background check through the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to the ICHA, the preference categories for the HCV program is the same as for Public Housing; and the "primary preference category is families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction. 1121 For the HCV program too, ICHA provides applicants their position number on the waiting list. 19 Email communication from the ICHA administrator forwarded to the consultants by Ms. Tracy Hightshoe on November 8, 2013. 20 Iowa City Housing Authority Annual Report 2013, p. 10. 2' Email communication from the ICHA administrator forwarded to the consultants by Ms. Tracy Hightshoe on November 8, 2013. Back to Table of Contents 51 ICHA's website provides information for voucher recipients to help locate landlords. Links are provided for affordable family housing, housing for elders and disabled persons, project -based affordable housing developments and general rental listings. n Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, 664 new and moving vouchers were issued. Of these 664 vouchers issued in 2011 -2012 (representing about half of all vouchers), only 88% were utilized. 12% of the recipients were unable to find a unit. However, according to the ICHA ", it is nearly impossible to know if the failure to find a unit was because the individuals faced income source or some other form of discrimination, or because they conducted bad searches, had unreasonably high expectations of the kind of housing that could be found, had bad credit, bad landlord references or could not provide the security deposit. Vouchers recipients typically need to find a housing unit within 120 days of allotment; but a recipient conducting an active search for a unit is sometimes given a time extension if experiencing trouble finding an appropriate unit. Also certain local agencies (such as Shelter House and United Action for Youth) occasionally help some voucher recipients in the housing search process. As noted on the previous page, the ICHA also manages 50 Veterans' Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers (VASH). According to the ICHA 13, in October 2012, the HUD -VASH program implemented the Housing First concept for the delivery of services. Housing First places permanent housing i with support services at the foundation for success and stability, including better access and outcomes with treatment services. The Housing First model minimizes barriers to recovery and focuses on access, rapid engagement, and then sustainment of community -based permanent housing. That means that veterans can move from the streets or shelters directly into permanent housing as quickly and safely as possible. Housing First helps VA focus HUD VASH on veterans experiencing the most significant challenges to housing stability, including chronic homelessness, severe mental illness, and other significant barriers. In order to participate in the program, applicants must commit to the VAs 5 -year case management program, be income eligible, and not be subject to any lifetime sex offender registry listing requirement. Key characteristics of the head of households for participants from all ICHA programs across all of ICHAs jurisdiction (and not just Iowa City) between October 1, 2011 and January 31, 2013 were as follows": 22 Ibid. 13Ibid. 24 Ibid. Back to Table of Contents White Head of Household 790(61% • Households without Minor Children 732(57%) • One Person Households 673(52%) • Working Households 622(48%) • Disabled Heads of Households 569(44%) • Households with Minors 563(43%) • Non - Disabled /Non - elderly Heads of Households 534(41%) • Black/African- American Head of Household 453(35%) • Elderly and Disabled Head of Household 1170%) • Elderly Head of Household 75(6%) • All Other Races Head of Household 390%) The percentage of Non -White and disabled heads of households (listed above) is much higher than in the general population. From this we believe that protected classes are generally not being denied the opportunity to participate in ICHA programs. However, we note some concerns about the residency preference based on how ICHA has two categories of people in its waiting lists for the HCV and the Public Housing programs. We discuss this in the next few paragraphs. As of February 8, 2013, there were 814 resident applicants on the waiting list for ICHAs HCV program. An additional 4,952 applicants were on this list, but were either non - residents, or single non - elderly, non - disabled families. Correspondence with the ICHA administrator revealed that: a) the 814 resident applicants are primarily from preference category #2 (i.e., families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction 24 CFR 982.207(b)(1)); b) that the 4,952 additional applicants were from preference categories 3 thm 7. c) and that "The simple fact is regarding applicants, is we do not foresee a time when all applicants in the following category will ever be exhausted. This category is our pool of applicants ...: Families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction 24 CFR 982.207(b) (1)' The primary difference between applicants in preference categories 2 and 3 and those in preference categories 4,5 and 6 is residency. The ICHA was not able to provide demographic data on the additional 4,952 applicants in the waiting list that are from categories 3 -7. Since these additional 4,952 applicants include those from preference categories 4, 5, and 6 that could be comprised of a majority of protected class members, it may well be that many Back to Table of Contents 53 protected classes are in effect being denied or delayed access to the HCV program because of the residency preference. d) Sale of subsidized housing R Since 1998, the Iowa City Housing Authority (ICHA) has sold 26 public Ihousing units. The last unit was sold in August 2006. The units were sold through the tenant -to -owner program, so individuals living in the units were given preference for purchasing them. All units had a 15 -year affordability period attached to them when sold. The ICHA has no intentions at present to sell any more units, primarily because the maintenance funding mechanism through HUD provides a per -unit allowance and the current size of the public housing portfolio (of 81 units) is viewed as a good minimum size to run as an efficient public housing program. e) Private Market Affordable Housing As of May 2013, there were 1,187 private - market, assisted housing units in Iowa City (see Table 8), created through various programs, such as Low- Income Housing Tax Credits and Project -Based Section 8. Many of the housing units are managed by private property management companies; some are managed by non -profit organizations. Housing Choice Vouchers are accepted at all units except Project -Based Section 8 units. A total of 351, or about 30 %, of privately- assisted housing units are reserved for the elderly. Tenant selection requirements for privately- assisted housing vary, although all require tenants to be at or below a certain percentage of Area Median Income (AMI). Table 8: Private market, assisted units in Iowa City, 2013 Privately- Assisted Housing Total Units N of Active Vouchers Type of Units Vouchers accepted Elder housing Aniston Village 22 13 Separate houses ✓ Autumn Park Apartments 64 0 1 BR Berry Court 14 11 Multiple options ✓ Builders of Hope 6 2 SRO ✓ Capitol House 81 0 1 BR ✓ Charm Homes 4 SRO Concord Terrace Apartments 30 22 1 & 2 BR ✓ ✓ Corridor Woods 6 5 ✓ Ecumenical Towers 81 0 Studio& 1 BR ✓ Emerson Point 54 18 1 BR ✓ ✓ Extend the Dream Foundation 3 Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc 51 7 Multiple options ✓ Iowa City Housing Authority 81 0 Multiple options n/a Back to Table of Contents 1515 10 10 Multiple options ✓ Lexington Place 30 18 1 & 2 BR ✓ ✓ Mayors youth Program 4 SRO MECCA 12 3 Multiple options ✓ Melrose Ridge 18 15 1 & 2 BR ✓ Pheasant Ridge Apartments (market rate) 17 10 1, 2, & 3 BR ✓ Pheasant Ridge Apartments (project based) 231 0 1, 2, & 3 BR Regency Heights 37 16 1 & 2 BR ✓ ✓ Regency Heights 11 38 14 1 & 2 BR ✓ ✓ Saratoga Springs 16 9 Multiple options ✓ Shelter House 6 SRO Successful Living 37 20 Multiple options ✓ Systems Unlimited 18 2 Multiple options ✓ Systems Unlimited 48 0 Multiple options The Housing Fellowship 77 51 Multiple options ✓ United Action foryouth 7 SRO Wetherby Condos South LLC 56 Multiple options Whispering Garden 12 7 Multiple options ✓ Witti ng Renta is 16 SRO Total 1,187 253 Note: Housing Choice Vouchers aze not accepted for Project -Based Section 8 housing units f) Property Tax Policies Real estate property taxes are not direct impediments to fair housing choice, but taxes do impact housing affordability and influence households' housing choices. Tax increases as a result of rate changes or higher property assessments may be burdensome to low- income homeowners; and tax increases are of[en passed on to renters through monthly rent costs. Since property taxes are levied without regard to a family's income, property taxes for lower- income families constitute a larger share of their income than for higher- income families, making them "regressive" taxes. Tax forgiveness or other tax relief policies can help lower- income homeowners. Such policies can be part of an overall, much larger strategy to promote fair housing because they help to preserve homeownership opportunities for groups like minority families, elderly homeowners, low - income households, and persons with disabilities, who otherwise would have 1or Back to Table of Contents 55 Back to Table of Contents only rental options. Additionally, some tax policies provide relief to eligible renters. Tax assessmentprocess far realproperty and mobile /manufactured homes: Real estate taxes are levied on land and buildings and provide primary revenue streams for counties, municipalities, and school districts throughout Iowa. County assessment offices establish the market value of each property and then apply a pre- determined ratio to establish a property's assessed value. The taxable value is the value determined by the auditor after application of state ordered "rollback" percentages for the various classes of property. In Iowa City, the taxable value of residential property after the rollback is 52.817% of the assessed value. Thus for example, the taxable value of a property assessed at $100,000 equals $52,817. In Iowa City, a property tax is levied on all real property, though there are some exceptions. For example, affordable rental housing owned and managed by most non -profit housing organizations is exempt from property tax. Property taxes are payable in two equal installments; the first due in September, the second in March of the next year for taxes assessed the previous fiscal year. Several entities receive the tax, including the School District, the City, and the County. The Iowa Department of Revenue's "An Introduction to Iowa Property Tax" summarizes property tax laws and procedures, and can be viewed online at http: / /www.iowa.gov /tax/ educate /78573.html. Owners of a mobile home or manufactured home located within a mobile home park pay an annual tax based on the square footage of the home and annual household income. Property tax reliefpragrams that increase access to housing: Many Iowa City residents can take advantage of property tax relief policies made available through state tax codes. Iowa law provides for a number of exemptions and credits, including Homestead Credit and Military Exemption; a brief description of these is provided in Appendix 2. It is the property owner's responsibility to apply for these as provided by law. Application forms for exemptions and credits are available online from the Iowa Department of Revenue: http: / /www.iowa.gov /tax /forms /propexcredit.html. Impacts ofproperty tax on renters: Renters indirectly pay property taxes as a portion of the rent, and increases in property taxes on landlords may be passed on to tenants in the form of rent increases. Property tax increases can impact landlord /tenant cost burdens several ways, including: a) the landlord absorbs the increase; b) the landlord and tenant divide the increase; c) the increase is passed along entirely to the tenant; and d) the rent increase exceeds property tax increase. The condition of the rental market may impact how rents are affected by property tax increases. In a tight rental market, which may best describe the market in Iowa City, landlords can likely pass property tax increases on to renters. Some rental units are exempt from property tax, which may benefit tenants. The Iowa Low -Rent Housing Exemption, in particular, exempts property owned and operated or controlled by a nonprofit organization providing low -rent housing for persons at least 62 years old or persons with physical or mental disabilities. Many assisted housing units in Iowa City, especially those built with HOME funds, are exempt from property taxes." g) Planning and Zoning Boards Iowa City has several boards that weigh in on land development decisions. These boards are populated by lay citizens that are appointed by the City Council. The boards are helped in their efforts by well - qualified city staff. The boards include: • The Planning and Zoning Commission • The Board of Adjustments • The Historic Preservation Commission • The Housing and Community Development Commission Meetings of these boards and commissions are open to the public and records of all business conducted by them are easily available from the city. Our research did not find any indications that planning and zoning boards in Iowa City were making decisions that were suspect from a fair housing perspective. h) Building Codes regarding Accessibility In December 2009, Iowa City adopted the International Building Code, 2009 edition, and the international residential code to provide for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Iowa City. The provisions in the code are intended to implement design features that provide accessibility, usability and visitability for all. All housing projects given public funds from the City of Iowa City need to adhere to the minimum accessibility requirements for all dwelling units. A detailed list of all accessibility requirements is contained in Appendix 3. From our analysis of the building code, we conclude that the building code fosters greater accessibility. 's This property tax exemption sometimes helps projects meet local match requirements for HOME funding. M a Back to Table of Contents 57 LIN Back to Table of Contents B. Private sector a) Restrictive Covenants Many new subdivisions in Iowa City have restrictive covenants. Between January 1, 2009 and April 20, 2013, Iowa City approved final plats for 15 new residential subdivisions. Of these, six (or 40 %) have restrictive covenants running with the land (Table 9). Table 9: Covenants for subdivisions approved in Iowa City from 2009 -2013 Year Subdivision Covenants 2009 Country Club Estates 3rd Addition no Mount Prospect Part4 no Stone Bridge Estates Part 6 yes Hickory Pointe no 2010 None 2011 Terra Verde no Rochester Ridge Parts 1 and 2 yes Stone Bridge Estates Part 7 yes Mackinaw Village Part 3 no Walnut Ridge Part 22 no 2012 Mackinaw Village Part4 yes Peninsula Neighborhood Parts 3 -5 no Cardinal Pointe South Part3 no Brookwood Pointe 2nd Addition Yes Rochester Ridge Part 3 No Windsor West Part 2 yes Source: Johnson County Recorder's Office In all six subdivisions, the covenants restricted construction and use to single - family residential. Some of the covenants went a step further. One banned industry, business, trade or a profession that would cause annoyance or nuisance to neighbors or entail more than occasional clients or customers. Another disallowed business signage and any "obnoxious or offensive" trade or any business that would draw the general public to the house. All of the covenants required owners to join the Homeowner's Association and pay membership fees and assessments or face a lien on the lot. One covenant allowed no more than three persons unrelated to the owner in possession of the lot to occupy or reside in the dwelling. Clearing, renovating or rebuilding after a fire or natural disaster damage within 90 days of the event was mandated in three of the covenants. All but one of the covenants placed a minimum on total built -up living area; this ranged from 1,000 -1,500 square feet for a one -story structure and 1,400 -2,000 for a two -story structure." No detached garages, trailers, mobile homes, sheds, shacks or other outbuildings apart from the principal single - family structure were allowed by any of the covenants. Attached garages x' The total does not include garages, breezeways, screened porches, open porches, decks, or third story square footage. with a minimum capacity of two cars (but not more than three cars) were mandated by all but one of the covenants. All but two covenants required garages to be serviced by a concrete driveway, and one covenant specified a 20 -foot width for the driveway. All but one covenant restricted the height of the structure to not more than two stories, or not more than two stories and an exposed basement to the side or rear. There were three covenants with setback requirements: minimum front setbacks from 20 feet to 30 feet and side setbacks from five feet to seven feet just one covenant had a rear setback requirement, which was 20 feet. All but one covenant had limits on materials that could be used for the exterior surfaces of a house: three limited material to brick, stone or horizontal lap siding, with front elevations consisting of between 25% and 50% brick, stone or a combination thereof; another restricted exterior material to some portion in brick with the remainder of vinyl, steel, aluminum, brick, stone, or other permanent type siding material of similar quality. One covenant disallowed flat - roofed dwellings and required a minimum roof pitch. All but one covenant had clauses mandating that the homeowner plant trees, ranging from one to five trees, and specified the size of the tree that could be planted. Homeowners were responsible for installing sidewalk along the lot's frontage to a specified width in two of the covenants. All but two covenants required yards to be sodded and well - maintained. Only fences made of poly - covered black or green chain link, four feet in height, were allowed by four of the covenants. An exterior decorative yard light with photoelectric sensor and black pole on each lot was required by one covenant. All of these covenants tend to raise the price of the dwelling unit. Past research in other locations seem to suggest a significant price escalation from such covenants. For example, a regression analysis of properties in Baton Rouge, LA showed that restrictive covenants accounted for a 6% difference in price between similar houses in comparable neighborhoods even ten years after the neighborhoods were originally developed .21 Price increases of this magnitude may have exclusionary effects on protected populations. b) Residential Lending It is well known that protected classes often have lesser access to home loans and if they do, often at higher costs. In this section of the report we examine if this is the case in Iowa City. For this, we used data collected and made publicly available by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1974, commonly referred to as HMDA. By requiring banks and other financial institutions to report the race, gender, age, and other characteristics of loan applicants, a Hughes, William & Jeffrey Turnbull. 1996. Uncertain Neighborhood Effects and Restrictive Covenants. Journal of Urban Economics, 39, p. 160 -172. ri � 0 Back to Table of Contents 59 HMDA data enables detection of discrimination. I We analyzed 2009 -2011 loan activity reported in HMDA disclosures for the Iowa City MSA. Because several census tracts were not fully contained within the City of Iowa City and because HMDA data was not available for areas smaller than census tracts, all figures refer to the Iowa City MSA except where noted. Below we provide an overview of the housing lending activity and describe loan denials by race, ethnicity, and gender. Tabulations of loan applicants by race, ethnicity, gender, and income were created using HMDA in conjunction with population data from the American Communities Survey (ACS) population five -year estimates for 2010. Because income is an important factor in qualifying for a loan we grouped loan applicants into income groups for better comparisons. Loan applicants were grouped into five categories based on Iowa City MSAs area median income in 2010. These income group categories were: < 30% AMI, 30% to 50% AMI, 50% to 80% AMI, 80% to 100% AMI, and > 100% AMI. Housing loan activity in the Iowa City MSA Between 2009 and 2011, a total of 34,873 housing loan applications were reported for the Iowa City MSA. 40% of all loan applications were made to banks in Iowa, and 60% to banks incorporated out of the state. Applicants requested loans totaling $5.4 billion dollars. 59% of all housing loan applications were approved, 8% were denied, and 33% were either withdrawn or deemed incomplete or rejected by the applicant (see Figure 19). -'pure 19: Approval status of all housing loans in Iowa City MSA 33 %_ • Approved • Denied _59% ■Other action Housing loans are classified into four types: a) Conventional loans are loans that are not insured by the government; b) FHA loans that are insured by the Federal Housing administration; c) VA loans that are insured by the Veteran's Administration and c) FSA/RSH loans that are insured by the Farm Service 60 Back to Table of Contents Agency or the Rural Housing Service. Conventional loans comprised 89% of all loans in Iowa City MSA between 2009 and 2011, while FHA loans made up 7% and VA and FSA/RHS loans made up the remaining 2 %. Over 61% of all conventional loans, about 41% of FHA loans, 51% of VA loans and 48% of FSA/RHS loans were approved (see Table 10). Table 10: Status of all loans by type Loan Ty Approved Denied Other action Total Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Conventional 19029 61.02% 2270 7.28% 9888 31.71% 31187 FHA 1019 40.89% 345 13.84% 1128 45.26% 2492 VA 291 50.96% 41 7.18% 239 41.86% 571 FSA /RHS 299 47.99% 34 5.46% 290 46.55% 623 Grand Total 20638 59.18% 2690 7.71% 11545 33.11% 34873 98% of all Iowa City MSA housing loans were for one- to four - family struc- tures. Manufactured housing and multifamily housing loans made up the remainder. 93% of housing loans were made by applicants intending to live in the structure, while 6% were for non -owner occupied structures. Refinancing loans made up the majority, 63 %, of all housing loans between 2009 and 2011. Home purchase loans comprised only 32% of all housing loans while home improvement loans made up 5 %." Approval rates for home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans varied between 53% and 69% (see Table 11). HMDA data indicates that home improvement loans were more likely to be denied by the lending institution, while home purchase and refinance loans were more likely to have another issue preventing them from going through. Table 11: Status of all housing loans by purpose Loan Purpose Approved Denied Other action Total Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Purchase 7714 69.00% 546 4.88% 2919 26.11% 11179 Improvement 1317 72.52% 241 13.27% 258 14.21% 1816 Refinancing 11607 53.05% 1903 8.70% 8368 38.25% 21878 Grand Total 20638 59.18% 2690 7.71% 11545 33.11% 34873 Housing loan applications by males outnumbered those made by females by almost three to one from 2009 to 2011 (see Figure 20 below). And women were denied loans 30% of time when their incomes were below 30% AMI, almost twice the rate as men (Figure 21 on the next page). Above 30% AMI, men and women were both denied loans at about the same rate; and the denial rate steadily declined from approximately 15% to 8% as incomes increased. 2' Hughes, William & Jeffrey Turnbull. 1996. Uncertain Neighborhood Effects and Restrictive Covenants. Journal of Urban Economics, 39, p. 160 -172. Back to Table of Contents 61 Figure 20: Loan applications by gender, 2009 -2011 3% 28% ■ Male • Female • Unknown 69% El Figure 21: Housing loan denial rate bygender and income ,tamv.±. a 35.00% d a� 30.00% a c 35.00% c ■Male 0 2000% m ■Female A 15.00% 10.00% ■lhiknnwn d a 5.00% 0.00% 30% AMI 3o %to5n% 5o %to8n% amto100% >lnn %AMI AMI AMI AMI Income group About 89% of loan applicants in the Iowa City MSA were White, followed by Asian applicants at three percent (Figure 22). Black applicants made up about 1% of housing loan applicants, while American Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders were each less than 1% of all applicants. 2% of all loan applicants were of Hispanic or Latino origin. 7% of loan applicants were of unknown ethnicity.21 a The lack of data represented by the unknown race category is a problem since this category accounted for seven percent of all loans and all minorities combined accounted for less than that -- about five percent. Back to Table of Contents Figure 22: All housing loan applications by race sx ow 1560% American Indian or Alaska 796 Native E Asian ■ Black or African Americar ■ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Is{ander ■ White Unknown Past studies of disparities in access to lending by race have shown that minorities often have lesser access to lending than Whites. To examine this, we compared the ratios of share of loan applications by share of total population for Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Whites. A ratio of 1.00 would indicate that an ethnic group's share of loan applications is consistent with its share of the total population. We found the ratios to be 0.25 for Blacks, 0.38 for Hispanics, 0.51 for Asians and 0.94 for Whites. These ratios indicate that the share of loan applications made by Whites is very close to the White share of the total population; however, for Blacks, Hispanics and Asians, the shares of loan applications are significantly below their shares in the population. This seems to suggest that minorities may not have the same access to lending as Whites in the Iowa City area. Denials by race and ethnicity The greatest overall difference in loan denial rates by loan type was between Hispanics and Whites as shown in the Figure 23 below. Hispanics experienced a 10% point higher denial rate for conventional loans, a 16% point higher denial rate for FHA loans, and a 5% point higher denial rate for FSA /RHS loans than Whites. The next three sections break down the overall loan denial rates by home purchase loans, refinancing loans, and home improvement loans. Back to Table of Contents 63 Figure 23: Loan application denials by loan type, race, and ethnicity 35.00% 30.00% 2500% m ■AClan 20.00% 'm y 15.00% ■ Black nr African American O 1000% ■ W hire 5.00% 0.00% ■ Hicpanir Conventional FHA VA FSA /RHS Loantype Denial rates far home purchase loans: Blacks experienced the highest denial rates in the less than 30% AMI and 30 -50% A 41 income categories (see Figure 24). Hispanics experienced the highest loan denial rates in the 50- 80% AMI and 80- 100% AMI categories. At income levels over 100% AMI, all groups had similar loan denial rates. Figure 24: Home purchase loan denial rates by race /ethnicity and income 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% ■Asian F M 30.00% ■Blackor African c m American O 20.00% ■ White 10 00% ■Hisparllc or Latino 0.00% c 30 %AMI 30 %to 50% 50 %to 8O %80 %to 100 %, 100 %AMI AM1 AMI AMI Denial rates for home refinance loans: Home refinance loan statistics were scant for minorities in the <30% AMI income category due to low sample size (Figure 25). The highest denial rate for refinance loans was for Asians in the 30 -50% AMI category. In the 50 % -80% AMI income group, the denial rate for Hispanics was more than twice that of the Whites. Blacks and Hispanics both experienced higher denial rates than Whites in the 80 %- 100% AMI and over 100% AMI categories. White applicants had higher denial rates than Hispanic applicants at 30-50% AMI and Black applicants at 50-80% AMI. Back to Table of Contents Figure 25: Home refinance loan denial rates by race /ethnicity and income 45.o0% 40 00% 35.00% 30.00% ■Asian «25.00% 08 [a ck ar African my0,00% American c • white 10.00% ■ Hispanic or Latino 5.00% 0.00% 30% AMI 30% to 50% 50% to 60 %90%to 700 % >300 %AMI AMI AMI AMI Income Denial rates for home improvement loans: There were very few minority home improvement loan applications, especially from Blacks. Blacks were excluded from this analysis due to too few observations. The available data show that at income levels higher than 50% AMI, Hispanics and Asians were denied home improvement loans at a higher rate than Whites. At incomes below 50% AMI, there were very few non -White applicants. Figure 26: Home improvement loan denials by race, ethnicity, and income 60.00% 50.00% 40 00% ■Asian %30.00% — •While 22000% v v 10.00% ■ Hispanic or Latina 0.00% <30%AMI 3U% to 50% 513% to 60%!30 %to 100 %>100 %AMI AMI AMI AMI Income Reasons for denial and other actions taken Housing loans were denied by financial institutions for a variety of reasons. Our analysis reveals that credit history, a high amount of debt relative to income, and lack of collateral were the primary reasons for denial among all groups. Blacks had the highest percentage of denials because of a bad credit history, followed by Hispanics, Whites and Asians. Asians had the highest percentage of denials for having high debt -to- income ratios, followed by Back to Table of Contents 65 Hispanics, Whites, and Blacks. Among minor reasons for loan denial, Blacks and Whites were the only groups to have problems with insufficient cash. Hispanics and Whites were the only groups to have issues with employment history; and Blacks, followed by Hispanics and Whites were most likely to have been denied because of having unverifiable information. Asian applicants, followed by Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics were most likely to leave loan applications incomplete, while Whites were the only group to be denied due to rejection by mortgage insurers. Many applicants do not follow through on an application - most withdraw them while others reject an approved loan (see Figure 28). Blacks were the most likely to withdraw an application after it was submitted. Figure 28: Reasons for housing loans being incomplete by Race and Ethnicity 2a 66% 18.00% 16.00% ■ Asian 14.0044 12.00% ■ Black or African 1006% American 5.00% 6.00% • whit' 4.00% 2,06% • Hispanic or Lanno O.OD% Application Application rile closed for approved but not withdrawn by Incompleteness accopted applicant Action taken Lending practices We examined the lending practices of financial institutions in the area that received at least 20 applications from minority applicants. We found that four of the five lenders that met this threshold denied applications from Black applicants at rates that were between 1.71 and 16.66 percentage points higher than the denial rates for White applicants. We also found that banks denied loans to Black and Hispanic applicants at a higher rate than White applicants. Six banks received at least 20 applications from Hispanics; we found that five out of these six denied applications from Hispanic applicants at rates that were 4.05 to 15.01 percentage points higher than the denial rates for White applicants. We do not have access to credit scores and credit histories of loan applicants, so we cannot conclusively assert that the higher denial rates of Blacks and Hispanics is due to race; however, the differences in Black and Hispanic denial rates across the banks we analyzed, raise concerns about race Back to Table of Contents being a factor in the loan denials. From prior research on disparities in access to lending by race, it is well known that when minorities are approved for loans, they often receive higher interest rate loans than Whites. We examined whether this was the case in the Iowa City area by comparing the proportion of high cost loans by race (Figure 29). We found that from 2008 onwards, this proportion has declined across all groups. However, a higher proportion of Blacks still have higher cost home loans than Whites, Asians or Hispanics.30 Figure 29: Percentage of high -cost loans by race Source: HMDA data as repotted by PolicyMapO. C. Public and Private Sector a) Fair Housing Enforcement Founded in 1963, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission (ICHRC) is the local agency responsible for enforcing the anti - discrimination laws stated in the City Code. The general responsibilities of the ICHRC are: educating the public about civil rights and illegal discrimination, enforcing the Human Rights Ordinance, cooperating with other organizations committed to civil rights and furthering the goals of the Human Rights Ordinance by organizing programs designed to eliminate racial, religious and cultural intergroup tensions. ICHRC is composed of Iowa City residents who serve three -year terms and are appointed by the City Council. When appointing residents to the ICHRC, consideration is given to the cultural, religious, racial, social and economic backgrounds of potential appointees to guarantee a diversity of ideas and interests. The ICHRC meets every month and the meetings are open to the public. Commission members are assisted by two ICHRC staff - a Human Rights Coordinator and Human Rights Investigator. ICHRC staff serve as impartial third party to investigate complaints alleging discrimination in housing, education, employment, credit and public accommodation. ICHRC's FY 2013 budget was $235,530. sn A high cost loan is one where the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the loan is higher than a benclumark number by a certain amount. Between 2004 and 2009Q3, the rate spread on a loan was the difference between the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the loan and the treasury security yields on the date of the loan's origination. Rate spreads were only reported by financial institutions if the APR was three or more percentage points higher for a first hen loan, or five or more percentage points higher for a second hen loan. From 2009Q4 onwards, the rate spread on a loan is the difference between the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the loan and the estimated average prime offer rate (APOR). Rate spreads are only reported by financial institutions if the APR is more than 1.5 percentage points higher for a first hen loan, or more than 3.5 percentage points higher for a second lien loan. Back to Table of Contents 67 2005 2006 2007 2008 200901- Q3 2009Q4 2010 2011 Whites 7.17% 11.58% 4.78% 4.35% 2.22% 2.06% 0.67% 0.76% Blacks 13.64% 22.22% 28.57% 25.00% 0.00% 0.00% 13.33% 20.00% Asians 0.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.45% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Hispanics 4.76% 0.00% 13.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Source: HMDA data as repotted by PolicyMapO. C. Public and Private Sector a) Fair Housing Enforcement Founded in 1963, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission (ICHRC) is the local agency responsible for enforcing the anti - discrimination laws stated in the City Code. The general responsibilities of the ICHRC are: educating the public about civil rights and illegal discrimination, enforcing the Human Rights Ordinance, cooperating with other organizations committed to civil rights and furthering the goals of the Human Rights Ordinance by organizing programs designed to eliminate racial, religious and cultural intergroup tensions. ICHRC is composed of Iowa City residents who serve three -year terms and are appointed by the City Council. When appointing residents to the ICHRC, consideration is given to the cultural, religious, racial, social and economic backgrounds of potential appointees to guarantee a diversity of ideas and interests. The ICHRC meets every month and the meetings are open to the public. Commission members are assisted by two ICHRC staff - a Human Rights Coordinator and Human Rights Investigator. ICHRC staff serve as impartial third party to investigate complaints alleging discrimination in housing, education, employment, credit and public accommodation. ICHRC's FY 2013 budget was $235,530. sn A high cost loan is one where the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the loan is higher than a benclumark number by a certain amount. Between 2004 and 2009Q3, the rate spread on a loan was the difference between the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the loan and the treasury security yields on the date of the loan's origination. Rate spreads were only reported by financial institutions if the APR was three or more percentage points higher for a first hen loan, or five or more percentage points higher for a second hen loan. From 2009Q4 onwards, the rate spread on a loan is the difference between the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the loan and the estimated average prime offer rate (APOR). Rate spreads are only reported by financial institutions if the APR is more than 1.5 percentage points higher for a first hen loan, or more than 3.5 percentage points higher for a second lien loan. Back to Table of Contents 67 ICHRC accepts complaints related to employment, education, credit, public accommodation, and housing on one or more of these 15 factors: age, race, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, creed, sex, familial status, presence or absence of dependents, color, religion, retaliation, public assistance source of income, and gender identity.31 If someone believes that they have been discriminated against, they can file a complaint with the ICHRC. A person has 300 days to file a complaint of discrimination after the alleged discriminatory act. Complaint forms (in English and Spanish) are available at the ICHRC's webpage, in the office during business hours, and via standard mail when so requested. When a request is made for a mail -in complaint form, a self - addressed stamped envelope is included in the mailing. Complaints are reviewed and written opinions prepared using appropriate legal analytical frameworks. And the Human Rights Coordinator makes a determination as to whether probable cause exists. Generally, the largest number of complaints received by the ICHRC is I related to employment discrimination followed by housing discrimination complaints... 33 34 The 2012 ICHRC Annual Report states that persons with disabilities are the most cited characteristic for alleged discriminatory conduct35 in all complaints filed with the Commission. The next most common characteristic is race -based complaints, followed by illegal retaliation and sex, respectively. Overall, when reviewing the reports from these four years, disability tends to be the leading characteristic for which persons cite discrimination. It took the ICHRC an average of 180 days during FY 2009 -2012 to resolve W complaints though the time period fluctuated quite a bit from year to year: 174 days in 2009, 212 days in 2010, 113 days in 2011, and 222 days in 2012. The majority of cases filed between fiscal years 2009 -2012 were found to have no probable cause; some of the cases were mediated and for others a right to sue was issued .36 Iowa City's Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of age, color, creed, familial status, national origin, presence/ absence of dependents, public assistance source of income (other than housing vouchers), race, religion, retaliation, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Discriminatory practices noted in Chapter Five of the Human 31 Iowa City Code Section 2 -5 -1. 32 Iowa City Human Rights Commission, Iowa City Human Rights Commission Annual Report for FY 2012, 40. Iowa City Human Rights Commission, Iowa City Human Rights Commission Annual Report for FY 2011, 16. u Iowa City Human Rights Commission, Iowa City Human Rights Commission Annual Report for FY 2010. 35 Ihid., 41. x Hutnan Rights Commission Fiscal Year reports 2009 -2012. 68 Back to Table of Contents Rights Ordinance include: • Refuse to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, refitse to negotiate or to otherwise make unavailable, or deny any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion or interest therein, to any person on the basis of the protected classes. • To discriminate against any other person in the terms, conditions or privileges of any real estate transaction. • Directly or indirectly advertise, or in any other manner indicate or publicize in any real estate transaction that any person is not welcome or not solicited. • Discriminate against the lessee or purchaser of any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion or interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or against any prospective lessee or purchaser of the property or accommodation because of their age, color, creed, familial status, national origin, presence/ absence of dependents, public assistance source of income, race, religion, retaliation, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. Between 1999 and 2007, ICHRC received 23 complaints that alleged discrimination in housing. Since then the number of complaints filed to the ICHRC have increased significantly. In fact, between 2009 and 2012, ICHRC received a total of 46 housing discrimination complaints. [A detailed listing of the bases for housing discrimination complaints is in Appendix 4.1 ICHRC staff also use a wide variety of enforcement tools to ensure fair housing in addition to investigating complaints. These include: • Fielding calls from the public concerning fair housing • Assisting walk -ins inquiring about fair housing • Monitoring Craig's List and other social media sites for unlawful advertisements • Preparing fair housing content for City's CAPER and Consolidated Plan • Offering mediation to the Complainant and Respondent in fair housing complaints • Addressing fair housing concerns in response to inquiries from the public and then based on the outcome, informing all parties about fair housing laws and offering needed materials or training • Monitoring advertisements in the local newspapers for unlawful advertisements Conducting fair housing testing (scheduled for Spring 2014) A Back to Table of Contents 69 b) Informational Programs Educational and outreach programs are necessary to inform jurisdictional officials, employees, and citizens of the community about fair housing issues within the community. Most of these programs are conducted by the ICHRC. These include but are not limited to: • Running an anti - discrimination advertisement in the classified sections of local papers twice a week • Displaying fair housing flyers (see a sample in Appendix 5). • Running a fair housing advertisement on local TV. • Advertising fair housing at other relevant venues, such as the website of the University of Iowa Legal Services • Producing and making available fair housing brochures (in English and Spanish). • Placing handbills in City water bills describing fair housing and the resources available to further it • Providing free fair housing trainings to community groups, organizations, City boards /commissions, landlords and realtors • Participating in anti- discrimination programs and events • Sending information to realtor /landlord list- serves providing information on fair housing resources and training opportunities • Providing information on fair housing to many entities including Johnson County Social Services and Iowa City Housing Authority In 2013, ICHRC planned to: • Sponsor public forums on the issues pertinent to human and civil rights in the community. • Update educational materials on civil rights and make sure materials are available in large quantities to reach everyone in the community. • Translate outreach materials into Spanish. • Offer fair housing training to City Boards and Commissions that make recommendations to Council on housing matters. • Outreach to the community on how to file a civil rights complaint. In addition to the fair housing programs conducted by the ICHRC, several public, private, and non -profit organizations conduct and /or sponsor programs and events to increase awareness about fair housing. These organizations include the Iowa City Housing Authority, The Housing Fellowship, Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), Iowa City Shelter House, Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, and the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors. 70 Back to Table of Contents c) Visitability in housing Visitability refers to single - family housing designed in such a way that it can be lived in or visited by people with disabilities. A house is visitable when it meets three basic requirements: 1. has at least one no -step entrance 2. has doors and hallways wide enough to navigate a wheelchair through 3. has a bathroom on the first floor big enough to accommodate wheelchair entry into it and to close the door. Back to Table of Contents 71 Back to Table of Contents SECTION V: Assessment of Current Public and Private Fair Housing Programs and Activities in Iowa City The basis for all fair housing activities in Iowa City is the Iowa City Code. Tide 2, chapter 5 of this code contains clear and explicit guidelines banning discriminatory practices in housing. The code also defines protected classes. Iowa City's definition of protected classes is broader and more inclusive than either the state or federal definition. When considered together the guidelines and definition of protected classes demonstrate that the city has very stringent regulations in place to ensure that discriminatory practices do not provide impediments to fair housing choice. The document guiding all land development in Iowa City is the comprehensive plan. This plan was adopted in 1998 and underwent a significant update in May 2013. Both the 1998 plan and the recent update show a strong commitment to the provision of different housing options for the diverse population of the city. The 2013 update's vision statement for housing is this: "Iowa City is a community of neighborhoods with safe, attractive, and affordable housing options to serve residents throughout their lifetimes. To this end, the City oflowa City will support policies that preserve and enhance the character of existing neighborhoods while encouraging diverse and affordable housing options in all neighborhoods —new and old." 37 To achieve this vision, the 2013 comprehensive plan lists five goals. These are: 38 a) Encourage a diversity of housing options in all neighborhoods. b) Improve and maintain housing stock in established neighborhoods. c) Maintain and improve the safety of all housing. d) Preserve the integrity of existing neighborhoods and the historic nature of older neighborhoods. e) Support sustainability initiatives to create more energy efficient development. The plan also lists between two to ten strategies to meet each of these goals by 2030. With the vision, goals and strategies for housing contained in its comprehensive plan, the City of Iowa City demonstrates a strong commitment to providing a variety of housing choices for its citizens. 37 City of Iowa City. IC2030 — Comprehensive Plan update. Available at: http: //w ..icgov.org/ site /CMSv2/ file /planning /X2030 /CompPImUpdate /1013 /Section4,HousingIO13.pdf. Accessed on December 3, 2013. 31 Ibid. Iowa City's zoning ordinance allows for the creation of a wide variety of housing types throughout the city. The citys building code allows for construction of good quality housing throughout the city. Neither the zoning ordinance nor the building code contain restrictions on development that may pose impediments to fair housing for protected classes. In effect, the zoning ordinance and building code help implement the housing goals contained in the City's comprehensive plan. The Iowa City Human Rights Commission (ICHRC) is the local agency responsible for enforcing the anti- discrimination laws of the city as well as for increasing awareness about discriminatory practices and how to combat them." Since its inception in 1963, the ICHRC has processed hundreds of complaints of discrimination and expanded its education activities multiple times. The education activities use a variety of media, in multiple languages, at a variety of venues at different times of the day and different days of the week, thereby providing multiple opportunities for people to attend. The ICHRC has well - qualified staff that provide excellent support for the enforcement and education functions of the ICHRC. All in all, with the limited resources that it has, the ICHRC is doing a commendable job in enforcing fair housing laws and educating the public about discrimination in housing and how to avoid it. Many other public, private and non -profit entities in Iowa City conduct programs to increase the awareness about fair housing. These include: the Iowa City Housing Authority, The Housing Fellowship, Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), Iowa City Shelter House, and the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County. Fair housing programs are also conducted by the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors ( ICAAR). Realtor members of ICAAR are required to participate in continuing education courses; one of these, offered in December 2013 was titled "Preserving Dignity: Real Estate Issues in Fair Housing. "f0 Based on conversations with two local bankers, area banks seemingly pay careful attention to fair housing issues. The Fair Housing Act of 1988 prohibits advertising with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that may indicate any preference, limitation, or discrimination (or intention of making such preference, limitation or discrimination) because of color, race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, 39 These are fisted in detail on pages 61 -63 of this report. 40 The learning objectives of this course are: 1. Recognize that changing population trends increases the concern for providing equal professional service to all. 2. Identify the four major fair housing violations. 3. Review and identify the fait housing laws. 4. Review and list the protected classes. 5. Name occasions when a customer /client may encounter discrimination. 6. Describe how to answer potentially illegal questions without damaging customer /client relationships. 7. Identify terms, phrases, symbols, or illustrations that convey discriminatory intent. 8. Anticipate and apply responses to real life situations. 9. Review and explain the various enforcement procedures. 10. Recognize illegal fair housing activities and fine -tune enforcement choices. t. Back to Table of Contents 73 1 or national origin. This Act also described the use of words, photographs, symbols, or other approaches that are considered discriminatory. We reviewed the website of one widely circulated local newspaper, the Iowa City Press - Citizen. We found that their real estate pages do have the phrase "Equal Opportunity Housing" (along with the HUD logo that accompanies that phrase) at the bottom of the page. However, they are not prominently placed on the webpage; one does have to search for the logo and the phrase to find them. Clicking on the phrase takes one to a detailed explanation of fair housing, and how and to whom suspected violations of the Fair Housing Act need to be reported (visit http://www.homefinder.com/company/Equal- Housing—Opportunity). Housing_Opportunity). Review of actions based on potential impediments identified in the last Al study completed in 2008 The last Al study identified three potential impediments and made recommendations to address them. These were: a) "Achieving substantial equivalency between the federal Fair Housing Act and the Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance "." If this was achieved then the city could receive a certification of substantial equivalence and enter into a memorandum of understanding with HUD that would enable it to participate in HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program. This in turn would make the city eligible to receive up to $100,000 per year (up to $300,000 over three years) in capacity building funds that could be used for fair housing enforcement and education activities. The 2008 Al recommended that the City actively seek substantial equivalency (as described above) to receive federal financial support for its ongoing fair housing activities. Response to this recommendation: Staff of the Commission plan on revisiting substantial equivalency in 2014 and reevaluating based on current budget projections. Staff of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission ( ICHRC) revisited the potential for achieving substantial equivalency between the Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance and the federal Fair Housing Act in 2008. Even though communities that achieve substantial equivalency are eligible to receive funds for capacity building (e.g., funds to be used for increased awareness), such certification would require the ICHRC to provide in the ordinance for the prevailing party to collect attorney fees. In addition, the ordinance would also have to state that the ICHRC would provide the complainant with an attorney at no cost to the complainant if the complainant chooses to pursue their claim in court. Both of these requirements obligate the ICHRC (i.e., the city) to pay for such costs. The costs had the potential to be very high and would be financially straining to 41 City of Iowa City. May 2008. Analysis oflmpe&menu to Fair Housing Choice, p.80 Back to Table of Contents the already occurring recession and small Human Rights Budget. Because the city processes and investigates housing complaints with or without federal funds, it was decided to reevaluate becoming substantially equivalent at a future time. b) "Fair housing education and training to members of appointed boards and commission"." There was a concern that appointees to public boards and commissions, such as the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Housing & Community Development Commission, may not have a working knowledge of fair housing laws when making decisions on housing issues. This in turn, it was feared, could reduce community sensitivity to fair housing issues. The 2008 Al recommended that the Iowa City Human Rights Commission provide annual training to public boards and commissions, especially these three — the Housing & Community Development Commission, the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. Response to this recommendation: The ICHRC continues to be a resource and provides training to City staff and members of the City's appointed Boards and Commissions on a yearly basis when so requested. The Housing & Community Development Commission requests ICHRC training seminars every other year, or when there is a large number of new members on the commission. c) "Commitment to affordable housing activities "." In 2007 -8, the Iowa City housing market was at the tail end of a housing boom. The 2008 Al noted that because of that boom area developers were producing higher -end market rate housing; consequently few affordable units were being developed by the private market It recommended that the city and the Community Development Office continue its commitment to affordable housing activities. Response to this recommendation: The city allocated and completed more housing projects in the last two to three years than any time in the previous 10 to 12 years. In fiscal 2011, the city received an additional $2.7 million in program income that greatly increased funding for affordable housing — especially affordable rental housing. Since 2011, the following affordable housing projects have been funded: eight rental homes (townhomes) in the Mackinaw development (by The Housing Fellowship, nine single- family homes for affordable rental (by Isis), five homes for homeownership (by Habitat), four single- family homes for rental ( by The Housing Fellowship/ UniverCity project), six SRO units (by Shelter House), seven SRO units (by United Action for Youth), eight SRO units (by the Mayor's Youth Initiative), 41 Ibid. 43 Ibid. C Back to Table of Contents 75 four SRO units (by Charm Homes) and 56 rental units rehabilitated for new affordable rental (by Wetherby Condos South, LLC). Between 2008 and 2013, the City has also created 141 units of owner- occupied housing through the Single- Family New Homes program. The city has also acquired 46 homes through a new program called UniverCity; 31 of these homes have been sold already while 15 are currently under renovation. These 187 owner - occupied homes had a variety of income restrictions, but most of the households were below 80% of the median income. In fiscal 2013, the city assisted a total of 40 households through HOME - funded housing activities — 32 rental units, two first -time homebuyers, and six single - family home rehab projects. Of the 32 renter households that were assisted, 66% were non - White. Of the two first -time homebuyers, one was White and the other Black. And among the six existing homeowners, one was Black and the rest were White. Overall, of the 40 households assisted through HOME - funded housing activities in fiscal 2013, 60% were non - White. All -in -all, the city is on course to meet all its housing goals for the current five -year period, with the possible exception of the goal for the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program. Back to Table of Contents SECTION VI: Conclusions and Recommendations The City of Iowa City is committed to providing fair housing choices for all residents of Iowa City. The Code of the City of Iowa City has avery broad definition of discriminatory behavior, a very inclusive definition of protected classes and is clear in its lack of tolerance for discriminatory behavior in the housing market. The City's Comprehensive Plan envisions a city with a variety of housing options for the city's diverse population. The city's Zoning Ordinance allows for construction of avariety of housing types at difference price points. And the city's Building Code does not impose conditions that could restrict fair housing choice for protected classes. Yet in spite of all of the above, based on the information collected and presented in previous sections of this report, it is difficult to conclude that all protected classes have fair access to housing in Iowa City in 2013 -14. L Spatial concentration of minorities. Maps depicting residential location by race and the index of dissimilarity calculations both show high degrees of spatial concentrations of Blacks and Hispanics. While some of the spatial concentration of the minority populations is likely a consequence of personal and household preferences exercised by minority persons and families, most of it cannot be explained away by such preferences alone. Information gleaned from the survey of assisted renters and from interviews of local non- profits engaged in providing housing and related services, corroborate the findings from the spatial concentration maps and dissimilarity calculations. Across the country, discriminatory attitudes of individuals and institutions in the housing market create impediments to fair housing choice that cause minorities to be spatially concentrated in certain geographic areas. In 2013, they seem to do so in Iowa City as well. The Black -White Index of Dissimilarity (IoD) scores for Iowa City have consistently and significantly increased over time from 1990 to 2010. Cities with a score less than 30 are viewed as well integrated, those with a score between 30 and 60 as moderately segregated, and those with scores above 60 as very segregated." With a Black -White IoD score of 55 in the year 2010, Iowa City is quite close to being very segregated. In the last two decades, the level of racial segregation across the country has declined significantly. A recent report by the Manhattan Institute that analyzed segregation in the US using data from the last 13 US censuses, concluded that: "As of 2010, the separation of Blacks from individuals of other races stood at its lowest level in nearly a century. "" The study also states that- "In 657 out of 658 housing markets tracked by the Census u Massey, Douglas & Nancy Denton. 1993. American Apartheid. Harvard University Press. 45 Glaeser, Edward & Jacob Vigdo. 2012. The End of the Segregated Century: Racial Separation in American Neighborhoods, 1890 -2010. Manhattan Institute; available online at http: / /www. manhatt - institute.org /ht" /cr_66.hnn. IN � 0 Back to Table of Contents 77 Bureau, segregation is now lower than the average level of segregation marked in 1970.. "" Some large Midwestern cities, such as Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis, experienced significant decreases in racial segregation between 2000 and 2010. Dramatic decreases in segregation occurred even in Iowa. For example, Waterloo, the most segregated city in the state in 1970 with a Black- Non -Black IoD score of 87.5 in 1970, saw its 2010 IoD score drop to 61.6 by 2010.7 Against this backdrop of decreasing racial segregation, the high Black -White IoD score in Iowa City in 2010 and its increasing trend over the past two decades stand out in stark contrast. The city's Affordable Housing Location Model is a well - intentioned move to de- concentrate low- income populations and minority households'; however, by itself its potential to allow minorities to locate in widely dispersed locations across Iowa City is small. The reasons we so conclude are as follows: the Index of Dissimilarity calculations indicate that for Blacks to be well- dispersed in the city, 55% of either the Black or the White population of the city would have to relocate. Likewise for Hispanics to be well- dispersed, 41% of either the Hispanic or the White population would have to relocate. Since relocation is practically impossible, regulating the location of future development is the only way to achieve population dispersal. Between 2000 and 2010, minority populations increased at much higher rates than the White population and the overall population of the city (see Table 2). In absolute terms, between 2000 and 2010, the number of Black households increased by 570 and the number of Hispanic households increased by 515, at an average annual rate of 57 and 52 families, respectively. Assuming that about half of these households" would need housing assistance, to accommodate just the new minorities households, about 55 new assisted units would have to be made available each year. However, the supply of new assisted housing in recent years (2011 -2013) has been much short of that Between 2011 and 2013, only 51 new assisted CDBG /HOME assisted units were built, at an average rate of 26 per year. This high rate was possible only because of unusually high program income in Fiscal 2011 for the CDBG /HOME programs. Program incomes in future years are not anticipated to be this high; hence future production levels are likely to be much lower than in 2011 -2013. Not all of the CDBG /HOME assisted units are accessed by minorities. Of the HOME assisted units (across all HOME assisted programs) in fiscal 2013, 60% of the units were accessed by non -White households. Thus, presumably 16 of the 26 new units produced a< Ibid. 47 Ibid, Table 4 4' Because of the high correlation between low income and minority status. 49 We make this assumption for two reasons. One, because 530/b of the resident waidisted applicants on the Public Housing waidist on February 8, 2013 were non -White and 51 %, of the resident applicants on the HCV waidist on February 8, 2013 were non - White. And two, because 71 % of Black families and 49 % of Hispanic families in Iowa City in 2010 were at or below 80 % AMI and thus income qualified for most housing assistance programs. Back to Table of Contents through CDBG /HOME programs each year are accessible to non -White households. The Affordable Housing Location Model can at best disperse the 26 units produced annually through CDBG /HOME programs. Of these, as noted above, only 16 are likely available for minorities. But the presumptive demand for assisted housing from new minority households being added to the city's population each year is 55 units per year.50 Thus the Affordable Housing Location model, if implemented correctly, will only have • small (though measurable) effect in dispersing minority families. To make • meaningful difference in ensuring that spatial concentrations of minority populations in Iowa City does not continue to increase, more impactful polices need to be adopted. IL Planning and zoning documents. City planning and zoning documents generally allow for the development of a wide variety of housing types in diverse locations across the city. However, over the last decade or more, developers and builders have either not made use of these opportunities (or have been unable to make use of these opportunities) to build affordably priced housing in diverse locations across the city. Indeed almost a decade ago, the City of Iowa City's Scattered Site Taskforce concluded that assisted housing is concentrated in certain sections of the city. That taskforce also noted that the zoning ordinance in force at that time allowed for development of multi - family housing only in certain parts of the city. The zoning ordinance currently in force allows for construction of multi - family housing in more locations than prior zoning ordinances. But even so, if developers choose not to build affordably priced owner and renter housing units that are accessible to minorities and other protected classes in diverse locations across the city, then such flexible zoning guidelines have limited effect in increasing fair housing opportunities. This problem is compounded when the few developers that are willing to try building affordably priced owner and renter housing units (with or without public assistance) in diverse locations are thwarted by the NIMBY attitudes of neighbors. III. Affordable Housing Location model. Acknowledging that assisted housing in Iowa City is concentrated in certain locations in the city and recognizing the social dis- benefits from this situation, the City of Iowa City created an Affordable Housing Location Model that is aimed at dispersing most types of new assisted rental housing. This is laudable. However, in practice it seems that the use of this model has reduced the supply of new assisted rental housing. The major reasons for this unintended consequence are that there are far fewer locations now where new assisted rental housing can be built, and land prices and NIMBY opposition at these locations are reportedly higher than at places where the model disallows development. x In addition, there is very large backlog of unmet affordable housing need arnong minorities. Back to Table of Contents 79 I IV. ICHAs Housing Choice Voucher program. This program is large and provides 823 units (as of February 4, 2013), accounting for 4.8% of the total rental units in Iowa City.51 The waiting list for the HCV program (across the entire jurisdiction of the ICHA) is very long — 814 resident applicants (as of February 8, 2013) and another 4,952 applicants.52 The long waiting list is one indication of the lack of affordably priced rental housing in the Iowa City metro area. Parenthetically, since 40% of the 814 resident applicants on the wai list were Black — a number well above the percentage of the city (and metro) population that is Black - one can surmise that the long - waiting list (relative to the number of vouchers) impedes housing choices of Black resident applicants .13 A similar argument can be made about disabled persons: they constituted 38% of the 814 wait - listed resident applicants." Information from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that overall voucher utilization rates in the Iowa City area have ranged between 89% in 2006 to 102% in 2012.55 ICHAs voucher utilization rate between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012 was 101 %.56 In December 2013, according to a news report in the local newspaper,57 the voucher utilization rate was 94 %. For some reason different sources provide different voucher utilization rates. In any case it is clear that in Fiscal 2011, of the 664 new and moving vouchers issued (representing about half of all vouchers) only 88% were utilized; 12% (or about 78 vouchers expired." Whenever the voucher utilization rate is below 100 %, a significant amount of federal funding for addressing affordable housing needs in Iowa City is being lost. This is disconcerting. Because protected class populations comprise a large percentage of the applicants that are either recipients of vouchers or are wait - listed resident applicants, unutilized vouchers reduce housing choices for protected classes. Inability to use an allocated voucher can occur because of recipient - related factors such as ill- informed searching, non - diligent searching, unreasonably high expectations about housing options possible with an HCV, lack of security deposit, bad credit, or bad landlord references. Failure to use can also occur because of landlord - related factors such as: a) landlords perceiving the administrative burdens of renting to HCV recipients as being too high, or b) landlords perceiving HCV tenants as persons that could generate a lot of complaints from neighbors because of anti- social and criminal behavior, or c) landlords engaging in discriminatory behavior towards HCV recipients "Iowa City Housing Authority Annual Report 2013, p. 6. s2 Iowa City Housing Authority Annual Report 2013,p. 11. 53 Ihid. s Ibid. 55 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Iowa Housing Voucher Data. Updated November 11, 2013- x Email communication from the ICHA administrator dated 11/19/2013 57 Adam Sullivan. 2013. "Iowa City to lay off 2 employees" in the Iowa City Presr- Citizen, p. 1, December 4. 5' Email communication from the ICHA administrator forwarded to the consultants by Ms. Tracy Hightshoe on November 8, 2013. 80 Back to Table of Contents seeking to lease. Finally, failure to utilize could also occur because of illegal steering by real - estate agents in the search process. If the failure to utilize is either in part or in whole caused by illegal discriminatory behavior in the housing search and leasing process, then fair housing violations are occurring. Information from the survey of assisted renters and interviews with representatives of local non - profits indicate that HCV recipients face discriminatory behaviors from landlords. Illegal discriminatory behavior involving race were reported in both of the above sets of information. We also found reports of landlords rejecting potential renters primarily because they would be using a HCV — a practice that is currently legal by federal, state and city code in Iowa City. More generally, discriminatory behaviors by landlords could constrain housing choices even if HCV recipients are able to use their voucher. This constrained choice might result in HCV recipients being concentrated in certain parts of the city — usually in high poverty and high minority population neighborhoods that are often served by under - performing schools. We do not know about the quality of neighborhoods that HCV recipients were able to locate in Iowa City in 2013 -14; nor do we know about the quality of K -12 schools that children of HCV families were able to access." Nationally though, it is well documented that HCV recipients locate in city neighborhoods with higher poverty and minority population rates than the average for the city. This may well be true in Iowa City also. V. Residential lending. Our analysis of residential lending in the Iowa City metro area shows that Blacks, Hispanics and Asians have lesser access to residential lending than Whites. We also found that Black and Hispanic home loan applicants experience higher rejection rates than Whites. Since loan applications are adjudicated on multiple criteria, including credit scores and credit histories of the applicants that were not available for our analysis, we cannot definitely conclude that Blacks and Hispanics have unfair access to residential lending. Nonetheless, the large differences in rejection rates do raise some concerns in this regard. Likewise, the fact that in some banks the rejection rates for Black and Hispanic applicants are similar to those of Whites while in other banks they are not, also raise concerns. VI. Private restrictive covenants. Our analysis of residential subdivisions platted between 2009 and 2012 shows the prevalence of private restrictive covenants, created and imposed by homeowners associations that at the onset (and for many subsequent years) are controlled by the development company (or by individual developers) that created these subdivisions. Many of these 59 We sought addresses of all current HCV from the ICHA. We were informed by the ICHA administrator and by Iowa City's Legal department via etmails in November 2013 that the City of Iowa City and the ICHA consider addresses of HCV properties sensitive information that cannot be shared even for a HUD - mandated study. Back to Table of Contents 81 covenants impose design features that could potentially increase costs of construction within those subdivisions, and create impediments to protected classes' housing choice. VIL Residency preference of the HCV and Public Housing programs. The Iowa City Housing Authority (ICHA) uses "preferences" for sorting wait - listed applicants. Use of such preferences is allowed by HUD regulations (see 24 CFR 982.207(b)(1)). The preferences used by ICHA for waiting lists for the HCV and Public Housing programs are: 1. Displaced: Individuals or families displaced by government action or whose dwelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster declared or otherwise formally recognized pursuant to federal disaster relief laws. This preference is only for disaster victims in the State of Iowa; 2. Families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing irr Authority jurisdiction 24 CFR 982.207(b)(1): 3. Adult families (two or more household members) with no children under 18 years of age who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 4. Elderly, or disabled families who are not residents (do not have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 5. Families with children under the age of 18 or who are not residents (do not have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 6. Adult families (two or more household members) with no children under 18 years of age who are not residents (do not have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction; 7. Single, non - elderly, non - disabled families with no children under 18 years of age regardless of residency. Preferences #2 through #6 incorporate Iowa City's residency preference. Preferences #2 and #3 suggest that applicants that have a legal domicile in ICHA jurisdiction presumably have higher priority over those in preference categories #4, #5 and #6 (that describe characteristics of people that do not have a legal domicile in ICHA jurisdiction). Or to state it another way, wait - listed applicants from preference categories #2 and #3 have a legal domicile in ICHA jurisdiction, while wait - listed applicants in preference categories #4, #5 and #6 do not have a legal domicile in ICHA jurisdiction. HUD allows localities to use "residency" in the local housing authority's jurisdiction as a preference, so long as use of that does not delay or deny access to HCV or Public Housing to members of protected classes. Below is the HUD regulation about the use of a "residency" preference. Back to Table of Contents X24 CFR 982.207(b)(1)] "(b) Particular local preferences— (1) Residency requirements or preferences. Residency requirements are prohibited. Although a PHA is not prohibited from adopting a residency preference, the PHA may only adopt or implement residency preferences in accordance with non- discrimination and equal opportunity requirements listed at §5.105(a) of this title. (ii) A residency preference is a preference for admission of persons who reside in a specified geographic area ( "residency preference area "). A county or municipality may be used as a residency preference area. An area smaller than a county or municipality may not be used as a residency preference area. (iii) Any PHA residency preferences must be included in the statement of PHA policies that govern eligibility, selection and admission to the program, which is included in the PHA annual plan (or supporting documents) pursuant to part 903 of this title. Such policies must specify that use of residency preference will not have the purpose or effect of delaying or otherwise denying admission to the program based on race, color, ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability or age of any member of an applicant family." Both the HCV and Public Housing programs of the ICHA have long waiting lists. As ICHAs 2013 annual report shows, each waiting list is clearly divided into two categories — "resident applicants" and others. For example in ICHAs 2013 annual report, the HCV program is shown to have 814 "resident applicants" and "an additional 4,952 applicants." It seems that the main difference between the 814 "resident applicants" and the other wait - listed applicants is that the former category is composed entirely of people in preference category #2 and the latter category has people from preference category #3 (that by definition are residents) and people from the preference categories #4, #5 and #6 (that by definition are not residents) and people from Preference category #7. Now according to the ICHA administrator, "The simple fact is regarding applicants, is we do not foresee a time when all applicants in the following category will ever be exhausted. This category is our pool of applicants ... Families with children under the age of 18 or elderly or disabled families who are residents (have a legal domicile) in the Iowa City Housing Authority jurisdiction 24 CFR 982.207(b)(1) " The preference category referenced in the above statement is preference #2 in ICHAs preferences. From the ICHA administrator's statement it is clear that wait- listed applicants that are not "resident applicants" will, in effect, never get a HCV or Public Housing unit. This, by itself, is not a problem. But are w Email correspondence received from the ICHA administrator on November 20, 2013. Back to Table of Contents 83 people that are not "resident applicants" primarily from protected classes? If yes, then the residency preference has a disparate impact on protected classes because it is, in effect, delaying or denying them access to HCV and Public Housing programs. To ascertain if there is a disparate impact as noted above, we requested the ICHA to provide us a tabulation of the characteristics of all wait - listed applicants that are not preferency category #2 applicants. The ICHA declined to make this information available while noting that it does have this information. Recommendations L Impediment: Spatial concentration of minorities in Iowa City is high and requires serious policy attention. A well accepted measure of spatial concentration is the Index of Dissimilarity. An Index of Dissimilarity score above 60 is widely acknowledged in policy and academic literature to indicate a high degree of segregation. With a Black -White Index of Dissimilarity score of 55 in the year 2010, Iowa City is quite close to being very segregated. Furthermore, Black -White segregation in Iowa City has increased over the last two decades whereas nationwide it has decreased. Recommendation to overcome this impediment. Iowa City should adopt a land development policy that would make housing options for minorities available at diverse locations across the city. To this end, we recommend that Iowa City adopt a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy that would apply to all new ownership and rental housing development. While the generally understood benefit of a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy is an increase in the number of reasonably- priced owner and rental units that families with incomes below 80% AMI can afford, an equally important but less well - recognized benefit is the scattered locations at which these new housing units gets built. For this reason, we recommend a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy as mechanism to "scatter" new housing for low- and moderate income families. This would PIP create housing units for low- and moderate- income minority families at diverse locations in the city without using any public subsidies or taxes. A mandatory inclusionary zoning policy would also be completely consistent with a sample policy contained in pages 3 -13 and 3 -14 of HUD's Fair Housing Planning guide. In those pages, HUD advocates the following action for the creation of affordable housing outside minority or low - income areas: `Enact legislation by X date mandating site selection policies for 84 Back to Table of Contents affordable housing for all localities of 50,000 or more in population. The goal is to deconcentrate communities by race and income and encourage the construction of affordable single-family and multi-family housing throughout the jurisdiction" This HUD policy suggests creation of affordable single-family and multi- family housing, and assisted as well as unassisted affordable housing. A mandatory inclusionary zoning policy would do this very effectively. Between 2011 and 2013, the City of Iowa City approved 384 permits for the development of Single Family and 690 permits for the development of multi - family units. Both types of units were located all over the city. The presumptive demand for assisted ownership and rental housing from new minority households in Iowa City each year is 55 units. [This does not account for the existing backlog of assisted housing need for minority households]. Of these, 16 could be met with CDBG /HOME supported housing programs. [Again, this is an unreasonably optimistic assumption because CDBG /HOME income is not expected to be as high as it was in fiscal 2011 which allowed for this high rate of production.] This leaves a net shortfall of assisted housing for new minority households at 39 units per year. An effective and significant policy mechanism to disperse minorities across the city would be to require all new housing developments — be it ownership or rental -- to include a certain percentage of assisted units within them. Since minorities would presumptively be able to avail of 60% of the units, if 65 such units are created each year it would provide 39 units each year that minorities would have access to. Given that between 2011 and 2013, approximately 192 permits for single family units and 345 permits for multi- family units were issued per year, for a total of 537 units per year, allocation of 65 of these for low- income households seems a feasible proposition. We believe that short of such a significant intervention, the existing spatial concentration of minority populations is going to increase even further in the next five years. II. Impediment: The Affordable Housing Location Model used by the City of Iowa City is a well - constructed effort to disperse certain types of assisted housing units across the city. However, this model significantly reduces the parcels of land within the city where new assisted rental units can be built Furthermore, parcels where new assisted rental units are permissible are reportedly priced higher than parcels where new assisted rental housing cannot be built. In effect then, the well - intentioned Affordable Housing Location Model is constraining the supply of new assisted rental housing. Since assisted rental housing serves large numbers of minority families, the constraint on new assisted rental housing imposed by the model reduces new housing options for minority populations. 7.i Back to Table of Contents 85 1 11 86 Back to Table of Contents Recommendation to overcome this impediment. For projects that require compliance with the Affordable Housing Location policy, the City should provide land at locations permitted by this model at prices comparable to land at locations not permitted by this model. Alternatively, the City should provide cash supplements from non -CDBG/ HOME sources that offset land cost differentials to such projects. III. Impediment: A survey of renters receiving housing assistance showed that landlords discriminate against renters using Housing Choice Vouchers and engage in many illegal practices. Such behavior adversely affects Housing Choice Voucher recipients' search for housing and the quality and location of housing they find. In turn, it affects Housing Choice Voucher utilization rates. Information from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that overall voucher utilization rates in the Iowa City area have ranged between 89% in 2006 to 102% in 2012. In Fiscal 2011, of the 664 new and moving vouchers issued only 88% were utilized; 12% (or about 79 vouchers expired. Recommendations to overcome this impediment: a) To address landlord -side problems regarding HCV recipients search for housing, the ICHA should expand existing landlord education programs aimed at busting the myths about HCV tenants and the HCV program. b) To address landlord -side problems regarding HCV recipients search for housing and the location of housing found through successful searches, the City should modify the City Code to expand the definition of protected classes to make discrimination based on use of a HCV as a rent supplement illegal. Tide 2, Chapter 5 of the Code of the City of Iowa City addresses fair housing issues. Several sections of this code describe protected classes thus: `age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income of that person" We recommend that the public assistance source of income protection be extended to include Housing Choice Voucher use by amending the definition of protected classes to read: `age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income (including Housing Choice Vouchers) of that person" Many states and cities have source of income protection laws that make it illegal to discriminate against people seeking to lease a house with a HCV voucher. Studies have shown that such laws increase voucher utilization rates 61 and help voucher recipients find housing in lower poverty and lower minority population neighborhood S61 than possible without such laws. c) To reduce tenant -side problems that result in failed searches, the City should encourage local- nonprofits involved in the provision of housing and related services for low- income persons to help HCV recipients in their search for housing. IV. Impediment: Two surveys of renters showed that many violations of fair housing laws are not being reported because of the fear of retaliation or ignorance about how to report such violations. Recommendations to address this impediment: a) That ICHRC expand its education programs regarding fair housing laws. b) That ICHRC set up a mechanism for easy and confidential reporting of fair housing violations, perhaps using a web -based format or smart -phone technology. Other issues of concern i. Minorities in the Iowa City area may not have fair access to residential lending. Analysis of HMDA data showed that the share of home loan applications from minorities are much lower than their share in the population, and that applications from Blacks and Hispanics were being denied at higher rates than applications from White applicants. We did not have access to credit score, credit history, and income and asset information of loan applicants and therefore cannot conclusively state that minorities are being discriminated against. However, we found large variations in the denial rate differences across the five —six banks that receive the most loan applications from minorities. Recommendation: While more research is needed to conclude that minorities are being discriminated against in residential lending, the City could implement policies to ensure that banks that it conducts business with do not discriminate against minorities. To that end, one policy we recommend that the City adopt is a linked - deposit program wherein only those banks that clearly provide fair access in residential lending to minorities and protected classes are considered as potential recipients of the city's 61 Freeman, Lance. 2012. The Impact of Source of Income Lawson Voucher Utilization. Housing Policy Debate. 6' Freeman, Lance and Ymgjing Li. Do Source of Income (SOI) Anti - Discrimination Laws Facilitate Access to Better Neighborhoods? Paper presented at the Association of Public Policy and Management Fall Research Conference, November 2012. on Back to Table of Contents 87 banking business. ii. The residency preference used by the Iowa City Housing Authority in its Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing programs may have a disparate impact in denying or delaying access to those programs for certain protected classes. Local housing authorities are allowed to use a residency preference, so long as use of this preference does not delay or deny access to protected classes. The Iowa City Housing Authority was unable to furnish data to make this determination. Recommendation: The Iowa City Housing Authority should conduct a rigorous, third -party review of the impacts of the residency preference every year, and modify or eliminate this preference if disparate impacts on protected classes are found. 88 Back to Table of Contents SECTION VII: Signature Page By my signature I certify that this Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for the City of Iowa City is in compliance with the intent and directives of the Community Development Block Grant program regulations. Thomas M. Markus City Manager Date: Back to Table of Contents 89 APPENDICES 90 Back to Table of Contents Appendix 1: Properties zoned multi- family and available for funding for affordable housing in Iowa City Location Zoning Parcels Size (in acres) Development status Iowa City(w /out Central Planning District) 1 St. RM -12 5 1.32 developed Muscatine and S. 1st Ave. RM -20 1 13.19 undeveloped Willow Street and Muscatine Ave. RM -20 1 2.53 developed Terrence Ln and Muscatine Ave. RM -12 3 2.76 undeveloped 3410 Muscatine Ave. RM -12 1 2.59 developed Charlotte Ln. OPD /RM -12 1 2.13 partially developed E. Court St. and Huntington Dr. RM -12 2 10.32 developed Cayman St. RM -12 38 11.39 developed 201 N 1st Ave. RM -20 1 4.55 developed 2315 Rochester Ave. RM -20 1 1.96 developed 535 N. 1st Ave. OPD /RM -12 1 1.02 developed Rochester Ave. and N. 1st Ave. RM -12 17 12.38 developed Conklin Ln. (north of Oakland Cemetery) RM -12 22 51.17 partially developed 1122 N. Dubuque St. OPD /RM -20 1 1.12 developed Haywood Dr. RM -20 1 5.79 partially developed 600 Taft RM -20 1 1.5 developed Valley Ave. and Lincoln Ave. PRM 38 9.52 developed 5 Riverside Ct. RM -44 8 2.77 developed Oakcrest St. RM -44 14 4.34 developed 415 Woodside RM -12 1 0.39 developed G reenwood Dr and Miller Ave. RM -20 6 8.1 developed George St. and Spring St. OPD /RM -12 24 3.5 developed Jeffrey St. and Earl Ct. RM -12 85 44.98 developed Aber Ave. RM -12 11 8.93 developed 1715 Mormon Trek RM -12 1 5.59 developed Dublin Dr. and Melrose Ave. OPD /RM -12 1 9.82 developed 4435 Melrose Ave. P1 /RM -12 1 2.89 developed Subtotal 287 1 226.55 Central Planning District 618 N. Dodge RM -12 1 0.13 developed 505 E. Jefferson RM -44 1 0.96 developed N. Lucas and E. Jefferson RM -44 5 1.49 developed E Washington and 5 Dodge RM -12 34 6.93 developed E. Burlington and S. Summit RM -44 3 0.8 developed S. Lucas RM -12 8 2.51 developed Bowery Buren, Johnson RM -44 42 14.53 developed Dodge, Van Buren, Johnson RM -44 51 11.55 developed E. Harrison PRM, OPD/ PRM 17 5.89 developed N. Clinton PRM 27 6.24 developed N.Dubuque RM -44 36 8.27 developed W. Burlington and W. Court RM -44 1 3.4 developed _I Back to Table of Contents 91 Back to Table of Contents Jefferson and Gilbert MU 28 3.65 developed Prentiss and Capitol PRIM 32 6.34 developed Subtotal 294 72.69 Total 581 299.24 Data sources: City of Iowa City Affordable Housing Location Model map (www.icgov.org / ?id =1354) and City of Iowa City Zoning Map as of April 22, 2013 (http: //w ..icgov.org / ?id -1796) Note: parcels of land can be re- Zoned; the information presented in this table is an accurate snapshot of where assisted affordable rental housing can be located at one point in time, April 22, 2013. Appendix 2: Summary of Iowa property tax relief programs available to residents of Iowa City i) Iowa Homestead Credit This was originally adopted to encourage home ownership through property tax relief; the current credit is equal to the actual tax levy on the first $4,850 of actual value. Qualified homeowners in Iowa City save approximately $192 annually with the Iowa Homestead Credit. To be legible for this credit, a person /family must own and occupy the property as a homestead on July 1 of each year, declare residency in Iowa for income tax purposes and occupy the property for at least six months each year. Persons in the military or nursing homes who do not occupy the home are also eligible. The claim is allowed on the property for successive years without further filing as long as the property is used for purposes specified in the original claim. ii) Iowa Military Exemption: This reduces the taxable value of property for military veterans. The current credit is equal to the actual tax levy on the first $1,852 of actual value. Qualified homeowners in Iowa City save approximately $73 annually with the Iowa Military Exemption. To receive this credit, one must be a qualified veteran, must own the property on July 1 of each claim year and must file a claim for this on or before July 1. iii) Disabled Veteran Tax Credit This credit equals the entire amount of the tax levied on the homestead. Use of this credit makes the recipient ineligible for any other real property tax exemption for veterans. This credit is available to disabled veterans with a combined annual income for the veteran and the spouse cannot exceed $35,000. The surviving unmarried spouse and any child who are beneficiaries of a deceased veteran may continue to claim the credit. Claims for this credit need to file on or before July 1. iv) Iowa Law -Rent Housing Exemption: This provides a tax exemption for low -rent housing until the original housing development mortgage is paid in full or expires. Property owned and operated or controlled by a nonprofit organization providing low -rent housing for persons at least 62 years old or persons with physical or mental disabilities is eligible for this exemption. Owners of eligible properties must file an application with the assessor no later than February 1. The claim is allowed on the property for successive years without further filing as long as the property is used for purposes specified in the original claim. v) Iowa Disabled and Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit /Rent Reimbursement This was incorporated into the Homestead Tax Law to provide property tax or rent relief to elderly homeowners and Back to Table of Contents 93 homeowners with disabilities. The rental units in which the applicants lived for the reimbursement period must be subject to property tax. Credit and reimbursements vary based on payments and income, with rates adjusted annually based on an indexation factor. The credit or reimbursement can be at most $1,000 per year. Only persons that are 65 years old or older or totally disabled, and meet annual household low income requirements are eligible for this credit. A property owner must file a claim with the county treasurer by June 1 preceding the fiscal year in which the property taxes are due. Renters must file with the Department of Revenue by June 1 to claim reimbursement for rent paid in the prior calendar year. The director or county treasurer may grant extensions of time to file. For renters, the Iowa Department of Revenue website provides a list of rent reimbursement assistance sites in Iowa The Heritage Area Agency on Aging located in Cedar Rapids provides guidance for residents of Iowa City. vi) Iowa Special Assessment Credit: This was established in conjunction with the Disabled and Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit. The credit gives 100% assistance to qualified homeowners who are required to pay special assessments. Special assessments are charges against real estate parcels that are identified as having a direct and unique benefit from a public project. To qualify for this, persons 65 years old or older or totally disabled, and meet annual household low income requirements. The claimant must file a claim with the county treasurer by September 30 of each year. vii) Iowa Mobile Home Reduced Tax Rate. This was enacted as a supplement to the Disabled and Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit. The objective is to provide mobile, manufactured and modular home owners with equivalent aid. Mobile homes and modular homes are taxed as real estate only when located outside of a mobile home park. Modular homes are always taxed as real estate, whether or not they are located within a mobile home park. Reduced tax rate is determined by household income. To be eligible for this, persons must be an Iowa resident, 23 or older, and meet annual household low income requirements. In 2013, household income cannot exceed $21,335. To claim this rate, on or before June 1 of each year, each mobile, manufactured and modular home owner eligible for a reduced tax rate must file a claim with the county treasurer. 94 Back to Table of Contents Appendix 3: Accessibility Requirements of the Iowa City Building Code Minimum accessibility requirements for all dwelling units in the Iowa City Building Code include:63 1. Interior doors: At least one bedroom, one bathroom and all other passage doorway header widths, on the level served by the designed step -less entrance, must be framed to accommodate a minimum 38" clear rough opening. The framing for the doorway width opening may be reduced to accommodate any door size provided public funds are not used in which the minimum door clear opening shall be thirty -two inches (32 ") when the door is open ninety degrees (90), measured between the face of the door and the opposite stop. Note: A 34" door hung in the standard manner provides an acceptable 32" opening. [Exception: Doors serving closets twenty -four inches (24 ") or less in depth.] 2. Switch and outlet requirements: All wall switches, controlling light fixtures, fans, all temperature control devices and all receptacles shall be located in an area between fifteen (15) and forty -eight (48) inches above finished floor. The height will be determined by measuring from the finished floor to the center of the device. When the control or receptacle placement is prohibited by the height of the window or design feature, alternative locations may be approved by the building official. 3. Electrical panel requirements: Electrical panels shall be located so that the individual circuit breakers are located between 15" and 54 "above the floor. 4. Sanitation facilities: There must be at least one bathroom containing a shower, water closet (toilet) and lavatory (sink) and either a shower, or bathtub, or combination bath /tub located on the level of the dwelling to be accessed by a step -less entrance. The room must be designed in a manner that will provide a minimum of thirty inches (30 ") by forty -eight inches (48 ") clear floor space at the water closet and lavatory. The clear floor space shall not be obstructed by a doorway swing; however, clear floor space at fixtures may overlap if sufficient maneuvering space is provided within the room for a person using a wheelchair or other mobility aid to enter and close the door, use the fixtures, reopen the door and exit. Doors may swing into the clear floor space provided at any fixture if the maneuvering space is provided. Maneuvering space may include any knee space or toe space available below bathroom fixtures. [Exception: 1. If public funds are not used and a proposed bathroom design shows a shower, bathtub or combination tub /shower can be provided within the room or an adjoining room than the shower or bathtub is not required. 2. The building official may waive this requirement based on 63 Iowa City, Iowa City Code: Title 17, Building and Housing Code. Retrieved from: http: / /www. sterlingcodifiers .com /codebook /index.php ?book_id =953 Back to Table of Contents 95 the determination that strict compliance is financially impractical.] 5. Wall Reinforcement: A bathroom must be provided with wood blocking installed within wall framing to support grab bars as needed. The wood blocking, when measured to the center, will be located between thirty -three inches (33 ") and thirty -six inches (36 ") above the finished floor. The wood blocking must be located in all walls adjacent to and behind a toilet, shower, or bathtub. 6. Step -less Entrance: At least one building entrance must be designed, without encroaching into any required parking space, that complies with the Iowa City Building Code standard for an accessible entrance on an accessible route served by a ramp in accordance with section R311.8 or a no -step entrance. The accessible route must extend from a vehicular drop -off, or parking to a building entrance. The entry door must have a minimum net clear opening of thirty -two inches (32 "). Iowa City code only requires one parking space for single - family dwellings. [Exceptions: 1. If public funds are used the step -less entrance must be provided. 2. The building official may waive this requirement based upon the determination that strict compliance is financially or environmentally impractical. Split -level and townhouse style homes may be exempted.] 7. Garages: Must be wired for power - operated overhead doors. 8. Decks: All exterior decks and patios surfaces adjacent to the level served by the designed step -less entrance must be built within four inches (4 ") of the dwellings finish floor level or top of threshold whichever is higher. Back to Table of Contents Appendix 4: Basis for the housing complaints, 2009 to 2012 In FY09 1. Marital Status, Disability, Familial Status. 2. Race, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation, Sex, Presence or Absence of Dependents. 3. Marital Status, Sex, Familial Status, Retaliation. 4. Age, Disability, Race, Sex, Public Assistance Source of Income. 5. Age, Race, Disability, Public Assistance Source of Income, Sex. 6. Race. 7. Age, Race, Sex, Disability, Color, Religion, Retaliation. 8. Disability, Retaliation. 9. Disability, Retaliation. 10. Race, National Origin, Disability, Familial Status, Presence or Absence of Dependents, Color, Public Assistance Source of Income, Gender Identity 11. Race, National Origin, Disability Color, Gender Identity In FY10 1. Race. 2. Race, Color, Retaliation. 3. Race, Color, Retaliation. 4. Race, Color, Disability Sex, Color, Gender Identity 5. National Origin. 6. Public Assistance Source of Income. 7. Disability. 8. Color. 9. Race, Color. 10. Age, Gender Identity Public Assistance Source of Income, Race, Marital Status, National Origin, Sexual Orientation, Disability, Creed, Sex, Familial Status, Religion. 11. Disability. 12. Disability, Retaliation. 13. Marital Status, Familial Status, Presence or Absence of Dependents, Disability, Public Assistance Source of Income. In FYI I 1. Race, Sex, Sexual Orientation. 2. Age, Public Assistance Source of Income. 3. Age, Race, Color, Disability Sex, Familial Status, Public Assistance Back to Table of Contents 97 98 Back to Table of Contents Source of Income. 4. No protected characteristic checked. 5. Race, Familial Status, Color. 6. Presence or Absence of Dependents, Retaliation, Public Assistance Source of Income. 7. Age, Sex. 8. Race, Color, Disability, Public Assistance Source of Income. In FY 12 1. Age, Disability, Retaliation. 2. Age, Marital Status, Familial Status, Presence or Absence of Dependents. 3. Age, Marital Status, Familial Status, Presence of Absence of Dependents. 4. Age, Marital Status, Familial Status, Presence of Absence of Dependents. 5. Familial Status, Presence or Absence of Dependents. 6. Disability, Retaliation. 7. Sex, Retaliation. 8. Age, Race, Color, Marital Status. 9. National Origin, Creed, Familial Status, Religion, Disability, Retaliation. 10. Disability, Sexual Orientation. 11. Race, Retaliation. 12. Familial Status, Absence or Presence of Dependents. 13. Race, National Origin. 14. No protected characteristics checked. Appendix 5: Sample fair housing poster FAIR HOUSING in Iowa City ensures all people the lawful right to be considered: For the house of Ihelr choice, In the nelghborhood of their choke. In the price range they can afford; And to recelve fair, legal and equal ueatmant and services In tha terms and canditlom of buying, nentlng or borrowing. People who believe they or someone they know might he victims of housing discrimination should file a complaint immediately by contacting: Iowa City Human Rights Commission City Nall 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 319 - 356.5022 There is NO CHARGE for services of the Commission Complaints Must Be Filed within 300 Days of the Alleged Incident TM lore CHV Nwun rdphb OMlnenc� proheY� dlwMnatlon in npwlnp hwd m: Raew Celer,Cnatl, Ml�len. Nalrenal ❑Hgln, Grsabllly. Yax, 8uwl CHanbGen, Gub11e eeur<a of I�erw. Wn01r3WMI<y, FeneRal 9bWa. AlMlel stelw� Praa�iwe el Ahranp of MpFnCw,b. IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS 12COMMISSION : Ic•.,.c Back to Table of Contents 99 Appendix 6: Survey Forms Survey form used for survey of assisted renters Survey form used for survey of un- assisted renters 100 Back to Table of Contents 11113r13 Quarries Survey Softvare Defau@ Question Black :a If 1:1 kEt11111:+1M The City oflowa Cityis conducting a sunrayto evaluate fair housinq conditions in fall area. You are being invited to participate in this suneybecause you either receive rental assistance or live in a rental unit that receives or has received publicfunding. We want to Ind outwhal yrmrexperierl have been like in searching fororliving in a rental unit in Iowa Cit in the past three years. Your inputin exlremelyvaluablel The information lhatyou provide will be kept anonymous and confidential - so please DO NOTwrite your name or address or phone numberanywhere in the surmyform. Responses will be summarized, so individual responses will not be reported in anyway. Please he honest and complete in your answers- Please take the surveyonlyonce. If you have any questions about the survey, please call hk Tracy Flights hoe in the Iowa City Housing 8 Community Development department at 319 - 3565244 or Tracy-Highlshoo@iowa- city.org. We THANK YOU in advance for completi ng this survey? WHAT IS FAR HOUSING? Fair housing is a right protected byfederal, stale and local laws. Fair housing laws apply to rental hous Ing, homes for sale, advertising of homes, home loans and home insurance, In Iowa City, it is an unlawful or discriminatory practice for any person W: A. Refuse to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, refuse to negotiate or to otherwise make unavailable, or denyanyreal propertyor housing accommodation or part, portion or Interest therein, to anyperson because of the age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income of "I person. B. Discriminate against anyother person in the terms, conditions or privileges of any real estate transaction because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, gender Identity, sexual erientafien, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. C. Directly or indirectly advertise, or in anyother manner indicate or publicize in anyreal estate transaction that any person is not welcome or not solicited because ofoge, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status. familial status, national origin, race. religion. gender identity, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. D. Decdm inale against the lessee or purchaserof any real propertyor housing accommodation or part, portion or interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or against any prospective iess ee or purchaserof the property or accommodation becaus a of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents, or public assistance source of income of persons who moyfrom time to time be present in or on the lessee's or owner's premises for lawful purposes atthe mutation of the lessee or owner as friends, guests, eslters, relatives or in any sim filar capacity. EXAMPLES OF UNLAWFUL OR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE AGANST RENTERS: L The rent or deposit quoted is higher than advertised. 2. The m anagentandlord says the unit Is rented but the unit Is actuallystill available. 1 The m anagerAandlord says, "You probablywon't like it here; "We've rented outthe (amilyunils" or'There is no place for your children to play' 4. The m anagerAandlord denies your request to make minor modifications to your unit to accommodate your disability. 5. The m anagerAandlord refuses to make repairs to your unit because of your age, color, creed, disability, gender Identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, serval orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. 6. The m anagerAandlord harasses you or your children, or yourfriends. guests, usitors, or relatives thatare at your home for lawful purposes because of either your or their age, color, creed, disability, gander identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion. gender, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of Income. https:Irs q uail cc MCmirn fPnnefr Alaxphp7action- GelSurwRrintPreuew&T -V" 117 Back to Table of Contents 101 11'13113 Quellrics SuneySoftware 1. Have you evereVerienced any of form of unlawful discrimination when searching for or living in rental housing in Iowa City in the last3 years thatwere because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status,familial status, national origin, race, religion, gender, sew aI orientation. presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income? O Yes, Ihave L7 1 think I may have �) No, 4have not O Not sure Other jj If you answared "No,1 have not' or "Not sure" at "Other", then please skip to Question 15, 2. How manylimes d0 you believe you were unlawfallyriscriminated againslin the last3 years? .fuslonce (�0 2 -5 times Over 5 times 3, Did this discrimination occur when you were (select all that apply): ❑ Searching for a unit to rentwhen receiving public assistance (other than a Housing Choice Voucher) Q Searching for a unit to rent using a Housing Choice Voucher [] Searching for a u nil to rent without anyform of public assistance ❑ Living in a rental unit 4. Who do Wa believe discriminated against yon? (select all that apply) ❑ Property managerlandlord F] Government housing program staffperson ❑ Other 5. On what basis do you believe you were discriminated against? (select all that apply) L Race ❑ Color Religion j ] National origin [] Genderldentiry Q Marital Status [] Seaual Orientation Age Familystalus n Presence or absence of children https:fls,q ualtrics. comrGontrdPanellry' akphp9acilor�GetSuneyPriniPreview BT =VMCad 102 Back to Table of Contents 27 11;13173 Qual[rics SurteySofh�re Public assistance source of income (other than using a Housing Choice Voucher) ❑ Using a Housing Choice Voucher U Disability 6. In what type of property did the acts) of discrimination occur? (select all that apply) Ll Apartment Single - family detached rental house ❑ Publiclsubsidlmdrentathcusing unit Trailer or mobile home That you rented [] Sub- leased space 7. Please desodbe the act (s) oFdiscrimination. 8. In the pastthree years, have you beer denied fleAbiiityor a "reasonable accommodation" in the rules, policies, or practices that you need because of disability? O Yes. I how 0 I think l may have Q No, I have not If yes, what was your request? 9. Ifyou believe you have been discriminated against, have you reported the incident? rC) Yes, I have Q I plan to �`i No,i have not 10. If you did not report the Inoiderl ), why not ?(selectall that apply) ❑ Didn't know what good itwould do U Didn't know where to fie a complaint C] Didn't realin itwas a violation ofthe law ❑ Afraid of losing a housing opportunity ❑ Didn't understand the process ❑ Afraid of retaliation ❑ Wanted help to file but didn't receive ary httpSJfs.qualtrin5 GorWCOntrd PaMJlAjazphp?aGtion= GetSuruEyPrintPre>new3T= Vi1Cad 317 Back to Table of Contents 103 11113113 qualtrics SureeySOfauare Lj uescnpuun or me process was noun myrmuve muyudgH Q Process was not accessible to me as a result of my dis ability ❑ Missed the deadline for reporting the incdent 11. Ifyau did report the incident(s), to which agencyor person did you do so? ( select all that apply) Police Ej Iowa City Human Rights Commission [] Ciryof Iowa City Iowa City Housing A.ulhority 0 Landlord or property manager V. Ifyou did report the incident(s), what was the longest period of time that you waited before reporting the incident? (? Less than a week (j Between a week and one month {� Ovaramomh, but less than six months (j Ovarsixmonths 13. If you did report the incident(s), were you happywith the way your complaint was handled? Yes No 14. Ifyou did report the ircident(s), do you know what the outcome was? C) Yes (1 No 15. How well informed are you about housing discrimination? r j Veryinformed 0 Somewhat informed C) Atitde informed C) Not atell informed 16. Do you believe housing discrimination is a problem in Iowa City? n Yes C) No O l am not sure 17. if you think housing discrimination is occurring, what types do you think are most prevalent? (select all that apply) Discrimination based on race, national origin or color htipslls. qualtrics .corrdGontrelPanellAJaxphp? action =GetSur eyPrintPretiew&T= Vat(add 4!7 104 Back to Table of Contents 1111303 Qualtrics Survey So tw re 0 Discrimination based on ago 0 Discrimination based on religion Lj Discrimination based on gender identity of sexual orientation [] Discrimination based on marital status or familysize orthe presence or absence ofdependents ❑ Discrimination based on public assistance source ofincome (such as receiving a Social Security Income checkbutnot a Housing Choice voucher) [] Discrimination based on receiving a Housing Choice voucher Q Discrimination based on disability 18. What can be done to prevent housing discrimination? 19. What is yourage? C) 18 to 21 C) 22 10 30 C) 31 10 40 C-) 41 to 50 C) 51 -60 Q 61 or older 20. What is your race or ethnicity? ir) White, Non - Hispanic L1 Black or African- American t7 Asian [) Native American [) I identify as Hispanic or Latino, of anyrace or combination of races. C) I idenly with more than one racial category, bul do not identifyas Hispanic or Latino C) Other 21. What is your gender? C) Male Female Cy Other or prefer nctto say 22. Where do you Ike currently? Q In Iowa city Q Outside Iowa City but within Johnson County r] Outside Johnson County hops: If s. qualtrics .comlCcntrdPanel /Aiaxphp ?adio GetSurAyIrinlPre ewST =VACad 54 Back to Table of Contents 105 I tfl3113 23. What is your sexual orientation? C7 Heterosexual O Homosemal Q Other or prefer not to say. Quallrics Sur%ySoftvars 24. Is a language other than English regularly spoken by you or members of your household? r -) We onlys peak English at home _) I or others in myhousehold primarilyspeak a language other than English at horn e. That language is: 25. What is the highest level of education you have completed? ( ") Some high school ( "1 Graduated from high school or raceioed a GEL) [) Some college (] Associates or 2-year degree l=} Bachelors or 4- yeardegree Q Some graduate school Graduate or other advanced degree 26. Are you employed? 'i Yes No 27. Do you have any Type of disability! r -t Yes O No 25. What is the total number of people in your household? E_) 1 2 3 -4 5-7 rl 8 { -) More than S 29. How manyadults (i.e., people aged 16 or more) are there in the household? O 1 O 2 hgis;lfs qual¢ ics, coMContrdPaRe1lpjaxphp7aclior >= GetSuraeyPrinlPreue�T =VxKatl 106 Back to Table of Contents 67 11113113 0 3 -4 ] 5 -7 Micro than 7 Ousllrics Survey Softwe 30. How many children are there In the household? (If Someone is counted as a dependenlfor tax purposes, please count them as a child.) U 0 (; 1 2 3 -4 5-7 More than 7 31, What Was your household's total income from all sources in the year2012? O Less than $19,999 Q $20.000 to $29,999 1' $33,000 to $39,999 per year ( ) $40.000 to $59.999 per year C) $69,909 to $79,999 Fl $80,000 or more THANK YOU VERYMUCHI We trulyappreciate yourtime and the responses thatycu prcmdod. hnpslls.G uallrics .comlCanlydPanel(Ajaxph,?ec €ion= GetSuroeyPriniPre+Aexf4T =Vmed 7R Back to Table of Contents 107 1111313 Oualtrfcs Surcey5oflware Default Question Block PURPOSE OF THIS SURVEY The Chyof Iowa Cityis conducting a sull evaluate fair housing conditions In the area. If you are curremlya renter in Iowa City(or have been one in the last three years), we invite you to participate in this survey. We want to find out what your experiences have been like in searching for or living in a rental unit in Iowa City in the past three years. Your Input in exnremelyvaluablel The information that you provide will be kept anonymous and confidential -- so please DO NOT write your name or address or phone number anywhere in the survey form. Responses will be summarized, no inr iudual responses will not he reported in anyway. Please he honest and complete in your answers If you receive housing assistance, such as a Housing Choice Voucher or live In public housing, and have alreadyfilled out a survey either online or using a paper form, you should not fill out this survey. We have recall your Information already -- Thank youl If you have any questions about the survey, please call Ms. Tracy Hightshoe in the Iowa City Housing & Community Development department at 319 -356 -5244 or Tracy- Highis hoe @iowa- city.org. We THANK YOU in advance for core pleling this surwyl WHAT IS FAIR HOUSING? Fair housing is a right protected byfederal, state and local laws, Fair housing laws apply to rental hous Ing, homes for sale, advertising of homes, home loans and home insurance. In Iowa City, itis an unlawful or discriminatory practice for anyperson lo: A- Refuse to sell, reel, lease, assign, sublease, refuseto negotiate or to otherwise make unavailable, or denyanyreal propertyor housing accommodation or pad, portion or interest Iherelo, to any person because of the age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial Si national origin, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income of that person. B. Discriminate againstanyother person in theterms, conditi or priNleges of anyreal estate transaction because ofage, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. C. Directlyor indirectlyaduertise, or in anyother manner indicate or publicim in any real estate transaction that anyperson is not welcome ornotsolicited because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin,raoe, religion, gender identity, sexaal orientation, presence orabsence of dependents orpublic assistance source of income. D. Discriminate against the lessee or purchaser of any real property or housing accom medallion or part, portion or interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or against any prospective lessee or purchaser of the property or accom m citation because of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familiar status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents, or public assistance source of income cf persons who mayfrom time Ill be present In or on the lessee's or owner's premises for lawful purposes aithe invilation of the lessee orowneras friends, guests, d,sitors, relatives or in any slm ilar capacity. EXAMFLES OF UNLAWFUL OR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE AGAINST RENTERS, 1. The rentordsposil quoted is higher than advertised, 2. The msnagerllandlord says the unit is rented butthe unitis actually still available. 3. The managorAandlord says, "You probably won't like it here;' "We've rented out[he familyunits" or `There Is no place ferynur children to playa' 4. The managerllandlord denies your request to make minor modifications to your unitto accommodate your disability, S. The manager4andlord refuses to make repairs to your unit because of yourage, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, familial status, national origin, race, religion, gender identity sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income. 6. The managerillandlord harasses you or your children, or your friends, guests, visitors, or relatives thatare atyour home for lawful Duroos es because of either your or their see color. creed. dlsabillty. aender identity. marital status. familial status, national oriein. hi ls_quallrics comlCorttrolPanellAjaxphp? action= GelSuneyPrintPre avAT= lDggg2 117 108 Back to Table of Contents 1111303 Qualtrics Survey Stiff wre roc- � .......... .......... .:.............. ._., ...,- ---- ...- .,----- •-- - - - - -• __ -_�.., e, religion, gender, sexual orientation, presence or absence ofdependents or public assistance source ofincome. I. Have you ever ergrerienced anyofform ofunlawful discrimination when searching furor liNng in rental housing in Iowa Ciyin the last 3y(ars that ware because of age, color, creed, disability. gender Identity, marital status, familial status, national origin,race,i religion, gender, sexual orientation, presence or absence of dependents or public assistance source of income? t 3 Yes. I have C) Ithlnk l may have ii No, I have not Not sure (-I Other If you answered "No, I have not' or "Not sure" or "Other ", then please skip to question 15 2, How many times do you believe you were unlawfuIIydiscrim in ate against in the last 3 years? !) dustonce f7 2- 5tlmes 4 7 Ovar5limes 3. Did this discrimination occurwhen you ware (selectall thatapply). �] Searching for a unit to rent when recomng public assistance lather than a Housing Choice Voucher) Searching for a unit to rent using a Housing Choice Voucher ❑ Searching for a unit to rent without anyforn of public assistance ❑ Livng In a rental unit 4. Who do you believe discriminated against you? (select allthat apply) C) Property managerlandlord CJ Government housing program staff person C) Other 5. On what basis do you believe you were discriminated against? (select ail that apply) Race .1 Color [� Religion National origin Gender Identity ❑ Marital Status ❑ Sexual Grientation n Age https fls.q ualtrlCS .corrJCOnIrolPanellAjaXpnp ?action= GetSUneyPnnlPreLiEw&T =1 Cg9g2 27 Back to Table of Contents 109 11l1dr13 Qualtrics Sure vSofi+are 0 Famllyslatus ❑ Presence or absence of children © Public ass istanee source of income (other than using a Housing Choice Voucher) Using a Housing Choice Voucher E] Disability 6. In what type of properly did the act(s) of discrimination occur? (select all that apply) J] Apartment [� Single - family detached rental house Puhliclsuhsidured rental housing unit F1 Trailer or mobile home that you rented 0 Sub- leased space 7. Please describe the aoljs)of discrimination. 8. In the past three years, have you been denied flepbilllyora "reasonable aocommodalion" in the rules, policies, or practices that you need because of disability? (_) Yes, I have (� I think l mayhave } No, I have not If yes, what was your request? 9. If you believe you have been discriminated against, have you reported the incident? C-i Yes, l have C) [plan to Q No, I haw not 10. If you did not report the incident(s), whynot? (selectall that apply) Didn't know what good it would do [-J Didn't know where to file a cwm plaint �] Didn't realize it was a+AolaGon of the law ❑ Afraid of losing a housing opportunity [] Didn't understand the process httr,1(squalirios r.aVantrolpa netM jaxphp9actim= GetSur%yPrintPrevi &T =1 Dg992 110 Back to Table of Contents 3f7 1113113 Qualtrics sur%ysofnwre Afraid of retaliation [� Wanted help to file but didn't receive any ❑ Description of the process was not in n liSe language Process was rot accessible to me as a result of my disability Missed the deadline forrepordng the incident 11. if you did reportthe Incident(s), to which agencyor person did you do so? {select all that apply) [] Police [] Iowa City Human Rights Commission [] Cityof Iowa City Iowa City Housing Authority ❑ Landlord orpropet€ymanager 12. If you did reporithe incidents), what was the longest period of time thatyou waited before reporting the incident? ('1 Less than a week [) Between a week and one month {_? Over month, butless than six months (� Over sixmonths 13. If you did report the incident(s(, were you happy with the way your complaint was handled? (7 Yes Q No 14. If you did report the Incident(s), do you know what the outcome was? Q Yes C) No 15. How well informed are you about housing discrimination? (-) Veryinfermed (3 Somewhat informed [ j Ali81e Informed [} Notat all informed 16. Do you believe housing discrimination is a problem in Iowa City? Yes O No �1 I am not sure httpsl)s.qualtricsooMCOntrdPa dlAjawphp7action-- GetSurs%PrinlPreveMT- lDg9g2 40 Back to Table of Contents 111 11113+13 Qualtrics SurwySoftmre 17. If you think housing discrim in at on is occurring, what types do you think are most prevalent? (select all that apply) [] Discrimination based on race, national origin aracier ["] Discrimination based on age Discrimination based an religion [j Discrimination based on gender idantilyor sexual orientation Discrimination based on marital status or familysize or the presence or absence of dependents ❑ Discrimination based on public assistance source ofincome (such as receiting a Social Security Income check but not a Housing Choice wucher) [[] Discrimination based on receidng a Housing Choice voucher Discrimination based on disability 18. Whatcan he done to prevanthous! ng discrim in a tian7 19. What is your age? )] 18to21 C) 22 to 30 O 31 to 40 G 41 to 50 O 51 -60 Ci 61 or older 20. What is your race orelhnicity? C7 While, Non - Hispanic {) Black or Africar- American Asian O Natne American r;] I idenbfy as Hispanic or Lati no, of anyrace or Combination of races. ( -) I identilywith more than one racial category, but do not i8entilyas Hispanic or Latino O Other 21. Whatis your gender? O Male Q Ferrate r] Other or prefer not to say. 22, Where do you live currently) C) In Iowa City htipsdfsqualtrics conYContrdPanellAlaxphp ?aclian= GetSur eyPfintPreuew&T= 1Dggg2 112 Back to Table of Contents SR i113't3 Quallrics Surrey Sofluere U Cots lde Iowa City but within Johnson Coo ri f i Outside Johnson County 23. What is your sexual orientation? C) Heterosexual Q Homosexual Q Otheror prefer notto say. 24. Is a language other than English regularly spoken by you or m ambers of your household? We onlyspeak English at home Q I or others in my household primarily speak a language other than English at home_ That language is: 25. What is the highest level ofeducation you have completed? Q Some high school U Graduated from high school orreceived a GEC �7 Some college Q Associates or 2- yeardegree (? Bachelors or4 -year degree (-) Some graduate school (7) Graduate or other advanced degree 26. Are you employed? Yes No 27. Do you have anytype of disability! Q Yes No 28. What is the total number of people in your household? f i 1 2 r) 3-4 C) 5 -7 Ct 8 (j Wre than 8 htips ita. qualtrics .coaVContrdPanellAjaxphp? action- GetSurwe PrinlPreueu6T= 1Da9g2 GO Back to Table of Contents 113 4ualtrics $ur,ny5oflµ'are 29. How many adults (i.e., people aged 18 or more) are therein the household? 0 1 (7 2 () 3-4 C) 5 -7 (_) More than 7 30. How many children are there In the household? (if someone is counted as a dependent for tax purposes, please count them as a child } (7 0 [I 1 2 �) 3 -4 1 5-7 C) More than 7 31. What was your household's total income from all sources in the year 2012? C) Less than $19,999 (7 $20,000 to $29,999 i] $30,000 to $39,999 per year Q $40.000 to $59,999 per year C) $30,000 to $79,999 C7 $89,000 or more 32. Which of these options below best describes you? C) You currentlyrert and do nothave a Housing Choice Voucher or live In Public Housing (,) You have a Housing Choice Voucher or live in Public Housing 33. Are you a full -time student curmnVL C'l No (_) Yes THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We trulyappreciale yourtime and the responses that you provided. httpsJfs.quallrics- corn✓Cpntrd PanellAjazphp? adiarr- GekSurwyPrinlPrevew&T =10q 9g2 114 Back to Table of Contents 7f7 Appendix 7: List of acronyms used in the report ACS American Community Survey AMI Area Median Income CDBG Community Development Block Grant CFR Code of Federal Regulations CRA Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 FHA Federal Housing Administration FSA Farm Service Agency HACAP Hawkeye Area Community Action Program PCD Planning and Community Development HCV Housing Choice Voucher HMDA Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 HOME HOME Investment Partnership Program HTFJC Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County HUD United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ICAAR Iowa City Area Association of Realtors ICHA Iowa City Housing Authority ICHRC Iowa City Human Rights Commission IoD Index of Dissimilarity LIHTC Low Income Housing Tax Credit MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area P & Z Planning and Zoning PH Public Housing PHA Public Housing Authority RHS Rural Housing Service SRO Single Room Occupancy THE The Housing Fellowship VA Veterans Administration VAS Veterans' Affairs Supportive Housing Back to Table of Contents 115 by HEALTHWAYS Sponsored by Well 1 ark. 1(9 June 23rd, 2014 Hello, We wanted to share the results of the Walkable and Livable Communities (WALC) workshop that was held in Iowa City on April 17th, 2014. This workshop was conducted as part of the Blue Zones Project @. National experts from the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute visited Iowa City and met with community members to learn more about what we are doing well, and to ask for input and suggestions for how we can improve in making Iowa City a safe and friendly place for pedestrians and bicyclists. The report outlines the discussion from the workshop, as well as observations from a walking audit. It is offered as a resource only, providing potential ideas to undertake as we see fit. Coincidentally, items such as Complete Streets, Bicycle Master Plan, and Streets Manuals are action items already included in the current Community Policy work plan for the Blue Zones Project. It's great to see that we are already headed in the right direction. If you have questions or comments about the report, or if you would like additional information about the WALC workshop, or the Blue Zones Project, please feel free to contact me at 319 - 499 -8094 or shannon.greene @healthways.com. Thank you for all you do to support well -being in Iowa City. Sincerely, Shannon Greene Community Program Manager Blue Zones Project -Iowa City Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an Independent Ucensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Copyright © 2014 Blue Zones, LLC and Healthways, Inc. All rights reserved. bluezonesproject.corn Page II and Livable Communities Institute The Built Environment Iowa City, Iowa Iowa Healthiest State Initiative Prepared by the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute for Healthways and Blue Zones May 2014 The following memo summarizes the WALL Institute's observations and recommendations during an April visit to Iowa City as part of the Healthways I Blue Zones project. These initial recommendations are based on a short visit to the community and shouldn't be considered exhaustive. They do provide a strong starting point, however, in identifying some "low- hanging fruit" and longer -term initiatives that will improve health and well -being through better built environments. Overarching Opportunities in Common with the Other Iowa Towns As part of the Healthways I Blue Zones project, the WALC Institute assessed existing conditions in three Iowa communities —Iowa City, Marion and Oskaloosa —in April 2014. All three communities share certain opportunities, which are listed here first. In general, downtown areas and neighborhoods that aim to improve the ability of people to walls, bicycle, socialize and "age in place," should adopt the following: 1) Lower Vehicle Speeds. Posted speeds and "design" speeds should be reduced; instead of speeds being determined based on the comfort of drivers, it should be based on the safety and comfort for all users, a "target" speed. Destinations — places where people wish to gather — require low, safe vehicle speeds. Like many other places across the country, vehicle speeds in the three Iowa communities have crept up over time. This has been the result of focusing public investments and built environment design on vehicle flow and driver efficiency, to the exclusion of people walking, biking or using other active modes of D. transportation. With excessive vehicle speeds, walking and biking become uncomfortable and even seem to be dangerous in some places. 2) Narrower Vehicle Lanes. The wider a roadway, the faster cars tend to travel, decreasing safety for all users. Wide roadway lanes also make for wide crossings, increasing the amount of time a pedestrian is exposed to the threat of being hit by a car, and the amount of time drivers have to wait for the crossing. A large proportion of pedestrian fatalities occur on overly wide suburban five- or more -lane roadways. Throughout the three Iowa communities, there are opportunities on non - highway streets to reduce the width of vehicle lanes to 10 -feet, which should be the default lane width, including on many of the suburban arterial streets. If necessary, such as when there are especially high numbers of large trucks on the road or significant curves, cities can permit construction of wider lanes, but the narrower lane should be the default. In addition to lowering vehicle speeds, it saves on materials, reduces environmental impacts and provides space for wider sidewalks, bike lanes, or wider buffers between sidewalks and passing vehicles. In many cases, the narrower lanes also make intersections more compact and efficient. Narrow lanes can be as safe as wider lanes, and they add to motorist vigilance. When it comes to the width of vehicle lanes, less can be more. 3) On- Street Parking. Removing on- street parking or failing to install it in the first place has had the effect of speeding up cars while removing an important physical buffer between pedestrians on sidewalks and the cars passing them. it also puts an emphasis on parking lots, which eat up valuable urban space (2/3 more than on- street parking), create stormwater runoff, add to heat gain and are generally unsightly. Add on- street parking wherever appropriate and change policies to set a maximum for off - street parking with new development, instead of requiring a minimum. Even better, consider not setting a minimum or maximum at all. Refocusing on on- street parking will help preserve important buildings and facilitate infill investment. 4) Buildings that Front the Street. Buildings and homes should "front" the street — instead of being set back far from the street —to create a pedestrian -scale landscape and to put "eyes on the street" so that people feel watched over. Establish maximum allowable setbacks for homes and commercial buildings in places of emphasis. Encourage placement of buildings and homes so that they create natural surveillance and maximize opportunities for people to meet or say hello. This practice is especially important near schools and parks, and within civic, retail, and commercial districts. 5) Shade. Vertical walls of green have a traffic - calming effect, helping to hold down vehicle speeds and creating a nice walking and biking environment. The three communities should provide for planting, replacing, and maintaining shade - producing street trees. Streets lined with trees are safer for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Downtowns with shaded streets also generally yield higher retail sales. The trees create an important buffer between the people who are walking and talking on the sidewalks and the traffic moving by them. Try conducting a shade - mapping party. With a fun event, train a group of advocates and leaders— including youth and seniors —to participate in the mapping exercise. Create four distinct maps of the entire downtown to serve as overlays, which can later be combined to represent the following: i) One map shows all existing shade; ii) One map shows aesthetically appealing streets or blocks; iii) One map illustrates "sense of security "; and iv) One map shows where people can easily find a place to sit. Combining these maps will help identify voids and enable the community to prioritize changes. Additionally, a tree farm could be a good project for developing or enhancing partnerships between municipalities, schools, volunteer organizations, and private enterprise. 6) Complete Streets. Streets that work for everyone are called "complete." Many communities throughout the country —more than 600 now, and over 26 states —have adopted policies in support of completing the streets. In the three model Iowa communities, a complete streets policy would help ensure that anytime a street is resurfaced or reconstructed, elements are added or redesigned to improve the ability of people to walk, bike and drive safely and comfortably. Model complete streets policies and a local- policymaking workbook are available at the National Complete Streets Coalition's website. Iowa City In addition to the broad guidance noted above for all of Iowa's participating Blue Zones Project communities, Iowa City has some more specific opportunities to greatly improve walking and biking conditions. The opportunities are summarized here as recommendations. Some can be accomplished at little cost, while others require a more elaborate process, additional funding, and /or a longer timeframe. General Observations Iowa City, Iowa, home to the University of Iowa and its 30,500 -plus students, stands as an excellent model for "town /gown" relations. The university's downtown campus sits between the Iowa River to the west and a thriving pedestrian mall to the east. The pedestrian mall provides a lively hub that draws people of all ages and walks of life, providing local businesses with the kind of foot traffic that is vital to success. Iowa City's downtown offers lessons for other locations, with an attractive, energetic streetscape and an eclectic mix of restaurants and retail. The pedestrian mall features a play area where children run around climbing, swinging and sliding, while adults of all ages gravitate to restaurants with outdoor seating and the city's public library. The mall is dotted with benches for people - watching that double as public art. Some are hand- painted with colorful flowers or cartoony faces, while others share whimsical messages such as the bench with "Life is like" painted across its back, calling up the image of Forest Gump and his box of chocolates. There are multiple concerts, festivals and special events held throughout the year that draw thousands of people to Iowa City's downtown. Expanding outward, the downtown is close to tree - shaded residential neighborhoods built within a grid and connected, in many cases, by sidewalks. There's a nostalgic, homey character to some blocks, with a "Little Free Library" book box appearing at the end of one driveway to encourage the sharing of books. The city supports pedestrians and bicyclists with crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes and signage in many areas, and there's the Iowa City Bike Library as well, which promotes the exchange of used bicycles among college students who need cheap transportation for a couple of years. In another indicator of its support for active transportation, the city provides transit service to all residents. The University of Iowa offers its "Bongo - Bus on the Go" service; the GPS- based, real -time passenger information system lets people know exactly how long it'll be until the bus arrives, making transit the easy choice. There are opportunities for improvement. The neo- traditionalist Peninsula Neighborhood that's being built along the Iowa River south of 1 -80 is well - connected with sidewalks and provides access to the Iowa River Corridor Trail, but its roads are wider than necessary, including rear alleys that provide access to garages. An even more striking example of a road that's too wide lies immediately south of downtown —a stretch of S. Clinton St. dominated by sprawling parking lots and large, windowless buildings. Iowa City ranks as the state's fifth largest city with a population of 70,133, according to U.S. Census estimates in 2012, and it could become a model for designing the built environment to support active transportation. Overall, the city has laid a good foundation for active living and could substantially increase the number of people who are walking or cycling with a comprehensive plan to address gaps. In some cases, all that's needed is paint and /or new signage to buffer pedestrians and cyclists from vehicular traffic and make them more visible, while in other cases the city should spend time rethinking a particular street, intersection or block to make more substantial changes. Consider the area bounded by E. Harrison St., S. Clinton St., E. Burlington St., and S. Linn St., on the southern end of downtown. It's bisected by Court St., with large civic structures, parking garages, office space and some multi- family housing. S. Clinton St. is a wide road that becomes excessively wide between Harrison and Court streets, with angled parking deep enough to park a bus. On the opposite corner, a surface parking lot ---one of several in the area —takes up nearly a full block. S. Clinton runs north along the windowless wall of a federal building, while other nearby blocks are dominated by parking garages. This configuration of streets and land uses presents a pedestrian - unfriendly pocket that stands in sharp contrast to the inviting environment of the pedestrian mall just a couple blocks north. The city makes good use of angled parking on streets such as Iowa Avenue, but it could add more such parking and redesign those streets to also accommodate bicycling. Likewise, many intersections could be improved by making them more compact and reducing the turning radius, such as E. Prentiss St. and S. Gilbert St., for example, where the radius is so wide it encourages fast turns. On balance, Iowa City's downtown provides a solid framework for creating a more pedestrian - and bike - friendly setting. While some roads are too wide and some intersections could be more compact, the city also offers models, with a vibrant downtown pedestrian core and some streets designed to keep vehicle speeds low. Bike racks, benches and other amenities for cyclists and pedestrians are readily available in some areas as well. Here are some ways to enhance walkability in Iowa City, based on the five principles of walkability: Security, Efficiency, Convenience, Comfort and Welcome. The numbered lists are prioritized items, in order, based on voting by participants in the April 2014 walkability workshop facilitated by the WALC Institute. The bulleted lists are additional items recommended by the WALC Institute: LOW - Hanging Fruit: The 100 -Day Challenge 1. Complete a Demonstration Road Diet on Gilbert or Clinton St. — Funds may be available to begin demonstrating the usefulness of road diets in Iowa City. Completing a road diet on one or both of these streets will show how effective and beneficial a road diet can be, thus building community and decision maker support for road diets in other areas. Gilbert and Clinton Streets are just two of many possible candidates for a road diet, which reduces the number of vehicle lanes and reallocates space for active - transportation purposes, such as bike lanes, wide sidewalks, a furniture or landscape zone, or a buffer between people and cars. Road diets can also add on- street parking spaces, preferably head -out angled parking. Add street trees and other landscaping, bike racks, art sculptures and other people -scale items as well to buffer the sidewalks and encourage walking and bicycling. These two streets present a whole other set of challenges related to the surrounding land uses, but their close proximity to the University, the pedestrian mall and the Iowa River Corridor Trail make them strong candidates to introduce road diet principles. 2. Move Existing Sharrow Markings — There are bicycle 'sharrow' markings on roads in the downtown area, and likely in other areas, that are placed too close to the right side of the travel lane, encouraging bicyclists to ride close to parked cars. This placement also encourages drivers to attempt to then pass bicyclists in what may then be too narrow a space for safe travel for bicyclists, putting them in between parked and moving cars. Citywide policy should be to place sharrows in the middle of the travel lane. 3. Hold a "C cy lovia ", or Open Streets Event —This fun event is gaining popularity around the world, including places in the U.S. such as Los Angeles and Portland, Ore. and many others. Cyclovias are typically held on one or more Sundays throughout the year, and can be branded with a name that is part of Iowa City's new destination brand, once that is developed. A Cyclovia route could include the route from the college into downtown, ensuring strong participation and a visible connection between "town and gown ", in addition to participation from students. Cyclovias show the community a different way to think about streets - how their community can reconnect by reducing the emphasis on moving cars quickly. 4. Add Wayfinding to Existing Trails — Iowa City's trail system serves as a great recreation option for residents and visitors. However, adding a comprehensive wayfinding system will increase usage — people using the trails system would now know how to get to other destinations using the trail. Wayfinding will help users begin to connect destinations, creating a new transportation option in Iowa City, and increasing the value of the trails to the community as utilitarian resources, in addition to their great value as recreational assets. 5. Convert Alleys Into Places for People — Iowa City has various alleyways that can be developed into compelling places for people to shop, relax and socialize. Alleyways around the country are being repurposed into retail and social assets that are capable of increasing economic viability without having to build expensive new buildings and other facilities. Alleyways become outdoor living rooms and corridors for pedestrian activity, reducing the need to walk alongside busy roadways. Iowa City has a fantastic pedestrian mail. Alleys adjacent to the mall are a great example of where to focus efforts to create more walkable places in Iowa City. The alley connecting Clinton Street with the Sheraton Hotel, just south of the pedestrian mall, is one potential example. The hotel and other alley- accessible businesses would reap economic benefits, and would be good initial partners for this idea. 6. Remove Unnecessary Yellow Lines — Certain roads, those that have average daily automotive trips under 6,000 for instance, can benefit from the removal of the double yellow striping in the middle of the street. When drivers currently overtake bicyclists on these streets they are legally forced to pass very closely to the bicyclist in order to not cross the line and receive a moving violation. Bicyclists will shy away from riding on these roads, due to the proximity of cars passing them. if the double yellow line is removed, drivers can now give a larger passing distance to the cyclist, increasing safety. Typically, bike lanes can be painted instead, giving a dedicated, safer space for cyclists to ride. If the street has at least 18 feet between the bike lanes, the street will move traffic just as well as it did before, and now safety is improved dramatically for bicyclists, and even drivers. Court Street could be a good place to pilot this approach. 7. Remove Pedestrian Push Buttons Downtown — It is good that there are pedestrian - activated push buttons in Iowa City. An additional improvement for pedestrians is to not make them have to push a button when a crossing is desired, rather the light signal sequence should automatically include the pedestrian `walk' sign, eliminating the need to push the button. This treatment also helps bicyclists — otherwise, if traffic signals are not sensitive enough to recognize a bicycle on the road and then trigger a green light, bicyclists are forced to wait for motor vehicles to approach before they can legally cross the intersection, or they have to ride onto the sidewalk in order to reach the button. This situation will also encourage crossing against the red light, which is a safety hazard. However, the option for a pedestrian to activate the signal should remain, in those intersections or times of day where the signal sequence is not automatic, but only changes when a vehicle approaches (or the pedestrian pushes the button), triggering the light to change to green. OTHER 100 DAY ITEMS TO CONSIDER • install More " Sharrows" — Consider marking additional streets with sharrows to expand their connectivity to trails and other facilities. (See Arlington County VA's FAQ for more information.) Iowa City's existing sharrows are indeed being used by cyclists, so it might be time for city staff to consider other streets where they might work. • Pass a Complete Streets Resolution -- In order to create streets that work equally well for automobiles, bicycles, pedestrians and people of all ages and abilities, adopt a resolution committing to this path and convene an advisory group to begin reviewing Complete Streets policy options drawn from the growing number of communities that have adopted them nationwide. In the near -term, adopt a temporary street design manual, with the commitment to begin making any necessary changes to make it permanent, and begin developing any ordinances and /or specific Complete Streets policies and practices for eventual adoption as Mid -Range projects. • Reduce Lane Widths on Wide Streets if Full Road Diets are Not Yet Feasible — Many vehicle lanes are overly wide, encouraging motorists to exceed posted speed limits, such as those on S. Clinton St. An easy, short -term win is to inventory overbuilt streets and repaint them, especially if a full Road Diet is not feasible right away. Use bold striping to reduce S. Clinton St. to two 10 -foot lanes, for example, which leaves the remaining roadway available for future bike lane and /or angled on- street parking with curb extensions. Then, when feasible: ■ On roads that are 60 feet or wider, consider installing head -out angled parking on both sides. On roads that are 50 -60 feet wide, provide enough space for angled parking on one side and parallel parking on the other side. ■ On roads that are 40 -50 feet wide, install parallel parking on both sides. �'b Improve Downtown Signage for Traffic Management and Wayfinding – Some pedestrian crosswalks downtown are well- marked with signs — including a few with signs on both sides of the crosswalk. Prioritize enclosing all mid -block crosswalks with signage on both sides. Consider additional signage for wayfinding as well. Wayfinding will help users begin to connect destinations, creating a new transportation option in downtown Iowa City. Improve Crosswalks to Make Them More Visible – Many downtown crosswalks are poorly marked or fading and difficult for motorists to see. Prioritize crosswalks for restriping. Start with two wide, bold edge lines and use high - emphasis markings in all downtown locations. Survey major intersections, particularly in places where there are opportunities for higher pedestrian counts and vulnerable populations such as schools, and paint or repaint crosswalks that are missing or faded. Consider colorizing crosswalks to increase visibility. Enhance Bicycle Parking – Identify opportunities for additional bicycle parking downtown and at schools, neighborhood parks, and other public spaces. Consider on- street bicycle parking racks in retail areas, which can accommodate up to 10 -12 bicycles per parking space. Install bicycle racks that feature two points of contact, such as the "staple ", or "inverted U" rack – racks with only one point of contact, such as "wave" racks or "wheelbender" racks, are substandard. Mid -Range Projects: The Second Wave 1. Pass a Strong Complete Streets Ordinance – Start developing any ordinances and /or specific Complete Streets policies and practices for eventual adoption. Adopt the most up to date best practices for complete streets policies and enhance the current policy framework (such as an initial 100 -Day Challenge Complete Streets resolution) to ensure that a complete streets policy actually achieves the desired outcome. A complete streets policy that includes too many ways to justify less than optimal street improvements will not accomplish Iowa City's potential to become a more walkable and bikeable and economically viable community. 2A. Identify Bike Lane Projects and Complete Them – Bicycle lanes can be painted onto overly wide streets with minimal budget and planning, as a first step, and can be part of road lane width narrowing on some streets (see "Other 100 -Day Items to Consider" above). Bicycle lanes will increase bicycle ridership and safety, and will also provide multiple other benefits for drivers as well. Bicycle lanes should also be included in road diets where it is feasible. 2B. Incorporate an Iowa City Destination Brand into the Streetscape Plan — Iowa City's potential as a destination for tourists and even residents can be enhanced through a destination branding campaign, and should be incorporated into the streetscape plan. The many attractive and compelling aspects of Iowa City can become a magnet for increased business, visitation and livability. 2C. Implement a "Road Diet" on 6th and 7th Avenues — Jumpstart the City's Uptown Streetscape Plan by implementing road diets on 6th and 7th Avenues. The Streetscape Plan provides a template for narrowing these two major east -west thoroughfares and extending the curbs at busy intersections, which in turn will create space for on- street parking and reduce pedestrian crossing times. Iowa City has made good use of on- street parking, but there is room for more, including angled parking, preferably head -out. Add street trees and other landscaping, bike racks, art sculptures and other people -scale items as well to buffer the sidewalks and encourage walking and bicycling. Prioritizing implementation of the two road diets will boost economic activity and investment in the area. Candidate streets include Gilbert and Burlington. 3. Consider the "Woonerf ", or Living Street — This Dutch- invented road treatment (in England they are known as Home Zones) could be a good solution for short, low volume, very low speed roads. The Living Street typically removes curbs and gives equal preference to all users, and may even include driveable' play areas on the roadway such as basketball courts. This technique must be applied carefully to roads that don't need to provide automobile through- put. Roads in Iowa City to consider include Washington and Dubuque. 4. Paint a Striped Cycle Track as a Pilot Project — A cycle track increases bicycling safety and comfort. A striped cycle track that includes a painted 'buffer' zone between motor vehicle traffic and a bicycle lane, or track, is a low -cost way to separate bicyclists from motor vehicles. The cycle track is not raised and doesn't require additional ROW. This approach may involve moving parking space markings and decreasing lane widths. The buffer zone created between the bicycle lane and motor vehicle lane(s) can also include portable planters or bollards, and can be colorized for additional visibility and perception of separation, in addition to providing aesthetic appeal. OTHER MID -RANGE ITEMS TO CONSIDER Create a Gateway to the Community — Identify options for the location of a new gateway to Iowa City and work with the University and other key stakeholders to select the location and to design signage, landscaping and /or street features. Finalize or Adopt a Street Design Manual — As part of Iowa City's ongoing Mid -Range Complete Streets efforts, make any revisions to the City's temporary street design manual with an eye to making it permanent. Another option is to adopt a model manual, such as the Los Angeles County's Model Design Manual for Living Streets, the National Association of City Officials Urban Street Design Guide, or NACTO's Urban Bicycle Design Guide. • Increase On- Street Parking— Iowa City has made good use of on- street parking downtown and in many close -in residential neighborhoods, but there's room for more, including angled parking. With the right combination, streets can remain two -way while also fostering slower vehicle speeds and offering more parking. Ideally, a road in a neighborhood with a good block pattern should be two -way and 28 -feet wide, acting as a "yield street" with parking on both sides. The Peninsula neighborhood is ideal for alley loading, with no driveways needed. • Install Curb Extensions and Create Pedestrian Islands — Reduce crossing widths and further calm traffic by installing curb extensions on side streets, starting with the downtown core and moving out into residential neighborhoods over time. The City could also make good use of landscaped medians on streets such as Iowa Avenue by creating pedestrian crossings there. When blocks exceed 400 feet in length, pedestrians tend to cross mid - block, and mid -block pedestrian crossing islands can be a good solution. • Create More Brick Streets — For traffic calming purposes and to create a sense of place, the City should build on its brick streets, such as the stretch of North Linn Street, heading north from East Bloomington Street to Brown Street, where it continues east to Highway 1 and Dewey Street. Iowa City could provide lessons for other communities by finding a way to amortize the costs of replacing and repairing its brick streets. Well -laid brick has a 100 -year shelf life, and often adds quality and aesthetic value to a street, while slowing traffic. Complete and Maintain Sidewalks — Iowa City has a good network of sidewalks downtown and in many residential areas, but some streets are missing sidewalks or sidewalk links, and on others the sidewalks are poorly maintained. Take inventory and ��tb create a program to replace broken slabs and make improvements, and establish a fund to assist homeowners with maintenance. Identify Opportunities for Roundabouts — Modern roundabouts are far safer than four - way signalized intersections, substantially reducing crashes and helping to calm traffic — they can even contribute to increased traffic speeds through a corridor, and move 30% more traffic without signal and stop control delays. Roundabouts can improve pedestrian connectivity, but they also provide opportunities to create a gateway. When installing roundabouts, be strategic but be bold, and maximize the opportunity to help people become more comfortable with roundabouts and the benefits they offer. Comply with ADA — Redesign sidewalk ramps as needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Create an ADA - compliance map or survey and develop an action plan that prioritizes improvements near medical facilities, schools, senior centers and civic buildings. Start a Bike - Sharing Program — Over 500 short -term bike - sharing systems have taken off around the world and in dozens of metropolitan areas around the country, and could be an asset in Iowa City since there is already a bicycling community. Iowa City can develop a robust, multi- station, 24 -hour a day short term -based public "Bike Share" system, in addition to the existing Iowa City Bike Library long -term (up to six months) loan program. Many resources exist for guidance and the new Institute for Transportation Development and Policy's Bike Share Planning Guide is a good starting point. Complete the Trails — Iowa City's six -mile Iowa River Corridor Trail links many destinations, from downtown and the University to several city parks. This trail and others make up an important transportation network, and the city should assess accessibility to prioritize improvements. Create a "Missing Links and Maintenance" inventory and build an action plan around it. It's an opportunity to train a handful of residents or community advocates, guided by a professional, to conduct a quadrant -by- quadrant review of all trails, sidewalks and related facilities. Long- Ravage or Policy Initiatives: The Big Wins 1. Customize and Adapt the Model Design Manual —After adoption of a model design manual, customize and adapt it to the specific needs and realities of Iowa City's built environment and codes. 2. Start to Retrofit the Outer Rings and Suburbs — Begin by identifying the area(s) that are most likely to benefit from traffic calming treatments such as road diets, and the prioritization of mixed -use development. Increases in on- street parking, landscaping and lower speeds can bring in new development, growing the economic return of suburbs. 3. Improve River Crossings for Walking and Bicycling — All roads that cross waterways should include access for walking and bicycling. In Iowa City there are crossings that do not include appropriate sidewalks and /or bike lanes. The Burlington bridge is a good candidate. 4. Road Diet Other Top Candidates — Iowa City has made good use of on- street parking, but there is room for more, including angled parking, preferably head -out. Add street trees and other landscaping, bike racks, art sculptures and other people -scale items as well to buffer the sidewalks and encourage walking and bicycling. Prioritizing implementation of the two road diets will boost economic activity and investment in the area. Good candidates include roads such as Burlington, Gilbert, etc. Consider road diets on all streets in Iowa City that are good candidates. OTHER LONG -TERM ITEMS TO CONSIDER • Partner with the University of Iowa on a Long -Term Walkability Campaign — Build collaboration between the City and the University to develop a multi- tiered campaign to promote active transportation in Iowa City. The campaign could incorporate public education, special events, and academic research, and build on the pedestrian mall, the University's facilities, and downtown's proximity to the river, as well as the Iowa River Corridor Trail. • Partner with Local Schools to Promote Safe Routes to School — Partner with the local school district to coordinate initiatives aimed at making it safe for students to walk and bicycle to school. Convene a community -wide task force, or have an existing committee absorb Safe Routes to School as a primary initiative. Convene school teams at each school under consideration, and develop a comprehensive 5 -E's program at each of the designated schools. Consider starting with a pilot school, or multiple schools, that already have parental momentum, a supportive principal, and/or 'champion' volunteers. Consult school officials to identify ongoing challenges for students who wish to walk or bicycle to school. Identify existing city facilities and /or upcoming projects that address problem areas, and work with schools to conduct outreach to parents and promote walking and bicycling to school. Apply for TAP or HSIP funds to pay for program activities and infrastructure improvements. Doe ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER • Build social capital through early stage outreach to stakeholders and residents, and ongoing partnerships with officials and advocates. • Develop or review bicycle, pedestrian and open space plans. • Ensure that schools are "community- centered," and are planned with municipal participation and through an authentic public process. • Consider creating small neighborhood parks in unused and underused lots, such as underused parking lots, and temporary on- street "Parklets" in (former) parking spaces. • Ensure that there are healthy food retail outlets within walking distance to residents, especially lower- income residents. • Plan future walkability improvements around destinations, and use Walkscore as one of the tools to evaluate need and outcomes. • Adopt a "Health in All Policies" policy, and conduct Health Impact Assessments. • Increase transparency (windows) requirements on all downtown buildings overtime, with high emphasis on key blocks, eventually reaching over 70 percent transparency. • Establish true 'cost' parking, which will help to incentivize added street life, safety, and downtown investment. • Program stoplights to give pedestrians 'lead' time, especially on busy roads, in order to get them partly across the street before motor vehicles begin moving. Also, dedicated left -turn signals can precede (lead interval) or follow (lag interval) the pedestrian phase to further increase safety, and there are safety benefits for all (including the motorist) to use the lag (end of cycle), but it is not always possible in some settings. Mediaco �m. the power to simplify June 24, 2014 Ms. Marian Karr City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 -1826 RE: Non - Sufficient Fund Fee Dear Ms. Karr: Sent via (certified mail) The purpose of this letter is to inform you that, on or about August 1, 2014, Mediacom will be adjusting our Returned Payment Charge from $25.00 per returned payment to $29.00 per returned payment. This fee will be applied to all customers whose electronic or paper payments are returned to us as unpayable. If you have any questions, please contact me directly at 319 - 395 -9699 ext. 3461 or ly,rassleygmediacomcc.com Sincerely, 0�4 A. Lee Grassley Senior Manager, Government Relations Mediacom Communications Corporation 6300 Council St. NE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 • Fax 319- 393 -7017 w Y C-1) The purpose of this letter is to inform you that, on or about August 1, 2014, Mediacom will be adjusting our Returned Payment Charge from $25.00 per returned payment to $29.00 per returned payment. This fee will be applied to all customers whose electronic or paper payments are returned to us as unpayable. If you have any questions, please contact me directly at 319 - 395 -9699 ext. 3461 or ly,rassleygmediacomcc.com Sincerely, 0�4 A. Lee Grassley Senior Manager, Government Relations Mediacom Communications Corporation 6300 Council St. NE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 • Fax 319- 393 -7017 Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 1 MINUTES DRAFT AD HOC SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE JUNE 23, 2014 — 3:30 P.M. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL Members Present: Joe Younker (Chair), Jay Honohan, Rick Dobyns, Jane Dohrmann, Mercedes Bern -Klug, Ellen Cannon, Hiram Rick Webber Staff Present: Fruin, Karr RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (to become effective only after separate Council action): None CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Younker called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M. = IP6 CONSIDER MOTION ADOPTING CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED: a. Minutes of the Meeting on 06/09/14 — Honohan noted that the minutes are excellent, but that he did not see any mention of Mike Moran's comment about space availability being 'slim and none' in the Park District facilities, under Item C, paragraph 3. He added that he would like to move to include this in the minutes. Karr also noted some corrections — page 1, A, Library — it should be 'Kara' not 'Karen,' and on page 8, 'plague' should be 'plaque.' b. Correspondence — (1) Charlotte Walker: Part 1 — SEATS new application and instructions; (2) Asst. City Manager Fruin: City Council Strategic Plan; (3) Library Dir. Craig: Library Room Availability & Technology Support for Seniors Honohan moved to accept the Consent Calendar as amended; seconded by Cannon. Motion carried 7 -0. REPORT ON CITY SUPPORT AND FUNDING OF SERVICES FOR SENIORS: Fruin addressed Members regarding the funding of the various operations that were presented at the previous meeting; and noted an overview of this information was included in their meeting packet. Fruin noted that many of the services of the Library, Parks and Rec, and Transportation are not just for seniors, so drawing out just senior services is a bit difficult. He then reviewed information provided in the meeting packet, beginning with the Assistance to Social Service Agencies which is done primarily through the Aid to Agency process. Again, Fruin noted that many of these agencies do not serve just the senior population. He then briefly explained the Aid to Agency process, noting that there is both federal and local funding available for this program. However, the amounts available have been either stagnant or declining in recent years, according to Fruin. He stated that two of the agencies listed have been highlighted, as they serve the senior population — Elder Services and Pathways Adult Health Center. Fruin referenced the chart provided that mentions City STEPS, and explained that City STEPS is the five -year plan that the City must compile in order to receive federal funds. This plan basically prioritizes the City's needs, laying out where this funding will be going. Fruin noted that 'senior services' has a medium priority on this chart. He continued to explain how these Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 2 priorities are set, noting that there are no `low' priorities funded, and that the majority of funding goes to 'high' priority agencies. Cannon noted that one of the `high' priority areas is mental health services, and she questioned if services to people with dementia or cognitive impairment are included in this area of service. Fruin responded that the scope of services provided is basically up to the agencies to decide, but that he can look into this further to see how dementia services, for example, would be classified. Honohan asked Fruin to clarify his comment about a resolution established by the Council setting these priorities. Fruin noted that there is a resolution that instructs the Housing and Community Development Commission on how they should rank applications for funding. Honohan then asked when the current plan was adopted by the Council, and Fruin stated that the current City STEPS covers the five -year period from 2011 to 2015. A new five -year plan is in the works, according to Fruin, with public forums being held for comments. Younker then asked for some clarification on the 'high' priority items and whether they are funded at the level requested. Fruin stated that this decision is basically up to the HCDC. HCDC reviews the applications and makes their decisions based on the priority level assigned. Fruin noted that not all of the 'high' priorities were funded at their requested levels. Fruin then moved on to the capital requests, noting that this is a competitive process they go through each year for funding. The two areas that have been focused on are 'housing' and `public facilities.' He stated that in the past three years there has been only one request for an exclusive senior housing development — Three Diamond Development — who requested $450,000 in FY14. Fruin stated that this funding was not granted, as the developer was unable to secure the State funding that they needed in order to make this project happen. In the past, however, funds have been granted for requests for senior housing developments. These include Lexington Senior Housing, Concord Terrace Senior Housing, and Regency Heights Senior Housing. Honohan noted that Regency Heights, which received $150,000, supposedly does not have handicap - accessible doors. He questioned if this is the time to bring this issue up, but that the City should look into this, particularly since this development received funds from the City. Fruin noted that they can look into this matter, and he added that this funding was made available back in 1999. Continuing, Fruin moved on to the Senior Center and their budget information, which was provided in the meeting packet as well. He noted that what he tried to do in this handout is provide enough detail without being overwhelming, to help the Members better understand the budget. Looking at the revenue section, Fruin noted that this will show everything except for the general fund contribution. What is shown is the County grant received, income from memberships, donations received, collections of parking fees and building rent, locker rent, etc. On the expense side, Fruin noted that the majority of dollars are dedicated to staffing needs, which is typical of most departments. Moving on to the `net difference' then, Fruin noted that this is essentially the general fund contribution portion. FY14 shows a general fund subsidy of almost $687,000. At this point Fruin pointed out that Members should read through the second footnote here. He added that the City takes a fairly conservative approach to budgeting and tends to overestimate expenses. He believes this will be the case this year with the Senior Center. Another footnote of importance, according to Fruin, is that capitol or large -scale improvements would not be shown in this budget. Such projects of this size would have a separate budget. There are no such renovation projects in the works, according to Fruin, other than some painting and minor floor replacement. Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 3 Fruin then went to Parking and Transit, noting that both have large budgets, but if you boil it down to programs just for seniors, there are only two programs — Senior Center parking and the senior off -peak bus pass. Looking at the Senior Center parking program, Fruin explained the dollar amount shown for parking reflects Senior Center users and visitors. He also explained the bus pass program and the discount that is received. At this point, Chair Younker stated that he would like to let Members ask questions of Fruin, and then open it up for public comment. Honohan asked Fruin about the salaries of the employees at the Center and if they aren't part of the union contract. Fruin responded that he would assume they are. The Chair announced public comment would be received at this time. Mary Gutmann, 1717 Mackinaw Dr., shared her experience with the Senior Center since moving to Iowa City. Gutmann touted the wonderful programs offered at the Center, and how having all of these offerings under one roof has made attending programs much easier. Cheryll Clamon, 1023 Village Green Blvd., Senior Center member, noted that she is also a member of the Housing and Community Development Commission. She stated that she is very frustrated with the 'medium' priority level given senior services in the City STEPS plan. She urged the Committee to consider this as they work through their recommendations. Mary Wahl shared with the Committee her experiences with Iowa City, stating that Iowa City is a wonderful place to live due to all of the activities that take place — the Arts Fest, the Jazz Fest, the City of Literature, and the Senior Center. She reminded everyone that Iowa City's Senior Center is a national model for senior centers all over the country. Michael Lensing, a former Senior Center Commission member and a current Friends of the Center member, gave a brief update on the Friends Foundation, stating that the endowment account, as of May 31, 2014, is at $673,726, and the charitable giving account has a balance of $12,533. They also maintain a checking account, with a current balance of $7,078. Lensing continued, stating that each year the Center receives somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 from the Community Foundation of Johnson County. This money goes towards the Center's operational budget. He shared some of the wonderful things that the Friends Foundation has been able to fund for the Center, such as new computers, a scanner, materials for a gardening project, diversity training, and various programming needs. Lensing noted that the Center offers a wealth of programming for seniors and he hopes that one day he can spend more time there himself. Mary Gravitt asked the Committee what would happen to the Senior Center if they did not all show up to protest. She stated she feels seniors are the `disposable generation.'; and stated that if they are going to be having meetings like this, they should be televised as not everyone can come in person. Gravitt continued, stating that the Senior Center is an integral part of the community, as is the senior population and all those it serves. Lorraine Dorfman, 314 Magowan Ave., stated that she serves as Chair of the Program Committee at the Center and also that she is a gerontologist who was the former Director of the University's Inter - Disciplinary Aging Studies Program. She noted that she has taught a program for several years called "Programs and Services for Aging Adults," where she tries to educate students about the value of the full -range of services for the elderly population. Dorfman continued, stating that she believes the Senior Center performs its function very well in addressing the social, intellectual, and physical needs of seniors. The issue of diversity was Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 4 noted next, with Dorfman stating that the Center addresses this issue by offering a scholarship program for membership to those with lower incomes. Ed Rolenc of Iowa City stated that he is concerned with this Committee's formation and that he finally decided to speak up about the importance of the Senior Center in his life. Rolenc shared his and his wife's experiences with the Center, especially after both were diagnosed with cancer. Over the past several years, Rolenc stated that he has attended classes in writing, art, music, philosophy, religion, literature, astronomy, biology, history, forensics, and anthropology, to name a few. A teacher by profession, Rolenc stated the importance of life -long learning and the many opportunities to do so at the Senior Center. Since his wife's death, he himself has begun teaching again — at the Center. June Braverman asked the Committee if it has a base figure for the number of senior citizens in the area to be served, and what age parameters and demographics are utilized as determinants. She stated that there appear to be differences in the age parameters for senior hood in the available data, and that some clarification might be necessary. She spoke to the Census data available and other population counts for Iowa City and the surrounding areas. She urged the Committee to look at the true number of seniors needing services. Helen McClean, a resident of Ecumenical Towers, spoke to the value of the many volunteers and the time they give to teach classes, serve on boards, etc., and how much this saves the City. She shared a story of a frail, elderly gentleman at the Center, singing "Rock Around the Clock," and how it sparked a conversation about the original singer of this song. Honohan spoke up at this point, noting that last year there were 24,300 hours of volunteers at the Senior Center. This would have amounted to approximately $508,599 in value if these volunteers had been paid $20 an hour. Younker asked Honohan where he obtained this information, and Honohan responded that it came from the Center itself. Joan McMillan of North Liberty addressed the Committee about her concerns regarding cuts to the SEATS funding. She stated that without SEATS, many people will be unable to attend the Center. She believes they need to take a look at how funds are distributed and make sure they are equally divided among the services so desperately needed. Kathy Mitchell, 722 Iowa Ave., Senior Center Commission Member and Member of the Senior Steering Council, stated that since 1981 the Senior Center has been a leader of services for the elderly, complementing the social services network in the Iowa City /Johnson County area. Mitchell noted the variety of first -class services offered at the Center. She noted that transportation has been noted as a problem for seniors coming to the Center. As has been noted previously, Mitchell stated that a dedicated bus stop at the Senior Center, on Washington Street, would be much appreciated. She explained how the bus stops close by can still be quite arduous for some of their members to maneuver, especially in poor weather. Bob Wiley, Box 147 (Solon), Senior Center Television, stated that they are one of the outreach programs at the Center, where they try to bring events at the Center to the homebound members. Louise Young, 320 E. Washington St., Ecumenical Towers resident, stated that she has been active at the Center for many years, serving on such committees as the Task Force on Aging. She also spoke to the Center's television productions, noting that they are the only senior center in the country that has its own television station. Young also spoke to the need for a designated Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 5 crosswalk near the Senior Center and Ecumenical Towers, on Washington Street. She stated that they need to do everything they can to keep the Senior Center very accessible to everyone. Young also noted that the Senior Center does more than just work with seniors. They work with many other age groups, such as in the upcoming chorus concert at the Englert Theater. Larry Rogers, 320 E. Washington St., stated that he moved to Iowa City from Minneapolis and was fortunate enough to get into Ecumenical Towers when he did. He shared his delight in having the Senior Center so close to where he lives, adding that he is able to get all of the services he needs without going anywhere else. Rogers stated that he belongs to the Voices of Experience group at the Center and enjoys being able to sing and do things. He is also the Coordinator of the GLBT Movie Series, where he shows movies to those in the GLBT community. Rogers then spoke about Elder Services and their meal program that he enjoys. He shared his disappointment at the cuts to Sunday meal service, reportedly due to budget cuts at Elder Services. Rogers then asked a question of the Committee — if diversification is so great, what happened to the one -room schoolhouses. Jeneva Ford, 978 22nd Ave. (Coralville), noted that once she decided to settle down after some years of traveling, her doctor recommended the Senior Center to her. She stated that she enjoys having a social circle once again and finding new friendships with people who have similar interests. Ford stated that as secretary for the Steering Committee, she has heard each month reports from each of the committees on new ideas for programming at the Center, all from volunteers in the community wanting to share something with the Senior Center. She spoke to the importance of the Center and its integral part in making the Iowa City area nationally known. Ford also noted that with Iowa City being a college town and having so many things geared towards that population, it's really nice to have the Senior Center geared towards the older population. Collin Kerstetter, 2388 Russell Dr., an independent contractor, teaches fitness to older adults. She added that she does this at various locations around town, with ten classes being taught at the Senior Center. She then pays a percentage of what she makes to the Center, and has done this for 12 years now. Kerstetter noted the difficulties in trying to find space around town to hold such fitness classes and the need for guaranteed space. She reiterated what others have said about the importance of having a place, like the Senior Center, in which to offer such programming. Ina Loewenberg of Iowa City stated that she has been in Kerstetter's classes for 12 years and has been seen in Senior Center commercials lifting weights. She also spoke about her tai chi classes at the Center, noting that she now lives downtown, in part because she was driving to the Center several times a day. Now she can walk to the Center. Speaking to funding issues, she noted that the Center has the hardest working, leanest staff imaginable. Mary Means, 1708 Hollywood Blvd, stated that her father, who recently passed, was active at the Senior Center for 20 years or more. She added that the Center is much more than a building and she shared memories of joining her parents there. The Senior Center was and is a large part of her family's life. She urged the Committee to really look at the Senior Center and to find ways to enhance it even more. Means noted that she has heard the Center might be closed and used for City offices. She added that there are several other options out there that the Senior Center really needs to be left as it is. Nancy Olthoff, 2129 Slagle Dr., spoke to what the Senior Center means to Iowa City. She noted that the members are the ambassadors of the Center, by going out and telling everyone what a Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 6 great place Iowa City is to live — because of the access to the Senior Center. She noted that other communities are jealous of the Senior Center and wish they had such a place in their towns. She noted that the New Horizons Band was invited to be at the Iowa Band Masters Association in May, where they represented not only the Center but Iowa City as well. Ed Fisher of University Heights spoke to the economics of having the Senior Center downtown. He stated that seniors add to the economy and provide support to the downtown businesses, as well. Elsie Gauley Vega spoke about her enjoyment living next to the Senior Center in the Ecumenical Towers. She attends many of the events and classes offered at the Center. She also spoke about a group from Sudan that they hosted and how enjoyable the program was. Vega also spoke about the high ranking the Center has throughout the country, reminding the Committee how proud they are of this, and also for the international recognition they have received, as well. Valerie Appleton, 320 E. Washington St., stated that she just wanted to 'ditto' what everyone has said so far this evening, bringing a laugh to the crowd. Beth Clopton, 1108 5th Ave., shared her experiences with the Senior Center, stating that it really gave her 'a life' when she decided to join. She has made many friendships there and wishes her health would allow more participation. She too sings with the Voices of Experience group. She reiterated the sentiment of 'don't mess with the Senior Center,' but rather add to it, make it even stronger. Rose Hanson, 320 E. Washington St., stated she moved to Iowa City upon retirement and now she is not only in love with the Senior Center and Iowa City, but that she is in love with the whole state of Iowa. She also spoke about the V.A. Hospital located in Iowa City, adding that she volunteers there three days a week. The Chair closed the public comment and thanked everyone for their comments. Dobyns moved to accept correspondence from Mary Gutmann and June Braverman, seconded by Honohan. Motion carried 7 -0. SELECTION OF MEMBERS FOR SENIOR CENTER EVALUATION SUBCOMMITTEE: Younker stated that at the last meeting Members decided to form this subcommittee, and asked if there were any nominations for individuals to serve on this subcommittee. Honohan nominated Mercedes Bern -Klug, seconded by Webber. Dohrmann nominated Jay Honohan, seconded by Bern -Klug. Cannon nominated Hiram Richard Webber, seconded by Honohan. Honohan then made the motion to accept the slate as nominated, seconded by Cannon. Motion carried 7 -0. Younker reiterated that one of the charges of the Committee is to evaluate the Senior Center, and this subcommittee will complete that portion of the charge. DISCUSSION OF METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE USE OF FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES: Younker noted that another task of the Committee is to do an assessment of the financial and physical resources that are allocated to senior services. At the last meeting the Committee opted to not pass this on to a subcommittee, but that rather agreed that the Committee as a whole would take part in this portion. He noted a memo in the packet from himself and the Vice Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 7 Chair on how they might best proceed with this assessment. The memo lays out five tasks — to review the inclusive and sustainable values set forth in the City's strategic plan; to assess current programming offered to seniors by the City; to identify current financial and physical resources that are available; to identify and assess the services that other providers offer in the community, such as Elder Services, Pathways, Shelter House, Johnson County Livable Community, and the Consultation of Religious Communities. Finally, to consider the needs of specific segments of the senior population as recommendations are formed. Younker stated that they are asking for volunteers from the committee to be the contact member for these service providers mentioned. They will be asked to make some initial contact with these organizations to find out what services they are providing, to gather whatever information they can — such as brochures or handouts, and to share this with the Committee as a whole. Members volunteered as follows: Berg -Klug - Pathways Dohrmann - Consultation of Religious Communities Dohrmann - Elder Services Honohan - Shelter House Cannon - Johnson County Livable Communities (added Heritage Agency on Aging later) Younker stated that the hope is to get this portion going right away and he asked that these Members try to bring a report to the next meeting. At that point the Committee can decide what further information they want from these agencies. Younker stated that he would also like to hear ideas from Members at the next meeting on other agencies they might need to make contact with. Bob Welsh, 84 Penfro Dr., spoke and suggested that another agency to contact would be the Heritage Area Agency on Aging. He explained that this is a channel through which federal funds are made available for services for seniors. Cannon volunteered to be the contact person for this agency. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR COMPLETING THE COMMITTEE'S CHARGES: Younker stated that he and the Vice Chair met to discuss this and he reviewed a proposed timeline distributed in the packet with Members, with December 1St as the deadline for presenting recommendations to the Council. Younker asked if there was any discussion regarding this. Honohan stated that the schedule looks a bit ambitious to him, and noted the December 1 deadline established by Council. Dobyns stated that there has been some discussion about ad hoc committees at the Council level, versus regular boards and commissions, which typically have fairly long terms. He stated that keeping things tight will keep things moving. Younker added that by putting a timeline down on paper it helps to give them something to shoot for. Honohan stated Dobyns had motioned at the last meeting to have today's meeting on neutral ground and the next meeting at the Senior Center. Honohan stated he believes that today's meeting covered this matter and questioned a continued need for the next agenda location. Majority agreed that they no longer need to do this. Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 8 PUBLIC DISCUSSION (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA): Bob Welsh, 84 Penfro Dr., stated that he has heard the City intends to move some of their offices into the Senior Center. He added that he was able to stop this same thing some 20 years ago when he pointed out the need for repayment of some of the federal funds used to secure the Center. Secondly, Welsh spoke to parking. He stated that the City made a wise move when it went to 1 -hour free parking. He suggested that this would be even better if the City would add 15 to 20 minutes to this, so that a person attending an hour -long class could do so for free. Finally, Welsh stated that he believes it would be helpful for the Committee to look at various models of other senior centers. The key is inter - governmental cooperation. He spoke to the various models that could be used, suggesting that the first model would provide the maximum service with the least administrative costs. The second model, according to Welsh, is the most practical and would result in the most bang- for - the - bucks. It would also have the least negative impact on employees and agencies. Louise Young, 320 E. Washington St., asked for clarification of the second model mentioned by Welsh. She stated that she needs to understand more clearly what the Center is and is not allowed to do. Younker explained that they are not at a point where they can respond to her questions. She noted that she will speak with Welsh directly then. Honohan asked if they could request a copy of what Welsh is referring to. Karr noted that they could do this, and would add to the next packet. Larry Rogers, 320 E. Washington St., asked who this Committee is representing. Younker responded that the committee was formed through a resolution adopted by the Iowa City City Council, and that they are charged with evaluating the Senior Center, assessing physical and financial resources that are allocated to seniors, and identifying impediments to accessing these services. Rogers also questioned the possibilities of moving services to outlying areas, such as Coralville and North Liberty, noting that the Center is centrally located and easy for people to access. Jody Wiley, Box 147 (Solon), stated that she believes the Senior Center is very important and she volunteers there 11 hours a week, believing that the drive from Solon is very much worth it. She added that she believes Johnson County should increase their funding to the Center. Louise Young, 320 E. Washington St., stated that this is the Johnson County Senior Center — not just Iowa City. PENDING ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS: Younker noted that Karr is keeping a list of pending items for them, and Members can add to this at any time. Several of the items have been addressed and can be updated, according to Younker. TENTATIVE THREE MONTH MEETING SCHEDULE (first and third Monday of each month): Younker stated that they need to spend some time reviewing their upcoming schedule, especially for September. Also noted, August 4th has three conflicts at this point. Younker asked for the committee's choice on what to do. Karr suggested a different day of the week might be considered. After some discussion, Members decided to the following schedule: July 7 July 21 August 4 — cancel meeting; move to July 30 August 18 Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 9 and starting with the September meetings, the schedule will move to the first and third Wednesdays at 3:30 P.M. ADJOURNMENT: Bern -Klug stated that she would like to clarify something heard during today's comments. There were comments made about another use of the Senior Center building. She stated that this is completely outside the realm of her experiences and she does not see this being part of their charge — that someone else is wanting to use that building. Fruin agreed, stating that there are no plans for alternative uses, including City offices or anything like that. Honohan moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 P.M., seconded by Dohrmann. Motion carried 7 -0. Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee June 23, 2014 Page 10 Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee ATTENDANCE RECORD 2014 Kew X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting - -- = Not a Member at this time TERM O O O O C" rn CD NAME EXP. �+ w 1211/14 X X X X Joe Younker Jay 1211114 X X X X Honohan Mercedes 12/1/14 X X X X Bern -Klug Hiram 12/1/14 X X X X Richard Webber Ellen 12/1/14 X X X X Cannon Jane 12/1/14 X X X X Dohrmann Rick 12/1/14 X X X X Dobyns Kew X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting - -- = Not a Member at this time