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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.13.18 Minutes 4h Car Oshkosh RENTAL HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MINTUES JUNE 13, 2018 PRESENT: Matt Mugerauer, Margy Davey, Cheryl Hentz, Timothy Ernst, Lori Palmeri, Matt Stenerson EXCUSED: Linda Jevaltas STAFF: John Zarate, Chief Building Official, Andrew Prickett, Building Systems Inspector, Casey Koelbl, Housing Inspector, Kathy Fredrick, Weights and Measures/Code Enforcement Clerk CALL TO ORDER Mr. Mugerauer called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. The minutes of the May 9, 2018 meeting were approved as presented. (Hentz/Mugerauer) CITIZEN STATEMENTS There were no citizen statements. INSPECTIONS UPDATE Mr. Koelbl reported City staff had not completed any rental housing interior or exterior inspections since March, 2018, as staff was reviewing Act 317 and subsequent changes to the rental housing inspection program. He stated there were a few interior re-inspections to be completed which would be done by month end. REFUGEE ADVOCACY-James Rashid,World Relief Fox Valley/Nenglee Vang,Catholic Charities James Rashid explained that World Relief Fox Valley (WRFV) was a refugee resettlement agency that provided initial assistance and services to newly arrived refugees from conflict-ridden nations and long- term immigration services to the existing refugee population. He stated prior to refugees and their families arriving, his organization needed to have affordable housing in place; indicating there was a shortage of landlords willing to rent to people they had not met. He stated WRFV would co-sign leases and front the security deposit and rent for the first month after which time the refugees would receive financial assistance from state and federal agencies. He stated WRFV also assisted in health case management, employment services, and immigration services as once refugees resided in the United States for one full year they had to adjust their status to legal permanent resident. He identified some of the challenges refugees faced as language barriers, financial strain,undertreated medical conditions such as dental /0�� J Car Oshkosh RHAB Minutes Page Two care and eye care, undiagnosed mental health issues, and culture shock. He stated his agency was also tasked with educating refugees on how to live in America. Ms.Hentz asked Mr. Rashid what challenges he had experienced concerning refugees and their landlords. Mr. Rashid stated one of the biggest challenges for refugees was getting their landlords to repair maintenance issues. He indicated another big issue refugees had with landlords was they were not receiving their security deposits back. He acknowledged there was a learning curve for refugees on how to take care of an American home,but overall most of the landlords the WRFV worked with consistently stated the experience of renting to refugees was positive. Ms. Hentz asked if Mr. Rashid ever reported the maintenance issues refugees were having to the City. Mr.Rashid responded his agency did not report refugee maintenance issues to the City,they dealt directly with the landlord. Ms. Davey asked what language was spoken by the refugees in the City of Oshkosh. Mr. Rashid replied the most common language spoken by refugees in the Oshkosh area was Swahili for the Congolese, although Kinyarwanda,Arabic, and Burmese were also spoken. Mr. Mugerauer asked if there was a trust barrier between refugees and the police or City staff in general, and asked what City staff could do to gain the confidence of refugees. Mr. Rashid replied his agency had a good rapport with the City of Oshkosh Police Department and stated at least twice a year officers would simulate a traffic stop to refugees and also what to expect if an officer came to their door. Ms.Hentz suggested City staff hold a seminar for the people represented by of the World Relief Fox Valley and Catholic Charities to educate them about the services provided by the City. Nenglee Vang, Family Strengthening Refugee Coordinator from Catholic Charities, worked exclusively with Hmong refugees and immigrants and stated she felt it would be beneficial for inspectors to come speak at her workshops in order for the refugees to get accustomed to city services. She acknowledged the concept of contacting the city inspector for maintenance issues was an eye opener for her, as she normally would contact an attorney for unresolved maintenance issues between her clients and their landlords. Ms. Palmeri noted the Oshkosh Area School District elected to refer to people who had fled to America for refuge as persons with refugee background rather than refugees. /0�� J Car Oshkosh RHAB Minutes Page Three Ms.Vang stated the biggest obstacle she faced as a Family Strengthening Refugee Coordinator was finding adequate housing for large families. Ms. Palmeri suggested searching for affordable housing in areas of the City with a designated neighborhood association as it might aid in the process of getting acclimated to America. 2018 RHAB ORGANIZATION Mr. Mugerauer reported the Council updated the structure of the Residential Housing Advisory Board establishing a seven member board with the council liaison having voting status. He stated since board member terms expired each May,the RHAB could choose to nominate and vote in a new chairperson and vice-chairperson for the upcoming year (June,2018 through May, 2019). Mr. Mugerauer called for nominations for vice-chairperson. Motion by Davey to nominate Mr. Ernst as vice-chairperson/seconded by Palmeri. Mr. Ernst accepted the nomination. Motion by Hentz to nominate Ms. Davey as vice-chairperson/seconded by Mugerauer. Ms. Davey accepted the nomination. Mr. Mugerauer called for nominations to be closed for vice-chairperson and explained each member would announce their choice for vice-chairperson when Ms. Fredrick called their name. Ms. Fredrick called the roll for the election of vice-chairperson: Mugerauer voted Davey Hentz voted Davey Palmeri voted Ernst Davey voted Ernst Ernst voted Ernst Stenerson voted Davey VOTE FOR VICE-CHAIRPERSON: Davey-3 Ernst—3 As the vote for vice-chairperson resulted in a tie, Tim Ernst withdrew himself as a nominee for vice- chairperson and the Board unanimously decided Margy Davey would remain as the vice-chairperson. Mr. Mugerauer called for nominations for chairperson. Motion by Stenerson to nominate Mr. Mugerauer as chairperson/seconded by Davey. Mr. Mugerauer accepted the nomination. 4h Car Oshkosh RHAB Minutes Page Four Motion by Palmeri to nominate Ms. Hentz as chairperson/seconded by Ernst. Ms. Hentz accepted the nomination. Mr. Mugerauer called for nominations to be closed for chairperson and explained each member would announce their choice for chairperson when Ms. Fredrick called their name. Mugerauer voted Mugerauer Hentz voted Hentz Palmeri voted Hentz Davey voted to abstain Ernst voted Hentz Stenerson voted Mugerauer VOTE FOR CHAIRPERSON: Hentz—3 Mugerauer-2 Abstain from Vote—1 SOCIAL MEDIA Ms.Hentz reported she felt the RHAB Facebook page was progressing well although she would appreciate help from the Board in finding items to post. STATE LEGISLATION UPDATE—ACT 317 Mr. Zarate reported that City staff continued to dissect ACT 317 to determine what changes needed to be made to the current city ordinance in order to comply. He stated one of the changes in the rental housing inspection program was it no longer had to be City wide and would consist of districts determined by various criteria such as high crime, property maintenance issues, abandoned/foreclosed properties, conversions from a single family residence to a multiple family, and a few others. He stated the fee structure for the rental housing program would no longer be determined by the City and that a joint workshop with the Oshkosh Common Council would be held on June 261h to explain and discuss the changes to the rental housing inspection program. Mr. Mugerauer asked to be provided with the metrics (parking on the grass,junk and debris,etc.)used in determining the districts in the City which would participate in the rental housing inspection program. FARMERS MARKET—FOLLOW UP Ms. Davey stated the RHAB was scheduled for a booth at the Oshkosh Saturday Farmers Market on July 28th,August 251h and September 29th. The Board decided the booth would be manned as follows: July 28th—Tim Ernst and Lori Palmeri August 251h—Tim Ernst and Matt Stenerson September 291h—Tim Ernst and Lori Palmeri /0�� J Car Oshkosh RHAB Minutes Page Five The props and information to be displayed in the booth would be finalized at the July 111h RHAB meeting. GO-HNI REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER FOR JULY MEETING Ms.Palmeri stated she had a meeting scheduled with Pam Ruder,the new Executive Director for GO-HNI, and she would report back to the Board when Ms. Ruder was available to speak at a RHAB meeting. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Winnebago Apartment Association Representative to Speak at July Meeting Review Action Plan/discuss role in advising Council for City strategic plan Go-HNI Representative to speak at August meeting ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. (Ernst/Davey) Respectfully submitted, Allen Davis Community Development Director