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Date
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November 6, 2006
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Agenda
Item No. MHGB2 Roll
Call No. 06- Communication No. 06-708 Submitted by:
Chris M. Johansen, Housing Services Director |
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AGENDA
HEADING:
Authorizing
Submission of the Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency’s Revised Utility
Allowance Schedules.
SYNOPSIS:
Recommend approval to submit the Des Moines
Municipal Housing Agency’s proposed utility allowance schedules for Section 8
and Public Housing Programs to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD)
FISCAL
IMPACT: NONE
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
The Des Moines
Municipal Housing Agency (DMMHA) is required by HUD to provide utility
allowances for Section 8 and Public Housing residents who pay their own
utilities. Federal regulations governing
these programs require that Housing Agencies review their utility allowances
annually and make adjustments to the schedules if there is a change in the
utility rate of 10% or more from the rate on which the allowance is based.
Each year,
staff sends correspondence to the utility companies requesting information on
recent and proposed increases in monthly utility rates. The responses from these inquiries are
reviewed and adjustments in the utility allowance schedules are made
accordingly. This year’s response from Mid American Energy indicated an
estimated 3% decrease in natural gas utilities and no change in the electric
utilities. This year’s response from Des Moines Water Works indicated an
increase in water rates of 2.8% per month.
In addition, the City of Des Moines, Public Works Department reported an
increase in storm water rates from $5.83 to $6.12 per month and an increase in
sewer rates of 7.8% per month.
Therefore, a revision to the utility allowances for these charges is
being recommended at this time. The
effective date of these revisions will be December 1, 2006, for both the
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and Public Housing Program.
The Public
Housing Program does not provide for an allowance for air conditioning and does
not include mobile home units; therefore, the Des Moines Municipal Housing
Agency has separated the utility allowance schedules for the Section 8 Programs
and the Public Housing Program to reflect these differences.
Based on the
information received from the utility companies and the Public Works
Department, the following changes to the utility allowance schedules will be
proposed:
·
Decrease
the utility allowance for natural gas utilities by 3%;
·
Increase
the allowance for sewer by 7.8%;
·
Increase
the allowance for storm water to $6.12 per month.
PREVIOUS
COUNCIL ACTION(S): NONE
BOARD/COMMISSION
ACTION(S):
Date:
November 21, 2005
Roll Call
Number: 05-2733
Action:
Approval of City of Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency proposed Utility
allowance schedules. (Council
Communication No. 05-647) Moved by Kiernan to approve. Motion Carried 8-0.
Date:
November 22, 2004
Roll Call
Number: 04-2475
Action:
Approval of Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Proposed Utility
Allowance Schedules. (Council
Communication No. 04-587)
Moved by Nesbitt to approve. Motion Carried 7-1. Nays: Hensley.
ANTICIPATED
ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:
NONE