Frink seeks re-election bid as at-large alderman
I have announced intentions to seek a second term on the Davenport City Council this fall. I have been privileged to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Davenport. It is my hope that the council is able to build on the progress that has been made and is able to achieve our goals of building a better Davenport.
To read the press release: click here
I will keep future campaign information on my main website (www.ianfrink.com). I'll continue to use this blog for issues that are before the council/other current issues and topics.
To read the press release: click here
I will keep future campaign information on my main website (www.ianfrink.com). I'll continue to use this blog for issues that are before the council/other current issues and topics.
posted by Ian Frink @ 9:59 PM
37 comments
37 Comments:
I am thrilled! Keep up the good work.
oh no please dont run again,u have done nothing but kiss brookes ass thanks!!!!!!!!
Way to hang in there "E-on" (Barney still can't get it right)
Ian - what do you know about the effect that JLCS's problems will have on the central neighborhoods? They hown tons of property and have three different tax credit projects, what will happen to those?
The city has given them lots of money and the city needs to tell the citizens what is happening.
Can you find out please.
i agree i think jlcs is a joke nothing but scammers why are some of these people making 60 garand a year ??? the city should not be involved in this find these people jobs !!!!!!
6:28,
I emailed staff, requesting an update on JLCS - I'll post a response later in the week. Thanks, Ian
Ian, can you speak to the PD and see if something can be done about the pan handlers down at the CitiBus and Scott Comm. College building. My mother doesn't drive so I was getting her a monthly bus pass. I parked on the street on the West side of the facility and immediately was approached by a black couple saying their van broke down and they needed some money. Then in front of the CitiBus entrance I was approached by a black woman wanting .83 cents. Just makes going downtown an unpleasant experience.
Could we maybe get some PD walk throughs or bike patrol or something down there?
Thanks for your consideration.
6:55,
Thanks for the post. I will send this along to DPD/CitiBus and request attention. - Ian
Do you plan to research your own issues and think for yourself this next round or still use the excuse you don't have time and have to rely on the mayor and others? I voted for you last time but you have been a disappointment so far. Anyone with management experience like you should be able to see through the root of the problems at city hall and FIX them. Head in the sand (or elsewhere) isn't good government.
9:02,
I consider myself one that does research issues, thinks for myself, and makes efforts to solve problems, not just identify them.
Every day I try and take steps to improve our city and to represent our city professionally, if you are not satisfied with my efforts I won't be offended if you vote for someone else. - Ian
FYI
Follow up on the panhandling issue at the GTC:
From CitiBus - Management will continue to be observant of panhandling. Just last week we gave an individual a “no trespassing” notice for such continued actions.
From PD - I have requested our Patrol Office address this.
Ian
Ian:
The city has a huge problem with vagrants. Why do we have so many homeless people here? could it be because of JLCS?
Ian: There is a meeting re: the Habitat/Lien Foregiveness issue on Thursday at Friendly House - at 6:30 PM. Neighbors want the city to make the land a park entrance, the staff is advocating for lien foregiveness and a donation to Habitat for another really bad infill project.
I wonder why Habitat doesn't rehab like other Habitats in the counry. This area i prime for rehabbing.
11:35,
Still waiting on a formal update on JLCS - hope to know more by Tuesday.
2:10,
I will, most likely, be at the Friendly House meeting. I like the potential park option. Also, I agree with the need to look at re-hab for Habitat city-wide.
Thanks for the comments, Ian
Ian: Thank you for your attention to those questions. Has the city given you any information on that fact that JLCS is over $17,000 delinquent in HOME loans? What is the city doing about this? What are your thoughts on how we as a city monitor these projects and make the not for profits accountable for what they promised when they asked for the money. It appears that we need a better system in place. I don't think our ctaff does a very good job in how we manage HOME loans. It is important that we assess the applicants financial viability before we loan them money.
One last question, why do you say that crime is goingdown in this city. It really is not.
11:48,
Our crime rate is down 10.6% from 2005 to 2006, granted some of that drop is due to new statistical reporting in the DPD.
The crime rate still would have dropped 5.2% in that one-year period if we had kept the old process in place.
I realize calls for service are up and we still have serious challenges to overcome, but the crime rate did drop in that one-year period.
- Ian
--
This excerpt is from the paper in April/07:
Davenport Mayor Ed Winborn and Police Chief Mike Bladel touted new statistics Wednesday that showed crime was down 10.6 percent from 2005 to 2006. They pointed to better training for records clerks in how to classify crimes and an improved records management system as bringing down the statistics so significantly.
The police department tracked 3,200 crime reports from 2006 under both the new and old systems. Under the previous system, crime was down 5.2 percent in Davenport. The new system was implemented after a review by the city in consultation with the Iowa Department of Public Safety and FBI.
“Crime was actually down before the review,” said Tanisha Briley, management analyst for Davenport who worked on the statistical review. “It is important to note that crime was already down overall.”
Ian: I can't help but be certain that you are out of touch with most of the city. I think you are nice, but come on.
11:33,
"I realize we still have serious challenges to overcome" - that said, the numbers are what they are. The drop, last year, was recorded using the old scoring process as well.
There is no doubt we have plenty of room for improvement. With our current scoring we rank (aprox.) 130th out of 370 for crime rate (1st has the highest crime rate) for cities over 75,000.
So yes, there is room for improvement. That doesn't change the fact our PD is doing the best it can and is lowering our crime rate. We still need to add resources and I hope we can continue to climb past our current mark of 164 sworn officers.
I do my best to stay on top of the situation and am in contact with the PD in some way/shape/form almost daily.
Ian
FYI
FOLLOW UP ON JLCS - FROM CITY STAFF:
As reported in the memo and attachment that was emailed to the Mayor, Council, and City Administrator on August 2, JLCS is approximately one annual payment behind on several loans with the City. The total delinquent amount is $17,650. Staff had been aware of this delinquency and working with JLCS to bring them current. Similar to how we deal with a homeowner loan, the City’s general philosophy is first to try several options to get the mortgagee back on track, rather than jumping straight to foreclosure. In addition, with these loans, there are further federal “strings” that include maintaining a certain number of affordable housing units. So closing the properties down for loan delinquency is a drastic step that would create a further (and more substantial) financial burden on the City because it would mean a loss of the affordable housing units.
Regarding the City’s decision to provide the loans for the various housing projects: in staff's review of JLCS housing projects over the past decade, the financial viability was directly comparable to that of similar projects, both locally and across the country. First of all, we focus our attention on the projected revenues and expenditures of the proposed real estate project. We assess the reasonableness of those projections and review our financial participation in the project itself. We also give consideration to the participation and expected performance of the applying agency.
Can we be confident that all applicants will be able to complete the proposed project and operate it as proposed? It is virtually impossible to predict which agencies may have financial difficulties in years to come. Essentially, all of the agencies that are funded with HOME and CDBG could face such challenges if they experience several months without one of their sources of revenue. Even for-profit organizations face this danger. That isn’t to say that JLCS dealt with their financial strain in the best way possible. Also, it is worth noting that the viability of JLCS’s real estate projects is not what has created the financial strain. Generally, the projects have been executed well during the construction and rehabilitation stages and the projections of ongoing revenues from the rental operation and the expenses have been as projected. However, the distress in the overall agency has led to it redirecting some of the revenues to support other agency operations. There are several programs that the agency has operated that are essentially unfunded or under-funded with grants. The Board has indicated to City staff that a major portion of their restructuring plan is to jettison those programs that are draining the organization.
Staff does have a sound system of monitoring HOME funded projects. In addition to the regular rental inspection by the City, HUD requires additional inspections which C & ED staff conducts. Further, property managers/developers are required to provide annual reports and undergo an annual monitoring review of tenant files to assure compliance with income and rent restrictions. These monitoring actions go beyond what HUD and many cities employ, in terms of frequency and scope of review.
Generally, when a problem has been discovered through our monitoring, JLCS staff has been responsive in correcting the issue. As mentioned above, the City can employ several methods to bring about compliance. The loans the City provided are junior to other loans and are structured as and understood to be flexible financing to allow each affordable housing project to succeed. From the City’s standpoint, keeping the properties occupied by income-qualifying tenants at affordable rents is much more critical than whether the loan repayments are made. Having said that, we still have an interest in recouping as much of the loan balances as possible over time, because this “recycled funding” allows the City to make more loans to affordable housing projects in the future. But there is no federal requirement that we have to collect those repayments; there is, however, a requirement that the units remain affordable and occupied for a given period of years.
Regarding what we (the City) are doing about this, at this stage, we are waiting to see if the emergency actions the Board is taking will allow the agency to stay afloat. We have also offered to be patient in expecting repayment, but stressed that repayment of these obligations must be included in their restructuring plans. If the agency is unable to remain viable, we will work closely with JLCS through any transition to make sure the real estate they control can continue to comply with federal requirements.
Ian: Are you aware that JLCS did not have their required Annual Audit conducted and submitted? This is a requirement. Why doesn't the city care much how this agency operates? We are throwing away good HUD funding. The explanation given to you in absolutely inadequate.
You are telling me that you believe that other social service orgs are negligent like JLCS? YOue CEDD staff needs to be held accountable for the Courtland and JLCS>
10:34,
I was simply relaying staff's position on this item, per an earlier request. I never stated that I believe any other social service agencies are negligent.
Thanks for your interest, Ian
Ian - the council needs to make sure that we do not give this agency any more money in our control. Also, what about the Berger situation and him sitting on the board.
Ian,
I am sickened to hear that the council gave the right to landlords to house relative in their properties taking these decapitated houses off the city inspection cycles. Questions, Who in the blue glazes thought this one up and why did it pass? Rental properties are a business and should be treated like one. How will the city enforce codes on these run down house when they do not enforce owner occupied houses now? Please answer my questions.
11:06,
These properties will not receive a pass when it comes to code enforcement or with regard to adhering to any other ordinances we have.
The exemption, off of the rental inspection cycle, came to the forefront - mainly due to the large number of folks in town that might rent one property to a family member (sibling, child, parent, etc.). Often times the property may even be "rent free" when it comes to a child, for example.
I believe Ald. Lynn placed this on the agenda and it passed through the council some time ago.
Let me know of any additional questions, thanks. Ian
Ian,
I think you need to do a little homework on the "relative" thing. The way I have heard it is that if a member of the family is living there, the city does not do an inspection, period! This a big mistake and you need to about the loopholes this policy has. I come from a very large family (of man) and there all my brothers and sisters. Try and prove me otherwise, Get it?
What are you thoughts on an ordinance that no more then 3 or whatever unrelated folks in the same rental?
7:32,
It may have merit; you may need some sort of exemption for college students (i.e. Ambrose/Palmer rentals). It would be pretty easy for student’s houses to have four or five un-related folks at the same house. I'll look into it further, thanks for the post. Ian
I believe "dorms" are not regulated by the city housing code enforcement department, so what does it matter? There are 10 to 15 kids living in these dorm houses and the city has no way of tracking them. Another mistake the city seems to look the other way on.
10:54,
I was not referring to dormitory living, but rather rental houses students live in off campus. Palmer doesn't have dormitory housing and many Ambrose students live off campus. - Ian
I have an idea - why not enforce our rental codes and get rid of the slum housing. Ian - why doesn't the city do this?
Because, now all these bad folks need to do is drop 3% down to take ownership of a house. There will be no more rentals and all rent to own properties. These thugs will have ownership of a house and inspectors don't enforce owner occupied houses. Things are looking up for the slumlords in this town.
What are you talking about?
Ambrose,not to change the subject, but I will. I heard a rumor today that Bill Lynn got the council to pass a motion that would exempt landlords that have a "lease to buy" or "rent to own" program from city rental inspections if the tenant puts a minimum 3% downpayment on the property. I also heard that Dan Lubell has already petitioned the city to have all of his property exempted from inspections. Has anyone else heard about this? I could not find anything about this on the city website. Is this another back room deal to benefit a few and what are the implications if this indeed did pass council.
I work in housing inspection, and I am here to ell you that this is being distorted. The way it used to be is that we did rental inspections on parents letting their kids live in a property they owned. That is a waste of time. This ordinance solved all of that.
Thanks for your input, but you didn't work in Davenport housing, lier!
Yes, really. So happens. Let's discuss this question. Here or in PM.
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