HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/17/2020 06I Authorization; Short-Term Utility Bill Payment Accomodations to\'4\lyy tbxk ik 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 6.1.
For Meeting of: March 17, 2020
ITEM TITLE: Resolution authorizing utility billing personnel to accommodate
customers experiencing financial distress
SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Cutter, City Attorney
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The City Council has expressed a desire to authorize City utility billing personnel to consider
means of providing reasonable temporary relief to utility customers that are experiencing a period
of financial distress that is making immediate full payment of their utility bill very difficult. The
Council understands that economic challenges can make the payment of utility bills very difficult;
they also understand that a lack of utility services can present certain life safety and health
concerns.
While it is not the City Council's intent to forego the payment of utility costs for any particular
customers indefinitely, providing temporary deferral of a payment to assist a customer during a
particular payment period could assist certain customers experiencing difficult financial
circumstances. For that reason the Council is authorizing the City utility billing personnel to
employ reasonable short-term utility bill payment accommodations, taking into account a
customer's income and ability to pay, number of members in the household, past utility payment
history, previous utility service interruptions due to non-payment of utility costs, and the
reasonable expectation of the customer's ability to pay a deferred bill in full within a reasonable
time.
ITEM BUDGETED: No
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
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D Rer=olulyan-LIldfly 5W Deferral 2.01/21171] Resolution
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2020-
A RESOLUTION authorizing utility billing personnel to allow reasonable utility bill payment
accommodations for City utility customers experiencing financial distress,
within specific responsible criteria.
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima is responsible for collecting the full costs of providing utility
services that include refuse collection, sewer and water service to the City's utility customers; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is aware that there are many instances and circumstances
that arise that cause certain utility service customers to encounter financial hardships affecting
the customer's ability to pay their full utility bill within the standard bill payment time frame; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the need to fairly address these financial
situations, as well as address the life-safety and health concerns a lack of utility services can
present City residents, by authorizing utility billing staff to consider individual customer's requests
for bill payment options that respond to the short-term economic circumstances affecting the
customer's immediate ability to pay their utility bill in full, said options to include short-term deferral
of a portion of their utility bill payments and/or acceptance of partial payments on agreed upon
schedules; and
WHEREAS, the City Council agrees that it is reasonable to authorize the utility billing staff
to agree to short-term payment deferrals and payment options for customers who are presently
in economic crisis, but who demonstrate an ability to pay their utility bill within a reasonably
determined time and under conditions that acknowledge the City's obligation to collect the full
costs of services provided by the City in order to avoid concerns of gifting of public funds or the
City's lending of credit, either of which is a violation of State constitutional mandates; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the City staffs determination of
appropriate short-term utility bill payment accommodations may take into account the individual
customer's income, number of members in a particular household, past utility payment history
with the City, whether there have been previous service interruptions based upon non-payment
of bills and what the reasonable expectation of the customer's ability to pay deferred billing in full
may be; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City Council hereby authorizes the City Utility Billing Department to implement
reasonable and responsible utility bill payment options for utility customers experiencing financial
economic distress, thereby allowing opportunities for short-term deferrals of utility bill payments,
or partial bill payments arranged on payment schedules that are monitored and maintained, in
order to allow the best reasonable opportunity to avoid actions that would potentially disrupt the
services promoting the health and welfare of the City's residents.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 17'h day of March, 2020.
Patricia Byers, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk