HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2020-04-20 Item 4E - COVID-19 - City Utility Payments (Water and Sewer)COUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
---------------------------------- Initials
Meefinga Date
Prepared by
Mayor's review
Council review
04/13/20
BJM
04/20/20
BJM
ITEM INFORMATION
ITEMNO.
4.E.
STAFF SPONSOR: V. CARLSEN AND B. MILES
ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: 04/13/20
AGENDA ITEM TITLE COVID-19, Community Assistance: City Utility Payments
CATEGORY ® Discussion
Mtg Date 4113120
® Motion
Mtg Date 04120120
❑ Resolution
Mtg Date
❑ Ordinance
Mtg Date
❑ Bid Award
Mtg Date
❑ Public Hearing
Mtg Date
❑ Otber
Mtg Date
SPONSOR ❑Council ®Mayor ❑HR ❑DCD ®Finance ❑Fire ❑TS ❑P&R ❑Police ❑Pik ❑Court
SPONSOR's In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City's Finance adopted interim polices to aid
SUMNLARY Tukwila water and sewer ratepayers. These policies include discontinuing water shut offs
after March 15, waiving late fees, and allowing ratepayers to set payment schedules. Many
other utilities in Washington State have taken similar action, including Seattle City Light,
Puget Sound Energy, and Water District 125. The Council is being asked to affirm the
emergency procedures enacted by the Finance Department.
REVIE','ED BY ❑ Trans&Infrastructure ❑ CommunitySvs/Safety ❑ Finance Comm. ❑ Planning/Economic Dev.
❑ LTAC ❑ Arts Comm. ❑ Parks Comm. ❑ Planning Comm.
DATE: N/A COMMITTEE CHAIR: N/A
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR/ADMIN. Mayor's Office and Finance
COMMITTEE No Committee, Straight to Committee of the Whole
COST IMPACT / FUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
$N/A $N/A $N/A
Fund Source: WATER AND SEWER FUNDS
Comments: The City would be waiving late fees associated water and sewer bills.
MTG. DATE
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
04/13/20
Forward to next Regular meeting
4/20/20
MTG. DATE
ATTACHMENTS
04/13/20
Informational Memorandum dated 04/07/2020
Interim emergency policy regarding City water and sewer accounts.
4/20/20
Interim emergency policy regarding City water and sewer accounts.
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City of Tukwila
Water and Sewer Utility Policies in Response to COVID-19
SUBJECT: Temporary Policy to Discontinue Water Shut-off for Non -Payment of Water and
Sewer Service Fees and to Discontinue the Imposition of Late Fees on Delinquent
Water and Sewer Accounts
PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to temporarily suspend the imposition of past -due
and late penalties on delinquent water and sewer accounts and to temporarily
discontinue the water shut-off on delinquent accounts subsequent to Governor
Inslee's February 29, 2020 Proclamation of Emergency No. 20 05 and subsequent
orders. This policy will be effective on April 1, 2020 and will expire on September
30, 2020 unless otherwise terminated or extended.
SCOPE: This policy applies to all City of Tukwila water and sewer customers.
DEFINITIONS:
1. "Public Health Emergency" shall mean any such emergency declared by the Governor of
the State of Washington pursuant to his or her powers under 38.08, 38.52 and 43.06 RCW,
any such emergency declared by the King County Executive pursuant to RCW 38.52, or
the Mayor of the City of Tukwila pursuant to RCW 38.52.
2. "Water Shut-off" shall mean any notice of water shut-off, the act of shutting -off water,
and any fees, charges, or monetary penalties associated with water shut-off and turn -on
set forth in TMC 14.04.125 and TMC 14.04.130.
3. "Late fees" shall mean any penalty, fee, or charge associated with a delinquent account
as set forth in TMC 14.04.270.
POLICY:
During a Public Health Emergency, the City of Tukwila shall discontinue the issuance of Shut-off
Notices for delinquent water and sewer accounts for the duration of the Public Health
Emergency. In addition, the City shall not apply Late Fees incurred after April 1 delinquent
accounts during the Public Health Emergency.
This policy does not suspend regular monthly utility charges for water and sewer service.
Customers are encouraged to continue making regular payments.
PR(N Fni IRF•
The following procedures are established to allow for community members to continue receiving
water and sewer, utility service, without penalty, during a declared Public Health Emergency.
Notification
A. The Utility Billing Division shall provide written notice of the policy herein to customers
with delinquent accounts. Such notice shall state that all past due amounts are still owed
but that late fees incurred after March 16, 2020 will be suspended, and disconnections
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will be postponed for the duration of the Public Health Emergency. Water shut-off fees
for water turnoff prior to March 15 shall still be applied. In order to prevent squatting
and to protect the City's utility system, the City shall still disconnect water of properties
the City determines are vacant.
B. Within thirty (30) days of termination of the Public Health Emergency, the Finance
Director will review delinquent accounts and will work with customers to enter into
repayment plans as in the Director's discretion is appropriate as to each account.
C. Late fees and shutoff shall resume 30-days after discontinue of this temporary policy in
response to COVID-19
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2020
APPROVAL:
Mayor Allan Ekberg
Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director
De'Sean Quinn, Council President
Michael R. Kenyon, City Attorney (initials)
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