City Council Minutes 2021 06 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes June 15, 2021 Page 6 of 9 Councilmember Dickinson asked the council to consider down payment assistance in the future. He would like to see more tools in place to help this issue. Councilmember Dickinson made a friendly amendment to move the percentage to 15%. Councilmember Brown seconded the motion. The amendment was not accepted. Members will consider that in the August discussion. Mayor Stolzmann closed the public hearing. VOTE: Motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. DISCUSSION/DIRECTION — SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LOUISVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING PENALTIES FOR NON-PAYMENT OF WATER CHARGES Mayor Stolzmann stated that at the beginning of the pandemic the Council approved an ordinance that suspended certain provisions of the code regarding penalties for non- payment of water charges. Deputy City Manager Davis stated the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1792, Series 2020 which suspended water disconnections and other penalties for non-payment for the City's utility customers. These relief measures are in place for the duration of the City's declaration of local disaster emergency, which is still in effect, or until modified or repealed by subsequent ordinance of the Council. She stated that in general, the total number of delinquent accounts is not significantly higher than normal for this time of year, however the time of the delinquencies is getting longer which will make it harder for people to get caught up. Residents who are delinquent in their payments have access to utility bill assistance including through the City's Utility Assistance Fund administered by the Sister Carmen Center which the City continues to fund. Council can keep the ordinance in place until the disaster declaration is lifted or ask staff to bring back an ordinance for consideration that would reinstate the previous provisions of the Code for penalties prior to the end of the disaster declaration. The fastest timeline for reinstatement of the utility bill penalties and disconnection provisions would be in the October 2021 billing period. If an ordinance is approved, staff will begin a two -month notification period to all utility customers regarding the change in rules and the services available to assist with customer issues paying utility bills. The penalties and disconnections would not be in effect until October after all customers are notified. Public Comments — None.