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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8151RESOLUTION NO 8151 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDLANDS SUSPENDING ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE REDLANDS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO CUSTOMER PAYMENTS FOR CITY UTILITY SERVICES WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Redlands has ratified and confirmed the Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency as issued by the City's Director of Emergency Services; and WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of California has issued Executive Order N-24-20 to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 virus that directs water systems to halt all water service disconnections for nonpayment; and WHEREAS, similar actions have been taken by public agencies throughout the country to protect utility customers from adverse actions based upon nonpayment of their utility service accounts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Redlands recognizes that its utility services customers may experience financial difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of illness; quarantines; `social -distancing; disruptions to, and/or loss of employment; or because their income has been, or will be, otherwise unexpectedly affected; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Redlands as follows: Section 1 During the time period commencing on the effective date of this resolution through and including the day that Executive Order N-42 20 is rescinded, and as this time period may be extended by written action of the Director of Emergency Services/City Manager pursuant to Section 2, below City staff shall process City utility service customer billings as follows: A. The imposition of late charges and penalties shall be suspended and shall not accrue to a customer's account. B. Disconnections of City utility services for the reason of nonpayment of City utility service accounts shall be suspended. C. The City Manager, or his designee, may waive the requirement for a prepayment deposit in circumstances of extreme financial hardship based upon the financial hardship criteria established for the processing of administrative citations as set forth in Chapter 1.22 of the Redlands Municipal Code and the City Council resolutions implementing that Chapter relating to financial hardship. D The City Manager shall have the authority to modify the billing process (e.g. the dates upon which utility billings are sent to customers and the time at which utility meters are read 1 1:\Resolutions\Res 8100-8199\8151 Continuation of Utility Late Fee and Service Shut Off Suspension.docx by City staff) for any or all utility service accounts dependent on the availability of City staff resources and other COVID-19 emergency -related factors Section 2 Suspension of the above provisions shall continue through the date that Executive Order N-42-20 is rescinded, unless otherwise deemed appropriate for extension by wntten action of the Director of Emergency Services/City Manager for a period thereafter not to exceed ninety (90) days Any such wntten action shall be immediately communicated in writing to the City Council ADOPTED, SIGNED AND APPROVED this 17th day of November, 2020 Paul W Foster, Mayor ATTEST nne Donaldson, City Clerk 2 I \Resolutions\ Res 8100-8199 18151 Continuation of Utility Late Fee and Service Shut Off Suspension.docx I, Jeanne Donaldson, City Clerk of the City of Redlands, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 17th day of November, 2020 AYES Councilmembers Barich, Tejeda, Momberger, Davis, Mayor Foster NOES None ABSENT None ABSTAINED None e Donaldson, City Clerk 3 11Resolutions\Res 8100 8199/8151 Continuation of Utility Late Fee and Service Shut Off Suspension.docx