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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> Date:June 8, 2020 <br />Item No.:7.e <br />Department Approval City Manager Approval <br /> <br />Item Description: Discuss expanding the Utility Discount to individuals receiving unemployment <br />benefits <br /> <br />1 B ACKGROUND <br />2 The City’s Utility Discount Program was originally established with Ordinance #620 in 1970. It was <br />3 subsequently modified on March 10, 2014 with the adoption of Resolution #11135 which established the <br />4 Program objectives and eligibility requirements. These are summarized below. <br />5 <br />6 Program Objectives <br />7 The Utility Discount Program is designed to give limited financial relief to low-income single-family <br />8 homeowners’ water and sewer bill. The purpose of the Program is to encourage residents to retain <br />9 home ownership and avoid any delinquencies with their water and sewer bill during periods of <br />10 diminished personal income. <br />11 <br />12 It’s recognized that some homeowners could experience long-term reductions in their personal income <br />13 due to economic downturns, job loss, etc. As such, the Discount Program does not have a benefit <br />14 expiration date as long as applicants continue to meet eligibility requirements. <br />15 <br />16 Eligibility Requirements <br />17 To be eligible for the Discount Program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria: <br />18 <br />19 1) Owner and occupant of a single-family home <br />20 2) Currently enrolled in one or more of the following Ramsey County-administered financial <br />21 assistance programs: <br />22 a) SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) <br />23 b)MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) <br />24 c) General Assistance (GA) <br />25 3) At or below 165% of the federal poverty threshold guidelines <br />26 4) Provide annual written proof of participation in County-administered financial assistance <br />27 programs. <br />28 <br />29 Amount of Discount <br />30 Consistent with current practices, the discount shall apply to the fixed (base) fee amount of the water <br />31 and sanitary sewer charges. The discount shall equal approximately 35% of the standard fee amount. <br />32 <br />33 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />