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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - November 3, 1999 E-14AGENDA TITLE: Public Benefits Program Grant — Low -Income Demographics Study — Salvation Army (not to exceed $5,000) MEETING DATE: November 3, 1999 PREPARED BY: Electric Utility Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council approve a Public Benefits Program grant, not to exceed $5000, to the Salvation Army of Lodi for a low-income household demographics study. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City of Lodi currently has a Residential Low -Income Discount Service electric rate (`Schedule ED'). The current rate provides a 10 percent discount on a customer's monthly electric utility bill, if certain qualifications are met. Specifically, to be assigned to Schedule ED, a customer must receive Supplemental Security Income/Supplemental Security Payment (SSI/SSP) benefits. The City of Lodi Electric Utility is now in the process of examining various options that would provide additional relief to low-income residents in our community. These options could include: expanding eligibility, a larger discount and/or a one-time relief payment to assist a customer during a particular time of the year. In order to fully identify the number of qualifying families, the City of Lodi Electric Utility, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, is requesting that a low-income household demographics study be commissioned in the ensuing months. The Salvation Army of Lodi will conduct this survey, and then provide a detailed analysis of their findings, along with possible recommendations. The cost of this study is not to exceed $5000, and would be paid for from the City of Lodi Public Benefits Program fund. The City of Lodi Electric Utility respectfully recommends approval of this grant request as a qualifying component of the City of Lodi's Public Benefits Program. FUNDING: 164604 - Public Benefits Program Fund (Category: Low -Income Customer Assistance) FUNDING AVAILABLE: -&V� -4 • At�& -,� - Vicky NUAthie, Finance Director Alan N. Vallow Electric Utility Director i APPROVED: H. Dixon Flynn - City Manager CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION PREPARED BY: Rob Lechner, Manager of Customer Programs ANV/RUIst C: City Attorney -104 APPROVED: H. Dixon Flynn - City Manager RESOLUTION NO. 99-176 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM GRANT TO FUND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD DEMOGRAPHICS STUDY WHEREAS, the State has mandated that beginning January 1, 1998, the City of Lodi is obligated to fund various programs through a Public Benefits Charge (PBC) based on a historical electric revenue requirement; and WHEREAS, the requirement amounts to approximately $1M per year that must be dedicated to qualifying programs such as energy efficiency. A further stipulation is that these efforts must be done on the customer's side of the meter in order to qualify; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi currently has a Residential Low -Income Discount Service electric rate ("Schedule ED"); and WHEREAS, the current rate provides a ten percent (10%) discount on a customer's monthly electric utility bill, if certain qualifications are met, i.e. a customer must receive Supplemental Security Income/Supplemental Security Payment (SSI/SSP) benefits; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi Electric Utility is examining various options that would provide additional relief to low-income residents in our community by 1) expanding eligibility, 2) allowing larger discount and/or 3) allowing a one-time relief payment to assist a customer during a particular time of the year; and WHEREAS, in order to fully identify the number of qualifying families, the City of Lodi Electric Utility, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, is requesting that a low-income household demographics study be commissioned in the ensuing months; and WHEREAS, the Salvation Army of Lodi will conduct this survey, providing a detailed analysis of their findings along with possible recommendations at a cost not to exceed $5,000.00 which would be paid from the City of Lodi Public Benefits Program fund. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to provide a Public Benefits Program grant in the amount not to exceed $5,000.00 to fund the Low -Income Demographics Study to be performed by the Salvation Army. Dated: November 3, 1999 ----------------------- ----------------------- I hereby certify that Resolution No. 99-176 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City Council in a regular meeting held November 3, 1999 by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hitchcock, Mann, Nakanishi and Land (Mayor) NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — P *no LI M. R CCH ity erk 99-176