HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - No. 2020-121RESOLUTION NO. 2020-121
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO AMEND CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE & RELIEF ENERGY
(CARE) PACKAGE PROGRAM INCREASING BENEFITS BY $249,000;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THREE AMENDMENTS TO
THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH EFFICIENCY SERVICES
GROUP, LLC, THE SALVATION ARMY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR
FAMILIES OF SAN JOAQUIN, AMENDING EXISTING CARE PROGRAM THIRD -
PARTY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACT LIMITS TO INCLUDE CARE PROGRAM
APPLICATION SERVICES IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $102,000
COLLECTIVELY; AND AUTHORIZING NECESSARY APPROPRIATIONS AND
CARRY FORWARD INTO FISCAL YEAR 2020/21
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEREAS, the Customer Assistance & Relief Energy (CARE) Package program is
designed to provide emergency payment assistance to Lodi individuals and families who fall at
or below 60 percent of State median income thresholds and who experience hardship
preventing payment of their electric bill; and
WHEREAS, since 2004, the CARE program eligibility requirements stipulated the
customer must not have received assistance through the CARE program more than once in the
previous six months, must present in person appropriate documentation to qualify for payment
assistance, and present a receipt of the Finance Department demonstrating water, wastewater,
and refuse (solid waste) charges have been paid; and
WHEREAS, effective immediately upon City Council approval through August 31, 2020,
the City of Lodi seeks to expand eligibility for CARE assistance to Electric Utility customers who
currently qualify to receive the City's SHARE Program discount (low-income) and fixed income
discount who demonstrate a need and/or hardship; and
WHEREAS, for the period stated above, Lodi seeks to facilitate greater participation in
the CARE Package Program by allowing the customer to be eligible for an additional $110 one-
time bill payment even if the customer had previously received a one-time payment under
CARE within the past six months; and
WHEREAS, for the period stated above, the City will remove the requirement of
applying for assistance in person allowing for email, regular mail, and a drop box provided by
the third -party administrator to be the method of application; and
WHEREAS, for the period stated above, the City will remove the requirement of a
receipt from the Finance Department demonstrating water, wastewater, and refuse (solid
waste) charges have been paid; and
WHEREAS, processing of the additional CARE applications will be first come, first
served up to a maximum total of $351,000 in total assistance, including third party administrator
costs; and
WHEREAS, all other program requirements remain the same; and
WHEREAS, the current third -party administrator contracts with the Salvation Army and
Community Partnership for Families are limited to $10,000 each for payment of the
administration fees per application; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends authorizing an additional third -party administrator to
assist in the application process under the amended CARE assistance program in anticipation
of a significant number of applications; and
WHEREAS, the additional third -party administrator is Efficiency Services Group, the
City's existing energy efficiency consultant and efficiency services provider; and
WHEREAS, should the applications increase in number equal to the number of
customers who currently receive the City's low-income and fixed income discount,
administrative fees could collectively reach $102,000; and
WHEREAS, for the three-month period stated above, staff recommends the City
Manager be authorized to increase CARE Program third -party administrator contracts in an
amount not to exceed $102,000, collectively; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends the City Council appropriate funds in the amount of
$351,000 from the Public Benefits Fund Balance (Fund 504) to account 50465300.72450 in the
amount of $102,000 and to account 50465300.72921 in the amount of $249,000 and that any
unused funds at the end of Fiscal Year 2019/20 be carried forward into Fiscal Year 2020/21.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Lodi City Council does hereby authorize
the City Manager to temporarily amend the Customer Assistance & Relief Energy (CARE)
Package Program increasing benefits by $249,000 as set forth above; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council hereby authorizes the City
Manager to execute three Amendments to the Professional Services Agreements with
Efficiency Services Group, LLC to, The Salvation Army, and Community Partnership for
Families of San Joaquin, to expand the scope of the existing contracts to include third -party
processing of CARE applications; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council authorizes the City Manager to
increase CARE Program third -party administrator contracts in an amount not to exceed
$102,000, collectively; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby authorize an
appropriation in the amount of $351,000 for increased costs associated with temporarily
amending the CARE Program as set forth above and a carry forward of any unused funds into
Fiscal Year 2020/21.
Dated: June 3, 2020
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2020-121 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held June 3, 2020 by the following votes:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Chandler, Mounce, Nakanishi, and Mayor Kuehne
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
PAMELA M. FARRIS
Assistant City Clerk
2020-121