Minutes 12/08/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 8, 2020 Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustments.  Implementation of the grant with a campaign that runs mid-March through mid- May. Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Mr. Clark, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING MARKETING LEVERAGE GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 FROM THE VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION AND APPROPRIATING THE SAID AMOUNT INTO THE FY 2021 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM.” Ayes: Battle, Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None 20 - 315 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program funding from the Virginia State Corporation Commission and appropriating said funding to the FY 2021 Grants Fund for use by the Department of Public Utilities to provide assistance to customers who are in arrears on their water bills due to the impacts of COVID-19. Background:  The Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Virginia State Corporation Commission, is making CARES Act funding available to utilities through the COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program.  The funding is available to pay eligible customers’ arrearages on water/sewer bills for consumption during the period from March 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020.  To be eligible, a customer must: (1) self-certify that the customer has experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) have an arrearage of over 30 days on water/sewer bills for the applicable period; and (3) not have received any other CARES Act assistance for the payment of water/sewer bills.  When a customer is determined to be eligible, and subject to the availability of the grant funding, the Portsmouth Public Utilities Department will apply the grant funds to the customer’s arrearage. Discussion:  Currently, the total arrearage on Portsmouth water/sewer bills for consumption during the period from March 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 exceeds $3,000,000.  The Commonwealth has adopted rules that have prohibited the Public Utilities Department from taking normal measures to collect on past due payments during the pandemic. However, the past due payments remain due and owing and will need to be collected at some point to ensure the solvency of the water/sewer system.  The COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program will allow eligible consumers to clear outstanding debt for water/sewer services during the period between March 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020.  All grant funding under the COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program must be expended by January 29, 2021. Accordingly, the Public Utilities Department will undertake an outreach program to ensure that consumers are aware of the grant funding. Financial Impact:  No local match is required as a condition of the grant. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustments.  The Portsmouth Public Utilities Department will undertake an outreach program to encourage consumers to apply.