10878-22 Amending Various Arts, & Sect of Ch. 17 of the SB Municipal Code to Adress Late Fees for City Utility Customers

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Bill No.43-22 ORDINANCE NO. 10878-22 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING VARIOUS ARTICLES AND SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADDRESS LATE FEES FOR CITY UTILITY CUSTOMERS AND RENAMING THE "LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM" (LICAP) AS THE "UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM" (UAP) STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The City of South Bend owns and operates a water and sewer utility, and separate charges are imposed on the City's utility customers whose account payments are delinquent.These charges are fixed in several Sections within Articles of Chapter 17 of the South Bend Municipal Code. The City also established in 2019 what was then titled a"Low-Income Customer Assistance Program" (LICAP) for qualified City utility customers based on their income. (Ordinance 10688-19 passed on October 28, 2019), and as amended by Ord. No. 10797-21, passed on August 9, 2021). Safe water, sewer, and their related services are essential to health and welfare of City residents. Low-income persons are acutely vulnerable to loss of utility service for reasons beyond their control which consequently endangers the health and welfare of the City's young, elderly, and disabled persons. To reduce risk of loss of utility service to lower income City utility customers, this ordinance enacts changes within Chapter 17 of the South Bend Municipal Code. The changes include removal of penalties and other adverse consequences of non-payment or delinquency of utility bills by persons enrolled in what was previously known as the"Low-Income Customer Assistance Program" (LICAP) at Article 15 of Chapter 17. This ordinance further renames that program as the"Utility Assistance Program" (UAP). Amending various Sections of the South Bend Municipal Code at Chapter 17 as set out in this ordinance is in the best interest of the City and its residents. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND as follows: SECTION I . Chapter 17, Article 15, of the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend, Indiana shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows: ARTICLE 15. UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 1