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REGULAR MEETING January 14, 2019 <br /> Mr. Horvath continued, We've had continued dialogue between the Council and the <br /> Administration about how we can help our struggling residents as well. I don't want to leave that <br /> untouched in this conversation. I think it's important that we have a dedicated funding source for <br /> storm water infrastructure, but it is also critical for us to continue finding ways to help meet the <br /> needs of struggling residents. I think that is a significant and ongoing issue that we are going to <br /> need to address as an Administration and Council. I know that we've already started addressing <br /> that in some ways. We worked together,the Council and Administration,on establishing the South <br /> Bend Green Corps program in this year's budget. That is essentially an AmeriCorps program <br /> where we have people going into homes and they will do assessments in the homes to try and find <br /> ways to reduce electric, heating costs, sewer and water costs. They will do things like low-flow <br /> aerators or low-flush toilets or fixing leaks or winterization. Doing things like programmable <br /> thermostats and all those things that can help reduce their costs. In addition to that, we are <br /> committed to working together on lifeline rates. We want to find a way that we set a threshold and <br /> any resident making below that threshold would have a rate that would be less than the rest of our <br /> population. This, as you know, we were not able to do in the past and we only had the ability to <br /> do cost of service basis rates but in this past State Legislature they passed the ability to do <br /> differential rates allowing for lifeline rates and that is something we are committed to working <br /> with Council on. We've indicated that we will have a proposal by June 2019 for the Council to <br /> look at so that we can start the dialogue on that, as well. I appreciate your consideration of this bill <br /> and I'm happy to answer any questions. <br /> Councilmember Karen White asked, Could you share about increments to these proposals if and <br /> when they may come? If I'm not mistaken, the Administration cannot increase any rates without <br /> not only coming to the Council, but they also have to submit that to the State for approval. Can <br /> you go through that process? As we look at approving this for the 2019 year, residents will be <br /> looking at twelve dollars ($12) because it will not go into effect until June 2019. Then in 2020 it <br /> will be twenty-four dollars ($24). Then after that time, the Administration would have to come <br /> back to this Council. In the mean-time, there are certain expectations of the work that will occur <br /> as we move forward with this particular bill. <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, Just to reiterate, that is absolutely correct. Any change in those user fees <br /> would have to go before Council. It is under the Council's jurisdiction to set those rates. Even if <br /> we wanted to make the two dollars($2)per month charge two dollars and one cent($2.01), I don't <br /> have the authority to do that without coming back to Council and getting your approval. <br /> Councilmember Karen White followed up, Then the next step would be the approval at the State <br /> level as well? <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, For the lifeline rates, we would. For the storm water fees, themselves, we <br /> would not. <br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, Could you define what lifeline rates are? What do they <br /> entail? <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, So we don't have the thresholds fully defined but we would set a threshold <br /> under which people would have a different rate. For example, if you are a family of a certain size <br /> and are one hundred and fifty percent (150%) below the poverty line in your income, we would <br /> have a process to go through income verification and then you would be eligible for a number of <br /> different programs,one(1)of which would be a lower waste water and sewer rate. We are working <br /> on those numbers and doing some sensitivity analysis to see what that deduction would be but, <br /> essentially, that is what we are talking about. Anyone below that level would receive a deduction <br /> on their sewer bill. <br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston interjected, And that is part of what you're going to <br /> clarify and bring to us in June 2019? <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, Yes, we will have that to you by June. <br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston followed up, Can you clarify what kinds of things this <br /> actually helps? Talking to my constituents, straight up they just say no. We can't afford anything <br /> else. You are breaking their backs. Talk to me about why this is important. What is this money <br /> 13 <br />