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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> those other agencies and the lifeline rates is if they meet an income threshold based on the number <br /> of people in their household,we would give a discount. We'll do some sensitivity analysis and we <br /> don't even have an amount yet because part of the process will be having our financial consultant <br /> look at,first(1St),how many people fall below a certain threshold.These things will be,essentially, <br /> revenue neutral.What that means is,for everyone who pays less,the rest of the population is going <br /> to pick that up. So, as we do that, we will look at different rate discounts to see what impact it has <br /> on the overall, and then we'll have some dialogue on that to figure out where we should be. <br /> Councilmember White then asked, And your goal is to have a number of discussions prior to that <br /> implementation? <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, Yeah. We will definitely keep the Council involved in that process because <br /> we are definitely going to need to determine how big that rate break is. Then, based on how big <br /> that rate break is, it is then contemplated how much others are going to have to pay. <br /> Councilmember Broden interjected,This is just interim because we are looking toward impervious <br /> surface, correct? <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, That is correct. For the storm water fee, this is the interim way we are doing <br /> it. As we mentioned before,of the communities in Indiana and throughout the nation,most of them <br /> are on an impervious surface calculation but there are still a couple doing it similar to what this <br /> proposal is.This is an easy way to get started and start billing.We have started our billing software <br /> kick off meeting for our new water billing software. Our current software is twenty (20) some <br /> years old so it is really difficult to do any kind of change in rates. If you want to add a five-dollar <br /> ($5) charge on across the board, that is easy. But if each one (1) is different, you have to touch <br /> each bill. So, the new software will give us the ability to do a lot of those things without having to <br /> touch each bill. That is about a fourteen (14) month process and we just started it on January 8th, <br /> 2019. <br /> Committee Chair Teshka asked, Just to be clear, though, these rates, if established today, will be <br /> in effect until Public Works brings us something different. <br /> Mr. Horvath replied, That is correct. <br /> Committeemember Williams-Preston interjected, The ordinance currently says at least two (2) <br /> years. So, if we pass this, we don't have to come back if it goes past two (2) years, it's basically <br /> rolling? <br /> Committee Chair Teshka replied, Yes, nothing would change. <br /> Councilmember White stated, And the implementation date is still June 1 but, in the meantime, <br /> there are a number of activities that would be occurring, and then you would come back to the <br /> Council. <br /> Mr. Horvath affirmed, Yes, absolutely. We would have to because any rate change would have to <br /> be approved by Council. <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 vwvw.southbendin.gov <br /> 5 <br />