REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: HENRY MCLAUGHLIN, Business Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to apply for and participate in the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (Subject to Mayor's Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to apply for and participate in the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (CWWAPP).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The CWWAPP is designed to help community water and wastewater systems address past-due bills accumulated from March 4, 2020 to June 15, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic bill relief period. The Fiscal Year 2021-22 State Budget Act appropriated $985 million from the Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will administer the program for payments to community water systems to forgive residential and commercial customer arrearages accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic bill relief period. During the summer, the SWRCB surveyed community water systems to determine total statewide residential and commercial customer arrearages and water enterprise revenue shortfalls. On September 21, 2021, based on the findings from this survey, the SWRCB adopted the program guidelines and the application period opened on October 5, 2021, and will close on December 6, 2021.
The City of Fresno (City) is eligible to receive this funding and staff is requesting approval to apply for a total of approximately $4.2 million pending final determination of eligible customer accounts. Of this amount, $4.1 million will be applied directly to past due balances on eligible residential and commercial water customer accounts (estimated at 12,650), thereby reducing accounts receiv...
Click here for full text