REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Interim Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: BUD TICKEL, Assistant Director - Water
Department of Public Utilities, Water Division
HENRY MCLAUGHLIN, Business Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to enroll and participate in the California Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (Subject to Mayor's Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to enroll and participate in the California Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and file any and all documents necessary to receive payments from the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) and its third-party funds disbursement partner, HORNE, LLP, for the purpose of applying credits to specified low-income customer accounts on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
LIHWAP is a one-time federally funded relief program to provide financial assistance to low-income residential water and wastewater customers to reduce water and wastewater arrearages. The funding source for this program is the State of California's share of federal Consolidated Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds appropriated to LIWHAP. At the state level, the program is administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). A Local Service Provider (LSP) will administer the program at the local level including customer outreach, intake, eligibility verification, and identification of the LIHWAP credit amount.
The funding provided through LIHWAP complements the aid provided through the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (CWWAPP) by offering assistance to eligible low-income house...
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