REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, 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 Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (Subject to Mayor's Veto) (Citywide).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to apply for and participate in the California Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (CEWWAPP).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The new CEWWAPP has been authorized by Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature to provide payments to community water systems, wastewater treatment providers, and wastewater billing entities to forgive water and wastewater customer arrearages for the extended COVID-19 pandemic bill relief period of March 4, 2020, through December 31, 2022. Appropriations of $600 million are being funded from the Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The original California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program covered the period from March 4, 2020, to June 15, 2021. This new program extends the pandemic bill relief period from June 16, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will administer the program.
The application period was opened on November 1, 2023, and closes December 31, 2023. The City of Fresno (City) is eligible to receive this funding and staff is requesting approval to apply for a total of approximately $8.5 million pending final determination of eligible customer accounts. Of this amount, $5.3 million will be applied directly to past due balances on eligible residential and commercial water customer accounts (estimated at 10,198) and $3.0 million for wastewater customer accounts (estima...
Click here for full text