REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Interim Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: RICK STAGGS, Assistant Director - Wastewater
Department of Public Utilities - Wastewater Management Division
CARLA WATKINS, Business Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Wastewater Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to apply for and participate in the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program for wastewater arrearages funding (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 accept wastewater arrearages funding through 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) is responsible for administering the program for making payments to community water and wastewater systems to forgive residential and commercial customer arrearages accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic bill relief period.
City Council adopted Resolution No. 202-303 on December 2, 2021, authorizing the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to participate in the Water Arrearages Program and submit an application for approximately 12,650 eligible residential and commercial water accounts with $4.1 million in arrears. Following the implementation of the Water Arrearages Program, approximately $600 million in funding remained, and on January 19, 2022, the SWRCB amended the Guidelines for the CWWAPP adding the Wastewater Arrearages Program. The City of ...
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