11-10-2015 CC RPT 22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City 9f Arts &Innovation City Council Memorandum TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT DATE: NOVEMBER 10, 2015 WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE — SHARING HOUSEHOLDS ASSIST RIVERSIDE'S ENERGY PROGRAM CONTRACT AMENDMENT - $1,000,000 ISSUE: The issue for City Council consideration is to approve the 15th Amendment to the Agreement with the County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services — Department of Community Action for the Sharing Households Assist Riverside's Energy contract. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the City Council: 1. Approve the 15th Amendment to the Agreement with the County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services — Department of Community Action (County) to extend the Sharing Households Assist Riverside's Energy (SHARE) contract from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, in the amount of $1,000,000; and 2. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to approve payments up to 25 %, or $250,000, above the SHARE contract amount if allocated funds are depleted before the contract term ends. BOARD RECOMMENDATION: On August 7, 2015, the Board of Public Utilities, with one member absent, unanimously voted to recommend City Council approval of the 15th Amendment to the SHARE contract and to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to approve payments up to 25% above the SHARE contract if funds are depleted before the contract term ends. BACKGROUND: The SHARE program, established in 1989, is a Public Utilities Public Benefit program that provides low- income residents with utility bill assistance. The program was originally supported by direct customer contributions. In 1999, Assembly Bill (AB) 1890, required local utilities to collect a Public Benefits Charge to fund public benefit programs. On July 1, 1999, the City of Riverside entered into an Agreement with the County to administer the SHARE program. The original agreement has been extended 14 times as the program has been working effectively, and the program has assisted approximately 90,000 residential customers.