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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/01/2012 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 034, 2012, AMENDINDATE: May 1, 2012 STAFF: Lance Smith Patty Bigner AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 20 SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 034, 2012, Amending Section 26-464 of the City Code to Establish a Medical Assistance Program for Electric Customers. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Medical Assistance Program is a pilot program which is aimed at providing financial assistance for customers who are in the tiered residential electric rate class and who have electrical durable medical equipment in their household. The program is focused on providing a discount to qualifying customers by reducing the cost associated with the electrical needs of durable medical equipment. The program also provides a discount for those eligible customers with qualifying medical conditions who use air conditioning during the summer billing months. The pilot program will include an income limitation of 60% of the Area Median Income. The amount of the discount is consistent with 150 kWh per month of electric energy usage to those customers with durable medical equipment and consistent with an additional 350 kWh per month of electric energy usage for those with qualifying medical conditions who use air conditioning during the summer billing months. Staff will prepare a report for the City Council on the first year of the pilot program before June 2013. This Ordinance was adopted on First Reading by a vote of 5-1 (Nays: Troxell; Kottwitz absent). On Second Reading, the Ordinance has been amended in the following ways: • One of the recital clauses has been amended to reference increased wholesale energy costs as the basis for the assistance program and another recital clause is deleted. • The Code language has been re-worded and reformatted to actually establish the discounted rates, rather than simply stating the maximum amounts of the discounts, and to clarify that the discounts may apply either to electrical durable medical equipment or air conditioning, or both, depending upon which is medically necessary for that particular customer. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. ATTACHMENTS 1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary - April 17, 2012 (w/o attachments) 2. Program Application 3. Powerpoint presentation COPY COPY COPY COPY ATTACHMENT 1 DATE: April 17, 2012 STAFF: Lance Smith Patty Bigner AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 25 SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 034, 2012, Amending Section 26-464 of the City Code to Establish a Medical Assistance Program for Electric Customers (Option A, B, or C). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Medical Assistance Program is a pilot program which is aimed at providing financial assistance for customers who are in the tiered residential electric rate class and who have electric medical equipment in their home. Staff is presenting three options for consideration by Council. Fort Collins Utilities is seeking direction on the program details and approval from the City Council to implement this program. Specifically, staff is asking City Council to determine the scope of the program and to adopt the Ordinance allowing the establishment of the program. The program is focused on reducing the cost associated with the additional electrical needs of those with life support equipment in their household. Options for other medical equipment and air conditioning needed to improve the quality of life for those with immune compromising diagnoses are also being presented for consideration. • Option A limits coverage to electrical life support and mobility durable medical equipment. The maximum discount is $12.50 per month. • Option B extends coverage to all electrical durable medical equipment. The maximum discount is $12.50 per month. • Option C extends coverage to all electrical durable medical equipment and includes a discount for customers whose medical needs require air conditioning. The maximum discount during non- summer months is $12.50 per month. The maximum discount during summer months is $41.73 per month. The key differences between the three options are shown in the Ordinance in bold-face type. Fort Collins Utilities is recommending the implementation of Option C with an income limitation as a pilot program to be implemented by June 1, 2012 when the higher seasonal tiered rates become effective. Based on 2012 participation and costs of the program for the remainder of the year, the program can be adjusted prior to the 2013 cooling season for any necessary changes. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION On December 6, 2011, Council adopted Ordinance No. 166, 2011, increasing the Residential Class Electric Rates. The new rates support the conservation values of the City through a tiered rate structure and include a seasonal variation to reflect the higher cost of energy during the summer. In the discussion leading up to the vote to adopt the Ordinance, Council requested Fort Collins Utilities to develop a program so as not to impose any additional economic hardship on those customers who may have sufficient monthly energy usage attributed to medical equipment to be pushed into the second or third tiers. The Pilot Medical Assistance Program is the result of that request. The program could include an income limitation to focus the program on those most in need of economic assistance. It could also include a component with an air conditioning allowance during the cooling season (June – August) for those with medical conditions adversely affected by hotter summer temperatures. Research indicated there are a number of discount programs for customers with medical issues around the country. Comparisons of the programs in the western region of the United States served as a basis for the development of this COPY COPY COPY COPY April 17, 2012 -2- ITEM 25 program. Please see Attachment 2 for a table comparing the programs at other utilities. In addition, outreach for this program has involved review by the Energy Board and meetings with patient advocacy groups and physicians. In determining a reasonable household income ceiling, the Area Median Income (AMI) used by the Federal Housing Authority provided an independent source of income information based on the number of people in a household. The AMI is specifically formulated for Larimer County and factors in local costs of living. Without more detailed information than the median income, it was necessary to take some portion of this AMI as the program is designed to help those customers who will see the tiered rate increase as a substantial economic hardship. The income table included in the draft application shows the income ceiling as 60% of the Larimer County AMI. This level of income is close to 185% of the federal poverty level and is higher than that used for many other income-based social assistance programs. A certain level of fraud prevention is recommended for this program. The application requires the customer to sign an affidavit allowing for Fort Collins Utilities to request documentation to verify income qualifications, if the pilot program has an income ceiling. The application also requires a signed affidavit from a physician verifying the need for durable medical equipment which requires electricity or the need for a temperature controlled household for those customers with certain immune compromising diagnoses. The lawful presence affidavit is required by Colorado state law because participation in the program is considered a local public benefit. An appeal process will be included in the program for those customers who are experiencing a financial hardship due to their medical needs or whose medical condition requires air conditioning, yet fall outside the scope of the program. The Utilities Executive Director will have the authority to consult a medical professional as a hearing officer for medical appeals of a decision that any electrical medical equipment does not meet established criteria. The Utilities Executive Director will have the authority to allow an exception to the established financial criteria. Staff is providing Council with three options for the program. Attachment 1–Program Options summarizes the options, including the pros and cons and the associated costs of each option. Based on City Council’s direction and adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading, staff will return with the specific program for Council to consider adopting on Second Reading on May 1. If adopted, staff anticipates implementation of the program before June 2012. FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS It is difficult to estimate the anticipated enrollment in this program and the enrollment depends on what is included in the adopted program. This is because the program may potentially be more comprehensive than other programs reviewed by staff. In addition, data on the prevalence of certain diseases in Fort Collins is not available. For these reasons it is recommended that we consider this program to be a pilot program from June 2012 through May 2013. Once the program has been implemented, enrollment and costs will be better understood so any changes necessary to continue the program or better meet these customers’ needs can be brought back to City Council by the second quarter of 2013. The revenue shortfall in 2012 associated with this program will be accommodated within the Light & Power Reserves for 2012 and 2013. While it is hard to estimate the economic impacts of a new program, this program is not increasing electric rates for customers at this time and is providing a reduction for the eligible customers. Thus, it is not expected that this program will have any substantial economic impact on the community as a whole but it will provide some relief for customers participating in the program. It is expected that the savings seen by these customers will be spent elsewhere within the local community. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS This program has minimal negative environmental impacts. This program in conjunction with the new tiered rate structure has the potential to help customers be more aware of their personal energy usage and may be an opportunity in the future to expand on energy efficiency education programs. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of Option C with an income limitation for the Medical Assistance Program. Option C will allow for some assistance to be provided to the most customers by allowing any electrical durable medical equipment COPY COPY COPY COPY April 17, 2012 -3- ITEM 25 to be covered with a physician’s signature. It will also provide some assistance for those customers with a medical condition requiring air conditioning in the summer. Option A is the most limited of the three options and does not allow for quality of life considerations or an accommodation for air conditioning. Option B does allow for equipment necessary to improve the quality of life of those with medical needs to be covered but still does not cover air conditioning. By including an income limitation, the program will be targeted to those customers most in need of the financial relief from the program. While it is difficult for any program to address all of the needs of the community, Option C with an income limitation covers the most medical conditions of the three options and with the income limitation attempts to balance the needs of the community with increasing the costs to be passed on to other residential customers. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Medical Assistance Program was presented to the Energy Board on February 2, 2012 and again on April 5, 2012. Energy Board members expressed support for the program and indicated support of similar programs that are structured to assist low-income community members and others in situations of hardship. At the April 5, 2012 meeting, the Energy Board voted to recommend Option C with an income limitation. Fort Collins Utilities staff also spoke with a representative from the Senior Advisory Board to explain the intent of the program. PUBLIC OUTREACH Fort Collins Utilities has met with the patient advocacy groups, citizens and physicians in the development of this program including: • Senior Advisory Board • Multiple Sclerosis Society • Disabled Resource Services • Dr. Bruce Cooper with the Health District of Northern Larimer County. Communication that has already been distributed regarding the change in rates has included information that Fort Collins Utilities is considering medical conditions and is working on a program to address the potential impacts. Two of these communication brochures have already been distributed and staff members are keeping track of interested customers. A training session will be offered to Customer Service Representatives so that they are able to answer questions about the new program. Information regarding the Medical Assistance Program and how to apply will be distributed to the customers that are already a part of our Life Support Notification Program. It will be posted on the Fort Collins Utilities website and a simple brochure describing the program requirements and eligibility will be created and distributed at community outreach events. Notice of the proposed change to the Municipal Code to include this type of program was published in the Coloradoan on March 18, 2012 and a mailing was sent to City electric customers outside of the city limits. ATTACHMENTS 1. Program Options 2. Program Comparison Table 3. Draft Program Application Form 4. Letter from Dr. Bruce Cooper 5. Letter from Dr. Gerald McIntosh 6. Fort Collins Energy Board Draft Minutes, April 5, 2012 7 Powerpoint presentation Application for Medical Assistance Program – 2012 Background. Fort Collins Utilities developed this program to provide assistance to customers who may experience significant economic impact through the increased consumption of electricity in their residence due to the use of medically necessary equipment. This program is not available to customers on the residential demand rate. Customers are required to apply for this discount each calendar year. Customer information. (to be completed by Fort Collins Utilities account holder) Name on account: ___________________________________ Account number:____________________ Service address: _________________________________ Fort Collins, CO ZIP code: ______________ Patient Name: _________________________________________________________________________ Affidavit of lawful presence in the United States. (to be completed by Utilities account holder) I, ________________________________________, swear and affirm under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Colorado that: __ I am a Citizen of the United States __ I am not a United State citizen but I am lawfully present in the United States pursuant to Federal Law I understand that this sworn statement is required by law because I have applied for a public benefit. I understand that State law requires me to provide proof that I am lawfully present in the United States and to submit a secure and verifiable document when asked. Acceptable forms of proof are: Colorado driver’s license, Native American tribal document, U.S. military identification card, Colorado identification card, U.S.C.G. merchant mariner card. Affidavit of income eligibility. (to be completed by Utilities account holder) This program is intended to assist customers for whom the costs of running a medical device results in an economic hardship. The income threshold for this program has been set at 60% of the Larimer County Area Median Income (as determined by the Federal Housing Authority). Based on the number of people within this residence and the income ceiling provided in the table at right, I certify that the total household income is less than the income ceiling and, thus, this account is eligible for this program. I agree, as a condition of my participation in this program, that if asked I will provide copies of my financial records that establish my income including copies of my IRS tax returns. My signature below certifies all information on this application is true and accurate, that I am lawfully present in the United States, the total household income for this residence is less than the household size adjusted income ceiling given in the table above, and the patient named above lives at this address full time and requires medically necessary equipment, used at this address, which requires electricity to operate. I further acknowledge that making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in this sworn affidavit is punishable under the criminal law of Colorado as perjury in the second degree under C.R.S. 18-8-503 and it shall constitute a separate criminal offense each time a public benefit is fraudulently received. Signature:________________________________________ Date: __________________________ # in Household Income Ceiling (60% AMI) $32, 220 $36, 840 $41, 460 $46, 020 $49, 740 $53, 400 $57, 120 $60, 780 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+ Your physician will complete the back of this form. Physician information. (to be completed by a licensed physician) Physician’s full name:_____________________________________________________________________ Office Address: ___________________________________ City: _________________ ZIP code: ________ Phone:____________________ Colorado Medical License Number:________________________________ Type of medically necessary equipment used by patient: _________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ HCPCS Code: _______________________________________ Additional need for cooling. If the patient has a spinal cord injury (quadriplegia and paraplegia), mutiple sclerosis, scleroderma or other condition associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon requiring air conditioning, please note the specific condition here: ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ I certify the patient listed above requires, on an on-going basis, medically necessary equipment, utilized at the patient’s home, which uses electricity to operate. Physician’s signature:____________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Application does not guarantee uninterrupted electric service nor prevent disconnection for non-payment. Medically necessary equipment for this discount rate is defined as any durable medical equipment requiring electricity to operate that is required on an ongoing basis by a patient within the residence being serviced by Fort Collins Utilities. This includes, but is not limited to, respirators, dialysis machines, suction machines, electric nerve stimulators, pressure pads and pumps, intravenous pumps and electric wheelchairs. Mail to: Fort Collins Utilities Customer Service Division PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Drop off: Fort Collins Utilities Customer Service Division 117 N. Mason St. Fort Collins, CO 80521 Utilities Return signed form to Fort Collins Utilities. fcgov.com/utilities • utilities@fcgov.com • (970) 221-6700 • TDD: (970) 224-6003 page 2 1 1 Medical Assistance Program for Residential Electric Customers City Council Meeting May 1, 2012 2 Pilot Program Overview • Assistance up to 150 kilowatt-hours per month for electrical durable medical equipment • Additional assistance up to 350 kilowatt-hours per month during the summer billing months (June – August) for air conditioning • Income limitation – household income not to exceed 60% of Area Median Income ATTACHMENT 3 2 3 Ordinance No. 034, 2012 • Authorizes the creation of a medical assistance program for customers on the Residential electric rate schedule • Establishes an appeals process • Requires staff to prepare a report to City Council before June 2013 4 Community Outreach • Mailing to customers who have requested notification • Outreach to community agencies and health care providers • Training for Customer Service Representatives who will assist with applications • Documentation of the appeals process 3 5 Discussion and Questions ORDINANCE NO. 034, 2012 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING SECTION 26-464 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS TO ESTABLISH A MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS WHEREAS, on December 6, 2011, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 166, 2011, increasing the residential energy electric rate effective February 1, 2012; and WHEREAS, the revised residential energy electric rate included significant rate structure modification to a tiered seasonal rate in order to better align the rate structure with the energy conservation values of the City and with purchase power charges assessed to the City by Platte River Power Authority; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed City staff to develop a medical assistance program that would reduce the impact that the rate structure modification and rate increase would such rate increase may have on customers who have below average income and who use electrical medically necessary equipment at a Fort Collins electric customer address; and WHEREAS, Section 40-3.5-104(3), Colorado Revised Statutes, allows the governing body of a municipal utility, for good cause shown, to make changes to its rates or charges without providing 30 days’ notice to the public of the text of the changes to the rates schedule; and WHEREAS, on March 6, 2012, the City Council delayed consideration of this Ordinance in order to provide staff additional time to add elements to the medical assistance program with input from medical personnel and to allow for citizen outreach; and WHEREAS, Utilities staff has since conducted outreach with local physicians, citizen groups, and other interested citizens; and WHEREAS, the summer season billing months under the City's tiered rate system begin in June, 2012, which makes the enactment of this Ordinance time-sensitive; and WHEREAS, staff has provided 30 days advance written notice to out-of-city customers that a public hearing regarding a possible amendment to the City Code that would allow for discounted rates to qualifying customers would be postponed from March 20, 2012 to April 17, 2012; and WHEREAS, staff has also published notice in the Coloradoan newspaper to the same effect; and WHEREAS, City staff has developed a medical assistance program that would reduce the monthly electric bill of qualifying electric customers. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That Section 26-391 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended by the addition of a new definition "electrical durable medical equipment" which reads in its entirety as follows: Electrical durable medical equipment shall mean that medical equipment that is powered or charged by electric energy and is used by individuals, primarily and customarily to serve a medical purpose, in their homes, that can withstand repeated use, that is generally not useful to individuals in the absence of an illness or injury and is appropriate for use in the home. Section 2. That Section 26-391 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended by the addition of a new definition of “Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System number” which reads in its entirety as follows: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System number shall mean that number that has been assigned to a particular piece of durable medical equipment in accordance with the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System maintained by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a standard coding system used in the medical industry. Section 3. That Section 26-464(d) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to add a new subsection (q)(1) which would read in its entirety as follows, with existing subsections (d) through (o) to be renumbered accordingly: Sec. 26-464. Residential energy service, schedule R. . . . (qd) Medical assistance program. (1) The rates described in subsection (c) above shall be discounted for those electric customers to whom this rate schedule applies, and who apply for such discount, as long as such customers meet the requirements of paragraph (2) below.: a. whosethe applicant’s annual household income falls below 60 (sixty) percent of the Larimer County Area Median Income (as determined by the Federal Housing Authority); and b. whosethe application is submitted on an annual basis on an administratively determined schedule and accompanied by the following: a certified, signed statement from a licensed physician that:a) electrical durable medical equipment used at the residential premises is medically necessary and that;b) that such medical equipment has been assigned a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System number; and/or -2- c)2. a certified, signed statement from a licensed physician that air conditioning at the residential premises is medically necessary for a resident thereof who, in the absence of the air conditioning, may suffer medical deterioration due to a severe immune compromising medical condition, including but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, scleroderma or hemiplegia; and 23. the application is accompanied by a sworn affidavit from the applicant verifying that all information contained in the application including, if applicable, the representation that air conditioning will be operational at the applicant’s address during the summer billing months, is true and correct and that the information provided is true and correct. (2) Applications for rate discounts under this section must be submitted annually in accordance with an administratively established schedule. Section 4. That Section 26-464 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended by the addition of a new subparagraph (q)(2) which reads as follows: (23) Assistance shall be provided in the form of a discountThe discounted rates for customers with electrical durable medical equipment only shall be calculated as follows: a. Fixed charge, per account: four dollars and forty-eight cents ($4.48). b. Distribution facilities charge, per kilowatt-hour: two and fifty-six one-hundredths cents ($0.0256) c. Energy and demand charge, during the summer season billing months of June, July and August, with the summer season billing month determined by the month the meter is read, and provided that no customer shall be billed more than three (3) full billing cycles at the summer rate. The energy and demand charge shall be billed as follows: i. For the first five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: two and ninety-five one-hundredths cents ($0.0295). ii. For the next five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: six and eighty-nine one-hundredths cents ($0.0689). -3- iii. For all additional kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: ten and five one-hundredths cents ($0.1005). d. Energy and demand charge, during the non-summer season billing months of January through May and September through December: i. For the first five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: two and sixty-one one-hundredths cents ($0.0261). ii. For the next five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: five and twenty one-hundredths cents ($0.0520). iii. For all additional kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: six and three one-hundredths ($0.0603). e. In lieu of taxes and franchise: a charge at the rate of six and zero- tenths (6.0) percent of all monthly service charges billed pursuant to this Section. (4) The discounted rates for customers with medical needs requiring air conditioning only shall be calculated as follows: a. Fixed charge, per account: four dollars and forty-eight cents ($4.48). b. Distribution facilities charge, per kilowatt-hour: two and fifty-six one-hundredths cents ($0.0256) c. Energy and demand charge, during the summer season billing months of June, July and August, with the summer season billing month determined by the month the meter is read, and provided that no customer shall be billed more than three (3) full billing cycles at the summer rate. The energy and demand charge shall be billed as follows: i. For the first five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: two and ninety-two one-hundredths cents ($0.0292). ii. For the next five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: three and seventy-seven one-hundredths cents ($0.0377). iii. For all additional kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: ten and five one-hundredths ($0.1005). -4- d. Energy and demand charge, during the non-summer season billing months of January through May and September through December: i. For the first five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: four and eighty-two one-hundredths cents ($0.0482). ii. For the next five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: five and twenty one-hundredths cents ($0.0520). iii. For all additional kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: six and three one-hundredths cents ($0.0603). e. In lieu of taxes and franchise: a charge at the rate of six and zero- tenths (6.0) percent of all monthly service charges billed pursuant to this Section. (5) The discounted rates for customers with electrical durable medical equipment and medical needs requiring air conditioning shall be calculated as follows: a. Fixed charge, per account: four dollars and forty-eight cents ($4.48). b. Distribution facilities charge, per kilowatt-hour: two and fifty-six one-hundredths cents ($0.0256) c. Energy and demand charge, during the summer season billing months of June, July and August, with the summer season billing month determined by the month the meter is read, and provided that no customer shall be billed more than three (3) full billing cycles at the summer rate. The energy and demand charge shall be billed as follows: i. For the first five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: one and eighty-nine one-hundredths cents ($0.0189). ii. For the next five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: two and forty-five one-hundredths cents ($0.0245). iii. For all additional kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: ten and five one-hundredths cents ($0.1005). d. Energy and demand charge, during the non-summer season billing months of January through May and September through December: -5- i. For the first five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: two and sixty-one one-hundredths cents ($0.0261). ii. For the next five hundred (500) kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: five and twenty one-hundredths cents ($0.0520). iii. For all additional kilowatt hours per month, per kilowatt hour: six and three one-hundredths cents ($0.0603). e. In lieu of taxes and franchise: a charge at the rate of six and zero- tenths (6.0) percent of all monthly service charges billed pursuant to this Section. (6) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no rate established under this subsection shall reflect a discount exceeding an amount that is consistent with the average monthly energy expense associated withthe use of 150 kilowatt hours per month for the operation of electrical durable medical equipment andor, if applicable, withan additional amount consistent with the use of 350 kilowatt hours per month for air conditioning during summer billing months. Such discount shall not exceed the amount of $12.50 per month during the non- summer billing months and shall not exceed $41.73 during the summer billing months, and shall be available under this program only to those applicants: Section 4. That Section 26-464 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended by the addition of a new subparagraph (q)(3) which reads as follows: (37) A decision that an applicant does not qualify to participate in this program for a medical or financial reason may be appealed to the Utilities Executive Director, who shall, prior to making his or her decision, and as he or she deems appropriate, confer with one or more medical or financial experts in reviewing such appeal. Section 54. That the amendments to Chapter 26, Section 464 of the City Code contained herein shall go into effect when this ordinance becomes final and customers will become eligible to receive a medical discount on bills issued after customers apply and qualify for the medical discount.That the rate discounts established by this Ordinance shall apply to those electric utility bills that are issued to a qualifying customer on or after the date that such customer has been determined to be eligible for the discounts. Section 65. That the City Council hereby finds that the amendments to Chapter 26, Section 464 of the City Code contained herein serve a purpose that is beneficial to the ratepayers of the electric utility. -6- Section 76. That the City Council hereby finds pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes Section 40-3.5-104 (3), good cause exists to establish the medical assistance program without having published the text of the proposed City Code changes 30 days in advance. Section 87. That the City Manager is hereby directed to submit a written report to the City Council on or before May 11, 2013, with regard to the implementation of the provisions of this Ordinance, including, but not limited to, the number of applications received by the City for discounted rates under the program established by the Ordinance, the total cost incurred by the Utilities as a result of such discounts, the types of medical equipment used at the premises to which the discounted rates apply, and any recommended changes that might make the program more effective. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 17th day of April, A.D. 2012, and to be presented for final passage on the 1st day of May, A.D. 2012. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ Interim City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 1st day of May, A.D. 2012. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ Interim City Clerk -7- Utilities Attachment 2 page 1