HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 2/19/2019 - Memorandum From Lisa Rosintoski Re: February 5, 2019 Staff Report Follow-Up Income Qualified Assistance ProgramUtilities
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222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
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utilities@fcgov.com
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DATE: February 12, 2019
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Lisa Rosintoski, Utilities Deputy Director, Customer Connections
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
RE: Feb. 5 Staff Report Follow-Up: Income Qualified Assistance Program
The purpose of this memo is to provide responses to the February 5, 2019, Income Qualified Assistance
Program Staff Report.
Bottom Line
The Utilities Affordability Portfolio (UAP) was implemented to assist low-income customers through a
variety of programs. In October 2018, the Income Qualified Assistance Program (IQAP) was launched,
providing a 23% rate discount to eligible customers with qualified electric, water and/or wastewater services.
City Council Requested Information:
How does this program work with sales tax rebate process:
Utilities staff are working closely with the Low-Income Application Working Group, led by the City
Manager’s office, to fully integrate income verification and qualified customer lists between
departments. In the last three months, the team has created and launched an integrated online
qualification quiz to connect potentially qualified residents to programs, including the Sales Tax
Rebate and Income Qualified Assistance Program. We continue to work on a process to share
customer databases, as well as provide supplemental materials to customers electronically and in
print, to cross-promote available programs. In the future, we seek to align income verification
requirements, centralized application processing, and extensive community engagement to cross-
promote all available program offerings.
What is the average dollar savings for participants in IQAP:
The average Income Qualified Assistance Program participant received a $13.28 discount on the
latest utility bill. The actual bill reduction is based on several factors, including which combination of
services (electric, water and/or wastewater) participants receive and are billed for, and their
individual household consumption. Staff will complete data analysis to determine the impact of the
rate discount on overall conservation efforts for each household after participant education
milestones have been met.
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How will UAP be integrated with existing City low income programs:
The inaugural launch of the Income Qualified Assistance Program has been executed in compliance
with the adoption of Ordinance 054, 2018 , § 6, 5-1-18 as outlined in Section 26-724. Staff is
formulating options for future Council review to potentially expand the program by offering
enrollment in additional income verified programs, including senior and low-income housing,
participation in other City low-income programs, and the Poudre School District Free and Reduced
lunch program. Staff anticipates this will require additional resources, funding, and Municipal Code
changes.
Status on outreach to mobile home parks:
Mass and targeted outreach will continue to at-risk community members throughout the year. Staff
will attend community events and systematically work with neighborhoods, mobile homes parks and
senior and low-income housing communities to distribute program information, assist customers with
applications and connect residents with low-income resources and City programs.
cc: Gretchen Stanford, Community Engagement Manager
Crystal Shafii, Senior Program Coordinator Supervisor
Heather Young, Senior Education Supervisor
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