AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department; amending terms and conditions pertaining to the emergency bill assistance program and temporarily expanding access to assistance to certain eligible households for a limited time in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) emergency; and amending Section 21.49.042 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
The report of the City Council Agenda Item one Council Bill 120225 An ordinance relating to the City Life Department amending terms and conditions pertaining to the Emergency Bill Assistance Program and temporarily expanding access to assistance to certain eligible households for a limited time. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 Emergency and amending Section 21.4 9.042 of the Seattle Municipal Code. Thank you so much. I'm of the past council. Bill 120225. Is there a second? Second? Thank you so much. It's been. The bill has been moved and seconded. Councilmember Peterson, you are the sponsor of the bill. I'm going to hand it over to you to address the item. Thank you. Council president, colleagues, as I mentioned, council briefing this morning, these next two council bills on the agenda will extend a key release program for overdue utility bills for lower income households that are customers of Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities. Seven months ago, on April 19th, the Council approved enhancements to our local emergency assistance programs that lower the overdue utility bills for struggling low income households. Those enhancements were set to expire next month, due in part to the persistence of the COVID pandemic. These two bills would extend these program enhancements to the end of 2022. On today's agenda, the first item that will vote on is council 120225, which is for Seattle City Lights. The second item is Council a12022640 Utilities. Our City Council central staff reviewed both those and had no concerns. Both utilities and I recommend passage of these bills for the emergency assistance programs. Thank you so much, Councilmember Peterson. Are there any additional comments on Council Bill 120225 Agenda Item one. Hearing. No additional comments will please call the role on the passage of Council. Bill 120225. Agenda Item one. Verbal. Yes. Juarez. I. Louis. Yes. Morales s must gether. I Peterson. I so want. Yes. And Council President Gonzalez, i. Eight in favor and oppose. Thank you. The bill passes and the terrible Senate bill to please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf. Well, the quick please read item two into the record. Agenda item two Council Bill 120226 An ordinance relating to Seattle Public Utilities Emergency Assistance Program temporarily extending increased assistance related to COVID induced customer delinquencies and amending Section 21.7 6.065 of the Seattle Municipal Code.