1 STAFF REPORT
DAT
E: July 25, 2023
T
O: Justin Hess, City Manager
F
ROM: Dawn Roth Lindell, General Manager, Burbank Water and Power VIA: Sean Aquino, Assistant General Manager , Customer Service Operations
BY: Arineh Sarkissian, Manager Customer Service Operations, Customer Service Operations
S
UBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Agreement with the State of California to Receive Funds to Assist Low -Income Customers Through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program
RE
COMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AUTHORIZING
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BURBANK AND THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE LOW -INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHWAP) DIRECT PAYMENT PROCESS (Attachment 1).
BACKG
ROUND
The federal Low -Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. HSS), and the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) has been designated the administering agency for LIHWAP in California . LIHWAP is authorized under Sec tion 533 of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021 (Division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), which became law on December 27, 2021 (Public Law 116-260) and Section 2912 of the American Rescue Plan Act, which became law on March 11, 2021 (Public Law 117 -2). LIHWAP offers qualified, low -income households a one- time credit (up to $2,000) on their water or wastewater bill . LIHWAP delivers critical short-term aid to our most vulnerable residents. It is an essential resource for the most underserved population, including the working poor, those making the difficult transition from welfare to working disabled persons, elderly, and families with young children.
WATER AND
POWER
Sean Aquino
Arineh Sarkissian
2 On April 21, 2015, Council adopted a similar resolution approving an agreement between the City of Burbank and the State of California for participation in the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program ( LIHEAP), designed to assist low -income customers with financial assistance on their energy bill. Council authorized the General Manager of the utility to execute the agreement.
DISCUSSION
The federally funded assistance program, LIHWAP, allows one assistance check per household per year. Customers apply for LIHWAP assistance through a State-authorized agency and must prove eligibility based on income. Once deemed eligible, the State sends BWP a direct payment , whereupon we act as a pass -through for the funds to be applied to the balance due.
In 2023, LIHWAP assisted 50 Burbank residents with $29,468.33 in funds. There is no limit to the amount a customer may receive from this program. If the customer qualifies, the state will determine the total amount the customer is eligible to receive. Renewing this agreement allows BWP to continue accepting these funds to apply toward applicable customer utility accounts.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably for eseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the City of Burbank for this program.
CONCLUSION
To request Council approval for BWP to enter into a Direct Payment Agreement with the CSD from April 28, 2022, through October 31, 2023, and authorize the General Manager to execute subsequent agreements for LIHWAP on substantially similar terms and conditions, in order to receive direct payments from the State for our low- income customers.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Direct Payment Agreement