City of
LEMOORE
CALIFORNIA
02/20/2024
City Council Regular Meeting
Handouts received after
agenda posted
Utility Billing Software
Implementation Update
Slide
IMPLEMENTATION KICK OFF
Implementation of the new utility billing
software began December 2022.
Conversion and completion of General Ledger had to be completed prior to Utility Billing. General Ledger software went live July 1, 2023. Implementation team consists of 1-2
staff.
Expedited conversion timeline due to old
software becoming obsolete.
Staff Changes
Multiple turnover and reorganization of staff occurred during the implementation.
2 Slide
TRANSITION
Account transition for
utility billing customers
occurred October 2023.
New Utility Bills
launched November
2023.
New 7-Digit Account Number
XXX-XXXX.
New Bill includes a 12-month
consumption history.
Each resident was assigned a customer
ID Number.
Customers gained access to self service
portal. 3
Slide
UTILITY BILLING ISSUES
Misapplied Payments:
During conversion, a crosswalk which was to link old accounts to new accounts malfunctioned causing some payments to be misapplied. Staff is working to audit accounts and crosswalks have been updated to reduce the misapplied payments.
Payments Online:
Since conversion, the payment processing portal has been unable to link with customer accounts. Resulting in balances not being updated. Notices have been posted on the website and a work order has been established to correct the system link.
Expected to be resolved in 8 weeks.
All customers need their old account numbers to access paymentus online.
4 Slide
NOTICES
5 Slide
UTILITY BILLING ISSUES
Late Fees on credit balance accounts
or zero balance accounts:
An unknown processing issue has resulted in some credit accounts receiving a late fee.
Staff is proactively reviewing all accounts with credit balances – approximately 900 accounts.
Removing any late fees that have been applied incorrectly. Staff will be opening a ticket once the review is complete to fix the processing issue.
Payment Plan Applications:
Some payments on accounts with payment plans have resulted in erroneous late fees applied.
3 tickets are currently open with Munis to review the application of the payment plans
Currently reviewing all payment plans and proactively fixing these accounts.
6 Slide
UTILITY BILLING FIXES
City Manager has authorized overtime
to assist in auditing the back log.
The Utility Billing office is experiencing
high traffic in the lobby and phones
If citizens have concerns, the best way to
communicate them with staff is via email at
[email protected]
We appreciate your patience as we work
through the transition.
7 Advanced Clean Fleets
Regulation
State and Local Government Agency Fleet
Requirements
Affected Fleets
• In this regulation, a State or local government agency is a city, county, public utility, special district, local agency or district, or a public agency of the State of California, and any department, division, public corporation, or public agency of the State of California. Affected agencies are those that have jurisdiction in California and own, lease, or operate in California, one or more vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 lbs.
Compliance Requirments
• Starting Jan 1, 2024, 50 percent of all vehicles purchased, over 8500 gvwr, must be ZEV (zero emissions vehicle).
• Beginning Jan 1, 2027, 100% of vehicles purchased, over 8500 gvwr, must be ZEV.
• Near-zero emission vehicles (NZEV), as defined in the regulation, count as ZEVs for this requirement up to 2035.
• Alternatively, fleets may choose to permanently switch to the ZEV Milestones Option.
ZEV Milestones Option
• Local government fleets can switch to the ZEV Milestones Option up until Jan 1, 2030.
• This option allows fleets to phase in ZEVs between 2025 and 2042, depending on vehicle type and use.
• Starting Jan 1, 2025, fleets must continuously meet or exceed the ZEV Fleet Milestones percentage requirements.
ZEV Fleet Milestones by Milestone Group & Year
The City has 12 group 2 and 15 group 3 vehicles
• Our first action under ZEV Milestones would take place in 2027. We would have to replace 1 group 2 vehicle with a ZEV or NZEV. • Using the ZEV Milestone is a permanent decision. If we chose to use the State and Local Government requirements first, we have until Jan 1, 2030, to switch to ZEV Milestone.
• When using ZEV Milestone the City would have to forfeit the right to use a vehicle for it full “Useful Life” as describe by the Health and Safety Code sec 43021(a).
• This means if the City purchased an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) in 2035, we would have no choice but to replace it with ZEV in 2040 when we are required to have 100% ZEVs.
Exemptions
• Within the regulation, emergency vehicles and some two engine vehicles are exempt. (E.G. Fire trucks and two engine vactor trucks.) • Daily Usage Exemption. This exemption is one we would have to submit an application for. If approved would allow the City to purchase an ICE vehicle (internal combustion engine) that would count as a ZEV purchase for compliance.
• ZEV Purchase Exemption. This exemption allows fleets to purchase approved ICE vehicles if no ZEV or NZEV is available in the same configuration as the vehicle that is to be replaced. A preapproved list will be available starting Jan 1, 2025.
From: Lawrence J Williamson
To: City Manager
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: Public Concern with the Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department; 5:30p Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 6:16:41 AM
My name is Dr. Lawrence Williamson and I am a physician and resident of Lemoore.
I have had the unique opportunity to volunteer my time and observe first hand several Tuesday evening training sessions of our Fire Department as an invited guest of the Fire Inspector from about October 2023 through January 2024. Sadly, I was able to reach the conclusion that our century old department has both a racist and misogynistic culture. Furthermore, I have come to know that as a resident, my funds, and our city is funding a public safety entity that is not as forward thinking as perhaps they should be. For example, the National Fire Protection Association standard 1901 states in part that, “all firefighters must be seated and belted when a truck is in motion” was routinely breached. I am interested in the safety and wellbeing of our young men and women of our fire department. Oh, excuse me, I’m sorry, our fire department does NOT have female firefighters and only has underrepresentation of firefighters of color as there does not appear to be any African Americans nor Asians on the roster.
Lastly, I would hope that in the near future, the department can be have a modernized and forward thinking mentality with respect to personal firefighter wellness by actively prohibiting the open utilization of tobacco products at the firehouse and during training exercises.
Thank you for your attention.
Partnered for our Mutual Safety,
Lawrence J. Williamson, M.D.