AgdaPkt 2020-04-06 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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S.A. - Page 18 of 21 As noted above, the Fair Oaks Community Center is expecting to receive approximately $150,000 in SMC Strong Funds as well as funding from the SVCF COVID-19 Regional Response Fund. This brings the total estimated funding available for rental assistance to $550,000. Additionally, staff is also exploring using the new CDBG funding allocation plus the City's existing CDBG funding for expanding rental assistance or other important community needs. Staff is awaiting further guidance from HUD including when the funds will be available and whether paying back rent is an eligible expense under the CARES Act. Given the strong need for rental assistance, the likelihood that such need will persist, and the fact that supporting continued housing economically benefits both residents and property owners and avoiding homelessness helps to protect public health, staff recommends that the City Council appropriate $393,000 to the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund. Utility Relief — Elimination of Late Payment Penalties on Utilities for March —August 2020 At the March 23, 2020 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to research opportunities to defer or eliminate late payment penalties for utility payments and to present recommendations to the City Council. The City receives approximately $3,000 per month in late payment penalties and interest for solid waste services. These funds are general revenue to the City and are used for general City operations. The City also receives approximately $13,000 per month in late payment penalties and interest for water and sewer utilities. The funds are used to pay for the rate assistance program for low-income customers. The program is available to all customers regardless of immigration status. The cost of the rate assistance program is currently about $1,160/month but this could increase with the current economic situation. There is currently a fund balance of approximately $100,000 available for the rate assistance program. Staff recommends that the City Council consider the following actions: Direct staff to develop a resolution to waive late payment penalties for solid waste, water and sewer utilities for the period of March 2020 through August 2020 for residential and commercial customers; 2. Direct staff to advertise the rate assistance program for low-income water and sewer utility customers; and 3. Direct staff to return to the City Council in September 2020 with an update on the status of late payments and rate assistance usage to determine whether to continue to waive the late payment penalty. Small Business Relief Fund for Redwood City Small Businesses — Appropriate $300,000 Staff has been communicating with SAMCEDA and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) via the SMC Strong initiative to administer a potential Small Business Relief Fund for Redwood City small businesses. Staff, SAMCEDA and SVCF are currently discussing guidelines to provide Redwood City small businesses with grants and/or loans (whichever is most feasible). The purpose of the assistance is to help Redwood City's small businesses temporarily mitigate the financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic until State and Federal resources are available and to stem the potential community deterioration that could result from the financial impacts of the pandemic. To date, $1,000,000 in San Mateo County Measure K funds have been pledged to the SMC Strong to fund San Mateo County small businesses. Using these funds, a maximum grant/loan amount could be set at $5,000, and a minimum of 60 Redwood City small businesses would receive assistance. Additional donations to the SMC Strong fund dedicated to Redwood City small business support would increase the funding available and the number of businesses that could receive assistance. The City is also looking into Page 18 of 21 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 21