AgdaPkt 2020-10-26 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

8.A. - Page 18 of 104 Beginning in March 2020, the City has waived late payment penalties for the 18% of utility customers who would have been charged monthly penalties. The annual revenue forgone from the waived charges is approximately $200,000. As of August 31, 2020, more than $2.5 million worth of utilities fees are in arrears. City staff is currently exploring the usage of Community Development Block Grant funds to help income -qualified residents pay down delinquent utility debt. The challenges of 2020 brought what our Emergency Operations Center personnel refer to as the "crisis within the crisis." In addition to responding to the pandemic, we were beset with record-breaking wildfires throughout the state, including here in San Mateo County. As a result, officers from our Police Department helped to evacuate residents from the Santa Cruz Mountains and our Fire Department Strike -Team participated in multiple deployments. For example, Engine 12 recently started a deployment at the Creek Fire on September 19, then was reassigned to the Castle Fire, and finished up at the Glass Fire in October. On long shifts at these wildfires, our fire fighters have evacuated residents, constructed fire lines, protected structures, performed helicopter drops, and hiked 10+ miles to extinguish flames. Meanwhile, within Redwood City, our Parks, Recreation and Community Service staff opened cooling and smoke relief centers, a step few other cities in the county took. We also have continued to monitor the likelihood of public safety power shutoffs throughout this fire season. Restore In June, the City Council approved an Outdoor Dining Program to allow for use of private/public sidewalks and storefront parking, and in September, the Council extended it to the Temporary Outdoor Business program, allowing retail businesses, hair and nail salons, and fitness and training businesses opportunities to operate outdoors. In anticipation of cooler weather in fall and winter, staff have implemented temporary comfort elements options to support outdoor business activity. We have continued to assess and modify road closures to support the outdoor business program, while minimizing major impacts to our residents within the downtown. Auto sales typically provide more than 20% of the City's sales tax revenue. In July, City staff met with the City's auto dealers to share City updates and discuss public safety issues of concern to the dealerships. Dealership representatives provided insight on sales activity, and the group will meet quarterly to stay connected and address issues of concern to this business sector. Given the great level of need for support to preserve and restore our community's economic vitality, I have granted an exception to the hiring freeze to replace a key Economic Development vacancy that occurred in June. We are supporting recreation and learning activities for all ages through Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Library. As restrictions are eased at the State and County levels, we were able to re -open tennis courts, Recreation Way gate and Stulstaft trails, Red Morton Skatepark, basketball courts, bocce ball courts, designated off -leash dog trails and all dog parks, and, most recently, playgrounds. Striving to build community even though our physical interactions must be different for everyone's safety, we successfully operated in-person summer camps for our youth and our Fall Activity Guide is now live, which includes a mix of in-person classes and programs, as well as expanded virtual offerings. BUDGET MESSAGE 387