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STRATEGIC OUTCOMES |
ACTION |
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Department: |
☐ Safe & Prosperous |
☒ Motion |
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Utilities |
☐ Active & Appealing |
☐ Resolution |
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☒ Respected & Responsible |
☐ Ordinance - Introduction |
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Division: |
☐ Connected & Engaged |
☐ Ordinance - Adoption |
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Administration |
☐ Unique & Creative |
☐ Public Hearing |
TITLE:
title
Outside Agency Agreement: Western Area Council of Governments
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SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Summary Recommendation
Authorize the City Administrator to execute an agreement with the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) to provide annual funding assistance to qualified City of Yuma utility customers. (Utilities/Administration) (Jeremy McCall)
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STRATEGIC OUTCOME:
This agreement furthers the City Council’s strategic outcome of Respected and Responsible by providing utility funding assistance to qualifying customers.
REPORT:
The City has a low-income assistance program similar to those offered by other utilities whereby a customer may receive a payment toward the customer’s deposit requirement for new services or delinquent utility bill. Under the proposed agreement, the City will contract with WACOG to assist low-income households in paying utility bills or the required deposit during a financial hardship to establish water service. The program is also intended to prevent a customer from being disconnected from water services for non-payment during financial hardship and provide education so financial assistance is not needed in the future. WACOG is a governmental non-profit serving income challenged households and vulnerable populations in Yuma, La Paz and Mohave Counties. The City has been contracting with WACOG since 2016 for this service.
Under this Outside Agency Agreement (Agreement), WACOG will continue to coordinate with the City regarding eligibility criteria for persons seeking assistance. WACOG will conduct an application review process to verify income eligibility and hardship qualifications and submit approved vouchers and subsequent payments to the City. If WACOG determines a person is eligible for assistance, WACOG will issue a qualifying payment voucher for an amount not to exceed $250.00. Customers who do not meet the eligibility criteria must pay the required deposit amount in order for their services to remain active or in the event of a delinquent payment, the customer must pay the delinquent amount due to avoid service disconnection. A customer’s water account will remain connected pending the referral outcome.
Under the Agreement, WACOG may only provide a customer with payment assistance once per 12-month period. WACOG must also provide educational information regarding conservation and leak detection, information regarding budget management and other agency referrals that could provide additional assistance or job placement services.
The City has allocated $100,000 for FY2027 funding to WACOG for this program. These funds have been generated from the Delinquency Fee (Water Fund) which was approved by City Council and became effective against delinquent bills as of February 1, 2015. WACOG must apply at least 80% of the funds toward issuing vouchers to qualified customers and may apply up to 20% of the funds for program delivery services and administration. WACOG will provide the City with scheduled monthly and semi-annual reports, and process payments for the vouchers once per month. When the $100,000 has been fully distributed to eligible customers, the utility assistance program will terminate for the current fiscal year. The Agreement has an initial term of one year but may be renewed for up to two additional one-year terms.
Outside agencies that are funded by the City are required to sign an agreement with the City. The proposed agreement provides for performance standards, accountability in the work performed, reporting on how the funds are spent, and other conditions including insurance requirements and indemnification.
FISCAL REQUIREMENTS:
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CITY FUNDS: |
$ 100,000.00 |
BUDGETED: |
$ 100,000.00 |
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STATE FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
AVAILABLE TO TRANSFER: |
$ 0.00 |
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FEDERAL FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
IN CONTINGENCY: |
$ 0.00 |
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OTHER SOURCES: |
$ 0.00 |
FUNDING ACCOUNT/FUND #/CIP: |
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TOTAL |
$ 100,000.00 |
Water Fund |
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
NONE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION FORM THAT ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK:
NONE
IF CITY COUNCIL ACTION INCLUDES A CONTRACT, LEASE OR AGREEMENT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTING THE DOCUMENT FOR SIGNATURE AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL?
☐ Department
☒ City Clerk’s Office
☐ Document to be recorded
☐ Document to be codified
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Acting City Administrator: |
Date: |
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John D. Simonton |
06/23/2026 |
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Reviewed by City Attorney: |
Date: |
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Richard W. Files |
06/22/2026 |