Item B: FY14 Plan on Action - City Service Fee Proposal

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way to access assistance through just one program that encompasses all of the items on the EWEB bill, rather than having to go through different processes for different portions of the bill to receive assistance. Infrastructure is in place which will mitigate start-up costs to administer. The maximum amount of bill-paying assistance could be increased in order to accommodate the new City Service Fee, if that amount were to be funded through proceeds from the fee. If the fee is not billed and collected through EWEB, City staff would look for ways to achieve a similar outcome for fee payers. Goals would be to provide assistance to fee payers who need it most, and to make the application process simple and streamlined, which would also help to keep billing and collections costs low. At the January 14 council work session, the City Manager will present recommendations for including limited income assistance into the new City Service Fee proposal. Timeline and Next Steps: The focus of this work session is on the fourth item in the plan: a new City Service Fee to maintain the present quality of life in Eugene. If the council should decide to move forward with asking voters to consider such a fee, action must be taken no later than February 13 to place the measure on the ballot. In order to meet that schedule, the following dates have been set aside for council discussion and public input:  January 14 work session  January 28 work session  February 4 public hearing  February 11 work session and possible action  February 13 work session and possible action (if needed) The council will also consider changes to the stormwater ordinance during this time period, which is another key part of the four-part plan. That ordinance will provide for transitioning funding for parks costs to the stormwater fee. The proposed schedule for considering those changes is:  January 22 public hearing  January 28 possible action RELATED CITY POLICIES Council Goal of Fair, Stable and Adequate Financial Resources. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may accept the City Manager’s recommendation to move to a public hearing on an ordinance for a monthly City Service Fee on February 4 as proposed at the January 14 work session, or may choose to direct the City Manager to adjust the recommended approach. S:\CMO\2013 Council Agendas\M130114\S130114B.doc