Chapter 4.24
U-Help Advisory Board

Sections:

4.24.010 Purpose.

4.24.020 Membership.

4.24.030 Terms.

4.24.040 Administration.

4.24.010 Purpose.

A.  Recognizing that:

1.   There are a significant number of households in the community whose economic circumstances are such that payment of utility bills can result in hardship; and

2.   The existence within City government of a structure and process to ensure that donations and contributions will consistently and efficiently assist appropriate persons to pay for utility service will hopefully encourage such donations and contributions; and

3.   If the incidents of delinquencies in the City’s utilities accounts decrease, the City will save some administrative and financial costs; the City authorizes a utility service assistance, “U-help,” program.

B.  There is established a U-help advisory board to formulate policy and procedures and to exercise overall program oversight.

[Ord. C29150; Passed: 7/25/1988]

4.24.020 Membership.

A.  The board consists of five volunteer individuals:

1.   a representative of the city council appointed by the council president,

2.   two City employees appointed by the mayor, and

3.   two other persons to represent a broad spectrum of interests in the city, jointly selected by the other three members.

B.  The board may establish an executive committee of three members to act in the event of inability of the board to meet and take action.

[Ord. C32755; Passed: 12/4/2000]

4.24.030 Terms.

Members, other than the city council representative, are appointed to staggered two-year terms, subject to removal for cause by the city council. A member may serve three consecutive terms.

[Ord. C29150; Passed: 7/25/1988]

4.24.040 Administration.

A.  The functions of processing applications for utility assistance and monitoring the continued eligibility of recipients are to be performed by the Spokane neighborhood centers under agreement with the City;

B.  The offices of city treasurer, accounting department, and the division of public works and utilities are to develop and operate the accounting systems by which contributions may be made by inclusion in one’s utility bill payment and held in a separate account to be disbursed as credits to the accounts of those individuals who are beneficiaries of the program;

C.  The board will establish the eligibility criteria, develop the methodology for making the U-Help payments and continually monitor and evaluate the program, reporting periodically to the city council.

[Ord. C29150; Passed: 2/12/2001]