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STAFF REPORT <br />TO:Mayor Keis and Members of City Council <br />FROM:Brenda Malinowski, Finance Director <br />DATE:April 3, 2020 <br />RE:Consider Waiving Utility Late Fees during the declared Local Emergency <br />(COVID-19) <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />Motion to waive late fees on municipal utility bills during the declared Local Emergency <br />(COVID-19) in order to support the residents and businesses of Little Canada. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Local Emergency Declaration (Resolution 2020-2-37) approved at the March 25th Council <br />Meeting, “directs City Staff to review ordinance and regulatory requirements, operations, civil <br />and legal proceedings, events, and resources to determine whether the foregoing should be <br />adjusted or suspended, and to make recommendations regarding additional emergency <br />regulations to support the employees and residents of the City of Little Canada”. <br />Staff is currently working on preparing and mailing the 1st quarter utility bills. City utility bills <br />are mailed quarterly, and a 5% late fee is added to the account balance if a payment is not made <br />within 30 days of the mailing of the bill. <br />Council can consider waiving these late fees during the declared emergency, in order to support <br />the residents and businesses of Little Canada. Staff is contemplating that this 1st quarter late fee <br />would not be added onto the bills, once the emergency is lifted. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: <br />1st Quarter 2019 late fees were $10,652.00 <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff to waive late fees on municipal utility charges during the declared Emergency <br />Declaration (COVID-19).