Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Silrap Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District ramps outreach for Sewer Lifeline Rate Assistance Program; first round yielded about 1,200 applications
Summary
Staff reported on outreach for the Sewer Lifeline Rate Assistance Program (SILRAP), saying targeted mailings to customers identified via SMUD and PG&E produced roughly 1,200 applications and that staff will pursue additional outreach to about 36,000 households this summer.
District staff on June 11 updated the board on outreach for the Sewer Lifeline Rate Assistance Program (SILRAP), reporting that targeted mailing to customers who participate in SMUD and PG&E low-income programs generated roughly 1,200 applications and an estimated $230,000 in additional program costs that the district can accommodate within its current budget.
Mike Quedian (director of policy and planning) and communications staff described a phased outreach plan. The first wave in February targeted approximately 11,000 owner‑occupied customers who staff believed had a high likelihood of qualifying; by April staff had received about 1,200 applications from the combined region (Sacramento County plus West Sacramento). Staff said approximately 96% of those applications came from Sacramento County and about 4% from West Sacramento.
Quedian explained the district obtained addresses from PG&E (for West Sacramento) and SMUD (for Sacramento County) under confidentiality agreements to target customers already enrolled in those utilities’ low-income programs. "That is the difference between the SMUD and PG&E programs and ours," he said, noting SILRAP requires proof that the applicant pays the sewer bill and therefore outreach to renters or residents billed through property management can be more complicated.
Staff said the next outreach phase will target roughly 36,000 customers whose mailing address differs from parcel address; staff plan to send notices this summer and expect that, if response rates are similar or lower than the first wave, the current SILRAP budget will accommodate the additional enrollments.
Board members asked about coordination with local events and outreach in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods; staff described bill inserts, tabling at community events, social media and website information, and agreed to follow up on requests to attend specific neighborhood events such as National Night Out in Oak Park.
The board received and filed the item.
