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Willard advisory committee backs draft of voluntary “Roundup” utility donation program
Summary
Staff presented a draft ordinance for a voluntary donation program that would let customers round up bills or make one-time gifts to help residents facing utility shutoffs. The advisory committee asked clarifying questions about shutoff timing, partner organizations and notification; staff plans to present the draft to the city board on Oct. 27.
Willard staff outlined a draft ordinance to create a voluntary "Roundup" donation program that would let utility customers add one-time or recurring donations to their bills to support residents in financial hardship. Staff said the program is intended to be fully self-funded by donations and would only issue assistance if funds are available.
The committee was told the program would let customers choose fixed recurring amounts or one-time donations and that participating would be optional. "It is intended to be a fully self contained program. So we've received donations, and obviously, we would be able to issue those," a staff member said during the director's report.
Staff said the draft includes partner organizations as potential administrators (staff mentioned OCAC as one possible partner) and a dissolution clause specifying that if the program ends, remaining funds would be directed to financial hardship programs and charities after public notice and a public input period. "In the event that it doesn't work as intended, I did include a provision there. The program was dissolved, Now those funds will be handled, which was specifically go towards financial hardship programs and charities, with a provision made to notify the public of which way it went and how and a public input period as well," the staff member said.
Committee members asked how the program might interact with existing shutoff and reconnect policies. Staff explained there is a defined final day to pay before disconnection, that reconnect fees and late fees apply, and that the Roundup program could be targeted to customers who are about to be disconnected to avoid paying extra fees. One committee member said strict parameters could be useful: assistance only when a customer is in imminent danger of disconnection; another suggested leaving program eligibility decisions to administration.
Staff asked advisory members to send feedback and said, unless the committee requests substantial changes, the draft will be presented to the city board on Oct. 27 for formal consideration. Staff also said outreach materials would be prepared to explain how the voluntary program would work to customers.
The committee took no formal vote on the program; staff requested input and scheduled next steps ahead of the board presentation.
