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Council votes to add voluntary-donation statement and one-time insert to water bills
Summary
Council approved adding clear language to utility bills indicating donation line items are voluntary and directed a one-time insert and improved link/QR-code/accessibility options; staff explained donations fund discretionary programs and supplement animal-shelter emergency care beyond the regular operating budget.
Council approved a motion to add language to the city's water bills clarifying that line-item donations (recreation, library/summer programs, animal shelter, etc.) are voluntary and to include a one-time insert calling customers' attention to the option. Councilmember Mary said residents had told her they did not know donations were optional and asked for greater transparency. Utility-billing staff explained the PDF bill format limits clickable links but said the emailed bill could include a link or that a one-time printed insert could include a QR code.
Resident Tabitha O'Conor asked where animal-shelter operating funds come from; staff said regular operating costs come from the general fund and that donation funds supplement emergency care and special programs (for example emergency veterinary costs or TNR/B programs). Staff described the existing opt-in/opt-out process and said written authorization is required to change monthly donation settings on an account.
A motion to add the voluntary-statement to the bill, include the one-time insert and provide the URL/QR option for emailed/printed material passed; the meeting record shows "Motion passes" and staff will prepare the bill language and the insert and return documentation of implementation.
