CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light and Seattle Public Utilities Departments; temporarily removing the charge of interest on delinquent utility consumption and utilization accounts; superseding several sections under Title 21 that authorize and require the collection of interest on delinquent utility consumption and utilization accounts; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
body
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency, beginning on January 27, 2020, as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Washington on February 29, 2020 issued Proclamation 20-05, proclaiming a State of Emergency for all counties throughout the state of Washington; and
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan proclaimed a civil emergency
exists in the City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the state of Washington, on November 10, 2020, extended 27 proclamations in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the state of Washington, on November 15, 2020, announced a four-week statewide set of restrictions in response to the recent rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus in Washington and across the country; and
WHEREAS, while this practice of social distancing is critical in mitigating the rate of spread of the COVID-19 virus, it is having significant negative economic effects on the national and regional economy, in particular small businesses and workers in large sectors of the Seattle-area economy who cannot work remotely; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Public Utilities has several Seattle Municipal Code provisions requiring collection of interest on delinquent utility consumption and utilization charges; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Municipal Code ("SMC") Section 21.49.130 auth...
Click here for full text