CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to Seattle Public Utilities; creating a restricted cash account for depositing donations and gifts; authorizing the General Manager/CEO of Seattle Public Utilities to accept donations and gifts into the account for the purpose of providing financial assistance to its low-income customers.
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WHEREAS, Chapter 21.76 of the Seattle Municipal Code establishes a Utility Discount Program and a Low Income Emergency Assistance Program to assist qualified low-income residential utility customers; and
WHEREAS, the water, wastewater, drainage, and solid waste services that Seattle Public Utilities provides are vital to public health and individual well-being; and
WHEREAS, Seattle City Light offers its customers and the general public the opportunity to donate to help low-income Seattle City Light customers pay their electric bills; and
WHEREAS, many philanthropic people and businesses generously wish to donate resources to further assist lower-income households in need; and
WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 1 of The Charter of The Seattle City Charter states The City of Seattle “may accept gifts and donations of all kinds…and do all acts necessary to carry out the purposes” of the gifts and donations; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Seattle Public Utilities Donation Account (Account) is created as a restricted cash account within Seattle Public Utilities’ Water Fund.
Section 2. The purpose of the Account is to financially assist low-income Seattle Public Utilities customers in paying their Seattle Public Utilities bills, rates, charges, and fees, over and above the level of assistance that is available through the Utility Discount Program and the Emergency Assistance Program.
Section 3. The Account shall receive donations in the form of cash, gifts, or grants from organizations, corporations, or individuals who wish to financially assist customers of Seattle Public Utilities, to supplement the assistance already available from Seattle Public Utilities.
Section 4. The General Manager/CEO of Seattle Public Utilities has the authority to accept donations to the Account without receiving the approval of the City Council in order to expedite the assistance to low-income Seattle Public Utilities customers. The General Manager/CEO shall establish rules for the distribution of donated funds from the Account and is authorized to distribute donated funds and perform other administrative tasks necessary to implement the purpose and intent of this ordinance.
Section 5. The Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services shall have responsibility for receipting all donations.
Section 6. All donations to and appropriations from the Account will be tracked and published annually so long as there are active donations to or appropriations from it. The annual reports shall be submitted by the General Manager/CEO of Seattle Public Utilities to the City Budget Office and City Council no later than 90 days from the end of the calendar year.
Section 7. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2020, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2020.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)