Community Affairs, Health and Education Committee

Agenda

1. Call to Order

   Chair Shanklin called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m.

2. Roll Call

   Chair Shanklin introduced the committee members and non-committee members present. A quorum was established. *NOTE: All committee members and non-committee members attended the meeting virtually.

3. Special Discussion
4. 1. Utility Company Plans for Those Facing Shut-Offs Due to COVID-19 Pandemic - Vince Guenthner and Dave Vogeland, Louisville Water Company (LWC): Wesley Sydnor, Brad Good, and Kim Reed, Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD); Marianne Butler and Jean Ann Pfisterer, Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E); and Vincent James, Community Building
   Discussion Item

   The following spoke to the item: - Vince Guenthner, Louisville Water Company, presented a presentation - Dave Vogeland, Louisville Water Company - Committee Member Triplett - Chair Shanklin - Council President James - Committee Member Parker - Committee Member Green - Tameka Laird, Resilience and Community Services - Jennifer Lane, Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) - Jean Ann Pfisterer, Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) - Vincent James, Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E) The following was discussed: - Map of the metro area color coding of average dollar amounts owed by customers - Residential outstanding by zipcode - amount owed by the average customer $250 to $500 - 16,000 thousand residential customers are delinquent - dollar value is $7.5 thousand - Commercial Customers by zip code - amount owed $500 to $4,000 represent about 700 customers - dollar value $2 million - Multi-Family outstanding balances by zipcode - 230 Accounts, amount owed $1,500 to $12,000 - dollar value $3.5 million - Multi- Families are renters the Landlords pay the bill for the complex and will work hard with the group of customers - Total Customers 285,000 thousand Service Connections - 5.6% customer doing well - The federal funds that was given for COVID will expire December 30, 2020 - $134 million Federal Care Funds allocated for COVID - Daniel Frockt, Office of Management and Buget (OMB) would have to give an upon on the amount of funds remaining - Tameka Laird, stated her office will present a plan to Metro Council in the next couple of months before the shut-off of the funds - To keep the balance of the federal funds the federal government has two requirements - 1.) Documentation demonstrating the need for the community 2.) Have to be COVID related before the January shut-off start - Agencies will be working with Resilience and Community Services to keep all households stabilized - December 31, 2020 the unspent money will be sent back to the Federal Government - Keeping close track with the Governor he has ordered no disconnects until after the first of the year - No disconnections until at least January 2021 - No late charges assessed until at least January 2021 - Monitoring the current COVID positivity trends to evaluate plans - Will continue outreach to customers to set up payment plans - Residential customers who have not made contact will be placed on default payments - Commercial customers will have payment plan options also - Working with social service agencies on customer billing assistance - Louisville Gas & Electric Company willing to work with customers - Disconnect for customers November 9th has been suspended - All late fees will be waived until the end of year 2020 - Customers need to contact customer care to set-up payment plans - Customers can also go on Web-site - Offering 6 month or 12 month payment plan - Customers should select best plan for themselves - Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) will automatically set-up customers for a 12 month payment plan if they have not contacted them - Citizens have received scam phone calls regarding payments Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) will never call on the phone regarding payments - Bills that are late you will receive a notice in the mail only - Payment plans should be kept current - Offering COVID Plans for payment - Encourage customers to pay bill as much as they can to avoid high bills - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be coming into place soon - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will assist with part of the payment and the customer will pay the rest depends on qualifications - 3% to 6% of customers will be in the eligible disconnect stage - Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) will send dollar value back to President James regarding amount owed - Total of 1.2 million total customers with operation in Virginia - Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) working in partnership with customers - Have a lot of customers having a challenging time - How to make it easier for the customers and get the message out - Have had discussions with national cities on how to help customers - Working in partnership with Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) - Partners also with Metro Government - Water, Waste Water and Drainage the amount is pro-rate on amount paid to each service - Office of Resillence Community Services has 3 programs that will start November 2, 2020 - Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program will go from November 2nd to December 11th - Have to be 150% of poverty level - Health at Home will receive 1.4 million - Each Household $500 for assistance - will cover over 10,000 customers for a household - Have to be 200% of poverty level - The Heal Program - Heating and Assistance have to eligible and qualify - Press Release will be in a few day and will share with Metro Council Members - No In-person assessment- everything will be done by Drop-off, Telephone or Email due to COVID, will have additional staff to help - Discussion regarding the Eviction and Prevention Program and the Landlord program- Web-site on line

5. Pending Legislation
6. 2. A RESOLUTION HONORING DR. ERIC A. JOHNSON BY DEDICATING THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF 40TH AND WEST BROADWAY AS "DR. ERIC A. JOHNSON WAY" IN RECOGNITION OF HIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AS PASTOR.
   Resolution
   Action: recommended for approval Passed

   A motion was made by Vice Chair Triplett, seconded by Committee Member Benson, that this Resolution be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote and the Resolution was sent to Old Business to allow the sponsor to speak to the Resolution.

7. 3. RESOLUTION URGING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK TO RELEASE THE DETAILS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2020.
   Resolution
   Action: held

   This item was held in committee.

8. 4. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 92.02, 92.03 AND 93.04 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES (“LMCO”) AMENDING THE DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR MORE FAIR ACCESS TO RENTAL HOUSING (AMENDMENT BY SUBSTITUTION).
   Ordinance
   Action: held

   This item was held in committee.

9. Adjournment

   Without objection, Chair Shanklin adjourned the meeting at 2:37 p.m. *NOTE: Items sent to the Consent Calendar or Old Business will be heard before the full Council at the Metro Council Meeting on November 5, 2020

10. Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.
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12. Clerk(s)

    Mary Whitlock, Assistant Clerk Sonya Harward, Clerk

13. Support Staff

    Natalie Johnson, Jefferson County Attorney's Office

14. Non-Committee Member(s)

    Council Member Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) and Council President David James (D-6)