July Utility Bill Inserts Copyrighted
J uly 20, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 4.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: July Utility Bill Inserts
SUMMARY: City Manager providing copies of two public information
brochures included with the July 2020 utility bills.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
July Utility Bill Mailing Inserton FinancialAssistance Supporting Documentation
Programs
July Utility Bill Mailing Insert on Keeping Our Pipes Supporting Documentation
and Creeks Clean
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The City of Dubuque is offering a Short-Term
• Assists with a portion of approved households'
Assistance Program for rent, mortgage, and rent or mortgage and/or utility bills for up to
utilities for qualified Dubuque renters and �1,000 for three months.
homeowners whose income has been reduced • Federally funded, grant program with no
50% or more due to the COVID-19 pandemic. repayment required.
• Applicants must meet income and property
eligibility requirements.*
� � ' - �
Income Requirements
Applicants must be a current Dubuque resident living in a rental � .
unit or home they own that they have occupied since at least ' • • •
January 1, 2020. Applicants must have been working as of � � �
January 1, 2020, AND, as a result of COVID-19, either: 1 Less than $29,050
• lost employment completely or monthly income has been 2 Less than $33,200
reduced by at least 50 percent; 3 Less than $37,350
• have applied for unemployment benefits; 4 Less than $41,450
• were current on rent or mortgage payments and all household 5 Less than $44,800
utilities as of March 1, 2020; and
applicant's household's current income meets requirements 6 Less than $48,100
• (see chart.) 7 Less than $54,750
Households of eight or more should contact City staff for additional information. "Household income" includes current wages, unemployment
benefits,child support, military benefits,and social security.All income coming into the household is required to be reported.
To apply for the Short-Term Assistance Program THE CITY OF
for rent, mortgage, and utilities, please call �T T� T
563.564.7489, email go@cityofdubuque.org, or U �
visit www.cityofdubuque.org/housing. Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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Reduced City Utility Fee Program Expanded
.�- ,, .
The City has expanded its reduced utility fee program for
� �
income qualified residential customers applying to all four � � � � �� • � , , � -
utilities provided by the City: water, sanitary sewer, refuse ,
collection, and stormwater. ' � ��" �" ' ° -
The City of Dubuque understands that our
The program previously covered refuse collection and residents are facing difficult times. We
stormwater fees but was expanded through the fiscal year (FY) are now offering payment plan options to
2021 budget adoption process. Residents who apply for and
are approved for the program may receive a discount of up to help residents with payment of utility bills
50 percent of the established base or minimum rate for each that have fallen behind since March 2020.
uti I ity. Anything prior to March is not eligible for a
payment plan.
Applicants must
• be residents of Dubuque, A resident may apply for a payment plan with
• be individually billed residential account holders/ the City that includes the following:
customers,
• provide proof of financial status or extreme hardship, and • No penalties will be charged for the duration
of agreement if the customer makes monthly
• have an annual household income equal to or less than payments.
the income standards used by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its rental • Payment plans are allowed for up to 12 months.
assistance program.
• Customer must make regular monthly payment
Income Requirements (current charges) in addition to the amount agreed
upon in the payment plan.
i . • .
' ' ' • Customers may alter arrangements by contacting
1 Less than $29,050 the Utility Billing Department in advance. If a
2 Less than $33,200 payment is missed and no communication from the
customer has been received, the agreement will be
3 Less than $37,350
terminated.
4 Less than $41,450
5 Less than $44,800 • If a customer moves to another address during the
6 Less than $48,100 payment plan timeframe, the plan will be moved to
the new account.
7 Less than $54,750
• Customer must apply for the Short-Term Assistance
The City reserves the right to limit the number and amounts Program referenced on page 1 of this document, in
of discounts based on the income of applicants, number of addition to the Payment Plan.
applicants, and budgeted/available funds. For more
information, or to apply for this program, visit www.
cityofdubuque.org/utilitybilling or call 563.589.4144.
For details on applying for the Utility
Billing payment plan, ca11563.589.4144,
. � . � � • . - . •
� email utilityb@cityofdubuque.org, or visit
. . � . . . � . .
. . . . � • � • � . www.cityofdubuque.org/utilitybilling.
� � • � � � �
The �N �Y things that should be Flushed:
- - - numberone, numbertwo,
- � and toilet paper.
, -
� � That's it. An thin else can result in
� ) ) �, Y g
1 � unpleasant backups in your home,
� in public sewer pipes, and at the
�
� Water & Resource Recovery Center.
. ' . , . . .
If toilets could talk, oh �
the stories they could tell! NEVER F�USH L�ST
Most people prefer not to think about what
happens to the stufFthey flush down those ' • • • - • • -• • • -
mysterious, swirling portals. But household . . - . - - . -. . . .. .
goods and personal items accumulating in our . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .
wastewater system can have long-lasting and :� � �_ � � � � �_
detrimental effects. .� �_ � _ � � _
Because you are responsible for your • • •• • • • • • •
property's sewer pipe, any backups caused ••• • • ••• • • • -
from improper flushing will cost you money. - . . . . . . . -
Increased maintenance of public sewer pipes . - . . - . . . . .
cost you money too.They are reflected in . � _ _ �
sewer use fees on your utility bill. � � � � �
We can't just flush our problems down the � • • • • ••• • • ••
toilet, as much as we want to. So next time -• • • - • • • -
you're tempted to toss it in the loo, • -• • • -• -• • •
remember: only toilet paper, pee, and poo!
Unused Medications ' ' ' '
. . , . - .
Do not flush unused medications down the
toilet.You can safely dispose of inedications -. . . .. . .. . . - .
in the garbage, or take medications to an � � _ � � � _ � � � � _ � _ � �_
approved prescription drug take-back site or � __ _
. • - . •. . . . . .
event. Unused medication is accepted 24
hours/7 days a week at the Dubuque Law � � � � �
Enforcement Center.A drop off container is � � � � � � � �
located in the lobby at 770 lowa Street. ' ' ' ' " '
- . . .
THE CITY OF
Dubuque Water& Resource Recovery Center
�� � � � �� DUB E
www.cityofdubuque.org/wrrc � 563.589.4176 MasterpieceontheMississippi
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' . . � . . �
On I Ra i n Down the Storm Dra i n �
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When it rains, stormwater runs over pavement, picking up oil, litter, F;5=:�;:�=;:�;�.::`°�'`""'
leaves, rass cli m s, and other ollutants.The stormwater then flows `��'--�' �'� � �
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down storm drains and through stormwater pipes which empty directly � .
into our local creeks, streams, and rivers. Storm drains can also become a �� -
�'"��.. �
hot spot for illicit dumping -trash, grease, pet waste, paint, cigarettes, � ;! -�;,,� _ ,. :� x:t;_:.,_,
and more.As a result,these pollutants make their way to the Catfish =,r y'`�= - `. ;^
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Creek and Bee Branch Creek and, ultimately,the Mississippi River, ;r - :�;��;;,s
:.�,�i 7=4x' � 1�.\'.^'.
impairing the health ofourwaterways. �;:;�e+,,,... `.,, � ,.`�;,�
What YOU Can Do Y ��5� - �� �
-. • �-�,..
• Use fertilizers and lawn chemicals sparingly. �... � "���,��.�
• Sweep up extra fertilizer that falls on your driveway or sidewalk. �.���'� - - ;
• Pick up after pets. Pet waste contains bacteria that pollutes water. �� t ��` ��
• Take your vehicle to the car wash or wash it on the lawn to prevent . _ _ �,.,,�N ` �
soapy water from leaving your property. "'�
, �_ ...�; . -
• Fix oil and antifreeze leaks from your car and promptly clean up spills ' -
to prevent them from washing into the street and storm drain. � . :; . s
• Don't throw trash on the ground including cigarette butts. - �.�, ' �"�' ��
�.�,::�..;ti s �'
• Keep garbage and recycling containers tightly covered to prevent �'��r'�'° � � �-�"- •
litter from being blown away or scattered by foraging animals.
• Don't wash off your driveway into the street. � � � � � � � ■ � , �
• Don't dump oil or household waste in a storm drain.
- �... � .. ■ .. . .
• Don't mow grass clippings or blow or rake leaves into the street. __
. - . . . . - . --. .
• Install a rain garden or bio-retention swale to reduce the quantity or . _. � . ,_.
improve the quality of runoff from your property.
. -- .... . . . .. - .
• Use a rain barrel to collect and store rainwater from your roof that � __ � _ � �� � � � �
would otherwise be lost to runoff. � � � _ � � _ � _� �
-. - ..
Stormwater Hotline - Call 563.690.6200 � � � � - � � - � � � - � �
The City's Stormwater Hotline is available 24/7 for anyone who
wishes to make a report of potential stormwater pollution. Help ,
prosecute violators by taking a picture of the illicit activity taking THEc�TY oF
place. If there is no answer, please leave a message and someone will DUB E
return your call as soon as possible.
Masterpiece on the Mississippi